Into the Fire

Romeo's Stand by James Scott Bell is Book 5 in the A Mike Romeo Thriller Series. 

Some novels you just don't want to end even though they absolutely have to end or the protagonist would be dead. In other words, if he keeps getting into the kind of trouble Mike Romeo manages to procure, either the book ends or Mike Romeo does.

I love this series. I love Mike Romeo. JSB has created a thoroughly unique specimen in Mike Romeo. His intelligence and recall of philosophers and overall intellectual information from his parental upbringing and personal interest and curiosity – all of it is off the charts. Knowing just the right pithy and/or confusing retorts to make at inopportune moments, no one can quite figure out Romeo except desert recluses and his sort-of boss, former Mossad agent turned Rabbi turned attorney Ira Rosen for whom Mike interviews witnesses for Ira's court cases. Former cage-fighter with skills, Romeo wants to live the simple life in LA on the beach until there's a wrong that must be righted. It's just that simple for him – except it's not. Ever. Simple. 

And no one knows that better than Ira. 

Mike is on his way to Las Vegas to interview a witness when the plane he's on goes awry and lands in the desert near a small town not too far from Vegas called Dillard. The woman (Karen) seated next to him is terrified as the plane shimmies and shakes and thuds to the ground. Romeo makes sure she gets on the first emergency vehicle to the local hospital. When everyone is off the plane and needs are addressed, Romeo hitches a ride with a local guy (Moochie) in a dune buggy and gets dropped off at the hospital to see if Karen's okay and invited to Biff's Tavern. 

When no one at the hospital will allow Mike to find out anything about Karen and it's suggested he be on his way to Las Vegas, he gets suspicious and a little worried about her. And so it begins. 

In Romeo's Stand, you will either see or meet an aging baton twirler, a guy with an insanely vulgar apparatus which doesn't last long when Romeo sees it, a vicious sheriff and his "posse", an FBI agent, a desert recluse with a classic motorcycle and pet chicken "Bill", a suave attorney, an Asian assassin, and a scheming hospital administrator to name a few. 

There are an incredible amount of laugh out loud moments and scenes, amazing wit and clever repartee, as well as painful gut-wrenching situations. 

I've said this before and I'll restate it here: No One is more clever or witty than James Scott Bell. I suspect there's more of JSB in Mike Romeo than we might imagine.

I rarely attach 5-stars to my reviews, but JSB has earned them all in Romeo's Stand. If you want an incredibly unique anti-hero that'll charm you in spite of himself plus a full cast of unusual villains and outstanding (in oh-so-many ways) peripheral characters, A Mike Romeo Thriller (series) is definitely for you. 

Father, please continue to use Jim's intellect, wit, and imagination to tell the stories you have just for him to tell. Thank you for the astounding talents and gifts you've given him. Please continue to bless him. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

A great song, talented musicians and songwriter(s). 

Lord, reach those who make music. Speak to their hearts and save them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Sleepers by Mark Dawson is a prequel look at John Milton as Number One in Book 13 of the series. 

Russian agents have infiltrated places they should not be, and after a retired defector meets with a retired MI6 operative in a small town in England to share vital information on a secret Russian military project in hopes of securing critical favor for the one who has the whole design and wants to defect, chaos erupts sending a newer young female director, John Milton, and Michael Pope to Russia. But the Russians aren't the only ones with "sleepers".  

John's beginning to show the effects of his job. His drinking has become a problem for him, but he, like so many, thinks he'll be able to handle it – or perhaps he believes he should be able to handle it. (The story takes place right before The Cleaner, Book 1 in the series). However, the deaths have piled up and the nightmares are suffocating his rest.

Trust is at a premium, and John knows Pope is the only one he can trust definitively, but their fate at meeting this potential defector depends on people John's had to threaten and one he can't be absolutely positive will do as he's scheduled to do. 

If you select any of the major thriller writers who have created multiple novel series with those larger than life characters such as the late Vince Flynn's (and now Kyle Mills) Mitch Rapp, Brad Thor's Scot Harvath, Lee Child's Jack Reacher, and Mark Dawson's John Milton, devoted readers take note when that character is given a minor role in one of the stories. He still contributes to the major story, but the reader sees him less frequently because of the direction and focus the author chooses to take. What can happen with this approach – even if it's a temporary reaction to the one particular book – the reader tends not to enjoy the story as much as those where the hero is more prominent.

These authors' protagonists are so eye-popping, dramatic, and fine-tuned with their own set of hidden struggles, we readers can never get enough of them. Since their stories take them all over the world, it's not unusual to have multiple sub-plots necessary to keep up the intensity and intrigue which require some deviations and peripheral character developments. When that comes at the cost of less involvement or depiction of the hero, sometimes the story can be less likable. Sleepers could be one of those stories for some.

Profanity present.

Father, please continue to show Mark your blessings and abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

     But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

     See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

     Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. 

Hebrews 12:22-29 (NIV)

Never forget this is a celebration of INDEPENDENCE, of ONE NATION UNDER GOD, of THE LIVES GIVEN TO INSURE YOUR FREEDOM. 

NEVER FORGET WHAT FREEDOM IS AND THE LORD GOD WHO PROVIDED IT. 

Father, please don't give up on us yet. Please forgive us for our many sins and let your face shine upon America again. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Drift by L. T. Ryan and Brian Shea is Book 1 in the Rachel Hatch Series. 

