‘A Short Life Well Lived’ by Tom Sullivan – Book Review

I have been familiar with the multi-talented raconteur Tom Sullivan for decades, and have admired him greatly. I had the opportunity to read his latest novel, ‘A Short Life Well Lived,’ and knew I couldn’t pass it up!

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

“A tumor?” I repeated, my voice shaking. With those two words, doting father Brian O’Connor is plunged into the deepest nightmare he can imagine. All his baseball-loving son, Tommy, did was break his arm when pitching…and then doctors saw a malignant growth in the eleven-year-old. Now father and son must tread an uncharted road full of frustration and fear.

Brian had never faced a foe he couldn’t overcome or outmaneuver. Blind since birth, he’s blown down every obstacle in his path. Now a happily married father of two, and a successful prosecutor in the district attorney’s office, he must confront the possibility of death – an enemy maddeningly tricky to fight.

As the battle to save Tommy’s life stretches his family’s stamina to the limits, it will take all of Brian’s resources – including a patient minister who challenges his faithlessness – to help Tommy endure treatment and a frightening prognosis.

In this powerfully moving novel, bestselling author Tom Sullivan, a blind father himself, sensitively takes readers on a journey of discovery. There is pain, yes, but also hope; understanding the ways of God sometimes intervenes in life’s crises and learning how to keep faith when He doesn’t. You will leave the story enlightened, moved, and grateful – and perhaps with a strengthened faith of your own.

Here is the biography of this author:

Tom Sullivan, known to many as an actor, singer, entertainer, author, and producer, lives and works by "Sullivan's Rules". Born prematurely in 1947, Tom was given too much oxygen while in an incubator. Though it saved his life, it cost him his eyesight. The "inconvenience" of being blind has never kept Tom Sullivan from competing in a world where he realized that to be equal, for him, meant that he must be better. 

Over the years he's made a number of guest-starring appearances in shows such as Designing Women, Highway to Heaven, Fame, M.A.S.H., Mork & Mindy, and WKRP in Cincinnati. To create the characters and fulfill the role of a blind man on prime time, he also helped write and develop many of these stories. He gained popularity on daytime TV as a regular on Search For Tomorrow and was awarded the 1984 Governors Committee Award for his role. Tome has also been nominated twice for Emmy Awards. As a special correspondent for ABC's Good Morning America, Tom has become a regular morning fixture in millions of American homes. his touching and insightful reports give many that "you can do it" bit of inspiration to start their day. Whether it was snow skiing with his son in Colorado, or interviewing the legendary Jack Nicklaus over a few holes of golf, his reporting is memorable. He is now writing and producing for television and film. He is a bestselling author of fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. His autobiography, If You Could See What I Hear, was adapted into a major motion picture. Tom is now writing and producing for television and film.

Here is a video biography of Tom, narrated by Betty White. What an inspirational man!:

For someone who has completed many marathons and half marathons over the last three years – and also has an interest in what happens after this life - I was captivated by page one of this book. Here is how Mr. Sullivan opens the Prologue:

I’ve heard it said that life is a marathon – a race to the finish twenty-six miles and three hundred and eighty-five yards long. Our mile markers are the years – five, tens, twenty, fifty, seventy-five – and the finish line is death…or is that just the starting line? Is the marathon of our lives only the beginning of eternity? Who can know? And what if you’re forced, due to injury or illness, to drop out of the race early, to end the competition long before expected?

I’m Brian O’Connor, a husband, a father, a lawyer, and a man who happens to be blind. On this pristine Monday in April, I stand in Hopkinton, a small suburb of Boston, at the start of the Boston Marathon. Thousands and thousands of people’s lives will be changed forever as they snake their way to downtown Boston. The first twelve miles are downhill, and then they will face Heartbreak Hill, which is actually five hills, as they struggle to reach the top and hear the cheers from the coeds of Wellesley College. (p. 1)

Those first two paragraphs captivated my attention immediately!

A little later on, Brian shares where his faith lies, as well as the faith of his wife, Bridgette:

Having been raised in a strict Catholic household and attended Boston College with a Jesuit education, I grew up respecting priests and honoring the mantle of Father. But over the years, I had lapsed in my faith. While Bridgette and I were doing a good job raising our children as Catholics and I did attend Sunday mass, the role of God in my life was hazy at best. I can’t say I actively lived a spiritual existence. (p. 16)

Their son, Tommy, was experiencing a health crisis, and Brian and Bridgette handled the situation differently, due to their different faith journeys. Here are Brian’s observations as they prayed in the hospital chapel:

Thought it was nondenominational, the chapel did have a central altar, and we knelt at it, two people coming from very different places regarding faith.

