THE HEART OF A SOLDIER

The subtitle (A True Story of Love, War, and Sacrifice) says it all. Kate and Mike fell in love in high school, married some years later, joined the army, and got sent to Iraq at the same time. Only Kate came back alive. If one assumes that the writing is a mix of amateur and professional strains, then the reading complements it nicely. Melissa Edris reads at a cheery clip marred only by mispronunciation of contractions. When Mike's helicopter crashes, her pace slows and her tone softens, then recovers as Kate picks up her life back in the States. Despite the technical details of military jargon, this audio puts a human face on a contemporary war. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/ JUL 06]