Beautifully epic and unforgettable!

When Ingrid Lang is separated from her siblings as they flee their family home as Nazis murdered their father, she ends up with extensive injuries and recuperating at the home of a Dutch family. Before she recovers and can continue her quest to find her brother and sister, the German army occupies the Netherlands and she is trapped behind enemy lines.

Several years later, Gerrit Hendricks arrives at his grandfather's home to find to everyone there, including Ingrid, deeply involved in the Dutch resistance movement. Though Ingrid and Gerrit are initially suspicious of each other, their work together eventually helps them find loyalty, trust, and eventually love. But the two are fighting against odds as they both face opposition and death around every corner fighting to free the country they both love so much.

What you'll love:
WWII era
multiple pov
focuses on Dutch resistance movement
part of Heirs of Falcon Point series
the plot twists!
allies and enemies
found family
loyal friendships
tender, sweet romance
suspenseful/high tension scenes
beautiful and emotional

ALL THE FEELS!!!! I don't think my heart will ever be the same after reading this book. A beautiful and emotional story of two brave and extremely endearing characters who fought behind enemy lines during WWII to resist German occupation. The story is greatly enriched by the perspectives of various other characters as it provides a deeper and more expansive understanding of the viewpoints involved in the conflict.

Ingrid and Gerrit's journey together almost broke me but what a beautiful story of love and sacrifice and devotion. I loved every minute of them from their initial animosity to the very last page that left me with tears running down my face.

There were so many tender and emotional moments and the grief and fear were at times almost overwhelming, but the power of hope and joy stayed with me long after turning the last page.

This book is part of a multi-layered series. Before you pick up this one, you MUST read Heirs of Falcon Point and Codes of Courage. (If you are interested in the modern-day layer of the series, you can read those separately).

I cannot recommend this memorable story of love and courage enough. This one truly deserves all the stars!!!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review was not required.

This book wrecked me, and then put me all back together in the best way. It's another beautifully written historical from A.L. Sowards. I loved it so much I'm getting the audio so that I can promptly put myself through the heartbreak and unwavering hope and strength of the characters again.

ROADS OF RESISTANCE
(Falcon Point Historical #2)
by: A.L. Sowards
@a.l.sowards
@covenantcommunications

••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

~The line between enemy and ally can shift in a heartbeat...

"WHEN THE WORLD HAS GONE DARK, DON'T TURN AWAY FROM THE LIGHT."

ROADS OF RESISTANCE, is a gripping, heartbreakingly-beautiful, moving story set in World War 2, that immediately demanded my full attention and of course, led me on both a fast-paced thrilling and tender journey, that I could not put down or stop thinking about. From cover to cover, I was thoroughly invested with the endearing rich characters, impeccable research, and intricate plot lines. My emotions were completely torn apart and put back together precisely with dear hope, faith, love within! Despite hard, great loss, devastation, sacrifice, and grief, there is also beauty, success, tender miracles, and great joy within . I greatly recommend readers keeping more than one tissue near by for when those eyes are sweating it all out! Oh the depth and heart this story has, with its impactful beautiful themes of bravery, redemption and hope weaved throughout. This my friends, is a fascinating and thrilling story worth the unforgettable moving read!👌📚❤️💯

•Content: World War 2, loss, death, concentration camps, starvation, killings, infant death, sickness, very brief language, some kisses.

“Sometimes our memories and our griefs, like a piece of shrapnel or a tumor, have to be removed. It can be agony, but it’s a necessary step if you want to heal.”

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

“Hope of survival no longer seemed like a dormant seed but, instead, like a living plant sprouting and reaching for the sun.”

#roadsofresistance
#covenantcommunications
#alsowards
#allaboutthebestreads

“Do what was right regardless of anything else.”

Incredible! The amount of history in these books is wonderful! Beautiful story, amazing characters, and a thrilling time period that we should never forget. I love how interconnected the books in this series are. Especially the historical books. Seeing how people interact with each other in the various books is just so wonderful. I love this series and this book is definitely not the exception!

"It's not very flashy. I'm not very flashy. But it's solid, Ingrid, solid like my love for you."
"You made this?"
"I did."
"It's a perfect fit. Just like you."

Roads of Resistance by A L Sowards

This book is one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read. If you want a book that will fully immerse you in the history of the time period, wreck and heal your heart, and give you hope, pick up a book written by A. L. Sowards. And Roads of Resistance is no different.

I love the way this author puts so much detail into her stories so that you get a full and complete picture of what life was like during the time periods she writes about. This one encompasses the Dutch Resistance efforts in The Netherlands and German occupation there, as well as the full war years from 1940-1945. And wow, I have a new respect for the men and women who fought and lived there in The Netherlands. The hardships and terror they faced on a daily basis is unfathomable, but Sowards did a phenomenal job painting a vivid picture of it.  Many times I found myself thinking I was right there in the cellar waiting out a bombing raid or helping paratroopers escape Nazi clutches or escaping them myself. I love that she doesn't gloss over the atrocities of war but keeps it very realistic.

The characters Sowards writes are full of depth and beauty and real-life tragedy. Ingrid learns to sacrifice so much throughout the scope of this book, and I loved watching her grow.
I also loved watching Gerrit grow and finding faith in his Savior.
They go through some very hard things, both apart and together. I loved that they found hope and beauty in the ashes of life and war. And that they clung to each other through their hardships.

The exquisite details about the Dutch Resistance she weaves into this story are remarkably done. This is a side of World War 2 I knew near to nothing about before reading this one. And honestly, I feel like there was enough in this one to get a good enough grasp on what it was like for the Resistance workers. However, I do have a hunger to learn more about it. It fascinates me!

I don't think I will fully ever get over Ingrid's story and I'm okay with that. I think it healed a piece of me I didn't know that needed healing.

I definitely recommend this one but urge you to read Heirs of Falcon Point and Codes of Courage first. There are some details that a friend pointed out while we were discussing the book that I hadn't picked up on that officially blew my mind. So be sure to pay attention to the details as you read this unique and outstanding series!

Favorite Parts:
Meeting Gerrit
Learning code
Resistance fighters
Suspense of a Mission
Haircut
Hiding
Waiting out the raid
The character development
American paratroopers
All of the suspenseful moments
Finding faith and redemption
Healing from brokenness
Finding hope in the darkness
Staying close to each other and sacrificing for each other
The ending

Content Guide:
Language: none
Sexual Content: Closed-door: Passionate kissing, implied sexual intimacy, a man wants to take a woman as his conquest (but doesn't actually do it), mistresses are mentioned a few times (no details)
Violence/gore: Moderate-physical abuse (happened in the past), bombings, dire peril, broken legs, lots of war violence, bloody wounds and wound care, multiple deaths (on and off page)
Substance Use: Mild-side characters (soldiers) smoke occasionally
Prejudices: Antisemitism (mentioned on occasion)
Religious Content: Characters attend Christian church and have a belief in God, religion is discussed, redemption and finding faith
Other: Infant death

Book Info:
Series: Falcon Point Historical book 2
Genre: Historical Fiction
Romance Level: Kisses with implied intimacy
Release Date: Available now on Deseretbook shelf+, Amazon, and Deseretbook.com
Publisher: Covenant Communications
POV: Dual

Thank you to the Author and publisher for the ebook review copy. All thoughts are my own.

I have to say, this is easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. This story is part of the Heirs of Falcon Point series, and returning to these characters felt like reuniting with old friends. Ingrid and Gerrit’s journey gripped me from the very first page. A. L. Sowards has a real gift for weaving together suspense, history, and so much heart. This is a beautiful character driven novel. Every page made me root for them, worry for them, and celebrate their victories. If you’re looking for a read that’s impossible to put down, Roads of Resistance absolutely delivers. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves historical fiction with depth, courage, and hope at its core. I honestly didn’t want it to end!

‘When the world had gone dark, don’t turn away from the light.’

This is a book that will rip you to pieces — and still leave you holding onto hope in such a beautiful way.

If you’ve read an A.L. Sowards book before, you know exactly what you’re in for: impeccable historical research, unmatched knowledge of her subject, and an ability to place you so deeply in her characters’ shoes that you feel every heartbreak, every flicker of courage, and every tiny victory right alongside them.

Roads of Resistance is beautifully tender. Even as it delves into some of history’s darkest days, it shines a light on the unimaginable hope and quiet heroism of those who refused to look away. The characters — especially Ingrid and Gerrit — are endearing, lovable, and so real you can’t help but root for them through every bump in the road.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, tender love stories, and a bumpy emotional ride that’s worth every page, this is a 5-star read. I highly recommend reading the Heirs of Falcon Point series first — at least the first book — to fully appreciate this story’s depth.

Roads of Resistance by @a.l.sowards is available now — add it to your TBR today.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Content/trigger: War themes, mentions of concentration camps, death, weapons, violence, infant loss, grief, romance-kisses only.

Ahhh when this book was announced I was so excited. I've eagerly anticipated its release and it was 100% worth the wait. I learned about Ingrid from Codes of Courage, which is about her brother Karl. Roads of Resistance can be read as a stand alone, so if you haven't read Codes of Courage, don't let that stop you from picking this one up as your next read!

In this book, Ingrid escapes Austria after her father's death and ends up in the Netherlands, severely injured. A family rescues her and essentially adopts her. They struggle through the war together, and also work in the resistance, trying to undermine the Nazi's power. I really enjoyed learning about the resistance of the Netherlands through A.L. Sowards research and storytelling. She also describes the liberation (and the battles leading up to it) with amazing detail and stories that will tug at your heart strings.

My favorite quote:
"Romance was dangerous at a time like this, but oh so needed."

Overall, this is a fantastic novel. Its deeply rooted in the struggles of WWII, so know that not every moment will be happy and enjoyable. The story is incredible and worthwhile to learn the history. I would recommend this to teenagers and older. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. A review was not required.

This is a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. A fantastic story featuring the Dutch resistance during WWII. Heart wrenching watching the characters search for light during the darkness! This is definitely a story not to be missed!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

“Trust must be rationed in wartime.”

A.L. Sowards is one of my very favorite historical fiction writers–especially in the WWII era. This second book in the Heirs of Falcon Point Historicals is phenomenal. I don’t feel these books need to necessarily be read in order, but they do build a beautiful family saga that is so full of emotion and reality, and each installment is not to be missed.

I’m drawn to this era in history because of my grandparents and it’s so easy to visualize the hopeless and desperate times that people experienced then. While life still moved on with its struggles, joys, up, downs, and everything in between, uncertainty and hardships were abundant and Sowards didn’t skimp on these feelings and situations. I loved every moment on every page, even while some had my heart aching and breaking, but that was the reality of the time. Beauty and hope rose through the ashes of despair and anguish, and I devoured it all.

This is the kind of book that leaves me consumed and ruminating over all I absorbed for days, weeks, months. This heart-wrenching and beautiful story is imprinted on my heart.

Content: war-time violence and dangers; mild romance; death

*I received a complimentary copy through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given* **I also listened to a purchased copy.**

I love this series so much. I am so happy the Lang children all get their own books. Ingrid's story was hard to read at times, yet so powerful. I loved Ingrid's strength, courage, and love. She suffered a lot in her short life in this book, yet she persevered. I loved her and Gerrit's story and celebrated and grieved with them.

With every release, I go back and read the other books, I love this series so much. This time, my daughter heard part of the Heirs of Falcon Point and has ordered I cannot listen to the rest without her. I love that this has pulled her in as well This series has it all; history, romance, suspense, mystery, grief, and love.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley, and this is my honest review.

This was the third book in the Falcon Point historical fiction series. It was a good book to read right after finishing its’ predecessors.
My only criticism is about the length. I understand that the author, a learned historian, wanted to include many things about WW2 in the Netherlands. She succeeded; her writing style makes her novels hard to put down, with all the action and historical details. It’s actually too much to take in; brain overload would occur and I’d have to quit on the book for awhile. This happened a lot, so it took me much, much longer to finish than is normal for me. Perhaps the novel could have been broken into two parts. I will be recommending it to historical fiction lovers, but with a warning about the extensive length.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

This gripping WWII novel set in the heart of the Dutch resistance completely swept me away. A.L. Sowards masterfully weaves together multiple points of view, an enormous airborne battle, and threads of love, faith, and sacrifice into a richly layered, unforgettable story. There’s so much happening, but it all connects beautifully by the end—and that payoff is so worth it.

I was especially drawn to the found family dynamic and the slow shift from irritated to infatuated in the romantic subplot. The tension never lets up, and yet there’s always an undercurrent of hope and healing. The light faith themes were heartfelt without being overpowering, and they really added depth to the characters’ motivations.

Even though this is a longer read, I flew through it. It’s the kind of story that makes you pause and reflect on the strength of the human spirit—and feel deeply grateful for the freedoms we have today.

“Maybe when everything else is so dark, we need love more than ever.”

Heartache, love, loss, hope, & surviving war. Roads of Resistance really put my heart through the wringer! This tender, touching WWII story brings the Netherlands occupation to life. Ever since reading Heirs of Falcon Point & Codes of Courage, I couldn’t wait to get Ingrid’s story. A.L. Sowards brilliantly captures the Dutch wartime experience through her heart achingly lovely story with glimmers of hope & love amidst the tragedies of war.

Ingrid Lang & her siblings are forced to flee their Austrian home when their father is murdered. Separated from her brother & sister at the train station, Ingrid finds herself in the Dutch city of Arnhem after surviving a nearly perilous train ride & ending up with broken legs. Rescued by the van der Veen family, she’s slowly nursed back to health & hopes to meet her siblings in London. But, when the Netherlands becomes occupied by German forces, she finds a way to help the resistance.

Gerrit Hendriks is briefly staying with his grandfather & aunt when he helps rescue Ingrid. He’s immediately suspicious & thinks she’s a spy. After their brief meeting, he returns home & begins working for the resistance. Four years later & wanted by the Gestapo, he returns to his grandfather’s home, & his next meeting with Ingrid starts off on the wrong foot. Both mistrust each other, but the sizzling chemistry between them flares to life as they work together. There’s an enemy soldier also interested in Ingrid, & she & Garrit must walk a careful tightrope as they continue their rescue & resistance operations. As tensions ratchet up, the risks become almost impossible to bear.

I loved this story! One minute my heart is breaking & the next knitted beautifully back together. There’s so much in this story to ponder & enjoy. The characters feel so real that it’s easy to be invested in every twist & turn. Ingrid’s & Gerrit’s timeless love story completely captured my heart & I was on pins & needles hoping they’d find a way to be together. I enjoyed their kiss in hiding, Gerrit’s faith journey, & helping each other through devastating losses. I also loved Anita & Dr. van der Veen, as well as the airmen they rescue. There’s even some mercy shown by the enemy.

Highly recommend this unforgettable story! There’s some content that might be difficult for sensitive readers including incidences of death, concentration camps, injuries from war, etc. However, each situation is handled with the utmost care & dignity.

If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, definitely suggest reading them before this. This book can be read as a standalone, but has spoilers for the first two books. There’s also a modern day suspense series that continues the Heirs of Falcon Point stories. I received an advanced copy from the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily.

Gripping and moving historical fiction. This is a novel that can stand alone but is also part of a series. In ‘Heirs of Falcon Point' (Oct 2021) the Nazis take control of Austria and Leopold Lang decides to flee with his children. Unfortunately, the children end up being separated. If you have a chance read this book first as it is a great set up for the story. 'Codes of Courage' (Oct 2023) tells the story of Karl the oldest child. This novel tells the story of Ingrid Lang who was only fifteen when she was separated from her siblings.

Ingrid is trying to get to England but makes it to the Dutch city of Arnhem. A local doctor helps her survive injuries but she is not well enough to continue her journey before Germany takes over the Netherlands. Gerrit Hendriks arrives in Arnhem to hideout at his grandfather’s. The Gestapo wants to question him about underground activities. He finds Ingrid, who he knew from Austria. She is now working with the local resistance. They are suspicious of each other and need to learn to trust.

I was excited to read this book as I have a trip to Amsterdam this fall and will be visiting several of the towns mentioned. And of course museums on WWII history and the resistance are in my plans. The story is clean for language and contains war time atrocities including, injuries, starvation, concentration camps and death. I have read a few other books on this time period in the Netherlands and appreciate the effort by the author for historical accuracy while creating a fictional story. I loved Ingrid and Gerrit’s resilience through incredibly hard times. I would recommend it for my book club but we’ve put a moratorium on WWII books for a while.

"When the world has gone dark, don't turn away from the light."

This is one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it exceeded all of my expectations!

The seamless weaving of historical facts and engaging storytelling make history come to life in a way that will have you struggling to remember that Ingrid and Gerrit are fictional characters.

Full of suspense, romance, intrigue, and fully fleshed out characters, this book will stay with you long after you've read the last page.

Although this book could be read as a stand alone, I would highly recommend reading both Heirs of Falcon Point and Codes of Courage first in order to follow the Lang family from the beginning.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ingrid Lang and her siblings must flee their home in Austria at the beginning of WWII. Ingrid amazed me time and again with her resilience. She faces loss so many times, but she always continues to hold onto hope. Ingrid is a young lady whom I admired with her determination to help defeat the enemy of her new homeland and take on several roles in the Dutch resistance.

While Gerrit Hendricks may not be enlisted as a soldier in the war, he does everything he possibly can to hinder the Germans. His fearlessness and willingness in order to do whatever no matter the cost was admirable. I found myself holding my breath every time Gerrit would leave on his covert missions to stop the enemy. I didn’t really want to read what was going to happen next, but I just had to find out how things were going to work out for him and for Ingrid.

Things to look forward to:
historical details
secrets
courage
forced proximity
the closet
found family
hope
fighting injustice
self sacrifice

If you are a fan of historical fiction, you will love this book and the way that Ms. Sowards weaves facts of WWII and Ingrid and Gerrit’s story together. You’ll be amazed how history will come alive as you become engaged with them and the network of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to fight evil.

“Maybe when everything else is so dark, we need love more than ever.”

This is part of the Falcon Point series, and I would read Heirs of Falcon Point and Codes of Courage before reading this. It is written by multiple authors, but don’t let that stop you. The authors have done an excellent job in creating an amazing story of the Lang family that you’ll want to read.

I received a copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Ingrid's life is turned upside-down when her father is murdered and she's separated from her brother and sister in attempting to escape the murderer. And things only get worse when an incident as she's on her way to England leaves her injured in the Netherlands, only to end up trapped there before she's fully healed by Germany's sudden invasion. Gerrit initially fears the young woman his grandfather has taken in is a spy, but when the pair meet again four years later, he finds she's become a seasoned resistance worker. He's eager to join, but the two butt heads frequently on the best way to do things. As they spend time together, though antagonism softens into comradeship, and maybe something more. But as the war drags on, the question of life after the war starts to seem moot. The war is dangerous, their work even more so - will any of them, her old family or her new, come out alive?

