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Defiant Heart
Two extraordinary characters. One unforgettable love story.
In the spring of 1941, young Jon Meyer’s family dies in a tragic accident, and he is sent to live in a small Indiana town. He arrives to find himself unwanted and shunned.
Mary Dahlgren is the mayor’s daughter. A pretty girl, she could have the pick of the boys in town, including Vernon King, the star of the vaunted high school basketball team. To the chagrin of her friends, though, Mary has always been more interested in books than boys. That is, until she meets Jon.
But Jon and Mary are kept apart through the efforts of Mary’s father, who perceives their relationship a threat to his political aspirations, and Vernon, to whom Jon is a rival for Mary’s affections. For months Jon is subjected to a painful ostracism. Then, just when the young man’s earnestness and perseverance begin to win over many of the townsfolk, and it appears that love may conquer all, tragedy strikes.
As the country is caught up in war, so too are the young lovers swept up in events beyond their control, leaving both fighting for their very lives. If, against the odds, they are to be together, each will need to find the strength, the courage and the resourcefulness that beat only in a defiant heart.
In the spring of 1941, young Jon Meyer’s family dies in a tragic accident, and he is sent to live in a small Indiana town. He arrives to find himself unwanted and shunned.
Mary Dahlgren is the mayor’s daughter. A pretty girl, she could have the pick of the boys in town, including Vernon King, the star of the vaunted high school basketball team. To the chagrin of her friends, though, Mary has always been more interested in books than boys. That is, until she meets Jon.
But Jon and Mary are kept apart through the efforts of Mary’s father, who perceives their relationship a threat to his political aspirations, and Vernon, to whom Jon is a rival for Mary’s affections. For months Jon is subjected to a painful ostracism. Then, just when the young man’s earnestness and perseverance begin to win over many of the townsfolk, and it appears that love may conquer all, tragedy strikes.
As the country is caught up in war, so too are the young lovers swept up in events beyond their control, leaving both fighting for their very lives. If, against the odds, they are to be together, each will need to find the strength, the courage and the resourcefulness that beat only in a defiant heart.
386 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2013
6 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Marty Steere
2 books20 followersThe son of a career air force officer, Marty Steere grew up on or near military installations across the country and overseas before settling in Southern California, where, when he's not writing, he practices law. His first novel, Sea of Crises, was named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012. His second novel, Defiant Heart, was released on April 15, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
March 2, 2019
A really good story ... and rather novel, in the classic sense of the word. I read this very quickly ... I started it, stayed up late, and finished before I did a number of things I should have been doing instead...
Although the story arc spans only a couple of years, it feels like a far more epic tale, in large part because it covers a lot of ground ... loss and love ... and parenting (and grand parenting) and coming of age ... learning and problem solving ... small towns and their dirty secrets/laundry and their devotion to their high school sports teams (OK, OK, there are shades of Backman's Beartown and the sequel Us Against You here, but, to be clear, those are better, more polished, books) ... and, of course, World War II (and, if the anti-war/non-interventionist America First stuff in the book is new to you, consider, in non-fiction, Sarah Churchwell's Behold, America), etc. For that matter, there's even a little of Freeman's Forgotten 500 (also non-fiction) in play....
The book sucked me in pretty quickly and kept me engaged. At numerous points, I got teary-eyed... even when I saw some of the tear-jerker stuff coming, it was still pretty effective.... The ending felt slightly premature or truncated, but it was punchy and poignant enough to please this crowd (or one)....
I had some quibbles; OK, I had plenty of quibbles - and one would be a spoiler, so I'll leave that one aside (although I know at least one other reader who enjoyed the book also found it ... hmmm, strange? wrong? off?) - but my primary gripes were limited to the reliance on more mundane prose than I would have preferred, even if the language made sense (or worked) in context ... (OK, it's not literary fiction ... and, unfortunately, I'd just finished Towles' lyrical A Gentleman in Moscow) and some of the characters were just too consistent/one dimensional for my tastes ... but that stuff only bothered me at the margins.... Part of me also thought that there were a few too many loose ends, although what I think I really wanted were a couple/few more days of reckoning for some of the bad actors, but that's OK too...
Ultimately, a good tale, told well. A gratifying, quick read.
Although the story arc spans only a couple of years, it feels like a far more epic tale, in large part because it covers a lot of ground ... loss and love ... and parenting (and grand parenting) and coming of age ... learning and problem solving ... small towns and their dirty secrets/laundry and their devotion to their high school sports teams (OK, OK, there are shades of Backman's Beartown and the sequel Us Against You here, but, to be clear, those are better, more polished, books) ... and, of course, World War II (and, if the anti-war/non-interventionist America First stuff in the book is new to you, consider, in non-fiction, Sarah Churchwell's Behold, America), etc. For that matter, there's even a little of Freeman's Forgotten 500 (also non-fiction) in play....
The book sucked me in pretty quickly and kept me engaged. At numerous points, I got teary-eyed... even when I saw some of the tear-jerker stuff coming, it was still pretty effective.... The ending felt slightly premature or truncated, but it was punchy and poignant enough to please this crowd (or one)....
I had some quibbles; OK, I had plenty of quibbles - and one would be a spoiler, so I'll leave that one aside (although I know at least one other reader who enjoyed the book also found it ... hmmm, strange? wrong? off?) - but my primary gripes were limited to the reliance on more mundane prose than I would have preferred, even if the language made sense (or worked) in context ... (OK, it's not literary fiction ... and, unfortunately, I'd just finished Towles' lyrical A Gentleman in Moscow) and some of the characters were just too consistent/one dimensional for my tastes ... but that stuff only bothered me at the margins.... Part of me also thought that there were a few too many loose ends, although what I think I really wanted were a couple/few more days of reckoning for some of the bad actors, but that's OK too...
Ultimately, a good tale, told well. A gratifying, quick read.
April 23, 2013
Oh boy! I will begin my review with a tissue alert. You will be needing tissues while reading this book. :)
Defiant Heart is emotional, gripping, poignant, appalling, and absolutely lovely. I love historical fiction, especially well researched, well written historical fiction. Defiant Heart certainly fulfilled all my expectations and then some!
The novel tells the story of Jonathan Meyer, a young man who endures all matter of tragedies and injustices, and yet courageously perserveres through it all. And in the end becomes a stronger man that any parent, grandparent, or friend would be proud of. It's not only a tale of war though. It's also a tale of love that will make you believe that love does conquer all.
Defiant Heart deals with themes such as social injustice, love, and forgiveness. It is set against the backdrop of WWII and we are witness to the atrocities of prejudice committed in our own country. We also experience the war through the eyes and actions of our hero, Jon. I am extremely impressed with the historical accuracy and feel of the detail of the war.
There are wonderfully wrought supporting characters without whom Jon's story wouldn't have been so affecting. Jon's grandmother, for instance, who learns to let go of the past and love her grandson. Jon's friends, Walt, who was Jon's first friend in Jackson, and Ben, who taught Jon to fly are integral to the story. Jon's flight crew members are brilliantly drawn. And, of course, there's Mary, Jon's sweetheart. The intense bond between the two set them on a course to overcome any obstacle to be together. In fact, Jon says states at one point, "Nothing is going to keep us apart." And although many forces conspire against them, both Jon and Mary defiantly stand against them.
There is so much detail woven throughout this novel. The trauma Jon suffers that brings him to Jackson. The persecution he endures at the hands of so many. Mr. Steere effectively paces the action throughout the novel. The story he tells so compelling, heartbreaking, and ultimately heartwarming.
Yes, I do indeed love a well crafted piece of historical fiction. Defiant Heart is exactly that!
Defiant Heart is emotional, gripping, poignant, appalling, and absolutely lovely. I love historical fiction, especially well researched, well written historical fiction. Defiant Heart certainly fulfilled all my expectations and then some!
The novel tells the story of Jonathan Meyer, a young man who endures all matter of tragedies and injustices, and yet courageously perserveres through it all. And in the end becomes a stronger man that any parent, grandparent, or friend would be proud of. It's not only a tale of war though. It's also a tale of love that will make you believe that love does conquer all.
Defiant Heart deals with themes such as social injustice, love, and forgiveness. It is set against the backdrop of WWII and we are witness to the atrocities of prejudice committed in our own country. We also experience the war through the eyes and actions of our hero, Jon. I am extremely impressed with the historical accuracy and feel of the detail of the war.
There are wonderfully wrought supporting characters without whom Jon's story wouldn't have been so affecting. Jon's grandmother, for instance, who learns to let go of the past and love her grandson. Jon's friends, Walt, who was Jon's first friend in Jackson, and Ben, who taught Jon to fly are integral to the story. Jon's flight crew members are brilliantly drawn. And, of course, there's Mary, Jon's sweetheart. The intense bond between the two set them on a course to overcome any obstacle to be together. In fact, Jon says states at one point, "Nothing is going to keep us apart." And although many forces conspire against them, both Jon and Mary defiantly stand against them.
There is so much detail woven throughout this novel. The trauma Jon suffers that brings him to Jackson. The persecution he endures at the hands of so many. Mr. Steere effectively paces the action throughout the novel. The story he tells so compelling, heartbreaking, and ultimately heartwarming.
Yes, I do indeed love a well crafted piece of historical fiction. Defiant Heart is exactly that!
April 5, 2013
Review originally posted at http://eatreadexplore.wordpress.com
I didn’t have any real expectations when I started reading this book, because to me it wasn’t quite clear what exactly it was going to be about. So two things could happen: I could either be left disappointed, or I could be in for a pleasant surprise. Fortunately for me it was the latter, because I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of sixteen-year-old Jon who, after being the only one in his family to survive a disastrous accident, is sent to live with his grandmother, whom he has never met before, in the small town of Jackson, Indiana. While he’s trying to cope with the loss of his parents and brother he has to find his way in an unfamiliar town, all the while dealing with his grandmother who gives him the cold shoulder and prefers to acknowledge his existence as little as is humanly possible.
Soon after his not quite successful start at his new school things take a turn for the worse when word gets out that Jon is Jewish. It’s 1941 and as America is about to be sucked into WWII people are wary of Jews. Not only is he treated as a pariah at school, he also gets fired from his job at the local hardware store because of his religion. Luckily his life isn’t all bad, and by accident he meets Ben, a man of middle age who used to be in the army and whose hobby it is to fly his own private plane. He takes a liking to Jon and teaches him how to fly, something Jon appears to have a talent for.
Next to his flying lessons he also finds the time to fall in love with Mary, the mayor’s daughter. He explicitly forbids the two of them to be in contact with each other but in spite of this, Jon and Mary keep seeing each other. They manage to keep their relationship under wraps for a few months until things go very wrong.
Jon gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and Mary is severely wounded and ends up in a coma. Mary’s father, who is trying to make his big break in politics, doesn’t want to be associated with a crime involving a Jew, so rather than standing trial Jon is forced to enlist in the army. At only 17 years of age his life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting, but also a lot more dangerous. But the question is: will Jon and Mary find their way back to each other?
