Home Front by Kristin Hannah {Review}

Home Front

by Kristin Hannah

Hardcover, 388 pages

Published January 31st 2012 by St. Martin's Press

In her bestselling novels Kristin Hannah has plumbed the depths of friendship, the loyalty of sisters, and the secrets mothers keep. Now, in her most emotionally powerful story yet, she explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war. 

All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .

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 an unexpected 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 meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own---for everything that matters to his family.

At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.  

First Line(s): The way she saw it, some families were like well-tended parks, with pretty daffodil borders and big, sprawling trees that offered respite from the summer sun.

My Review:

When Tena asked me if I wanted this book to read I jumped at the chance. I remember loving the first Kristin Hannah book I ever read. I not only love her still, but even more if that is even possible.

People go to war, but we are safe in our homes with only seeing what the media shares. Families deal with seeing loved ones leave for months and even years, but those who don’t have a hard time understanding the emotions they go through. Although Home Front is fiction I have a new understanding and respect for all things military. Kristin Hannah did a phenomenal job putting you in the middle and making you feel every raw emotion that the characters felt.

I cried when Jolene had to leave her family behind not knowing if she would ever be returning. I was scared with her while she braved the conditions of a hostile country. I felt the hurt that her daughters felt knowing their mom may never have returned. I felt the pain Michael felt wondering if he would have to console his daughters, telling them their mom had died while fighting for freedom.

Every time I read the words in this novel all I could think about were my girls going through the emotions of seeing a parent leave. I thought about the loved ones who watch their husband, wife, child go off to war.

Kristin Hannah has a way with making sure you find yourself tuning out the world around you while you are immersed in her books. I can only imagine the emotions that went into writing this book. I definitely recommend this as a must read. 

~Momma Chick aka Allison~

Until next time... Happy Reading!