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The Ley Brothers #1
The Rules in Rome by A. L. Sowards
With Hitler’s forces firmly entrenched in Europe, countless heroes seek to end the madman’s reign. Bastien Ley is one of the best. Working in Italy for the Office of Strategic Services, he’s been tasked with sabotaging German convoys. When his team kills an officer headed for Rome, the man’s similarity to Bastien is undeniable, and seeing an opportunity to turn the tide of the war, Bastien makes a bold he will assume the dead officer’s identity. He becomes Dietrich, an Iron Cross–wearing German officer—an ideal position from which to infiltrate the Nazi ranks in Rome. To help with his stressful assignment, his superiors send him a reinforcement in the form of the lovely Gracie Begni, an intelligent and eager radio operator with absolutely no undercover experience. With a gulf of resentment between them, these two agents must find a way to portray a couple in love. Soon their reluctant alliance becomes much more as Bastien and Gracie find themselves getting lost in their feelings for each other. But as they engage in battle against the deadliest foe the world has ever known, the pair quickly realizes their love may be doomed. As the Rome Gestapo threatens to destroy all they’ve worked for, will Bastien and Gracie survive their charade?2015 Whitney Award winner for best historical novel.
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First published February 1, 2015
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About the author
A.L. Sowards
22 books1,224 followersI love books, so that makes Goodreads my favorite social media site. As a reader, I enjoy a variety of books. As a writer, I create historical novels with a wholesome mix of action, adventure, and romance. My stories have earned Whitney Awards, Foreword Indies Finalists positions, Readers’ Favorite Gold and Silver medals, a Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choice Selection, and a Praiseworthy Award.
I'm a wife and a mother of three, and I've called Washington State, Utah, and Alaska home. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.
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About My Goodreads Ratings:
I joined Goodreads as a reader first, but since I’m an author too, I’ve made some changes to how I rate books. For fiction, I'll give a book 5 stars if I enjoyed every page. Otherwise, I'll leave the rating blank. For nonfiction, 5 star books are ones I enjoyed enough that I’d like to read them again. They’re books I connected with and highly recommend to others. 4 star books are good books that I thought were worth reading once, and they’re also recommended.
I'm a wife and a mother of three, and I've called Washington State, Utah, and Alaska home. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.
Stay in Touch:
Newsletter sign up: https://alsowards.com/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.l.sowards/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALSowards/
About My Goodreads Ratings:
I joined Goodreads as a reader first, but since I’m an author too, I’ve made some changes to how I rate books. For fiction, I'll give a book 5 stars if I enjoyed every page. Otherwise, I'll leave the rating blank. For nonfiction, 5 star books are ones I enjoyed enough that I’d like to read them again. They’re books I connected with and highly recommend to others. 4 star books are good books that I thought were worth reading once, and they’re also recommended.
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January 24, 2023I'm a little biased since I wrote the book, but I think it's an awesome read! A good choice for readers who like spy thrillers, clean romance, or general historical fiction.
February 10, 2015
I've loved reading this author's works set in this time period--WWII. This story takes the reader to a place that doesn't seem to be written about quite as much--Italy. I found it very interesting to read about some of the history and the effects that WWII had on this country, while being thoroughly entertained by the fictional characters and the events surrounding their lives as spies.
Gracie endured things that I didn't think she could. She is a normal American girl who is also deeply rooted in her religion. She's been trained to spy and operate a radio, yet when she actually arrives in the field, it's not as easy as she thought it would be. I was on edge in her behalf, many, many times. There's no way I could be a spy, yet I sure love reading about them!
Bastien is a tough, almost cold man, yet he has glimmers of warmth within him. His life and many others are on the line and depend on him staying in character. He's very good at what he does. I fell for him, right along with Gracie!
I'm a sucker for a good, clean romance and this one was exceptional! My socks were knocked off with that first kiss. I loved the way things naturally and gradually developed. As always, I'm looking forward to more of Ms. Sowards writing.
Content: Clean romance (kissing); no language; moderate violence (war violence, not graphic); mild religion (talk of religion, but it doesn't play a major role).
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Gracie endured things that I didn't think she could. She is a normal American girl who is also deeply rooted in her religion. She's been trained to spy and operate a radio, yet when she actually arrives in the field, it's not as easy as she thought it would be. I was on edge in her behalf, many, many times. There's no way I could be a spy, yet I sure love reading about them!
Bastien is a tough, almost cold man, yet he has glimmers of warmth within him. His life and many others are on the line and depend on him staying in character. He's very good at what he does. I fell for him, right along with Gracie!
I'm a sucker for a good, clean romance and this one was exceptional! My socks were knocked off with that first kiss. I loved the way things naturally and gradually developed. As always, I'm looking forward to more of Ms. Sowards writing.
Content: Clean romance (kissing); no language; moderate violence (war violence, not graphic); mild religion (talk of religion, but it doesn't play a major role).
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
February 12, 2015
***4.5 stars***
A.L. Sowards does an incredible job at writing suspenseful, action packed, spy thrillers set during WWII. I am amazed at how well she writes a novel that feels like you are reading history.
I don't recall many books about the German occupation of Italy. It was interesting to visit the historic tourist attractions with Gracie. During the time they weren't taken care of and it's sad to see how war effects a country and the people.
Gracie is working undercover as a radio operator. She is to act as the Italian girlfriend of Bastien Lay. He is an allied soldier who is acting as a deceased German officer, Allard Dietrich, whom he resembles. Of course, the German's do not know that Dietrich is dead.
One of the elements of Historical Fiction, is that the reader is often familiar with the time period and events. I knew that the penalty for spying was severe. I am also familiar with some of the horrible ways that prisoners, and civilians were punished by the Nazi's. This information added to my interest in Gracie and Bastien. I was anxious when they came too close to discovery.
This is a book that I highly recommend to readers of the historical fiction genre. The romance is clean but it does contain war violence.
A.L. Sowards does an incredible job at writing suspenseful, action packed, spy thrillers set during WWII. I am amazed at how well she writes a novel that feels like you are reading history.
I don't recall many books about the German occupation of Italy. It was interesting to visit the historic tourist attractions with Gracie. During the time they weren't taken care of and it's sad to see how war effects a country and the people.
Gracie is working undercover as a radio operator. She is to act as the Italian girlfriend of Bastien Lay. He is an allied soldier who is acting as a deceased German officer, Allard Dietrich, whom he resembles. Of course, the German's do not know that Dietrich is dead.
One of the elements of Historical Fiction, is that the reader is often familiar with the time period and events. I knew that the penalty for spying was severe. I am also familiar with some of the horrible ways that prisoners, and civilians were punished by the Nazi's. This information added to my interest in Gracie and Bastien. I was anxious when they came too close to discovery.
This is a book that I highly recommend to readers of the historical fiction genre. The romance is clean but it does contain war violence.
September 13, 2015
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To say I was excited when A.L. Sowards The Rules in Rome appeared in the Netgalley catalog is something of an understatement. I'd been eyeing the author's work for a while and was positively giddy when my request to review the novel was approved. I began reading it almost immediately and was pleased to discover my enthusiasm wasn't misplaced. The action and historic detail in the narrative impressed me so much that I actually reached out to author A.L. Sowards about hosting an interview before finishing the book, but looking back, I think what stands out the most is how different the novel feels in comparison to others of my experience.
Most of the WWII fiction I've encountered takes place in England, France, Germany, Poland, Austria and Belgium, but Sowards chose Italy for the backdrop of her story and I found myself very intrigued by her decision to venture into territory that is less commonly portrayed. I wont deny that Belinda Alexandra's Tuscan Rose had more atmospheric and cultural detail, but Sowards' effort was easily more cohesive and engaging and I think that is why I appreciated her so much more than that of her predecessor.
I admit there were elements of the book that felt somewhat coincidental, but the author created enough situational drama that I didn't feel things like Bastien's physical resemblance to Adalard Dietrich detrimental to the narrative. I found it curious tha0t the reader is afforded more face time with Gracie than Bastien and wish there'd been more balance between Sowards' leads, but here again, I don't feel the small disparity had any adverse affect on the finished publication.
My interest in the novel begins and ends with the history incorporated in its premise. The love story was harder for me to get into, but I think fans of wartime romance will really enjoy the emotional hurdles Bastien and Grace face. The story is clean in terms of language and explicit intimacy, but it is war era fiction and Sowards doesn't shy away from demonstrating the dangers of covert espionage with moments of extreme tension and deadly violence.
The politics of the novel are presented in light to moderate terms and are very easy to understand. Sowards kept this aspect straightforward enough that those with limited comprehension of events don't feel overwhelmed by the material which is nice as it is very easy to cripple a good story with heavy-handed description of fact.
Bottom line, The Rules in Rome proved a quick and captivating diversion. Lightly religious, inventive and energetic.
To say I was excited when A.L. Sowards The Rules in Rome appeared in the Netgalley catalog is something of an understatement. I'd been eyeing the author's work for a while and was positively giddy when my request to review the novel was approved. I began reading it almost immediately and was pleased to discover my enthusiasm wasn't misplaced. The action and historic detail in the narrative impressed me so much that I actually reached out to author A.L. Sowards about hosting an interview before finishing the book, but looking back, I think what stands out the most is how different the novel feels in comparison to others of my experience.
Most of the WWII fiction I've encountered takes place in England, France, Germany, Poland, Austria and Belgium, but Sowards chose Italy for the backdrop of her story and I found myself very intrigued by her decision to venture into territory that is less commonly portrayed. I wont deny that Belinda Alexandra's Tuscan Rose had more atmospheric and cultural detail, but Sowards' effort was easily more cohesive and engaging and I think that is why I appreciated her so much more than that of her predecessor.
