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Questions of War #1
A Question of Honor
A man. A child. A war. When German soldiers invade France during World War II, young Joyanna's perfect world is shattered. In the hands of those who hate her, she battles to comprehend why people can be so ruthless and cold toward those whom they have never met. David Sullivan, pilot in the Royal Air Force, was certain he would never hate, but a painful loss forces him to either reconsider or do the inconceivable—forgive. He is suddenly challenged by the realization that doing God's will is not easy, but most important. With the lives of freedom-fighters relying on him, he must learn the difficult lesson that he is not in control, but merely one who must surrender his heart of obedience to One greater. A sudden turn of events lands Joyanna and David in the same country—but for far different reasons. When their paths cross, David finds he must make a decision that will affect them both for the rest of their lives. Will he choose vengeance, or will he let his life be ruled by a higher standard? A standard of Honor.
336 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2017
5 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Jesseca Wheaton
13 books193 followersJesseca is a daughter, sister, and a child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with siblings, or playing piano. And writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
September 23, 2017
Not going to lie, I had high hopes for this book. I know the lovely authoress and have already read one of her works (A Place Called Lonesome--highly recommended, by the way!) so I was expecting to love this.
Well...that didn't happen.
Lovely Things:
- The setting. *nods excitedly* I have a newfound love for historical fiction (hence all the his-fic I've been reading lately *cough, cough*) and jumped at the chance to read a book set in WWII. It's not my FAVORITE era, per se, but I do love reading about the '40s.
- The themes. I think Jess did a splendid job weaving in heartfelt themes throughout! Faith, honour, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, hope...it's all there. You could feel the hope pulsing throughout the story, despite the rather dire setting. (Because let's face it: WWII was not exactly a happy occurrence.) I always admire authors who do this and do it well!
- The characters. To be perfectly honest...I wasn't wowed by them. BUT they did grow on me a bit throughout the book, and I felt a little of my heart get stolen by some of the rascals. ;) (Mostly David. And Micah. And Gil. *smiles*) I don't REALLY understand why people like Erich?? I just...yeah. Sorry, I don't get it. Maybe it would make more sense if I knew more of his backstory. *shrugs* However, on a whole, I did grow to like the characters.
Not So Lovely Things:
Keep in mind, this is all just my opinion. I feel bad giving this book a mediocre rating, especially when I love the author dearly. (Sorry, Jess! Take this all with a grain of salt. :D)
- The writing. OKAY CLARIFICATION: Jess is a good writer. I know that from the snippets and short story of hers I've read. However, I honestly felt pretty disconnected from the storyworld throughout the book, mostly due to the writing. It felt like I was reading a rough draft in some ways. Sometimes, the POV was very unclear. It would jump around between people's heads at times, making it confusing whose POV I was really in. Most of their POV's really didn't feel that different from each other anyway, so that made it hard to distinguish them. The participial phrase was also misused frequently. For instance, "Opening the door, David walked through the entryway." Now, not even Superman can open the door and walk through the opening at the same time. Unfortunately, we humans aren't capable of doing both things at once. ;) There were also some typos and a general lack of connection I felt to the characters and story.
- Some things just felt...off. I know, that's very vague. I'm not sure how to describe this? Some elements of the story just felt completely unnatural and unrealistic. For instance, when Joyanna wants to go fetch the doctor early in the story, Mrs. Carson literally says, "I don't know why I'm doing this, but all right, you can go." This just felt way too convenient? All the readers know the author is trying to come up with a way to get the character outside to encounter someone significant. BUT there wasn't any logical reason to do so. Thus the very convenient lapse in Mrs. Carson's common sense. Joyanna also felt like a VERY unnatural character to me. For some reason, she was obsessed with finding out why Erich hated her and had these pendulum emotions that made her hate him one second and want to hold his hand the next. I'm sorry, but I don't...really get that. There were also tons of the "evil Nazi laughter" moments which felt very weird and forced to me. (Because I doubt Nazis sat around and grinned cruelly all day because their jobs were so much fun. :P) ANYWAY. Things just felt off to me throughout the book.
- The emotion. I was a bit underwhelmed by it. My friends talked about how this book made them sob, and I think I teared up once? (During an actually very sad scene which SHALL NOT BE NAMED. *sniffles*) I had hoped for more emotional connection, but unfortunately, I didn't connect enough to the story to get that.
Wow. I feel really bad now. *hides in hobbit hole from furious fangirls* I promise I didn't dislike this story! My inner writer was just having freak-out moments and refused to connect to the book. :P Overall, it was decent but really didn't stick out in my mind. I might read the sequel, though, just to see what happens. :)
I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
3 stars
Well...that didn't happen.
Lovely Things:
- The setting. *nods excitedly* I have a newfound love for historical fiction (hence all the his-fic I've been reading lately *cough, cough*) and jumped at the chance to read a book set in WWII. It's not my FAVORITE era, per se, but I do love reading about the '40s.
- The themes. I think Jess did a splendid job weaving in heartfelt themes throughout! Faith, honour, love, sacrifice, forgiveness, hope...it's all there. You could feel the hope pulsing throughout the story, despite the rather dire setting. (Because let's face it: WWII was not exactly a happy occurrence.) I always admire authors who do this and do it well!
- The characters. To be perfectly honest...I wasn't wowed by them. BUT they did grow on me a bit throughout the book, and I felt a little of my heart get stolen by some of the rascals. ;) (Mostly David. And Micah. And Gil. *smiles*) I don't REALLY understand why people like Erich?? I just...yeah. Sorry, I don't get it. Maybe it would make more sense if I knew more of his backstory. *shrugs* However, on a whole, I did grow to like the characters.
Not So Lovely Things:
Keep in mind, this is all just my opinion. I feel bad giving this book a mediocre rating, especially when I love the author dearly. (Sorry, Jess! Take this all with a grain of salt. :D)
- The writing. OKAY CLARIFICATION: Jess is a good writer. I know that from the snippets and short story of hers I've read. However, I honestly felt pretty disconnected from the storyworld throughout the book, mostly due to the writing. It felt like I was reading a rough draft in some ways. Sometimes, the POV was very unclear. It would jump around between people's heads at times, making it confusing whose POV I was really in. Most of their POV's really didn't feel that different from each other anyway, so that made it hard to distinguish them. The participial phrase was also misused frequently. For instance, "Opening the door, David walked through the entryway." Now, not even Superman can open the door and walk through the opening at the same time. Unfortunately, we humans aren't capable of doing both things at once. ;) There were also some typos and a general lack of connection I felt to the characters and story.
- Some things just felt...off. I know, that's very vague. I'm not sure how to describe this? Some elements of the story just felt completely unnatural and unrealistic. For instance, when Joyanna wants to go fetch the doctor early in the story, Mrs. Carson literally says, "I don't know why I'm doing this, but all right, you can go." This just felt way too convenient? All the readers know the author is trying to come up with a way to get the character outside to encounter someone significant. BUT there wasn't any logical reason to do so. Thus the very convenient lapse in Mrs. Carson's common sense. Joyanna also felt like a VERY unnatural character to me. For some reason, she was obsessed with finding out why Erich hated her and had these pendulum emotions that made her hate him one second and want to hold his hand the next. I'm sorry, but I don't...really get that. There were also tons of the "evil Nazi laughter" moments which felt very weird and forced to me. (Because I doubt Nazis sat around and grinned cruelly all day because their jobs were so much fun. :P) ANYWAY. Things just felt off to me throughout the book.
- The emotion. I was a bit underwhelmed by it. My friends talked about how this book made them sob, and I think I teared up once? (During an actually very sad scene which SHALL NOT BE NAMED. *sniffles*) I had hoped for more emotional connection, but unfortunately, I didn't connect enough to the story to get that.
Wow. I feel really bad now. *hides in hobbit hole from furious fangirls* I promise I didn't dislike this story! My inner writer was just having freak-out moments and refused to connect to the book. :P Overall, it was decent but really didn't stick out in my mind. I might read the sequel, though, just to see what happens. :)
I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
3 stars
April 9, 2020
STORY
Bold, well-paced, and moving. This novel encompasses the horrors of war and the hope that humanity still possesses at the brink of hell. It doesn't shy away from darkness but also constantly points out that God is in control and He is there for us, through battle, through grieving, through peace.
The story was beautiful. Very easily, historical fiction focuses largely on the hell and forgets the bits of heaven that exist no matter what the world looks like. If you want a story that's raw and realistic but not melodramatic, this one is a great example.
THEMES
As I said, the themes of war, of battle, of death, were all well-written and handled tastefully. Evil was not glorified and the good was not shallow. We see evil vs. good in a great balance of realistic human nature... and God's sovereign will.
The themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and honor were excellent! I really enjoyed the themes!
