Seize the Fight

Seize the World #3

by Abigail Kay Harris, M.L. Milligan, Kaytlin Phillips

Honoring the Freedom of the Savior

Freedom. Liberty. Independence.

All forms of freedom have a cost. Seize the Fight pulls readers into an anthology of stories all showing freedom. An Army veteran crashing at his sister’s with hidden pain, a lieutenant returning home from overseas, siblings celebrating the Fourth even in the midst of turmoil, and many more stories all show a form of freedom and the fight it represents in some way.

Freedom can mean many things as is shown in this anthology with tales of finding freedom from the past, freedom from slavery, and freedom from sin through Christ who saves…

Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Genres: Anthologies, Contemporary

Unknown Binding

About the author

Abigail Kay is a daughter of the King, a sister to seven, with a homeschooling-real-estate-agent-and-do-it-all Momma, who taught her to do anything. Abigail's passionate love of the written word leads her to spend her time reading, writing, she's commonly found to be using sarcasm, and defining obscure words. When she’s not searching for words to fill a blank page, she enjoys going on walks, having tea, watching sunrises, learning new things, and spending her time in the outdoors, especially mountains, beaches, and forests.

In February of 2023, Abigail founded Beyond the Bookery; her small press, book store, and online boutique. She has assisted more than twenty authors in reaching their publishing dreams with her publishing lines, has shared five anthologies with the world, and looks forward to more releases in the near future.

You can connect with Abigail and find her books here: https://linktr.ee/authorabigailkay

Reviews

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall review: 5 stars. This was a good, patriotic book, not over-American, so to speak—able to be enjoyed by any other nationality.

Domestic Conflict by P.D. Atkerson
5 stars. Ugh, I loved seeing Evan and Killian from the AKA Simon Lee Series and Killian Young. Baby Killian is adorable! And Evan is fighting so hard 🥺 A great story about PTSD and the cost for military families.

A Laddie in Khaki by Abbigail Raine B.
4 stars. Yay, a WWI story!! And about the author’s grandparents! I loved all the 1917 feels and the romance was adorable. Also, the message was excellent. 👌🏼

Free to Fight by Michaela Bush
5 stars. I may have cried a bit?? This was the SWEETEST story of friendship and family and love, and national celebration. The babies were the cutest, and I fell in love with all the characters, and I love how the message covered not only the price of freedom from a military POV (PTSD) but also from a spiritual POV. (Also I LOVE this author’s writing style.)

Everly for Justice by Abigail Kay Harris
4 stars. Okay, I really enjoyed getting to see these characters again. ;) Justice is so cute grown up (lol) and I loved seeing his band of awesome brothers! And Caleb + Everly are officially a super cute couple… ;P Also, the humour is excellent.

Where He Leads by C.K. Heartwing
4.5 stars. Heyyy, a tie-in with A Wooden Heart Can Still Bloom ! This story is so sweet and sad, and I loved that while it had a military aspect, the freedom was mostly from a spiritual POV and sooo good.

The Worth of Freedom by Allyson Jamison
5 stars. Okay, okay, okay, who gave this author the permission to write such beautiful stories? I LOVED how alive this story was. The characters practically jumped off the pages and I lost my heart to them right away. The whole story was so good. I need a sequel ASAP.

Stay With Me by Elisabeth Joy
4.5 stars. Wow. Uh, I may have cried again?? This little story was a HEARTBREAKING take on PTSD. I mean… yeah. So good. And so sad. And so sweet and beautiful. Well done.

Undefined by M.L. Milligan
5 stars. YAYY, more of Laylah and Levi!!! I love how many of these stories are follow-ups to stories from Seize the Love . Now it’s Levi learning about unending, unconditional love and I enjoyed every moment of it. Those two are so funny and sweet. <3

Patriot’s Cause by Lucy Peterson
4.5 stars. Whoa, I did not expect this! Although as a Canadian I’m a Loyalist when it comes to the American Revolution, they’re still a type of book I enjoy somehow, and this story did not miss its mark. It started out simple but did it ever pack a punch in the end!! I never expected such a rollercoaster of emotions, and the ending was sooo well done.