I admit there were elements of the book that felt somewhat coincidental, but the author created enough situational drama that I didn't feel things like Bastien's physical resemblance to Adalard Dietrich detrimental to the narrative. I found it curious tha0t the reader is afforded more face time with Gracie than Bastien and wish there'd been more balance between Sowards' leads, but here again, I don't feel the small disparity had any adverse affect on the finished publication.
My interest in the novel begins and ends with the history incorporated in its premise. The love story was harder for me to get into, but I think fans of wartime romance will really enjoy the emotional hurdles Bastien and Grace face. The story is clean in terms of language and explicit intimacy, but it is war era fiction and Sowards doesn't shy away from demonstrating the dangers of covert espionage with moments of extreme tension and deadly violence.
The politics of the novel are presented in light to moderate terms and are very easy to understand. Sowards kept this aspect straightforward enough that those with limited comprehension of events don't feel overwhelmed by the material which is nice as it is very easy to cripple a good story with heavy-handed description of fact.
Bottom line, The Rules in Rome proved a quick and captivating diversion. Lightly religious, inventive and energetic.
April 14, 2018
I loved this book. My first book by this author, Defiance, was actually about the brother to the main character in The Rules in Rome. While reading Defiance, I really wanted to learn more about Bastien's story and what happened to him. So, when I saw it was available on an account that I have for listening to audiobooks I was so excited! I moved it to my next listen and honestly, I could not put it down.
Bastien takes on a new name and life as he goes into deep cover in Rome, Italy during WWII. He becomes Dietrich and lives his life as if he is a Nazi officer so that he can send information to the U.S. Army to help end the war. When he is told he must send his reports through a new radio operator, one who will also go into Rome undercover, he isn't happy. He's lived through this war and the terror and cruelty for years. Taking a new radio operator, most of whom don't tend to live very long because they are discovered and killed, into Rome goes against everything he believes. Gracie may have gone through training and be the best operator but she's not ready to be forced to live the life that will be thrust upon her as she goes undercover.
Bastien and Gracie must learn to trust each other, protect each other and much more if they are ever to survive and end the war. I enjoyed the suspense throughout this book. I had several moments while listening that I wasn't entirely sure if they would survive. Their relationship throughout and the friendship that developed was sweet and gentle. Through all the strife and fear from war, the gentleness of Bastien in caring for Gracie and protecting her was such a great added depth in this book.
If you enjoy novels about WWII, this is one I would highly recommend.
Content: It's about war so definitely battles, deceit, death, attacks, etc. There is a little bit of religious talk throughout. Gracie is LDS and talks about not drinking alcohol or having sexual relations. Some talk about characters being guided by God. Nothing overbearing or preachy.
I listened to an audiobook on my Deseret Bookshelf account.
Happy Reading!!!
Bastien takes on a new name and life as he goes into deep cover in Rome, Italy during WWII. He becomes Dietrich and lives his life as if he is a Nazi officer so that he can send information to the U.S. Army to help end the war. When he is told he must send his reports through a new radio operator, one who will also go into Rome undercover, he isn't happy. He's lived through this war and the terror and cruelty for years. Taking a new radio operator, most of whom don't tend to live very long because they are discovered and killed, into Rome goes against everything he believes. Gracie may have gone through training and be the best operator but she's not ready to be forced to live the life that will be thrust upon her as she goes undercover.
Bastien and Gracie must learn to trust each other, protect each other and much more if they are ever to survive and end the war. I enjoyed the suspense throughout this book. I had several moments while listening that I wasn't entirely sure if they would survive. Their relationship throughout and the friendship that developed was sweet and gentle. Through all the strife and fear from war, the gentleness of Bastien in caring for Gracie and protecting her was such a great added depth in this book.
If you enjoy novels about WWII, this is one I would highly recommend.
Content: It's about war so definitely battles, deceit, death, attacks, etc. There is a little bit of religious talk throughout. Gracie is LDS and talks about not drinking alcohol or having sexual relations. Some talk about characters being guided by God. Nothing overbearing or preachy.
I listened to an audiobook on my Deseret Bookshelf account.
Happy Reading!!!
October 6, 2015
Have you ever seen photos that are black & white (or sepia) with a one-color accent? I have read four books by A. L. Sowards (a trilogy and this one), and they remind me of those types of pictures, because they depict love stories in the midst of the greatest tragedy in human history – World War 2.
In this one, a young man who was born in Germany (but fled to the U.S. in the pre-war Nazi crackdown on intellectuals that disagreed with them) is sent behind the lines in Italy to work with partisans to hamper German supply lines. On one mission, the German staff officer they kill is his doppleganger, so he’s able to take the man’s place and work for the Wehrmacht in Rome while sending intelligence to the Allies. Because of the high stress and limited time to respond without getting caught, he makes a mistake that results in an insecure young woman (but talented radio operator) being assigned to go back to Rome with him, posing as his mistress. All of this makes for an interesting drama in the last days of fascist Rome, and this author does impeccable research and knows World War 2 history down to obscure details. It’s also a “clean” affair that has something for everyone – romance and intrigue, passion and danger.
On a side note, I found it to be poignantly insightful from a man’s point of view about the way a girl can view herself, because the young woman has a birthmark on her face that fuels a lot of insecurity for her. In spite of the fact that she is pursued by several German officers (including the undercover one) and partisans, so she must be attractive, she battles doubts because of the treatment by her mother as a youth. It’s somewhat sobering to see the effects (even though this is a novel) that a person can have on a child’s self-esteem that causes a huge wall to be built when logic suggests that the first person was mistaken.
I enjoy this author’s books because of the uplifting story in the midst of conflict. Books like this can be a reminder that, in an ugly world - and this was one of the ugliest times in world history - beauty and goodness can be found if one searches in the right places.
In this one, a young man who was born in Germany (but fled to the U.S. in the pre-war Nazi crackdown on intellectuals that disagreed with them) is sent behind the lines in Italy to work with partisans to hamper German supply lines. On one mission, the German staff officer they kill is his doppleganger, so he’s able to take the man’s place and work for the Wehrmacht in Rome while sending intelligence to the Allies. Because of the high stress and limited time to respond without getting caught, he makes a mistake that results in an insecure young woman (but talented radio operator) being assigned to go back to Rome with him, posing as his mistress. All of this makes for an interesting drama in the last days of fascist Rome, and this author does impeccable research and knows World War 2 history down to obscure details. It’s also a “clean” affair that has something for everyone – romance and intrigue, passion and danger.
On a side note, I found it to be poignantly insightful from a man’s point of view about the way a girl can view herself, because the young woman has a birthmark on her face that fuels a lot of insecurity for her. In spite of the fact that she is pursued by several German officers (including the undercover one) and partisans, so she must be attractive, she battles doubts because of the treatment by her mother as a youth. It’s somewhat sobering to see the effects (even though this is a novel) that a person can have on a child’s self-esteem that causes a huge wall to be built when logic suggests that the first person was mistaken.
I enjoy this author’s books because of the uplifting story in the midst of conflict. Books like this can be a reminder that, in an ugly world - and this was one of the ugliest times in world history - beauty and goodness can be found if one searches in the right places.
May 29, 2018
I read my first book by this author a year ago when she was looking for reviewers for Defiance (it's about Bastien's younger brother, Lukas) and I was completely surprised by how much I liked it, because I don't read books about war. I was happy when this book went on sale for a great price because this is Bastien's and Gracie's story and Defiance doesn't go into their history.
Bastien Ley is an officer working in Italy for the Office of Strategic Services. While on patrol he and his team kill a German officer and find, much to their surprise, he looks a lot like Bastien. So Bastien and his team make the decision for him to take the dead German soldier's place. From that moment on Bastien Ley becomes Adalard Dietrich and is deep uncover.
Gracie Begni is a radio operator, one of the best. She's assigned to work in Italy with Bastien but he's less than thrilled. Radio operators don't usually last very long (about 6 weeks) before they're found out and killed, and although Gracie may be considered one of the best, she's a recent OSS graduate with no undercover experience. If they're discovered all his months spent gathering information from the Germans will be for nothing and they'll both be killed.
Grudgingly Bastien agrees to the plan for Gracie to pose has his girlfriend. Gracie's sheltered life back home and short time in OSS training has not prepared her for living undercover in occupied Italy. Living quarters are small, food is severely rationed, there's a night curfew to deal with, and as the weeks and months go by some of her contacts are found out and shot to death.
This story pulled me in right away. I loved seeing Gracie deal with all the challenges she faced, and how she and Bastien grew to trust each other. There are suspenseful moments throughout the book, but the last few chapters were full of suspense and I wondered how they would escape to safety. If you like WWII stories and war romances you'll like this book. For me, this is another winner from A. L. Sowards.
Bastien Ley is an officer working in Italy for the Office of Strategic Services. While on patrol he and his team kill a German officer and find, much to their surprise, he looks a lot like Bastien. So Bastien and his team make the decision for him to take the dead German soldier's place. From that moment on Bastien Ley becomes Adalard Dietrich and is deep uncover.
Gracie Begni is a radio operator, one of the best. She's assigned to work in Italy with Bastien but he's less than thrilled. Radio operators don't usually last very long (about 6 weeks) before they're found out and killed, and although Gracie may be considered one of the best, she's a recent OSS graduate with no undercover experience. If they're discovered all his months spent gathering information from the Germans will be for nothing and they'll both be killed.
