About the Book

Book: Shetland Sunset

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: January 18, 2026

Bonded by a cause but an ocean apart, will their love survive a world war?

After months in Norway helping his cousins with their fishing business, American Askel Westgard seems trapped when the Germans invade until he has a chance to get back at the Occupiers as part of the Shetlandsgjengen, or Shetland gang, a group of fishermen who transport weapons and equipment from Shetland to Norway under cover of darkness. Unfortunately, the beautiful Norwegian woman he’s just met refuses to join him in safety. Will he ever see her again?

Distraught when the Germans overrun her beloved Norway, Tonje Bondevik refuses to take the occupation sitting down. She joins the fledgling resistance movement, deriving great satisfaction distributing the underground newspaper and performing acts of sabotage…until the day the Nazis come looking for her, and she must flee for her life. Perhaps she should have listened to the handsome Norwegian American when he offered to take her to Shetland.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she explores the history of this great state, immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors, and drinks copious amounts of tea.

 

 

More from Linda

Shetland, also called the Shetland Islands, is an archipelago of about one hundred islands, with fewer than twenty being inhabited. Originally a base for Norwegian Vikings, Shetland came under Scottish rule when King Christian I pledged the island as part of his daughter’s dowry when she was betrothed to James III of Scotland. The island continues to feature an intriguing mix of Norwegian and Scottish heritage in customs, language, and celebrations. Interestingly, Shetland is geographically closer to Norway than Scotland.

The Shetland Bus is the nickname for a World War II clandestine operation during which fishermen smuggled supplies, weapons, radio operators, and agents into occupied Norway and ferried refugees out of Norway to Shetland and England. From 1941-1945, two hundred missions were carried in winter because of the nearly twenty-four hours of darkness that occurred during those months, but that meant crossing in rough, unforgiving seas. Additionally, the risk of being caught by German aircraft or patrol boats was high, and forty-four members lost their lives.

Authors get their ideas and inspiration from many sources, and I learned about the Shetland Bus from an episode of Shetland, a modern-day BBC mystery show that featured a fictional cold case associated with the “bus.” I was able to read multiple memoirs and autobiographies and watch oral history interviews with Shetland Bus participants. It is my hope that Shetland Sunset honors the brave ordinary men who did extraordinary things.

Author Interview

• Are you a one project at a time author or do you have multiple projects going at once? I am easily bored, and there don’t seem to be enough hours in the day, so I have multiple projects going at the same time. Having said that, I only write one story at a time, but while doing that, I am usually in the editing stage of another, an outlining stage with a third, and the brainstorming/researching phase of a fourth. It keeps things fresh.
• How do you relax after a long day of writing? Hubby and I are avid jigsaw puzzlers, so we often work on one in the evening after dinner. I also love British television own a large collection of BBC series that I watch.
• Where do you find your greatest inspiration? Most of my stories are inspired by people or events in history. I’m a docent and archivist for a WWII museum and get lots of ideas from our displays and artifacts. I also follow several history channels on YouTube.
• Do you remember the first book you read? What sort of impact did it make on you? The book I remember from childhood is Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. I’m not sure why it resonated with me, but I loved that book and read it often.
• What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused? Silence (or white noise). Fortunately, I’m an early bird, so I do most of my writing before hubby is up. On the weekends, I wear noise-cancelling headphones or listen to ocean waves.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 13

Texas Book-aholic, August 14

Holly’s Book Corner, August 14

Artistic Nobody, August 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, August 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 17

lakesidelivingsite, August 18

Fiction Book Lover, August 19 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 20

Devoted to Hope, August 21

The Bookish Ledger, August 22 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, August 23

Pause for Tales, August 24

The Bookish Pilgrim, August 24

Leslie’s Library Escape, August 25

Guild Master, August 26 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Visa gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://gleam.io/pjJS9/shetland-sunset-celebration-tour-giveaway