Review of eBook

When General Gunner asks his daughter, Jersey, to spearhead the writing of a few letters to deployed servicemen, the third-grade teacher reluctantly agrees. She chooses to write to Captain Killian St. James; her students will write to other servicemen with no families.

For Killian, this is the last deployment before retirement; he’s received letters for lonely soldiers before, but he’s never opened them. Still, he opens Jersey’s unexpected letter and finds himself laughing at the worst/best letter he’s ever read. He appreciates her honesty and chuckles over her awkwardness; he finds her attitude refreshing and decides to write back.

Jersey and Killian keep up a correspondence, learning more about each other, and come to look forward to receiving their letters in the mail. Then Jersey sends some pictures along with a letter and . . . nothing. Jersey wonders why the sudden silence and hopes nothing has happened to Killian. But as time passes and there’s nothing but silence from the captain, the despondent young woman wonders even as she tries to move on.

What did happen? And how will Jersey react when she finally knows the truth?

A short story built around military service with a quirky, awkward young woman and a deployed Navy captain who tumble into a pen-pal friendship that quickly grows into something more. With no questions left unanswered, it’s timely, thoughtful, and sweet. Readers are likely to find this one leaves them with a smile and a bit of heartwarming satisfaction.

Highly recommended. ( )