Without Hesitation by Mark Rosendorf

Amazon.com Link for Without Hesitation by Mark Rosendorf                     

        
Following a brief escape, Clara Blue is back at the Brookhill Psychiatric hospital. Her mentor, Rick, is dead and her surrogate family, the Duke Organization, is scattered. She is troubled, a trouble maker, and her only goal is escape. When a former Duke member shows up as an employee of the hospital, they begin to plot her attempt at freedom.


I read a lot of thrillers, and I have to say that Mark Rosendorf doesn’t write ordinary thrillers. He writes stories that are unique and just a little off center – but in a good way! Without Hesitation is the sequel to The Rasner Effect and the story continues with some of the same characters. Clara is an unusual teen character as she tries to cause as much trouble as possible, but still remains someone who stirs up sympathy. She is violent, but she has a conscious, and now she is having hallucinations.

Although Without Hesitation is fine as a stand-alone book, I would still recommend reading The Rasner Effect first. It will help put all of the characters in perspective and it, too, is a wonderful unique story. Without Hesitation has me eager to read Mark’s next book.

For more information about all of his books, Mark Rosendorf's website is here:  Mark Rosendorf 

Conspiracy in Kiev by Noel Hynd

Link to Zondervan to purchase Conspiracy in Kiev by Noel Hynd
The first book in The Russian Trilogy

During the preparation for a United States presidential trip to Ukraine, Department of Treasury Special Agent Alexandra LaDuca was approached by the Secret Service for a special assignment. Her assignment was to keep an eye on organized crime leader Yuri Federov. Although conflicted, she accepted the job that would be a challenge to her both professionally and personally. Before the action ends, Part Two of the book changes the location and Alex finds and uneasy alliance.

Conspiracy in Kiev is the first in this trilogy of international intrigue. I read these out of order, and although each of them was perfect as a standalone book, the three of them together are captivating.

Alex is a smart woman of faith who can handle herself well in tough situations. The locations in the book are well described, so I had a sense of being there with the action. The characters are interesting and there is ample information to get to know and understand them. There is a perfect blend of narration and conversation without either being overdone. Plenty of action and adventure held my interest until the end.

Although Alex is a person of faith, this is not a religious or preachy book. Her feelings of conflict in her faith and moral dilemmas are worked out in the book, but she is far from a perfect person. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller, adventure, and story of international intrigue.

Books 2 & 3 of The Russian Trilogy:

My Review of Midnight in Madrid

My review of Countdown in Cairo

 
 
A review copy of Conspiracy in Kiev was provided by Zondervan

The Khan Dilemma by Ron Goodreau

Amazon.com link for The Khan Dilemma by Ron Goodreau

Book Description: Las Cruces, California is a gritty town full of political corruption and social turmoil. The District Attorney, Rich Danko, is in the midst of a federal probe when a cabal of Washington, D.C. elites, fronted by a sinister FBI agent named Ross, takes an interest in a local double homicide. A young Muslim suspect has murdered two mysterious businessmen in a quiet, upscale neighborhood and for some reason the administration is scrambling to cover it up. Max Siegel lands the case and gets caught in a spiraling vortex of deadly intrigue with a dangerous mix of characters that threaten to consume his career and his life!

My Review:  The Khan Dilemma by Ron Goodreau is an interesting and exciting political thriller. Mr. Goodreau’s plot subjects of are realistic enough to be seen daily in today’s newspaper headlines. The plot moves at a good pace, and the story has a good blend of dialog and storytelling. People and place descriptions are thorough without being overdone.

The book started slowly for me, and although the character of Max was likeable enough, none of the characters really stood out. They were typical for this type of novel, but none of them had a boldness of personality that would create an intense interest for me. I was initially confused by the term “sap” and had never heard of this term referring to a weapon, so I guess I learned something.

I recommend The Khan Dilemma to anyone who likes a gritty crime/political thriller story.


About the Author: Ron Goodreau is a deputy district attorney in Stockton, California, presently living in Sacramento. He is an Air Force veteran with degrees in government and law.


A copy of this book was provided for review

On Deadly Ground by Michael Norman

Amazon.com Link for On Deadly Ground

About the Book:
Coal companies, environmentalists, and local ranchers divide a small town in Southern Utah over the use of public land. When an environmental activist is found shot to death, just about everyone becomes a suspect.

