The Rules in Rome by A.L. Sowards + $25 and Book Giveaway!

With Hitler's forces firmly entrenched in Europe, countless heroes seek to end the madman's reign. Bastien Ley is one of the best. Working in Italy for the Office of Strategic Services, he's been tasked with sabotaging German convoys. When his team kills an officer headed for Rome, the man's similarity to Bastien is undeniable, and seeing an opportunity to turn the tide of the war, Bastien makes a bold decision: he will assume the dead officer's identity. He become Dietrich, an Iron Cross-wearing German officer—an ideal position from which to infiltrate the Nazi ranks in Rome. Bastien's assignment becomes extremely stressful, and his superiors send him a reinforcement in the form of the lovely Gracie Begni, an intelligent, eager, and completely inexperienced radio operator.

With a gulf of resentment between them, these two agents must find a way to portray a couple in love. Soon their reluctant alliance becomes much more as Bastien and Gracie find themselves getting lost in their feeling for each other. But as they engage in battle against the deadliest foe the world has ever known, the pair quickly realizes their love may be doomed. As the Rome Gestapo threatens to destroy all they've worked for, will Bastien and Gracie survive their charade?

* Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, especially when it is done right.  I love getting a bit of a history lesson without it actually feeling like a history lesson.  This book is set during WWII in Rome, Italy.  I have read a lot of books set during WWII but I cannot remember any in Rome, Italy.  It was interesting and heartbreaking.  War is awful.

Because I know some of the travesties WWII brought, I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through this book, just waiting for those awful things to happen.  There was so much anticipation on my part.  Gracie is a character I really enjoyed.  She is brave but she is also frightened sometimes.  She has courage as well as a tender heart.

Bastien will grow on you.  He comes off cold and distant but that is his training and his desire to keep safe and successful in his mission.  I enjoyed getting to know him gradually with Gracie.

Pretending to be in love is a dangerous game.  It was a good one for this book, though.  I was happy to get to the HEA ending.  I could finally breathe again.  :)

This book has references to the "Mormon" religion, but there isn't anything preachy or overbearing in it.  There is no swearing or sexual situations.  There is some violence.

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*February 9th: http://mybookaday.blogspot.com/, http://www.iamareader.com/ (Cheryl's review), http://ldsandlovinit.blogspot.com/

*February 10th: http://katiescleanbookcollection.blogspot.com/, https://joyinthemoments.wordpress.com/ 

*February 11th: http://gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com/ , http://www.wishfulendings.com/

*February 12th: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com/ , http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/ , http://melsshelves.blogspot.com/

*February 13th: http://www.rockinbookreviews.com/, http://literarytimeout.blogspot.com/

*February 14th: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com/ , http://www.iamareader.com/ (Kathy's review), http://www.ldswomensbookreview.com/wordpress/

Hope by S.J. Wilkins

A hidden crime. An urgent letter. A desperate struggle for the sake of love.

Isaac Shaw is dead. For sixteen years, his family has struggled on in shame, believing he died a criminal—responsible, in 1837, for burning down the local mill and causing the death of several villagers, including the wife of the mill owner. Since that fateful night, the family has survived due to the remarkable charity of Edward Reeve, the bereaved mill owner, who now employs Isaac Shaw’s sons, Will and Manny.

When Manny decides to run away, the decision takes him straight into the path of a traveling Mormon elder, a meeting that threatens the Shaws’ well-being. Charged with the care of a letter challenging the village’s history, Manny must find a way to reveal the true identity of Hope, the young woman he loves. It is a quest destined to change him and his family forever.

I will start out by saying that is an LDS historical fiction book, as you can tell from the blurb above.

For me this book was really slow going.  I had a hard time keeping my head in the story.  My attention was never fully engaged and I never became fully invested in the characters.  Having said that, I don't think the writing is poor, I just think it wasn't my style which made it hard for me, personally, to engage.

