Into the Fire

Seeing the work of . . . The Devil's Hand

                         

The Devil's Hand by Jack Carr is Book 4 in the James Reece Thriller Series.

A private meeting between the POTUS and James Reece sets the course for Reece's next assignment. When the dirty work is somehow done for him, an explanation is not easily found until after an emergency outbreak of a deadly pathogen is underway. Thanks to Reece's girlfriend Katie, investigative reporter and best friends with infectious disease doctor Haley Garrett, CIA Vic accommodates Reece and Haley to go on an immediate search for what begins as an intelligent "conspiracy theory" by Dr. Garrett - the deadline to prove her theory is imminent. When she has to involve her husband who has the highest bio-lab classification, things get dicey. 

Haley has an immediate chip on her shoulder toward Reese, having heard and read all the reports previously in play about him, until she sees and understands he sees himself as the only way to save lives in a desperate measure situation. Instead of resenting him, she grudgingly comes to respect him for who he is, and they form a strong alliance working under extreme pressure. 

There are two distinct flaws in this novel neither of which make the story any less exciting.

One: Why in the world would a Top Tier operator fail to discover (by not even looking for) a tracking device on his Land Cruiser after the ambush in the previous novel and just in principle?! 

Two: The political implications of the two parties mentioned and depicted in this story are exactly the opposite of reality. It just seems odd for a formidable former Navy SEAL (Carr) to have this take on the situation. If he'd chosen not to name the specific parties of the two characters he chose for their roles and worked around identifying them, nine out of ten readers would've easily placed them differently. 

Nevertheless, The Devil's Hand is a terrifying story because of its potential reality. Carr does a very good job of portraying the levels of betrayal working around the clock in DC and in the world. Getting information is critical - no matter how you have to procure it. For the "innocent", fighting the horrific spins on circumstances based on contrived lies through a compliant and complicit media definitely illustrates the USA today.

Slight - and inevitable - cliffhanger with a diabolic twist.  

Profanity present. 

 

Father, you are the Author of Life. You give us our number of days. You make the gospel available for all. We're desperate for you whether we know it or not. Please continue to bless Jack and his writing. Thank you for his many gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Sunday's Offerings

 

Praise be to the Lord, 

   who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird

   out of the fowler's snare;

the snare has been broken,

   and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

   the Maker of heaven and earth. 

 

Psalm 124:6-8 (NIV) 

Trending . . . down

     

Years ago, "blogs" were "it". Remember "MySpace"? Now extinct. Facebook, Twitter, Vlogs, YouTube Channels, Podcasts. You know them all. I certainly don't. There are lots and lots of political pages, book review pages, author pages, reader pages, you-name-it pages, to engage on the Internet. Not to mention the odious Dark Web. 

Blogs were said to be an author's best way to promote their work. Establish a consistent blog with entertaining information and/or material. Throw in a giveaway. Or start a newsletter, develop/design another webpage. Every present-day author knows the drill. 

Well, blogs are now considered to be "passé". Attention spans in today's world don't last long. It's difficult to be compelling for a long time. At some point, people/viewers want something "new", vibrant, and "trendy". Most of the time if they get to that point in their web surfing, they abandon what has become stale to them. 

This blog has probably passed its prime, but I continue it anyway. I examine/inventory my reasons for that frequently, but the one thing I conclude is that I keep doing it because I want to. Period. Since it's obvious that many readers have moved on from this blog, it's somewhat curious why I want to keep it going. Believe it or not, it's not easy coming up with interesting material to post, but then if you've followed this blog, you know that some days are miserable failures at being "interesting", but, nevertheless, other days' postings at least interest me.

So, if you've hung in there with this outdated blog, I thank you from my heart. I love sharing "Nicole" with you. I try to minimally promote my work, but it's a given that it will be and is presented here on occasion. Initially, that was part of the purpose. Now it's a factor I work in when I introduce a new novel or want to remind those who come here, that, yes, I've written several novels: one mystery and several love stories. You can find them here. And often I include an excerpt from one of them just in case a stranger to them might be intrigued. 

So. It's Friday. And I take Saturdays off from posting here, but, yes, I'll be back with "Sunday's Offerings" and another book review on Monday. Hope to "see" my loyal friends then. Love you guys. 