This book covers a lot of territory - part of me says too much, another part can't come up with anything that could be removed without detracting from the story, so I guess that wins. But be aware that it's a long book, and at times a difficult one because, well, it's about war. And war is horrible. While the main characters are generally nowhere near the front lines, the difficulties faced by the Dutch toward the end of the war are painfully clear, though never presented over-graphically. The inclusion of Rupert's point of view is interesting, particularly with the presentation of his typical but incomprehensible attitude towards those he's invaded (the idea that they could be reasonably expected to do anything but dislike and resist their invaders is something he never seems to come to terms with). But I'd love to know what, if anything, he did with the final piece of information he gained... As for Gerrit and Ingrid, it's a heart-warming romance, though they take a while to get to that point - which is good, since without at least some level of hope, not even the final victory over the Germans could make the story anything but depressing. There's a lot of loss, though probably not an unrealistic amount, but also inspiring sacrifices for others. All in all, an interesting, informative and inspiring, albeit sometimes tragic, story - 4.5 stars.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Oh my… what a story… I have loved this series and spinoffs, anything that is tied to Falcon Point. Roads of Resistance was a longer than average book, but I could not put it down. The intrigue and suspense, cruelty of war and sweetness of romance, the loss of faith to redemption in the Savior, pulled the story into a work of perfection. This book follows Ingrid one of the heirs of the magnificent Austrian Manor of Falcon Point. It takes place during World War II when the Germans invaded the Netherlands. A. L. Sowards can craft a story that is fascinating to read and feel as if you are living the trauma, sacrifice, horror that these people went through. But also to explore the deep feelings of compassion, love and commitment to humanity. I highly recommend this book and series to anyone that is intrigued by history and compassion. This could be read as a standalone story but I highly recommend reading all of them. They are so good.The only downside to this book is that I fear it may be the last of the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Reading a novel of historical fiction by A.L. Sowards is always a treat and this one is particularly special. It can definitely be read as a stand-alone alone story, but I recommend reading The Heirs of Falcon Point first, and if you have the time, Codes of Courage could be read either before or after. The Lang family were forced to flee their native Austria after their father was killed by a family friend for refusing to join the Nazi party. Running for their lives, Karl, Ingrid, Anna and their nanny became separated.

This novel focuses on the story of Ingrid Lang, who at age 15, finds herself alone on a train to the Netherlands with no idea where her siblings are. Caught listening to some spies, Ingrid is forced to jump from her train before the vicious men kill her. She speaks no Dutch but can speak English as well as her native German. An extremely hard landing leaves Ingrid lying on damp ground with severe injuries. It was easy as a reader to imagine what it must have been like to lie there unsure if anyone would find her before shock set in or hypothermia.

Luck was on her side when Gerrit Hendricks and his young Aunt Anita discover her and get help from Anita's father, a doctor. With his assistance, she is taken to a local hospital where she shares her story of being set upon by spies and warns that Germany is unlikely to respect Dutch neutrality. Sadly, those in power fail to take her words seriously.

The plan is to try and get her to England once she has recovered enough, but time runs out when the Germans invade, and Ingrid is stuck in the town of Arnhem, doing her best to assimilate into Anita and her father's household. It would have been terrifying! I speak a second language, but doubt very much that I could pass as a native. Dr. van der Veen maintains neutrality, prepared to treat the injured and ill on both sides. Anita and Ingrid though, become increasingly involved in the local resistance, doing whatever they can to help those in need and thwart the Germans plans. The novel is epic in the detail it goes into both with Ingrid in Arnhem and with Gerrit and his family elsewhere in Holland. He too is involved with the resistance, and when it is clear that he is about to be arrested, he does his best to make his way back to the Van der Veen home where he fails to even recognize
Ingrid as the girl that he helped save.

To make life even more complex, Rupert Altbauer, an old friend of the Lang family from Austria is sent to the area to assist in tracking down resistance members. He know Ingrid and recognizes her easily. She reminds him of home and he finds himself attracted to her without being aware that his Uncle is the man who forced her family to flee.

I can't even begin to share everything that happens in the book. Ingrid finds herself challenged in so many ways. Can she stick to her values, or will she be forced into actions that rip at her very soul? As she grows closer to Gerrit, can she avoid the suspicion and advances from Rupert? This is definitely the kind of book that keeps me glued to the pages. I could hardly put it down while reading it. It made me weep at times and hold my breath at others. The description of the Battle of Arnhem was particularly realistic and clearly well researched. As a Canadian whose father spent many months in the Netherlands during the war, I was completely captivated. As war was drawing to an end and food was so very scarce, I can only imagine how awful it must have been and once the war was finished, only then could a challenging search for news of Ingrid's siblings begin.

Despite all the hardships faced by Ingrid and her hosts, the Van Der Veen family, there was also much to appreciate. Faith was an important element of their survival. Love grew and lives were definitely altered for the better through many of the acts of resistance described. If you are a lover of historical fiction, I hope you will find this story as gripping as I did.

Mant thanks to #NetGalley, #CovenantCommunications and author #ALSowards for an advance readers copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.