Review: "A Very Compelling Novel"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 18, 2014
I've read several outstanding novels from this author, Jessica Scott, who has first-hand experience of the wars in the Middle East as an Army Officer.  She writes with tenderness about the families left behind, and with bravado when taking us to the front lines.  In the fall of 2007, at Fort Hood, Texas, Sergeant Vic Carponti is spending his last night before being deployed in the morning for the third time to Iraq.  He's married to beautiful Nicole who will be starting a new job as an investigator with the Army's Criminal Investigation Division.  She, like many of the wives, has seen her husband off to war before, and she's really scared about this operation called the Surge which already had increases in death and injuries.  She and Vic join his platoon Sergeant Garrison, and Commander Trent Davila and his wife Laura at a party at a local bar.  With the commander there, the troops are not likely to get out of hand.  Sergeant Carponti has a very close relationship with his men, favoring humor over worry and strain.  But there are a couple of young lieutenants who don't condone his sarcastic wit, which will carry forward into the war zone.  In the meantime, Nicole will have her job to keep her busy, as well as assisting Laura with the Family Readiness Group which supports families of deployed troops.  She had lost her dad the previous year, so Christmas will be really lonely and hard on her if Vic can't get relieved for about two weeks over the holiday.  He's torn between showing his love for his wife and leaving his troops in harm's way without his caring support.  This is a very well written, soul touching  novella which really made me feel the pain and stress of not only our soldiers at war, but also families left to live in limbo until their soldiers come home.  A must read for everyone, our troops need understanding support while away and also when they return home.