What do you think?
Rate this book
Espionage #2
Sworn Enemy
June 1944. As World War II rages, the people of Eastern Europe are hopelessly trapped between two formidable forces: Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union. In their midst, a band of heroes works to defend against the inevitable Communist takeover.
After narrowly escaping her Nazi captors, French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier has fled to Allied territory with the help of American Lieutenant Peter Eddy. Their connection is undeniable, forged in the crucible of danger. But despite their blossoming feelings for each other, they must both finish the work they began . . .
In the safety of England, Genevieve hopes to find purpose as a nurse—all the while unaware that the Gestapo still seeks the woman who slipped through their grasp. When she is called upon to resume a life of danger as a French spy, will her desire to prove herself be her downfall?
Recruited by an elite special-ops team intent on thwarting the Nazis, Peter finds himself engaged in a personal battle as well—there is a traitor among his comrades. Deep in the Carpathian Mountains, Peter combats an unknown foe. The stakes are high as he fights to save the lives of his teammates.
They are miles apart, yet as Genevieve and Peter fight for their own survival, they find a common well of strength in their faith—and their determination to be reunited.
After narrowly escaping her Nazi captors, French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier has fled to Allied territory with the help of American Lieutenant Peter Eddy. Their connection is undeniable, forged in the crucible of danger. But despite their blossoming feelings for each other, they must both finish the work they began . . .
In the safety of England, Genevieve hopes to find purpose as a nurse—all the while unaware that the Gestapo still seeks the woman who slipped through their grasp. When she is called upon to resume a life of danger as a French spy, will her desire to prove herself be her downfall?
Recruited by an elite special-ops team intent on thwarting the Nazis, Peter finds himself engaged in a personal battle as well—there is a traitor among his comrades. Deep in the Carpathian Mountains, Peter combats an unknown foe. The stakes are high as he fights to save the lives of his teammates.
They are miles apart, yet as Genevieve and Peter fight for their own survival, they find a common well of strength in their faith—and their determination to be reunited.
281 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
11 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Sowards
22 books1,229 followersI love books, so that makes Goodreads my favorite social media site. As a reader, I enjoy a variety of books. As a writer, I create historical novels with a wholesome mix of action, adventure, and romance. My stories have earned Whitney Awards, Foreword Indies Finalists positions, Readers’ Favorite Gold and Silver medals, a Historical Novel Society Editor’s Choice Selection, and a Praiseworthy Award.
I'm a wife and a mother of three, and I've called Washington State, Utah, and Alaska home. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.
Stay in Touch:
Newsletter sign up: https://alsowards.com/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.l.sowards/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALSowards/
About My Goodreads Ratings:
I joined Goodreads as a reader first, but since I’m an author too, I’ve made some changes to how I rate books. For fiction, I'll give a book 5 stars if I enjoyed every page. Otherwise, I'll leave the rating blank. For nonfiction, 5 star books are ones I enjoyed enough that I’d like to read them again. They’re books I connected with and highly recommend to others. 4 star books are good books that I thought were worth reading once, and they’re also recommended.
I'm a wife and a mother of three, and I've called Washington State, Utah, and Alaska home. I'm usually reading a couple books at once and working on multiple writing projects too. Other than that, my life is pretty ordinary. I'm grateful for that. I'll let the characters in my books have all the adventures.
Stay in Touch:
Newsletter sign up: https://alsowards.com/newsletter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.l.sowards/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ALSowards/
About My Goodreads Ratings:
I joined Goodreads as a reader first, but since I’m an author too, I’ve made some changes to how I rate books. For fiction, I'll give a book 5 stars if I enjoyed every page. Otherwise, I'll leave the rating blank. For nonfiction, 5 star books are ones I enjoyed enough that I’d like to read them again. They’re books I connected with and highly recommend to others. 4 star books are good books that I thought were worth reading once, and they’re also recommended.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
July 10, 2014
This book by A. L. Sowards is a sequel to Espionage, but it also works as a standalone book.
Full disclosure: I am “friends” with the author on GoodReads and have received the third installment in the series with the expectation for my review. However, I seek to always provide frank feedback that benefits both the author and potential readers in my reviews.
