Book Review: The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series) by Layton Green

This is an intense thriller with interesting connections between drug cartel and cults.
The Shadow Cartel (The Dominic Grey Series)
by Layton Green

File Size: 6827 KB

• Print Length: 434 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1477827811
• Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (May 1, 2015)
• ASIN: B00O4FK868

Genre: Thriller, Mystery Suspense
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 1, 2015
The sins of the past always return…
Called upon by a former love to look into the death of a family friend in Miami, veteran investigator Dominic Grey is sucked into the darkest reaches of international narcotics trafficking. The murders of multiple drug dealers during a bizarre religious ceremony, combined with the appearance of a mythical assassin, take DEA agent Federico Hernandez and CIA operative Lana Valenciano down the same deadly path.
Lying in wait is an enemy known only as the General: a criminal mastermind whose uncanny ability to avoid detection while cowing even the most ruthless of rival cartels has made him a legend.
Thrown together on a covert manhunt, Grey and the two government agents race across the Americas to unearth a dark chapter in the history of the CIA that has spilled into the present—and put them in the crosshairs of an underworld puppeteer with a frightening reach.

Review:
Dominic Grey is a private investigator who grew up hard and rough on dark streets. He works with a cult expert, Viktor, but Viktor is currently away battling his own dark demons. Dominic misses his former lover, Nya, and is surprised when the fragile and healing young woman arrives to ask a favor. Nya’s neice has been killed in Miami by a bad batch of ‘designer’ drugs. Nya asks Dominic to track down the man responsible.

Dominic takes up the search, joining with a local DEA agent, Fred. The first trail leads to four dead men and a sighting of a blue lady who wields a deadly blow pipe. When another murder by the blue lady is reported Lana, from the CIA, steps in to aid the search. However her goal reaches higher. She wants to follow the cartel link to find a mysterious leader known as “The General.”

The team’s first few leads are successful but reveal that there is a mole leaking their every step. Lana takes the mission off record hoping to avoid leaks. This leaves the three of them very vulnerable especially when they start traipsing around Mexico and South America.

Dominic is finally able to reach Viktor who begins researching the Blue Lady. He determines she is part of a little known religious cult that uses black magic and voodoo type curses. As the good guys get closer to discovering the truth even Viktor becomes a target for an unexpected killer.

The story got my attention quickly although there are numerous characters to sort in the first few chapters. Once I was able to distinguish the good guys from the bad guys, I enjoyed the brisk pace of action and the twists in the mystery. I enjoyed the real descriptions of Miami and the Everglades since I am familiar with those areas. The descriptions of the third world countries cities and jungles, is distinct and made me thankful I don’t live in those dire conditions. The history and intricate connection of the cults and scopolamine being used in drug cartels is scary. Mr. Green uses an engaging technique by interspersing chapters that give the reader knowledge of the brilliant enemy without fully revealing him until later in the book.

There is cursing but the "F" word is only used once. Although this is part of a series, and I imagine that reading them in order would build better background, it read acceptably as a stand alone. It engaged me enough in strong characters of Dominic and Viktor that I would be interested in their next dangerous adventure.

I received this title from the author through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley challenge.

Audible Book Review: The Maze Runner: Maze Runner, Book 1 by James Dashner

This is a sufficiently entertaining listen even with a few drawbacks.
The Maze Runner: Maze Runner, Book 1
Written by: James Dashner
Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins
Series: Maze Runner, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:10-12-09
Publisher: Listening Library
Genre: Teens, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0 

Publisher's Summary
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade - a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up - the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
©2009 James Dashner; (P)2009 Listening Library

Review:
Thomas wakes up in a boxed room with little memory. He is extracted by a group of boys, ages 12 to 17 or 18. They live in a community they call the Glade that is quartered with a garden area, stable/butcher area, living quarters and the delivery box. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the box and all the supplies the group needs for survival. Surrounding the Glade is a maze with stone doors that open each morning and close each night. Each boy has a skill and assigned tasks to help the group. Certain of the boys are runners - eight boys who run in pairs every day to map the maze looking for a way out.

The boys are reluctant to answer Thomas’s many questions but slowly he gains friends, including a rather clumsy young boy of 12. There is another teen boy that is very hostile and insists that he remembers Thomas and that he is an enemy.

Even having been shown the monstrous creature that lives in the maze, and having seen a boy tormented while recovering from injury by one of the monsters, Thomas is set on becoming a maze runner. It is explained that he has to prove himself first. He has to go through each job training to determine the best assignment.

Although Thomas arrived as expected the next day things go totally off schedule when a girl arrives with a message that she is the last one. Not only that but she states that everything is going to change right before she falls unconscious.

Thomas makes a forbidden choice that turns into a miraculous rescue. Some of the leaders want him punished for disobeying the rules while others want him promoted. His actions bring more worry and turmoil as the group learns that they are now in a race against time and the monsters if they want to survive.

It is clear that outside forces have been watching the boys. Their goals and motives are not so clear. As the book draws to a climax some horrors occur and secrets are revealed while other surprises are apparent to the reader but not to the characters. I suspect the ending will lead some to grab the next book and some maybe not.

When I first started listening it brought to mind The Lord of the Flies. However, as the work progresses it shows more similarities to the cruel control issues in The Hunger Games. I felt there was some slowness in the beginning with a bit of telling rather than showing. It gets better when the action picks up with discord and danger to the end. As an adult you have to be mindful that these characters are young teens so they don't think like adults. I recommend this to those who enjoy a fantasy/sci fi thriller built around society issues.

Audio Notes: Mark Deakins did a good job with the narration. I was able to keep track of the characters and I felt any pacing issues related to the story itself, not the narration. The audio enhanced my enjoyment of the story as it helped it move along beyond the slow parts.

This is from my own Audible Library. It qualifies for Audio Book Challenge and TBR Double Dare since I picked it up in 2014.

Book Review: Exodus 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett

This is an action packed sci fi thriller with an unusual character element.
Exodus 2022
by Kenneth G. Bennett

• File Size: 2264 KB
• Print Length: 350 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1620152126
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Booktrope (May 20, 2014)
• ASIN: B00IRL8O2U

Genre: Sci Fi, Thriller
My Rating 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 20, 2014 
Joe Stanton is in agony. Out of his mind over the death of his young daughter.
Unable to contain his grief, Joe loses control in public, screaming his daughter’s name and causing a huge scene at a hotel on San Juan Island in Washington State.
Thing is, Joe Stanton doesn’t have a daughter. Never did. And when the authorities arrive they blame the 28-year-old’s outburst on drugs.
 What they don’t yet know is that others up and down the Pacific coast—from the Bering Sea to the Puget Sound—are suffering identical, always fatal mental breakdowns.
 With the help of his girlfriend—the woman he loves and dreams of marrying—Joe struggles to unravel the meaning of the hallucination destroying his mind. As the couple begins to perceive its significance—and Joe’s role in a looming global calamity—they must also outwit a billionaire weapons contractor bent on exploiting Joe’s newfound understanding of the cosmos, and outlast the time bomb ticking in Joe’s brain.

