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The Ley Brothers #2
Defiance
Eight years after immigrating to the United States, German-born Lukas Ley embodies the American dream: successful athlete, gorgeous girlfriend, loving family. But beneath the surface, eighteen-year-old Lukas is driven by ambition, resolved to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, a failed physical throws his plans for flight school off course. Unlike his war-hero older brother, Lukas’s purpose is unclear. He can’t fly, and in the eyes of the military, he’s good for only one thing—the front lines.
From the foxholes of war-ravaged Luxembourg to the devastation of an enormous German offensive, Lukas’s journey is fraught with peril. But when he’s taken as a prisoner of war, he realizes life is about to get much worse. In the enemy camp, Lukas is viewed as a German fighting for the wrong side. Ripped from the innocence of an idealistic youth, he becomes a man beaten by the horrors of war. Now his only hope of survival is to hold tightly to his faith in God and his love of family and home. But even if he manages to make it out alive, can he ever be whole again?
Sometimes survival is the ultimate act of Defiance.
From the foxholes of war-ravaged Luxembourg to the devastation of an enormous German offensive, Lukas’s journey is fraught with peril. But when he’s taken as a prisoner of war, he realizes life is about to get much worse. In the enemy camp, Lukas is viewed as a German fighting for the wrong side. Ripped from the innocence of an idealistic youth, he becomes a man beaten by the horrors of war. Now his only hope of survival is to hold tightly to his faith in God and his love of family and home. But even if he manages to make it out alive, can he ever be whole again?
Sometimes survival is the ultimate act of Defiance.
310 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2017
11 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Sowards
22 books1,229 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 14, 2020This is my sixth novel, and it comes out in April!
Oftentimes publishers and authors will tout something as an untold story. This isn’t an untold story. If it were untold, what would I have used for research? But it does showcase an often overshadowed story, and I’m excited to bring this part of history to life for my readers.
This book is a little different from my previous novels. Most of those were historical suspense or historical romantic suspense. This one is more of a coming-of-age and going-off-to war type of story. Also, it’s told in first person (all previous books have been third person, at least by the time they made it to bookstores).
The story follows Lukas Ley, a recent high school grad who yearns to strike back at the Nazis, preferably from a fighter plane. Unfortunately, he fails his eye exam and ends up in the infantry. (Side note: I wrote the eye exam scene several months before I decided to get my own eyes checked. And I ended up having the same prescription that I wrote for my character. Crazy, huh?)
Lukas ships off to Europe, where he and his squad mates end up (Minor spoilers—the back cover copy says almost as much. But I’m hiding it just in case people prefer to be completely surprised.)
This is a stand-alone novel. Readers might recognized a few characters though, because the protagonist in this book, Lukas Ley, has a brother named Bastien Ley who appears in The Rules in Rome. You don’t have to read The Rules in Rome to understand Defiance, but if you’re planning to read both, The Rules in Rome comes first chronologically. And you might as well read both, because they’re both really good. ;-)
Oftentimes publishers and authors will tout something as an untold story. This isn’t an untold story. If it were untold, what would I have used for research? But it does showcase an often overshadowed story, and I’m excited to bring this part of history to life for my readers.
This book is a little different from my previous novels. Most of those were historical suspense or historical romantic suspense. This one is more of a coming-of-age and going-off-to war type of story. Also, it’s told in first person (all previous books have been third person, at least by the time they made it to bookstores).
The story follows Lukas Ley, a recent high school grad who yearns to strike back at the Nazis, preferably from a fighter plane. Unfortunately, he fails his eye exam and ends up in the infantry. (Side note: I wrote the eye exam scene several months before I decided to get my own eyes checked. And I ended up having the same prescription that I wrote for my character. Crazy, huh?)
Lukas ships off to Europe, where he and his squad mates end up (Minor spoilers—the back cover copy says almost as much. But I’m hiding it just in case people prefer to be completely surprised.)
This is a stand-alone novel. Readers might recognized a few characters though, because the protagonist in this book, Lukas Ley, has a brother named Bastien Ley who appears in The Rules in Rome. You don’t have to read The Rules in Rome to understand Defiance, but if you’re planning to read both, The Rules in Rome comes first chronologically. And you might as well read both, because they’re both really good. ;-)
April 17, 2017
DISCLAIMER: I was asked by the author to read and review this book and given an advance copy for free. However, my review is honest and forthright based on the content of the book in question and not influenced by outside factors.
That being said, A. L. Sowards is one of my favorite authors of historical novels, and this book is on par with – and perhaps better than – the author’s previous works (which each got 5 stars from me). This book is connected to the excellent and dramatic “The Rules in Rome” (the protagonists in each book are brothers) but either is a standalone book that can be read without spoiling the other.
Lukas Ley is 18; when he was 10, the Nazis took his father, and his family fled to the United States. He is in love with the girl who lived next door, but her father hates him because he’s German – and he wants to go fight against the evil people that took his father.
He wants to be a pilot, but his eyesight and average grades not only keep him from his dream of flying airplanes (as a pilot or part of a crew) but also from becoming a paratrooper, so he is inducted into the infantry. Assigned to Luxembourg, he finds himself in the midst of what has comes to be called “the battle of the bulge” – a last, desperate offensive by the Germans to divide the Allies and prolong the war. The “defiance” of the title comes after Lukas finds himself a prisoner of war (this is on the jacket of the book, so no spoiler alert required) and is determined to survive. But will doing what it takes to survive fundamentally change who he is? And will that be a victory for the Nazis?
This book is a bit different for the author, because it’s the first book she has written in first-person, and the impact of the story is more meaningful that way. Additionally, this book is action-packed. There was action in the previous books, but they also had a focus on a love story. This book, on the other hand, is almost all action (although there is a love story, but it not the primary theme of the novel).
That being said, A. L. Sowards is one of my favorite authors of historical novels, and this book is on par with – and perhaps better than – the author’s previous works (which each got 5 stars from me). This book is connected to the excellent and dramatic “The Rules in Rome” (the protagonists in each book are brothers) but either is a standalone book that can be read without spoiling the other.
Lukas Ley is 18; when he was 10, the Nazis took his father, and his family fled to the United States. He is in love with the girl who lived next door, but her father hates him because he’s German – and he wants to go fight against the evil people that took his father.
He wants to be a pilot, but his eyesight and average grades not only keep him from his dream of flying airplanes (as a pilot or part of a crew) but also from becoming a paratrooper, so he is inducted into the infantry. Assigned to Luxembourg, he finds himself in the midst of what has comes to be called “the battle of the bulge” – a last, desperate offensive by the Germans to divide the Allies and prolong the war. The “defiance” of the title comes after Lukas finds himself a prisoner of war (this is on the jacket of the book, so no spoiler alert required) and is determined to survive. But will doing what it takes to survive fundamentally change who he is? And will that be a victory for the Nazis?
This book is a bit different for the author, because it’s the first book she has written in first-person, and the impact of the story is more meaningful that way. Additionally, this book is action-packed. There was action in the previous books, but they also had a focus on a love story. This book, on the other hand, is almost all action (although there is a love story, but it not the primary theme of the novel).
November 6, 2017
I've had this book sitting on my to read pile for a few months. Every time I'd finish a book, I'd look at it knowing I needed to read and review it. When it came out I heard so many great things about it, the reviews were all high ranked. So when perusing NetGalley, I happened to see it and put in a request for a review copy. My request was approved and I had a copy waiting for me to be read. Life got a little busy and with everything going on, I just needed some light hearted, happily ever after reads, and not one about war and death and sorrow. I figured I'd enjoy this book because friends who have similar taste all marked it high. Well, I not only enjoyed it, I really, really enjoyed it. Yes, it's about war and death as I mentioned above. There's loss and heartache and pain, there's pure shock and disappointment, anger and ruthlessness. But there's also hope, love, healing and goodness throughout this book.
