A Summer of War
A Novel
Conflict on the battlefield and in the newsroom. A feisty female journalist and a stoic hero. Can their love survive the tragedy of the Vietnam War?
Journalist Chris McKenna would do anything to cover the Vietnam War. If there’s one thing she knows, it’s that she was born to tell this story.
Chris rolls into South Vietnam intent on sniffing out the overlooked stories of America’s most unpopular war. Much to the dismay of the military establishment, she hops a Huey to a remote base in the Mekong Delta and hits the motherlode. A mission both tactically and strategically questionable. Inept junior officers more concerned about image than protecting the troops they lead. A platoon of grunts taking fire from all sides. A stoic soldier powerless against the woman keen on breaking through his defenses.
John Rawlins rues the day he met Chris. The last thing he wants to be is a story, but Chris has glory in mind for the quiet, heroic soldier who simply wants to make it home alive. He figures she won’t last long. Journalists never do.
He couldn’t be more wrong.
Through jungle patrols and firefights, amidst the chaos and the comedy that is the war in Vietnam, Chris earns the respect and affection of a squad of men who have nothing to lose by telling it like it is.
But as the pressure from her editor mounts, as journalistic competition descends on the Delta, as Chris reckons with the consequences of the choices that led her to Vietnam, she discovers how hard it is to separate the story she was born to tell from the story she was born to live.
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REVIEWS
"A breathless tale of violence and love, A Summer of War is a gripping plunge into the jungles of Vietnam, told through an evocative and refreshing lens. The action throughout the novel is immediate and the energetic pace rarely slows, as Mason knows how to rapidly pull readers into every scene, resulting in historical fiction of the highest caliber. The authenticity of the character interactions, the visceral nature of the storytelling, and the raw depiction of grunt life in the US military combine to make this a thrilling drama with a sheen of romance, and a compelling quest to tell the truth." Self-Publishing Review, ★★★★★
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“Lovely book, insightful and filled with suspense.”
“…Action packed and full of adventure. It is a well-written page turner that is fast-paced and engaging with a satisfying ending. The well-developed characters find themselves in tense and emotional situations and the strong female protagonist is a powerful presence. She is romantic but this isn't your typical romance.”
“In the myriad of war novels I've encountered, A Summer of War is great. In it, we are taken on a roller-coaster ride through the Vietnam War, guided by the fearless journalist, Chris McKenna, a character so full of life and tenacity that you can't help but root for her from the very first page.”
“…A compelling read that combines historical accuracy with engaging storytelling, making it a must-read for those interested in the Vietnam War era and the role of journalists in wartime.”