Home Font by Kristin Hannah
Like many couples, Michael and Jolene have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a soldier she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own--for everything that matters to his family. At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on an ordinary American family, HOME FRONT is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor and ultimately, hope.
(thanks to her website)
I really liked this book and not just because she is one of my favorite authors; it is a great story that is a new twist. I loved that the main character was a woman soldier and she was strong and proud of her job, along with being a good mother and wife. I was fed up with the older daughter a couple of times but it made the whole scenario more realistic. The writing and details are amazing,it truly felt like I was right there through it all. A real-life issue for our soldiers is brought to light and it just made me want to do more for them. This book has me teary-eyed on numerous occasions and I very rarely do that. A great showcase for how a marriage can go through rough times yet still make it. Definitely worth a read. I give it an A.
Saving Max by Antoinette van Heughten
Single mother Danielle Parkman is at the end of her rope and she knows it. A successful attorney, Danielle works grueling hours for her clients, yet devotes every spare moment to her teenage son, Max, who has Asperger’s – high-functioning autism. Alarmingly, Max has become violent and suicidal. Danielle is frantic. None of the professionals have helped him. Desperate for guidance, Danielle brings Max to a psychiatric hospital in the hope that the best and the brightest will bring the son she loves back to her. The bizarre twists and turns that take place in the hospital force Danielle to consider the unimaginable -- that Max’s problems may be greater than anyone could have imagined. And then the true horror begins. Danielle finds Max lying bloody and unconscious next to the bed of a murdered patient – a boy his own age. When Max becomes the prime suspect, Danielle is determined to find the killer and absolve her son. She risks everything in a race against time to find out the truth. Is her son a murderer?
(thanks to her website)
This book was just okay. It was an interesting premise with a mystery element but I was not really okay with the whole idea of taking advantage of people with disabilities. An intense (and sometimes bizarre/creepy) story that showcases how far a mother will truly go for her child. Decent ending although there were a couple of times where I wanted to yell at her for being so dumb and stubborn. A fast read but it just made me more upset than anything else. I give it a D.
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Happy Friday!
Home Front sounds great! I am adding it to my list.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely be creeped out by the murder part of the second book!!
ReplyDeleteI have both of these on my list to read. That stinks that you didnt like the second one but like you, I love Kristin Hannah!
ReplyDeleteWow! I definitely like the twist in the first book's description that the spouse getting deployed is the wife! I'm sure this happens all the time but we only ever hear about the men! Gotta check it out!
ReplyDeleteSaving Max was pretty frustrating! His mom was just ughhhh! And the way the author went with the book was pretty bizarre too!
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