John Porter is a wealthy builder located in South Carolina. But his past is haunting him as he relives his time served 38 years ago in Vietnam and the death of his closest friend, Ernest Marquette, whom he loved as a brother. Both John and Ernest were in love with the same beautiful Vietnamese woman, Doan Vien Le, and Ernest was going to marry her. Unbeknownst to John, Ernest's spirit has become a fish in the Koi pond where he died in Vietnam. At times, Ernest spirit has the ability to be transported to visit John. This begins his fervent desire to become human again.

Miraculously, Doan survived the boat trip to the USA along with her five-year-old daughter, Lisa, and Doan's brother. Lisa, now grown and managing the Le Restaurant after her uncle dies, discovers a photo that leads her to believe her father is John Porter. Upon seeing his picture in the paper, Lisa begins a roller coaster ride of emotions along with John's daughter, Katherine, when she calls John's house and Katherine takes the message. Katherine tries to protect her mother, as well as her father, who believes Doan is dead and knows nothing of a child. Katherine orchestrates a surprise showdown with her mother present, which results in heartbreaking surprises concerning the paternity of Lisa and the true demise of Ernest.

I loved this story! Nicole Seitz writes an extremely nostalgic and heartrending story of the suffering and sacrifices of the servicemen serving in Vietnam. She has very cleverly portrayed the soul-searching struggle in each of her characters in their individual pain in confronting the past. This will be a beautiful story remembered for years to come. I look forward to more of Ms. Seitz's brilliant writing.

Book Summary

Two daughters search for the truth they hope will set them free.

It's been forty years since the war, and John Porter-now a wealthy builder in South Carolina-is feeling the past nip at his heels. When he relays his recent terrifying confrontation with "the enemy" from long ago to his daughter, she takes it upon herself to help him deal with his scars. Fifty miles north in Georgetown, a fry cook named Lisa Le is trying desperately to connect with her Vietnamese mother. But secrets from the past stand between them, and Lisa is unsure how to proceed. Each of these souls is a captive in his or her own little world . . . until a modern-day land mine sets off a string of events to unite them all.

A Hundred Years of Happiness is a story of family, war, loss and longing, and the transforming power of truth. The distance between children and parents, past and present, reality and deception narrows in this spiritual fable of life after war.