Getting Your Read On: Defiance by A.L. Sowards + $25 and Book Giveaway

Eight years after immigrating to the United States, German-born Lukas Ley embodies the American dream: successful athlete, gorgeous girlfriend, loving family. But beneath the surface, eighteen-year-old Lukas is driven by ambition, resolved to avenge the murder of his father at the hands of the Nazi regime. Unfortunately, a failed physical throws his plans for flight school off course. Unlike his war-hero older brother, Lukas’s purpose is unclear. He can’t fly, and in the eyes of the military, he’s good for only one thing—the front lines.

From the foxholes of war-ravaged Luxembourg to the devastation of an enormous German offensive, Lukas’s journey is fraught with peril. But when he’s taken as a prisoner of war, he realizes life is about to get much worse. In the enemy camp, Lukas is viewed as a German fighting for the wrong side. Ripped from the innocence of an idealistic youth, he becomes a man beaten by the horrors of war. Now his only hope of survival is to hold tightly to his faith in God and his love of family and home. But even if he manages to make it out alive, can he ever be whole again?

Sometimes survival is the ultimate act of Defiance.

* Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

First, I love this cover. The picture within the picture is awesome and I feel like it fits the story so well.

I love reading books by A. L. Sowards. You can tell that she does her homework because her stories come to life. They feel meaty, real and emotional. One of my favorite genres is historical fiction- just like this.

War is never an easy subject to read about. While I loved this book, I had to read it in doses because my heart just couldn't take it all in one sitting. I had so many emotions reading this book- gratitude, heart break, anger, sadness, pride, hope, relief, but mostly gratitude. So many people have given so much- everything, really, to defend humanity from tyrants, to ensure freedoms and to defend what is right. It's humbling. This book brings all of this to the forefront for me.

Content: War violence. LDS Fiction, (some references to things specific to the LDS religion, but mostly general talk about morals, praying and finding forgiveness)

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

My grandpa served in WWII in England. He married my grandmother in the middle of that war. He told my grandma to tell him which church to be at and when and he would do his best to make it there to marry her. He hitchhiked on his two day leave and barely made it to the church on time. Actually, he was late. Roads were bombed out and with all the detours, he had a hard time getting there. He spent one short night with my grandma before heading back to his base. She had to give him money to get back there! There was a bombing raid the night before the wedding and my grandma tells of running downstairs to make sure her cake was okay. A bombing raid. And she was worried about her cake. Brides. <sigh> They saved a lot of sugar rations for that cake and it was important!