🤍Thank you @austenprose and @revellfiction for the gifted copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore🤍

I loved this WWII book! A German spy who wishes to work for the Allies and the lieutenant who turns her into the authorities.

Sarah Sundin blends the tension of war, the mystery and intrigue of being a spy, and blossoming new romance in a way that is simply addictive.

If you are looking for a WWII book, any of her series are worth picking up!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
Steam: kissing

I absolutely loved reading this book--as per usual, Sarah Sundin knocked it out of the park. The characters are relatable, enjoyable to read, and there are layer upon layer of stories and character arcs going on between the main characters and even secondary characters. From a historical perspective, I've never read anything about Scotland's involvement in WWII, so this was a unique book for sure (and one my little Scotland-loving heart was so excited for!) This book has strong faith elements, moral conundrums, and one of the most heart-pounding finales I've read in historical fiction. Holy thunder. This was one book that I wasn't entirely certain would have a happy ending, and she kept me guessing up until the very end. There are double-crosses, TRIPLE crosses, plot twists, really in-depth questions of faith and ethic in war, and more. Definitely pick up a copy if you enjoy Sundin's books!

I read an eARC from Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

Historical fiction is one of the top genres I read, especially stories set around WWII. Midnight on the Scottish Shore did not disappoint. This book was a historical spy fiction, with a side of romance.

This story had me on the edge of my seat in the beginning. The tyranny, oppression, and cruelty of that time are staggering. Cilla, our main character, makes a bold decision to try and escape. Only to be captured as she reaches the Scottish shore, facing possible execution as a spy. Cilla accepts being turned as a double agent and begins working for England.

The middle part of the story is an interesting look into counter espionage and the life of a double agent. But, this is also where the romance starts to build. Cilla is working with a handsome lieutenant to feed information to the Germans. He despises her at first, believing she really was a spy for the Germans, but over time, feelings start to develop.

The latter part of the book builds up to this heart-pounding moment, which definitely left me wondering the fate of Cilla. Would she survive? Would she be able to get a happily ever after?

The history of Scotland's efforts during the war was incredibly interesting. Oftentimes, I read stories that are set right in the middle of the battles, but it's interesting to read about what was happening away from the battles as well.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story was intriguing, and the characters were excellent. Beyond the WWII aspect of this story, there were themes of family, faith, truth, and forgiveness, and they played into the overall story and character development so well.

Witty banter, heart pounding suspense, a sizzling slow burn grumpy/sunshine romance & inspirational faith make In Midnight on the Scottish Shore unforgettable! Sarah Sundin brilliantly brings 1940’s Scotland to life in this engaging enemies to friends to more WWII romance. I adored this story so much! The charming characters, intriguing story, & lovely Scottish setting made it impossible to put down.

Cilla van der Zee decides the only way to escape the German occupied Netherlands is to work for the enemy as a spy. Her plan to arrive on British shores & promptly disappear is foiled when a handsome Scottish Lieutenant finds her on his beach. Faced with imprisonment or death, Cilla tries to convince MI5 that she’s really on their side & agrees to be a double agent. But, can she convince the disbelieving, gruff lieutenant that she’s not his enemy.

Naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie doesn’t trust easily especially after his own brother’s betrayal. When he sees a “selkie” wash up on the Orkney shores, he’s shocked to discover a beautiful German spy. Forced to work with Cilla at a nearby lighthouse, he begrudgingly accepts his duty. Soon the delightful woman worms her way into his heart & helps him find healing & reconciliation. But, with the threat from German forces ever present, can he keep them both safe as they engage in a deadly game of subterfuge & espionage.

Cilla’s & Lachlan’s romance is a new favorite! I love grumpy/sunshine romances & combine with forced proximity, enemies to lovers, & heart-stopping suspense… sheer bliss! Cilla’s a complex yet lovable ray of sunshine. The quiet of the lighthouse where she’s being held forces a lot of self examination & as she proves her courage & fortitude, she finds new self respect & love.

Lachlan’s a serious Scot focused on his mission & doing what’s right. Cilla encourages him to examine his beliefs & find mercy when it comes to her & his brother. I loved Cilla’s fun loving, sunshine to Lachlan’s serious, gruff Scots persona. I enjoyed all their interactions & the way they challenged each other. Their slow burn romance sizzled with every slight touch & smoldering look. The Scottish traditions woven in were so delightful & I especially enjoyed Cilla’s & Lachlan’s dance.

The suspense was off the charts as each mission of sabotage is fraught with danger. The tension builds to a thrilling conclusion that had me quickly turning the pages. I honestly wasn’t sure how things would end. Each suspenseful moment is expertly balanced with romance & faith beautifully entwined throughout.