I do really like the cover though and the title of the book which really does reflect the overall message of the book as well as the name of the main character.

I liked how so much of the book revolved around a mysterious letter that passed hands many times and contained the truth everyone was so desperately either searching for or hiding.  The concept is a good one and I liked the actual plot, I just had a hard time getting through it.  There was just something missing for me- that heart pounding, hum through your veins connection, I guess.  It's hard to explain, but this book just didn't hit the mark for me.

It is obvious to me that the author really did his homework on this part of history.  That is something I can really appreciate.  My roots trace back to England (distant and not so distant- my grandparents were so very British) and much of my family history involves conversion to the LDS church there.  

You can check out the author and read the prologue and opening chapter HERE and decide for yourself about this book.  Opening chapters can give you a very good idea of what a book will be like so I encourage you to see for yourself and not take my word for it.  If you love LDS fiction, you may really enjoy this book.

You can purchase Hope at Amazon and Deseret Book.

Fresh Courage Take: Come to Zion Series, volume 3 by Dean Hughes

The United States turned a blind eye when the Mormons were driven from Missouri to Illinois and finally out of the country altogether. How can the government—and Brigham Young—now be asking the Mormons to come up with 500 able-bodied soldiers to assist in the war with Mexico? And how can Will Lewis be asked to join the Mormon Battalion when it means leaving Liz and their two little boys on their own in the wilderness? How many sacrifices will be required in order for the Saints to create Zion?

And in modern-day Nauvoo, Jeff and Abby Lewis are facing challenges of their own. Juggling family priorities, professional responsibilities, and Church callings becomes and almost impossible feat. It is clear that building Zion in the latter days will require sacrifices, just as it did in the time of Jeff's ancestors.

In this concluding volume of the Come to Zion trilogy, beloved novelist Dean Hughes provides a unique perspective on the struggles and sacrifices—and ultimate joy—of faithful Saints in any generation.

I'm happy to be a part of reviewing this final installment of the Come to Zion series by Dean Hughes.  I've reviewed both of the previous books in this series and it's always satisfying to come to the end of a series.  Closure, that's what it is.

I first need to say that Dean Hughes is such a gifted writer.  He is a man who knows his craft.  Historical Fiction is what he does best and when you read a Dean Hughes book, you know that the research has been done.  You can feel it.  At the end of this book Dean Hughes says that he hopes there are still people out there that love Historical Fiction over the ever popular Fantasy genre that is exploding right now.  Well, yes.  There is at least one girl out here that loves Historical Fiction over Fantasy.  (although I do love some fantasy too!)

"Fresh Courage Take" is an LDS Historical Fiction.  It follows the movements of the Mormon pioneers- driven from their homes in Illinois to the Salt Lake Valley.  Told in alternating story lines, we also follow a modern day couple through daily challenges of life.  The Mormon pioneer is a story well told in the LDS historical fiction genre.  I've read so many variations of this sort of book so it wasn't anything new or exciting, but it was solid.  Following the character, Will, through his march with the Mormon Battalion was heart breaking.  The struggles and suffering those men endured!  I cannot even fathom walking that far.  

When reading books such as this, one thing I always come away with is gratitude.  The sacrifice and courage of those who have gone before is overwhelming.  I have what I have today because of those who have gone before me.  It is both humbling and inspiring.

You can purchase "Fresh Courage Take" at Amazon and Deseret Book.

My thanks to Deseret Book for allowing me to read and review this book for them.  I was provided this book in exchange for my honest review.

Come To Zion Series by Dean Hughes

Will Lewis is stuck. the class system in England in the 1840s seems destined to keep him in his place as a poor tenant farmer who cannot improve his lot and will never be able to marry the woman he loves. But the "new religion" that is sweeping through congregations of the United Brethren, Will's church, may hold the key to the better life he longs for. As he listens to the preaching of Wilford Woodruff, he almost dares to hope for the Zion the young Apostle describes.

