"F. Scott Service extends an open invitation to step into the mind of a soldier at war. Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier’s Journey in Iraq is based on the journal entries kept during the author’s service in Iraq. It offers a unique and very intimate look into the thoughts and emotions brought on by a world falling apart.

The memoir was triggered by F. Scott Service being deployed with the US Army to the Iraq war. He was stationed at Camp Anaconda, where he served as a specialist in hydraulics mechanic, mainly focusing on repairing helicopters. At camp all daily activities are stricly regimented by the greater power of the US Army. The few days off that sodiers enjoy offer very limited display of freedom. However, in parallel, he followed his calling and passion as a writer, tirelesly documenting the daily life of a soldier.

A recurring theme of the book is the concept of conscientious objector and its repercussions. Scott is faced with this questions once at the beginning of his story and once towards the end. Each time the anwser would be a major turning point for future events. However, what is truly intriguing to follow is what happens in the meantime; how his experience of war consolidates his theories and belief system. During his deployment, F. Scott Service faced an internal war of his own. Relentlessly he tried to reason with the seemingly unreasonable Iraq War, hoping to attribute some meaning to complete chaos.

As the world was seemingly falling apart around him, so the life he knew was crumbling. The life he built over years with his soulmate, Rita, began showing cracks that shook the whole structure of marriage. A structure that was solid before, now was dissolving somewhere in the geographical distance between the spouses but also the ever-expanding distance between their souls. Two beings who lived in symbiosis for so long, were faced with two very different realities that they experienced alone.

Finally, Lines in  the Sand: An American Soldier’s Journey in Iraq also sheds light on the many struggles that veterans face. The shadow of war is long and those who participated in it rarely walk out from under it. The only thing left to do is learn to live with it, to somehow integrate the experience and find light wherever it is possible." - Best Sellers World

From the moment that Scott receives a phone-call in November 2003 advising that he is to be deployed to Camp Anaconda, Iraq, he keeps a journal. This fascinating and gripping book is the result of those entries. Scott is skilled in aviation hydraulics and is placed in the Component Repair Platoon, so Lines in the Sand is not an action-packed combat read but a contemplative, primary-source narrative of his personal journey. Scott’s writing is intelligently sublime and shot through with an eloquent seam of poetry which is unusual for a book of this genre. It reads beautifully; measured yet flowing and totally absorbing. It is obvious through the elegant prose that Scott has an introspective, sensitive personality; truly a writer’s soul. Consequently, the reader feels a sense of foreboding which begins with the deeply depressing atmosphere of Fort Knox in Kentucky. The scale of sheer incompetence from top military administration in handling these men at training stage and beyond is breathtaking. The lack of guidance, instruction or clarity leads to days of enervating limbo, sapping any last vestige of mental strength. It would be laughably Kafkaesque if not so utterly shocking. The abject squalor in which the soldiers exist whilst in Camp Anaconda reduces many to base, animal degradation and psychological collapse. It is appalling as it is compelling and raises profoundly disturbing questions about the plausibility and management of modern warfare, as well as examining who we truly become when the veneer of respectability is torn away. The Middle East is wonderfully realized through consistent reference to its landscape; the searing heat, spectacular sunsets and perpetual sand. Scott’s visceral description of the effects of the desert elements on both his mental and physical wellbeing really brings the inhospitable environment into sharp, uncomfortable focus. His considered understanding of the reasoning behind the Iraqis’ retaliations is refreshing.

However, Lines in the Sand is not just about the traumatic effect of military conflict. Scott leaves for Iraq happily married to Rita; he touchingly writes of an all-consuming love for her and their life in Montana. Rita’s communications keep Scott going in the bewilderingly brutal early days but it becomes painfully obvious from her detached, sporadic responses that Rita is beginning to withdraw from the marriage. The raw agony expressed in the journals by Scott as realization sets in is harrowing and almost voyeuristic to read, exacerbated by the continual fear of death as he endures the unremitting nightly mortar shelling. His subsequent struggles with PTSD, homelessness and alcoholism following his return from Iraq are equally heart-rending and poignantly expressed. It’s testament to his underlying mental fortitude that he eventually attains a level of acceptance and harmony.

Lines in the Sand is a profound, thought-provoking and cerebral chronicle of one man’s soul-destroying tour of duty in Iraq and how he managed to overcome its legacy of chaos." - Rose Auburn for IndieReader

"Whether we want to admit it or not, humanity as a whole is far too often ruled by violent tendencies than not. While many advocate for peace and equality, violence always finds a way of trickling into our grander societies, upsetting the balance and causing chaos wherever it goes. Yet not all of humanity is like this. As psychologist professor Steven Pinker once said, “Human nature is complex. Even if we do have inclinations toward violence, we also have inclination to empathy, to cooperation, to self-control.”

In author F. Scott Service’s Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier’s Personal Journey In Iraq, the author takes readers on an ever personal journey through their time serving overseas. The author found himself serving the military overseas and feeling a sense of duty to his fellow soldiers, and soon found himself facing the unyielding violence of war which forced him to face everything he ever believed and knew about himself. From the moment he discovered he’d be joining the military to the struggle to overcome PTSD after returning home, this is a powerful story of self-exploration, loss, and heartbreaking anguish.