Review:
Joe Stanton is a young, enthusiastic and adventurous Episcopalian Priest. He is visiting San Juan Island off the coast of Washington State with his sweetheart, Ella, a registered nurse. Joe has a strange episode at their motel and he begins raving that his daughter has been murdered. His behavior is upsetting to the the motel owner and even more so when the police arrive and determine that Joe doesn’t have a child. Joe and Ella don’t understand what happened but it is more than a dream as it is impacting Joe’s health.

Others have suffered from the same hallucinations that have led to fatal breakdowns. The events are being investigated by a wealthy, power-mongering weapons contractor, Beck. Beck and his team of scientists have developed a means to follow the brain thoughts of men and they are trying to figure out the telepathic phenomena that has been effecting the other men, and now Joe. Joe seems to be reacting better than the others but it is still making him sick. If he follows pattern he only has a week or so to live. Beck has brought Joe and Ella to his military facility in the pretense of providing medical care. Instead they are stealing his subconscious thoughts and trying to discover the ‘entity’ on the other end.

That entity, Mia, is a surprise and a major character of the story. The opposing presence is the greed and evil that consumes men and especially Beck. It is difficult to give more detail without moving into spoilers other than to say the story has an ecological focus. Ultimately Joe’s faith and spirit turn Mia from enemy to friend. Joe and Ella share a strong love that pulls them through fear and faith that leads to hope and sacrifice. This is not a romance but it is a love story of sorts for mankind.

The writing is descriptive and direct. There is reality and harshness in cruel and evil characters. However, there is joy and light in the good characters. There is action and an interesting plot to keep the reader engaged as this progresses. It is an unusual story and I appreciated the mystery, the change of emotions and the ultimate hope. I recommend this to readers who enjoy good sci fi, action thrillers.

I received this title through NetGalley for an honest review. This qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge and "E" on Alphabet Soup.

Audio Book Review: The Eighth Day by Michael O'Neal

This is a fun ride even if a bit unrealistic!

The Eighth Day
Written by: Michael O'Neal
Narrated by: Robert Martinez

Length: 9 hrs and 42 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:06-30-14
Publisher: Michael O'Neal
Genre: Thriller, Action Adventure (YA)
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Yesterday they were five ordinary friends. Today they are all that stand between us and extinction...
Havenbrook, Iowa. Typical small town America, nestled in the rolling plains of the Midwest. Life is simple here. But for high school senior Jay Anderson, it's about to get a whole lot more complicated. Accused of a crime he didn't commit, he is shocked to become an outcast throughout this small community, and becomes suspicious of the townspeople's suddenly strange behavior. Only his friends believe in his innocence, and set out to prove it...
...only to find out there is something far more sinister going on here. Who are the mysterious men who have suddenly appeared around town? What is the government hiding at the town's reservoir? Pursued by shadowy forces that would kill to keep the secrets they discover - and the secret Jay holds unknowingly within himself - he and his friends embark on an epic adventure. From the steps of Capitol Hill to the walls of the Kremlin; from the unfriendly skies over Eastern Europe to the treacherous waters of the Caribbean; danger lurks around every corner as these five teenagers seek to uncover what was created on...
©2011 Bluewater Press LLC (P)2014 Michael O'Neal

Review:
Jay Anderson and his friends are quirky high school seniors, already ostracized because of their high intelligence. Jay is suddenly accused of selling drugs making him a pariah to his teachers, fellow students and even his parents. The only people who believe him innocent are his best friends, Kathy, Jeff, Ryan and Rachel. Kathy tears apart the evidence managing to get the case dismissed but that doesn’t change the minds of those who were quick to deem him guilty.

Rachel finds an incriminating picture that places a high government official involved in framing Jay. Amid an unusual rash of anger and high tempers in town, Jeff finds evidence of another government cover-up effecting the town’s water reservoir. The 'bug' not only causes the violent tempers but can cause death too. The teens are alarmed and head out in different directions to try to figure out what is going on and how to save their town.

Jay and Kathy visit a Senator in Washington, DC, who is a friend of the family. Jay hopes that perhaps he can give help but the next thing they know they are on the run from government officials. Their race to prevent the deadly plan sends them on a train ride, into desolate, cold mountains on foot and eventually to Russia.

Jay and Kathy have secrets that are a surprise even to them. While certain high level conspirators want them captured, controlled or maybe dead, there is finally a high government force that decides to protect and help them. The problem is the ‘good guys’ can’t get close to the kids to let them know they have back-up.

There is a lot of action that keeps this moving and interesting. However, there are also a lot of improbable episodes. These teens are portrayed as some type of genius superheroes. I enjoyed the quiet faith input and confidence that was portrayed, especially in Jay. I also appreciated the depth of friendship between Kathy and Jay who are resisting the temptations to be ‘friends with benefits’.

 This is fun and entertaining as long as you set aside realism. I recommend it as fun action, suspense and entertainment.

Audio Notes: Robert Martinez does a good job providing different voices for the characters. His narration helps to keep the story fun and enhanced the "reading" experience for me.

I received this audio through Audiobook Jukebox for an honest review. This will count toward my 2015 Audiobook Challenge.

Book Review: The Night Visitor by Dianne Emley

This is a strong mystery with good twists.
The Night Visitor
by Dianne Emley

• File Size: 1340 KB
• Print Length: 272 pages
• Publisher: Alibi (September 16, 2014)
• Sold by: Random House LLC
• ASIN: B00IWTTPMK

Genre: Mystery, Paranormal Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: September 16, 2014
In bestselling author Dianne Emley’s chilling new paranormal thriller, a beautiful woman’s romantic past comes back to haunt her in the form of an otherworldly visitor seeking justice.
Gorgeous and successful, Rory Langtry seemed to have it all. Daughter of a movie star and sister of a supermodel, Rory was engaged to sexy artist, Junior Lara. But her bright future went dark one terrible, bloody night that left her sister dead and the accused murderer—Junior—in an extended coma.
Now, five years later, Rory appears to have put the past behind her. She has a wonderful new fiancé and heads a successful cosmetics company. Yet dark secrets threaten. Across town, Junior lies close to death but before he departs he seeks to clear his name.
It starts with a feeling. It turns into a vision. Soon Rory is having sensations that only Junior could experience—from the horrifying to the erotic. Then she learns details about the awful night that only Junior could know, newfound knowledge with potentially fatal consequences. When another act of violence rocks her family, Rory plunges deeper into the unsolved mystery, led by an inexplicable visitor to a dangerous time and place where all will be revealed at last. But until then, Junior will not let her go.

Review:
Junior was an extraordinary artist and was happily looking forward to his life with his beautiful fiance, Rory. Rory is a beauty in her own right but she feels overshadowed by her movie star mother and supermodel sister, Anya. Junior did a gorgeous painting of Rory and Anya insisted that he paint her too. Junior was reluctant but Rory encouraged him to do it for the exorbitant fee Anya agreed to pay. But the night the painting was finished Anya and Junior are found lying in a pool of blood. Anya is dead, her painting is slashed, another unknown painting is missing, and Junior is severely injured.

Junior spends the next five years diminishing in a coma. His brother, Daniel, develops a strange affinity as he cares for Junior. Junior’s family is bitter and angry not only at Junior’s suffering but because Junior was accused of murdering Anya before attempting suicide.

Rory is devastated by the death of her sister and the rumors that swell around the alleged murder/suicide tragedy. She begins a foundation to help “the other victims,” TOV. Rory is engaged to a new love and preparing for a special foundation fund-raising. But Rory experiences some strange dizziness and visions.

The primary detective thought there were holes in the conclusion that Junior was the killer but the victim’s wealthy family put pressure on closing the case quickly. When Daniel tries to assassinate Rory during her speech the murder investigation is brought alive again and the detective begins to uncover some very strange events.

This story drives a strong punch. It is upfront and crass in some ways. At first I wasn’t sure if I liked the characters and I didn’t like some of the ugly language. However, as the story progressed, I became more engrossed in the mystery, the eeriness and the twists. Bit by bit the author reveals details and family secrets through emotional memories. I actually had another culprit in mind for most of the book so I enjoyed the surprise when the facts were disclosed. Ms. Emley does a great job combining the mystery and paranormal elements in this taunt thriller. I recommend this to readers who don’t mind a bit of paranormal in a strong mystery with good twists.

I received this thriller through NetGalley.

Audio Book Review: Lightning Fall, A Novel of Disaster by Bill Quick

This is an intensely realistic view of the disasters that could occur after an EMP strike on the United States.

Lightning Fall, A Novel of Disaster

Author: Bill Quick

Narrator: Johnny Heller

Runtime: 18.2 Hours

Release date: 4.29.2014

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

ISBN-13: 978-1-4830-2036-5

Genre: Fiction/Science Fiction

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher/Date: Blackstone Audio, 04/29/14
Summary
Three terrorist attacks are launched from freighters against the United States. Only one fully succeeds, but in the blink of an eye all of the country west of the Rocky Mountains is transformed into the technological equivalent of the eighteenth century—no electricity, no computers, no electronics of any kind, or any of the amenities of modern life that depend on them. This is the story of ordinary and extraordinary people, high and low, who struggle to survive in a mortally wounded nation, as America’s enemies within and without circle for the kill.
A Latino gangbanger becomes mayor of a devastated Los Angeles; a gay survivalist fights for his life in San Francisco; an ordinary Indiana housewife and her three children struggle to keep their lives together in a crashing economy; a shrimp fisherman in Louisiana watches a mushroom cloud rise over New Orleans; the admiral in charge of the military defense of the nation faces a storm of enemies from every corner of the compass; and the president of the United States and the Speaker of the House of Representatives battle for supremacy as the lives of sixty million Americans hang in the balance.
Lightning Fall tells a story of terror, tragedy, and triumph that you will never forget.
© 2014 by Bill Quick

Review:
My first review draft was my normal style of setting forth the characters and the plot line. Then I summarized a little about the writing style and what I liked and didn’t like. Unfortunately the review exceeded 600 words before adding my Audio notes. This is a second attempt to review in a more simplified fashion.

The story deals with the disastrous consequences of terrorist attacks which include an EMP (electro magnetic pulse) strike over California and a plutonium bomb at New Orleans.   The story follows at least eight sets of characters to show the impact on people and families in different parts of the country. There are those directly impacted and others who are effected by the resulting societal breakdown and governmental decisions. The work is well researched and the author supplies extensive detail that presents very plausible scenarios of the troubles the country might face, including lack of electricity and food, desperation, vandalism, greed, foreign threats and internal political power struggles.

The author attempts to address many issues in one book which makes it lengthy, though still engaging. The primary characters include a gay couple in San Francisco where Tom has made extensive preparations for survival so that he can protect himself and his life partner, Raymond. This couple is portrayed in a favorable tone while another set of characters consisting of a female President and her husband who was a former President, are presented with scorn. The portrayal is of a power hungry woman who is more concerned with maintaining party supremacy than the welfare of the people.  She struggles to maintain control while sometimes accepting advise from her politically astute, conniving, ruthless and immoral husband.

Other characters are set in circumstances that reveal moral dilemmas people face in the collapse of social systems we are accustomed to.  A common question is ‘how far will people go to protect themselves and defend their property and territory’? When do you lend a hand and when do you bar the door?

This is a world where presumed friends may be enemies and people who would once have been considered enemies become allies.  The rough leaders are full of foul language which isn’t so pleasant but is (sadly) realistic.

The author probably covers more than needed in one book. Although he does a petty good job of  juggling all of the character lines, there are still many loose threads at the end. There is plenty in the book that could offend different readers.  Still I was engaged and entertained by this story and I recommend it to readers who enjoy good EMP strike stories.

Audio Notes:  Johnny Heller does a good job of narrating this story which is somewhat cumbersome by reason of the multiple characters and scenarios shifting back and forth. Heller's voice has a different sound with good energy that worked to keep this moving. The audiobook worked better for me than a print book as the length is not so daunting when I get to listen to the story.

I received this download from Blackstone Audio through Audiobook Jukebox.

Book Review: Sky Zone: A Novel (The Crittendon Files) by Creston Mapes

This is an action packed thriller with a lead character whose faith is real and tested. 
Sky Zone: A Novel (The Crittendon Files)
by Creston Mapes

• File Size: 3223 KB
• Print Length: 448 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook (June 1, 2014)
• ASIN: B00IZQWZEU

Genre: Thriller, Christian Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: June 1, 2014
A rally for a controversial presidential candidate.
A terrorist threat.
A nightmare of cataclysmic proportions.

Jack and Pamela Crittendon have hit the breaking point. After months out of work as a reporter, Jack is playing Mr. Mom and working part-time at Festival Arena with his survivalist friend Brian Shakespeare. Meanwhile, Pamela has gone back to work full-time while eight months pregnant. Having her recently widowed mother on hand isn't making matters any easier.
With financial pressures boiling, Jack reports for duty at a rally for controversial presidential candidate Martin Sterling where he expects a mindless night on the job. But when Homeland Security picks up intel about a potential terrorist threat, Jack and Shakespeare are thrust into a life-or-death battle to save their own lives--and the lives of thousands of innocent people.

This third book in The Crittendon Files reminds us of the power of family, friendships and faith--and why we are never in as much control as we think.

Review:
Jack Crittendon lost his job as a news reporter and is struggling.  Jack’s friend, Brian Shakespeare, an obsessive survivalist, helped Jack get a part time job as extra security at the local event Arena. Jack’s wife, Pamela, has had to go back to work full time even though she is eight months pregnant. Her mother, Margaret, a recent widow is living with them and beginning to show signs of memory loss and confusion.

Jack has interviewed for a news position that is scheduled to open up if Martin Sterling does well in early polls. Sterling is a presidential candidate who is running on a controversial platform to restrict activities of all Muslims as potential terrorists. Sterling is scheduled to appear at a rally at the Arena and a popular rock musician turned Christian evangelist, Everett Lester, is appearing too.

Homeland Security announces a terrorist threat to the rally function but Sterling refuses to cancel the event. The Arena managers are poorly prepared to deal with the threat and call in a small team of experts as well as local authority. Shakespeare is convinced they have already missed clues as first one Arena guard, then a second disappears. Although the experts waiver, Shakespeare is sure that the terrorists are already in the building hiding in the upper levels known as the Sky Zone. Shakespeare has a weapon stash in his car that he retrieves in order to help protect the Arena guards, Sterling and Lester.

