The Coil by Gayle Lynds

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

 Author Gayle Lynds has out done her previous great novels with her latest book The Coil and that is saying a lot! This book is a sequel to her highly acclaimed novel “Masquerade.”  The good news for new readers to Gayle Lynds writings is that you can start right off reading this book without having read the previous story, as I did. The author skillfully fills you in and catches you up on the characters and the continued story lines— it is a seamless and professional effort on her part. The plot moves very quickly along but the reader should have no problems following the fast action, as well as the high body count as this tale of international espionage moves us around the world. You get hooked very early on as you begin to wonder why things are happening to the lead character, Liz Sansborough.

The story line could come right from today’s news—it all seems plausible and believable and as a reader, I never questioned it. Trying to figure out who the good and bad guys are is a great part of the fun of reading Gayle’s book, as she unfolds new elements and information with each chapter. I found myself guessing what would or might happen next but I was always wrong. She does not take the simple path with her plot or the characters. This is a very original mystery masterpiece and thriller! It is very cerebral and impressive with the unexpected twists and turns it takes us through.

The title “The Coil” comes from a covert shadow group of politicians and business leaders from around the world, but that is about all I am going to reveal about the plot. I do not want to spoil a great reading experience. If you enjoy international conspiracy theories then this book will be a rewarding read for you. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

A sequel to the New York Times bestselling novel, Masquerade, The Coil picks up several years later. Liz Sansborough, former CIA agent and now an academic, has managed to put the pieces of her life back together. But Sansborough has a dark secret - she is the daughter of the one of the most notorious Cold War Assassins, The Carnivore. When a series of prominent political figures are blackmailed into certain actions or die in suspicious ways, the CIA becomes convinced that someone has gotten hold of the Carnivore's files and is using that information to further some secret agenda. Sansborough herself - the closet living link to the Carnivore - is the target of a murder attempt, her offices are searched, her files stolen and her TV program on the secrets of the Cold War inexplicably shelved by the network. When she learns her cousin Sarah Walker - who bears a close resemblance to Sansborough - is kidnapped off the street with the ransom demand being the Carnivore's missing - possibly apocryphal - files, Liz is determined to save her cousin and uncover the swirling conspiracy, linked to a shadowy group known as The Coil, centered around the legacy of her father. But she's far from the only one going after the truth behind the legendary assassin.

Moving is Murder by Sara Rosett

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Amateur sleuthing by a military spouse, a murder, lots of suspects and moving to a new base assignment are some of the elements that make "Moving Is Murder" a great tale. Author Sara Rosett takes her experiences as a military wife and weaves a tale into that fabric that is rich and full of excitement, intrigue, action and enough plot twists and turns to keep you guessing as to who done it and why. 

To say that I enjoyed it would be an understatement--I loved it! I think the little heart symbol on the book's front cover indicating that it is "A Mom Zone Mystery" might scare off some male readers--but never judge a book by its cover. It is a great read for men as well as women--murder is not gender biased. It was a pleasant surprise to me to find myself hooked on this story plot so quickly. 

The book is well constructed and she has made good use of personal glimpses of the characters in the story; so we get to know the people in the story and get caught up in the action. Rosett has significant writing talent, that is a given; she delivers an entertaining and absorbing story. 

Those in the military will enjoy reading about their lifestyle and be able to identify with the actions and situations that take place on and of base an Air Force Base. There is also a nice side benefit for military families reading the book because at the end of most all chapters there are moving tips thrown in. That may sound a little odd but trust me she makes it work and it keeps the flow of the mood and energy rolling along. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

Moving four times in five years has honed Ellie's considerable skills. But unpacking with a newborn daughter, record-breaking heat wave, and the realization that their dream neighborhood is known as Base Housing East is enough to make her turn to chocolate for comfort. She and her husband, Mitch, moved off-base for privacy and peace of mind. Now half of their neighbors are with the 52nd Air Refueling Squadron. Forget privacy. Forget peace of mind, too. Driving home from her first squadron barbecue, Ellie finds neighborhood environmental activist Cass Vincent dead on the side of the road. The police call it an accident - Cass, fatally allergic, was stung by wasps - but Ellie's not so sure. Cass' husband said she always had an EpiPen in the car. Unfortunately, all Ellie found was a cup with sugary gunk and bits of bees at the bottom. She saw Cass argue violently at the barbecue with Mitch's buddy Jeff about something mysterious...and it just so happens Jeff knows a lot about bee-keeping. Hoping to clear Drew before the police get around to suspecting him, Ellie starts snooping in earnest. What she finds shocks her - alcoholism, blackmail, betrayal, secret debt...even illicit medical treatment the Air Force would never tolerate. But what's the connection to Cass? When suspicious "accidents" start happening in her own backyard, Ellie realizes she's getting closer to the killer...maybe too close!

The Ninth Commandment by Joe Tuffy Tofuri

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The Best Detective Novel I Have Read in the Last 10 Years! There is something very entertaining and fun about reading a good mystery book, or in this case, a real detective book, it was simply a pleasure. Although there is a disclaimer at the front of the book saying almost everything inside is fictional except for the detective and his family and some friends – it reads like non-fiction and you believe everything that happens. The Ninth Commandment – Thou Shall Not Bear False Witness is not your father’s detective novel – nope, this is a whole new genre of detective against the bad guys book. It paints us a whole new look at what it may really be like in the real world.

