Chloe the "Military Brat" by A.L. Zeine

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Chloe the Military Brat is a realistic look inside an eleven-year-old girl’s mind as she deals with not only a military PCS move and her parents’ divorced life but also the petty jealousies of tween girls.

As a military brat myself, and a mother to two of them, I think this book is a good stepping off point to starting a conversation with your child about a PCS or divorce. I appreciated that the adults in the book respected Chloe’s feelings, encouraged her to share them and validated that she had a right to experience them. I also appreciate the author showing the divorced parents as functioning co-parents.

Chloe’s journal entries gave us insight into how she was feeling and were a good example of it being okay to be angry. The author showed Chloe’s range of emotions, but that she still functioned in the family units with respect and understanding. It modeled for the reader the resilience that military brats are so well known for.

The introduction of the best friend from another duty station is very true to real life, as was the awkwardness yet ease at which they became reacquainted. I’ll be interested to see the stories of the new friends introduced in the end, assuming they are the other Cul-de-sac kids books.

The book, by nature of length and character age, is intended for elementary or lower middle grade children. There wasn’t a conflict to solve other than Chloe not wanting the things she had no control over: the move or being the child of divorce. She just had to deal with them regardless of her opinion and feelings, which is the reality for military kids after all!

It is a cute story to show military kids that they are not alone. I would recommend it to military parents with elementary-aged children preparing for their first move or middle grade readers preparing to PCS. I’d also recommend it to civilian children who have military brat friends, to better understand their lifestyle and hardships.

Review by Rosalie Spielman (June 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

Life isn’t easy for any eleven-year-old, but when your mom is an active-duty Army officer and your parents are divorced, it becomes so much worse. Chloe has had to move three times already and is devastated to learn it will happen again, forcing her to leave behind yet another best friend. Can their friendship survive this world-ending news? And how will Chloe explain to her parents just how hard it is being a military brat? So far, she’s only been able to pour her feelings into her journal. Life isn’t looking too great, then she gets some surprising, yet bittersweet news. This first installment in a new series follows Chloe as she tries to navigate her conflicting love and anger for her parents and ongoing struggles to maintain friendships throughout moves. Filled with the typical mix of fun and angst of tween daily life but set against the background of Chloe’s life as a military brat, readers are sure to find this a different, yet engaging tween series.

The Cul-de-sac Kids Chapter Book Series was designed to show Military Brats they are not alone. Every book in the series will follow Chloe and her friends as they work their way through the challenges all Military brats face.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Middle Grade Chapter Book

Number of Pages: 98

Word Count: 15,612

Inshallah (God Willing) by Dana Catoe

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Author Dana Catoe in his book Inshallah provides us with a fascinating, in-depth insight into life as an American contractor in Baghdad in 2003 and 2004. The Iraqi government with our encouragement attempted to transition to a democracy after Saddam Hussein was ousted by US Forces. As the head of security for the Interim Iraqi government, Catoe had a front row seat and describes to us the dangers and difficulties that faced both Iraqi citizens and US soldiers and civilians assigned to Iraq at the time. Saddam Hussein was no longer in power, but substantial sporadic fighting was still occurring. The various Iraqi religious and political factions were still killing each other in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq. Even working for the Americans could be dangerous. Mortar rounds were routinely fired into the American Green and Red Zones and improvised explosive devices were commonplace. Author Catoe tells us like it was. This is a very interesting read.

Review by Bob Doerr (May 2025) 

Author's Synopsis

Chaos and hope collide in this unforgettable book on the horrors of war, cultural tensions, and the development of a fledgling democracy during Bush-era Iraq. Authored by Interim Iraqi Head of Security Dana Catoe.

Step inside a tumultuous era of global history in this powerful memoir where Iraq’s former head of security, tells the true story of the Iraq War. As a pivotal player in Iraq’s interim democratic government from its inception in 2003 through the nation’s first free elections, Dana Catoe was tasked with protecting government officials, Iraqi employees, and civilians during a time of terror attacks and raging conflict. Catoe provides a rare, unfiltered perspective on the challenges of rebuilding a nation in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion.

Catoe draws on an extensive military background as a U.S. Marine, exposing us to the daily realities of life in the upper echelons of a provisional government—a perspective few have been privileged to experience. Beyond the halls of government, he also shares the struggles of ordinary Iraqi citizens caught in the tumult of change, terror threats, and political upheaval.

With vivid storytelling and an insider’s view on Bush-era Iraq, Inshallah: (God Willing) is a book of tremendous importance for history, offering a one-of-a-kind, behind-the-scenes look at the successes and failures of America’s intervention in the Middle East. For fans of military memoirs, political history, and stories of human courage, or for students studying this defining era of world history, it is a can’t-miss. Both harrowing and inspiring, Catoe’s story illuminates the complexities of global conflict, the painful realities of war, and the fragile hope of democracy.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 200

Word Count: 48,000

The Very Last War by WH Hawthorne

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

W.H. Hawthorne’s The Very Last War is a believable techno-thriller that combines plausible weapons tech with American fighting spirit.
After a disastrous presidential administration ruins America’s reputation and causes her allies to turn against her, the United States leaves the UN and finds herself without international friends. The world, sensing the weakness of its once greatest superpower, plots to destroy her once and for all. However, two factors arise which stand in their way.
First, America’s new president, Jake O’Connor, believes in returning America to the people, and soon the country is rallying around his simple message. America’s spirit is reborn. Second, this president believes in restoring America’s military dominance and gives free reign to young technological minds to push the limits of technology on the battlefield. They soon come up with what may be a “wonder weapon.” America’s arsenal is ready.
The now hostile UN plans a two-prong invasion of the United States, with Germany pushing through Canada and China attacking via Mexico. Friendless, America is left only with her rebuilding military, its new techno-toy, and the spirit of her citizens. Will it be enough?
Fans of Tom Clancy, Harold Coyle, and Dale Brown will love this book. The science is sound, the characters colorful, and ending more than satisfying.
Review by Rob Ballister (May 2025) 

Author's Synopsis

#1 Amazon Bestseller, Political Fiction

A pivotal election revives freedom and self-governance in America, sending shockwaves across the globe and rattling four rival powers—European socialists, Chinese communists, Islamic radicals, and avaricious Russian leaders.

With dreams of world domination fading, they set aside differences and forge an alliance. Not to simply defeat America, but—with the help of a devastating new weapon—to erase it from the earth.

Outnumbered and alone, America answers with its own revolutionary weapon. But machines, no matter how intelligent, won’t be enough. Once again, survival will depend on something older. Something deeper.

The unbreakable American spirit.

In dimly lit halls of power, shadowy intrigues unfold. On sunlit battlefields, selfless heroism burns bright. Across North America, war rages from the frozen tundra of Alaska to the red clay of Alabama, from the mountains of Montana to the scorching deserts of Mexico.

If America falls, the free world falls with her.

A great generation will be needed. But can America still produce greatness?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 543

Word Count: 153,790

Note: Audiobook version coming out by April 2025

Healing Veteran Moral Injury: Using Metaphor and Story to Foster Hope and Connection by Pat Pernicano and Kerry Haynes

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The power of literature to promote change in individuals and community has long been recognized. Reading or viewing art takes us out of our current situation and places us in other worlds. Returning to the everyday, we bring a perspective from that other world to bear on ourselves, making alternatives more available. Pat Pernicano and Kerry Haynes’s Healing Veteran Moral Injury: Using Metaphor and Story to Foster Hope and Connection builds on that fundamental premise.

The focus on veterans’ experiences that lead to trauma and moral injury is therefore appropriate in this guide to the process of healing. One should not forget, however, that injuries and recovery go on in our larger society as well. The accumulation of instances of events that emotionally handicap veterans should also not lead to the conclusion that all veterans face moral injury. Some who find their values contradicted in military experience and become “stuck” can achieve recovery on their own or with the help of close friends and family.

The many case studies of individual experience in this study, however, document the need for programs to be available in established agencies, private as well as in government. The accounts of change brought about by reading or writing alternative narratives is convincing. Bringing individuals to accept help is, of course, a key challenge; but that, too, is consistently addressed.

The authors point out that Moral Injury (MI) is not a diagnosis, but a condition. It is also to be distinguished from PTSD. While treatments for the two may overlap, this book focuses on the condition, less commonly understood and deserving recognition as a separate issue facing many veterans. While the examples of male MI tend to involve battle conditions and female MI often involve sexual assault, the book makes clear the causes are not exclusive to either gender.

Key components to healing MI include acceptance, forgiveness, guilt, blame, responsibility, confession, forgiveness, and sharing. There are worksheets for self-evaluation of these factors, and group activities to encourage acceptance of the condition and undertake recovery. A story about a cracked bowl illustrates brokenness and the possible paths to healing and returning to a productive life. Graphics like the "responsibility pie" also encourage itemizing the factors in moral injury and identifying those outside anyone’s control. Restoring wholeness requires patience after the typically lengthy time of denial and the acceptance of appropriate guilt.

The book includes extensive notes to scholarship on symptoms, reaction, and therapy of MI and related issues, particularly helpful to specialists in the field but also reassuring to anyone questioning the relevance of the condition to their own life.

Review by Michael Lund (May, 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

Healing Veteran Moral Injury highlights the importance of story and metaphor in the change process and in trauma-related work.

Grounded in evidence-based practice and replete with clear, down-to-earth examples that foster empathy and understanding, Healing Veteran Moral Injury illustrates the ways in which building a sense of community can help restore trust and meaning-making. Chapters illustrate the power of stories and metaphors and help Veterans identify strategies for healing moral injury and posttraumatic growth. Clinicians and Veterans will come away from this book with tools for building connections, accepting what they cannot change, and developing a more accurate perception of responsibility.

Healing Veteran Moral Injury is intended both for mental health professionals and Veterans themselves as a tool for breaking the silence, pointing other Veterans toward hope and healing, and telling stories of moral pain with fortitude and courage.

Format(s) for review: Paper & Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business

Number of Pages: 202

Word Count: 73288

Red Lines by James Bultema

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Red Lines by James Bultema describes the US response to Iran’s attack on Independence Hall, crossing a red line that the US does not tolerate. In the air, on the ground, on the sea, and under the sea, the US demonstrates not only its might in terms of people but also technology. The Iranian forces are also well trained and have many technologically advanced weapons. This is no walk in the park for the US troops.

In addition to having Iran as the antagonist, the other difference in this book is the use of AI in so many ways. Cyberwarfare is exercised by both sides in ways you may not have thought about. The battle scenes are realistic. Chapter 4 especially outlines the strengths and weaknesses of both the US and Iran. The book makes clear that modern warfare is complex, and communication is strategically important.

Review by Nancy Kauffman (March 2025)

Author Synopsis

From seven-time award-winning author James Bultema, Red Lines is the third explosive installment in the Sea of Red series, plunging readers into the heart of a modern military war between the United States and Iran.

