An Absence of Faith: A Tale of Afghanistan by Craig Trebilcock

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

An Absence of Faith: A Tale of Afghanistan is the story of Daniyal, a Kabul University student kidnapped into the Afghan army where he is caught up in a vast criminal conspiracy to steal Western military aid. The story takes the reader into the heart of the Afghanistan war, where Afghan soldiers are daily brutalized and their food and medicine are sold by their generals for their personal profit.. While Daniyal struggles to survive, Colonel William Trevanathan, U.S. Army, is given the mission to stop Afghan corruption to convince NATO allies not to abandon an increasingly unpopular war. Both Daniyal and Trevanathan struggle to maintain their humanity and principles amidst a conflict where your ally is your enemy and the strong prey upon the weak. An insightful view into how Afghan corruption, Western bureaucratic infighting, and a lack of accountability over billions in Western aid money paved the way for the return of the Taliban.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 392

Word Count: 112374

Sea of Red by James Bultema

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MWSA Review

Author James Bultema's new book, Sea of Red, is a fast paced, fictional novel that gives us a very interesting account of a possible war with China. This book gets right to the point and had my attention from the very beginning. The author uses China's well-known goal of bringing Taiwan under Chinese rule as the catalyst for the war. From there, the scenario as set out by Bultema is believable, and the strategies used by both China and the United States are realistic. The book is filled with numerous offensive and defensive combat situations that the author describes in detail. The results are not one-sided and had me wondering how he would bring his book to a satisfactory conclusion. Although a longish book, I would have read more. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

Review by Bob Doerr (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Sea of Red is an action-packed Military Thriller involving a war between China and the U.S. in their fight over Taiwan.

With Chinese hypersonic cruise missiles thundering toward the aircraft carrier USS Reagan, the captain has only minutes to decide how to save his crew of 5,000 before they all end up at the bottom of the South China Sea.

As the battle rages, under the sea, U.S. fast attack submarines silently maneuver against the PLA Navy while jet fighters battle for air superiority. On the ground, Marines fight for control of Chinese-held Woody Island. A Taiwanese tank squadron confronts a superior attacking force on Kinmen Island in a courageous attempt to halt Chinese forces.

In the White House, the president strategizes with his National Security Council on overcoming China's advantage in ballistic missiles and ships. His counterpart, the president of China, develops a daring plan to destroy America's fleet of aircraft carriers.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 423

Word Count: 114,381

Luke Under Fire: Caught Behind Enemy Lines by D. C. Reep and E. A. Allen

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MWSA Review

Luke Under Fire: Caught Behind Enemy Lines by D.C. Reep and E. A. Allen is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of World War I. In Michigan, seventeen-year-old Luke becomes embroiled in a fight that could lead to repercussions, but his father sends him to stay with his cousin in England until the uproar dies down. The two cousins decide to enlist shortly after war is declared and deploy to the trenches in Belgium. While the battle is raging, Luke’s company is told to hold their position. Battlefield communications being what they were, they never receive the orders to fall back. What follows is a harrowing story of Luke’s attempts to keep what’s left of his unit together, while trying to reconnect with the British army.

World War 1 seems to be a forgotten war, so this story for a young adult audience gives a good glimpse into what it was like for the combatants. The setting is well drawn, there is good emotional content for the characters, and a great use of present tense throughout to put the reader in the main character's shoes. Of note, the author deftly handles the use of swearing by the soldiers so that the reader is not inundated with F-bombs. ("He takes out his water bottle, drinks, and swears an oath that would shock even my dad.")

Review by Betsy Beard (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Michigan teen Luke Sawyer and his English cousin enlist in the British army to see the world. But it's 1914, and they are caught in WW1. Ordered to resist to the end and outnumbered, the teens face the advancing Germans. On the roaring battlefield, in a German prison, with a desperate escape and a race to freedom, Luke fights to save his friends and survive The Great War.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Young Adult (fiction or non-fiction)

Number of Pages: 200

Word Count: 66,422

Army Spouses: Military Families during the Global War on Terror by Morten G. Ender

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MWSA Review

Author Morten G. Ender relates the findings of a study he conducted regarding the effects service members’ deployments have on their spouses. The period for which data was collected began in 2003, continued for fifteen years, and focused specifically on Army deployments.

He explains the stages of deployment from pre-deployment, through official notification, the deployment period, and finally, the soldiers’ returning home.

The interviews with 199 spouses reveal how well (or not) spouses dealt with the absences of their soldier spouse. It touches on the Army services – formal and not-so-formal – available to spouses and families. The author makes sensible recommendations that, if embraced, could make the deployment experience easier for Army spouses and their families, especially in this age of multiple deployments.

The inclusion of a glossary of Army acronyms, ranks, and demographics of interviewees is quite helpful to the reader.

If you are interested in how Army spouses fare during deployments, this study will help you understand how the military affects them, which ones thrive or wither, and what can be done to support them. Some of the recommendations are common sense, and others are more intriguing – like spouses being more emancipated from military life, rather than being enmeshed in it.

If an Army spouse (or for that matter, a spouse of any other service person in any branch of service), is looking for an enlightening read, they should pick up this book.

Review by Patricia Walkow (February 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Army Spouses is distilled from nearly two hundred interviews, conducted from the 2003 invasion of Iraq on, and marshals an incredible breadth of individual experiences, range of voices, insider access, and theoretical expertise to tell the story of US Army husbands and wives and their families during wartime in this century. Army Spouses offers a contemporary study of the emotional cycle of deployment and its impact on military families in the post-9/11 world. Military spouses, as Ender shows, operate both near and far from the front lines, serving on the home front to support combat service in the so-called Global War on Terror that has intimately bound together soldiers, families, the military institution, the state, and society. Ender paints a vivid picture of army spouses’ range of responses to deployment separations that illuminates the deep sacrifices that soldiers, veterans, and their families have made over the past twenty years.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 240

Word Count: 80,000

Stories, Legends, and Truths from the Blighted Earth by R.M. Tembreull

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MWSA Review

R. M. Tembreull's Stories, Legends, and Truths is one of the most unique books you will ever read.

Our Mother Earth is protected by a hierarchy of ever more powerful beings, ranging from the "low sentients" to the Guardian Spirits and Elementals. Each stand-alone story is told from the point of view of a different tier, and through the stories the reader comes to understand that our Mother Earth is herself sentient, and that what we call good and evil is actually a constant struggle between the Natural Order and Chaos.

At times told against the backdrop of significant world events, the reader sees how our Earth Mother uses her soldiers to help defend herself when mankind begins to desecrate nature. I particularly enjoyed the story dealing with Nature's forces employed during the Second Battle of the Marne, and also the one which attempts to explain the relationship between canines and man.

Tembreull describes Mother Earth's minions at both their best and their worst. Fans of fantasy would enjoy this interpretation of a living Earth and the war between Order and Chaos.

Review by Rob Ballister (April 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

Stories, Legends, and Truths from the Blighted Earth is a book of fictional narratives and artifacts which progressively knit together a hidden world existing outside what humans perceive as our reality. Earth Mother is sentient, and all manner of life on our planet are Her children to whom She gifts sentience of their own. The “spirit essence” or soul is immortal, and all beings progress through many lives. Within this context, sentient life occupies a hierarchy, where the highest tiers are occupied by elementals and Guardian Spirits who are responsible for preserving and maintaining the Natural Order; while those affiliated, coopted, and corrupted by Chaos are continuously trying to disrupt, and ultimately destroy, the balance. There is no such thing as good and evil, just the continual struggle between order and chaos.

The Blighted Earth’s sentient existence, where all life on the planet is connected, reveals a hidden realm and provides a new understanding of our world through the provided stories and artifacts. These tales are described within the context of real-world events and historical conflicts as told from the perspective of various characters occupying the numerous tiers in the Hierarchy of Sentience. Many commonly understood theories of existence and spirituality are reimagined within a new model of the universe where humankind’s place, and our importance within “the All” is very different from what most of us interpret it to be, including the definition of life and lifeforms.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Number of Pages: 339

Word Count: 116,931

Monroe Doctrine Volume VIII by James Rosone & Miranda Watson

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MWSA Review

Monroe Doctrine: Volume VIII is the final book of the series by James Rosone and Miranda Watson. Even though it is the eighth, it serves well as a stand-alone military thriller. As the book begins, you are dropped into the end stages of a war between the allies (most of the world) and China’s super-AI named Jade Dragon. Set in the not-too-distant future (2027), we find the war entering its third year. Futuristic weapons are believable (and maybe not too futuristic), and given the current geopolitical posturing and humanitarian breakdowns, the book is plausible in a rather frightening way. In this last volume, the allies are finally taking the war to China’s doorstep, having pushed them back from other outbreaks around the world. But China’s AI has begun to take charge of the entire war, ignoring China’s president and generals. Its destruction is vital to the world, and the allies are doing everything they can to make that happen. I recommend the book to those who enjoy military thrillers with a good dose of battle scenes and political behind-the-scenes consultations.