“Goodbye” Isn’t in the Dictionary by R.L. Peterson
5 stars. I’ve read this story many times (having read early drafts) but man, it’s still as funny and beautiful and alive as ever. Salem and Randy and Becca and the other Springfields are the BEST and I just loved reading about them. <3 And Christina’s story is just epic and I cried a little and yeah I love this story a lot. It’s so good.

Freedom Isn’t Free by Kaytlin Phillips
5 stars. First: ASL and Deaf representation!! 🤟🏼 Second: PTSD representation! Third: Really lovely characters, a great setting, and a fantastic plot! This story checks all the boxes. It’s sweet and heartbreaking, but also funny—very realistic—and it has such a good message and such good writing!!

The Sparrow & the Cage by E. G. Solanelle
5+ stars. Hands down my favourite story in the book. Oh my STARS, this writing was so, so beautiful. I was in awe. The plot, too, was fantastic. German WWI POVs are limited, and German POW perspectives are even rarer. I loved Adrian’s storyline—he was such a sweet, broken boy. Emil was beautiful and heartbreaking too… and the message was so amazing… and the arc of the story was perfect… I need more by this author, STAT.

The Sound of Freedom by Angie Thompson
5+ stars. Definitely my second-fav story of the book. I loved, LOVED, L O V E D Lev and Anna from Wanted: A Typewriter. I never expected a sequel but this—this is PERFECT. So tastefully American, such a beautiful representation of refugee PTSD! I loved Lev (and his Russianness!) and Anna is so sweet, and the setting is amazing, and… yeah, it’s just SUCH a wonderful story.

The Cause For Which We Fight by A.M. Watson
4 stars. This was kinda really nostalgic feeling to me because it had a strong A BEKA BOOK American Revolution story flavour to it somehow—haha! Enoch was pretty sweet and Onesimus was awesome and Kit was the best. For a short story that covered a lot of ground, this plot was well done!

Freedom by Lilly Wiscaver
4 stars. Lilly Wiscaver does a great job with missionary/Middle Eastern representation. I was challenged by Regina and her faith, sacrifice, and love. The story wasn’t graphic, but it showed the trials of Christians the Middle East faithfully. I never expected the ending, but it was perfect!

*Quotes to come upon reread. I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Abigail Harris]

Submissions are closed!

The authors will be announced soon. There were some really tough calls as we had 20 submissions and there are 13 slots.

Which is a blessing, but sadly means we have to turn down some lovely stories.

I can't wait to share more with you!

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, freedom filled collection! I enjoyed this so much but two of my favorite stories were 'A Laddie in Khaki' by Abbigail Raine B. and '"Goodbye" Isn't in the Dictionary' by R.L. Peterson!

Domestic Conflict by P.D. Atkerson
4 stars. So I haven't read many of Atkerson's books, actually I've only read one...lol...so I was a touch lost, but it was still a great story and little Killian was so cute! I loved his part in the story and really the story was great!

A Laddie in Khaki by Abbigail Raine B.
5 stars. This was so much fun to read and so cute! Ack! I loved it so much and it was so cool that it based on the life of her great-grandparents, I believe they would be very proud! It was such a great WWI story! Ack! Loved it!

Free to Fight by Michaela Bush
4 stars. Sweet story touching on PTSD and the spiritual price of freedom. I enjoyed the friend/family vibes as my family has many friends that are like family to us so that resonated with me. :)

Everly for Justice by Abigail Kay Harris
4 stars. This was another fun and sweet edition to Abigail's ongoing stories about Caleb, Everly, and Justice! I loved seeing them all again!

Where He Leads by C.K. Heartwing
4.5 stars. This story was so sad and sweet and heart-breaking and just, ack! It was so good! And I loved the realness of the story and just, yes! It was so good and I loved seeing the characters again!

The Worth of Freedom by Allyson Jamison
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this story and the struggles the main MC went through in trying to find a way to revel he'd signed up. This was a beautiful story and very well written and I look forward to reading more from Allyson!

Stay With Me by Elisabeth Joy
4 stars. Okay, this one literally had me on the verge of tears! This PTSD representation story was heartbreaking and real and just...I felt for the characters you guys! Ack! It was so good! So sad!

Undefined by M.L. Milligan
5 stars. This story was fun, sweet and heartwarming! I loved reading about these characters again! It was so good! Ack, again another great story!

