Fortunate Son was written by Thomas Tibor and published by Zahav Brothers Publishing in 2022. You can purchase it on Amazon/Kindle and you can visit the author on Amazon and on social media.
Reed Lawson is an ROTC cadet dealing with the anguish and separation of his M.I. A. father who is a Navy pilot in the Vietnam War. He's been missing for three years, and Reed can't get his dad out of his thoughts. He's there as Reed grapples with all of the unrest around him. Anti-War protests and the promoters of war converge on one another, and Reed finds it difficult to blend in, especially with those who oppose the war. As fate would have it, he is advised by his ROTC Commander to involve himself in community service and he soon volunteers at a drug crisis center, after becoming attracted to a young feminist who also works there. A conflict arises when he sets out to rescue a teenage girl from her own demons of drugs and family problems. This coming-of-age story takes place in the turbulent spring of 1970 and there is much happening in the minds of the young and old that will shape their lives forever. What will become of Reed's dad and how will Reed be able to live in the changing times that swirl around him?
The author uses many props in his efforts to transport the reader back into the 60s and 70s. He populates his prose with the mention of books and songs that were prevalent back during that era and certainly the characters were very well developed around those cultural themes as well. The story flows nicely and conflict is well placed between the characters but for me, the tension and most of the interest peaks near the end and it's here where the story solidifies into a solid four-star review. I think it's very important for readers and writers to not lose a sense of history in our stories and Thomas Tibor brings it to us here. Well done!
I loved it!
I give Fortunate Son 4 out of 5 stars.
Thomas Tibor is a scheduled guest on The Writers Lounge Blog Talk Radio Show #122 on September 5, 2022