Stumped on what to buy the soldier or airman in your life? 2013 was another record year in publishing for military books, from historical to contemporary, and placing an order is just a click away at Amazon or a trip away at Barnes and Noble. Also, most titles are available for download to a Kindle or Nook, as well as in print.

Oliver North has released the latest volume in his New York Times bestselling American Heroes series, entitled On the Homefront. North, a combat-decorated Marine known for speaking his mind, writes of the men and women who served on the frontlines downrange and follows them when they return back home - often to face even more adversity.

Amalie Flynn's Wife and War: The Memoir tells of one New York City woman's introduction to the military after her husband decided to serve after 9/11. It also looks at what occurred after he returned home with PTSD and their lives changed forever.

Another tome sheds light on a terrible piece of U.S. military history: the deadly attack of March 23, 2003, when an American soldier intentionally killed his peers and members of the chain of command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company First Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. Embedded Enemy: The Insider Threat by Bart Womack,details the chilling true story of Sgt. Hasan Akbar and the result of his actions.

If you're looking for more of a coffee table book, the Smithsonian Institution has just put out the Smithsonian Civil War: Inside the National Collection, which features 150 entries with extensive photos and narrative descriptions in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

History buffs will also be thrilled with some of the more recent additions in military print. The War That Ended Peace: The Road to 1914 by Margaret MacMillan paints a vivid picture of Europe in the years leading up to WWI. She looks at the military leaders, politicians, diplomats, bankers and the royalty of Europe who were unable to stop the war and details how their decisions changed history.

There's also Eri Hotta's Japan 1941: Countdown to Infamy, which reviews the attack on Pearl Harbor from the perspective of the Japanese forces. Hotta suggests that the Japanese leaders knew they would lose the war and then questions why they continued regardless, despite heated debates and increasing doubts.

Dog lovers will be enthralled by Navy SEAL Dogs: My Tale of Training Canines for Combat, a collaboration between authors Michael Ritland, Gary Brozek and Thea Feldman. Ritland, who trained dogs to detect explosives and help the U.S. forces, shares how his childhood led to a passion for working with dogs and how he went on to start the Warrior Dog Foundation to help pups that have retired from military service.

Decorated Navy SEAL Jason Redman served his country courageously and with distinction in Colombia, Peru, Afghanistan, and Iraq, where he commanded mobility and assault forces. In The Trident: The Forging and Reforging of a Navy SEAL Leader, he shares the challenging story of his recovery after being critically wounded in 2007.