Bridgette was intense, ardent in her prayers. I could tell, listening to the sincerity of her whispers as her lips moved, entreating God, begging Him to make Tommy okay.

My prayer was much simpler because my faith was much less committed. I hoped God was on our side, but I wasn’t the kind of person who counted on any form of divine intervention. Maybe my blindness has made me too self-reliant. I wasn’t sure, but prayer had never been a critical part of my life. I was sure that it wasn’t something you could turn on because you need it, so my minimalist prayer was in support of my wife’s remarkable faith. (p. 63)

The hospital’s chaplain, Reverend McRae, grew close to Brian, as his spiritual advisor and running partner. Here he is explaining what his hope was for Brian:

“Brian,” McRae went on, insistent, “I believe that whatever happens to Tommy, if you have faith in God, if you will trust his life to Christ – if you will trust your own life to Christ – trust in His redemption, His resurrection, and in the power of prayer, you will be provided with the grace to cope.”

After a while, I asked, “So what is grace? You keep talking about God’s grace, but what is it?”

“Undeserved love,” he said quietly. “Grace is God’s unmerited love for us. Look, we’ve all screwed up. We don’t deserve anything good from God. That’s why the Bible talks about redemption – Jesus becoming the God-man as our Redeemer. Through Jesus, God promises us redemption. And His singular desire is to provide us with the grace necessary to complete our journey. We don’t deserve God’s grace, but it’s His gift to us.” (pp. 143-144)

This is an incredible book, as is the author himself! I was so touched by the love of this family, as well as the incredible faith of Reverend McRae. This would be a terrific book for someone who is struggling with a difficult time in his/her life. Mr. Sullivan very adeptly shares the salvation message, and provides a blueprint for enduring a struggle. I thank him for writing such a valuable and powerful book.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard Books and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review purposes.

‘Forever After: A Hanover Falls Novel’ by Deborah Raney – Book Review

I had the good fortune to just finish reading ‘Forever After,’ the second novel in Deborah Raney’s ‘Hanover Falls’ series. Having enjoyed the first book in the series, ‘Almost Forever,’ I was anxious to read this one. And I was not disappointed!

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

A fire killed his best friend and his lifelong dream of being a firefighter. The same fire killed her husband and hopes for a family. Can new dreams be replaced?

Lucas Vermontez was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at Grove Street homeless shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event. When friendship with his buddy’s beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders, what could he possibly offer Jenna?

Jenna Morgan is trying to grieve her husband’s death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach. His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her past threatens to destroy her future.

Can the two forget the painful past and discover new reasons to live and love?

Here is the biography of the author:

Deborah Raney dreamed of writing a book since the summer she read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books and discovered that a little Kansas farm girl could, indeed, grow up to be a writer. After a happy twenty-year detour, as a stay-at-home wife and mom, Deb began her writing career. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was awarded a Silver Angel from Excellence in Media and inspired the acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same name. Since then, her books have won the RITA Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the National Readers’ Choice Award; she is also a two-time Christy Award finalist. Raney enjoys speaking and teaching at writers’ conferences across the country. She and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in their native Kansas. The Raneys enjoy gardening, antiquing, art museums, movies, and traveling to visit four grown children and small grandchildren who live much too far away.

Deborah loves hearing from her readers. To e-mail her or to learn more about her books, please visit her website or write to Deborah in care of Howard Books, 216 Centerview Dr., Suite 303, Brentwood, TN 37027.

Here is the trailer for this book:

I saw a lot of myself in the main character of Jenna Morgan, in terms of the poverty and difficult home life that she endured as a little girl. Going along with that, I also was exasperated by her at times! She was a little bratty toward poor Lucas more than once, and he extended a lot more grace toward her than I was! Fortunately, she made some decisions in her life later on in the book that changed her character and made her more likeable. It was a relief, quite frankly!