What I really liked about this book is that it’s not a typical romantic, and somewhat soppy love story. On the contrary, for the best part of the novel the relationship between Jon and Mary isn’t even a very prominent factor. You see a boy change into a man over the course of two years, and it is very interesting to see how he develops and keeps it together even in the most difficult of circumstances. Another thing that I liked is that Mary isn’t a stereotypical girl; she isn’t shallow or vain, she doesn’t really care about clothes or boys, but is very smart and hard working and is determined to make her own way in the world. She’s independent and free-thinking, and that’s what I like about her.
You can tell that this story is well researched because it’s very detailed, both with regards to the war and with regards to aviation. The characters are interesting and well developed, and once you get into the story it’s difficult to put down.
Marty Steere has managed to write a beautiful love story that even people like me who don’t like romantic novels will enjoy very much. I can recommend it to anyone who loves a good love story, a bit of mystery, and a fair amount of history.
I didn’t have any real expectations when I started reading this book, because to me it wasn’t quite clear what exactly it was going to be about. So two things could happen: I could either be left disappointed, or I could be in for a pleasant surprise. Fortunately for me it was the latter, because I really enjoyed this book. It tells the story of sixteen-year-old Jon who, after being the only one in his family to survive a disastrous accident, is sent to live with his grandmother, whom he has never met before, in the small town of Jackson, Indiana. While he’s trying to cope with the loss of his parents and brother he has to find his way in an unfamiliar town, all the while dealing with his grandmother who gives him the cold shoulder and prefers to acknowledge his existence as little as is humanly possible.
Soon after his not quite successful start at his new school things take a turn for the worse when word gets out that Jon is Jewish. It’s 1941 and as America is about to be sucked into WWII people are wary of Jews. Not only is he treated as a pariah at school, he also gets fired from his job at the local hardware store because of his religion. Luckily his life isn’t all bad, and by accident he meets Ben, a man of middle age who used to be in the army and whose hobby it is to fly his own private plane. He takes a liking to Jon and teaches him how to fly, something Jon appears to have a talent for.
Next to his flying lessons he also finds the time to fall in love with Mary, the mayor’s daughter. He explicitly forbids the two of them to be in contact with each other but in spite of this, Jon and Mary keep seeing each other. They manage to keep their relationship under wraps for a few months until things go very wrong.
Jon gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and Mary is severely wounded and ends up in a coma. Mary’s father, who is trying to make his big break in politics, doesn’t want to be associated with a crime involving a Jew, so rather than standing trial Jon is forced to enlist in the army. At only 17 years of age his life suddenly becomes a lot more interesting, but also a lot more dangerous. But the question is: will Jon and Mary find their way back to each other?
What I really liked about this book is that it’s not a typical romantic, and somewhat soppy love story. On the contrary, for the best part of the novel the relationship between Jon and Mary isn’t even a very prominent factor. You see a boy change into a man over the course of two years, and it is very interesting to see how he develops and keeps it together even in the most difficult of circumstances. Another thing that I liked is that Mary isn’t a stereotypical girl; she isn’t shallow or vain, she doesn’t really care about clothes or boys, but is very smart and hard working and is determined to make her own way in the world. She’s independent and free-thinking, and that’s what I like about her.
You can tell that this story is well researched because it’s very detailed, both with regards to the war and with regards to aviation. The characters are interesting and well developed, and once you get into the story it’s difficult to put down.
Marty Steere has managed to write a beautiful love story that even people like me who don’t like romantic novels will enjoy very much. I can recommend it to anyone who loves a good love story, a bit of mystery, and a fair amount of history.
June 18, 2016
Probably a 3.5. I enjoyed this one. Terrific, absorbing story with some assured writing.
Defiant Heart (good title, too, no?) does a lot of things: action, romance, drama, coming of age, fish out of water, you name it, really.
It's the spring of 1941 and sixteen year old Jon Meyer's family (mother, father, and older brother) recently died in a car crash. He leaves his Long Island home to live in small town Indiana with his grandmother, a stiff, prim woman (I kept thinking Emily Gilmore from Gilmore Girls) he's never met. Short of it is this: Grandma's daughter -- Jon's mom -- married a Jewish man after moving out to Chicago in her twenties-- and Grandma wanted nothing to do with her after that.
So yeah, Jon's Jewish, and this being a small Midwestern town in 1941, well, you can guess the kind of reception he encounters. He's also very sharp and a nice guy -- a REALLY nice guy (wish Steere would have given him a flaw or 2, now that I think about it). But his relationship with his grandmother is really neat to watch unfold. Jon also has a love interest in Mary, the mayor's daughter (of course, right? if only he went after the undertaker's daughter, it probably would have caused less of a stir))
The final third of the book moves out into the skies of Europe, with Jon entering WW2. This is where the book is both most exciting and least successful, I think. It's great adventure, but strains credibility a bit. Jon's exploits during the war are a little too over the top (but, again, make for thrilling reading!) This goes back to the issue of Jon's unblemished perfection, which as I mentioned before, can be a bit hard to believe. And although I liked Mary just fine -- she's smart, funny and her banter about boys and life with her best friend Sam (who I liked very much) is really amusing -- in the end, she kinda goes all weepy and spends much of her time fawning over Jon. She just doesn't get to do much of consequence.
Defiant Heart (good title, too, no?) does a lot of things: action, romance, drama, coming of age, fish out of water, you name it, really.
It's the spring of 1941 and sixteen year old Jon Meyer's family (mother, father, and older brother) recently died in a car crash. He leaves his Long Island home to live in small town Indiana with his grandmother, a stiff, prim woman (I kept thinking Emily Gilmore from Gilmore Girls) he's never met. Short of it is this: Grandma's daughter -- Jon's mom -- married a Jewish man after moving out to Chicago in her twenties-- and Grandma wanted nothing to do with her after that.
So yeah, Jon's Jewish, and this being a small Midwestern town in 1941, well, you can guess the kind of reception he encounters. He's also very sharp and a nice guy -- a REALLY nice guy (wish Steere would have given him a flaw or 2, now that I think about it). But his relationship with his grandmother is really neat to watch unfold. Jon also has a love interest in Mary, the mayor's daughter (of course, right? if only he went after the undertaker's daughter, it probably would have caused less of a stir))
The final third of the book moves out into the skies of Europe, with Jon entering WW2. This is where the book is both most exciting and least successful, I think. It's great adventure, but strains credibility a bit. Jon's exploits during the war are a little too over the top (but, again, make for thrilling reading!) This goes back to the issue of Jon's unblemished perfection, which as I mentioned before, can be a bit hard to believe. And although I liked Mary just fine -- she's smart, funny and her banter about boys and life with her best friend Sam (who I liked very much) is really amusing -- in the end, she kinda goes all weepy and spends much of her time fawning over Jon. She just doesn't get to do much of consequence.
April 6, 2013
This book is a real page turner and I read it into the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't put it down. My heart broke for Jon. He was in a car accident with his mother, father and brother. He was the only survivor. At only 15 he was sent to small town Indiana to live with his 80 year old grandmother. He had never met her before because she was estranged from her daughter, Jon's mother. It was a cold welcome for Jon, she wasn't outright mean to him at first but certainly not welcoming.
Jon also received a cold welcome at school and was in turns beat up and then ignored. The only one who seemed to notice him was Mary.
I can't tell you anymore because I would risk giving spoilers. I warmed up to Jon very quickly. He was quite a lovable character. This book has a little of something for everyone. It is a coming of age, drama, historical fiction, suspense, romance, love story, WWII, and literary fiction story.
The characters are well developed and is the plot. Marty Steere's descriptions of time and place resonated as true to me. I felt like I was a character in the book observing everything that happened first hand.
This book is destined to become a classic! Highly recommended!
Jon also received a cold welcome at school and was in turns beat up and then ignored. The only one who seemed to notice him was Mary.
I can't tell you anymore because I would risk giving spoilers. I warmed up to Jon very quickly. He was quite a lovable character. This book has a little of something for everyone. It is a coming of age, drama, historical fiction, suspense, romance, love story, WWII, and literary fiction story.
The characters are well developed and is the plot. Marty Steere's descriptions of time and place resonated as true to me. I felt like I was a character in the book observing everything that happened first hand.
This book is destined to become a classic! Highly recommended!
October 28, 2014
An incredible book. Contrary to what the summary would make you believe, this is way, way more than a romance novel. If you're looking for the sex scenes found in most romances, you won't find them here. I was first drawn to this book by its cover with the airplane flying overhead. And then I discovered it dealt with, at least tangentially with WW II aviation, my favorite genre.
The author does a masterful job of constructing a great plot that flows smoothly and seamlessly through the story without the major twists and turns that so many writers overdo. Yet, it is far from predictable. Heart has artfully created characters that are believable and come to life.
Yes, there is a beautiful and pure romance between two young people running through it, but the book is also full of adventure, treachery, loyalty, surprise, coming of age, rekindling of lost relationships, justice fulfilled, and practically everything I, and I hope others, enjoy in a book.
I know it's trite, and I don't believe I've said it before about a book. But this was truly a story I did not want to see end.
The author does a masterful job of constructing a great plot that flows smoothly and seamlessly through the story without the major twists and turns that so many writers overdo. Yet, it is far from predictable. Heart has artfully created characters that are believable and come to life.
Yes, there is a beautiful and pure romance between two young people running through it, but the book is also full of adventure, treachery, loyalty, surprise, coming of age, rekindling of lost relationships, justice fulfilled, and practically everything I, and I hope others, enjoy in a book.
I know it's trite, and I don't believe I've said it before about a book. But this was truly a story I did not want to see end.
April 12, 2013
After losing his parents and brother in a tragic accident, young Jon Meyer is left to start over in a small Indiana town. Under the guardianship of a grandmother he’d never before known, Jon’s new life begins at a high school filled with unfamiliar faces. As he struggles with the difficulties of being the new guy in a town unaccustomed to change Jon finds the troubled waters of his life disturbed anew when prejudice begins to take root: Jon is Jewish, and in 1941 under the shroud of World War II, very few people are inclined to make his association. Friendliest and most accepting is Mary Dalhgren, the amiable daughter of the town’s mayor. Mary is bold and intelligent, with a mind and spirit well beyond the simplicity of the town, and her connection with Jon is an instant one. As the two tentatively explore their feelings, they face obstacles in the shape of jealousy, bigotry, and even war. Mary’s father, misguided in his political aspirations, wants his daughter far away from the boy while high school basketball star Vernon King wants Mary on his arm – and no one else’s. When the tensions of prejudice reach a boiling point, a new tragedy tears Mary and Jon apart; and soon Jon finds himself in England fighting the Germans. As Jon and Mary both risk their lives, they share the hope of someday finding their way back to each other once and for all.
Defiant Heart, Marty Steere’s second novel, is a fascinating combination of history, romance, and the social extremes of the 1940s. The author has created a cast of characters that jump off the page, and he writes with a commendable attention to detail that carries the story to an even higher level. As I reflect on the story of Defiant Heart I find myself dividing it between two acts, the first following Jon and Mary’s budding relationship amid the prejudice of the town, and the second following Mary and Jon separately as they deal with the war and their loss of each other. Each act, as I’ll call them, is presented in wonderful clarity, with scenes that spark to life under the writer’s expertise before being woven together beautifully. Steere’s depictions of Jon’s struggles as an outsider – consequence of his Jewish faith, predominantly – were heartbreaking, but the truthfulness of the story leaves in the reader a deep sense of gratitude to the author. Steere is boldly willing to unearth the unpleasant realities of the flaws in America’s social landscape, and he does so with a great deal of grace and honesty. I love a good romance and the one between Jon and Mary was beautiful, certainly memorable, but where I really surprised myself was with the war scenes of the second act; the unsettling tension of Jon’s fight for survival, his eternal camaraderie with his fellow soldiers, and Steere’s stunning use of detail all combined for a substantial reading experience that had me riveted. It’s a testament to the author’s creations, Jon and Mary, that the reader is heart-bound in the scenes when they are apart as well as together.
