In the shadow of pre-WWII Germany, 17-year-old Ilse finds herself alone, pregnant, and penniless—betrayed by her family and thrust into the arms of Lebensborn, the Nazis' secretive program designed to propagate Aryan purity.

Yet, Ilse harbors a perilous secret within the walls of Lebensborn: her unborn child's father is Jewish. Surrounded by the very architects of the regime's sinister vision, she must rely on her cunning, her knowledge of herbs, and her indomitable spirit to hide the truth and keep her child safe.

As the Reich's scrutiny intensifies, Ilse's place within Lebensborn becomes a gilded cage, with each day edging her closer to exposure. Forced to navigate a labyrinth of lies and make unthinkable choices, her journey turns into more than a fight for survival—it becomes a quest for identity, redemption, and defiance that could alter the course of her life forever.


Early Readers are LOVING To Look Upon The Sun:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…The novel still lives in my head, long after having finished it. This story of the WWII Lebensborn program in Nazi Germany is told with great care and quiet understatement, creating a narrative tone that is spot on…” –Goodreads review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…This book is a testament to the power of resilience, the survival of many under horrific odds, and the determination of some to avoid the Reich's coerced indoctrination. I couldn’t put it down…” –Netgalley Review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…The author, Shannon St. Hilaire obviously did her research and crafted a gripping WWII story that is both accurate and nearly impossible to put down…” –Goodreads review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…An absolutely powerful, thrilling, and haunting story of one woman’s fight… this story rings across time…” –NetGalley review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “…Out of her expert historical research, St Hilaire has created an extremely personal account of the true horrors of Nazism. To Look Upon the Sun is an outstanding piece of historical fiction.” –Goodreads review