It was interesting to see how Jenna related to people based on her view of herself and her past (it is hard to get past the issues in our formative years). Here is the explanation of the relationship between her and her mother-in-law:

Clarissa had quickly become the mother Jenna’s own mother could never be to her. She’d never treated Jenna like trailer trash, but taught her how to dress, how to do her makeup, and later – after she and Zach were married – taught her how to hold her head high and act as if she deserved to carry the Morgan name.

It had taken a dozen years of Clarissa’s mentoring, but most days Jenna could almost believe she was worthy of associating with Bill and Clarissa’s crowd. Could almost believe she deserved to live in a beautiful home in the Brookside development and that she wouldn’t be turned away trying to gain entrance to her in-laws’ home in Clairemont Hills, the new gated community on the outskirts of Hanover Hills. (p. 11)

I loved how the faith of Lucas positively affected Jenna:

        “I’ll pray you get the job.”

“Thanks.”  She didn’t put a lot of stock in prayer, but it touched her to think of him praying for her. (p. 161)

Despite his faith, there was still some doubt at times:

….Why did this have to happen? The last thing he needed was a setback like this. “Can You cut me a break, God? Come on!” His own voice startled him.

He didn’t usually pray out loud. Or did he dare call that a prayer? The words had come out more like a curse.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. It wasn’t right to take it out on God. He knew better than that. His faith had been tested almost beyond what he could bear in this past year. And still, God had proven faithful every step of the way. Lucas knew beyond doubt that he would never have made it through without God’s presence with him every second. He’d pushed away the memory of the darkest moments of those awful days – times he’d actually prayed to die. God had been there, even then. He was thankful now that God had refused to answer those prayers. Eventually hope had quickened his passion for life again. (p. 187)

Later on in the story, Jenna shared with Lucas that she was comforted and encouraged by the love and faith in God that was in evident in his family. Here he explains what faith and belief feels like to him:

“I’ve gotten past the need to know. There’s just this…feeling inside. Peaceful, I guess is the best way to explain it. I know God has everything under control and whatever happens, as long as I know it, I’m okay.” (p. 329)

Jenna shares her wishes, and Lucas shares his heart for her:

        “I wish I could believe like you,” she said.

“I want that for you, too, Jen. To believe how much God loves you. To have a faith that understands what true love is. It’s all I want for you, because it’s all that really matters.” (pp. 329-330)

There are Reading Group Questions at the back of the book that are quite insightful. I took the time to answer them, and was challenged in my thinking on some of the main themes in this book.

I really like the cover of this book, as well as the cover of ‘Almost Forever,’ the first book in the 'Hanover Falls' series. It is really appealing, and no doubt grabs one’s attention in a bookstore. I would definitely pick it up and check it out if I saw it on a bookstore shelf!

I also enjoyed the first book, ‘Almost Forever;’ you can read my review here. The final novel in the series, ‘After All,’ is completed and a bonus excerpt is included at the end of this book. 

I would recommend this as a light summertime read. Mrs. Raney is quite a talented writer, and you will want to keep reading to see what happens next in the lives of Lucas and Jenna.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review purposes.

‘The Topkapi Secret’ by Terry Kelhawk – Book Review

My first book review of 2011 is of ‘The Topkapi Secret’ by Terry Kelhawk, a novel which takes a critical view of the religion of Islam.

Here is the synopsis of this fascinating book:

A 1,400 year old secret….Those who threaten this secret die…Two people risk their lives to uncover the truth…

Cultures clash and emotions soar as Arab researcher Mohammed Atareek and American professor Angela Hall team up to solve one of history’s greatest cover-ups. Time is running out. Opponents who will stop at nothing are dedicated to maintaining the secret. Will Mohammed and Angela finish their whirlwind journey of discovery or will it cost them their lives?

On display at Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul lies the Topkapi Codex, an ancient manuscript of the Koran. Its secrets are just out of reach, sealed behind impenetrable glass. Is its text the key to exploding a centuries-old myth about the Koran? Are its pages stained with the blood of one of the Prophet Mohammed’s mortally wounded followers? No one knows, because the Topkapi Codex is off-limits.

Mohammed Atareek is committed to gaining access to the museum’s forbidden manuscript. His research leads him to believe that the Koran hides within it an extraordinary secret – a truth that would turn the Muslim world upside down. Evidence lies within the Topkapi Codex, but the risks involved increase as other Koranic scholars start turning up dead.

