THE LOVE AND HONOR SERIES

by

HALLEE BRIDGEMAN

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HONOR BOUND

September 2022, 384 pages

You can’t override the heart

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord’s mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces A-Team on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia’s life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia doesn’t want to like anything about Rick and his team–but an unexpected attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he’s beginning to think that, despite their differences, they just may be able to make a life together.

WORD OF HONOR

October 2022, 384 pages

You can’t outrun the past

FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when she and her partner are taken captive and he’s murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down.

As a woman in a Muslim country, she’ll find it much easier to move around undetected with a fake husband. Unfortunately for her, the one assigned to play the role is none other than Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders–the man who crushed her heart in college.

With a cargo bay’s worth of hurt and baggage between them, these two consummate professionals must play their parts perfectly if they hope to stop those responsible for bombing oil pipelines, which has killed innocent civilians and threatened to destabilize the oil markets. Protecting Lynda becomes Bill’s primary focus–but love long buried has a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times.

HONOR’S REFUGE

November 2022, 352 pages

You can’t give up on love

When she was just five years old, Melissa Braxton watched her father take her mother’s life and suffered the pain of separation from her sister, Lola. Melissa grew up with a strong desire to help those stuck in abusive relationships. It’s why she became a therapist and opened a domestic abuse shelter.

After losing a leg to a gunshot wound in the line of duty, Phil Osbourne has felt like a man without a purpose–until he hears Melissa’s story and decides to use his Special Forces contacts to track down her missing sister, the wife of a Colombian cartel teniente. He knows what he discovers will break Melissa’s heart. What he doesn’t realize is that helping the women reunite will bring the cartel down on them like the category 5 hurricane striking Miami.

Bruised yet not quite broken, Melissa and Phil battle the storm and the cartel, calling on strength they didn’t know they had to escape death, save the innocent, and–just maybe–find healing in each other’s arms.

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Review of Honor Bound – Book 1

There is nothing like living in the middle of a jungle in the middle of nowhere and then having to run for your life. Ok, most of us would not like to live like that, but for Captain Rick Norton, this was a routine day. Dr. Cynthia Myers may enjoy her career working as a doctor in said jungles, but I’m pretty sure she would prefer not to run anywhere.

Cynthia was having a crisis knowing who she was and where she should be in life. To try and resolve her ideas, she takes a job in the jungles of Africa, helping women give birth to healthy babies and maybe assisting with a few other minor health issues. She doesn’t expect the local warlord’s posse to roll into her village and expect her to save a dead man. Lucky for her, a special forces team was nearby tracking the warlord and his men, trying to end that regime. It was divine fate that they were there and could save her from these men. However, that wasn’t necessarily a good thing because where there is one, there will be more. What follows is an action-pack escape out of the jungle to an embassy in the country over a span of about 24 hours. I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how they would make it out alive.

Obviously, they do make it out of the jungle and to the embassy, and much to Cynthia’s surprise, her father, is there. Apparently, he is now the Vice President. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have a father that high up in politics and the danger that you could be in from those trying to harm him. Cynthia is a bit of a rebel and does not want to be drawn into that spotlight again after a disastrous event that led up to her departure to Africa. Sometimes, you just don’t get a say in some events. The upside to her recent experience is that she is hyper-vigilant and notices things aren’t right. Another intense situation unfolded, which left my heart racing for the second time in a short period.

Things calm down from here, but these intense situations have drawn Cynthia and Rick together, and sparks are flying between the two. But will it last? Cynthia is a pacifist and abhors guns. I can’t blame her; I’m not wild about guns, either. But sometimes, they serve a purpose, and it is knowing when those situations arise and that sometimes there are no other options. Rick leads a special forces team, and it is who he is. Both believe in a higher being, but can they resolve their differences?

This book really got my heart pumping during the first half. Once things calmed down, I became invested in the budding relationship between Rick and Cynthia. I liked that they took it slow and didn’t rush into anything. However, her pacifism gave her some unrealistic ideas, and trying to make Rick bend to her way of thinking was rather immature for someone in her early 30s. This dynamic helped keep the story interesting and created a new conflict that needed to be resolved.

There are many supporting characters from Rick’s special forces team, and they add drama and humor to the story. I found myself intrigued by these men and was happy to see that at least two of them get their own story in this series. I can’t wait to pick those up and see how things continue. I liked their dry wit during stressful times in the jungle, but deep down, they all had each other’s back and were a family. They were going to do whatever it took to ensure that everyone left Africa alive and in one piece.

I enjoyed this book and give it 5 paws up and look forward to the next two in this series.

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she’s not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. She is an accomplished speaker and an active member of several writing organizations.

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THE TRACEVERSE SAGA

The Shattered Gate &

The Two Gates

by

ERIC R. SWANSON

Genre: Science Fiction / Genetic Engineering

Publisher: Eric R. Swanson, LLC.

Date of Publication Book 1: March 22, 2020

Number of Pages: 394 pages

Date of Publication Book 2: May 1, 2021

Number of Pages: 402 pages

The Shattered Gate

They selfishly pillaged Earth and made him a hybrid. Will his split nature spell the end of intergalactic abduction?

Half-human, half-Ceran, Micah Trace yearns for something more. Though the repetition and isolation of living as a body double for the King of Ceres is crushing, he’s grateful to be treated better than the other genetically engineered humans. But when he discovers the ailing plight of his ancestors, he heeds the calling and cleverly insinuates himself into a dangerous mission across the galaxy.

Fearing their plan to repair a failing transportation gate might lead to disaster, Micah uses his experience mimicking the king to steal the forbidden authority he’s assumed for so long. But with ulterior motives darkening the depths of space, he may not survive to see the centuries-old connection between the planets repaired.

Can the royal mimic win control of the ship before they’re lost to the vacuum’s void?

The Shattered Gate is the thought-provoking first tale in the science fiction Traceverse Saga. If you like character-driven action, high-tech military defense systems, and intriguing political powerplays, then you’ll love Eric R. Swanson’s interstellar adventure.

Amazon

The Two Gates

Born to serve. Trained to lead. Can a man of two species bridge the critical gap between his peoples?

2454. Micah Trace’s half-human heart races as his expedition approaches Earth. Taking leadership of a one-way-trip from Ceres, he fears the memory of a centuries-old mass abduction means they’ll face a hostile reception. And his desperate claim of a shared ancestry falls on deaf ears when the traumatized Earthers greet them with suspicion, capture, and interrogation.
With relations treading a knife’s edge, the offworld ambassador finally proves his genetic roots and convinces the nervous population to repair the stargate and reconnect their worlds. But some resent alien interference in the planet’s affairs, and Micah suspects that they may be willing to kill to ensure his mission’s doom.

Can the hybrid herald unite his two species before the past destroys their future?

The Two Gates is the thrilling second novel in the science fiction Traceverse saga. If you like complex interplanetary politics, stunning character revelations, and pulse-pounding action, then you’ll love Eric R. Swanson’s galactic tale.

