Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 166
February 11, 2021
Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz
In Jamestown, Virginia, in 1634, Selah Hopewell is considered a spinster, but she doesn’t mind. She enjoys her work helping in her father’s store in the growing colony. She’s also responsible for settling a shipload of “tobacco brides,” young ladies sent from England to find husbands among the many bachelors.
The most eligible bachelor, Alexander Renick, is not easily caught. Still mourning the loss of his Powhatan wife and busy running Virginia’s best tobacco plantation and mediating between the Powhatan and the colonists, Alexander has no time for courting.
As tensions rise in the colony, long-time friends Selah and Alexander are drawn together in their quest to prevent disaster. But can they overcome their stubborn ways and old hurts to find the love that’s evaded them?
Laura Frantz‘s novels are always a treat, and Tidewater Bride is no exception. The lush writing, well-researched history, and characters with depth always draw me in. I loved this journey to colonial Jamestown, insight into life in that era, the respectful portrayal of Native Americans, and the sobering look at the shift from the use of indentured servants to the use of slaves. And the romance! Sigh. Selah and Alexander’s slow-growing, slow-burning romance will leave you sighing. Don’t miss this book!
The post Tidewater Bride by Laura Frantz first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 10, 2021
A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel
Reeling from her mother’s death, Moira Doherty decides to fulfill her mother’s last wish – for Moira to leave Boston and take a teaching job in Donegal, Ireland. Having grown up hearing her mother’s charming stories of the village of Ballymann, Moira agrees.
There she meets an assortment of characters, warm Brid and merry Sinead and sinister Buach O’Boyle – and handsome thatcher Sean McFadden, who keeps popping up when least expected. But Moira begins to hear whisperings about her mother, and many who welcomed her suddenly turn their backs on her. One of her older students, Aedach, seems determined to destroy Moira. When catastrophe falls on the young man, can she extend mercy to him – at the risk of her own life? And can she find out the truth about her mother before her own reputation is destroyed, and her dream along with it?
Rich in atmosphere, deep in meaning, and sweet in nature. Jennifer Deibel’s A Dance in Donegal captivated me. Moira’s courage and compassion and Sean’s solid strength make them endearing characters, and the supporting characters were both flawed and charming. I truly loved this story.
The post A Dance in Donegal by Jennifer Deibel first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 9, 2021
Lethal Intent by Cara Putman
Caroline Bragg is excited about her new job as legal counsel at Praecursoria, a biotechnology company working on novel cancer therapies. Meanwhile, her new boyfriend, ex-football player Brandon Lancaster, is trying to keep his group foster home afloat in a sea of changing regulations – all while being present for young Bethany, a cancer patient and a subject in a Praecursoria trial.
Then scientists at Praecursoria begin dying in accidents. And Bethany’s response to her therapy defies explanation, leading to speculation about what she actually received. But for Caroline to figure out what’s going on means battling the baffling science, even more baffling scientists, a gung ho CEO – and a killer intent on stopping her.
I’ve long been a fan of Cara Putman‘s writing, and her background as a lawyer brings her legal thrillers to life. Since I’m a former pharmacist and my husband worked in medical research with biotechnology companies, I was eager to read Lethal Intent. Cara nailed it! The intrigue and rivalries, the pressures between various divisions, the push and pull between patient care and scientific need, even the arguing over patents – all true to life! But of course, we don’t read fiction for an accurate description of the world of medical research! We read for story, and Lethal Intent keeps you flipping pages. Caroline is a sharp young lawyer with enough vulnerability to make her best friend material, and Brandon is an adorable big teddy-bear of a guy. Their romance is sweet, and the thriller is – thrilling! Grab a copy. You’ll be glad you did.
The post Lethal Intent by Cara Putman first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 8, 2021
Be Our Valentine Giveaway
Sweet treat for Valentine’s Day! I’m teaming up with some of my favorite authors to give away FIVE historical novels that will carry you away to other times and places! We’re giving away…
The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli
The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson
Night Bird Calling by Cathy Gohlke
No Journey Too Far by Carrie Turansky
When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin
Giveaway runs February 8-14, 2021. Winner will be chosen February 15 and notified by email.
