Military Parents

Despite his wealth, Alex Thompson has been living in fear since his wife died in childbirth. A frivolous wrongful death lawsuit, harassing phone calls, and anonymous threats drive him and his five-year-old twins away from their home in Houston and into the crosshairs of a sniper. Molly McDill is a struggling single mom who lives next door to Alex and his twins. When she helps them adjust to their new life in the country, she exposes herself and her son to the same threat that followed Alex.

When her father goes soldiering for a year, a girl decides that without Dad at home, it’s not a family photo album. Though her beloved Nanny is in charge of the album that year, the girl makes sure that photographs of her never turn out well. Photos are blurred, wind blows hair in her face. April rains bring umbrellas to hide behind. Halloween means a mask. This poignant, yet funny family story expresses a child’s anger and grief for a dad whose work takes him away for long periods of time. It’s a tribute to the sacrifices made by military families.

A PLACE TO STAY

Shelter it was such a basic need, and one that single mom Ashley Churchill had always been able to provide for her little girl. Until her luck turned, and the only protection she could find was in her stony and taciturn boss, security specialist Jeff Ritter...

Three years ago, I left South Carolina and the woman I love without looking back. Okay, that's a lie. I've spent a fair amount of time imagining myself lounging under that Spanish moss with her. Back then, we didn't have a care in the world. It was simple. Easy. Right. In fact, I'd been about to propose. Then I found out I had a kid I didn't know about, and just like that, everything changed.

I’m the jokester of the group. I always have that one-liner that lightens the mood, even in the darkest of moments. I lost my wife 11 years ago when I was on my first deployment, so now I'm just trying to keep things light. And because of that, I refuse to put my heart out there again while I’m a Marine. So when a beautiful single mom moves in next door, I’m going to fight that attraction tooth and nail. Thing is, Maggie doesn’t want to be with me, either. Her late husband was a Marine, and there’s no way she’ll let her daughter go through that again. Or herself.

Through historical newspaper accounts and the personal letters of soldiers, the events leading up to the battle and the battle itself are stunningly recreated. You will enter the mind of Robert E. Lee as he makes the fateful decision to cross the Potomac River and take the offensive. You will feel the frustration of Abraham Lincoln as he struggles to convince George McClellan to fight. And you will stand side-by-side with foot soldiers as the peaceful Maryland countryside explodes.

Author Joanne Steen tackles the subject that terrifies parents of military personnel - the death of their son or daughter on active duty. In short, accessible chapters Gold Star parents find thoughtful explanations and trustworthy advice for coping with military grief. Steen weaves together realistic examples with voices of other Gold Star parents, connecting the listeners to the wisdom of those parents who have walked in their shoes.

Ex-Navy SEAL Cav Jordan faces danger daily in his job as a security expert. He even faced down a gang of South American drug dealers to protect his fiancee, Lia Cassidy. So why is he terrified of meeting her parents? Having lived through his own horrible childhood, Cav can't understand the situation he is walking into. Lia just wants him to meet her parents. Why does this feel like the fight of his life?

A poignant World War II story about a boy and his dog and his dad, and the many meanings of bravery, from Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson. With World War II raging and his father fighting overseas in Europe, 11-year-old Hobie Hanson is determined to do his part to help his family and his country, even if it means giving up his beloved German shepherd, Duke. Hoping to help end the war and bring his dad home faster, Hobie decides to donate Duke to Dogs for Defense, an organization that urges Americans to "loan" their pets to the military.

War has forced Omar and his mother to leave their home in Afghanistan and venture across the sea to Europe. When their boat sinks, and Omar finds himself alone, with no hope of rescue, it seems as if his story has come to an end. But it is only just beginning. Because in the end, a little hope makes a big difference....