Nothing but love could heal the wounds of war In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a "Wren" in the Women's Royal Naval Service, who pieces together reconnaissance photographs with holiday snapshots of France--including those of her family's summer home--in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt turns into naval bombardment plans for D-day. As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn into something more. But both of them have too much to lose to give in to love . . . Nothing but love could heal the wounds of war In 1944, American naval officer Lt. Wyatt Paxton arrives in London to prepare for the Allied invasion of France. He works closely with Dorothy Fairfax, a "Wren" in the Women's Royal Naval Service, who pieces together reconnaissance photographs with holiday snapshots of France--including those of her family's summer home--in order to create accurate maps of Normandy. Maps that Wyatt turns into naval bombardment plans for D-day. As the two spend concentrated time together in the pressure cooker of war, their deepening friendship threatens to turn into something more. But both of them have too much to lose to give in to love . . . "With a pitch-perfect balance between history and the fine-tuned elements of story, The Sea Before Us stands out as superior in WWII fiction. Faith anchors the narrative with realism and sensitivity, while Sundin's meticulous attention to historical research around the massive D-day invasion shines to the level of a master storyteller. It's at once engaging, emotional, and a strong series debut. I couldn't put it down." -- Kristy Cambron , bestselling author of The Lost Castle and the Hidden Masterpiece series "History comes to life through Sundin's characters, who cope with the trials and dangers not only on the fields of combat but also in their personal lives. This great combination of dramatic history and likeable characters will keep you turning pages to find out what happens next." -- Ann H. Gabhart , author of These Healing Hills Sarah Sundin is the author of the Waves of Freedom, Wings of the Nightingale, and Wings of Glory series. Her novels have received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal , and her popular Through Waters Deep was a Carol Award finalist and named to Booklist 's "101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years." A graduate of UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist. Sarah lives in California. Visit www.sarahsundin.com for more information. Sarah Sundin is the bestselling author of Mists over the Channel Islands , Midnight on the Scottish Shore , Embers in the London Sky , The Sound of Light , and Until Leaves Fall in Paris , as well as the popular World War II 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. The Sea Before Us By Sarah Sundin Baker Publishing Group Copyright © 2018 Sarah Sundin All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8007-2797-0 CHAPTER 1 Kensington, London, England Friday, January 14, 1944 Second Officer Dorothy Fairfax slathered a thick layer of orange marmalade on the buttered toast and slid the plate in front of her father. "I had enough ration coupons for sausage and your favorite Fortnum & Mason's marmalade. If you don't eat your breakfast, I shall feed it to Charlie with no regret or shame." Papa glanced from the Daily Telegraph to the Scottish terrier dancing by his chair. After an interminable minute, he took a bite. Dorothy released her breath and sent a smile to Mrs. Bromley. The elderly housekeeper slipped back into the kitchen. She spread a thin layer of marmalade on her unbuttered toast, her stomach hopping as gleefully as little Bonnie Prince Charlie. "I have the most splendid news. Quite a bit of change at headquarters. New commanders and staff are reporting — British and Americans, army and navy and air." If only she could tell him more about her duties with the Women's Royal Naval Service. Knowing the Allies would invade France in May might bring color back to those gaunt cheeks. But as a Royal Navy veteran, Papa understood the need for secrecy. However, her news wasn't classified. "You'll never guess who's reporting to my unit." Dorothy waited, but Papa kept reading the Telegraph as she knew he would. "Why, it's Lawrence Eaton." The sound of his name was the sweetest music. Papa looked her full in the eye. The shock of it. When had he last looked at her? His blue eyes clouded over, and Dorothy's heart shriveled. The wrong Fairfax child sat before him, and he couldn't abide the sight o