USBookViews.com Gives Tom Wascoe’s Child of the Dust, 5 stars

USBookViews.com Gives Tom Wascoe’s Child of the Dust, 5 stars

Author Tom Wascoe is pleased to announce that his historical romance, drama Child of the Dust received 5 stars from USBookViews.com

A bittersweet love story that transcends cultural and generational boundaries

Vietnam, 1970s: Sergeant Richard “Richie” Green has fallen hard for a beautiful Vietnamese woman named Linh who works at his U.S. Army base. There is something in her eyes that he cannot get out of his head, something which haunts him from the moment he meets her. He thinks it could be love at first sight. Yet Richie quickly realizes that while falling in love is easy, fighting for it is not. No matter how hard you fight, fate has a way of throwing wrenches into even the best-laid plans. Such is Richie and Linh’s tragic fate as the Army continuously builds wall after wall between them until, one day, their relationship comes to an end.

Twenty years later, Richie has created a life for himself in the United States. With a loving family and a successful career, Richie has little more that he could wish for. Then one fateful business trip to Hong Kong reunites him with the pieces of his heart that he thought he had left in Vietnam long ago, Linh and their son, William. As their shared past collides with their new lives, Richie and Linh find that while much has changed since their star-crossed love ignited, one thing has stayed the same: their love is worth—and needs—fighting for. Will these two long-lost lovers finally get their happy ending? Can we really get a second chance at our first love? Or are some secrets best left in our memories?

Tom Wascoe’s Child of the Dust puts readers on an emotional rollercoaster of love and loss. The plot is one we have all heard before, the American G.I. who falls in love with a woman overseas only to be ripped away from her. Nevertheless, it is the treatment of this common story which makes this novel unique. It is not strictly a feel-good romance or an entirely depressing Nicholas Sparks-esque tome. Sweetly romantic and bitterly realistic, this book explores the romance of lovers separated by war as well as the painful truths behind such a relationship. Wascoe depicts both the beauty and the scars of Richie and Linh’s relationship, the ever-enduring strength of true love and the heart-wrenching effects of missed opportunities. Most importantly, Wascoe shows readers that whether or not the relationship works out, the connection never really disappears.

A diverse cast of characters brings this story to life. From the lovesick Richie and the hillbilly G.I. Jethro to the level-headed Linh and her strict-but-loving father, both the American and Vietnamese characters represent a wide variety of personalities and backgrounds. Initially, some characters appear to be stereotypes. However, many eventually reveal new sides of themselves that demonstrate just how complex humans can be, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse.

Wascoe does well in ensuring that the reader understands the nuances of Vietnamese culture and day-to-day life for American soldiers in Vietnam. The small details immerse readers in the experience and heighten the tension and drama through cultural differences. Unfortunately, in order to accurately portray this time period and mindset, some views which are not politically correct today and some racial slurs have been woven into the narrative. The author does not advocate such views and terms and they are necessary in order to paint an accurate picture of that time. Some readers might just want to proceed with caution if they are offended by these matters.

Wascoe’s attempts to help readers understand the Vietnamese and G.I. cultures also slows down the narrative. In particular, Wascoe includes definitions within parentheses for certain terms. While these definitions prove useful, they also disrupt the flow of the writing and rip readers out of the world which Wascoe has so meticulously crafted. Still, that is the risk one takes when trying to manage the precarious balance between accuracy and entertainment in historical fiction.

If you are looking for a short read where everyone lives happily ever after, this book is not for you. If you want an engaging and emotional read that keeps your attention from beginning to end, Child of the Dust by Tom Wascoe will not disappoint. Fans of both historical fiction and romance will fall hard for this tale of love, heartbreak, and forgiveness. It is not a completely cheerful narrative but is definitely a satisfying one. Sometimes we don’t need a happy ending to enjoy a novel; sometimes we just need help seeing a speck of light within the darkness of hardship.

http://usbookviews.com/5-stars-child-of-the-dust-historical-romance-drama/

About the Author
Tom Wascoe was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and lives with his wife in the Chicago area. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, graduated with a M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin System, and served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and a Corporate Officer for a Fortune 100 Company. His previous book is titled Backseat.

Links:
Website: http://www.tomwascoe.com/
Publisher: http://authorbookstand.com/child-of-the-dust/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6431355.Tom_Wascoe

Tom Wascoe was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and lives with his wife in the Chicago area. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, graduated with a M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin System, and served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and a Corporate Officer for a Fortune 100 Company. His previous book is titled Backseat.

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