Into the Fire

Kyle Mills continues the late Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp saga with the new Enemy of the State, a trying set of circumstances for the operative that requires his resignation from the CIA.

After finishing a harrowing personal obligation in Al-Shirqat, Iraq, Rapp returns home to his uneasy relationship with the woman (Claudia) and her 4 yr. old daughter who occupy his life there. In his house. Relationships don't work well with Rapp. Plus, the still recovering Scott Coleman, Rapp's go-to guy in organizing ops, insists he can't accommodate that role any longer until he's fully well. Scott, Irene Kennedy, and Claudia herself, all want Claudia to take his place. Rapp is not happy with their selection, knowing the risk to her is too great. His objections are somehow overruled.  

Summoned by the POTUS for a secret meeting, it is implied that Rapp could do something but that if he did, the POTUS would pretend he had zero knowledge of it and would turn on him in a New York minute if he was caught. After resigning from the CIA, Rapp assembles a ragtag group of ultra-talented misfits from Rapp's storied past with Claudia running point. Mitch takes his "team" to one hell-hole after another trying to find a Saudi prince who's using his acquired funds to finance terror. However, there's something awry with whoever is helping the despicable prince and until the group discovers who that is, they keep going down confusing paths. When they finally locate him on the Riviera, the plan seems to be working until suddenly chaos explodes.

Rapp manages to extract the surprising source of who's behind the orchestration of getting money to the terrorists and the race is on to eliminate him. However, all their efforts to find different parties attached to this source come to an end with their deaths.

This is a charged chase of politically volatile characters that starts to backfire on Rapp. 

Enemy of the State presents a confounding puzzle with many pieces out of place and not easily attached. Turn the tables on Rapp, and you might get more than you bargained for in results. It's a thriller, and we see Rapp twisted emotionally by his "new" arrangement with Claudia while his life and liberty are being seriously threatened. 

It's an awkward Rapp we see in this novel. He's struggling with the relationship, his future, even his abilities to do this way of life and for how much longer. His go-to guy was seriously injured and isn't coming back as fast as he'd hoped and is uncertain if he can come back at all. Considering Claudia for the organizational aspects of Scott's job adds an entirely different dynamic to his ops. None of it feels right, and Rapp's in a precarious place. It will be interesting to see what Kyle does in the next segment of the Mitch Rapp saga. I can't say I'm entirely comfortable with this vision of Mitch Rapp – and his choice of women. Again.

(Language is a bit excessive in this one.)

Father, please continue to pursue souls. We're in desperate need of your grace and rescue. Always. Please bless Kyle's efforts in carrying on this legacy and give him the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

     The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails – given by one Shepherd. Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them.

     Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.

     Now all has been heard,

       here is the conclusion of the matter:

     Fear God and keep his commandments,

       for this is the whole duty of man.

     For God will bring every deed into judgment,

       including every hidden thing, 

       whether it is good or evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14 (NIV)

Five of my faraway favorite places . . . 

Aix en Provence, France

Venice, Italy

Galway, Ireland

London, England

Paris, France

I don't know if I'd feel the same about these places today as I did when I was a naïve traveler who'd just turned 20. In fact, the current state of a couple of these locations are in turmoil because of their choices so, no, I wouldn't classify them as favorites now. But then . . . yeah, it was an amazing experience to visit them. 

Father, thank you for getting me safely home and allowing me to have some unequaled memories. You protected me even when I didn't know you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                        
(Originally published on May 18th, 2014, as Taking the . . . Bridge to Haven)

You know it's a good book when . . . you can't wait to get into it again but you stall because you don't want it to end.  Published by Tyndale Fiction, Bridge To Haven by Francine Rivers is another huge success to add to her long list of exquisite stories. This one lands right up there with her legendary Redeeming Love for me and that is no easy perch. I loved them both.

Pastor Zeke takes a nudge from God during one of his dark early morning prayer walks in the brisk October air. To his amazement he discovers an abandoned baby under the bridge that leads in and out of the small town of Haven, California. The child is cold and frail, and he tucks her under his heavy coat and shirt against his bare chest for warmth and hustles to the hospital.

Pastor Zeke's wife Marianne is not well. A heart condition from rheumatic fever as a child has weakened her in adulthood after the birth of their son Joshua five years ago, but she will not allow anyone else to care for the baby girl they name Abra even though a couple with one daughter would love to adopt this one.

I could fill in the details for you of the painful trials undergone by Pastor Zeke and Marianne, Joshua and Abra, but it would rob you of the rich pictures painted by Francine leading up to Abra's departure from Haven as a rebellious 17 year old who's decided a 20 year old Corvette-driving LA bad boy must love her more than the people who've made sure she's always had what she needed, even the love she wouldn't recognize and accept.

