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Squared Away
Almost two years after she left the army, and her best friend Concepcion Chapa, Joelle McCoy receives a cryptic voicemail from an Iraqi contact looking for Concepcion. When Joelle can’t reach her “battle buddy,” she’s told Concepcion died in a car accident, while working for the FBI
But Joelle has questions and those questions launch her into the arms of an FBI agent—one of Concepcion’s former colleagues—and a search for her friend that will bring her from small-town Missouri, to Miami, and then on to Kosovo.
Over the course of a year, Joelle will search for her friend, with the help of Concepcion’s former FBI colleagues, and try to come to terms with what their battle-tested friendship really means in her life. And why Concepcion would disappear without so much as a goodbye.
But Joelle has questions and those questions launch her into the arms of an FBI agent—one of Concepcion’s former colleagues—and a search for her friend that will bring her from small-town Missouri, to Miami, and then on to Kosovo.
Over the course of a year, Joelle will search for her friend, with the help of Concepcion’s former FBI colleagues, and try to come to terms with what their battle-tested friendship really means in her life. And why Concepcion would disappear without so much as a goodbye.
252 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2019
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book that incorporates suspense and a little twist of romance writing style and content. The bond between battle buddies is clearly like no other. Great book and I look forward to more from this author.
July 8, 2019
Amazing book could not put this down!
September 21, 2019
I loved this book. It kept my attention and made me want to finish it in one day . i cannot wait to read more books by Alisha Dill. It is a must read.
July 13, 2019
It was very suspenseful, and I love good mystery book with authenticity. Most of the suprises sneak up on you. Sometimes you can guess what is happening next but not in this book.
July 8, 2019
Love, love love! As a female veteran, who understands the complexity of what it means to be committed to those who serve beside you- I was extremely impressed. It was amazing! A quick, thorough read :) can't wait to hear Chapa's story!
July 9, 2019
Reasonable and nice mix of Army lifestyle, stubborn Midwest mindset, and exotic international “quest”.
It was a quick reading with a few interesting twists
It was a quick reading with a few interesting twists
July 4, 2019
A fascinating realistic view of a woman's struggle in a man's military and the friendship that grows therein A very strong female with enough flaws and insecurities to keep fairly realistic..
October 17, 2019
A very profound book that opens your eyes to what really occurs during
the military training process, and after and the personal and internal trials and tribulations
that one person has gained through the eyes of a women who has lived through it. Invokes a
sense of what to expect if you enlist or have enlisted in the military. I have recommended
this book to co-workers and ex military personnel.
September 6, 2019
In Squared Away, Alicia Dill has written one of the perfect strong women warriors novel!
Where two women meet during basic training and develop a ride or die friendship.
And things are never as they seem in the military.
The ending was unsatisfactory to me, so I feel sure there will be a sequel!
Solid four stars. I’m looking forward to this story continuing!
Where two women meet during basic training and develop a ride or die friendship.
And things are never as they seem in the military.
The ending was unsatisfactory to me, so I feel sure there will be a sequel!
Solid four stars. I’m looking forward to this story continuing!
October 2, 2019
I borrowed this book from my sister and she was right it is an excellent book!! Looking forward to reading another book by Alicia Dill!!
Read
December 28, 2019Great story line, nice twist in the end. As an Air Force veteran, this book was a glimpse into the Army life. Great friendships and lifetime buddies.
October 16, 2019
This book was different; well at least different to me. It's told in the first person, by a female Army veteran/journalist; Joelle Mc Coy. It was interesting to get her "take" on things while she was enlisted; but, there is little detail about her day-to-day army life and more of it centering on her and her "battle buddy", Concepcion Chapa. Joelle is a mid-westerner and Concepcion is from Miami. It wasn't an "instant" friendship; but, it was a lasting one. Joelle is devastated to learn that her best friend was killed in a traffic accident in Miami. Concepcion had joined the FBI when she left the service and Joelle isn't really convinced that her friend died. This story is Joelle's journey of discovery of herself and coming to terms with the death of a friend. I enjoyed the story and the character development; it flowed well; but, to me it's just missing something that I can't put my finger on, that kept it from being a great story.