Angela has lost just about everything except her money and her job. On a study trip to the Middle East, her research on women’s issues gets sidetracked when her path crosses Mohammed’s. His overconfident, impulsive behavior is strangely refreshing, but when he tries to engage Angela in his quest, he finds she has an agenda of her own. Death awaits at every turn, and sparks of romance fly in this compelling adventure that reaches from the United States, across Europe, and through exotic settings of North Africa and the Middle East.

Based on solid historical research, The Topkapi Secret is a captivating debut novel of romance and mystery that sizzles like the desert heat with vivid characters, a page-turning plot, colorful locales, and eye-opening facts about the Muslim holy book.

You can also learn more about the book from its Facebook fan page.

Here is the biography of the author:

Terry Kelhawk is an award-winning writer, speaker, and teacher. She holds a doctorate degree and has considerable personal and professional experience with the Middle East and Islam.

In Terry’s words, “I love peoples and cultures. We have so much to learn from each other, and this makes the world a richer place. Yet when I come across a misunderstanding or deception which adversely impacts a culture or people group, for the sake of those people I believe it should be exposed.”

Terry Kelhawk holds a doctorate degree, but believes people should keep on learning through life. Her areas of interest are culture, religion, and women’s rights – especially of Middle East. She blogs at www.huffingtonpost.com, www.foxnews.com, and www.politicalmavens.com, and likes travel, reading, and asking questions.

Terry believes we should, as Honey Jean of Atlanta in The Topkapi Secret would say, “Make the world a better place, or y’all just taking up space!”

Here is the book trailer for this adventurous and suspenseful novel:

Early on in the book, readers learn about one of the most important relics in Islam, located in Istanbul, Turkey:

For there, at the foot of all the ancient relics the guide had pointed out, lay the unmentioned Topkapi Codex, one of the earliest Korans and claimed to be the Koran that Caliph Uthman was reading when he died. The one with his blood.

This important relic of the faith and the mystery surrounding it had been an ongoing obsession of Mohammed Atareek. He stared at the two pages open for display, his mind swimming with questions. Which Koran had Uthman been reading – and which was stained with his blood? The Topkapi Codex, as the Turks claimed, or the Samarkand Codex, as the Uzbekis claimed? Perhaps neither. Perhaps Uthman’s Koran was destroyed by his assailants or lost over time. Perhaps the whole story was nothing more than a legend fabricated by the Sunnis to smear the Shiites. Such partisan hadiths, or traditions, had been known to exist. (p. 23)

Mohammed discovers that his research is dangerous, but he makes a decision about it. Here is a conversation between him and his colleague, Nasir:

       “What should we do?” Nasir inquired.

“I don’t know. So far I only have one idea. Research. It sounds straightforward, but the more I look into it, the more complicated it gets. I am trying to find everyone in the world who is expert in Arabic or Islam or ancient manuscripts. I started checking the rosters of the professional organizations we belong to. Now I am checking all the universities with departments of Islam or Middle Eastern  Studies. After I assemble a list of names, I need to research each professor to see what he or she published. From there, we will need to read between the lines to determine who are likely candidates to be ‘one of us.’” (p. 54)

In their research and travels, they encountered a gentleman named Jamal al-Hajji in Beirut, Lebanon:

Jamal al-Hajji was a self-professed infidel of the worst kind. He had traveled the route of Nasir and Ibrahim two decades earlier, and ended up becoming what imams warned would happen to anyone who questioned Islam – he became an atheist. He was an apostate under a death fatwa.

Al-Hajji now lived out his last days in semi-hiding in Beirut, under an assumed name, like an old Nazi in Brazil. He was sound in his academics and still retained a historical interest in the development of Islam, so he had been invited to work on the same project as Nasir and Mohammed.

Although in his eighties, Al-Hajji’s mind was sharp. He remembered not only the multitudinous volumes of Islamic learning, which he taught at the Islamic University al-Madinah al-Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia, but he continued on with clever insights into the new manuscripts. It was he who noticed the difference in ink composition between AD 640 and 655. (p. 127)

Angela Hall, the other main character, is a professor of Women’s Studies. Interspersed throughout the book is information on woman throughout history. I was not familiar with most of them. One of them was Gertrude Bell:

Finding an appropriate page, she read what Gertrude Bell said of Damascus when she was there in 1905.