They tried to keep the fans out of the Arena but a couple thousand got in when doors were accidentally open. Shakespeare helps some people escape but among those who get trapped inside with the terrorists are Pam and Margaret. Pam goes into early labor while the terrorists kidnap Sterling and Lester.

There is plenty of excitement in this thriller as well as close character involvement. I did guess some aspects of the terrorist attack but it was fun reading how the truth was revealed. I enjoyed how the author portrays Jack’s true-to-life struggles with his circumstances even as he tries to understand how God is allowing these difficult things to happen out of Jack's control. Jack and Pam must cope with the possibility of health problems with their baby. Jack faces true temptation when doing the “right thing” will likely result in him not getting the news job he wants so badly.

The writing is direct and after a bit of a slow start the story reads at a good pace. This is apparently a third book in a series but I was able to enjoy it as a stand alone. I recommend this to readers who enjoy a thriller that presents Godly faith in the lives of the characters.

I received this book through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: Take Back the Morning by Evan Howard

This contains a different view of Hell and strong, positive messages of redemption.

Take Back the Morning
by Evan Howard

• File Size: 1696 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Wilcox Publishing Group; 1 edition (April 28, 2014)
• ASIN: B00K0J3LK2

Genre:  Inspirational Fiction, Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: April 28, 2014
A corrupt stockbroker on the run . . .
An economy in turmoil . . .
And a mysterious pendant sought by the richest woman on Wall Street.
Terrified of going to jail, Justin Connelly faked his death and fled the seductions of Manhattan for the quiet corners of Providence, Rhode Island. His only keepsake was an antique pendant engraved with strange markings.
But then a sailing accident almost kills him for real. In his near-death state Justin is taken to the depths of Hell itself, where he sees things that drive him out of hiding and back to his abandoned wife in New York. But Tori’s moved on, and his old enemies on Wall Street are not happy to see him. They want the pendant, which in the wrong hands could destroy humanity—and Justin’s former boss definitely has the wrong hands. The only way out is to swallow his pride, and his doubt, and work with Tori and her new fiancé to expose the truth.
As world economies—and his own soul—hang in the balance, Justin must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice.
A spiritual thriller critically relevant to the crises of our time.

Review:
Justin Connelly loved his wife, Tori, but he got caught up in striving for corporate advancement, including an adulterous relationship with his powerful and alluring female boss, Candace. Justin realized that Candace had unusual persuasive powers, derived from a mysterious pendant, that had helped make her the richest woman on Wall Street. Justin was trying to end the affair with Candace when the 9/11 bombings took out their building, Believing Candace dead, Justin took the pendant and moved to Providence, Rhode Island, under an assumed name. He still thinks of his wife but is unable to face her with the truth of his betrayal.

Justin suffers a head injury during a sailing accident. While in a coma Justin is given a tour of Hell and given a second chance to redeem himself. He is directed to return to the world of the living, help others by sharing his experience and the message of love and salvation and keep the pendant safe from evil hands.

When Justin wakes from his coma he learns that his abandoned wife learned he is alive through the press. He is also surprised when Candace shows up alive and desperately searching for the pendant.

While struggling with her grief over loosing Justin, Tori has grown close to Justin’s best friend, Paul. Paul is seperated from his wife but has asked Tori to marry him as soon as his divorce is final. Paul is extremely angry that Justin ran out on Tori and he insists that Tori shouldn’t forgive him and take him back,

Candace and her henchmen attack Tori thinking that she has the mysterious pendant. Justin, Tori and Paul are thrown together as they try to keep the pendant away form Candace. Tori is reluctant to trust Justin but can’t deny the changes that she sees in his attitude towards others and in the powerful messages he is sharing.

The vision of Hell is an interesting interpretation, stressing the struggles men have trying to resist the temptations of lust, greed, selfishness and more. The plot is entertaining with a lot of action, attacks and chases but some of this seemed contrived. I had to wonder where the authorities were while Candace’s men kept showing up. I enjoyed the positive messages conveyed in the story, though many were presented as speeches so they come across as “preachy”. The questions at the end are excellent for provoking thought and discussion.

This is listed as a thriller and there is action. However I think it is on the weak side of a thriller and strong side of inspirational. Although it wasn't really what I expected it was entertaining.

I received this title through NetGalley.

Audio Book Review: Through Many Fires: Strengthen What Remains by Kyle Pratt

This is a strong 'survivor' story with an engaging protagonist and solid storyline.

Through Many Fires: Strengthen What Remains
Written by: Kyle Pratt
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Length: 8 hrs and 26 mins
Format: Unabridged
Release Date:11-04-13
Publisher: Camden Cascade Publishing
Genre: Post Apocalyptic, Suspense, Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Terrorists smuggle a nuclear bomb into Washington D.C. and detonate it during the State of the Union Address. Army veteran and congressional staffer Caden Westmore is in nearby Bethesda and watches as a mushroom cloud grows over the capital. The next day, as he drives away from the still burning city, he learns that another city has been destroyed and then another. America is under siege. Panic ensues and society starts to unravel. Through Many Fires is Kyle Pratt's third novel.
©2013 Kyle Douglas Pratt (P)2013 Kyle Douglas Pratt

Review:
Caden Westmore has a fast paced, politically savvy career path planned out in Washington, DC, along with the high profile, intense, newscaster fiancé, Becky, to make the future even brighter. Then a nuclear bomb hits the Capitol killing most of the top government officials, including Caden’s boss. Caden was lucky to be on the outskirts of the effected area so he is able to head south toward Atlanta to get to Becky.

Caden runs into a road block which delays his journey. He is watching Becky presenting the news when the telecast suddenly goes to static as another bomb hits Atlanta. Caden is stunned and finds himself traveling with a military convoy that is setting up a camp in north Georgia. Along the road Caden rescues an infant who he names Adam. When they are threatened by thieves at the camp, they are saved by Maria, a determined young woman who has lost her family.

Caden has military training and agrees to take a position in security with the Washington State Governor who is the remaining presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. This helps Caden, with Maria and Adam tagging along, get back to his own family who have a small farm in Washington.

Caden discovers himself pulled into service in the National Guards where he faces difficult decisions for safety and survival. Ultimately he has to decide if he will protect the Constitution and American freedom against the orders of the new, successor president who declares marshal law, cancels future elections and makes a surprising and perhaps treacherous deal for aid.

The writing is solid with good action, some surprising twists and strong character development, particularly for Caden. The events are presented from Caden's view with insight to his thoughts and reactions. I was really pulled into Caden’s life and dilemmas. The story moved very quickly and as I became aware that the end was nearing I was saddened as I wanted more. It appears there will be more to the series and I will be watching for the next book.

Audio Notes: Initially I thought the narrating was a little flat. However, I soon was pulled into the story and enjoyed the subtle quirks that Kevin Pierce manages to convey. I can recommend this as a good read and good listening experience.

I received this title from Audible for review through Audiobook Jukebox.

Book Review: Jaspar's War by Cym Lowell

This is a fast paced, entertaining and intriguing thriller.

