Pennies from Vietnam: A Sister at home, a Brother at war by Tracy Smith and Larry Smith (deceased)

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

“It didn’t matter that we were in New Jersey in 1967 and 1968. Vietnam invaded us all.”

In this family story, over 70 letters from one homesick soldier tell the truth and trauma of a teenager in combat. When Larry Smith enlisted, he promised to send pennies for his little sister Tracy in his letters, and promised his mother to return home safely. But as Tracy started kindergarten and learned of war from the family television, Larry turned 19, battles intensified and his letters darkened. His promises were harder to keep.

For 12 months as a 1st Cavalry Crew Chief during the height of the war, Larry writes home with tales from his latest mission on his Huey helicopter ("I never had a new car, but I do have a '67 UH-1C"). Larry grows from a naive boy ("War is hell but the girls over here sure are nice") into a hardened man. He is silenced by the end of his tour of duty, and letters stop arriving.

Decades after the war, as her brother lay in a coma, Tracy Smith began to study the old letters, and found a boy she didn’t recognize. After years of research and finding her brother’s Army friends, she is honoring him in this bittersweet story of love in the middle of war. Pennies from Vietnam: A Sister at Home, a Brother at War is a parallel memoir, offering a unique dual perspective. Larry speaks for every soldier, and Tracy speaks for those left behind, waiting for answers.

Pennies from Vietnam makes a case for generational trauma: children don’t belong in combat, nor should they watch it unfold on television.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 229

Word Count: 80,000

Best Year of Our Lives by Robert Lofthouse

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Saucon Valley High School, a small school in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, wasn't historically known as a football powerhouse. Having to rely on homegrown talent, they'd often lose out to bigger schools with larger recruiting bases. But 2015 would prove to be different. Digging deep and pounding out their final year as Saucon Valley Panthers, cocaptains Zach Thatcher, Evan Culver, Mike Kane, Christian Carvis and their teammates embarked on a quest for a Pennsylvania state football championship that would defy the odds. Fielding the school's best team in decades, Head Coach Matt Evancho brought a group of determined young men together for a journey none of them will every forget. With local roots but universal appeal, The Best Year of Our Lives uses recent interviews, personal stories, and media accounts from the time to paint the picture of everything the players, coaches and local community experienced that storied year - the unity, the disappointments and the triumphs.

Format(s) for review: Paper only

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 228

Word Count: 58,859

Two Stitches and a Patch by Dr. Terry Megli and Robert Lofthouse

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MWSA Review

Two Stitches and a Patch by Dr. Terry Megli and Robert Lofthouse offers a Christian faith-based approach to navigating the deep and often overwhelming journey of grief. The book is rooted in biblical teachings and aims to provide believers with a roadmap for managing grief and suffering, using God's divine plan as a foundation for healing. Through a thoughtful exploration of grief, the authors guide the reader to understand how faith can offer restoration, peace, and hope.

Drawing from the Bible, the book highlights the stories of individuals who endured immense pain from grief, with particular focus on the life of Job, whose story in the Old Testament is used as a lens to explore the complex relationship between suffering and faith. The authors present grief as an inevitable part of life, but one that can be endured with faith in God's ultimate plan of restoration.

The structure of the book revolves around seven "Movements" designed to help the reader cope with end-of-life grief. These movements provide a framework for understanding the emotional and spiritual stages of grief, with each section offering valuable insights and reflections. The emphasis is on accepting suffering as part of God's plan and trusting in His promise to restore peace in the midst of pain.

Two Stitches and a Patch could be a valuable resource for those seeking to navigate the emotional and spiritual complexities of grief. The unique blend of biblical wisdom and original metaphors offers readers a faith-based perspective on healing. However, some of the more abstract concepts may be difficult to fully grasp without additional explanation, and the best use of the book may be in a group or instructional setting, with a teacher or leader to help clarify the more complex theological ideas. Overall, this book will be a helpful companion for those who wish to find solace and strength in their Christian faith during times of loss.

Review by Frank Taylor (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

We are witnessing a crisis in the Christian community of unresolved grief and pain. Not acknowledging the truth of death holds us back from fully enjoying the divine gifts of hope and happiness. If anyone can model the ability to live with joy after life's struggles, it's Job. Two Stitches and a Patch builds on the seven movements of Job's restored happiness while filling in the pieces of the divine action physics that lead to life after death. Build confidence by leaning in and listening to those who are at the end of life, and reboot your life in the embrace of the changes that create a life well lived.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Religious/Spiritual

Number of Pages: 109

Word Count: 25,304

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

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Outstanding stories continue as Young Moye expertly communicates his extraordinary journey. Accompany him as he enjoys the freedom of shore duty, finding himself as a person and sailor. Assigned to one of the world’s most powerful warships, the USS Comte De Grasse, he faced the most difficult but amazing period of his life. Initially a meek person, he was forced to lead men and machine through the toughest situations he and his sailors had ever faced.

For millennia, sailors have told stories of the sea. Readers of Volume I (USS Manitowoc) witnessed how four years of arduous naval service transformed a simple boy from the hills into a sailor, communicator and leader.

Built on his journal-based autobiographical account, Moye skillfully articulates his continued transformation—and the transformation of those he led. Stories as only possible from someone who experienced such adventure and challenges.

Moye details significant events that prepared him for future advancement and challenges, both professional and personal. His daily journal entries aboard the Count identify events as they occurred, allowing him to accurately and honestly spin his yarns of adventures and hardships, some too incredible to believe. While experiencing the most amazing time of his life, he also endured days seemingly too difficult for him and his shipmates to bear. But bear they did. Prepare yourself for these amazing sea stories for they are no-shitters.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 670

Word Count: 245,000

The Master Chief's Sea Stories: Volume I USS Manitowoc (LST 1180) by Johnny J Moye

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Everyone loves a good story…try a thousand! Master Chief Moye masterfully shares his memories of the events that inspired his transition from a timid boy from the hills of southern Indiana into a battle-ready Cold War sailor aboard one of the U.S. Navy’s most battle-efficient ships.

For millennia, sailors have told stories of the sea. Moye’s stories are an autobiographical account based on comprehensive journals he maintained while aboard the USS Manitowoc. This factual account details experiences ranging from tragic to euphoric…sometimes on the same day.

This recounting shares not only the master chief’s life but the lives of his shipmates, capturing an unmatched historical rendering of Navy life in a bygone era. This book is required reading for anyone interested in the Navy, personal growth, happiness, failure, and success. Those stories are all here.

This is the first of a series of books telling the Master Chief’s Sea Stories that detail his 27-year U.S. Navy career during a time when much was expected and accepted.

Hey—listen to this one, it’s a no-shitter.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Memoir/Biography

Number of Pages: 520

Word Count: 179223

Putin's Interpreter by Ward R. Anderson

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Author's Synopsis: An alternate history of the election interference of 2020, Anderson's second literary fiction about Ukraine is a political thriller that mixes real world and fictional events. A writing style akin to Phillip Rucker, Anderson's protagonists, a retired U.S. Navy fighter pilot and a Foreign Service Officer, delve into secret meetings between Presidents Putin and Trump at summits, intent to learn of any duplicity by Trump regarding Ukraine. When Putin's longtime interpreter, Dmitri Petrov, hints at his defection, a plan is set in motion to convince candidate Biden, if elected, to approve Petrov's escape. Anderson takes us from Annapolis, Maryland to Washington D.C., to Moscow, and Latvia, where the CIA is to deliver Petrov. After hours of tension and disappointment, Petrov delivers a digital recording of Putin and Trump discussing how to undermine Ukraine. The revelations are so consequential that President Biden delivers an urgent letter for Senator Leahy to read before he calls for the Senate vote at Trump's second impeachment trial.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction

Number of Pages: 157

Word Count: 48,380

Issued: stories of service (issue two) by Rosemarie Dombrowski. PhD, Founding Editor of ISSUED: stories of service

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MWSA Review

Issued: Stories of Service, Volume 2, is a moving book with a diverse collection of prose, poems, interviews, and artwork. Sponsored by the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at Arizona State University and edited by a group of six, this collection weaves together the written perspectives of a group of veterans and family members throughout the United States.

This collection provides a glimpse into what it means to serve one’s country—from the perspective of those who served as well as their family members and caregivers. Within these pages, you’ll find a wide variety of emotions. Some pieces are humorous, while others are gut-wrenchingly personal. Fear, camaraderie, loss, and resilience are all explored. The searing honesty of these narratives is both moving and enlightening.

I recommend Issued to those who are interested in hearing the authentic voices of our nation’s veterans or family members.

Review by Jim Tritten (February 2025) 

Author's Synopsis

Launched in May 2023 with sponsorship from the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at Arizona State University, ISSUED is an annual literary journal that showcases the stories of active-duty, veterans, and their family members—specifically, poetry and flash prose that expresses the spectrum of experiences within military life, including gender and sexuality, BIPOC voices, physical and mental health, combat, enlisting and separating, family and relationships, and reintegration into society.

Because we pride ourselves on both our national readership and community ethos, ISSUED also features profiles of veterans who are doing extraordinary work in their communities, whether it be through the arts, education, mental health, or advocacy. In other words, we’re a journal with a broad military-affiliated audience, not just a strictly literary one.

At ISSUED, we also believe in the healing power of narrative medicine, and according to studies, when veterans read or write about service, they have better health outcomes. Thus, we hope that ISSUED will serve as a resource for veterans’ writing circles, discussion groups, treks, etc., i.e. be used to facilitate a heathier veteran community.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Other—Anthology/Collection

Number of Pages: 114

Word Count: 21120

[Not available on Amazon]

Government in the Gospels: Daily Reflections for Government Officials by Rev. Jonathan M. Craig

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

Do the Gospels have anything to do with government? The short answer is, "Yes!" In fact, the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are more connected to government than might be expected. Through 55 daily devotionals Government in the Gospels examines every passage in the Gospels directly related to government by inviting the reader to thoughtfully interact with the biblical text, to reflect on questions designed to engage the soul, and to pray according to each daily theme. May the Holy Spirit strengthen and encourage the faith of those who serve in public office as they encounter the word of God and rejoice in his promises which are "Yes!" and "Amen!" in Jesus Christ.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Other—Religious/Spiritual

Number of Pages: 119

Word Count: 32,320

Heroic Measures by Joel Shulkin, MD

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MWSA Review
If you are looking for a medical sci-fi technothriller to read, look no further than Heroic Measures, Book 1 of the Death Benefits series, by Joel Shulkin, MD. Shulkin has crafted a roller coaster ride of a thriller.

Stephen Englehart is a top Armed Forces medical examiner, whose goal in life is to help bring peace to families of the fallen. But during a not-quite-routine, combat-death autopsy, he stumbles onto a mystery when the photos of the body and rank of the servicemember don’t match the physical remains on his autopsy table. During the procedure, the supposedly dead marine wakes up and creates havoc in the morgue. Englehart refuses to let the misidentification mystery rest and pursues what looks like a military conspiracy.

Just when I thought I knew who the good guys were, the author flipped the script, keeping me in suspense to the end. Characters were believable, and the medical sci-fi aspects were explained with enough techy-talk to make them plausible. The surprises just kept coming. There is a bit of a Captain America comic book feel to the book, and the author explains that very well.

Review by Betsy Beard (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

Stephen Englehart, an Armed Forces medical examiner. dedicates his life to bringing peace to the families of fallen soldiers. Tagged as one of the best, he’s able to spot forensic clues others miss. But when the body of a US Marine, supposedly burned beyond recognition, shows up with hardly a scratch, even Stephen is stumped. Were the bodies switched? Then, in the middle of the autopsy, the impossible happens.

The soldier wakes up.

Something incredible—and dangerous—is happening to the military’s elite, and Stephen may be the only one who can figure it out. And when Stephen’s sister, a Green Beret, goes missing, the entire military machine seems designed to stop him from finding her. To find the truth and save his sister, one man must stand against an army. Can he be the hero he never thought he could?

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 380

Word Count: 87000

The Invisible Highway - A Family History through Immigration, Two Wars and the Great Depression by Robert Asztalos

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MWSA Review

The Invisible Highway by Robert Asztalos is a well written book based on excellent research. It begins with the history of the towns and countries of origin of the author’s Hungarian and Italian immigrant ancestors, along with the stories of how they immigrated to the U.S. It includes relatively brief and easy to understand histories of WWI, the 1920s, and the Great Depression. Most of the book is about WWII through the experiences of three men connected with the author’s family in Europe and the Pacific. The final chapter tells the story of life after the war through the death of his parents.

Overall, the book is engaging and educational. There are lots of photographs that bring the characters and story to life. It does get technical in some places, especially in the chapters about WWII. If the reader is not interested in that level of detail, they can skim those sections.

This book should appeal to readers interested in genealogy, family history, immigration from Europe, and military history. You will learn a lot about life in America and around the world from the 1890s through the late 1940s, and life in America after WWII.

Review by Eva Nevarez St. John (January 2025)

 

Author's Synopsis

The lives of Charles and Roseann Asztalos are classic American melting pot stories. Their parents and grandparents immigrated to the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s as part of a wave of Europeans looking for a new life in the Promised Land. The adults who raised them began their lives in villages on the European continent and were shaped by the horrors of World War I; they risked the arduous voyage for a new life in America. Charles and Roseann’s generation had their youth interrupted by the Great Depression, and they came of age to serve our country in its darkest hours during World War II. The war forever changed them in ways they could never guess when they began to experience life in the 1930s.

Charles and Roseann fulfilled their older family members’ dreams of creating an American family. They blended four European families and produced four children without allegiance to the old world or--for that matter-- to the old immigrant neighborhoods from which they were born. Charles and Roseann were indeed part of a generational engine that produces Americans and their story of immigration, economic depression and service during World War II is the story of America.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 376

Word Count: 123,883

Zoey the Zebra and the Big Red Spot by Nancy Panko

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MWSA Review
Zoey the Zebra and the Big Red Spot is a delightful story with engaging illustrations. Poor Zoey the zebra has run into a problem that young readers may relate to—measles. Thankfully, there is a cure, and Zoey just has to wait out the recovery process patiently. The cute rhyming scheme is also contagious and will allow the listener to quickly fill in the blanks on the next word, a big step toward learning to read. In the back of the book sections, children have the opportunity to learn more about zebras and measles. Their favorite part may be making spotted zebra cookies in the kitchen, thanks to a quick and easy recipe in the back.

Review by Dawn Brotherton (January 2025)

Author's Synopsis

Zoey the zebra has beautiful black and white stripes but today she doesn't feel well. When the zookeeper comes to check on her, he sees a big red spot in the middle of Zoey's back. What is going on?

Kids can't help but fall in love with Zoey as she deals with a crisis.

This whimsical story by award-winning author Nancy Panko is delightfully illustrated, and kids will enjoy fun facts about Zebras - along with an activity to do with a grown-up in the kitchen.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Picture Book

Number of Pages: 34

Word Count: 622

Military Kids: On the Move by Kevin B. O'Brien

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MWSA Review

In his chapter book Military Kids: On the Move, Kevin O’Brien addresses a subject near and not so dear to the heart of every military family: relocation. Job changes are challenging for adults and even more problematic for children who must leave friends, schools, and home.

O’Brien shares valuable lessons from his family’s experiences with military moves in his story. Emma and Jake’s parents’ optimistic attitude helps alleviate their children’s fears and stress. They encourage the children to talk about their emotions and embrace change’s positive elements. This allows the children to focus on the adventures waiting to happen, opportunities not to be missed, and new friends to be made.

Their journey takes them on a cross-country road trip with stops at national treasures, natural landmarks, and a visit with extended family. Upon reaching their destination, the children learn valuable life lessons and find that the move is not as terrible as they feared.

Though some sentences are long and use advanced vocabulary, with adult help, the story is a valuable read for military kids and other children “on the move.”

Review by Sandi Cathcart (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

"Military Kids: On the Move"

In this heartwarming story, siblings Jake and Emma face the challenges of being part of a military family with courage and resilience. Just when they've settled into their beloved school and neighborhood, unexpected orders arrive - their family must move across the country.

With a mix of sadness and anticipation, the kids say goodbye to dear friends, embarking on an epic cross-country road trip adventure full of breathtaking landscapes and quirky attractions. Through heartfelt conversations with locals, they discover the rich diversity that makes up the fabric of America.

Arriving at their new hometown, Jake and Emma must navigate unfamiliar territory - a new house, new school, and the task of making new friends. But they soon realize home is not defined by walls or an address; it’s the warmth in their hearts when they’re with those they care about. By embracing fresh opportunities like joining a soccer team, art club, and celebrating with classmates, the siblings gradually plant their roots.

This poignant tale reminds us that while life's journeys can be tough, opening your heart to new experiences allows you to grow. With their parents' unwavering support, Jake and Emma learn that home can bloom in surprising places when you carry it within you.

Full of adventure, laughter, and resilience, "Military Kids: On the Move" is an inspiring story that will embolden young readers to face life's challenges with optimism and brave self-discovery.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Children & Young Adult—Children's Chapter Book

Number of Pages: 50

Word Count: 3185

Skylark by Megan Michelle

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

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

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

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

Format(s) for review: Kindle Only

Review Genre: Fiction—Romance

Number of Pages: 348

Word Count: 142,522

Incidental Moments New and Selected Poems by Mark Fleisher

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MWSA Review
Incidental Moments by Mark Fleisher is a collection of new and selected poems that summarizes light moments of life along with poignant poems of the human condition. These narrative poems are accessible to all readers of literature. Fleisher uses fresh images and clever language to give the reader vivid word pictures of life experience from times of peace to times of war.

The poems flow one into the next from lighter, humorous poems to the more serious poems with a skill that guides the reader gently into thought-provoking poetry. Poems like “Paper Trails,” “By Any Other Name,” and “Not Prime for Rhyme” tantalize the tongue with word-play and humor.

There are poignant moments that make one stop to think about history repeating itself in the poems, “More Than A Few” and “Christmas Cantata.” In the poem “Changing Ways,” we reflect on how a simple handshake feels since the year 2020.

The poems are delightful, thought-provoking narratives that provide witness to the peaks and valleys that make up the journey called life.

Review By Annette Langlois Grunseth (January 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

Incidental Moments invites the reader to come along on a literary journey featuring poignant and powerful poems interspersed with generous helpings of humor. Mark Fleisher’s narratives weave tales spanning a broad array of subjects while his use of imagery paints pictures both abstract and realistic.

Format(s) for review: Paper Only

Review Genre: Poetry—Poetry Book

Number of Pages: 87

Word Count: 4,700

Lightning Six by Galen d Peterson

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

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

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

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

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 280

Word Count: 82,000

Redcon One by Galen d Peterson

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MWSA Review

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

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

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

Review by Bob Doerr (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

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

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

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

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 288

Word Count: 91,000

Surviving the stroke a minute with God: A Recovery and Rehabilitation Guide by Marty Martin

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MWSA Review

Surviving the Stroke: A Minute with God by Marty Martin is a walk in his life as a stroke victim and a stroke survivor. From the moment he realizes that he is in the midst of a crisis until he is discharged to his home undergoing outpatient physical therapy, Marty explains to the reader what to expect if it happens to them. The difficult challenges are multifaceted: physical, mental, and spiritual. Author Martin explains therapies and equipment in detail and becomes a cheerleader for fellow stroke victims to persevere through the highs and lows of recovery, giving the reader hope.

Surviving the Stroke covers a lot of ground in a straight-forward manner. I can see this little book becoming a guide for many on their journey of healing.

Review by Nancy Panko (February 2025)

Author's Synopsis

A personal account of the stroke experience and the recovery and rehabilitation process. A guide for stroke victims, family and caregivers on what to expect immediately following a stroke, and during the recovery and rehabilitation process. Filled with valuable must know information that will provide a guide to what to expect and plan for.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—Creative Nonfiction

Number of Pages: 148

Word Count: 23000

The Fight of Their Lives: A 21st Century Primer on World War II by Andy Kutler

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MWSA Review

Your assignment is to write a comprehensive history of World War II, including sufficient background information on the causes of the war and a post-war epilogue, in under 350 pages. Be sure to include sidebars with every chapter that highlight significant characters, equipment, and other important, relevant information to complement that chapter—go!

This was the challenging task undertaken by Andy Kutler, and he succeeded quite admirably. The Fight of Their Lives completely covers all aspects of the Second World War in all theaters, in comprehensive detail, and in an easily read manner.

Having authored articles on military history including World War II and constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on that war, I could not think of a single campaign, personality, key piece of equipment, or background information that the author missed.

The book concisely covers the economic and political causes of the war in both theaters, covers each theater in detail, and also covers the war from an American perspective “at home,” to include the contributions of women, African Americans, and the plight of Japanese American citizens interned during the war. The Manhattan Project, which yielded the world’s first atomic weapon, is also covered in that section. The final section of the book provides an insightful transition to the post war Cold War.

Clear and easy to understand maps are included throughout the book, and the content is thoroughly indexed. This book is a great asset to anyone wanting to understand the totality of the Second World War without having to read numerous voluminous tomes on individual theaters, campaigns, and biographies. It is ideal as a reference and is well suited as a textbook for homeschooling purposes.

Review by Terry Lloyd (February 2025)
 

Author's Synopsis

September 1939. To fuel his hate-filled quest for global supremacy and an eternal Third Reich, German dictator Adolf Hitler orders a blitzkrieg attack against Poland, a gateway into the East where prized lands and economic resources await. A sea of tanks and troops storm across the border, prompting Polish allies Britain and France to declare war on Nazi Germany. The conflict soon widens, consuming the European continent and beyond. In late 1941, Japanese forces strike American naval forces at Pearl Harbor, drawing the United States into a blistering Pacific brawl. For the second time in the 20th century, the world is at war, and the consequences will prove devastating, pushing humankind to the brink of utter catastrophe.

The Fight of Their Lives: A 21st-Century Primer on World War II, is a riveting account of the peril and resiliency that marked the darkest chapter in human history. From blood-soaked clashes across farm fields and jungle islands, to the code rooms and factory floors that powered the Allies to final victory, the fast-paced narrative fully documents the epic struggle that claimed up to sixty million lives. Styled to appeal to all audiences, The Fight of Their Lives is a timely read, from the legacies that remain supremely relevant today, to the lessons humanity cannot afford to learn again.

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Nonfiction—History

Number of Pages: 357

Word Count: 104,000

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

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

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

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Other—Religious/Spiritual

Number of Pages: 304

Word Count: 94,392

The China Factor by Timothy Trainer

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MWSA Review Pending

 

Author's Synopsis

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

Format(s) for review: Paper and Kindle

Review Genre: Fiction—Mystery/Thriller/Crime

Number of Pages: 324

Word Count: 112,000