Patriot’s Cause by Lucy Peterson
4 stars. Wow! This story portrayed the reality of war, the pain it causes, and the divides it can make between people...but also the price of Freedom and why we fight. It was so good and sad, but mostly good!

“Goodbye” Isn’t in the Dictionary by R.L. Peterson
5 stars. My heart, you guys! I loved this story! It was so sweet and touching and heartrending and just ack! I loved it so much and the concept of goodbye not being in the dictionary, my heart! I can't. This story was just gold, and I loved it!!!

Freedom Isn’t Free by Kaytlin Phillips
*ahem* Oh, it's me. This story connects to my story in Seize the Love, and I enjoyed writing the Southern cookout setting (those are my roots, after all) and resisting Hanna and Mark, but also Mark's brother Trevor as he deals with the aftermath of being a deployed soldier. The ending was hard to get right, but I love writing this story!

The Sparrow & the Cage by E.G. Solanelle
4.5 stars. This was such a great story! I loved the German POV and the reality of war and price of freedom the author incorporated it was such a good story with a beautiful writing style! I look forward to future stories by this author!

The Sound of Freedom by Angie Thompson
4 stars. This story was super sweet and I enjoyed it! It was nice to see the character from the authors Seize the Love story again and it was just a super sweet story with a refugee PTSD representation.

The Cause For Which We Fight by A.M. Watson
4 stars. This story covered a lot of ground and I loved the revolutionary war setting and that Enoch was exposed to what it truly meant to fight, why we fight, and that it's not this glorious something most boys imagine. It's harsh, but our freedom and the freedom of those we love is the reason we fight. It was a great story!

Freedom by Lilly Wiscaver
4 stars. This story was so different from the others in the collection, but still a beautiful representation of what it means to be free and how much we, as Americans, take for granted.

Overall:
This was such a great collection, and I enjoyed reading it so much!

[Lydia Willcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read either of the previous two collections, but this one had too many authors I love and stories that looked like I'd enjoy them to pass up. But I was NOT ready for how good all of them would be. I expected to like most of them. I didn't expect for almost every single one to capture my heart like they did.
Not being an American, I didn't think I would relate a great deal to much of it. But another reviewer said it best... And I couldn't find better words of my own, so I'm just going to quote her directly :D “This was a good, patriotic book, not over-American, so to speak—able to be enjoyed by any other nationality.” That sums it up EXACTLY. Even though most of the stories were 4th of July themed, the theme was freedom...not American freedom only, but any freedom. And as a result I related to all the stories soo much.

I enjoyed the mix of old favourite authors and brand new ones. Also I liked that there was a wide range of time periods. Two WWI stories, many contemporaries...and at least three not set in America at all. All of them had a slightly different angle on the theme of freedom, and I loved them all so much.
Individual reviews and ratings are below, but first, can I just mention that stunningly gorgeous, breathtakingly beautiful cover? I can't stop looking at it!
These reviews were written as I read each story, and reflect my initial thoughts upon each.

Domestic Conflict by P.D. Atkerson: 5 stars. This was one of the main reasons I wanted to read this book, and I was excited to find it was the first. Fans of
Killian Young or even just the AKA Simon Lee series will not want to miss this. And yes, you can read it even if you haven't read any of that. I did love seeing the rest of the team, though, especially G-Force. I wish there had been more about the background with Evan's parents, but that's just me wanting to know every tiny bit about anything remotely connected to AKASL. And it's likely I already know a good part of that. Overall, I'm SO glad this story exists. We seriously don't have enough of Evan and Killian, and they are so, so sweet together. And I just love that piece of foreshadowing at the end...

Laddie in Khaki by Abbigail Raine B.: 4.75 stars. This was really sweet. And it's a WWI story! Lovely little romance story.
For whatever reason, I didn't love the style at first, but it fit the slower pace of the story and I ended up really enjoying it. This is a completely new to me author, so I didn't know what to expect at all, but now I want to read more by her!
And I saw somewhere that the story is based on/about the author's grandparents? That is so sweet! I'd like to know more about that!

