Sarah Sundin

Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home. In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind. This electric standalone novel from fan-favorite Sarah Sundin puts you right at the intersection of pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping romance.

When Twilight Breaks

Heather Wood

When Twilight Breaks is a fascinating look inside Germany on the cusp of WWII as two American professionals navigate foreign and personal relations and their circle of who they can trust grows ever smaller.
Sundin captured details about the culture and tensions well, giving the reader an immersive experience. It was interesting to consider views of various Americans and other Europeans as well as dissenting German voices of the time. This novel was suspenseful and shocking without being graphic, and I think Sundin nailed these in the right proportion for my own preferences.
The hero, Peter, is one of my very favorite types: intelligent, hard working, kind, teachable, sacrificial. I do like the bookish sort that wears glasses! His faith grew over the course of the book and he prayed more often as his character arc progressed, depending on the Lord's strength instead of his own to get them out of their pickle, but he has a few good fistfights of his own.
I had more trouble with Evelyn because I do not relate to heroines that are hell bent on being anti-feminine and prize elbowing their way through a predominantly male career above relationships. It's been done so often that it feels tropey to me. With that said, I do think Sundin did a good job with the character and with her relationship with Peter. The way the two of them interacted, learned to rely on each other, and were so instrumental in each other's growth is where this book shone. I don't want to give spoilers but the way Peter respected and treated Evelyn was enough to melt me into a puddle. (And was why she was so frustrating!)
However, because of their personalities, this book was less romantic and had far less kissing than I've come to expect after the Sunrise over Normandy series.
This is a solid Christian historical fiction from Sundin, and I do recommend it to fans of the genre.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but I was not compensated and all opinions are my own.

When Twilight Breaks

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