Lukas Ley is our hero in the story. He's 18, a recent high school graduate and more than ready to enlist in the war effort, go fight the nazis who killed his father and have his revenge. He's very green around the ears. Very, very green. All his initial plans fall through and he finds himself enlisted with the infantry in the army. Not at all what he wanted or expected. But, he's in the army now and is going to go to war so at least one of his goals was realized.
The book is divided into a couple different parts of Lukas' journey. Civilian, Soldier, Prisoner and Home. I really liked reading and watching the growth that Lukas went through in each of these sections. In the Civilian section, he is very naive, yet he's with his mother and girlfriend and so we get to read about and discover who he is as an individual. His past, his present life, his dreams and what makes him Lukas. His brother Bastien has been off in war and returns home wounded (you can read Bastien's book, The Rules in Rome, to learn his story-I haven't yet but am hoping to soon) and changed, yet very much so the same loving, older brother. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the civilian section, watching these two brothers interact. One returning from war with wisdom, and understanding that it isn't glamorous and glorious. He took Lukas aside and tried to teach him as much as he could for survival and to remove the appeal and glamour that was in front of Lukas' eyes. I was glad to see Lukas start to have an understanding of what he was going into and that his life wasn't going to be protected and a for sure return home. That he would need to be careful and realize the peril involved.
Without giving details about his life as a soldier and prisoner, because I'm sure most everyone knows what that life entailed for soldiers during WWII, I wanted to talk about his growth. Yes, again, his growth. Lukas is pretty much thrown right into the fray and front lines. He isn't well liked by several of his group, especially when they discover that Lukas was born and raised in Germany until he was 10. That doesn't go over too well for him. Yet, between his ability to speak the German language, and the training and knowledge his brother helped him gain, Lukas quickly becomes a soldier that is respected and trusted. He's still very green, but war makes a soldier grow up quickly. Lukas sees death of friends and enemies, he himself causes some of those deaths, he sees some pretty horrible acts happen and has to choose how he will react. Will he hide away? Or will he engage and try to protect and help? I enjoyed watching as Lukas, himself, realized he was changing. He was wrong about many of his perceptions and yet he had to adapt quickly if he wanted to survive. I loved seeing his relationship with those around him. They have to rely on each other. There are moments that he had a choice, go out on his own or help those around him. I'm sure that's not an easy choice, especially when death is a real possibility.
I was turning the pages pretty fast and really did not want to put it down. It was intense. It was fast-paced at some points. It was slow at some points. It was a very accurate depiction of war. The research and time spent on this book and the details really shows through, in the writing, storyline and details. I cheered Lukas on, I cried for him, I was afraid for him many times. It was a beautiful and sorrowful story, well worth the time spent reading and thinking about it.
I loved the letters written between Lukas and his family, but especially his girlfriend. Those letters, and the story had me constantly thinking of my grandfather. I never knew him, as he passed away years before I was born. But the stories shared by my mom and my grandmother helped me feel as if I did. A few summers ago my uncle found the daily itinerary of my grandfather's while he was in France/Germany. Just little snippets of each day, mostly saying what the Jerries were doing and where they were located and their advancement or retreat. Yet as I read that and looked at the map showing his location it brought me to understand his time in the war even better. Lukas and my grandfather's locations were surprisingly very similar. My grandfather was on the front lines and was in some of the major battles on the borders of France and Germany near the end of the war. His group were some of the first to help liberate some of the concentration camps. So between reading my grandfather's itinerary (written up by his commanding officer) and reading this book about Lukas, it opened my eyes even more to what happened to these soldiers and civilians who lived there.
I mentioned Lukas' letters to his girlfriend and went off for a minute about something else. Growing up I knew my grandmother had all of her letters from my grandfather. She wouldn't let us read them because we were young and they had some very personal subjects in them. But a few years before she passed away, I went to visit her with my mom. She pulled out her letters and let me read them. What a special thing to still have and to see the love my grandfather had for her. To read his thoughts and love, yet know where he was at and what he was seeing. I couldn't imagine. I loved that the author added in the letter writing. I'm sure most soldiers didn't write about what they were experiencing or seeing, they tried to have a moment to forget it all and feel normal, or connected with home.
Again, it was a very well written novel. Definitely one that is not all happy and wonderful, but shows many deeper emotions and struggles. I would highly recommend this for YA and older. Well done!
Content: Clean. It is war time and the author doesn't sugar coat what happened. It's not overly graphic or something that I think would be inappropriate for youth to read. I would recommend parents reading it first or knowing that it talks about death and loss, fighting, battles, shooting, bombs, bayonets killing people, some PTSD, starvation, imprisonment, mistreatment, beatings, a woman being raped (nothing graphic, just know that she was). Of course all aspects of war are touched on, but it is written clean.
I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
Lukas Ley is our hero in the story. He's 18, a recent high school graduate and more than ready to enlist in the war effort, go fight the nazis who killed his father and have his revenge. He's very green around the ears. Very, very green. All his initial plans fall through and he finds himself enlisted with the infantry in the army. Not at all what he wanted or expected. But, he's in the army now and is going to go to war so at least one of his goals was realized.
The book is divided into a couple different parts of Lukas' journey. Civilian, Soldier, Prisoner and Home. I really liked reading and watching the growth that Lukas went through in each of these sections. In the Civilian section, he is very naive, yet he's with his mother and girlfriend and so we get to read about and discover who he is as an individual. His past, his present life, his dreams and what makes him Lukas. His brother Bastien has been off in war and returns home wounded (you can read Bastien's book, The Rules in Rome, to learn his story-I haven't yet but am hoping to soon) and changed, yet very much so the same loving, older brother. I think that was one of my favorite parts of the civilian section, watching these two brothers interact. One returning from war with wisdom, and understanding that it isn't glamorous and glorious. He took Lukas aside and tried to teach him as much as he could for survival and to remove the appeal and glamour that was in front of Lukas' eyes. I was glad to see Lukas start to have an understanding of what he was going into and that his life wasn't going to be protected and a for sure return home. That he would need to be careful and realize the peril involved.
Without giving details about his life as a soldier and prisoner, because I'm sure most everyone knows what that life entailed for soldiers during WWII, I wanted to talk about his growth. Yes, again, his growth. Lukas is pretty much thrown right into the fray and front lines. He isn't well liked by several of his group, especially when they discover that Lukas was born and raised in Germany until he was 10. That doesn't go over too well for him. Yet, between his ability to speak the German language, and the training and knowledge his brother helped him gain, Lukas quickly becomes a soldier that is respected and trusted. He's still very green, but war makes a soldier grow up quickly. Lukas sees death of friends and enemies, he himself causes some of those deaths, he sees some pretty horrible acts happen and has to choose how he will react. Will he hide away? Or will he engage and try to protect and help? I enjoyed watching as Lukas, himself, realized he was changing. He was wrong about many of his perceptions and yet he had to adapt quickly if he wanted to survive. I loved seeing his relationship with those around him. They have to rely on each other. There are moments that he had a choice, go out on his own or help those around him. I'm sure that's not an easy choice, especially when death is a real possibility.
I was turning the pages pretty fast and really did not want to put it down. It was intense. It was fast-paced at some points. It was slow at some points. It was a very accurate depiction of war. The research and time spent on this book and the details really shows through, in the writing, storyline and details. I cheered Lukas on, I cried for him, I was afraid for him many times. It was a beautiful and sorrowful story, well worth the time spent reading and thinking about it.
I loved the letters written between Lukas and his family, but especially his girlfriend. Those letters, and the story had me constantly thinking of my grandfather. I never knew him, as he passed away years before I was born. But the stories shared by my mom and my grandmother helped me feel as if I did. A few summers ago my uncle found the daily itinerary of my grandfather's while he was in France/Germany. Just little snippets of each day, mostly saying what the Jerries were doing and where they were located and their advancement or retreat. Yet as I read that and looked at the map showing his location it brought me to understand his time in the war even better. Lukas and my grandfather's locations were surprisingly very similar. My grandfather was on the front lines and was in some of the major battles on the borders of France and Germany near the end of the war. His group were some of the first to help liberate some of the concentration camps. So between reading my grandfather's itinerary (written up by his commanding officer) and reading this book about Lukas, it opened my eyes even more to what happened to these soldiers and civilians who lived there.
I mentioned Lukas' letters to his girlfriend and went off for a minute about something else. Growing up I knew my grandmother had all of her letters from my grandfather. She wouldn't let us read them because we were young and they had some very personal subjects in them. But a few years before she passed away, I went to visit her with my mom. She pulled out her letters and let me read them. What a special thing to still have and to see the love my grandfather had for her. To read his thoughts and love, yet know where he was at and what he was seeing. I couldn't imagine. I loved that the author added in the letter writing. I'm sure most soldiers didn't write about what they were experiencing or seeing, they tried to have a moment to forget it all and feel normal, or connected with home.
Again, it was a very well written novel. Definitely one that is not all happy and wonderful, but shows many deeper emotions and struggles. I would highly recommend this for YA and older. Well done!
Content: Clean. It is war time and the author doesn't sugar coat what happened. It's not overly graphic or something that I think would be inappropriate for youth to read. I would recommend parents reading it first or knowing that it talks about death and loss, fighting, battles, shooting, bombs, bayonets killing people, some PTSD, starvation, imprisonment, mistreatment, beatings, a woman being raped (nothing graphic, just know that she was). Of course all aspects of war are touched on, but it is written clean.
I received a copy from the publisher, Covenant Communications, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
April 20, 2017
First, I love this cover. The picture within the picture is awesome and I feel like it fits the story so well.
I love reading books by A. L. Sowards. You can tell that she does her homework because her stories come to life. They feel meaty, real and emotional. One of my favorite genres is historical fiction- just like this.
War is never an easy subject to read about. While I loved this book, I had to read it in doses because my heart just couldn't take it all in one sitting. I had so many emotions reading this book- gratitude, heart break, anger, sadness, pride, hope, relief, but mostly gratitude. So many people have given so much- everything, really, to defend humanity from tyrants, to ensure freedoms and to defend what is right. It's humbling. This book brings all of this to the forefront for me.
Content: War violence. LDS Fiction, (some references to things specific to the LDS religion, but mostly general talk about morals, praying and finding forgiveness)
- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
My grandpa served in WWII in England. He married my grandmother in the middle of that war. He told my grandma to tell him which church to be at and when and he would do his best to make it there to marry her. He hitchhiked on his two day leave and barely made it to the church on time. Actually, he was late. Roads were bombed out and with all the detours, he had a hard time getting there. He spent one short night with my grandma before heading back to his base. She had to give him money to get back there! There was a bombing raid the night before the wedding and my grandma tells of running downstairs to make sure her cake was okay. A bombing raid. And she was worried about her cake. Brides. They saved a lot of sugar rations for that cake and it was important!
I love reading books by A. L. Sowards. You can tell that she does her homework because her stories come to life. They feel meaty, real and emotional. One of my favorite genres is historical fiction- just like this.
War is never an easy subject to read about. While I loved this book, I had to read it in doses because my heart just couldn't take it all in one sitting. I had so many emotions reading this book- gratitude, heart break, anger, sadness, pride, hope, relief, but mostly gratitude. So many people have given so much- everything, really, to defend humanity from tyrants, to ensure freedoms and to defend what is right. It's humbling. This book brings all of this to the forefront for me.
Content: War violence. LDS Fiction, (some references to things specific to the LDS religion, but mostly general talk about morals, praying and finding forgiveness)
- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
My grandpa served in WWII in England. He married my grandmother in the middle of that war. He told my grandma to tell him which church to be at and when and he would do his best to make it there to marry her. He hitchhiked on his two day leave and barely made it to the church on time. Actually, he was late. Roads were bombed out and with all the detours, he had a hard time getting there. He spent one short night with my grandma before heading back to his base. She had to give him money to get back there! There was a bombing raid the night before the wedding and my grandma tells of running downstairs to make sure her cake was okay. A bombing raid. And she was worried about her cake. Brides. They saved a lot of sugar rations for that cake and it was important!
April 20, 2017
I love that last line of the blurb--"Sometimes survival is the ultimate act of defiance." Surviving when all odds are against you seems impossible. I have to admit--I'm kind of emotionally exhausted after reading this book. It's not an easy read, as, well...it's about war. But the writing is real, raw, and just plain amazing. Sowards has an uncanny ability to write about this time in history in a way that engages the reader, tells things how they probably were, and really makes a reader think.
Lukas was born in Germany, but moved to America when he was young and now he's eager to fight in the war against the country who killed his father. Lukas's enthusiasm is endearing, as is his budding romance with his forbidden neighbor, Bella. War isn't all glory like Lukas assumes and it completely tears him down and molds him into someone he doesn't even recognize.
Through all of these hard, hard times, there are threads of hope glinting in the distance. I wouldn't wish anyone to go through war to learn this life lessons that Lukas experiences, but he encountered so much growth through them. I bet he never took the conveniences of life for granted again. My grandpa fought in WWII and never liked to talk about it. It made me wonder just how much he, and countless others, went through. I feel a little more humbled by reading this.
Content: mild language; moderate+ violence; very, very mild religious elements; very mild romance.
*I received a copy through the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
Lukas was born in Germany, but moved to America when he was young and now he's eager to fight in the war against the country who killed his father. Lukas's enthusiasm is endearing, as is his budding romance with his forbidden neighbor, Bella. War isn't all glory like Lukas assumes and it completely tears him down and molds him into someone he doesn't even recognize.
Through all of these hard, hard times, there are threads of hope glinting in the distance. I wouldn't wish anyone to go through war to learn this life lessons that Lukas experiences, but he encountered so much growth through them. I bet he never took the conveniences of life for granted again. My grandpa fought in WWII and never liked to talk about it. It made me wonder just how much he, and countless others, went through. I feel a little more humbled by reading this.
Content: mild language; moderate+ violence; very, very mild religious elements; very mild romance.
*I received a copy through the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
April 19, 2017
I want to start the review by expressing how amazing the books written by A. L, Sowards are. She takes a look at parts of the war that are not the mainstream war novels. She writes books that look at the nitty gritty part of the war. In this case, she takes a German American and places him in the war fighting for the Americans. He is neither fully accepted by the country where he lives and he is not treated well by the Germans.
When the book begins Lukas has just graduated from High School. He lives in a small community and has feelings for the girl next door. When his brother returns from the war, he begins to get a small view of the negative side effects of war. His brother is missing a leg and has many new scars. But Lukas thinks that he is going to fight and destroy Hitler, the man responsible for his father's death. All too soon he learns what war is really about.
Lukas has a rough road in this book. You can visualize the war through his eyes. Sowards is excellent at not sugar coating war, but at the same time not painting graphic scenes. I never miss an opportunity to read her books. She does her research and she brings her books to life.
The book contains kissing and war violence. Lukas is also religious. His beliefs are mentioned in the book.
Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. This is my honest thoughts and opinions about the quality of the book.
When the book begins Lukas has just graduated from High School. He lives in a small community and has feelings for the girl next door. When his brother returns from the war, he begins to get a small view of the negative side effects of war. His brother is missing a leg and has many new scars. But Lukas thinks that he is going to fight and destroy Hitler, the man responsible for his father's death. All too soon he learns what war is really about.
Lukas has a rough road in this book. You can visualize the war through his eyes. Sowards is excellent at not sugar coating war, but at the same time not painting graphic scenes. I never miss an opportunity to read her books. She does her research and she brings her books to life.
The book contains kissing and war violence. Lukas is also religious. His beliefs are mentioned in the book.
Source: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. This is my honest thoughts and opinions about the quality of the book.
June 18, 2019
I was very pleased to receive a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. I have read several of the authors books before and always enjoyed them. This particular book has some characters which were apparently introduced in the author's previous book "The Rules in Rome". I have not read that book, but it made no difference to my enjoyment of this one.
