About the book: 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?
My review: 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 was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
About the author: A L Sowards is a graduate of Moses Lake High School and Brigham Young University. She swam competitively for sixteen years, including while she was in college. She found it more entertaining to think of plot ideas while following the black line up and down the bottom of the pool than having a song in her head that restarted with every flip turn. Sowards currently lives along the Wasatch front with her amazing husband and her adorable twin toddlers. She loves hearing from readers at ALSowards.com or on Facebook or Goodreads.
Purchase links: Amazon - Deseret Book
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Labels: A L Sowards, Covenant Communications, LDS Historical Fiction
About the book: 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.