When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin (Highly Recommend)
Updated: Aug 24, 2021
(This might be my favorite book photo to date, since I got to use my grandfather's actual 1941 newspapers.)
About the Book
Munich, 1938
Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession and 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 does not report truthfully, she'll betray the oppressed and fail to wake up the folks back home.
Peter Lang is an American graduate student 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.
As the world marches relentlessly toward war, Evelyn and Peter are on a collision course with destiny.
My Thoughts
How do I describe this book? It was crackling with chemistry, loaded with history come alive (never stuffy) and I loved the strong characters. Evelyn and Peter are both mature, with very different political views, which was invigorating to read and a good reminder of how it's healthy to discuss our differences and respect each other. I loved the world of journalism and typewriters. Evelyn's wrestlings with being a woman in a man's world and her struggle to balance her identity and learning to trust someone else and rely on them was 10/10 well-written. I related to her journey so much and think that the author hit the nail on the head with the balance of relationship and personal identity.
And Peter. He was a bit misguided in the beginning but, oh, how I loved his wise, tender patient pursuing of Evelyn, his masculinity, and the way he led by example. (Probably because he reminded me of my own man in some ways.)
I can't give away spoilers but something happens in this story that created my most favorite type of love story of all time and I was squealing out loud with delight at how perfect it was.
In 1938, Hitler was just rising to popularity and Germany was quickly losing freedom. (Honestly, the history reminded me of cancel culture in a very chilling way.) Sarah Sundin is the queen of WWII research, making the era come alive. She also creates characters that live in your head. I also love the Christian thread that runs through all of her stories -- never preachy or overdone, but adding such texture and depth.
Add this gem to your fiction reading list. Promise you won't be disappointed.
5 out of 5 stars
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher and happily provided my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not required to write a positive review.*