The post Be Our Valentine Giveaway first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 5, 2021
When Twilight Breaks – Tour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
To celebrate the release of When Twilight Breaks, I’m conducting a virtual photo tour of locations in the story. Since COVID-19 led to the cancelation of my research trip to Germany, this is a virtual photo tour, with photos from my family’s 2007 trip, photos donated by friends, and stock photos.
Because it’s virtual, I have virtual travel buddies! These buddies participated in the book’s preorder campaign and donated their personal photos. My lovely daughter, Anna Sundin, came up with the idea of virtual travel buddies AND she Photoshopped all the pictures! I think I’ll keep her.
Don’t forget to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway—I’m giving away a few items related to the story.
Also, please see the rest of the photo tour!
Tour of Garmisch-PartenkirchenIn When Twilight Breaks, Evelyn Lang and her best friend, Libby White, visit the scenic Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a hike. There they run into the hero of the story, Peter Lang.
Home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
In Garmisch-Partenkirchen with travel buddy Emily S. (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
Olympic Ski StadiumThe town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen was the site of the 1936 Olympics, and in the novel, Evelyn can see the stadium and the ski jump ramp.
Inside the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
Ski jump ramp in the Olympic Ski Stadium in Garmisch-Partenkirchen with travel buddy Elodie Conrad (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
Partnach Gorge
The Partnach Gorge is an absolutely beautiful hike and it makes for a scenic and memorable moment for Peter and Evelyn in the story.
The Partnach Gorge, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with travel buddy Jamie Mallard (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
The Partnach Gorge, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with travel buddy RangerBear (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007; RangerBear courtesy of Karen Barnett)
Path inside the Partnach Gorge, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
The Partnach Gorge, Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Photo courtesy of David Sundin, July 2007)
The Partnach Gorge, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, with my original travel buddies in 2007—they’re all much taller now!—Matthew, Anna, and Stephen (Photo courtesy of David Sundin, July 2007)
Thank you for virtually traveling with me! And thank you to all who donated photos of themselves and their travel photos for these posts. And don’t forget to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway!
The post When Twilight Breaks - Tour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 4, 2021
When Twilight Breaks – Tour of Munich, Part 3
To celebrate the release of When Twilight Breaks, I’m conducting a virtual photo tour of locations in the story. Since COVID-19 led to the cancelation of my research trip to Germany, this is a virtual photo tour, with photos from my family’s 2007 trip, photos donated by friends, and stock photos.
Because it’s virtual, I have virtual travel buddies! These buddies participated in the book’s preorder campaign and donated their personal photos. My lovely daughter, Anna Sundin, came up with the idea of virtual travel buddies AND she Photoshopped all the pictures! I think I’ll keep her.
Don’t forget to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway—I’m giving away a few items related to the story.
Also, please return for more photos!
Tour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (February 5)
Tour of Munich, Part 3Today I’ll show photos from locations in Munich where scenes take place in When Twilight Breaks.
English GardenMunich’s Englische Garten (English Garden) is a large park on the lines of New York’s Central Park or San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. In When Twilight Breaks, foreign correspondent Evelyn Brand often meets her informants in the English Garden after dark.
English Garden with travel buddy Crystal Grant (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
English Garden with travel buddy Kailey Bechtel (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
Hofbräuhaus
The Hofbräuhaus is a Munich landmark originally built in 1589. In When Twilight Breaks, Peter and Evelyn enjoy a meal there.
Hofbräuhaus in Munich, with travel buddy Becca Allison (Photo courtesy of Ashley Bain)
Odeonsplatz
In When Twilight Breaks, Evelyn covers an event on the Odeonsplatz—a Nazi ceremony at the Feldherrnhalle.
Morgan Tarpley Smith at the Odeonsplatz in Munich (left)—with travel buddy Molly Elizabeth (right) and Sarah Sundin added virtually (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
OktoberfestWhat virtual trip to Munich would be complete without the Oktoberfest? In When Twilight Breaks, Peter and Evelyn attend the Oktoberfest—but their time is less than festive due to looming danger.
View of the Oktoberfest grounds (Photo courtesy of Jill Oishi Reichner)
Oktoberfest (Photo courtesy of Jill Oishi Reichner)
The Hofbräuhaus tent at Oktoberfest with travel buddy Corianna Meyers (Photo courtesy of Jill Oishi Reichner)
Inside an Oktoberfest tent with travel buddy Christianne McCall (Photo courtesy of Jill Oishi Reichner)
Don’t forget to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway, and come back tomorrow as we travel to scenic Garmisch-Partenkirchen!