After a devastating attack on a symbol of American freedom by radicalized domestic Hezbollah terrorists, the US finds itself on the brink of war. Tensions escalate as retaliatory strikes lead to a high-stakes confrontation that reverberates across the globe.

In a game of cat and mouse, submarines prowl the depths, fighter jets streak across the skies, and warships clash in an epic struggle for dominance. With advanced weaponry and strategic cunning, both sides push the boundaries of warfare, drawing the world's superpowers into a conflict that threatens global stability.

With the future of international order hanging in the balance, Red Lines takes readers on a relentless journey through the complexities of modern warfare and the far-reaching consequences of a single, violent act.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 410

Word Count: 75,765

Author's Synopsis

Women Warriors - The Hidden Spies of WWII by Donna Pedace

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Women Warriors: The Hidden Spies of WWII by Donna Pedace chronicles the exploits of fifty women spies who either parachuted into France, or arrived by boat, to help the French and British Resistance thwart the occupying Germans. Author Pedace gives faces, names, and backgrounds to these brave souls, some of whom were tortured and executed by the enemy. Each showed incredible courage, ingenuity, and sacrifice in working with the resistance movements in France.
More than once, a woman spy passed through a German checkpoint with explosives in a basket or radio parts sewn into the hem of a skirt. One female spy rode a train with a backpack of hidden grenades while a German officer sat next to her. Each woman was trained to maintain her composure under duress, and it worked.

Out of fifty women spies, eleven were executed while they were prisoners in concentration camps. Two died of disease while in a camp. Others were captured and tortured but survived the war. All the women showed incredible courage, and Nazi records show that not one of them gave the Germans any classified information, even when they faced  certain death.

Odette Sansom, imprisoned and tortured by the Gestapo when serving with the French Resistance Movement, said of the other captured female agents she met while in prisons in France and Germany: “We were all young, we were all different, but we all had the feeling in the beginning that we were doing this to be helpful. That was why we went into it.”

Kudos to author Donna Pedace. Women Warriors is a well-documented, accurate account of women in history who made a difference under harrowing conditions.

Review by Nancy Panko (March 2025)

 

Author's Synopsis

The stories of the 52 female agents trained and sent into France by the Special Operation Executive (SOE). They were a widely diverse group of women by age, education, economic background, and motivation. But all had the goal of freeing France from German occupation. Of the 52 women who went to France, eleven (11) were executed while prisoners in concentration camps, and two (2) died of disease in the camps. Others were captured and tortured but survived the war. All showed incredible courage, and Nazi records show that not one of the captured women gave the Germans any classified information – even when they faced a certain death.

Behind the veil of secrecy, not yet raised by the Air Ministry, there are great stories of courage and endurance. For the agent has no status, no friendly uniform or consul to rely on. With her friends, she is outside the law — until it catches up with her.

Written by Squadron Leader William Simpson, Distinguished Flying Cross, regarding the female SOE agents in March 1945.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 328

Word Count: 123,171

One of Four by Travis Davis

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

One of Four by Travis Davis is a historical fiction novel that gives us a view of World War One through the eyes of an unknown American soldier. While in France on a post-high school graduation trip, Alex Grover, traveling with his retired U.S. Army father, discovers an anonymous U.S. World War One soldier’s diary hidden in an old Bible in a Paris book shop.

Intrigued by the soldier’s diary entries on the horrors, honor, and camaraderie of serving in combat, the father and son alter their vacation itinerary and follow some of the soldier’s wartime journey through several French battlefields of 1917 to 1918. As they travel, father and son grow closer after their separation imposed by the parents’ divorce, and the son is given glimpses of his father’s participation in combat.

One of the strengths of the book is its unique premise, giving voice to one of the over 4,400 U.S. soldiers, marines, and sailors still listed as missing in action from World War One. The story highlights how soldiers' bodies would simply “disappear” after being struck by high-explosive artillery rounds or lost when submerged into whole fields of muddy shell craters. The diary entries ring with authenticity and express the mixed emotions of a young man from the early 20th century leaving his home to fight on European battlefields. At the same time, the father and son characters have less depth, and their existence and interactions seem to serve more as a framework for the story laid out in the diary entries.

As someone familiar with the current state of U.S. World War One missing, whose identification is now only pursued by private organizations and individuals and not our government, I found that the book brought to life the forlorn agony of the soldier’s wife, living out her life never truly knowing what happened to her loved one.

One of Four has an interesting premise and a well-crafted character in the unknown soldier. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy realistic, somber stories of World War One and the plight of soldiers in combat in any war.

Review by Terry Lloyd (April 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

From New York Harbor to the battlefields of France, relive World War One through the eyes of an unknown soldier, as told through his diary. See how the 100-year-old diary brings a father and his estranged son back together by retracing his experiences fighting in the battlefields of France in 1917 - 1918 to his final resting place—the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 210

Word Count: 67,551

Revive the American Dream by Edward Corcoran

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

This outstanding book sheds great light on, and provokes deep thought about, our American Dream. The book provides a “comprehensive assessment of the totality of threats and challenges facing the nation and how we address them” (p. xix) if we want to rebuild and strengthen what is now a torn and tattered American Dream.

The author provides a fully detailed and referenced review of four major challenges and threats to our nation and its dream of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” expressed in the U.S. Constitution. These include: 1) Natural Threats (e.g., earthquakes, global warming, pandemics); 2) Domestic Challenges (e.g., threats to life, personal liberties, democratic dysfunction); 3) Global competition (e.g., globalization, terrorism, China, Islam); and 4) National Strategy (e.g., fix America first, realign foreign policy, and develop and implement strategies).

