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Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite
Christina Angle relates her story in The Open Heart of a Military Spouse and Veteran: Twenty Lessons from Shared Experiences in the Military Life. She raised four children while serving in the Army. At times, she questioned her parenting skills but did her best under difficult circumstances. Service life is shaped by organizational requirements. Members of the author’s family had served in the military, and she was familiar with the need to reconcile duty and personal life. There were irregular working hours and out-of-country deployments, which brought about physical separation. Relationships with spouses came under strain, and there was a high emotional cost. It was a question of priorities. When criticized by others, she questioned whether outside opinions mattered, and whether we have to apologize for being human. In July 2016, the author was deployed to Iraq. The COVID pandemic added to her sense of isolation. She also felt that she was making too many compromises. The year 2025 brought political changes to complicate matters in the army even further, and she left after 8 years of service.
Christina Angle reflects on life lessons as a wife, military veteran, and mother. Her difficult childhood and later service life shaped her beliefs in the years that followed. The author is an abstract thinker, which did not always fit the rigid mindset of the armed forces. She was adamant that her home should be a safe and loving space. Those of us who served in the military will understand the ongoing conflict between duty and family responsibilities. Peer pressure added to the need to conform. Despite this, the author retained her sense of self and celebrates the fact that she is different. The Open Heart of a Military Spouse and Veteran is a tale of lessons learned, sometimes the hard way, and of loyalty and sacrifice. The author shares her experiences with candor, revealing a character that is both resilient and true to herself. She promotes strong family relationships, personal growth, and love. It will be a major source of support to military veterans and spouses.