Highest of recommendations for this new favorite historical romance! While this book is easily read as a standalone, it does have ties to previous books & I enjoyed seeing familiar characters. I can’t wait to read more about Cilla & Lachlan hopefully in the next book. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

This World War II novel is set in Scotland, not a setting for this time period that I have often encountered in my reading. It was interesting to see the varied reaction of the Scots to serving in the British military, some seeing it as their duty, others as a threat to their longed for independence. Of special interest in this novel is the work of MI5's Double Cross program, turning spies with German loyalties into double agents. Cilla van der Zee's attempt to become a spy for the Abwehr as a ruse to leave behind the difficulties she was experiencing working in the Dutch resistance allowed her to use her many skills and talents within the Double Cross program, but made it difficult for her to be accepted as honest and trustworthy among those with whom she worked. Outgoing and social by nature, her situation forced her to become more introspective and to consider her relationship with God and His hand in her life.

Lieutenant Lachlan Mackenzie was grateful for another opportunity, however brief, to serve in the Royal Navy after being expelled a few months shy of graduating from the Royal Navy College. He struggled with forgiving his younger brother for his role in that expulsion. His nature led him to strictly adhere to rules and regulations, making if difficult to understand or forgive either his brother or Miss van der Zee with whom he was coerced to work.

I give this novel five stars for its original plot, wonderful characters, and the manner in which the author brings the setting to life. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This WWII historical fiction novel is full of spies, sailors and sabotage. There’s adventure and tension mixed with lighter moments, family drama and resolution, with themes of faith, hope, and love. Cilla’s resilient spirit is admirable. Lachlan is a great male lead with issues of his own to overcome. I have enjoyed every book that I’ve read by this author. Definitely recommend this to historical fiction fans. 4.5/5 stars

I wanted to love this book. I did learn a lot about spies, double agents, the Scottish shore and Dutch Resistance during WWII.
I enjoyed learning about the Selkie legend and the Scottish customs.
But I had a hard time making it through the book. It seemed most of the book consisted of the characters 'making plans'.
I did love the ending though.
And my favorite quote: "Sometimes you have to find freedom inside the trap."
Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

The latest historical fiction novel by Sarah Sundin takes the readers to the Scottish shore during WWII. The story is fascinating, with meticulous details about the part Scotland played in the war as well as about several actual historical figures written into the plot. Cilla Van der Zee is a citizen from the Netherlands who plans to escape the Nazi oppression there by pretending to be a spy for them and by taking a U-boat to the Scottish shore. Unfortunately, she is apprehended by Lachlan, a young naval officer there, and then Cilla is forced to become a double agent instead of going to live with her aunt as was her original plan. The legend of the selkie which is woven into the story was completely engrossing. This novel was addictive and unputdownable, keeping me up late into the night since I was engrossed by the nail-biting suspense and the escalating tension as Cilla faces prison time or worse. The developing romance between Lachlan and Cilla is warm and believable, told with humorous banter between the two who start out as enemies and slowly become friends. The plot is deeply immersive, with historical details that enrich the story with their authenticity and made me want to know more, which the author nicely provided in an afterword that added to my enjoyment of the story. The author infuses the entire story with spiritual truths that include forgiveness, mercy, grace and compassion. I really liked the sibling rivalry between Neil and Lachlan that formed an intriguing sub-plot as well as the cameo appearances of characters from a previous book. This book is a compelling read that was brilliantly written with a strong message of fortitude, clever plot twists and a remarkable attention to realism. I learned a lot about Scotland as I read and grew to appreciate the landscape, the use of lighthouses and the heroism of local people who just wanted to protect their homeland.
Disclaimer
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. (Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”)

This is my first book by Sarah Sundin and I absolutely loved it. Midnight on the Scottish Shore is a captivating and engaging WWII historical fiction.

One of the things I enjoy about this genre is that I always learn something new. I’ve never read anything about the Scottish involvement in the war, so this was really interesting to me. The attention to detail and obvious research by the author made the story feel very authentic.

I loved the main characters and their personal growth, as well as their growing attraction. Their romance was really sweet. The espionage and intrigued was well done and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Highly recommended for historical fiction fans that enjoy a well written and multi layered story, with a light faith element.

I received a copy from Revell and Austenprose PR via NetGalley, but a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore is one of my new favorites from Sarah Sundin! Sarah’s books always teach me something new about WWII; I knew very little about Scotland during this era, and now I can’t wait to learn more.