Reluctantly retired from the army because of an injury to her right arm even though re-qualifying in every test, Rachel Hatch is forced to come home to Hawk's Landing because of a curt text from her mother. Her twin sister has apparently drowned leaving her two young children and mother to deal with the shock. Rachel and her mom have been at odds for a fairly long time since her dad died, and this tragedy isn't mending the wounds. 

Abruptly introduced to the sheriff when "Hatch" forces her way into the morgue to see her sister, they start off a little testy until Sheriff Savage sees her for who she is. She's no amateur, was no "ordinary" soldier, and he respects her skills. An alliance is formed between them as they seek to find what really happened to Rachel's sister. 

She's tough, she's wicked smart, and she's nobody's fool. Savage is savvy, patient, and level-headed. Although she's more of a lone wolf in the investigation of her sister's death, Hatch comes around to trusting Savage. 

The story concludes with the answer they need, but provides a new course for Rachel who continues to drift. 

I enjoyed L. T.'s Jack Noble Series, but I somehow lost track of where I left off with it. Although I'm unfamiliar with Brian Shea's work, I will look forward to checking out his Nick Lawrence Series. Hatch is an interesting heroine who grows in her relationship with her sister's son and daughter and establishes real affection for them after an awkward introduction. An important revelation occurs between Hatch and her mother that begins the mending process in their relationship while setting up the second book in this series.  

Father, only you know hearts. Please continue to bless the writing of these men and may they know from whom their gifting comes. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

My oldest son was born on her birthday. Best friends since second grade with years of separation as lives do and reunions . . . Happy Birthday, Deb. May the Lord bless and keep you safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus. 

The big 50! Number one son of two. A joy, hard worker, one who perseveres, many friends, keeper of family, father, brother, grandson. Love you precious son Donovan. Happy Birthday!

May the Lord continue to bless you, grant you the desires of your heart as you delight in Him, keep you safe from all harm, remind you of His great love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, and soak you in His presence. May you see His smile and hear His laughter as He celebrates this day He ordained for your birth. Happy Birthday, Donovan. 

The Mischief Thief is Johnnie Alexander's latest release (May 2020). 

Okay, honestly, I have to preface this with having spent 30+ years in horse racing at various racetracks in Washington state and California (granted: I've never been to a Florida racetrack where this story takes place), I'm always leery of reading stories that center on the sport and its tracks. People (writers/authors) can tour racetracks and speak to different people who work there from horsemen and women to track maintenance, horse-shoers, kitchen operators, jockeys, jock's room personnel, entries/race office staff, commission office employees, veterinarians, guards, the gamut of all the diverse people who make up and participate in the sport directly or indirectly, etc., but it's difficult to portray it as it really is without having some real experience there. So I'm usually insulted by the, dare I say, ignorance of the depictions of people, places, and things concerning racetracks and of the people who work there. However, having said all that – and admittedly it was lengthy because operating and working at a racetrack is no small deal – most people have no idea about any of those important occupations and things I just listed so they're able to read a story that includes horse racing and its general entities without knowing (or caring) about the errors, assumptions, and/or the sometimes absurdities and clichés those produce in the story. 

I seriously debated whether or not to read this novel precisely because of the factor(s) listed above. Having written a comprehensive look at horse racing in my first novel, a ridiculously long saga Hope of Glory, and a mystery with the locale focused on a murder at the track in Race, I believe it's okay for me to say I know what I'm talking about concerning horse racing and racetracks. 

So, again having said all that, this story isn't really about rescuing the racehorse "Mischief" from his gangster owner, it's about rescuing the grifter – but good-hearted down deep – Chaney Rose and the inescapably good man, the newly fired pastor and jilted fiancé Adam. Adam's widowed dad (Tucker), DVM (veterinarian), disappears simultaneously with the gangster's young wife and the racehorse Mischief. 

Chaney Rose and her cousin (and only family) Marshall run cons on people to survive and make a living, but their last job went awry and it was somehow Chaney's fault or at least she thinks it was and Marshall took the fall for her, landing himself in jail. Chaney would do just about anything to get her cousin out of jail, and what she chooses to do introduces her – and not in a good way – to Adam by way of the bulldog detective who wants her to join her cousin in jail. However, her intentions fail in a big way so she enlists the help of another con (Calvin) to help re-steal Mischief (because he's supposed to race and isn't sound enough to survive without further injury). It's elaborate and depends heavily on Calvin which Chaney knows is a risk in itself. 

The best part of the story is the development of the character Chaney and the heart of the man Adam. Tucker is a courageous, ornery guy who is actually fun to watch as he deals with both Chaney and Adam. The connection between Tucker and another veterinarian Melody is a good one. There are places where the dialogue/subsequent inner dialogue and action give the reader laugh out loud moments that are fun and clever.

The Mischief Thief is a well-written story that presents meaningful characters who struggle to make right decisions in the midst of awful wrongs. 

(I won't hold my racing bias toward inaccuracies and racetrack clichés against the story.)

Father, please continue to provide the stories you have just for Johnnie to tell and please provide all that she needs to further those stories. Bless and protect her in the Name of Jesus, Amen.     

They had a bunch of great hits. This was only one of them. Most people know that their original name was Chicago Transit Authority, but the real Transit Authority were miffed that they'd taken "their" name, so it was shortened to just "Chicago". 

Father, thank you for music and the giftings you've given to those with instruments and voices to sing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.