Author Joe “Tuffy” Tofuri delivers the goods with his story. The book actually follows Joe along as he works on several cases at the same time. He intertwines them skillfully and mixes in lots of action. I begin to root for this guy as he used brains, guns, common sense and even a big biker to get to the truth with his investigations. The personality of the detective is not like your old Sam Spade types at all. This is a hard working man with some flaws. Nope, our hero is not perfect but he is definitely a man’s man kind of investigator.

Tofuri points out some of the social ills and problems in today’s legal system as he leads us along with a great story. His take on how women misuse restraining orders and how people lie had me rethinking things should I ever be on a jury some day. He makes you a believer in what happened in his book. I think that is one of the reasons the book reads so well – it is all so plausible. The author gives you his years of experience as an investigator and not only entertains you but educates you as well.

I loved the book. I like the lead character and the plot. I enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it to all those who love detective and mystery novels. You will not be disappointed!

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

Joe Tofuri is a licensed Massachusetts private detective. He embarks on a bevy of intertwining cases during the Christmas season of 1995. First, he is retained by a wealthy businessman to find and retrieve his young son who was kidnapped by a drug dealer. The “search for the truth” comes to bear in two other cases involving domestic abuse, assault & battery, and the horrible vehicular homicide of a young boy. In the midst of these investigations, Joe takes on another case involving the search for a stolen mysterious briefcase taken by a "Biker" gang. Entering the dark and dangerous biker world, he uncovers an unlikely clue that leads him to a potential eyewitness in the vehicular homicide case. And through it all, Joe must fight the most dangerous entities of them all... his own inner demons.

Blue Angels – A Fly By History by Nicholas A. Veronico

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Great Book About America’s favorite Aviators – The Blue Angels! Nicholas Veronico has produced a marvelous collection of photos, history, stories and reference data on America’s most popular aviation group in his coffee table sized book  The Blue Angels – A Fly-By History: Sixty Years Of Aerial Excellence.   It is sure to please all Blue Angel fans world wide. There is so much more to his book than some cold history about the group. This book gives you both the men and their flying machines in a perfect and balanced presentation.

The book not only looks great with many photos of the planes in action but the text digs deeply into the history and personalities involved with making this team a sixty year hit. The author uses some good editing and an easy to follow format to share this group’s story. It is obvious that there was some detailed research that enshrines this whole book project. It feels like a labor of love from the author and comes across in an entertaining style. The book is a tribute to a wonderful group of aviators.

It will sit proudly on your coffee table or in your book shelf but if you leave it lying around the office or the house, people will begin picking it up and browsing through it – the temptation is just too great to fondle and ogle it. The good thing about this book is that it is just as much fun to look at and read the second or the third time or even the first one hundred times you pick it up. It is a collector’s book to be cherished and displayed.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

It began in 1946 when Admiral Chester W. Nimitz ordered the formation of a flight demonstration team to keep the public interested in naval aviation. The Blue Angels performed their first air show less than a year later in June 1946 at their home base, Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, Florida. 

Today, sixty years later, the Blue Angels are a worldwide phenomenon, exemplary representatives of Navy and Marine Corps aviation and international ambassadors of goodwill seen by fifteen million awestruck spectators each year. The Blue Angels: A Fly-By History tells the story of this high-flying phenomenon from its inception through the present day. 

Respected aviation writer Nicholas Veronico conducts readers through the Blue Angels history from the earliest Flight Leader, Roy "Butch" Voris, in his Grumman F6F Hellcat to the sleek McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet that todays Angels fly. Along the way this profusely illustrated volume revisits the Blue Angels changing aircraft and role, including their incarnation as the nucleus of a fighter squadron known "Satans Kittens" during the Korean War and their flying of the McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk II in the Seventies. 

Well over 300 million spectators have witnessed the Blue Angels airborne exploits. This book gives readers a close-up look at the remarkable team of flyers as it made history on the wing.

Hell Wouldn’t Stop – An Oral History Of The Battle Of Wake Island by Chet Cunningham

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The Tale of Hell on Wake Island by the Survivors. The story about the battle for Wake Island, at the outbreak of WWII is a great tale made even better by first hand remembrances and accounts of those who were there and survived. Hell Wouldn’t Stop – An Oral History Of The Battle of Wake Island is a brilliantly reconstructed history that needed to be told! This story is good history that is made even better by great writing. It is a story that needed to be saved for future generations. This is prolific author Chet Cunningham’s best work to date (he has written and had published over 300 books).

I could not put down this history book. Normally, historic books are not riveting stories, but this is a thriller as much as a tribute to those men who tell their stories. The author skillfully weaves his comments and facts into the story telling by the men who were there. I just cannot say enough about how good of a read this book is. The author certainly honors all those men who fought there, including the author’s own brother who inspired the book. THIS IS A MUST READ BOOK!

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

In this gritty, poignant, often disturbing oral chronicle of one of the first and most tragic military engagements in World War II, Chet Cunningham gives the gallant U.S. defenders of Wake Island—among them his older brother, Kenneth, then a private in the Marines—their long-overlooked due. For Kenneth Cunningham, a serviceman in the defense battalion stationed on Wake Island, World War II began on December 8, 1941, just five hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It ended on December 23. That day the Marines on Wake Island—their twelve Wildcat fighter planes lost, their forces diminished—faced an overwhelming enemy invasion, with the Japanese arriving in so many ships that, as one eyewitness put it, they could have walked from one to the other on the open sea. Private Cunningham and his fellow Marines fought intrepidly, until their commanding officers ordered them to surrender. Their term in hell, though, had just begun. When the Marines laid down their arms they were stripped naked. With their hands bound, they sat naked in the hot sun all day; at night they shivered in the cold. They suffered endless days at sea jammed in the holds of ships that took them to prison camps in China and Japan. Forty-four months later, liberated at last, they would return home unheralded and largely forgotten. Their often horrific, frequently heroic story now stands recorded, for the most part in the words of the soldiers, sailors, Marines, and civilian personnel who were there, as well as of their wives and widows, in startling, unforgettable detail. Eight pages of black-and-white photographs add to this gripping reconstruction of the sixteen-day battle for Wake Island and its aftermath.

The Gulf War Chronicles by Richard S. Lowry

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The only book you will Ever need to learn about The First War with Iraq! Richard Lowry writes the ultimate and most accurate and complete history of Operation Desert Storm in his superlative book  The Gulf War Chronicles – a military history of the first war with Iraq.   His book is “the gold standard” for history books written about this war. There are none better or more compelling.

This is not a dry history of whom and what – but great story telling. It has details that not even those who watched the war glued to their TV sets knew about or even heard of. This book should be a part of college and high school history classes and certainly needs to be read at our military academies – which I would assume they do. This book is a classic already. It has captured all the pertinent and significant information from that war experience. Everything you would want to know about that war is there.

I have read several dozen books on Desert Storm over the last decade and a few volumes right after the war ended. I thought I knew all about the war and what happened. Lowry has years of productive research and he makes good use of it to paint the reader a very visual mental picture of what happened and when. His writing style is alive with energy as he takes the reader from the opening moments in the war and orchestrates a chronicle of events and people. He adds detailed touches to the operations as if he were an eyewitness to events that he is sharing with the readers.

Lowry is a gifted writer who knows how to tell a story and make it entertaining, exciting and educational as well. This is a must read book for all military and history buffs.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

Extensively researched, painstakingly documented, and dedicated to the courageous men and women who fought and served in the First War with Iraq, this is a factual military history of Operation Desert Storm-and the only readable and thorough chronicle of the entire war.From the first night of battle to Day Two, when Saddam struck back, to G Day and the eventual cease-fire, accomplished military historian Richard S. Lowry delivers a detailed, day-by-day account of each battle and every military encounter leading up to the liberation of Kuwait.Desert Storm was a war of many firsts: America's first four-dimensional war; the first time in military history that a submerged submarine attacked a land target; the Marine Corps' first combat air strikes from an amphibious assault ship; the first time in the history of warfare that a soldier surrendered to a robot; and more. And it was an overwhelming victory for the United States and its allies.Intentionally presented without political commentary and ending with a complete listing of the heroic Americans killed in Desert Storm as well as a battle timeline, glossary, bibliography, and resources, The Gulf War Chronicles provides a much-needed understanding of the nature of modern-day, high-tech warfare and honors America's collective resolve and commitment to freedom.

The Veteran's Survival Guide by John D. Roche

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

BEST DAMN BOOK ON VA CLAIMS EVER WRITTEN! When I got my hands on  The Veteran’s Survival Guide – How to File and Collect on VA Claims  I realized at once, that this was “the gold standard” of this genre. This is truly the best and most helpful book on the subject that I have come across in my 3 decades of helping veterans. There are none better! AuthorJohn D. Roche has taken all his personal experience of having worked for the VA and for veterans in Florida and put it into readable simple and easy to follow language.

Not only does he tell you what to do, but he also gives you insights on how the VA operates and makes decisions on claims. If you have a claim to file or have one being processed right now – then you should run down and buy this book. I sincerely mean that. You cannot afford not to have a copy of this book that you can reference back to for information.

I most highly recommend this book for every veteran. Sometime in your life you or your family may need this information. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

"Claim denied!" All too often millions of veterans have received this response to their legitimate claims for federal benefits. In most cases, writes veterans' advocate John D. Roche, the claimant didn't understand the procedures needed to meet the myriad requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the appeals process requiring years to resolve disputes, deserving veterans and their dependents are left confused and frustrated by the agency and a system that was created to serve them. The answer is to submit a well-grounded claim initially, which The Veteran's Survival Guide, now in a revised, second edition, analyzes in detail. This unique book, written in an accessible self-help style, will be required reading for any veteran or veteran's dependent who wishes to obtain his or her well-earned benefits and for those officials of veterans' service organizations who assist veterans with their claims.

Street Fight in Iraq by Patrick Tracy

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

The Real Deal in Iraq by a Marine Who Was There! Leatherneck Publishing has rolled out a long anticipated book about the current war on terrorism called Street Fight In Iraq. The book is written from diary notes taken from August 2004 through April 2005 by then GySgt Patrick Tracy, USMC. It brings the action to the reader as if you were right on patrol with the Marines. There is lots of emotion and many personal observations as the book lays it out as viewed from a combat soldier’s perspective. This is not some story of strategies and battle plans written by some general or some imbedded reporter – this is a first hand accounting of the day to day life in a real combat zone.

Gunnery Sergeant Tracy captures the nuances as well as the harsh realities of life and death in his well crafted book. This book holds no punches back and could never be called “politically correct” in any sense. The author tells us without much emotional censorship what he went through, how he felt about the terrorists and about losing good men, and how much he missed his family. The author’s words are not homogenized and fluffed over – the language is all Marine and very raw and salty at times.

There have been many books already written about the war going on in Iraq but none have the force and the power that Patrick Tracy’s book has – this is the best book of this genre! It is a must read book for all those interested in understanding the current war in Iraq; however, it is an absolute necessity for all those troops being deployed there in the future. This book is real history and is destined to become a classic war memoir for this generation of Marines.

The book is neither recommended nor suitable for all family members, or for those who may be offended by some very raw “colorful” language at times throughout the book.

This book is about today’s Marine Corps and reflects well on the men and women who proudly wear that uniform. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

A day by day account of the battle for Ramadi, Iraq during the height of the Iraqi insurgency from August 2004 until March of 2005. The legendary Fox Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines battled insurgents on a daily basis and this book serves as a blow by blow account; told by Fox Company Gunnery Sergeant, Patrick M Tracy. The author brings you along for the ride through many battles and skirmishes and has an upfront, no-nonsense style of telling his story.

The First Hellcat Ace by Hamilton McWhorter

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

 One of the Truly Great WWII Aviation Memoirs! Professional writer Jay Stout and WWII air ace extraordinaire, CDR Hamilton McWhorter III (USN Ret) have captured a great piece of personal history in their non-fictional book, The First Hellcat Ace. This is truly one of the all time greatest stories of U.S. Naval aviation history. The authors take us along as we follow a young Hamilton go through his training (During the time of Pearl Harbor) and off on his battles over North Africa against the Vichy French and in the Pacific against the Japanese.

This is not just a story of how one man becomes the first air ace in a Hellcat Fighter but it deals with accounts of other men from “Fighting Squadron 9.” These were America’s best young men who fought in the skies above the likes of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Tarawa Atoll among other places. They risked their lives daily in air to air combat and from hostile ground and ship fire.

There is much depth to the story telling as we get to look at McWhorter’s experiences as he reflects back on those days during the war. It is told as if it had just recently happened. The writing style is easy to read and follow and creates great excitement. It also gives us a more personal view of the men and what their lives were like. This book is suitable for most all readers.

If you enjoy aviation, or naval war stories, history, or just like to read about heroes, then this is the book for you. This is an important book that needs to be discovered by young Americans looking for old fashioned heroes. Commander McWhorter is the real McCoy and it would be good to honor him and others like himself before the Greatest Generation becomes just a memory. But when they do, I hope that this book will still be there casting long shadows over future generations.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

 THE FIRST HELLCAT ACE Cdr Hamilton McWhorter, III, USN (Ret) with Jay A. Stout Though he objected to being called such, Hamilton McWhorter III's service to family and country make him a standout among America's Greatest Generation. A Georgia native whose family roots date from that region's settlement during the 1700s, Mac McWhorter was a naval aviation cadet undergoing training when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. After earning his Wings of Gold in early 1942, Ensign McWhorter was trained as a fighter pilot in the robust but technologically outmoded F4F Wildcat. Initially assigned to VF-9-a fiercely spirited and hard-playing fighter squadron-he saw first combat in November 1942 against Vichy French forces in North Africa. After returning to the United States, VF-9 became the first unit to convert to the new Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter-the fighter the U.S. Navy would use to crush Japanese air power during the long offensive from the Southwest Pacific to the shores of Japan. From mid 1943, Hamilton McWhorter was constantly engaged in the unforgiving and deadly aerial warfare that characterized the battles against Imperial Japan. His fifth aerial victory, in November 1943 off Tarawa Atoll, made him the first ace in the Hellcat, and seven subsequent victories ensured his place in the annals of air-to-air combat. McWhorter's combat service, from the beginning of the war to the last campaign off the shores of Okinawa, makes his story a must-read for the serious student of the Pacific air war. Hamilton McWhorter III retired from the Navy as a commander in 1969. He passed away in 2008. A Marine F/A-18 pilot from 1981 to early 2000, Lieutenant Colonel Jay A. Stout is a combat veteran with over 4,600 flight hours. He has also authored Hornets over Kuwait, which recounts his own experiences during the Gulf War. What the experts are saying about The First Hellcat Ace: "Mac McWhorter not only survived three carrier deployments in World War II, he earned a reputation as one of the Navy's deadliest fighter pilots. His memoir captures the attitude of his generation-the heroism and the sacrifice, and the return to a loving famiy. It was an era never to return again." --Barrett Tillman, author of Hellcat: The F6F in World War II "Mac McWhorter became a noted Navy fighter ace during World War II, his three carrier deployments characterized by intense combat, the loss of numerous squadron mates, and the pain of separation from his wife and family. His memoir is not the stuff of legends or glamour so often associated with fighter pilots, but a sensitive look at the realities faced by carrier aviators who go in harm's way." --Bruce Gamble, author of Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory "Pappy" Boyington "Not only a thrilling account of some of the great air battles of the Pacific war, Hamilton McWhorter's book provides a window through which we can view a generation of young men at war, impressed by their camaraderie and spirit and humbled by the hardships and fears they overcame." --M. Hill Goodspeed, historian at the U.S. Navy Aviation Museum