Free to Fight by Michaela Bush: 4.5 stars. This would make a GREAT full-length book, and I would definitely read it if that ever happened. It took me a while to figure out the how all the characters are connected (I'm still not quite sure). But somehow I was made to immediately like each of them. It felt very realistic...almost like an excerpt out of a true story. Like I said, I would love for the story to be developed into a longer book. I really enjoyed it.

Everly for Justice by Abigail Kay Harris: 5 stars. I seriously loved this. Unfortunately I was missing a lot of the backstory, since I haven't read the first two Everly stories, but I was able to piece it together pretty well. I absolutely LOVE the characters and I hope to read lots more about them in the future!

Where He Leads by C.K. Heartwing: 3 stars. I liked it, but I found the writing style very choppy and hard to read sometimes, especially in the first half. The background is so sad, and the story is so full of sorrow. I can't say it was a favourite, but it was very touching in places.

The Worth of Freedom by Allyson Jamison: 5 stars. Okay I loved this and I loved the characters but I need more!!! A sequel! A prequel! A series! A novel! Something! Anything except a short story, cos that's not enough of these characters;P Although, I'd take even that, I suppose!

Stay With Me by Elisabeth Joy: 5 stars. Wow, this was beautiful. So sad. But so beautiful. There has to be more. I need more.

Undefined by M.L. Milligan: 4.75 stars. Obviously, I was missing things since I hadn't read the other two stories. But wow, I loved these characters immediately, and want so much to see more of them! Such a sweet siblings story. Levi and Laylah could easily become favourites, and I want to see more of the other characters!

Patriot's Cause by Lucy Peterson: 4 stars. This was so sad...and so well-written. I was minorly disappointed that it was NOT in fact from a Loyalist perspective, but I did like the POV and the general theme of the story.

Goodbye Isn't in the Dictionary by R.L. Peterson: 5 stars. Not 5 stars. 10 stars. 100 stars. Can't give it enough.
Seriously. This story...
I cried. It was so heartwarmingly beautiful...
Since one of my top favourite short stories is Goodbye isn't in the Dictionary by Rebekah A. Morris, I didn't really think that this could live up to the standard of that one. I was very wrong. Because this was just beautiful... And don't ask me to tell you which is better, because I can't and won't and both are now on my top favourite lists.
But what it is about this title that produces such beautiful stories?
This is also the first full thing I've read by this author, and I just love the style. It drew me in at once and I couldn't put it down...and didn't want to because the story and the characters had me absolutely sold.
And the ending is so beautifully perfect and a lovely twist and just... words fail me. I'll be rereading this over and over again. In fact, as I finish reading it I'm probably going to go right back and read it again. Because it's that good. The theme, the writing, the characters, the heart-tugging/heart-warming scenes (ie all the scenes)...the notes in the dictionaries...
Too beautiful to describe. Just...too perfect and realistic and tear-jerking and comforting and sweet. Hands down my favourite in this collection, and that's saying a LOT because they are all so good and there were so many 5 star reads here for me!

Free to Fight by Kaitlyn Phillips: 5 stars. Wow, another too-beautiful-to-describe one. Another story that made me tear up. The characters are all so loveable and their relationships are beautiful. Poor, poor Trevor...and all the real life soldiers who he represents. I just loved this story from start to finish. The POV switches were well-timed and equally important to see, and the writing was beautiful too. One of my favourites in the collection.

The Sparrow and the Cage by E.G. Solanelle: 4.25 stars. Another WWI story, YAY! And wow, such a unique angle on it too. This was a kind of bittersweet story, but I love the characters. I would like very much to read more about them... especially Emil.

The Sound of Freedom by Angie Thompson: 4.5 stars (for now). Sadly, I didn't read Wanted: A Typewriter before this, and so I was kind of lost in the beginning and one part in the middle XD. I put most of the pieces together, but I still need to read that first story ASAP! I loved the characters though, and Angie Thompson's style remains one of my favourites. The ending was soo beautiful and my favourite part. I just love what Anna said about freedom...
I fully intend to read Wanted: A Typewriter, and when I do, I'll be revisiting this review and rating. I'm sure I'll love it much more with a clearer picture of who the characters are :) For now, these are just my honest thoughts upon reading this story without that context. But I must say, the parts I was missing out on intrigued me...and so did the characters.

