Twenty-One Steps of Courage by Sarah Bates
Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc. (Mar 31, 2012)
Category: Literary Fiction, Military Fiction, Adventure, Realistic Fiction
Tour dates: Feb/Mar, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-61434-957-0
Available in Print, ebook, & Audiobook 280 pages
From award-winning author. In 2006, with wars in Iraq and Afghanistan raging, Rod Strong enlists in the Army to achieve the goal his father sought before he tragically died in the Gulf War. His objective: The Old Guard regiment, the elite Soldiers who stand as Sentinels at the Tomb of the Unknown in Arlington National Cemetery. Rod overcomes the obstacles that litter his path until an unexpected firefight in Afghanistan changes his life forever.
My Thoughts Twenty-One Steps of Courage by Sarah Bates
This is the second book I have read by Sarah Bates. The first book was ‘The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’, a historical fiction book. Historical fiction is my favorite fiction book genre but lately I have also been enjoying military fiction as well so, decided to read ‘Twenty-One Steps Of Courage’. I am so glad I did!
Rod Strong knew from a young age that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. His father died in the Gulf War and was unable to fulfil his goal of joining the “Old Guard”. This is where elite solders stand at the grave of the Unknown Solders in Arlington Cemetery.
Rod kept a list and calendar to keep on track for all of his military goals. He wanted to do all of the training his father did before gaining entrance to his largest goal. His brother was already in Afghanistan so their mother, Donna did not want Rod to join but there was no stopping him. First he joined the army and completed basic training, then advanced infantry training, then Ranger school..Finally arriving for training at the ‘Old Guard”.
There were a lot of challenges along the way and both Rod and the reader didn’t think he would meet his ultimate goal. Of course, I can’t tell you about the obstacles or the outcome, you will have to read it to find out.
It was clear from the very first page that Sarah Bates did a lot of research for this book and she explains a lot about it in the acknowledgements and the preface. The training Rod took seemed endless but not at all boring to the reader. It felt like an adventure I was on with Rod. When he was sore and tired, so was I. I was so immersed in the book that I lost track of time. I started reading it in the bath tub and over an hour later realized the water had gone cold.
‘Twenty-One Steps Of Courage’ is a fast paced and fascinating read. I highly recommend it for everyone. You do not need any military experience or even be that interested in the military to enjoy it. It even has a bit of romance for those who enjoy that. I also think it would be an excellent book for a book club!
Praise Twenty-One Steps of Courage by Sarah Bates
“Sarah Bates professes not to know much about the military yet she tells an inspiring story that captures the true essence of what the military is all about — love of country — unit esprit de corps — family values — personal courage. Every high school student, every parent and all of the politicians in this country should read this book.”- Lloyd N. Cosby, retired Tomb Guard (Alexandria, VA, US)
“I…read the book and I cried A LOT–it was very heartwarming and extremely interesting. When you described the part about him fighting and saving his brother–I felt I was there–a sure movie deal I hope.”- Detra Hoffman (Los Angeles, CA)
“The book covers a lot: what to expect in boot camp and after, the amount of control that the military has over your life once you join, and the responsiblities and hardships that your decision to join places on your loved ones. It also explores camaraderie between soldiers, the pride that attends possessing a strong sense of duty and of self, and the rewards of follow-through. Twenty-One Steps of Courage is a well balanced story about military life. Not too left or right, it’s a good read, one that I would recommend to anyone.”- Caradae Linore (San Diego, CA)
“The author did a wonderful job portraying the feelings of an 18-year-old man. Although I’ve seen the soldiers marching at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, I was unfamiliar with the training and precision involved. I didn’t understand a lot of the military acronyms but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this story.”-Midnight Reader, Amazon Review
About Sarah Bates
Award winning author, Sarah Bates’ fiction has appeared in the Greenwich Village Literary Review, the San Diego North County Times (now the Union-Tribune) and the literary magazine Bravura.
She is the author of ‘The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’, published in 2016, and co-author of the 2005 short story collection, ‘Out of Our Minds, Wild Stories’ by Wild Women. Bates was an English Department writing tutor at Palomar College in California for ten years. She privately tutors academic and creative writing students and is writing a new novel.
She is a Military Category Finalist for ‘Twenty-One Steps of Courage’, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, (2013) and 2nd Place Finalist, for ‘The Lost Diaries of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’, Unpublished Novel-Category, San Diego Book Awards (2015). It has since been published.
Sarah Bates lives in Fallbrook, California.
Website: http://www.sarahbatesauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bateswriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahbatesauthor/
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Giveaway Twenty-One Steps of Courage by Sarah Bates
This giveaway is for the choice of the book in print or ebook. However, print is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends on March 30, 2018 at midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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