I enjoyed Sworn Enemy – I even read it twice – and I’ll specify why in a moment, but let me first criticize the publisher a bit, because I felt like they forced the author to condense this book and compress a larger story into one volume (or perhaps a longer story into a smaller book); this could easily have been three separate books. That is not intended to knock the content of what Sowards retains here, because the story is great and is well-written; it just feels like it was compressed and condensed, probably against the intent of the author’s original story.
OK, that being stated upfront, this is an action-packed story (again, because there is that “rushed” feeling, but there is also plenty of conflict and resolution t make it exciting), and the author has a great sense of historical accuracy and knowledge of disparate conflicts and intrigue such as partisan fighting in eastern Europe, the delicate balance that countries such as Romania faced in switching loyalty from Hitler to Stalin on a whim when the winds of change blew, and even Irish resentment toward the British soldiers they served alongside. The settings of this book – the story begins in Calais shortly after the Allies invaded at Normandy in June 1944 and soon finds the main characters separately being sent to Southern France and Romania – are historically accurate and employ elements that demonstrate familiarity with and research on the subject matter.
The characters develop well in this book, also. Genevieve becomes more to us than just a simple French girl, naïve and oblivious to the forces that are roiling around her in her life (as she seems in the first book) to realizing, first of all, that Peter knows something that gives him peace regardless of outcome (and conveyed that to her brother, rescuing him from the blackness that blighted his spirit after his wife was killed); and, later, that she has talents and can contribute to the cause. (On a side note, she finds out that her parents were involved in espionage during the First World War, which was an intriguing story that could be developed into a prequel…)
Peter gets a chance at leadership and seems to flail for a while until we realize that he has managed his command well, given the forces in opposition to him and their determination to ruin him and the mission he is assigned to accomplish.
In the meantime, there are forces for good and evil at work on both sides of the conflict, just as there were in reality. It makes for a very good story, and I really enjoyed this book, notwithstanding what I perceive as the publisher’s requirements which damage (albeit superficially) the “flow” of the story.
One thing that everyone should know about this book – it’s a love story and a clean romance novel, not really a war story, but the author’s knowledge of the war makes it palatable beyond another ordinary “chick lit” book. I recommend this book for young adults and adults of both genders.
Five stars for the book content, but if not for the restrictions of the GoodReads rating system, I would mark it down ½ a star for the publisher making the author try to fit a large story in a medium-size box.
Full disclosure: I am “friends” with the author on GoodReads and have received the third installment in the series with the expectation for my review. However, I seek to always provide frank feedback that benefits both the author and potential readers in my reviews.
I enjoyed Sworn Enemy – I even read it twice – and I’ll specify why in a moment, but let me first criticize the publisher a bit, because I felt like they forced the author to condense this book and compress a larger story into one volume (or perhaps a longer story into a smaller book); this could easily have been three separate books. That is not intended to knock the content of what Sowards retains here, because the story is great and is well-written; it just feels like it was compressed and condensed, probably against the intent of the author’s original story.
OK, that being stated upfront, this is an action-packed story (again, because there is that “rushed” feeling, but there is also plenty of conflict and resolution t make it exciting), and the author has a great sense of historical accuracy and knowledge of disparate conflicts and intrigue such as partisan fighting in eastern Europe, the delicate balance that countries such as Romania faced in switching loyalty from Hitler to Stalin on a whim when the winds of change blew, and even Irish resentment toward the British soldiers they served alongside. The settings of this book – the story begins in Calais shortly after the Allies invaded at Normandy in June 1944 and soon finds the main characters separately being sent to Southern France and Romania – are historically accurate and employ elements that demonstrate familiarity with and research on the subject matter.
The characters develop well in this book, also. Genevieve becomes more to us than just a simple French girl, naïve and oblivious to the forces that are roiling around her in her life (as she seems in the first book) to realizing, first of all, that Peter knows something that gives him peace regardless of outcome (and conveyed that to her brother, rescuing him from the blackness that blighted his spirit after his wife was killed); and, later, that she has talents and can contribute to the cause. (On a side note, she finds out that her parents were involved in espionage during the First World War, which was an intriguing story that could be developed into a prequel…)
Peter gets a chance at leadership and seems to flail for a while until we realize that he has managed his command well, given the forces in opposition to him and their determination to ruin him and the mission he is assigned to accomplish.
In the meantime, there are forces for good and evil at work on both sides of the conflict, just as there were in reality. It makes for a very good story, and I really enjoyed this book, notwithstanding what I perceive as the publisher’s requirements which damage (albeit superficially) the “flow” of the story.
One thing that everyone should know about this book – it’s a love story and a clean romance novel, not really a war story, but the author’s knowledge of the war makes it palatable beyond another ordinary “chick lit” book. I recommend this book for young adults and adults of both genders.
Five stars for the book content, but if not for the restrictions of the GoodReads rating system, I would mark it down ½ a star for the publisher making the author try to fit a large story in a medium-size box.
books-i-wrote
January 14, 2020Since I wrote this book, my opinion is a little biased, so I thought rather than writing a review I’d answer a few of the questions I’ve been getting.
Is it a sequel? Sure. It includes some characters from Espionage and takes place at a later date, but you don’t have to read Espionage to understand Sworn Enemy . Reading Sworn Enemy first might reveal a few plot spoilers for Espionage, but if you’re the type of reader who likes to read the last page first, that could work out well for you.
What’s the historical hook? I’d classify the book as a thriller set during WWII rather than a fictionalization of any specific event, but I think most readers will learn something new about the war in Romania and the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon).
Is there another book after this one? Yes. But don’t worry, even though Sworn Enemy is technically the second book in a planned trilogy, the ending is NOT a cliffhanger.
Who’s reading the audio version? Jason Tatom (the same narrator who read Espionage)
How do I pronounce (fill-in-the-blank)? I have a pdf pronunciation guide on the website: http://ALSowards.com/swornenemy
Is it a sequel? Sure. It includes some characters from Espionage and takes place at a later date, but you don’t have to read Espionage to understand Sworn Enemy . Reading Sworn Enemy first might reveal a few plot spoilers for Espionage, but if you’re the type of reader who likes to read the last page first, that could work out well for you.
What’s the historical hook? I’d classify the book as a thriller set during WWII rather than a fictionalization of any specific event, but I think most readers will learn something new about the war in Romania and the invasion of southern France (Operation Dragoon).
Is there another book after this one? Yes. But don’t worry, even though Sworn Enemy is technically the second book in a planned trilogy, the ending is NOT a cliffhanger.
Who’s reading the audio version? Jason Tatom (the same narrator who read Espionage)
How do I pronounce (fill-in-the-blank)? I have a pdf pronunciation guide on the website: http://ALSowards.com/swornenemy
July 24, 2023
Oh my goodness. This is such a great way to learn about different aspects of World War Two! The things people suffer during war are so important for us to never forget. This book does that, but we also have fictional characters to love and/or hate, which really brings this to life.
June 20, 2013
Sworn Enemy is the second historical suspense put out by A.L. Sowards. I really enjoyed the first one and the second one was just as good.
We continue with the adventures of Peter and Genevieve, whom we met in the first book, although Sworn Enemy is a stand alone novel. (I was glad I'd read the first one so I knew a little more of the background of Peter and Genevieve, though.) This time, Peter is part of an elite group that is trying to stop a communist takeover and that's not easy. I loved his part of the book because it's full of spies and traitors and awesome action. And plus, I really love Peter.
Genevieve's story is also good, but a little more sedate if we're comparing the two. (Can you compare action heroes and heroines?) Anyway, Genevieve's one tough cookie with all she goes through. I was definitely drawn in from the beginning with the connection between Genevieve and Peter and the danger they face. The opening chapters were seriously ones I couldn't put down and told myself I'd just read one more page, one more page, until I was on chapter five! It's a great opening.
Sowards strength is how accurate her setting is and how she draws her characters within the time period. (I learned some facts about the war in Romania I didn't know.) She has obviously done her research and makes it feel real to the reader. There were a few pacing issues where the details did bog down the story a bit, but overall I thought the author worked it and really added to the authenticity of the story. I love the suspense aspect and how the author ramps up the tension in each succeeding chapter. I'm interested to see where she takes her story next. I definitely recommend this story to any historical fiction lover.
