Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage by Heather Sweeney

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MWSA Review

This book begins with a red flag when Heather’s fiancé Tristin announces that he is going to join the military two months before their wedding. He didn’t ask her what she thought about it, and she put her own plans on hold to support him by being the perfect military wife. They did decide together on his first duty station in Pensacola, Florida.

Heather continued her education as Tristin settled into his career as a naval officer. They both adjusted to military life and decided to have a child. Six months after their son was born, Tristin deployed to Iraq. After Tristin returned, the marriage started going downhill. The family relocated to Japan and added a daughter. Before they moved to their next duty station in Virginia Beach, they started talking about divorce. Even though their marriage continued to deteriorate, they stayed together for another three years.

It was in Virginia that Heather began expanding her life beyond the role of wife and mother. She became a serious runner and started writing. Eventually, she found the strength to leave and restart her life as a single mother.

This is a good book to read to learn about life as a military spouse. Also, it can serve as a road map for anyone who needs inspiration to get out of a relationship that isn’t working and rebuild a fulfilling life for themselves and their family.

Review by Eva Nevarez St John

 

Author's Synopsis

Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage is about a woman’s journey from being overshadowed by her husband’s military career to rediscovering her identity as a single mother entering a new stage in life. The memoir explores how, like many military spouses, she camouflaged her identity, conforming to the expected role of the supportive wife who was secondary to her husband’s career as a Navy officer. But after she ended her thirteen-year marriage in her late thirties, she set out on a quest to figure out who she was as a woman without her husband, discovering that the hardships of military life—the forced independence, frequent loneliness, required adaptability, and fierce resilience—had trained her for life after divorce.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 294 / 79,000

The Vatican Deal by Michael Balter

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MWSA Review

The Vatican Deal by Michael Balter grips you from the very first page and holds you tight all the way through to its climactic conclusion. It is the second installment in the Martin Schott and Bo Bishop thriller series, but the book stands on its own—it is not necessary to have read the series’s first book to thoroughly enjoy this fast-paced mafia thriller.

Marty and Bo are the two hands-on owners of Paladin, Inc., a company that makes its money by acquiring other promising companies and bringing them under its corporate umbrella. Paladin also has two Russian investors, the alluring Natalya and the wealthy oligarch Dmitry, who finance Paladin’s acquisitions. When Marty and Bo pursue their latest target, the Chiurazzi Foundry in Naples, the deal turns out to be anything but routine.

Soon after a member of Marty and Bo’s team is injured during a tour of the foundry, Marty suspects the proposed deal is more than it seems, especially given that the Vatican and its bank are behind the sale. When he is warned not to go forward with the deal, and Natalya is kidnapped by the Naples mafia, Marty and Bo realize they, too, are in the mafia’s sights. Piece by piece they put the puzzle together, suffering intrigue, double-crosses, and personal compromise.

The author’s familiarity with Italy, the ease with which he paints scenes, and his skillful crafting of dialogue breathe reality into every page of the story. Marty’s narration is believable and often introspective, giving us a window into his sometimes-flawed moral compass. We also get to see Bo and Natalya at their high and low points, helping bring their characters to life.

The Vatican Deal is everything a thriller should be: well-written, fast-paced, attention-grabbing, and believable with well-defined main characters. When you finish reading it, you will find yourself scrambling to see when the next book in the series is coming out.

Review by David E. Grogan

 

Author's Synopsis

Danger, deception, and betrayal lurk at every turn in this gripping international crime thriller from the award-winning author of Chasing Money.

Marty Schott and Bo Bishop didn’t expect trouble on their business trip to Italy. They were headed to Naples to buy a sculpture foundry, then back to Rome to close a lucrative licensing deal with the Vatican. Flush with cash thanks to their alluring and enigmatic partner, Natalya, and her powerful Russian backer, the two friends were on top of the world.

Then the threats began.

Menaced and attacked, Marty and Bo quickly discover that the stakes are far higher than they imagined. The Naples Mafia wants the foundry for sinister reasons. The head of the Vatican Bank is playing a dangerous game. The Russian oligarch has his own hidden agenda. Everyone is keeping secrets and telling lies. Marty and Bo are ready to call it quits when a dangerous figure from their past appears in Rome. Then Natalya is kidnapped, and the stakes get personal. Now all bets are off.