Amazon

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By Eric Swanson

Or click here to view on the author’s Facebook page

Eric Swanson was born in September of 1981 in Chicago, IL, and his entire life has been spent engrossed in stories. Growing up in a Minneapolis, MN suburb, Eric developed a deep appreciation for stories with a wide scope. From being frightened by Stephen King’s IT to being enthralled by Orson Scott Card’s Ender Wiggin stories, the written word of others grabbed Eric and often refused to let go… Even after he finished the first reading of a book. Several of his personal copies of favorite novels have endured many many readings. From an early age, Eric was a fan of all things science fiction with a leaning toward the dystopian and post-apocalyptic. The future fascinates Eric to no end, be that a realistic or wild-eyed and farfetched future. While he annually binges Battlestar Galactica (04), he dreams of worlds, people and happenings yet to be written. Eric lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, two children, and a pair of Goldendoodles. They sometimes Tweet for him…

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Synopsis

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Excerpt

Chapter 13 Lema

“The story of my takhalus, my nickname, began when I was a child. Baba brought a kitten back from his hunt in the Chitral. I thought: ‘He shows it to me, not to my brothers and sister. It’s my gift.’ I skipped after baba through the vegetable garden, under apricot and apple trees to the back of the enclosure surrounding our home. Naturally it was my role, not my siblings, to help him prepare the pen against corner walls. My eyes wouldn’t leave the animal. It was a spotted peeshu. I’d never seen a kitten so large, nor one with spots.

Baba corrected me. ‘You’re mistaken’ he said. ‘It isn’t a peeshu. It’s a baby prraang, a leopard cub.’

‘Yes. A prraang‘ I said. I pretended I knew. But how could I really know? I’d never seen one. Its eyes were different from a cat’s. I would ask Farikhta. She’d know.

“When baba left, I remained behind, peering at my pet. Baba warned me: ‘Don’t leave the pen door open.’ But I thought, I could go in and close the door. After all, it was mine. Father brought it for me. I could play with it.

“I crawled in, closing the door behind. The prraang looked soft. I wanted to stroke it.

I looked into its eyes and smiled, so it would see I was a friend. I crept closer and closer on hands and knees, silently and slowly, so as not to frighten it. It seemed to me that it smiled back. Its mouth was wide and its little teeth showed. A low rattle came from its belly. I thought it must be chuckling, speaking to me. So I spoke back. ‘I’m Shahay. You’re my pet.’

“I was so close I could touch it. Slowly, carefully, I reached. Its eyes fixed on me and grew even bigger. I didn’t know then that it saw a crawler-animal, showing teeth from an open, noisy mouth, an unknown animal with large, greedy eyes. In the voice her mother taught, the baby prraang made a different sound – a desperate squeal.

“Spotted fur flashed at my forearm tearing it with its razor claws, puncturing my finger with its needle teeth. The prraang retreated to its corner glaring at me, snarling a high pitched whine.

“I trembled, mouth open. Blood soaked my sleeve from ripped skin. My finger dripped a red pool from the punctures. I held the wounds. My eyes were full. I wiped them on my sleeves so my brothers and sister wouldn’t see. No sobs came from my mouth. I scolded the prraang. ‘I meant only to touch you. Why did you hurt me?’ I left silently, securing the gate. I thought ‘Baba will see blood, not tears.’

“Baba cleaned and bound the wounds. He was wise. He didn’t mew sympathy. Sympathy makes children soft and cowardly. He washed the blood streaked across my face where my bloody sleeve wiped the tears. He explained.

‘You say you crawled in to play. Why do you think the prraang hurt you?’

‘Is it a cruel prraang?’

‘Did it speak to you before it attacked?’

‘It made a noise. Was that its voice?’

‘Yes, a voice saying ‘Beware! I don’t know if you’re friend or foe. I’m a warrior. Come no closer or I’ll strike.’

‘Warriors are strong and brave.’

‘Always. The warrior strikes hard and endures with courage.’

About the Author

David Raeburn Finn read a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Psychology at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario. Subsequently he read a PhD supported by a Canada Council Post Doctoral Fellowship at the University of London, UK. At one point he imagined he might pursue medicine. Though he completed the task of castrating a lab rat in a neurophysiology course, the experience taught him of his aversion to cutting, a fatal flaw for a physician. He has taught, operated small private businesses in construction and importing, and worked with a Vancouver hedge fund management firm.

At age seventy-one he co-published his children’s book, Poopballs Over The Shanty And Other Bedtime Stories’ (Caledon Bedtime Press Ltd, 2013) illustrated by Rae Mate. These five bedtime stories reflect his earliest memories as a child in Ontario. Each story takes 10 to 12 minutes to read aloud. The title story, Poopballs Over the Shanty, recalls the earliest outdoor game he played with his brother. “Yes, we tossed frozen horse poop over an old broken shanty,” he says. “We didn’t have rubber balls or tennis balls. Some of the horse poop was a tad fresher, so unfrozen. We found a use for that, too.”

Website

Synopsis

Concepcion Chapa, an Army veteran, FBI special agent, and the orphaned daughter of two CIA agents, has lived a life of sacrifice for her country. When she learns that her parents may not be dead, just undercover, she allows herself to be recruited as a killer-for-hire for the CIA.

Faking her death and undergoing surgery to change her looks, Concepcion leaves everything behind—her friends, family, and country. Under the identity of Sofia Paltrini, she travels the globe doing the dirty work of the US government. But in a world of subterfuge and hidden motives, no one is quite who they seem. Concepcion is left not knowing who to trust and wondering if there’s a way to live a life for herself that’s beyond sacrifice.

Amazon

Review

This is a mashup between Alias and Leverage – where the bad guys are taken out by professional hitmen and women. Now it probably is closer to Alias than Leverage since no one in Leverage dies, but the concept is the same in my opinion.

Concepcion is former military with parents that were spies in their own right. An unfortunate incident has her under scrutiny and placed into an undercover job for the US Government, doing what can’t be done by legitimate branches of the government, killing those that have been proven to be a threat to our security. Not only does she have to go undercover, but she is also subjected to cosmetic surgery to alter her appearance and a name change. I can’t imagine what that might do to someone’s psyche.

I found this to be a well-written journey for this woman and what she had to give up in her life. It showcases what these people do for the sake of their country. There is plenty of action, some romance, and also some sad moments that take Concepcion/Sofia and the reader by surprise. I saw the hardness in Sofia and doing what it takes to get the job done. But at times I saw a softer side when it came to her best friend Joelle, who assumes she is dead. There is also the neighbor that she becomes attached to learning to dance and enjoy good food.

This story takes no prisoners and there is a myriad of emotions that run through the story. We give it 4 paws up.

About the Author

ALICIA DILL is an Army veteran, journalist, public speaker, and award-winning author. Originally from Missouri, she joined the Iowa Army National Guard at the age of 17 and received a degree in journalism and international studies at the University of Iowa, and has a Masters from the University of Dubuque. Her first book, Squared Away, was a 2020 International Next Generation Indie Book Award winner and a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award.