Grudgingly Bastien agrees to the plan for Gracie to pose has his girlfriend. Gracie's sheltered life back home and short time in OSS training has not prepared her for living undercover in occupied Italy. Living quarters are small, food is severely rationed, there's a night curfew to deal with, and as the weeks and months go by some of her contacts are found out and shot to death.
This story pulled me in right away. I loved seeing Gracie deal with all the challenges she faced, and how she and Bastien grew to trust each other. There are suspenseful moments throughout the book, but the last few chapters were full of suspense and I wondered how they would escape to safety. If you like WWII stories and war romances you'll like this book. For me, this is another winner from A. L. Sowards.
February 11, 2015
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially when it is done right. I love getting a bit of a history lesson without it actually feeling like a history lesson. This book is set during WWII in Rome, Italy. I have read a lot of books set during WWII but I cannot remember any in Rome, Italy. It was interesting and heartbreaking. War is awful.
Because I know some of the travesties WWII brought, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through this book, just waiting for those awful things to happen. There was so much anticipation on my part. Gracie is a character I really enjoyed. She is brave but she is also frightened sometimes. She has courage as well as a tender heart.
Bastien will grow on you. He comes off cold and distant but that is his training and his desire to keep safe and successful in his mission. I enjoyed getting to know him gradually with Gracie.
Pretending to be in love is a dangerous game. It was a good one for this book, though. I was happy to get to the HEA ending. I could finally breathe again. :)
This book has references to the "Mormon" religion, but there isn't anything preachy or overbearing in it. There is no swearing or sexual situations. There is some violence.
Because I know some of the travesties WWII brought, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through this book, just waiting for those awful things to happen. There was so much anticipation on my part. Gracie is a character I really enjoyed. She is brave but she is also frightened sometimes. She has courage as well as a tender heart.
Bastien will grow on you. He comes off cold and distant but that is his training and his desire to keep safe and successful in his mission. I enjoyed getting to know him gradually with Gracie.
Pretending to be in love is a dangerous game. It was a good one for this book, though. I was happy to get to the HEA ending. I could finally breathe again. :)
This book has references to the "Mormon" religion, but there isn't anything preachy or overbearing in it. There is no swearing or sexual situations. There is some violence.
September 10, 2017
The research into this book reflects the intensity of the content in this book. It took me back to the natzi war in Germany. It even talks about a sub that went down. I have a great uncle from WWII that they had just heard the war was over but the opposing team had not. As soon as his sub became visible it was sunk. Where is sunk is still in a place you cannot go to see if it's still there. For this hit a personal spot in my heart with that and my personal beliefs. At times it was hard to read because it took on the real life of that time and real happenings. I love the ending and the pleasant surprise. Not something I would normally read and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well Done!
December 25, 2019
Review to follow
February 17, 2015
This book is awesome!! I haven't seen many WWII books set in Italy so that caught my interest right away. Once I started reading, I was hooked from the first page.
Gracie is likable from the beginning. She wants to prove that her college degree was worth pursuing and show her mother that being smart is better than being beautiful. She recently finished training to be a radio operator and is one of the best. As she goes undercover, she does prove to be a great radio operator but struggles with being a spy. She makes mistakes and some of them have real and devastating consequences.
Bastien Ley, an American spy who is currently working undercover as Adalard Dietrich, has made some mistakes in his reports so he's being assigned to work with Gracie. He's not happy about it but finally agrees to it. Their cover story is to act like a couple. They start off tolerating each other but their feelings start to grow and their relationship becomes confusing for them. There are also obstacles in their way and it doesn't seem like a relationship between them will work.
Gracie is a good Mormon girl. There are references to her faith throughout the novel but nothing preachy. Bastien started out a little rough but quickly grew on me. Gracie has some self-esteem issues because of comments her family said to her while growing up. Bastien definitely finds her beautiful and wants to help her believe it. I enjoyed their relationship and watching it grow into something with great potential.
I felt like I was holding my breath through most of the book and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Some parts were hard to read as the realities of war were described. This is the first book I've read by A.L. Sowards and I will definitely read more of her books in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
Gracie is likable from the beginning. She wants to prove that her college degree was worth pursuing and show her mother that being smart is better than being beautiful. She recently finished training to be a radio operator and is one of the best. As she goes undercover, she does prove to be a great radio operator but struggles with being a spy. She makes mistakes and some of them have real and devastating consequences.
Bastien Ley, an American spy who is currently working undercover as Adalard Dietrich, has made some mistakes in his reports so he's being assigned to work with Gracie. He's not happy about it but finally agrees to it. Their cover story is to act like a couple. They start off tolerating each other but their feelings start to grow and their relationship becomes confusing for them. There are also obstacles in their way and it doesn't seem like a relationship between them will work.
Gracie is a good Mormon girl. There are references to her faith throughout the novel but nothing preachy. Bastien started out a little rough but quickly grew on me. Gracie has some self-esteem issues because of comments her family said to her while growing up. Bastien definitely finds her beautiful and wants to help her believe it. I enjoyed their relationship and watching it grow into something with great potential.
I felt like I was holding my breath through most of the book and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Some parts were hard to read as the realities of war were described. This is the first book I've read by A.L. Sowards and I will definitely read more of her books in the future!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
December 11, 2015
The Rules in Rome is a nail-biter, and A.L. Sowards does an excellent job of illustrating the courage required by those who risked their lives in Nazi-occupied Italy as they slipped information to the Allies. Gracie the radio operator is a wonderful character--her determination, her intelligence, her insecurities, her loyalty and compassion. I also like how Sowards showed a range of mindsets among the Nazi characters, humanizing them. They weren't cardboard villains--there was the officer trying to be loyal to his party but hating what they were doing, the officer who was uneasy with some of his orders but who rationalized the need for them and let his ambition control him, the malignant officer who cared only for his own appetites. Sowards also does a great job of conveying the danger while avoiding any graphic violence. She's a pro at writing gripping historical novels. I enjoyed her Deady Alliance as well, and I'll definitely be reading more of her work.
November 16, 2020
This book was wonderful. It was simultaneously a hate to love story, a spy story, a historical, a suspense, and so many other things. I loved every aspect even while the history made me unspeakably sad. Sowards does a wonderful job creating authentic scenes based off history while also weaving an impressively laid out plot.
I really loved Gracie. She grew so much in this book—physically in her spy skills but also mentally and emotionally. There were many lessons to be learned from her and her growth. And the strength she had at the end was inspiring.
Bastion was fantastic. Though he appeared rough around the edges, his actions were always motivated by honor and care and I LOVED him. He was strong but able to show his vulnerable side (as the story went on)
Every side character felt real. Every horrific scene of world war 2 atrocity was given the weight it deserved. Everything was well done. I learned so much while also fully enjoying this read.
That ending was especially perfect. It was lighthearted and made me laugh out loud. The absolute ideal ending to a story so filled with horror and fear but also hope and success. Incredible.
I really loved Gracie. She grew so much in this book—physically in her spy skills but also mentally and emotionally. There were many lessons to be learned from her and her growth. And the strength she had at the end was inspiring.
Bastion was fantastic. Though he appeared rough around the edges, his actions were always motivated by honor and care and I LOVED him. He was strong but able to show his vulnerable side (as the story went on)
Every side character felt real. Every horrific scene of world war 2 atrocity was given the weight it deserved. Everything was well done. I learned so much while also fully enjoying this read.
That ending was especially perfect. It was lighthearted and made me laugh out loud. The absolute ideal ending to a story so filled with horror and fear but also hope and success. Incredible.
February 14, 2017
Sowards is a master of her craft. This WWII fiction thriller is set in Italy. The main characters are Bastien, an Allied spy posing as a Nazi officer, and Gracie, a female radio operator fresh out of OSS training. Sowards always does a great job researching the time period and intrigues of war in the place her stories are set. I was transported into war-torn Rome and felt hungry and desperate as I turned the pages and watched this spy story play out. The action and suspense never stops and will keep you on the edge of your seat (unless you’re reading in bed). The characters are real and wrap themselves around your heart. I cheered for them; I bit my nails off for them; I cried a few tears too as things got a bit rough. Bastien’s and Gracie’s relationship is complicated and fragile, as they must work together to get time-sensitive information to the Allies while posing as a couple when others are around to see them. Hearts aren’t a good thing to wear on your sleeve during war, and it’s downright dangerous for spies to consider when each day could be their last. I highly recommend this book if you like storytelling that weaves history, romance and action together. ***I was given this book for free in exchange for my fair and honest review.
September 8, 2019
Excellent WWII story about a radio operator and a spy working for the Allies in Nazi occupied Rome. Both characters are highly skilled and intelligent. The story highlights some of the grave risks people took to aid the Allies, and the high cost of being discovered. I liked both Gracie and Bastien. Bastien would rather work alone and recognizes the risks Gracie faces before she does (and before I did). Gracie is book smart and eager to help, and I related to her. I loved her humanity with her contacts and cheered for her fighting spirit. I liked how Gracie and Bastien have to work together and learn to work together well. Even with all they are able to accomplish, the harsh realities and overwhelming fails (compared to wins) make me amazed at the real people who kept at it during the war. This story has a brisk pace, characters with depth, action sequences that had me tensing up, a romantic storyline, and raised thought-provoking questions.
September 16, 2016
2015 Whitney awards finalist in the Historical category. I'll rate it after the gala.
Read
January 9, 2016Loved it! Review to come.
