Into the Fire

Killing Season by LT Vargus and Tim McBain is Book 2 in A Violet Darger Thriller Series. 

A sniper shoots from a hillside and kills drivers on a freeway. Although it's the same sniper that moves through a supermarket parking lot shooting people dead with a handgun, no one knows it's the same man. They only know fear. Driving, shopping . . . what's/who's next in this deadly assault? And why?

FBI Agent Violet Darger is on her way to Atlanta where the heat and humidity is stifling and the fear is escalating. Her partner and mentor of sorts, Special Agent Loshak, are joined with Special Agents Dawson and Baxter who have been appointed to lead/share this investigation. As time and efforts unfold to identify this killer, the particular handgun left at the second scene leads to an unexpected source. 

There's a lot of back and forth in this story, flipping from the killer's perspective to Agent Darger's evaluations as to the character of the killer partially from reading a serial killer's memoir. New information comes as a surprise and with that a hectic struggle to uncover the next target. In between all of this chaos, there is tragedy and eventual hope. 

Not easy to review this novel because it's difficult trying not to deliver spoilers. Well-written story and plenty of action between the investigation and discoveries. 

The epilogue concludes with a startling cliffhanger.  

Plenty of profanity. Apart from that, this is a good mystery/thriller with plenty of books to keep readers busy with this series. 

Father, please bless LT and Tim in their collective writing endeavors, giving them the stories you have just for them to tell. Encourage them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. "

John 14:15-20 (NIV)

People have different feelings about TV. Some love it. Some don't. And, yes, there are some that enjoy particular parts of it and shun the rest. 

As an author, I love good drama. And since there are fewer and fewer good films being produced by a self-aggrandizing politically inclined Hollywood, it's refreshing for me when I can watch a good series on TV. Whether it's mystery, a police procedural, a family drama, an action show, or a "dramadey," if there's good writing and acting involved, I'm all in. 

For me, good writing in novels, films, or a television series, inspires me to write and to continually direct my writing to be more effective, expressive, etcetera. 

When we find a medium we enjoy, we always hope to see it improve and offer us a means to disengage from our reality for a time and re-engage in other situations and characters that provide us with something of value – even if it's a good laugh, a moment of emotional release, a shared experience caught in a fictional encounter. The beauty of creativity capturing our heartfelt reactions can give us moments of real satisfaction. At least it does for me. 

Father, thank you for allowing me to write and create. Characters, stories, words. I truly can never thank you enough for all of it. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Nicole by Nicole. Long before selfies, this young woman experimented with self-photography to become familiar with her new 35mm Konica camera received for her birthday just before leaving on the trip of a lifetime with a good friend. We made our own tour of Great Britain, Ireland, and most of Europe for almost 3 months. Came home two days before Christmas. Wrapped presents in a huge hurry and delivered some on Christmas Eve. I remember the dress I bought for my mom in a small ladies' boutique-type shop in Florence, Italy. It fit her perfectly! Such fun memories . . . 

Father, you've been so gracious to me, protecting me from all kinds of dangers, some unintentional, others not so much. And yet, you waited patiently. I can never thank you enough. I love you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

The Famous One was my second published novel. I got my first one-star review(s) on Amazon after it had been out for a while. Getting a one-star review is how you determine who your audience definitely isn't – in case you didn't know already. The Famous One is one of my favorites so of course the one-star diatribe was not fun to read. I still maintain that one-star reviews say more about the reviewers than they do the novels they've executed with their words. Many people did enjoy the story of Joey Parr, and it actually touched some hearts. "To each his own" as "they" say.

"Joey Parr’s journey from a troubled childhood and rebellious adolescence leads him into a career in film and reluctant celebrity. The Famous One chronicles his life and allows the reader to share in his beginnings, his awkward fame, and the love which finally finds him when he least expects it. As his dream of having a family unfolds, he is stunned to learn something is still missing from his near perfect life.

The Famous One takes an introverted yet passionate character of few words and deep running emotion and puts him into the spotlight of fame where he is hungry for value, substance, and real love but struggles to find them."

Father, I can never thank you enough for these stories. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Then and now. The great Eric Clapton and one of his huge hits. 

Lord, you know Eric. He went through all kinds of things, and you rescued him. Thank you for all those who yield to you, Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Random favorite things . . . 

The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers

The smell of fresh cut alfalfa 

Ice cold Coca Cola in the morning or very sweet Spice Chai

Always horses and German Shepherds

Various kinds of boots 

Vince Flynn novels/Mitch Rapp, #1 thriller hero

The way Charles Martin writes

My novels 

And there you have it for Monday, Monday . . . 

Father, thank you for the amazing beauty you've created for all to see "so that men [mankind] are without excuse." (Romans1:20 NIV) In spite of all the evil, nothing outshines your light. Please continue to open eyes to see and ears to hear and rescue the lost. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He IS risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He is risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him.' Now I have told you." 

      So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them, "Greetings," He said. They came to Him and clasped his feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." 

Matthew 28:5-10 (NIV) 

The Cross and the Tomb are empty. Jesus Is Risen. Meet Him while you still have breath. It's Resurrection Day! 

Part of Chapter 32 from Seeing . . . 

He pulled into the parking space at the motel where they’d spent their last visit. He turned off his rig and undid his seat belt, lifting up the arm rest so he could angle toward her easily. “So, you want to talk about it?”

     Silence crept into the cab until she finally spoke. “I have a way of ruining everything, don’t I?”

     He heard the regret in the softness of her voice. “Sometimes you do. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you prefer conflict—that things don’t feel right when they’re going well for you.” He didn’t condemn her but he worked to make a point.

     She turned to face him. “I shouldn’t be with you, Micah.” Tears shoved their way into her eyes. “I always find a way to darken anything good you do for me. You’re the most wonderful person I’ve ever met, and I’ve been so . . . awful.”

     “You haven’t been ‘awful’, but you definitely seem compelled to nix all the good things in your path—or at least you put up roadblocks to enjoying them.”

     She searched the floor for his small box of Kleenex and snatched a couple to wipe her nose. She sat back and exhaled hard. He climbed into the sleeper to ready things to take in the room.

     “I’m jealous, you know.”

     All he heard was jealous, so he shifted around and sat in the middle of the bed. “What?”

     “I’m jealous of your dead wife.”

     His lips parted, the prelude to his jaw dropping, but he caught his reaction and shut his mouth.

     She turned in her seat, tears overrunning their boundaries like floodwaters. “I know you’ll always love her. I know I’m as opposite from her as anyone could possibly be. I can’t be her.” She blew her nose. “As much as I wish I could be, I can’t.” The hands came up to cover her face as severe sobbing took control.

     The quick picture of a little girl in the same position snapped in Micah’s mind. He leaned forward and pushed up her armrest, gently pulling her back to him. He slid her to the back wall with him and held her close as her cries wrenched his soul.

     When she stopped, she sat up. “I’m sorry, Micah.” Her tissues were saturated so he got up to find her the box.

     “I know, Bonita. But couldn’t we just try to have a good time?” He handed her the Kleenex. “I’m going to go book your room. Be right back.”

Father, thank you for these characters, the words, the love story. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

If you ever wondered how I turned out to be the way I am, my two-year-old self said it all right here. 

Thank you, Lord, for watching over me my entire life, for being so gracious to me from the beginning. I love you, Lord. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.