At times, I felt it got a smidge stilted in dialogue when they spoke of God's truth, but, really, it remained realistic.
The theme of redemption was also incredible and very prominent. Sooo good.
CHARACTERS
Well-rounded, well-motivated, absolutely great cast!
David is our American pilot, and reading a war novel from a pilot's POV was foreign to me and I loved it. His personal journey was well done, though I think forgiveness doesn't always happen quite so fast as it did with him.
Erich is still my favorite character. What can I say. I'm a fool. I'm also DEAD INSIDE.
Joyanna was PRECIOUS. I've always enjoyed war novels from the perspective of children and this one was very well done. Joy was a great main character.
The side-characters were all amazing and vibrant. When the novel first came out, I cried while reading That Scene, but I didn't cry this time because I just don't cry easy when reading anymore. This WAS the first Indie novel to ever make me cry, though. It deserves that honor. (Heh, get it? My pun?)
I had one "eh" dislike, but more personal preference:
CONTENT
PG-13. No swearing. No sexual/nude content. Mild descriptions of war, violence, blood, etc.
OVERALL
I've read this novel twice now and cannot wait to finish this trilogy. It's so good.
Bold, well-paced, and moving. This novel encompasses the horrors of war and the hope that humanity still possesses at the brink of hell. It doesn't shy away from darkness but also constantly points out that God is in control and He is there for us, through battle, through grieving, through peace.
The story was beautiful. Very easily, historical fiction focuses largely on the hell and forgets the bits of heaven that exist no matter what the world looks like. If you want a story that's raw and realistic but not melodramatic, this one is a great example.
THEMES
As I said, the themes of war, of battle, of death, were all well-written and handled tastefully. Evil was not glorified and the good was not shallow. We see evil vs. good in a great balance of realistic human nature... and God's sovereign will.
The themes of brotherhood, loyalty, and honor were excellent! I really enjoyed the themes!
At times, I felt it got a smidge stilted in dialogue when they spoke of God's truth, but, really, it remained realistic.
The theme of redemption was also incredible and very prominent. Sooo good.
CHARACTERS
Well-rounded, well-motivated, absolutely great cast!
David is our American pilot, and reading a war novel from a pilot's POV was foreign to me and I loved it. His personal journey was well done, though I think forgiveness doesn't always happen quite so fast as it did with him.
Erich is still my favorite character. What can I say. I'm a fool. I'm also DEAD INSIDE.
Joyanna was PRECIOUS. I've always enjoyed war novels from the perspective of children and this one was very well done. Joy was a great main character.
The side-characters were all amazing and vibrant. When the novel first came out, I cried while reading That Scene, but I didn't cry this time because I just don't cry easy when reading anymore. This WAS the first Indie novel to ever make me cry, though. It deserves that honor. (Heh, get it? My pun?)
I had one "eh" dislike, but more personal preference:
CONTENT
PG-13. No swearing. No sexual/nude content. Mild descriptions of war, violence, blood, etc.
OVERALL
I've read this novel twice now and cannot wait to finish this trilogy. It's so good.
March 3, 2017
This book! WOW!
I love historical fiction. There is something special about exploring the worlds of times past through the eyes of characters. And Jesseca’s characters are amazing. There was such depth and such beauty of human feeling behind each character! I can’t pick a favorite, though, David, Gil, Micah and Joyanna rate very high in my “characters to love” list. OH! and Lily. I appreciated the real life struggle that went on in David’s head throughout the book, making me understand, drawing me into sympathy and truly empathizing with the character. Joyanna was a joy! LOL! Her sass, but her sweetness and her precocious spirit made me want to scoop her into a hug when things didn’t go her way or she was hurt. Look out! Mama bear coming through! I am talking to you Erich. *glares at character* Speaking of Erich, I don’t want to give anything away, but give me a two-by-four to hit that guy with.
The story itself was so awesome! I was enthralled by it’s twists and turns and the realization that Jesseca did copious amounts of research for the story made it even more awesome. The fact that American pilots did indeed leave America to fight for the English and the fact that there were many German spies sent to England made it even more special. I read this book in a record less-than-24-hour timespan. Which says a lot right there! I just had to finish it and find out what happened to everyone. Again, I don’t want to give anything away, but I was so upset at one point that I was literally crying tears of empathy with the characters. Well done Jesseca!
Another thing that I love about this book, is that it is written in such a style that I think anyone 13 and up would be able to read it with enjoyment. Often times, war books can be a bit much for younger readers, but I am so excited and comfortable about handing this book off to my younger teen sister. I think she will really enjoy it, and the content isn’t too graphic, while still being realistic.
There was also enough intrigue left at the end of the story that made me look forward to book 2. Um, please hurry up and write it Jesseca! I sure hope Erich makes an appearance, because his story doesn’t seem finished yet. I also can’t wait to add this to my ever-growing library!
So there you have it! My thoughts on this lovely book!
I love historical fiction. There is something special about exploring the worlds of times past through the eyes of characters. And Jesseca’s characters are amazing. There was such depth and such beauty of human feeling behind each character! I can’t pick a favorite, though, David, Gil, Micah and Joyanna rate very high in my “characters to love” list. OH! and Lily. I appreciated the real life struggle that went on in David’s head throughout the book, making me understand, drawing me into sympathy and truly empathizing with the character. Joyanna was a joy! LOL! Her sass, but her sweetness and her precocious spirit made me want to scoop her into a hug when things didn’t go her way or she was hurt. Look out! Mama bear coming through! I am talking to you Erich. *glares at character* Speaking of Erich, I don’t want to give anything away, but give me a two-by-four to hit that guy with.
The story itself was so awesome! I was enthralled by it’s twists and turns and the realization that Jesseca did copious amounts of research for the story made it even more awesome. The fact that American pilots did indeed leave America to fight for the English and the fact that there were many German spies sent to England made it even more special. I read this book in a record less-than-24-hour timespan. Which says a lot right there! I just had to finish it and find out what happened to everyone. Again, I don’t want to give anything away, but I was so upset at one point that I was literally crying tears of empathy with the characters. Well done Jesseca!
Another thing that I love about this book, is that it is written in such a style that I think anyone 13 and up would be able to read it with enjoyment. Often times, war books can be a bit much for younger readers, but I am so excited and comfortable about handing this book off to my younger teen sister. I think she will really enjoy it, and the content isn’t too graphic, while still being realistic.
There was also enough intrigue left at the end of the story that made me look forward to book 2. Um, please hurry up and write it Jesseca! I sure hope Erich makes an appearance, because his story doesn’t seem finished yet. I also can’t wait to add this to my ever-growing library!
So there you have it! My thoughts on this lovely book!
April 10, 2017
OH MY GOODNESS. *sobs* *flails* *faints* This book was amazing!!!!! I just can't even! Where is the 10 billion stars button?
I absolutely loved this book. It FAR exceeding my expectations, and trust me, my expectations were already high!
Within the first page of this book, I already had tears streaming down my face. Wow! O:O Did not see that coming! I was hooked from the very first sentence, excellent proof of Jesseca's amazing writing. This is the first book in a while that has kept me glued to my seat. I did not want to put it down. (I learned multitasking with this book; you can walk, eat, brush your teeth AND read at the same time.)
The technicalities of grammar, punctuation, formatting, etc, were all completely sound. One thing I find disappointing with indie authors is the lack of time put into editing and proofing. Not so with this author; everything was spot on! Also, you can really tell she did her research. Everything from the crop cycles in Kansas to workings of a Spitfire plane.
The story was . . . *sigh* simply amazing! I loved every bit of it! The characters were also spot on; I grew very attached to the MCs within a very short amount of time. Joyanna was just the sweetest thing, yet so spunky. I just wanted to give her a big hug and brush her curls! <3 David and Gil were also awesome. David's struggle throughout was portrayed very well, and was very realistic. Micah, Lily, and Elaine were also amazing. And Erich . . . I am still so mad at him! I can't tell you how many times I wanted to smack him!
MAJOR SPOILER!!! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK. YOU WILL SERIOUSLY REGRET IT!!
Well then. I think that's about it! I highly HIGHLY recommend this book! Definitely check it out! Amazing! Well done Jesseca!
I absolutely loved this book. It FAR exceeding my expectations, and trust me, my expectations were already high!
Within the first page of this book, I already had tears streaming down my face. Wow! O:O Did not see that coming! I was hooked from the very first sentence, excellent proof of Jesseca's amazing writing. This is the first book in a while that has kept me glued to my seat. I did not want to put it down. (I learned multitasking with this book; you can walk, eat, brush your teeth AND read at the same time.)
The technicalities of grammar, punctuation, formatting, etc, were all completely sound. One thing I find disappointing with indie authors is the lack of time put into editing and proofing. Not so with this author; everything was spot on! Also, you can really tell she did her research. Everything from the crop cycles in Kansas to workings of a Spitfire plane.