Review by Betsy Beard (February 2024)

 

Author's Synopsis

To destroy Jade Dragon’s lair…

…an unthinkable weapon is unveiled.

Had the Allies gone too far?

The Chinese super-AI had achieved its master plan—an autonomous robotic army, air force, and navy. As President Yao and the People’s Liberation Army faced defeat on the battlefield, full command of the PLA was handed over to Jade Dragon, which says it can slay the enemies of China to usher in a new dawn of global Chinese hegemony for the 21st century.

The robots were coming…

With the Terracotta Killers walking the land, Shadow Dragons and Dark Swords prowling the skies, and Sea Dragons roaming the Yellow Sea, a dystopian science fiction nightmare had become real. Machines now dominated the battlefield.

Were these wonder weapons being unveiled too late?

Was Jade Dragon’s robotic army enough to turn the tide?

Every inch of ground was surveyed, monitored, and fought over as man fought machine for survival. Could the arsenals of democracy outproduce China? Could the West outlast the East, or would Jade Dragon pull off the impossible—and win the AI war?

With victory or defeat balancing on a razor’s edge, the Allies refused to go quietly into the night. They had a secret technological breakthrough of their own. Would the ends justify the means if it led to victory or were the unknown risks too big to accept?

President Delgado was about to order the unthinkable.

Format(s) for review: Kindle or paper

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 669

Word Count: 128,354

Christ's Purple Heart by Chuck Habermehl

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MWSA Review

Christ’s Purple Heart by Chuck Habermehl is the account of the Passion of Christ from a military perspective. The author explains various political factions, and how they play a significant role in what happened to Jesus. The author, a Vietnam veteran, compares Jesus to an operator on a mission. Bible verses at the end of each chapter help the reader correlate fulfilling Bible prophecy with what Jesus experienced physiologically and psychologically as he was tortured.

Habermehl describes Christ’s Purple Heart: “(It) is distinguished by the cross on which He died. Above the heart is a shield, which symbolizes Jesus as the protector. It is red for the sizable amount of blood He shed and is flanked with thorns representing the crown and various devices used to inflict His injuries. The Gold V that lies atop the shied stands for the incredible valor Christ exhibited while being tortured as a prisoner of war. The red ribbon trimmed in purple is for additional blood He shed, more than any man could ever endure."

Habermehl presents Christ's Purple Heart posthumously to Jesus Christ. "For wounds received in action against hostile enemy forces resulting in His death, while engaged in a world-changing mission April 30 AD, Jerusalem, Judea..."

This Lenten season, give yourself a gift. Read Christ’s Purple Heart.

Review by Nancy Panko (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Christ's Purple Heart: Killed In Action Body Resurrected is a special narrative on the final days of Christ's life from the perspective of a hand-to-hand, close quarters combative tactician, Chuck Habermehl, who elaborates on descriptive injuries typically missing from most accounts of Christ’s death. Support of this historical event was found in his study of The Bible, in numerous books on the life of Jesus and in period books on warfare in the region, listed in the book’s references.

“Jesus had His marching orders in AD30, with His operation planning and methods being similar to classic small-unit tactics. There was the occupier and the occupied, the ally and the axis, good and evil.”

Christ endured horrific physical tortures at the hand of violent hostile soldiers in a barbaric time. Four chapters of Christ's Purple Heart are dedicated to the mechanisms of His dying: interrogating, scourging, beatings and the crucifixion. During all of this, Jesus possessed all the attributes of a disciplined warrior, brave and willing to sacrifice Himself for His unit, the mission and mankind. While He is deserving of so many honors, including a Medal of Honor, it is because of His physical injuries Habermehl focuses on Christ's Purple Heart.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Other—Religious/Spiritual

Number of Pages: 128

Word Count: 20,000

Against All Enemies by Thomas M. Wing

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MWSA Review

In his book Against All Enemies, author Thomas Wing has provided us with a fascinating tale of what may happen if the Chinese committed a limited, surprise attack against the United States. The Chinese believed that a non-nuclear attack that significantly destroyed our ability to respond would force a wounded US to accept an immediate cease fire agreement. They were wrong, and elements of the Pacific fleet took the fight right back to them. Outnumbered, and for the most part fighting without communications and satellite assistance, Commander Bill Wilkins and the crew of the USS Nicholas wreak havoc on the Chinese navy. The author's portrayal of the naval combat kept my attention throughout the book. Anyone who enjoys reading military fiction should enjoy this book.

