Into the Fire

(Originally posted on 11/05/13 as "Trying for . . . Singularity".)

If you've never read a Steven James novel, here's what you can expect: an absolute thriller chocked full of evil, fear, intensity, intelligent characters, deep and complex plots, morality issues, faith references and examples mostly in the undertone of critical decisions involving the threat of death, and stellar writing with his Master Storyteller credentials fully exposed. No shortcuts, no triviality, no pedestrian prose or dialogue. Always an intriguing end to a fully exhausted story.

Jevin Banks is a famous illusionist (often referred to as a magician which he refutes) who plays the Las Vegas Strip at a big casino owned by a billionaire. His friend and partner, the kooky Xavier, his assistant and love Charlene, a body double for him and Charlene, his friend and computer genius Fionna, single mother of four brilliant children, compose the basic entourage of Jevin Banks' group. He, Xav, and Charlene are in the Philippines to watch another of their young illusionist/protégé friends (Emilio) perform a "buried alive with Cobras" trick in Emilio's homeland when suddenly it all goes terribly wrong. Almost immediately after learning of Emilio's fate, Jevin and Xav realize Emilio's been murdered, but they can't convince anyone there to follow up on their realization. They bury their friend in his homeland and return to Vegas determined to find out why.

What happens during their search involves piranhas, robotic accessories, human experimentation, the notorious Area 51, a feared pimp named Solomon, a cartel drug lord named Jesus, a sociopathic call girl named Calista, and a psychopath who likes to be called Akisanya.

Singularity is the second Jevin Banks novel in Steven's new series, the first being Placebo. I'm not even going to attempt to explain the meaning of "singularity" in this story. You'll learn more about robotic access and control than you'll care to know. And fused with the plethora of possibilities for manipulation of robotic replacements, you'll find yourself in the emotional, physical, and spiritual quandaries of merging man and machines to replace aging and making decisions.

Jevin Banks is challenged at every level of his humanity in this story and makes strides in his personal recovery from losing his wife and twin boys. Packed with action and philosophizing, the pure evil and the attempted good of humanity clash and wrestle to a satisfying but leading conclusion.

Singularity is a step up from Placebo, but I recommend you begin the series at the beginning and proceed to Singularity. If you want detailed and unusual, thought-provoking literature, grab and devour a Steven James thriller.

Father, I ask your continued blessings upon Steven James. You've given him such intelligence and talent in storytelling. I pray he persists in using it for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                Such amazing beauty. Love this one.

Father, words are often inadequate for the beauty you've allowed to remain. Thank you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

The beautiful and talented Dionne Warwick with one of her classic hits. 

Father, only you give these amazing gifts, talents, and blessings. Thank you for those who use their gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

L. T. Ryan writes his 12th book in the Jack Noble Thriller Series. End Game proves to be an illusive and of course dangerous trip for Jack and Bear and a female former FBI Agent. Through bone chilling cold, sniper fire, wounds, deaths, and international travel, the target eludes the trio.

Jack Noble is a moral compass short of being Mitch Rapp. He's basically settled for being a highly compensated hit man for an old gangster Jack calls "the old man"who has connections in everything and everywhere. However, when the old man wants something special done without any ties to himself, he contracts Jack for the job. It's always risky but the money's good.

I've read several novels in the Jack Noble series, and they never fail to provide complex plots with intense action. It's not that Jack is soul-less. It's that he's been seriously betrayed by his former government superiors and has serious doubts when it comes to respecting authority figures. Even though the old man is not to be trifled with, Jack's smart-a%# attitude treats him no differently than anyone else in Jack's sphere of influence. 

In End Game the old man wants an "end" to a particular individual named Thanos who is being pursued by multiple groups which Jack is unaware of until he makes a trip to the man's home. He's added his best friend and former mission partner to this gig ("Bear") and reluctantly acquires a former undercover FBI Agent Lexi who constantly surprises them with "new" information and contacts. Other than each other, Bear and Jack don't know if they can trust anyone, including Jack's former boss Frank, who has re-signed Jack for the Thanos mission, and Lexi's contacts. This job proves to be deadly in more ways than one. 

End Game is one of those stories which concludes without a neatly tied up finish, leaving the real "end game" in question. A reader can expect an entertaining book with the same amount of profanity found in a Ryan novel as with Flynn/Mills or Thor and some sexual references, rarely if ever graphic. L. T. Ryan has written another good Jack Noble novel.

Father, I pray you would continue to bless L. T. with stories and that he would recognize from whom his talent comes. Please keep him and his family safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

                             (From the WIP titled Seeing . . . )

     Micah headed to the restroom to use the facilities and wash up before ordering. The memories often came like a surprise attack, assaulting his senses giving him no time for resistance. For just one tiny moment in the less than four second glimpse of the couple out front, the girl had reminded him of Jean. No resemblance in her appearance. Why then? The inevitable old grief threatened him with the choking sensation of holding back unwanted, and now seemingly unwarranted, tears. So many years ago. Why did it still hang around like a noose tightening its grip on the last breaths of his life, daring him to survive his loss?

     He stared into the mirror above the sink, willing himself back to the present by focusing on his expression — clearing the evident sadness out of his eyes. It wasn’t that he wanted to forget any of it, even the grief. It’s that it was so long ago and he was just now desirous of moving on. To who knows where but somewhere else besides the gloom of sorrow’s place etched forever in his mind by the memory of his first and only too-short-lived love.

Father, you told me to "pick up the pen and I'll give you the words". You've been faithful even when I've floundered. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Written like a fictional biography, The Famous One gives the life story of Joey Parr. As writers, we tend to favor certain characters just as our readers pick and choose their own favorites that stick with them over time. I try to limit my self-promotion to a couple of times a year, so this is 2018's version of "selling" you on one of my favorite characters that I've written. 

Some people have been personally touched by Joey's story, so I'm presenting him to you today hoping if you're a review reading individual, you will take the reviews on Amazon to heart and decide to give The Famous One a chance to grab yours. 

Thank you for allowing me this indulgence. 

Father, thank you for every word. You know my heart. You inspire. I write. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

            A private place in the midst of natural beauty.

Father, what must the Garden of Eden looked like . . . so untainted by man's sin. I cannot imagine that kind of beauty known only to your creation. Thank you for allowing some of it to remain in our sin-stained land. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

From the amazingly talented (and dysfunctional) group Fleetwood Mac, off their album "Rumors", the live version of Go Your Own Way on tour in '97. 

Father, so many band members in those now distant days didn't know you. Only you know the current state of their hearts. Thank you for gifting them with such talent. I pray they know who gave it to them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Author and missionary Lisa Harris has written a good and poignant thriller (published in 2013). Dangerous Passage discovers the deaths of two young Asian women have more than their killer in common. 

Detective Avery North and Assistant Medical Examiner Jackson Bryant join forces to hopefully uncover the serial killer murdering young Asian women. Both having faced hard losses in their private lives, neither is sure their attraction to one another is something they should pursue during the difficult search for a ruthless killer of two girls with magnolia tattoos on their shoulders. Although that connects the victims along with their ethnicity, nothing else seems to tie them together. Through the odd circumstance of a homeless man, they identify the niece of a suspicious but prominent Asian businessman and his wife who reported their niece missing when she didn't come home one evening. 

With flawed information and an assault on Avery after she receives a threatening note, the case becomes even more disturbing. After finding another young Asian woman working close to the home of the last victim, Avery suspects she knows more than she is able to communicate. 

Lisa handles the faith elements and the romance with a genuine touch. The two main characters grow to understand each other and Jackson is a real man in his guarded pursuit of Avery while doing his job and providing the singular clue to the deeper issues in this puzzling case. Truly likable characters.

Tackling a tough subject carefully, Lisa Harris brings much needed attention to an ever growing worldwide demonic stronghold in the midst of a well told story.

(Personally, I don't think the cover gives a good rendition of the characters, and I honestly don't care for it which is nothing more than a commentary on the cover art.)

Father, please continue to bless Lisa, let her writing continue to speak for those without a voice, and fill her with the stories you have just for her to tell. Please keep her and her family safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.