Jencey's Writer's Corner

  The title of this review says it all.  This book is about the women of the armed forces.  It shares their story of women in service and the courage they deployed to serve our country.  This book focuses on the Vietnam War.  There is an important story to tell.  Synopsis: “Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep ...

Thank you to Goodreads for a copy of Home Front by Kristin Hannah.   I was given this copy in exchange for an honest review.   Kristin Hannah explores what it is like for a women to go over to the war in Iraq.   What is the impact on their family?   What is her relationship like with her husband?   How will her children fare while she is gone?    Or the real question who is the community that she can count on in this story? Facebook        Instagram      Goodreads “Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life ― children, careers, bills, chores ― even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider, she has always understood the true me...

Thank you to St. Martins Press for a copy of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah.  I was given this copy in exchange for an honest review. Kristin Hannah took us to France with the Nightingale and now she takes us to Alaska.  I have followed Kristin for years in her writing career.  I knew she was writing a story set in Alaska and had also thrown out her manuscript and started over.   Was it worth the risk? Synopsis: Lenora  ( Leni) Allbright has moved around a lot with her parents.  Her mom Cora is a waitress and her dad is a marine discharged from the armed services.  He is unable to keep a job and often takes out his frustrations on her mother.  One day Leni is informed that they are moving to Alaska.  The family goes to take possession of the land that Ernt had been given by the family of  a member of his unit.  It is a new start, and this time will be different. The move seems to be a blessing for Leni when sh...

Today I am sharing the novel The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.  I have been a fan of Kristin’s ever since I picked up her novel firefly lane.   Most of her novels that I have read are contemporary.  This is my first historical novel by her that I have read. Synopsis: Sit back and take a deep breath and jump into this story of two sisters in France during World War Two. Isabelle and Vianne lost their mother at a young age.  Their father is unable to care for them so he sends them to a convent.  Vianne meets a boy and marries and has her own family.  Isabelle her younger sister escapes from school after school.  She runs to her father wanting his love.  World War Two arrives, and France is invaded by Nazis.  Vianne has a Nazi soldier staying with her at her house.  Isabelle flees Paris during the invasion.  She winds up at Vianne’s but feels she cannot stay with a Nazi under her sister’s roof. What happens when Isabelle bec...

In Night Road by Kristin Hannah a car crash meets with disastrous results, and changes the lives of all involved. I remember visiting Kristin on tour for this novel.   I didn’t know if I would be interested in it.   Especially the discussion was about a group of teens!   I was so wrong! Synopsis: Alexa (Lexie) Baill moves to Port George and Pine Island area near Seattle.   She will live with her Great Aunt Eva .   Lexie is used to starting at new schools and having to navigate a new school when living with her foster families.   In her first class she meets Zack Faraday and   there is a spark between them.   Then later that day at lunch time she looks for a place to sit for lunch and meets his twin sister Mia.   Lexie is asked to make a choice between both Mia and Zack by their mother Judith (Jude) Faraday.   Choosing one way or the other could have great consequences.   What will happen when Lexie makes her choic...

The Glass Case, Kristin Hannah was a special short story release.   Synopsis: This short story by Kristin Hannah tells the story of April.   She still lives in the small town that she grew up in…much to her mother’s dismay.      Since her mother has passed away; and April now has a family of her own.   She still feels guilt about not living up to all that her mother wished for her.   However, when a major crisis occurs April comes to realize what is most important in her life.   How will she cope in this crisis? My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this short story by Hannah.    I was amazed at how much emotion she could pack into such few pages.    Fans of her newer books will definitely enjoy this story.   I really related to this tale as I am now a mom who still lives in the same town I grew up in, and have sometimes wondered how my life would have been altered if I had chosen a different path.   I al...