Midnight on the Scottish Shore is the companion Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin. And even though it's not a series per say I'd recommend reading it first as Cilla is the cousin of the heroine in the first book. As they may be slight spoilers.

This one was the first WWII book that I read that featured Scotland as setting. Though the spy aspect wasn't new. I enjoyed new take on WWII fiction. As Sarah Sundin is my go to author for WWII fiction. I love that she always finds a story to tell that hasn't been told before.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I really enjoyed Midnight on the Scottish Shore. I chose the book for the Scottish aspect of WW2. Most of the story takes place at Dunnet Head where there is a Naval Base and lighthouse. Lachlan and Cilla have to work together to send messages to the Nazis. Thou Cilla is a double agent she has opportunity to learn about the people of the area , their lore and share some traditional celebrations with them. The tales surrounding the Silkie were most fun.

The book is well written. The characters are strong and well defined. Their struggles and growth as well as the romantic tension between them carried the story forward well. Cilla showed steady courage and great creativity in handling her duties. Strong Naval Officer Lachlan had much to be suspicious about. Seeing him work past layers of distrust was a big part of this story.

Highly recommended for fans of WWII fiction with a touch of romance and intrigue.

My thanks to NetGalley for making this ARC available.

It's a Sarah Sundin novel, so of course it's 5 stars from me. I really loved this addition to her catalog. I thought Lachlan and Celie were amazing. Watching their friendship build and then turn into something more was heartwarming. I loved how much they both had to overcome to find their happily ever after.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore is another excellent WW2 adventure from Sarah Sundin. I was impressed by Cilla and Lochlan's grit and integrity. Both were trying to do the best they could in terrible circumstances when the only choices available to them weren't really choices at all. Though they each had a very different personality, it wasn't hard to see why they would be attracted to each other.

There was so much to this story besides the romance, and I appreciated that. I also liked seeing a glimpse of characters in Sundin's previous books. I'd never really explored the setting of Scotland during WW2, so it was good to get a glimpse of pivotal places within the country during a time of strife.

4.5 stars, rounded up.
I was given a complimentary copy to review and was not required to post a positive review. All opinions are my own.

In order to save her family during the German occupation of the Netherlands, Cilla van der Zee makes the only decision she can, agreeing to become a spy for Germany. She hopes to help the allies, but her plans are upended when she is discovered on the Scottish Shore by Lachlan Mackenzie a naval lieutenant who turns her over as a spy.

It goes against every instinct that Lachlan has to use Cilla as a double agent, but as he sees her interact with grace to those around her, and her courage to risk it all, he can't help but be touched by this brave and gentle woman. Cilla loves her family dearly. I admired her courage to fight back, and to enjoy life even when others are hostile towards her. Cilla is genuine and warm, and I liked that her faith is very important to her.

Engaging and well written, there is a lot going on and great tension throughout. I liked how they both challenged each other to think differently about what they would risk, as well as how they were both willing to sacrifice for those they loved. Great dialogue, filled with humor and wit. Strong themes of faith. Well researched, and gripping historical, highly recommend!

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

Action packed historical story focused on Dutch resistance fighter, Cilla van der Zee, who becomes a Nazi spy so she can flee Scotland, but is captured by the Allies when she comes ashore in Britain. So then she becomes part of the MI5’s Double Cross program and becomes a Nazi British Spy. So much excitement and action going on in this story. And of course forced proximity and enemies to lovers romance with Lt Lachlan Mackenzie, her captor. A fast paced, intriguing, engaging, fun, and swoony story that readers will absolutely love!

Caught between survival and conscience, Dutch resistance member Cilla van der Zee infiltrates Britain as a Nazi spy – only to find her planned defection thwarted when Scottish naval officer Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie captures her. Instead of facing execution, she becomes a double agent, broadcasting deceptive messages about the Scapa Flow naval base from a remote lighthouse. But as she and Lachlan work together to deceive the enemy, the line between duty and desire blurs, forcing them to confront an impossible question: can a woman who arrived as the enemy ever truly be trusted with both military secrets and his heart?

As always, Sarah Sundin delivers a heart pounding historical that leaves a lingering impression. Five big stars!

“Nine months had passed since the Germans had conquered the Netherlands. Nine months of relative quiet, but a quiet pregnant with the swelling expectation of unrest. Of darkness.”

“Sometimes you have to find freedom inside the trap.”

“It’s good to acknowledge our faults. If we never see ourselves as wretched sinners, we never see the need for God’s mercy.”

“All my life I’ve thought freedom meant not having any rules or walls to stop me. This year I’ve faced walls like never before, but I’ve found freedom. True freedom—in faith and forgiveness.”

💭 MY THOUGHTS: Wow, what a wonderful introduction to Sarah Sundin and WWII historical fiction!

This story did more than capture my interest, it captured my heart. From the beginning I found myself immersed in a world of war, espionage, suspense, romance, and intrigue. Sundin not only reveals the profound darkness of the Second World War and the deep wounds that arise from family betrayal and division, but also highlights the beauty of the gospel, the power of forgiveness, and the freedom found in Christ.

Overall, this is an expertly crafted and thoroughly researched story with emotional depth, well-developed characters, a sweet romance, and gospel themes woven throughout.

🩵 READ IF YOU LIKE:
* Dual POVs
* Political intrigue
* WWII espionage
* Scottish brogue & tradition
* Enemies to more
* Clean romance

▫️ CONTENT TO CONSIDER: Assault, death, racism, antisemitism, hate, mention of a drowning, allusion to sexual abuse.

🌟 Highly recommend!

Thank you, @netgalley and @revellfiction, for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cilla van der Zee is desperate. The Nazis now occupy her home country of the Netherlands and she has to escape. But how? Cilla hatches a plan: Approach the Nazis, convince them she can spy for them, and then defect as soon as her feet hit English soil.

But that plan fails immediately when instead of defecting she is arrested before she can even leave her lifeboat.

In the face of execution, a new plan arises: Agree to become a double agent.

Cilla is forced to a remote posting where she provides strategic information to the Nazis but all of the Nazi information to her British handlers, including the man who captured her. The one man who can't stand her. The one man she can't stop thinking about.

This novel explores the concept of freedom. Is Cilla really free within the cage of what she is allowed to do? Is Lt. Mackenzie free within his strict orders and the need to do everything correctly? Is his brother free when he protests Scottish involvement in Britain's war? Where do faith and forgiveness and love come in?

As always, a wonderful WWII novel from Sarah Sundin. I personally had a hard time wrapping my head around the spy angle because that's not how I think, but I enjoyed the characters and their wonderful arcs. I'd recommend this book for any fans of historical romance.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The beauty of Scotland and the hardiness of her people take center stage in this novel that shines a light on what WWII looked like for Scotland.

From the mythical selkie to MI5 agents, you'll find secrets and ciphers enough to make the book feel mysterious but kilts and dances enough to satisfy your desire for romance.

The themes of redemption and forgiveness make Midnight on the Scottish Shore a powerful piece of historical fiction. But the best part? The hero's strength of character was reminiscent of George MacDonald's Scottish heroes.

My first Sarah Sundin novel... and I enjoyed it! Will return to her books for more.

I liked that this World War II novel takes place in Scotland mostly (and NOT England, as so many books do). A refreshing setting -- out there among the heather! And in a lighthouse, no less. In the land of the legend of the selkie.

Beautifully written! I learned much about the work of spies (and double agents) during wartime. All rather fascinating.

Oh, and I must say... Effie the Collie is the sweetest dog!

A clean romance.
Would definitely recommend this title.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, but was not required to leave a positive review.

The opening chapters of Midnight on the Scottish Shore were heartbreaking, depicting the horrors happening in 1941 Amsterdam. And they gave every reason for Cilla to choose an extreme path of escape.

Cilla might be one of my favorite all-time heroines. A stellar story teller in her own right with an incredible imagination. Daring, fun, witty (even in stressful situations), confident … until she wasn’t any longer, and her vulnerable brokenness hit the page.

Lachlan is pretty much Cilla’s opposite, or so it seems, it many ways. He’s serious, carrying burdens from the past that make him guarded and extremely stubborn.

Their love story is original, their redemption powerful, but their partnership is probably what kept me turning page after page. Iron sharpens iron, and Cilla and Lachlan are one powerhouse team.

If you love historical romance with a powerful faith thread, suspense, espionage, a fantastic setting, and incredibly well researched history, then you must read Midnight on the Scottish Shores.

4.5 stars from me!

Thank you to Revell for my copy! All opinions in this review are my own.

'To escape the Nazis, she would be come a Nazi spy.'

This is a new to me author (I love going in blind to a book and discovering the author's voice along the way) and I am so excited to see what else of hers I can get my hands on. The writing in this book was descriptive and immersive.

I am a huge fan of WWII books. They are intriguing, insightful, heart wrenching and usually un-put-down-able for me and this one was no different. There is a suspense and mystery to a group of people working as double agents (while trying to prevent triple agents) and knowing who to trust and who you can really count on.

The romance was slow and steady. Trust needs to be built and it was a beautiful journey. I loved seeing Cilla's heart and the good that she wanted to do while also seeing Lachlan's protective side and because of reasons you'll read in the book...slow to trust.

This book really is a full blown experience. I was glad it was a longer book because I couldn't get enough. I loved the light banter Cilla could produce to those around her and set them at ease.

'She batted her eyelashes at him. He only arched an eyebrow at her. Cilla laughed. "Oh, just wait. Someday you'll like me. Everyone does."'

This book will make you feel all of the feels!

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

Content/Trigger: Military suspense/violence, death of friends/loved ones (some on page-mildly descriptive), romance-kisses only.

I’ve found my new favourite book hero! Lachlan McKenzie is honorable and committed to keeping the shores of Scotland safe during WW2. He may be a bit awkward in some circumstances, but he’s admirable and has a good heart. I LOVED this character.

Cilla is trying to escape her beloved homeland from Nazi occupation. Unable to stand by as her younger sister gets swept up in Nazi propaganda, she forms a plan of her own. And it goes terribly wrong. Neither a Nazi-sympathizer, nor welcome in the country she’s escaped to, her hand is forced if she’s to save the lives of her family back home.

Cilla is a headstrong character who runs into danger without thinking, and doesn’t consider the consequences until it is too late. Her heart, though, is always with the right motivation.

Cilla and Lachlan’s is a slow-burn, forbidden romance. As long as she is considered a German spy, and he an agent for the newly formed MI5, a relationship would be considered treason. I enjoyed this conflict immensely!

The cast of characters are intriguing on both sides of the conflict. Some are endearing and others are downright frustrating. Readers will be delighted to catch up with one particular couple from a previous novel.

The story moves along, though there are some difficult scenes to read (as one would expect when characters are connected to Jewish characters in Nazi-occupied places).

It was refreshing to read a WW2 story set in Scotland – not the first place I’d think of for a WW2 novel.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore is extremely clever.

The only way Dutch native Cilla van der Zee can escape the horrors of war and the increasingly powerful Nazi party, is to train as a spy for them. Deployed swiftly, Cilla intends seek sanctuary with her aunt. Unfortunately she’s caught by Navy Lt Lachlan Mackenzie and faces death as a spy. Instead, the authorities force Cilla to work as a double agent with Lachlan as her handler.

After betrayal by his brother left Lachlan tainted, he wants nothing to do with Cilla, but over the weeks his defenses wear down. But how, with a backdrop of war, could a spy and a man fighting for his reputation ever trust each other?

Sarah Sundin’s work screams of meticulous research. Her characters leap from the pages and scream of authenticity. The plot is taut and clever and kept me guessing and reading late into the night. This book is perfect for anyone who loves the World War II era.