The book is professionally organized, well written, and highly detailed and referenced. In this regard, the book reflects the knowledge, skills, and professional capabilities and experiences of its author, Edward Corcoran, a retired U.S. Army officer with extensive experience in the Army Soviet Affairs Program, military intelligence, and nuclear affairs. His service took him to tours in Germany, South Korea, and Vietnam. He concluded his career as a strategic analyst at the U.S. Army War College.

The book is rich with facts and details, which bring to life four threatening issues and corresponding recommendations for action. Perhaps the most important point: We’re running out of time to refresh and rebuild our fading American Dream.

I highly recommend this excellent, thought-provoking work.

Review by Bruce K. Berger (March 2025)

 

Author's Synopsis

America has been a Beacon of Freedom to many, yet today it fails to live up to its credo, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” The American Dream that working hard would lead to a good life has faded for many who now struggle for affordable healthcare and housing, higher education, and a living wage. Efforts to promote a more democratic and prosperous nation are thwarted by an economic system that favors the top levels. Society is wracked with racial and political unrest that has resulted in violence even in the sacred halls of its Capital. Globally, America has moved past the Cold War threats of the Soviet Union. Those we now face are more diffuse and in many ways more dangerous-Islamic radicalism, a rise of autocratic governments, fragmenting alliances, global refugee flows, expanding military technologies, cyber intrusions, and global warming. A National Strategy is badly needed to provide a comprehensive assessment of these challenges and to balance the allocation of resources to revive the American Dream. That is the focus of this book.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Reference

Number of Pages: 247

Word Count: 74,051

Skylark by Megan Michelle

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Readers of action thrillers will appreciate Skylark: The SEAL Saga Book One, although they will encounter variations in this example of the genre. Contemporary popular culture features many smart, beautiful, female soldiers, detectives, and spies; but in this long novel Megan Mitchell gives more space than most authors to the emotional and psychological complexity of these figures.

The work begins with a mission undertaken by a team of Navy Seals, ten men led by one woman, Navy Commander Rachel Ryker. They have served together on a number of missions, each has a specialty, and all are very good at what they do. The men's respect for their commanding officer is deep; so the social dynamics of this group is the reversal of a traditional patriarchal society.

In much of Western history a few men have been at the top of the social pyramid, and other men and all women form the base. Skylark's inversion of that structure makes sense in several ways. Rachel is driven by a hatred of patriarchy. Having always felt she had to excel beyond all others in training and performance simply to pursue her career, she resents the system that puts roadblocks based on gender in her path. A mission to find terrorists working in Afghanistan gives her an opportunity to help women subjugated by the Taliban at the same time she attacks men identified as enemies to America.

There is plenty of action in the novel, hand-to-hand as well as with multiple weapons; and readers feel the tension about the mission's outcome. However, beneath the surface of this drama we suspect are forces from Rachel's past that will be revealed later in the novel. One derives from Rachel’s growing up within a conventional patriarchal social order in which she found reasons to rebel and resist the roles she was pressed to accept. She also begins to be more aware of the similarities of social structures around the globe; so her battles occur at home and abroad.

The conventional dynamics of this kind of service is always present. Rachel and her team must deal with the guilt and sorrow at having to take human lives but remain conscious of the necessity and benefits of success. For some the result is PTSD and therapy; for all, it is drink, physical exertion, and casual sex. The alternation of intense military action and intense recreational outlet derives from the conventional trope that if you take on the role of a Navy SEAL (or other law-enforcement professional at the highest level), a conventional life of romance, marriage, family, and community is impossible. Yet many who take on this role come from conventional backgrounds and, to different degrees, want to return to it. How their drive to be warriors can be reconciled with other fundamental needs is hard to anticipate, especially when this is the first in a novel series.

The central romantic tension of the story involves Rachel and Lt. Commander Christopher Williams who have strong feelings for each other as friends and fellow soldiers; but their physical and emotional desire to be with each other is consciously subdued and controlled as against regulation and destructive of their professional identity. Still, we sense early on this balance is probably unsustainable.

A trigger for these conflicts to come out into the open is memories of an earlier mission about which readers know no more than that it had occurred. We suspect, of course, that the details will rise to the surface in Rachel and Christopher’s consciousness and to the forefront of the narrative eventually. It’s almost impossible to imagine a resolution to these professional and personal dilemmas, but that motivates us to read to the end.

The novel's fifty-seven chapters are divided into three parts (Duty, Valor, Honor); and the author skillfully guides readers’ interest through each with a separate set of issues, all coming together by the end in the uncovering of clandestine international dealing.

The central characters’ grappling with emotions is not a once-and-done deal. They wrestle with desire and regret but put them into the background of their consciousness so they can pursue their duties; but they come back to it, sometimes simply rehashing the same questions and doubts. Over time, however, there is realistic movement forward.

This vacillation is a strength of the novel, as we all return to fundamental challenges in our life time after time. The high physical demands of their SEAL life and the potentially horrific consequences of failure remind us that their professional actions are not a lark. But neither are the current battles to maintain personal integrity and a sense of self-worth in the tradition of patriotic service.

Review by Michael Lund (March 2025)

 

Author's Synopsis

Being the first female Navy SEAL is no easy job, but someone's got to dismantle the patriarchy. Rachel Ryker, call sign ‘Skylark,’ can outrun and outgun just about anybody, and with her second in command, Christopher Williams, by her side, she’s practically unstoppable. Christopher would follow Rachel to hell and back… or maybe just to the Middle East. When a top-secret malware code is stolen from the CIA, Rachel and Christopher lead their SEAL team through the Middle East in an attempt to recover it.

