Sarah Sundin returns with a powerful story of refugees in WWII London & BBC reporters

“Embers in the London Sky” a novel by Sarah Sundin (Revell, a division of the Baker Publishing Group)

This book is very close to my heart, as the main hero is a radio broadcaster for the BBC during WWII. Hugh Collingwood is caught between his family’s relentless insistence that he quit “wasting his time” and get serious about being part of the landed gentry, and his love for bringing the stories of people during the Blitz, even putting himself in harm’s way to get the story.

The heroine of the book is a widow from the Netherlands, Aleida van der Zee Martens. Married to an abusive and controlling husband, and traveling with their 3-year-old son who has no fingers on his right hand (to her husband’s disgust), they are fleeing their nation as the Nazis attack. While she is overcome and must rest, her husband gives their son to the first couple they meet who are headed to London! When she awakens, she is horrified, and he is nonchalant about it. The Stukas strafe the road and he is killed, without ever telling Aleida anything about the strangers who have her son. When she gets to London, she contacts her aunt and uncle, and she begins a relentless search for whoever might have her young son. Days turn into weeks, and into months. Aleida gets a job with the refugee relocation program, which is evacuating children out of London while the nightly bombardment continues. She hopes to find him, but it seems hopeless, and her advisor is rude and unfeeling.

When she meets Hugh, he is kind and understanding. He wants to help her by telling her story over the BBC, but must get past a supervisor who does not respect his work or him. Hugh continues to do excellent work, putting his own life in danger at times. He is drawn to the lovely and brave Aleida. Dare she trust another man? Will his aristocratic parents see Aleida as a ragged refugee who they don’t want in their country? And where is little Theo? Will he ever be reunited with his mother, and will he even remember her?

It is a powerful tale, well-written and filled with dangers and simple joys. Sarah Sundin never disappoints. Sarah Sundin is one of the very best historical novelists; she does exacting research to be sure that her characters and situations are absolutely authentic. Her recent novels have been a departure from her previous trilogies, but they are marvelous, too.

We welcome back Sarah to ON THE BOOKSHELF on WTBF-AM/FM for Mother’s Day!