The post When Twilight Breaks - Tour of Munich, Part 3 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 3, 2021
When Twilight Breaks – Tour of Munich, Part 2
To celebrate the release of When Twilight Breaks, I’m conducting a virtual photo tour of locations in the story. Since COVID-19 led to the cancelation of my research trip to Germany, this is a virtual photo tour, with photos from my family’s 2007 trip, photos donated by friends, and stock photos.
Because it’s virtual, I have virtual travel buddies! These buddies participated in the book’s preorder campaign and donated their personal photos. My lovely daughter, Anna Sundin, came up with the idea of virtual travel buddies AND she Photoshopped all the pictures! I think I’ll keep her.
Don’t forget to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway—I’m giving away a few items related to the story.
Also, please return for more photos!
Tour of Munich, Part 3 (February 4)
Tour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (February 5)
Tour of Munich, Part 2Today I’ll show photos from some of Peter Lang and Evelyn Brand’s favorite places in Munich.
University of MunichWe first meet graduate student Peter Lang at the University of Munich (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), where he’s teaching and conducting research for his PhD in German. It was an honor to set the story at this university, because my grandfather studied there in 1935-36 for his junior year abroad—which inspired this novel—and he was instrumental in reinstating the Junior Year in Munich program after the war.
The University of Munich, viewed from the Siegestor (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
The University of Munich with travel buddy Debbie Pruss (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, author: Wikiolo, February 2017)
Fountain at the University of Munich with travel buddy Laura Nagelkirk (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, author: Rufus46, August 2015)
Atrium in the University of Munich (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, author: Kt80, March 2010)
The university is famous for the White Rose, a group of courageous students and professors who published anti-Nazi leaflets in 1942-43 (my novel is set in 1938, well before this). Many members of the White Rose, including brother and sister leaders Hans and Sophie Scholl, paid with their lives. They were caught scattering leaflets in the atrium pictured above. Below is a memorial to the White Rose at the university.
White Rose Memorial at the University of Munich (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, author: Andreas Bohnenstengel, August 2015)
SiegestorClose to the university stands the Siegestor, or Victory Gate, which is pictured on the cover of When Twilight Breaks. The Siegestor was destroyed during World War II, then rebuilt. The front was rebuilt as before, with the inscription “Dem Bayerischen Heeren” (To the Bavarian Heroes). The back was rebuilt with a bare edifice and the inscription “Dem Sieg geweiht, vom Krieg zerstört, zum Frieden mahnend.” (Dedicated to victory, destroyed by war, urging peace).
Siegestor, Munich, Germany, with travel buddy Katie Lindsey (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
Siegestor, Munich, Germany, showing inscription on front (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
Siegestor, Munich, Germany, showing inscription on rear (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
GärtnerplatzMany scenes in When Twilight Breaks take place on the Gärtnerplatz, a colorful little square which is home to (fictional) Herr Gold’s café.
Gärtnerplatz in Munich, Germany, with travel buddy Anna Ryan (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, author: Andreas Praefcke, April 2008)
Bavarian State Theater on the Gärtnerplatz in Munich, Germany, with travel buddy Lisa Hudson (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, author: Burkhard Mücke, June 2018)
ViktualienmarktIn the novel, Peter and Evelyn often go shopping in the Viktualienmarkt, the famous open-air market.
Looking down on the Viktualienmarkt from the tower of St. Peterskirche (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
Viktualienmarkt with St. Peterskirche in the background, with travel buddy Debbie Troxell (Photo courtesy of Jill Oishi Reichner)
Viktualienmarkt, Munich, Germany, with travel buddy Allyson Wieland (Photo courtesy of Jill Oishi Reichner)
Viktualienmarkt, Munich, Germany, with travel buddy Janet Brantley (Photo courtesy of Pauline Trummel)
Don’t forget to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway, and come back tomorrow for more photos of Munich!
The post When Twilight Breaks - Tour of Munich, Part 2 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 2, 2021
When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway
To celebrate the release of When Twilight Breaks, I’m giving away a prize pack of items related to the story! Come join me on Facebook Live Video on February 2, 2021 at 10 am PST/1 pm EST where I’ll describe the items and their significance to the story! The video will be available for viewing afterward as well.