May 12, 2019
I really enjoyed this story, and getting to know the characters. Bastian and Gracie are both brave, heroic protagonists who help me appreciate what real life people went through in WWII to bring the war to an end. I really liked that minor characters, including the Antagonists, the Nazis and the SS were portrayed as real people, not just mindlessly evil psychopaths. I liked Heinrich especially, though his nickname was a little distracting.
There were some things the main characters did that didn’t make sense to me, that from my perspective were, well, blindingly stupid that I don’t think they did for any other reason than that the author wanted them to do it to create conflict, kill off someone, and/or move the story forward.
These bits however, were mostly overshadowed by the powerful writing of the rest of the story, the characterizations, and the rich history. I liked the slow way the two grew into their feelings for each other, and the very satisfying twist at the end. I especially liked the epilogue!
There were some things the main characters did that didn’t make sense to me, that from my perspective were, well, blindingly stupid that I don’t think they did for any other reason than that the author wanted them to do it to create conflict, kill off someone, and/or move the story forward.
These bits however, were mostly overshadowed by the powerful writing of the rest of the story, the characterizations, and the rich history. I liked the slow way the two grew into their feelings for each other, and the very satisfying twist at the end. I especially liked the epilogue!
April 6, 2021
I am always amazed when I read WW2 books, how every country, city, person, had their own battle to fight. This was an example of one of those (potential) fights. It is fiction but I loved the story line. There were a few parts that were a little "too coincidental", but I almost enjoyed that, because I wanted it to work out. There is plenty of death, gore... just war content but it was tastefully written. I really loved the ending, though I admit, I was not surprised, but I was pleased... Anyway, if you like sappy romance and historical fictions (like me), this is a great pick.
November 23, 2020
Really quick read that had me thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. Loved it
March 10, 2022
Review to come
February 12, 2015
I LOVE espionage thrillers!
A.L. Soward's books are some of THE BEST!
What would you do if your team just killed a man?
And what would you do if you happened to look exactly like that man?
At the height of WWII Bastien Ley is working in Italy against the Germans.
When his team kills an officer that looks just like Bastien he is tasked to take the dead man's identity.
Now he is know as "Dietrich, an Iron Cross-wearing German officer."
But his real task is to send out information to his team to help them win the war.
When Bastien/Dietrich's transmissions become a little sketchy due to lack of sleep they send him a radio operator by the name of Gracie Begni.
Gracie has her own agenda.
She is out to prove that she can do the job as good as, if not better than, any man.
Their cover story? A young couple who met during the war and are now dating.
Bastien fights that he doesn't need her, she fights that she is up to the task.
Their story is fun and entertaining and captivating and oh so good!
Battles ensue, roundups take place, messages are sent, motorcycle rides are taken, picnics are had, and secrets are threatened...
And admist it all the two of them will come to "find themselves getting lost in their feelings for each other."
"But as they engage in a battle against the deadliest foe the world has ever known, the pair quickly realizes their love may be doomed. Can Bastien and Gracie survive their charade?"
LOVE that this WWII story was set in Italy!
A FANTASTIC read!
Don't miss out on this one!
A.L. Soward's books are some of THE BEST!
What would you do if your team just killed a man?
And what would you do if you happened to look exactly like that man?
At the height of WWII Bastien Ley is working in Italy against the Germans.
When his team kills an officer that looks just like Bastien he is tasked to take the dead man's identity.
Now he is know as "Dietrich, an Iron Cross-wearing German officer."
But his real task is to send out information to his team to help them win the war.
When Bastien/Dietrich's transmissions become a little sketchy due to lack of sleep they send him a radio operator by the name of Gracie Begni.
Gracie has her own agenda.
She is out to prove that she can do the job as good as, if not better than, any man.
Their cover story? A young couple who met during the war and are now dating.
Bastien fights that he doesn't need her, she fights that she is up to the task.
Their story is fun and entertaining and captivating and oh so good!
Battles ensue, roundups take place, messages are sent, motorcycle rides are taken, picnics are had, and secrets are threatened...
And admist it all the two of them will come to "find themselves getting lost in their feelings for each other."
"But as they engage in a battle against the deadliest foe the world has ever known, the pair quickly realizes their love may be doomed. Can Bastien and Gracie survive their charade?"
LOVE that this WWII story was set in Italy!
A FANTASTIC read!
Don't miss out on this one!
February 13, 2015
Wow! The Rules in Rome is an excellent WWII Romance! There is a lot more to it than romance (suspense, action, intrigue, etc.), but I loved the romance.
A.L. Sowards does a fantastic job writing historical fiction. I really enjoyed her characters. Gracie sounded like such a wonderful person. She has low self esteem (thanks to her mother), but she's decided to do what she can for her country. I liked how both of the main characters had been born in Europe, but at a young age had immigrated to the United States.
The journey was very exciting and intense. I love how Sowards is able to depict the horrible war time situation without going over the top.
