| ISBN #
978-0-9748869-1-2 |
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Shadows on an Iron Curtain
illustrates the clashing tensions that existed between the Soviet Union and the
United States from the end of World War II through the years of the Cold War, as
seen through the naïve eyes of a young widow, Megan James. While everyone knows
of the Berlin Wall, few know of the Border that slashed across a divided and
dangerous Europe. During the 1970’s, the 2nd and 3rd Armored Cavalry troops and
their support units defending this Border were on constant Alert against the
threatening Soviet Army, thus increasing the pressure on soldiers, their
friends, and families. |
Megan’s naiveté brings her both
comic and tragic learning experiences and widely disparate friends—fellow
teachers Emily, a mother figure with an imaginary “Ambassador,” sophisticated,
rational Abby, flirtatious Lila who cannot seem to understand the need for
military security, and notorious womanizing CAV pilot, Carl, who senses Megan’s
vulnerability and vows to protect her from her own fears. The women soon learn
the best kept military secret--that if the Soviets cross the Border, as they
constantly threaten, their officer friends must hold for forty-eight hours
before help, probably nuclear, will come—i.e. a potential suicide mission.
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Constant Border ‘Alert’ conditions
foster a camaraderie unknown Stateside. The single officers and teachers form a
‘family’ and protect each other in the face of international danger, sabotaged
‘accidents,’ and personal crises. Under Carl’s tutelage, Megan again dates and
falls in love. But her new love, Ed, is an undercover agent so deeply involved
in international intrigue that he is a target for Communist operatives, i.e. a
"Spook." When Lila’s ‘loose talk,’ inadvertently brings the friends to a
violent climax, all must learn new coping mechanisms to help each other go on.
Though a novel of grief recovery, it also documents the challenge in learning to
teach overseas for the Department of Defense Dependent School teachers, and
especially the missions of the Cavalry, Engineers, Artillery, Infantry,
Intelligence, and Aviation who defended the Border between free and enslaved
people for over forty years. |
This novel is a journey to find
hope through friendship during a period of intense pressure world wide, until
the Berlin Wall fell, the Border opened, and the Cold War ended. |
Shadows on an Iron Curtain is M.J.
Brett’s second novel. For you military people to know, she DID have
this book checked so as not to violate any security measures. |
If you would like
discussion questions for your Book Club
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