The main character in this World War Two centred story is Lukas Ley, a young Morman man who was born in Germany but emigrated to the US with his family after his father had been detained and presumed killed by the Nazi's. He knows that war is coming for the US and dreams of becoming a pilot only to discover that poor eyesight will keep him out of anything to do with the air force. He has a girl that he cares for deeply but their relationship is not approved of by her father because of his German background.
When the call-up finally arrives, Lukas finds himself in the infantry and ultimately in Luxembourg as part of what became known as the "Battle of the Bulge". His skills as a German speaker are of vital use to both him and his company.
Soward excelled in her descriptions of what it was like for him to be in battle. As I was reading I felt as if I was there alongside him seeing what was happening. The horror of war and how quickly one loses comrades is very evident. Over time he and his fellow soldiers are placed in harder and harder positions and more and more men die in an instant. Ley learns what it is to kill someone and over time feels that he is changing from the moral man that he was when first called up.
Told from the first person perspective, I really felt drawn into the action and the struggle to survive. Soward's vivid description of how Ley was eventually forced to surrender to the Germans and what life was like as a POW struck a particular chord with me. My uncle was captured by the Germans in Italy and I had the privilege of interviewing him about what happened next. Much of what he told me is similar to what happened to Ley although as an officer his treatment would have been at least a little better. He told me about riding in cattle cars and reading what it was like for Lukas Ley to ride in a cattle car as bombers flew over brought me back to my uncle's experiences and filled in for me some of what he probably didn't share with me.
When war finally ends, Lukas wonders if his soul can ever be salvaged or forgiven for all that he has seen and done. I am sure he was suffering from PTSD and it needed family to remind him that his faith was one which meant he was unconditionally loved and forgiven. War damages people - mentally as well as physically and I feel the author expressed this in a very real way.
I highly recommend this action packed novel to anyone interested in learning more of what it was like to be a soldier in battle at that time.
The main character in this World War Two centred story is Lukas Ley, a young Morman man who was born in Germany but emigrated to the US with his family after his father had been detained and presumed killed by the Nazi's. He knows that war is coming for the US and dreams of becoming a pilot only to discover that poor eyesight will keep him out of anything to do with the air force. He has a girl that he cares for deeply but their relationship is not approved of by her father because of his German background.
When the call-up finally arrives, Lukas finds himself in the infantry and ultimately in Luxembourg as part of what became known as the "Battle of the Bulge". His skills as a German speaker are of vital use to both him and his company.
Soward excelled in her descriptions of what it was like for him to be in battle. As I was reading I felt as if I was there alongside him seeing what was happening. The horror of war and how quickly one loses comrades is very evident. Over time he and his fellow soldiers are placed in harder and harder positions and more and more men die in an instant. Ley learns what it is to kill someone and over time feels that he is changing from the moral man that he was when first called up.
Told from the first person perspective, I really felt drawn into the action and the struggle to survive. Soward's vivid description of how Ley was eventually forced to surrender to the Germans and what life was like as a POW struck a particular chord with me. My uncle was captured by the Germans in Italy and I had the privilege of interviewing him about what happened next. Much of what he told me is similar to what happened to Ley although as an officer his treatment would have been at least a little better. He told me about riding in cattle cars and reading what it was like for Lukas Ley to ride in a cattle car as bombers flew over brought me back to my uncle's experiences and filled in for me some of what he probably didn't share with me.
When war finally ends, Lukas wonders if his soul can ever be salvaged or forgiven for all that he has seen and done. I am sure he was suffering from PTSD and it needed family to remind him that his faith was one which meant he was unconditionally loved and forgiven. War damages people - mentally as well as physically and I feel the author expressed this in a very real way.
I highly recommend this action packed novel to anyone interested in learning more of what it was like to be a soldier in battle at that time.
April 17, 2017
Sometimes survival is the the ultimate act of defiance. I love this line since it describes this book so well. Lukas is a great character whose cockiness in the beginning ends up breaking down in a POW camp until he's not even sure who he is anymore.
Reading this book makes it feel like you're there, seeing the atrocities of WWII firsthand. A.L. adds such amazing details. So well researched.
I kept thinking of my great uncles who fought and came home but never uttered a word about the war or what they had experienced, not even to their own wives. Not ever. This book made me even more grateful for my freedoms and those who have fought for them, as well as the healing and redemptive power of the Atonement (the ending is so beautiful). Anyway, great, vivid, moving, realistic historical fiction.
Reading this book makes it feel like you're there, seeing the atrocities of WWII firsthand. A.L. adds such amazing details. So well researched.
I kept thinking of my great uncles who fought and came home but never uttered a word about the war or what they had experienced, not even to their own wives. Not ever. This book made me even more grateful for my freedoms and those who have fought for them, as well as the healing and redemptive power of the Atonement (the ending is so beautiful). Anyway, great, vivid, moving, realistic historical fiction.
April 18, 2017
This was my first time reading a WWII novel but I'd heard wonderful things about other books by the author, A.L. Sowards.I was surprised how much I really liked this book, since this genre is out of my "reading comfort zone". Lukas Ley and his family (older brother, 2 older sisters and mother) immigrated to the United States from Germany 8 years earlier after his father is killed by the Nazis. Lukas is now 18 years old and recently graduated from high school,and can't wait to enlist to be a fighter pilot. His dream of being a pilot is shot down (so to speak) because of his vision and mediocre grades, and he ends up in the Army on the front lines in Europe. Shortly after being deployed he and others from his unit become prisoners of war while fighting in Luxembourg, and things get really bad when one of the other prisoners tell the German guards that Lukas was born in Germany.
The author clearly has done a lot of research into WWII and is able to describe the scenes so realistically that I could picture them in my mind as I read. I'm thankful she doesn't feel the need for graphic details about how the characters were wounded. I received a copy of the book from the author for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book and plan to read some of her previous works.
The author clearly has done a lot of research into WWII and is able to describe the scenes so realistically that I could picture them in my mind as I read. I'm thankful she doesn't feel the need for graphic details about how the characters were wounded. I received a copy of the book from the author for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book and plan to read some of her previous works.
April 27, 2019
This WWII story left me in awe. I can't pick up another book yet because I'm still thinking about this one!
Lukas Ley is the best American guy - he loves 1940s pop culture, football, his mom and her pies, is sweet on a girl, plus works a newspaper route and earns some money with farmwork. I LOVE how his perspective is in 1st person. It fits. He's so eager to serve for all the right reasons. And he's an average guy (especially compared to his older brother). I love him more for it!
When he's at the front lines, he meets people who have a lot more experience in war and life. I love the supporting characters in this story so much! I could feel the comraderie and dedication and understand it. Their individual stories resonate with me.
Lukas eventually becomes a POW -- and wow. He has to learn the hard way that helping others like he used to doesn't work the way it used to. Again, I love the supporting characters. The heartrending is balanced with some wins. I was glued to finding out how he and his buddies would get through each challenge. I rooted for him big time.
And the wrap up of the story, as he recovers - the physical and emotional, and the letters he receives and writes - heart wrenching and powerful. Really big life themes are handled in thoughtful ways. It left me wanting to weep for the pain of war, and also left me with the best feeling of hope. BEAUTIFULLY wrapped up. This is Sowards' best book yet, in my opinion (and some of the other ones are hard to top!). The romance is a very little subplot, but I was so invested in seeing Lukas through the war. I will be buying this in the print version - for myself and to share, plus I'll probably pick up a copy to give to a friend. I LOVED "Defiance"!
Lukas Ley is the best American guy - he loves 1940s pop culture, football, his mom and her pies, is sweet on a girl, plus works a newspaper route and earns some money with farmwork. I LOVE how his perspective is in 1st person. It fits. He's so eager to serve for all the right reasons. And he's an average guy (especially compared to his older brother). I love him more for it!
When he's at the front lines, he meets people who have a lot more experience in war and life. I love the supporting characters in this story so much! I could feel the comraderie and dedication and understand it. Their individual stories resonate with me.
Lukas eventually becomes a POW -- and wow. He has to learn the hard way that helping others like he used to doesn't work the way it used to. Again, I love the supporting characters. The heartrending is balanced with some wins. I was glued to finding out how he and his buddies would get through each challenge. I rooted for him big time.
