Library book

I was able to pick up One Second After by William R. Forstchen through our library loan system. Just started it last night, so no review yet, but so far it is very interesting.

The Terrorist Legacy by Mr. Pat *****

The Terrorist Legacy">Amazon Link

From the book:
Sam Ellington set goals to rescue children from refugee camps in Africa and return them to countries of their origins as teachers with a message of peace. The agenda of a new generation of religious fanatics, who use suicide as the ultimate weapon, and those who are forced to defend against it interfere.

The Mediterranean was off limits to an armed, mega yacht with classified nuclear capabilities. However, when George and Kathryn team with Sam Ellington and Greg Simeon, an Israeli arms dealer, to build a campus in Ashdod, Israel, the Diversion is the preferred method of transportation.

One yacht works for a hijacking, two make it a conspiracy, and America's Mediterranean fleet is drawn into the confrontation.

The America administration's opportunity to contain Iran's nuclear agenda conflicts with the rescue of George and Kathryn's daughter, Melissa. History's faint memories of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are replaced with a reality of a world in which a nuclear agenda predicts a final confrontation between Islam and all other convictions.

While the rest of the world focused on the aftermath, Islam continues to march across Africa. The Foundation for Peace restructures its curriculum, Sam relinquishes the reigns and two lives, separated by protocol and reunited by tragedy, take new direction. Nicholas and Melissa find they share a common goal and The Foundation for Peace becomes the sword to fulfill Sam's dream.

My review:
The Terrorist Legacy is one of the best books I have read in a long time. With its unique locations and situations with which I am not familiar, it was not an easy read, but it was informative, engaging and compelling. I guess I could call this a fact-filled fiction book. Mr. Pat has a unique background that gives him the knowledge and experience to write a book like this.

This book is a tense, high tech thriller. The well developed characters are each important to the story and unite several story paths together. The book begins with a description of the corrupt charitable organizations and brutal conditions within the refugee camps which makes sure the money continues to flow in from the UN. These are, of course, real life stories that have been rumored over the years, but his explanation makes clear how it has been done.

Sam, Kathryn, and George use their wealth to fight poverty and AIDS in Africa, but all of their attempts at good works culminate into an international incident when their specially designed yacht, Diversion, is hijacked by Islamic terrorists. It becomes clear why fighting the terrorist war with current rules of war is futile.

I highly recommend this book. The book’s serious true-to-life situations make it an interesting read that will surprise and shock you. All of the main characters made me care about what happened to them, and the tense whirlpool of events held my attention throughout.


This book gets my first “Linda’s Fave” award.

Just a Preview

After my review of "The Apostate Theory" by Mr. Pat (Patrick Roelle Sr.) and an email conversation with the author, he was kind enough to arrange for me to have another of his books, "The Terrorist Legacy". Because I was called out of town for a family emergency, I am just now able to start reading it, but I am already totally engrossed in the story. More on this book later......

The Death of a Pope by Piers Paul Read ***

The Death of a Pope">Amazon.com Link

Short synopsis: The Death of a Pope by the highly acclaimed British writer Read is a novel of intrigue, church espionage, and an attempt to destroy the longest continuous government in the world-the Papacy.

A priest who seems to be the model of compassion for the poor is accused of terrorist activities. His worldwide charitable outreach is suspected of being a front for radicals. A young woman, a reporter and a lapsed Catholic, tries to undercover the truth but in the process she finds herself attracted to the priest and falls in love with him.

My review: This was an interesting book to read, but just did not satisfy. It is difficult to discuss without giving away major story lines, but the story contains intrigue, terrorists, journalism, suffering, and religion. I was never sure where the author was going with his characters who wondered if pedophilia really hurt anyone, or that the Catholic Church is to blame for AIDS and the other suffering in Africa because of their stand on condoms. I also never really cared about any of the characters in the book. Kate, a journalist, was a stupid and weak woman who decided she would commit an international crime just to impress her new boyfriend. Even worse was the situation for her character at the end of the book.
It is not a bad book, but it disappointed me.

The Apostate Theory by Mr. Pat ****

Amazon.com link here: The Apostate Theory

The Apostate Theory is an action-packed drama that depicts the political climate of today. This is a fiction book, but has enough real life situations to make it read like a true story. The political figures, although unnamed, are certainly recognizable and not out of character for their real life behavior. Above all it was interesting – very interesting. The story explains why certain American decisions are causing the rise in radical Islam and the danger of appeasing our enemies.

The only part of the book that I did not like was the addition of a romantic couple. For me, it was just out of place, awkward, and totally unnecessary to the story. If I never again see a woman referred to as “asexual”, I will be happy. Having said that, I still think the story is interesting and worth the read.

The author’s international career has given him insight into the mind of the Islamic agenda. His writings are bound to anger many, but they are valuable to those who want to understand the political game-playing that goes on every day. I would like to read something from this author on this subject, but a nonfiction book.