Review by Bob Doerr ( February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

When the People’s Republic of China unleashes a devastating attack on the United States, newly appointed Navy Commander Bill Wilkins and his crew are suddenly alone, deep in the enemy’s backyard, and unable to communicate with naval or national leadership.

At home in Washington, the president is detached from reality. Survivors of his cabinet contend with military leadership for control, some to save the nation they serve, others in pursuit of personal power.As America becomes alienated from her allies, Russia begins a campaign that creates heightened fears of nuclear annihilation.

Bill must navigate a political minefield to find friends among China’s neighbors while undertaking a role that demands he take unimaginable risks and wrestle with the question, What losses are acceptable in order to win?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 461

Word Count: About 112,000

Steal the Reaper by Todd Hosea

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MWSA Review

Steal the Reaper by Todd Hosea is an expansive sci-fi novel which tells the riveting story of Ava Tan’s daring mission to steal the most advanced starship on earth from North Korea. The author skillfully writes vivid scenes, introduces scores of compelling characters, all set in an authentic feeling near future. Readers who enjoy high-stakes, epic tales that span the globe and beyond should enjoy Todd Hosea’s ambitious novel.

Review by Brad Huestis (March 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

A mysterious spacecraft has crashed in a remote region of North Korea. The ship is now in the hands of a tyrannical dictator who will stop at nothing to unlock its secrets and bring the West to its knees. As tensions rise in the wake of this threat, North Korea’s Supreme Leader is unaware that a small, prototype vessel, known as the Reaper, lies hidden within the wreckage. Its ingenious purpose could either save humanity or lead to its extinction.

Meanwhile, Captain Ava Tan is recruited for the boldest mission in military history: Steal the Reaper. Her orders are to infiltrate North Korea—the most isolated country on the planet—avoid triggering World War III, and pilot an alien vessel that is light years beyond anything she has ever flown. It is a suicide mission that will test Ava’s courage and force her to decide where her loyalties truly lie. Earth’s fate hangs in the balance and the clock is ticking.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Number of Pages: 510

Word Count: 190,000

Berkshire Patriots: Stories of Sacrifice by Dennis G. Pregent

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MWSA Review

Berkshire Patriots: Stories of Sacrifice by Dennis G. Pregent includes short stories of twenty-seven men and one woman who had some connection with Adams, North Adams, and Williamstown in Berkshire County, Western Massachusetts. Rather than simply personal stories, each entry includes a great deal of historical context. The patriots who were written about served in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korean War, Viet Nam, and Afghanistan. Some returned to the States to continue their leadership roles; some died in battle. Appropriate photos and illustrations are part of many stories. The author used various prime sources including a couple of unpublished memoirs. Each vignette begins with a brief explanation of why this story is included. The book concludes with six plus pages of a reading list organized by patriot. In addition to these books, the author often cites the local newspaper, The North Adams Transcript (which later became the Berkshire Eagle).

Review by Nancy Kauffman (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Western Massachusetts, in particular Berkshire County, has produced an astounding number of war heroes, all the way from the French and Indian Wars through the war in Afghanistan. Dennis Pregent brings to life twenty-eight of them in this inspiring collection of hometown heroes who responded to their country's call with selflessness and sacrifice. As a native of the Berkshires and a Marine veteran himself, Pregent was able to collect rare and never-before-published war documents and personal correspondence, enriched by intimate interviews with family members and descendants.

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 388

Word Count: 90,000

Alchemy's Reach by Patricia Walkow and Chris Allen

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MWSA Review
Alchemy’s Reach is an easy-read mystery about a family that discovers its secret past when tragedy strikes. The story takes place in Lincoln County, New Mexico. Jen Murphy, a deputy sheriff, inherited the family ranch with her brother Ethan, whose wanderlust inspires him to investigate local lore about Alchemy, a nearby ghost town.

It’s there that a few plot turns and twists take place, resulting in a murder and a suicide. Co-authors, Chris Allen and Patricia Walkow waste few words in this short novel to set the stage, solve the crimes, and consummate a romance.

Despite the violence, this is a sweet story that ties up the loose ends of a family that had long struggled with understanding who they were. The plot is carried by ten characters, plus a comforting pet Labrador, Fi, who seemingly communicates with human-level intelligence. Readers who are looking for entertainment and a quick read that can be finished in one cold winter’s night, will find that Alchemy’s Reach fills that bill.

Review by James Elsener (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Jennifer Murphy closes her heart to love after a searing breakup with the man she thought she’d marry.

Instead, she puts her passion into her work as Deputy Sheriff of Lincoln County in southeastern New Mexico. Between her law enforcement job and owning the 4,000-acre ranch she and her younger brother, Ethan, inherited from their parents, her life is full. She has no time for romantic relationships and no desire to pursue any. Her companion in bed is her large dog, Dusty.

Living between the small towns of Carrizozo and Ruidoso, Jennifer (Jen) loves the rolling hills and distant mountains. She can’t envision living anywhere else. Of Irish descent and in her mid-thirties, she is competent, attractive, and strong-willed. But Ethan does not share her love for their land or livestock and often travels elsewhere for temporary work. Jen is sometimes annoyed with him and would appreciate his help with the endless chores. Fortunately, the old ranch manager, Pablo Baca, who was hired many years ago by her father, lives on the property. He keeps Montaño Vista Ranch running, manages seasonal hires, and is a surrogate father for both Ethan and Jen.

Ethan’s current job is as a novice logger in Oregon. There, he and Joe Stern, a Squamish Indian, become good friends. Joe is an experienced lumberjack and saves Ethan’s life at the job site. But, as with all his other jobs, Ethan quits after a few months and returns home.

In an attempt to keep Ethan closer to the ranch, Jen tells him about a hand-drawn map she found in the family bible. It shows the ghost town of Alchemy. Local lore indicates a cache of gold might be buried in the town, now visible since a multi-year drought has dried up the reservoir that covered it. Ethan decides to prospect for whatever treasure the ruin might reveal and invites Joe to join him.

Neither Jen nor Ethan knows they have a unique tie to the ghost town. But Alchemy has a reputation as an evil place, and the locals are wary of it.

Ethan’s brief time in Alchemy leads to events that shock the community, change his life, and bring Jennifer and Joe closer together.

But will she ever again open her heart to love?

Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Romance

Number of Pages: 193

Word Count: 51,709

The Borinqueneers, A Visual History of the 65th Infantry Regiment by Noemi Figueroa Soulet

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MWSA Review

Noemí Figueroa Soulet’s award-winning coffee table book, The Borinqueneers, is a compilation of several hundred photographs assimilated over 23 years from public and private collections with veterans and families contributing. The 12 x 9, 200-page format contains a glossary of abbreviations, photo index, quote index, notes, and bibliography. Most noteworthy is that all text and captions are in both English and Spanish. This feature adds value as a language instruction book for either language. However, the extra space required for both reduces the capacity for more photos or enlargements on sometimes crowded pages.

The Borinqueneers is a pictorial history of the U.S. Army’s 65th Infantry Regiment, composed primarily of Puerto Ricans, “becoming the only Hispanic segregated unit in Army history.” The presentation is chronological, beginning with the “Porto Rico Battalion of Volunteer Infantry,” established to defend the island country following the Spanish-American War. The U.S. Army deactivated the regiment in 1959 after it fought in three wars.

Much of the book is composed of black and white photos, but a portion of the chapter on the Korean War contains some quality color photographs depicting vivid accounts of battlefield conditions. Followers of military history, specifically of the U.S. Army, might find the rare accounts of The Borinqueneers a valued addition to their library.

Review by Tom Beard (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

An inspiring collection of more than 700 rare photographs which traces the glorious history of the 65th Infantry Regiment, the only Hispanic-segregated unit in U.S. Army history, comprised primarily of Puerto Ricans. This bilingual edition illustrates the regiment's more than 120 years of service, from its origins in 1899 through its service during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The historical content and veteran quotes in both English and Spanish provide an in-depth perspective about the service of one of the country's last segregated military units. Recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, the unit's trajectory comes to life as they train and fight in Puerto Rico, Panama, Europe and Korea. The book provides a rich visual legacy of the regiment's valiant service to our country.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Artistic—Pictorial/Coffee Table

Number of Pages: 200

Word Count: 36,878

The Raven and the Dove by Elvis Bray

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MWSA Review

The Raven and the Dove by Elvis Bray explores the many ways in which drones might impact our lives while following Homicide Detective Storm Harrison as he searches for clues and connections among several murders. He is even asked by the FBI to join one of their teams as they investigate apparently unrelated murders. Harrison proves to be a skilled investigator who observes, asks questions, and connects the dots. Twists and turns keep the story interesting.

Review by Nancy Kauffman (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Storm Harrison is a homicide detective with the Colorado Springs Police department assigned to an FBI Task force attempting to catch a serial killer who is assassinating political figures using drones.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 224

Word Count: 54,530

Bikini Beach by Butch Maki

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MWSA Review

"And like that, we all were off in a deafening roar to whatever destiny awaited us."

A grand opening chapter to a well-written book that will both make you cry and shake your head in wonder. Butch Maki lived the story and fictionalized it to make events flow and the book more readable. But never forget, what he saw, felt, smelled, touched, and heard would affect the entire rest of his life.

“Young men and women were sent off to fight in a war they did not cause or understand. I wondered how the mothers of the soldiers who perished here yesterday would feel if they knew that their sons died to win this ground. Then we abandoned it less than 36 hours later."

The author offers his thoughts about this war by describing different types of killing other human beings.

"There is a third type. This is the one that sticks with you for your entire life! It is the one that steals your soul, causes many sleepless nights, namely, the up close and personal killings that cannot merely be called anything but a murder in living color, experiences that are permanently etched into my mind. These are the SOG missions that are forever replayed and revisited in my head, with a repeated intensity that I never wanted to see once, and certainly not over, and over, and over again."

Join Butch Maki as he battles the demons that still haunt his life until he finally catches a break - all stemming from an act of heroism back in the hell hole of Vietnam. Most highly recommended.

Review by Jim Tritten (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

Based on true events, author Butch Maki and his character, Huey helicopter Crew Chief, Sergeant Specialist Donald "Mack" Mackinen, display ordinary valor commonly found in a war that often gets overlooked. He brings us along on death-defying rides during some of the most brutal days of the war in Vietnam. Every morning, he heads into a nightmare all day long, where instinctual acts of heroism, mercy, and the sheer will to survive bring about a different kind of change, one that will last Mack way beyond the Southeast Asian conflict to conflict with his life upon his return.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 448

Word Count: 108266

Fading Memories of An Old Soldier: Vietnam 1968-1979 by Elvis Lynn Bray

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MWSA Review
Elvis Bray's memoir, Fading Memories of an Old Soldier, offers a raw, introspective look at the author's experiences serving in the Vietnam War from 1968-1970. Spanning 18 chapters in a concise 139 pages, Bray's account pulls readers directly into the harsh realities of combat. His vivid recollections of arriving in Vietnam and serving with the Seventh Squadron, First Air Cavalry transport readers to the front lines. With skillful storytelling, Bray exposes the fine line between courage and fear that soldiers face. His honest vulnerability provides insight into the toll of war, from enduring trauma to grappling with survivor's guilt. Bray's heartfelt dedication to fellow soldiers, including the many who perished, pays tribute to the unsung heroes of Vietnam. While chronicling challenging missions and crashes as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief, Bray also unravels the difficulties of life after war. His battles with PTSD and health problems reveal the enduring scars of combat. Yet he remains grateful for the "grace that allows him to wake up every morning with memories, not regrets."

Elvis Bray's anthology of real-life events and fiction stands as a poignant memoir of service and sacrifice. His vivid imagery and empathetic voice remind us that heroes are defined not by fear but by their actions in the aftermath of fear. This stirring account serves as both a history lesson and a timely reflection on the ripple effects of war—fading memories or not.

Review by Elvis Leighton (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

This is a memoir of short stories, non-fiction and fiction, based on real live events of my two years in Vietnam in 1968-1970 as a helicopter crew chief on a UH-1H helicopter in slicks and medical evacuation, dustoff helicopters, and as an observer in the scout helicopter. I served with the 7th/1st Air Cav in the delta in 1968-1969, and in the Central Highland with the 247th Medical Detachment in 1969-1970.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Collection, Short Storied

Number of Pages: 134

Word Count: 34,270

Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman

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MWSA Review

If you want to immerse yourself in a captivating, quick read with unexpected plot twists and turns, pick up Welcome Home to Murder by Rosalie Spielman.

Her well-developed characters are colorful, credible, and refreshingly authentic. Despite genuine life issues of PTSD and the loss of loved ones, Spielman keeps the reader uplifted with down-to-earth humor that will have you laughing out loud. Her plot details are vivid and suspenseful, and her use of language is colorful.

