This is the second book of Sundin’s “Sunrise at Normandy” trilogy which focuses on the Paxton brothers, whose family was torn apart by a foolish accident with tragic consequences. Now three years later, each of the estranged brothers must make peace with the past and with God before facing D-day and the Normandy invasion.

Adler and Violet are compelling characters. Adler’s flaws are obvious and he bears a tremendous load of guilt for the sins of his past, with consequences that he knows about and some he doesn’t. He has great difficulty accepting forgiveness that he feels is unmerited. Violet’s issues are more subtle. An American Red Cross worker in England, she is basically a good person, but she still lives in a world of black-and-white, good-and-bad, right-and-wrong and finds herself deeply challenged by the real world and its shades of gray. All this against a backdrop of WWII Britain on the edge of D-Day.

This is a compelling and thoughtful story, every bit as excellent as the first book, [The Sea Before Us], which is brother Wyatt’s story. I look forward to the publication of Clay’s story soon.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ( )

RTC ( )

As D-Day approaches, fighter pilot Adler Paxton is determined to "make ace" (which means shooting down 5 enemy planes), but first has to learn how to be a wingman. While struggling with this lesson and memories of a tragic last day at home, he meets American Red Cross worker Violet Lindstrom. All Violet wants to do is be a missionary overseas, but England isn't what she had in mind. She'd rather go somewhere that she can make a difference, not serve the Air Force men who aren't in need. Both Violet and Adler have a lot to learn about themselves and each other, as long as they can survive the war.

This is the second book in a series of three, following three brothers who were separated by a very unfortunate series of events that led to three years of estrangement. I've read books #1 & #3, so this was the last of the series for me. I really enjoyed this book, both as its own story and as part of the greater story. I am continually amazed by the level of detail that Sundin has put into these historical books, making me feel like I've stepped back in time. And the characters in this book felt very real to me. Adler's path from the darkness he feels regarding his role in the tragedy that pushed him away from home is one of my favorite things about this book.

Violet's process through this book is a lot more subtle, but no less important. She learns something about herself and how she views others that might not seem like a big deal to many people, but I think a lot of us actually could see the same concerns in ourselves if we looked very hard. (On a side note, the woman on the cover is not how I pictured Violet at all. That woman looks way too petite.)

I liked this one a little more than book #1, and not quite as much as #3 , but it's still a 5-star read for me. After I finished this book, I had to go back and read parts of the third book to get the full resolution of the Paxton brothers' story. Though the majority of each of these three books is a standalone story, I would highly recommend reading them in order. I know for sure that I will go back through this series in the future and read them the way they were meant to be read. It's a great series full of pain and sin, grace and forgiveness. I recommend this book and series to all who enjoy Christian romance and Christian historical novels. ( )

I love historical fiction and this one did not disappoint. There was a lot of conflicts and that kept me on the edge of my seat. This was was book number 2 in the series and while I feel I missed some of the nuances of the stroy because I missed the first book, the basic storyline holds up well as a stand alone novel.

The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin is the second book in her Sunrise at Normandy series. Adler Paxton fled from his home in Texas three years ago. Running from his mistakes and the guilt, he joins the Army as an airplane pilot. Stationed in England in the days leading up to the invasion of France at Normandy he meets Red Cross volunteer, Violet Lindstrom. Adler and Violet not only must learn to trust in each other but in a loving and forgiving God. I love World War 2 stories but this one went above and beyond. The history was well woven in, the action was believable and the romance was sweet. What else could you want? The underlying theme of repentance and forgiveness was a great reminder that all we have to do is truly be sorry and ask for forgiveness. The healing that comes afterward is so sweet and refreshing. I can’t wait for the next book!

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. ( )