Into the Fire

In the third book in the Mike Romeo Thriller Series, Romeo's Hammer, James Scott Bell opens with another one of those "gotcha" moments. And it only gets stranger and more deadly from there.  

The beautiful woman on the beach is somehow convinced the cult she's decided to follow has the answers she needs. Then she disappears. Her father hires Mike to find her, and everything goes even stranger and more haywire from there. From professors and tree huggers, to an aging movie star, to beefy security who are dying to flex their muscles, to wanton murder, to the lead dog in the underground, and nearly everything in between, Mike Romeo needs a mountain rescue from his faithful friend and lawyer, former Mossad operative Rabbi Ira.

It's crazy how confusing this missing person's case gets, but ultimately Mike's dogged pursuit leads to an unexpected conclusion.

These are the kinds of stories where James Scott Bell excels. He writes a tough-as-nails genius character in Mike Romeo and takes him through impossible circumstances which are usually painful in some capacity, strengthens his friendship with Ira which Mike desperately needs even though he fights it, and still manages to show him in those rare tender moments which provide the reader with a fondness for him and makes it necessary to root for him even when he's being a schmuck.

If you love unusual characters, tough but complex plots, witty repartee, facts about various things you probably never knew – or never even wanted to know – the Mike Romeo books are perfect for you. Highly recommend them – each with its own flavor but all Mike Romeo at their center.

Father, please continue to provide the inspiration and direction for Jim's work. Watch over him, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

                     Another era. A classic by Peggy Lee.

Father, you know all hearts. And even then you love us all. Keep us on track, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

A day of infamy and tragedy. A day we will never forget. A day that made most of us realize our enemy is real and operating inside our borders. May the Lord of all Creation forgive us for our many sins and show this country His new mercies and unearned grace. May we always remember God cannot be mocked. We will all suffer the consequences of our actions. 

We live in a blessed nation, One Nation Under God. For as long as we believe and live like this, His blessings can continue. In spite of all the vicious storms, recovery efforts, racial strife both real and imagined, we live in a truly great country. We who believe this shall repent, reexamine our hearts, and pray for healing in the land and hearts of mankind. Jesus is, was, and will always be the answer to man's fallen state.

In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

     But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"

     "Caesar's," they replied.

     Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." 

     When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

Matthew 22:15-22 (NIV)

If you've met Mike Romeo in Romeo's Rules, you know how politics and Mike Romeo would never be said in the same breath or even in the same room. Until a good man is getting trashed by his opponent and the slick guy who manages the good guy's campaign is willing to pay Mike actual money to go undercover in the opponent's campaign lair to find out who's responsible for starting the devastating and untrue rumor, and since this happens to appeal to Mike's sense of justice – or injustice as it turns out – he agrees to do it. So off he goes to San Francisco believably posing as a man seeking employment as security.

As is often the case with Romeo, his intellect fascinates but his brawn is what eventually gets the job done and inevitably not before there are dead bodies, missing persons, and mysterious puzzles leading to dead ends. Finding there are moments when one of the opposition's attractive campaign people begins to crack his hardened shell and produces an almost normal feeling, he knows it will be fleeting when all is said and done. Rooting out who's responsible for the hit job on the candidate he left in Los Angeles proves to be complex and deadly.

Once again, James Scott Bell uses impeccable wit, intimate pain, a disguised tenderness, and real toughness to show more sides of Mike Romeo. His life and times are definitely complicated, but he's stubborn and caring enough to see the most difficult situations through to their bittersweet ends.

I appreciate the growing display of the inner workings and personal demons of Mike Romeo's character. Another smart and clever story with a fascinating protagonist.

Father, please continue to bless Jim and keep inspiring him with the stories you have just for him to write. Watch over him, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.    

(Originally posted on June 22, 2011, "Discovering . . . A Man Called Outlaw")

If that isn’t the best cover ever, I haven’t seen one. My goodness. This cover is precisely why I broke my squishy rule about not reading historicals and made an exception. I don’t honestly remember if I’ve ever read a Western. When I was a young girl I read the account of Comanche of the Seventh, a story based on a real horse in the Cavalry, and cried my eyes out of course. I think that put an end to my western-style of reading. I played cowboys, Indians, and pioneers most of my young life. In the city. Sigh. My heart has always lived in the country. I grew up watching westerns on TV and loved them. But . . . well you know my reading habits rarely go back in time.
 
A Man Called Outlaw by K. M. Weiland was published by an indie press (PenForASword) in 2007 and can be purchased at the usual outlets besides at Wordplay, K. M. Weiland’s blog site.
 
