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meg_elyse's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
turquoiseavenue's review
5.0
Author Sarah Sundin, a long-time favorite of mine for her WWII novels, has truly captivated me with yet another beautiful novel.
This story may be my favorite yet!
When Twilight Breaks brings 1938’s Germany to life as readers meet the confident, empowered Evelyn Brand, a foreign correspondent with the American News Service. Evelyn’s character was easy to love, with her witty remarks and strong, capable assuredness in her job as she works hard to prove herself in a predominantly man’s world. Seeing the struggles she faced as a female writer and witnessing her heart’s awakening was rewarding and inspiring.
Peter was the perfect gentleman and I couldn’t help but fall in love with his determination, friendship and values. I enjoyed watching his character evolve too as this story moved along. The chemistry between these two characters was brimming over the top and I simply couldn’t wait to see how their story came alive. The added suspense Sundin wove into this story further captivated me.
Sundin is a master at weaving historical facts and details into her stories, making readers feel as if they’re right there in that era, witnessing the changes, the struggles, the hurt, the strife, the joys and the pain. At a time when our world was changing rapidly, and sometimes without sense, she brings alive the concerns and wonder people had, displaying it all in a way that is faith-based, inspired and even a little heartbreaking. I was truly amazed at how relevant and significant this story was to the times we are living in today as Sundin’s words rang true for me, personally, in the here and now.
I loved this story and believe it is top notch for it’s genre. The novel is well written, easy to read, has delightful characters, rich historic details and a tender romance story. Sundin balances out the historical parts of the narrative with wit, faith and personal growth making this prime Christian fiction. It is not too heavy and not too lighthearted either… I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy WWII fiction and romances. It is clean and appropriate for ages 15+.
*I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell at Baker Publishing Group. All thoughts below are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
This story may be my favorite yet!
When Twilight Breaks brings 1938’s Germany to life as readers meet the confident, empowered Evelyn Brand, a foreign correspondent with the American News Service. Evelyn’s character was easy to love, with her witty remarks and strong, capable assuredness in her job as she works hard to prove herself in a predominantly man’s world. Seeing the struggles she faced as a female writer and witnessing her heart’s awakening was rewarding and inspiring.
Peter was the perfect gentleman and I couldn’t help but fall in love with his determination, friendship and values. I enjoyed watching his character evolve too as this story moved along. The chemistry between these two characters was brimming over the top and I simply couldn’t wait to see how their story came alive. The added suspense Sundin wove into this story further captivated me.
Sundin is a master at weaving historical facts and details into her stories, making readers feel as if they’re right there in that era, witnessing the changes, the struggles, the hurt, the strife, the joys and the pain. At a time when our world was changing rapidly, and sometimes without sense, she brings alive the concerns and wonder people had, displaying it all in a way that is faith-based, inspired and even a little heartbreaking. I was truly amazed at how relevant and significant this story was to the times we are living in today as Sundin’s words rang true for me, personally, in the here and now.
I loved this story and believe it is top notch for it’s genre. The novel is well written, easy to read, has delightful characters, rich historic details and a tender romance story. Sundin balances out the historical parts of the narrative with wit, faith and personal growth making this prime Christian fiction. It is not too heavy and not too lighthearted either… I highly recommend this story to readers who enjoy WWII fiction and romances. It is clean and appropriate for ages 15+.
*I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell at Baker Publishing Group. All thoughts below are my own and I was not required to post a positive review.
nsteltz's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
janareviewsfromthestacks's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
There are so many wonderful, quote-able lines in this book. Annotating while reading seems to be pretty trendy these days, and while I usually stay away from doing a lot of writing or highlighting in my books, this is one that I could easily cover! I borrowed a copy from the library to begin with but I hope to get my own copy and mark it up.
