Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives

For those who don't know, the characters of Roxy, Pamela, Denise and Claudia Joy can be found in the real life stories of four Fort Bragg army wives. Roxy is based on the story of Rita Odom. Pamela is based on the story of Andrea Floyd. Denise is based on the story of Delores. Claudia Joy is based on the story of Andrea Lynn Cory. It is an interesting read because you will keep finding events in the book that inspired storylines. There is a much more heavier tone to the book than the series but it is still a very good read.

I'm a huge fan of the T.V. show, Army Wives, and once I found out it was based on a book I had to read it. I was NOT disappointed. As a future wife to a soldier serving in Iraq, as well as, a former military police soldier in the U.S. Army, I found the book to be incredibly truthful, passionate, exciting, depressing, and uplifting. There are highs and lows, which truly reflect the lives of army wives and the soldiers. I would, however, liked Biank to have depicted the life of a man serving as a husband to a female soldier (as the t.v. show has done). Either way, I recommend this book to any soldier, any military spouse, girlfriend, fiance, etc. and anyone else. We all need to read this book!!!!

This was a great book. Unlike most of the books I've found on military wives (and I'm saying this as navy wife), it doesn't glorify, whine, romanticize, or over-dramatize the life. Military life and marriage is what it is. I couldn't put this book down, and I hope it doesn't start getting a bad rap now that Lifetime has made it into a typical Lifetime drama (not that I don't watch it, because I do). One warning...this is a hard read. I cried through an entire chapter. It really hits home if you're a military wife, so read it with a box of tissues.

I had the honor of meeting the author while we served on the OWC Board in Virginia. I wasn't aware that she was an author until my friend informed me, at which point I purchased a copy and read it. I feel she gave a very candid view of military life that many people have no idea about. I applaud her for not sugar coating her story. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of the military community as well as civilian.