Yesterday's Tomorrow: Tomorrow's War, #1

By G.W. Pomichter and William DuPree

2 Families scattered around the globe tethered to one another by 21st century technology must rediscover the real ties that bind them when a devastating nuclear terrorist attack on America causes a massive power outage, and they are forced to redefine what it means to be a part of a family, a community and a country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lexicon Communication Company
• Release date: Aug 16, 2016
• ISBN: 9781530454556

G.W. Pomichter

Born Garrett W. Pomichter in upstate NY in 1970, G.W. Pomichter is a graduate of Eastern Florida State College. The U.S. Army Infantry veteran began writing at an early age and published poems in anthologies in his early 20s. His poem, “Coming of Age,” was featured in the anthology, “An Eternity of Beauty.” Following a college internship with The Florida Today newspaper, G.W. Pomichter joined the writing staff at The Hometown News, read along Florida’s Central East coast, where he penned more than 400 byline stories. In his early 40s, G.W. Pomichter began his career as a full-time author. His first published work, a handbook on political campaigning, was a long-time labor of love. Having spent much of his early years politically active, the writer chose to author a collections of common tactical and strategic elements to successful political campaigns, and released “Mapping the Road Less Traveled,” as his inaugural work. Although his background was firmly entrenched in the familiar non-fiction, and technical news reporting style, G.W. Pomichter chose to flex his writing muscles to enter the fiction writing universe with another longtime project that was near to his heart. “Lucky,” a short homage to the classic Detective Noir novels of the 1930s and 1940s, was a project that was born out of his love of the genre and a lamenting of a lack of modest “escapist” stories that simply entertain audiences. “Words do have power. They can change the shape of the world in which we live. But another power that words have is to transport us briefly to a place where, for just a few hours, we can escape our busy lives and enjoy an adventurous journey through the imagination. That is what we call a straight read. It’s a place to set aside the complications of real life. It’s a place where the good guys might still wear white hats and the bad guys, black hats, and where for one fleeting moment all is right, and you return home to pick up the daunting tasks of daily life rested and with a little more enthusiasm.”

Book preview

CONTENTS

Yesterday’s Tommorow

Chapter 1

Just another Day

Washington, D.C. January 21st, 2015 12:00 pm EST

T Minus 00:01:00

Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado 11:00 HRS CST January 21st, 2015

Command and Control Center, NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado:  11:45 HRS CST, January 21st, 2015

T Minus 0:00:15

January 21st, 2015:  07:45 a.m. Home of Robert & Marie Murray, Melbourne, Florida

T Minus 0:04:15

Melbourne, Florida January 21st, 2015 5:00 am EST (Excerpt from the journal of Bill DuPonte)

T Minus 00:08:00

Camp Chapman, Afghanistan, January 21st, 2015 20:30 pm LOCAL

ACTION REPORT:

US Embassy, Baghdad, Iraq, January 21st, 2015 7:00 pm LOCAL

T-Minus 10 minutes

Chapter 2

Silence, Darkness & Deliberation

21 January, 2015 Starbuck’s Coffee, 3660 N Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL 32934

12:45 EST (T-Minus 0:00:15)

Zero Hour: Day 1; 1:00 p.m. EST (0:00:00)

Zero Hour + 00:00:20: Robert Murray’s Route Home to 2122 Foxwood Dr., Melbourne, FL 32935

Zero Hour + 00:00:20: MELBOURNE, FL 1:20 p.m. EST (Excerpt from the Journal of Bill DuPonte)

Zero Hour + 00:03:15: MELBOURNE, FLORIDA, 4:15 p.m. EST (Continued Excerpt from the Journal of Bill DuPonte)

Zero Hour + 00:05:30, Home of Bill and Bella DuPonte, Melbourne , FL 32940 6:30 p.m. EST (January 20, 2015 Closing Excerpt from the Journal of Bill DuPonte)

Zero Hour + 00:05:00: 6:00 p.m. EST: Correspondence addressed to Robert Murray, Melbourne, Florida — from Terralyn Murray-Coscum: The Adirondack Forest, New York, USA

Zero Hour + 00:05:00: The Home of Cory and Lynn Murray: Portland, Oregon, USA, 3:00 p.m. PST

Zero Hour + 00:05:15: ABC Breaking News Broadcast, Portland, Oregon, 3:15 p.m. PST (Jim Barriga Reporting)