I received a copy of Midnight on the Scottish Shore from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

Midnight on the Scottish Shore
It has been quite a while since I have read a world war 2 historical fiction book. I think I needed a break from them for a little bit. When I saw this book the beautiful cover intrigued me.
I am so happy I gave this book a chance. It was a beautiful book and such an incredible story. It is so hard to imagine life during this time and all the trials and hardships people were facing. Cilla is such a strong character. She did her best to always be on the right side and do what she could to help in the war.
Lachlan had such great growth as a character and I ended up really loving him. He was able to overcome his own doubts and work through his sense of right and wrong.
This was my very first book by this author. I can’t wait to go and read more of her historical fiction books.

REVIEW SHOULD RUN IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS

Spies, lies & allies are what Midnight on the Scottish Shore, a rollicking ride into German espionage and British Counter Intelligence, is all about.

Cilla van der Zee had not expected her mission to be so hard. As the sister of a Dutch Nazi, it should have been easy to gather information on the group for the resistance. She was not prepared for how nauseating she would find the Brown Shirts meetings nor how difficult it was to keep up the pretense of interest and investment to the cause she needed to show in order to avoid suspicion. When she watches them attack a group of Jewish men and kill someone who had resisted, she knows she has to get out. Her acting skills barely disguise her disgust and horror at the event. However, simply leaving isn’t an option. It will bring ramifications for both her and her family. Her hope is to disappear to England and live with an aunt there but the Nazi’s are hardly likely to let her waltz out of the country. Ironically, however, they just may send her themselves. The Germans need people fluent in English, and familiar with that nation to spy for them. Cilla, who went to a prestigious British boarding school and has family there, is a perfect candidate. Not only is she fluent with the language and customs, she’s lovely and vivacious. Young service men will race for the chance to spend time with her and hopefully spill all their secrets as she romances them.That’s the Reich’s plan, her’s is a bit simpler: Once in Britain, she will fake her death, go to her aunt, and hopefully put all the Nazi nastiness behind her.

Lt. Lachlan Mackenzie is a by the books officer. He has always been stalwart, faithful and honorable but thanks to his brother Neil, there are numerous black marks on his record. Not only was he unable to prove his innocence against a fraudulent plagiarism charge but Neil’s activities as part of Free Caledonia (a group determined to free Scotland from English rule) means Lachlan is watched as a potential traitor. And yet, Neil is partly responsible for the break that just may clear Lachlan’s image. Anxious to get away from his brother’s presence at a family gathering, Lachlan heads out for a late night stroll along the Scottish shoreline. There is just enough moonlight to reveal a young woman desperately at work on the beach, trying to bury something. Initially, Lachlan assumes he’s found a Selkie of legend because the lass is so lovely. A closer look reveals he’s caught a spy. He marches her straight to the authorities, where procedure dictates she will be interrogated and executed.

MI5 has other uses for her, however. That unit has been quietly gathering up German agents and when possible, turning them. Cilla is initially shocked when no one believes her story that she was only faking being a Nazi spy (eye roll) but is happy to serve as a double agent. She is provided with two Wren handlers, an MI5 contact and a job at a light house near Scapa Flow, a Naval base close to the remote Scottish shoreline where she had landed. Counter Intelligence has her submit carefully curated information to the Germans that she allegedly obtains from a naval officer she’s managed to seduce.

As luck would have it, the man picked to play the part of her boyfriend is none other than the handsome redhead who had turned her in. Lt. Mackenzie has a harsh and cold demeanor, rarely laughs and doesn’t have any grasp of small talk (or maybe he just doesn’t like Nazi agents but I digress). Cilla, lonely and hurt by the fact noone trusts her (seriously?) determines to win him over. Neither of them is in a position however, to make the slightest mistake. Their reputations and possibly even their lives will be forfeit if anything goes wrong. Will they be able to stay on the straight and narrow, or will they wind up sacrificing everything for love?

It’s a romance novel so I think we all know where this is going. With these books, it’s all about the journey and how much you enjoy the ride in this case is going to depend on how much you like your books with a slapsticky taste of old time Hollywood. Ms. Sundin’s early novels all held a touch of late forties, early fifties war films buffonory which showed heroic men and women facing literally impossible odds and rising above them in brave, daring and ridiculous manner. They were charming, cheesy propaganda that were a lot fun and when Sundin gets the formula right, her books are too.

