Love and Theft

LOVE AND THEFT                                      STAN PARISH

When Alex and Diane meet, there are instant, undeniable sparks. Both are single parents living in wealthy suburbia: independent, highly competent, and seemingly settled in their comfortable lives. She runs a successful catering business. He's a detail-oriented, rough-hewn thief who robs banks, casinos, and jewelry stores. They're immediately drawn to each other, but neither realizes initially that their lives have overlapped once before, under dangerous circumstances.
Soon, their shared history and burgeoning relationship will threaten everything they love. One of Alex's biggest jobs goes wrong, and both of their children's lives are suddenly threatened. Alex is forced to pull off one last spectacular, international caper in order to save his family. And just when Alex believes he knows exactly who Diane is and what she's capable of, he learns he's not the only one with dark secrets--he's finally met his match.
This is a deeply suspenseful and entertaining thriller about the illusion of control, deceiving appearances, and the fundamental importance of family. It's about how far we'll go to escape our past, to get the things we want, and to protect the things--and the people--we love. 

PAT'S REVIEW

This book is everything that is advertised and more. From the opening scenes to the very last page I glued to this story and even then, I was still wanting more. As the book opens and you are taken from a call in the Vegas dispatcher you are then taken to another scene, while the robbery is taking place the author takes you eyes of a young boy and his phone where he is videoing the scene even to the point of making sure that the blinking icon appears so the boy knows he is recording. You are taken through each scene as part of the criminals and also the investigators. To all of the different places around the Globe, this story takes you to and also different characters you meet along the way. Each one has a purpose and is key to this story and some you take you back in time with a young criminal just starting out and how everything comes full circle. When you get to the end you should be ready for some surprises and plenty of twists. This is a fantastic story that you will not want to put down but will be with you for a while and you will think about the next time you walk into a Vegas Casino. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 Stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

 

HERE TOMORROW 7 PM PST. JANA RICHARDS AUTHOR OF: TO HEAL A HEART (SEE EXCERPTS)

HERE

TOMORROW

7 PM PST.

JANA RICHARDS

AUTHOR OF:

Garrett Saunders' world changed two years ago on a road in Afghanistan. Back home, he feels like a stranger. As he struggles to find his place in the world, he meets a horse destined for the slaughterhouse and a woman bent on rescuing the strays of the world, including him.

Blair Greyson moves to Masonville to look after her ailing grandfather and give her rescue horses a home. Right away she butts heads with a surly former Marine. Despite a rocky start, they come to an agreement: Blair will board Garrett's rescue horse and he'll help with repairs around her farm.

 

Garrett finds purpose working with Blair—and falls in love with her. But she's hiding a secret. Can she forgive herself and accept Garrett's love, or will she let guilt and regret continue to rule her life?

“Okay, what would you like to do? In your heart of hearts, what would you really like to do with your life?”

He was slow in responding. For a long time, he pushed gravel around with his rake, until Blair thought he wasn’t going to answer her question. With a sigh, she started working again, almost missing his soft-spoken words.

“I always thought after my military career was over, I’d come back to civilian life and begin a career in policing or firefighting.”

“Those both sound like good options. So why haven’t you applied to some police forces or fire departments?”

The anger in his eyes took her breath away. “Are you deliberately trying to be cruel?”

Blair stepped back, shocked by his words. “No, of course not! What are you talking about?”

“I’m not exactly a prime candidate for either the police force or the fire department.”

“Why would you say that?” Was he worried about his drinking as well? Did he think he’d be unable to handle the rigors of policing or firefighting because of it?

He tilted his head. “You don’t know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He bent at the waist and rolled up his right pant leg till it was above his knee, revealing a device made of metal and plastic where flesh and bone should have been. He rose to his full height and looked her straight in the eye, as if daring her to pity him.

“As you can see, I’d have a tough time acing the physical.”

Blair wanted to cry. She wanted to run into Garrett’s arms and hold him forever, to make all the hurt go away. She wanted to scream and yell and rail against war and all the stupidity and intolerance in the world.

