Into the Fire

                                (Originally posted on August 6th, 2008)

Okay, a few days ago I “reviewed” (and that’s the final time I’m going to use quotation marks, okay?) James Scott Bell’s Try Darkness, the second in this series which will produce at least three books, although the third won’t be out until next year unfortunately. So now I have read the series so far, albeit backwards. What a knockout character for Jim. Ty Buchanan is just cocky enough to gain a grudging respect and just devastated enough to evoke compassion.

Let’s start with the covers. Why you ask? Because number one I really like them. Why you ask? The titles are readable instead of drawing the eyes all over the dust jackets to find them because the author’s name dominates the cover and nearly conceals the title of the book. I really, really don’t like that. So I’m thinkin’ James Scott Bell has enough rep established to allow the cover art and book title to entice and pique the readers’ interest without the oversized author name. Good job, Hachette. I respect that. [Not the original covers but still applicable.]

Try Dying introduces us to the clever, smug, zealous, and so in love attorney Tyler Buchanan. Before we know it, his fiancée is found dead in her car after what appears to be a freak accident following the suicide of a murderer. Willing to accept the oddity of her death, he is cast into a traumatic turmoil after being accosted following her funeral when a mysterious man implies she survived the initial accident only to be murdered in her car afterward.

This incident begins two things: Ty Buchanan enduring more than one serious assault and Ty Buchanan eventually being accused of murdering someone who is supposed to be helping him uncover whether or not his fiancée was the victim of a murder.

Through this course of events, Ty comes face to face with a part of himself he’s never known, the desire to see justice accomplished at any cost, and a new revulsion for those he’s worked with in establishing his upwardly mobile career as a sharp young attorney at a prestigious law firm.

If you like intriguing legal suspense with a cast of smart, charming, lethal, ugly, unpredictable, and appealing characters, do not resist this two book series by James Scott Bell. It’s just too good to miss, and Jim’s having way too much fun creating it.

Father, I continue to thank you for the gifting you disperse to your people. What a joy to share in it. Thank you for writers who share you and honor you in their writing. You are the ultimate. I pray once again that you would keep inspiring Jim and leading him in your ways everlasting. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Nurse Practitioner Mia Robinson sits in a restaurant in Las Vegas watching a guy in a cowboy hat wrangle toys out of a "grab" machine. Lots of them. She's trying to figure out a way to convince her pregnant 18 year old half-sister Lucy (who Mia raised since their mom died when Lucy was 10) not to marry her 21 year old boyfriend Sam. Both captivated by and dismissive of the guy grabbing the toys, she's touched when he gathers them up and distributes them to the children in the restaurant. There's one left which he brings to her table and presents to her. Their chat is pleasant realizing they're both there for a wedding. Soon enough they discover the wedding they're attending is Lucy and Sam's. Suffice it to say, the handsome guy in the cowboy hat is Sam's Best Man Jake. 

Mia is coming off her second broken engagement after having stood firm in her convictions for abstinence before marriage. Her biological clock is ticking (though she's just turning 30), and she's decided her life is doomed to be a solitary existence. She's methodical, practical, and organized to a fault making her the consummate professional – but a lonely woman who has little to no fun in her life. 

Jake was a cop whose female partner was killed in a tragic accident where he lost some of his hearing and had to retire from the force. He's been second-guessing his actions ever since with some PTSD. He took her son Sam under his protective wing and has helped to guide him through his life since he lost his mom. Sam is an honorable young man who made a mistake with Lucy but who loves her and their child and is determined to make a good life for them.

Add Jake's mom Claire who's suffering with Alzheimer's while his dad is devoted to caring for her.

Victoria Bylin has written a solid romance in The Two of Us featuring a young couple, a potential couple, and an elderly couple. The story is ultimately about love, human imperfections, devotion, trials, trust, and personal pain experienced by its co-protagonists. Trusting God morphs into trusting the right people.

Mia can't make decisions in her personal life, runs from emotional attachment because she can't bear another rejection. She fights confusion in every action she takes to serve God, ignoring her deepest desires and the obvious. Jake proves he's trustworthy over time, but Mia fights herself and can't seem to hear the Lord over her own fears.

Victoria Bylin handled the description of Alzheimer's very effectively. Mia's character is mostly likable until near the end when her confusion drove me crazy. Jake is solid, and his hearing dog Pirate is lovable. Lucy is adorable. Sam is very well done. I confess I didn't care for the Epilogue which takes place nine years later. I think the story could've tied up some of those things within the set framework. It's not that I don't like Epilogues because I do when appropriate – I didn't care for this one so many years down the road. 

Father, please continue to bless Victoria's life and writing. You know the stories you have for her to tell. Please give her what she needs to write them and may she honor you in all she does. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Definitely a sign of the times. Good ol' rock 'n' roll. 

