Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
Donnie Novak and Jack Sterling have known each other forever. Growing up together in a small Midwestern town, they were best friends. After high school, they both enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the same time, and somehow were assigned to the same company before being stationed on the U.S.S. Oklahoma together.

One night on leave, Donnie crosses an almost imperceptible line between friendship and something more. A stolen kiss threatens to ruin what Donnie and Jack have built up together all these years, and the next morning, he can't apologize enough.

But a squadron of Japanese bombers has their sights trained on Pearl Harbor's Battleship Row, and in the early hours of December 7, 1941, Donnie might not get a chance to set things right.

BOOK REVIEW:
No Apologies is very short and is exactly what is summarized in the blurb. If you're in the mood for a something quick and brief, this is one of the best short stories you'll find.

The plot is simple but engaging. Donnie kisses Jack during a drunken night together. The next morning, his apologies are interrupted by the attack of Japanese bombers on Pearl Harbor, and the ship they are on is capsized.

Told in first person by Donnie, the story is charged with emotions. At first, Donnie thrills at the chance of becoming more intimate with Jack, but the excitement quickly becomes remorse as he realizes Jack is pushing him away. He apologizes the next morning and doesn't get the chance to finish saying what's on his mind when the ship begins sinking. At this point, Donnie's panic briefly overshadows his current situation with Jack. The transitions between emotions are quick and appear effortless. Snyder expertly builds tension and engages the reader in Donnie's emotions.

Jack's character, in contrast to Donnie's, is much more reserved with his emotions. Donnie has known him for a long time, but even he can't guess what Jack is thinking. His speech is terse and the reader can't conclude anything from it. However, Snyder clues us in on his thoughts through his small, unconscious acts. Donnie's description of Jack also allows Jack's character to become more endearing to the readers.

Like her other historical series Between States, Snyder does not downplay the historical aspect to the story. It takes on an important role and helps bring the story alive. Despite being a very short work, No Apologies is intense and memorable. Highly recommended.

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