The view from Nakshibendi’s balcony is immortal. The great and splendid city of Damascus with its gardens and domes and its minarets, lies spread out below, and beyond it to the desert, the desert reaching almost to its gates.

Gertrude Bell was one of Angela’s favorite writers. Also known as the “Female Lawrence of Arabia,” she overcame the barriers of class and gender to attain influence in the Middle East under the British, and became the first and only woman Oriental Secretary to the British Imperial Service. (p. 245)

Another thing I learned from ‘The Topkapi Secret’ is a doctrine in Islam known as the Doctrine of Abrogation. I could hardly believe what I read, but it is true. Here is a conversation between Mohammed and Angela, beginning with Mohammed:

        “I found the way experts explain the contradictions.”

        “What’s that?”

        “The Doctrine of Abrogation.”

        “Abrogation?”

“Yes, the idea that one revelation can cancel another. It is based on sura 2, verse 106: ‘Such of Our revelations as we abrogate or cause to be forgotten, we bring in place one better or like thereof.’ This doctrine explains that the peaceful verses revealed to Mohammed when he was in Mecca, and trying to gain favor with the Jews and Christians, are cancelled by relevation received after he moved to Medina, when he had the power to spread the faith by the sword.”

“You mean the verses about war replace the ones about peace?”

“Exactly! For example, sura 9, verse 5 cancels 124 peaceful verses.”

The implication of this soaked into Angela from the top of her head down, and she said slowly, “Oh, my God. Then Osama bin Laden has not ‘hijacked the religion…”

Mohammed finished the thought. “He is just practicing it strictly as revealed in the Koran through the Doctrine of Abrogation, and as assisted by the hadiths and commentaries.”

“But most Muslims are peaceful!” She thought of her beloved Uncle Mohammed in Dearborn.

“Average Muslims don’t know of or accept the Doctrine of Abrogation. If they don’t either ignore or have a problem with the numerous contradictions. If they do accept it, as do many of the deeply religious Muslims, then---”

“Voila!” Angela interjected. “We have the kind of Islam that America is fighting. It almost makes me feel ashamed.”

“That’s the way I felt,” Mohammed said. (pp. 282-283)

Many of the issues and problems with the Koran are addressed in this book. The character Mohammed explains the meaning of the ‘Satanic Verses.’ That phrase was made famous by the book written by author Salman Rushdie. I had not read that book, and was unfamiliar with the meaning of the phrase:

Mohammed explained, “They refer to sura 53:19. Some experts think they used to say that three goddesses worshipped by Mohammed’s tribe were intercessors to Allah. Afterward, when Mohammed realized this was against monotheism, he abrogated it. He received a revelation that told him not to worry – Satan always mixes his words with the ones Allah gives the prophets.”

Incredulously, Angela asked, “Seriously? If that’s the case, the cure is as bad as the disease. How do we know which words are God’s and which are Satan’s?”

“Exactly. But that’s what the Koran says. Check out sura 22.”

Angela picked up her Koran, and read it.

“So you see how the dinosaur is reconstructed,” Mohammed said, pointing at his sketch, which now resembled a pin cushion, “and how easily it is shot down.” (p. 337)

The book ends with a chase that rivals any I’ve seen in a movie! As a matter of fact, I think this book would make a remarkable movie. It is full of twists and turns, and lots of creativity.

The Postscript reads this way:

In 2007, the Topkapi Palace finally published the Topkapi Codex of the Koran. It is currently under academic study, but preliminary finding show significant variations from other ancient texts of the Koran, as well as the 1924 Cairo edition used by most Muslims in the world today. (p. 402)

I was really intrigued by this book – both the storyline and the amount of information was imparted by Ms. Kelhawk; she obviously has done a lot of research. I was aware of the inconsistencies in the Koran to a certain extent, but not to the extent that Ms. Kelhawk shares in this novel. Although this is a novel, the information is based on research and fact. This book also strengthened my faith in Jesus and the God of the Bible. The Bible can stand up to scrutiny in a way that the Koran cannot.  

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Prometheus Books and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review purposes.

Winner of 'The Black Madonna' by Davis Bunn is....

The Random Number Generator has done its job again, and chosen a winner for 'The Black Madonna,' the exciting and fast-paced novel by Davis Bunn. 


And that winner is.....


Ann Lee Miller!