They both have their own reasons for fighting, but as the team gets closer to finding the stolen malware, Rachel discovers that the man they're looking for may be closer to her than she thinks. Will Rachel’s obsession with completing their mission override her common sense and causes her to lose sight of what is really important- keeping women and children safe from the oppressive patriarchy they are all living in?

With secrets, pride, and a strict no fraternization policy keeping them apart, falling in love would mean sacrificing everything Rachel and Christopher have worked for. But when Rachel gets injured in combat, everything changes. Now Rachel will have to choose: does her devotion to the Navy outweigh her love for Christopher?

Format(s) for review: Kindle Only

Review Genre: Fiction—Literary Fiction

Number of Pages: 348

Word Count: 142,522

Lightning Six by Galen d Peterson

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Lightning Six by Galen D. Peterson is an action-packed thrill ride of a war story that is all too plausible considering the current state of the world.

It appears Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine is imminent, and the US President sends in quick response forces in the form of airborne and cavalry units to act as a deterrent. Diplomacy fails, and Captain Trondfjell finds his cavalry troop cut off behind the rapidly changing front lines. While Lightning Troop fights for their lives, Captain Trondfjell has to keep himself from getting distracted by the beautiful Captain Erin Haag, a dustoff pilot who literally fell out of the sky and was rescued by Lightning troopers.

Add in Erin’s jealous ex-boyfriend, also in theater, plus a generous dose of Spetsnaz operators, and you have quite the modern-day military story.

I found this book to be an excellent blend of technical accuracy, coupled with the human element of war at the junior officer level, and really enjoyed the author’s writing style. Fans of Tom Clancy, Dale Brown, and Harold Coyle will enjoy this book immensely.

Review by Rob Ballister (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent and Captain Logan Trondfjell, commander of the tanks and scouts of Lightning Troop, rushes from Fort Carson in Colorado to Dnipro as part of a rapid deterrence force. In a free moment, Logan meets Captain Erin Haag, and is taken by her beauty and charm.

As Russian forces invade and bullets fly, Logan must find and stop the invaders. On a sprawling battlefield, frontlines are fragmented. Russians shoot down Erin’s MEDEVAC chopper. Alone, she survives the crash and flees into the Ukrainian countryside. She must seek out her own salvation.

Complicating both efforts, Erin’s vindictive ex-boyfriend, Captain Michael King finds himself in a position to thrust Lightning Troop into the heart of danger — and wipe his competitor off the map. In modern warfare, despite the best courses of action, everything is fraught with peril.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 280

Word Count: 82,000

Redcon One by Galen d Peterson

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Redcon One is a fast-moving military thriller. Author Galen Peterson definitely knows how to draw the reader into a story. When China makes a move to take over the Spratley Islands, a brief confrontation with a small number of US military members results in the Chinese military publicly executing several US officers by firing squad. When they stream this to the world, the US is forced to react. Wanting to keep the response limited, Captain Scott Jansen and his armored company are sent to join a similarly small number of marines to retake two very small, adjacent islands.

The island of Fiery Cross is where Captain Jansen lands and where the main story is set. It is also where the author excels in raising the level of suspense and vividly describes the combat. Up against attack after attack from the Chinese, the author brings the reader into the mind of Captain Jansen. Wounded and seeing several of his team members killed, Jansen fights not only the Chinese but his own mind and body to continue to lead.

This is a good read that I recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller, and especially to readers of good combat fiction.

Review by Bob Doerr (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

The world order teeters on the brink of war as China flexes its military might in the South China Sea. With events spiraling toward a crisis, Captain Scott Jansen and his tankers and mechanized infantry of Team Knight are suddenly thrust into the mission of the rapid deployment Global Response Force, ready to deploy in ninety-six hours.

When the balloon goes up, Scott and his team find themselves at the tip of the spear in unfamiliar circumstances against a determined and resourceful enemy. Team Knight joins the Marines in an amphibious landing on the claustrophobic island of Fiery Cross Reef, deep into enemy waters.

Isolated and with nowhere to run, Scott must harness all of his courage and creativity to seize Fiery Cross and save as many of his soldiers as possible. But when the Chinese attacks are too perfect, too targeted, not everyone will survive…

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 288

Word Count: 91,000

Redeeming Warriors: Veteran Suicide, Grieving, and the Fight for Faith by Joshua D. Holler

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Redeeming Warriors seeks to offer hope to struggling veterans at risk for suicide and grappling with all of the accompanying complications—such as broken marriages and various addictions—through vertical and horizontal reconciliation, in a Christian context. If you are seeking information of this type but are not currently a person of Christian faith or seeking to explore the Christian faith, it may not be easy to separate the relevant secular information from the faith-based messages.

Having said that, the author writes from a tremendous position of credibility from his “real world” experiences as a young enlisted combat Marine twice deployed to Iraq between 2007 and 2009 and as a witness to the plight of many of his fellow Marines confronting the onslaught of challenges that can lead to isolation, addictions, and suicide. His subsequent journey through academia and theological scholarship to become a pastor, and his “holistic” approach to veteran healing and emphasis on community to fight isolation, are highly appealing.

An extensive glossary of military terms is provided, as well as a listing of support organizations and resources. Trained counselors of Christian faith and clergy should find this a very useful guide to helping distraught veterans, and others similarly afflicted, they encounter professionally, however, veterans and their families may not find this book easy to follow without assistance.

