This story is a powerful work of fiction that is rooted in the actual lives of two outstanding men, Tod Peterson and his son Scott. You will read about their strengths, weaknesses and the experiences they lived that tested them to the limit. One of their many challenges was coping with the conflicts between the two of them. Without the support given to them by their wives neither would have survived for as long as they did.
Tod deals with an unhappy childhood by setting off alone to find his father, thousands of miles away. Later his father is killed in a skirmish with an indigenous tribe. Then after a flying career, in which he has an appalling accident, he becomes reclusive. He marries the nurse who gives him the physical and mental support he needs to play a key role in the Second World War.
His son Scott has an idyllic early childhood, not least because of the superhuman efforts Tod makes to be an active father in spite of his disability. But the relationship between father and son darkens as the clouds gather in the years building up to the outbreak of another world war. Scott goes through a torment of indecision before he signs up.
Ultimately he becomes the youngest submarine commander in the Royal Navy, sharing with his crew some of the most terrifying conditions ever experienced. Then with post war tensions still dominant, Scott is sent to spy in Poland. In the process, his younger son dies in a mysterious accident, and Scott himself very nearly loses his own life.
His wartime marriage falls apart, but he is saved from the worst of his traumas by a wonderful woman who holds him together, and enables him to succeed in a number of new roles for the rest of his life. But there are still dramas and challenges to overcome. At the end, the question arises whether all this was worthwhile.
Themes Explored in Tough Choices That Resonate Across Time
Sir Tim Melville-Ross has written this book in a way that delves deeply into universal themes:
The Pointlessness of War: War will always lead to tragedy and triumph. The extent to which anyone can claim a victory is compromised by the longer-term consequences which all too often involve further conflict. One side or another is humiliated and vengeful.
The Power of Love and Relationships: Scott’s strained relationship with his father, Tod, runs through this outstanding novel. The conflicts between them are a mirror image of the seismic conflicts of the 20th Century.
Courage Under Pressure: Both the main characters in this book, Scott and Tod, face immense trials in their life journeys. But both respond to them with great courage and compassion, whatever the turmoil inside them.
The Quest for Purpose: What defines a life well-lived? Tough Choices gives you some answers. This book says so much that can shape lives. Tod’s mind-boggling adventures and Scott’s battles with self-doubt will be part of a learning experience for readers, as well as a great read.
The book is all the more powerful because the author is Scott’s son.
The book is now available for purchase in all leading bookstores and online retailers. For more detail, you may connect to the author through the following information:
+44 7850 875482
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/tim-melville-ross-367382100
