Another great Mike Bond novel. I enjoyed this, but not quite as much as the first one, mostly because the focus in this book largely stayed with Mick, and I really wanted to know more about Tara and Troy. What I loved, though, was the historical fiction showing the war, the politics, the times. With Mike Bond’s amazing background, you know the history is grounded in truth. Very much looking forward to the next novel.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC.

This is no fault to the author but this title was not listed here as being the second book in a series. I wouldn’t haven’t requested this book if I’d known it was part of an ongoing series. That being said, the description intrigues me so I will add the first one to my TBR pile if my library picks it up.
Note to NG: please make sure to identify books in a series!

“Freedom”, Book 2 of the American series, by Mike Bond, is a series that follows the lives of Americans Mick, Troy, Tara and Daisy. In the first book of the series, we experienced their childhood and teen years. In “FREEDOM’, we follow them into young adulthood during the tumultuous times of the 1960’s. Each of them chooses a different path. I appreciate what the author is creating- an historical fiction look through the decades of change in America, but it was hard for me to bond with the characters. Way too much sex and drugs for this reader! However, I can see that readers who are keen to learn more about the events of the Viet Nam War, with a graphic look at the behavior and social events of the 1960’a and onward would be interested. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Meryl Moss Media group for a digital advance review copy. This is my honest review.

Freedom is the second book in a series which focuses on four young adults and how they live their lives during the 60’s. The USA was very divided on events that occurred during that time, which was reflected in the activities of the four. I really like historical fiction and loved the book “America”. This book took a little more time to get into, but was quite good.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Freedom

Author: Mike Bond

Book Series: America Book 2

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: historical fiction, war

Publication Date: November 4, 2021

Genre: Historical Fiction

Recommended Age: Can’t recommend, DNFed

Explanation of CWs: Can’t recommend, DNFed

Publisher: Big City Press

Pages: 375

Synopsis: From the war-shattered jungles of Vietnam to America’s burning cities, near-death in Tibet, peace marches, the battle of Hué and the battle of the Pentagon, wild drugs, rock concerts, free love, CIA coups in Indonesia and Greece, the Six Days’ War, and Bobby Kennedy’s last campaign, Freedom puts you in the Sixties as if it were now.

Mick leaves for the Himalayas while Troy heads to Vietnam with the Marines. Daisy starts her PhD in brain research, and Tara battles heroin as her rock band reaches stardom.

Troy is soon caught up in mind-numbing combat in Vietnam, while Mick returns to the States to lead the antiwar effort. Tara’s band signs a Motown contract amid the Detroit riots. At Stanford, Daisy expands her study of the human brain under LSD and other mind-altering drugs. Troy falls in love with a Vietnamese teacher and is slowly losing faith in the War.
Freedom ends the night before the Tet uprising in Vietnam that will change the War, and trap Troy and his beloved in the fires of hell.

Review: I had to DNF this book at 15%. I tried to get into this book, but the way it’s told is not for me and I also noticed that this is the second in a series, which was not told to me when I received this book. The book also talks about war and is based on real events, which is something I’m finding out I don’t like to read about as a reader. So for those reasons I had to DNF.

Verdict: It’s ok, just not for me.

America 2 is part of a 7 book series that highlight the last 70 years. Tensions and turmoil outline the different chapters in America's life since the Civil War. Book two chronicles the later years of the swinging 60's with free love, the Vietnam war, the disenchantment of some soldiers and Americans with our country's involvement, the hippie drug culture, rock concerts, peace marches, CIA interventions, and those seeking actualization. This was the world I was surrounded with growing up-protests at college, friends experimenting with drugs, family members forever changed with PTSD,
and everything stated above. The novel is told through 4 different individuals who are each searching, searching searching with a myriad of deportments. Characters are thoroughly examined and the reader is totally immersed in the setting. However, I found this book painful. That period of my life was so divided and embittered that I was not able to separate the characters from the reality that I had lived. For those who can plunge into this experience, I think this is a book you will really appreciate.

This is a fictional look at the turbulent 60s. It’s political, r up in one novel. I struggled a bit with the flow and connecting to the various characters- none of them truly gripped me. It was quite the undertaking with an interesting view of the Vietnam War. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

Freedom continues the saga of four kids as the grow and navigate the tumultuous 1960's - war, sex, drugs and rock-n-roll.

Mick is ever defying death is his world travels and becomes an anti-war protestor.
Troy lands in Vietnam to fight a war No one is sure "why" we are involved.
Tara is living the rock-n-roll life touring the country and experimenting in drugs.
Daisy begins a PH.D program.

Freedom is dominated by Mick's storyline; his efforts to fight the draft and rally people to fight the war. He also has many travel with death defying heroics - how is he still alive? This series continues to provide a realistic account of what life was like during a revolution of sex, love and protests.

Again, just like book one, it has incredible insight and detail. I often found myself skimming to get back to the REAL story - Mick, Troy, Tara and Daisy.

Mixing adventure and thrills into this fictional account, the author has written an excellent sequel which provides an interesting glimpse at part of our American story.