Jaspar's War

by Cym Lowell

• File Size: 1506 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Publisher: Rosemary Beach Press (March 5, 2014)
• ASIN: B00ITF9VJ4

Genre: Thriller

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: March 5, 2014
Greenwich, Connecticut socialite Jaspar Moran has it all—a magnificent estate, two beautiful children and a loving husband, Trevor, serving as the Secretary of the Treasury. Protected, admired and living in the lap of luxury, Jaspar is reeling from the news that his government jet has crashed just as her children vanish without a trace.
An ominous message warns her to keep silent about her husband’s role in the President’s economic plan. Or else.
Determined to save her children, she’ll go to hell and back, form alliances with assassins, traitors and Mafioso, and commit unspeakable acts—if that’s what it takes. With alarms sounding around the world, hunted from all sides, and unsure of who to trust, she finds herself depending on a mysterious figure without an identity.
Jaspar journeys from the Australian outback to the palazzos of Rome, the Monte Carlo Grand Prix, and to the magnificence of the Vatican, in her quest. Can she rescue her children before the plot to crash the global economy is unleashed?

Review:
Jaspar has a wonderful life with her important husband who is the Secretary of the Treasury, and their two children. One moment she is playing an afternoon ball game with the kids and the next the children have disappeared and she learns her husband is presumed dead in a plane crash. The press begins to accuse Trevor of manipulating financial markets for personal gain. She knows Trevor was upset about something before he left but he didn’t get the chance to tell her what it was. No one is taking credit for the kidnapping of the children and the only message she gets is that she must remain silent if she wants them to live.

Jaspar finds a thumb drive with information that she believes shows Trevor was suspecting financial patterns by someone in the government. Jaspar seeks help from her long-time family priest and friend to set up a plan of action and arrange to get the information to a financial wizard whom Jaspar trusts, a reclusive American Indian, Chief Bearstrike.

Jaspar is delivered into the hands of Nulandi, an intelligent, sensitive and confidently trained warrior assassin. He travels with his faithful guard dog, Alice, who is trained for Nul’s missions. Nul explains to Jaspar that she must become a warrior to rescue her children. Just as Jaspar’s father used to make the right lure for different fish, Jaspar will be the bait to lure the kidnappers out so they can follow the trail back to the children.

While Jaspar, Nul and Alice race around Europe reeling in killers, Chief Bearstrike meets with another friend, Jason Brontus, a US Attorney. They unravel the financial patterns that have already reaped ill-gotten profits and are setting up to collapse America’s economy. The trail leads to someone with White House connections so they have to be careful who they take the information to.

The story jumps into action and intrigue and never really slows down. There are wonderful, strong characters and great disguises including nuns in habits, a large, old black woman and young boy, a seductress and a race car driver. There is intrigue in plans, traps and near escapes. There is also some raw sexual exposure and rather brutal killing which are not for squeamish readers.

A strong, loving friendship develops between Jaspar and Nulandi that just borders on moving into a physical relationship. As Nul trains Jaspar to be a warrior, she shares the strength of her faith and trust in God with Nul who needs to find that unconditional love and peace for his life. Yet the story includes an interesting mix of Native American beliefs and a certain primal mysticism as well as the Godly faith.

The writing is direct and fast paced with occasional passages of beautiful description interspersed amid the raw danger and killing. I was impressed with the female protagonist being written by a male author. My only disappointments were that the villain who held the children seemed to get off easy after all of his nefarious dealings and the climactic encounter with the 'mastermind' seemed rushed. Still, I really enjoyed the non-stop action and the strong friendships that helped Jaspar on her mission. I highly recommend this entertaining read to those who like a strong, action-packed thriller.

I was pleased to see this new release by Cym who provided a copy for my honest review.

Working with Soldiers’ Angels through his initiative OPERATION: NEXT CHAPTER, Lowell is donating 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of “Jaspar's War,” to provide voice-controlled laptops to military personnel recovering from amputations, paralysis, eye injuries, burns and brain trauma.

See more information at Cym's blog.

Author links:

www.twitter.com/cymlowell

www.cymlowell.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/cymlowell

Book Review with Giveaway: Sleeping Dogs: A Novel by Tony Vanderwarker

This is an excellent thriller with high pace and suspense to the very end!
Sleeping Dogs: A Novel
by Tony Vanderwarker

• File Size: 1166 KB
• Print Length: 365 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (February 4, 2014)
• ASIN: B00I2G7AT8

Genre: Suspense, Thriller
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 4, 2014
The Pentagon has a dirty, little secret they've been keeping quiet for forty years.
During the Cold War, a number of live H-bombs were jettisoned and lost around the country as a result of mishaps and mid-air collisions.

A disgraced former Pentagon weapons expert, Howie Collyer, who blew the whistle on the unrecovered H-bombs and lost his job as a result, learns from a nurse in a VA hospital that one of her patients has vague recollections of being the pilot on a B-52 plane that jettisoned a nuke. Collyer teams up with the nurse to kidnap the man from the hospital in the hopes he will lead them to it. When the Pentagon learns Collyer is after the bomb, they try to stop him. But they are not alone. An al-Qaeda sleeper cell that has been keeping an eye on Collyer goes into action.

A mad scramble ensues with the Pentagon, al-Qaeda, and Collyer all after the nuke. Will the al-Qaeda find it first and immolate half the Eastern Seaboard? Will the Pentagon succeed in putting a lid on their secret? Or will Howie Collyer expose the mess and vindicate himself?

Inspired and written under the guidance of master storyteller, John Grisham, the plot of Sleeping Dogs takes amazing twists and turns before ending in an unexpected and spellbinding climax.

Review:
Howard Collyer is known for two things in his life. In college, even though an unexceptional football kicker, he “nailed” a last minute kick that brought the team victory. Then he became a weapons specialist working in the Pentagon with a relatively unexceptional career except for the fact that he was obsessed with the problem of nuclear bombs lost in the 1950s and 1960s. These lost bombs have been termed as sleeping dogs because the powers that be at the Pentagon have determined they should just leave them alone, trusting that any danger is decaying over time.

Collyer was quietly pushed out of the Pentagon since no one wanted to deal with his harping on the nuclear issues they wanted to keep quiet. He maintains a website called Sleeping Dogs that has placed estimated locations of many of the lost bombs and a wealth of information regarding the types of bombs and the history of why they were lost or dropped.

VA Nurse Sharon Thorsen has been visiting with a cheery, if confused, patient, Major Risstup. Sharon is a bit alarmed when the Major starts talking about a lost bomb. She becomes more distressed when she comes in one morning to find the Major's medication changed to a dose that would kill him. Sharon discovers Collyer's Sleeping Dogs website through an internet search and calls Collyer on Thanksgiving day to request his help to protect the Major.

Collyer races to help Sharon kidnap Major Risstup, triggering a hide and seek chase from more enemies than they realize. A silent “undercover” division at the Pentagon, known as Vector Eleven, has been monitoring Collyer's activities and seeks to shut down any noise or activities that would bring attention to the nuclear issues. If that means eliminating the parties with information that is just considered a cost of doing business.

Collyer, Sharon and Major Risstup are hiding from the threat of their own government secret agency while trying to coax the Major's brain into remembering the location where the bomb was dropped. Their danger increases when an Al Queda cell group, who has also been following Collyer's site, realizes there is activity and sends out a prepared terrorist team to obtain and detonate the bomb.

