Book Description:
The end of Maine Guardsman Sgt. Thomas Kennedy’s conscious life is ushered in by a flash of light on a plain in Afghanistan. While he languishes in a veterans’ hospital, Thomas’s devoted wife, Margaret, is raising their son on a dairy farm in rural Maine. She receives an invitation to Washington, DC, to meet the President of the United States as he signs a bill in support of wounded veterans with war veteran and West Point graduate Charlie King as her appointed escort. Charlie and Margaret’s shared circumstances inspire them to confide in one another. Suddenly, the pair creates a private world all their own, leaving the effects of war behind them. Margaret’s vows to her husband linger, raising a series of harrowing choice.
Review:
Margaret’s husband, Tom, was fighting in the war and made a sacrifice that kept him in a comatose state for six years. His wife had a son that Tom never knew about and she took over the dairy farm in order to help out the family. Barak Obama was going to sign a bill that would improve care for veterans that ended up like Tom. She gets escorted to DC to watch the signing and the man who is by her side – Charlie – ends up changing her life. Charlie was also a veteran from the war and had ended up with a handicap issue. Both of them enjoy each other’s company, but in the back of Margaret’s head she knows that Tom is still technically alive. Can she be with Charlie knowing that her husband is still breathing or can she take a chance at a new life?
I believe this story is heartbreaking and a book the reader will look back on and say “That was a really sad and emotional book.” Margaret and Charlie work well together. They both have their demons, but that doesn’t stop the love pouring through their hearts. They have obstacles, but still stand up and take them head on. I love the type of characters that work hard for what they believe in and also have time for the people they care about. It was definitely hard for me to get through some parts because of how touching and sad they were, but I still moved on because the characters ended up doing the same.
The plotline was amazing. My heart went out to Charlie and Margaret and I was glued to every page. It’s not a book that has surprise elements, the reader can definitely see where the book is going and know what the ending will be, but I really didn’t care because the ride to get to that part was nice. I never skipped or skimmed pages, each dialogue between the characters kept me entertained. The plot didn’t move too slowly for me, which at first I thought would happen. In the end it was a nice heartwarming book. I will definitely pick up another book by Monninger in the future.
5 Stars
About the Author:
Joseph Monninger is the author of Eternal on the Water and The World as We Know It, as well as several award-winning young-adult novels. A professor of English literature, he lives in New Hampshire. Visit him online at http://joemonninger.com
Social Media links:
Website: www.joemonninger.com
FB: www.facebook.com/joseph-monninger
Twitter: @joemonninger
Links to find/buy the book:
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/margaret-from-maine-joseph-monninger/1111307231
Sam’s Club: http://www.samsclub.com/sams/margaret-from-maine-monninger-joseph/prod8420138.ip
Indie Bound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781470838515
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15808318-margaret-from-maine
a Rafflecopter giveaway This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
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Goodness! This sounds like a novel that will really put you through it! But in the end, be worth it.