I was very distraught when my review copy ended before the story was over. I wondered if this was part of a series with a cliff hanger ending. Thankfully, the rest of the story was sent to me (no cliff hangers), and I was very happy with how it ended. I found out that The Rules in Rome is a standalone novel, but the author has plans to write about Bastian's younger brother.
Sowards is an excellent author. I'm excited to read anything else she writes.
A.L. Sowards does a fantastic job writing historical fiction. I really enjoyed her characters. Gracie sounded like such a wonderful person. She has low self esteem (thanks to her mother), but she's decided to do what she can for her country. I liked how both of the main characters had been born in Europe, but at a young age had immigrated to the United States.
The journey was very exciting and intense. I love how Sowards is able to depict the horrible war time situation without going over the top.
I was very distraught when my review copy ended before the story was over. I wondered if this was part of a series with a cliff hanger ending. Thankfully, the rest of the story was sent to me (no cliff hangers), and I was very happy with how it ended. I found out that The Rules in Rome is a standalone novel, but the author has plans to write about Bastian's younger brother.
Sowards is an excellent author. I'm excited to read anything else she writes.
February 9, 2015
In The Rules of Rome, Soward takes the reader on a thrilling ride through the Nazi occupation of Italy. The story starts with a bang as Bastien Ley, an OSS agent working in Italy stumbles across a German officer who bares an uncanny resemblance to himself. Going undercover is a risky proposition but if it helps end the war before his brother joins up, he's willing to risk it. However, when his boss sends him an inexperienced young agent to help, he is extremely reluctant to accept her presence. Things get even more complicated when despite their initial dislike they start to care for each other. Soward does a great job of creating an intriguing plot in a place that doesn't receive as much attention from WWII novelists. The story begins quickly and continues on that way until the end. The challenges of facing a deadly enemy as well as their own emotions makes Bastien and Gracie characters that I was more than happy to read about, the story also helped create a greater appreciation for those who put their lives on the line to help end that horrible war.
February 9, 2015
I loved this book! I love the way that A L Sowards can take a time in history, during World War II and make it come alive. I loved the way that the author shows things from both Bastien's and Gracie's point of views, I loved the way that it made the story seem more 3-D. I loved the characters. Gracie is a good Mormon girl who wanted to make a difference in the war, so she did the OSS training and ended up in Rome. Bastien is originally from Germany, but his family moved to the USA and he is fighting to end the war that the Nazis started. I liked how Bastien didn't want to work with Gracie and he tried to do everything he could think of to get her to change her mind about going on the assignment. But as he got to know her, his respect for her just continued to grow as he saw her deal with hard things, and in the end he would do pretty much anything for her. This book is a book about World War II, but it's also got a sweet love story, and you'll feel as though you were transported to Rome during the 1940's. I didn't want this book to end!
January 29, 2015
Action packed and suspenseful, this was a difficult book to put down. It was interesting to learn about life in Rome during WW II. I had never previously spent time considering what life would be life for a radio operator behind enemy lines. I like how this story was told from several perspectives. Not only could I see the thoughts of the hero and heroine, but I could see how the enemy could convince himself that he was justified as well. War stories are a little hard for me to take because of the violence involved. This was true in this book toward the end. It was handled well though. I enjoyed cheering the main characters on. I felt their sorrow when the tragedies of war struck. I felt their relief when they were successful. I especially enjoyed the author notes at the end that helped me separate fact from fiction. I love a good story where I also learn something about history.
February 14, 2015
This book was amazing. I absolutely loved it! Every page was a mystery and lead to more suspenseful situations. Bastien and Gracie are fabulous characters. I loved how we were able to see them from the other's point of view. I also enjoyed how the story was told from other characters too. WWII is a fascinating subject to take on, and Amanda does an incredible job with this story. Gracie and Bastien both are thrown into an almost impossible situations. So many thrilling events take place, I was turning pages eagerly to find out what was going to happen, but honestly, I was almost afraid to know what was going to happen next!
5 out of 5 stars. I know I can count on Amanda for an exciting book that is well-written and a clean read.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
5 out of 5 stars. I know I can count on Amanda for an exciting book that is well-written and a clean read.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2015
I received this as a first read . This one was a great read. I like reading works about war world 2 time period. The author writes this era beautifully. It is set in Italy which is wonderful. It was hard to read at times just because of the subject matter. However you can help but root for Grace and want to know what is going to happen to her. I would read this author again.
March 24, 2015
I enjoyed this book, I couldn't put it down! It is well researched historical fiction, a spy thriller, with lots of action and clean romance. It is set in Italy during WWII, a piece of that war that isn't written about a lot. A.L. Sowards has brought that piece alive with this book. A good read for sure!
April 25, 2015
This book was well written. I enjoyed this book. I cried through parts of it. It had a lot of history that was kinda scary. But we now that a lot of things that were done to occupied countries were not always nice. I am proud that there were people who risked their lives to help stop the war.
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