The Cause for Which We Fight by A.M. Watson: 4.5 stars. This was the reason I first wanted to get my hands on the collection, before I really looked at the other stories, since I know anything by this author will be so well done! I loved how it was about a young drummer boy, and even though definitely a war story there wasn't actually any fighting in it. I felt it was a unique and interesting premise. I wanted to give Enoch a hug, and I soo want to see him (and Kit) in future stories. At first I wished it could go on longer, but really ending the story there was the best possible place.
The whole thing felt so real, so historically accurate, and so well researched and well written. I hope to see much more published by this author soon! (And maybe one of those can be one teensy little story about Kit and Enoch after the war? Please? ;P)

Freedom by Lily Wiscaver: 4 stars. This was completely different to the other stories in the collection. I feel like of all of them, this is an excellent way for Seize the Fight to end, as it sums up the theme of all the rest pretty well.
The writing style felt a bit repetitive and wasn't my favourite, but the story was an important and good one. I loved Regina and although it was so sad, it was full of hope and the message of true freedom.

All in all: 5 shining stars. I have so many new favourite stories, so many new authors to look out for! This was just the book I wanted to read right now, even if I didn't know it at first. I'm so, so glad I was able to read it, and I recommend it 100% to anyone! I cried, I laughed, and I had my heart torn and melted by turns. What a beautiful collection!

Note: I received this book free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Allyson Jamison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made for the best fourth of July binge read. 🥰 Even if I am finishing it a couple days late... This is such a fun collection and I'm so proud to be a part of it!

Domestic Conflict by P.D. Atkerson
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a super sweet story. 💙 Killian was adorable in it and I enjoyed Evan. Overall, an endearing read.

A Laddie in Khaki by Abbigail Raine B
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ack! My heart! I love these characters and this entire story!! The message was also totally on point and made me love it all the more. 🥰 Definitely one of my favorite stories in this collection!

Free to Fight by Michaela Bush
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Honestly, I skimmed most of this story. Totally not any fault of the author, I simply don't care for present tense. What I read of the story though seemed really sweet.

Everly for Justice by Abigail Kay Harris
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Super cute and fun! I loved the sibling dynamics. 🥰 They were a blast.

Where He Leads by C.K. Heartwing
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cute story. Kind of slow but still nice.

The Worth of Freedom by Yours Truly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Is it prideful to give my own story five stars? 😂 I really am proud of this story though. I don't know how many times I've read it and I still love it. I'm so glad it was my first story published. 💙

Stay with Me by Elizabeth Joy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This story was definitely heart felt. The characters were so sweet and endearing! I want to wrap Carter and Noelle up in one big blanket. 🥰 They were so sweet!

Undefined by M.L. Milligan
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had the privilege of beta reading this story but it was just as good the second time. 🥰 Ack!! These characters are forever my favorite and I'm here for ALL the banter and fun times. 🥰 Can we have an entire book... Possibly series... With them??? 😂

Patriot's Cause by Lucy Peterson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My heart!! This story. 🥹 Ack! Not only do I love this time period, but the story placed there was done masterfully. 🥰 Truly, a wonderful story!

"Goodbye" Isn't in the Dictionary by R.L. Peterson
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Such a sweet and heartfelt story! 🥰 The ending was absolutely perfect. And I loved the bit about goodbye not being in the dictionary. Truly, so sweet.

Freedom isn't Free by Kaytlin Phillips
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a beautiful story. 💙 The characters were real and raw and I loved the journey they went through. Remarkable!

The Sparrow and the Cage by E.G. Solanelle
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wow! This was beautiful!! 🥹 The prose was remarkable and honestly so good that I never even realized it was present tense until halfway through. Wonderfully written!

The Sound of Freedom by Angie Thompson
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Kind of slow but the characters were sweet and I still enjoyed the story. 🥰

The Cause For Which We Fight by A.M. Watson
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ack! I loved this! 🥰 Enoch was so sweet and I loved everything about him in this story. The other characters are also spot on and, well, I just loved this entire story!

Freedom by Lilly Wiscaver
⭐⭐⭐⭐
A nice portrayal of freedom. 🥰 This was a captivating read.