This is a truly powerful, moving and emotional memoir. The author does an excellent job of conveying the confusion, the pain and the heartbreak that comes from being thrown into a war. The affect it has on soldiers both in their personal life and overseas serving was captured in detail here in this book, and the author did a great job of showing the impact the war had on both sides; both for the military men and women who served and those innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of a war they didn’t ask for. The exploration of the author’s personal downward spiral, as the effects of serving become apparent in his marriage and personal life, was a difficult and painful thing to read. Yet I commend the author greatly for delving so deeply into his personal struggles, which should open a more open dialogue about how soldiers are treated overall after their service.

A book such as this is perfect for those who enjoy memoirs, non-fiction reads which delve into more modern history, and the study of warfare on soldiers both personally and mentally. As a fan of memoirs, it was truly engaging to read the author’s experiences, especially as the writing style itself was presented as a series of journal entries kept during his time overseas. His look at things like how much easier it is to kill as a soldier than it is to take the time to understand the viewpoints of the enemy and find common ground for a more peaceful solution is truly profound and moving, and something we all should heed. As an anti-war civilian who hopes for a more peaceful future, the viewpoints of an anti-war soldier such as the author are important and truly memorable.

A tragic, moving and thought-provoking memoir, author F. Scott Service’s Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier’s Personal Journey In Iraq is a must-read memoir. The writing is eloquent and beautifully moving, and captures the raw emotions and moments of those serving overseas. Those hoping to find personal experiences in war to help promote a more peaceful future and get help for those soldiers who return home will not want to miss out on this impactful read." - Pacific Book Review

"In a great new memoir by author F. Scott Service, Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier's Personal Journey in Iraq, readers will be taken on an absolute roller coaster of a ride through one man's journey as he participates in the Iraq War, an involvement that causes him a great deal of inner turmoil and conflict, while at the same time he is dealing with a great deal of personal issues in his home life.

Using the author's personal journals from the time period as source material, the book is written in a completely engrossing style, combining real life action with the inner thoughts of a man deeply troubled by those actions and all that is swirling around him.

I loved Lines in the Sand: An American Soldier's Personal Journey in Iraq. Loved. It. How's that for a review? It's truly how I felt about F. Scott Service's wonderful true life story. The author has done an amazing job in recounting his experiences in Iraq and in life in such a way that will both intrigue his readers as well as break their hearts. This book is one that is incredibly hard to put down, and readers may, in fact, find themselves obsessively reading the story from the start through to the finish, all in one sitting.

Any reader that enjoys a great memoir will love Lines in the Sand, but those who enjoy stories about war, inner turmoil and triumph, or simply an excellent read should also give this book a chance. I highly recommend this book and this author, and hope that readers will see more from F. Scott Service in the very near future!" - Chris Fischer 

F. Scott Service shares his story of love and war in Lines in the Sand. Scott is living the American dream. He is married to a beautiful and successful woman. They are living in the bliss of Montana, where the air is clean and nature nestles you in a blanket of comfort. He has a good job, one that he enjoys. All is well, until on November 23, 2003, his National Guard Unit is called to deploy to Iraq. Saddam’s regime has fallen, but the war continues. American troops are still being called upon to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. F. Scott Service's life turns inside out. He is doubtful, scared and confused about this war. Within his heart, he realizes that he is a conscientious objector. However, for generations his family fought in American wars. How could he turn his back on his fellow soldiers? Regardless, he puts his feelings aside, believing “there was honor in honoring them.” He willingly goes to war. In these pages, Scott chronicles his experiences of Iraq. He shares his thoughts, his daily routine, and his surroundings. Lines in the Sand is a personal journey of the soul of a soldier who desperately searches for hope and beauty in the midst of the ugliness of war.

Lines in the Sand is a combat veteran’s memories of war. F. Scott Service’s memoir is one that will not be easily forgotten. I have read many books on war and its effects on the soldier and his/her family. All have been written sharing the hardships and trauma of war. However, this account’s point of view stands out. After reading the opening quote by Hermann Goering in the Foreword, I knew I was in for something uniquely special. F. Scott Service is a gifted writer. His words are eloquent, with powerful expressions. In his chronicle he records daily events in a very intimate and honest manner. He taps into the sensory and explains in personal detail what he is observing, enduring and feeling. Whether you agree with his views on war and government or not, you cannot help but be captivated by this narrative.

This memoir is an emotional journey; full of action, setbacks, and mistakes, but moreover, the will to survive. The memoir contains an emotional beat, the very cadence of the author’s heart. Service captures his raw emotions, and shares them both delicately and harshly throughout the journal. In his closing remarks, F. Scott Service solidifies his relationship with his readers by asking them to consider where they would draw their own line in the sand. Lines in the Sand portrays the trauma of war, its haunting aftermath, yet inspires survivors to press forward toward hope. It is truly a remarkable story of tragedy to triumph." - Cheryl E. Rodrigues