My Review:
On Deadly Ground by Michael Norman is thrilling murder mystery set in the surrounding area of Kanab, a small town in southern Utah. Former Denver police officer J.D. Books returns to his home town as a Bureau of Land Management Ranger and immediately gets caught up in a murder investigation.

The story takes many twists when J.D. and Sheriff Sutter investigate the likely suspects and their motives. As the story unfolds there are also surprises both for the investigation and personally for J.D. The plot moves very quickly and the action doesn’t stop.


J.D.’s character is very likeable with a laid-back attitude and a past that haunts him. J.D.’s return to the place where he grew up added greatly to the character development as he interacted with old friends and family.

Michael Norman’s previous novels also take place in Utah, and he conveyed a good sense of where the story was located in On Deadly Ground. This is a new author for me, and I look forward to reading his previous novels, Silent Witness and The Commission. Michel spent 25 years as a Professor of Criminal Justice at Weber State University, Ogden, Utah. During that time, he served on the Utah State Youth Parole Authority followed by a term on the State Board of Pardons and Parole.

On Deadly Ground is the perfect mystery with tension, action, surprises, and a satisfying conclusion.

A link for Michael Norman's website is here:  Michael Norman Author


Thank you to Poison Pen Press for the advanced reader copy.

Countdown in Cairo The Russian Trilogy by Noel Hynd

Amazon.com link for Countdown In Cairo

Book Description:

When federal agent Alexandra LaDuca travels to Egypt to investigate the possible sighting of a former mentor, she is thrown into the deadliest game of double cross in her career. An American woman working alone, she must rely on her wits, her training, and her skill with lethal weapons not just to succeed, but also to survive.

A CIA agent whom she believed to be dead appears to be alive; and why is he dressing like an Arab and speaking Russian? Tough, savvy, and cool under fire, Alex pushes herself to the limits as she puts her life on the line once again for her faith and her country—all while working with a mysterious new partner who may or may not be trustworthy.
My Review:

Countdown in Cairo is the third of the Russian trilogy series. You can read my review of Midnight in Madrid (the second in the series) here: Midnight in Madrid


Of course, like most things I do – I am reading them out of order, but that did not take away from the stories as they can each stand alone perfectly well.

Countdown in Cairo starts out with a dramatic beginning with the morgue as the backdrop and then drops back to the beginning of the story. The set up to the main story was slow at times, but that is because the story is rich in detail of locations and background. It is certainly worth the wait! There are a number of background facts about the Russian events mixed in with the fiction creating an interesting blend.

All three of the books feature Alexandra LaDuca, a strong female character that is smart, formidable, and a woman of faith. There were more spiritual elements to this story than the other books as Alex has struggles with moral consequences in her employment and with forgiveness.  This is another GREAT book by this author.


About the Author

Noel Hynd lives in Culver City, California. He has over four million books in print throughout the world and is the bestselling author of the highly acclaimed novels The Enemy Within, Flowers from Berlin, and Cemetery of Angels, and the previous titles in the Russian Trilogy, Conspiracy in Kiev and Midnight in Madrid.



A copy of the book was provided for the review

Kill Me Twice by Jerry Bayne

Amazon.com link for Kill Me Twice

Kill Me Twice is an absolutely superb political thriller. Start to finish this book was exciting and suspenseful. I don’t like to give too much information about the plot, especially when the book is as intense as this one, so my plot description is simple. When three government officials cause lead character Bradley Cardiff’s life to fall apart, his only goal is revenge.



The characters, their relationships, and friendships are well-developed and interesting. Cardiff’s character is one of a focused, highly qualified CIA agent who uses his skills to seek vengeance, but he was also a man who loved his family. One of the police characters, Mike Sams, also stands out as an interesting and likeable character. The crooked political figures, unfortunately, are probably not too far off from real life with their dirty deals and corruption.


Kill Me Twice is an outstanding, fast-paced tale of political intrigue. Some language and violence in the book, but dare I say well deserved? I was engrossed through the entire book and found the ending very satisfying. I confess that when I read a book I like, I always find a character that I would like to see continue into the author’s next book. It’s just me. Mike Sams was the character in this book, and I would like to see his story continue from the last page of this book to another.


I can’t wait to order a copy of the author’s previous book, The Gatherer.