Caught in a deadly crossfire between the Naples Mafia and the Russian Vory, can Marty and Bo uncover the truth about the Vatican deal, find a way to rescue Natalya, and escape with their lives and friendship intact?

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 302 / 80,000

Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die by David E. Grogan

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die helps readers navigate life's challenges using the lives of veterans to reveal important lessons about character and humanity. Each of the book's fourteen chapters begins with an interlude that discusses an important life lesson such as, "If you don't see a path, blaze a trail," or "Don't accept adversity, challenge it." The chapter then includes one or more veterans' life stories to illustrate the lesson. From manning the deck of an aircraft carrier during a Japanese kamikaze attack, to patrolling the jungles of Vietnam, to riding in an armored vehicle across the Iraqi desert, Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die portrays the gamut of wartime and peacetime service. 

The veterans' stories in Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die highlight the ordinary yet extraordinary lives of twenty-two men and four women. The stories feature combat and non-combat veterans who served in World War II, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, the Iraq War, the Cold War, and America's peacetime military. Learning to Live from Those Willing to Die's unique approach to presenting the veterans' stories in the context of the life lessons they teach expands the book's audience beyond those interested in military history alone. Each chapter's life lesson offers a new lens through which the illustrative veterans' stories can be viewed and interpreted, making the book attractive and relevant to anyone seeking guidance in how to lead their life.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business/Self Help
Pages/Word count: 263 / 90,192

The Master Chief's Sea Stories: Volume II Duty Ashore and USS Comte De Grasse (DD 974) by Johnny J Moye

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

The Master Chief’s extraordinary journey continues as he spins his yarns from the second four years of his naval service. First, while becoming a renowned teletype technician, Moye delighted himself in the freedoms that shore duty afforded—further discovering himself both as a person and a sailor. Then, when thrust into an incredibly demanding leadership role aboard one of the world’s most formidable warships, he guided man and machine through what also became his crew’s most difficult duty. Head-on, together they met the mission.
The meek sailor we found in Volume I transformed into a true sailor’s sailor as he led his crew through extraordinary hardships found only at sea. With the mission always first, Moye also stereotypically enjoyed wine, women, and song in ports far from the hills of his childhood. All forging him into the confident sailor, communicator, and leader he became.
Based on his daily journal entries, Moye vividly recounts life-changing events as they unfold—telling a unique story rooted in lived experience. He captures his ongoing transformation, along with that of the sailors alongside him, in tales full of adventure, hardship, and sometimes incomprehensible moments.
Follow the Master Chief as he revisits some of his life’s most pivotal events, preparing him for future challenges—both professional and personal. Sail alongside through moments of euphoria and despair while navigating life’s tempests at sea. Truly, this is a story like no other.
Hold fast for these stories within are straight-up, no-shitters—as raw and real as they get.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 670 / 245,000

Along the Trail by Kaci Curtis

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

In 1847, Winnie and her family are traveling west to start a new life in the Oregon territory. While many in their wagon train fret over river crossings, disease, and encounters with Native tribes, she relishes the unexpected freedom of life on the trail.

Threatened by storms, wild animals, and outlaws, Winnie must rely on the bonds she s made and all she s learned in order for them to make it to Oregon alive. She also must decide if she is ready to risk forming an attachment to Hal, the cowhand who has a knack for showing up just when help is needed, or whether she will emulate Mae, the free-spirited daughter of their trail guide.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)
Pages/Word count: 320 / 81,971

Into The Mist by L.K. Aldrich

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

War demands men. But it's the women who love them who teach them what they're truly fighting for....

Into The Mist is a powerful, moving story that beautifully interweaves romance and war.

Thomas never imagined his small-town American childhood—filled with summer and the laughter of those who loved him—would lead him to the unforgiving mountains of Afghanistan. But war doesn't ask permission. It takes.

From the women who shaped him into the man he'd become, to the brothers-in-arms who became his family in the dust and blood, Thomas's story moves between two worlds: the tender sanctuary of memory and the brutal clarity of combat.

Into the Mist is an unflinching journey through loss and love, through the moments that break us and the ones that piece us back together. It's about learning that home isn't a place you return to—it's the people you carry with you, even when they're gone. It's about choosing joy when tomorrow may never come. It's about surviving not just the war outside, but the one within.