The story was . . . *sigh* simply amazing! I loved every bit of it! The characters were also spot on; I grew very attached to the MCs within a very short amount of time. Joyanna was just the sweetest thing, yet so spunky. I just wanted to give her a big hug and brush her curls! <3 David and Gil were also awesome. David's struggle throughout was portrayed very well, and was very realistic. Micah, Lily, and Elaine were also amazing. And Erich . . . I am still so mad at him! I can't tell you how many times I wanted to smack him!
MAJOR SPOILER!!! DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE READ THE BOOK. YOU WILL SERIOUSLY REGRET IT!!
Well then. I think that's about it! I highly HIGHLY recommend this book! Definitely check it out! Amazing! Well done Jesseca!
March 2, 2017
Originally Posted on Reveries Reviews
This is my favorite book ever.
Okay, it’s not my absolute favorite book, but it’s among my favorite books. It’s just so good!
It gave me every (positive) emotion that exists, making me cry and laugh and jump up and down with a mixture of crying and laughing. It taught me some important truths that I honestly had trouble accepting before, and it was absolutely captivating.
You're going to have to read the rest of my review here, because it actually got too long to post on Goodreads.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
This is my favorite book ever.
Okay, it’s not my absolute favorite book, but it’s among my favorite books. It’s just so good!
It gave me every (positive) emotion that exists, making me cry and laugh and jump up and down with a mixture of crying and laughing. It taught me some important truths that I honestly had trouble accepting before, and it was absolutely captivating.
You're going to have to read the rest of my review here, because it actually got too long to post on Goodreads.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
March 10, 2017
This story pulled me in right at the beginning and kept my interest. The characters were real with real struggles. They made me laugh, and I was barely able to keep back the tears at times as I read. While most WWII books happen after America has already entered the war, this one takes place during the Battle for Britain. Jesseca has a good grasp on writing and she was able to make her story come alive. I'm already looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
March 2, 2017
5 stars
A Question of Honor is an amazing historical novel with rich and well-researched details, realistic and endearing characters, and a beautifully-woven theme of forgiveness that's sure to stir your heart.
I remember reading snippets of this book not long after Jesseca started it. It had no title then, and many differences from the wonderful story about to be released to the world, but I loved it. Sometime, I read the second draft, laughing and crying and soaking up the goodness. I beta-read the book last fall and again laughed, cried, and admired the way the story had grown stronger through revision.
All that to say...I love this story. And what makes up a good story? Characters. Realistic, varying, fictional people who work their way into your heart until they began to feel real -- like they're your friends. Like you're sitting there next to them as they tell you their story. That's the kind of characters fill the pages of A Question of Honor.
Of the characters, David and Micah are probably my favorites -- although I do love Gil and I have a soft spot for Erich. David is down-to-earth and cool-headed, while Gil is a fun-loving and charming risk-taker. Micah is a lot like Gil in some respects, but milder, I believe. And then Erich -- the villain of the story whom you can't help but love.
The book has some lovely lady characters too. Joyanna is a precious cinnamon roll in need of love and protection. Elaine resembles the typical war wife, awaiting her husband's return. And Lily, the one who's persevering in spit of all she's been through. <3
I particularly enjoyed how the story isn't the 'typical' American WWII story, as it is set in 1940 before America entered the war. It was interesting to learn of the Battle of Britain and the courageous men of the RAF -- all of which I knew little to none about until reading this book.
If you have not yet been convinced that you need to read this book, you need to read this book. *wink* You won't be disappointed.
May God bless this young authoress in her writing journey!! <3
A Question of Honor is an amazing historical novel with rich and well-researched details, realistic and endearing characters, and a beautifully-woven theme of forgiveness that's sure to stir your heart.
I remember reading snippets of this book not long after Jesseca started it. It had no title then, and many differences from the wonderful story about to be released to the world, but I loved it. Sometime, I read the second draft, laughing and crying and soaking up the goodness. I beta-read the book last fall and again laughed, cried, and admired the way the story had grown stronger through revision.
All that to say...I love this story. And what makes up a good story? Characters. Realistic, varying, fictional people who work their way into your heart until they began to feel real -- like they're your friends. Like you're sitting there next to them as they tell you their story. That's the kind of characters fill the pages of A Question of Honor.
Of the characters, David and Micah are probably my favorites -- although I do love Gil and I have a soft spot for Erich. David is down-to-earth and cool-headed, while Gil is a fun-loving and charming risk-taker. Micah is a lot like Gil in some respects, but milder, I believe. And then Erich -- the villain of the story whom you can't help but love.
The book has some lovely lady characters too. Joyanna is a precious cinnamon roll in need of love and protection. Elaine resembles the typical war wife, awaiting her husband's return. And Lily, the one who's persevering in spit of all she's been through. <3
I particularly enjoyed how the story isn't the 'typical' American WWII story, as it is set in 1940 before America entered the war. It was interesting to learn of the Battle of Britain and the courageous men of the RAF -- all of which I knew little to none about until reading this book.
If you have not yet been convinced that you need to read this book, you need to read this book. *wink* You won't be disappointed.
May God bless this young authoress in her writing journey!! <3
November 23, 2016
Wow. Oh, Jesseca. Jesseca, Jesseca, Jesseca. You did it again. What a beautiful, heartwarming story of self sacrificial love and forgiveness. What a humorous, heartbreaking tale of true friendship and love. This book was magnificent. You had me laughing out loud, and crying. Angry and frustrated. Hopeful and amazed. The lessons you taught in it, the ideas you brought to light...were...SO TRUE. I'm so sorry that my busy schedule kept me from being able to enjoy this story until now. But yet, it was so worth the wait. Each character touched my very soul and seemed to draw me into themselves. I give this a whole five out of five stars, ten out of ten if there was such s rating system, or a hundred out of a hundred. It deserves every possible star in the galaxy.
It was amazing. (And that's an understatement.)
Now hurry up with the sequel!! ;)
It was amazing. (And that's an understatement.)
Now hurry up with the sequel!! ;)
June 12, 2017
Oh, this book is so beautiful! I was crying nearly the whole time! I hardly know how to review it, nothing I can say would do it any justice. So all I'll say is, READ IT!
March 28, 2017
This book is unique in that it tells the story of American pilots fighting in the Royal Air Force, a topic I knew little to nothing about. I really love when authors take a little known historical topic and expand it into a memorable story. Wonderful job, Jesseca! I loved the brotherly comradery/banter between David and Gil. Those kind of friendships always do my heart good! I appreciated the Christian elements but felt it was put on too heavily at times, such as Joyanna being a Christian Jew and some dialogue between the characters which felt a bit forced. I was very invested in their story, however, and just had to see what happened next! I give "A Question of Honor" 3.5 stars.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2018
{Second read}
Can we pause and cry for a few moments?
This book is forever going to be one of my favourites ever - along with the second one! ;) It's such an amazing book and the characters are such great people! Erich. That's all.
I must say though, that one scene will always be devastating but amazing!
And yes, I've been reading this behind everyone's back! I had to since I own the a real copy of it now!
I highly recommend this, and advise you people to go buy and read it, because I can't think of anything you wouldn't like about it - other than the prospect of the war!
{First read}
OH MY! This was an amazing book! :D I loved every minute of it and I'm so happy I got a review copy of it - even though it did take me a while to start reading!! :)
The characters:
David - he had a lot of questions; questions that any of us would ask and wonder about. I loved his character! He was fun, yet serious!
Gil - he made me what to cry, laugh, then cry again! I absolutely loved him!
Joyanna - awwww, she was adorable! Her character was so cute and I adored her the entire book! She was quite a brave girl too! :)
Erich - YES! I have to admit that I liked him, although he was a German! But, that happens, doesn't it!! ;) His attitude changed so quickly at times - he'd soften just slightly, then suddenly get stern and rugged again! He was a good character!
Elaine - a lovely wife to David!!!! Loved her!
Lily - same as the above, although Lily is the wife of Gil!! :)
The story-line:
I haven't read a lot of WW2 books, but this was amazing!! Definitely a re-read! ;)
All-in-all:
LOVED IT! Of course a five-starer!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Can we pause and cry for a few moments?
This book is forever going to be one of my favourites ever - along with the second one! ;) It's such an amazing book and the characters are such great people! Erich. That's all.
I must say though, that one scene will always be devastating but amazing!
And yes, I've been reading this behind everyone's back! I had to since I own the a real copy of it now!
I highly recommend this, and advise you people to go buy and read it, because I can't think of anything you wouldn't like about it - other than the prospect of the war!