We continue with the adventures of Peter and Genevieve, whom we met in the first book, although Sworn Enemy is a stand alone novel. (I was glad I'd read the first one so I knew a little more of the background of Peter and Genevieve, though.) This time, Peter is part of an elite group that is trying to stop a communist takeover and that's not easy. I loved his part of the book because it's full of spies and traitors and awesome action. And plus, I really love Peter.
Genevieve's story is also good, but a little more sedate if we're comparing the two. (Can you compare action heroes and heroines?) Anyway, Genevieve's one tough cookie with all she goes through. I was definitely drawn in from the beginning with the connection between Genevieve and Peter and the danger they face. The opening chapters were seriously ones I couldn't put down and told myself I'd just read one more page, one more page, until I was on chapter five! It's a great opening.
Sowards strength is how accurate her setting is and how she draws her characters within the time period. (I learned some facts about the war in Romania I didn't know.) She has obviously done her research and makes it feel real to the reader. There were a few pacing issues where the details did bog down the story a bit, but overall I thought the author worked it and really added to the authenticity of the story. I love the suspense aspect and how the author ramps up the tension in each succeeding chapter. I'm interested to see where she takes her story next. I definitely recommend this story to any historical fiction lover.
July 14, 2014
I received this book from GoodReads First Reads
This book had the right balance of action and romance. Though I did not read Espionage, I felt the connection Peter and Genevieve had for each other. Their brief moments together were filled with warm fuzzies. Peter's missions were much more interesting than Genevieve's, and I was relieved that a larger chunk of the book was focused on his story.
This book had the right balance of action and romance. Though I did not read Espionage, I felt the connection Peter and Genevieve had for each other. Their brief moments together were filled with warm fuzzies. Peter's missions were much more interesting than Genevieve's, and I was relieved that a larger chunk of the book was focused on his story.
June 21, 2013
This book is SO GOOD!
It pulls you in on page one and keeps you going as you fight, fear, love, and conquer right along with the characters.
You will be captured and give in to this wonderful telling of WWII happenings.
And your final release will be when you turn that last page and sigh knowing that what you read was wonderful, and heart-wrenching, and will forever be kept in your mind.
French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier and Lieutenant Peter Eddy are on the run. Being captured and then escaping seems to be a way of life for them now.
Each would love nothing better than to just being together, but Peter is recruited to fight against the Nazis and Genevieve has sought shelter in being a nurse in England.
Before they can be reunited once again they must both fight against their "sworn enemy."
YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!
It pulls you in on page one and keeps you going as you fight, fear, love, and conquer right along with the characters.
You will be captured and give in to this wonderful telling of WWII happenings.
And your final release will be when you turn that last page and sigh knowing that what you read was wonderful, and heart-wrenching, and will forever be kept in your mind.
French Resistance worker Genevieve Olivier and Lieutenant Peter Eddy are on the run. Being captured and then escaping seems to be a way of life for them now.
Each would love nothing better than to just being together, but Peter is recruited to fight against the Nazis and Genevieve has sought shelter in being a nurse in England.
Before they can be reunited once again they must both fight against their "sworn enemy."
YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!
June 6, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It is the second in a series, but could be read as a standalone book. The author takes great care to ensure historical accuracy (which I really appreciate) while still allowing for a new and interesting story. This book kept me guessing and I read most of it in a single sitting because I couldn't put it down! I feel like I know a bit more about the history of WW2 because of this book, and I was very entertained for a couple of hours. I would highly recommend this book to any of my friends, and to anyone with a love of suspenseful historical fiction with a dash of romance.
February 1, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing book! It's completely apparent that it's well-researched, but also well-crafted. I came to love Peter and Genevieve in the first book in the series, and was happy to continue their story.
April 2, 2023
As the second book in this series I continued reading. I was hoping to learn more about WWII and what would happen to my favorites spies, Peter and Genevieve. However, I only read the first three chapters and won't be picking it back up. The torture, near rapes, and horrible situations that the spies keep getting into are too violent and stressful for my taste. They keep getting captured by the Gestapo, tortured and then miraculously escape half-dead. Somehow, with all of their serious injuries they're able to continue on with no food or sleep for days and then this leads right into another horrendous adventure. This makes it more fictional than historical. It is too violent and dark for me. I won't finish reading it.
