The Devil's Garden, Brady Christianson (3 stars)

About The Devil's Garden

A Marine’s past is never far behind him, but sometimes it’s a lot closer than he thinks . . .

After years of enjoying the soft, quiet, civilian, family life, former Recon Marine Brandon Colson still has a large price on his head…only his family doesn’t know it. That is, until a heavily armed squad of terrorists breaks into his house and tries to kill him and his family.

After swiftly dispatching the would-be assassins, Colson realizes the ghosts from his past have somehow managed to come back to haunt him. His worst nightmare has come true. His identity—a secret until now—has been mysteriously compromised. Something he did years ago, while on a recon mission during his tour of service, has kept anger burning in the hearts of powerful Arab adversaries. And the men who attacked his house are simply an omen of what is to come.

With his family in hiding, Colson and local detective Sam Collier set out to locate and neutralize the remainder of the terrorist cell. It’s a race against time, and the plot they uncover along the way defies all expectation.

Their fates in the balance until the last second, the two men must fight for their lives as they navigate a trail littered with bloodshed and revenge that leads straight to hell on earth: The Devil’s Garden.

 

Price: $14.95
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
ISBN: 9781938690167
Pages: 391
Release: November 11, 2012

 

Review

 

Detective Sam Collier doesn't know what he's getting into when he prepares to interrogate Brandon Colson. What starts out as an investigation into Colson defending his family from intruders ends up with Sam's life on the line against terrorists. 

It's hard for Sam to believe Brandon's stories at first--especially when Brandon's kids are talking about magical blades and Brandon himself is quoting bible verses. As details slowly start to come in, Sam goes from doubter to believer. The two men set out on a mission through Florida swamps and forests, quite an unexpected eerie setting as described by the author, to take out the men who have been sent to kill Brandon.

This book has moments of fast-paced intrigue mixed with oddly-placed backstory and slow moments. When the action was in full force, the book was hard to put down. But, there were sections I was skimming because they were a bit long-winded. Often, Brandon's background was revealed through flashbacks that slowed the story a bit too much for me, although they were necessary to understanding his predicament.

In addition to Sam and Brandon, there are several other interesting and well-developed characters. The author has a way with dialogue and manages to describe the Florida setting in a way that made me feel like the characters were in a war zone.

Readers who appreciate action and intrigue will enjoy this story. Just be patient and enjoy the ride.

 

Rating: 3 stars

 

About the Author

 

Brady Christianson is a former United States Marine Corps Recon Marine whose military service and Christian faith has shaped his writing.

For more information on the book and author, please visit the author's website. 

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This is a blog tour, please visit The Devil's Garden blog tour site for more stops.

 

Note: I received a complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

For more information on Tribute Books, please visit their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

Jet, Russell Blake (4.5 stars)

About Jet
(From Author's Website)

JET is the story of a twenty-eight year old ex-Mossad operative who faked her own death to get out of the game, but whose past has caught up with her in a big, ugly way. It’s honestly the most non-stop action-and-thrills-filled books I’ve ever penned, or for that matter, read. And that’s not hyperbole. I’ll eat my bandanna if you don’t think so.

I was after an over-the-top heroine the likes of what would happen if Jack Bauer and James Bond had a love child. Think Lizbeth Salander with a double scoop of Kate Blankenship in Underworld. I wanted ass-kicking on top of ass-kicking. In other words, an unapologetic escapist romp that set a new, higher bar for what action/adventure can be.

The elevator pitch? Kill Bill meets Bourne.

That about sums it up.

Review

Fans of fast-paced action and strong female characters, think Sydney Bristow in Alias, will love Jet. As described by the author, "Jet is ... an enigma cloaked in a big helping of ass-kicking."

Jet has made plenty of enemies as a Mossad operative. When she decides it's time to get out, she fakes her own death and goes into hiding. Unfortunately, the twin brother of one of her slain targets finds her and is determined to make her pay. After taking out everyone Grigenko sends to kill her, Jet decides it's time to put an end to her nemesis.

To do so, she will need the help of the man who helped her fake her own death. David is also the only man to claim a piece of Jet's heart. Together they come up with a plan, one that puts both of their lives on the line. The odds are not even close to being in their favor.

As I was reading, the movie version played in my head. Jet is a female Bourne, and could give him a run for his money. But the story is not all action. Jet is a well-developed heroine--the reason behind her need to leave behind the operative life is compelling and unresolved at the end of this first story in the Jet series. Like Bourne, I wanted more for Jet than just to survive. I wanted her to end up with a life and find love. But it is good to know she can handle anything that gets in her way.

I highly recommend this to readers who want a roller coaster of a thrill ride with the added benefit of a female character worth investing in.

Rating: 4.5 stars
(But worthy of rounding up to 5 on Amazon & GoodReads)

About the Author
(From his website)

 

Russell is the international bestselling author of Fatal Exchange, a groundbreaking genre-blending thriller set against the counter-culture backdrop of New York’s gritty underground, The Geronimo Breach, an action/intrigue/thriller set in Panama, the bestselling Zero Sum trilogy of Wall Street thrillers, The Delphi Chronicle trilogy (The Manuscript, The Tortoise & The Hare and Phoenix Rising), the epic assassination thriller King of Swords, its prequel Night of the Assassin and sequels Revenge of the Assassin and Return of the Assassin, adventure/treasure hunt thriller The Voynich Cypher, and police procedural thriller Silver Justice.

His first satirical non-fiction work, How To Sell A Gazillion eBooks In No Time (even if drunk, high or incarcerated) was released to critical raves. An Angel With Fur, his second non-fiction book chronicling the saga of Lobo the miracle dog, hit the #1 spot in Animal Essays on the U.S. and UK charts.

“Captain” Russell lives on the Pacific coast of Mexico, where he spends his time writing, fishing, collecting & drinking tequila, playing with his dogs and battling world domination by clowns.

 

Russell is a proud member of RABMAD – Read A Book, Make A difference.

 

*****

 

This is my second Russell Blake book. Please read my review of The Voynich Cypher here (inclues an interview with the author, too). So far, he has yet to disappoint.

 

I'm excited to read the rest of the novels in the Jet series.

 

*****

 

Note: I received a complimentary copy for review purposes. A positive review was not requested or guaranteed; the opinions expressed are my own.

The Quaker State Affair, Dan Romain (4 stars)

The Quaker State Affair Book Summary

What happens when “some day” finally arrives?

A mysterious explosion in Taiwan. Nuclear secrets stolen from Los Alamos. China’s manifest destiny at hand.

In the near future, America and China go head-to-head in a battle of technological bluffs, setting in motion a chain of events that could lead to skyrocketing oil prices, the end of the dollar, the American way of life, and the republic itself. The only man who might have an answer in the midst of the international crisis is Patrick “Mac” McDaniels, a world-renowned physicist who wants nothing to do with the government. Has he been conducting revolutionary energy research in secret? And if so, will McDaniels be America’s salvation—or its ruin?

Review

Have you ever freaked out listening to the news, political analysts, or economists? What if all their worst fears, and yours, started coming true?

Patrick "Mac" McDaniels, a brilliant scientist compared to the likes of Einstein, went into hiding after working on a government project that he knew could lead the world down a devastating path... the Quaker State project. When his worst fears start playing out, the government forces him back in the game.

With each page turn, the action and fear intensify. Dan Romain builds tension with each expertly revealed development in the China-U.S. standoff, giving the reader everything from political intrigue to scientific and economic escalations. There is never a moment to catch your breath.

The most frightening part of the story... how realistic and possible it all is. Even the conspiracy theories of Mac's friend, Ben, never seem all that far fetched.

Dialogue and action rich, I do wish there was more character development and a closer look into the growing attraction between Mac and Agent Connie Barlow. But the fast pace keeps the reader so engaged, he/she will only notice this at the end. Even then, the odds are the reader will be thinking just how close to this type of mess we really are to care much about individual characters.

One thing's for sure, we all might want to reevaluate where we see this country going and what we consider progress.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who loves a fast-paced, action-filled tale overflowing with scientific theories and behind-the-scenes political machinations. If you like a movie running in your head the whole time you are reading, this book's for you (and more likely a 5-star read).

A special kudos to the author for letting the unimaginable happen, versus having the hero save the day in the nick of time. There's hope in the end, but no clear cut victory.

As much as I enjoyed the book, I did want more insight into the characters inner thoughts and backgrounds. Maybe the book should come with the corresponding FBI files on each character; or, better yet, I'm hoping for a sequel highlighting Connie and Mac (and Mac's protege, Adam Hobbs).

Rating: 4 stars

About Dan Romain:

Dan Romain is a nationally recognized business consultant who built one of the most successful insurance firms in the country. A graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Society, he currently resides in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, Lori, their two children, Danielle and Brian, and their black Labrador, Kona. He has been widely credited as one of the few who accurately predicted the economic melt down.

For more information on the book and author

The Quaker State Affair website

Dan Romain's business website

The Quaker State Affair blog tour site

Available at Amazon

Note: I received a complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or asked for; the views expressed are my own.

For more information on Tribute Books and their blog tours, please visit their website and/or on Facebook and Twitter.