War of the Damned Series, Book 1 Resurrection Of The Damned / Michael Todd & Michael Anderle / 230 pages

Three months ago, there was a demon invasion. Due to that, old rules are thrown aside as the world figures out just who the enemy really is. A mercenary named Katie is trying to take a much-needed vacation in Los Angeles but  unfortunately, both friends and foes want her in the worst possible way. While trying to enjoy her vacation she is kidnapped, has to help deal with a demon incursion, and exorcises a ghost at the hotel she’s staying at. The government wants Katie either to experiment or dissect to figure out why she is stronger than all the other damned.  Damned are humans possessed by a demon, this gives them abilities to fight and send other demons back to hell. Then the leader of the demons that caused the demon invasion also wants Katie for what, Katie doesn’t know.. Katie's Killers a mercenary group of damned that fight the demons are facing a new reality, one where they are needed more than ever now that the world's eyes have been uncovered. Narrated by Emily Beresford 5h 41min. 

Longest Night: A Novel/ Andria Williams/383 pages

The Longest Night is the first novel written by Andria Williams.  Set in the early 1960's, Paul, his wife Nat, and two daughters arrive in Falls Idaho as he starts his new deployment at a military nuclear power base.  Paul's superior officer spends his day drinking in his office and making sure the logs look good for inspections.  Problems with the reactor begin to build until Paul fears for his family's safety.  Finally, a devastating accident uncovers all the problems.  Most of the book explores the  human interactions on the base.  The book is not very heavy into science.  A reactor explosion did occur, January 3, 1961 at Idaho Falls which resulted in the deaths of three operators.  This book will appeal most to the reader who enjoys people more than the event.  The explosion, while important, does not dominate the story.

The Thousand Names: Book 1 of the Shadow Campaigns / Django Wexler / 513 pgs

  I love a good epic fantasy. Something that I can lose myself in and forget about the world. Unfortunately I haven't found a well-written one in a while. But I have now. And it is just awesome.   
 Captain Marcus D'Ivoire has been in the desert country of Khandar for a while looking for a way home. His forces have just been routed in an unexpected uprising and they are encamped in a small fort overlooking the ocean. Marcus has just received orders that a new colonel is on the way.
  Winter Ihernglass is just trying to be unnoticed. The platoon's sergeant has a way of 'helping' his soldiers along that leave bruises. When summoned to the new colonel's tent and receiving a field promotion, Winter must try to find the strength to lead the men against impossible odds. These are only two of several story lines through out the book.
  There is a feel of old style swashbuckling with swords and muskets but also the use of magic has added a different texture. This is a book that would appeal to the military/adventure reader who loves tactics and the thrill of battle. Then there is the fantasy element with the supernatural abilities of the Steel Ghost, what are the 'thousand names' and what about the priestess who saves Winter's life. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and look forward to reading the second one. I did listen to this and heartily recommend it to you. The narrator is Richard Poe and he gives everyone a distinct voice so the characters remain recognizable. It is 18 discs but once you get started, time will fly by.

6 Degrees of Reading: Prince of Fools (The Red Queen's War by Mark Lawrence, The Republic of Thieves (Gentleman Thieves) by Scott Lynch, Theft of Swords (Vol 1) by Michael J. Sullivan.

Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account of the Most Extraordinary Battle in the Afghan War / Dakota Meyer / 256 pages

Into the Fire chronicles the events that happened in 2009 to Dakota Meyer (recipient of the Medal of Honor in 2011) while deployed in Afghanistan.  The one thing I liked about this book is that it gives you a personal experience of the soldier by telling about his life growing up and how he came around to joining the Marines.  If you want to get a boy to sign up, tell him he can't handle it.  Fast forward to the battle of Ganjigal -- Meyer is outside the front lines waiting to receive orders but the only order that comes is that he must remain in position and not advance.  Imagine how difficult this is when you have close to a hundred men making calls on the radio for air/artillery support and it doesn't come despite the fact they are being told multiple times that it will be "15 mikes" (15 minutes) from now.  Meyer, of course, disregards the orders to stay put and charges into the fight with machine guns, grenade launchers, and Afghan soldiers.  The battle that follows is intense and leaves one biting his or her nails (especially if you are listening to it like myself) -- it is raw and real.  The story continues after the battle and how he handled the MOH nomination, his struggle with PTSD, and life as a civilian.  I was not a fan of the narrator, but other than that, I thought it was interesting getting the perspective of a Medal of Honor recipient.

Service / Marcus Luttrell / 364 pages

Some people know the name Marcus Luttrell, some people know about Operation Red Wings, but thanks to Hollywood last year, almost everyone knows the story of Lone Survivor even if one may not know the lone survivor’s name or operation.  Service is Luttrell’s second book, and this book was good.  It shows that no matter what a man may go through, he must continue the fight because nothing brings down a Navy SEAL or really, any soldier.  After his deployment in Afghanistan, he deploys to Iraq which is a very different war than what was being fought in Afghanistan.  Throughout this deployment, Luttrell reflects on what happened on that mountain in 2005, what it means to him to have a second chance at life, and the meaning of true brotherhood among his men (he even recalls his encounters with Chris Kyle while in Iraq).  After Luttrell is medically discharged in 2007, he describes life outside of the military and begins his speaking career while also starting the Lone Survivor Foundation -- but he is first and foremost a brother to many.  Even after his military career, he still finds himself in situations where he is still supporting his brothers-in-arms or the soldier (and at times, the soldier’s widow) next to him.

This book can get quite emotional at times, and it hit home for me a little bit because while Luttrell was fighting in Ramadi, Iraq, my soon-to-be husband was a little over an hour away fighting in Baghdad at the exact same time, so the stories and perspectives I have heard are very similar but not any less meaningful.  If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be camaraderie, and seeing this type of brotherhood firsthand, Service explains and demonstrates that more than any other book I have read.

All American: two young men, the 2001 Army-Navy game and the war they fought in Iraq / Steve Eubanks / 276 pgs

All American follows the lives of two military academy graduates, Chad Jenkins (West Point) and Brian Stann (Naval Academy) and their role in the famous 2001 Army v. Navy game when Army beat Navy 26-17.  Reading the stories of what these teams saw and felt during the football season after September 11th is enough to give anyone goosebumps.  The book is not just about football (in fact, only a short part of it is) but about what these men experienced once they graduated and delved immediately into two wars.  It goes through each of their careers with one immediately going into combat and the other one being held back due to some accusations brought against him by a female officer.  You learn what officers go through in combat and training missions, multiple deployments, and what they experience after they get out of the military with one becoming a famous MMA fighter and fighting in the UFC.  Highly recommend this book.

Unbroken: a World War II airman's story of survival, resilience, and redemption / Laura Hillenbrand / 473 pgs

Unbroken chronicles the life of famed Olympic runner and World War II POW, Louis Zamperini.  Having a rough life growing up, Louis turned to running to settle his frustrations and anger and ended up participating in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.  When World War II started, he ended up with the Army Air Corps in the Pacific flying bombing missions in the not-so-great B-24.  After his plane is shot down, he survives in a raft for weeks and ends up in the possession of the Japanese Navy where he was taken as a POW.  

I listened to the book and it was very hard listening to some of the things the Japanese did to the POWs but it gave you a sense of what these men went through everyday and the fear they faced -- listening to it really brought it to life.  I usually need a break from audio books when I’m taking road trips, but I did not touch the radio until I hit my destination with this book.

The People of Forever Are Not Afraid / Shani Boianjiu 338p.

Everyone knows about the Israeli military.  Everyone knows that women are also required to join for a certain amount of years after high school, and this book follows the lives of three young female friends as they go from high school to the army and back to civilian life.  You have Yael who is a weapons instructor and experiences training on a base.  Lea is a checkpoint officer and experiences some of the harsher realities of being in the military.  Avishag patrols the border between Israel and Egypt to keep any illegal materials or people from entering Israel and also witnesses some unspeakable things that affects her later on in life.  It can be a little difficult to follow because each chapter is about a different girl and her story at different times in her life, but the stories are very entertaining and definitely keep you intrigued as to what happens next.  This is not necessarily a “war” book filled with military jargon and exercises, but moreso the struggle of the female person trying to find herself within the military and life after.  What does one do after service?  Can they all still be friends even though they all served in different places and experienced different things or has their experiences made them different people?  Emotions vary throughout the book and with the reader.

Fobbit / David Abrams 369 pages

“Fobbit: A U.S Army employee stationed at a Forward Operating Base, esp. during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2011).”

Everyone hears the stories of the conflicts fought during Operation Iraqi Freedom, such as Fallujah, Mosul, Sadr City, Basra and the heroic men behind those battles.  However, little is mentioned about what happens on the FOB (forward operating base) regarding those who sit at a desk for twelve hours a day determining what gets published in the press releases, the incredibly long emails from HQ about whether the enemy is an “insurgent” or “terrorist,” or the true definition of “death by PowerPoint.”  Fobbit starts off a little slow and can be slow in some spots (who wouldn’t want to cringe every time you start to read an email from the higher ranks?) but the wit and humor of the writer with the occasional vivid, nail biting scene (e.g. suicide bomber lodged underneath a tank) is worth the read.  Most might see this book as a satire on Fobbits, maybe even criticizing those who are not on the front lines, but I believe this book satirizes the war in general because whatever occurs during the war, the Fobbits are on it making sure the American people (or the public, for that matter) only see what they want them to see.  To understand what I mean, read the book…

New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2012

Publishers Weekly Top 10 Pick for Fall Literary Fiction

Barnes and Noble Best Books of 2012