Genre: Historical, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
What if those who stand by you are the ones who betray you?
France, 1944
Sometimes the most desperate struggles take place far from the battlefield, and what happens in secret can change the course of history.
Victory is close at hand, but freedom remains frustratingly just beyond the grasp of German physicist Dr Kristopher Lehrer, Resistance fighter Michel, and the remaining members of the team sent by the Allies—Captain Matt Bryant, Sergeant Ken Lowe, and Dr Zhou Liang—as they fight to keep the atomic plans from the Nazis. The team reaches France and connects with members of Michel’s French Resistance cell in Normandy. Allied troops are poised to liberate France, and rescue is supposedly at hand. However, Kristopher is no longer sure the information he carries in his memory is safe with either side.
When Standartenführer Holm and his men finally catch up with their prey, the team is left with few options. With a traitor in their midst, who can they trust? Kristopher must become something he is not in order to save the man he loves. Death is biding his time, and sacrifices must be made for any of them to have the futures they want.
Author’s note: This is the second edition of Comes a Horseman. The first edition was released by another publishing house. This story has been re-edited, and uses UK spelling to reflect its setting.
The Review
“Comes A Horseman” is the final novel of the “Echoes Rising” trilogy by Anne Barwell. It takes place during WWII as it comes closer to ending, in 1944.
Dr. Kristopher Lehrer and Michel Faber are hoping to come closer to freedom. But Kristopher is afraid that the knowledge he holds, a dangerous formula of destruction, cannot be trusted to the Germans or Allies.
Capt. Matt Bryant, Sgt. Ken Lowe and Dr. Zhou Liang, still remain to help protect Kristopher and the plans of destruction.
Even with the aid of the French Resistance, there are still no guarantees that freedom is at hand. Herr SS Standartenfuhrer Karl Holm, SS Oberstrumfuher Reiniger and the German soldiers are close on their trail. And to complicate the mens’ flight to freedom, there’s a traitor amongst them.
When the danger comes too close, once again, and the Allied invasion approaches, freedom will become a distant dream for some. But one man will take a stand for the man he loves.
Anne Barwell takes on the difficult subject of war, in all of its emotional and intense moments. This historical drama is filled with danger, chaos, betrayal, bigotry, revenge and highly suspenseful moments. The love of music is also an important part of the novel.
Barwell brings a magnificent group of characters to life, including Kristopher Lehrer, Michel Faber, Matt Bryant, Ken Lowe and Zhou Liang, and Trevor Palmer. I also loved the brave women of the time: Juliane Dunst, Clara Lehrer, and Elise Schuster. And the members of the Resistance and those who lost their lives: Leo Dawson, Ed Walker and Jacques Dubois.
The “Epilogue” is bittersweet, as the heroes and friends come together in Paris once again, and some remain in hiding to protect themselves and others.
I’ve read this series twice now and it remains one of the most emotional I’ve ever read, with fears, romance, and friendships tested at a time of a terrible war. I highly recommend the “Echoes Rising” series and suggest reading the first two books too: “Shadowboxing” and “Winter Duet”. A wonderful and heartfelt series about those who continue to love and fight for freedom.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