Review by Terry Lloyd (March 2025)

 

Author's Synopsis

Twenty–two veterans take their own lives every day. The word ‘tragic’ only begins to describe the brokenness of this painful reality. Josh Holler, Marine Corps veteran and pastor, argues that veteran suicide is not primarily a problem born out of exposure to combat and PTSD, but out of a broken relationship between people and God. He tells some of the stories of men he has known and addresses the reality of the reason veteran suicide is such a problem.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Other—Religious/Spiritual

Number of Pages: 304

Word Count: 94,392

The China Factor by Timothy Trainer

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The China Factor by Timothy Trainer is the second book featuring Kelli Liang and Aaron Foster. The story includes international industrial espionage with military implications, political shenanigans and biases, as well as the continuing difficulties of biracial children in Vietnam who were fathered by American soldiers.

This is an intriguing well told tale with many twists. Although it is not difficult to keep track of the various characters, the author provides a chapter-by-chapter list as each one is added to the story. The time frame is Spring 2005, and characters are found on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as well as Vietnam, where many soldiers return to find a very changed city.

Chinese industrialists desperately need to expand their work to other parts of Southeast Asia for both factory sites and new markets, and Vietnam needs deep water ports in order to build their economy. The Chinese government hides its ambitions behind the efforts of their business sector.

In this book, Kellie, senior aide to a senator, finds prejudice among the very people who do not hesitate to ask for her help in understanding Southeast Asia when she is nominated for a position in the State Department. Aaron accompanies his uncle to Vietnam and unexpectedly comes across a Chinese corporate connection to the information theft that was attempted in D.C.

Review by Nancy Kauffman (February 2025)

Author's Synopsis

In the spring of 2005, the FBI foils a government employee’s attempt to provide confidential information to the Chinese. As the FBI struggles to understand why the information is valuable, its investigation entangles Capitol Hill staffer Kellie Liang and jeopardizes her nomination to a State Department position. Under scrutiny, Kellie thrusts herself into the FBI investigation. Seeking a voice of reason, Kellie reaches out to Aaron Foster only to learn that he is vacationing in Vietnam with his uncle, a war veteran. Surprisingly, Aaron believes he has found a Chinese corporate connection to the information theft, and from two sides of the world, Kellie and Aaron work to thwart China’s efforts and save Kellie’s nomination.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 324

Word Count: 112,000

When Tough Cookies Crumble: A True Story of Friendship, Murder, and Healing by Eva Nevarez St. John

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

In the late 1970s, Army soldiers Janice Starr and Eva Booker were stationed together in South Korea, where they became best friends. It was a period of rapid social change in the United States, and young American women embraced their liberation as they explored sexual freedom and new careers. Janice and Eva were two of these women. They participated in all that “liberation” meant to them: sex, drugs, alcohol, smoking, and job opportunities.

When their tours of duty ended, they settled into an apartment in the Washington D.C. area. Neither young woman was ready to settle down, and they pursued a lurid playgirl lifestyle. Sex was important to both women. They had myriad sex partners and a few short-term relationships. Janice and Eva were rarely sober, whether they’d imbibed in alcohol, pot, or other drugs. Living this way, they pursued careers such as continuing with the Army Reserves, holding jobs, and attending school.

Throughout their hectic lives, they shared almost everything…sometimes including sex partners. Over the years, both women readily shared the contents of their diaries. They learned that living with a best friend presented challenges, and their relationship grew strained. Janice decided to relocate, while Eva remained in D.C. After that move, the friendship turned positive again.

Only a few months after Janice moved to Chesapeake, in southern Virginia, Eva could not get in touch with her. It was as though her best friend had disappeared. Eva went to the police department in Chesapeake. The police didn’t appear to take the case too seriously because of Janice’s promiscuous history. But Detective Kay Lewis did. She battled the misogyny within the police department, and she and Eva did not stop pursuing the case.

Eva Nevarez St. John, author of When Tough Cookies Crumble, focuses on her life as well as Janice’s in the first half of the book. The second half includes some introspection into the motivations for their behaviors, follows the murder investigation, and delves into the collaboration between the author and Detective Kay Lewis. Written forty years after Janice’s death, Eva Nevarez St. John’s memoir provides an honest and comprehensive look at a deep friendship between Janice and Eva. It also shows the grit of Detective Kay Lewis, when she refuses to stop the search for Janice. With courageous honesty and compassion that matured over the years, the author makes the reader understand why each of these three women have earned the title of “tough cookie.”

Review by Patricia Walkow (January 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

Janice Starr and Eva Booker were young Army soldiers in Korea in the late 1970s. As women in the military, they found themselves on the front lines of the women’s liberation movement, pushing the boundaries of what women could do in their professional and personal lives. This book shows the reader what it was like to be a female soldier during the 1970s and 1980s, including how they dealt with discrimination inside and outside the military.

After leaving active duty, Eva and Janice relocated to the Washington, D.C. area together, where they continued their military careers in the Army Reserves and moved on from their traditional female jobs as Administrative Specialists. Janice became a Drill Sergeant and Eva a Counterintelligence Agent. They also held down civilian jobs. Janice worked in property management and data processing. Eva worked for an attorney, then at the Pentagon for the National Guard Bureau, and with the Board for Correction of Naval Records. Eva attended law school at George Washington University. Janice started attending college in Korea and continued her studies in the D.C. area. In their personal lives, they faced challenges with interracial dating, and their playgirl lifestyle. Their bond was often tested but never broken.

Janice moved to southern Virginia on her own in the summer of 1981 to attend Old Dominion University. Three months later she disappeared without a trace. Eva knew Janice had been murdered by a fellow soldier. The only one who believed her was Detective Kay Lewis, who had her own challenges as a pioneering woman in law enforcement. Together these tough cookies would not stop until they found Janice.