And the wrap up of the story, as he recovers - the physical and emotional, and the letters he receives and writes - heart wrenching and powerful. Really big life themes are handled in thoughtful ways. It left me wanting to weep for the pain of war, and also left me with the best feeling of hope. BEAUTIFULLY wrapped up. This is Sowards' best book yet, in my opinion (and some of the other ones are hard to top!). The romance is a very little subplot, but I was so invested in seeing Lukas through the war. I will be buying this in the print version - for myself and to share, plus I'll probably pick up a copy to give to a friend. I LOVED "Defiance"!
April 19, 2017
If you see this book getting 5 stars from most reviewers, there is a good reason why... because it truly deserves it! This book takes you on an emotional journey from 1940's America to the war-torn countries of France and Germany during World War II.
Lukas is a great main character who can't wait to graduate and head to the war to bring honor to his family and his father who was killed by the Nazis years earlier. His older brother has just returned from the war along with a missing limb and a wife. His older brother Bastian tried to prepare him for what is ahead, but nothing truly can prepare you for the ugliness of war as Lukas finds out. Sowards does not hold back in this book and doesn't sugarcoat the brutality of fighting and killing the enemy or seeing your friends being killed next to you. This book was well researched and the author says in the notes at the end that she talked to many World War II veterans about their experiences. There were times the battle scenes were so intense I needed to take a break because I wasn't sure I was ready to read what might possibly happen to Lukas and his fellow soldiers. Some of these scenes are graphic as this book is about a war and the battles that took place and the treatment of POW's by their captors. None of this takes away from the wonderful writing and the story that Sowards has written. This is an amazing story of courage, hope, faith, and enduring through great tribulation. The title of "Defiance" is Lukas showing Defiance against the enemy and against his own doubts about himself and the will to survive.
I've read most of the books written by A.L. Sowards and in my opinion, this book is the best. The emotions that this story stirs up in the reader definitely makes this a story you will remember for a long time.This book is for all readers that love historical fiction, especially Wold War II, and meant for readers older teens and up. I give this book a solid 5 stars as one that should be read and shared with others.
June 28, 2017
Defiance by A. L. Sowards is a WWII story. I started reading historical fiction this year and this is slowly becoming one of my favorite genres. Each book brings something new even if they mostly cover the same time period. In this story, Lukas is a German- American who has recently graduated from high school. The war is ongoing and his brother Bastian is serving his country in the military. Lucas is at home with his mom although he is about to enlist and join the forces. I like the fact that the author took us through the enlisting process. Through Lukas story, I found out about the different factors that determine the kind of work a recruit can do. Lukas had an issue with his eyesight and needed spectacles and so he faced challenges with getting the jobs that he really wanted. As a person who wears glasses, I have never thought about how this can be limiting if I wanted to join certain careers.
The story begins with life before the military. I liked the relationship between Lukas and the girl next door, Bella. It was really cute how he would sneak over to help her milk the cows so that they could spend time together. The conflicts between Lukas’ family and their neighbors was detailed from the start. It was clear that they were not accepted in the community due to their Germany heritage despite the fact that they were Americans.
The second section of the book which is the main story is set at the war. This was interesting but still tough to read about. The author did a fantastic job in this world building and the action was well portrayed without being graphic. We got to meet different soldiers through Lukas and formed connections with them. My heart broke when we lost some of the soldiers. I wanted everyone to survive but this of course couldn’t happen. I was nervous for Lukas due to his age and inexperience and was proud of each of his achievements. The character development in this book was masterfully done. Everyone was so well crafted that they all felt real.
A section of the story is set in the POW camp and then the last section was after war. I won’t say anything more about the plot-line so as not to ruin it. This is a story that every reader should experience for themselves. I loved the themes of family and friendships especially during the war. The author also covers the issue of identity. In this case, are soldiers defined by who they become due to the wars? Does war change people and make them a worse/better version of themselves? As a Mormon Christian, Lukas really struggled with his identity. I thought this was an interesting angle and couldn’t wait to see how it would work out for our young MC.
The book is narrated through first-person narration which made it even more engrossing. It felt like I was right there with Lukas sharing in his experiences and struggle to survive. Lukas was such an endearing MC and it was wonderful to follow the narrative through his PoV. The setting of the book is America, mainly Virginia, Luxemburg where the war was fought and parts of Germany such as Frankfurt.
This book was quite well-written hence making it an addictive read. It was clearly well researched and this made it more realistic. At the end, the author gives details of the research and different inspirations for the book. If you like historical fiction, then this is a book that you will enjoy. The book mainly focuses on the war although the love story is in the background. I have heard great things about A. L. Sowards. She is said to be one of the best authors in historical fictions and after reading this book, I totally get why. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
The story begins with life before the military. I liked the relationship between Lukas and the girl next door, Bella. It was really cute how he would sneak over to help her milk the cows so that they could spend time together. The conflicts between Lukas’ family and their neighbors was detailed from the start. It was clear that they were not accepted in the community due to their Germany heritage despite the fact that they were Americans.
The second section of the book which is the main story is set at the war. This was interesting but still tough to read about. The author did a fantastic job in this world building and the action was well portrayed without being graphic. We got to meet different soldiers through Lukas and formed connections with them. My heart broke when we lost some of the soldiers. I wanted everyone to survive but this of course couldn’t happen. I was nervous for Lukas due to his age and inexperience and was proud of each of his achievements. The character development in this book was masterfully done. Everyone was so well crafted that they all felt real.
A section of the story is set in the POW camp and then the last section was after war. I won’t say anything more about the plot-line so as not to ruin it. This is a story that every reader should experience for themselves. I loved the themes of family and friendships especially during the war. The author also covers the issue of identity. In this case, are soldiers defined by who they become due to the wars? Does war change people and make them a worse/better version of themselves? As a Mormon Christian, Lukas really struggled with his identity. I thought this was an interesting angle and couldn’t wait to see how it would work out for our young MC.
The book is narrated through first-person narration which made it even more engrossing. It felt like I was right there with Lukas sharing in his experiences and struggle to survive. Lukas was such an endearing MC and it was wonderful to follow the narrative through his PoV. The setting of the book is America, mainly Virginia, Luxemburg where the war was fought and parts of Germany such as Frankfurt.
This book was quite well-written hence making it an addictive read. It was clearly well researched and this made it more realistic. At the end, the author gives details of the research and different inspirations for the book. If you like historical fiction, then this is a book that you will enjoy. The book mainly focuses on the war although the love story is in the background. I have heard great things about A. L. Sowards. She is said to be one of the best authors in historical fictions and after reading this book, I totally get why. I can’t wait to read more of her books.
April 22, 2017
DEFIANCE is a heartbreaking but inspiring story. A candidly told story about the struggles of one young man and his fellow soldiers during WWII from the front lines to various POW camps. It's also a story of survival, perseverance, forgiveness, and faith. Highly recommended!
This author does such a fantastic job in writing relatable characters that you can't help cheering on. These characters that, as a reader, you have such hope for, who you cry for, and laugh with. I loved them all! I loved seeing Bastian and Gracie again and meeting Lukas' mom and sweetheart. I loved seeing Lukas' drive and hope. I enjoyed the letters and the eventual camaraderie between fellow soldiers.
I'll be honest, the story was pretty tough in parts. War is tough and messy and scary. The author did a good job showing the realities of war, particularly this one, but not making it overly descriptive or grotesque. I could envision and understand what Lukas and his friends were going through quite easily and felt for them and the terrible things they dealt with. It makes me ever so grateful that Germany lost and for those who gave their lives and served to make it so.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was another fantastic release from this author! The journey was tough and definitely included moments of tension, heartbreak, and tears, but was also full of hope and joy. The ending was especially beautiful. Definitely well worth the read!