Father, unfortunately, the lyrics were signs of the changing times. The spirit of "freedom" was merely an enabler to sin. Thank you for being in every generation and saving us from our wicked selves. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

I can't recommend Brad Thor's novels enough. Fiction revealing truths most of us know nothing about is what Vince Flynn via Mitch Rapp and Brad Thor via Scot Harvath does. It's amazing what goes on behind the scenes of our mostly safe lives because men and women of honor who put God and country first give everything they've got to guarding this country against sabotage from within and terrorism from everywhere. It's frightening to note the threats in today's world, but it's worth that price to also know there are those who are truly dedicated and devoted to thwarting every act of terror against our beautiful country.

Imagine how those who do this feel when they're suddenly cut off from everything they know that keeps them safe while trying to do the thankless behind-the-scenes job of keeping us safe. Suddenly, there is no contact with those who are partnered with them, no knowledge of what's happening to cause the disruption, the chaos, and when the ability to hide until things right themselves is darkly threatened. 

Black List reveals the tenuous existence of those brave men and women who depend on their anonymity and covert abilities in this dark world where the lust for power, money, and control stipulate that anything goes. Add religious fanaticism to the mix and terror reigns without a means to subdue and eliminate it all. Those who operate with evil in mind will do literally anything to gain control, but they're smart enough to realize their enemies must be eliminated however they can and with whatever it takes. This is how Scot Harvath learns he's on the Black List along with his "boss" Reed Carlton and the Carlton Group.

Many of us joke about wishing we could go "off the grid". Back in the 60s it would've been called "dropping out" but was far less sophisticated to do than it is now. When operators of the stature of Harvath and Carlton can't completely disappear with all of their resources – no matter how compromised – it's downright foolish to assume we could actually do it. The level of knowledge of our existences is so complex and shocking, no wonder freedom and liberty are so hard to come by in today's world.

"The Troll", Nicholas, is a prominent player in this story and a great help to Harvath after another tragedy strikes. Added to this story are a couple of female operatives from The Athena Project who assist Scot in the final efforts to put an end to this particular evil. 

Black List keeps the edge and intensity going throughout the story while stripping us of any notions that we actually have "private lives".   

Father, thank you for the honesty in fiction and authors like Brad Thor. Please continue to protect him and bless his life. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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Deemed . . . The Apostle

     You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

Romans 8:9-11 (NIV)

There should come a time in one's life when he or she finally gets comfortable in his/her own skin. It happens early for some and later for others. I can't tell you when I reached that pinnacle in my life, but it's been awhile ago. That's certainly not to say I'm satisfied with all that I am – on the contrary, there's so much I need to improve upon while here on earth. God has His hands full with me. He's not worried though. He's so much bigger – He can handle anything I throw His way.

The bottom line is understanding who you are. How you react, how you view things – your perspective, recognizing your talents with an equal measure as you tally up your flaws. Invariably your flaws outweigh your talents. Deciding to better your strengths no matter how few you seem to have. Keeping an attitude of gratitude that you've managed to conquer a few things in this life without compromising who you are in your heart. 

As a writer, I see people in multiple ways. Their layers speak of many of life's influences – some good and some bad. With strangers we only get a peripheral view of character, but oftentimes it's a stark picture. With some observations we learn quickly that the picture we're seeing does not speak to the heart of the person, and I always find those times rewarding and consider them reminders of how our God of all creation looks upon the heart of an individual regardless of how that person is presented to us. 

Also as a writer, I've had to "be" who I am when creating a story and telling it. As much as I might want to emulate certain authors I've reviewed with admiration, who inspire me, I can't be them. I'm only going to write what I've been given to tell and how I've been designed to tell it. Does that make my storytelling critique-proof? No. But it does make it mine. And, although many authors continue their journeys through excruciating rigors to become better and better at their work, I can only do what is true to me. That's not necessarily good or bad, it's just the way it is in my skin. And I'm comfortable with it. It's who I am. In my own skin. 

Who are you in your own skin?

Father, as hard as it is sometimes to be comfortable in "my own skin", I thank you for it. You've guided me through this life even when I refused to do the right things. I learned over time your way was and is always the best. Thank you for loving me. I'm always desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

                                           (Originally posted on July 12, 2011)                      

"Recognizing the . . . Pattern of Wounds" 

Continuing the CFBA Tour for July: The second Roland March Mystery, Pattern of Wounds, published by Bethany House and written by J. Mark Bertrand, reminds us of our first go-round with Houston Police Department Detective Roland March. He’s cynical, can be abrasive, and he’s not about to submit to the perfect by-the-book investigations regardless of the reprimands involved when following his gut.
 
In a strict and exhaustive timetable approaching the Christmas holiday, we feel the fatigue and hear the silent clock ticking away the hours of chasing down leads, suspects, and the disappointments for a crime which eventually erupts into a second murder.
 