February 20, 2024
The story continues - I can't imagine what it must have been like to live during those times and in those countries and all they had to deal with. What a rough time of history. There is so much that happens in this series that it is hard to put into words and explain. I just know that I greatly appreciated all that these people have gone through and for those who worked for freedom and gave their lives. My ancestry is from Europe and it makes me think of my ancestors, some that I'm not even aware of, and what they might have had to go through. Then I think of those that I am aware of and makes their stories more personal.
March 6, 2018
I really loved this book! My only problem with it was that it felt like every time it got to a climax and things were about to go downhill for the characters, something or other would appear just in time to save them. Every single time. But other than that, it was great. I loved Peter, and his team, and the plot, and Genevieve was good.
I also listened to the audiobook, which was done very well, and it helped with the pronunciation of the places and characters’ names, and foreign words.
I also listened to the audiobook, which was done very well, and it helped with the pronunciation of the places and characters’ names, and foreign words.
February 19, 2021
I love Peter and Genevieve. I will admit I wasn't sure how either one would survive their separation, both physically and mentally. Reading such a story that pulls you in so emotionally makes it that much better. I'm seeing #WWII from a whole new vantage point. Thank you for keeping #wwiihistory alive. 😊 @a.l.sowards @covenant_com #historicalfiction #historicalfictionbooks #wwii
May 29, 2018
I was listening to this book and had a hard time following the story.
December 18, 2019
A good story, a bit slow moving but I enjoyed it. I am a sucker for a good WW2 adventure with a bit of romance and this book is that.
January 20, 2022
This is book #2 and I enjoyed it just as much as book #1. You get a front seat on this exciting adventure.
November 24, 2022
Another good book by the author.
November 7, 2024
Great story- good characters
November 28, 2016
This is a fantastic WWII novel that is emotionally investing and has a fun plot twist.
June 28, 2013
Sworn Enemy begins as Peter and Genevieve (introduced in Espionage) are trying to stay ahead of the Gestapo, making their way out of occupied France. While Sworn Enemy can be read alone, reading Espionage provides a richer history of the characters and makes reading Sworn Enemy an even better experience.
Peter and Genevieve are great characters. While Espionage focuses mainly on the beginning of their story and the events leading up to their escape from occupied France, Sworn Enemy finds them facing separation as Genevieve goes to nursing school and Peter leaves as part of team assembled for a specific mission in Romania. There are several other characters I enjoyed as well, especially a certain Polish soldier who I liked just as much as Peter. (Maybe a tiny bit more after that one scene in Bucharest, but you’ll have to read the book to see if you agree with me.)
Peter and Genevieve’s romantic relationship is not at the forefront of the novel. There is plenty of spying, captures, escapes, as well as a battle. Those who enjoy a little romance will like the side story of two other characters in the novel. For those of you who aren’t big romance fans, don’t worry. It’s a nice addition to the story but it is not the focus.
There was a stretch of chapters that focused on Peter and the events he was involved in and the reader doesn’t know what is happening with Genevieve for quite sometime. I would have liked a chapter somewhere in there to update me with Genevieve’s activities, because I was in suspense wondering about that for what felt like a long time. The nature of Peter’s mission (13 team members and some civilians, plus the German & Romanian soldiers and officials, along with occasional use of both first and last names) made for a lot of characters to remember at first, but as I read, it became easier.
What I like about A.L. Sowards’ writing is that the reader can tell that she has done her research and knows a lot about the events and time period, but not because she beats the reader over the head with facts. They are woven into the story and dialogue and it never feels stilted or like a history lecture.
Sworn Enemy is well-written, full of action and suspense, and an enjoyable follow up to Espionage. A.L. Sowards is one of my new favorite historical authors and I definitely look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Review originally published on LDS Women's Book Review - www.ldswbr.com
Peter and Genevieve are great characters. While Espionage focuses mainly on the beginning of their story and the events leading up to their escape from occupied France, Sworn Enemy finds them facing separation as Genevieve goes to nursing school and Peter leaves as part of team assembled for a specific mission in Romania. There are several other characters I enjoyed as well, especially a certain Polish soldier who I liked just as much as Peter. (Maybe a tiny bit more after that one scene in Bucharest, but you’ll have to read the book to see if you agree with me.)