L.K. Aldrich crafts a deeply personal portrait of brotherhood forged in fire, of resilience born from devastation, and of the extraordinary courage it takes to keep your heart open when everything around you is closing in.

You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll close the final page forever changed.

Perfect for fans of Nicholas Sparks and contemporary fiction.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Romance
Pages/Word count: 408 / 127,494

Stronger Together by A.L. Zeine

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MWSA Review

Stronger Together is the second in the Cul-De-Sac Kids series by A. L. Zeine. It deals with issues that are common to military kids and children of divorced parents. As a chapter book for those aged 8 to 12, it deals appropriately with the emotions of military deployment, moving to a new city, and sharing time between divorced parents. It also gives good guidance on how children can cope with the attendant emotions.

Chloe and her single mom, a doctor in the U. S. Army, have received orders for a permanent change of station. While Chloe is happy to be reunited with Ella, a friend from a previous duty station, she is sad to be leaving her current friends, particularly Mia. Her desire to be with Mia distresses Ella, compounded with the deployment of Ella’s dad. Chloe realizes that she needs help in reaching Ella and goes to her mom for advice. She decides to take that advice, despite her fear, and work with Ella through the emotional upheavals on multiple fronts. Ella is able to be open about her struggles and finds that her friends are there for her and that they are stronger together.

Review by Betsy Beard

 

Author's Synopsis

Chloe is used to moving—it’s part of being an Army brat. But this time, she actually feels at home. Her mom’s schedule is better, her best friend Ella is just down the street, and the Cul-de-sac Kids have welcomed her with open arms. Life is finally settling down.

But Chloe’s heart is still tugged in another direction—back to her old home, where her other best friend Mia feels left behind. When Ella’s dad is suddenly deployed, Chloe’s world shifts again. She wants to be the glue holding everyone together, but how do you stay strong for everyone else when you’re feeling overwhelmed yourself?

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Children & Young Adult—Middle Grade Chapter Book
Pages/Word count: 122 / 24,000

Invaders of the Heartland by James Bultema

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MWSA Review

Invaders of the Heartland by retired LAPD Detective James Bultema is a fast-paced, all-too-real police procedural mystery. From the first chapter, I became a fan of the main character, Jake Dalton.

Even though Jake saves a hostage and shoots a bad guy, political and personal retribution lead to a hearing for Jake after a shoot-out during a bank robbery in Los Angeles. Rather than take the humiliating demotion offered, Jake tenders his resignation and hands over his badge and weapon. He moves back to his hometown in Fairview, Oklahoma, with the intention of escaping politics and working in his family-owned garage.

When the current chief of police is involved in a scandal and is fired, Jake applies for and gets the job. His first task is to restore integrity to and revitalize the department. He hopes to restore community respect for the local police. One day, it comes to Jake’s attention that rural Fairview has been infiltrated by a Chinese-owned marijuana farming company. Outwardly, everything looks legal and above board, but Jake sees red flags.

With evil intentions to completely take over every business in town, the Chinese plan to launder their illicit money through each legitimate business. Jake documents and observes. When he has enough evidence, he goes to the federal authorities, who promptly dismiss him. Saving Fairview is now up to Jake Dalton and his small police department.

I was drawn to Invaders of the Heartland because of recent reports of Chinese-owned land and businesses currently in the United States. James Bultema has written a page-turner that has me wondering when we will wake up.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

A town on the brink. A police force outmatched. A chief with everything to lose.

After LAPD brass scrutinized his split-second decision in a deadly bank shootout, Detective Jake Dalton left the city behind for his hometown—Fairview, Oklahoma. But his return to small-town life is anything but quiet.

Taking over a struggling four-person police department, Jake believes he’s left big-city crime in the past—until the Chinese mafia moves in, turning Fairview into the hub of a ruthless billion-dollar marijuana empire
.
When Jake sounds the alarm, federal agents dismiss him, and local officials look the other way. Outgunned and outnumbered, he stands alone as the last line of defense against a brutal syndicate determined to seize total control. One wrong move could cost him everything.

Written by a retired LAPD officer, Invaders of the Heartland is a gritty, high-stakes police procedural brimming with real-world authenticity, crime, and conspiracy. The story may be fiction, but the crisis is very real.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 351 / 67,000

Arctic Red by James Bultema

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

The Arctic is no longer frozen—it's on fire, and Greenland is the target.

