Forcing the Hand of God

This book takes you back in time to World War II from both feminine and masculine viewpoints. There are several stories threading through this book, with glimpses of the past interspersed throughout, tying the individuals together. Jacquie Ream's perceptive descriptions place you in the activity, whether it be mechanics scattering from incoming bullets, Rodger leaving for an air mission, Adele learning about her husband's past, or a simple stroll by Ada to Adele's home. I became entwined with the characters as I discovered a piece here and a piece there that fit together, like a puzzle unfolding before me. Experience wartime emotions, family strife, the ties that bind, and bits of history as you explore lives affected by war, distance, economical and social situations, love, and friendship. You may not be immediately pulled into Forcing the Hand of God, but Ream's characters soon grow on you, drawing you in. This is more a slice of life than a piece of fiction.

Couldn't put this book down! Although having lived in the United States for over 40 years, I was born in England in August,1939, just prior to the commencement of World War II. My parents, now deceased, could have easily identified with Major Rodger Brown and his wife Adele; my father having served in the RAF at that time, stationed in Belgium. I was amazed at the author's knowledge of war time conditions and all things aeronautical and her ability to draw one into the lives of each of the individuals depicted. A fantastic read!!

Engagingly written, Forcing the Hand of God gives us a peek at what it meant to be a pilot during World War II and what it took to love and support a man in the military. The author does an amazing job of intertwining love and longing with family complexities into a compelling tale of a fighter pilot and the internal decisions he must make for himself and others. An intricately woven story about relationships that push traditional boundaries, I felt compelled to understand them for myself as well as the characters. This novel explores the complexity of human behavior and relationships in all their various forms and shows the reader how things are never as clear as we might think. Forcing the Hand of God is both thought provoking and memorable; an irresistible novel that was hard to put down.

Within the pages of Forcing the Hand of God, you will enter as a silent visitor among the private lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary times. Where love and desire compete with duty and honor, you become a witness to the intense passion for life that only appears when death threatens. A master story teller, Jacquie Ream weaves her web of words that will entangle every emotion that drives our need to embrace love and to exude anger. At the end of this tale, you will emerge with a greater sense of appreciation for life's gifts as well as its trials, while learning more about the heart and soul of the common man. And you may even learn a bit more about yourself. William R. Stampe, CMSgt, USAF, Ret.