Peter and Genevieve’s romantic relationship is not at the forefront of the novel. There is plenty of spying, captures, escapes, as well as a battle. Those who enjoy a little romance will like the side story of two other characters in the novel. For those of you who aren’t big romance fans, don’t worry. It’s a nice addition to the story but it is not the focus.
There was a stretch of chapters that focused on Peter and the events he was involved in and the reader doesn’t know what is happening with Genevieve for quite sometime. I would have liked a chapter somewhere in there to update me with Genevieve’s activities, because I was in suspense wondering about that for what felt like a long time. The nature of Peter’s mission (13 team members and some civilians, plus the German & Romanian soldiers and officials, along with occasional use of both first and last names) made for a lot of characters to remember at first, but as I read, it became easier.
What I like about A.L. Sowards’ writing is that the reader can tell that she has done her research and knows a lot about the events and time period, but not because she beats the reader over the head with facts. They are woven into the story and dialogue and it never feels stilted or like a history lecture.
Sworn Enemy is well-written, full of action and suspense, and an enjoyable follow up to Espionage. A.L. Sowards is one of my new favorite historical authors and I definitely look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Review originally published on LDS Women's Book Review - www.ldswbr.com
July 10, 2013
I was able to read A.L. Sowards' WWII novel, Espionage, earlier this year, and I really liked it. My only complaint, if you want to call it that, was that I wanted more at the end. I liked the characters a lot and wanted to see what happened with them.
Luckily for me, Sworn Enemy takes up where Espionage left off, and readers are taken on an exciting ride following Peter and Genevieve as their lives are threatened (both together and separately) as they try to survive while fighting the enemy in war-torn Europe.
I really enjoyed getting to know more about Genevieve. She is such a strong character, despite her young age. She goes through a lot in Sworn Enemy, and exudes bravery in very trying circumstances in order to help the cause.
There is a lot of action in Sworn Enemy. Our main characters are separated for quite some time, and readers get to know several new characters. I became very interested about what would happen to two of the new characters, and was once again left wishing to know more about them when the book ended. The ending was good (not a cliff hanger), but I hope there will be another book to continue the story and end the war.
A few stories were being told at once, and as much as I enjoyed all of them, I found myself wishing a couple of times that more detail had been included about how the main characters felt after some big events took place.
This is a fast paced, exciting story that kept me reading as often as I could until I finished. I love that it is clean while still giving a realistic feel for some of the horrors of war.
Luckily for me, Sworn Enemy takes up where Espionage left off, and readers are taken on an exciting ride following Peter and Genevieve as their lives are threatened (both together and separately) as they try to survive while fighting the enemy in war-torn Europe.
I really enjoyed getting to know more about Genevieve. She is such a strong character, despite her young age. She goes through a lot in Sworn Enemy, and exudes bravery in very trying circumstances in order to help the cause.
There is a lot of action in Sworn Enemy. Our main characters are separated for quite some time, and readers get to know several new characters. I became very interested about what would happen to two of the new characters, and was once again left wishing to know more about them when the book ended. The ending was good (not a cliff hanger), but I hope there will be another book to continue the story and end the war.
A few stories were being told at once, and as much as I enjoyed all of them, I found myself wishing a couple of times that more detail had been included about how the main characters felt after some big events took place.
This is a fast paced, exciting story that kept me reading as often as I could until I finished. I love that it is clean while still giving a realistic feel for some of the horrors of war.
August 5, 2013
I was completely amazed by this story. I've come to find that A.L. Sowards is a master at telling sides of stories that aren't overdone and commonly shared--at least, not that I've read. This story comes after Espionage, but can be read as a stand-alone. The twists and turns in this one made up a totally different story, but had some of the same characters.
The reader sees what happens immediately following the end of Book 1. Peter goes on a mission to Romania, which once again took me by surprise. I've never given any thought at all to this country during WWII. I felt that I learned so much, yet was entertained--I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Even Genevieve goes on a dangerous mission as a spy. I can't help but think about myself in the shoes of these characters and I swear I would die on the spot at some of the situations they found themselves in. Peter is so brave and tries so hard to stick to his values. He is a natural leader and is also very quick-thinking, not to mention well-liked...at least by the good guys. Genevieve is very brave as well and also does well at thinking and planning on the spot. Can people really do that?! I know I can't--I'm not that brave and there's no way I could endure the captures and torture and all that goes with war. I was fascinated at watching this story unfold.
