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Soldier in Germany
COLD MOUNTAIN meets ROMEO AND JULIET on the crazy-mean streets of 1972 Cold War Europe.
"A powerful book in which grimness and lyricism fight to a draw." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
When Air Force sergeant Christopher Adams finds himself the lone survivor after his forward observation post is overrun by enemy forces in Vietnam, he realizes he only wants to go somewhere he might quietly and peacefully mend his young, torn body and shattered mind. Instead, the fateful-as-they-are-ironic hands of the military drop him onto the world stage of continents facing off in Cold War. Here, in the heartland of Germany, and a mere twenty-five or so years after Hitler and the Nazis brought those same continents to near ruin, Chris now finds himself surrounded by a world in chaos and flux, protest and terror, and shivering in the imminent shadow of nuclear Armageddon. A world in which there is little quiet, and even less peace.
But then, as journeys of fate and irony are wont to do, he meets her—Nikolina von Lotzenburg, a.k.a. Nikki Lotz, a beautiful, fiercely independent, enormously evasive, seventeen-year-old top photographic model who escaped from East Germany when she was six, and who—now surrounded by those, including her equally fierce mother, Rami, that would try and control every fiber of her high-profile and higher-stakes existence—may be even a more damaged soul than himself…
"A powerful book in which grimness and lyricism fight to a draw." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
When Air Force sergeant Christopher Adams finds himself the lone survivor after his forward observation post is overrun by enemy forces in Vietnam, he realizes he only wants to go somewhere he might quietly and peacefully mend his young, torn body and shattered mind. Instead, the fateful-as-they-are-ironic hands of the military drop him onto the world stage of continents facing off in Cold War. Here, in the heartland of Germany, and a mere twenty-five or so years after Hitler and the Nazis brought those same continents to near ruin, Chris now finds himself surrounded by a world in chaos and flux, protest and terror, and shivering in the imminent shadow of nuclear Armageddon. A world in which there is little quiet, and even less peace.
But then, as journeys of fate and irony are wont to do, he meets her—Nikolina von Lotzenburg, a.k.a. Nikki Lotz, a beautiful, fiercely independent, enormously evasive, seventeen-year-old top photographic model who escaped from East Germany when she was six, and who—now surrounded by those, including her equally fierce mother, Rami, that would try and control every fiber of her high-profile and higher-stakes existence—may be even a more damaged soul than himself…
- GenresHistorical Fiction
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 23, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 28, 2024
Bravo, this is a very good book. In many ways I associated with the main character Chris because I am very similar in age and in some of his experiences. I lived in Germany as a military officer for nine years and spent Viet Nam times in Korea, but supporting the war from a distance. Therefore for many of the scenes and incidents, I was aware of or even exposed to.
This edition has very strong writing. I applaud J. Snyder for his ability to humanize the situations, especially for veterans from that time period.
Additionally, the plot moves very quickly. So, this book is very easy to read and hard to put down.
I highly recommend this book, especially for Veterans.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This edition has very strong writing. I applaud J. Snyder for his ability to humanize the situations, especially for veterans from that time period.
Additionally, the plot moves very quickly. So, this book is very easy to read and hard to put down.
I highly recommend this book, especially for Veterans.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 12, 2026
This book has virtually none of the features that this reader normally finds interesting in a novel. Very little action or traditional suspense, few historical references in the manner that this former history teacher might expect (though certain geo-cultural references were interesting), yet despite this, I found myself looking forward to continuing it each day. It was simply interesting, all the way through.
Chris is a young man who is seriously injured in Vietnam when his position is overrun. He recovers physically but his emotional recovery is an entirely different issue and is instrumental in this story. He requests a transfer away from the jungle heat to someplace cold and is sent to Germany where he will try to piece his mind back together.
Nikki is a seventeen year old girl who is the daughter of an aristocratic Prussian mother and an East German officer. Young, incredibly beautiful, and pushed by her mother into a lucrative and very visible modeling career she has little enthusiasm for. Surrounded by an elite class who takes advantage of her she leads a life so shallow she may be borderline suicidal.
