Rebecca Reviews ~ The Land Beneath Us (Sunrise at Normandy, #3) by Sarah Sundin

Paperback, 384 pages

Published February 4th 2020 by Fleming H. Revell Company / Baker Publishing Group

In 1943, Private Clay Paxton trains hard with the U.S. Army Rangers at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, determined to do his best in the upcoming Allied invasion of France. With his future stolen by his brothers' betrayal, Clay has only one thing to live for—fulfilling the recurring dream of his death.

Leah Jones works as a librarian at Camp Forrest, longing to rise above her orphanage upbringing and belong to the community, even as she uses her spare time to search for her real family—the baby sisters she was separated from so long ago.

After Clay saves Leah's life from a brutal attack, he saves her virtue with a marriage of convenience. When he ships out to train in England for D-Day, their letters bind them together over the distance. But can a love strong enough to overcome death grow between them before Clay's recurring dream comes true? 

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Rebecca's Review
~4 STARS~

" . . . she hadn't anticipated the danger - the danger of falling for a man destined to die."

Private Clay Paxton is training hard at Camp Forrest, Tennessee; becoming an U. S. Army Ranger is grueling work, but Clay is certain that God has already called him to sacrifice his life for his country . . . . literally. After meeting a young librarian, Leah Jones; tiny in stature, but towering in inner strength, Clay becomes less certain about his destiny; deciding to protect Leah following a vicious attack by giving her his name for protection. The newness of their relationship has no time for roots, for Clay heads for Normandy and Leah is left behind; only their letters hint at a growing fondness that will certainly turn into tragedy, if Clay isn't fortunate enough to return home.

Having read many of this author's books, "The Land Beneath Us" stands out for several reasons. The impeccable historical details are narrowed to a focus that is more pallatable, thus the relational portions of the story have room to breathe and expand. The structure of the story is uniquely suited as well; the two main characters being far apart through-out much of the narrative gives the story an almost dual timeline feel, which keeps the reader happily turning pages until the very last one.

"It's our time to live . . . to laugh, . . . to dance . . to love."

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".