Congratulations, Ann Lee! I will be making contact with you this morning to get your address.


Thanks to all who entered. There are a lot of John Cusack fans out there; great casting choice!


Thanks also to Rebeca at Glass Roads PR, who made this giveaway possible!


For those of you who didn't win, you can order your copy here!


Please come back soon for other giveaways!

‘The Black Madonna’ by Davis Bunn – Book Review and Giveaway

There is often nothing better than a well-written thriller. Davis Bunn has a terrific new book that takes you away – ‘The Black Madonna.’

Here is the synopsis of this novel:

Following the international acclaimed Gold of Kings, Storm Syrrell returns in the compelling story of The Black Madonna.

Antiques expert Storm Syrrell heads to Europe to investigate the clandestine trade in religious artifacts. She dismisses superstitious tales of miraculous healings and divine omens. Yet when an obsessive Russian oligarch calls – just as her friend Harry Bennett vanishes – all assumptions must be cast aside. Storm seeks answers in a medieval monastery. There, the scarred visage of an icon provokes even more startling questions. Is she prepared to confront both earthly and spiritual powers? Storm remains haunted by lessons in love and betrayal that lie just outside her grasp. But hesitation now holds mortal consequences.

Here is the biography of the author:

Davis Bunn is an award-winning author, recognized for literary excellence in genres as diverse as historical sagas, contemporary thrillers, and inspirational gift books. His novels have sold more than six million copies in sixteen languages.

Davis has received numerous accolades, including three Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. He currently serves as writer in residence at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University. He divides his time between England and Florida, and lectures internationally on the craft of writing.

I have read one other book by this author – ‘The Hidden Flame,’ co-written with Janette Oke (you can read my review here). He is an amazing writer!

The book opens with one of the primary characters, Harry Bennett, a treasure hunter, getting into some trouble in Hebron on the West Bank in Israel. That area has been historically renowned in terms of biblical people:

After sunset, the Hebron air cooled at a grudging pace. Harry watched as the city square filled with people and traffic and shadows. The café became crowded with people who avoided looking Harry’s way. Across the plaza, the Tomb of the Patriarchs shone pearl white. Beside the cave complex stood the Mosque of Abraham, a mammoth structure dating back seven hundred years.

The caves had been bought by the patriarch Abraham for four hundred coins, such an astronomical sum that the previous owner had offered to throw in the entire village. But Abraham had insisted upon overpaying so that his rightful ownership would never be questioned. He had wanted the caves as his family’s burial site because supposedly they were also where Adam and Eve had been laid to rest. Besides Abraham himself, the caves also held the remains of his wife, Sarah, along with Rebecca, Isaac, and Jacob. (pp. 5-6)

Harry had an unusual mission this time:

After nearly three years of roiling conflict, the Israeli Antiquities Authority had basically lost control of smuggling in the West Bank. In the past, the IAA had nabbed about ninety thieves each year for pilfering tombs, ruined cities, palaces, and forts. Since the latest political trouble began, however, arrests had slumped to almost nothing. The IAA knew without question that the worst culprits were getting away. The international arts market was being flooded with ancient Hebrew treasures. What was more, a growing number of these items were bogus. Extremely well crafted, their workmanship often able to fool museum directors and other supposed experts, but phony just the same.

The Israeli government had needed someone with Harry Bennett’s credentials, known throughout the world as a dedicated treasure dog. Somebody capable of infiltrating the system and identifying the source of the fake artifacts. (p. 11)

The main character, Storm Syrrell, finds herself in the midst of the aftermath of the thievery of Bernie Madoff – a slice of real life in this fictional book:

Not even Manalapan’s [a city in Florida] superrich had managed to escape the Madoff plague. Bernie Madoff had wintered in Palm Beach. His clientele had included many of Palm Beach’s finest. There were some streets on Palm Beach Island where every family faced bankruptcy, every multimillion-dollar home awaited the auctioneer’s hammer, every bank account was wiped clean. The locals called these areas Bernievilles, after the depression-era Hoovervilles that had infested U.S. cities.

Needless to say, it was not ideal timing for a lady to establish herself in the Palm Beach antiques and treasures trade. (p. 17)

Storm did obtain a new client, Raphael Danton, who was in the business of provided exemplary service to his wealthy clients, doing whatever they needed to have done. Storm’s friend, Emma Webb, employed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was able to give Storm some information on him before she had the opportunity to meet him in person:

“This guy is hot. Not to mention rich. And he’s single. There must be something seriously wrong here. I’m thinking some secret wasting disease.”

          “His attitude is about the worst I’ve come across.”

          “Honey, a rich single hunk isn’t allowed to have a personality. It’s the law.”

          “He’s really a hunk?”

“Let me put it this way. When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s kid grows up, he’s going to look like armadillo roadkill beside your new client.”

“Why does Homeland Security have a file on him?”

“Probably because he’s so hot. I can imagine some lonely chief investigator spotting this guy in line somewhere and ordering her crew to find his home address.” (pp. 31-32)

 Storm and Emma ended up seeing Mr. Danton in person for the first time together:

Storm tightened her grip on her purse as Raphael Danton crossed the tarmac, climbed the stairs, and entered the terminal. Even the two ladies behind the counter stopped their conversation.

He wore a suede jacket the color of sand that probably cost more than Emma’s entire wardrobe. A gold watch blinked on his tanned wrist. His eyes were more copper than brown. His jaw was straight from a movie by Cecil B. DeMille. Wavy hair to match his eyes. Long and strong body. Gorgeous tan. (p. 90)

One of the main plot points in this harrowing novel is the acquisition of religious artifacts by a mystery person. One of the items sought after is the Black Madonna of Czestochowa. A gentleman named Antonin Tarka and a Polish priest named Father Gregor explains to Storm:

“The Black Madonna of Czestochowa is a painting of Mary holding the baby Jesus. According to tradition, this icon was painted by Saint Luke himself. The painting was completed while Mary told Luke of Jesus’ life. Luke then incorporated these stories and teachings into his Gospel. He painted the Black Madonna upon a cypress tabletop made by Mary’s mother, Joseph.”

….Father Gregor went on, “The picture remained in Jerusalem until the year 326, when it was gifted to Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine. She brought it back to her son’s new capital, where it was housed in the city’s cathedral. When the eastern Roman Empire fell to the Ottomans, the picture was first taken to Belz, then brought to its current home in 1382. The painting is called the Black Madonna because of the soot residue that discolors the figures, caused by centuries of votive candles and incense.”

…”There have been almost two thousand years of miracles associated with this painting,” Father Gregor continued. “Spontaneous healings, the repulsion of invaders – the list is endless.”

Tarka said, “What you must understand, Ms. Syrrell, is that the painting’s importance goes far beyond any particular miracle. The Black Madonna of Czestochowa represents Poland’s ability to survive as a nation.”  (pp. 159-160)

I did not read the previous book featuring Storm Syrrell, ‘Gold of Kings.’ If it’s anything like this, I think I will have to backtrack into Mr. Bunn’s catalog to read that one, and look forward to the continuing exploits of Ms. Syrrell. I am interested in seeing where her love life takes her (you will have to read this book to find out which of the many fascinating gentleman in this book capture her heart!).  

I really enjoyed this book. It’s great escapist reading, well-written, and could be converted into a terrific movie! Mr. Bunn is skilled at writing with a fashionable and classy flair. He certainly sent me all over the world – Israel, England, Switzerland – and all with excitement and intrigue.

You can order this book here.

This book was published by Howard/Touchstone, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, and provided by Glass Road Public Relations for review and giveaway purposes.

_____________________________________________________________

I have a copy of this fast-paced book that I would love to send along to one winner (thanks, Rebeca!)! 

There are several ways to gain entry:

1) Leave a comment here on the blog, sharing with us who you think would be the perfect casting choice for the character of Raphael Danton in a movie adaptation of this book. Please make sure to leave your email address in this format – sample [at]gmail[dot]com.

2) Follow me on Twitter; I will more than likely follow you back!  If you are already a Twitter follower, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

3) Follow me as a Google Friend on this blog; if you are already a Friend, that counts, too!  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

4) Become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

5) Follow this blog as a NetWorked Blog Follower after you’ve become my Facebook friend.  Please leave a new comment to that effect.

So there are five chances to enter!  Please limit one entry per option.

This giveaway is for U.S. residents only.  The deadline for entry is Monday, October 4, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. EST.  A winner will be chosen via the Random Number Generator on Tuesday, October 5, 2010 and will be contacted via email.  The best to all of you!