For all that its story entails, Defiant Heart spares itself from being too heavy of a novel; it boasts no unnecessary bulk and reads in a way that relays plenty of detail without hampering the reader with too much information. It becomes a lovely volume that promises all manner of emotional attachment to its reader and entertains them without leaving them for a moment feeling daunted by the scope of the story; a winning combination, and it’s executed with great talent. Defiant Heart is a smart, tangible exploration of love, loss, and survival that will enfold its reader into its world and keep them tucked away until the very end.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on April 12, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
Defiant Heart, Marty Steere’s second novel, is a fascinating combination of history, romance, and the social extremes of the 1940s. The author has created a cast of characters that jump off the page, and he writes with a commendable attention to detail that carries the story to an even higher level. As I reflect on the story of Defiant Heart I find myself dividing it between two acts, the first following Jon and Mary’s budding relationship amid the prejudice of the town, and the second following Mary and Jon separately as they deal with the war and their loss of each other. Each act, as I’ll call them, is presented in wonderful clarity, with scenes that spark to life under the writer’s expertise before being woven together beautifully. Steere’s depictions of Jon’s struggles as an outsider – consequence of his Jewish faith, predominantly – were heartbreaking, but the truthfulness of the story leaves in the reader a deep sense of gratitude to the author. Steere is boldly willing to unearth the unpleasant realities of the flaws in America’s social landscape, and he does so with a great deal of grace and honesty. I love a good romance and the one between Jon and Mary was beautiful, certainly memorable, but where I really surprised myself was with the war scenes of the second act; the unsettling tension of Jon’s fight for survival, his eternal camaraderie with his fellow soldiers, and Steere’s stunning use of detail all combined for a substantial reading experience that had me riveted. It’s a testament to the author’s creations, Jon and Mary, that the reader is heart-bound in the scenes when they are apart as well as together.
For all that its story entails, Defiant Heart spares itself from being too heavy of a novel; it boasts no unnecessary bulk and reads in a way that relays plenty of detail without hampering the reader with too much information. It becomes a lovely volume that promises all manner of emotional attachment to its reader and entertains them without leaving them for a moment feeling daunted by the scope of the story; a winning combination, and it’s executed with great talent. Defiant Heart is a smart, tangible exploration of love, loss, and survival that will enfold its reader into its world and keep them tucked away until the very end.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on April 12, 2013 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
January 28, 2016
The detailed and precise accounts of the events in the book that made up the story line draws you in from the start. The author's careful constructed plot unfolding to capture your attention from page one and kept the pace till the very last page. The flow of the story never stopped to amaze you, keeping the energy at all times. Well written it will entertain young and old lovers of Historical books. The events and people live like and believable interweaves with the history period the book was written in.
1941, War in Europe was in full swing, Hitler was on the top making life hard for the European countries. America still stood at the side watching as the war unfolds until that fateful day when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
The story begins months before the attack as we are introduced to the young man Jon Meyer, 16 years old, just lost his whole family, Jewish and living with the only living relative he had. Marvella Wilson, his grandmother. From the start this woman was cold towards him, keeping him at a distance. We learn quickly the reasons behind this evasiveness. The prejudice of people unfolding in the story line. As a piano teacher they finally found a bridge that would restore the relationship and set them on a better path.
What a beautiful young man, his character clearly defined to bring you a strapping youngster that knew how to do things right and if he did not know he would read and explore always doing more what was expected from him until it was fixed.
Osticized because of his believes he ventures out of the small town, on a bike he had rebuild and met Ben Wheeler a pilot and ex boxer who trained him in things necessary for his survival. At that time we did not know precisely why but as the story unfolds you see the influence of this man on the youngster. And what a joy that was when Jon finally stood up for himself against the bullies of the school because of this man's patience and training. I loved it! Later on in war this man's influence could still be seen as Jon enters the war zone as a radio operator. Great character and dedicated to the two young people because of his own loss.
He fell in love with Mary Dahlgren 16, brilliant student and the daughter of the man who you would learn would be the ultimate villain in the story. I could strangle him myself. The bullies could go and learn some lessons in evilness from this man. You guessed it, I really did not like him - at all. Owner of the Hardware store you first meeting with the man was likable but as his notorious desire for power and influence grew you learn quickly to dislike him.
Vernon King Bully Ooops bully had only one thing in mind...him... at the cost of everyone else around him and at the end it almost cost Mary her life and Jon to be send to war for a crime he did not commit. His natural abilities and willingness to take charge making him a hero, saving his friends and officers against all odds.
Friends who betrayed them, wrong loyalty bonds, lies and a self centered father tried to keep them apart.
The war effort was in full swing and by the time Mary discovered that her beloved were in England she too went after him, joining the Woman corps to find him.
There were so many good characters in this book that all helped to carry the story and make it real. Sam, Walt, some of the teachers, Penny a nurse that became a friend later on, Tommy, Shim...the list simply goes on. Every one's role well defined and at the end their friendship and companionship gave hope in times when there were none.
The love story unfolds with so much care, compassion and heart ache but at the end love did conquer as every one pulled together to bring them together.
There is so much to be said about this book but I will stop here and would advice to buy the book, you will not be dissapointed.
A highly recommended read for young and old.
1941, War in Europe was in full swing, Hitler was on the top making life hard for the European countries. America still stood at the side watching as the war unfolds until that fateful day when Pearl Harbor was attacked.
The story begins months before the attack as we are introduced to the young man Jon Meyer, 16 years old, just lost his whole family, Jewish and living with the only living relative he had. Marvella Wilson, his grandmother. From the start this woman was cold towards him, keeping him at a distance. We learn quickly the reasons behind this evasiveness. The prejudice of people unfolding in the story line. As a piano teacher they finally found a bridge that would restore the relationship and set them on a better path.
What a beautiful young man, his character clearly defined to bring you a strapping youngster that knew how to do things right and if he did not know he would read and explore always doing more what was expected from him until it was fixed.
Osticized because of his believes he ventures out of the small town, on a bike he had rebuild and met Ben Wheeler a pilot and ex boxer who trained him in things necessary for his survival. At that time we did not know precisely why but as the story unfolds you see the influence of this man on the youngster. And what a joy that was when Jon finally stood up for himself against the bullies of the school because of this man's patience and training. I loved it! Later on in war this man's influence could still be seen as Jon enters the war zone as a radio operator. Great character and dedicated to the two young people because of his own loss.
He fell in love with Mary Dahlgren 16, brilliant student and the daughter of the man who you would learn would be the ultimate villain in the story. I could strangle him myself. The bullies could go and learn some lessons in evilness from this man. You guessed it, I really did not like him - at all. Owner of the Hardware store you first meeting with the man was likable but as his notorious desire for power and influence grew you learn quickly to dislike him.
Vernon King Bully Ooops bully had only one thing in mind...him... at the cost of everyone else around him and at the end it almost cost Mary her life and Jon to be send to war for a crime he did not commit. His natural abilities and willingness to take charge making him a hero, saving his friends and officers against all odds.
Friends who betrayed them, wrong loyalty bonds, lies and a self centered father tried to keep them apart.
The war effort was in full swing and by the time Mary discovered that her beloved were in England she too went after him, joining the Woman corps to find him.
There were so many good characters in this book that all helped to carry the story and make it real. Sam, Walt, some of the teachers, Penny a nurse that became a friend later on, Tommy, Shim...the list simply goes on. Every one's role well defined and at the end their friendship and companionship gave hope in times when there were none.
The love story unfolds with so much care, compassion and heart ache but at the end love did conquer as every one pulled together to bring them together.
There is so much to be said about this book but I will stop here and would advice to buy the book, you will not be dissapointed.
A highly recommended read for young and old.
March 31, 2013
My latest read is a historical fiction novel with lots of action, suspense, and romance. I won't waste any time in labeling this book a page-turner! One of my favorite things about this book was that it gave me closure in a few of the troubling scenarios, and I got to say "You got what you deserved, you loser!" I was hugely impressed by the character development, something that is important to me, above all. I felt like I knew these people just after a few chapters! Having been a kid who was ostracized based on race and religion, that part of the story hit a soft spot. Jon became very dear to me quickly and was a tremendously lovable character. Vernon should have been named vermin! He was a loathsome, barbaric, self-absorbed piece of crap, and that was a superb piece of this story. Without that character, the whole story would have been two shades duller. One of my favorite scenes was the confrontation between the despicable coach Mr. Spitzman and nerdy-cute English teacher Ms. Tremaine when he tried to bully and threaten her to pass Vernon and another jock just so they could play in the championship game. I think the balance of lovable vs. hateful characters was perfect.
I really enjoy when a story has various pieces that make me wonder then all come together in the end. Jon's random friendship with Ben Wheeler who teaches him how to box and fly a plane comes in handy later in the story. Let's just say Coach Spitzman gets just what he deserved, and Jon's talent with flying ends up saving his and other lives. Oh, and Ben is one of my favorite characters besides Jon, Mary, and Walt. I normally don't like strong female characters because they're often written to be overly stubborn and annoyingly heroic with tons of "Yea, right!" moments. Example - Bella from Twilight and Remi from Hollowland. Mary is just right. She didn't annoy me ONE time through this entire book. She was a sweet decent girl and thwarted all of Vernon's boldfaced efforts to bully her into going out with him. Thanks to him, she ends up in a coma, and Jon's life is turned inside-out after he tries to save her. He's forced to enlist in the army, and it's not surprising that he does exceptionally well.
Spoiler Alert -- Spoiler Alert -- Spoiler Alert
I was proud of Mary for standing up to her deadbeat dad. I was disgusted by his behavior and selfishness while running for office. He put his campaign above decency and his daughter's life. He was the total opposite of a hero. I was glad he lost everything, including her when she decided to join the army to get away from him and to find Jon. She did, and the ending is very rocky. I loved how it ended, but Steere makes his reader work hard to get that ending. And that is crafty writing! I was glued to this story from very early on, mainly because it was realistic. The historic facts about the era and the war was spot on based on what I know. Even the mannerisms and personality traits of the characters suited the time frame quite well. Steere writes in a way that keeps you wondering what will happen next. Even when I wanted to pause just to run to the restroom, I read just a few paragraphs more before I dashed away, lol. And, I must compliment the author's vivacious vocabulary. It's a buzz kill when writers use the same words over and over or choose words that are way too common. I learned a few new words today. Love it!
I give his book FIVE stars!! This was a terrifically enjoyable read, and I recommend it to everyone! It comes out on April 14. For now you can check out the reviews on Goodreads. So make a note, and go look for it!
I really enjoy when a story has various pieces that make me wonder then all come together in the end. Jon's random friendship with Ben Wheeler who teaches him how to box and fly a plane comes in handy later in the story. Let's just say Coach Spitzman gets just what he deserved, and Jon's talent with flying ends up saving his and other lives. Oh, and Ben is one of my favorite characters besides Jon, Mary, and Walt. I normally don't like strong female characters because they're often written to be overly stubborn and annoyingly heroic with tons of "Yea, right!" moments. Example - Bella from Twilight and Remi from Hollowland. Mary is just right. She didn't annoy me ONE time through this entire book. She was a sweet decent girl and thwarted all of Vernon's boldfaced efforts to bully her into going out with him. Thanks to him, she ends up in a coma, and Jon's life is turned inside-out after he tries to save her. He's forced to enlist in the army, and it's not surprising that he does exceptionally well.
Spoiler Alert -- Spoiler Alert -- Spoiler Alert
I was proud of Mary for standing up to her deadbeat dad. I was disgusted by his behavior and selfishness while running for office. He put his campaign above decency and his daughter's life. He was the total opposite of a hero. I was glad he lost everything, including her when she decided to join the army to get away from him and to find Jon. She did, and the ending is very rocky. I loved how it ended, but Steere makes his reader work hard to get that ending. And that is crafty writing! I was glued to this story from very early on, mainly because it was realistic. The historic facts about the era and the war was spot on based on what I know. Even the mannerisms and personality traits of the characters suited the time frame quite well. Steere writes in a way that keeps you wondering what will happen next. Even when I wanted to pause just to run to the restroom, I read just a few paragraphs more before I dashed away, lol. And, I must compliment the author's vivacious vocabulary. It's a buzz kill when writers use the same words over and over or choose words that are way too common. I learned a few new words today. Love it!
I give his book FIVE stars!! This was a terrifically enjoyable read, and I recommend it to everyone! It comes out on April 14. For now you can check out the reviews on Goodreads. So make a note, and go look for it!
February 27, 2013
Summary:
Our story begins in 1941 with young Jonathon Meyer, his parents and brother have been killed in a car accident so he is sent to live with his grandmother, who he has never met. He is leaving the big city of New York for small town Jackson, Indiana. Jon isn't so sure about such a small town but he arrives over the summer and gets to know a few locals after picking up a job at the local hardware store. Jon works part time over the summer to make some extra money for his grandmother so he can contribute to the household.
Jon begins the school year and meets Mary Dahlgren; Mary is the daughter of Jin Dahlgren the owner of Dahlgren's hardware store. Mary is by far the brightest most beautiful girl in school and Jon just can't get her out of his mind. Mary finds that Jon is also very well read and equally as smart and she begins to like him more and more every day. Jon is finding a hard time fitting into the new school and is picked on and put down constantly by the other boys at school because he is Jewish. Mary notices Jon is pulling more and more away from everyone do to the terrible harassment he is receiving from the local boys, especially hometown basketball hero Vernon King.
Before long Jon is let go from the hardware store, and Mary's father forbids him to have any contact with her. Jon is terribly disappointed and doesn't know what he has done to cause such an upset with Mary's father. Mary is outraged and puts her father on the spot and demands answer for his terrible behavior towards Jon. Jim Dahlgren tries to explain to his daughter that he is running for a senate seat in 1942 elections, and having an employee and/or friend of his daughter being Jewish could be a major setback in his chances as a United States senator.
Mary doesn't agree with this at all and begins seeing Jon in secret. Mary and Jon spend months keeping their relationship a secret from everyone. All is well until Mary is assaulted by a local boy and she is put into a coma, Jon takes the blame for the terrible act against Mary and is enlisted into the Army as his punishment, and is sent away not knowing if Mary will be ok or not. When Mary comes out of her coma Jon is away serving his country and has been told that Mary doesn't remember anything of the previous year, which means she has no recollection of Jon. Jon is heartbroken but continues on with his military training. Mary tries to return to a normal life or as normal as she can remember, when the events of the previous year comes back to her and she vows to find Jon and tell him how much she loves him.
Review:
I am so excited to bring this book to my readers. I was asked to read and review on behalf of the author. When I am asked to do that I never know if I am really going to enjoy the book or not. I generally stay away from historical fiction because honestly it is hit or miss. I either love it or hate it, but I have to tell you I absolutely love this story.
It is a beautifully told love story from the prospective of both parties. I was crazy about the main characters from the very beginning. I am pleased with how Mr. Steere created a wonderful love story without turning it into a cheap romance. I cannot say enough nice things about this book, but I hands down give it 5 out of 5 stars. If you want to read a beautiful and uplifting book this is definitely one I recommend!
I was giving one ecopy of this book for review purposes. I received no other compensation for this review.
Our story begins in 1941 with young Jonathon Meyer, his parents and brother have been killed in a car accident so he is sent to live with his grandmother, who he has never met. He is leaving the big city of New York for small town Jackson, Indiana. Jon isn't so sure about such a small town but he arrives over the summer and gets to know a few locals after picking up a job at the local hardware store. Jon works part time over the summer to make some extra money for his grandmother so he can contribute to the household.
Jon begins the school year and meets Mary Dahlgren; Mary is the daughter of Jin Dahlgren the owner of Dahlgren's hardware store. Mary is by far the brightest most beautiful girl in school and Jon just can't get her out of his mind. Mary finds that Jon is also very well read and equally as smart and she begins to like him more and more every day. Jon is finding a hard time fitting into the new school and is picked on and put down constantly by the other boys at school because he is Jewish. Mary notices Jon is pulling more and more away from everyone do to the terrible harassment he is receiving from the local boys, especially hometown basketball hero Vernon King.
Before long Jon is let go from the hardware store, and Mary's father forbids him to have any contact with her. Jon is terribly disappointed and doesn't know what he has done to cause such an upset with Mary's father. Mary is outraged and puts her father on the spot and demands answer for his terrible behavior towards Jon. Jim Dahlgren tries to explain to his daughter that he is running for a senate seat in 1942 elections, and having an employee and/or friend of his daughter being Jewish could be a major setback in his chances as a United States senator.
Mary doesn't agree with this at all and begins seeing Jon in secret. Mary and Jon spend months keeping their relationship a secret from everyone. All is well until Mary is assaulted by a local boy and she is put into a coma, Jon takes the blame for the terrible act against Mary and is enlisted into the Army as his punishment, and is sent away not knowing if Mary will be ok or not. When Mary comes out of her coma Jon is away serving his country and has been told that Mary doesn't remember anything of the previous year, which means she has no recollection of Jon. Jon is heartbroken but continues on with his military training. Mary tries to return to a normal life or as normal as she can remember, when the events of the previous year comes back to her and she vows to find Jon and tell him how much she loves him.
Review:
I am so excited to bring this book to my readers. I was asked to read and review on behalf of the author. When I am asked to do that I never know if I am really going to enjoy the book or not. I generally stay away from historical fiction because honestly it is hit or miss. I either love it or hate it, but I have to tell you I absolutely love this story.
It is a beautifully told love story from the prospective of both parties. I was crazy about the main characters from the very beginning. I am pleased with how Mr. Steere created a wonderful love story without turning it into a cheap romance. I cannot say enough nice things about this book, but I hands down give it 5 out of 5 stars. If you want to read a beautiful and uplifting book this is definitely one I recommend!
I was giving one ecopy of this book for review purposes. I received no other compensation for this review.
April 5, 2013
***I received a free copy in exchange for a book review***
I loved this 18 chapter book. My favorite line: While Jon’s meals with his grandmother continued to be awkward affairs, the overt hostility he had sensed when he first arrived in Jackson had faded over time, replaced by what Jon could only characterize as studied ambivalence.
As a reader, I felt so bad for Jon. At a young age, he lost his family in a car crash. Then, he had to leave the only place he knew as home to move to a new city with a grandmother who acted like she hated his guts. It made me curious why she acted shady towards him. I enjoyed the reveal–because he was part Jewish. In fact, most of the town had a problem with his ethnicity. This was a big deal because the setting was in the past around the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and a huge war was going on.
This story really touched me because I know what it’s like to be discriminated against due to skin color/ethnicity/race. So I knew what Jon was going through when it seemed like the small town of Jackson was against him. He was a nice kid, very respectful, wouldn’t hurt a fly–but only a select few cared. It was refreshing to hear about prejudices against the Jewish community (not that I condone racism–I absolutely DO NOT–people always hear about racism against African Americans, immigrants, Latinos, etc. so it was cool to hear another perspective). History is my least favorite subject–I can’t stand all the horrible things allowed in the country and abroad.
My favorite characters were Jon and Mary. Their relationship was so cute. It had its ups and downs–not because of anything they did wrong. Jon was very sweet to her, and Mary never stopped liking him. Unfortunately, they had to keep their relationship a secret, which made things hard. It broke my heart when there was a miscommunication between them at the beginning (he thought she didn’t like him anymore because she found out he was Jewish, and she thought he was over her).
I absolutely, positively hated Mary’s dad, the PE teacher, and Vernon. They had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. That’s a good sign that an author has a brilliant talent with characterization if he can evoke passion out of his readers. I loved all the conflict regarding them. The dad reminded me of the character in “The General’s Daughter” with his ultimate betrayal. While Vernon and his friend attempted the unspeakable with Mary. As a reader, I really wanted them to get karma, so I wished there would have been a scene or a shout-out revealing if something really bad happened to them.
I did like that no matter what was thrown Jon’s way, he remained a positive person. Even his stint in the war didn’t cause him to hate life. I loved that Mary did what she could to find him. Their love journey reminded me of a Nicholas Sparks’s novel.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
I loved this 18 chapter book. My favorite line: While Jon’s meals with his grandmother continued to be awkward affairs, the overt hostility he had sensed when he first arrived in Jackson had faded over time, replaced by what Jon could only characterize as studied ambivalence.
As a reader, I felt so bad for Jon. At a young age, he lost his family in a car crash. Then, he had to leave the only place he knew as home to move to a new city with a grandmother who acted like she hated his guts. It made me curious why she acted shady towards him. I enjoyed the reveal–because he was part Jewish. In fact, most of the town had a problem with his ethnicity. This was a big deal because the setting was in the past around the time the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and a huge war was going on.
This story really touched me because I know what it’s like to be discriminated against due to skin color/ethnicity/race. So I knew what Jon was going through when it seemed like the small town of Jackson was against him. He was a nice kid, very respectful, wouldn’t hurt a fly–but only a select few cared. It was refreshing to hear about prejudices against the Jewish community (not that I condone racism–I absolutely DO NOT–people always hear about racism against African Americans, immigrants, Latinos, etc. so it was cool to hear another perspective). History is my least favorite subject–I can’t stand all the horrible things allowed in the country and abroad.
My favorite characters were Jon and Mary. Their relationship was so cute. It had its ups and downs–not because of anything they did wrong. Jon was very sweet to her, and Mary never stopped liking him. Unfortunately, they had to keep their relationship a secret, which made things hard. It broke my heart when there was a miscommunication between them at the beginning (he thought she didn’t like him anymore because she found out he was Jewish, and she thought he was over her).
I absolutely, positively hated Mary’s dad, the PE teacher, and Vernon. They had no redeeming qualities whatsoever. That’s a good sign that an author has a brilliant talent with characterization if he can evoke passion out of his readers. I loved all the conflict regarding them. The dad reminded me of the character in “The General’s Daughter” with his ultimate betrayal. While Vernon and his friend attempted the unspeakable with Mary. As a reader, I really wanted them to get karma, so I wished there would have been a scene or a shout-out revealing if something really bad happened to them.
I did like that no matter what was thrown Jon’s way, he remained a positive person. Even his stint in the war didn’t cause him to hate life. I loved that Mary did what she could to find him. Their love journey reminded me of a Nicholas Sparks’s novel.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
June 14, 2013
This review was first posted on Music, Books and Tea
Defiant Heart is a book that took me completely by surprise. I have so many things that I want to talk about in this review, but that will turn this into a book itself, so I’m going to try and keep it as short as possible. But seriously, if you’re into wartime fiction, or just plain historical fiction, pick it up and give it a go, because it is so, so worth it.
I absolutely adored Jon Meyer, Defiant Heart’s main character. Throughout most of the book, the poor guy couldn’t catch a break, but he eventually finds his place in life where people respect him just for being Jon. As Defiant Heart is set in a small town, there was definitely a lot of back-lash against anyone who is different, particularly if they are of a different religion. And whilst I hated reading about the things that happened to Jon, they didn’t feel unrealistic at all. And Jon’s reactions to all the hatred is absolutely commendable, because he doesn’t bite, he doesn’t react, he just continues on with life with his head held high. It was great to see Ben Wheeler, a lonely pilot with a son in the army take Jon under his wing, and helped to give Jon the confidence he really needed. I was super happy seeing Jon take on his gym teacher – it was definitely about time!
Mary Dahlgren was an interesting character. At first, I didn’t think I’d like her, but she really became endearing. I felt for her being second best to her father’s political campaign, it just was not fair at all. He was constantly worrying about his reputation, and seemed to have absolutely no morals, especially over his daughter’s wellbeing. When she (finally) got together with Jon, Mary really blossomed, and I loved her character. She gained a lot of strength, but she also maintained the innocence she had started the book with. It was great to see her stand up to her father, and he really deserved everything that happened to him!
The plot line of Defiant Heart is breath-taking, particularly the final third of the book. Some of the action scenes were fantastic, and I was definitely pleased that Jon had received some flying lessons from Ben…he certainly needed them! The scenes were so realistic, I felt like I was in the aircraft alongside Jon, but my composure wouldn’t have been as good as his was!
I really cannot praise Defiant Heart enough. I could easily write on and on about everything that I loved, but I’m just going to leave it at this: Defiant Heart is a book that will take you by surprise, suck you in with its endearing characters and ultimately hold your attention until you finally finish it. I loved this book. I can’t say anything else but that.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Defiant Heart is a book that took me completely by surprise. I have so many things that I want to talk about in this review, but that will turn this into a book itself, so I’m going to try and keep it as short as possible. But seriously, if you’re into wartime fiction, or just plain historical fiction, pick it up and give it a go, because it is so, so worth it.
I absolutely adored Jon Meyer, Defiant Heart’s main character. Throughout most of the book, the poor guy couldn’t catch a break, but he eventually finds his place in life where people respect him just for being Jon. As Defiant Heart is set in a small town, there was definitely a lot of back-lash against anyone who is different, particularly if they are of a different religion. And whilst I hated reading about the things that happened to Jon, they didn’t feel unrealistic at all. And Jon’s reactions to all the hatred is absolutely commendable, because he doesn’t bite, he doesn’t react, he just continues on with life with his head held high. It was great to see Ben Wheeler, a lonely pilot with a son in the army take Jon under his wing, and helped to give Jon the confidence he really needed. I was super happy seeing Jon take on his gym teacher – it was definitely about time!
Mary Dahlgren was an interesting character. At first, I didn’t think I’d like her, but she really became endearing. I felt for her being second best to her father’s political campaign, it just was not fair at all. He was constantly worrying about his reputation, and seemed to have absolutely no morals, especially over his daughter’s wellbeing. When she (finally) got together with Jon, Mary really blossomed, and I loved her character. She gained a lot of strength, but she also maintained the innocence she had started the book with. It was great to see her stand up to her father, and he really deserved everything that happened to him!
The plot line of Defiant Heart is breath-taking, particularly the final third of the book. Some of the action scenes were fantastic, and I was definitely pleased that Jon had received some flying lessons from Ben…he certainly needed them! The scenes were so realistic, I felt like I was in the aircraft alongside Jon, but my composure wouldn’t have been as good as his was!
I really cannot praise Defiant Heart enough. I could easily write on and on about everything that I loved, but I’m just going to leave it at this: Defiant Heart is a book that will take you by surprise, suck you in with its endearing characters and ultimately hold your attention until you finally finish it. I loved this book. I can’t say anything else but that.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 20, 2013
Set during the second world war, a few months before Pearl Harbor is bombed, Jon Meyer arrives in Jackson, Indiana. Losing his parents and brother in a tragic automobile accident, Jon finds himself on the doorstep of his grandmother. It is not a warm welcome.
Nevertheless, the mature highly intelligent sixteen years old starts at the local high school. There he sees the young woman he saw at the 4th July parade - Mary Dahlgren. A beautiful blue-eyed blonde whose intellect has her studying a year above her peers. The attraction is mutual. But Vernon King, the handsome popular (and also a bully) basketball player has other ideas. Mary will be his girl. Adding to the mix is Mary's father, who is also against Jon and his daughter starting anything. He's campaigning to become a US Congressman and their burgeoning relationship is likely to cause an upset to his political career.
Despite these objections, they date - secretly - until one fateful night when Jon is arrested for apparently attacking Mary. He is sent off to war (instead of jail) whilst Mary is sent to the hospital leaving those around her wondering if she'll recover from a coma. As the war intensifies, Jon doesn't forget Mary. He keeps in touch with a friend, Ben Walker, who not only taught Jon how to fly but whose son is also in the army. Ben has the difficult task of telling Jon that Mary has moved on and no longer wants anything to do with him.
Yet not all is as it seems. Mary discovers the truth about the attack and sets out to find Jon overseas. She loves him, he loves her. Will the separation caused by a politically consumed father and war keep these two apart?
Beautifully written, Steere's novel is a love story to define an era. The trials and tribulations that this young couple have to face is tough yet it's their deep affection that motivates them to pursue a relationship. The characters met - Walt, Ben, Grandma Wilson - are well thought out, distinctive and add a completeness to the overall story and both Jon and Mary are extremely likable. Expressive and descriptive, the novel evokes a perfect example of how a love story should be told.
An amazing story that had me going through a range of emotions. Unsure as to whether I would enjoy a historical drama, I nonetheless dove in to find Steere's writing, language and characters created a compelling read. The final few chapters are dramatic with the entire novel completely engaging. A highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.
Nevertheless, the mature highly intelligent sixteen years old starts at the local high school. There he sees the young woman he saw at the 4th July parade - Mary Dahlgren. A beautiful blue-eyed blonde whose intellect has her studying a year above her peers. The attraction is mutual. But Vernon King, the handsome popular (and also a bully) basketball player has other ideas. Mary will be his girl. Adding to the mix is Mary's father, who is also against Jon and his daughter starting anything. He's campaigning to become a US Congressman and their burgeoning relationship is likely to cause an upset to his political career.
Despite these objections, they date - secretly - until one fateful night when Jon is arrested for apparently attacking Mary. He is sent off to war (instead of jail) whilst Mary is sent to the hospital leaving those around her wondering if she'll recover from a coma. As the war intensifies, Jon doesn't forget Mary. He keeps in touch with a friend, Ben Walker, who not only taught Jon how to fly but whose son is also in the army. Ben has the difficult task of telling Jon that Mary has moved on and no longer wants anything to do with him.
Yet not all is as it seems. Mary discovers the truth about the attack and sets out to find Jon overseas. She loves him, he loves her. Will the separation caused by a politically consumed father and war keep these two apart?
Beautifully written, Steere's novel is a love story to define an era. The trials and tribulations that this young couple have to face is tough yet it's their deep affection that motivates them to pursue a relationship. The characters met - Walt, Ben, Grandma Wilson - are well thought out, distinctive and add a completeness to the overall story and both Jon and Mary are extremely likable. Expressive and descriptive, the novel evokes a perfect example of how a love story should be told.
An amazing story that had me going through a range of emotions. Unsure as to whether I would enjoy a historical drama, I nonetheless dove in to find Steere's writing, language and characters created a compelling read. The final few chapters are dramatic with the entire novel completely engaging. A highly recommended read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author to review. The opinions expressed are my own and I am not required to give a positive critique.
March 27, 2013
I had read and reviewed Sea of Crises, which I loved, so I was anticipating another good read when the author asked me to read and review Defiant Heart.
Don't pick up this book and expect one anything like Sea of Crises. The only thing the two have in common is the author. Which isn't a bad thing because that means you're going to get to read first-rate storytelling. Like Sea of Crises, this book is well written and well told.
I fell in love with Jonathan Meyer, Mary Dahlgren, Walt, Ben, and the small town in Indiana where most of this story takes place. My heart broke for Jon, whose entire family is killed in a car accident, leaving him to travel alone to his new home with his grandmother, whom he has never met. He is greeted by her instruction to call her ma'am - not Grandmother, and this sets the tone for their relationship. Jon finds his grandmother isn't the only one in town with a cold shoulder. Before long, he's ostracized at school and loses his job at Dahlgren Hardware, because he's Jewish. As his grandmother warms to him (like a glacier warming), she gives him an old bicycle to fix up and Jon assuages his loneliness by riding far and wide through the surrounding countryside. In this way, he meets Ben, who becomes like a father to him. But he continues to run crossways with the bullies at school, even while falling in love with Mary Dahlgren.
I could go on and on about the story, but you can read the book. I can tell you I couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried and I sighed. I loved every minute of it, and it's not the genre I generally prefer to read. It's one of those books that present a conundrum: I couldn't stop reading, couldn't get enough of the story, even though I knew I'd feel the pang of loss when I did reach the end. And don't ask me which book I prefer, Defiant Heart or Sea of Crises - it's like asking if I like filet mignon better than homemade cinnamon rolls. They're both excellent, but can't be compared to each other.
I'll definitely be adding Marty Steere to my list of favorite authors to watch. I can highly recommend watching for this book's publication on April 15th so you can grab it and immerse yourself in the life of Jon and Mary for a few hours.
Don't pick up this book and expect one anything like Sea of Crises. The only thing the two have in common is the author. Which isn't a bad thing because that means you're going to get to read first-rate storytelling. Like Sea of Crises, this book is well written and well told.
I fell in love with Jonathan Meyer, Mary Dahlgren, Walt, Ben, and the small town in Indiana where most of this story takes place. My heart broke for Jon, whose entire family is killed in a car accident, leaving him to travel alone to his new home with his grandmother, whom he has never met. He is greeted by her instruction to call her ma'am - not Grandmother, and this sets the tone for their relationship. Jon finds his grandmother isn't the only one in town with a cold shoulder. Before long, he's ostracized at school and loses his job at Dahlgren Hardware, because he's Jewish. As his grandmother warms to him (like a glacier warming), she gives him an old bicycle to fix up and Jon assuages his loneliness by riding far and wide through the surrounding countryside. In this way, he meets Ben, who becomes like a father to him. But he continues to run crossways with the bullies at school, even while falling in love with Mary Dahlgren.