[TheRoer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOvED this anthology!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bree Pembrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Woohoo! This book was awesome! It's an anthology, meaning that it has short stories by 15 different Christian authors, all with the theme of freedom. Let's dive in to individual mini-reviews, shall we?

Domestic Conflict, by P.D. Atkerson
I was a little confused by this story since I haven't read the books that the story is connected to. I liked it, but I was confused. So, if you haven't read certain P.D. Atkerson books, maybe read them first so it makes sense. I loved it though!!! Killian was so cute. I'd give it 4 stars.

A Laddie in Khaki, by Abbigail Raine B.
This WW1 story was sweet. I was confused at first, with the character's similar names (XD) but once I got them straightened out it was nice. R-r-romance made a cameo... ooh, la la. The romance isn't bad though. And several other stories have a touch of romance, so. It's sweet. 4 stars.

Free to Fight, by Michela Bush
This was sooo great! I fell in love with that family group instantly. It was beautifully written, and I was so proud of Spencer at the end. This story was just plain great. 5 stars.

Everly for Justice, by Abigail Kay Harris
I love Everly. I just do. I can't explain why. And Abi, as usual, writes perfect portrayals of PTSD and Justice's "Red-tinged memories." It's a great story, I give it 5 stars.

Where He Leads, by C.K. Heartwing
Ooh, park ranger-i-ness. Like it. Also, I want Nova. Can I have that dog, please? I may have shed a mental tear (ok, maybe a real one) for this story. For this beauty, I give 4.5 stars.

The Worth of Freedom, by Allyson Jamison
Ty and Cassidy are AWESOME. I love love love love love... love this. It's such a sweet story!!! Allyson, I'm joining Katja in pleading for more of them. PLEASE, MORE CASS AND TY. 5 stars.

Stay With Me, by Elisabeth Joy
Heyy, this is by my very own good friend Sa...er...Lise. And, just as great as expected. My heart broke for dear ol' Carter. And Noelle was great. And the cat. Great characters, though the cat technically isn't a "character" XD. 5 stars.

Undefined, by M.L. Milligan
This story was great. Laylah was so funny/sweet. M.L. Milligan is just such a great writer. Her descriptions are the best. Also... *cackles* I couldn't help but think... Chickadees... nevermind. 5 stars for this beauty.

Patriot's Cause, by Lucy Peterson
Another good author friend, and Lucy... THIS STORY WAS SO GOOD. Henry and William were so... brother-y. And the whole story was one big plot twist. It is soooooo wonderful! 4.5 stars.

Goodbye Isn't In the Dictionary, by R.L. Peterson (not actually related to Lu as far as I know XD)
This was such a sweet story. All the characters were loveable, and the story itself was well written and heartbreakingly good. 4.5 stars.

Freedom isn't Free, by Kaytlin Phillips
This story was probably one of my favorites. Hanna was such a great character, and I loved her and everyone else. Kaytlin is a very talented author, and her beautiful story gets 5 stars.

The Sparrow and the Cage, by E.G. Solanelle
Another good story. Everything was spot-on, from the characters, to the plot. I was a little discombobulated at the beginning, but oriented myself quickly. Maybe I was reading too fast XD I got pretty sucked into this whole book. 4 stars.

The Sound of Freedom, by Angie Thompson
IT'S ANNA AND LEV!!!! I LOVLOVLOVLOVLOVEEEE THIS. Definitely a favorite. The characters are just the bestest. 5 stars.

The Cause for Which We Fight, by A.M. Watson
This revolutionary war story was... honestly cute. I mean, a 12 year old, thinking he's adult enough to join the army? It's also sad. Happy, sad, happy, sad... in other words, roller coaster. 4 stars.

Freedom, by Lily Wiscaver
This one was different from the others, a missionary story, Lily classic. It's so so sad. The story was great, but, to be honest, the writing style kind of bothered me. It was just repetitive sometimes. 4 stars.

Phew! That's all of 'em! Give this wonderful group of authors a round of applause!!!

