Into the Fire

All of the titles of the songs on Brian Culbertson's album Colors of Love define their titles through his music. This is a great album. There isn't a wasted song on it. If you love smooth jazz and the haunting but lovely sounds of a genius pianist, this one's for you.  

Father, please continue to bless this man and his music. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

All the Devils Are Here by Mark Dawson is Book 4 of the Atticus Priest Murder, Mystery and Crime Thrillers.

Book 4 finds Atticus Priest, Private Investigator, and his police detective girlfriend ("Mac") trying to keep their distance from each other as she faces a custody challenge from her ex-husband for her two children. 

In the meantime, Atticus is hired to investigate the estranged wife – soon to be divorced – of a horribly unlikeable and wealthy real-estate developer who is facing some heat about bribing council members to secure building rights on certain properties. He needs dirt on her which he thinks will be easy to find since her business of "wild swimming" and all the products associated with it for mental and physical well-being are just props she doesn't believe in. She does it for the money and she's acquired a devoted and lucrative following on her social media platform.

Parents visit the police station regarding their adult son (Thomas), former military with PTSD, claiming he's missing. Another female detective who served takes their inquiry and vows to look into where he might be, having vacated the shelter where he had a room.

Atticus poses as a journalist for a magazine to interview the estranged wife and manages to get an appointment.

Five longtime friends gather regularly at a particular pub, one of whom is Thomas, but at this evening session, Thomas, after getting very drunk, gets angry and threatens to go to the police over something that they've all kept secret for years. Guilt is eating away at him. The female leader of their group tries to reason with him, but this night he's not having any of it. He mentions a girlfriend he's spoken to about it but won't give her name. When the episode is over, their leader decides they have to find out what this girlfriend knows to determine their next steps.

Atticus sees a dark-dressed stranger rifling through the garbage in back of his office but is too late to get to him. 

This is the background laid out in divided sections before the piece-by-piece confluence of events leads to a bizarre and dangerous relationship between all of it with Atticus right in the middle of it. 

It seems like it can never come together at times between the five sociopathic friends, with the exception being Thomas, the greedy couple seeking a divorce, Atticus, Mac, and the other detective, but it does. Death presents a real payback for some, but life goes on for others. 

Atticus discovers a unique friend and makes plans to increase his business while able to do what Mac cannot in her position. 

It's a good tale and an interesting mystery. Atticus is always entertaining, one of my favorite characters. 

Highly recommend The Atticus Priest Series. 

(Some profanity.)

Father, you know all hearts and minds. Please continue to bless Mark and his writing, giving him the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

     May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Hebrews 13:20-21 (NIV)

Where in the desert are you? Is it familiar? Is it comfortable? Is it leading you away from where you need to go – or toward it? 

How did you get there? Was it a scheduled trip or an accidental wrong turn? 

How long will you stay? 

Is it all in your mind – or under your feet? 

Is it a necessary venture or a dreaded encampment? 

Will you make a break or ride it out? 

You'll know when you know and not before . . . 

Father, I've been there, and you rescued me. More than once, but the first time made the next times make sense. Thank you for always watching out for me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Ahhh, high school-my school. Senior picture. Seems like a lifetime ago. 

Thank you, Lord God, for waiting patiently for me to find out how destructive life is without you. Thank you for rescuing me from myself. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Escapists 

I saw you in my mind and wanted to know you.

You wandered toward me, and your smile captured me.

Wouldn't turn me loose.

Would you stay? Beyond the smile, the hello? That first kiss?

Your eyes – golden brown like the color of autumn,

outlined in dark lashes.

I couldn't escape.

I didn't want to. 

Would love wrap around us like a silken tether 

or would we snap the binding like a weak thread?

Would we dare to weave our own tale? 

Or would we forfeit the adventure indulging in fear of loss?  

Every now and then, I do the free verse thing. Hope you enjoyed this one.

Father, thank you for writing and words. Love playing with them. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

One of the major hits by Steely Dan. They had their own sound. 

Father, only you save souls from destruction. We're all desperate for you whether we know it or not. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

So. Here we are again. It's Monday. I've got so many things on my heart as I'm sure you must have too. Some I'd rather not say and others I'd prefer to shout from the housetops. However, we shall move on. 