I was absolutely entranced by Cilla and Lachlan’s story. Both were complex and relatable characters who went through very human struggles during an extraordinary time, yet I felt so connected to them and their emotional turmoil. And when it comes down to it, who can resist a Scotsman in a kilt?

If you’re at all intrigued by WWII fiction, Sarah Sundin’s books are must-reads! 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore is a compelling WWII historical fiction novel with tons of espionage and a dash of romance. Having never read books by Sarah Sundin, I was surprised to find how entertaining, dramatic, and CLEAN this enemy to lovers romance book was. From the moment Cilla van der Zee graced the page with her presence, I knew I would love this main character.

Cilla van der Zee is a Dutch woman living in the German occupation of the Netherlands. After witnessing the heinous treatment by the Nazis, she joins her cousin in working for the Dutch resistance. Planning to escape German oppression, she makes a harrowing decision to work as a double agent, absconding to one of the Allied countries. The moment she sets foot on the shores of Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, she meets Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie who decides to turn her in to the authorities.

Cilla is a bright ray of sunshine! Her sunny personality brought so much light to the darkest situations. The chemistry she has between Lachlan was so enjoyable and was likened to the ebb and flow of the Scottish shores that was set as this book's backdrop. Sprinkled with Christian faith, both of the main characters often refer to scripture or to their faith in God. I enjoyed seeing the progression of the main characters but loved seeing the two work as a team.

There are many many powerful themes at play in this book but at the heart of this novel is the power of forgiveness. This book is very much a clean Christian romance novel, and it is refreshing to read a WWII historical fiction novel without triggering explicit content.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary, and all thoughts are my own.

I dove into this book with little knowledge of what to expect, except for, well, the Scottish setting in the title and a vague understanding that it involved espionage. Imagine my delight when I was drawn into a compelling spy story featuring double agents, a lighthouse (my favourite) and a slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance. I loved the compelling moral conflict within each of the characters, the swoony-but-steadfast Scottish hero and the convincing black moment that made the happily ever after that much more satisfying.

The plot revolves around Dutch resistance member Cilla van der Zee, who becomes a Nazi agent as a foolhardy means to escape her occupied home. On her arrival in Britain, she is immediately captured by Royal Navy Lt Lachlan Mackenzie and turned over to MI5. She agrees to work as a double agent, transmitting approved messages about ship movements and other local information back to Germany. Cilla faces a difficult battle to prove to her MI5 handlers her loyalty to the Allies at the same time as protecting her friends and family back home. Amid the duplicity Cilla is drawn to the steady, strong and supremely Scottish Lt Mackenzie, who's been ordered to help her. But this is war and nothing is simple.

Cilla and Lachlan are both essentially good characters to whom deception, disloyalty and duplicity do not come easily. Both are trapped in one way or another. Cilla has no love for the Nazis but cannot convince anyone of that. Lachlan has no desire to work with MI5, but has to face the string of moral compromises that his situation brings on. The complex layers of moral conflict within each of these characters are well drawn and compel the reader through the book for the first quarter.

Goodness is such an underrated quality hero, and Lachlan is a good man forced to help Cilla lie and sabotage the country he loves. Sundin hits all the right Scottish ‘beats’ from Hogmanay to Robbie Burns quotes…and when he wraps her in his plaid I almost swooned.

The promise (and quite, frankly, joy) of a romance is a happily ever after, so of course you expect that despite the obstacles to true love, everything will work out in the wash for the hero and heroine. However, I don’t think I’ve ever been as thoroughly convinced by a “black moment” in a romance story as I was by this one. I honestly didn’t think they were going to make it. To which I say, “Well played, Ms Sundin. Well played.”

This story is unique in that Cilla is pretending to be a spy for the Germans but then runs into trouble when she meets Scotsman Lt. Lachlan and he believes her to be a Nazi spy. Lachlan turns her into the authorities but they decide to have her become a double agent. But can she be trusted? Lachlan isn’t convinced.
This was an amazing book! I was fascinated from beginning to end! I loved Cilla’s character so much. She is so brave and strong, she has some past things she has felt guilt over but learns to heal from that. She is also very funny with her teasing Lachlan. Lachlan is also a great character but he has been betrayed in the past and struggles with forgiveness and trust. But he will do his duty. I loved watching Cilla and Lachlan work together. There is also great Christian content throughout. Overall, a fantastic WW2 story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

"Sometimes you have to find freedom inside the trap."