I wanted to read this book when it first came out in 2021, but life got in the way and I didn’t get to it until I was waiting for a copy of Sundin’s newest book, <i>Embers in the London Sky</i>. Even though I have enjoyed every book I have read by Sarah Sundin, I was surprised by how good this one is! Evelyn and Peter are unlike any characters I’ve read about before. Evelyn is a reporter with a reputation that could get her in trouble if she isn’t careful, and Peter a graduate student who is also closer to trouble then he ought to be in 1938 Germany. As they navigate their careers, social connections, and the tense political atmosphere, they must re-evaluate their priorities time and again. We see Germany change almost overnight as Hitler rises and friends turn into enemies. The situations they face are heartbreaking, especially Evelyn. In the end, Sundin’s masterful writing brings out a story of adventure, romance, and education all in one.
The Verdict?
<i>When Twilight Breaks</i> is a favorite among favorites for me. As I said above, I look forward to owning my own copy so that I can highlight the best lines, of which there are many. Everything just works really well in this book for me. The story moves fairly quickly, but we still take the time to get to know the protagonists as well as their friends and other characters along the way. I am so glad that I read this book and highly recommend it to all fans of historical fiction. Five shining stars.
This review and more bookish content originally posted on my blog, <a href="https://reviewsfromthestacks.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/book-review-when-twilight-breaks-by-sarah-sundin/">Reviews From the Stacks</a>.
I wanted to read this book when it first came out in 2021, but life got in the way and I didn’t get to it until I was waiting for a copy of Sundin’s newest book, <i>Embers in the London Sky</i>. Even though I have enjoyed every book I have read by Sarah Sundin, I was surprised by how good this one is! Evelyn and Peter are unlike any characters I’ve read about before. Evelyn is a reporter with a reputation that could get her in trouble if she isn’t careful, and Peter a graduate student who is also closer to trouble then he ought to be in 1938 Germany. As they navigate their careers, social connections, and the tense political atmosphere, they must re-evaluate their priorities time and again. We see Germany change almost overnight as Hitler rises and friends turn into enemies. The situations they face are heartbreaking, especially Evelyn. In the end, Sundin’s masterful writing brings out a story of adventure, romance, and education all in one.
The Verdict?
<i>When Twilight Breaks</i> is a favorite among favorites for me. As I said above, I look forward to owning my own copy so that I can highlight the best lines, of which there are many. Everything just works really well in this book for me. The story moves fairly quickly, but we still take the time to get to know the protagonists as well as their friends and other characters along the way. I am so glad that I read this book and highly recommend it to all fans of historical fiction. Five shining stars.
This review and more bookish content originally posted on my blog, <a href="https://reviewsfromthestacks.wordpress.com/2024/04/12/book-review-when-twilight-breaks-by-sarah-sundin/">Reviews From the Stacks</a>.
emmaloren's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I love historical fiction and thought the overall plot was excellent. There was some really interesting character development particularly as it was set just on the precipice of WW2.
However, I didn't realise it was Christian fiction, which was off-putting. Also, the main character's continuous pushback on her romantic connection was overdone and grew to be irritating.
There was also a bit of a "not all men" moment which I found ignorant.
However, I didn't realise it was Christian fiction, which was off-putting. Also, the main character's continuous pushback on her romantic connection was overdone and grew to be irritating.
There was also a bit of a "not all men" moment which I found ignorant.
a_kira's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
juliaisreadingg's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Usually I'm a big Sarah Sundin fan, but this one just didn't grab me the way other books of hers have.
The first half or so was slow and honestly kind of uninteresting, which is odd because in theory the premise is intriguing. Evelyn trying to prove herself as a female correspondent in Nazi Germany, Peter slowly awakening to the injustice of thr Nazi regime but using his role as a professor of German to go under cover to feed information to Evelyn. Yet somehow, I found myself bored for about half the book.
It really did pick up in the second half, what with having targets on their backs. Yet overall, though I did come to love them together, Evelyn and Peter were just kind of, there to me? I didn't love them, but I didn't dislike them in any way. They were more like people you make casual conversation with when you're out and about.
As an aside, Paul Aubrey is one of my favorite Sarah Sundin heroes so his appearance in this book was welcome. Especially getting to meet his first wife.
The first half or so was slow and honestly kind of uninteresting, which is odd because in theory the premise is intriguing. Evelyn trying to prove herself as a female correspondent in Nazi Germany, Peter slowly awakening to the injustice of thr Nazi regime but using his role as a professor of German to go under cover to feed information to Evelyn. Yet somehow, I found myself bored for about half the book.
It really did pick up in the second half, what with having targets on their backs. Yet overall, though I did come to love them together, Evelyn and Peter were just kind of, there to me? I didn't love them, but I didn't dislike them in any way. They were more like people you make casual conversation with when you're out and about.
As an aside, Paul Aubrey is one of my favorite Sarah Sundin heroes so his appearance in this book was welcome. Especially getting to meet his first wife.
hayleym24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
This book was good and touched on quite a few social issues amongst the Nazi’s rise to power in Germany and the increasing violence towards the Jewish people. The writing and historical research were great. There is a lot of religion in this book though unlike the other novel of hers I read. So much so that it felt like it got in the way of the storyline and was being pushed a little too hard. Just not my thing.
library_of_kindredspirits's review
5.0
'When Twilight Breaks' was both exciting and romantic, as well as insightful and informative. Watching Peter and Evelyn's story unfold was a kind of satisfaction only a good writer can deliver.
Peter and Evelyn both felt very real and relatable to me. Through Peter's perspective I gained a lot of insight into the Nazis' deception. It was also very interesting to see him wrestle with his political beliefs and loyalties. Evelyn was also a very fun character to read. She had a very distinct personality that came out through her dialogue, actions, and even her style. The way she dressed to make a statement about where she stands politically was such a great writing choice! I particularly loved reading Evelyn and Peter's budding relationship as they supported one another in the challenges they faced. They complimented one another in so many ways, and their love story was so pure and organic.
Although, this book started out at a slower pace, towards the end the stakes rose and it was hard to put down. I remember reading pretty late into the night, desperate to see Evelyn and Peter get their happy ending.
I always enjoy Sarah Sundin's work and 'When Twilight Breaks' just renews my appreciation for her insightful and compelling writing style. I'd recommend it to lovers of WWII fiction and historical fiction alike.
Peter and Evelyn both felt very real and relatable to me. Through Peter's perspective I gained a lot of insight into the Nazis' deception. It was also very interesting to see him wrestle with his political beliefs and loyalties. Evelyn was also a very fun character to read. She had a very distinct personality that came out through her dialogue, actions, and even her style. The way she dressed to make a statement about where she stands politically was such a great writing choice! I particularly loved reading Evelyn and Peter's budding relationship as they supported one another in the challenges they faced. They complimented one another in so many ways, and their love story was so pure and organic.
Although, this book started out at a slower pace, towards the end the stakes rose and it was hard to put down. I remember reading pretty late into the night, desperate to see Evelyn and Peter get their happy ending.
I always enjoy Sarah Sundin's work and 'When Twilight Breaks' just renews my appreciation for her insightful and compelling writing style. I'd recommend it to lovers of WWII fiction and historical fiction alike.
jennbehindthebooks's review
4.0
WOW. Just wow.
That was such a sweet story at times and such an intense story at other times! I loved the firebrand character, Evelyn! And Peter, well he's just a bit of a mystery at times - not knowing where exactly he stands on things!
I have to admit there were some rather slow parts but the ending made up for it! All in all, it was a good read! The first I've read by Sarah Sundin and I'm very excited to get to move straight into Until Leaves Fall in Paris!
That was such a sweet story at times and such an intense story at other times! I loved the firebrand character, Evelyn! And Peter, well he's just a bit of a mystery at times - not knowing where exactly he stands on things!
I have to admit there were some rather slow parts but the ending made up for it! All in all, it was a good read! The first I've read by Sarah Sundin and I'm very excited to get to move straight into Until Leaves Fall in Paris!