The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian

 The Jackal's Mistress My Rating: 5.0

Virginia, 1864. Libby Steadman’s husband has been gone so long she can scarcely remember the sound of his voice. While she prays he isn’t dead in a Union prison camp, her days are consumed with running a gristmill in the war-torn Shenandoah Valley. When she discovers a wounded Union officer abandoned to die, she faces an impossible choice: let her enemy perish, or risk everything—including charges of treason—to save him.

This novel was absolutely excellent from start to finish. Not having grown up in America, I’ve never known much about the Civil War, but this book had me constantly looking up real historical events and learning as I went. The atmosphere is vivid, the characters deeply likable, and the tension had me on the edge of my seat more than once.

And the ending? I won’t give anything away, but it didn’t disappoint. In fact, I think this might be the best Chris Bohjalian novel I’ve read so far.

Highly recommend!

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 My Rating: 4.9

When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances "Frankie" realizes that women can go off to war, it is a revelation. Raised in the Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

This tells the story of the women in Vietnam - the grit, the heroics and the friendships. It also encompasses their return to the U.S., their bitter 'welcome' home and their struggle to acclimate after their experiences in the war. Hannah does a wonderful job of developing the characters and bringing us with them into the war scene. It is vivid, real and touching. Highly recommend.

Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes

My Rating: 4.9

Intense, powerful, and compelling, Matterhorn is an epic war novel. Written by a highly decorated Marine veteran over the course of thirty years, Matterhorn is a spellbinding and unforgettable novel that brings to life an entire world—both its horrors and its thrills—and seems destined to become a classic of combat literature.

We listened to this together in the car. I am constantly amazed at what our young men go through to defend our country but, this had me astounded at the stupidity of the politics of the generals, the racial divide and other internal strife within their unit. My heart broke for so many unnecessary tragedies. This was a very graphic novel and yet, at times, it also had us laughing. Amazing author that brought the war to life. 

The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry

 

My Rating: 4.5

1939, fourteen-year-old Hazel and five-year-old Flora are evacuated to a rural village to escape the horrors of the Second World War. Living with the kind Bridie Aberdeen and her teenage son, Harry, in a charming stone cottage along the River Thames, Hazel fills their days with walks and games to distract her young sister, including one that she creates for her sister and her sister alone—a fairy tale about a magical land, a secret place they can escape to that is all their own. But the unthinkable happens when young Flora suddenly vanishes while playing near the banks of the river. Shattered, Hazel blames herself for her sister’s disappearance, and she carries that guilt into adulthood as a private burden she feels she deserves.

I read this book club and everyone enjoyed it. The children getting sent off to the country is so sad but I loved that Hazel and Flora ended up in a wonderful family with Bridie and Harry, Hazel never gives up on Flora and the guilt she feels is so sad. An enjoyable read that felt 'light' despite the topic.

Fearless by Eric Blehm

My Rating: 4.9

Fearless takes you deep into SEAL Team Six, straight to the heart of one of it's most legendary operators. When Navy SEAL Adam Brown woke up on March 17, 2010, he didn't know he would die that night in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan--but he was ready. In a letter to his children, not meant to be seen unless the worst happened, "I'm not afraid of anything that might happen to me on this Earth, because I know no matter what, nothing can take my spirit from me.

FEARLESS is the story of a man of extremes, whose determination was fueled by faith, family, and the love of a woman. It's about a man who waged a war against his own worst impulses and persevered to reach the top tier of the U.S. military. Always the first to volunteer for the most dangerous assignments, Adam's final act of bravery led to the ultimate sacrifice. FEARLESS is the intimate story of a devoted man who was an unlikely hero but a true warrior, described by all who knew him as just that--fearless.

This is less a story about the Navy Deal than it is about the man Adam Brown. It starts with him as a boy growing up in Arkansas and unfolds his life. Even though I knew from the beginning that Adam died, I cried. My heart ached for him and his family. He was such an amazing man and, even though this will sound strange, I will miss him. Definite recommend.