My Review:
“Midnight on the Scottish Shore” by Sarah Sundin is a gripping, heartfelt story that I will not soon forget! It is a novel about World War II featuring Scotland, lighthouses, the Double Agent program, and memorable characters. I was immediately drawn to the Scottish setting and the beautiful cover with the lighthouse. The setting did not disappoint, as I felt like I traveled to the windswept, rugged coast of the Orkney Islands and walked and bicycled with the characters across the lonely, haunting moors. I loved learning about the rich Scottish traditions. I now want to visit the Orkney Islands myself!
Our main male character, Lachlan Mackenzie, wears a kilt, has an accent, plays the bagpipes overlooking the sea, dances traditional Scottish dances, and recites poetry! What is not to love? Lachlan also is noble, honorable and wants to do the right thing. When faced with having to purposefully sabotage his own naval base to help the Double Cross program, what will he do?
Cilla van der Zee is a smart, lovable, whipper-snapper of a heroine who brings joy to Lachlan’s life. Through a series of events, she becomes a spy in the Double Cross program. I learned so much about MI5’s Double Cross program and loved reading about spies, double agents, and sabotage. The book was not too heavy or sad like some World War II books can be. The novel was obviously well researched and contained so much wonderful history as well as an emotionally moving story. There are wonderful lessons of duty versus mercy, forgiveness, family, finding freedom inside and outside of the trap and the truth that sets us free. Faith is also woven wonderfully into the story! This has been one of my favorite books of the year so far and I highly recommend it!
Content: I give this book a PG to low PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content are: someone smells of alcohol; a character works in a bar; characters drink alcohol; a character drank (and got drunk) and stole things in his past; someone jokes that they’ll have a lover; someone is bullied; someone curses, but the words aren’t actually written; abuse in the past, possibly se*ual; someone possibly tried to unalive themselves in the past; reference to su*cide in the author’s note.
TW: bullying; drowning in the past; abuse in the past, possibly se*ual; someone possibly tried to unalive themselves in the past; reference to su*cide; su*cide mission.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
The only way Cilla van der Zee can survive the German occupation of the Netherlands is to do the unthinkable--become a spy for the Nazis in Britain. She soothes her conscience with a plan to abandon her mission and instead aid the Allies. Her scheme is thwarted when naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie finds her along the Scottish shore and turns her in to be executed.
But perhaps she is more useful alive than dead. British intelligence sends her to Scotland to radio misleading messages to Germany, messages about the naval base at Scapa Flow to be crafted by Lachlan. At the station in the lighthouse at Dunnet Head, Lachlan and Cilla must work together if the war is to be won. But how can he trust a woman who arrived on his shores as a tool of the enemy--a woman certain to betray both him and the Allied cause?
Master of World War II fiction Sarah Sundin takes you to the wild Scottish seaside, where danger lurks under the surface of the water--and in the depths of the human heart--for a WWII tale you won't soon forget.
AUTHOR BIO
Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks, Until Leaves Fall in Paris, The Sound of Light, Embers in the London Sky, and the popular WWII series Sunrise at Normandy, among others. She is a Christy Award winner and a Carol Award winner, and her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. Sarah lives in Southern California. Visit SarahSundin.com for more information
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