After experiencing the ugly lesson of what love definitely is not, Abra morphs into whoever directs her actions, speech, and wardrobe. When the bad boy "releases" her to an obsessive well-known talent agent, Abra determines to rise to a new level of Hollywood success, a perfect opportunity to prove her worth. Her natural beauty and curves are amplified under her agent's strict direction, turning her into "Lena Scott" and making her a sought after actress.

Meanwhile the grown-up Joshua, who warned her about the boy who drove her out of Haven, struggles with God's instructions to let her go after trying to find her. He loves her in spite of her, and although he half-heartedly tries to leave the thoughts of her behind, there is no way he can forget her.

Over time, Abra loses herself and becomes someone else's creation. She tries to make it work, but her situation only becomes more unbearable. Drastic measures must be taken.

In many ways Bridge to Haven captures classic themes running through Redeeming Love. The prominent "uncondtional love", giving and receiving forgiveness, challenged faith, and clinging to the faintest hope when despair is overwhelming, all penetrate the pages of Bridge to Haven. The account of an abandoned baby's life, the pain of a young girl feeling like an unwanted appendage, an outsider, to those who offer her love leave her unable to recognize the cunning and deception of those who give her a chance to "escape" when really they're leading her to a new kind of prison. All the wayward misguided feelings combine to take her down. And make her remember and long for a bridge back to Haven.

Beginning in 1936 but primarily set in the 1950s, this epic tale of love, mercy, deceit, and sorrow offers characters to love and hate. Abra forfeits so much to find what she hopes to get only to discover a barren ugliness awaits her efforts. Joshua provides strength attained from pain and sorrow and an unshakable hope. His father Pastor Zeke is forced to rely on his faith because he can do nothing else to gain what he wants for all those he loves so deeply. There's a twist at the end which touches the soul, and there are hard places which elicit tears. Bridge to Haven is a masterpiece of characters and circumstances bringing to life so many facets of human nature and the chronic and desperate need in all of us for a Savior.

This is a grand story, considered a long novel by today's Christian fiction standards. I loved this book. Loved it.
 

Father, thank you for Francine's magnificent stories, her giftings, and her passionate love for you. Her ability to communicate your incredible redeeming love is truly a treasure. Thank you for her. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

I remember a time when I actually thought it was possible to be considered an author, to be accepted into the "fold" of published authors, to be a member of that esteemed grouping of writers who'd "made it". Those thoughts took place several years ago.

I've met a lot of authors who I deem to be successful – some of them might disagree because of their paychecks. Others would accept the mantle with humility. Although many successful authors have been traditionally published, some of them have gone "indie" because of the financial rewards. Of course it always helps to have the "been published" or "bestselling author" behind you when you go the independent route. 

I've done the posts on "success" and what it means at any level, but this isn't really about that. It's about my personal reflection of writing dreams, self-publishing when the stigma attached to it remained and sometimes still does, being unready for the demands of publishing, deciding the demands forced compromises I wasn't willing to make, and eventually slipping off into an undisciplined time of writing only blog posts before once again being receptive to three possible endeavors which still continue in their various states of unfinished works in progress. 

Yes, there was a time when it mattered to walk upon that hallowed ground of recognition for my work as an author. Now? I guess I can say it only matters when someone, anyone, reads one of my books and truly enjoys it. That really does matter to me.

Father, I thank you for every one of those readers. Every single one. Only you bring the good and perfect gifts, the increase. Only you. Thank you for all you've done for and given to me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

She had a multitude of hits. Can't say much for her later-in-life positions, but she was a bona fide star with her great voice and terrific songs. 

Father, we all need you. You gave us your Son! How can we refuse such a sacrifice, but . . . sadly, so many of us do. Please rescue more, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Although I was an avid complainer concerning the plot and casting in Vince Flynn's prequel of storied character Mitch Rapp, American Assassin presents an action-packed bona fide thriller starring Michael Keaton as Stan Hurley, Dylan O'Brien as Mitch Rapp, and Sanaa Lathan as Irene Kennedy. Michael Keaton as Stan Hurley is terrific. Dylan O'Brien puts in an admirable performance considering the script, and Sanaa Lathan does what is asked of her with this script, but, unfortunately, she is not the real Irene Kennedy. I don't blame her at all. She no doubt did what the screenwriters gave her. And since those who made the film changed so much of their star character's background and elements of the plot, it's not surprising that they changed the overall character of Irene Kennedy. 

Having said all that, I really enjoyed the movie. Excitement, dread, heart-pounding action. All the requirements of a true thriller were present. Dylan O'Brien gave what looked like a fully invested effort to portray the filmmaker's version of the young Mitch Rapp. It was easy to see why Lysa Flynn was pleased with the overall production and those involved in making her late husband's dream come true.

It's hard to think about all of the compromises made to the plot of a great novel, but if it exposes even one new reader to the collection of Vince Flynn novels featuring my favorite character of all time Mitch Rapp, it will have been worth it. I did my duty at the theatre. A man who sat two seats away from me had never heard of Vince Flynn. I told him he needed to read his books and to start with this one (American Assassin). Hopefully the movie will have inspired him to do so. 

(The bad language is more frequent than necessary – and one of the things Irene Kennedy would never do is utter the words she does in this film.)

Father, it's up to you when it comes to souls. You see the hearts of us all. Please, Lord, there are so many desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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 "To whom will you compare me?

    Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

Lift your eyes to the heavens:

    Who created all these?

He who brings out the starry host one by one,

    and calls them each by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,

    not one of them is missing. 

Isaiah 40:25-26 (NIV)

I've been through all the disappointing amendments to the original book by Vince Flynn. All that's left is to see it. Today's the day it premieres. I'm convinced it will be a good thriller. I'm not convinced it will "be" American Assassin. 

Father, thank you for the creation of this character by the late, great Vince Flynn. We miss him, Lord. Please let him know that. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

(Originally posted on 10/19/11 titled "when . . . the mountains bow down".)

It's been too long since I read a good book. That's why I want to rave about Sibella Giorello's latest the mountains bow down published by Thomas Nelson. The fourth book in the Raleigh Harmon Novel Series, the mountains bow down is a terrific story which captures the intricacies of FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon's personal torment over her mentally troubled mother, her suffocating fiancé, a fellow FBI Agent, and her aunt's ditzy and insensitive friend Clair the Clairvoyant. She’s dealing with all of this on a free cruise to Alaska acting as FBI consultant for a movie being filmed onboard an elegant ship with a washed up alcoholic movie star, while Raleigh is supposed to be gaining perspective from being apart from wealthy high school sweetheart DeMott Fielding and taking in the majesty of mountains, hiking, and her specialty of geological examination.
 
With exquisite, intelligent, and comedic writing this story has it all. Quality, searing emotion, UST, drama, hilarity, and action, the mountains bow down takes you on – in Raleigh's own words – "the cruise from hell". When it's assumed the wife of the film's "star" commits suicide by hanging herself over the aft portion of the ship, it doesn't take but a few short minutes for Raleigh to diagnose foul play. Especially when she views the corpse, spotting obvious telltale indicators. This sets Raleigh on an impossible task of convincing the Dutch curmudgeon security chief that there's a murderer loose on the ship when they both know her authority to investigate is limited. When his obvious scorn turns more in her favor, his assistance proves invaluable. However, with the timeframe of the cruise, the huge population of vacationers, and a plethora of suspicious movie people, she calls her old boss in Seattle for some assistance, and her old nemesis Jack Stephanson volunteers to fly up to help which only complicates the experience for Raleigh.
 
Much to Raleigh’s dismay, Jack also proves to be an invaluable asset to the investigation and a real comfort when her mother’s fragile mental state fractures. The pursuit of the murderer is convoluted, frustrating, full of suspects, and ends up depending on the analysis of the stones in a bracelet found at the scene of the hanging. Racing against the timeline for the ship’s return to Seattle, Jack and Raleigh work furiously to attempt to nail the killer.
 
As if Raleigh’s pain and guilt over her mother’s condition isn’t enough, she compromises her standards to gain insight into the case, risking her job if she’s unable to right her wrong.
 
Raleigh Harmon is a complex character who carries guilt as if it’s an assigned duty. Each novel reveals more of who she is at a soul level, and what a treasure it is to know her. She invokes admiration, respect, sympathy, and the urge to make the burden she carries lighter. Though she depends on God, at times her guilt keeps her just outside His grace.
 
The canvas of characters painted in this story shines brilliantly, brazen and bold. If it’s been a while since you’ve read truly wonderful writing where you can invest in the words as well as the story, the mountains bow down by Sibella Giorello is an exceptional novel which will tap into most of your emotional wiring. My new favorite in the series. 
 
 
Father, what a gift you’ve given Sibella. I pray for many more stories for her to tell, and I ask that you would continue to lead her every step. May she continue to honor you in all she does. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.