After the death of her brother, Ivy is introduced to three men from his world, soldiers who have served with him and whose life has been defined by the challenges of war. Now she is exposed to the horrible reality of war, hatred, and betrayal. She will learn to navigate their hearts and see the path of destruction that runs through them. Watch them as they explore the challenges of living in California, with their fears and passions, and their deep-seated desire to connect meaningfully. Orange Sky by J.E. Gaudet is a tale of war and love, deft and mesmerizing, punctuated with wonderful romantic scenes.

Set in two worlds, Libya and California, Orange Sky by J.E. Gaudet begins with an intriguing statement: “Another perfect day in the desert. Our paradise in hell.” Then it moves on pretty fast with intense descriptions of the desert and life as a soldier in an African city. Gaudet has a gift for setting, and whether talking about a deserted street in the ancient city of Benghazi that is no stranger to war, modern day California, or the scorching heat of the desert, the beautiful writing conjures up images that are vivid and that arouse the reader’s senses, making them hear the sounds, feel the heat, and smell the odors. The characters are fully developed, with well-charted backgrounds and complex personalities. There are wonderful dialogues — plot-enhancing and entertaining — sprinkled throughout the novel, and they are a strong complement to the author’s storytelling skills. The conflict is well handled and it drives the plot from many angles. This is a story that is entertaining, with believable characters and images that will remain with readers. It was a gripping and a satisfying read, and I will be looking out for more from this author.

Orange Sky by J.E. Gaudet is the story of a girl named Ivy; she is your regular American girl, but she is different. Ivy is proud of her brother serving their country. Her brother, Commanding Officer Oliver Rose, is serving in Libya and she has full faith in him, and in his ability to make her country proud and come back to her when the time is right. However, her world comes crashing down when she finds out that her brother has been killed. She is finally alone in the world.

Ivy finds solace in nature and what it has to offer, but it is a poor substitute for her family. She thought that this is how she would live the rest of her life; however, another change happens when three soldiers come to her. They served with her brother and now they are in her life for something even she does not understand. She was used to her peaceful life, she was content with the way she was living, but with the arrival of these soldiers, she finds that there is so much more to life than just living. She joins the soldiers on a dangerous, yet exhilarating journey that brings her a new kind of joy, something that she did not have before.

Orange Sky is breathtaking, and is such a beautiful novel that you will find yourself lost in its words and its pages. J.E. Gaudet has done such a great job with the story that you will become one with Ivy. Ivy is a complicated, desirable and original character that fits in really well with the story. From the very beginning of the novel (which is too powerful to explain in simple words), you will feel a connection with Ivy and you will start feeling like she does. I cannot wait for the next novel in the series and hope that it comes soon because I want to see how love, friendship, and a sense of belonging changes Ivy further. This book speaks to the reader in all the best ways and that is what a reader wants!