{First read}
OH MY! This was an amazing book! :D I loved every minute of it and I'm so happy I got a review copy of it - even though it did take me a while to start reading!! :)
The characters:
David - he had a lot of questions; questions that any of us would ask and wonder about. I loved his character! He was fun, yet serious!
Gil - he made me what to cry, laugh, then cry again! I absolutely loved him!
Joyanna - awwww, she was adorable! Her character was so cute and I adored her the entire book! She was quite a brave girl too! :)
Erich - YES! I have to admit that I liked him, although he was a German! But, that happens, doesn't it!! ;) His attitude changed so quickly at times - he'd soften just slightly, then suddenly get stern and rugged again! He was a good character!
Elaine - a lovely wife to David!!!! Loved her!
Lily - same as the above, although Lily is the wife of Gil!! :)
The story-line:
I haven't read a lot of WW2 books, but this was amazing!! Definitely a re-read! ;)
All-in-all:
LOVED IT! Of course a five-starer!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
March 10, 2017
When I was given the chance to read another of Jessica Wheaton's books, I was very excited. Since I'm better at lists then anything else, I'm just going to do my review that way.
What I liked:
1. The characters were very engaging. I loved the main guy, David. He was a likable, and very relatable guy.
2. The message was well presented. I really don't like preachy books, so it was nice to find a book that had a good message without shoving it on you.
3. The ending. I can't give spoilers, but I really liked that the ending didn't feel cliche.
What I didn't like:
I felt like the writing was a bit weak in places.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story set in one of my favorite time periods.
*I had the pleasure of beta reading this book, I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
What I liked:
1. The characters were very engaging. I loved the main guy, David. He was a likable, and very relatable guy.
2. The message was well presented. I really don't like preachy books, so it was nice to find a book that had a good message without shoving it on you.
3. The ending. I can't give spoilers, but I really liked that the ending didn't feel cliche.
What I didn't like:
I felt like the writing was a bit weak in places.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story set in one of my favorite time periods.
*I had the pleasure of beta reading this book, I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.
February 20, 2018
WOWOWOWOW. I AM VERY SATISFIED.
RTC
RTC
January 2, 2018
Oh, boy. *sighs* Seems like I’m joining Mary Horton with the slightly controversial opinion on this book. I actually got a review copy several months ago and read it pretty fast...but I haven’t done a review til now. Because I needed a LOOOOT of time to process my thoughts on this book.
I will make a bullet list of likes and dislikes kind of jumbled together. :P
-So the setting was cool! I feel like it wasn’t optimized on anywhere near as much as it could have been, but it was still cool. Europe during WWII is one of my favorite his-fic settings, and I really did enjoy that.
-I went to the National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC last summer and it absolutely crushed my heart. I don’t think I will ever recover from that. So some of the scenes right at the beginning where people were sent away to the camps really affected me. That was nice, in a painful kind of way.
-However...I don’t know. It just didn’t feel quite as emotional as I might have liked, especially when
-Erich’s love of reading was the BEST. I absolutely loved the fact that the thing that excited him the most about the new house was the library. XD
-Gil and David’s friendship really was the best. I love strong friendship in books, and theirs was amazing.
-And that one part? *scowls furiously at the camera* I didn’t think she was actually going to do it. Arghhhhh. Nooooo. I sniffled a few times, which is pretty good, cause I don’t usually cry while reading.
-Gil in general was just kind of amazing.
-However, the fight scenes—I don’t know, they Just felt kind of underwhelming. That may be because I have no experience with being a pilot, but I saw definite room for improvement.
-Some of the coincidences felt a little TOO coincidental. There was one scene at the end where it turned out that the same one person was important in some way to every other character. And that’s okay...it just felt waaaay too convenient to setting up the climax.
-The writing wasn’t astounding. There’s definite room for improvement. But having read snippets for Ms. Wheaton’s upcoming novels, I can see that that improvement has already grown in leaps and bounds. So kudos for that ^_^
Overall? This was a good book. It really was. I enjoyed reading it, and while there is much room for improvement, it has great potential. :D
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
I will make a bullet list of likes and dislikes kind of jumbled together. :P
-So the setting was cool! I feel like it wasn’t optimized on anywhere near as much as it could have been, but it was still cool. Europe during WWII is one of my favorite his-fic settings, and I really did enjoy that.
-I went to the National Holocaust Museum in Washington DC last summer and it absolutely crushed my heart. I don’t think I will ever recover from that. So some of the scenes right at the beginning where people were sent away to the camps really affected me. That was nice, in a painful kind of way.
-However...I don’t know. It just didn’t feel quite as emotional as I might have liked, especially when
-Erich’s love of reading was the BEST. I absolutely loved the fact that the thing that excited him the most about the new house was the library. XD
-Gil and David’s friendship really was the best. I love strong friendship in books, and theirs was amazing.
-And that one part? *scowls furiously at the camera* I didn’t think she was actually going to do it. Arghhhhh. Nooooo. I sniffled a few times, which is pretty good, cause I don’t usually cry while reading.
-Gil in general was just kind of amazing.
-However, the fight scenes—I don’t know, they Just felt kind of underwhelming. That may be because I have no experience with being a pilot, but I saw definite room for improvement.
-Some of the coincidences felt a little TOO coincidental. There was one scene at the end where it turned out that the same one person was important in some way to every other character. And that’s okay...it just felt waaaay too convenient to setting up the climax.
-The writing wasn’t astounding. There’s definite room for improvement. But having read snippets for Ms. Wheaton’s upcoming novels, I can see that that improvement has already grown in leaps and bounds. So kudos for that ^_^
Overall? This was a good book. It really was. I enjoyed reading it, and while there is much room for improvement, it has great potential. :D
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 21, 2017
Previously published on Purely by Faith Review.
My Review:
Wow, this is one of my most favorite books of all time! I was super excited to read it, since I heard many good things about it and I’m glad I did! I was drawn into the story very quickly and finished it in one sitting. Okay, I might be weird, but one of my favorite characters was the main Nazi character, Erich. Don’t get me wrong, I know that they were very evil and all that… but it was super interesting to see “behind the scenes”! I found myself wanting to skip David’s scenes, but that’s because I wanted to know what happened to Joyanna and Erich. So both of them, along with Gil and Micah, were my favorites. I hated something that happened (AKA as GIL!!!) in the book, but everyone who read A Question of Honor did, I’m sure. I was nearly in tears. I’m almost in tears writing this review, actually… 😥
So I was told by someone that there was romance in the book, and yes some (a few semi-detailed kisses, etc), but otherwise perfectly clean. I think it’d be worthwhile for everyone to read, even those who dislike reading romance!
I felt the historical feel and everything seemed accurate! I’m looking forward to starting A Question of Courage, which I’ll be posting about around the beginning of December.
I received this book from the author (many thanks Jesseca for this wonderful book!) in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to provide a positive one.
This review was written in my own words and opinions.
My Review:
Wow, this is one of my most favorite books of all time! I was super excited to read it, since I heard many good things about it and I’m glad I did! I was drawn into the story very quickly and finished it in one sitting. Okay, I might be weird, but one of my favorite characters was the main Nazi character, Erich. Don’t get me wrong, I know that they were very evil and all that… but it was super interesting to see “behind the scenes”! I found myself wanting to skip David’s scenes, but that’s because I wanted to know what happened to Joyanna and Erich. So both of them, along with Gil and Micah, were my favorites. I hated something that happened (AKA as GIL!!!) in the book, but everyone who read A Question of Honor did, I’m sure. I was nearly in tears. I’m almost in tears writing this review, actually… 😥
So I was told by someone that there was romance in the book, and yes some (a few semi-detailed kisses, etc), but otherwise perfectly clean. I think it’d be worthwhile for everyone to read, even those who dislike reading romance!
I felt the historical feel and everything seemed accurate! I’m looking forward to starting A Question of Courage, which I’ll be posting about around the beginning of December.
I received this book from the author (many thanks Jesseca for this wonderful book!) in exchange for an honest review. I was not obligated to provide a positive one.
This review was written in my own words and opinions.
November 22, 2016
Review to come once published
March 7, 2018
Thrilling? Check.
Well-plotted with twists, suspense and concisity, bringing together two unique stories into one unforgettable one? Check.
Complex characters with intriguing personalities and struggles? Check.
An tangible, relatable historical feel, producing an unique story about a common historical period? Check.
All in all, A Question of Honor intrigued, took hold, and satisfied me. I was impressed by the author’s ability to take such a commonplace historical novel setting—WWII—and bring it alive in her own way, writing a story that’s undoubtedly the first of its kind. The author dove into the depths of this time period and explored the small details, bringing to life an amazing story about characters full of complexity and depth. The way this story tied together awed me; the structure was impressive.