Distant Thunder by Jimmy Root Jr

Amazon Link for Distant Thunder

Book Description:

The prophet Ezekiel was never taken seriously when he predicted the destruction of Israel s enemies; unfortunately for them, he was right. The truth of Ezekiel s words will be felt by the entire modern-day world, and it seems chaos will reign supreme. In the midst of the ensuing mayhem, Pastor Ty Dempsey arises as the man who is able to connect modern-day occurrences to the teaching of old. Meanwhile, Israeli pilot Moshe Eldan starts to see the truth of the prophecies in his daily dealing with terrorists. Dempsey and Eldan soon realize that they are part of a bigger plan; however, they are not alone. This thriller provides an answer to an age-old question: What would happen if the entire world turned on Israel? This thriller provides the answer in a fast-paced read, filled with all the action and adventure that usually accompanies the end of the world.

My Review:
It is always interesting to read books that compare prophecy of the Bible with current events. I liked the layout of the book with the change of locations, and I especially like the characters of Moshe and Tasha. I would have had liked more development of the complex conversion from Judaism to Christianity by these characters. The relationship between the husband and wife was touching.

Unfortunately, there were several things that were distracting to me. I knew right away that the book was written by a pastor because of the storyline of the challenging church member and the poor attacked pastor who can do no wrong. It is one that shows up in many fiction books written by pastors. Also distracting are a few scenes of emotionalism that are exhibited in the Charismatic movement.

Aside from these things, Distant Thunder is still well-written story and a good start to a series of prophecy thrillers. With the changes in our world today and the constant threat of terrorism, we can not ignore the comparisons.

The Rasner Effect by Mark Rosendorf

Amazon Link for The Rasner Effect

Book Description:
Rick Rasner escaped death in a New York City bridge explosion - but he couldn't escape becoming an unwitting participant in a top secret military experiment. When the Duke Organization, a group of ruthless killers, set off a violent explosion, they wiped out Rick Rasner's life as he knew it. Many years later, as he still struggled to remember any shred of his former existence, he put a new life together - as a therapist in the Brookhill Children's Psychiatric Residence, a facility for troubled urban teens.

My Review:
The Rasner Effect is one of the most unusual thrillers I’ve read. It is also difficult to review without giving away any of the surprising plot twists. The mysterious past of Rick Rasner and his current work at the psychiatric home creates an interesting story, and just when you are very comfortable with the plotlines, everything changes. I mean, really, everything changes. At first, I was not happy with the changes in the book. I was actually disappointed in the twists, but by the end of the book I was pleased to have read such an unusual thriller and I swear, I think the author winked at the reader by the end.

The characters are well-developed and vary in personality and nature. Be sure to read the About Author Mark Rosendorf at the end of the book. It made me laugh and put the book in perfect perspective. The Rasner Effect is a great story that captured my attention and didn’t let go. I am looking forward to reading more from Mark Rosendorf .

Dreamer by Philip L. Davidson

Amazon link for Dreamer

Book Description:
As war between Britain and Argentina looms over the barren Falkland Islands, a group of men, former Green Berets who left the service in disgrace and now live their lives in the 'darkness', are brought together by God to save one of his servants who is being held hostage in a prison at the end of the earth. For one man in the group, the mission is personal, for it is David's wife, Sunny, who is the hostage they are trying to save. Taking the form of one of their dead comrades, God gives them the chance to stand in the light of men once more. But their path is compromised by God's loyal servant, Satan, who places death and betrayal before them. Dreamer takes place in Washington, D.C., Georgia, Mexico, Central America and Argentina. As they fight their way to Los Estados prison, the men encounter the CIA, Contras, the Narco-Terrorists M-19, and Captain Alvarez, who is the head of the Argentine Secret Police. Dreamer is a tale of redemption, love, courage, belief in God and betrayal!

My Review:

Dreamer is the story of good and evil, heaven and hell, God and Satan, all wrapped up in a military adventure/thriller. Haunted by their past, a group of former Green Berets are gathered together for reasons they do not understand. Troubled by their stint in Vietnam, the group rallies to fulfill an oath they took to a now dead member.

Dreamer is an outstanding story that completely held my interest throughout. The story line was action-packed and suspenseful with many unexpected twists. I was impressed with the individual development of all of the characters. Often with a large number of people to keep track of I get a little lost, but with Dreamer every character was unmistakable. Waiting to find out if redemption would come about and determining who specifically Keaton was kept me enthralled.


Listed as religious fiction, this is certainly not your ordinary religious book. Containing some rough language and harsh situations gives Dreamer that gritty realistic essence. I enjoyed the book very much and think that would create much discussion in both religious (not just Christian) and secular book clubs.

This one earns my Fave award :

Faces in the Fire by T.L. Hines *****

Amazon Link for Faces in the Fire

Yesterday, when I was only on page 68, I used Faces in the Fire by T.L. Hines as one of my Show Me 5 Saturday books. After I posted the “5”, I was so captivated that I sat down and read through the rest of the book. I don’t get so consumed by a book very often.

Here is the book description, followed by my review:

Book Description
Four lost souls on a collision course with either disaster or redemption.
A random community of Faces in the Fire.

Meet Kurt, a truck-driver-turned-sculptor with no memory of his past. Corinne, an e-mail spammer whose lymphoma isn't responding to treatment. Grace, a tattoo artist with an invented existence and a taste for heroin. And Stan, a reluctant hit man haunted by his terrifying gift for killing.

They don't know each other, at least not yet. But something--or someone--is at work in the fabric of their lives, weaving them all together. A catfish, a series of numbers scribbled on a napkin, a devastating fire, and something mysterious. Something that could send them hurtling down the highway to disaster--or down the road to redemption. But they won't know which is which until they've managed to say yes to the whispers in their souls.

My Review:
When I first started the book, I thought it was just a story about a quirky character who heard voices of the dead. I didn’t expect the eloquent weaving of stories that would eventually reach a surprising and dramatic end.

The characters are richly and thoroughly developed. The chapters are oddly numbered out of order and starting with chapter 34. As the story unfolds and the other characters take a turn at telling their stories, it all makes perfect sense. If I had I read about each of them in another book, I may have had little sympathy for any of them, but the way the author brings together their lives and their desire for redemption made me see something special in them.

The book is listed as Fiction/Christian/Suspense. If you are expecting a Christian book that clearly spells out a salvation message, you will be disappointed, but if you want a richly written character driven novel with the subtle message of redemption, you will enjoy this interesting and remarkable book. If you are the type of person that avoids Christian lit, I think you will be very surprised by this one. I highly recommend Faces in the Fire.

Pelican Point by Douglas Quinn *****

Amazon.com Link for Pelican Point
Book description:
Life is good for Webb Sawyer. Until he gets hit over the head in the Nags Head Pier parking lot. Until a mercenary from Colombia, and three of the Colombian's friends try to kill him and burn down his house at Blue Heron Marsh. Until his son goes missing while trying to track down the killer of a university professor, a murder for which his son Preston is under suspicion.

My Review:
This book is nothing less than amazing. Pelican Point starts out as a laid back easy mystery. Webb Sawyer, along with his cat Basil, spends his days boating and fishing. His son is suddenly under suspicion for the murder of a college professor, and Webb needs to use his network of friends and his own expertise (read that as temper!) to help his son. But what starts out as an easy going mystery suddenly explodes into a powerful crime drama.

The book has interesting, well-developed characters. Webb is retired career Army, rather unpredictable, and rough around the edges. Preston, who normally lives with his mother and step-father, struggles with Webb for that father/son relationship. It is an honest and hard look at the relationship between the son and the noncustodial parent.

The author has a wonderful dry sense of humor which is evident throughout the book. His rich description of the inner and outer coastal areas and fishing in North Carolina was magnificent. From start to finish the story has twists and turns I never expected. I look forward to reading more from this author.

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths *****

Amazon.com Link The Crossing Places: A Ruth Galloway Mystery

When a child’s bones are found near an ancient henge in the wild saltmarshes of Norfolk’s north coast, Ruth Galloway, a university lecturer in forensic archaeology, is asked to date them by DCI Harry Nelson. He thinks they may be the bones of a child called Lucy who has been missing for ten years. It’s a cold case he has never been able to forget, in part because he’s been getting creepy letters about Lucy ever since her disappearance from someone who quotes the Bible and Shakespeare and includes references to ritual and sacrifice. When Ruth proves that the bones are those of an Iron Age girl who died over two thousand years ago, she supposes that this is the end of the story. She’s wrong: it’s just the beginning of a nightmare.

My Review:
The Crossing Place is an interesting and satisfying mystery thriller. The author took great care in creating a brooding and mysterious location, and described the salt marsh area so that the reader is dropped right in the middle of it.

Ruth Galloway, an archeologist, and resident of the salt marsh area is drawn into the unexplained disappearance of two children by Detective Chief Inspector Henry Nelson when the bones of a child are found. The characters in this book are wonderfully quirky and each unique. The main characters of Ruth and Det. Nelson are likeable, and their stories are woven together well.

The story had many twists and had me guessing until the end. The end, by the way, has more than one surprise. I enjoyed the book very much, and I hope the next Ruth Galloway Mystery is in the works.

Inside Awake by Rome Sims ****

Amazon Link: Inside Awake


Inside Awake is a smorgasbord of alt-science ideas and several storylines that come together to deliver plenty of adventure and suspense. There are UFOs, time travelers, native wise men, and an undersea expedition. The book starts out at Lake Eyasi in Tanzania where a strange light is seen and massive deaths occur.

There is good character development with the main characters of the book, David Woodall and Dr. Sharon (Geri) Geraldo, both battered and bruised by their upbringing. There is cautious affection between them, and when Geri leads a team to investigate the deaths, the entire team disappears. Dr. Woodall must overcome his fears to try to find them.

This is a good book with many twists and locations. The time-travel aspect of the story is especially descriptive with the detailed portrayal of the flora and fauna of the time. How did they get there – and will they be able to get back?

I am always drawn to the characters that are a bit psychologically broken and are just barely able to overcome their adversity. I would like to see these two main characters show up in another book by this author.

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.

Desperate Highway *****

Desperate Highway (Amazon Link)

by Jesse Stretch

From the book: Jeff Andrews didn't just scam people; he ripped them off for everything they were worth. He took their homes, cars, planes, boats, even their girlfriends, and spent the money on booze, guns, coke, and limousines.

My Review:

Jeff Andrews was a bad guy, a crook, drug addict, thief, womanizer, and all around jerk. He stole from anyone and everyone and didn’t care. He was so self-focused that he only cared about his own needs and wants. He spent time in 25 jails and correctional facilities. Desperate Highway tells the story of a young man who makes one bad decision after another until his is a full-blown habitual crook.

The book chronicles the years he spent stealing and losing whole fortunes at a time. His life of criminal behavior left him on the run and always fearing detection. He was a hopeless waste of life – until he met the one person who could change his heart and make him someone of worth. While in prison he opened a Gideon Bible, and finally heard the truth about what was important in life, and gave him the one thing he didn’t have - love. Desperate Highway clearly explains that even the worst of the worst have value in God’s eyes, and redemption is always in their reach.

This is an excellent book with an important message. I appreciated the appendixes in the back of the book with information on Jeff Andrews’ ministries. I would have liked to know more about his transition into the ministries, but that does not take away from the importance of the book and the message. Jeff’s life begins where the book ends. According to the book and his website, he is involved with prison ministries and mentoring those just out of prison. Mr. Stretch had done a nice job in capturing the important messages in this book.

End of Grace by K. Thomas Murphy *****

Amazon Link for the book: End of Grace


From the back of the book: An incident in computer specialist Rick Macey’s past has put him on the path of revenge. If his plan is successful, the object of his wrath, the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, could lose millions of dollars and thousands of members. What Rick cannot foresee are the sinister ways this church will react when threatened.

My review: This is an interesting thriller that held my interest throughout. This is a fiction book, of course, but there are references to actual practices and historical organizations within the Mormon Church. It can be quite controversial any time you write a book that even suggests problems within a church body, but no matter what your denomination it is important for every person of faith to take a deep look at the motives of its leaders.

I found the main character of Kay very believable as a career woman within the church and someone who felt out of place her church’s practices. She finds herself caught up in the middle of the intrigue, not quite sure who to trust, but determined to be strong and do what is right. I recommend this book for anyone who likes mystery/thrillers with a light romance. Mormons should also read the book for what it is – a great mystery/thriller with many historical facts about the Church of the Latter-Day Saints.

The Husband by Dean Koontz ****

I love Dean Koontz books and although this may not rank as one of my favorites, it was still very good. This is a story of a kidnapping with a twist and the characters are what you would expect from the mind of Dean Koontz. There are many surprises along the way and the struggle between good and evil is evident throughout the book.

If you have never read a book by this author you will be surprised by the characters and the way he brings out how they became who they are. Great book.