Into the Fire

More oldies from the Moody Blues. Great beat. 

Father, thank you for all of your gifts to people. We're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. May we honor you for who you are. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Hunting Grounds is Book 3 in A Maddie Castle Thriller Series by L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray. 

Maddie Castle (aka "Mads" and "Mad Dog") lost her beloved K-9 "Bear" and suffered a career-ending knee injury from "The Country Killer's" gun. A gun was not his weapon of choice, but against Maddie who got a shot off to wound his left arm, he used one. Maddie's shot halted his brutal serial killing spree. For a while.

Now he's back. And how Maddie becomes aware of it is terrifying and haunting.

She's now a private investigator, but because of her history with this psychopath plus her former partner on the case (and ex-fiancé "Ox"), she joins with the FBI in the hunt for the killer (aka "The Red Ribbon Killer" and "Red"). She has connections that go back to high school which law enforcement does not which she realizes can be dangerous but she's willing to see him to try to get any information that will help. And she does. 

With her connection's source reluctantly supplied, she is able to establish the beginning of an identity. 

Having to jump through more hoops than a Hula Hoop contest, finally things start coming together. 

And then the tear-jerking part of the story begins.

Hunting Grounds hits all the nerves.

Certain readers might find the emotional self-exams of the characters drag a bit, but others will appreciate the background and insights provided into each one. There are some long goodbye scenes which definitely start the tears for some of us. 

This is a good series with strong characters, particularly the mixed-up, convoluted tough gal, Maddie Castle, and her special K-9 Tempest. 

(Plenty of profanity.)

Father, you know all the hearts of your authors and writers. You know them from the inside out as you do with all of us. May they have the pure blessing of knowing you personally. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked,

   but He blesses the home of the righteous.

He mocks proud mockers

   but gives grace to the humble.

The wise inherit honor,

   but fools He holds up to shame.

Proverbs 3:33-35 (NIV)

No better way to welcome the first day of summer. What a voice. Awesome. 

Father, thank you for the seasons, the beauty you left for us, this incredible world in spite of all the sin. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Any similarities there? Both a very long time ago. Sixteen years apart. 

Father, I know you waited for me to find your Son. I can't thank you enough for your patience. I didn't deserve it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

These are the black leather boots I bought many years ago at I. Magnin's in downtown Seattle long before they moved out of Seattle. I first saw them in "Vogue" and "Harper's Bazaar" where they were advertised to be at I. Magnin's. Black with the gold buckle. I wish I still had them. They were amazing. At the top (and they went all the way up), they had loops. I wore a belt under my dress to keep the boots up and from sagging. "Those were the days . . ." 

Father, thank you for watching over me during those days. Jesus, you waited and allowed me to find out how much I needed you. Holy Spirit, you used such individual and, to some, the most unusual ways to get my attention. I can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Great band, great sound. Totally dysfunctional people. Enjoy their music in spite of it all. 

Father, we can't play around with eternity. Jesus' first words of ministry were to repent and be saved. He gave it all so that we could join Him in eternity. There's one way to heaven, and Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (John 14:6) Apart from Him, we can do nothing. He's gracious to all, but there's a cutoff point. Choose wisely before you take your last breath. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Hard Lights by J.B. Turner is Book 14 in A Jon Reznick Thriller Series. 

When Jon learns of his good friend and Delta buddy Angel Ramos' brutal death, he immediately feels serious remorse that in the last few years he hadn't kept up their relationship. He remembered Angel as one of the bravest men he ever knew, but as with all of them who saw firsthand the vicious ways and atrocities of war, Angel faced and struggled with the memories. Jon decides to leave his home in Maine to travel to the Venice Beach area of California to understand what had happened to his friend. What he learns about Angel's life at the end fuels deeper regrets and a desire to somehow make things right for Angel's memory. 