Will's struggles to believe and to face the rigors of immigrating to an unknown land are paralleled by the modern-day story of Jeff and Abby, a young married couple facing challenges of their own. When Jeff begins digging into his family history, he finds himself particularly drawn to "Grandpa Lewis," an ancestor whose life was more like his than he would have imagined.

The skillful interweaving of these two stories brings Church history to life while demonstrating how much we can learn from those who went before us. Anyone who has ever faced the winds and the waves, in some form, will love this novel.

Today I will be reviewing the first two books in the Come To Zion series by Dean Hughes.  These are LDS historical fiction books.  Dean Hughes is a well known and established LDS author.  In fact, the second book in this series, Through Cloud and Sunshine is his 100th book published in 33 years.  That's a pretty great accomplishment!  I've read many books by this author and I'm always impressed with his ability to bring events in history alive.  Historical fiction is one of my favorite genre's.

 The first book, The Winds and the Waves introduces us to Will Lewis in the 1840's and Jeff and Abby in the modern day.  It's like two stories in one book.  Will is actually Jeff's ancestor from about 150 years before and in the book Jeff begins to discover more about Will's history.  

As I said before, Dean Hughes has a gift for creating characters that come alive in his stories.  His ability to give me a history lesson while entertaining me is what I have come to expect and enjoy.  These particular time and events in LDS history has been well covered by many authors and Dean Hughes isn't the first but he is probably the most in depth.  I just felt while I was reading this book that I've read so many of these types of books lately.  It didn't feel new and fresh but it definitely felt meatier.

I have ancestors in England who immigrated to America so for me this story is also personal.  I have a connection to the struggles of the characters in this book because I know my family history tells of similar stories.  I enjoyed Will's story far and above Jeff's story.  In fact, for most of the book I didn't even particularly like Jeff.  Good thing I had book two to delve right into after book one.  It was super nice to not have to wait an entire year in between these books.  :)

Nauvoo was supposed to be the kingdom of God on earth, but Will and Liz Lewis are learning that it takes more than dreaming of Zion to make it a reality. Sickness, poverty, and just plain human nature add to the struggles for the Lord's people, but every now and then a glimpse of heaven shines through. Just when things are starting to get settled, though, the old problems start rearing their heads, leaving Will and others wondering if they will be there to reap the harvest they have so carefully sown.

Meanwhile, Jeff and Abby—in modern-day Nauvoo—are dealing with challenges of their own. As their newborn baby fights for his life, they must come to grips with their personal faith. Can they, like their ancestors, continue to trust in God when there seems to be no trace o Him in their trials?

Beloved novelist Dean Hughes skillfully interweaves the stories of two couples separated by five generations and 150 years, providing a unique perspective on Church history and showing how much we can learn from those who went before us.

This book is full of struggle and heartache.  In both generations.  Honestly, there isn't a lot of sunshine for Will and Liz.  Both couples face circumstances of death, sickness, misunderstanding, prejudice and poverty.  Believing in God and continuing in the faith can seem monumental in the middle of such struggles.  Anyone who has faces heartache will be able to identify with these characters and connect with the stories of both past and present.  Trusting in God can be so hard for us.

I'm glad to say that I enjoyed Jeff a bit more in this book.  :)  Not my favorite character, but he redeemed himself a bit.  I'm still firmly a Will fan.  I love his fierce loyalty to his wife and children.  He is a protector and a defender.  I just love that.

Even though this book was full of mostly difficult things, I did enjoy it.  It is a powerful story of faith and determination.  I guess it's the hope of sunshine at the end that keeps most of us moving forward.  

My thanks to Deseret Book for providing these books for my review.  They are a fantastic company and they put out so many books that make my job as a reviewer a real pleasure.

You can purchase the Come to Zion series at Deseret Book or Amazon in both hard cover and ebook.

Deseret Book

Amazon