But Garrett wouldn’t appreciate her tears, and crying wouldn’t solve anything.

So, she sucked them back and raised her gaze to his, willing her chin not to tremble.

“I hope you’re not going to use your leg, or lack thereof, as an excuse to get out of work. There’s still plenty to be done here.”

He rolled his pant leg over his prosthesis once more, straightened and grinned at her.

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Somehow Blair managed to smile back at him. “Good answer.”\

The Wild Rose Press

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She can’t live with one more lie. He can’t tell the truth.

Harper Lindquist is convinced she’s found the answer to her financial prayers. Unless she pours cash into crumbling Solace Lake Lodge, she’ll lose her family’s legacy. Her would-be savior arrives in the middle of a Minnesota blizzard and she’s determined to prove to her reluctant, and trapped, financier the lodge is a sound investment. But Harper isn’t completely honest with him. And she has no idea the lake is hiding secrets of its own. 

Ethan James is a liar, but his money is very real. He isn’t convinced a broken-down inn is a smart investment opportunity. But the more he understands Harper’s dreams and desires, the more he wants to be the man to make them come true. The trauma in both their pasts means neither can fully trust the other. They must find the courage to love, to trust, and to accept, or yesterday’s sorrows will keep them apart.

As she stared into his dark eyes, she realized how much she trusted him, and relied on him. That was something rare for her. The only people she trusted as much were her sisters.

I’m in love with him.

The thought blasted through her brain with the force of a tsunami. The tension of the last few weeks, the insecurity, the mistrust, the fear, slipped easily from her shoulders. For the first time, her mind was clear. She was in love with Ethan and she didn’t want to wait anymore. She wanted him. She wanted him to be her first, her last.

Finding courage, she didn’t know she possessed, Harper slid off the stool and walked around the island. She plucked the wine glass from his hand and set it on the counter, then placed his hand on her breast. “Make love with me, Ethan.”

A fire lit in his eyes, telling her he wanted her, too. But there was a question there, a hesitation. “Are you sure?”

She’d never been more sure of anything in her life. “Yes.”

“Harper—”

“Shhh. Let’s not talk anymore.” She placed one finger over his lips, then stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

Ethan’s reaction was lightning swift. He wrapped his arms around her and brought her close, his mouth descending on hers in a wild, warm kiss. Their tongues tangled, slid over each other. She’d missed his touch, his taste. She moaned, and in the sound, she heard thirty-two years of longing.

For this. For him.

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Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient

BLAZE OF LIGHT                                MARCUS BROTHERTON

 For fans of Unbroken and Hacksaw Ridge comes the powerful true story of a Medal of Honor recipient who faced more than his fair share of battles—and overcame them through perseverance and faith.

“What Gary Beikirch did to receive his medal is unforgettable—and the story of what he overcame afterward is as big and moving as they come.”—Gary Sinise

After dawn, the siege began. It was April 1, 1970, and Army Green Beret medic Gary Beikirch knew the odds were stacked against their survival. Some 10,000 enemy soldiers sought to obliterate the twelve American Special Forces troops and 400 indigenous fighters who stood fast to defend 2,300 women and children inside the village of Dak Seang. For his valor and selflessness during the ruthless siege, Beikirch would be awarded a Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest and most prestigious military decoration.

But Gary returned home wounded in body, mind, and soul, struggling with drug addiction. To overcome his addiction and find himself again, Gary retreated to a cave in the mountains of New England, where a redemptive encounter with God allowed Gary to find peace.

New York Times best-selling author Marcus Brotherton chronicles the incredible true story of a person who changed from lost to found. Gripping and unforgettable, and written with a rich and vivid narrative voice, Blaze of Light will inspire you to answer hurt with ingenuity, to reach for faith, and to find clarity and peace within any season of storm.