As those of you who know this blog well, you've seen that I do reviews. (See the long list on the bottom left column.) However, I don't review the novels I've read that I don't like. I used to review them, but I came to the conclusion that who really cares if I give a bad review to a book that someone loves. And there are always those 1-star reviews for novels I've loved which only serve to irritate me. Let me tell you something you already know: 1-star reviews say more about the writers of those reviews than they do about the book. Instead of writing something to the effect of "This story was not written for readers like me," or choosing not to write one at all, they trash not only the story and the way it was told, but they invariably insult the author's ability to write. 

Sometimes with the novels I really enjoy, it's hard to write the reviews. Because I want to share so much of the story, it proves difficult to limit what I include. When I "highly recommend" a book or a series, you can trust I want you to read it/them. 

Novelists are incredible writers. There are all kinds – some will appeal, some will not. It doesn't change the fact that through the eons of time, people have been writing stories that move others to exclaim their greatness. We readers (and writers) all have our favorites. And we love talking "novels" with our peers. 

If you have a favorite, feel free to expound on why you loved it. 

Father, thank you for allowing me to write novels. You put it in my heart at an early age, waited patiently for me to recognize the purpose, and then have allowed me to write. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

You give me your shield of victory,

   and your right hand sustains me;

   you stoop down to make me great.

You broaden the path beneath me,

   so that my ankles do not turn.

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!

   Exalted be God my Savior!

He is the God who avenges me, 

   who subdues the nations under me,

   who saves me from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes;

   from violent men you rescued me.

Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord;

   I will sing praises to your name.

He gives His king great victories;

   He shows unfailing kindness to His anointed,

   to David and His descendants forever. 

Psalm 18:35-36;46-50 (NIV)

Hard Duty by JB Turner is Book 13 in A Jon Reznick Thriller Series.

Jon's thinking about heading for Florida from his home in Maine when he receives a message from the CIA's Fran Petersen. What he learns from her is the description of an off-the-books mission to neutralize a former high-ranked CIA man who's become a traitor to America providing highly classified documentations of operatives in foreign countries and the operations of the CIA around the globe to the Russians for significant money and deep protection. The hardest part is the requirement that he can only use two other people for the op with a timeline of one week. In spite of how ridiculous and impossible it sounds, knowing things like this with a savvy opponent takes weeks and lots of operatives to pull off successfully, he knows the two guys he needs to make this at best possible.   

Trevelle Williams, his intel and IT genius, is first on the list. After finding him still in mourning for his murdered girlfriend, Jon apologizes for asking him if he's available to help him. However, Trevelle figures it's what he needs to do, and he's in. The next man is the wild Scottish former operator Mac McCafferty who can't believe the audacity of the plan but decides he's in. 

Finding the traitor is a major trial once they end up in the Middle East, and once they find him, he seems to disappear. Jon blasts Trevelle with the trouble this is causing, and Trevelle can't believe what's responsible for the problems. Finally, Trevelle masters the various interferences and manages some intricate ways to better gauge where the man is and what his plans are. The added strain is his security, none other than several of the vicious Wagner mercenaries. 

Mac and Reznick come up with a plan – and nothing is easy – and it falls apart at the last minute due to unforeseen collateral damage to civilians. Their mission is to neutralize the one man – and if his security ends up dead in the process, that's acceptable. 

Their frustrations mount and the brainstorming accelerates. When time and location are at a critical point, the two of them decide to do one last plan after Trevelle sets up the only thing he can suggest. 

JB Turner has made Jon Reznick a unique and fascinating character whose patriotism is a no-holds-barred loyalty to this country he's defended as a former Delta operator, with the CIA black-ops, and as an FBI employee/consultant. There are no rules for Jon Reznick when on a mission. "Failure is not an option." Hard Duty has a slew of thrilling moments toward the end of this chaotic, unsettling op. No doubt that readers will experience those "No way!" moments or a rising heartbeat reading them. 

I highly recommend this series because JB has made Jon a bit different as the thriller hero. He's hardened, he eats Dexedrine like candy at times to up his game, but there's that part of him that will sacrifice everything for those he loves and the country he honors. Warning for some readers: there is considerable profanity at times. 

Father, you know JB and all that he needs and does. Please continue to bless him with the stories you have just for him to tell. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.