Characters. I loved Erich’s character. Some may say that he was too contradictory, but I think that added to the whole plot. The author did an amazing job highlighting and embellishing on the internal struggles in not just Erich, but many of the others as well. David was complex and full of relatability, Lily was alive and off the page, and Gil was fantastic as well.
While all that I’ve listed thus far is all accurate, there were also, unfortunately, elements to this book that I did not like. First of all, I found Joyanna to be a little one-dimensional. She was too naive and innocent, and I had a hard time truly feeling her pain. She was adorable, don’t get me wrong—but I also found her a little unbelievable.
Secondly…and I hate critiquing things like this. For most of the book, David’s faith in God was portrayed excellently. However, there came a point where the whole faith aspect just became really cheesy. I love the author’s heart, and there wasn’t anything said that I didn’t agree with; that’s not the problem. I’m not wanting to attack anything about this because I think it was done with the right heart—and I am nobody to judge the ways God works in writing so I could be totally off here. The Christian message in fiction is one that is very hard to pull off, and unfortunately while in many areas of this book it was done right, at the end of the day I cringed more than once at the developing cheesiness.
Outside of this though, a very good read & I’d highly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction. It’s different, unique, and filfulling.
Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com
Well-plotted with twists, suspense and concisity, bringing together two unique stories into one unforgettable one? Check.
Complex characters with intriguing personalities and struggles? Check.
An tangible, relatable historical feel, producing an unique story about a common historical period? Check.
All in all, A Question of Honor intrigued, took hold, and satisfied me. I was impressed by the author’s ability to take such a commonplace historical novel setting—WWII—and bring it alive in her own way, writing a story that’s undoubtedly the first of its kind. The author dove into the depths of this time period and explored the small details, bringing to life an amazing story about characters full of complexity and depth. The way this story tied together awed me; the structure was impressive.
Characters. I loved Erich’s character. Some may say that he was too contradictory, but I think that added to the whole plot. The author did an amazing job highlighting and embellishing on the internal struggles in not just Erich, but many of the others as well. David was complex and full of relatability, Lily was alive and off the page, and Gil was fantastic as well.
While all that I’ve listed thus far is all accurate, there were also, unfortunately, elements to this book that I did not like. First of all, I found Joyanna to be a little one-dimensional. She was too naive and innocent, and I had a hard time truly feeling her pain. She was adorable, don’t get me wrong—but I also found her a little unbelievable.
Secondly…and I hate critiquing things like this. For most of the book, David’s faith in God was portrayed excellently. However, there came a point where the whole faith aspect just became really cheesy. I love the author’s heart, and there wasn’t anything said that I didn’t agree with; that’s not the problem. I’m not wanting to attack anything about this because I think it was done with the right heart—and I am nobody to judge the ways God works in writing so I could be totally off here. The Christian message in fiction is one that is very hard to pull off, and unfortunately while in many areas of this book it was done right, at the end of the day I cringed more than once at the developing cheesiness.
Outside of this though, a very good read & I’d highly recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction. It’s different, unique, and filfulling.
Like my reviews? Follow my blog:
http://jcbuchanan.com
September 23, 2017
by Andrea Renee Cox
DISCLOSURE: I received compensation for my honest review. Writing a positive review was NOT a requirement.
The heart of A Question of Honor was engaging, well expressed, and heartrending. While there were typos, inconsistencies, and factual and historical errors, this was a powerful, emotional story that easily gripped my soul. There is room for this author to grow in her craft, but she is already carving out space for her beautiful stories in the world of literature. I am eager to read more from her.
The way two different story lines came together was interesting. It was fun getting to know both sets of characters and their quirks, hopes, and challenges. Even more enjoyable was when their individual stories crashed together. It wasn’t always pretty – war’s an ugly thing, after all – but a thread of hope was the binding agent spreading to every page.
One of the most gripping things about this book was the biblical truth woven in. I am unsure whether or not there were Jewish rabbis who were Christians during World War II, or if Jewesses would quote the New Testament, but the messages of the Christian faith were soul-deep fact indeed. I especially appreciated David’s faith journey. To me, he grew the most, spiritually speaking, of all the characters in this story. Faith isn’t always easy, and I like that that was made clear in this book. Particularly because of the faith journeys in A Question of Honor, I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
DISCLOSURE: I received compensation for my honest review. Writing a positive review was NOT a requirement.
The heart of A Question of Honor was engaging, well expressed, and heartrending. While there were typos, inconsistencies, and factual and historical errors, this was a powerful, emotional story that easily gripped my soul. There is room for this author to grow in her craft, but she is already carving out space for her beautiful stories in the world of literature. I am eager to read more from her.
The way two different story lines came together was interesting. It was fun getting to know both sets of characters and their quirks, hopes, and challenges. Even more enjoyable was when their individual stories crashed together. It wasn’t always pretty – war’s an ugly thing, after all – but a thread of hope was the binding agent spreading to every page.
One of the most gripping things about this book was the biblical truth woven in. I am unsure whether or not there were Jewish rabbis who were Christians during World War II, or if Jewesses would quote the New Testament, but the messages of the Christian faith were soul-deep fact indeed. I especially appreciated David’s faith journey. To me, he grew the most, spiritually speaking, of all the characters in this story. Faith isn’t always easy, and I like that that was made clear in this book. Particularly because of the faith journeys in A Question of Honor, I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
February 22, 2018
5 Stars
I've looked forward to reading this since...well, just about since I joined Goodreads!
~wonderfuls~
the characters
All of Miss Wheaton's characters were done really well. Erich and Joyanna's relationship was so sweet, and David and Gilbert's was really sad/sweet. I was not expecting . Elaine and David were really wonderful, too.
world war ii
Now, part of the reason I love A Question of Honor was just because it was set during WWII. I've not read a lot about WWII (I'm more of a WWI person myself, expecially Russia's involvement), but what little I have read has been non-fiction. Which, dont' get me wrong, is really interesting. But I like to read some historical fiction every once in a while. So to see what a little Jewish girl's experiences could have been like, and to see the pilots' point of view was really cool.
~not-so-wonderfuls~
N/A
~personal thoughts~
I'm sooo glad I read this, and I can't wait to read A Question of Courage!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've looked forward to reading this since...well, just about since I joined Goodreads!
~wonderfuls~
the characters
All of Miss Wheaton's characters were done really well. Erich and Joyanna's relationship was so sweet, and David and Gilbert's was really sad/sweet. I was not expecting . Elaine and David were really wonderful, too.
world war ii
Now, part of the reason I love A Question of Honor was just because it was set during WWII. I've not read a lot about WWII (I'm more of a WWI person myself, expecially Russia's involvement), but what little I have read has been non-fiction. Which, dont' get me wrong, is really interesting. But I like to read some historical fiction every once in a while. So to see what a little Jewish girl's experiences could have been like, and to see the pilots' point of view was really cool.
~not-so-wonderfuls~
N/A
~personal thoughts~
I'm sooo glad I read this, and I can't wait to read A Question of Courage!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2017
Jesseca knows how to tell a charming little story. A Matter of Honor follows the lives of several people in World War II—two American pilots, one German officer, and one Jewish girl. I learned to enjoy all of the characters and wanted to hear the end of their stories.
There is nothing in this book that would keep me from handing it to a child—which is a breath of fresh air. No questionable content, no disturbing elements, and not too much gore.
The spiritual content was also great. God was definitely a theme of the story.
Jesseca has a promising future as an author. This book lacked the historical feel and many times, it seemed like the characters were out of their national element (the Germans didn’t act German, the English didn’t act English, etc.). There were many historically accurate points, so I’m not at all writing it off altogether, it could just use a little more honing in that area for me.
But I did enjoy this book and feel that it makes a great YA read.
There is nothing in this book that would keep me from handing it to a child—which is a breath of fresh air. No questionable content, no disturbing elements, and not too much gore.
The spiritual content was also great. God was definitely a theme of the story.
Jesseca has a promising future as an author. This book lacked the historical feel and many times, it seemed like the characters were out of their national element (the Germans didn’t act German, the English didn’t act English, etc.). There were many historically accurate points, so I’m not at all writing it off altogether, it could just use a little more honing in that area for me.
But I did enjoy this book and feel that it makes a great YA read.
August 20, 2017
First off, amazing job on this book, Jesseca! I loved the plot twists (ya kinda scared me with one of them), and action, adventure, and the message that you twisted beautifully in with the plot.
My favorite character has to be either...Joyanna or Gil. ;) I love them both. <3 And, it was really cool how you had Julia's poem in the beginning there - it really described the story very well (and great poem, Ju! I loved it <3 ).
I just can't tell you guys how much I love this book. As soon as it comes out on Amazon (6-8 weeks), I WILL BUY IT! I want to have A Question of Honor and Martin Hospitality sitting on the same shelf together. <3 It'll look so pretty.
