And Clay even more strongly with Joseph, who was cast into a pit by his brothers, which is how Clay feels about his own situation. Both of these characters are paralleled with Biblical characters–Leah with her namesake who was unloved by her husband.

I also love how both characters are so incredibly faith-driven and turn to God for help and strength constantly. The rest of the story is full in its own right, and the romance is interweaved into that so wonderfully. It’s not the main plot, while a few other things happen as a vehicle for it. I also love the fact that the romance isn’t right there in your face the whole time. There was something in the last quarter of the book that started to bug me a bit (being vague to avoid spoilers), but it paid off in the best scene ever!

I have always loved stories where a romance develops between two people who married because they felt they had to. I requested the ARC specifically because of 3 words in the synopsis: “marriage of convenience”. This one hit all of the right buttons for me. With real events, real locations, and even some real people from history who were participants in this part of the invasion, it all felt very real for me.Īs far as the romance goes, I know everyone has their preferences–what they like and don’t like in romance. I am not a history buff at all, so understand I have very little basis to say this, but I felt that the book was very well researched. And the writing itself is clear, with a style that I found I particularly enjoyed. The events throughout the book meld together so well, and yet, not everything turns out perfectly. The main characters are both so kind and compassionate, so often willing to put others before themselves, and yet both have flaws to try to overcome. This book is just so beautiful in so many ways. Neither can anticipate what will happen in the months leading up to D-Day. A marriage as friends gives them both something they need, and shortly thereafter, Clay ships off for further training, expecting never to return.

She has no past, orphaned at the age of 4 and torn away from her baby sisters, with no familial connections. He has no future, due to a recurring dream that he sees as a premonition of his death during the invasion. Leah Jones is a librarian on the military base where he’s training. Army Ranger in advance of the Allied invasion of France in WWII.

The Land Beneath Us by Sarah Sundin