I’m not really qualified to review this novel. I have nothing to compare it to, but I will say I enjoyed the story. It has a classic villain, a few hero cowboys, and one young man who must step up to rescue the lady who’s given her all not to succumb to the evil wiles of a judge gone rogue who will do anything to get her ranch added to his own. I suspect the minor element of romance might not offend our Western writer in residence B.K. Jackson, but I’m not sure. Romance is not the focus of this historical novel that jockeys back and forth between the years 1887 and 1858-9 yet the love of a woman and real family is at the heart of the plot. The faith elements fit right in for this group, some for show and others from the heart.
 
The misguided devotion of Shane Lassiter tangles with the truth throughout the novel until finally he “gets” it. What’s required of him is that of any man who’s challenged to make life and death decisions and rectify wrongs. From the outside looking in it seems the struggle shouldn’t be so dang hard, but from the perspective of someone who’s been trained to revere the one who’s raised him, it’s hard to break free from the control and manipulation until . . . well, until there’s simply no other choice.
 
When the tales of the man known as “the outlaw” start making sense to a somewhat embittered Shane Lassiter, what he learns about the real man propels him to do what’s right.
 
There’s some great characterization and dialogue between the guys in this novel. Devoted friends during the bad times as well as the good, they cowboy up to do what’s needed, squabbling about the timing and execution of waylaid plans tossing a few good-natured insults around. The foe is greater than all they can muster, but the man they call the outlaw steps up and sets the example.
 
I could see A Man Called Outlaw being a movie. It’s a genuine Western in that sense and a good adventure with some gut-wrenching scenes. K. M. Weiland writes an entertaining story with only a few “first novel” moments. She’s since written other historical [and speculative/fantasy] novels but they go much farther back in time.

 
Father, you know Katie's heart and soul. I pray you would continue to fulfill her with your inspiration and stories. Give her whatever she needs to work for your glory. Bless her in your abundance. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Finally! The latest from Kyle Mills continuing the Mitch Rapp saga created by Vince Flynn. Picking mine up today. 

Father, thank you for Kyle Mills and his grasp of this incredible character. Please continue to bless his writing and keep him safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

For those of us who dove into Brad Thor's thrillers, this is a long wait but always worth it. Sounds like Scot Harvath is taking over his mentor's credentials . . . If you haven't indulged yourself in this series, I highly recommend these books and there are plenty to keep you busy and catching up while you wait for this next one. 

Father, help us to live each day with you in the forefront. We're all desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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Switching beats here. This was a great blues band. Saw them live back in the day with Elvin Bishop on guitar.

Father, only you know the hearts and souls of mankind. Only you can save us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Mike Romeo is not his real name. He's hard-nosed, used to cage fight, makes his own rules, and tries to live like a philosopher – but it seems when people are faced with his philosophies, they don't want to reason with him. His genius wit, which nobody gets, his recitation of film lines, which nobody recognizes (much like the former NCIS character Tony DiNozzo), his random quotes of Shakespeare, which nobody wants to hear, and his often voiced conflict of his inner wars between Zeus, Achilles, Dionysus, and other Greek gods and tragedians, Mike Romeo is constantly asked, "Who talks like this?" This series by James Scott Bell begins with Bell's trademark "gotcha" first lines/paragraphs, and from there you're hooked.

Within the pages of Romeo's Rules Mike comes to the aid of a lovely lady in distress at a church bombing in Los Angeles where he's staying with a former Mossad operative in a wheelchair who is now a rabbi and a lawyer named Ira. The beautiful woman, a divorcee, can't find her two children while many of them are being herded away from the explosion by nuns. Mike runs into the smoking, burning church to find a murdered man but no kids. He hustles out of there and seeking a nun asks about the little boy and girl. No one can find them in the chaos.

And so begins the multiple attempts to murder Mike Romeo. The lady's ex-husband is a ruthless billionaire according to many and he's fighting dirty to keep his kids. Or is he?

The complex cast of characters who move in and out of Mike's world as he pursues various angles to locate these kids is anchored by only one person, his faithful friend Ira. And pursuing Mike is bona fide trouble with a capital T that ends in a huge surprise he didn't see coming. 

James Scott Bell writes an amazingly clever character in Mike Romeo set off with a perfect opposite in Ira. Mike's obnoxious, daring, and runs his life by his set of rules in spite of them not always working out for him. His guilt is deep over his past conflicts forbidding him from advancing to the place where a worthwhile life awaits him. Bell's similes and metaphors are beyond description – both hilarious and superb. This incredibly smart thriller with a unique and savvy protagonist makes for great reading. Highly recommend the series starting with Romeo's Rules.  

Father, you've given James such incredible skills. Please continue to keep the stories coming and may he honor you in all of them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.