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THE UVALDE RAIDER

A Templar Family Novel

BY BEN H. ENGLISH

Publisher: Creative Texts Publishers

Publication Date: April 17, 2021

Pages: 229 Pages

Categories: Historical Fiction / Military / Texas

The time is the eve of the First Gulf War. The place an abandoned World War II emergency landing strip for heavy bombers, nestled amid the near countless miles upon miles of wide openness in West Texas.

Here a climactic battle will be fought, while the rest of the world focuses on what would become known as Operation Desert Storm.

But in some ways, the stakes here are even higher as men from other places and past conflicts gamble all that they are, and all they ever were, to prevent a catastrophic terrorist attack unthinkable before on an American city.

One group seeks wholesale slaughter, the murder of helpless civilians on a massive scale. The other strives to stop this evil in any way possible, and by whatever means necessary.

The key to either side’s success or failure?

One old Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, an enduring symbol from another war and ensuing catastrophe of a different era. This relic of a not so distant past is named ‘The Uvalde Raider,’ and this is its story…

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Excerpt From

The Uvalde Raider

By Ben H. English

Once able to, they made their way through the opened door and into the larger space. Micah stopped and blinked repeatedly before squinting against the harsh artificial glare, his eyes adjusting to the sudden onslaught of bright lighting contained within the room.

The heretofore dominant sounds of activity now faded to the visage of their captors conducting different tasks, all evidently part of some grand scheme of which Micah still had no real idea of. Qassam and his malicious shadow, the one he called Mustafa, peered over an aerial map set upon a large desktop to one side.

Both looked up after a moment, Qassam smiling with his white, even teeth as if genuinely glad to see them. Mustafa gave off no expression of emotion whatsoever, he simply looked at them with his flat reptilian eyes as if he was sizing something up for a future meal. If the Lebanese ever had an ounce of human kindness within him, the emotion had apparently evaporated a long time before.

“Colonel Templar and company, good to see you again” the Hezbollah leader effused. “I hope your lodging quarters have not been too uncomfortable. You have my apologies for the lateness of the hour, but I did want the chance to visit with you further. Now I have the time to do so.”

Ezekiel Templar cast a practiced eye on what was happening around him. There were aerial maps, flight charts, meteorological forecasts, assorted storage containers and color coded notebooks placed neatly at different points in the room, all illustrating a well-executed attention to detail.

He had already picked up enough from his eavesdropping to realize this was no rag tag bunch of petty criminals. They were a disciplined, well-trained and highly motivated group of men who were working together to accomplish an overridingly important goal. He already had a fair idea of what that goal likely was, but had been silently praying that he was wrong.

“I don’t know about that, Qassam, you look kind of busy. Perhaps we should come back at a better time” responded the elder Templar with a hint of dryness.

Qassam laughed out loud in apparent merriment. “Oh no, you could have not come at a more agreeable one. Most of the work has already been done, at least for my part. It has been said the mark of a successful organization is for each member to know their job and do it well, and without any real supervision. Such motivation and skills make my duties far less stressful and carries the greatest promise in achieving the objective. I handpicked each of these men precisely with that in mind.”

“Evidently so” agreed Ezekiel. He looked beyond the confines of the room and out through the front window that faced the runway area. The Uvalde Raider sat there, the center of attention for the activities going on outside.

The Boeing was lit up by numerous portable lighting fixtures, and Qassam’s men moved with purpose both inside and around her. The bomb bay doors had been cranked open, and they were working on some sort of hoist and pulley device that was being lifted up through the open belly of the aircraft. Off to the side was a group of ten fifty-gallon drums, arranged neatly in two rows. The containers appeared to be made of some sort of heavy plastic and were blue in color.

His worst fears confirmed, the elder Templar took another step forward, focused entirely on the scene outside. “What are you doing to my airplane?” he asked quietly.

“Preparing it for jihad, Colonel. You might say that your airplane is being brought back into active duty” replied the Hezbollah leader.

“If you are expecting me to fly it for you, you might first tell me exactly what you have planned.” deadpanned Ezekiel.

“That would be quite understandable, Colonel Templar, if you were the one who was flying it. As I alluded to before, the mark of a successful organization is for each man to know his job and do it well.” The Hezbollah commander leaned a bit forward, arms folded smugly. “You see, I already have a pilot and he is quite proficient.”

“Flying a B-17 is not like crawling into a Cessna 172, Qassam. Your man may be a good pilot, but there are very few these days who happen to have much experience at the controls of a Flying Fortress.” Templar glanced to both sides and then again to the large window as the young members of Qassam’s team went about their duties. “Frankly, I don’t see anyone around here who likely has that kind of experience.”

“Do not equate age with the experience needed to fly your airplane, Colonel,” warned Qassam. “Think about it this way: how old were you when you first flew the B-17 during your own war? Twenty-one, perhaps twenty-two years of age?”

The terrorist leader peered intently at the older man, as if relishing the thought of staying one step ahead of him. “I have the right man for the task. He is outside now, supervising the loading of your aircraft.”

Ben H. English is an eighth-generation Texan who grew up in the Big Bend. At seventeen he joined the Marines, ultimately becoming a chief scout-sniper as well as an infantry platoon sergeant. Later he worked counterintelligence and traveled to over thirty countries on four continents.

At Angelo State University he graduated Magna Cum Laude along with other honors. Afterward Ben had a career in the Texas Highway Patrol, holding several instructor billets involving firearms, driving, patrol procedures, and defensive tactics.

After retirement, he decided to try his hand at writing. His first effort, Yonderings, was accepted by a university press and garnered some awards. His second, Destiny’s Way, led to a long-term, multi-book contract.  This was followed by Out There: Essays on the Lower Big Bend and now his second fictional work, The Uvalde Raider.
His intimate knowledge of what he writes about lends credence and authenticity to his work. Ben knows how it feels to get hit and hit back, or being thirsty, cold, wet, hungry, alone, or exhausted beyond imagination. Finally, he knows of not only being the hunter, but also the hunted.

Ben and his wife have two sons who both graduated from Annapolis. He still likes nothing better than grabbing a pack and some canteens and heading out to where few others venture.
Just as he has done throughout most of his life…

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Synopsis

“I love being a Marine but there are days…We may have a lot of the same problems in 2122 we did a hundred years ago but back then the Gul brothers weren’t paying lots to see my head on a spike! Not that I was born yet but that’s not the point! So I’m a pretty good shot and Rick is even better. Did I ask daddy Gul and his boys to go on a rampage? No, I didn’t! But now we have to leave the planet and go to the New Hope colony where the locals like to eat people!”  – Staff Sergeant Susan ‘Molly’ Bennett, USMC

The story of the alien Rift invasion of the New Hope Colony begins on Earth in 2122 when all too familiar problems and events cause a chain reaction that will have repercussions on two worlds. Fleeing for their lives and to protect his family Navy, Lieutenant Paul “Rick” O’Brien and Marine Staff Sergeant Susan Mollison “Molly” Bennett will have to board a starship for the long voyage to Earth’s first extrasolar colony under new identities. There they will join the Colonial Rangers, the international military force designed to protect the colonists from the planet’s ferocious predators, not to deter an alien invasion.