I could go on and on about the story, but you can read the book. I can tell you I couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried and I sighed. I loved every minute of it, and it's not the genre I generally prefer to read. It's one of those books that present a conundrum: I couldn't stop reading, couldn't get enough of the story, even though I knew I'd feel the pang of loss when I did reach the end. And don't ask me which book I prefer, Defiant Heart or Sea of Crises - it's like asking if I like filet mignon better than homemade cinnamon rolls. They're both excellent, but can't be compared to each other.
I'll definitely be adding Marty Steere to my list of favorite authors to watch. I can highly recommend watching for this book's publication on April 15th so you can grab it and immerse yourself in the life of Jon and Mary for a few hours.
April 27, 2013
It has been quite a while since a book brought me to tears; made me laugh and made me angry. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It wasn't just a book of romance it was so much more and a great wartime fiction novel.
I loved the main character Jon Meyer. Sadly he lost his parents and brother in a car accident and was sent to stay with a grandmother he hardly knew who seemed to resent him being there. It seemed that life would get hard for him, and you started feeling sorry for him for the word go. Jon then fell in love with Mary but her Father, in fear of scandal, refused to let her see him as it may destroy his political career. He was bullied at school by Vernon, the sports star, and his gang of followers. Through it all though, he retained his dignity and came across as a really strong character who could triumph through adversity.
There were some other great characters in the book. Ben Wheeler, a local pilot, who took Jon under his wing. Ben's own son was away in the military. His English teacher at the school and Walt who worked in the local hardware store, where Jon got a job. Mary is also a great character who comes across as strong and determined to get her man.
After being accused of a crime he didn't commit, Jon's punishment was to be sent away to join the army. This left Mary heartbroken as she had continued to see Jon in secret. The war scenes in the book are extremely well written and moving. Quite horrific in parts. Jon proved himself to be a great role model throughout the book and was extremely likeable.
I could write so much more about this book, but don't want to give away the plot line. I had a job to put it down, but had to when I realised I'd been reading all evening and I only had 4 hours left before I had to get up for work. Needless to say I finished it in two sittings. I would certainly love to read other books by this author as I love the depth he gave his characters. One of his other books is previewed at the end of the e-book and I will certainly be buying it.
** I received this book free of charge in order to provide a review. This did not influence my review in anyway **
I loved the main character Jon Meyer. Sadly he lost his parents and brother in a car accident and was sent to stay with a grandmother he hardly knew who seemed to resent him being there. It seemed that life would get hard for him, and you started feeling sorry for him for the word go. Jon then fell in love with Mary but her Father, in fear of scandal, refused to let her see him as it may destroy his political career. He was bullied at school by Vernon, the sports star, and his gang of followers. Through it all though, he retained his dignity and came across as a really strong character who could triumph through adversity.
There were some other great characters in the book. Ben Wheeler, a local pilot, who took Jon under his wing. Ben's own son was away in the military. His English teacher at the school and Walt who worked in the local hardware store, where Jon got a job. Mary is also a great character who comes across as strong and determined to get her man.
After being accused of a crime he didn't commit, Jon's punishment was to be sent away to join the army. This left Mary heartbroken as she had continued to see Jon in secret. The war scenes in the book are extremely well written and moving. Quite horrific in parts. Jon proved himself to be a great role model throughout the book and was extremely likeable.
I could write so much more about this book, but don't want to give away the plot line. I had a job to put it down, but had to when I realised I'd been reading all evening and I only had 4 hours left before I had to get up for work. Needless to say I finished it in two sittings. I would certainly love to read other books by this author as I love the depth he gave his characters. One of his other books is previewed at the end of the e-book and I will certainly be buying it.
** I received this book free of charge in order to provide a review. This did not influence my review in anyway **
October 2, 2015
Defiant Heart is a gem of a book. It is a love story with some truly heart-wrenching moments. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I cheered. If you are a fan of Nicholas Sparks, you will be a fan of this novel by Marty Steere. The writing is wonderful. The author draws the reader in right from the beginning. The characters are wonderful and the story line unfolds flawlessly.
This novel takes place in the 1940’s just before and during World War II. Jon Meyer is the main character. His story is one of loss, prejudice, courage, strength, hope, and love. Jon must overcome many obstacles, but through it all remains the remarkable individual that he is. He is smart, polite, respectful, proud, and loyal. The relationships that develop between Jon and his grandmother, Mary Dahlgren, Ben Wheeler, Walt Gallagher, and the men he served with in the army are wonderfully developed. He quickly wins over the reader, and you can’t help but root for him.
Mary Dahlgren is the perfect complement for Jon. She is intelligent, independent, and beautiful. She is a good judge of character and has a good moral compass. Mary also faces much adversity in the story, and she is betrayed by those closest to her. And yet, she remains true to herself and Jon.
I love books that evoke strong emotions. There were times I was so angry and frustrated by the events that occurred. Other times I was filled with such warmth. There were many anxious moments. And a few times I was moved to tears. One of the most-well-developed aspects of the book is the relationship between Jon and his grandmother. It was masterful how that evolved.
This is one of those books you find yourself thinking about long after the final chapter has been read. The characters stay with you, and you wish you could visit with them longer. Kudos to Marty Steere.
This novel takes place in the 1940’s just before and during World War II. Jon Meyer is the main character. His story is one of loss, prejudice, courage, strength, hope, and love. Jon must overcome many obstacles, but through it all remains the remarkable individual that he is. He is smart, polite, respectful, proud, and loyal. The relationships that develop between Jon and his grandmother, Mary Dahlgren, Ben Wheeler, Walt Gallagher, and the men he served with in the army are wonderfully developed. He quickly wins over the reader, and you can’t help but root for him.
Mary Dahlgren is the perfect complement for Jon. She is intelligent, independent, and beautiful. She is a good judge of character and has a good moral compass. Mary also faces much adversity in the story, and she is betrayed by those closest to her. And yet, she remains true to herself and Jon.
I love books that evoke strong emotions. There were times I was so angry and frustrated by the events that occurred. Other times I was filled with such warmth. There were many anxious moments. And a few times I was moved to tears. One of the most-well-developed aspects of the book is the relationship between Jon and his grandmother. It was masterful how that evolved.
This is one of those books you find yourself thinking about long after the final chapter has been read. The characters stay with you, and you wish you could visit with them longer. Kudos to Marty Steere.
May 4, 2013
Picture
A young man is orphaned at the age of sixteen. He is sent to live with his estranged grandmother who doesn't want anything to do with him. With his life turned upside down, he finds himself ostracized in her new home all because his father was a Jew. Framed for a crime he didn't commit, he finds himself dropping bombs over Germany while his town back home deals with betrayal of their own and the love of his life fighting to get her life back.
This historical fiction novel is an excellent story that will have you cheering one minute, angry the next, and then fighting back the tears. The storyline was exceptionally well-written, pulling in a variety of characters there were themselves very deep. I loved the depths the author took them. I had tears in my eyes as I watched the relationship between Jon and his grandmother move all over the spectrum. Even the despicable ones were not flat. They had many facets though not enough to have you generating sympathy for them.
I found myself unable to put the book down after I got into it. I have to admit that I struggled in the beginning. Not for want of a great story or excellent writing. It was the subject matter. The hatred shown against the young boy for being Jewish angered me. I wanted to reach into the story and take care of a few characters.
With that note, there is quite a bit of hate acts in the book as well as an attempted rape and other violent scenes. You are taken from small-town Indiana to the skies over France where death could occur easily with the rip of a bullet. Though the book is not graphic, there is no doubt what is happening and it is not quite sugar-coated.
This is one book you'll think on long after you finish reading it and will recommend to others.
Note: This book was received as part of a virtual book tour with no expectations of a positive review.
A young man is orphaned at the age of sixteen. He is sent to live with his estranged grandmother who doesn't want anything to do with him. With his life turned upside down, he finds himself ostracized in her new home all because his father was a Jew. Framed for a crime he didn't commit, he finds himself dropping bombs over Germany while his town back home deals with betrayal of their own and the love of his life fighting to get her life back.
This historical fiction novel is an excellent story that will have you cheering one minute, angry the next, and then fighting back the tears. The storyline was exceptionally well-written, pulling in a variety of characters there were themselves very deep. I loved the depths the author took them. I had tears in my eyes as I watched the relationship between Jon and his grandmother move all over the spectrum. Even the despicable ones were not flat. They had many facets though not enough to have you generating sympathy for them.
I found myself unable to put the book down after I got into it. I have to admit that I struggled in the beginning. Not for want of a great story or excellent writing. It was the subject matter. The hatred shown against the young boy for being Jewish angered me. I wanted to reach into the story and take care of a few characters.
With that note, there is quite a bit of hate acts in the book as well as an attempted rape and other violent scenes. You are taken from small-town Indiana to the skies over France where death could occur easily with the rip of a bullet. Though the book is not graphic, there is no doubt what is happening and it is not quite sugar-coated.
This is one book you'll think on long after you finish reading it and will recommend to others.
Note: This book was received as part of a virtual book tour with no expectations of a positive review.
May 7, 2013
Let me begin by saying that it takes a special book to make me lose all track of time, and this is one of those books. As a book reviewer, I sometimes find myself spending too much time figuring out how much more I have to read to finish the book. I didn't find myself doing that very often with this book. Sometimes a chapter ended, and I barely noticed. I was thoroughly engaged with this book at almost every turn, and I found myself thinking more than once that this was the way a historical novel should be written.
Let's get this out of the way. There is some profanity, but until it got closer to the end, it was so minimal I barely noticed. And the bit towards the end could have been much worse than it was because it took place in the army. There were no sex scenes. In fact, the main characters actually remained pure--go figure.
I learned something during the reading of this book, and I always feel that those are the best kinds of historical fiction. I have heard of Japanese and African American prejudice during WWII. I honestly did not know about anti-Semitism, and I was absolutely horrified! Wasn't it bad enough that Hitler was killing the Jews? The injustice they suffered in this country was pretty horrendous.
I loved the little bits of mystery the author inserted into the story. I also loved the romance. And justice was accomplished. You can't know how much that means to me. I have read my share of books where that did not happen! Sometimes I was not as drawn into the war descriptions, but that is a part of the author's world.
So if you like historical fiction, romance, and even a tad bit of mystery, this just might be the book for you.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Let's get this out of the way. There is some profanity, but until it got closer to the end, it was so minimal I barely noticed. And the bit towards the end could have been much worse than it was because it took place in the army. There were no sex scenes. In fact, the main characters actually remained pure--go figure.
I learned something during the reading of this book, and I always feel that those are the best kinds of historical fiction. I have heard of Japanese and African American prejudice during WWII. I honestly did not know about anti-Semitism, and I was absolutely horrified! Wasn't it bad enough that Hitler was killing the Jews? The injustice they suffered in this country was pretty horrendous.
