hooray for a female war veteran!
923938
this is a quick, good holiday read.  the writing was good and the character development was surprisingly good considering the length of the story.

one of the best parts of the book (IMO) is the war hero is a woman instead of a man.  even though she is clearly suffering PTSD and some depression, she is a strong woman trying to help herself recover.  even though blake is a hollywood star, his history makes him a genuine person with a heart of gold.  they both have chips on their shoulder because of their histories and are perfect for each other.

the secondary characters made brief appearances and were good but didn't play big roles in the story.
978806
One of the best books I've read in a long time.  Integrated some interesting insight into military life as well as having a strong female character battling with her own demons.  Felt like I knew her!
3733647
I am so glad to see a book on our veterans & how the war has effects them. I can not WAIT for the next book from Perfect , Indiana.
1896657
This is a well written compelling novel about the role of women in the military in the front lines of battle! Having served in both the US Army & the US Navy I can attest that any gender is effective in confronting a common enemy.
160561
It's hard to believe this is only the authors second book. I loved her first book, " I'll be the one " which was witty, funny and sad. This book is the same great writing with smart conversation and a wonderful tribute to our veterans with insight to the struggles they face once they come home. I can't wait to read her next book!
4226614
I loved this book. It was refreshing to read about someone who is honest and true to herself. I connected with her struggles and triumphs and I'm grateful to her for sharing her bravery.

Thank you!
824255
I loved every part of this book.  So much truth in it.  They captured the era exactly as a remember it. I worked for the U.S. Army as a civilian in law enforcement and saw discrimination towards female Army Soldiers whether it was intended or unintended.  I am anxious to read the rest of the series.  So well written and descriptive.  I felt the emotions of every female.  I could picture it in my mind all the good and bad times.  More!  More!
3260646
Been discharged from the military over 50 years ago but this book just hit home for me!  Could not stop reading -
2184226
This was a wonderful surprise for me. By chance, I picked up the book at the Edinburgh Book Festival and expected little but once I started reading it, I saw this is a different kind of a war book. This is a sensitive topic for me and I took a risk by picking up the book, expecting little, but Sara's empathetic writing forced me to reach deep into my feelings and memories of the time during the Croatian War of Independence when its outcome seemed uncertain. It could have gone otherwise. The surge of old feelings and the time that I tried to forget came back haunting but with it a new way of seeing it. The narrative somehow made it possible to reflect on the hard cost the war took on my life and a generation of people but also there was confirmation of hope and resilience and that individual courage is meaningful. For a native Zagreber that I am, she made it so real for me and I am so grateful to Sara for having written this story, as if "on my behalf." I am not the same after having read it, it is healing and I think it can be healing even to those who do not have some kind of personal connection to this place and time but want to understand and have space for empathy of those at war.
2633215
I enjoyed the distinct pleasure of reading early drafts of the book, "RedCon1" written by Michael S. Smith, Sgt (USMC), and I am thrilled to read the final product in print!  The book manages by turns to be heartbreaking, funny and informative.  As a civilian reader who got all news on the Iraq War from television or the internet, the first person perspective of someone who was there helped form a much more complete understanding of this incredibly complex topic.  But more than that, RedCon1 put faces and names to this war.  And that is what I find to be the common thread throughout the book that most spoke to me: the humanity of his story.  By the end of the book, I felt like I could have a beer with "the Monkey" or "the Goat" because they were so real to me it felt like I had met them, personally.  I have read a few other memoirs of the Iraq War, but they were all authored by 3rd party embedded reporters.  They certainly did a fine job of interviewing the soldiers and conveying their own experiences within the units to which they were assigned.  But, their stories did not have the immediacy of RedCon1.  Those stories did not have the privileged glimpses into one young soldier's heart and mind as he worked to empower his men to fight while at the same time endeavoring to keep them all alive.  Can you imagine the responsibility at the age of 24 to not only fight with modern weaponry, but develop on-the-fly tactical responses to guerilla warfare all while keeping 12 other men out of harm's way?!?  All of the tactical battle information you would expect is present in RedCon1,  but it is made accessible to us as readers by the human accounting of what it felt like, looked like and smelled like for the soldiers experiencing it.  In my opinion, the touches of humor that keep the men bonded and allow them to process the unrelenting stress, are made all the more poignant by the offsetting elements of the specific descriptions of the conditions where they are occurring.  I truly cannot say enough about how much I think this writing adds to the genre.  From the first draft reading through my recent reading of this final printed copy, I truly believe this is a story that needed to be told.  It is very easy for the civilian public to sit comfortably numb, drawing their conclusions about this war and the soldiers who fought it from the safe distance measured from an easy chair to the television.  Mike's story, and that of his unit, needed to be shared in RedCon1, because they are a group of men asked to fight an unpopular war in an inhospitable environment.  And our nation has an uneven history in how veterans of such wars are treated. But the first-person account in RedCon1 makes clear the individualism and humanity of those who served there.  The parallels are quite something, when you consider them within the echoes of U.S. Military history.

I strongly encourage you to read RedCon1! You will laugh, you will learn something and you will not be disappointed!
1300950
I enjoyed reading the life of a female soldier in Iraq. I learned what got her there, her friendships,  her marriage, her family. She is a true hero and inspiration.
2685433
Because of my pacifist Ieanings, the fact that I couldn't put this book down was a surprise! The author gives insights into the minds and hearts of our military people by using their own words to give readers a clear, impartial and believable view of their stories. She elicits strong feelings through her even-handed, calm choice of words. I believe all readers will finish her book having gained knowledge of both the world of our warriors and of themselves.
3512003
The VFW Department of Alaska's Mid-Winter Conference requested each Auxiliary bring a backpack for a needy Veteran. Our Auxiliary chose to make our pack for a Female Veteran as many organizations are in unfamiliar territory regarding returning Female Soldiers. Our Post Commander was thrilled with the pack and it stood out beautifully at the Conference.  Request's were made to our Auxiliary President as to where to get these patches. I have passed on this information in hopes that more packs will be made and more Women Veterans are supported. Below is the pack submitted. You can see how well this patch stood out.  PS> No good Alaskan would ever be without duct tape!
3374038
I found this book a joy to read.  I read cover to cover in a day!  I typically do not read nonfiction books, and the idea of reading a memoir has never interested me, however I was curious to see if the experience I have had as an army spouse are similar to those of the author.  She did an amazing job of expressing the reality of the lifestyle.  I laughed, I cried.  This book is a must read for anyone wanting a real look into the life of an Army spouse.
1856827
I received this book from the author for a honest review. I really found this book very moving and a great read. I really liked that I was reading from a female soldier's point of view. I couldn't put it down. I love this book!!!!!
675476
I really enjoyed this book.  It brings up a different perspective of the war than usual.  I liked how the personalities and very different life experiences of the women came together and they were able to get through the war together and as a village.  What it was like to be displaced by war for very different reasons.  Really cheered the women on at the end.  That was a great ending.
3371658
I was unaware that some women were so close to the fighting during WWII.  I found it amazing that women were there to cheer up our troops armed only with fresh donuts and words of cheer.  A good book and I highly recommend it to everyone.