Into the Fire

Mike Romeo is not his real name. He's hard-nosed, used to cage fight, makes his own rules, and tries to live like a philosopher – but it seems when people are faced with his philosophies, they don't want to reason with him. His genius wit, which nobody gets, his recitation of film lines, which nobody recognizes (much like the former NCIS character Tony DiNozzo), his random quotes of Shakespeare, which nobody wants to hear, and his often voiced conflict of his inner wars between Zeus, Achilles, Dionysus, and other Greek gods and tragedians, Mike Romeo is constantly asked, "Who talks like this?" This series by James Scott Bell begins with Bell's trademark "gotcha" first lines/paragraphs, and from there you're hooked.

Within the pages of Romeo's Rules Mike comes to the aid of a lovely lady in distress at a church bombing in Los Angeles where he's staying with a former Mossad operative in a wheelchair who is now a rabbi and a lawyer named Ira. The beautiful woman, a divorcee, can't find her two children while many of them are being herded away from the explosion by nuns. Mike runs into the smoking, burning church to find a murdered man but no kids. He hustles out of there and seeking a nun asks about the little boy and girl. No one can find them in the chaos.

And so begins the multiple attempts to murder Mike Romeo. The lady's ex-husband is a ruthless billionaire according to many and he's fighting dirty to keep his kids. Or is he?

The complex cast of characters who move in and out of Mike's world as he pursues various angles to locate these kids is anchored by only one person, his faithful friend Ira. And pursuing Mike is bona fide trouble with a capital T that ends in a huge surprise he didn't see coming. 

James Scott Bell writes an amazingly clever character in Mike Romeo set off with a perfect opposite in Ira. Mike's obnoxious, daring, and runs his life by his set of rules in spite of them not always working out for him. His guilt is deep over his past conflicts forbidding him from advancing to the place where a worthwhile life awaits him. Bell's similes and metaphors are beyond description – both hilarious and superb. This incredibly smart thriller with a unique and savvy protagonist makes for great reading. Highly recommend the series starting with Romeo's Rules.  

Father, you've given James such incredible skills. Please continue to keep the stories coming and may he honor you in all of them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.