In the chilling aftermath of the Sea of Red series, the United States faces its most treacherous enemy yet: a resurgent Russia hell-bent on controlling the Arctic’s strategic frontier. As ice melts, tensions ignite.

Lieutenant Commander Jessie “Swagger” Hampton is back in the cockpit of his F-35, now flying combat missions over the world’s newest battlefield. His wife, Lieutenant Commander Sarah “Danger” Freeman, patrols the skies in her E-2D Hawkeye, the eyes of the fleet, tracking enemy fighters, detecting missile launches, and directing the kill chain as war erupts across the Arctic.

When Russian forces launch a surprise invasion of Greenland, the U.S. military scrambles to respond. From silent submarine warfare beneath the polar sea to high-altitude dogfights and boots-on-frozen-ground combat, Arctic Red delivers relentless action and razor-sharp realism.

The war for the Arctic has begun—and the cost of failure is global. From multi-award-winning author James Bultema.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 429 / 76,000

Target Kyiv by J. M. Taylor

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

FEBRUARY 2022: Intelligence reports prompt a call to Matt Ross, ex-U. S. Army nuclear expert and sniper, to deal with the nuclear threat not only to the Ukrainian military and civilians, but also to the International Atomic Energy team at Chernobyl and his new friends in the Ukrainian drone-flying, tank-busting Aerorozvidka outfit. Along the way Ross picks up Ulf, a brindle Dutch Shepherd bomb detection dog, and finds himself in the middle of the Russian invasion trying to remember how to down an attack helicopter with a Stinger missile, destroy a tank with an Ukrainian Skif anti-tank missile and prevent the spread of radioactive debris across Europe.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 261 / 83,808

Home for the Homicides by Rosalie Spielman

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MWSA Review

Home for the Homicides by Rosalie Spielman is set in New Oslo, Idaho, where townsfolk prepare for Christmas and the first Running of the Grinches. Even Magnus the Moose gets in on the festivities by twice eating Army retiree Tessa Treslow’s truck decorations.

Another book in the Spielman series, Home for the Homicides follows Tessa and Aunt Edna as they prepare for Christmas and try to catch the real-life Grinch threatening New Oslo. The trouble escalates from broken storefront windows to stolen toys, firebombing, and murder. Tessa and Edna must find the culprit before Christmas is ruined.

Tessa organizes a citizen patrol for the town to catch the person responsible for attacking the businesses in town. She finds a clue at each of the sites that ties each event together. In a small town, where everyone knows each other, who could do these things to a neighbor? Tessa and Aunt Edna spot a stranger who seems to be around whenever there’s a crowd. Who is he, and why is he in New Oslo?

Home for the Homicides is a fast-paced cozy mystery with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Even though I’ve read some of the other books in the series, I still appreciate the cleverly named businesses and quirky named people like the Bimbeaus. Rosalie Spielman can always make me laugh!

Home for the Homicides is a book worth curling up in front of a fire to read.

Review by Nancy Panko

 

Author's Synopsis

It's Christmastime in Army retiree Tessa Treslow's small Idaho hometown of New Oslo, but someone is determined to play a grinch this season and is robbing local businesses of their holiday cheer!

In the midst of preparing for the first annual Running of the Grinches, a fundraiser to support the Sergeant Santa Toy Drive and the local historical society, a string of unfortunate incidents hit the townsfolk hard. It starts with broken windows then progresses to car theft, assault, and arson—each instance accompanied by a clue that clearly ties the crimes together.

Tessa organizes a watch patrol for New Oslo, and during her first shift she helps rescue a victim from a fire. Unfortunately, it is clear to Tessa that the woman was already dead before the fire was set. Did the arsonist accidentally kill her...or is something more heinous and less in the spirit of the season at hand? It's up to Tessa to find out before tragedy strikes again!

Format(s) for review: Kindle Only
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 255 / 70,000

Raiding the Rising Sun: The Doolittle Raid-America Strikes Back; An Illustrated Day-By-Day Account by Dan Steelman

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MWSA Review

In April of 1942, the United States was still reeling from the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Morale and resolve were slowly improving but were still very low. The White House knew something needed to be done to raise the country's spirit, but with the military so woefully unprepared, not many people had ideas as to exactly what. Fortunately, a few farsighted leaders in the military had not only an idea of what to do, but knew the exact steps needed to fully implement the plan.

Raiding the Rising Sun: The Doolittle Raid-America Strikes Back: An Illustrated Day-By-Day Account by Dan Steelman is the meticulously documented account of the Doolittle Raid of April 1942. Chronicling the events related to the raid starting with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and ending with the passing of the final Doolittle survivor in 2022, Steelman, by using detailed Japanese and American sources, takes us back in time to witness the events surrounding the idea of the raid, its planning, execution, and aftermath in an engrossing way. Written in the present tense, Steelman's narrative makes the reader feel as if they were there as it happened. The book is presented in time-line format so that the reader can feel the tension build as it is read. When it comes time to present what happened to the crews after they reached their targets, each plane's crew is presented individually so that the reader is not jumping from crew to crew. This section is especially interesting and poignant, as we read of the methods used by the crews to reach safety, or in the case of the two crews that were captured by the Japanese, the bravery they demonstrated as they faced certain death.

The book is replete with over 200 photographs, printed on high-quality glossy paper, appropriate for a coffee table book. Along with the expected entries such as telling the crews they had to take off in less than 500 feet without saying why, the author includes interesting tidbits such as the fact that the B-25's "tail guns" were actually broomsticks, while the Norden bombsights were replaced with the homemade “Mark Twain” bombsight, fabricated from twenty cent hardware store aluminum, and far more accurate than the Norden. The book makes use of ample quotes from members of the raid, giving the reader a very personal look into the thoughts and feelings of the crew members.

Raiding the Rising Sun is a welcome addition to the Doolittle Raid library as it combines riveting storytelling, high-quality photographs and maps, as well as the long-awaited identification of the mysterious gunner of Crew 10. This book belongs on the bookshelf of any historian of World War II.

Review by Daniel Long

 

Author's Synopsis

Raiding the Rising Sun is a richly illustrated and meticulously researched account of the April 18, 1942 Doolittle Raid—the first American air strike against the Japanese home islands and one of the most daring aviation operations of World War II.

Aviation historian Dan Steelman examines the raid through the lens of aircraft, technology, and planning, with particular focus on the B-25 Mitchell and the extraordinary modifications that made the mission possible. Drawing on primary sources, period photography, and clear technical explanation, the book traces how Army Air Forces and Navy personnel overcame unprecedented challenges to launch medium bombers from an aircraft carrier.

Combining authoritative narrative with rare photographs, original artwork, and accessible analysis, Raiding the Rising Sun places the raid in its proper operational and historical context while honoring the skill, ingenuity, and courage of the men who carried it out. The result is a visually compelling, fact-driven history that adds new clarity and depth to one of the most familiar stories of the air war in the Pacific.

Format(s) for review: Paper only
Review genre: Artistic—Pictorial/Coffee Table
Pages/Word count: 292 / ~30,000

The Suwalki Crisis by James Rosone

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

The Suwalki Crisis is the second book in our World on Fire series. The war for control of Asia and Europe has started. It's now a race to see which side will destroy the other's ability to fight and determine who will dominate the 21st century.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime
Pages/Word count: 377 / 99,160

TOP FIN: Tales of Courage and Chaos from a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer by George Cavallo

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Master Chief Darell Gelakoska wasn’t supposed to be there. At forty-three, decades older than the kids beside him, he marched back into Navy Rescue Swimmer School to prove that courage doesn’t retire with age. What followed was a test of grit, humility, and relentless determination that defined a legacy.

Top Fin pulls you straight into the unforgiving world of Coast Guard rescue swimmers—the elite few who leap from helicopters into raging seas, knowing the line between life and death can come down to seconds. Through hurricanes, shipwrecks, and helicopter crashes, these stories reveal not only the danger of the missions but the humor, chaos, and raw humanity of those who answer the call.

This isn’t just a memoir of rescues. It’s the journey of a man who helped shape the future of lifesaving itself. From sleepless nights on storm-tossed decks to the creation of the Advanced Rescue Swimmer School, Gelakoska’s story shows how experience, innovation, and stubborn willpower transformed training for generations to come.

Told with cinematic detail, gallows humor, and unflinching honesty, Top Fin is equal parts history and adrenaline—perfect for fans of military nonfiction.

Step into the cabin. Hear the rotors thunder. Watch the cabin door slide open to the storm. This is what it means to be Top Fin.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 456 / 57,885

Waiting at the Red Gate by Weston Roudebush

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MWSA Review

Waiting at the Red Gate is an intensely personal narrative of the author’s journey to maturity and the affirmation of his guardian role in the lives of his family and community. As his personal story progresses, he learns self-awareness through the examples of others and how to develop inner peace in the face of adversity. The image of a gate is a recurring symbol throughout, representing transition points in the author’s life and the challenges he faced at each juncture.

Individual chapters tell of his arrival at significant “gates” in his life and the trials each decision point presents. These tests range from confrontations as a security guard at a stateside US Air Force base to facing a crisis of conscience in deciding whether to report a heinous crime and risk his own family’s peace and safety. Each situation offers a learning experience for the author and, in turn, an opportunity for him to share with his readers guidance on how they might respond when faced with similar circumstances.

Chapters conclude with a set of “Quiet Questions” designed to lead his readers to reflect on their own life choices. Relevant quotations from Scripture add further guidance.

The author is a man of faith, and he is clear that his beliefs are a significant component in the underpinnings of his life, complementing his marriage, family, and community.

While relating his own journey, he offers suggestions for his readers as to how they can construct solid personal anchors that will enable them to withstand their inevitable life challenges.

Review by Peter Adams Young

 

Author's Synopsis

Some gates you cross change everything. Others you barely notice until you look back and realize how far you've traveled.
Standing at his red gate, waiting for his family to come home, Weston Roudebush reflects on the journey from a quiet kid who kept his head down to a father teaching his boys that the strongest hands are often the gentlest.
This isn't a book about dramatic moments or battlefield heroics. It's about the spaces in between where character is forged in kitchens and bedrooms, where steady hands learn to build instead of break, where quiet strength speaks louder than any war cry.
Through stories spanning military service, law enforcement, fatherhood, and faith, Weston maps the territory where boys become men not through violence, but through the courage to remain tender in a hard world. These foundations are built not with concrete and steel, but with patient presence and the willingness to stand watch at the gates that matter most.
For fathers raising boys into men. For veterans learning to live with what they've carried. For anyone who has discovered that the deepest strength often speaks in whispers.
This is a book about building something that lasts, one quiet choice at a time.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 225 / 56,158

The Four Stars of Leadership: Scientifically-Derived Principles from the Experiences of America's Highest-Ranking Leaders by Tom Collins, MD, MS

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MWSA Review

The Four Stars of Leadership opens with a convincing argument about what sets this work apart from most leadership “how to” manuals on the market. While many books in this genre cite known and respected thought leaders in the field, this author chose to concentrate on the experiences of proven practitioners as the basis for his empirical research. His subjects are retired four-star generals and admirals representing every branch of the U.S. military.

The result is a thoroughly entertaining and enlightening work that will appeal to any reader seeking to better address the challenges of leading complex organizations. As a bonus, a number of top military leaders share their stories of facing critical decisions in their careers.

To establish the baseline for his research, the author conducted extensive interviews with fifty-one men and women who had achieved the highest level in their respective military services. All interviews were structured with a consistent set of questions. He then analyzed the lessons gleaned from the experiences of these leaders, representing more than 2,000 years of collective service, to arrive at an initial set of 115 leadership themes from his subjects’ testimonies. These themes were systematically grouped into subsets along several dimensions to arrive at a manageable suite of four core elements of effective leadership:

• Character
• Competence
• Caring
• Communication

Discussion of each of these four attributes forms the bulk of the work via three chapters treating in turn: (1) the essential components of the overarching principle, (2) discussion of its significance, and (3) cogent guidance on application. The personal reflections of four-stars included in the author’s study punctuate every chapter. Readers can discover how dozens of leaders were confronted by unique challenges and how they all found ways to overcome them.

The author has carefully and convincingly built solid scientific foundations for defining his four underlying leadership principles. These abstract concepts are powerfully augmented by the real-life experiences and conclusions of proven top-level military leaders. Although rooted in the experiences and lessons learned by high-ranking U.S. military leaders, the book’s conclusions are readily transferrable to other disciplines in the civilian world, including business, industry, academia, and social services. It would be a valuable addition to any leader’s bookshelf.

Review by Peter Adams Young

 

Author's Synopsis

The Four Stars of Leadership unveils the hard-won lessons of 51 of America’s most accomplished leaders—retired Four-Star Generals and Admirals—who led through crisis, commanded with integrity, and built teams that thrived under pressure. In an era of global uncertainty, rapid change, and deep societal division, great leadership is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Drawing from exclusive interviews and cutting-edge leadership research, Dr. Tom Collins distills their wisdom into four essential elements that form exceptional leadership: Character, Competence, Caring, and Communication. These principles transcend the battlefield, offering a proven system for leaders in any field—whether you’re guiding a hospital team, leading a business, or navigating the complexities of today’s rapidly changing world.

This book goes beyond theory, weaving together compelling personal stories from the highest levels of leadership with practical, science-backed strategies you can apply immediately. You’ll discover how to earn trust through unwavering integrity, sharpen your expertise to master your “battlespace,” cultivate genuine care for those you lead, and harness the power of clear, authentic communication.

The Four Stars of Leadership is an indispensable guide for leaders who strive not just to succeed—but to inspire, empower, and leave a lasting legacy of excellence.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—How to/Business
Pages/Word count: 306 / 80,000

On Board the USS Boise in World War II: The Battles and Secret Missions of Light Cruiser CL-47 by Ian S. Bertram

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MWSA Review

On Board the U.S.S. Boise in World War II takes readers from pre-war Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, through some of the most harrowing naval engagements of the early Pacific War. From there, the ship plays a vital role in the invasions of Sicily and Italy, providing critical naval gunfire to landing troops when distance and resources precluded effective airpower. Upon returning to the Pacific, supporting MacArthur’s army, the ship and its crew start the long road towards Tokyo, by way of Manila, to destroy the military forces of the Japanese Empire.

The author, a U.S. Air Force pilot with a graduate degree in history, uses the “log” of his wife’s grandfather, Donald “DB” Fitch, to thread through the story of the Boise. Using the wartime log of the enlisted sailor, the author is also able to pinpoint, in both place and time, other firsthand descriptions of the ship’s actions and exploits, along with detailed historical research. Through the story of Boise, a detailed account of many critical actions and campaigns emerges, and readers are given both the “big picture” and individual accounts, from pre-war to the end in 1945. Interspersed with the military action are glimpses of the life of an enlisted sailor, from exotic Pacific ports to scenes of the U.S. home front during wartime.

This book will be of interest to historians and fans of naval history, World War II history, and anyone who wishes to understand the hardships, bravery, and sacrifices on board a combat ship during war.

Review by Terry Lloyd

 

Author's Synopsis

The story of the USS Boise (CL-47) is one of fear, loss, endurance, fame, triumph, and pain. The light cruiser endured a remarkable career through the entirety of World War II, with a redemption arc that took its crew from the position of scapegoats to heroes, and ultimately to the vanguard of America's liberation forces.
One man, Donald "DB" Fitch, witnessed the entire conflict from his battle-station on the bridge. The ship conducted secret missions and fought at Guadalcanal, Sicily, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Through Fitch's eyes, this book relives the terrors and thrills of naval combat along with the pranks, shenanigans, and the rumors that were the lifeblood of a ship through four years of war. Fitch and his friends fought for each other and their country, and in the end, they left their mark on history.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Nonfiction—History
Pages/Word count: 235 / 100,000

Where There's Smoke: A Texas Love Story by Rees Walther

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

WHEN HOME ISN'T WHAT YOU LEFT... BUT WHERE YOUR HEART STILL LIVES.

Mae Whitaker left her small Texas hometown years ago, trading rolling hills and slow-smoked barbecue for the fast pace of New York City. But when her mother’s illness calls her back to Twinsdale, she finds herself at a crossroads—one that forces her to rekindle lost connections and question everything she thought she wanted.

As Mae navigates grief, family, faith, and the uncertainty of her future, she crosses paths with Jim Carter—the boy she once knew, now a man who has built a quiet life in the heart of Texas. Mae's return was supposed to be temporary. But the more time she spends in Twinsdale, the harder it is to resist the pull of a place—and a man—that feels more like home than she ever expected.

With the unwavering support of her best friend Jenny, the quiet wisdom of her parents, and the warmth of a community that reminds her of what is really important, Mae must decide:

Will she return to the life she built in New York—or embrace the one waiting for her back home?

A slow-burn romance of second chances, healing, and the strength of love in the face of loss.
Where There’s Smoke is a soulful, small-town love story filled with heartfelt moments, vivid characters, and the tender ache of rediscovery. Set against the smoky backdrop of rural Texas, this contemporary Western romance explores how grief can shape us—but love is what ultimately defines us.

Perfect for readers who love:

The emotional depth of Virgin River and Pack Up the Moon
The lyrical romance of The Notebook and Before We Were Strangers
The warmth of Things We Never Got Over and The Secret Life of Bees

If you’ve ever grieved someone deeply, or felt pulled between two versions of yourself... this story will speak to you.
With evocative prose and emotionally grounded characters, Where There’s Smoke is a heartfelt journey through the spaces we lose and the homes we find again.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Romance
Pages/Word count: 344 / 61,069

I Remember You: Between memory and silence, a voice remains. by Patrick J Hughes

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MWSA Review

Patrick J. Hughes is a sharp, unsentimental observer of life at sea. Many of the poems are rooted in detachment cycles, storm evacuations, carrier politics, and the absurdities of military routine. Poems like “Storm Prep,” “Det Life,” “Generations of Fire,” and “Tiger Guide with No Tiger” capture the texture of Navy life with insider authenticity: mildew in the barracks, mystery meat, long hours, bad coffee, and leadership theatrics. There is dry humor, controlled frustration, and an unvarnished honesty that feels genuine. The darker poems, which explore depression, grief, and emotional isolation, reveal a different voice, one that is deeply personal. Many of these poems are filled with vivid fresh lines that will resonate across many situations. In "Sitting in the Dark," Hughes pens "Trying to drown out the pain with music / The music is helping / It's making it worse."

Hughes uses poetic forms, both narrative and rhyming, with great skill. However, if you are looking for poetry evocative of a recruiting poster, this is not that book. Hughes makes no attempt to romanticize service. Instead, this collection offers a no-holds-barred account of one sailor’s view of Navy life, its monotony, politics, quiet endurance, and personal cost. That honesty will resonate with many readers, particularly those who have served.

Review by John Cathcart
 

Author's Synopsis

From the psych ward to flight deck, from whispered goodbyes to quiet strength, I Remember You is a raw and unflinching book of poetry and prose by Navy veteran Patrick J. Hughes. Seamed from the unvarnished material of trauma, healing, fatherhood, friendship, and mental illness, these poems will find an echo within anyone who's ever stood in a doorway and wondered how to move forward.

With a raw honesty and with unexpected graciousness, Hughes charts life after conflict, the unseen scars of depression and PTSD, and the lifelines of salvation that bind us when we are breaking. This is a debut poetry collection as testament to survival—not a destination, but an everyday act of bravery.

Whether you’ve served, loved someone who has, or simply struggled in silence, these pages hold space for your story, too. If you’ve ever needed to feel less alone, this book remembers you.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Poetry—Poetry Book
Pages/Word count: 121 / 14,705

The Resurrected Pirate: The Life, Death, and Subsequent Career of the Notorious George Lowther by Craig S. Chapman

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

The Resurrected Pirate reveals the astonishing life story of George Lowther, the most singular buccaneer from piracy’s golden age. This book explores his motivations, mistakes, tactics, and leadership as he trolls for victims and chases down his prey. Based on meticulous research, Lowther’s years ravaging the Caribbean and North Atlantic provide insight into the sordid lives of sea bandits. The brutality of the age comes into focus as he and his partners inflict robberies, torment and sometimes murder, culminating in their own deaths by violence, hangings, and Lowther’s supposed suicide in 1723. A stunning revelation adds a whole new chapter to his story. Lowther later re-emerges from a contented civilian life to help Britain in time of war and thereby restore his reputation. Commissioned in the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Lowther throws himself into capturing part of Spain’s empire in a dramatic quest for redemption.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only
Review genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography
Pages/Word count: 240 / 90,000