The final chapters tell the story of how Eva came to write this book forty years after Janice’s murder. The process proved to be a healing journey for Eva, Kay, and Janice’s family.

Each chapter begins with one or more relevant photographs.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 284

Word Count: 74,960

Playing Army by Nancy Stroer

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Author Nancy Stroer’s debut novel portrays the time period of the mid-nineties for women in the military through her main character, Lieutenant Min Mills. Stroer’s own military background led her to develop realistic characters, settings, and situations that place readers right into the story. Female Lieutenant Min’s humor, self-deprecation, and conflicting emotions create an interesting ride for readers, not knowing what turn would come next, nor knowing if Min would race to the finish line or crash along the way.

Each character has his or her own story, and Min’s reactions and dealings with them revealed more about her own character. The following shows an example of who Min was and how the author portrayed her inner dialogue. “I couldn’t comprehend the kind of organization that produced both cowards and heroes, sometimes in the same person, but hell if I wasn’t going to figure it out.” Min grew throughout the book, but the growth was not a straight trajectory, making the read much more satisfying than a predictable outcome.

Stroer’s writing style did not disappoint, including visual and physical descriptions such as, “I slumped into the kitchen, started the coffee, and put my head straight under the tap, drinking like I’d just crossed the Sahara and not the beige carpeted expanse from my bedroom.”

I highly recommend Playing Army to those who would like to know more about those who lived during the Vietnam War era, and to those who are interested in military women’s stories from the not-too-distant past and understand some of their realities.

Review by Valerie Ormond (February 2025)

Author's Synopsis

Can you really fake it till you make it? Lieutenant Minerva Mills is about to find out. 

It’s 1995 and the Army units of Fort Stewart, Georgia, are gearing up to deploy to Bosnia. But Min has no intention of going to war-torn Eastern Europe. Her father disappeared in Vietnam and—longing for some connection to him—she’s determined to go on a long-promised tour to Asia. The colonel will only release her on two conditions: she ensures the rag-tag Headquarters Company is ready for the peacekeeping mission and she gets her weight within Army regs. 

Min only has one summer to kick everyone’s butts into shape, but the harder she plays Army, the more the soldiers—and her body—rebel. If she can’t even get the other women on her side, much less lose those eight lousy pounds, she’ll never have another chance to stand where her father once stood in Vietnam. The colonel may sweep her along to Bosnia or throw her out of the Army altogether. Or Min may be forced to conclude that no amount of faking it will ever be enough to make it, and as was true for her father, that the Army is an impossible space for her to occupy.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Literary Fiction

Number of Pages: 292

Word Count: 92,000

Another Death at Gettysburg by Peter Adams Young

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review
Peter Adams Young has done a masterful job with his new contemporary mystery tale, Another Death at Gettysburg. His characters are well-developed, likable (at least the good guys), and credible. The details of the story are vivid, and the language is colorful. At the annual reenactment of Pickett’s Charge, our players are stunned to discover one of their own tragically shot with no reasonable explanation for the death. Is it an accident or murder? When the police investigators are stumped with several inconsistencies, a small group of reenactors take matters into their own hands. Newly relocated history professor Mike Davis and his librarian wife, Annie, are drawn into the camaraderie of the group. The mystery becomes more curious when it appears that several other crimes and motives are intertwined. But are they really connected, and how?

Young provides superb information about the role of the Civil War reenactors who keep our history alive—the men and women who are dedicated to authenticity and knowledge of the battles that shaped our country. Gettysburg was a victory for the Union and a turning point in the War, but many paid the price for that victory on both sides. The fields and hills of the battlefield belonged to farmers who not only had their land devastated afterward but also had to bury the dead (including horses), open their homes and barns to the wounded, and, over the years, unearth thousands of small and large artifacts.

Another Death at Gettysburg is a story well worth the read. Despite some minor technical errors, it is quick and enjoyable.

Review by Sandi Cathcart (June 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

JUNE 29, 1997

An annual reenactment of Pickett’s Charge ends tragically with the shooting death of a participant. When the investigation stalls, a Navy combat veteran and professor of American history is drawn into the challenge with his Vietnamese librarian wife — a journey that uncovers corruption, extortion, grand larceny, and ties to organized crime beneath the façade of local government.

In the follow-up to his award-winning debut novel of the Vietnam War, "One Hundred Stingers," Peter Adams Young's "Another Death at Gettysburg" unfolds a modern-day murder mystery set in and around the historic Gettysburg battlefield.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 422

Word Count: 119,276

Knowing When by Mark Fleisher

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Knowing When is Mark Fleisher’s fifth book of poetry. It centers mostly on poems of sadness and tragedy, but since that is a universal part of the human condition, many will find that the poems resonate and invite the reader to deeper reflection. Some poems deal with dementia, some with loss and trauma, while others tackle the concepts of loneliness, friendship, forgiveness, and our inability to get along. Several focus on the cold seasons of autumn and winter, parlaying seasonal aspects into emotions of grief and loss. On the other hand, “Batter Up,” is a somewhat whimsical take on a rookie mistake. Whatever the season, the poems are easy to read and understand, while also excavating deep thoughts and deeper emotions.