When a posed and carved up dead girl turns up by the pool of a female professor’s home where she was a boarder, there’s something eerily familiar about how she’s carefully positioned. When it hits March why he recognizes the layout of the crime, no one is willing to see the similarity. Except someone who is almost as familiar with the old crime as he is.
 
In the meantime the young Christian couple, Carter and Gina who were introduced in Back on Murder and who now rent March and Charlotte’s attached apartment, tentatively announce they are having a baby, knowing it could be difficult news since March and Charlotte lost their little daughter in a car crash. The news dredges up instant pain for March and multiple senses of loss. Along with this sorrow we learn more of March’s family background and none of it adds up to comfort and joy.
 
Roland March is an embittered, dedicated perpetrator of justice who holds a grudge the size of Texas against a God he can’t understand, refusing to try even when some things smack him in the face. Mark captures his character, unflinching at the exposure of his sometimes cold heart and his sometimes uncomfortable devotion to his wife. The detective is complex with multi-layered feelings even he can’t always rectify. As we learn more about his personal history in this second leg of the March journey, we can’t help but think much of his demeanor is a result of deep hurts he’s unwilling to turn loose. They’re as much a part of who he is as the brusque sarcasm, sharp wit, and unorthodox investigative hunches and practices.
 
Pattern of Wounds not only presents the reader with a great cover and a title full of innuendo, the story takes you step by step through the frustrations of pursuing the wrong suspects, the interference of a misled author, the deceptive efforts of an incarcerated murderer, and the histrionics of a deputy sheriff bent on attaching a serial killer to March’s murder victim.
 
Even more “noir” than its predecessor, Pattern of Wounds by J. Mark Bertrand leaves us uneasy in the final scene but ultimately fulfilled for having read a so well-written and strangely touching story filled with dog-legged subplots and a more intimate look at Roland March.
 

 
 
God, you’ve clearly gifted Mark. Please continue to meet the supply of stories for those readers you’ve provided and will provide. Bless his efforts to show both sides of the spiritual journey. Keep him and Laurie safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

There are no words for the special kind of love I have for my mom. She was simply the best. Never doubted how much she loved me, how devoted she was to seeing me succeed, to teach me right from wrong, to impart the wonders of God to me. She died young at 62, and I missed her so much then and it's never stopped. She was fun, kind, gracious, loving, strong beyond measure even at death's door from cancer. Mom, Happy Birthday! I love you still so much. Jesus, please hug her and give her a kiss from me. She was the sweetest lady. 

God, you've been so gracious to me my entire life even when I didn't know it. Thank you never cuts it, but it's all I've got. Thank you for the perfect mom for me. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Just so good. Another one from an era of exceptional music.

Father, again, you know our hearts and souls. You're the only One who can save us. We're desperate for you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Nobody knows you. But they do. Nobody knows where you are. But they do. Nobody knows what you're doing. But they do. You've gone Full Black. Full Black is the 10th novel in the Brad Thor thriller series featuring Scot Harvath.

     "Born in the shadows and kept from heads of state, some missions are so deadly, so sensitive, that they simply don't exist." Blurb from Full Black by Brad Thor

A shrewd self-made billionaire who'd changed his names multiple times and settled upon James Standing decides he wants to rule the world. Having used capitalism to its max, the wealthy man holds himself above everyone else in intelligence and earnings capacity but instead of living up to the measure of how he wants the world to be, he hires terrorists to cause the changes he needs to bring America to its knees since the USA is really the only government still in his way. Literally owning important politicians and those in espionage in other countries, he engineers terrible acts of terror and then disposes of those who could be a threat to identifying him. He belittles and berates those "under" him and threatens them when plans fail. He becomes drunk with power and determines he can do anything he wants with the right moves and people in place. And for awhile he succeeds.

With the help of Nicholas (aka The Troll), the dead-ends which continue to frustrate Scot and his employer at The Carlton Group are slowly brought together to determine who is orchestrating what and what exactly is happening. The difficulties encountered in Yemen continue in Sweden where a team of special operatives is lost and one undercover agent is seriously wounded. Scot isn't taking any of it lightly. Someone knows more than they should and they're not on the good guy's side.  

Nicholas is working hard to discover and assist, but it's slow going getting to root of the evil plans and who is orchestrating them. Finally, between Scot and Nicholas, a clue is found and Scot must go full black. 

The parallels to a well-known figure in today's world cannot be ignored. Depicting the wickedness of this type of individual is superbly done, and the apropos ending for someone like this is fitting and satisfying. Brad Thor captures the passion men like Scot Harvath own to do what they must do to keep their country safe. It's often ugly, but the necessity for survival makes it tantamount to do whatever it takes. There are no substitutes for all out releases of deadly force, incredible intelligence, and using every possible weapon and venture to stop the assaults on America. Only a few have the abilities to accomplish these difficult missions successfully.

Full Black is another incredible must-read from Brad Thor. 

Father, I continue to ask your blessings on Brad's life and family. Open doors for him and help him to write those stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

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