This was a unique WWII novel set in 1941-1942 Scotland and I loved the history and espionage. I've read very little historical fiction set in WWII Scotland so it was fascinating to travel to this area at such a pivotal time in world history. The spy world and the works of MI5 and MI6 were intriguing. I loved Lachlan, the stalwart, serious, steadfast hero whose sense of justice and faith drove his words and actions. Cilla was the complete opposite, with her fun-loving ways and flirtatious banter, but equally intelligent and mission-driven as Lachlan. The inner workings of a naval base in Scotland were interesting to learn about; watching Cilla and Lachlan engage in warfare of information and misinformation was really captivating. Cilla's journey of understanding her need for God and accepting the eternal love was a highlight of the story. Fans who have read Embers in the London Sky will recognize some delightful cameo appearances.

Those who enjoy WWII fiction will love this newest by the queen of WWII historicals. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I have long been intrigued by spy stories set during World War II and this book delivers. The setting in the remote Scottish Islands was eye-opening for me. The characters were brought to life in this captivating tale. Cilla was escaping occupation in the Netherlands and went ashore at Dunnet Head only to be captured by Lieutenant Lachlan MacKenzie. Accused of being a German spy, she turned to spying for the British and proved herself very brave. Even while kept confined in a lighthouse. This many layered story has danger, intrigue, family, drama, and a growing romance. Cilla even found shelter in her faith: “This year I have found walls like never before, but I have found freedom. True freedom-in faith and forgiveness.”
As always, the extensive research lent authenticity to the story. I enjoyed learning about the real events that the story is based on. I also liked the legend of the selkie that was woven throughout.
This was another World War II adventure that impressed and entertained me.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

I always look forward to a new book from Sarah Sundin. Nobody does WWII romance quite like her! This story was great! While it took me a little bit to get into, it wasn't long before I was completely invested and wondering what was going to happen next.

To escape the Nazis, Cilla decided to become a Nazi spy. It was quite the bold plan, though things didn’t exactly go the way Cilla expected. I will say that Cilla wasn’t the most likable character in the beginning, but I loved seeing her journey and watching her continual growth, and by the end, I did end up really liking her.

Lachlan was a fastidious and serious rule follower. He was the complete opposite of Cilla. They got off to a very rocky start, but I loved their banter. And, despite their differences, they made a great team.

I didn’t really know much about Scotland during the war, so that was fascinating to read about. I also enjoyed reading about all the spycraft. The invisible ink, the coded messages, the double crosses. It was all so exciting!

If you’re looking for an inspirational WWII romance that’s full of intrigue, grab a copy of this book. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore was a delightful read. When you think of another WWII story you would assume heartache and raw emotional draw. This story did include that, but from a different perspective. Taking place in the sea, and on the shores of Scotland. I haven't read anything about how this part of the country endured WWII. I definitely appreciate this different perspective. I also appreciated that the romance was clean, honestly comical (they just felt realistic and not some fantasy romance that would never happen in real life) and not the main aspect of the story. It was a great read and I will recommend to all my historical fiction lovers. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another exceptional book by Sarah Sundin! Wow! There are so many books about WWII, but this one offers a new twist. It's mainly based in Scotland ( a place that's on my bucket list). There's spies, lies, subterfuge, double agents, suspense, and intrigue. To balance all of that, there's a sweet love story that touched my heart.

Cilla is one of the most remarkable characters that I've read about. She's brilliant, smart, and incredibly brave. Her gift of creativity saves her own life many times. Lachlan has a lot of rough edges. He has major trust issues, but they're justified. He's loyal to his country and his job. I absolutely LOVE Lachlan's parents! They open their hearts and home to Cilla.

It was interesting to me that Cilla and Lachlan had younger siblings who got into trouble. Unfortunately, Cilla doesn't get the chance to reconcile with her sister. When Lachlan finds out that something devastating happened to Neil, the walls between them are broken.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Revell through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own. (Lucky me-I also won an e- copy through LibraryThing!!)

Historical fiction readers will enjoy this story set in Scotland during WWII. Having just visited Scapa Flow in Scotland, I could visualize the setting which added to my enjoyment. The author paints a believable picture of spies and sabotaging through Cilla’s eyes. Lachlan was a favorite, so loyal to his country. Lots of research makes this both educational and interesting. Recommended

In order to escape the Nazi’s, Cilla van der Zee agrees to spy for them. Trained as an undercover agent she is sent to the shores of Scotland. She is immediately captured by Lt. Mackenzie, who does not buy her story. She is arrested, and reluctantly agrees to work as a double agent. She is stationed in a lighthouse, where she sends carefully crafted messages back to the Nazi’s.

This was a very predictable book. The characters immediately despised each other, slowly fell in love, and by the end could not do without one another. I found the double agent aspect of the story extremely intriguing. This kept me reading despite the predictability and stereotypical characters. Fans of romance will love this story, it just wasn’t for me. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.