The female-loving Logistics officer O’Brien and superb marksman and the courageous Marine recon squad leader form an unbreakable bond forged under fire that will serve them well as events unfold around them. The circumstances that send them to the New Hope Colony will also have a profound effect on the other members of the O’Brien/Cassidy family and especially Rick’s daughter Ciara as well as on the colony where they find refuge.

‘FIERCE GIRLS’ introduces the lead characters and covers the events that force O’Brien and Bennett to leave Earth. Then as Lieutenant Commander Rick ‘Cassidy’ and Gunnery Sergeant Molly ‘Pickford’ the story will deal with their first months at the New Hope Colony. It also introduces the key members of Rick’s family, their embrace of Molly Bennett, and the repercussions on their own lives.

The Fierce Girls At War series beginning with ‘Fierce Girls’ is not simply about the bonds between the characters. It is about women who are smart, brave, quick thinking, resilient and who are good leaders. They are steady under fire, they are problem solvers and they are resourceful and creative thinkers. They feel fear when circumstances are frightening but they don’t panic. They are not dependent on their male counterparts and more often than not they outshine them. They feel lust and love but are not driven by either (most of the time). Many of them are experienced, competent soldiers while others are young students dropped into a perilous situation from which no one is coming to rescue them. Some of them are bound by bonds of family but by no means are they all. Book One ‘Fierce Girls’ introduces the main characters –Gunnery Sergeant ‘Molly’ Pickford, Lieutenant Commander ‘Rick’ Cassidy, his daughter Ciara and other members of his family, and Captain Naomi MacCaffrey, a Canadian officer captured by extremists and rescued by Molly in the African jungles. They must find it in themselves to fight battles against other humans before the coming desperate struggle against an alien invasion of Earth’s first colony in space that will arise in the following books of the series. Those books will show these women and others take the lead in fighting for the life of the colony.

Excerpt

Setting: Cassidy/O’Brien residence in Yonkers, New York/US Consulate in Douala, Cameroon February 2122

Bridget O’Brien, the 22-year-old sister of Lieutenant Paul ‘Rick’ O’Brien is home for the weekend studying for her final exams when the household artificial intelligence, Robby, alerts her that something has happened involving her brother at the US Consulate in Cameroon. Hassan Gul, the world’s most wanted terrorist, and his men have attacked the consulate and a live feed from a reporter there for a diplomatic reception is being shown worldwide. The Consul’s three daughters have been captured and are being held outside the surrounded building. Bridget is watching the scene unfold before her eyes.

Chapter 6

The Consul’s Daughters

New York

The playback resumed; seconds later a voice called from outside the consulate building and the picture shifted back to a group outside where a man had been forced to his knees in front of the three Kaslowski girls, “Marines! This is Hassan Gul! I want all US Marine personnel to come out of the building. If you do as I have ordered we will not harm the civilians inside. If you do not I will kill these pretty young girls one at a time and then we will destroy the building and everyone in it! I give you two minutes to comply but in one minute I will kill this man!”

The reporter quickly focused again on Rick and the blonde sergeant again. She said to him, “Shit! What do you think we should do, Lieutenant? If we go out there they’ll just kill us. They’ll probably kill everyone else anyway.”

Bridget watched as a strained looking Rick peeked outside. The camera was focused on the men holding the three girls by their necks with guns to their heads and the man who had been made to kneel down in front of them.

There was a shot and screams from the girls. A stunned Bridget saw the man fall to the ground dead. Hassan Gul called out again, “You now have one minute!”

“Lieutenant?” the young female sergeant asked Rick urgently as the camera swung back to them.

Her brother looked at the young Marine and with a mirthless smile asked, “Sergeant Bennett, are you a good shot with that side arm?”

The young Marine looked at him blankly and replied, “Expert rating last qual, why?”

Rick looked around the room and said, “See that painting on the wall? Right eye.” Bridget watched perplexed as he suddenly lifted the pistol and barely looking fired once at a something out of sight. The camera swung around and zoomed in on a large portrait of the President. It was at least twenty feet away from where Rick was hunched down; the bullet had penetrated the pupil of the right eye. “I need you to trust me,” he said.

What the hell are you up to, Rick? Nice shot though.

Before the sergeant could answer Rick O’Brien returned to the window and called out to the men below, “Wait! We’re coming out! Please give us a moment to pray!”

“Pray?” asked a confused Staff Sergeant Bennett.

Pray? What the…?

“Don’t worry about it,” he answered with a feral grin.

Don’t worry about it? Yeah, sure.

The voice from outside sounded again, “You are very brave Marines. I grant you two minutes to pray then you must come out! What was that shot I heard?”

“It was someone who disagreed with the decision. Thank you! We’ll be out in two minutes,” Rick called back.

The blonde staff sergeant looked at O’Brien in interest. “What do you want to do, Lieutenant? Help is on the way but two minutes isn’t long enough for the cavalry to get here.”

Rick gave her a crooked little smile and said, “I know, they’ll never give us that much time. Now tell your guys to stay out of sight by the windows and be ready. And tell them to make sure they protect their ears; it’s going to get real loud. And you come with me.” Bridget’s only brother got up and started for the stairs leading down to the main floor entrance, waving the young NCO to follow as she spoke over her comm to what remained of her squad. Rick was talking to someone on his own comm badge but Bridget couldn’t hear what he was saying. The two hurried down the stairs with the newsman in their wake.

Bridget felt tears running down her face. They’re going to kill you, you idiot! What are you doing? I don’t want to see you die today! Oh my god, Ciara!

“What are we doing, Lieutenant?” the unusually calm-looking young woman asked Rick O’Brien matter-of-factly when they reached the main entryway.

Bridget cringed at what she heard next.

Rick replied, “Staff Sergeant Bennett, we, you and me, are going to open the door and walk right out there and shoot them dead, rescue the girls and get back inside. That’s all.”

“That’s all, huh?”

That’s all, huh? Idiot!

“Yeah, pretty much. Ten seconds after we step outside there is going to be a noise that hopefully will distract them long enough for us to pop ‘em all.”

“Hopefully pop ‘em all, huh? And the guns, where do we hide them?”

            Are you crazy, Rick? The oldest O’Brien sister thought incredulously.

“We don’t. We’ll have our hands up in the air, holding them by the barrel. On ten you step right and fire, I’ll step left. You shoot the two on the right, I’ll take the two on the left, and I’ll race you for the one in the middle. Your guys shoot everybody else.”

