Category Archives: Book Spotlight

Her husband said, “If the military is going to keep interrupting my education, I will just make a career of it.” She agreed, with little knowledge of what such a lifestyle would mean for a family. It took only one meeting of military wives with the unit commander’s wife to inform her exactly what would be expected of a military wife. The women were told to read Army Wife, the book that laid it out.

He applied for Officer’s Candidate School in Kansas. She returned to her parents. In April, 1951, their son was born, and he left for OCS three weeks later. Their daughter was five days old when he shipped to Korea for a year. He returned, two more sons were born.

The family traveled the US as new assignments were made for her Army pilot. In 1959, they stepped off a plane into hot, dust-filled air at the Karachi, Pakistan airport.

Two years later, her husband was trained as a test pilot by the Navy and they were sent to Edwards Air Force Base where he tested Army helicopters.

He retired in 1975. She and the children agreed they had an adventurous life, but one they wouldn’t exchange.

 The Buzz

An Honest Look into the Joys and Sorrows of Being a Military Wife
By Charlene R.

This is a memoir of a woman who became the wife of an Army officer and pilot. As a young bride, she was clueless as to the demands that would be placed upon her. She felt ill-prepared for the nomadic lifestyle and her frequent moves from pillar to post while raising four children. In spite of that, she succeeded.

In the Preface, she writes, “Military life is hard for anyone who experiences it, whether of short duration or over many years. Yet, as difficult as frequent moves, school changes, goodbyes and long separations are, it is a life of travels to places outside of one’s dreams, of making new friends, and many, many fun times. It is a life of building memories to be unwrapped and relived years later.”

She recalls “We traveled across the United States, lived in Pakistan, toured in India and Italy with four youngsters and a dog … my first airplane ride was with a new baby dosed for teething. Four babies were born in five years.”

Foster also observes “After twenty-five years as the spouse of a U.S. Army officer, I think I know a thing or two about military wives. They are full of grit.”

She notes that military wives have much in common, regardless of the branch of service. Conditioned to be strong, they show endurance. When life gets hard, they may sit down and cry, but not for long. There is always another move to make, another house to turn into a home. And during tragedies, they share food, tend the deceased’s children, and put the house in order for a grieving friend.

Foster’s book includes photos which help the reader feel a connection to the author and
her family. Her story will resonate with many who have lived a life in the military.

A great read!
By Wayne C

I came across this book on Amazon and had to get it as Karachi ( my birthplace) was mentioned in the introduction. Elizabeth describes in intimate detail her life experience, following her military husband all over the U.S. and abroad. It is an amazingly detailed chronicle of her life and the adventures and struggles of a military family. Reading a personal biography is only half the fun if there are no photographs included in the book. This book has it all. A must read! A well written book.!

How To Purchase

Follow Me: The Life and Adventures of a Military Family by Elizabeth Carroll Foster is available through our bookstore.

About The Author

Wife of a career military officer and mother of four; Journalism degree, University of Maryland; In 1970s, Freelancer for regional newspapers and magazines in Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, regular contributor to Maryland Magazine for few years until it went defunct, Southern Maryland correspondent for Maryland Farmer; managed to get two articles in The Washington Post (Maryland Section, Feb. 18, 1988 & Mar. 3, 1988); In 1980s,Section editor @ Maryland Independent; editor of St. Mary’s County Beacon; IN 2000s, author of three books: Southern Winds A’ Changing, novel; Follow Me: The Life and Adventures of a Military Family, memoir; and Musings, Mutterings and Aw Shucks, short story collection; edited and published Carroll history (out of print), compiled from records’ research Virginia Carrolls and Their Neighbors 1618-1800s, and North Carolina Carrolls 1600-1850.

Book Excerpt

Mark suggested, “Julia, let’s have another musical session this afternoon.”

Then he added, “In the evening, I would like to take you to themovies.”

That evening, before the movie started, war clips were shown. The war news told how the United States, even though they are formally acting nonbelligerent, are actually aiding the British in their battle against Nazi Germany.

“Mark, it seems our country is dangerously tempting fate, and it looks like we might get into the war in Europe.”

He quietly spoke back, “Yes, it does look serious.”

The movie came on. It was a new movie, Sergeant York. John, in a barely audible voice, enlightened me. “The story is
supposed to be a true story. That should make it interesting.”

As the story in the movie unfolded, we learned that the main character was a pacifist, yet he was drafted into WWI from
Tennessee. In the hillbilly country, he learned to be an excellent shot. His sharpshooter ability made him a war hero. Sergeant York was one of the most decorated American soldiers in World War I.

We discussed the movie on the way home. John seemed quite impressed with the war hero. He went on to say that with the
war heating up in Europe, it might not be long before the United States is drawn into the war. Mark stopped the car by my front gate. He leaned over, took my chin, and turned my face toward him. “Julia, what would you think if I enlist as soon as my dad’s corn crop is harvested?”

I felt numb. I dreaded the thought of war. Now my best friend is telling me that he wants to enlist. “Why do you want to enlist?” I finally got out.

“I think we are going to be in war soon. I might as well enlist rather than wait to be drafted. I want to do my duty to protect
our country and to protect the people that I love.”

“Oh, Mark, I would miss you so.”

“Julia, you will be teaching next year. You want to teach. After a couple years, I will be coming home again. I hope then I will be able to start farming for myself. Julia, we are too young now to be too serious. Don’t you see you will get your chance to teach and I will fulfill my duty to my God, family, and country?”

“Why do you say your duty is ‘for God, family, and country’?”

“We live in a great nation that protects our religious freedom, our families, and our land.”

I leaned toward Mark. “I am proud of you for wanting to protect all that we love so much. Maybe we won’t get into war,
and you will not have to go into battle.”

“Julia, we have to be realistic. War looks inevitable. You and I have a strong faith. We must believe that we can save our nation. We must believe that faith will see us through.” He kissed me, and we said good night to each other.

That night sleep did not come easily. The movie, the war clips, and most of all Mark’s words came again and again to my mind. The reality of the war clips was hard to accept as affecting me so far away in America. The movie made war look very dangerous. The killing of men in battle is a terrible tragedy. We are civilized people, yet we are acting in battle as if we are heartless brutes.

How can I let my best friend go away for weeks and maybe months? I will miss him so much. I love to sing and play music
with Mark. He takes me out to movies, dances, and for other fun activities. He teaches me many interesting things. We share good companionship. Dear God, I pray don’t let this happen to me. I don’t know if I can stand it. Dear God, give me strength to face the days ahead.

How To Purchase:

Forever Faithful is available for pre-order through Tate Publishing and additional retailers on August 18, 2015.

About The Author:

Learn more about Marilyn Reicks through her interview.

Book Excerpt

In a rural delta town that was forty minutes from the Arkansas border, an arrest was being made in Tallulah Louisiana. Just hours before, in Eudora Arkansas, the southernmost tip of the state, a grisly scene was unfolding of a murder that had taken place, which had shocked the townspeople. It was actually the first murder of multiple murders that started in Eudora and ended on a fishing dock in Lake Providence, Louisiana.

The killer had been a local who lived in Tallulah, and was known to “have problems” with his temper. He had been involved in several assaults and domestic disturbances lately with people he didn’t like, or had a history with, and anybody else who crossed him. Everyone was, to put it mildly, scared to death of him. He was a tall and well-built man, with broad shoulders, long arms, and big hands. He had a head of thick, dark brown hair and wasn’t a bad looking guy, but always seemed to have a scowl on his face no matter when he was seen.

He was a hard worker at his job at the Wrench Right station as a “tire maintenance tech”, and had been there for years. He had never given the boss or co-workers a day of trouble, but for no apparent reason, he had gone on an angry killing spree, that started sometime after he had left work that day. The last place anyone saw him, was at a restaurant in Eudora called the Southern Style Steakhouse and it was there that witnesses placed him at the scene of the crime.

There was a biker gang that had pulled up to the restaurant, and when everyone was questioned, no one at the restaurant saw or heard what happened as the killer was claiming his victim, but the biker gang stated that one of their members got up to go get something from his motorcycle during their meal, and never back in. Finally someone went to check and see what was taking him so long, and they found him sitting astraddle of his Harley, with his hands on the handle bars and his helmet in his lap. The only problem with that, was that his head was still in the helmet. It had been severed completely off of his neck, and left sitting right between his legs, at the base of the gas tank. The fellow biker that found him, turned and vomited into the bushes a few feet away and saw a man who was covered in blood getting into a truck, that later matched the description of a truck from another homicide report which had come in that night, and racing away.

On down the road about twenty miles away, there was a car that had pulled off the road, right next to a giant red sign in the shape of a piece of pizza, which read Pepperoni Pizza Palace.

The Buzz

The story takes place in a town that my husband and I have grown to love. The research that was done to prepare to write book was very complete. Not just the directions from point A to point B, but the descriptions of the neighboring towns and countries and the wonderful people. The story line was a bonus, I enjoyed the description of how the characters converged and the drama began! ~ 5-Star Review, Jamie Blakely, Amazon

Enjoyed the story line, felt like I was there. Good character development. Made me want to visit again soon. Look forward to more from this author. ~ 5-Star Review, Linda Boever, Amazon

How To Purchase

“Natural State Escape” is available for purchase through our bookstore.

About The Author

I was raised in Prim, Arkansas. Have always loved writing and love photography. Most of my writing is centered around living the country life and enjoying being outdoors. As a little girl my aunt read me mystery books and they are still my favorite to read and now to write. I graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with an Associate Degree in the arts of Law Enforcement and hope that has helped enhance my writing. One of my favorite vacation spots to go is Panama City Beach and would love to write a mystery in that setting someday.

Book Excerpt

Frost began forming down the back of my neck, spreading its icy fingers. When she answered, she spoke softly, almost to herself. Her expression was far away. It was almost as if she were talking to me from another universe.
“I don’t think it matters whether I want to, or not. I think we have to.”
She turned her head back toward me with a look on her face like she knew something terrible and wonderful at the same time. It was a look, not only of longing, but of fear as well…and acceptance.
“This is where I’m supposed to be.”
The frost turned to jagged icicles stabbing down my spine. Even as she spoke the words, I heard a voice growing within me. Run, the voice was saying. Get out of the car and just run. Run like you’ve never run before and keep going, boy! Don’t look back. Don’t you ever look back! You won’t like what you’ll see. Just run, and keep on running. Run until you reach the end of the world!
God only knows how I wanted to listen to that voice. As her words reverberated through my head, the voice inside me grew louder with every echo. Run! Run and don’t look back!
I couldn’t explain it. There was really no reason for the way I felt. Terri wanted the place. It called to her in a way that I couldn’t understand…at least not at the time. Maybe that’s why it bothered me so much. Maybe it was simply because there was something going on that I couldn’t figure out…something I could never truly know. Whatever it was, even as strong as I felt it, I shook it off (at least for the moment) and smiled at her, but that smile felt as thin as stretched hose. One little snag, and it would run, and I with it.
If Terri noticed anything wrong, she gave no indication…but I think she knew just the same. I think she knew a lot of things that day. If I had known, I’d never have gone along. I would have listened to that voice and run and never looked back. But I didn’t know. All I knew was there was a certainty in her look as well as in her voice that I simply couldn’t deny. To deny it would be to deny that the sun came up in the east, that the grass was green, and the sky blue.
So I smiled at her. I smiled all the way back to Dalton. I smiled as the Realtor typed up the offer, and through dinner, and all the way back to the motel.
That night after we made love and the lights were out, she lay sleeping next to me. She was curled into my arm. Her hand lay on my chest, and her knee was drawn up over my thigh. As sleep began to pull me under, I heard that voice whisper.
Run.

How To Purchase:

The Rabbitry is available through our bookstore.

10% of ‘The Rabbitry’s’ net proceeds from all sales, paperback and ebook, goes to the National Military Family Association.

About The Author

William S. Chadwick is the author of two novels; The Rabbitry, and Rain. He grew up in northern Arkansas, steeped in the salty-sweet brine of dark Ozark folklore combined with Bible Belt Christian doctrine. He now lives in the Hot Springs area with his wife (Rose), their dog (Bella), cat (Ken), and a small green lizard that has taken up residence in their home who they have not named yet, but they would accept suggestions.
He and Rose are both former service members with the U.S. Army and National Guard/Reserves, and are strong supporters of our nation’s military and veterans.

Book Excerpt

Coop eased back in his wooden swivel chair, brought his left hand to his mouth and ran his thumb and forefinger over his lips. He had no way of knowing if Hattie was telling him the truth, but it was easy to tell she believed it.
“Mr. Lindsay,” Hattie whispered. “I mean Mr. Coop, I ain’t got no money. I don’t have much of anything. It’s just me and Calvin, and I pretty much spent all I had just getting him raised. But we need a lawyer, one who’s fair and don’t look at black skin and see only guilt. So, if you’ll take this case, I’ll clean your house, wash and iron your clothes, do your cooking, and take care of your kids for nothing for as long as I live. I swear on a Bible I will.”
As Coop looked into the woman’s bloodshot, but hopeful eyes, he recalled a sermon his father had given on the Good Samaritan. Those words were meant to wake up a community to the sinful nature of prejudice, but so many years ago the message has fallen on deaf ears. Now, a decade later, Coop once more heard the lesson, but could he embrace it?
“So will you take the case?” Hattie asked.
He looked back into her eyes. What sounded good in his head wasn’t so easy in real life. He lived in Justice and there were lines not to be crossed. If he dared challenge the unwritten rules of society, there would be consequences. And his visitor knew it, just as well as he did, but still she had hoped he would somehow look past tradition and hear her pleas. And for the moment, with the two of them alone in his office, he couldn’t break her heart by trying to explain why a white man in Justice couldn’t betray his own kind.
“Let me visit your son first,” Coop finally explained. “After I see him at the jail, I’ll come by your home and we’ll talk about it.”
“My home?” She asked in disbelief. “White folks don’t come over there unless they’re collecting rent.”
“I will,” he smiled. “What’s the address?”
“Our streets don’t have names,” she explained. “My home is the only light blue one onthe other side of the tracks. It is about a half mile after the pavement ends. There’s a shack behind us we use for chickens. As Miss Becky’s mom fired me this morning, I ain’t got no place else to be, so I’ll just go home and wait for you. We can sit out on the porch, so no one talks about you badly. I don’ts want to ruin your fine reputation. It just wouldn’t do. No sir, it wouldn’t do at all.”
“It will be fine,” Coop assured her. “I’ll find your place and then we can discuss what we need to do for Calvin. Until then, just go home and try not worry.”
She pulled herself from the chair, smoothed her dress, and nodded. With tears filling her eyes, she looked up and once more studied the man behind the desk. After a moment she declared, “You is every bit the man your father prayed for you to be. I knew him. I cleaned up your church when you was just a little child. Your daddy was a fine man. He didn’t look at me like I was beneath him. He made me feel real special like I was a lady. He gave me, what did he
call it, yeah, value.”
As she departed, Coop once more considered the man his father had been and the legacy he’d left. For the moment, he was not sure either was working in his favor.

The Buzz on Amazon

5.0 out of 5 stars
By Sally Balboa

This is such a scandalous book. After a while you don’t really trust any of the truth’ that is coming out of justice because most of it gets turned on it’s ear not longer after we hear it. The Color of Justice is a slap in the face, a good slap. I promise you won’t regret reading this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars
By Joan N. 

I really liked this novel. Collins has really laid bare the racial tension in the town. I really liked Coop as a character. He is a man who struggles with doing the right thing, knowing it might bring harm to his family. Yet his father’s sermons ring in his ears, inspiring him to see that justice is done.

I have never lived in the south and this book is an eye opener to the prejudice that can still reside in the hearts of people. As we find out in the book, that prejudice can originate in a lie and needlessly hurt many people.

Collins has given us a well thought out plot that spans half a century and reveals the darker side of mankind, yet encourages us with those determined to right the wrong that dark side causes. I recommend it.

How To Purchase:

The Color of Justice and additional books by Ace Collins are available through our bookstore.

About Ace Collins:

Learn more about Ace through his interview and connect with him through his author page.