Some stories teach you history. Others make you feel it.
Mists Over the Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin does both, quietly, steadily, and with a depth that settles in your chest and refuses to leave. Set on the island of Jersey during the German occupation, this novel pulls back the curtain on a lesser-known chapter of World War II and invites readers into a world shaped by fear, courage, faith, and impossible choices.
Title: Mists Over the Channel Islands
Author: Sarah Sundin
Series: N/A
Genre: World War II, Historical Romance, Christian Faith
Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐
Disclaimer
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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
My Thoughts:
This book surprised me in the best way.
I went in expecting excellent historical fiction—Sarah Sundin always delivers that—but what I didn’t expect was how intimate this story would feel. The island of Jersey is small, isolated, and slowly suffocating under occupation, and that closeness intensifies everything: family tensions, moral dilemmas, quiet acts of defiance, and the cost of compassion.
Dr. Ivy Picot is a heroine I deeply admired. She carries the weight of her father’s medical practice, her fractured family, and an island full of suffering people—while constantly weighing what helping others might cost those she loves most. Her courage isn’t loud or flashy. It’s steady. Exhausting. Human.
Gerrit van der Zee’s storyline adds a fascinating layer of complexity. Wearing the uniform of the enemy while secretly serving the Resistance puts him in constant danger, and Ivy’s initial mistrust of him feels completely justified. Watching their relationship grow—from suspicion to reluctant understanding to something tender and hard-won—felt organic and earned. There’s no rushing past the reality of war here. Love exists, but it exists under pressure.
What stood out most to me was the way this story handles faith. It doesn’t offer easy answers or neat resolutions. Instead, it asks hard questions about God’s goodness in the midst of suffering—and then gently reminds us that faith often looks like choosing to do good even when the outcome is uncertain.
This is a story about unsung heroes. About quiet resistance. About choosing mercy when fear would be easier. And long after I turned the final page, I found myself still thinking about Ivy, Gerrit, and the island that shaped them both.
Publisher’s Blurb:
Behind enemy lines, adversary and ally become impossible to distinguish.
The German invasion of the British Channel Islands shatters Dr. Ivy Picot’s peaceful world, forcing her to shoulder the weight of her father’s medical practice and hold together a family unraveling under the strain of war. As conditions worsen in Jersey with the arrival of thousands of forced laborers, Ivy’s quiet allegiance to the Allies compels her to risk everything by providing medical aid to escaped workers–even as danger closes in.
Dutch engineer and resistance member Gerrit van der Zee volunteers to build fortifications for the Germans so he can secretly send maps and diagrams to the Allies. On his arrival in the Channel Islands, he crosses paths with Ivy, who shows him contempt for the uniform he wears. As tensions mount and their missions grow increasingly dangerous, Ivy and Gerrit must confront the cost of courage, the meaning of sacrifice, and whether love can survive in the shadow of war. Will their covert efforts turn the tide–or will they pay the ultimate price for defiance?
Renowned WWII fiction author Sarah Sundin crafts a compelling historical romance featuring enemies-to-lovers, wartime resistance, and medical intrigue–a tale of loyalty, resilience, and courage when love and duty collide.
Where to Buy:
Mists Over the Channel Islands is the kind of historical fiction that reminds us why these stories matter, not just to remember the past, but to reflect on courage, sacrifice, and faith in the present.
If you enjoy WWII novels that balance rich historical detail with emotional depth and a tender, restrained romance, this one deserves a place on your shelf.
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