Collyer is fortunate to be getting some security back-up from his old college roommate, a CIA agent who is a former overseas spy/spook. Winston Straub is willing to help Collyer especially if it means a chance to give a black eye to the Pentagon. When things begin to escalate Straub recruits the help of the head of Homeland Security who is also eager to pin a bad mark on the Pentagon.

This story has a great plot and excellent suspense. I was anxious to turn the story back on each time I could. There is good character development and disturbing, though sadly likely, enmity between the governmental agencies. As the agencies try to out maneuver each other there is the fear that not cooperating could result in even worse damage. Another disturbing aspect is that the leaders seem a bit surprised that terrorists would be following Collyer's website so closely. That is scarily naïve as even I am alarmed to think of all the bomb building and evil activities easily available on the internet.

This is a first rate thriller and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy good suspense!

I received this title for review through BookSavvy PR.

Awed by his experience of writing with John Grisham, Tony decided to write a memoir to share what he learned with aspiring writers and Grisham fans. Writing With The Master: How a Bestselling Author Fixed My Book and Changed My Life, pulls back the curtain on Grisham’s amazing plot development process and gives readers a feel for the crazy roller coaster ride of the creative process. Writing With The Master will release simultaneously with Sleeping Dogs.

About the Author:
Founder of one of Chicago’s largest ad agencies, Tony Vanderwarker is author of the memoir Writing With the Master: How a Bestselling Author Fixed My Book And Changed My Life about his experience being mentored by John Grisham while writing the thriller Sleeping Dogs (both releasing with Skyhorse in 2014). He has also penned the forthcoming novels Ads for God and Say Something Funny.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY: The author has generously provided a print copy of his book for Giveaway!

ENTRY FORM HERE
Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!
I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review OR
tell me if you ever worry about lost weapons, bombs or materials available on the internet.

* This contest is open to U.S. address only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) February 28, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after February 28, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and Giveaway: White Rogue by David R. Fett M.D., Stephen Langford & Connie Malcolm

This is a fast reading biochemical thriller.
White Rogue
by David R. Fett M.D., Stephen Langford & Connie Malcolm

• Paperback: 254 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 28, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1481995510
• ISBN-13: 978-1481995511

Genre: Spy Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: October 8, 2013
After Boston experiences a seemingly inexplicable bio-terrorist attack, the Center for Disease Control's Dr. Dave Richards and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Paula Mushari once again join forces to uncover who is behind it. An obscure reference to a Dresden project found amid crash site evidence marks them both for execution. Paula and Dave are forced to leave Boston in the middle of the night and head to Washington, D.C., where they soon find that anyone they contact also becomes a target of assassins. When the daughter of the CDC's director is taken hostage, Dave and Paula come face to face with an evil that forces them to question the very nature of duty and service to country. With the help of one man, they learn the true meaning of dark operatives as they desperately try to determine the where and when for the next strike against the United States.

Review:
Dr. Dave Richards, an investigator for the Center for Disease Control (CDC), gained a reputation when his efforts helped take down a terrorist group in the White Sleeper case. During that case he met FBI Special Agent Paula Mushari and their friendship has grown even though they are based in different cities.

Dave is called to a community on the Jersey Shore when a man is diagnosed with illness related to the biochemical MRSA virus. Dave is able to track the source of contact but not how it came to be there which leaves him unsettled. His next assignment sends him to the jungle of Columbia where a remote community is suffering from unexplained stomach cancers. Dave and other doctors sweat in the heat and frustration until he solves the source of that contamination too.

Dave and Paula have planned a romantic getaway to Costa Rico but before he can fly out he gets a call from Paula to fly to Boston instead. There has been another serious MRSA breakout that appears to have been a deliberate act of sabotage. The bad, icy roads give them a break in the case when the man who delivered the virus crashes. They are able to find evidence in his car, including a cell phone with a text that mentions a ‘Dresden Project’.

The tank that carried the virus is sent with Hazmet suited troopers to be delivered to MIT for further handling and testing. It never arrives and the troopers are found shot dead in the police car. Apparently someone is trying to cover their tracks and will take out anyone with knowledge they deem risky. Dave and Paula become targets and are only spared assassination by the intervention of an old friend, CIA operative Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith suspects that the Dresden Project is being implemented by a rogue group of contacts attached to government agencies. Since he is too close to the situation to step in himself he directs Dave and Paula to chase down witnesses. The two keep arriving to find dead bodies until finally clues lead them to a suspected biochemical attack on a Muslim community. It becomes a race against time to stop the attack and uncover the perpetrators.

I liked the idea of a CDC character which I think provides good opportunities for stories as shown by the diversity in the plot events. I enjoyed how the authors wove the personal lives of the characters into the story as the intrigues developed and escalated. There are several secondary and peripheral characters who add interest, like Mr. Smith and a contract agent, Geneva Scott. (Check out the character interview post.) The story is fast paced and interest is maintained by alternating chapters between the main characters and secondary people and events that are being manipulated or impacted.

Although Dave and Paula are introduced in a first book, this reads fine as a stand alone. I found the writing a little simplistic and there were some events that had a pretty thin tie to the main intrigue.  Also it seemed unlikely that the rogue group would fail to pursue Dave and Paula after the first missed attempt. Still, this was a satisfactory read and should be a good fit for those who want an easily read thriller.

I received this book for review as part of Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour.

ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the gently used print copy.

ENTRY FORM HERE

Don't forget to fill in the form for entry! 

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.  

For 3 Extra Bonus entries comment on the review 

OR on the Character Interview.

* This contest is open to U.S. address Only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 24, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after January 24, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Book Review and Tour GIveaway: Hallowed Eve by Suza Kates

This is page turning romantic suspense perfect to read in October!

Hallowed Eve

by Suza Kates

• File Size: 1543 KB
• Print Length: 216 pages
• Publisher: Icasm Press (September 18, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0043M4RP0

Genre: Thriller, Romantic Suspense
My rating: 4.25 of 5.0.

Book Description
Publication Date: September 18, 2010
Something terrible happened in Pine Creek.

Eve Taylor must return home for her grandmother’s funeral but has every intention of making it a short visit. Too many memories live in the small town where she grew up, memories of a Halloween best forgotten.

Trey Rainwater has been waiting for Eve. He knows she’ll be staying for longer than she’d planned and has every intention of making sure she does. He has a promise to keep.

Eve and Trey find themselves thrown into a deadly combination of riddles, murder, and a love that won’t be denied. As the moon hovers in the October sky and Halloween grows closer, Eve must fight her own personal demons while learning to trust the man who protects her.

The past has come back to life, and a killer is stalking the small town of Pine Creek. He’s waiting for his Hallowed Eve.

Review:
Eve had a traumatic experience as a child that has left her frightened of basements and reluctant to join in Halloween events. Because of the terrible association she has stayed away from her childhood home for years. She has returned to town for a short visit upon the death of her grandmother only to learn that to inherit her grandmother’s home she must live there for a year. She realizes that she cannot let the property pass from her family so she determines to stay and begin a catering business from the house.

