Award-Winning Finalist Foreword Reviews' Book of the Year Awards Award-Winning Finalist American Book Fest Best Book Awards Award-Winning Finalist Beverly Hills Book Awards In Altar of Resistance , the fate of the Eternal City hangs in the balance as Rome becomes a volatile battleground during the Italian Campaign and the Nazi occupation of 1943-1944. As war rages, Rome is not just a city—it is a powder keg, teetering on the edge of destruction. The Allies push relentlessly toward liberation, while the Nazi occupiers tighten their grip, executing raids and suppressing rebellion with ruthless force. In the heart of this chaos stands Pope Pius XII and the Vatican, deeply involved in clandestine operations to rid Europe of Hitler, all while attempting to shield the ancient city from annihilation. Based on newly declassified OSS, CIA, and KGB documents, Altar of Resistance uncovers untold stories and forgotten truths, offering an unprecedented look at the intense political maneuvering, secret negotiations, and fierce battles that ultimately led to the Allied liberation of Rome. Fans of Mark Sullivan, Ben Macintyre and the The Century Trilogy will enjoy this true story of WWII’s most pivotal moments, including Rome’s struggle for survival and the resilience of those who fought for freedom. " The Coalition has a lot of good action and suspense, an unusual female assassin, and the potential to be another The Day After Tomorrow [the runaway bestseller by Allan Folsom]." --James Patterson, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author " Altar of Resistance is a gripping and densely packed thriller dramatizing the Allied Italian campaign...reminiscent of Herman Wouk's The Winds of War. " --Kirkus Reviews "A rigorous historical novel that reads like the best World War II fiction...a sharply entertaining, in-depth tale of desert warriors." --Kirkus Reviews (for Lions of the Desert) " Samuel Marquis picks up his World War II trilogy with Altar of Resistance , a well-researched and explosive ride through war-torn Rome with Nazis, booming battles, and intense cat-and-mouse chases....Grounded in historical fact but spiced up with thrilling imagination with the fate of the world in balance." --Foreword Reviews "Marquis has really upped his game with Altar of Resistance ....It's more than evident considerable research went into establishing the events, settings, and especially the characters....The man is prolific as well as deep." --Dr. Wesley Britton, Bookpleasures.com (Crime & Mystery) - (5-Star Review) " Lions of the Desert is a character-driven historical adventure featuring daring actions and an intense rivalry...a nuanced and insightful historical novel." --Foreword Reviews "When I read a book about World War II these days, I look for something new... Lions of the Desert by Samuel Marquis delivered this in spectacular fashion. He has written another great book about the war that we should never forget." --Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite (5-Star Review) " Spies of the Midnight Sun is not only a skillful, rapid-fire historical spy thriller, but also a fine source on one of the least-known and most heroic chapters of the Second World War." --Kirkus Reviews "Marquis is a student of history, always creative, [and] never boring...A good comparison might be Tom Clancy. " --Military.com "A simply riveting read from beginning to end, Spies of the Midnight Sun is impressively informed and informative, and a work of solidly researched history." --Midwest Book Review "Samuel Marquis's Spies of the Midnight Sun weaves historical truth with masterful storytelling in an action-packed and intriguing tale of covert spy operations during World War II." --Foreword Reviews "The stuff of which blockbuster movies are made, Lions of the Desert is an impressively researched, deftly written, and exceptionally well presented epic that will have particular appeal for World War II military buffs." --Midwest Book Review "Marquis is the new Follett, Silva , and Clancy rolled into one." --Prof. J.R. Welch, Editor of Dispatches from Fort Apache "In the richness of the texture of his material, Marquis far exceeds the stance of a mere raconteur and entertainer of the masses--he, in fact, becomes a public historian." --Lois C.Henderson, Bookpleasures.com (Crime & Mystery) - 5-Star Review "A combination of The Great Escape, Public Enemies , a genuine old-time Western, and a John Le Carré novel." --BlueInk Review (for Bodyguard of Deception, Book 1 of WWII Series) "Marquis writes quite well, but his real contribution with Blackbeard: The Birth of America is historical....An engrossing and historically grounded yarn." --Kirkus Reviews "Marquis grabs my attention right from the beginning and never lets go." --Gov. Roy R. Romer, 39th Governor of Colorado " The Coalition starts with a bang, revs up its engines,and never stops until the explosive ending...Perfec