I loved the little bits of mystery the author inserted into the story. I also loved the romance. And justice was accomplished. You can't know how much that means to me. I have read my share of books where that did not happen! Sometimes I was not as drawn into the war descriptions, but that is a part of the author's world.
So if you like historical fiction, romance, and even a tad bit of mystery, this just might be the book for you.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
September 25, 2013
This is Marty Steere's second novel, but for me this is the first that I'm reading after he kindly contacted me through my blog.I was a little hesitant to read this book at first, partially because it contains a love-story, and love stories have, generally speaking, never been my biggest source of enjoyment. So I didn't really know what to expect of this book, but I agreed to read it, as its premise sounded pretty interesting, as it's set against the backdrop of World War 2, which, ironically, was not even the part that I found most interesting while reading.What I did find interesting about Defiant Heart was that it is a moving multi-layered character-driven story. All characters are very well fleshed out and their actions, as their back-stories are revealed, make sense and make them appear as real people. From early on it makes you feel sympathy for the main protagonist, Jon Meyer, and utterly dislike the antagonist(s).What surprised me the most about Defiant Heart, especially in the first half of the book, aside from been extremely well-edited, was that it touched up on topics that I didn't expect from it at first: teen-age bullying, anti-Semitism/racism, selfish parenting and so forth. That was a very surprising twist and it made the book a very interesting and also a very relevant read, as these issues are something that still poisons the society that surrounds us and as can be seen when reading the headlines in the news, as can be seen here and here.This is definitely a book that is worth your time.Marty Steere gracefully accepted to answer a few questions that I had for him, so please check out my author interview here.This review has also been posted on my blog and on Amazon.
April 27, 2013
I loved this book so much! Author Marty Steere really knows how to write a great historical fiction with lots of action, romance and a superb plot. Defiant Heart captured me completely from beginning to end with the courageous Jon Meyer, an admirable boy with a will to keep moving on despite every bump and dip on the road. Set during World War II in a small town of Indiana, conflicts of the war have a major role to how the story develops into one exciting read.
The story swiftly switches to different points of view without missing a beat, thus giving you the chance to come close with the characters. I’m so excited for everyone to meet Walt, Ben, Tommie and most of all Mary, a brilliant girl who’s such a great judge of character and Jon’s true love. All of them were very well written, believable and some were even downright hilarious, making me laugh countless of times.
I don’t have a single thing to complain about this wonderful and perfect book. It’s the kind that teaches you valuable life lessons you will want to immerse yourself over and over again, through heartache and all. Trust me on this one, Defiant Heart awaits to charm its readers with a beautiful love story you don’t want to miss!
*This review first appeared at Cuzinlogic* http://cuzinlogic.com/2013/04/defiant...
The story swiftly switches to different points of view without missing a beat, thus giving you the chance to come close with the characters. I’m so excited for everyone to meet Walt, Ben, Tommie and most of all Mary, a brilliant girl who’s such a great judge of character and Jon’s true love. All of them were very well written, believable and some were even downright hilarious, making me laugh countless of times.
I don’t have a single thing to complain about this wonderful and perfect book. It’s the kind that teaches you valuable life lessons you will want to immerse yourself over and over again, through heartache and all. Trust me on this one, Defiant Heart awaits to charm its readers with a beautiful love story you don’t want to miss!
*This review first appeared at Cuzinlogic* http://cuzinlogic.com/2013/04/defiant...
March 20, 2013
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This book to me is 2 genre's in one, Historical Fiction and Romance. I feel historical romance is a tricky genre. While it is fiction, you have to have some sort of truth behind it to be believeable. There was a healthy balance of both the historical part, and the romance part. I found myself anxious to see how things turned out with both aspects.
The book starts out with Jon Meyer who is suddenly sent to live with his grandmother in a small Indiana town. Life is not easy for Jon there. Not only is it a very small town, he finds himself falling for the same girl the town bully has his sights on.
Mary has always grown up in the small town where everyone knows everyone. She's never really showed an interest in boys until Jon comes to town. Mary would do anything to be with Jon, the only boy she's ever loved.
The couple has to overcome many obsticules to finally have their happy ending. Their love story is about true love, committment, enduring the unknown, and faithfulness. Their love story was not your typical teenage love story.
I highly enjoyed this book. This is the second book by this author.
This book to me is 2 genre's in one, Historical Fiction and Romance. I feel historical romance is a tricky genre. While it is fiction, you have to have some sort of truth behind it to be believeable. There was a healthy balance of both the historical part, and the romance part. I found myself anxious to see how things turned out with both aspects.
The book starts out with Jon Meyer who is suddenly sent to live with his grandmother in a small Indiana town. Life is not easy for Jon there. Not only is it a very small town, he finds himself falling for the same girl the town bully has his sights on.
Mary has always grown up in the small town where everyone knows everyone. She's never really showed an interest in boys until Jon comes to town. Mary would do anything to be with Jon, the only boy she's ever loved.
The couple has to overcome many obsticules to finally have their happy ending. Their love story is about true love, committment, enduring the unknown, and faithfulness. Their love story was not your typical teenage love story.
I highly enjoyed this book. This is the second book by this author.
June 3, 2013
I absolutely LOVED this book to the point that I didn't want to put it down! This book made me feel a range of emotions,. from crying my eyes out to bursting with happiness for the main characters. Jon and Mary's love story was heartbreaking and enthralling, I found myself rooting for them the whole way through the book.
At the tender age of 15 Jon was sent to Indianan to live with his 80 year old estranged grandmother, after his parents and brother's death in an automobile accident. Jon learns that life in Indianan is majorly different from his life in New York. He was beaten up and then ostracized by the kids at school. The only one who took notice of Jon was Mary.
If you LOVE reading about coming of age, romance, WWII, historical fiction and suspense, this is a book for you. I would Highly Recommend this book. It was very well written with a great plot and well defined characters.
To see the whole tour click this link: http://www.greenmountaincouple.com/20...
**This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinion or review on the product or book. **
At the tender age of 15 Jon was sent to Indianan to live with his 80 year old estranged grandmother, after his parents and brother's death in an automobile accident. Jon learns that life in Indianan is majorly different from his life in New York. He was beaten up and then ostracized by the kids at school. The only one who took notice of Jon was Mary.
If you LOVE reading about coming of age, romance, WWII, historical fiction and suspense, this is a book for you. I would Highly Recommend this book. It was very well written with a great plot and well defined characters.
To see the whole tour click this link: http://www.greenmountaincouple.com/20...
**This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinion or review on the product or book. **
April 13, 2013
Jon recently came to live with his grandmother after losing his mother, father, and brother in a car accident. He’s kind of a loner being the new kid in town. That all changes when his classmates discover he is Jewish. He is taunted and ridiculed, even fired from his job. Jon meets Ben, who teaches him how to fly and treats him as his own son.
Mary has always thought Jon was cute from the day she laid eyes on him. Upon finding out he’s Jewish, her father forbids her to even speak to him for fear that it could taint his chances at running for office. Mary and Jon soon find themselves sneaking away to see each other on an almost daily basis until something horrible happens and he is accused of a crime. As a plea bargain, Jon enlists in the Army at the age of 16, during the midst of WWII.
This was an awesome book to read. I absolutely love the historical accuracy as to certain events that truly took place during the war. It’s a modern day “Romeo & Juliet” set during war time, only a much happier ending. If you like historical romance, this book MUST make it to the top of your TBR pile. I give this book more than 5 stars. Beautifully written!
Mary has always thought Jon was cute from the day she laid eyes on him. Upon finding out he’s Jewish, her father forbids her to even speak to him for fear that it could taint his chances at running for office. Mary and Jon soon find themselves sneaking away to see each other on an almost daily basis until something horrible happens and he is accused of a crime. As a plea bargain, Jon enlists in the Army at the age of 16, during the midst of WWII.
This was an awesome book to read. I absolutely love the historical accuracy as to certain events that truly took place during the war. It’s a modern day “Romeo & Juliet” set during war time, only a much happier ending. If you like historical romance, this book MUST make it to the top of your TBR pile. I give this book more than 5 stars. Beautifully written!
May 1, 2013
I laughed at times, I cried at times, a profoundly moving book about life during WWII and how one Jewish boy survived both living in America and fighting in the war. And how he found love and acceptance along the way.
I think I cried hardest when I read about how badly he was treated at home, and not just by the children. I have never wanted to slap another adult quite as bad as I wanted to slap a couple in this book.
Well written and deeply moving, I found this story to be far more than the “standard war tale” I was expecting and more a story of the triumph of life and love. I give this story 4.5 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
I think I cried hardest when I read about how badly he was treated at home, and not just by the children. I have never wanted to slap another adult quite as bad as I wanted to slap a couple in this book.
Well written and deeply moving, I found this story to be far more than the “standard war tale” I was expecting and more a story of the triumph of life and love. I give this story 4.5 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
April 2, 2013
I loved this book so much. Set at the beginning of WWII, this is not normally a time period I gravitate to, but I just got caught up in it. There is a love story and the focus is mainly on Jon and on all the challenges keeping Jon and Mary apart. It is possible that I may have shed a few tears. I recommend this for any fans of historical fiction or a love story that puts the couple through the wringer before letting them be happy.
October 1, 2013
"Defiant Heart" by Marty Steere which I won from Goodreads Giveaways is an engrossing page turner filled with romance and suspense set against the emerging war with Germany in WWII. As the story opens seventeen year old Jon Meyer is sent to live with his grandmother in a small Indiana town after the tragic death of his parents and brother. After being ostracized at school because of religious bigotry and challenged by the hostility of his grieving grandmother, life could not be any worse for Jon until he falls in love with Mary Dahlgren and is befriended by Ben Wheeler. Only then does he find a slight reprieve from his isolation and heartache. But happiness is fleeting when a crime rips Mary from his arms and sends Jon into military combat.
This is an emotionally-charged story that strikes at the heart of issues like bullying, religious intolerance and the brutality of war. Yet within an atmosphere that's filled with hatred, animosity and betrayal are stronger elements of unconditional friendship, courage, hope, and love.
The plot is well-written and flows naturally as the young lovers are faced with one challenge after another, and even with events that will separate and sweep them away to a continent and a war far from their small town.
The characters are realistic and true to their natures, although their personalities develop in complexity as the story progresses. Jon Meyer broken-hearted and feeling alone after the loss of his family deals with his struggles in high school with maturity, strength and resilience. These characteristics will be enhanced as he shows even greater courage, intelligence and resourcefulness. Mary Dahlgren, a bookworm by nature is not only intelligent and astute but grows in determination and fortitude. Marvella Wilson, Jon's grandmother is an embittered woman who finds the healing balm of love where she least expects it. Characters like Ben Wheeler and Jim Dahlgren are studies in contrasts; one supportive, kind and generous, the other selfish and egocentric. Even teachers like Mr. Spitzman and Agnes Tremaine are complete opposites; one narcissistic, the other good-natured and protective. But it's the lovers' antagonists that arouse the reader's ire; Vernon King the arrogant, vain bully and Jeff Fletcher, his spineless friend.
