One of the most defining moments in a young woman's life is the day she finally leaves home and enters college. As she embarks on her journey to become independent and self- sufficient with her morals and life lessons neatly tucked away ready to be revealed when called upon, her future is determined by the choices she must now make and the people with whom she chooses to take along for the ride.

Brook Searcy is as strong-willed and self-reliant as they come. Abandoned by her mother at age three and raised by her father and two brothers, Brook has managed to rise to the top and follow her dreams by enrolling at the Air Force Academy despite her father's skepticism that this is the right path for her to take.

Through the pain and trials that she must endure to become one of the few cadets who remain standing submerges a cheating scandal which puts Brook into the limelight. As if the cards are stacked and the tables have now turned, Brook is then forced to deal with an unspeakable crime that surrounds the fall of one of her own. Facing demons from the past, Brook comes to terms with the realization that honor and duty are above all essential if democracy is to prevail. Will she be able to survive and more importantly, will the person staring back at her in the mirror be the woman she ultimately strives to become?

THE LAST BLUE MILE is Ponders second novel and like her first, it takes the reader on a journey like no other. From the inside peek into the Air Force Academy to the drama that unfolds with her strong characters, Ponders masterfully depicts a tale that captivates the reader from the very first page. Informative, engrossing, and powerful.... Once again, Ponders soars.