The protagonist, Tessa Treslow, left home in rural Idaho after high school and joined the U.S. Army. After two decades, she returns with her dog, Vince, to her family and the small-town life she had left behind. Tessa’s homecoming takes a turn when a body turns up in her aunt’s auto shop, and it appears that someone has set sights on everything her family holds dear. To protect her family from unjust accusations, Tessa takes the investigation into her own hands—a challenging task with a long list of potential suspects.

Welcome Home to Murder is a mystery well worth the read. I recommend giving it a try!

Review by Sandi Cathcart (February 2024)

Author's Synopsis

From author Rosalie Spielman comes a heartfelt cozy mystery that proves sometimes coming home again can be murder...

Tessa Treslow never wanted a small town life. As soon as she graduated high school, she happily escaped her tiny town to join the U.S. Army, leaving New Oslo, Idaho, population 852, firmly behind her. Twenty years later, the hometown hero is finally ready to come back—even if she has just a visit with loved ones in mind while her family is hoping to convince her to stay for good.

With her fawn boxer dog, Vince, in tow, Tessa falls into the familiar small town life, helping out in her family's general store and her feisty Aunt Edna's auto body shop. But her peaceful homecoming is shattered when the dead body of a crooked con man turns up in her aunt's shop, and the police have some serious questions for the family. To make matters worse, the sheriff in charge just happens to be Tessa's ex-boyfriend... and things did not end well between them all those years ago. When it comes out that the con man was trying to get his hands on the family business, Tessa knows they're in trouble.

With her family in danger of being dragged away in handcuffs, Tessa becomes a woman on a mission to find the con man's killer. Between a slew of suspects, a meandering moose, and a handsome newcomer with his eye on Tessa, she has her work cut out for her. But when the killer changes tactics—putting everything her family holds dear in jeopardy—Tessa begins to realize what home really means to her. Can she be the hero for her hometown once again... before it's too late?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 243

Word Count: 76,000

Fatal Secrets by TR Whitney

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MWSA Review
A who-done-it and more. Lots of twists await you in Fatal Secrets as the reader tries to discover not only a killer but also who and why some characters are trying to frame each other for a murder they did not (or in one case did) commit. If you can figure it out before the denouement, you will be a very astute reader with superb attention to detail.

Fatal Secrets is an easy-to-read, captivating story with unusual characters. The story flows naturally and is easy to follow. Tanya Whitney is going to be heard from again, and let's hope her next book is as good as this one. Recommended.

Reviewed by Jim Tritten (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

After David Masters learns Helen is dead, he realizes he could be the primary suspect because of a letter he wrote. In his search for the letter, he uncovers a list of men with reason to commit the murder.

As he becomes more involved in searching for the truth, it becomes obvious that Helen’s murder is more tangled than her relationships.

Not only does David need to find the person who killed Helen, more importantly…which suspect is trying to frame him?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 291

Word Count: 91,082

Hive and Seek; A Backyard Beekeeping Mystery by Rebecca O'Bea

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MWSA Review

Hive and Seek: A Backyard Beekeeping Mystery by Rebecca O’Bea fulfills all the requirements for a cozy mystery: amateur sleuth, violence happening offstage, small community, quirky characters. Rebecca O'Bea does all that in her book, and as a fan of cozies, I dove right in.

Indigo Blue Evans finds her former professor dead, covered in honeybees, near her hives in Colette, Kansas. Due to circumstantial evidence, Indigo is immediately blamed for the professor’s demise and is determined to prove herself innocent. Enter Sean Riordan, interim sheriff: tall, dark, handsome, and emitting just the right pheromones to catch Indigo’s attention. He discovers that Indigo’s bees did not kill the man, identified as Professor Bob Fontenot, but a blow to the head with a brick did. Indigo remains the number one person of interest because of a falling out with Professor Bob over an accusation of plagiarism on her graduate thesis.

More determined than ever, Indigo involves her wacky family and bizarre group of friends to assist in clearing her name, and to find out who committed the crime. I wanted more in-depth character development, but I giggled at the antics of the non-professional crime solving, and I learned a lot about bee keeping as I read Hive and Seek.  Several red herrings had me guessing who the perpetrator was until the very end. Kudos to the author.

Review by Nancy Panko (January 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

It’s a body! More precisely––the body of a man dressed in a white beekeeping suit, lying perfectly still.

“Karl! The bees––they’re all over his face!”

In the small town of Colette, Kansas, murder is practically unheard of. So, when novice beekeeper and washed-out graduate student Indigo Evans discovers the dead body of her former professor covered with honeybees, she becomes a suspect. With the aid of her family, friends, and new acquaintances, plus a cat with an attitude, Indie finds herself thrust into the role of a beekeeping detective.

To solve the mystery of the professor’s death, Indie must work alongside the handsome new sheriff in town, who is determined to push her away from the investigation.

Will Indie and her zany crew solve the case before the killer strikes again? Be prepared for intrigue and a laugh-out-loud caper as you follow the buzz in Hive and Seek, the debut novel of The Backyard Beekeeping Mystery series.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 181

Word Count: 63,000

The Warmaker: a Black Spear novel by Benjamin Spada

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MWSA Review

The Warmaker by Benjamin Spada is the age-old battle of Good over Evil, with Cole West as the protagonist. He and his Black Spear operators give their all to prevent World War III but encounter an enemy using futuristic methods and weapons.

It only takes one little spark to start the world burning: A U.S. Congressman spontaneously bursts into flames while on his way to grab a hot dog for lunch. An undercover CIA agent burns alive, leaving only charred bones where he once stood. Others in the (Common Defense Industries) CDI meet untimely deaths as if methodically eliminated by the faceless enemy.

Cutting-edge foreign military prototypes find themselves in the hands of organized crime on the streets of the United States. All of it leads back to a rogue weapons designer and the horrifying revelation that America no longer possesses the most advanced military in the world. Black Spear faces opponents for foreign and domestic, and politics plays a role in the pressures they face.

The nation is on the brink of war, and it’s up to Black Spear to avert the inevitable. Failure is not an option. Cole is faced with a question: How many people would you kill to stop a war?

Warning: Graphic violence. The Warmaker by Benjamin Spada will keep mature readers on the edge of their seats.

Review by Nancy Panko (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

How many people would you kill to stop a war?

It's the question burning in Cole West's mind as he and his Black Spear allies reload to leap once more into the fire.

A U.S. Congressman is killed in an American city, in broad daylight, by an unknown weapon. An undercover CIA agent burns alive during his extraction before he can reveal what he's learned. Bleeding-edge foreign military prototypes find themselves in the hands of organized crime on the streets of the United States. All of it leads back to a rogue weapons designer and the horrifying revelation that America no longer possesses the most advanced military in the world.

Black Spear's enemies are both foreign and domestic this time. Collaborators, saboteurs, and co-conspirators knife their way through America's political system to compromise the nation from within. Cole and his team are forced to turn to new allies when global tensions inch closer to the breaking point.

The clock is ticking for Black Spear to avert catastrophe, but their very effort seems in vain. With all its rage and all its fury, war is coming.

The entire world is primed to explode, and the Warmaker has already lit the fuse.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 387

Word Count: 98668

Milledgeville's Sesquicentennial Murders by Susan Lindsley

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MWSA Review

Every small town has a story worth telling. Intriguing events, colorful characters, and bizarre circumstances all combine to tell those collective stories. Milledgeville, Georgia, has Marion Stembridge, and the story of the murders he committed in 1953 (and these were not Stembridge's only killings!). Susan Lindsley has told this story, and described the cast of characters behind it, in clever detail, drawing on court records, family biographies, and first-person accounts. It has some of the elements of Erik Larson's Devil in the White City by combining a big-picture view of events that whirled around the horrible crimes committed by Stembridge. A good read for anyone interested in true crime and an insight into mid-20th century America.

Review by Frank Biggio (February 2024)
 

Author's Synopsis

His home town of Milledgeville planned celebrations for its 150th birthday, Marion Stembridge planned revenge against those he though had betrayed him. He should have been in state prison, but ole-timey Southern hanky-panky in a nearby courthouse overruled even the U. Supreme Court decisions. On May 2, 1953, he acted and killed his own attorney who defended him in his first murder trial, and also killed the attorney who was representing his wife in her divorce case. Susan Lindsley’s book reveals forgotten details of his life and actions and clarifies the many misconceptions and rumors that have spread through the years. The cover is the only known photograph of Stembridge, taken when he was a student at the local Georgia Military College’s high school; the photograph was discovered shortly before the book was published.

Stories still persist in Milledgeville that his ghost inhabited his last residence and the basement of his store building.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 241

Word Count: 84,978