If you want a clean, Christian read with great writing, I suggest A Question of Honor. :)
My favorite character has to be either...Joyanna or Gil. ;) I love them both. <3 And, it was really cool how you had Julia's poem in the beginning there - it really described the story very well (and great poem, Ju! I loved it <3 ).
I just can't tell you guys how much I love this book. As soon as it comes out on Amazon (6-8 weeks), I WILL BUY IT! I want to have A Question of Honor and Martin Hospitality sitting on the same shelf together. <3 It'll look so pretty.
If you want a clean, Christian read with great writing, I suggest A Question of Honor. :)
December 15, 2017
First, many thanks to Jesseca Wheaton for the review copy! I've wanted to read this for a while and it was a wonderful opportunity presented to me :D I finished this in about two days, and read late into the evening when I should have been sleeping xD
Positives:
- THE BOOK HAS A VERY NICE TITLE. It reminds me of another hi-fi I read called "In Search of Honor." Honor seems to play a great part in conflicts and wars.
- THE CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS. I just appreciated the love and friendship and the complicated mess of emotions and hostility and hate. Ooh. Wow. It was intricate and complex and made me laugh and grin and frown and grind my teeth in frustration.
- JOYANNA. It's not that often that you come across a book where you have an equal amount of time spent in the grown up's pov as well as the child's. That was a special, very nice thing about this story. And Joyanna was really brave and sweet plus I loved story.
- DAVID'S EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER RIDE. It was ... jarring. I was really frustrated with him at times. Wanted to whop his head. But I love him all the same and I understand :) Everything was so ... sudden. On occasion it felt as though all these torrents of emotions could have some build-up first rather than just come crashing down all of a sudden, but it's not a big issue and probably realistic enough.
- ERICH. He's ... almost my favorite character. Evil and still the bad guy and he never really changed - but it was so interesting to watch him because he was so conflicted. I just shake my head at him, and feel sorry for him, and want to bang his head.
- THE HISTORICAL SETTING AND ASPECTS. I appreciate the details that must go into hi-fi. And I admire the writer for all the research that had to be done. Hi-fi is always fascinating in the sense that even though this isn't a real story, it could have been.
- THE THEMES. These reminded me of so many other WWII books I've read. And they were just so real and honest and things anyone and everyone would struggle with in such a time.
- THE ACTION. Honestly I was expecting a bit more... of what, I'm not really sure. But what was there was really good. Chases, fights, kidnapping, spying, flying, so on and so forth.
- THE STORYLINE. Good plot if you ask me. It went on wonderfully. I was immediately struck by the thought of HOW VERY CLEVER it was of the author to weave together the stories of an American pilot, a Jewish girl, and a Nazi soldier. So smart. And it really impressed me.
Negatives:
- THE LACK OF DETAIL. Yeah. I felt the writing could have used a lot. more. description. Show rather than tell. (And I feel super awkward saying this cause it's my problem too.) More prose - more of that silent reflection and observation. A flow of thought. The setting could have been described better to really stimulated the senses. And action scenes could have taken up more space/time.
- A FEW THINGS WERE A BIT ... ODD?
Then there's always the personal factors, not anything got to do with the book - WWII is one of those times of which I've read a lot of books. So this was good and different, but yet not in a class of it's own, nor an unlike-anything-i've-ever-read-before book. And it was a bit shorter than I expected? Nothing wrong with that - it's not even a proper complaint.
All in all, it was a very good book and I highly recommend it to those who like hi-fi and WWII and who haven't yet read this story!
Positives:
- THE BOOK HAS A VERY NICE TITLE. It reminds me of another hi-fi I read called "In Search of Honor." Honor seems to play a great part in conflicts and wars.
- THE CHARACTER RELATIONSHIPS. I just appreciated the love and friendship and the complicated mess of emotions and hostility and hate. Ooh. Wow. It was intricate and complex and made me laugh and grin and frown and grind my teeth in frustration.
- JOYANNA. It's not that often that you come across a book where you have an equal amount of time spent in the grown up's pov as well as the child's. That was a special, very nice thing about this story. And Joyanna was really brave and sweet plus I loved story.
- DAVID'S EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER RIDE. It was ... jarring. I was really frustrated with him at times. Wanted to whop his head. But I love him all the same and I understand :) Everything was so ... sudden. On occasion it felt as though all these torrents of emotions could have some build-up first rather than just come crashing down all of a sudden, but it's not a big issue and probably realistic enough.
- ERICH. He's ... almost my favorite character. Evil and still the bad guy and he never really changed - but it was so interesting to watch him because he was so conflicted. I just shake my head at him, and feel sorry for him, and want to bang his head.
- THE HISTORICAL SETTING AND ASPECTS. I appreciate the details that must go into hi-fi. And I admire the writer for all the research that had to be done. Hi-fi is always fascinating in the sense that even though this isn't a real story, it could have been.
- THE THEMES. These reminded me of so many other WWII books I've read. And they were just so real and honest and things anyone and everyone would struggle with in such a time.
- THE ACTION. Honestly I was expecting a bit more... of what, I'm not really sure. But what was there was really good. Chases, fights, kidnapping, spying, flying, so on and so forth.
- THE STORYLINE. Good plot if you ask me. It went on wonderfully. I was immediately struck by the thought of HOW VERY CLEVER it was of the author to weave together the stories of an American pilot, a Jewish girl, and a Nazi soldier. So smart. And it really impressed me.
Negatives:
- THE LACK OF DETAIL. Yeah. I felt the writing could have used a lot. more. description. Show rather than tell. (And I feel super awkward saying this cause it's my problem too.) More prose - more of that silent reflection and observation. A flow of thought. The setting could have been described better to really stimulated the senses. And action scenes could have taken up more space/time.
- A FEW THINGS WERE A BIT ... ODD?
Then there's always the personal factors, not anything got to do with the book - WWII is one of those times of which I've read a lot of books. So this was good and different, but yet not in a class of it's own, nor an unlike-anything-i've-ever-read-before book. And it was a bit shorter than I expected? Nothing wrong with that - it's not even a proper complaint.
All in all, it was a very good book and I highly recommend it to those who like hi-fi and WWII and who haven't yet read this story!
December 7, 2017
*Cough Cough*
This was one of the best books EVER!
Why haven't I read it before? I don't know. Won't make that mistake again with Jesseca Wheaton.
Joyanna? Too adorable. Love that little girl.
David was amazing.
Gil.... *sob*
Erich. Wow, Like I don't even know what to think. I really hope he makes an appearance in the next book.
Micah and Lily. Really liked them.
Folks, I want you to read this book. Please read this book.
*wish I hadn't used all my money on Christmas gifts so I could order this for myself RIGHT NOW!*
This was one of the best books EVER!
Why haven't I read it before? I don't know. Won't make that mistake again with Jesseca Wheaton.
Joyanna? Too adorable. Love that little girl.
David was amazing.
Gil.... *sob*
Erich. Wow, Like I don't even know what to think. I really hope he makes an appearance in the next book.
Micah and Lily. Really liked them.
Folks, I want you to read this book. Please read this book.
*wish I hadn't used all my money on Christmas gifts so I could order this for myself RIGHT NOW!*
September 5, 2018
This may have just made it onto my list of favorite books. It was really good.
It's set in WWII (which is awesome,) is about RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain (which is even better,) as well as being about the Jews under Nazi control (the setting switches back and forth between a fighter pilot, Jewish girl, and SS Soldier throughout the book.) Plus it includes
It's set in WWII (which is awesome,) is about RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain (which is even better,) as well as being about the Jews under Nazi control (the setting switches back and forth between a fighter pilot, Jewish girl, and SS Soldier throughout the book.) Plus it includes
April 14, 2017
WW2 historical fiction isn’t normally my thing. But in spite of this prejudice, I did enjoy this book. A lot.
The character struggles were real. Sometimes the writing broke my heart.
I enjoyed the Erich-Joyanna relationship. I’m hoping that in the sequel he will be redeemed (hint, hint).
I could definitely see that Ms. Dawn spent hours in research, but even then, it wasn’t dry “facty” stuff (which I am extremely thankful for because I am NOT a history fan).
It was a good book, and a can recommend it without having to say “o, but there was. . .” as is often the case.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
I had a privilege of beta-reading this book.
The character struggles were real. Sometimes the writing broke my heart.
I enjoyed the Erich-Joyanna relationship. I’m hoping that in the sequel he will be redeemed (hint, hint).
I could definitely see that Ms. Dawn spent hours in research, but even then, it wasn’t dry “facty” stuff (which I am extremely thankful for because I am NOT a history fan).
It was a good book, and a can recommend it without having to say “o, but there was. . .” as is often the case.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
I had a privilege of beta-reading this book.