The L.P. by David Walks-As-Bear

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Book Would Make Great Action Movie! David Walks-As-Bear has done it again, showing off his talents as a creative novelist and master writer of the thriller genre. His newest book, The L.P. (which is military lingo for a “listening post”) is filled with tons of action and suspense dealing with the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The plot of this story is what makes this book so damn interesting and frightening as well. What the men in this unit over hear and learn about is so diabolical in nature and outright evil that they have to pass this information on to their superiors even if it may cost them their own lives attempting to deliver it.

The author mixes some great characterizations in with a well thought out and terrifying plot that makes an explosive mixture that entertains. He will have you completely hooked on the storyline within a short period of time and it will become difficult to set the book down to go to bed, or to eat, or to do anything until you've read the final word.

The dialog is strongly written and the interaction between characters seems believable. The chemistry of the whole reading experience seems to work well. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis
A story about the 2003 invasion of Iraq. At the war’s beginning, near the outskirts of Baghdad — an undermanned infantry squad and two young women are caught with legions of the Iraqi Republican Guard all around them. Death could come swiftly for the American soldiers assigned to the listening post. Do they fight, hide or surrender? Sgt. Parker is the man in charge and he can’t let any of those things happen. Because the L.P. has heard something sinister and no matter what the cost...it must be told.

Every Shape, Every Shadow by Roger L. Conlee

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Historic WWII novel that reads like a non-fiction! Author Roger Conlee is an avid historian, an excellent researcher and a gifted writer and he combines all his talents into producing a WWII classic story called “Every Shape, Every Shadow – A Novel of Guadalcanal.” There are few war novels that rise to this level of expertise. He writes as if he were there among the men who lived and fought there. Not only that but he gives the reader views of the battle from both sides allowing us to learn something about the Japanese commanders as well.  We even get to listen to Tokyo Rose broadcasting her propaganda to the troops about ready to do battle.

Conlee captures the feelings and sense of the battle that those who were there might have felt. He shares both some real and fictional letters home that give a more personal insight to those men and adds another layer of emotions to his story. The book feels like non-fiction and reads like a thrilling action adventure tale of war. His use of dialogs helps us to get a better sense of who each character in the story is; and it carries the plot along effortlessly. His descriptions of the battle and inner sense of what happened there makes for riveting good reading. This is a page turner; you will not want to put it down until you have finished the book even if it well past your bed time.

There have been some really great books written about the heroics of WWII and now you can now add this one to that list. It is that good! 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis

It is 1942 and the Japanese have overrun Southeast Asia and most of the Pacific islands. They have to be stopped somewhere or Australia could fall. That somewhere is a place called Guadalcanal. Every Shape, Every Shadow is Roger L. Conlee's fictionalized account of one of the epic battles in American history. Guadalcanal was where the Japanese were finally stopped and the Americans could start on the road to Tokyo and victory.

The story is told mostly through the eyes of a frightened, lonely young Marine.

The Sobs of Autumn's Violins by A. R. Homer

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

An Intelligent Spy Thriller from WWII.  Author A. R. Homer creates a captivating story of the D-day invasion and all that leads up to it by mixing actual historic facts with both real and fictional characters. His novel, The Sobs of Autumn’s Violins – A Novel of War and Love, is a wonderfully creative and devious mixture of history and imagination.

Although this is only Homer’s second novel, he is already being viewed as one of the more credible and exciting up-and-coming mystery, thriller writers of his generation. This book is not just a story of WWII spies and espionage; it is laced with great interplay between characters and is partially a love story as well.

Actual facts are weaved into and throughout the storyline which adds a touch of realism and believability to the plot. The only thing lacking for this book to make it to the best seller’s list is marketing and being “discovered" by the media. This book is a must read for all avid readers of thriller or WWII books. 

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis
A Secret So Colossal It Will Decide Who Wins the War...

May, 1944: The world holds its breath as the Allies prepare to launch their all-important invasion of Europe. The invasion plan is a secret that must be kept at all costs, but the secret is beset from all sides: a sleeper spy in England, a disaster during an invasion rehearsal, a double-dealing French Resistance leader, a ruthlessly-obsessed Gestapo head. And, for an American intelligence officer, it is a race against time to save both the secret and the woman he loves.

And now the secret's safety hangs upon two things: Operation First Violin, the brainchild of the chief English spymaster, and a French orphan girl seeking to find escape from a world that has dealt her terrible blows.

Played out in England and Normandy over two weeks that will decide the course of history, The Sobs of Autumn's Violins is a tale of suspense, courage, and love that builds to a stunning double climax.

Red Sky At Night by Bill Bigelow

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

A Believable Submarine Thriller in the Tom Clancy Mold! Author Bill Bigelow, a former Navy officer and also an actor from old TV shows like Hawaii Five-O, Charlie’s Angels, Magnum P.I. and Jake and The Fatman, has created a great submarine thriller that gives the reader total satisfaction. The book has a great balance between the plot and the character development. This is a well written and an intelligent accounting of a very plausible scenario dealing with submarines, secrets, murder, spies, and international intrigue.

The phrasing and writing technique that Bigelow uses to tell his tale, makes for entertaining story telling. This book will hold your attention from the first few pages all the way to last satisfying pages. This is a great undersea novel that connects well with the reader. I loved the book. I believe that Bigelow has all the potential to join a very elite group of best selling writers of military fiction. This is a must read! Watch this author he is going to be noticed!

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis
 

Rogue Trident by John Hindinger

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Phenomenal Yarn! Author John H. Gallagher takes on the military and even Senator Joe McCarthy in his historical fictionalized story about the Korean War "Grady's Tour". Most books do not take on such a complete stretch of history, in this case, four years that covers both the war and afterwards. 

The book has some great action sequences in Korea that will satisfy almost all military buffs who enjoy reading a good war novel. The book goes into an area that most writers of this genre do not. It deals with issues beyond the war itself and takes on the great spy hunt at home by people like Joe McCarthy. It raises some questions and it might open old historic wounds for some people. 

Readers will get their money's worth; as the book is well over 500 pages long and is entertaining through out .

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis
A historical novel of: Fighting in Korean War; Zealous commanding general at Stateside post; McCarthy communist spy hunt; Politics at home; Romance.

Salute Newsletter by Pat McGrath Avery and Joyce Faulkner

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Review Missing

Author's Synopsis
This month's Salute features Pat McGrath Avery's interview with William McGinley -- a World War II veteran who was reported KIA -- but is still alive and kicking more than 60 years after his adventure hiding from the Nazis in Belgium. Columnist Feather Schwartz Foster introduces John Adams -- the father of the Navy. Lloyd King discusses the history of the Medal of Honor. Chris Avery reviews Ron Greer's book, Fire From the Sky: A Diary Over Japan, the story of his father's exploits during World War II. Colleen Tucker's charming memoir, "Everlasting Memories" takes us back to the days when everyone leaned into the harness together. Mary Nida Smith focuses on the Sea Fox and it's role during the Korean War. 

Since so many of our readers enjoy the Branson Night Life (and morning and afternoon life), we've decided to offer reviews of the shows from time to time. This month we review a new act -- SIX. Poet Rudy Garcia's moving verse "M.I.A." is a must read. Don't forget cartoonist Lloyd King's Beans & Frank. 

Also, Hodge Wood announces the publication of the first book in his Sharks on Wounded Fish Series, "Chum Water". It's a wonderful read -- and a sobering one. 

I hope you enjoy.

Baby Jack by Frank Schaeffer

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Novels cannot get much better! I have read or reviewed well over a thousand books in the last decade but none better than the newest novel by Frank Schaeffer simply titled Baby Jack. I never thought I would ever find any western author express what being in the military and fighting wars was about by referring to one of the holiest books of the Hindus The Bhagavad Gita.  In the form of a letter the author uses our marine hero Jack’s letter to his girl friend Jessica to explain how Krishna taught Arjuna about duty, discipline, God and self. He uses this letter to further explain how Arjuna was taught to take a stand for what is important; and about learning that “love and combat” are sometimes both right. This is really heavy stuff that most non-veterans do not understand or get – but most combat veterans will have little trouble bridging that gap. The author has a way of driving this loyalty and duty issue home through his lead character Jack.

The author uses many different voices to convey his story including baby Jack who is born after his father is killed. We also hear from God who we discover has a good sense of humor. The writer so skillfully crafts this story that it unfolds the plot through all these different view points and yet remains totally understandable and clear for the reader.

There are many issues in this book; however, like all great novels it is drove home by strong characterizations. We witness the disapproval of Jack by his own father because of his decision to join and serve in the Marine Corps. His dad refuses to write to him or to talk to him. Jack’s parents end up fighting and falling apart. There are so many really good relationship issues that Schaeffer attacks, explores or alludes to throughout his wonderful text. This story will make you think about social issues as well – like how the rich and well-to-do families are not sending their children off to war.

In some ways this book is about spiritual issues as well. It explores the heart and the soul and indirectly forces the reader to question certain things about life and God and duty. You cannot read this book without being changed in some way. It is powerful, moving, at times irreverent and humorous, sad, surreal, but always entertaining! This is Schaeffer’s best work to date and that is saying a lot since he has created some gigantic and profound works already.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2006)

---

Author's Synopsis
Todd Ogden, an acclaimed painter with work in museums around the world and a seemingly successful thirty-year marriage to the Brahmin Sarah, is living and painting in his two-hundred-year-old Massachusetts farmhouse when his youngest child, Jack, chooses the Marines over college. Feeling puzzled and ultimately infuriated by his son's incomprehensible switch to "the other side," a situation only further aggravated by his disapproval of Jack's girlfriend Jessica, Todd ultimately turns his back on his son. Not long after the start of Gulf War II, Jack is deployed to Iraq and killed a week later, trying to end off an ambush. From this point on, Baby Jack tells the story of the family Jack leaves behind, of his parents trying to survive as their marriage shatters, of Todd's own breakdown and after-the-fact attempt to understand his son's life — and of Jessica's perseverance and the baby to whom she gives birth after Jack's death. Baby Jack is a powerful and moving human story of sacrifice and redemption, which takes its readers into a territory way beyond the everyday.