Review by Betsy Beard (May 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Under the mantle of its intriguing title Mark Fleisher writes of sadness and tragedy, lightens the mood with poems about love, nature, even baseball, as well as a mirthful look at technology. Fleisher’s blend of narrative and lyric styles cut to the heart of the matter, showing the ability to speak volumes in a minimum number of lines. His eclectic collection also invites the reader to contemplate questions posed in the title poem and other selections.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Poetry—Poetry Book

Number of Pages: 36

Word Count:

Always Remembering by Kathy Kasunich

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Always Remembering is a WWII love story sharing the lives of characters before, during, and after the war. Set in various locations including Pittsburgh, US-based training camps, and Europe, the author paints vivid pictures of all. The story encapsulates not only the difficulties of those on the front lines, but also the struggles of those left behind with worry, rationing, and uncertain futures.

One of the things that separates this novel from other WWII love stories is that the author uses the specific words of the main characters—Helen and Mike— in Helen’s dialogue and Mike’s letters throughout much of the story. Mike was a prolific writer and a true romantic, even penning poetry and poetic prose while part of gruesome campaigns. His personality shines through in his letters with single letters ranging from serious discussions of soldiers home with mental problems to love to humor.

Although Helen and Mike were author Kathy Kasunich’s real-life parents, she doesn’t shy away from revealing emotions such as jealousy, impatience, and fear. Including these imperfections make her characters come to life, especially when they later regret having had those feelings. Those passages also remind the reader of how young and innocent many Americans were when the war broke out that would forever change their lives.

I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to take a look into the lives of two everyday citizens during WWII and see how their love, faith, and communication during challenging times helped them forge a stronger bond in the end.

Review by Valerie Ormond (June 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Based on a real-life couple's experience, Always Remembering” intricately weaves together the heartfelt love story of Mike and Helen, amid the turmoil and battles of World War II. Their blossoming love, abruptly interrupted by the war, thrusts them into a world of separation, uncertainties, loneliness, and the relentless struggle to preserve their bond. Mike confronts the brutal realities of war, while Helen grapples with a domineering mother and a meddling family that strain their relationship. Intertwined within the narrative are unedited letters penned by Mike to Helen, signed with the touching sentiment: “Always Remembering, Never Forgetting, Loving You Forever, Mike.” These letters and the nostalgic memories they evoke become their anchor amidst the chaos, empowering them to endure and cherish the person who captured their hearts.

From the tranquil streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the harrowing battlegrounds of the 42nd Rainbow Division, the pangs of heartache, and the destruction of war resonates deeply. In a story told through both of their perspectives, Mike, an outgoing, confident medic, and Helen, a diffident, humble grocer, bare their souls as they navigate situations beyond their control.

“Always Remembering”, seen through the lens of two ordinary souls is a testament to enduring love, unveiling the emotional toll and unseen collateral damage that war imposes on the human spirit. Echoing the essence of Capra’s stirring narratives, this captivating tale celebrates the resilience of love and the powerful strength found within treasured memories.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Romance

Number of Pages: 356

Word Count: 98,000

Into The Storm by Darcy Guyant

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Whether you’re a young reader seeking an exciting new adventure or a concerned parent looking for an inspiring story, Into the Storm delivers the tale of an exhilarating Coast Guard helicopter rescue through stormy skies and over rough seas. Darcy Guyant, a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander with 25 years of military service, draws on his firsthand experiences to add just the right amount of authenticity to this story of Dolph, a Coast Guard HH-65 "Dolphin" rescue helicopter; his skilled pilot, Gwen; and the rescue crew.

Through Dolph and Gwen’s daring escapade, readers learn about important themes, such as courage, trust, and teamwork. The illustrations are exceptionally vivid and colorful, not only enhancing the storytelling but also sparking the imaginations of young readers. This book is a delightful blend of creativity, imagination, and authenticity that will transport children to the daring world of the U.S. Coast Guard. Into the Storm has it all: captivating imagery, an engaging storyline, great characters, and important themes.

Review by Bob Ritchie (April 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

A severe storm quickly develops, catching three fishermen off guard in the open ocean. They are in danger of sinking and need help, fast! Who will come to their rescue?

Dolph, a Coast Guard HH-65 “Dolphin” rescue helicopter and his pilot, Gwen, quickly respond to save the three men in distress. But the mission is not easy. Courage, team work, and trusting the team to do their jobs are essential.

In order to reach the sinking boat as quickly as possible, they must fly directly into the storm, which makes both Dolph and Gwen very nervous. They must trust each other, work as a team, and demonstrate courage to save the men who are in danger of drowning.

Dolph, Gwen, the Rescue Swimmer (Sam), and the Flight Mechanic (Mike) work together to accomplish the mission, even while facing additional unexpected challenges.

This story is based on an actual rescue mission performed by the author, Darcy Guyant, a retired U.S. Coast Guard HH65 Dolphin helicopter pilot.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Picture Book

Number of Pages: 40

Word Count: 1118

Rescued by Andy L. Vistrand

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Rescued by Andy L. Vistrand is a story of “man meets dog” when they both are down and out for the count. A perfect pairing results in the rescuing of souls, but who exactly rescued whom?

Anyone who has owned a dog knows that the unconditional love from a pet can soothe away the doldrums of a bad day. However, for a former combat veteran, a loyal pet can make the difference between choosing life versus death. Science can prove the physiological benefits of owning and caring for a pet. But science can’t measure the bond of love between a pet and its owner.

Rescued describes thirteen years and two days of companionship and unconditional love. It’s is a love story, and you can’t help but love Dozer—almost as much as Andy did. Rest in peace, Dozer.

Review by Nancy Panko (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

"Rescued" is a personal memoir about how a stray dog rescued me from darkness and how I rescued him from homelessness. The book discusses the benefits that a dog adds to human lives. The book also discusses scientific evidence that support the benefits of a therapy dog and how they add value to combat veterans returning from overseas combat deployments.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 85

Word Count: 14,440