I loved some of those side characters and others almost had me cringing in fear, especially when I realized that there are really some people that evil in the world.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author's future works!!
Content: kissing (clean); war violence (not overly graphic).
The reader sees what happens immediately following the end of Book 1. Peter goes on a mission to Romania, which once again took me by surprise. I've never given any thought at all to this country during WWII. I felt that I learned so much, yet was entertained--I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Even Genevieve goes on a dangerous mission as a spy. I can't help but think about myself in the shoes of these characters and I swear I would die on the spot at some of the situations they found themselves in. Peter is so brave and tries so hard to stick to his values. He is a natural leader and is also very quick-thinking, not to mention well-liked...at least by the good guys. Genevieve is very brave as well and also does well at thinking and planning on the spot. Can people really do that?! I know I can't--I'm not that brave and there's no way I could endure the captures and torture and all that goes with war. I was fascinated at watching this story unfold.
I loved some of those side characters and others almost had me cringing in fear, especially when I realized that there are really some people that evil in the world.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this author's future works!!
Content: kissing (clean); war violence (not overly graphic).
June 9, 2013
What a well written historical romance novel. I love world war II books. I'm so grateful for the service men and woman who fought to whole heartedly so we could have the freedoms we do. What a terrible time to be a spy. What loss and uncertainty people on both sides had to live with. The evil and brutal treatment of the prisoners is portrayed so well I wonder how they did endure and then sometimes didn't. The risk, bravery, and selflessness is also so well expressed in Sowards words. It is nice to see that although there is killing and destruction all around that there is love that is blossoming in some hearts.
Hilter in Germany and Stalin in the soviet union have trapped the people of Eastern Europe in a hard place. Sometimes turning communities against each other and changing sides to fit who is winning at the time. This makes it very risky as to who to trust with what information.
French Resistance worker, Genevieve Olivier has lost her parents and brother to the Nazi's. She meets Peter, who is an American helping her brother. As her brother has trusted Peter so does Genevieve. The two escape behind enemy lines after being captured, tortured by the Gestapo, and traveling many miles together. In that time Genevieve's religious belief in the Catholic faith waiver as she watches how Peter's presence change her brother from the revengeful man set to kill without question to the caring, protective brother she once knew.
Hilter in Germany and Stalin in the soviet union have trapped the people of Eastern Europe in a hard place. Sometimes turning communities against each other and changing sides to fit who is winning at the time. This makes it very risky as to who to trust with what information.
French Resistance worker, Genevieve Olivier has lost her parents and brother to the Nazi's. She meets Peter, who is an American helping her brother. As her brother has trusted Peter so does Genevieve. The two escape behind enemy lines after being captured, tortured by the Gestapo, and traveling many miles together. In that time Genevieve's religious belief in the Catholic faith waiver as she watches how Peter's presence change her brother from the revengeful man set to kill without question to the caring, protective brother she once knew.
July 28, 2013
Peter and Genevieve have escaped France during WWII. They have a future of promise ahead of them, but a war that is still in progress. There is duty left to fulfill, their new found relationship must wait.
This is a gripping sequel to Espionage. A.L Sowards writes well and tells her story in a way that kept my attention. I loved her characters. Peter and Genevieve I already knew from the first story and was cheering them from the sidelines as they fought their battles. The unit that Peter becomes a part of for the second book are a likable bunch of men for the most part. They each have their own inner battles and pull together (mostly) in a crisis.
The books are researched well and really helped me to grasp the time period and the war. War in itself is tragic. I loved how the author showed that good people on all sides were called to fight. They had a sense of honor for their countries and rose up when called upon. The war veterans have my deep gratitude and respect.
I would recommend reading the first book Espionage before reading this one. It explains the relationship of the characters and why the Nazi's are so interested in Peter and Genevieve.
This is a gripping sequel to Espionage. A.L Sowards writes well and tells her story in a way that kept my attention. I loved her characters. Peter and Genevieve I already knew from the first story and was cheering them from the sidelines as they fought their battles. The unit that Peter becomes a part of for the second book are a likable bunch of men for the most part. They each have their own inner battles and pull together (mostly) in a crisis.
The books are researched well and really helped me to grasp the time period and the war. War in itself is tragic. I loved how the author showed that good people on all sides were called to fight. They had a sense of honor for their countries and rose up when called upon. The war veterans have my deep gratitude and respect.
I would recommend reading the first book Espionage before reading this one. It explains the relationship of the characters and why the Nazi's are so interested in Peter and Genevieve.
June 7, 2013
I liked this book. I'd give it 3.5 stars. It's a sequel to Espionage but could be read as a stand alone book. I'd still recommend reading Espionage first. Not only does it give you background but you also get to really know the characters. In Sworn Enemy, I liked the relationship between Peter and Genevieve. The novel started with a bang and grabbed my interest right away. There were some great and engaging scenes throughout the novel and other scenes that were slower paced. I liked the mystery involved with Peter's team.
The end was full of twists and turns, and although it was exciting, I felt like it was overboard. New missions and characters were introduced right at the end and it was difficult to keep people and things straight. It made character development difficult. I would have preferred carrying the one mission through to the end while giving it lots of twists and turns instead of adding a whole new subplot. It became too complicated and confusing (in my opinion). Anyway, I still enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.
The end was full of twists and turns, and although it was exciting, I felt like it was overboard. New missions and characters were introduced right at the end and it was difficult to keep people and things straight. It made character development difficult. I would have preferred carrying the one mission through to the end while giving it lots of twists and turns instead of adding a whole new subplot. It became too complicated and confusing (in my opinion). Anyway, I still enjoyed the novel and would recommend it.
January 12, 2017
This book picks up right where Espionage left off, make sure to read that one first! I loved the action and adventure in this book. I really loved Genevieve and Peter's characters, no matter the obstacle, they are able to overcome all things. I loved the war details in this book, I don't remember learning some of this information about WWII in my history classes, maybe part of that comes from the characters being immersed in the countries that were at war, not just looking in. I didn't want to put this book down!
August 4, 2014
I didn't realize this was book 2 of a series when I started. It jumped right in, and I was thinking the backstory would be awesome. LOL - it's in her previous book! But I enjoyed this story and then picked up her first book, which I've not read yet. My son is HUGE into WW2, so I was reading this as a preview for him. There is some violence, but not graphic (it is set during a war, after all), no language and the romance is light and sweet. I also learned some new, interesting things about WW2. Now my son is reading it.
January 4, 2017
Second book in this series. Peter and Genevieve's adventures continue in this WWII book. I love the action and intrigue as their foes fight to annihilate them. This places the hero and heroine in separate parts of Europe during the war--Genevieve in England and Peter in the Carpathian mountains with a special ops team. I love how the author tells a riveting story while being historically accurate and teaching me something along the way. And it has plenty of nail-biting suspense (my hands are proof of that).
February 15, 2016
Exciting Thriller
This World War Two romance has great action, believable and engaging characters who grabbed my interest from the start. This sweet romance starts in France, but ends up with scenes split between Romania and Marseille as both Peter and Gabrielle work to end the war. I enjoyed learning more about the situation in Romania, a country I haven't studied much. The action and suspense kept me reading non-stop to the end. Sweet romance
This World War Two romance has great action, believable and engaging characters who grabbed my interest from the start. This sweet romance starts in France, but ends up with scenes split between Romania and Marseille as both Peter and Gabrielle work to end the war. I enjoyed learning more about the situation in Romania, a country I haven't studied much. The action and suspense kept me reading non-stop to the end. Sweet romance
May 23, 2013
Definitely worth the read. I wasn't expecting A.L. Sowards to continue the story from Espionage, but I really liked those characters. Do I sense a trilogy in there? I love a story with action, but maybe there was too much action and not enough character development. All in all, I'd recommend it.
May 11, 2013
This was a great book! I listened to it on CD and found myself cowering a bit during some of the interegation sections...I usually skim over those type of things when I'm actually reading a book.
If you have read and enjoyed Traitor, Tribunal and Trespass by Sandra Grey and/or Espionage by this author you will really enjoy this book.
If you have read and enjoyed Traitor, Tribunal and Trespass by Sandra Grey and/or Espionage by this author you will really enjoy this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews