Top Military Books {Five Fall Favorites}

Some enjoy adventures on land, some by sea.  Either way, adventures are anywhere you look.  Some of my favorite adventures take place in my own imagination, prompted by an engrossing book.

Most of the time I prefer my adventures on land, but once in awhile I don't mind the water.  And reading in a boat would be a unique experience.

Today we're talking about military books.  Today, pay special attention to the people you meet.  If you see military personnel or a veteran, take a moment to shake their hand and thank them for their selfless service for their country.  It is their sacrifice that makes it possible for us to live freely.

A Question of Honor by Jesseca Wheaton

A man. A child. A war. 

When German soldiers invade France during World War II, young Joyanna's perfect world is shattered. In the hands of those who hate her, she battles to comprehend why people can be so ruthless and cold toward those whom they have never met. 

David Sullivan, pilot in the Royal Air Force, was certain he would never hate, but a painful loss forces him to either reconsider or do the inconceivable—forgive. He is suddenly challenged by the realization that doing God's will is not easy, but most important. With the lives of freedom-fighters relying on him, he must learn the difficult lesson that he is not in control, but merely one who must surrender his heart of obedience to One greater.

A sudden turn of events lands Joyanna and David in the same country—but for far different reasons. When their paths cross, David finds he must make a decision that will affect them both for the rest of their lives. 

Will he choose vengeance, or will he let his life be ruled by a higher standard? A standard of Honor.

Ohh, David.  Gil.  Joyanna.  Erich.  Everything just... my heart is still broken but this book was too good not to reread, even though it re-broke my heart.

Cracker! by Cynthia Kadohata

CRACKER IS ONE OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY'S MOST VALUABLE WEAPONS: 

a German shepherd trained to sniff out bombs, traps, and the enemy. The fate of entire platoons rests on her keen sense of smell. She's a Big Deal, and she likes it that way. Sometimes Cracker remembers when she was younger, and her previous owner would feed her hot dogs and let her sleep in his bed. That was nice, too. 

Rick Hanski is headed to Vietnam. There, he's going to whip the world and prove to his family and his sergeant -- and everyone else who didn't think he was cut out for war -- wrong. But sometimes Rick can't help but wonder that maybe everyone else is right. Maybe he should have just stayed at home and worked in his dad's hardware store. 

When Cracker is paired with Rick, she isn't so sure about this new owner. He's going to have to prove himself to her before she's going to prove herself to him. They need to be friends before they can be a team, and they have to be a team if they want to get home alive. 

I love dogs, but when I saw that this was going to be partly from a dog's perspective, well, I wasn't too thrilled about the prospect.  I'm not to keen on animal POVs.  But this book surprised me!  There wasn't that much in Cracker's POV, but those parts were really good!

Gunner's Run by Rick Barry

World War II is the setting for Gunner’s Run, a historical fiction novel for teens by Rick Barry. Nineteen-year-old Jim Yoder is an ocean away from his childhood home in Elkhart, Indiana, and his pretty friend, Margo Lace. He is serving in the United States Air Corps as a waist gunner flying on a B-24 high above the battlefield. Through a strange chain of events, Jim finds himself back on the ground and trapped behind enemy lines. As Jim is running across Nazi Germany to reach the safety of Allied soil, he discovers that to survive he will have to trust the God he once rejected. This Christian fiction book is full of excitement, danger, and realistic details about World War II Europe.

Suspenseful, and it lives up to the GORGEOUS cover.  Like, seriously, I could frame it and hang it on my bedroom wall, that cover is so beautiful.

Dear Enemy by Jack Cavanaugh

Nurse Annie Rawlings has seen the atrocities of war and believes, as do most Americans, in the inhumane depravity of the enemy--the Germans. But when a rogue rescue mission ends in tragedy, Annie finds herself behind enemy lines, captured and alone with a wounded German soldier. Through shared danger, faith, and a love of music, the two forge a bond that will be tested by prejudice and the separations of time and continents. When Karl is sent to a prisoner-of-war camp, their fragile relationship seems at an end. Annie searches for Karl, but friends--and a new suitor--urge her to get on with her life.Will she ever see her Dear Enemy again?

I borrowed this from a friend, and she warned me that I wouldn't like it.  Well, I'm not sure what part she thought I wouldn't like, because this introduction to one of the most amazing authors ever wouldn't let me put the book down.  It was very intense, but amazing all the same.  And the ending was sliiiiightly disappointing (it left me with a question), but it was epically made up for with the rest of the book.


Nightshade by Ronie Kendig

Soldiers all across the globe are returning home to their families after brutal tours of duty. They are discharged from the service. . .and on their own. Meet Max Jacobs, one of these discarded heroes, as he faces a wall of failure—in his career, his friendships, and his marriage. Failing again—this time to end his life—he is offered a thread of hope. Are covert government operations the answer for him, or will they only bring more danger and dissension upon his broken family?

After reading Raptor 6 (which I talked about yesterday), I was excited to read another Ronie Kendig book—and this one certainly didn't disappoint!  It was refreshing to read a book about a married couple that had to fall in love again, rather than two singles.  Max was so broken (Sydney too), and the way they struggled through... mmm, yes, it's a good book.  In case you were wondering.


Can you believe the week is basically over already?!  It seems like just yesterday I typed up all these posts ahead of time! (Yes, I'm writing this a week early, but if the time will fly past as quickly as it has been, it certainly will feel like yesterday by now.  If that even made sense.) Once again, Rebekah holds the links to all the other participating blogs, so go check it out!

(Also, I forgot to mention that yesterday's post was my 100th post!  So yay!)

And one last reminder: the giveaway winner(s) will be announced tomorrow, so don't forget to enter!

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