Also, please join me this week on my blog for a photo tour of locations from When Twilight Breaks, including Munich and Garmisch-Partenkirchen!
To celebrate this novel about an American foreign correspondent and a graduate student living in Germany in 1938, I’m giving away a package including:
The giveaway is open February 2-8, 2021. US mailing addresses only please. The winner will be announced here on my blog on February 9, 2021.
Enter the giveaway in the Rafflecopter form below. To enter please subscribe to my email newsletter (current subscribers count!). You can earn an extra optional point by following me on Instagram.
The post When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
February 1, 2021
When Twilight Breaks – Tour of Munich, Part 1
To celebrate the release of When Twilight Breaks, I’m conducting a virtual photo tour of locations in the story. Since COVID-19 led to the cancelation of my research trip to Germany, this is a virtual photo tour, with photos from my family’s 2007 trip, photos donated by friends, and stock photos.
Because it’s virtual, I have virtual travel buddies! These buddies participated in the book’s preorder campaign and donated their personal photos. My lovely daughter, Anna Sundin, came up with the idea of virtual travel buddies AND she Photoshopped all the pictures! I think I’ll keep her.
Come back throughout the week for the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway (starting February 2), where I’ll be giving away a few items related to the story.
Also, please return for more photos!
Tour of Munich, Part 2 (February 3)
Tour of Munich, Part 3 (February 4)
Tour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen (February 5)
Tour of Munich, Part 1—MarienplatzMarienplatz is the central square in Munich, Germany, dating back to 1158. Many of Munich’s most famous and scenic spots are in this location. In When Twilight Breaks, the hero of the novel, Peter Lang, is very fond of walking through Marienplatz and enjoying the Glockenspiel.
Altes RathausThe Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) stands on the east side of Marienplatz and dates to 1392, although it’s been altered several times throughout the ages.
Altes Rathaus with travel buddy Susan Newcomb (Photo courtesy of Pauline Trummel)
Altes Rathaus with travel buddy Sarah Holman (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Lare, June 2015)
Neues Rathaus
On the north side of Marienplatz lies the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall), built in 1874. The famous Glockenspiel is located on the tower of the Neues Rathaus and delights tourists daily.
Looking down on the Marienplatz and the Neues Rathaus, viewed from the tower of St. Peterskirche (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
Neues Rathaus with travel buddy Andrea Balderrama (Photo courtesy of Rebecca Lare, June 2015)
Neues Rathaus with travel buddy Morgan Tarpley Smith—see Glockenspiel in center of tower (Photo courtesy of Pauline Trummel)
The Glockenspiel in the Neues Rathaus, under construction (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
Frauenkirche
Just off the Marienplatz to the west rises the Frauenkirche, Munich’s most famous landmark. The Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady was built in the fifteenth century.
The Frauenkirche and the Neues Rathaus, viewed from the tower of St. Peterskirche, with travel buddy Michelle Ule (Photo courtesy of Morgan Tarpley Smith)
The Frauenkirche viewed from St. Peterskirche, with travel buddy Gloria Moseley (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
St. Peterskirche
Just off the Marienplatz to the south stands St. Peterskirche (St. Peter’s Church), known by the locals as Alter Peter (Old Peter), the oldest recorded church in Munich, dating back to the twelfth century. The current building dates to 1368 with the tower added in the seventeenth century. The 299-foot tower offers splendid views of the city. In When Twilight Breaks, Peter Lang reveals that his Munich-born mother had this church in mind when naming her third-born son.
St. Peterskirche with travel buddy Beth Smith (Photo via Wikimedia Commons, October 2006, author: Softeis)
The tower of St. Peterskirche (Photo courtesy of Pauline Trummel)
Looking down on St. Peterskirche from the tower (Photo courtesy of Stephen Sundin, July 2007)
Come back tomorrow to enter the When Twilight Breaks Release Day Giveaway – and throughout the week for more photos!
The post When Twilight Breaks - Tour of Munich, Part 1 first appeared on http://www.sarahsundin.com.
January 12, 2021
Today in World War II History—January 12, 1941
80 Years Ago—January 12, 1941: A communist “People’s Convention” is held in London (since the USSR is allied with Germany at this time, British communists oppose the war effort).
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