High As The Heavens

Living in a country involved in the midst of a great war would be difficult. For those living in Brussels during the Great War or WWI as it was known, difficulty became the word of the day, especially when their small towns were thrust into German occupation and they simply took what they wanted, be it women, children, or any goods they deemed necessary for their survival. It's been three long years dealing with the German occupation and at times, Evelyn Marche's family has had to endure German borders as well, most of them soldiers passing through. It has also given them some privileges as well since her family ran a small cafè, they now keep it open serving whatever is available to the Germans who come there. It offers Evelyn and her family a small respite from being further hassled by their presence in their small town.

It also has given Evelyn time to find ways to transport messages to the allies about the developments she learns of with so many German soldiers getting drunk on the beer that flows freely from their cafè. Her mother also has a hand in helping with the war effort with the way she crafts lace to be delivered by Evelyn to those who desperately need it. Evelyn is doing all she can to survive after losing her brother and sister when they were forced aboard a train, but has learned that they may have escaped and now live in France in the small town of Anor.

Her work as a Red Cross nurse has it benefits and as such, most German's don't question her comings and goings at all hours of the night, especially since receiving the Iron Cross in aiding saving one of their German officers. He now runs most of the staff at the hospital but has also seen to aiding Eveyln's family when he can. But his first and foremost call to duty is to Germany. When a plane crashes late one evening, Evelyn arrives to find the pilot has succumbed to his injuries but the passenger of the plane is her husband she believed had died three years ago. Now she will have to risk everything if she is to save him before they are both discovered as German spies.

I received High As The Heavens by Kate Breslin compliments of Baker Publishing Group and Net Galley. In accordance with the new FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, you should assume that every book reviewed here at Reviews From The Heart was provided to the reviewer by the publisher, media group or the author for free and were received, unless specified otherwise.  I love that so much about this novel is based on historical facts with just the simple changing of the character's names. The true story of three women were remarkable in their efforts to aid the allies with their messages about the Germans in the occupied territory. Most of all, I love Evelyn's efforts to not only save her husband but also to do what she could to reunite her family that had been torn apart from the war. For those that love historical or WWI fiction, then this is a novel for you. I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars because in some places the story just seemed to go on too long. I was happy with how it ended and love the author's note at the end explaining the facts that went into creating this novel. Reader Discussion Questions are included at the conclusion of this novel which would make for a great book club selection.

For more information about High As The Heavens, Kate Breslin, or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

High As The Heavens by Kate Breslin

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PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism

Sometimes a great novel can be summed by the extraordinary gift of storytelling by a talented writer. One that simply makes you forget your reading a book, but makes you feel like you stepped into real life. For me, that is simply, Christopher Slater and his novel, PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism. He was the winner of the authors first novel contest and after reading this book, you'll know with certainty why it was chosen.

I can saw it almost feels like a Forrest Gump story, of a young man PUP who has just graduated high school and has his future set on college. Knowing the Second Korean War has begun along with the draft he feels confident that he will not see combat based on his ability to have someone take one look at him for a likely candidate to be drafted and simply look the other way. But that is not what happens. In fact, PUP finds himself heading toward the South Sea along with many other soldiers who have begun to join the fight, but for the life of him, can't understand why he has been chosen, while many of the others have been chosen based on their ability to bench press most of the weights in a gym, PUP resembles the bar alone. Not to mention that he is prone to motion sickness, and takes just about everything on the market for it. He didn't plan on it making him nauseous and gains him an immediate dislike by a muscle bound soldier who insist that if PUP is going to throw up, he is going to rip off his nose and eat it. He later learns that this man is his squad leader with the nickname Hannibal. Wonder why?

The novel follows the coming of age that PUP will have to endure as he finds himself the FNG on the squad and will have to find ways to make himself useful to those who are on their second and third tours. Thinking he will be assigned to completing paperwork and requisitions, he is assigned infantry duty and soon learns the true meaning of pain when he heads out, fully loaded with no idea of how he will handle what war requires for someone like him. This one is a true trial by fire story of what so many of our young men had to endure on their first enlistments into fighting a war no one wanted to be a part of.

I received PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism by Christopher Slater by The Story Plant Publishing for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained here are strictly my own. This is such a great novel because I feel it has a sense of realism to it that is lacking in many military novels. Like I stated above it feels like a Forrest Gump story of how one unlikely soldier suddenly finds himself an unlikely hero and learns the meaning of what it is to lay down one life for another. There is humor, humility and a sense of growing up too soon when war comes calling that must be experienced by reading this book. For me, it is a 5 out of 5 stars and one I would LOVE to see brought to the big screen. It's the story of one man being in the wrong place at the right time to make a difference in the lives of those he serves with!

For more information about PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism, Christopher Slater or where to preorder a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

PUP: A Novel of Accidental Heroism by Christopher Slater

You can find Christopher Slater on Facebook to stay up to date on all his latest books.

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