Even the minor characters that intertwine with Jon and Mary's life are noteworthy, their actions natural and realistic as events unfold; the brave and empathetic Tommie Wheeler, the unswerving loyalty of Samantha Parker , dedicated and kind-hearted Penelope Radkovich, and the humour and honest friendship of Walt Gallagher. All these remarkable characters combine to make the plot magnetic, captivating the reader from the first page to the last. I recommend "Defiant Heart" as a must read.
This is an emotionally-charged story that strikes at the heart of issues like bullying, religious intolerance and the brutality of war. Yet within an atmosphere that's filled with hatred, animosity and betrayal are stronger elements of unconditional friendship, courage, hope, and love.
The plot is well-written and flows naturally as the young lovers are faced with one challenge after another, and even with events that will separate and sweep them away to a continent and a war far from their small town.
The characters are realistic and true to their natures, although their personalities develop in complexity as the story progresses. Jon Meyer broken-hearted and feeling alone after the loss of his family deals with his struggles in high school with maturity, strength and resilience. These characteristics will be enhanced as he shows even greater courage, intelligence and resourcefulness. Mary Dahlgren, a bookworm by nature is not only intelligent and astute but grows in determination and fortitude. Marvella Wilson, Jon's grandmother is an embittered woman who finds the healing balm of love where she least expects it. Characters like Ben Wheeler and Jim Dahlgren are studies in contrasts; one supportive, kind and generous, the other selfish and egocentric. Even teachers like Mr. Spitzman and Agnes Tremaine are complete opposites; one narcissistic, the other good-natured and protective. But it's the lovers' antagonists that arouse the reader's ire; Vernon King the arrogant, vain bully and Jeff Fletcher, his spineless friend.
Even the minor characters that intertwine with Jon and Mary's life are noteworthy, their actions natural and realistic as events unfold; the brave and empathetic Tommie Wheeler, the unswerving loyalty of Samantha Parker , dedicated and kind-hearted Penelope Radkovich, and the humour and honest friendship of Walt Gallagher. All these remarkable characters combine to make the plot magnetic, captivating the reader from the first page to the last. I recommend "Defiant Heart" as a must read.
May 15, 2013
Marvella hadn't spoken to her daughter, Claire, in almost twenty years. Marvella had given Claire an ultimatum ... either stop seeing Frank (because he was Jewish) or Marvella never wanted to see her again. Claire chose Frank. It's now May 1941. Jon is 17 and the only survivor of a car crash that kills his parents (Claire and Frank) and his older brother. Because his only living relative is Marvella, he goes to live with her. Marvella is 80, widowed and barely getting by ... she doesn't need or want the burden of raising Jon, who is a reminder of how she failed as a mother.
School starts and things aren't going too bad for Jon. He has a part-time job in a hardware store and a few friends, including Mary, who is the daughter of the mayor and owner of the hardware store. That all changes when it's discovered he is Jewish ... no one talks to him and he's fired from his job. Because of her father's political aspirations, Mary is forbidden to see Jon. She complies with this for a while but then secretly starts dating him. Then a tragedy happens that drastically changes the course of everyone's lives.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it. It was an interesting story ... Jon and Mary's personal challenges along with the townspeople's prejudices set against the threat of America having to enter WWII. I liked the writing style ... I thought it flowed and was well-paced.
There were lots of characters and they were developed well. I liked Jon and Mary. Despite their young ages, they were mature and the things that happened to them made them even more so. It was a different time, a different place. It was nice to see hard and cold Marvella mellow a bit as the story progressed. I found Vernon annoying and a bit too much of a bully ... I was hoping something horrible would happen to him. Mary's father was horrible in putting his interests ahead of those of his daughter's. Ben and Walt were fun supportive characters and Jon was lucky to have them in his lonely life.
I would recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/05...
School starts and things aren't going too bad for Jon. He has a part-time job in a hardware store and a few friends, including Mary, who is the daughter of the mayor and owner of the hardware store. That all changes when it's discovered he is Jewish ... no one talks to him and he's fired from his job. Because of her father's political aspirations, Mary is forbidden to see Jon. She complies with this for a while but then secretly starts dating him. Then a tragedy happens that drastically changes the course of everyone's lives.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked it. It was an interesting story ... Jon and Mary's personal challenges along with the townspeople's prejudices set against the threat of America having to enter WWII. I liked the writing style ... I thought it flowed and was well-paced.
There were lots of characters and they were developed well. I liked Jon and Mary. Despite their young ages, they were mature and the things that happened to them made them even more so. It was a different time, a different place. It was nice to see hard and cold Marvella mellow a bit as the story progressed. I found Vernon annoying and a bit too much of a bully ... I was hoping something horrible would happen to him. Mary's father was horrible in putting his interests ahead of those of his daughter's. Ben and Walt were fun supportive characters and Jon was lucky to have them in his lonely life.
I would recommend this book and look forward to reading others by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2013/05...
August 13, 2013
Its 1941, Jons family is lost in a car accident…his older brother, mother and father…gone. His grandmother reluctantly takes him in and he starts to settle into the pace of the rural town of Jackson. Jon starts attending the local high school where he is ostracized for something he has no control over and his home life with his grandmother is anything but relaxing. He stays to himself and starts to fly under the radar until he meets the beautiful and smart Mary. They have an instant connection and even though Mary could have any guy she wants she is drawn to Jon and his calm and strong demeanor. Marys father soes not approve and town bully Vernon is on the hunt to kill Jon and take Mary for his own. But just when things are looking up for the young couple deception and disaster creeps in and miles soon separate them. Will love overpower all? Will they have their happy ending?
Defiant Heart is a breathtaking, emotional, and lovely story. The characters grab you and pull you in deep that you grow so attached to them that their fear, their love, and their despair become yours. Jon is a remarkable character, the image of a true gentleman. He is incredibly smart, kind, and truthful. Jon takes everything that happens to him in stride and never complains or asks for your sympathy. He gets caught up in the War and excels and quickly promotes….but I expected nothing less. J Mary is a beautiful women physically and mentally. She is strong willed and no one will tell her what to do especially when she knows it’s the right thing to do. Together they are a picturesque couple and I felt for them throughout the whole story. With great characters come ones that you absolutely do not like and give you the creeps….that was Vernon for me. He is a demeaning man who thinks he has the power to get away with anything. Ugh, just thinking about him makes my skin crawl.
There are many emotions flying around for my while reading this book. I felt every emotion under the rainbow….elation, pure happiness, despair, longing, love, fear, proud, and awe. To me that is a great book! I felt so many things for these people that I know this book will stay with me forever. One of those rare times when the people and their story becomes apart of you and you cherish it without end.
Defiant Heart is a breathtaking, emotional, and lovely story. The characters grab you and pull you in deep that you grow so attached to them that their fear, their love, and their despair become yours. Jon is a remarkable character, the image of a true gentleman. He is incredibly smart, kind, and truthful. Jon takes everything that happens to him in stride and never complains or asks for your sympathy. He gets caught up in the War and excels and quickly promotes….but I expected nothing less. J Mary is a beautiful women physically and mentally. She is strong willed and no one will tell her what to do especially when she knows it’s the right thing to do. Together they are a picturesque couple and I felt for them throughout the whole story. With great characters come ones that you absolutely do not like and give you the creeps….that was Vernon for me. He is a demeaning man who thinks he has the power to get away with anything. Ugh, just thinking about him makes my skin crawl.
There are many emotions flying around for my while reading this book. I felt every emotion under the rainbow….elation, pure happiness, despair, longing, love, fear, proud, and awe. To me that is a great book! I felt so many things for these people that I know this book will stay with me forever. One of those rare times when the people and their story becomes apart of you and you cherish it without end.
May 6, 2013
Rating: 4.5 stars
In the midst of an escalating World War II, Jon loses everything dear to him in a tragic accident. He is sent to live in a small Indiana town with his only remaining relative, a grandmother who refused to acknowledge him before then. The townspeople for the most part aren't any more accepting.
Then he meets Mary, and things start to look up. She's smart and beautiful but she's also the mayor's daughter. And the mayor wants to run for a higher office. The last thing he wants is his daughter with a boy like Jon. His machinations to keep them apart, coupled with the anger of the boy Mary turned down, lead to a tragedy--one that sends Jon to war and leaves Mary fighting for her life. Can they find their way back to each other in time?
When Jon goes to war and Mary's life hangs in the balance, the story goes from a heart-wrenching coming of age story to a wartime love story. I had such an emotional attachment to what happened to these characters, and the story took me on quite the journey. These two young teenagers face tragedies many adults couldn't overcome and then head into war and face further loss, but all the while they show strength way beyond their years.
I highly recommend this book to readers who want to invest their heart in a character-driven love story. Plus, the story will appeal to history buffs. As the book summary states so well... Two extraordinary characters. One unforgettable love story.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
In the midst of an escalating World War II, Jon loses everything dear to him in a tragic accident. He is sent to live in a small Indiana town with his only remaining relative, a grandmother who refused to acknowledge him before then. The townspeople for the most part aren't any more accepting.
Then he meets Mary, and things start to look up. She's smart and beautiful but she's also the mayor's daughter. And the mayor wants to run for a higher office. The last thing he wants is his daughter with a boy like Jon. His machinations to keep them apart, coupled with the anger of the boy Mary turned down, lead to a tragedy--one that sends Jon to war and leaves Mary fighting for her life. Can they find their way back to each other in time?
When Jon goes to war and Mary's life hangs in the balance, the story goes from a heart-wrenching coming of age story to a wartime love story. I had such an emotional attachment to what happened to these characters, and the story took me on quite the journey. These two young teenagers face tragedies many adults couldn't overcome and then head into war and face further loss, but all the while they show strength way beyond their years.
I highly recommend this book to readers who want to invest their heart in a character-driven love story. Plus, the story will appeal to history buffs. As the book summary states so well... Two extraordinary characters. One unforgettable love story.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.
May 8, 2013
This book begins when Jonathon Meyer's entire family is tragically killed in a car accident and he is sent to live with his grandmother. His grandmother isn't the loving doting type, no she begins by informing Jon that he will call her Ma'am. That for me just yanked at my heart strings. Here we have a young boy who just lost his entire family and his only family greets him with that! I wanted to smack that grandmother with a two by four!
Do things get any better for Jon? Well that is an interesting question and one which I sadly cannot answer since to do so would be to give away the book. So you will just have to rush out and buy yourself a copy to find out what happens to this poor child.
Character creation is fabulous and you are sucked into not only Jon's life but also the lives of the other characters. Mary was one such character, she pulled you in and twisted you all upside down. I love books in which the characters grow and change during the story and this one did not disappoint, these characters evolved into living beings for me.
I can honestly say that while it reads a little slow at times, I truly enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a little something different to read and enjoys a story set in the 1940's.
Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
Do things get any better for Jon? Well that is an interesting question and one which I sadly cannot answer since to do so would be to give away the book. So you will just have to rush out and buy yourself a copy to find out what happens to this poor child.
Character creation is fabulous and you are sucked into not only Jon's life but also the lives of the other characters. Mary was one such character, she pulled you in and twisted you all upside down. I love books in which the characters grow and change during the story and this one did not disappoint, these characters evolved into living beings for me.
I can honestly say that while it reads a little slow at times, I truly enjoyed this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a little something different to read and enjoys a story set in the 1940's.
Details/Disclaimer: Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
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