 

Father, thank you for getting this blog together. It's amazing to still be doing it. You are the inspiration for anything valuable and worthwhile. Please help me to always honor you in the process. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

Throwback Thursday

                               

As you can see, this picture of my old friend Rick Davis and me goofing around has been "through it" over the many years since it was taken. Rick passed away a few years ago, but just before he did, I got to visit with him after having not seen him for well over 20 years. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me that privilege to reconnect with my old friend. And thank you that he allowed me to pray for him before I left his house knowing it would be the last time I would see him.

 

Father, no question you arranged that visit, and I thank you from my heart. I'm still hoping I'll see him in heaven. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.    

Wednesday Wanderings . . .

   

There's a certain satisfaction and relief and joy that comes with finishing a novel - one that I've written. But there's also a terrible melancholy that sinks in within a very short time. At least for me. And especially after completing Then . . . you. 

To say I loved this hero/protagonist is an understatement. This particular character was a total risk to write. He's not "ordinary". 

In this story, there are several intentionally vague parts of the hero's life. In retrospect I suppose some readers will find this annoying, maybe a bit "fantastical", or maybe they'll overlook whatever specific lack of information or understanding where I chose not to elaborate. 

One of the reasons for being vague is because of the unique circumstance of this love story. The descriptor "He's a recluse. She's seeking refuge." ushers the reader into an immediate change of life for these two total strangers. Although the vague parts of the hero's overall character are important to the storyline, those that are revealed are the critical crux to this love story. Because above all else: it's a love story. 

These are the aftermath thoughts of this author suffering from a lapse of melancholy having said farewell to these much-loved (by me) characters . . .

 

Father, I keep thanking you for the words, the stories, the characters, and I keep saying, "Apart from you, I can do nothing" because it's true, and I truly can't say/express it enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Tuesday Tunes

         

This is an absolutely beautiful cover of Foreigner's "Waiting for a Girl Like You". It's a fabulous cover and a great song. Wow. 

 

Father, you've given us such amazing musicians. May they all one day realize the One who's given them their talents and gifts. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

Neutralizing the . . . Savage Son

                               

In Savage Son, Book 3 in the James Reece Thrillers, Jack Carr brings out the down and dirty characters, one of them the traitor who plans to kill James Reece. 

Oliver Grey has gotten away with being a traitor to the USA and, although James Reece has seen to it that he is no longer employed by the Russian who used Grey's skills to assassinate the Russian president, Grey knows he'd better kill Reece before Reece finds him. His life is filled with the paranoia of being hunted, knowing what Reece is capable of, but Grey's just arrogant enough to think he can outwit former SEAL James Reece. Bad mistake. 

The leader of the Russian mafia (Ivan Zharkov) decides to employ Grey because of his knowledge of key US figures and practices and because of his cyber skills. And when Grey presents his case to eliminate James Reece after finally finding him at Kumba Ranch in Montana which is owned by Reese's best friend's (former SEAL Raife Hastings) family, Ivan suggests both should be eliminated. 

A team of Russian mafia operatives who've trained some of their gang members for this mission is deployed to Montana to hunt Reese and Raife, but when Ivan's perverse son Aleksandr, who has a position in the Russian government, discovers through one of his assets what's on his father's agenda, he alerts his USA contacts to the ambush and deploys his own team to facilitate his craving for hunting humans.  

Following the disturbing Prologue, because of the complexity of Carr's plot plus the multitude of characters who comprise these novels, this story is a bit slow in developing. Having said that, the last quarter of the book is fast, breathtaking, bizarre, and partially conclusive with some sorrow and a slight cliffhanger mixed in. 

Reading this series will give you an education into the amazing knowledge the best of the best military men must have to do the jobs they do all over the world to keep this country of ours safe. They are incredible individuals given impossible situations to overcome. When it gets personal for the characters in these stories, they use every part of their training and their innate giftings from the God who many of them have yet to know to perform outlandish measures to accomplish their purposes and to protect those they love. 

If you love weapons, you'll love the insider knowledge described in these novels. 

Profanity present. 

 

Father, you are so gracious to us, all of us whether we know you or not. You hand out all kinds of talents and gifts and then leave it up to us how we use them, even though we're designed to use them at your direction. May you bless those who've yet to meet your Son and help them find your salvation. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

I

Sunday's Offerings

  

     But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 

 

2 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV) 

Friday Five

                                  

Name five of your favorite movies. They don't have to be in order. Can be random choices that come to mind. Five movies you enjoy.

 

POTC Curse of the Black Pearl 

The Tourist (remake)

The Bourne Series

The Mission Impossible Series 

Skyfall 

 

Father, you designed the arts. May those who participate in them find the One who's given them their talents and gifts. Only you, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

Throwback Thursday

               

Frozen in time . . . caught in the moment when the mood is written in the eyes and the pose says it all. 

Longacres Racetrack, a very long time ago. 

 

Father, you watched the struggle, you waited patiently, and finally at just the right moment when my heart was right, you rescued me. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Yay!

       

On the evening of February 14th, 2022, I finished my latest novel. Then . . . you is now sporting the two words that brought it to a close: The End. Yes, it's a love story. Yes, I love this one. Yes, I hope those of you who choose to read it when it's "a wrap" will love it too. Yay! 

 

Father, always: Apart from you, I can do nothing. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Tuesday Tunes

   

With clips from the film The Bodyguard starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner, one of Whitney's most beautifully performed songs with meaningful lyrics, it's absolutely one of my all-time favorites. And Whitney Houston's voice is priceless. There aren't enough superlatives to describe it. A great song to follow Valentine's Day. 

 

Father, you gave us music, singers, and musicians. Not all use those gifts for you, but hopefully more will realize apart from you, they can do nothing. You bless. You give. You take away. You are Love. Incomparable love. Thank you for it all. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.  

 

February 14th

     

Today is just another day for some - and this year it's a Monday. For others it's a celebration of the romantic kind of love. For others it's a reminder of that which is lacking in their lives. 

I don't know what it is for you, but Valentine's Day in my 6th grade year of school many years ago was a day where four beautiful heart-shaped candy boxes were sitting on my desk when I arrived. Only one of them allowed me to know who'd given it to me. Very thoughtful young guys I never got to thank except for one. Funny what we remember . . . 

I wish you a good day, a beautiful romantic day, and certainly not one which reminds you of what you don't have - or even what you don't want. 

Happy February 14th! 

 

Father, you are Love, the kind we humans can't truly imagine. From you it's pure and defined in ways our sinful hearts can never fully understand. Help us to learn what we can while we're here so we can share the best part of it - or try to. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Sunday's Offerings

 

Place me like a seal over your heart,

   like a seal over your arm;

for love is as strong as death,

   its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like a blazing fire,  

   like a mighty flame.

 

Song of Solomon 8:6 (NIV) 

About those novels . . .

 

"I write love stories with a passion." Yes, that's me. My novels don't have major conflict after conflict after conflict. That notion is the prescribed medium for pure romance novels. Which is why I refer to mine as love stories, heavy on the romance.

My novels are about people. Period. Some ordinary, some extraordinary, all with flaws, all in need of a Savior whether they know it, experience Him, want to know Him . . . or not. 

People make mistakes, people cause problems, people do wrong things and suffer the consequences. That's life. 

And that, in so many words, is what my novels are about . . . 

 

Father, always simply and profoundly: apart from you, I can do nothing. Help me to stay close, listen well, and write strong. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Throwback Thursday

                               

This one touched quite a few. If you've read it, tell me what you thought. 

 

Father, thank you for each one. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

To be or not to be . . . honest

 

I'm disappointed. Those of you who follow my reviews surely have noticed that the majority of novels reviewed in the last year, maybe two or more, have been general market thrillers. Even five years ago, it would be unusual to find a general market (secular) novel on that list in the side column of reviews. Granted, Vince Flynn's books, once I discovered him, have appeared as quickly as I could read them. I've continued the Mitch Rapp saga with Kyle Mills after Vince's death. There are no finer novels of political espionage thrillers. 

What I'm saying is, as far as I know, there are no comparable thriller authors in Christian Fiction to those who I've reviewed here from the general market. If there were, if I knew of them, you can bet I'd be investing in their literature. I don't blame authors. I blame publishers.

At some point, established Christian publishing houses opted for what can only be termed "safe" fiction. In the romance realm, it seems their favorite qualifier now has turned to "clean and safe" which registers sharply with their very vocal cache of romance readers and reviewers who can be downright brutal in their one-star Amazon reviews. A large bunch of legalistic, self-righteous reviewers decide definitively who and what is "acceptable" Christian romance and fiction in general, but those seem to be the major purchasers of the genre. And why is that? That's who the Christian publishing houses have made their audience, catering to their narrow demands. 

Here's the surprising deal about that little factor: the secular realm does not produce better writers than those in the Christian fiction stable. Christian Fiction as a genre has plenty of excellent authors (writers), high quality, good storytellers, but the only way for a large number of them to get published is to do it independently because the restrictive nature of the Christian publishing houses - due to the reading audience they've developed and exploited - has contributed to the inferior grade of both thrillers and romance novels. And by "inferior" I simply mean less than realistic when it comes to the frank reality of what can happen in either thrillers or romance novels. 

So. There you have my little spiel about some areas of Christian fiction and why it disappoints me that more of my favorite genres to read aren't well represented in the current Christian publishing houses. 

And, quite honestly, one of the reasons why I write love stories, heavy on the real romance.  

Raw  Romantic  Redemptive 

Amazon.com : Nicole Petrino-Salter 

 

Father, you are the source of everything that is good. You give all the talents and gifts. If anything is worthwhile, it comes from you. Thank you is never enough. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

 

 

 

Tuesday Tunes

 

The classic "Layla" on the pseudonym album Derek and the Dominoes. Those in the know realized it was Eric Clapton's group with his famous rendition of his hit song. Great old song. 

 

Father, you've brought Eric through all kinds of junk, that stuff many went through in this era of amazing music. You rescued him like you want to do with so many, many more. Thank you for rescuing me. And please keep reaching out, Holy Spirit, bringing lost souls to Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Who is the . . . True Believer

                                     

True Believer is Book 2 in this series by Jack Carr. 

James Reece left his country after spending many years as a SEAL Team operative when he watched as most of his team were blown up and his pregnant wife and young daughter were assassinated by a small political group engineering and overseeing the distribution of an experimental drug to supposedly reduce the possibility of and the intensity of PTSD for military combatants. In other words, this drug was designed to further enhance soldiers to keep them serviceable. However, there was a serious problem with the trial they distributed without the recipients' knowledge. And evidence of that problem had to be eliminated in order to keep the big financial investments turning a profit. When James Reece learned of this secret political program and those responsible for the devastation of his SEAL team and his beloved family, he went on a vengeance-filled killing spree to eliminate every single one of the people involved. After all, he figured he was a dead man too from what he learned about the drug and how it was administered to him and his team. That was his Terminal List.

After escaping to sail the Atlantic Ocean for close to three months, James decides to find a friend's uncle in Mozambique. He is welcomed, fed, clothed, and, after settling in, helps the sanctioned hunting business capitalize on his talents to reduce the terrible consequences of ruthless poachers. When one of the crew is shot by a poacher, James risks everything to expose himself by rushing his friend to the hospital. That saved his friend's life but also exposed where James had turned up. 

Found by a former Team member who now works for the CIA, James is offered a deal he can't refuse and is transported to a compound in Morrocco to train in order to return to an operative level. And so begins his re-engagement with the military, with his country, with taking down the very bad guys staging horrible acts of terror. 

There is a Russian George Soros-type orchestrating and masterminding the manipulation of perceptions of these acts of terror and a traitor passing him the information he needs to do it. There are innumerable pieces to the convoluted puzzle which do make for a fairly slow entry into the heart of this story. Of course within this turmoil, there are multiple politicians involved in the receiving of funds and providing of favors for the Russian. 

Jack Carr has been there, done that, and the redactions that are blacked out in his novels are the real deal. Authenticity is everywhere from the weaponry to the explanations of ops. Once this story starts rolling, it takes off with a rush. He gives his protagonist James Reece all the emotional strain to decide to once again do what needs to be done and trust that the CIA handler really does have his back and will honor their deal. There is success and tragedy and more decisions to be made at the end of this leg of the series, but James needs a little time to do the hard thinking before agreeing to continue down this road. 

True Believer shows the enemy in all of his various forms and ideologies making note of how ideas cannot be killed. If you love military thrillers with a reality seen and deftly described in situations and characters, Jack Carr's novels should definitely be on your reading list. 

The Glossary at the end is very helpful.

Some profanity. 

 

Father, please continue to use Jack's real-life experience to convey important subjects through his fictional writing. Bless him in every area of information/research gathering and keep him safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.   

Sunday's Offerings

 

     The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

     He [Jesus] replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." 

 

Luke 10:17-20 (NIV)