Chapter 3

Zero Hour: 20:00 Hours, Local Time: Longitude 33° 33’ by Latitude 44° 23', Outside Baghdad, Iraq

Zero Hour + 00:11:55, 0755 Local Time (Sunrise), Baghdad, Iraq

Zero Hour + 00:22:38, 18:38 p.m. Local Time (Sunset), Baghdad, Iraq:

Zero Hour + 00:21:30: BBC World News Reporting

Chapter 4

The View From The Gallery

Command and Control Center, NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado:  11:50 HRS CST, January 21st, 2015

T Minus 0:00:10

Zero Hour

Zero Hour + 00:00:05: Secretary Penny Peltzer’s Private Quarters, NORAD, 12:05 p.m. CST

NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado:  12:15 HRS CST, January 21st, 2015

Zero Hour + 00:00:15

Zero Hour + 00:00:20

Zero Hour + 00:00:35:  CNN Report Breaking News

Zero Hour + 00:01:05: CNN Continued News Reporting

Zero Hour + 00:00:50, 12:50 p.m. CST, Colorado Springs Airport, USAF 747 Tail Number 1600 Night Watch

Zero Hour + 00:01:30: 1:30 p.m. CST, Airborne USAF Tail number 1600, in the Skies over Colorado

Zero Hour + 00:01:38: CNN Continued Reporting: St. Louis, Mo.

Zero Hour + 00:01:10: 1010 Hours, U.S. Army Ft. Richardson, Alaska: C.I.D Headquarters Office

Zero Hour + 00:01:55: CNN Continued News Reporting

Zero Hour + 00:02:00, 2:00 p.m. CST USAF 747 Air Force One on Approach to Site-B, Offut AFB, Nebraska, Altitude 30,000 Ft.

Zero Hour + 00:02:30: 1130 Hours, U.S. Army Ft. Richardson, Alaska: C.I.D Headquarters Office

Zero Hour + 00:06:45, 1545 Hours: Ft. Richardson, Alaska, C.I.D. HQ

Zero Hour + 00:02:30: Offut Air Force Base, Nebraska, Press podium in front of Air Force One near terminal.  News Present: CNN, BBC, FoxNews. MSNBC:

4:00 p.m. MST Bellevue, Nebraska:  President Penny Peltzer’s Address to the Nation

Chapter 5

Life in the Zone

Zero Hour + 00:18:00 7:00 a.m. EST, The Home of Robert Murray and Family, 2122 Foxwood Drive, Melbourne, Florida

Camp Chapman, Afghanistan, January 22st, 2015 05:00 a.m. LOCAL

Zero Hour + 18:00:00 7:00 a.m. EST Excerpt from the Journal of Bill DuPonte, Melbourne, Florida

Zero Hour + 00:19:30 8:30 a.m. EST. (Robert Murray, Foxwood Drive Community) Melbourne Florida

Zero Hour + 00:22:45 11:45 a.m. EST: The Home of Robert Murray and Family, 2122 Foxwood Drive, Melbourne, Florida

Zero Hour + 00:53:00 6:00p.m. EST Excerpt from the Journal of Bill DuPonte Continued, Melbourne, Florida

Chapter 6: So, It Begins....................................

Zero Hour + 06:04:00; 5:00 p.m. EST:  USAF C-130 Transport Plane from Ofutt AFB to Venezuela

Zero Hour + 06:04:35; 05:35 EST; 21:35 ZULU (Military/Aviation) Time:  Correspondence From Capt. William Murray, USA to Mr. Robert Murray: Melbourne, FL

Zero Hour + 02:20:55, 21:15 Local Time , Baghdad, Iraq

Chapter 7: The New Normal.............................

Zero Hour + 31:03:15 4:15 p.m. EST Excerpt from the journa of Bill DuPonte, Melbourne, Florida

Zero Hour + 65:02:30: 3:30 p.m. EST, Continued Excerpts from the journal of Bill DuPonte, Black Out Zone Resident, Melbourne, Florida

Zero Hour + 074:23:30: BBC World News Reporting

Zero Hour + 02:23:55, 22:00 Local Time , Baghdad, Iraq

Zero Hour + 03:20:55, 10:00 a.m. Local Time , Safe House Najaf, Iraq

Chapter 8: Mail Call

Zero Hour + 175:18:00: 8:30 a.m. EST Local Time, July 16, 2015, Melbourne, Florida near the home of Robert and Maria Murray and their Family

Zero Hour 176:17:00: 7:00 a.m., From the Journal of Bill DuPonte, Melbourne Florida

Zero Hour + 243:04:00: Sept 19, 2015: 5:00 p.m. EST From the Journal of Bill DuPonte Continued, Black Out Zone: Melbourne, Florida

Chapter 9: Bread Crumb Trail..........................

Zero Hour + 305:17:05:  23 November, 2015, 18:35 MYT Local Time, Malaysia, 06:35 a.m. EST 

103rd Special C.I.D. Team: After Action Report: Date 26 November, 2015; Attn: Major General John DuPonte, USMC, Joint Chiefs Intelligence Officer 

Zero Hour + 307:01:00:  25 November, 2015, 14:00 EST Local Time, Bellevue, Nebraska 12:00 p.m.  MST

103rd Special C.I.D. Team: After Action Report: Date 24 November, 2015

Attn: Major General John DuPonte, USMC, Joint Chiefs Intelligence Officer

Zero Hour + 307:02:00:  25 November, 2015, Local Time, Bellevue, Nebraska, 1:00 p.m.  MST

Chapter 10:  To Begin Again

Zero Hour + 340:01:00: December 24, 2015: Christmas Eve in The Zone, The Home of Bill and Bella DuPonte, Melbourne, Florida

Zero Hour + 341:00:00: December 25, 2015: Christmas Day: Foxwood Drive Home of Robert Murray and Family, Melbourne, Florida

21 January, 2016:  Transcript: Presidential Radio/Broadcast Address

Zero Hour + 365:07:00

Chapter 11: In Summation................................

Yesterday’s Tommorow

Chapter 1

Just another Day

Washington, D.C. January 21st, 2015 12:00 pm EST

T Minus 00:01:00

With a sense of urgency, White House aide Jeremy Thompson briskly walked from his west wing office through the open air corridor leading to the United States Presidential mansion.  He entered the mansion corridors through the double doors held open by a colleague who exited the same.  His right arm was cradled and filled with papers and a manila file folder in his left hand was tucked under his arm as he navigated the halls toward the oval office.

Entering the presidential office, Jeremy acknowledged the gathering of high ranking aides and others seated on the rounded sofas that surrounded the Great Seal of the United States, which adorned the circular carpet.  He set the bundle of papers on a table next to the nearest sofa, straightened his red tie and nervously combed his cropped, brown hair with the fingers that had only just loosed the stack of papers now being spread from one person to the others seated in the room.

Thanks.  If you could just pass ... okay that’s it.

President Barack Obama was pacing behind his desk.  Back and forth he walked as Jeremy handed him the manila folder.

Your speech, sir, the young aid said as he met President Obama near the corner of the desk.  He was always careful near the president’s desk. He knew it was not only the desk of his boss and the President of the United States, but it was an heirloom.  It was the desk made famous 50 years earlier when a photo of President John F. Kennedy Jr. and his son, affectionately referred to as John-John, emerged as a toddler from the compartment in the center of the carved desk front.  It was returned to service by President Bill Clinton in 2000.  It always made Jeremy reverent and as he handed off the folder, he nervously put his hands to his side as if careful not to touch the hallowed artifact.

Thank you, Jeremy, the President said as he accepted the folder and opened it to peruse its documents.  Anything we need to focus on?

Jeremy looked at the President and then glanced around the room as if addressing the entirety of his company.

Yes, sir, he said.  We’re really hoping to focus on the point where clean energy and high paying, high-tech jobs meet, Mr. President.  Here in the second paragraph, you’ll see we’ve put heavy emphasis on the reduction of coal emissions and acknowledge the Tesla Car Company for its growth potential with clean electric transportation opportunities.  Mr. Musk, Elon Musk, the CEO and Founder of Tesla, is confirmed for the gallery, sir.  We really want to point him out as a great partner in creating high-paying, clean, technology-driven job creation.

Good job, President Obama said.  We’ll need to move that up.  Put that a ways before coal, and let’s draw the stark contrast as we talk about recovery between our newer jobs and older, less efficient industries.  Yes?  What do you think?

That’s great, sir. Jeremy grinned as he turned the page in front of the President.  We can then find a real rhythm when you tout the ...

Excuse me sir, Mr. President? a voice from a secret service officer said as he entered the oval office.  Sir, we have confirmation.  Secretary Peltzer and General Powell are secure at Cheyenne.

Thank you, Teddy, President Obama replied.  Gentlemen, let’s go over this again.

Sir, said another aide from behind Jeremy, as he looked down at his iPhone.  Sir, we now have from our House Liaison that Representative Deb Fischer, Republican from Nebraska is set to do the response to the speech tonight.  Fischer is a junior Senator from the Midwest, so we really don’t know why, but she’s likely being prepped as a surrogate during next year’s election.  We can expect the usual rhetoric, but we just stick to recovery, jobs and such.

Okay, Bill, that’s good news, the President said.  So, Jeremy, here we’re going to start strong with the economy.  I’d like to get right up front, and really drive it home that we’re on track and start with something like, ‘Let’s begin with the state of our economic recovery, which has never been stronger’, yes?

Great, sir, that will lead you to clean tech jobs and reducing dependence on antiquated technology, then hit coal and move to here, Jeremy said as he pointed to page two.  Here you can lead to our troop withdrawals really well, as we can show that we are on a track away from any Middle East dependence.  Ya know, sir, the whole ‘We’ve reduced the need to put young men and women in harm’s way to protect these interests,’ and move to the security of the United States is Strong!

Okay, let’s be sure to get some real numbers of our troop drawdown in there and be sure that we get all the names of our service members in the president’s box in the gallery- we really want to throw a thanks out to them by name, as we do this.  Okay, get it back to me as soon as you can.

Yes, sir. Jeremy replied.

Sir, General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff rose from the sofa.  He had his Android cellular phone in his hand, ending a call with his thumb as he approached the centered presidential desk, passing Jeremy as he retreated to make the needed changes to the speech.  We’ve just received a security update.  We remain at DEFCON 2, as we have fighters abroad, but indications are that we’re monitoring low levels of hostile activity.  The speech, as we see it Mr. President, is a go.

Thank you, general, the president said as he returned to thought and whispered rehearsal of key speech points.  ... And then, we turn and ‘Ladies and Gentlemen of Congress and Fellow Americans, the state of our union is STRONG, and has never been stronger’, he muttered softly under his breath.

Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado 11:00 HRS CST January 21st, 2015

On the pavement outside the arched entrance to America’s most high-tech and well protected bunker, a U.S. Marine helicopter landed and two Marine Corps Sergeants exited.  Adorned in the most recognizable uniform — their dress blues, the pair saluted in unison. 

54-year-old Chicago-born, Stanford-educated Penny Peltzer, who was named Secretary of Commerce of the United States in May, 2013, stepped from the aircraft; her short, feathered, brown hair was blown downward from the rotor wash of the VH-60N White Hawk.  She turned and gave a wave to the pilots of the HMX-1 Nighthawks squadron as her escort Gen. William Powell exited the aircraft and joined her on the pavement; the briefcase known only as the football handcuffed to his arm.  The pair stood patiently near the famous bunker’s entrance as another officer approached them.

Madam Secretary, it’s good to see you, said General Charles Jacobson Jr. as he divided his steely gaze between Secretary Peltzer and her companion.  I’m General Jacobson, ma’am, ... sir.  Welcome to NORAD.  If you’ll follow me, we can get you to your secure quarters and squared away.  We’ve set up an office for you per protocol and we’ll do our best to keep you comfortable, ma’am, ‘til this is over tonight.

Thank you General, I really appreciate that, said Secretary Peltzer.  I brought a new noir crime book by this new author, for my Kindle, to keep me out of your way.  I know these things are quite a distraction.  You’ll be rid of me by morning. I promise not to be too much of a nuisance.

As the trio entered the steel corridors of the massive underground complex from the outside, the general pointed out a few points of interest he thought about as they went by.

Ma’am, you might recall last year we had that station over there being overhauled for some of our newer computer components for drone operations, he said proudly.  Today you’ll see it’s all up and running. We can see a lot of what our drone operation stations are doing pretty close to real time, as well as when needed. We can access aircraft mounted secure cams for real time battlefield analysis, ma’am.  We’re pretty damn proud of that.

They continued on and the secretary nodded her approval and smiled politely at the general’s obvious pride in his duty station.

Here ya go ma’am, these will be your quarters. Home sweet home for the next 12 hours, Gen. Jacobson  explained.  There’s a secure sat-phone near your desk and the Airmen here will provide your security and be able to get you anything you need.  I’ll show General Powell to his quarters and then I’ll be in the C-and-C if I’m needed for anything.

Thank you, General, I think I’ll be alright.  I’ve got my book, remember? Secretary Peltzer said dismissively to Gen. Jacobson  before turning her attention to her long-time friend, Brigadier General Powell.  Bill, I’ll see you later.  Dinner?

Yes, Ma’am, General Powell said.  Later it is.

Gentlemen, she said with a nod as she turned and entered the room and the young Airman stationed to the right of the steel door pulled it shut behind her.

Command and Control Center, NORAD, Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado:  11:45 HRS CST, January 21st, 2015

T Minus 0:00:15

Status, General Jacobson  said sharply as he entered the room.

Attention! the voice of Major General Charles DeLucca rang through the room.

As you were, Jacobson  said curtly.  Status?

Sir, we’re reporting DEFCON 2, as per operations protocol, monitoring typical Civilian Air Traffic. Space based platforms are within Norms, no anomalous transmissions or traffic at this time, said Gen. DeLucca.  Just another day at the office, sir.

Very good, Jacobson said responding to his friend with a smile.

He turned his attention to the airmen, NCO’s and Officers throughout the room.

Carry on everyone, he said glibly.  He then approached Gen. DeLucca.  She’s here, Chuck.  Let the dog and pony show begin.  Make sure we get somebody down there to get her to dinner on time, and then see she’s got water and ... I don’t know, a candy bar, a tampon or whatever she needs.  The last thing we need is an unhappy secretary to the secretary of weather or some shit upset.

Yes, sir! replied Gen. DeLucca.  We’ll get it.  I’ll get Bob ..., Sergeant Major Winetraut, to give her the tour after.  The tourists just love that shit.  They get a kick out of the ‘Stargate’ closet.  We’re on it sir.

January 21st, 2015:  07:45 a.m. Home of Robert & Marie Murray, Melbourne, Florida

T Minus 0:04:15

The sound of the alarm from his iPhone permeated the fragile sheet he had pulled over his head as the sun’s first beams streamed in through his bedroom window.  From beneath the covers, he reached out and his hand and fingers traced the outline of the night stand to the phone, and fumbled to swipe its touch screen face to relieve himself of the piercing noise.

Ugh! He said as he sat up.  Having failed to silence the electronic murderer of his sleep, Robert focused wearily on the screen as he pulled the phone from the table, untethering it from the charger cord and swiped cleanly across it, bringing the sweet relief of silence into the room. 

Using his left hand, he reached for the pajama bottoms he kept at the end of his bed.  With his right hand, he wiped the gunk from his eyes.  He stretched and stood and straightened the pajama trousers in front of him, almost as if in addition to preparing them for wear, he covered himself from

Reviews for Yesterday's Tomorrow

[judyg54 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A heartwrenching story of love amidst the agony of the Vietnam war. I don't often give out 5 stars to books, but this book is one that will stick in my mind for awhile. This story brought out alot of different emotions as I was reading it and near the end there were a few tears shed. I believe this is the first book I have read that took place during the Vietnam War and was written in a way that didn't really take sides with whether there should or shouldn't have been a war, but rather what those who were over there had to endure. This was a very well written story by Catherine West.Kristin Taylor finds herself in Vietnam looking for work as a overseas war correspondent, and also trying to find her brother, Teddy, who is somewhere in Vietnam as a medic. She winds up (in a very humorous way) meeting Luke Maddox, a brooding, hard to get close to photographer, who has alot of mystery to him. Together they are thrown together and although they can't stand each other at first, that quickly turns around into a very well done tender love story. The people and places you will meet along the way in this story will keep you intent upon this story; not wanting to put in down until the very end. I wasn't sure by the cover of this book, whether or not I would enjoy the story, but I must say the book captivated me from the very beginning and didn't disappoint me in any way (and after having read the story, I fully understand the cover). This is a story I highly recommend.

[michellesutton · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I read a book I want to get lost in the story. This book did that for me. When I read a book I want to care about the characters. This book did that for me, too. I loved the people and the relationships between them. I loved the emotion and the fact that the author wasn't afraid to let her characters deal with some difficult challenges. I got tearful a number of times and had to refrain from crying in the airport (I didn't want people to wonder why I had tears rolling down my cheeks.) All I wanted to do was read the book until I finished it, but I had to go out of town, so when I got a chance to finish the story I picked it up again and stayed up until I read THE END. I am definitely going to read another book by this author. Not only is the author's prose beautiful, but her pacing is perfect and her romantic tension is written exactly the way I like it. A very satisfying read, and just edgy enough to be compelling without being overly done. In fact, though I really hate to part with this book, I told my aunt she MUST read it because I can guarantee she will not only love it, but will spread the word about the story, too. This book is worthy of that kind of buzz.

[love2readnovels_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kristin Taylor is a journalist headed for Vietnam hoping to become an award winning correspondent like her father was. She is also looking for her brother Teddy. A fellow journalist she meets on the plane introduces her to Caroline, who's looking for a roommate. Kristen is introduced to Caroline's brother, Luke Maddox, in a rather interesting way and from there the sparks begin to fly. Neither one wants anything to do with the other but they keep ending up together. So what will happen when they are forced to work together?Yesterday's Tomorrow is brilliantly written and emotionally compelling! Catherine West drops you in the middle of Vietnam where you live out Kristin's journey with her. I could feel the heat, taste grit in my mouth and hear the explosions in the hills. My heart grieved with Kristin as she watched many soldiers breathe their last. Though the subject is a very sobering one, there is humor sprinkled throughout the story. I really appreciated that. The characters are larger than life and fully fleshed out. Luke is the strong, silent, brooding type but you can't help but love him. Kristin is independent and gutsy! The romantic tension between them is awesome! This is the type of story that you can't put down. The author keeps your attention from beginning to end! One thing I appreciated very much about this story was that the author didn't sugarcoat anything. She showed things in a gritty and realistic way. The faith element in the story was done very well. It didn't feel forced at all. This is the authors debut novel but it sure doesn't read that way. You can easily see why this has received so many 5 star ratings. The design of the cover is beautiful and it's what drew me to the story to begin with. I HIGHLY encourage you to pick up Yesterday's Tomorrow. It's a story you won't soon forget! I am looking forward to more from Catherine West! Awesome job!

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I loved Yesterday’s Tomorrow by Catherine West. Billed as a romance novel, it is so much more — an eye-opening look at the U. S. involvement in Vietnam, a study of the emotional toll of love and loss and a triumph of God’s redemptive love. This is a novel you don’t want to miss.Kristin Taylor goes to Vietnam to finish the journalistic work that her father started. Determined to find and tell the truth, Kristin discovers a country that will not let her go. The detachment from the men and women serving in Vietnam and the children left orphaned by the war gives way to a deep emotional attachment. And Kristin puts herself in increasingly dangerous situations to bring the real Vietnam to her readers back home. In her travels she is paired with photographer Luke Maddox who she suspects in an agency man. But what begins as a strained relationship develops into love as they share helicopters and jeeps and terror and heartbreak.West brings the Vietnam War to life. Her descriptions of the country and the battles are richly detailed, but never gory. She focuses on the individuals that served there so that her commentary is not political, but personal. She also tells a tale of love that deepens and withstands loss, separation and betrayal. The characters are complex — flawed, frustrating, lovable, and realistic. They portray an honest struggle with faith and the place of God in the world and in their lives. Yesterday’s Tomorrow felt like a real story, and I think that is where its appeal lies. If you want a story that becomes a part of you, choose Yesterday’s Tomorrow.Highly Recommended.Great for Book Clubs.(Thank you to LitFuse for my copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[tracykrauss · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gripping, heart wrenching, poignant, fast paced, tender, descriptive … these are all adjectives that aptly describe Catharine West’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow. It’s the story of Kristin Taylor, a young reporter out to prove herself by going into the field during the Vietnam War. In the midst of the horror and carnage she finds out what it means to be a friend, a lover, a Christian - a human being. This unfortunate era in US history is well researched yet never pedantic. Descriptive passages are wonderfully full and alive yet never get in the way of the story. West has masterfully juxtaposed contrasting elements to create a unique balance that keeps the story vibrant. Raw emotional scenes mix with quiet reflective moments. Passion spills over while the reality of everyday life goes on. The blood and carnage of senseless killing comes alongside the message of hope. I was hooked after Chapter One. I couldn’t put it down by Chapter Four. What at first seemed slightly cliché (girl meets arrogant hunk and falls in love despite herself) turned into a complex journey that was anything but typical. I found myself reliving many of the scenes in my mind after turning the final page – the mark, in my mind, of a book worth reading. Yesterday’s Tomorrow receives a five star rating in my mind.