PAT'S REVIEW

A true story of Gary Beikirch and his actions as a Green Beret medic during Vietnam and for especially in April I 1970. That is when twelve Special Forces men along with 400 ARVIN fighters were to begin to hold off the initial attack of 10,000 Viet Cong, the battles later would be named the siege of Dak Seang and though it began on April 1, it would not be over until May 8th. By then over 2,800 fighter sorties had been flown, 154 gunships sorties were also flown, (though my cousin never talks about it I believe since he was a gunship helicopter pilot, he probably flew some of those he did two tours.) another 114 bombing sorties were flown plus over a hundred resupply sorties. You can see that this was an intense battle and though the battle was won by us it was fought in the highlands and this was where most of the Green Beret’s would go, to the Highlands set up camps and would fight and train the ingenious people to fight. Now they were protecting the village along with the 400 fighters alongside them. You are taken through the details of the battle and though he would be wounded his first thought was that of others and tending to their wounds and how to help others and not of himself. A very intense time yet you get the true meaning of his service and calling. He would be taken out when the first of the helicopters arrived when a landing zone was set up for extraction and dropping off ammo and other supplies. His wounds though treatable would take months to heal and the ones he fought in his mind would take years. The story though begins with his early years and through his childhood and then up to his enlistment. He moves on to training and the different steps and training and qualifications and courses he had to pass in order to be a Green Beret. Even when he passed, he still did not know for sure that made it. This part of the story is equally truthful and yet shows you just how few make it through from the beginning. He would have months longer since he chose to be a medic and he could still be knocked out if he failed that. Once passed it was to more training until his deployment to Vietnam. Once he was released from the hospital, he tells of how lost he was and how he made it to an uncle’s farm and then to a college. It is there that people would spit on him when they found out that he was a vet and served in Nam, I found this to be disgusting though I heard stories about this happening to servicemen coming home. Growing up in a military home and having lived with a WWI vet, and WWII and Korean vet, then an uncle and cousin who fought in Vietnam this just did not make sense to me. It was at these college years later that he is informed that he will be awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions that night. He like others does not think he did anything to be awarded this medal and this also affects his PTSD. It is also at this college town that he would find his wife and she would stick by him throughout his time working through his problems. It is the last part of the book where you see his life-changing and finally coming around for good. Overall, I found this to be an outstanding book and feel it an honor and privilege to have read about his life, I hope more people will read this book as well. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

The Mountain (Ryan Decker #3)

 THE MOUNTAIN                                          STEVEN KONKOLY

Investigating a missing person case on Murder Mountain means looking for trouble in a propulsive thriller by the author of The Raid.

When someone disappears on Northern California’s lawless Murder Mountain, it isn’t news. The vast terrain for illegal marijuana harvests is also a notorious black hole for outsiders. But when that someone is the family friend of the persuasive and righteous Senator Steele, finding him becomes covert investigator Ryan Decker’s mission.

For Decker, the risks of infiltrating a multibillion-dollar outlaw industry are greater than he could possibly understand. Especially when that industry has flourished into the profitable backbone of a secretive and influential DC-based think tank. And protecting its untraceable revenue in the Emerald Triangle is a band of ruthless white nationalists.

What begins as a seemingly straightforward favor soon pulls Decker and his partner, Harlow Mackenzie, into a high-stakes conspiracy linked to the most cold-blooded puppet masters and power brokers in the country. The harder Decker and Harlow work to expose the insidious faction, the harder it’ll be to make it out of Murder Mountain alive.

PAT'S REVIEW

First time reading this author for me and I was not disappointed. Actually, I was surprised at how once I started this book, I did not put it down until I finished it, I read it in one night. The characters and the storyline were all such that everything moved in a way that everything flowed. Decker was a character that was easy to get into and the story itself of a missing son was also easy to follow. Living in California already knows about the drug problem and the different busts that they have made over the years in Northern California and the huge amount of pot fields they have come across. Also, about people either missing or being shot at over the years, at least years ago not so much now. This story was easy to get into and to follow. Everything about this from the first time they set foot in Northern California and dealing with the local Police all the way to the end and what I think is a set up for the next book just made for a very good read and one that was fast-paced and full of action and good dialogue. From the opening pages to the end this is an outstanding book. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

The Revelators (Quinn Colson #10)

THE REVELATORS                                        ACE ATKINS

 Shot up and left for dead, Sheriff Quinn Colson has revenge on his mind. With the help of his new wife Maggie, rehabilitation, and sheer force of will, he's walking again, eager to resume his work as a southern lawman and track down those responsible for his attempted murder. But someone is standing in his way: an interim sheriff, appointed by the newly elected Governor Vardaman, the man who Quinn knows ordered his murder. Vardaman sits at the top of the state's power structure--both legal and criminal--and little does he know, Quinn is still alive. And coming for him.

Quinn will enlist the help of his most trusted friends, including federal agent Jon Holliday, U.S. Marshal Lillie Virgil, and Donnie Varner, a childhood buddy now working for the Feds as an informant. Since Quinn's been gone, the criminal element in north Mississippi has flourished, with queen pin Fannie Hathcock enjoying unbridled freedom. As an ice storm bears down on North Mississippi and Memphis, and Tibbehah County is isolated from the outside world, the killers will return to finish the job.

But this time, Quinn Colson and company will be waiting, ready to bust apart a criminal empire running on a rigged system for far too long. This is the battle of Jericho, the epic showdown that's been years in the making. In the end, the war will end--for better or worse. 

PAT'S REVIEW

The book opens with sheriff Quinn shot and left for dead his friend comes to his aid and then his wife Molly who is a nurse will later help with his recovery. After his shooting though changes start to happen in the county. A new sheriff is appointed by the governor and most people feel corruption behind it. Then you have ICE raiding a chicken factory and taking away parents while leaving their children behind to fend for themselves. Fanny runs most if not all of the illegal activity around the area. Along with her bodyguard. Then an Indian hitman who is looking for information into who killed his son who worked for Fanny. Sex trafficking also comes into the story for a bit. Then who have the different people wanted to help Quinn get the county back to him? From a U.S. Marshall and an undercover agent inside Fannie's organization to a released convict that surprises everyone that he is actually working for the good guys this time. I felt like the first half of the book was setting up all of the characters, putting everyone into their place. When I got past the halfway mark I could not put this book down until the end. From that point on it was full of action and fast-paced. Even the few moments that it did slowed it was moving the story along with Molly and Quinn but the dialogue kept you going and then right back into the throws of the action. The first time I read this author and I was not disappointed. A very good book. I received this book from Netgalley.com. I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com (less)

The Negotiator

THE NEGOTIATOR                              BRENDAN DUBOIS

The Negotiator has built a good business around his talent for facilitating the sale of valuable merchandise with no questions asked. He relies on his other talent—the ability to shoot his way out of trouble if a deal goes sideways—as little as possible. Over the years, he’s learned that the best way to avoid gunplay is to always be smart, trust no one, and never agree to meet clients in a private residence.

When the promise of an enormous payday convinces him to break the most important rule, his partner Clarence is killed and the Negotiator is left with a new job description—figure out who killed Clarence and be sure that justice is served by any means necessary. 

PAT'S REVIEW

 A book from 2018 but one that I read recently. I was not disappointed with the story just with myself for not reading this book sooner. The negotiator is just that the person that does the deals between two clients to get the most money that has been agreed upon and that no one is changing the deal after it has been agreed upon.

The story takes a turn early on when he goes against his own rules as he sees a big payday. While at the negotiation he realizes his mistake, which is costly for his partner and friend Clarence is killed. Now he is working to find the person or people who did this to at least avenge the death of Clarence.
I found this to be a very fast-paced book with a lot of action but not so much as to take from the story. Also, all of the characters added to the storyline and the entire story made you want to find out what was going to happen on the next page. A wonderful story and very much worth the read. I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com