Chris sees Nikki’s photo on a billboard and becomes fascinated by this beauty and then, fatefully, sees her one night at a bar. She is, of course, surrounded by an elite entourage and when Chris attempts to approach her it does not go well. However, to cut to the core, over time, they meet again and eventually fall in love with each other and help each other find fulfillment in their own lives. If you like these types of storylines you should love this novel. However, this book is more than a love story, it is also a tragedy. None of William Shakespeare’s stories or the love affair in the movie Titanic can top this one. Just as you want to cheer for the two characters the author grabs hold of your heart, rips it out of your chest, throws it on the floor, and stomps on it. As the novel concludes I wanted to take this book and angrily throw it across the room. But, since this was a digital download on my smartphone it a probably a good idea that I didn’t. I you like heartbreaking tragedies you should love/hate this book. I will say no more about it.
Chris is a young man who is seriously injured in Vietnam when his position is overrun. He recovers physically but his emotional recovery is an entirely different issue and is instrumental in this story. He requests a transfer away from the jungle heat to someplace cold and is sent to Germany where he will try to piece his mind back together.
Nikki is a seventeen year old girl who is the daughter of an aristocratic Prussian mother and an East German officer. Young, incredibly beautiful, and pushed by her mother into a lucrative and very visible modeling career she has little enthusiasm for. Surrounded by an elite class who takes advantage of her she leads a life so shallow she may be borderline suicidal.
Chris sees Nikki’s photo on a billboard and becomes fascinated by this beauty and then, fatefully, sees her one night at a bar. She is, of course, surrounded by an elite entourage and when Chris attempts to approach her it does not go well. However, to cut to the core, over time, they meet again and eventually fall in love with each other and help each other find fulfillment in their own lives. If you like these types of storylines you should love this novel. However, this book is more than a love story, it is also a tragedy. None of William Shakespeare’s stories or the love affair in the movie Titanic can top this one. Just as you want to cheer for the two characters the author grabs hold of your heart, rips it out of your chest, throws it on the floor, and stomps on it. As the novel concludes I wanted to take this book and angrily throw it across the room. But, since this was a digital download on my smartphone it a probably a good idea that I didn’t. I you like heartbreaking tragedies you should love/hate this book. I will say no more about it.
April 7, 2024
I enjoyed the author’s writing style and related well to his description and characters and setting. I lived, worked and traveled in Europe during the period the novel is set in and Snyder really captured the Zeitgeist of those times.
I connected with the main characters, the soldier Chrs was about the same age as I was at the time of the book and his German girlfriend Nikki reminded me of a young German woman I knew.
I would have liked to read more about Chrs’ recovery and rehabilitation after his injuries in Viet Nam as I would been more satisfied with the narrative.
The ending was a surprise, but on deeper reflection very appropriate.
I will be looking for other books by the author.
This was a free ARC provided to me, I am leaving a review to encourage others to try this book.
I connected with the main characters, the soldier Chrs was about the same age as I was at the time of the book and his German girlfriend Nikki reminded me of a young German woman I knew.
I would have liked to read more about Chrs’ recovery and rehabilitation after his injuries in Viet Nam as I would been more satisfied with the narrative.
The ending was a surprise, but on deeper reflection very appropriate.
I will be looking for other books by the author.
This was a free ARC provided to me, I am leaving a review to encourage others to try this book.
March 6, 2025
A Tragic Story
I found the story a little difficult to follow at times. The psychological aspects are just not my forte. I was also looking for a happy ending, but it turned out to be a tragedy instead. Folks who enjoy tragedy style stories will find this one to their liking. If that is your forte, I highly recommend you read this story. It combines aspects of Viet Nam along with Germany at the end of World War II and into the Cold War and the terrorist events of the 1970s.
I found the story a little difficult to follow at times. The psychological aspects are just not my forte. I was also looking for a happy ending, but it turned out to be a tragedy instead. Folks who enjoy tragedy style stories will find this one to their liking. If that is your forte, I highly recommend you read this story. It combines aspects of Viet Nam along with Germany at the end of World War II and into the Cold War and the terrorist events of the 1970s.
November 15, 2025
Such a sad story.
May 6, 2026
It took me a while to get into this book it was very slow & a bit confusing at first. But I’m glad I hung on and finished it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews