Into the Fire

Continuing my binge reading of the great Charles Martin and his story about a devoted Texas Ranger in Thunder and Rain. 

On his way to see his wife – soon to be his ex-wife – Tyler Steele, aka Cowboy, mostly retired Texas Ranger due to serious injuries he'd acquired, "accidentally" bumps into a woman Samantha (Sam) and her 9-year-old daughter Hope along the highway. They're desperate for some help but skeptical of getting any even though they accept "Cowboy's" assistance. 

Things happen that make it obvious these two are in serious trouble, and Cowboy, being the Ranger at heart and recognizing the severity of the situation offers them a place and way to start over where he doubts they will be found – at least for a while: his home. Their need overrules their concerns and questions so they agree to his offer. 

This begins the journey for Sam and Hope, Cowboy and his son Brodie. Cowboy knows at some point the guy responsible for his guests' pain and desperation will be looking for them and with the resources to eventually find them, he figures it won't take too long. Being a Ranger for life, he makes arrangements for the possibility of that unwelcome visit. 

Brodie is still hurting about the divorce and wishes his dad and mom could find a way to make things work instead, but he faces the reality when he figures it all out. He befriends Hope and shows her around school, and gradually accepts Sam because he does like her. Sam can't help herself where Cowboy's concerned – she's never known a man like him. 

Charles Martin's heroes are real men, mostly humble and almost bumbling when it comes to women-speak, protective, and willing to march headlong into danger when necessary, take the fall if needed. Most are men of few words, but what they say matters. The women seem to always need rescuing even though they're strong at heart but vulnerable to trouble. 

As I've taken to doing when I review one of Charles' novels, here's another passage from page 205 of my hardcopy: 

     "Anyway, the point is that we still buy into the fairy tale. We love them. They are the stories that feed us and thank God they do. Lord knows we need something to feed on 'cause the nightly news sure ain't doing the trick." . . . "Cinderella ain't wrong to want to dance, to be swept off her feet, live inside the castle. I just think she should be able to do so without being raped or murdered or made to fear.

     "Greatest trick ever played on mankind is that somewhere, somebody sold us a bill of goods convincing us that evil ain't real." . . . "Evil's got a face. I've seen it. Many a time." . . . "It's walking around – wearing white collars and tattoos, SWAT vests, badges, standing behind pulpits, hiding every manner of disguise. Evil is as real as that cactus right there and it wants your head on a platter. My daddy described it as a roaring lion, prowling around looking for someone to devour, and in my experience, that is true."

The lines that follow are equally impressive and equally insightful and no less touching in their context. Charles is a wordsmith and can use slang, common or refined language, and elegant descriptions in the same paragraph while making an important point about life in this world.  

As this story concludes, you'll see how the young character Hope, who throughout this story writes her letters to God, lives up to her beautiful name. 

The faith element is more pronounced in this one, mostly through the young Hope's perspective. 

Every Charles Martin novel is worth reading for those who love a good story filled with emotion, potential heartbreak, for some who like a good cry, and for those who just appreciate great writing. There's an opportunity for all of these possibilities in Thunder and Rain. 

Father, I know you'll continue to bless Charles in his writing because you gave him the talent to do it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

May you see the Risen Christ for who He is. Jesus died for us all. He paid the price for our sins, individually and corporately. Think about his cruel death that meted out the punishment for sin. Think about how He overcame the sins of the world. Think about why you're either for Him or against Him. There is no in-between. Your choice. 

May this Resurrection Day be your awakening and rebirth. God Bless You in your search for Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. John 14:6 

Five different, odd, weird, unusual things I do:

I will watch certain scenes I love from TV episodes or other recorded entertainment over and over again (without re-watching the entire episode).

Occasionally when re-reading an emotional scene in my manuscripts or published novels, I'll break down and cry all over again.

I gave up balancing our checkbook. As long as the bank says we have more than my checkbook says and everything's checked off, I'm good. 

I walk fairly fast – which isn't necessarily different – but none of my friends can keep up and even my family doesn't want to walk as fast as I do.

We have several two-switch panels for lighting in this home. I will walk to whatever panel I need to make sure the switches are either both up or both down on the same panel. 

And there you have a glimpse of my confessed idiosyncrasies. Care to confess any of yours? 

Father, you make all things unique. You love your creation. Thank you for redemption. We can never thank you enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

This is the novel that came second after Hope of Glory. It reads like a fictional biography and begins with an omniscient POV but morphs into third person. 

Those who've read it had their favorite parts, some said they had a person in their lives sort of like the hero "Joey Parr". Others loved the cat that appeared occasionally. 

The Famous One is definitely one of my favorites. Some just touch us in a unique way to write them. This one did. 

This novel got to the very end of the querying process at a well-known agency but was ultimately rejected after receiving high marks. And so the independent, self-publishing, vanity publishing journey continued. Soon it will be nine novels indie-published. 

Trivia: I was writing the sequel to Hope of Glory, which was to be called For His Glory, but I had to stop because it threatened to become as long and large as my first one! So I quit on it which was painful because I loved the entrance of some new characters. Shortly after that I began The Famous One. 