November 11, 2016
This was an AWESOME story! It was a little slow to get into, but then--wow! I really enjoyed it, and so should any historical fiction lover.
August 25, 2020
World War II historical fiction is one of my very favorite subgenres, and A Question of Honor by Jesseca Wheaton is the best of its kind that I've read in a while. It immediately became one of my favorites among the many dozens of great WWII novels that I've read. I highly enjoyed it and was amazed by the budding author's skill in writing, characterization, plot, and so much more.
Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I value well-developed, endearing characters, so it's no surprise that I loved the characters in this book – and the relationships between them. Brave heroes and sweet girls, sweet romance, and brotherly friendships complete with witty banter – all things I love which were so well-done in this book! From the very first, I loved David, Gil, Joyanna, Micah, Lily, and Elaine. And then there was Erich, who I can't talk much about without spoilers. . . . My feelings about him are complicated, as they should be, but I am certain in my opinion that he was interesting, incredibly complex, and masterfully developed. I can't wait to find out what happens with his character in the sequels. And of course I can't wait to read more about the rest of the sweet main characters and their family and friends!
Even though I loved the characters, the thing that stayed with me most during and after my reading of this book was probably the depth and strength of emotion it so skillfully conveyed. Although . . . that is partly because I loved and cared about the characters so much, and it would not have happened apart from that. And my goodness, what emotion!! It was so strong, beautiful, and tragic, agonizing and torturous but amazing and perfect. The healing after the tragedy was even more wonderful than the previous sorrow, but all of it was wonderfully conveyed. I felt each emotion along with the characters. During a certain scene, the most painful one of the book, I could barely breathe for most of the scene because my chest was so tight, and I was a mess of emotions – I felt them all as if I'd been hit by a truck. I do not usually cry actual tears in books, but I very nearly did during this one. My eyes were wet during at least one scene. And dry sobs are common for me when feeling emotion during good books, so as I read, there were lots and lots of those throughout the book! I love feeling emotion during good books at the hands of a skillful author, agony and all, and I enjoyed that aspect of this book so much!
The ending was incredibly perfect and more than made up for the tragedy. Bittersweet endings are by far my favorite kind, and this one was beautifully done. I felt the joy after the sorrow along with the characters while still feeling the lingering sadness of the events of the book.
The plot was wonderful, and there was at least one twist that I did not expect. The climax was exciting, intense, and awesome. Everything came to a head perfectly for the final confrontation.
The themes were gorgeous and incredibly well-written. So much depth and truth!! One of the most prominent elements is one of my favorite themes, which the author portrayed so well – hate and revenge vs. love and forgiveness. I felt for the characters – especially David – during their struggle and wanted to cry for them while they warred against the evil and as they healed from it.
I love medical characters, and I love the RAF in WWII . . . so of course both of those prominent elements in this book were a hit with me! Not just one but multiple awesome WWII nurses and RAF pilots? Yes, please!! I loved all the details and information about the Battle of Britain, the WWII-era RAF in England, and the Americans who fought with the RAF before the U.S. entered the war. I have always been fascinated by, admiring of, and grateful for the way England held on and resisted the Nazis alone before the U.S. became involved, and I will never tire of reading about it. I've found few good books dealing with that topic, so this one was a treat!
One other thing I loved was the beautiful and perfect use of a certain hymn that was incorporated into the story and woven so deftly into the story. It fell into place perfectly and wonderfully complemented and underscored the characters, events, and themes of the story. The hymn happens to be one that is particularly special and meaningful to me personally, is close to my heart, and helped me through a hard time of my own, so I loved seeing it as part of the story. It was so well-done and interwoven so well!
There were a few minor grammar and continuity errors, but they were tiny quibbles and didn't detract from the story.
I enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to its sequel, A Question of Courage, and I look forward to reading more by this skilled and promising author. I loved her characters, writing style, themes, story elements, history, and just about everything else! History-lovers and non-history-lovers, guys and girls, and people of all ages will enjoy this book, and my 15-year-old brother read and enjoyed it, too. I recommend it highly to all!
Also, a warm thank you to the two lovely sisters and sweet friends who not only recommended this book but also gave me a beautiful copy as a birthday gift when they found out it was at the top of my wish list! :)
Anyone who has read my reviews knows that I value well-developed, endearing characters, so it's no surprise that I loved the characters in this book – and the relationships between them. Brave heroes and sweet girls, sweet romance, and brotherly friendships complete with witty banter – all things I love which were so well-done in this book! From the very first, I loved David, Gil, Joyanna, Micah, Lily, and Elaine. And then there was Erich, who I can't talk much about without spoilers. . . . My feelings about him are complicated, as they should be, but I am certain in my opinion that he was interesting, incredibly complex, and masterfully developed. I can't wait to find out what happens with his character in the sequels. And of course I can't wait to read more about the rest of the sweet main characters and their family and friends!
Even though I loved the characters, the thing that stayed with me most during and after my reading of this book was probably the depth and strength of emotion it so skillfully conveyed. Although . . . that is partly because I loved and cared about the characters so much, and it would not have happened apart from that. And my goodness, what emotion!! It was so strong, beautiful, and tragic, agonizing and torturous but amazing and perfect. The healing after the tragedy was even more wonderful than the previous sorrow, but all of it was wonderfully conveyed. I felt each emotion along with the characters. During a certain scene, the most painful one of the book, I could barely breathe for most of the scene because my chest was so tight, and I was a mess of emotions – I felt them all as if I'd been hit by a truck. I do not usually cry actual tears in books, but I very nearly did during this one. My eyes were wet during at least one scene. And dry sobs are common for me when feeling emotion during good books, so as I read, there were lots and lots of those throughout the book! I love feeling emotion during good books at the hands of a skillful author, agony and all, and I enjoyed that aspect of this book so much!
The ending was incredibly perfect and more than made up for the tragedy. Bittersweet endings are by far my favorite kind, and this one was beautifully done. I felt the joy after the sorrow along with the characters while still feeling the lingering sadness of the events of the book.
The plot was wonderful, and there was at least one twist that I did not expect. The climax was exciting, intense, and awesome. Everything came to a head perfectly for the final confrontation.
The themes were gorgeous and incredibly well-written. So much depth and truth!! One of the most prominent elements is one of my favorite themes, which the author portrayed so well – hate and revenge vs. love and forgiveness. I felt for the characters – especially David – during their struggle and wanted to cry for them while they warred against the evil and as they healed from it.
I love medical characters, and I love the RAF in WWII . . . so of course both of those prominent elements in this book were a hit with me! Not just one but multiple awesome WWII nurses and RAF pilots? Yes, please!! I loved all the details and information about the Battle of Britain, the WWII-era RAF in England, and the Americans who fought with the RAF before the U.S. entered the war. I have always been fascinated by, admiring of, and grateful for the way England held on and resisted the Nazis alone before the U.S. became involved, and I will never tire of reading about it. I've found few good books dealing with that topic, so this one was a treat!
One other thing I loved was the beautiful and perfect use of a certain hymn that was incorporated into the story and woven so deftly into the story. It fell into place perfectly and wonderfully complemented and underscored the characters, events, and themes of the story. The hymn happens to be one that is particularly special and meaningful to me personally, is close to my heart, and helped me through a hard time of my own, so I loved seeing it as part of the story. It was so well-done and interwoven so well!
There were a few minor grammar and continuity errors, but they were tiny quibbles and didn't detract from the story.
I enjoyed this book. I'm looking forward to its sequel, A Question of Courage, and I look forward to reading more by this skilled and promising author. I loved her characters, writing style, themes, story elements, history, and just about everything else! History-lovers and non-history-lovers, guys and girls, and people of all ages will enjoy this book, and my 15-year-old brother read and enjoyed it, too. I recommend it highly to all!
Also, a warm thank you to the two lovely sisters and sweet friends who not only recommended this book but also gave me a beautiful copy as a birthday gift when they found out it was at the top of my wish list! :)
February 21, 2018
About this book:
“A man. A child. A war.
When German soldiers invade France during World War II, young Joyanna's perfect world is shattered. In the hands of those who hate her, she battles to comprehend why people can be so ruthless and cold toward those whom they have never met.
David Sullivan, pilot in the Royal Air Force, was certain he would never hate, but a painful loss forces him to either reconsider or do the inconceivable—forgive. He is suddenly challenged by the realization that doing God's will is not easy, but most important. With the lives of freedom-fighters relying on him, he must learn the difficult lesson that he is not in control, but merely one who must surrender his heart of obedience to One greater.
A sudden turn of events lands Joyanna and David in the same country—but for far different reasons. When their paths cross, David finds he must make a decision that will affect them both for the rest of their lives.