“Sounds easy enough,” the young sergeant answered with an edge of sarcasm in her voice. “If this works they may lock us both up for being crazy.”

“I wouldn’t mind a nice restful vacation somewhere after this.”

“You’re nuts, you know that, right?”

You got that right, sister!

The reporter kept recording as the American Consul approached them. They were just inside the front door where Winona Kaslowski stood ashen-faced and terrified for her daughters. “Lieutenant, you’re really going out there? They’ll kill you both.”

“Maybe, ma’am. Then again, maybe not. Don’t give up on us just yet. Everybody stay away from the front door. Oh, and you might want to cover your ears.” O’Brien looked at the surprisingly calm-looking Bennett and asked her, “Are you ready to kill some bad guys?”

“Ready? You must be kidding.” Taking a deep breath the Marine said with a defiant grin, “Fine! Let’s do this!”

“We still have twenty seconds. Let’s just check our weapons one more time, shall we? I wouldn’t want to find out too late that I’m out of ammo.”

“Sure, why not?”

The camera bounced violently again as the newsman raced up to the third floor and ran over to the nearest window where one of the Marines stood ready. “You better put these on,” the corporal said and handed him a spare set of earplugs that he hurriedly put on.

Bridget felt tears running down her cheeks, certain that her brother was about to die right in front of her. The situation was suicidal. The picture stabilized as the reporter focused on the area outside the main entrance to the building. Rick, wearing a Marine’s armored vest and a combat helmet was already outside with his hands raised, a pistol held by the barrel in his left hand. Staff Sergeant Susan ‘Molly’ Bennett was right behind him.

Hassan Gul, his two sons and two of his followers were holding the three girls forty feet from the front door. Thirty of his men were covering them, watching the building for any sign of subterfuge. The pair walked forward at a casual pace until Gul ordered them to stop and drop their weapons. Bridget’s heart was pounding and she fought herself not to look away. The two began to lower their weapons when suddenly as one they stepped to either side of the walkway just as a terrific electronic screaming was heard coming out of every speaker on the grounds. Bridget had to cover her ears before Robby adjusted the volume to a bearable level.

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?

The horrible, excruciating sound caused Hassan Gul and every one of his men to cringe and reach reflexively for their ears to protect them, causing them to lift the guns away from the heads of the three girls for a split second. Bridget watched stunned as her brother and Bennett calmly shot down Hassan Gul, his two sons and the two mercenaries standing behind the girls.

The Marines on the third floor then began firing on Gul’s distracted men. O’Brien and Bennett ran forward, grabbed the three girls by the arms and dragged them back into the building. Three seconds after everyone was back inside the noise suddenly cut off. From the time they’d first stepped outside it had taken less than twenty seconds. Some of Gul’s men begin to get up but the awful noise began again and the Marines resumed picking off their almost helpless targets. Ten seconds later the noise ended again but this time Gul’s men who were now trapped inside the compound made no effort to rise. Those who’d been near one of the breaches in the wall had already run away or been shot down trying to get out.

Amazed and relieved Bridget abruptly realized that she’d stood up with her mouth wide open in shock and she sat down again quickly. The audio had gone quiet then she noticed that the firing had stopped. The camera panned around the area in front of the consulate building and she saw that a few of Gul’s men were lying face down with their fingers laced behind their necks, probably hoping that they’d be allowed to surrender. She watched as Rick and the blonde Marine appeared outside again and walked over to the body of Hassan Gul. The reporter had zoomed in on them and must have increased his audio pickup to maximum because she could hear them talking.

“I don’t suppose we get to keep the reward, do you?” Rick joked.

Oh my god, so typical! Bridget thought in relieved amusement.

“Fat chance of that. Look at these two, Lieutenant. I think these two are Gul’s spawn.”

“I think you’re right. So, I got Gul senior and that knucklehead next to him, you got Gul junior there and that ugly bastard and I think we have to share credit for the other Gul junior.”

“What do you mean share? I shot him, not you,” Bennett said sounding somewhat bemused.

“Look again, blondie. You shot him in the right eye, while mine went right through his mouth and out the other side. He had to still be standing for both.”

God Rick, you are so predictable! When have I heard this kind of conversation before?

Susan ‘Molly’ Bennett shrugged then turned and grinned at her brother, “Very well then, Lieutenant O’Brien, we share credit for this asshole, but I’d already bagged two Guls before I came here so I’m still ahead, so there!”

Oh My God! It’s HER! It’s HER!

“Really? That was you? Wow! I’d heard about that. I was hoping to meet you eventually. My daughter is a big fan of yours. That was nice work there. And you look really cute in a combat helmet too. You know, I think I love you. Er, and just in time, here comes the cavalry,” he said pointing to the two anti-grav shuttles full of troops headed directly towards them.

Did he really just say that? Oh my god! He’s hitting on her NOW?

The attractive blonde Bennett gave Rick a lopsided grin as she shook her head and said, “I think we’re going to be on the news tonight.” She looked back and pointed up at the news reporter who had recorded every second of the action from his perch on the third floor.

Rick sighed and said, “Oh, that could be a problem later.”

“Well, I guess we should have shot him first. Now it’s too late. Let’s go back inside, Lieutenant. I need a drink.”

“You’re not the only one.” The playback continued but Rick and the young sergeant were no longer in sight.

Oh My God! “Robby! Give me locations on my sisters, my mom, Ciara and Melanie McCord right now!” The playback halted again.

“Mistress Deadly Gunfire is at work at the Police Academy range as usual. Miss Pretty Bird is in her dorm room at school, where I would suppose that she is preparing for her final exams although given her recent activities she may be having morning sex with her current boyfriend…”

“Cut the commentary, Robby,” she told the AI in annoyance.

“Very well. Miss Candy Lips is at her morning Chinese language class. Young Missy Keer is at her school. This is her beginning algebra period I believe. Mistress Melanie is at her office at the nano-botics lab.”

Bridget came to a decision and told the AI, “Robby, I want you to call Ciara’s school. Tell them that there is a family emergency. I’m on the way to pick her up now. I’ll be there in the next ten minutes.”

“Of course. Ahem. You may wish to address your wardrobe or lack thereof,” Robby crooned with just a hint of amusement.

Her mind racing Bridget had been pulling on her shoes as she was talking and intending to head out the door as soon as the AI acknowledged her instruction when she realized that she wasn’t wearing any clothes. Her towel had fallen to the floor when she had stood up abruptly.

“Shit!”

“Indeed. Shall I attempt to contact anyone else at this time?”

Bridget ran up the stairs to her bedroom and began dressing as fast as she could. “Yes, call my mother, Nicole and Chloe. Tell them about the video and let them know that I’m going to fetch Ciara. I don’t want her seeing this until she’s with us. It will be everywhere within hours if not sooner. And put me through to Melanie. I need to let her know what’s going on.”

“Very well. The school has been contacted and Young Missy Keer will be waiting when you arrive.”

“Good.” Bridget was out the door and on her way to get Ciara.