Eve is surprised and pleased to meet her new neighbor, a very handsome and fit young man, Trey. He quickly becomes a friend she can rely on as he commits to keeping her safe. But Eve doesn’t know that Trey has made a promise to watch over her.

As soon as Eve begins to settle in she begins to get letters with cryptic poems and riddles. At first she hopes they are for someone else but soon she accepts that they are for her and to her dismay she and Trey realize that they are connected to murders that are taking place. But the killer is obsessed with the one who got away - Eve. Eve has to face her greatest nightmares while Trey tries to protect her from the stalking killer of her past and now present.

I was quickly absorbed by the clear, crisp writing and the mystery of the story. Although we know that Eve suffered a terrible trauma as a child, Ms. Kates pulls the reader along in the suspense as the full nature of the attack is not revealed until well into the book.  Trey is a wonderful hero and the attraction and growing relationship between them is very nicely handled - very sensual without being too graphic. There are  secrets, honesty and trust issues that create good conflict and tension along with the danger that stalks Eve. I really appreciated how Eve finally decided to claim her life by throwing her own Halloween party.

The cover looks spooky and although there is a horrible killer, this is not horror. The action and pacing are good. The characters are strong and likeable and the suspense carries through to the end. I highly recommend this to readers who like good romantic suspense and mystery thrillers.

I received this eBook from the author for an honest review and to participate in a blog tour promoting her upcoming release.

Suza Kates is the author of The Savannah Coven series. She currently has 6 books published in the series with Book 7, "Suffering of a Witch”, due to be released on October 20th.

You can check out my review of the 1st book in the series: Whisper of a Witch.

Learn more about Suza Kates and her books at these links.
Website

https://www.facebook.com/authorsuzakates

https://twitter.com/SuzaKates

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4094825.Suza_Kates

COMMENT TO BE ENTERED IN GIVEAWAY

PRIZES:

On each blog, one commenter will be chosen at random and will receive a prize package containing two signed books. One book will be from another romance author who signed at this year’s RWA conference and one from me. Each package will also contain some swag from various authors.

• Print Books to US address only.
• Winners will be chosen using http://www.random.org/lists/
• Giveaway Ends October 31, 2013.

Audio Book Review: The Eye of Moloch by Glenn Beck

This is another good political thriller - a picture of forces at work in our current world.
The Eye of Moloch
    by Glenn Beck
    Narrated by Jeremy Lowell


    LENGTH    11 hrs and 54 mins
    RELEASE DATE    06-11-13
    PUBLISHER    Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Political Thriller
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
The last battle for freedom is underway....

By the end of Glenn Beck’s number-one best-selling political thriller The Overton Window, a young rebel named Molly Ross had torn aside the curtain to reveal a shadow war being waged for the future of America. In the six months since then, her fight for freedom hasn’t gone well. Marked as traitors and hunted by ruthless government-sanctioned mercenaries using the most advanced surveillance technologies ever created, Ross and her "Founders' Keepers" find themselves cornered and standing alone. but the fight is far from over.

The battle lines in this bitter rivalry are as old as civilization itself: On one side, an unlikely band of ordinary Americans, ready to make their last stand in defense of self-rule, freedom, and liberty - and on the other, an elite cabal of self-styled tyrants who believe that unlimited power should be wielded only by the chosen few. That group, led by an aging, trillionaire puppet-master named Aaron Doyle, will stop at nothing to destroy the myth that man is capable of ruling himself.

As Doyle prepares to make his final move toward a dark, global vision for humanity's future, new allies join the fight and old enemies change sides. In the midst of it all, Molly draws together a small but devoted group willing to risk their lives to infiltrate one of the most secure locations on earth - a place holding long-standing secrets that, if revealed, would forever change the way Americans view their rare, extraordinary place in history. Exposing these truths, and the real-life game of chess being played for mankind’s freedom, is their last chance to save the country they love.

Review:
This story picks up a few months after The Overton Window closes. Noah has had his life turned upside down by the truths that Molly Ross and her band of Founder’s Keepers are trying to bring to the attention of the public. Noah was tortured by his father to the point where he had to  make a choice to follow in his father’s powerful, manipulative footsteps or die. Or he could pretend to meekly regain his position within his father's regime while playing the inside man to help Molly.

This story focuses on the struggles that Molly, her main protector, Thom Hollis, and the other resistance members face as they continue to try to expose the truth while being maligned.  The power brokers are using terrorism to push citizens to give up their rights and they are blaming the acts on Molly’s group, particularly Hollis. The small resistance team is now on the run, surviving on the road and in the woods, as they try to find a save refuge.

Meanwhile Noah awakes back in the facility his father left him in recovering from an injury after being sent out as part of a militia group to gun down the Founder’s Keepers. He meets three unlikely allies. Virginia Ward is a former CIA assassin who is a self appointed investigator of the truth. Although it is not clear why, she has gotten a request from Noah’s father to interview Noah and investigate the allegations regarding Molly Ross.  Ira is a ‘put-out-to-pasture’ news journalist who is being used to write copy and press releases that are acceptable to the powers that be. Ira’s unhappy companion is Lana, a sullen, angry young girl who is a computer wizard and hacker.

Noah tells Virginia that it is like a game of Chess– Noah and Virginia (and others) are being manipulated and the opposition is already planning three moves ahead. This book also gives a more personal view of Doyle, the head puppeteer, who even controls Noah’s father.

This is a story of truth, love and virtue standing up to the powers of evil, control, corruption and  revenge. The scary thing is it looks like a true picture of happenings in America today - it should serve as a wake up call to those who cherish freedom. Noah is a reluctant hero and leader but, as several of the other characters note, he appears to have been called to step up and lead. There is a little bit more faith based exposure in this book – which is fine by me. The situation with Noah reminded me of the story of Esther who was placed in her position for ‘such a time as this’!

Audio Notes: I was a little disappointed that this was a different narrator than the reader of The Overton Window, which I had just recently listened to. However Mr. Lowell does a good job too of portraying the different character traits through their voices and expressions. Listening moved this book along quickly and enhanced the read for me.

I received the Audio CDs from Simon and Schuster, through Audiobook Jukebox, for an honest review.

Audible Book Review: The Overton Window by Glenn Beck

I found this to be a great, thrilling listen.
The Overton Window
    by Glenn Beck
    Narrated by James Daniels
LENGTH    8 hrs and 43 mins
RELEASE DATE    06-15-10
PUBLISHER    Simon & Schuster Audio
Genre: Political Thriller
My Rating:4.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
A plan to destroy America, a hundred years in the making, is about to be unleashed...can it be stopped?

There is a powerful technique called the Overton Window that can shape our lives, our laws, and our future. It works by manipulating public perception so that ideas previously thought of as radical begin to seem acceptable over time. Move the Window and you change the debate. Change the debate and you change the country.

For Noah Gardner, a 20-something public relations executive, it's safe to say that political theory is the furthest thing from his mind. Smart, single, handsome, and insulated from the world's problems by the wealth and power of his father, Noah is far more concerned about the future of his social life than the future of his country.

But all of that changes when Noah meets Molly Ross, a woman who is consumed by the knowledge that the America we know is about to be lost forever. She and her group of patriots have vowed to remember the past and fight for the future - but Noah, convinced they're just misguided conspiracy-theorists, isn't interested in lending his considerable skills to their cause.

And then the world changes.

An unprecedented attack on U.S. soil shakes the country to the core and puts into motion a frightening plan, decades in the making, to transform America and demonize all those who stand in the way. Amidst the chaos, many don't know the difference between conspiracy theory and conspiracy fact - or, more important, which side to fight for.

But for Noah, the choice is clear: Exposing the plan, and revealing the conspirators behind it, is the only way to save both the woman he loves and the individual freedoms he once took for granted.

After five back-to-back number-one New York Times best sellers, national radio and Fox News television host Glenn Beck has delivered a ripped-from-the-headlines thriller that seamlessly weaves together American history, frightening facts about our present condition, and a heart-stopping plot. The Overton Window will educate, enlighten, and, most important, entertain - with twists and revelations no one will see coming.

Review:
Noah Gardner is a lackluster son of a highly powerful, political puppet master, Arthur Gardner. Noah doesn’t invest emotionally in any of the ambitious projects or politics of his daily work at the prestigious public relations firm, Doyle and Merchant. He does enjoy the playboy lifestyle afforded by his father’s position and money. One afternoon his attention is captured by an alluring young woman in the office even though she rebuffs him with disinterest.

Noah pursues her by following her to a rally supporting the American Constitution. Molly Ross continues to intrigue him with her disdain as well as her passion for the cause of American freedom. She is part of a group, similar to a Tea Party, known as the Founder’s Keepers, who profess to seek peaceable change. When the rally turns violent many of the attendees are taken to jail. Noah insists that there was a plant who instigated the violence and when that truth appears to be close to being revealed to the public most of the rally attendees are released with a little help from Noah’s father and attorney.

Noah is further embroiled in Molly’s schemes to gain access and information from his father’s computers. They learn that Arthur Gardner and his firm are part of a group of elite power brokers who are seeking to bring about a one world government. They will use money, power, manipulation, bribery, coercion, and whatever other means necessary to achieve their goal. Molly (and the reader) learn of a tool known as “the Overton Window” which measures public opinion. This tool allows the monied powers to manipulate public opinion by setting up events that slowly push the boundaries of public acceptance closer and closer to the desired controls sought by the puppet masters.

Noah is kidnapped and it becomes clear that Molly used him from the outset. Yet he thinks there was more between them than the obvious lies. Noah again seeks to help Molly as a nefarious terrorist plot slowly unfolds. A horrible act of violence that is being arranged by the puppet masters but will be blamed on Molly’s group.

The beginning was a bit slow as I wondered at the detailed descriptions of Noah’s obsessive interest in Molly. However that is understandable as the plot progresses. After an hour or two in I was glued to listening to this story until it finished. I was impressed with the writing skills as well as the characterization and plot. All of the elements reveal the extreme intelligence of the author – regardless of what one might think of his political and religious views. Does it contain a message on politics and religion? Yes - clearly on politics and subtly on religion. Is it a good thriller? Absolutely.

Beck starts the book with a preface that declares the work to be in the nature of “faction” – a fictional story woven around facts. The story presents a present day situation that should open eyes and make each of us look at the circumstances around us to see if we can really discern truth from intentionally manipulated PR. I loved the story and am anxious to begin the next book, The Eye of Molech, which I am reviewing for Simon and Schuster through Audiobook Jukebox.

Audio Notes: This story was good on its own but the narration enhanced my enjoyment and made it move much more quickly than if I had read a print or ebook version. James Daniels does a really good job keying into the character personalities. I will look for other works narrated by Mr. Daniels.

Mr. Beck quotes several treatices on freedom and government in the story. One that I think is particularly appropriate is:

The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best.
Thomas Sowell

This audio was from my Audible library.

Book Review and Giveaway Link: Blood and Bone by Don Hoesel

This book has lots of mystery and danger but it didn't quite click for me.

Blood and Bone

by Don Hoesel

• File Size: 728 KB
• Print Length: 321 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0764209264
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (July 1, 2013)
• ASIN: B00B85M58Q

Genre: Thriller

My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2013

More Archaeological Adventures from Popular Suspense Writer Don Hoesel

A decade after Serpent of Moses, Jack is married to Espy and back teaching at Evanston University. They have two sons, one of whom has cystic fibrosis. Despite this challenge, life is comfortable. But that all changes when the CIA, while combing through the papers of the late Gordon Reese, uncovers the secret of Elisha's bones. Jack's world is then turned upside down by an urgent call from his old friend Duckey, who's been alerted to the CIA's probing by one of his former contacts. Jack and his family escape from their home just ahead of the CIA, and he decides to do what he should have done long ago: recover the bones and destroy them. Except the bones aren't where he left them.

So now Jack is in a race, for the last time, to find the bones. And he's not the only one. Pitted against both the CIA and an organization that will kill to protect their secrets, Jack and Espy follow hard-to-decipher clues across the globe before arriving in the catacombs of Paris for a final showdown that will either save their family--or tear apart everything they hold dear forever.

Review:
Jack and Espy met when Jack was a young adventurer and relic collector. Now he is a professor and they live a quiet life with their two boys. Suddenly their world is disrupted by a corrupt, rogue CIA operative, Mckeller. Mckeller’s wife is very ill and he knows that Jack and Espy had located the bones of Elisha ten years before. The bones are rumored to be able to raise the dead, as described in the Biblical story.  Jack knows they work (an event from a prior book) but he and Espy had buried the bones rather than turn them over to a corrupt man years before. Mckeller wants the bones and he kidnaps the boys to use as leverage.

Jack and Espy head off globe hunting trying to get the bones. They fly from South America to Australia where the bones were buried only to determine that they have been removed. They follow faint clues seeking to uncover members of the secret organization that was designated to guard the bones. Their search for the new location takes them to London, St. Petersburg, Russia, and Paris. Along the way they uncover puzzles, with Espy’s language skills and Jack’s logic skills, that lead them to investigate cemeteries, basements, prison cells and catacombs.

Jack and Espy meet two of the head members of the powerful organization.  Jack takes a risk and calls in the help of the Israelis who would have an interest in recovering the bones.  Now they are dodging not only the CIA man who is trying to keep tabs on them but someone who is trying to kill them.

Although I enjoyed the action in this story and the various puzzles and solutions were interesting. (Made me think of National Treasure even more than Indiana Jones.) Unfortunately I had some problems with the unrealistic elements and I never really felt engaged with the characters. The couple are racing around the globe with minimal funds and fake passports. They repeatedly lose a tail only to have assassins attack them in their hotel or on the streets. It was a week or so before they even got to talk to their sons to make sure they were okay. It just was hard to swallow. I did like the conflict between the power hungry leaders and I also liked Jake’s solid faith, even accepting the illness of one of his sons. Come to think of it, I liked the irony at the end too.

The ending pulls together in a satisfactory, if not totally surprising, fashion. There is plenty of suspense and danger for those who like mystery and thrillers. There are many more favorable reviews so other readers clearly enjoyed the action and weren’t effected by the implausibility issues.

I received this title through NetGalley and the author for an honest review as part of BookBlast. See Giveaway below and Giveaway at the BookBlast post.

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Author Don Hoesel links: Twitter * Facebook * Website

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