Will he choose vengeance, or will he let his life be ruled by a higher standard? A standard of Honor.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Questions of War” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & talked about; Hymns; Prayers; Many talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; David is mad at God for a time; Many mentions of God, Jesus, His calling, His will, & forgiveness; Many mentions of Jews, Jewish Christians, Christians, rabbis, & faiths; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of churches, church going, services, hymns, sermons, & a pastor; Mentions of Heaven & angels; Mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of thanking & praising God; A couple mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of sins;
*Note: A child is called a little devil; Mentions of evil & evil people.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘shut up’, and three ‘stupid’s; A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; Set during World War II (up to semi-detailed); Shooting other planes, planes being shot, & air attacks (semi-detailed); Joyanna sees her father shot & killed (up to semi-detailed); Being taken away & hit (up to semi-detailed); Being kidnapped (barely-above-not-detailed); Pain, Injuries, Bruises/Burns, Being slapped/hit, Being shot, & Threatened at gunpoint (mostly semi-detailed); Wanting revenge; Smoking cigarettes; Many mentions of wars, fighting, attacks, bombings, shooting, bullets, & removing people from their homes; Many mentions of deaths, bodies, killing, threats of killing, injuries, burns, threatening with guns, shooting, bullets, being shot, blood/bleeding, & fires (mostly semi-detailed); Mentions of killing Jews being easy (from a Nazi’s POV, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of hatred, threats, & enemies; Mentions of wanting revenge; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; A few mentions of taverns & drunks; A few mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of animal manure; A mention of betting.
Sexual Content- a hand kiss, a nose kiss, two head/forehead kisses, three barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of kisses & kissing; A couple mentions of jealousy; A bit of love, being in love, & the emotions.
-Joyanna Shein, age 7
-David Sullivan
P.O.V. switches between them & a couple others
Set in 1940 {Epilogue in 1942}
324 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ star for those highly interested in WWII}
Maybe it’s because I’m sensitive to children being hurt and the unjustness of World War II, but this book was a difficult one to read.
It starts with a tragedy of seven-year-old Joyanna’s family, then the next chapter switches to a young pilot in love in Kansas. It did feel a bit odd to me to have that one-eighty switch so quick. We do see the POV of a German Nazi, that’s hard to see at times because of his action and thoughts, but his heart does try to soften (not that he allows it, but there’s hope for future books.) The ending was a but predicable, but I did like sweet Joyanna.
Overall, it’s an insanely serious book, that did have a lot of Spiritual Content, which I appreciated. At times, though, the war content—albeit, I know, historically accurate—was too much for my self personally and that affected my personal rating and what ages I think it would be okay for.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the author for this honest review.
“A man. A child. A war.
When German soldiers invade France during World War II, young Joyanna's perfect world is shattered. In the hands of those who hate her, she battles to comprehend why people can be so ruthless and cold toward those whom they have never met.
David Sullivan, pilot in the Royal Air Force, was certain he would never hate, but a painful loss forces him to either reconsider or do the inconceivable—forgive. He is suddenly challenged by the realization that doing God's will is not easy, but most important. With the lives of freedom-fighters relying on him, he must learn the difficult lesson that he is not in control, but merely one who must surrender his heart of obedience to One greater.
A sudden turn of events lands Joyanna and David in the same country—but for far different reasons. When their paths cross, David finds he must make a decision that will affect them both for the rest of their lives.
Will he choose vengeance, or will he let his life be ruled by a higher standard? A standard of Honor.”
Series: Book #1 in the “Questions of War” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, & talked about; Hymns; Prayers; Many talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; David is mad at God for a time; Many mentions of God, Jesus, His calling, His will, & forgiveness; Many mentions of Jews, Jewish Christians, Christians, rabbis, & faiths; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of churches, church going, services, hymns, sermons, & a pastor; Mentions of Heaven & angels; Mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of thanking & praising God; A couple mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of sins;
*Note: A child is called a little devil; Mentions of evil & evil people.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘blasted’s, two forms of ‘shut up’, and three ‘stupid’s; A bit of eye rolling & sarcasm; Set during World War II (up to semi-detailed); Shooting other planes, planes being shot, & air attacks (semi-detailed); Joyanna sees her father shot & killed (up to semi-detailed); Being taken away & hit (up to semi-detailed); Being kidnapped (barely-above-not-detailed); Pain, Injuries, Bruises/Burns, Being slapped/hit, Being shot, & Threatened at gunpoint (mostly semi-detailed); Wanting revenge; Smoking cigarettes; Many mentions of wars, fighting, attacks, bombings, shooting, bullets, & removing people from their homes; Many mentions of deaths, bodies, killing, threats of killing, injuries, burns, threatening with guns, shooting, bullets, being shot, blood/bleeding, & fires (mostly semi-detailed); Mentions of killing Jews being easy (from a Nazi’s POV, up to semi-detailed); Mentions of hatred, threats, & enemies; Mentions of wanting revenge; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; A few mentions of taverns & drunks; A few mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of animal manure; A mention of betting.
Sexual Content- a hand kiss, a nose kiss, two head/forehead kisses, three barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches & Embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of kisses & kissing; A couple mentions of jealousy; A bit of love, being in love, & the emotions.
-Joyanna Shein, age 7
-David Sullivan
P.O.V. switches between them & a couple others
Set in 1940 {Epilogue in 1942}
324 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ star for those highly interested in WWII}
Maybe it’s because I’m sensitive to children being hurt and the unjustness of World War II, but this book was a difficult one to read.
It starts with a tragedy of seven-year-old Joyanna’s family, then the next chapter switches to a young pilot in love in Kansas. It did feel a bit odd to me to have that one-eighty switch so quick. We do see the POV of a German Nazi, that’s hard to see at times because of his action and thoughts, but his heart does try to soften (not that he allows it, but there’s hope for future books.) The ending was a but predicable, but I did like sweet Joyanna.
Overall, it’s an insanely serious book, that did have a lot of Spiritual Content, which I appreciated. At times, though, the war content—albeit, I know, historically accurate—was too much for my self personally and that affected my personal rating and what ages I think it would be okay for.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the author for this honest review.
August 3, 2018
World War II is one of my favorite periods of history, and I've done quite a bit of non-fiction exploration of the times, especially the military setting. With that in mind, I approached this book without any expectation of significant additions to my understanding of the historical backdrop. And almost immediately I was hit with a bombshell. I knew American pilots had fought with the British forces before Pearl Harbor, but I had never realized what a high price they were willing to pay for their service. I know I'll never think of these courageous men in the same way again.
The writing style wasn't quite my usual preference, but I was still drawn to the characters and their struggles. Almost all of the characters who had more than a token presence in the story felt layered, rather than one-dimensional, although sometimes the different layers were a bit confusing. Even the main villain left me feeling conflicted and wanting to see him change for the better. I especially liked the camaraderie between David and Gil (and later Micah) and the way they encouraged and challenged each other. One particularly poignant scene had me in tears for quite a while.
I appreciated Joyanna's combination of spunk and innocence, although I didn't quite understand her attitude toward Erich. She had made up her mind to hate soldiers, but I never really saw that come out in the way she acted toward him or thought about him. I also felt like her dialogue came across as older than she was supposed to be at times.
The only other thing that I had a hard time with was the fact that much of the dialogue sounded very American, even when the speakers were British, German, or French. Not that I wanted it to sound foreign or stilted, but it was hard for me to put some of the especially American-sounding words or phrases into the mouths of the people who were supposed to be using them.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The writing style wasn't quite my usual preference, but I was still drawn to the characters and their struggles. Almost all of the characters who had more than a token presence in the story felt layered, rather than one-dimensional, although sometimes the different layers were a bit confusing. Even the main villain left me feeling conflicted and wanting to see him change for the better. I especially liked the camaraderie between David and Gil (and later Micah) and the way they encouraged and challenged each other. One particularly poignant scene had me in tears for quite a while.
I appreciated Joyanna's combination of spunk and innocence, although I didn't quite understand her attitude toward Erich. She had made up her mind to hate soldiers, but I never really saw that come out in the way she acted toward him or thought about him. I also felt like her dialogue came across as older than she was supposed to be at times.
The only other thing that I had a hard time with was the fact that much of the dialogue sounded very American, even when the speakers were British, German, or French. Not that I wanted it to sound foreign or stilted, but it was hard for me to put some of the especially American-sounding words or phrases into the mouths of the people who were supposed to be using them.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. 3.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 9, 2017
I recommend this book for teens and up, even those who aren't exactly history buffs. The writing style is easy to read and the characters engaging. I loved the setting and there were so many emotions and happy moments throughout this one. Keep up the good work, Jesseca :)
*I might have more thoughts to add when I read this again*
*I might have more thoughts to add when I read this again*
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