###

Within minutes of the end of the battle a perplexed Rick O’Brien saw Staff Sergeant Bennett being hustled into a Marine anti-grav shuttle that took off and headed back to the Mount St Helens. Bennett had given him a little wave as she stepped into the shuttle but he hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye. He had no way to know it but Bennett would be on her way back to the States hours before he stepped aboard his ship again.

Rick saw the reporter walking towards him with the American consul and her three daughters and sighed wryly. He thought about Ciara and hoped that she wouldn’t see the news until after his mom and sisters had a chance to look at it and know that he’d come out of it in one piece. Then he thought back to the conversation he’d had with her a couple of weeks earlier when she’d told him about the ‘brave Marine lady’ who had saved all those people. Ciara had known that her unit was going to be embarking on her daddy’s ship soon and she’d begged him to meet her. He’d certainly done that! Ciara desperately wanted to meet the young Marine and now he was certain that she was going to go crazy after seeing the two of them together.

Oh boy! I’m never going to hear the end of this. If I’m lucky I have a few hours before they all see it. Oh well, here come the girls and their mom. I may as well enjoy the attention. At least they have a reason to hero worship me. I just wish my hands would stop shaking. ‘Rick’ O’Brien had a feeling that not everyone was to going be thrilled with what he and the pretty Bennett had just done. He had no idea just how not thrilled some people were.

About the Author

Mike Adams was born in Brooklyn and raised in Staten Island, NY. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Wagner College and an MBA from San Diego State University. He is a retired US Navy Supply Corps (Logistics) officer, former small business owner, and part-time substitute teacher. He has visited 6 continents and 36 countries, speaks Spanish, some German, a little Italian and less French. He currently lives in Chula Vista, CA with his wife Chris.

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LANDING IN MY PRESENT

by

Mary Clark

Biography / Aviation / Historical / WWII

Publisher: Hellgate Press

Date of Publication: June 15, 2020

Number of Pages: 218

Scroll down for the giveaway!

Mary Walker Clark barely knew her father. When he died, he left not only the obvious void every teen would experience, but took with him scores of Indiana Jones-style tales about flying the Hump, a treacherous series of US missions that transported supplies over the Himalayas to China during World War II.

It would take a chance interview with a pilot who had flown with her father in the war to launch a series of extraordinary journeys—into a shrouded past and halfway around the globe to India and China—for Clark to finally come to know the father whose absence had haunted her for decades.

Landing in My Present chronicles the adventures of a daughter who chose to pry open a painful past while enlarging her view of an adventurous father long thought lost.

Amazon • Hellgate Press

Every now and then a book will come along that will touch a myriad of emotions and this book does just that.  The journey that Mary Clark takes us on spans nearly a century starting with her father’s life through her journey to learn more about his past that just wasn’t discussed.  It might have been the times or perhaps that was just her father’s personality, but as she delves into his story and her memories, a more complex man emerges.

Charles (Charlie) Walker died when Mary was just 16 and a junior in high school from a freak accident on the family farm located in the Panhandle of Texas. While he didn’t die right away, there came a point where her mother had to make a tough decision, one that no one ever wishes to make in their life.  This is a quote that shows Mary’s maturity looking back at the situation and the decision her mother made:

“I admired her for making that decision (to bring him home to die) and deeply felt the sadness and anxiety that would have accompanied the choice she didn’t want to make.  I wished we had talked during that emotional time but we didn’t, an early indication of my family’s tilt toward silence, choosing to let traumatic events sink below consciousness.”

I think many families from that time period didn’t talk about feelings or what they were thinking about doing and just did what was necessary.  This next quote ties into that mindset and sums it up nicely and I think if anyone were to look back on their ancestors they might see the same traits, I know I do.

“My cousin Carolyn calls this “stuffing.” You stuff all the bad news down deep and don’t allow it to surface. A more proper description is that we lived in a culture of silent grief.”

Fifty years later, she started really questioning what she knew about her father and decided to learn more about him after hearing an interview with a fellow aviator that flew with her father during the war.  She is an analytical thinker and I felt like each piece of information she uncovered was filling in the puzzle of what her father experienced during the war.  She started with what she knew and dived deeper into family archives and researching the Hump pilots.  Considering how late she waited to research these pilots, many had passed away but she was lucky to have met a few and their families that shared what information they had gleaned from their father that aided in her research.  The letters she uncovered were like a gift to her.  They shared stories and memories that assisted Mary in her research and filling in the missing pieces of her father’s life.  I found it interesting that the military gave each soldier personalized stationery.  In today’s world, they would just text or email those they wished to communicate with so the art of a letter is slowly being lost which is a shame because that is how we track our history.

Researching her father’s past had positive benefits.  Mary and her brother’s remembered more once they shared memories which might trigger another memory and really open their minds to their childhood.  I know if I think about my past, I remember some things but others will share stories that I have forgotten.  So I can see where this would be a huge benefit to any family.  But the negative consequences included the guilt that Mary felt for not knowing her father better. She shouldn’t blame herself for not knowing him better because she was a teenager and what teenager really knows their parent?  I know I couldn’t tell you things about my dad’s past when I was a teen because we don’t think that way at that age.

Once the research was done, we are taken on a trek through India and China and the towns and villages that Charlie visited while stationed over there.  I could feel the emotions from Mary’s writing on the impact it made on her to see where he lived, worked, and how the people in those countries felt about the US Military stationed there during WWII.  It was amazing that 50+ years later that some were still so thankful for what people like her father did for them.  I could sense some closure on that part of his life.  There was still more research to do, but this helped assuage her desire to know more about her father.  Between her descriptions of the scenery and the pictures, it is easy to picture these in my mind.

There are a few things that I took away from this book – and these are my interpretations – to document your family history.  Ask the questions, interview the grandparents and parents, ask what it was like when they were a child, how they met their spouse, the different paths that they took to where they are now.  The other is to not let so much time pass by before asking the questions because you never know when it will be too late.  I wish I had asked my father more things before he passed away.  Much like Mary, I will have to do my own research and ask my mother more questions so that information isn’t lost.  I also learned to cherish your family.  Time together is better than anything else.

This was an educational book on many fronts – from the war to family dynamics.  The addition of the photographs and memories just added to the depth of this memoir. I think anyone that enjoys history and different aspects of WWII would learn something new and be amazed at the bravery that some people hold.

I leave you with a few additional quotes that spoke to me.

“What I didn’t see until later was the biggest loss of all, his story.”

“My parents weren’t afraid of the world, so neither was I.”

“I had come to more fully understand Dad’s experience in this remote location, and that we did.”

I give this 4 1/2 paws.

Mary Walker Clark is a retired attorney turned travel writer who loves taking readers with her to worldwide destinations. She has been traveling independently and internationally for over fifty years. Her essays may be found in the Paris News, at her blog, “Mary Clark, Traveler,” and her podcasts at KETR 88.9, an NPR affiliate. Clark is an award-winning member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and a contributor to Still Me, … After All These Years, 24 Writers Reflect on Aging.