The Highway War by Seth Folsom

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Eyewitness account of OIF! Years ago Marine artist Col Charles Waterhouse drew a cartoon of a grizzled Marine Gunny, complete with cigar, pulling on a Santa outfit as he prepares to entertain young children, as compared to his normal demeanor of an intimidating Gunny. Maj Seth Folsom’s book details a similar transformation, as he grows from a nervous young officer facing his first combat to that of a skilled and articulate officer and husband.

A Captain at the time, Folsom is a blunt and honest writer who discusses his fears and concerns of what he is about to encounter in Iraq. The likely-hood is that many Marines and soldiers, both officers and enlisted, can identify with his worry of how he will fare in his first combat: Can he hack it? How well will he perform? Will he make any mistakes that might cost the lives of his Marines? The difference between them and Folsom is his frankness in discussing these concerns. 

Folsom uses the story of his role as company commander to tell the story of Delta Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion as they participated in the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. From breaching the berms into Iraq, to watching and waiting as his fellow Marines fought at An-Nasiriyah, to the fighting on the way to Baghdad and beyond, Folsom pulls no punches and spares no feelings in his descriptions of leading 130 Marines into combat. The invasion in March 2003 was the beginning of an unusual war against a non-traditional enemy, and Folsom has to find his balance as an officer when dealing with both his superiors and the Marines under him while learning how to lead Marines in combat. Sand, stink, rain, lack of sanitation, fatigue, grime, and nerves are just some of issues with which he dealt even before he and his men even encountered the enemy. Folsom covers the military actions from 21 March 2003 through the April 2003 capture of Baghdad, and he accurately recounts the stress, excitement, and confusion of those historic days.
   With the book written from the notes and recollection of his wartime journal, this is a fascinating memoir revealing are his feelings as he dealt with his Marines, and how he matured as an officer and as a human being. Many readers, especially his fellow officers will find much to critique in his rough and abrasive leadership style, and his dislike of the media is at odds with Marine Corps policy. But it is Folsom’s same bluntness that lets him write so revealingly – and perhaps these same readers can use his vignettes as an ‘after-action report’ in order to guide themselves in similar circumstances.

In perhaps a reflection of the asymmetrical nature of this war, Folsom recounts participating in briefings with the generals and colonels leading the invasion, and later singing with his men as they blast rock & roll music at rock concert levels. Perhaps one unexpected bonus of war in the wired age is that we readers can share in our warrior’s thoughts and experiences while they are still fresh, and as such, Maj Folsom’s book is both an exciting read and highly recommended.

Reviewed by: Andrew Lubin (2007)

---

Author's Synopsis

The Highway War is the compelling Iraq War memoir of then-Capt. Seth Folsom, commanding officer of Delta Company, First Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps. Mounted in eight-wheeled LAVs (light armored vehicles), this unit of 130 Marines and sailors was one of the first into Iraq in March 2003. It fought on the front lines for the war’s entire offensive phase, from the Kuwaiti border through Baghdad to Tikrit.

Folsom’s thoughtful account focuses on his maturation as a combat leader—and as a human being enduring the austere conditions of combat and coming to terms with loss of life on both sides. Moreover, The Highway War is the story of a junior officer’s relationships with his company’s young Marines, for whose lives he was responsible, and with his superior officers. Folsom covers numerous unusual military actions and conveys truthfully the pace, stress, excitement, mistakes, and confusion of modern ground warfare. The Highway War is destined to be a Marine Corps classic.

The Perfect Assassin by Ward Larsen

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

Top Notch International Spy Thriller – A Page Turner! When most readers think of great international spy thrillers several authors jump out at you like Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum and Gayle Lynds. Now you can think about adding another name to that illustrious group of authors – Ward Larsen. In his debut novel  The Perfect Assassin  he has found his own place on that literary pedestal of spy thriller genre writers.

The story’s plot is exciting, entertaining, suspenseful, intriguing, and even romantic. The characters are strong and although most of the story is done with a good narrative, the dialog, when used, completes and compliments both the action and plot. The author works it all together into one great story. This book has it all, terrorists, nuclear weapons, murder, spies, heroes, evil bad guys, and double agents. It is a book you cannot put down!

This book begs for a movie version; it is that kind of high action adventure story that would play well on the big screen.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2007)

---

Author's Synopsis
One perfect shot will change the course of history. Christine Palmer, a young American doctor sailing solo across the Atlantic, makes an incredible discovery - a man narrowly clinging to his life in the frigid waters. But there is much more to this desperate survivor than meets the eye.David Slaton is a Kidon - a highly-trained, highly-precise, and highly-dangerous assassin. The Kidon is both the hunter and the hunted, and he and Christine are in grave danger. Will they win in this race against time?With the precision of a sharpshooter, author Ward Larsen weaves an intricate tale of espionage and intrigue.

Charlie Battery by Andrew Lubin

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

 A Marine’s Father’s Account of the Iraq War. Author Andrew Lubin whose son was a Marine, writes a heartfelt view on war, patriotism, history, and most importantly, father-son relationships in his book  Charlie Battery: A Marine Artillery Unit in Iraq.   The title of the book does not give you the fullness of the story that lies within those pages. This book walks you through what it is like being the parent of a Marine in combat whose life is in great danger. The author does it without “going emotional” on you and yet you know that it has taken its toll on him. It is an understated style that feels very much like a Marine family way to handle things.

My own son was in the Army in first Gulf War with Iraq. I was glued to the TV news 24/7 for several days. I did not get any mail from my son for weeks but I had gotten a phone call from him just a couple of hours before all hell broke loose and the air campaign began. So my wife and I have walked down that same road that Lubin has traveled. I have been angry at protesters on TV while my son was in combat. I was angry at our government for the war and for endangering my son. I worried about his health and safety. I was also worried if he would mentally and emotionally come back as he was.

Lubin’s story of his son Phil and his son’s unit “Charlie Battery” is not just about them but has more universal appeal to all military families and most especially Marine ones. Anyone who has ever sent a son or daughter off to a war will be able to identify with this book. There are parts of this book that were gut wrenching from a parent’s point of memory. It is so surreal watching the war on TV knowing that your own son is over there someplace. In Lubin’s situation, he actually is able to see a news report on Charlie Company in the battle for An-Nasiriyah in the middle of the night. For any parent that would make sleeping that much harder to do after that. It is that 'not knowing' element that makes being a parent so difficult. Is your son safe? Is he hurt? God forbid, but could he get killed.

This book takes the reader though the whole build up and the shipping out process. We are able to be there with the father and son as they spend the past few hours together before he ships out to Iraq. We follow along with the few emails and phone calls but mostly very late and old news via letters. The author weaves into his personal story lots of USMC history and tradition. He also wrote about all the men of the unit and does not just focus on his son. He even adds some great quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The personal black and white photos tell another story that only photos can do.

I think there are several key emotional parts to this book that hit me. One of them was the playing of Amazing Grace on bagpipes by one of the Marines in their base camp before the invasion. There is mention that the guy played for almost 20 minutes and that it moved the troops. I bet it did. That song is powerful and I could visualize the men listening and thinking about God, their families, and the up coming battles. Another emotionally strong part of the book is the actual battle of An-Nasiriyah and all that the unit goes through. The background details about that prolonged engagement has some real teeth. I admit that I gained a newer perceptive on that battle even though I have read dozens of accounts of that same battle.

It is great writing in all aspects of good story telling. It is both informative and entertaining as well. The coming home and even his carefully managed remarks at the end of the book about the politics of this continuing war all contribute to give this book much more depth and feeling then any history book on this war. He makes it very personal at times; and yet the book is expansive and inclusive for all military families. It is a book that you should read even if you think you understand and know all you want to know about this current war over there. It will give you a better understanding of the human element and what makes Marines special.

Reviewed by: Bill McDonald (2007)

---

Author's Synopsis
"Charlie Battery" is the harrowing and personal account of a Marine Corps artillery battery fighting for survival in the opening days of Operation Iraqi Freedom as they fight in the vicious battle at An-Nasiriyah. Written by the father of one of Charlie Battery's Marines, the story follows their sudden call to war, their deployment in the largest convoy since WW2, and their baptism-by-fire at An-Nas. Through extraordinary interviews with the Marines, their families, and their superior officers, we are given a rare glimpse of what they early days of the war in Iraq were like for the Marines and their families - not only for the Marines who foughyt, but for all those who watched it unfold live at 0330 one morning on MSNBC

Life After Deployment by Karen M. Pavlicin

Click on cover image to purchase a copy

MWSA Review

A great sequel to "Surviving Deployment!"  Life After Deployment is author Karen Pavlicin’s sequel to her award-winning book “Surviving Deployment”. Mrs. Pavlicin has written another important book for the military family and their friends and relatives.

The writer is a wife of a Marine with multiple deployments, and this book deals with the many problems faced by wives and families when their servicemen return from deployment. These are not theoretical problems – these are the problems faced by too many families today: dealing with the children – re-establishing parental authority – PTSD – intimacy issues...plus how to best handle combat deaths and injuries…this book is filled with practical solutions Mrs. Pavlicin has elicited from the thousands of wives and families who have – and are – facing these issues.

With so few Americans volunteering to serve in the military (approx 0.03 % of the population), there is a deplorable lack of data and professional assistance for these families; most therapists have no clue how to deal with the anger of a child whose father died in Iraq or came home missing a limb from an IED attack in Afghanistan – this book is the first step to filling that void.

This book should be given to every spouse as his or her serviceman steps off the airplane back onto US tarmac. Well-written and thorough, the issues raised here are important ones that these families need to recognize and face, and Mrs. Pavlicin – the widow of a multiple-deployed Marine – does a first-rate job taking care of her now over-extended military family. High Recommended !!

Reviewed by: Andrew Lubin (2007)

---

Author's Synopsis
Life After Deployment captures the tender and moving stories of military families during their reunion. Service members and their spouses, parents, fiancées, and children share the joy and anxiety of homecoming, the adjustments of living together again, and how they coped with anger, depression, PTSD, injuries, grief, and other challenges. Some families had fairytale endings. Most worked hard to rebuild their relationships after much time and change. A few suffered great losses. These military families talk candidly about what their experience was really like, offering hope and advice to others who walk this journey.