Father, you are the giver of gifts and talents. I've always written, and I'm so thankful for all the stories and characters you've given to me. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Chapter 1

She showed up with a bewildered look on her face, having braved the tree-shrouded gravel drive to the isolated cabin I occupied on my heavily forested 30 acres. Dressed in classy black slacks and a crisp white shell underneath a double-breasted jacket to match those slacks, I caught a trace of fear in her eyes when I responded to her firm three knocks to my lacquered black oak door.

     I could say it was love at first sight for me, but really it was closer to lust. Love had evaded me for many years so I never once expected to find it again. I made no effort to disguise my once-over from her face all the way down to her black high heels with small silver buckles on the toes which matched more or less the buttons on her blazer.

     Hey, I’m a writer. I notice everything just in case I want to use anything about the person, place, or thing in one of my future novels.

     But back to the woman who stood before me, no doubt now terrified that I hadn’t spoken a word to her before or after examining with an appreciative appraisal of her body parts, evaluating what her clothes said about her and her body.

     “Mr.,” There was a tremor in her voice before she cleared her throat. “Mr. Cardiff? I’m Sara Bristol.”

     “Married, divorced, or single?” I said it more abruptly than I needed to.

     Her expression flashed a moment of confusion, but then she seemed to gain her momentum and answered somewhat firmly.

     “Divorced a long time ago. Single.” A pause. “Does that matter?”

     “It matters to me. I don’t need any drama from a husband or boyfriends or anyone else for that matter. You do the job and there’ll be no drama from me either.” I opened the door wider and invited her inside with my extended arm.

     Warily she stepped inside. I said, “Not exactly what you expected?”

     I could tell she contemplated her response because it took her a moment to answer as she followed me into the open living area of my rustic but elegant 2-story cabin.

     “No.”

     She answered simply and honestly, and I think that’s what clinched my attraction to her.

This is an excerpt from the first chapter of what might be a future novel. That remains to be seen . . . 

Father, I love the stories, the words, the characters you inspire me to write. I can never thank you enough, but I will continue to give you thanks every day of my life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

             The best of Christian rock. The. Best. 

God, you brought Mylon through all kinds of hard trials, and he could've chosen to continue his rebellion. But . . . when you reached him, he became sold out to you and has served you ever since. Thank you for his talent and using it for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

The Letter Keeper by Charles Martin is Book Two so far in A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series. Book Three to follow in June, 2022.  

The Letter Keeper is as much a prequel as it is a sequel in that there's far more background given to the man Murphy Shepherd, aka David Bishop, Bestselling Author Extraordinaire, his experience with his mentor "Bones", the origin and intensity of his love for Marie, and the beginning of his writing. It touches on the guilt he experiences when his love for the woman "Summer" develops, who he rescued as she fought to chase those who'd kidnapped her daughter. But it focuses on the forgiveness that needs to happen in his relationship with Bones, the long recovery he experiences after a near-death attack on him accompanied by the destruction of his island, the welcomed closeness to his daughter Ellie, the identity and locale of those who tried to kill him, and the fear of the inevitable when it hits home and those he loves. And nearly ends his life. 

In many ways this is vintage Charles Martin – the continuation of unique, meaningful, wounded characters from and/or in hard places with so many obstacles to overcome both emotionally and physically as a result of many unresolved conflicts. The spiritual battles seep to the top but often go unaddressed. Martin is a student of emotion and not afraid to go there.

Let me give you another example of his exquisite writing on page 57 of my hardcover copy: 

      If that summer taught me anything, it was this: girls need their father. Period. And I couldn't really tell you why other than it's the father who tells them who they are. Until he does, they're just floating in the earth like that tooth [shark's tooth from the ocean]. Buried in some trash mound. Waiting to be discovered by somebody with a shovel who won't crack it or crush it.  

The Letter Keeper reminds the reader of the travesties forced upon the victims of "flesh trafficking". Victims are nothing more than commodities to be used and sold to the highest bidders who often play with their wealth to engage in every kind of perversion with the ones they "purchase". There's no "clean" way to make this subject appear less demonic, filthy, and vile than it is. And that's important because so many have no idea the huge international and local "trade" this has become, pitched on the Dark Web for wherever money flows. 

This story ends with an expected cliffhanger of sorts but with a shocking twist. Buckle up for the next entry in A Murphy Shepherd Novel Series. 

Father, you've blessed Charles in innumerable ways that he's well aware of and thankful for all of them. I pray you would continue to fill his heart with more inspiration and stories that only he can write. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should not give up. He said, "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with a plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

     "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear god or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!'" 

     And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" 

Luke 18:1-8 (NIV) 

You see that very special name below mine? That's a very special author of his own novels, now the producer and narrator of Race. You know him. I've reviewed two of his novels here and here – and loved them! It's the one and only Joseph Courtemanche. That melodic voice will insert you into this murder mystery, written like a police procedural, and send you into your search for the killer. 

The big "tease": our new audio book is now available. 

Father, I pray you would pour out your Spirit upon Joseph, bless him in your abundance, continue to lead him on the path designed just for him, and give him those stories you have just for him to tell. I cannot thank him enough for his generosity, kindness, and steadfast commitment. He's amazing, and I thank you that I can call him a friend and a special man. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.