Almost Eden

by Richard Taylor

Almost Eden is a love story wrapped in a war. Izzy, the guerrilla girl born of a jungle war in Luzon during World War II, defies her parents' wishes and flies to Vietnam as a Red Cross volunteer. Along the way she meets Abe, a soldier, and falls in love. Their devotion is tested by the most difficult of life's challenges but they find inspiration from the family's patron spirit of enduring affection.

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 10, 2014

About the author

Richard Taylor was a soldier for all his adult life, serving in Vietnam, Europe, Grenada, the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, and numerous posts in the United States. His service led to an understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices made by soldiers and their loved ones.

He documented his experiences over two tours of duty in Vietnam in Prodigals: A Vietnam Story (2003). The manuscript was an award winner at the Pike’s Peak Writers Conference the previous year. He earned a nomination as a Georgia Writer of the Year and the book was a featured selection by the Military Book Club.

His history of veterans is documented in Homeward Bound: American Veterans Return from War (2007), republished by the Naval Institute Press in 2009 as a featured selection for the Association of the United States Army.

Taylor is retired from active service but is still involved with veterans’ organizations.

Reviews

[Steve Bridger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enter This Time Capsule - And Leave Renewed

Reading 'Almost Eden' opens a time capsule. Richard Taylor has performed a massive task in taking us back to the Vietnam in a way that captures the bravery and futility of war. Running parallel is a love story that is a testament to the human spirit. A love that rises above and by its own mystical powers conquers all. It is incredible how 'Almost Eden' injects hope where there is none. This book is a testament to all those involved in the military during the campaign.

Thank goodness that attitudes towards our troops have changed for the better. During the Vietnam War members of the armed forces were demonised for fighting for their country. Certain members of the public could not make the distinction between the politicians and the brave men and women who picked up the tab. Today at least we praise them for their professionalism and fortitude and appreciate the price they pay - mentally and physically and understand the toll taken on their loved ones too.

'Almost Eden' should be on the High School curriculum, a class reader and essential for keeping the memory alive.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Eden, by Richard Taylor, truly did pull at my heart strings. It's not only a romance novel, but It's a romance novel built around war. Very touching and moving, and took me out of my own reality for awhile. I was getting a bit tired of the same romance books, but this one was truly different and unique.

Izzy is a guerrilla girl who was born in a jungle war in Luzon during World War II. Her parents have very strict rules for her, but she decides to break those rules to fly to Vietnam to volunteer for the Red Cross. Abe is a soldier who she comes across, and she instantly falls in love with him. However, this love won't be easy and gets tested quite a bit, proving that if it's worth fighting for, It's worth having.

I did not read the first two stories, as I came across this one first. However, it didn't seem to matter much because I followed along with this storyline well enough without knowing back stories. This is a story in It's own, and there are a lot of elements involved as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and would definitely recommend it to romance readers.

[Dan Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Eden by Richard Taylor, is the third book in a series following a Philippine family and the Americans they interact and fall in love with from the first American colonization efforts to WW2 and with this novel, the Vietnam War. It could help a little if you've read the first two stories, to get a bit of an idea of some minor characters and a history of Izzy's family, but it's hardly necessary.

The way Izzy and Abe, the American G.I. Who she falls in love with, interact is very nice. Its not love at first site, its not all roses, with silly or semi-realistic problems forcing them apart, they are two people doing soul rending jobs, trying to stay alive and sane, while keeping those around them alive at the same time. It's difficult, and I really felt for them both, as Richard Taylor doesn't pull any punches. By the end of the book I had to take a bit of a time out, and admire how Taylor had pulled off a satisfying war/romance story that left me feeling drained yet satisfied.
Five stars.

[Dorcas Rosina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third of Richard Taylor’s Eden books – it can easily stand alone.

The story swiftly draws you into the time of the Vietnam War. It’s fast-paced; using a Red Cross volunteer and a soldier as protagonists; the story is told equally poignantly from both points of view. Taylor has the skill to allow both genders a strong voice; and one redolent of the age. You will fly through the pages until you almost feel as if you are one of the platoon; smelling the mud and the blood.

It’s a tremendously human story; most affecting by its honesty and sharp observations of life on the cusp of death. Using the news reports (and a few personal letters) at the head of each chapter does well to set the mood; gives a real sense of what life was like in a different time; different place. Taylor heightens the awareness of how war can affect everything in its path – including the romance at the core of this novel. His skill at depicting the characters’ feelings brings you in tight and close. This book stays with you.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding book. It is a third in a series and this is the only of the three that I have had an opportunity to read. It stands on it's own and it's not at all necessary to read them in order, but I certainly will read the others now. Richard Taylor is a talented writer who is able to show us a heart warming story of love with a backdrop that is something many of us are unfamiliar with. I know little to nothing about war but being able to see the experience through the eyes of Izzy was very special. This is a romance, but one that has a very solid foundation and an interesting setting.

I related a lot to Izzy and this is decades removed from the times of her experiences. The fact that this author can convey emotions in a timeless fashion is a unique talent. The characters Izzy and Abe find unlikely love and even more they find a love that they must fight for. The worth in their connection is tested in their journey and is enough to give everyone some hope as they read the book.

[James Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost Eden is the love story of Izzy and Abe, who meet on a plane flying them into the Vietnam War. Abe is an infantry officer, and Izzy is one of the Red Cross girls going into that war to provide whatever aid and comfort she can for those soldiers who may find themselves maimed or dead by the morrow. The narrative is very detailed and has a feeling of "you are there" to it that pulls you in and let's you know, whatever is happening to you at that moment, the next moment will probably be vastly different. Lives change in an instant, and usually not for the better. The story moves from Izzy's point of view to Abe's and back again, from the canteen and hospital to the fire zone, from a smidgen of hope to death of a comrade in one's arms. Richard Taylor does a fine job of creating a wrenching overview of that conflict. Then takes you, and the lives he portrays, beyond it, letting you know that even when the war is over, it will stay with you for the rest of your lives.

[Michellej · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Almost Eden” is the third in a three-part romance series. The author –Richard Taylor – assures you that this novel can be read and understood alone though better appreciated if read in sequence.
The back drop to this novel is the war between Vietnam and the US while Izzy tries to preserve her love. But in war, there is pain and death which affect one’s personal perspectives. There is also the stress of being true and loyal to each other while going through so much turmoil and these are well handled in “Almost Eden”.
There is the unusual thread of the ghost of Isabella that is constant in this Eden. It’s very well explained but I wish it weren’t repeated so often. The courage of going to war armed only with a charming personality, lipstick and Shalimar perfume shows the strong character traits of Izzy and the future for her love.

[Denise Liebig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Eden shows the human side of war and the reality many faced in their effort to survive it. It is the story of a Red Cross volunteer’s life and love during the Vietnam War. Like so many during this time, Izzy Armand’s view of the war changes from optimism to disillusion as the smiles she is trained to provide slowly serve as a mask to cover the chaos around her. Throughout the book, news stories from the war are cleverly used to not only explain how the war is progressing but also parallel the experiences of the book’s characters. As the third book in the series, this story makes me want to read the previous books to learn how Izzy’s family connections inspired her. I enjoyed this realistic and often emotional story.

[C.A. Pack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Eden is a compelling story of love and loss during the era of the Vietnam War and shortly after. Richard Taylor does a wonderful job of drawing us into the lives of Izzy and Abe, and we watch the characters change as the atrocities of war affect them. At first, I disliked the mini news caps that introduce each chapter, but later I found them helpful in identifying the headlines and politics of the specific time periods being written about. I found it hard to put this book down. It's a love story. It's a war story. It's a touching and human story--well worth reading.

[Elina Vaysbeyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost Eden is a deeply moving and realistic wartime romance that brings history, love, and sacrifice together with striking authenticity. Richard Taylor concludes his generational saga with a powerful story that spans the legacy of World War II into the emotional and physical toll of the Vietnam War. Izzy’s journey from her origins in the occupied Philippine Islands to her decision to forgo college and face the realities of Vietnam feels both courageous and heartbreakingly real.

What sets this novel apart is its unflinching honesty. The love story between Izzy and Abe unfolds against the brutal backdrop of war, PTSD, Agent Orange, and the Vietnam Baby Lift operation, grounding the romance in lived experience rather than idealized fantasy. The emotional weight, historical detail, and respect for veterans’ experiences make Almost Eden a poignant and unforgettable read one that honors resilience, love, and the cost of war.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the spur of the moment Izzy decides to become a donut dollie in Vietnam rather that head to med school. On the long flight from Honolulu to Saigon she sits beside a charming lieutenant and is smitten before her feet hit the ground. Meeting the pain and trials of a war with a smile on her face Izzy and the other girls do their best to distract the troops from the every day hard realities of war. She and her lieutenant Abe Chastain have an uphill battle of their own trying to keep love alive despite the horrors of war and bureaucracy. The story touches on many important aspects of the war and its aftermath including the unconscionable greeting soldiers got on their return to the States, and the problems with PTSD and Agent Orange.