Content: Violence due to war.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
This author does such a fantastic job in writing relatable characters that you can't help cheering on. These characters that, as a reader, you have such hope for, who you cry for, and laugh with. I loved them all! I loved seeing Bastian and Gracie again and meeting Lukas' mom and sweetheart. I loved seeing Lukas' drive and hope. I enjoyed the letters and the eventual camaraderie between fellow soldiers.
I'll be honest, the story was pretty tough in parts. War is tough and messy and scary. The author did a good job showing the realities of war, particularly this one, but not making it overly descriptive or grotesque. I could envision and understand what Lukas and his friends were going through quite easily and felt for them and the terrible things they dealt with. It makes me ever so grateful that Germany lost and for those who gave their lives and served to make it so.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was another fantastic release from this author! The journey was tough and definitely included moments of tension, heartbreak, and tears, but was also full of hope and joy. The ending was especially beautiful. Definitely well worth the read!
Content: Violence due to war.
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a review nor affect it in any way.
April 17, 2017
This story is intense. Sowards did an excellent job with research and wove facts into this book so flawlessly that I felt like I was right there alongside Lukas through every scene–the fun ones with his girl back home, and all the ugly ones once he was shipped out to the front lines. My emotions got battered, and I wanted to cry a lot as kids got killed and the war revealed all its ugly heads. The battles in this book took place in Luxembourg as the Germans are trying to push their way through to Bastogne in a last ditch effort to win the war in 1944-45.
The battle scenes and dialogue seemed so real to me. Like I said above, I felt like I was right there. I could smell the heavy scent of kerosene campfires and feel the ash and smoke smother me during the shellings and bombings. I felt Lukas’s fear as he shot at German soldiers and ran for his life. He eventually gets caught and as this book’s title suggests, the ultimate battle he must fight is to uphold his pride and dignity when the enemy is determined to beat him down as a POW. His spirit must show defiance, and hold true to his beliefs and humanity.
This was an excellent book. Characters were developed and complex. The plot was intense and had lots of twists and tear-inducing scenes. The emotions it evoked were strong. No sitting on the fence with your heart for this book. Overall, it was the perfect book. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it. I’m still just sitting here feeling kind of awed by the story and what the character went through. Bravo. This book deserves awards.
The battle scenes and dialogue seemed so real to me. Like I said above, I felt like I was right there. I could smell the heavy scent of kerosene campfires and feel the ash and smoke smother me during the shellings and bombings. I felt Lukas’s fear as he shot at German soldiers and ran for his life. He eventually gets caught and as this book’s title suggests, the ultimate battle he must fight is to uphold his pride and dignity when the enemy is determined to beat him down as a POW. His spirit must show defiance, and hold true to his beliefs and humanity.
This was an excellent book. Characters were developed and complex. The plot was intense and had lots of twists and tear-inducing scenes. The emotions it evoked were strong. No sitting on the fence with your heart for this book. Overall, it was the perfect book. I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it. I’m still just sitting here feeling kind of awed by the story and what the character went through. Bravo. This book deserves awards.
April 28, 2017
I really enjoy the books that take place during the WWII era. This book did not disappoint. A.L. Sowards's writing style is such that the characters, as they are introduced, come alive to the reader. And you feel as if they are your neighbors next door and soon become your friends. The main character, 18 year old Lukas Ley, "is driven to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, a failed physical throws his plans for flight school off course...He can't fly, and in the eyes of the military, he's good for only one thing - the front lines". As I read this book I found myself experiencing so many emotions; joy, hope, fear and sorrow to name a few. But in the end, "Sometimes survival is the ultimate act of DEFIANCE ". I'll be thinking about this book for a good long time.
April 5, 2017
Behind the enemy lines, fighting for his very life and sanity makes this story and the character Lukas believable. I've read many historical fiction books, and the ones that can put me into battle I know of, or describe towns and how life would have been like make it so much better and believable. This book was a great heartfelt story and I would recommend it to all my friends.
January 6, 2021
A.L. Sowards has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers. She seems to have a knack for creating great characters, intense, intriguing plots, and powerful historical settings. Defiance certainly fits that description. The fact is that war is hell and those of us who haven't experienced it really can't fully understand what it's like. The main character of Defiance is a young German immigrant who unfortunately discovers this for himself. Luke's family immigrated to the United States have his father was arrested and killed by the Nazis so he has more reason than many to want to see the Nazis defeated. He has dreams of becoming a pilot but poor eyesight derails that plan and he ends up in the infantry.
As part of the allied force pushing toward Germany, Luke experiences combat first hand and the horrible things that come with it. But things get even worse when he gets taken prisoner. He finds himself forced to do things that he never would have imagined. Frankly this sort of story can be hard to read sometimes because of all the awful things that happened to so many people. At the same time I find these stories inspiring as well, that people sometimes managed to survive in the face of such horrors. Another remarkable book by one of my favorite authors.
As part of the allied force pushing toward Germany, Luke experiences combat first hand and the horrible things that come with it. But things get even worse when he gets taken prisoner. He finds himself forced to do things that he never would have imagined. Frankly this sort of story can be hard to read sometimes because of all the awful things that happened to so many people. At the same time I find these stories inspiring as well, that people sometimes managed to survive in the face of such horrors. Another remarkable book by one of my favorite authors.
April 18, 2017
I really like the way this author writes her World War II books. I feel like that's a really confusing time in history and she does a great job making the whole time period make sense to me.
I also really like her characters! Luke is an amazing guy and I really liked "seeing" life through his eyes. He had just graduated from high school and the only thing he wanted was to be in the war, and his reason is sound. He wants to be able to fight against Germany because the Nazi's had taken his father from their family when they lived in Germany and executed him. Wow! I had never really thought of what life might have been like for people in his situation during the war. He was loyal to the USA, but so many around him were unkind because he was born in Germany and lived there when he was young. It was interesting how during the fighting, he was an asset because he could speak German, but as soon as he was captured it was a liability.
There is plenty of action in this book, it's about World War II after all. I didn't feel there was anything too graphic and the author did a great job keeping the language clean. In fact, I really liked the way Luke's brother, Bastien, advised him to watch his language and just continue being the good man that he already was, despite the demands of war.
I liked the way Luke's perception of himself changed throughout the book. In the beginning, he seemed to think he was invincible, he was going to single-handedly end the war. Then as he goes through the experiences he has, he realizes that he's really nothing in the grand scheme of things. And I really liked the end, when he feels terrible about all he's been through and his brother helps him to know that it's okay and that through the Savior all will be made well. This part really hit me, because isn't that the way it is for all of us really. We try to do our best to do what's right, but we all make mistakes, and we all need him to help make up for those mistakes.
I really enjoyed this great book! I can't wait for more by this author!
I also really like her characters! Luke is an amazing guy and I really liked "seeing" life through his eyes. He had just graduated from high school and the only thing he wanted was to be in the war, and his reason is sound. He wants to be able to fight against Germany because the Nazi's had taken his father from their family when they lived in Germany and executed him. Wow! I had never really thought of what life might have been like for people in his situation during the war. He was loyal to the USA, but so many around him were unkind because he was born in Germany and lived there when he was young. It was interesting how during the fighting, he was an asset because he could speak German, but as soon as he was captured it was a liability.
There is plenty of action in this book, it's about World War II after all. I didn't feel there was anything too graphic and the author did a great job keeping the language clean. In fact, I really liked the way Luke's brother, Bastien, advised him to watch his language and just continue being the good man that he already was, despite the demands of war.
I liked the way Luke's perception of himself changed throughout the book. In the beginning, he seemed to think he was invincible, he was going to single-handedly end the war. Then as he goes through the experiences he has, he realizes that he's really nothing in the grand scheme of things. And I really liked the end, when he feels terrible about all he's been through and his brother helps him to know that it's okay and that through the Savior all will be made well. This part really hit me, because isn't that the way it is for all of us really. We try to do our best to do what's right, but we all make mistakes, and we all need him to help make up for those mistakes.
I really enjoyed this great book! I can't wait for more by this author!
July 11, 2017
I have read several of A.L. Sowards' books, and she always weaves a well-written tale, with characters, events, and settings drawn with careful historical details. When I had the opportunity to receive a review copy of DEFIANCE, I took it! DEFIANCE is set near the end of World War II, and is told from the perspective of Lukas Ley. Lukas was born in Germany, but his family emigrated to America when he was ten, after his father was killed by the Nazis. Lukas is eager to join the fight against Nazi Germany, and does so as soon as he graduates from high school. The war tests and changes Lukas in ways he never anticipated.
It amazes me to realize how young these soldiers were--Lukas is eighteen as he's dodging Nazi bullets and enduring the privations and terrors of war. This is not a fast-paced book, but rather a thoughtful exploration of Lukas's journey--physical, emotional, and spiritual. It begins with his eager naivete as he enlists; it takes us through his arrival at the front where he faces constant, terrifying danger, impossible odds, the challenges of bonding with and losing friends in his unit, the physical miseries of war, and the bitter hatred of a Nazi who has singled Lukas out as representing all he's lost. It concludes with his return home after the end of the war where he must cope with what he's become and find inner peace. Through Lukas's experiences, Sowards shows us that nothing about war is quick or easy, but among the miseries of war, love, loyalty, selflessness, courage, and gritty endurance also bloom. DEFIANCE is an interesting and eye-opening read.
It amazes me to realize how young these soldiers were--Lukas is eighteen as he's dodging Nazi bullets and enduring the privations and terrors of war. This is not a fast-paced book, but rather a thoughtful exploration of Lukas's journey--physical, emotional, and spiritual. It begins with his eager naivete as he enlists; it takes us through his arrival at the front where he faces constant, terrifying danger, impossible odds, the challenges of bonding with and losing friends in his unit, the physical miseries of war, and the bitter hatred of a Nazi who has singled Lukas out as representing all he's lost. It concludes with his return home after the end of the war where he must cope with what he's become and find inner peace. Through Lukas's experiences, Sowards shows us that nothing about war is quick or easy, but among the miseries of war, love, loyalty, selflessness, courage, and gritty endurance also bloom. DEFIANCE is an interesting and eye-opening read.
April 14, 2017
A.L. Sowards' new book Defiance is a must read for WWII fiction fans! It is an excellent story that I devoured. And, like Sowards other historical fiction novels, she is able to engage readers and really make them feel the horrors of war without bogging them down with graphic, gory, details.
Sowards creates such deep characters. You can't help but become attached to them. I really liked Lukas, and I ached for him and his fellow soldiers. The friendships Lukas made were bright spots in a dark time. And the loss of many of those friends was deeply felt.
I loved those that reached out when someone was about to give up-those that helped others carry on.
There was a great message about forgiveness (both of others and yourself). This also felt perfect to read near Easter with the significance in Lukas' life of the atonement and Christ being able to make him whole.
It has been over two years since I read the story about Lukas' older brother, Bastian. While both books are stand-alone, I definitely want to go back and re-read The Rules in Rome to refresh my memory about all that Bastian went through. Although his part in Defiance is pretty small, he is a great character that really helps Lukas both before, during, and after the war.
Defiance is well written, and I highly recommend it, along with Sowards' other books.
Sowards creates such deep characters. You can't help but become attached to them. I really liked Lukas, and I ached for him and his fellow soldiers. The friendships Lukas made were bright spots in a dark time. And the loss of many of those friends was deeply felt.
I loved those that reached out when someone was about to give up-those that helped others carry on.
There was a great message about forgiveness (both of others and yourself). This also felt perfect to read near Easter with the significance in Lukas' life of the atonement and Christ being able to make him whole.
It has been over two years since I read the story about Lukas' older brother, Bastian. While both books are stand-alone, I definitely want to go back and re-read The Rules in Rome to refresh my memory about all that Bastian went through. Although his part in Defiance is pretty small, he is a great character that really helps Lukas both before, during, and after the war.
Defiance is well written, and I highly recommend it, along with Sowards' other books.
April 28, 2017
This is such a great book. It's one that I hope to remember or maybe even reread (I never reread books). This is more than a story; it's a lesson, a parable, a sermon. The events serve to lead the reader to a point of truth where all of us should be, regardless of our circumstances. It's an intriguing and non-stop WWII story, but it's so much more.
May 18, 2017
Wonderful, emotionally gripping story of the meaning of one man's journey from excitement to get into the Air Force and help in the war against the nazi. Then his disappointments of his assignments, his awakening to the hell of war and struggle to stay humane despite inhumane circumstances in POW camps and keep his morale up, and stay alive to make it back home to his loved ones and girl!
March 23, 2025
This book is a sequel and involves some of the characters of the first book but deals with the troubles of WWII with a different main character as a soldier. This book definitely has sad and disturbing moments but that’s how the world was back then. But I think it was very interesting and a great read. It’s important to know about history even when it’s sad.
April 19, 2017
I am always intrigued by books about WWII--
So many people, especially the young ones want to 'get into the action.' They want to 'fight for their country.' Would I have been like that? But we all know that war is not glamorous. War is hard! I cannot even imagine living in a foxhole or seeing someone get shot dead. And then there is the running for your life and hiding so no one see you and simply surviving any way you can. Not to mention if you ever got caught and what happens to you as a prisoner of war. All of these things and more happen to Lukas-- And to top it all off Lukas is a German fighting for the American side. See how that plays out-- This book is a page-turner!
So many people, especially the young ones want to 'get into the action.' They want to 'fight for their country.' Would I have been like that? But we all know that war is not glamorous. War is hard! I cannot even imagine living in a foxhole or seeing someone get shot dead. And then there is the running for your life and hiding so no one see you and simply surviving any way you can. Not to mention if you ever got caught and what happens to you as a prisoner of war. All of these things and more happen to Lukas-- And to top it all off Lukas is a German fighting for the American side. See how that plays out-- This book is a page-turner!
February 11, 2021
Oh my heart aches for all those who have had to endure war!
July 4, 2017
I am very interested in World War 2 stories, movies, and documentaries. This book was about a young man who went into the army, fought battles, and survived a POW camp. While not a factual account of a specific person, it was based on actual people and events. I thought it was an excellent book, and it made me realize more about the difficult situations that people endured during the war.
June 23, 2017
Gripping and powerful, A.L. Sowards latest novel Defiance packs a one two punch among those who love stories surrounding WWII. Defiance takes the reader along the journey of a young soldier Lukas Ley and the battles he has to fight both on and off the field.
Lukas Ley has been anxious to join the fight against Germany ever since his father was taken prisoner and died at the hands of the Nazi’s. Now in America and a high school graduate Lukas is ready, willing and able to do his part. Hoping to join the air corps Lukas’ hopes are dashed when it’s discovered he does not have perfect vision. When Lukas finally receives his draft notice and reports to duty he finds he will be joining countless others in the US Army’s Infantry. Disappointed but ready to serve in any capacity Lukas readies to depart. Saying goodbye to those he loves is bittersweet as he leaves behind his mother, an injured elder brother back from the war and his sweetheart Belle, the girl next door.
When Lukas arrives in Europe he is immediately assigned to a company in Luxembourg. Unfortunately, there is no getting his feet warm as he is thrown into action immediately. Lukas’ ideas of war before he left home is nothing compared to what he encounters. His convictions and his courage is tested again and again. As the fighting grows more intense, Lukas finds he has to rely on his new found brothers and a valor he doesn’t know he has. His faith and desire to survive will be challenged like never before. As time wears on and he is eventually taken prisoner Lukas finds he is becoming a different person, one that he does not recognize. As his innocence fades in the wake of the many atrocities he witnesses he begins to lose sight of the young man he once was. With the help of his band of brothers and the love of his family, Lukas must dig deep to find his way back to his faith in God and in himself.
I loved this book. I have always been a fan of WWII novels and have read many, but this is the first from a perspective of a soldier. Lukas Ley’s character was brilliant. He was a mature eighteen year old with life and all possibilities ahead of him. He was anxious more than most his age to serve his country especially in light of what had happened to his father. He was a former native of Germany, but he did not feel conflicted. He wanted to fight for the US to stop the Nazi’s and avenge his father. The author captured his personality cleverly as he was innocent, but not naïve. The gradual changes in his character as the story progressed were visual and believable and I felt everything as a reader as if I was there. His moments of fear and apprehension as a soldier, his sorrow and anger as his brothers were taken from him and his hunger and desperation as a prisoner all realistically and beautifully written. I also loved his band of brothers that fought alongside of him. The supporting characters were unique and added credence to the story. My favorites were Higham, Samson, Martinez and Winterton. I especially shed a few tears over Winterton. The comradery these young men shared was courageous and beautiful to behold. I held my breath as I turned each page hopeful that these young men would be rescued, find peace and finally be home safe.
Defiance by A.L. Sowards is a beautifully written novel about one soldier’s journey on the battlefront in WWII. It’s a story of faith and hope when all seems lost. It’s a story of survival, forgiveness and the power of love. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. It will sweep you away to the battlefront in Europe with a young man named Lukas Ley who will linger in your thoughts long after the last page is turned.
I want to thank Covenant Communications via NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Defiance by A.L. Sowards for a fair and honest review.
Lukas Ley has been anxious to join the fight against Germany ever since his father was taken prisoner and died at the hands of the Nazi’s. Now in America and a high school graduate Lukas is ready, willing and able to do his part. Hoping to join the air corps Lukas’ hopes are dashed when it’s discovered he does not have perfect vision. When Lukas finally receives his draft notice and reports to duty he finds he will be joining countless others in the US Army’s Infantry. Disappointed but ready to serve in any capacity Lukas readies to depart. Saying goodbye to those he loves is bittersweet as he leaves behind his mother, an injured elder brother back from the war and his sweetheart Belle, the girl next door.
When Lukas arrives in Europe he is immediately assigned to a company in Luxembourg. Unfortunately, there is no getting his feet warm as he is thrown into action immediately. Lukas’ ideas of war before he left home is nothing compared to what he encounters. His convictions and his courage is tested again and again. As the fighting grows more intense, Lukas finds he has to rely on his new found brothers and a valor he doesn’t know he has. His faith and desire to survive will be challenged like never before. As time wears on and he is eventually taken prisoner Lukas finds he is becoming a different person, one that he does not recognize. As his innocence fades in the wake of the many atrocities he witnesses he begins to lose sight of the young man he once was. With the help of his band of brothers and the love of his family, Lukas must dig deep to find his way back to his faith in God and in himself.
I loved this book. I have always been a fan of WWII novels and have read many, but this is the first from a perspective of a soldier. Lukas Ley’s character was brilliant. He was a mature eighteen year old with life and all possibilities ahead of him. He was anxious more than most his age to serve his country especially in light of what had happened to his father. He was a former native of Germany, but he did not feel conflicted. He wanted to fight for the US to stop the Nazi’s and avenge his father. The author captured his personality cleverly as he was innocent, but not naïve. The gradual changes in his character as the story progressed were visual and believable and I felt everything as a reader as if I was there. His moments of fear and apprehension as a soldier, his sorrow and anger as his brothers were taken from him and his hunger and desperation as a prisoner all realistically and beautifully written. I also loved his band of brothers that fought alongside of him. The supporting characters were unique and added credence to the story. My favorites were Higham, Samson, Martinez and Winterton. I especially shed a few tears over Winterton. The comradery these young men shared was courageous and beautiful to behold. I held my breath as I turned each page hopeful that these young men would be rescued, find peace and finally be home safe.
Defiance by A.L. Sowards is a beautifully written novel about one soldier’s journey on the battlefront in WWII. It’s a story of faith and hope when all seems lost. It’s a story of survival, forgiveness and the power of love. Do yourself a favor and buy this book. It will sweep you away to the battlefront in Europe with a young man named Lukas Ley who will linger in your thoughts long after the last page is turned.
I want to thank Covenant Communications via NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of Defiance by A.L. Sowards for a fair and honest review.
May 11, 2017
My husband looked at the cover of this novel, and then looked at me, and then looked at the cover and said, "This isn't your typical read." It's true...it's not, but boy did I stay up way too late finishing it. I'll even admit I peeked at the end before going back and devouring the rest of it.(I know that makes a lot of people cringe, but I can enjoy my books better when I know what's coming).
This story reminded me a lot of Unbroken, but probably only because they are both POW's and got singled out by a guard, and it's a war story. Although this one isn't as graphic. Same scenarios, just cleaner.
I appreciated the friendships, I felt the heart-break of the actions of these men. I cried when Lukas realizes who he's become, and that he feels he can't or doesn't want to go back to his family.
I can't wait to recommend this book to different people than I normally recommend books to, and also to the regular people. I will definitely be looking at this author and see what else she has written.
*I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
May 8, 2017
Well, I didn't expect to finish reading this book in tears. It hit a little bit too close to home for me. Not necessarily because of the war stories and experiences that the main character went through but the spiritual journey he took at the end of learning to turn to God when he felt not good enough. How many of us have experienced that? How many of us have experienced that maybe we are not worth saving because of some of the choices we have made in our lives? Those times when you feel like you don't want to turn to God because is there really a point. Does He really listen? Does He really care? A powerful lesson that no matter what struggles or internal/external wars we go through, the message that our Father is always there and He loves us so much that we are always worth saving regardless of the pathways we face.
The book started out a bit slow for me and I had a hard time staying interested. Then, it got to the point where I didn't want to put the book down. There were times I felt frustrated with the main character Lukas. I felt like I wanted him to be less shallow, more depth to his character, more bravery. Then I realized that all of those things were there but I felt, as a reader, I was being protected from really seeing the true horrors of war. Many details were purposefully skipped over to keep the novel a little more clean. I know that Lukas saw some horrible things and I felt like I really wanted to know more about his emotions but I feel like maybe it would've been too raw and emotional for the reader to get through. Still, I would've liked to have seen more emotion from our main character.
This book reminded me a great deal of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and the experiences Louis Zamperini experienced while living in a Japanese POW. Such powerful, heartbreaking stories about these brave young men and their desire to survive and get back home. We feel so blessed that we don't have to worry about these experiences happening to our own husbands and children. How blessed we are now!
A great and powerful story. Definitely worth the read!
The book started out a bit slow for me and I had a hard time staying interested. Then, it got to the point where I didn't want to put the book down. There were times I felt frustrated with the main character Lukas. I felt like I wanted him to be less shallow, more depth to his character, more bravery. Then I realized that all of those things were there but I felt, as a reader, I was being protected from really seeing the true horrors of war. Many details were purposefully skipped over to keep the novel a little more clean. I know that Lukas saw some horrible things and I felt like I really wanted to know more about his emotions but I feel like maybe it would've been too raw and emotional for the reader to get through. Still, I would've liked to have seen more emotion from our main character.
This book reminded me a great deal of Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand and the experiences Louis Zamperini experienced while living in a Japanese POW. Such powerful, heartbreaking stories about these brave young men and their desire to survive and get back home. We feel so blessed that we don't have to worry about these experiences happening to our own husbands and children. How blessed we are now!
A great and powerful story. Definitely worth the read!
June 5, 2017
I really liked this LDS war book- it dealt with the harshness of war without language or grisly details, but still left you feeling like you went through the same ordeal.
It's about a young man who gets drafted into World War II after high school and about getting caught after the battle of the bulge.
I loved the touch of the gospel, especially in the end. It wasn't overly done, nor was the character so righteous or so perfect that you couldn't relate to him. I compared it to the Children of the Promise series and found it much more enjoyable. The gospel messages weren't over the top and gag worthy. It was simple yet powerful.
It's about a young man who gets drafted into World War II after high school and about getting caught after the battle of the bulge.
I loved the touch of the gospel, especially in the end. It wasn't overly done, nor was the character so righteous or so perfect that you couldn't relate to him. I compared it to the Children of the Promise series and found it much more enjoyable. The gospel messages weren't over the top and gag worthy. It was simple yet powerful.
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