Mark Sasse never disappoints. He writes with heart and soul and sucks you right into his characters' world…wherever and whenever it is.

This story starts out to all intents and purposes as what you think is going to be a simple love story between Chip, the son of a wealthy corporate type, who has turned his back on involvement in his father’s business, and Thuy, a beautiful young Vietnamese woman. But ‘simple’ is the last word that can be used to describe the journey of love when Chip is involved in a dreadful accident, which lands him in prison. What follows is heartache, the devastating impact of cultural differences and of past wars, and a struggle to overcome the constraints of obligations that tie a family together.

This is a powerful story that examines a romance stretched to the absolute maximum by tragedy, culture and history; it’s ably and movingly penned by Sasse and is set in a historically troubled country. It yo-yos between 1945 and the present, but the transitions are seamless; the dramatic backdrop of an exotic and breathtakingly beautiful country reflects the deep and varied emotions experienced by all the characters.

It’s an excellent story, beautifully written, quite possibly his best book yet. Highly recommended.
( )

The Reach of the Banyan Tree by Mark W. Sasse

Chip Carson is in Vietnam and plans on marrying a local woman (Thuy). Things turn bad when he ends up in a Vietnam jail cell. This puts a lot of pressure on his relation ship, due to her cultural beliefs on marriage.

While in jail he is given an old journal of his grandfathers that was written at the end of WWII. While reading the journal many times, Chips starts to understand the meaning of love, war, family and sacrifice.

I really enjoyed this story. Chip was everything a young woman would want, Thuy was young, naive and torn between family obligations, I really liked her a lot. Those who love historical fiction with romance will enjoy this fantastic read. ( )

Mark Sasse’s historic novel/contemporary romance takes place in Vietnam during two time periods, World War II and present day. Estranged from his father Charles Regal Carson II of Carson Oil, Chip (Charles Regal Carson III) travels to Tan Trao, North Vietnam and discovers a connection to his paternal grandfather, the Flying Dutchman, an American soldier on a mission to help repel Japanese aggression. Chip and his fiancé Thuy explore the Phuong Hoang Cave Historical Site. Vietnam wasn’t something his grandfather talked about, and when Chip comes across a carving in stone – his grandfather’s name linked to the name of a woman Mai, Chip finds himself wondering who Mai was. The discovery opened a vault of questions that wouldn’t be answered until Chip, through a life changing mishap, was given the key to unearthing the mystery.
“This banyan tree is many centuries old. It stands a sacred test of time…not just because of its beauty and majesty. It is a symbol of life coming from death…the branches never forget where they came from. This is the land of Vietnam.” (From The Reach of the Banyan Tree – p. 70) There are many references to the banyan tree throughout the book. Its importance to the village of Tan Trao never waned through the years; it was as relevant during the Chip’s story as it was during the time of his grandfather.
Sasse’s depiction of Vietnam during both eras was accurate, though the characters are fictitious. His story focuses on the coming together of two different cultures, American and Vietnamese, at different times, and shows that love knows no political boundaries.
The plot explores the complexities of then and now Vietnam and the lives of two Americans living there. The characters are well defined, and so believable it is difficult to separate historical fact from fiction. Add the elements of romance and mystery, and you have a book that is hard to put down.
This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )