John's Friend Comments

Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon, is a 2019 Reader's Favorite "Finalist," where it received a 5-Star Review:

Reviewed by Tiffany Ferrell for Readers' Favorite
Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon is told from the point of view of a couple of people involved in a secret mission during the Vietnam War. The main character is Mary Bernadette, a young Vietnamese orphan who was brutally murdered in 1971 with twelve other girls and a novice at the Catholic orphanage they loved. Mary’s story begins with finding out that she was half white and half Vietnamese, given away by a mother whom she’d never known. The nun who was in charge, Sister Kate Sullivan, had taken a liking to this child. The novel then takes a dark and twisted turn when a strange injured man is found in the jungle near the orphanage. Sister Kate, feeling it her duty to aid this injured man, brought him in to help. This stranger turned out to be a Russian and, while delirious, he began talking about being the second gunman in the Kennedy assassination. What is at stake, and what happened to Mary Bernadette in 1971?

This is the first historical novel that I have read based during the Vietnam War and I must admit it has had a profound effect on me.
John F. Bronzo has written an amazing piece of work involving many characters which you automatically feel ties to and can connect with. The fact that it is essentially a tale told by a murdered child has such a powerful effect and sets the tone of the story immediately. He also gives such a strong case to what might be one of the biggest conspiracy theories - was there a second gunman in the Kennedy assassination, and did Russia have a hand in it? It may be fiction, but there are so many people who believe that Lee Harvey Oswald wasn’t the only shooter that fateful day in Dallas. It leaves the reader with the ‘what if’ feeling and you find yourself rethinking what you know from history books and going over the evidence one more time. Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon has been one of the most eye-opening books I have read so far this year. It also gave me more insight into an era that, as a high schooler, our teachers often skimmed past.

From: MWBOOKREVW@aol.com
Date: December 9, 2016 at 5:32:03 AM EST
To: divinephoenixbooks@gmail.com
Subject: December 2016 MBR Review of Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon

Dear Laura Ponticello:

I'm very pleased to announce that the December 2016 issue of our online book review magazine "MBR Bookwatch" features a review of "Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon".

Here is the review:


http://www.midwestbookreview.com/mbw/...

MBR Bookwatch: December 2016
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575

Micah's Bookshelf

Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon
John F. Bronzo
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.archwaypublishing.com
9781480819054, $40.99, HC, 426pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Mary Bernadette is a Vietnamese girl born on November 22, 1963 -- the day John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Raised in an orphanage, she finds herself unwittingly involved in an international incident at the age of six, when a Russian man who claims to be the second gunman on the grassy knoll during the assassination of JFK stumbles into the orphanage looking for help.

Mary Bernadette is then witness to the opening rounds of Operation Excalibur, the CIA code name for the mission to capture this second gunman alive. In the late spring and early summer of 1971 (while Americans are unaware of the potential for a major international incident that might bring their country to the brink of war with the Soviet Union or China) Operation Excalibur plays itself out in Vietnam. What Mary does not know is that one unintended consequence of this action will be the senseless massacre of orphaned children by an errant North Vietnamese captain -- and that she herself will be among the dead.

Critique: A consistently compelling and deftly crafted novel of love and intrigue set against the background of the Vietnam War, with a detailed portrayal of an attempt to capture JFK's other assassin -- a man who is now a Russian advisor. All this is uniquely told by an innocent young victim from her grave. "Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon" distinctly establishes author John F. Bronzo as an impressively original and talented novelist of the first order. While "Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon" is unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Mary Bernadette: Secrets of a Dallas Moon" is also available in a paperback edition (978-1480819047, $26.99) and in a Kindle format ($2.99).

Micah Andrew
Reviewer

Hi John, As promised, below is my feedback on your book. Thank you for the autographed copy! I'll treasure it always. I will say, I knew you when! Congratulations again, and I hope there are more books in the future. Let me know when the movie is coming out. Much continued success! Fondly. Michelle
My review:(pls excuse any typos)
Even though the story is fictional, the premise seems highly plausible. It would not surprise me at all if the U.S. was involved in a cover up of the assassination of JFK. Conspiracy theories have been around for years and will continue.
I felt emotional reading this book, which was heart-wrenching at times, especially with the brutal murders of the children and the nuns. It was very graphic and I couldn't help but cry.
While not a fan of books with violence (I prefer love stories), I realize violence sells. Also, in real life, it is sometimes impossible to have peaceful negotiations when someone is evil or sick or both, such as the character, Captain Dam, who do not hesitate in committing heinous and violent crimes against innocent victims.
While I felt drawn in by the interestingly characters portrayed in the story, I found myself getting a little confused at times with the many characters and the way in which the time frames switched from present to past. However, after re-reading carefully, I got back on track.
I appreciated the strong, loving and respectful, life-long friendships the author developed amongst the characters in the story who were from different economic, cultural, political and social backgrounds.
The author showed a gentleness and passion in the romantic relationship between soulmates George and Claire as well as John and Mary Sullivan. Additionally, I was happy to see Sister Katherine and Matt Kerr come together as soulmates in the end.
The story emphasized that there are many brave men and women from all cultures and backgrounds, who are in the military or working for the government who dedicate and sacrifice their lives every day to protect our rights as Americans and human beings.
Good read! So...when will the movie be out?!
Michelle Vargas
5/4/2016