Cilla fits into that formula well, as an engaging young woman who loves frivolity but is forced to adopt a more serious demeanor due ot the war. She’s impetuous, and compassionate and I think I would have loved her had she been working on the American home front. She was a lot less believable as someone working in espionage and I often found myself struggling with the choices she made. Part of this is that in order for Cilla to shine, the Germans had to be incompetent to the point of idiocy. I’ve read too much history to buy into that picture.

The author applies greater skill to showing us who Cilla is emotionally. She’s had struggles with her family stemming both from her own lackadaisical faith in the face of other’s greater devotion and in her relationship with her sister, who has hurt the people around her for most of her life. As someone who loves to be in company, and who enjoys laughing, flirting, teasing and playing around, Cilla has struggled to connect with the darkness in her sibling, much less do anything to aid her.

Lachlan can relate to that. He grew up as the respected eldest son of a prosperous family and excelled at school until Neil created a series of events which derailed Lachlan’s academic and military careers. While Cilla longs to do something to pull her sister back from the darkness she’s fallen into, Lachlan longs to push Neil out of his and his parent’s lives. His devoted faith has not helped him to forgive the things his brother has done. As Lachlan warms up to Cilla, seeing the good in her despite her (alleged) Nazi connections, he begins to realize that people have layers and are perhaps less all good or all bad than we would like. As a couple, Lachlan and Cilla are able to bring out the best in each other and grow in their faith along the way.

On that level, the story really works but as stated before, Midnight on the Scottish Shore throws a lot of adrenaline fueled derring do into the mix which can at times feel at odds with the deeper story it tries to tell. If you enjoy WWII novels and like action/adventure oriented romance, or if you’re a fan of the author’s early novels, I think this will work for you. If you prefer more serious, character driven pieces, this might not be your cuppa.

What a wonderful romance set in WW2 Scotland, complete with Scottish accents and espionage. I truly enjoyed this book. I received a free copy from Netgalley and Revell in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

"She was trapped indeed...Yet a great smile unfurled. She was loved by God, forgiven, and she’d never be alone again. 'Now I am free.' "

I loved this Scottish tale filled with danger, spy intrigue, and love! The world building was *chef's kiss*, and the characters were realistic and relatable.

You'd probably really like this read if you like these tropes:
-enemies to more/enemies to lovers (clean)
-touch her and ☠
-touch him and ☠
-grumpy/sunshine (I don't usually care for this trope, but in this book Lachlan was grumpy from grief and family issues, not just someone being grumpy about something petty or foolish.) And Cilla is definitely sunshine! <3
-cinnamon roll hero

Or these elements:
-M15
-Scottish characters/Scottish words and accents
-imperfect characters that admit it and work on their faults
-redemption arcs/characters redeemed
-closed-door/spice-free/clean romance

The romance was sweet, swoony and completely clean, which I love and appreciate very much!

Midnight On The Scottish Shore was a brilliantly written World War II read that I highly recommend, and I hope you'll read it too!

I received a complimentary paperback from the author to review as part of her launch team. I was not required to write a positive review and the thoughts above are my own.

The first thing that caught my eye was this captivating cover. It compelled me to look inside. Just when I thought all the WWII stories had been told, Sarah Sundin shares an amazing tale dealing with two strangers who become enemies and then find love in an unusual way. This is a fascinating and mysterious adventure and a book I couldn't put down.

Cilla's well-laid plans fail to unfold as smoothly as she had hoped. The escape to the Netherlands to help the Allies runs into a big snag; Cilla finds herself in an impossible situation. She’s aware warfare rules are complicated, but Scottish navy commander Lachian Mackenze, considers Cilla the enemy. She tries her hardest to do what’s expected, but collaborating with a strict rule-follower, who utterly despised her, made things extremely difficult. I had no idea about all the double agent stuff going on during the war. This is an intriguing book that would be great for a book club pick.