As he visits the police department to ask a few questions, the response is condescending, and it's suggested he return home to Maine and wait for a report on the investigation into Angel's murder. What Jon knows about the murder surprises Captain Frank Garcia who gives him a friendly warning not to interfere and to allow the police to investigate the death of his friend.

Jon isn't about to do nothing, especially when he learns that Angel had a 16-year-old daughter who was caught up in "the scene" which included drugs and being an "escort." A homeless veteran and an older homeless woman fill in some of the blanks about Angel, about the possible identity of the murderer of Angel and what Angel was doing at the end of his life.

This is an ugly (aka realistic) story about life in the underbelly of the elite Hollywood types, cartel enforcers, high-end defense attorneys, and those who regularly pursue power, money, and sex – neutralizing anyone who gets in their way of obtaining what they desire. Jon continues to gain information as he feeds names to his absolute specialist/hacker in all things IT and friend Trevelle Williams. With the horrific information Trevelle reveals, Jon takes matters into his own hands after having Trevelle shoot all of what he's gathered to the police, FBI, and CIA. 

The lengths of brutality used against those who try to intervene and stop the nefarious conduct of these groups is unlimited. However, once it's learned of Jon Reznick's interference, they assume they'll be able to get rid of him as easily as they did his friend. First mistake. 

Although I highly recommend these Jon Reznick thrillers, I do so with a cautionary warning. There is abundant profanity and Jon pops Dexedrine like Skittles when he's on the hunt. Jon is a quality character conditioned by his training and work in the military, CIA, and as an FBI consultant. He's a rule-breaker when he has to be and has no regard for those who intentionally do evil with no remorse. 

Father, thank you for J.B. I pray your blessing over him. You know his heart. Please continue to give him what he needs to write the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Evil will slay the wicked,

   the foes of the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems his servants;

   no one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned. 

Psalm 34:21-22 (NIV) 

Tracking Justice by L.T. Ryan and C.R. Gray is Book 2 in A Maddie Castle Thriller Series. 

Maddie Castle was a cop/K-9 Handler who lost her beloved "Bear" (specially trained K-9) and the normal use of her knee, forcing a replacement, by finding a serial killer known as The Country Killer. She's now a Private Investigator living in a trailer park trying to make ends meet. Her new dog "Tempest" belonged to another detective who was shot and killed. Tempest required significant retraining, but Maddie was determined to make the necessary behavioral reforms in the dog as the alternative was to put this smart but improperly trained canine to death. That would've been a waste of a very intelligent and willing partner who became unexpectedly affectionate with a fun personality under Maddie's adept regimen. 

Maddie's former close friend, a very good friend which makes what they've become more painful, recommends Maddie to a wealthy woman who owns a car dealership and has just lost her daughter with little help in finding out how this happened from local law enforcement. Since the brilliant young college woman who was very close to her mom was found on her bed OD'd from a party drug, the cops labeled it a suicide and closed the case. At first, that's what Maddie thought too until she interviewed her on and off boyfriend, former best friend, and searched her room. What she discovers tells a completely different tale. 

As Maddie wrestles with the possibilities, the victim's mom wants to be informed about everything, but there are some things about her daughter that Maddie must confirm before revealing anything because what she's learning will be painful for her mom to hear. In the process of the investigation, there is an obvious attempt on Maddie's life, but no one at the police department wants to take it seriously. 

Mixed in with the difficulty of discovering leads and feeling threatened by an invisible pursuer, Maddie wrestles with her feelings for her best friend, Bentley. Is there more for them? 

This is a good mystery with plenty of twists and some thrilling action – usually at Maddie's expense. The mom is a good client and generous to Maddie because as far as the mom is concerned, Maddie is the only one who has taken her daughter's death seriously enough to prove it wasn't a suicide.

This is a good series with a worthwhile tough heroine and an amazing partner in her K-9 Tempest. 

(Profanity present.) 

Father, you know it all, hearts and minds, all of it. I pray you would minister to L.T. and C.R. and give them the material they need to keep writing good stories. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.