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and ideas and opinions are all my own.
Let me start off my saying I am a fan of stories that honor our military and those who keep the home fires burning, and I was excited to get to read this collection.
It ended up taking me a week to read all of this book because I found I grew tired of so many stories that felt very much the same. Some of the stories were well done and I really liked them, others were good but not great, and some just seemed okay. I was a little confused by two of them that didn’t seem to fit in the collection at all. One didn’t even have anyone American in it, and the other, while about freedom, was about a different kind of freedom and just didn’t seem to match. Some of these stories portrayed hope and pointed to Christ. Others really didn’t and I was left feeling a bit . . . blah, after reading them.

Overall, there were some stories in here that I wouldn’t mind reading again, and I got to read some stories by authors who don’t have their own books published yet.

[C.K. Heartwing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall review: 5 stars! I loved the short stories in this collection! This anthology has some great patriotic reads and great reminders of the freedom found in Christ!

Domestic Conflict by P. D. Atkerson
4.5 stars. This was a fun read featuring characters from Atkerson's AKA Simon Lee series and Killian Young series. I haven't finished the AKA Simon Lee series yet, and I still need to read the Killian Young series so I feel I would have better appreciated this story if I had read those first, but I still knew enough about the characters to really enjoy the story. I love Evan's deep love for Killian. This story deals with the struggles of PTSD and the sacrifices made by military families.

A Laddie in Khaki by Abbigail Raine B.
5 stars. A WWI story! This story was so sweet with a fantastic message. It was a tad confusing at first with the two characters that had the same name, but once that was sorted, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I love historical fiction, and the writing style fit wonderfully with that.

Free to Fight by Michaela Bush
4.5 stars. This was a wonderful "slice of life" read. The characters were all fantastic, and the friendships within it were so sweet. I loved the message of freedom, both in regards to our nation and the sacrifices made by soldiers and also spiritual freedom found in Christ.

Everly for Justice by Abigail Kay Harris
4 stars. This one was so sweet! I loved all of the relationships between the characters and Everly and Caleb's deep affection for Justice. I also enjoyed Justice's brothers-in-arms. There's some great moments of humor here. Everly and Caleb are very cute together! I love the writing style. Also, the message within of the sacrifices and costs made by soldiers is well written.

Where He Leads by C. K. Heartwing
This one's my own story so no review! It dives a little deeper into Bret's story, exploring the event in the Matthews' siblings' recent past mentioned by Olivia in my first short story A Wooden Heart Can Still Bloom.

The Worth of Freedom by Allyson Jamison
5 stars. I loved this story! Cassidy and Ty are great characters, and I would love to read more of their story! The writing style was fantastic and vivid.

Stay With Me by Elisabeth Joy
4 stars. This story was so heartbreaking, dealing with PTSD and suicide, but it ends on a slightly more hopeful note. I enjoyed both Noelle and Carter, and my heart went out for Carter and his struggles.

Undefined by M. L. Milligan
5 stars. This story was so sweet and funny. I loved the characters, and the bits of humor in it were fantastic. I'd love to read more with these two, as well as the supporting cast! There's a certain pair I wouldn't mind seeing together.

Patriot's Cause by Lucy Peterson
4.5 stars. This story was fantastic. I love stories set around the American Revolution, and so I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was interesting to be given the perspective of two Loyalist brothers, something not seen quite as much. While short, this story packs quite the punch. I enjoyed the characters of Henry and William, the brothers, and Patrick was a wonderful, wonderful character.

"Goodbye" Isn't in the Dictionary by R. L. Peterson
5 stars. This story is so beautiful and sweet with moments of humor that balance the heavier scenes. I loved both Becca and Christina and Becca's brother, Randy. And the ending was fabulous. I will say, the character of Uncle Abel, who is Amish, did feel a little bit hollow, in that his actions and reactions seemed a little exaggerated to me, but otherwise, this is a fantastic read with a wonderful theme of strong faith and clinging to God despite what pain and hardships we might face in this life.

Freedom Isn't Free by Kaytlin Phillips
5 stars. I loved the ASL and Deaf representation in this story! And the representation of PTSD was well done. The characters are fantastic, and the setting is cozy and fun. Being a country girl, I felt right at home in the setting. This story is raw and honest but hopeful and beautiful all at once. The themes are great. I love the emphasis on the freedom and forgiveness found in Christ.

The Sparrow and the Cage by E. G. Solanelle
5 stars! This was my favorite story in the anthology! And another WWI story! The writing style is absolutely gorgeous, and I loved both Adrian and Emil. The plot is fantastic, focusing on two German POWs. The theme and arc of this story are beautiful. I definitely cannot wait to read more from this author!!

The Sound of Freedom by Angie Thompson
4 stars. I haven't yet read Wanted: A Typewriter so I was a bit confused when I started reading this short story, but I very quickly fell in love with both Anna and Lev. I loved the small town setting. Lev's struggle with PTSD as a refugee was well written, and the themes of freedom within the story were uplifting.

The Cause For Which We Fight by A. M. Watson
4 stars. Another story set around the American Revolution! This one was a fun read, and despite its length as a short story, the plot was well developed, and the characters were fleshed out. I really enjoyed Enoch, Kit and Onesimus. I loved the themes of freedom and living for a greater purpose.

Freedom by Lilly Wiscaver
4 stars. This was a really interesting story focused on Christian missionaries and Christian persecution in the Middle East. I loved how Regina clung to her faith throughout the story. There were a few aspects to the story that felt a little unrealistic to me, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. The themes of our freedom from sin and death in Christ were well written and woven throughout the story.

[Rhys-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stories in this anthology are immensely well-written. I will review each one individually, then share my thoughts on them as a whole at the end.

“Domestic Conflict” by P. D. Akterson: This was a sweet story, though I expected more closure of some sort as well as more of a theme. I probably would have enjoyed it more had I read any of the author’s full-length works.

“A Laddie in Khaki” by Abbigail Raine B.: I loved this romantic short story with an excellent theme set during World War I.

“Free to Fight” by Michaela Bush: I appreciated the “slice of life” feeling of this well-written story.

“Everly for Justice” by Abigail Harris: This was an excellent installment in Justice, Caleb, and Everly’s story. I loved the portrayal of biological and adopted sibling relationships, as well as Justice himself.

“Where He Leads” by C. K. Heartwing: I was glad to reunite with characters from this author’s Seize the Love story. But I hoped Wilder would play at least some small role.

“The Worth of Freedom” by Allyson Jamison: I loved the summery beach setting and the writing style of this story.

“Stay With Me” by Elisabeth Joy: This story quickly became one of my favorites in the anthology, and I loved its characters, siblings Noelle and Carter, as well as its hope-infused handling of dark topics.

“Undefined” by M. L. Milligan: I enjoyed this sequel to Laylah and Levi’s stories in the other anthologies, and it had a good theme.

“Patriot’s Cause” by Lucy Peterson: This Revolutionary War story had a descriptive writing style.

“Goodbye Isn’t in the Dictionary” by R. L. Peterson: This story had such a meaningful theme about Christians never having to say goodbye for good. Now I want to read another story featuring these characters.

“Freedom Isn’t Free” by Kaytlin Philips: I enjoyed the writing style and well-described cookout setting of this story, which connects to the author’s Seize the Love story.

“The Sparrow and the Cage” by E. G. Solanelle: This WWI story centers around a young German soldier who was taken prisoner. I liked the character of Emil.

“The Sound of Freedom” by Angie Thompson: I was excited to read the sequel to Anna and Lev’s story in Seize the Love! This sweet and hilarious story drew me in from the beginning. I also liked the setting, a futuristic small town.

“The Cause For Which We Fight” by A. M. Watson: This Revolutionary War story features a boy who wanted to go to war and ends up as a drummer, as well as two of his comrades.

“Freedom” by Lilly Wiscaver: This missionary story set in the Middle East is themed around the freedom to worship and share Christ. I was captivated and, at the end, was relieved that Regina found freedom in more ways than one.

Some of the stories I loved, while others didn’t stand out quite as much to me. “The Sound of Freedom” by Angie Thompson and “Freedom” by Lilly Wiscaver were decidedly my favorites in this anthology, followed by “A Laddie in Khaki”, “Stay With Me”, and “Goodbye Isn’t in the Dictionary”.

I rarely if ever read military fiction, so this anthology was a bit of a departure from my usual genres. But if military fiction is one of your favorite genres, then you won’t fail to be impressed by this anthology. Even the stories that were less gripping to me had quality writing, characters, and themes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.