This book was excellent and such a great read! It is the second book in the Marquis' WWII trilogy but it can easily be picked up as a stand alone book and I don't think you'd be affected picking this one up first. The story is strong and the characters are great - thoroughly enjoyed it and will be getting a copy for my husband.

Thanks to netgalley.com, Samuel Marquis and Mount Sopris Publishing for the advance PDF ARC for my honest review. I thought this book was about the WWII that Eternal City of Rome during the Italian Campaign and Nazi Occupation of 1943-1944 is a besieged city. Yet the book starts in Austria in the prologue with fictional characters Wilhelm Hollmann and his wife Bianca Hollmann arguing about each others cheating, without knowing the children home early from school witness the scene and it ends with them shooting each other. Not the first book I've read that has actual history, with fictional characters in the story, but I thought it would be done in a way were the reader would be that fictional character and the author takes you through the history of the Vatican's involvement with the Nazi's during WWII from 1943-1944. I thought it would be like Terry C. Johnston's famed 'Plainsman' Series were Sergeant Seamus Donegan a fictional character takes the reader through the Indian wars of the West,

Although I hadn't read the first book in the trilogy I was soon hooked on this interesting read of a different story of ww2, the role of the Pope and Vatican. Recommend 100% and am looking forward to the next installment

This is the second book I have read by this author. The first one was fine but this book was great. More than great, Altar of Resistance is spectacular! While, this book may have been the second one in this series I had no issues jumping right into it. In fact, I felt like it could stand on its own.

Instantly, I was drawn to this story and the characters. Although, the time period is what gave this book the cherry on top. If Colonel Wilhelm and his children, John and Teresa had been in modern day times, I still would have liked them but what they all endured during this time period is what gave them that extra depth of intensity. Once, I started reading this book, I could not stop reading. I read it in a few hours. Strong beginning, middle, and ending. I plan to go back and check out the prior book in this trilogy as well as patiently awaiting the final book.