As a fan of the 'Heirs of Falcon Point,' series, based on the descendants of the Lang family, I knew what was going to happen. I knew what I signed up for, yet I was not prepared for the emotional journey AL Sowards would take me on. Codes of Courage is an incredible story, told during one of the darkest times in history, A story of love, loss, and bravery, this a a must-read for historical fiction fans.

"...Helping him was also a way of following her father’s example. He always said he couldn’t fix everything, but if God put a person in his path who needed help, he’d be a rather poor Christian if he didn’t at least try to offer aid."


Things I liked:

Millie and her family. They were a pretty good bunch of people, and made the chapters focusing on them fun to read.

Carl and his mentor Captain Blake. They both were good strong male characters with a devotion to duty and a love for the sea despite the dangers, that was admirable.

The code breaking and other secret war work that was done in the book. Very cool!

The perspective of a character from the enemy side working in a German U-boat. This was well written and made the story much more deep as his character develops.

Negative content-

Language- hell is misused once.

A mention of a sailor reading horror tales and liking to read "Dracula".

One character asks a woman (of good character) if she was the "broad" that someone had been talking about.

There's many casualties due to the war going on, and part of the time bodies are described as having parts blown or burned off and missing, as well as some blood.
Not gory per se, but realistic.

There's an awkward scene where someone was shipwrecked and they lost their pants. A few too many details.

There was a couple scenes where the characters didn't do something wrong, but it wasn't wise to do. I can't specify because you know, spoilers.

This is one of the few books that I enjoyed part or most of, but most likely won't read again. Not to say that it's a bad book at all, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected.

Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts are my own.

My first book by A.L. Sowards will not be my last! This was awesome. I love WWII fiction the most of all, and this is a great addition. I thought that Karl, Millie, and Rolf were amazing characters. Their stories were woven together beautifully. I liked how Bletchley Park was incorporated. I've always found that installation fascinating. So much came out of there! I liked Rolf's journey and his struggle. I thought Karl was brave beyond anything. So good!!

This novel was exceptionally well written, and very accurately portrays history in all its glory and pain. If you've read Heirs of Falcon Point, the first book in this branching series, you already know somewhat how this book will end, but it was so beautiful and inspiring. Sowards gives us such a detailed and accurate view of what it as like during this difficult time in history. Karl and Millie miraculously meet up again, but they have so many obstacles in their path. Karl is treated with so much prejudice because of being Austrian; Millie is an American living in England; Rolf and his wife are Germans, but are beginning to understand the dark side of Nazism. The different stories flowed so well and eventually connected in such an epic climax. I was sincerely moved by the sacrifices that the characters made as they genuinely represent what actual people experienced during this terrible war.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley, and all opinions are my own.

This author always does a wonderful job at bringing history to life. I have read several of her novels, and have enjoyed all of them. This one was no different. With only 3 days left before the end of the year, I wanted to try and get one more book read to add to my reading challenge. I picked this one, because I knew it would be hard to put down. I've been reading several non-fiction books on WWII lately - some of them very heartbreaking and heavy - so this was a nice reprieve...not because it was mind candy, because it definitely wasn't, but because there was a whole lot of love, beauty, and goodness mixed in with the horrors and tragedies of war.

I always appreciate that the author includes notes at the end that explain what was fictionalized, what really happened, and some historical explanations. I never enjoyed history class in school, because all it was was memorizing names, dates, and places, but books like this help bring history to life, and I now find that history is fascinating. This is a very well-done story.

Wow, what a story!
I always find WWII stories so compelling, but this one blew me away!

The main characters and their stories, the way they all intersect during and after the war, it was just amazing. As always, the writing and the historical research are top notch. There's a lot of suspense and intrigue, but also romance and tenderness.

It stands alone but you'll understand better if you read Heirs of Falcon Point first. Highly recommend!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I'm writing this with tears in my eyes. I don't usually get emotional while reading a book. Codes of Courage is well written and I felt as if I were there with Karl and Millie. In my mind, I was with Millie when she eagerly read Karls's letters and telegrams. I was with him when his ship was torpedoed and he was on a lifeboat.

I now have a better understanding of what life was like during WWII.

I loved the book. I love reading about the period. I felt that the characters were real people and I was peeping in on their love story. I wish that it would have ended a little differently (a lot differently), but feel that it shows resilience and the domino effect and how a good person and good deeds can make a big impact.

I highly recommend this book and all of the Heirs to Falcon Point books.

Author A.L. Sowards has written some of my favorite historical fiction novels in the past few years. Codes of Courage is another heart-stopping novel that takes place during World War II. The same characters we met in 'Heirs of Falcon Point' are in this novel too. Please read that book first that establishes the characters and their personal motivations. Readers are given an in-depth look at some of those who were affected by this war. We get the POVs of Rolf a German soldier assigned to a German Uboat, Lars who fights for the Allies on a British ship, Lar's girlfriend Millie who is a codebreaker in England, and we also get insight into Rolf's wife who has just given birth to their first child. The emotional impact of war is clearly shown and it's hard not to be moved.

As most reviewers will tell you, Sowards does impeccable research for her historical fiction books. I also learned so many new things about that time period and previously unknown facts, especially having to do with the codebreaking.

During World War II, Germany believed that its secret codes for radio messages were indecipherable to the Allies. However, the meticulous work of code breakers based at Britain's Bletchley Park, where the character Millie worked, cracked the secrets of German wartime communication, and played a crucial role in the final defeat of Germany.

There is a lot of suspense as the fighting takes place in the ocean where Karl and Rolf are. It really rattled my nerves at how many close calls there were for both men. There were several shocking things that happened in this novel that caused me anxiety and also brought me to tears.

In the end, it showed how being courageous saved many lives and impacted so many others even years later. I love Codes of Courage and once again have been thoroughly amazed at A. L. Soward's writing skills and her ability to write an engrossing novel.

An emotional journey of love, sacrifice, and courage in the face of war.

A gripping story, that follows the lives of three people as they weather the winds of WWII, in this well done emotional novel, with strong threads of faith. Karl is a brave man who wants to give everything he can to fight the Nazis, I loved his relationship with Millie and how their growing bond is a bright spot in the midst of the war.

I liked how this book does a great job of realistically looking at both sides of the war, and the courageous people who fought. I could definitely sense the fragility of new love against the backdrop of war.

A very well written read, well researched and crafted with great considerations to the nuances of the times. Definitely recommend.


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

*I received an early copy from the publisher. This does not affect my review. This review is voluntary.*

I knew when I started this one that I was in for an emotional ride, but wow! Every time! A. L. Sowards is so good at writing amazing characters and emotional journeys, and this one surprised me. In the best ways!

I adored getting to see more about life in the Merchant Navy and U-boats, but to also see a bit about the cyphers and decoding them as well! I also loved meeting Karl, Millie, her family, Jake and Billy, and others. The sense of family and friendships was beautifully woven throughout, and made it all the more an emotional journey as both friend and foe fight to survive in this story.

I hadn't read 'Heirs of Falcon Point' yet, but I had no trouble enjoyed this one regardless. That said, in knowing that they were meant to be read in order, I encourage you to start there if these books sound like something you'd enjoy!

I was so excited to see Karl from Falcon Point get his own story! I loved this book. And it really gave me all the feels.

I loved that the reader gets to see the story from several points of view. There are points of view from both Karl and Millie. I especially loved their letters to each other. Their love story is so sweet.

The reader also gets to see how things happen from the point of view of Rolf, a member of a U-boat patrol. The historical parts of this book made me really think. I loved learning so much about how World War II would have been from both sides.

I loved the way the author brings all of the characters together in the end of this one. I cried through the last ten or so percent of the book. I really feel like it's the sign of a really well done story when the reader feels so much for the characters that it makes them cry.

I can't wait for the stories of Karl's siblings!

The author does an amazing job of empathizing with and connecting emotionally with all sides of a conflict.

The sometimes quicker jumps between points of view upped the suspension and the pacing of the story in a beautifully desperate way.

The details, The heart and the characters are so ingrained in the history that it is as alive on the page as it was in reality.

This book is stunning, emotional, descriptive and wrecks you in the best ways.

—Read it with a box of tissues.

This story was so rich in history while having a story line that flowed and characters that were easy to love.
This one is a bit more on the historical side than the romance side, but still has a prominent romance storyline too.
This story is one I’ll probably remember forever.

A wonderful addition to the Heirs of Falcon Point series. Even if you haven’t read Heirs of Falcon Point this is a wonderful Historical fiction that will pull at your heart. I loved seeing characters from Heirs of Falcon Point and learning more about what happened to them. The author did a wonderful job of making us care about the characters and what they were going through that we laughed and cried with them. She did a great job of making us feel and making us want to know what happened next. This is a book that is hard to put down. I highly recommend it and the other books in this series.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

This story hit close to home as my father flew bomber planes during WWII so this era fascinates me. Although, the hero of this story was on the sea and not the air, their story brought my parent’s love story more to life for me and I could imagine the feelings they felt and the difficulties they faced during this tumultuous time. Having read the Heir’s of Falcon Point where Karl’s story began, I pretty much knew how the story of Karl’s and Millie’s love would end, but that didn't stop the emotions from coming. I found tears slipping down my face as I read, and I’m grateful that the story continued on. I loved how the stories of Karl, Millie, and Rolf, an enemy German, intertwine throughout the story with a surprise at the end. What a legacy Karl left behind! Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communication, I received a free ARC copy. These thoughts and opinions are my own

Beautiful, heart wrenching, and poignant! Sowards is a master at her craft! This is the story of a couple during WWII each aiding in the fight against the Nazis. Millie is smart and loves figuring out puzzles, and she ends up helping break codes from German u-boats in the Atlantic Ocean. Karl is on boats and ships on the Atlantic Ocean first helping ship supplies to the allies and then as a member of the navy. This is their love story and also a story of forgiving and loving your enemy. I love how it was interspersed with the pov of a man in the German u-boats. It was so beautiful how their stories come together in the end! I highly suggest reading Heirs of Falcon Point to understand more of Karl’s story before this book and to read about Karl and Millie’s first meeting.

I really enjoyed this WWII historical novel. The characters were well-written and I was very engaged in their stories. Trying to figure out how all three of the main characters were going to mesh kept me on my toes. I shed some tears but was happy with the ending.

The book Codes of Courage is a great example of what is so good about historical fiction. You get to learn more about a certain time in history while still enjoying a great story. A. L. So wards is a master at drawing you in and really making you feel what it was like to live in that time period.
This story takes place during Word War 2 and is told from three different points of view. Karl Lang was a young man who escaped from Austria and the Nazi rule. He lost his whole family during the escape and wanted his revenge against the Nazis. Millie Steven’s was the daughter of an American diplomat. She was living in England and working as a decoder. Rolf Denheart, was a German radio operator working on a Nazi U boat.

I was so excited to read this book! I fell in love with Karl’s character in the Heirs of Falcon Point and always hoped they would continue with his story. Having read the first book and knowing how the story would ultimately end, I knew it would be emotional, but it was also very beautiful and healing.

This first half of the book was a little slow moving but the second half was amazing, and the epilogue was perfect. This is a story you don’t want to miss!

This book was absolutely stunning! I loved it so much!! I loved the characters and loved the setting. I learned so much about world war 2 and the end was just amazing. Highly recommend this one if you like historical fiction.

It was really hard for me to get into to book. Granted I was looking at a review copy so the formatting was a little off. Also, unless you have the time to dedicate solely to this book do not start it. This book jumps around to different characters seemingly without warning. It was hard for me having lots of kids and therefore interruptions to keep track of which character I was with. I kept having to go back and review the previous pages.
The story is interesting and engaging, and if I did not have interruptions it would have been better.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.