Renegade

Renegade by Mel Odom

Odom follows Deployed with Renegade. We pick up a few months later and follow Private Pike. He's in Witness Protection trying to bring justice for the death of his only friend. He's a tough case though. He's a Marine Reservist and isn't easy to get along with. The marshals have frustrated him with their procrastination on bringing Petey's death to a close. He holds himself aloof from everyone because history proves they won't care for him in the long run.

Until a young boy named Hector begins to weave his way in through the few cracks that Pike has. Pike begins a tough battle within himself as he slowly begins to care for Hector, a few fellow Marines, and the occasional person who appears in his life.  It's easier to shut  his emotions down, but shutting down his emotions creates a monster.

Orders to Afghanistan separate him from Hector only to bring him in direct contact with Bekah Shaw. When Pike finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, he determines to shut himself down for good. The problem is that Bekah won't let him close that door.

I really enjoyed the story, but I liked the analogy that Odom drew even more. Without losing his story or getting preachy, Odom points out bluntly that you can't have it both ways. You have to choose to care or choose to not care. You can't live forever in a state of flux. Caring leaves you susceptible but it also renders great rewards.

As with Deployed, there are still loose ends in Renegade. I'm  hoping we return to Bekah, Pike, and Shaw down the road.

Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales

Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer

This was the first book I ready by Singer. It won't be the last. First his title sounds like something out of Pirates of the Caribbean. Second his main character is a former quarterback.  Touchdown!

Landon Reed has discovered a new version of himself. A former high-ranked college quarterback he fell from his  pedestal when it was discovered he'd been part of a point shaving scheme. After two years in jail he is released. First he marries his longtime girlfriend and mother of his daughter. Second he buckles in to earn his degree as a defense lawyer.

As he struggles to make his way without being that guy who shaved points, Harry McNaughton comes along and gives him an opportunity. Harry is unconventional at best, but he knows how to win. Landon is pumped to learn from Harry. That is until other lawyers in the firm are killed. Including Harry. As Landon takes on one of Harry's high profile cases, he realizes he may have stepped onto a field he wasn't ready for.

Singer ties together this story with precision. I was worried the legalese would bulk it up and weigh it down, but I was fascinated through the entire story.  Can't wait to read more!

Grave Consequences

Grave Consequences by Lisa T. Bergren

Bregren picks up where she left off in Glamorous Illusions with Grave Consequences. Cora Diehl is adjusting to life on a Grand Tour as Cora Diehl Kensington. Her life went from being a farmer's daughter with a couple of dresses and a hope of becoming a teacher to a life where she wears multiple dresses a day and being courted by a French nobleman.

Danger still haunts their steps even as they leave France. Cora's heart is torn between her growing feelings for the forbidden Will and the charming Pierre. As Cora fights to reclaim her identity despite new found blood lines, adventures await in foreign lands.

I found Grave Consequences to be a bit too long. A personal dislike of mine is that Cora's portion of the story was written in first person while Will's was written in third. It was a distraction and not one that I found easily overcome. While the meat of the story was engaging and entertaining, the completed work needed to be cleaned up.

I'll read the third in the series just to see how it ends. I'm not jumping to purchase more of Bergren's books though.

I Still Believe

I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp

I love reading. I love reading great fiction. However, no one writes stories like God does and the truth in I Still Believe is so powerful.  I had the pleasure of meeting Jeremy Camp in his travelling around in a van days. As a matter of fact I watched him unload his van for a gig. A few hours later after completing the manual work, he lead 200+ teens and young adults into an amazing time of worship.

I Still Believe starts at the foundation with Jeremy's foundation - faith and family. The brief time with his wife, Melissa, is a powerful enough testimony. However, Jeremy's testimony begins when he chooses to follow the Lord. Dissatisfied with the emptiness the temptations of the world delivers, Jeremy sacrificed and chose to walk a narrow path. As a teen the call on Jeremy's life was vague but it was forming. Through the book Jeremy tells of moments of doubt, rebellion, confusion, and anger. Something that we all feel and yet as Christians we are hesitant to admit to.

There is so much in the pages of I Still Believe, but mostly it is a story of the reality of God's faithfulness. I'd recommend this book to new Christians, young Christians, old Christians, grieving Christians, wise Christians, and those who don't have a relationship with the Lord. You can't really summarize a testimony like Jeremy's. I Still Believe is a testimony; it isn't a story.

Rolling Stone

Dear Rolling Stone,

I know you've made a name for yourself pushing the envelope. You've chosen cover photos meant to create rumblings and mumblings. Well, you've succeeded again.

Only this time I think you've gone too far. The typical Rolling Stone cover usually consists of less clothing especially from the 18-30 range. I do commend you for refraining from photo editing the photo so he'd be shirtless. I'm glad to see you still possess some restraint. However, I don't believe your choice of cover photo is getting your point across.

Let me tell you. I haven't read the story. I have no desire after seeing the cover to read the story. It could be the most mind-altering story I'd ever read, but I won't read it. I refuse to even read it online because I will not support your decision.

If your desire was to showcase the other side of the story for a hate-filled terrorist, then I would suggest that perhaps you fire your marketing people and start over. I might have been interested had your cover featured someone that I wanted to read about. I might have even taken a moment to think about the point you were trying to make.

Let me tell you what cover stories I would have wanted to read:

• the story of a 911 operator working on 4/15-4/19.
• the thoughts of an American soldier who is fighting for our freedom overseas and watching the lock down of Boston as terror invades our streets
• the story of a Dunkin' Donuts worker who served  Boston's finest during the manhunt
• the countless heroes of 4/15 who came to the rescue of others by offering their WiFi, blankets, shelter, water, directions.
• the facts from the officer who arrived on the scene where Officer Collier was executed
• the stories of officers who delivered milk, bread, etc to residents shut in
• the doctors and nurses who worked the ER
• the crew who cleaned up the street after the crime scene tape came down

I'm sure there are many other ideas out there. Many other cover stories that would have created enough interest for you to be relevant again. Instead you created controversy in the hopes of making a few dollars. 

The last thing we need to do is spotlight the despicable actions of someone who chose to slaughter innocent people. If you wanted to create empathy, sympathy, or pity for a murderer then don't glorify him. It isn't worth mentioning his name. His actions were those of a coward. Whether he was a lemming following in his brother's footsteps or a mastermind, he isn't worthy of a photo on the front of your magazine as if he is the next Justin Bieber or Timberlake. 

Why do good children go bad? I hear that is the theme of the story. Well, it could be that an overlooked child sees the fame and notoriety that evil is awarded and they seek out their fifteen minutes. It may be that the bullied want to shed light on their situation and they go to extremes. It may be that adults take the irresponsible path and excuse bad decision making because of their circumstances. Could it be that rather than holding someone accountable we cover them in excuses and ploy on the sympathetic nature of many? 

I think we need to stop good publications from going bad by holding them accountable for their actions instead of allowing sympathetic minds to excuse their behavior.  Rolling Stone, you made the wrong choice. I don't believe you are evil at the core, but you made a poor decision and it is time for you take responsibility for that decision, apologize to those you've offended, and learn from your mistake.

Sincerely, 

ME

Avenged

Avenged by Janice Cantore

Police Officer Carly Edwards is back with a new enthusiasm for life. She has remarried her husband, Nick Anderson, and her only dilemma is whether to remain in a black and white or take the federal task force position offered to her.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon ends abruptly. Carly and her partner, Joe, respond to a call one night and find two gang members dead and another one critically wounded in an apparent execution. As the investigation progresses, the facts don’t line up with a gang war. The city stands on the brink of a gang war and yet the catalyst seems to be a personal vendetta against Carly. As the gang tension gears up, Carly is facing a battle of her own. She’s become the start of a reporter’s blog about corrupt cops. Ginny Masters is calling into question every arrest and investigation Carly has been a part of.

Cantore excels with presenting the facts in a cop-centered action-adventure. Unfortunately, her writing often times comes across as a police report. Her 20+ years as an officer has given her experiences to draw from and she lays out the mystery plainly. Avenged held my attention because I was eager to see how all the unrelated mysteries were intertwined. At the end of the story the threads were all tied together and were satisfactory. Much like many action-adventure movies, you stay for the excitement even if you don’t feel connected to the characters.

All In Good Time

All In Good Time by Maureen Lang

Dessa Caldwell has a dream. She wants to fulfill the mission of her mentor, Sophie Pierson, and open a home for women seeking shelter. Her goal is to give prostitutes an opportunity of leaving their lifestyles. She needs financing to buy a home located on the edge of the Fourth Ward in Denver where the nightly business goes down. An application for a loan brings her to Hawkins National.

Henry Hawkins is a successful banker and Denver’s own Scrooge. He avoids all social interaction and disapproves of business dealings that aren’t guaranteed to return a profit. Dessa’s enthusiasm and business plan aren’t enough to convince him that Pierson House will allow her to repay any loan. Fortunately for Dessa Henry’s uncle and business partner, Tobias, interfere and approve her loan.

Thus starts the journey of Dessa and Henry. Dessa’s passion for the woman of the Fourth Ward is matched only by Henry’s disapproval. In time Henry’s disapproval fades and Dessa’s passion finds results.   

All In Good Time was an easy read. I enjoyed the underlying story which is that we all have a past. We can’t hide from it. We can’t deny it. We certainly can’t always cover it up. To have a future we must accept our past. The beautiful thing about our past is there is forgiveness for our transgressions. Each character in All In Good Time has something they need forgiveness for. Which is the way for all of us. It is about admitting to our poor decisions and learning from them.

As is typical with historical fiction, All In Good Time has a happy ending. The events leading up to that ending are entertaining and well-written.