In 2016, Clark traveled to India and China to follow her father’s WWII footsteps when he was a Hump pilot flying over the Himalayas. Her journey to connect with him fifty years after his death is told in her book, Landing in My Present.

Clark is a fifth generation Texan living in Paris, Texas.

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FIRST WINNER: $25 Amazon card

SECOND WINNER: Signed copy of Landing in My Present

THIRD WINNER: $15 Amazon card.

 July 21-July 31, 2020

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Synopsis

A Top Gun for the new millennium, Lions of the Sky propels the reader into a realm in which friendship, loyalty, and skill are tested, battles won and lost in an instant, and lives irrevocably changed in the time it takes to plug in your afterburners.

Sam Richardson is a fighter pilot’s pilot, a reluctant legend with a gut-eating secret. He is in the last span of his tour as an instructor, yearning to get back to the real action of the Fleet, when he is ordered to take on one last class—a class that will force him to confront his carefully quarantined demons.

Brash, carefree, and naturally gifted, Keely Silvers is the embodiment of all that grates on him. After years of single-minded dedication, she and her classmates can see the finish line. They are months away from achieving their life-long dream, flying Navy F/A-18 fighters. They are smart and hard-working, but they’re just kids with expensive new toys. They’re eager to rush through training and escape to the freedom of the world beyond, a world they view as a playground full of fast jets and exotic locales.

But Sam knows there is a darker side to the profession he loves. There is trouble brewing in the East with global implications. If they make it past him they will be cast into a dangerous world where enemy planes cruise the skies over the South China Sea like sharks, loaded with real weapons and hidden intentions.

With fans already excited for the new film Top Gun: Maverick (releasing June 2020), Lions of the Sky gives readers an inside look at the world of the fighter pilot, from someone who’s been there.

Excerpt

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Slammer sliced through the crisp early morning air in a jet with his name stenciled on the side: LT Sam “Slammer” Richardson. For his last flight as a Navy fighter pilot instructor he’d finagled a spot on a dawn flight for his favorite dogfight hop, a 2 versus 1, where he was the lone bad guy. Now he was heading back for administrative chores on Earth. He felt his heartbeat slowing to normal as he peered from the cockpit at the Atlantic, watching as the color of the sea gradually melted from a deep turquoise blue a hundred miles off the coast of Virginia to a slate gray as he cruised closer to shore. The surface of the ocean was still and heavy, like slowly undulating molten lead. He had a little gas to play with so he gently tilted the stick on the F/A-18E Super Hornet—the Rhino, as the aircrew called it.

Some Rhinos had two seats but this variant had only one, and for once he was glad to be in the cockpit alone with his thoughts. He was going to miss his buddies. They had worked together for the past couple years as instructors at the Naval Air Station Oceana, and prior to that in their previous Fleet squadron for an action-packed three years. He felt a twinge of regret leaving them behind but he could feel the undeniable thirst building for the action of the Fleet. It was definitely time to rotate back into life at sea. To flying real missions, not training ones.

The plane banked responsively, turning toward the northern corner of the Carolinas, Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hill. As the pale strip of sandy shoreline marched closer, a line of snowy white puffies dotted the horizon looking like a hanging playground of cotton candy suspended a couple of thousand feet above the sailboats and rolling waves. Almost of its own volition, the Rhino climbed and banked, surfing the cloud tops, gently tearing off a piece of fluff with a wingtip as it rolled inverted, descending a few hundred feet in the blink of an eye, and rolled upright again. At times like these, when his hands transmitted his thoughts directly to the control surfaces without effort, Slammer felt like he was just along for the ride. The plane was an extension of his body; no conscious input was needed to roll inverted once more and fall, fall weightlessly until he recovered just above the waves. 100 feet above the water, 450 knots, there was no stress. No sweat beading on his brow, no abnormally high pulse, just a wide smile hidden behind his oxygen mask. While the world raced by just below, miles clicking away at an absurd pace, propelled by the explosive violence of combustion, he was at peace at the tip of the spear.

As the Rhino approached the shore and the confines of the Air Traffic Control system, the spell was broken and, like a horse headed for the barn, the Rhino climbed and pointed north over the Albermarle Sound toward the Naval Air Station Oceana. He approached the airfield, contacted the tower, and was cleared for the overhead pattern; no other traffic in the area. This was the perfect way to end his tenure with the training squadron, he thought, grinning. He maneuvered toward the runway at fifteen hundred feet, watching through the Virginia Pines the jam of cars carrying morning commuters, wondering if they were watching him. When he was three miles from the runway’s end he nudged the nose over slightly and cracked the afterburners, just a bit, igniting twin plumes of focused flame. The Rhino surged forward like a rocket, accelerating to 600 knots in a few beats of the heart as he leveled off just above the green blur of tree tops.

In a flash he was over the runway. “Roman Two-One, numbers,” he informed the tower.

“The pattern is yours, Roman.”

As the near end of the runway disappeared below the pointy nose of his jet, he snapped to the left, one wing pointed straight at the earth, the other up to the heavens. Then he pulled back on the stick, quick yet smooth, grunting as speed and back-stick squatted the jet into a tight, seven-and-a-half G arc. A moment later, the aerial u-turn complete, he rolled level racing at 300 knots in the opposite direction. He was a mile abeam the runway, smokin’ fast 800 feet above the grass. Just where he wanted to be. Now his pulse was up. He was alert, working hard but still having fun. At the moment the end of the runway flashed below his wing, he turned left again, pulling hard on the stick. As the speed dropped quickly he threw down the landing gear and moved the flap switch to FULL. With 90 degrees to go to line up with the runway, he was all set—decelerating nicely, gear down, flaps down.

“Roman Two-One, three down and locked,” he transmitted.

“Cleared to land.”

Rolling into the groove, two hundred feet off the ground on runway centerline, he scanned with a practiced eye and picked up the ball—the meatball—centered between the two rows of green reference lights, just where it should be. The meatball was the device adjacent the runway that beamed glide-slope information into the sky so the pilots could land precisely. Keeping the ball centered as the plane slowed to approach speed, he worked the throttles like a concert violinist, gently adding and withdrawing diesel to the turbines, feeling the plane as it slowed slightly or rose on a summer thermal, fighting the forces of entropy conspiring to push the ball from the middle where it was aligned with the green lights.

From the ground, if one stood just next to the meatball lens as it projected its glide-slope of orange light into the air, the Rhino would appear steady as a rock, locked in the same piece of sky and magically enlarging as it got closer. In the cockpit, the pilot would be working hard, hands and feet making hundreds of minute corrections, eyes scanning nonstop.

The groove lasts but fifteen to eighteen ticks of a clock’s second hand, about the time it takes to tie a shoe, but careers are made and lives are changed in that span. A few heartbeats later the wheels smashed onto the runway as Slammer and the Rhino left their natural environment. While the plane slowed, the computer-enhanced control surfaces twitched back and forth, like the wings of a primordial creature reluctantly realizing it was now firmly on the ground.

“Nice break,” came from the tower, and Slammer’s grin widened as he taxied off the runway, popping one of the fittings holding his oxygen mask so it now dangled jauntily from one side.

Reprinted from Lions of the Sky. Copyright © 2018 by Paco Chierici

Praise for Lions of the Sky

“A humdinger of a book…Through vividly drawn characters, Paco takes us inside a Navy fighter squadron showing their incredibly difficult day to day lives, including the obstacles women still face in this tight knit community. This is a terrific window into a world very few people see.”—The Honorable Ray Mabus, 75th United States Secretary of the Navy

“Paco is one of the best pilots I know. Lions of the Sky is gripping, fast paced, and authentic. If you want a real, edge of the envelope thriller, look no further!”—Brandon Webb, former Navy Seal, Pilot and New York Times bestselling author

“I was absolutely catapulted into the action! Paco put me right back in the cockpit and the Ready Room. Lions of the Sky is intense, and personal, and thrilling. A must read!”—Lea Gabrielle, Journalist and F/A-18 Naval Aviator

“Paco Chierici’s debut novel is an unforgettable story of pride, lust, loss, betrayal and redemption…set today in a carrier-based fighter squadron in combat. Timely and gripping, Lions of the Sky is an exciting supersonic techno-thriller with well-written g-spikes of human drama that kept me turning the pages. Strap in and arm your seat!”—Kevin Miller, bestselling author of the Raven One trilogy

“If you wanted to be a fighter pilot but couldnʼt, for whatever reason, this book provides an incredible description. Read it. Then youʼll want to read it again. Itʼs that good.”—Jay Consalvi, Fighter pilot featured in Speed and Angels, winner of Reno Air Races Unlimited Gold 2017

About the Author

Francesco “Paco” Chierici is the author of Lions of the Sky. During his active duty career in the US Navy, Chierici flew A-6E Intruders and F-14A Tomcats, deployed to conflict zones from Somalia to Iraq and was stationed aboard carriers including the USS Ranger, Nimitz and Kitty Hawk. Unable to give up dogfighting, he flew the F-5 Tiger II for a further ten years as a Bandit concurrent with his employment as a commercial pilot. Throughout his military career, Paco accumulated nearly 3,000 tactical hours, 400 carrier landings, a Southwest Asia Service Medal with Bronze Star, and three Strike/Flight Air Medals. Chierici’s writing has appeared in Aviation Classics magazine, AOPA magazine, and Fighter Sweep. He also created and produced the award-winning naval aviation documentary, Speed and Angels. Currently a 737 captain, Chierici can often be found in the skies above California flying a Yak-50 with a group of likeminded G-hounds to get his dogfighting fix. He lives in Northern California with his wife Hillary, and two children.

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Synopsis

Snatched by a Drug Cartel. Forgotten by His Government.

Six girls from Phoenix are missing after leaving their eighth-grade dance and a white van was noticed in the area. Shortly after, a similar van was seen crossing the border to Mexico. Two DEA agents are missing, and Black Stone, a drug cartel also involved in human trafficking, is responsible. U.S. Officials may not be stepping in, but U.S. Marine pilot lieutenant colonel (LtCol) Hap Stoner, is up for the challenge. He is shown a grainy video of hooded individuals beating and ultimately executing two men. Were these victims the missing DEA agents? Can the kidnapped girls be saved in time? Speculation arises when one of their own is suspected as a double agent. Hap Stoner and his team of experienced pilots head into combat in order to uncover the truth and finally put an end to Black Stone’s reign of terror.

High-ranking U.S. military commander, Chuck Warden, is taken hostage by the ruthless Black Stone Mexican drug cartel, who work hand in hand with a treacherous Middle Eastern terrorist group.

Corrupt U.S. officials turn a blind eye. But Lieutenant Colonel Hap “Kang” Stoner takes action, leading a gritty squadron of Marine aviators on an unauthorized raid into Mexico to bring Warden home.

With intense action and stark realism, author Hugh Simpson pulls you into the pit of a gut-wrenching black ops mission where you’ll…

Plunge into the harsh, brutal world of foreign drug cartels
Witness unthinkable government greed, lies, and corruption
Discover the true meaning of courage, heroism, and patriotism

Borderline Decision opens your eyes to the chilling threat that lives at America’s doorstep. You’ll be forced to face the cold reality that your government conspires with people who want you dead.

All that stands between you and them are the silent heroes you’ve never met… until now.

Praise

“Borderline Decision takes you deep into daring black military operations you never hear about. The action is riveting and
suspenseful. You’ll live it, feel it, and ask for more.” -Casey Demchak, Copywriter & Consultant

Read an Excerpt Here

About the Author

Hugh Simpson is a 20-year military veteran who flew helicopters in operations Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and Desert Calm. His extensive geo-political insights come together in Borderline Decision, the first in his series of thrillers that feature U.S. Marine Pilot Lt. Col Hap “Kang” Stoner, who operates where governments fear to tread.

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Book Title: Out of Time (A Ray Lafayette Novel) by Thomas William Lowrie
Category: Adult Fiction, 264 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, Military and War
Publisher: Mindstir Media
Release date: December 4, 2017

Synopsis

Well, here I go again. All alone except for this suitcase of mine. I’m headed for a new place with new people. Not so bad considering it’s 1944. Lots of guys are in my shoes. We’re in the middle of World War II. Still not so bad. I’m a fireman in the Army Air Corps whatever they’re calling themselves these days. Once again, not bad at all. But I was born in 1963. There’s the bad part.

I was not born with the name Ray Lafayette, but that’s what they call me. I didn’t have kids or smoke a pipe. Hell, I didn’t even like coffee. I do now.

I was born into a different life than this, one with a lot of attachments. Now I carry my life in one bag. One really important bag.

In this time, people call me pal or buddy or sir, good lord they call me sir all the time.

I have friends in this time, and they are the best but do they know me like they think they do? Simply put, NO! Would they die for me? Every bit as much as I would die for them.

To say these folks are tough or strong is an understatement. Superhumans? I don’t think so. They were ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. I didn’t have heroes before this. I didn’t understand them until now.

Since this event has started, I have experienced many things I can’t explain. There is only one other person who has any knowledge of my situation, and I can’t find him. The last words from him were vos non unum, you are not alone.

There was a time I missed all the things that made my life easier as I thought. Here I have no cell phone, no internet, no rock music, no almost anything. As bad as that sounds, I’m not sure if I want to leave here.

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About the Author

Thomas William Lowrie is a WWII writer and author who has published two military novels, He Was and Out of Time.
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He has lived outside of Las Vegas most of his life, but his best memories are of the days fishing in South Texas. Summer vacations were the best. That is also where he found his best friend and wife, Tina. He could not have done any of this without her. Of course, Ray pecking at his brain for years had something to do with it too.

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