June 29, 2019
This author needs better friends. Without professional editors, independent authors need friends to read and make honest comments. Here they have failed.
The characters are OK, besides some very strange decisions, the language is sometimes stilted, and the plot is totally lame. There can be no good story without a proper plot, so this could have been much better (I'm trying to be nice here).
The characters are OK, besides some very strange decisions, the language is sometimes stilted, and the plot is totally lame. There can be no good story without a proper plot, so this could have been much better (I'm trying to be nice here).
August 21, 2019
Life of female Soldiers and their trials.
I absolutely love this book. I highly reccomend Squared Away. This book touched my heart in many different ways.
I absolutely love this book. I highly reccomend Squared Away. This book touched my heart in many different ways.
November 6, 2019
Review originally on Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)
I appreciated the air of mystery that surrounds Squared Away. From the beginning, we’re informed that one of Joelle’s closest friends has died, but Joelle doesn’t believe it. Many things don’t sit right or add up, cleverly showcased within the pages. But just when I thought that Joelle was onto something, other characters would provide additional information that had me guessing for most of the book. Was Concepcion still alive?
This felt like a military Nancy Drew read, particularly when Joelle goes on her quest for the truth. Even through the fear and immense pressures from others who are in the military or FBI, she continues to propel herself forward, and we get to see just how tough Joelle is. The memories she shares about her friend shows us an even tougher woman in Concepcion, one who does what she wants and does not feel the need to apologize for it. There was also a lot of great background information that lends into the friendship the women have, why it’s so important, and the potential cracks and crevices that makes finding the truth the number one priority.
While there is a paralleling story of romance for Joelle and the FBI agent- I felt the real relationship here had been the one she had with Concepcion all along. The strong bonds of friendship that can never be broken, even potentially through death. There was an honest desperation in her search for her friend, taking her clear across the world, even- all in the name of love. Those types of sisterly friendships are hard to come by, which made it all the more interesting.
My only complaint would be the ending. It felt a little rushed, at times buttoned up, and finished a bit abruptly. I would have liked to see the ending expanded on a bit more, so we could feel some real closure for Joelle. But aside from that, I enjoyed Joelle’s story, and wanted to discover for myself what had happened to someone who had meant so much to so many. A great mystery!
I appreciated the air of mystery that surrounds Squared Away. From the beginning, we’re informed that one of Joelle’s closest friends has died, but Joelle doesn’t believe it. Many things don’t sit right or add up, cleverly showcased within the pages. But just when I thought that Joelle was onto something, other characters would provide additional information that had me guessing for most of the book. Was Concepcion still alive?
This felt like a military Nancy Drew read, particularly when Joelle goes on her quest for the truth. Even through the fear and immense pressures from others who are in the military or FBI, she continues to propel herself forward, and we get to see just how tough Joelle is. The memories she shares about her friend shows us an even tougher woman in Concepcion, one who does what she wants and does not feel the need to apologize for it. There was also a lot of great background information that lends into the friendship the women have, why it’s so important, and the potential cracks and crevices that makes finding the truth the number one priority.
While there is a paralleling story of romance for Joelle and the FBI agent- I felt the real relationship here had been the one she had with Concepcion all along. The strong bonds of friendship that can never be broken, even potentially through death. There was an honest desperation in her search for her friend, taking her clear across the world, even- all in the name of love. Those types of sisterly friendships are hard to come by, which made it all the more interesting.
My only complaint would be the ending. It felt a little rushed, at times buttoned up, and finished a bit abruptly. I would have liked to see the ending expanded on a bit more, so we could feel some real closure for Joelle. But aside from that, I enjoyed Joelle’s story, and wanted to discover for myself what had happened to someone who had meant so much to so many. A great mystery!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews