“…the narrator has a voice like butter churned in heaven.”
Bryan Parent
The library is growing every few months, and as the days go by they get better with practice!
Time for the next Max Cossack book, High Jingo.
High Jingo begins with a young couple in love “spelunking” in a cave that isn’t really a cave, but an abandoned mineshaft, a relic of a Gold Rush that wasn’t really a “rush” but more of a Gold Kerfuffle that never materialized. The couple is assisted by a beer-loving husky dog which eschews the normal protocols of an archaeological dig and willy-nilly unearths an artifact with Hebrew letters on it. And the reader thinks, “This is not your every-day story!”
And that reader is correct. Once again, three generations of the Wilder Bunch take us on an historical, occasionally hysterical, adventure. The story is as old as pogroms in Eastern Europe and as new as Jewish students being abused by pro-terrorist elements paying full tuition even at 4th rate diploma mills. A ripping yarn, full of love, courage and righteous anger, it careens from Medieval Hungary to Israel to a small rural town in Minnesota and up the road to St. Paul. As the old movie line goes, “Fasten your seatbelts; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
It’s the busy season, but what a delight that the third book of Summer 2024 is now available. SIMPLE GRIFTS by Max Cossack is a fun book to say the least. I have read every one of Max’s works, and was honored to be allowed to record this book. (I’ll be doing more in the coming months.) If you haven’t read/listened to any of his books, start today: he’s brilliant.
Here’s the summary:
Professor Soren Pafko has made a life and career out of lying, conniving, manipulating, and abusing everyone in his path. So far, it’s working great: he’s Chair of his College’s Department of Comparative Literature; he’s leader of the local chapter of the Democratic Communists of America; and when he wants to cheat on his wife, he’s got his pick of women who think he’s the second coming of Che Guevara. In short, his life is peachy. But when he flunks local yokel Gus Dropo’s teenage son for a politically incorrect classroom comment, everything in Professor Pafko’s world begins to go hilariously wrong.
*** *** ***
Well, we’re back (The Hood Brothers and me) with another Sub Tales book.
Sub Tales 3 is the third entry in the “Sub Tales” series written by authors and brothers Charles and Frank Hood. The Hoods have established a niche in the storytelling of exploits both famous and obscure in the captivating history of the US Submarine Force.
Sub Tales 3 comprises 18 original lengthy stories that cover a wide variety of topics, historical figures, and eras. From tales of heroism and courage under duress to more lighthearted discussions about the Silent Service, Sub Tales 3 is crammed full of interesting details that are sure to please the submarine veteran or enthusiast.
You’ll ride with the legendary submarine captains Howard Gilmore and Whitey Mack.
You’ll circumnavigate the globe with the men of the USS Gudgeon and the USS Archerfish.
You’ll stand alongside the pharmacists mate tending to the medical problems of his fellow World War II submariners.
You’ll learn about the taming of the atom to create the first atomic bomb and then come to understand how one mans vision of the peaceful use of nuclear power came to transform the US Navy.
You’ll take detailed looks at the operations of the second US nuclear submarine, the USS Seawolf, learn about the amazing career of the man largely responsible for the rescue chamber that saved submariners aboard the USS Squalus in 1939 and go aboard the NR-1the unique mini-sub that combed the ocean depths.
Sub Tales 3 contains several heart-pounding tales of men skirting death aboard submarines; not all episodes ended well, but the brave actions of those who stayed at their posts or found novel ways to mitigate disaster will inspire you.
Another great one, this time back to the category of Police Officer Mental Health. I’m proud to announce Mental Health Fight Of The Heroes In Blue: How To Mentally Survive Working as a Police Officer by Scott Medlin.
Once a job of serving their community by providing safety, police officers could rest relatively easy knowing their efforts were worth the sacrifice. However, over the past decade, the trade-offs between the rewards and risks of policing have increasingly sloped toward the latter. Today, officers are routinely being confronted with more pressure and scrutiny because of unfortunate bad actions by a few of their own. Then they still encounter constant threats of danger, and continued exposure to the darkest corners of society. It is no surprise that policing remains one of the most stressful occupations on the planet – stress that dramatically increases suicide risk among this population. There currently exists very little avenues police can turn towards for help with such a unique problem. This is detrimental because of not only the suicide risk, but it affects an officer’s capability of being the upstanding hero the citizens want.
This book was written by a police officer who, speaking from personal experience, and sourcing the help of trusted experts, walks anyone through the steps law enforcement officers can take to be shielded from having mental breakdowns and God forbid, become a suicide statistic.
Within this resource are five key methodologies proven to increase mental clarity as a police officer:
1. Acknowledging and counteracting the “warrior socialization” of police officers. You’re not a tough person – you’re a person.
2. Realizing the truth about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and how to overcome it.
3. Uncovering the secret system of your mind that can make or break your mental health as a police officer.
4. Unraveling and addressing the numerous and often surprising contributors to on-the-job stress.
5. Introducing habits and strategies for developing the strongest defense against the traumas and other stressors involved with policing.
THE FISHER KING’S APPRENTICE by Anthony Horvath is the second in a series, and a joy to experience. I strongly recommend listening to the first book WARDEN-WATCH before enjoying this one.
Casey’s life is in peril at every turn as one extraordinary event piles on top of another. With the help of the Wardens, he finds himself in the middle of ancient wars and dangerous voyages. Is there a legend that isn’t based on real history? Is there a myth that is not rooted somehow in truth? If there is, Casey has yet to discover it in his quest to keep the Enemy from the life-liquid… of the Blood King.
Based on a true story.
MORE SUB TALES by Charles and Frank Hood will entertain and inform the reader about key moments and milestones in the evolution of submarines. Learn about the many ordeals, sacrifices, and brave acts that represent the proud legacy of this underappreciated segment of our Armed Forces. Each story has been carefully vetted by more than two dozen veteran submariners for accuracy, and in most chapters, additional authenticity has been gained by interviewing actual participants. Care has been taken to omit what needs to remain classified, but in no way does such safeguarding get in the way of captivating storytelling.
THE CORN SIEGE by ANTHONY HORVATH (A.K.A. A.R. Horvath)
Average Americans were told, “You will own nothing, and be happy.” They are not happy, but now they have nothing, so have nothing left to lose. But what to do? A mysterious ‘Corn King’ proves to be the catalyst. The ‘Corn King’ explains how activist-soldiers like Saul Alinsky have targeted them, and reveals how Americans can turn the tables on their oppressors using the same tactics that were used against them.
Individuals are tired of being chewed up and spit out in the progressive’s bid to create a ‘perfect society, ‘ but is it too late to do anything about it? In The Corn Siege, America finally ruptures, the rage spreading from ‘fly over’ country in a great wave that ultimately reaches the coasts, threatening to drown them.
The Corn Siege is satirical fiction, not prophecy. It glories in skewering the people who don’t believe we need farms because we have grocery stores. It mocks the people who believe you can plant a cow and harvest lettuce. In The Corn Siege, people get what they deserve: the harvest of the kinds of seeds they actually planted.
A king’s downfall and a love that transcends war
Spurned by potential suitors, Miriam travels to Jezreel to care for her cousin’s son. There, the precocious seven-year-old works his way into her heart. When Arameans swarm the land like locusts, Miriam focuses on the safety of her young ward but promises adventures beyond the city walls when the war ends.
Gershon, a quiet and kind vintner, is happily building a life for his wife, son, and aging parents. But when his wife dies during childbirth and war looms on the horizon, he must make a decision—will he take a new wife before his heart can mend?
Meanwhile, Dov, a young officer crosses paths with the “bird girl” he remembers from the past. That she is a beautiful woman matters not, as he is a career soldier. Unexpectedly charged with leading Ahab’s army against the Arameans, Dov anticipates death and defeat in Samaria, but when a prophet pledges victory, Dov vows to fight to the end.
When an unlikely victory brings freedom, a bright future seems imminent. Then one afternoon Miriam witnesses a tragedy and must flee with the boy to keep them both safe. With henchmen on their trail, will they find refuge—and her heart the home she’s longed for?
PANIC SWITCH by Michael DiMercurio
The oily and brackish waters of the Russian Northern Fleet submarine base part for the passage of the colossal special purpose Omega II-class submarine Belgorod, on a mission to hold the United States hostage. This gigantic submarine is armed with three Poseidon unmanned submersibles, each with a 10-megaton warhead. Her goal: placing them offshore in US ports in a nuclear-blackmail chess move.
In response, the United States dispatches the newest special operations attack submarine, the Virginia-class USS New Jersey, which lies in wait to follow Belgorod under the polar icecap. Because every submariner knows that what happens under the ice…never happened.
Legendary former admiral and current National Security Advisor Michael Pacino and his son Anthony, a combat-decorated veteran of undersea warfare, return in this epic novel of submarine-versus-submarine warfare.
THE U.S. NAVY’S ON-THE-ROOF GANG, VOLUME 2: WAR IN THE PACIFIC
The US Navy’s On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 2: War in the Pacific is an historical novel based on the unknown true-life story of the “On-the-Roof Gang”. It is a sequel to The US Navy’s on-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1: Prelude to War.
This second volume begins with the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and documents the contributions of the On-the-Roof Gang during World War II. It focuses on the wartime stories of the On-the-Roof Gang intercept operators, some who were stationed in Hawaii, some who survived a tortuous existence in a POW camp, others who had to evacuate their intercept sites, and still others who performed intercept operations while at sea during some of the most famous naval battles of World War II.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
THE U.S. NAVY’S ON-THE-ROOF GANG, VOLUME 1: PRELUDE TO WAR
The US Navy’s On-the-Roof Gang, Volume 1: Prelude to War is an historical novel based on the unknown true-life story of the “On-the-Roof Gang”, the US Navy’s fledgling radio intelligence organization in the years leading up to World War II. It is based on the real life of Harry Kidder, a US Navy radioman who first discovered and deciphered Japanese katakana telegraphic code while stationed in the Philippines in the 1920s, discovering the he was listening to Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) radio communications. Kidder strongly believed in the future of radio intelligence, and a chance meeting with Lieutenant Laurance Safford led to the birth of the Navy’s Radio Intelligence community.
Kidder taught others the nascent art of intercepting IJN communications on the roof of the Main Navy Building in Washington, DC. From 1928 to 1941, 176 sailors and marines attended this training and were then stationed as radio intercept operators around the Pacific. These men would become known as the On-the-Roof Gang and were charged with keeping track of the IJN as they prepared for war with the United States. The circumstances of America’s entry into World War II hinged on success or failure of the On-the-Roof Gang, and Harry Kidder knew this.
On-the-Roof Gang: Prelude to War concludes with the “date which will live in infamy”, December 7, 1941.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Reasoned Resiliency: A Rational Devotional for First Responders is unique in that it combines a spiritual message with practical advice for a daily dose of uplift. Nondenominational and applicable to all spiritual philosophies, it probes the spiritual values of the listener and encourages them to grow in their resilience and wellness.
The authors are both senior mentors for Navigating Adversity (an internationally recognized program for improving resilience for first responders), and chaplains within that program.
There is a devotional for every day, because an uplift is an important part of working in a field that takes a piece of you each time you put on the uniform.
In ancient Samaria, Aban anticipates his rites of passage with excitement and dread. He yearns to join the priesthood of Ba’al Melqart, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity’s voice. He’s been warned the licentious ceremony can take a dangerous turn, but as eldest son of the high priestess, he holds a privileged position. If he can make it through the ceremony, one day he’ll rise to high priest.
On the eve of the rituals, Aban’s mother confesses a dark secret about the bloody sacrifice demanded by Melqart. Aban may have escaped the flames, but if he is to save his brother, Aban must take his destined position of power as soon as possible.
When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban’s world is shaken. The current high priest and the king appear powerless, but even more confusing is the fact that the rain god does nothing.
Against his better judgment, Aban conceals the strange prophet’s whereabouts, forfeiting the high priesthood. Now an enemy of the relentless Queen Jezebel, Aban has little time to question his fading commitment to Ba’al Melqart as he and his loved ones flee. But the conflict in Samaria is much larger than just a high priestess and her sons. Soon, Aban will have to choose a side in Yahweh’s war against the Ba’als—and it may cost him his life.
DIGITAL DREAMS & OTHER DISTRACTIONS by Kerry Nietz
In this surreal landscape, dying legends haunt sheltered keeps, young boys reconstruct ancient giants, astronauts push the boundaries of the solar system, and metal nightmares reign over faraway rocks. Alluring and compelling, Digital Dreams is a multifaceted blend of mystery, imagination, and devotion—as thrilling as interstellar exploration, and as dangerous as another day at the office.
SUB TALES: STORIES THAT SELDOM SURFACE by Charles Hood and Frank Hood
Packed with 40 gripping stories from the annals of US submarine history, Sub Tales attempts to convey some of the drama, adventure, and humor that has typified service aboard the submarines of the US Navy over the past 100+ years. Included in this edition is a new completely new story about polar bear sightings by submarines, and a new description of an unlikely rescue at sea by the Seadragon! The 40 stories are accompanied by a bonus section that includes seven “submarine lists” that will be certain to entertain the reader. Stories vary in length from short to medium to long. You decide the reading order.
The last thing K-404 remembers is a happy home with the human child Ele, whose care is his primary purpose. So, when he wakes up in a landfill of tossed-away technology, his only thought is to reunite with his family.
This world is not his own, though. It’s a wasteland of desolate buildings, flying metal disks, and monstrosities that keep themselves active by stealing another bot’s power.
How did the world get this way?
And why was he discarded?
Hampered by imperfect memory, an obsolete body, and limited battery life, 404 sets out to find his home. Joined by other castaways, he faces off against scavengers and monsters, only to encounter greater threats.
Pursued, outsmarted, and manipulated on every side, 404 teeters on the brink of annihilation. His only chance of survival? Those bits of himself—the connections—he hasn’t lost.
SPIRITUAL SURVIVAL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT by Cary A. Friedman
Spiritual Survival for Law Enforcement provides a solid, substantive foundation for nourishing the soul of the cop and replenishing his or her reservoir of idealism and spirituality. Jam-packed with exercises, tools, and insights, this is your one-stop practical guide to restoring inner peace and clarity. This book will show you how to:
- Become emotionally and spiritually resilient
- Understand what you truly need to heal your inner wounds
- Find new meaning in the career
- Rekindle your warrior spirit
- Replace anger with peace, resentment with satisfaction
A “must-have” for all new and seasoned law enforcement officers!
KEEPING IT ALL TOGETHER: BUILDING RESILIENCE AT HOME WHILE SERVING THE COMMUNITY by Dr. Renee Thornton & Rodger Ruge
Public safety professionals rely heavily on the love and safety found within in their homes. Theirs is an emotionally taxing job, requiring a great deal of support and encouragement from the ones who love them most. Their wellness has always been a priority, but what about their loved ones? They need just as much care and consideration as the first responders in their lives…maybe more. Using personal stories and a diverse array of peer-reviewed behavioral, psychological, and organizational research, the authors present an evidence-based model for building physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, financial, spiritual, social, and professional capital. This same whole-life approach to wellness is also used in the first responders’ edition of Navigating Adversity. Now their loved ones can learn to master the tools proven to build resilience on the home front, while helping our public safety professionals serve the community.
WHAT IS KOSHER? by Rabbi Juan Bejarano-Gutierrez
The term “kashrut” refers to the Jewish religious dietary laws derived from the Torah. The term “kashrut” is derived from the Hebrew word “kasher” meaning “fit” or “acceptable”. From the word “kasher”, we derive the word “kosher” in its anglicized form. But before we discuss what kosher is, let’s discuss some ideas as to “why” kosher exists.
Why, after all, would a religious faith be concerned about what people eat? This audiobook answers these questions and provides the student or curious individual with the basics of what kosher is and why it is observed by religious Jews around the world.
RACE: A NOVEL by Nicole Petrino-Salter was released April 4th.
POOPIE SUITS & COWBOY BOOTS is my foray into the biographical world. I worked on this one all summer, and it was a joy to read.
Poopie Suits Cowboy Boots: Tales of a Submarine Officer During the Height of the Cold War, now in its fifth edition since 2017, has earned a popular place in modern submarine literature for its engaging style and pacing. Set in the throes of the Cold War during the Nixon administration, the story follows the journey of Frank Hood through training and eventual deployment as a junior officer aboard a fast-attack submarine (USS Seahorse [SSN-669]) based out of Charleston, South Carolina.
The final product is our best effort yet in telling Frank’s compelling coming-of-age story during the contentious 1960s. While biographical in form, Frank’s story serves as a scaffolding of sorts to allow detailed side explorations of the basics of US submarine history; fundamental submarine systems such as sonar, propulsion, diving, weapons, and periscope functions; the intense training and repetition required to gain qualification in submarines; and the colorful traditions of the US Navy.
The book is replete with dozens of funny stories as well. It’s an enjoyable story that not only informs the reader of all things submarine-related, but also includes a number of cultural references that made life during that turbulent period both difficult and memorable.
DiMercurio has returned! After a decade of silence, he’s back with DARK TRANSIT.
Lieutenant Anthony Pacino reports aboard the “project boat” USS Vermont two years after having survived the catastrophic sinking of the Piranha. Pacino quickly learns that Vermont’s missions are all ultra-secret with the boat reporting only to the sub force commander, the national security advisor, and the president: Vermont does the dirty deeds that need doing in deadly silence and obscurity.
After Vermont misses the mark on an easy mission, there are questions asked about her ability to conduct the next mission, one that is vital to the security of the United States and the future of the submarine force. Vermont is tasked with stealing a revolutionary submarine that the Russians are testing with an Iranian crew because it’s too risky to use Russian sailors. It’s a high-stakes gamble for all involved, with the losers vanishing if things go wrong, the winners validating a world-changing technology.
Pacino is part of the mission to steal the submarine, but the toughest obstacle is a wolf-pack of Russians coming to the defense of the Iranian submarine. Getting it back to the United States for evaluation becomes secondary to surviving an exchange of missiles and torpedoes in an underwater battle that threatens to let the final genie out of the bottle.
“DiMercurio has used the last decade to refine his writing and produce the best naval thriller in decades. I couldn’t put it down.” (Joseph Courtemanche, author of Assault on Saint Agnes)
Publishers Weekly also loves it and gave it a starred review: that’s a big deal.
NAVIGATING ADVERSITY is available now!
You’ve all heard me babble (or write) about my teaching/mentoring gig in First Responder wellness. Well, this is the audio book for the course, and I narrate it! Great gift for the stressed people you know. It’s aimed at First Responders, but works for nurses, teachers, and people under stress of any kind.
Wellness has been defined in broad strokes for centuries – until now. This book clarifies a holistic perspective of what it means to be healthy while revealing common roadblocks to resilience and the resources needed to resist each one. Using personal stories and a diverse array of peer-reviewed behavioral, psychological, and organizational research, the authors present an evidence-based model for building physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, financial, spiritual, social, and professional capital. This tactical approach to self-care is a lifelong resource that first responders can call upon so that when critical incidents occur, they are prepared to navigate adversity.
THE SQUARE PEGS is a story of eccentrics in American History. It’s a delightful read and I know you’ll enjoy these stories of largely unknown, but influential, weirdos. (I started seeing them crop up in popular culture items after reading the book!)
Irving Wallace herein presents the stories of “some Americans who dared to be different” – crackpots, perhaps, all of them, but also exceedingly diverting people to meet, know, and watch as they pursue their peculiar activities. This picturesque and wacky crew is brilliantly dealt with in these nine chapters:
- In Defense of the Square Peg
Wherein we meet Wilbur Glenn Voliva, who believed the Earth was flat, and we learn the need for encouraging individualism and nonconformity. - The King of 36th Street
Wherein we meet Baron James A. Harden-Hickey, American ruler of Trinidad, who became an authority on the art of suicide. - The Man Who Was Phileas Fogg
Wherein we meet George Francis Train, millionaire member of the Commune, who was the first man to travel around the world in 80 days. - The Free Lover Who Ran for President
Wherein we meet Victoria Woodhull, stockbroker, spiritualist, and prostitute, who competed with Ulysses S. Grant for tenancy of the White House. - The Forty-Niner Who Abolished Congress
Wherein we meet Joshua Norton, self-appointed Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, who issued orders to Abraham Lincoln. - The Lady Who Moved Shakespeare’s Bones
Wherein we meet Delia Bacon, schoolteacher frustrated in love, who became the implacable enemy of the Bard of Avon. - The Explorer of the Hollow Earth
Wherein we meet John Cleves Symmes, hero of the War of 1812, who planned an expedition into the interior world through holes in the North and South poles. - The Editor Who Was a Common Scold
Wherein we meet Anne Royall, widow and author, who interviewed a chief executive while he was in the nude. - The First in the East
Wherein we meet Timothy Dexter, merchant prince and foe of grammar, who sent coals to Newcastle and published a book without punctuation.
THE WARDEN-WATCH: THE ANNALS OF MYRTLE AND THE BLOOD KING, BOOK 1: The Annals of Myrtle and the Blood King, Book 1 is available now on Audible.
Casey has stumbled upon a secret: “Big Foot” is real, after all, but its place among the Warden-Watch turns out to be far more mysterious than the myth itself. As one so-called myth after another turns out to be rooted in fact and reality – albeit in wholly unexpected ways – Casey finds himself craning his neck to catch a glimpse…of the Blood King.
The Warden-Watch is the first installment from the Annals of Myrtle and the Blood King. Learn more at www.thebloodking.com.
THE COVID QUARANTINE CANTINA has almost every genre of fiction. The gamut is run from Amish to Science Fiction.
A collection of short stories written by seven award-winning authors during the first four months of the COVID-19 lockdown. Each author brings a unique perspective to the crisis, and the results are spectacular. There is science fiction, Christian apologetics, horror, drama, suspense, and a dose of comfort. Produced daily during the first 13 weeks of the lockdown, you can see the change in thinking, hopes, and frustration that the public was experiencing.
While written from a Christian world view, it’s not preachy. In fact, it’s far from traditional Christian fiction and brings a breath of fresh air to the flash fiction world from accomplished authors. This was a labor of love for the authors, and it shows through the carefully crafted stories.
NICHOLAS OF HAITI by Joseph Courtemanche.
Nick Bacon is a life interrupted. When his commercial airline flight explodes over Utah, killing everyone on board but Nick, his miraculous survival draws unwanted attention. The press can’t get enough of his story while the FBI is convinced he planted the bomb that took down his plane. All he wants is a place to heal and time to let the world forget him. Unable to return home, Nick accepts an offer to join a missionary medical team and flees to Haiti.
But Nick’s new life in Haiti is haunted by visions. He’s forced to examine his sanity and faith in a world of turmoil and chaos among a people he’s never met before. Aided by Andre, his Haitian translator and protector, Nick confronts the dark forces battling for his soul, and the soul of the abused little girl he’s only seen in his dreams.
Because in Haiti, there’s more than just Nick’s sanity at risk. The fate of the world may now depend on Nicholas of Haiti.
ASSAULT ON SAINT AGNES by Joseph Courtemanche
When terrorists assault Saint Agnes Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, they expect to find a congregation of lambs. They get Bobby Kurtz instead.
An unrepentant cold warrior, Kurtz destroys the terror cell with violent finality. Against his will, Kurtz is pulled back into the life he left behind decades before. He reluctantly picks up the burden of hunting the terrorists in our midst. He risks his life, and his marriage, in a single-minded pursuit of victory over evil.
Working with a shadowy government agency, Kurtz uses all of his skills and experience to foil a plan that would plunge the Twin Cities back into the Stone Age. The final battle rages across the plains during a Christmas Eve blizzard in a story that will leave the listener pleading for more of Kurtz and his team of experts.
THREAT VECTOR by Michael DiMercurio
Submarine commander Aiexi Novskoyy has been sprung from prison by a multibillion-dollar organization with a very special mission in mind. The company has designed a new submarine – the Vepr – which they will use to wreak havoc on international trade. To test its new weapon, Alexi must sink a cruise ship carrying the entire brass of the US Navy – effectively decapitating the American fleet.
The legendary USS Devilfish is called in to stop the catastrophe, only to be ambushed by the ultra-advanced Vepr. With the Devilfish down, the Navy sends Captain “Kelly” McKee and the newest sub in the US arsenal to hunt down and destroy the super sub. What they don’t realize is that Alexi has his own plans, which have him heading straight for the shores of America.
Threat Vector
ATTACK OF THE SEAWOLF by Michael DiMercurio
The nightmare fear of the US had come true. One of our finest submarines, the U.S.S. Tampa, on a top-secret spying mission, had fallen into Chinese Communist hands. The Communists, fighting for survival in a savage civil war, now held not only the sub, the crew, and the gutsy Commander Sean Murphy hostage, but US power and prestige as well.
America had one last desperate card to play. The most advanced submarine in the world, the still untried U.S.S. Seawolf, under the command of maverick daredevil Captain Michael “Patch” Pacino. The Seawolf had to steal back the Tampa from where it lay guarded by the entire Chinese fleet armed to the teeth with technology from the bankrupt Russians.
PHOENIX SUB ZERO by Michael DiMercurio
The Hegira is the finest super-sub that Arab oil money can buy. But the U.S. Navy is only now learning just how good this undersea sword of Islam is. Already one American sub has been destroyed, and another crippled, as the Hegira breaks out of the Mediterranean and heads toward America to deliver its lethal payload.
Now it’s up to Captain Michael Pacino and the USS Seawolf to find the enemy sub and destroy it — in the ultimate battle between the most advanced weapons technology on the planet and the sheer force of human courage.
VERTICAL DIVE by Michael DiMercurio
With his unrelenting suspense and explosive combat scenes, USA Today best-selling author Michael DiMercurio has redefined the modern submarine thriller. Now he returns with a new novel of the silent war on terror being waged under the sea…
During NATO exercises, the French Navy unveils Le Vigilant, a nuclear submarine so advanced that it can elude any radar system in the water. But France’s maritime marvel is about to become its own worst enemy. A band of Algerian terrorists has hijacked Le Vigilant. They mean to wipe Paris and every major French city off the face of the earth – and then turn their missiles against the great Satans of the United States and Russia.
Despite the French Navy’s protests, two NATO subs are called into action: the USS Hampton, captained by veteran sub warrior Burke Dillinger, and the USS Texas, commanded by iron-willed Peter Vornado. Paris is being evacuated. Time is running out. And the coming conflict will pit the ultimate in technological weaponry against pure courage, skill, and determination…
BARRACUDA FINAL BEARING by Michael DiMercurio
A volatile new state calling itself Greater Manchuria emerges out of the political and military strife of Asia. Thanks to the connections of its brash leader, it boasts an atomic arsenal. Japan, threatened by its proximity to nuclear disaster, shocks the world by launching a sophisticated preemptive strike against its new neighbor.
Worldwide outrage at this aggression provokes the UN to blockade the trade-dependent nation. But Japan is ready – its sub fleet is armed to the teeth and thoroughly equipped to destroy the blockade. With the world now at the boiling point of all-out war, Admiral Michael Pacino gives his captain a “mission impossible” order to sink the Japanese submarine fleet. The gamble is desperate. The gamesmanship razor-edged. The warfare awesome….
PIRANHA FIRING POINT by Michael DiMercurio
The East China Sea. Six Japanese submarines are attacked and believed destroyed. To the world, it seems like an accident. But to one man, former submarine commander Dick Donchez, it is the first act of war. He alone knows the truth: That the old guard of Red China has stolen the subs to wage a massive attack against the new Free China.
Vice Admiral Michael Pacino can’t prove Donchez’s theory. The US government will not officially retaliate. But when a full-scale battle erupts, Pacino is quickly given command of the Navy’s latest undersea weapon – the highly classified submarine known as SSNX. It is America’s most advanced and sophisticated warship – and the world’s only hope in the final, desperate war for freedom.
TERMINAL RUN by Michael DiMercurio
One ship could revolutionize submarine warfare as we know it: the USS Snarc. A robotic combat sub carrying no crew, the Snarc has proven unbeatable in sea trials. And now it has fallen into the hands of an unseen enemy.
The Snarc’s first casualty: the nuclear sub carrying the son of former admiral Michael Pacino. The only man who can match wits with the Snarc, Pacino reenters the game in a high-tech underwater battle unlike any that’s been fought before, one that could engulf the world in war and bring him face-to-face with his nemesis….
EMERGENCY DEEP by Michael DiMercurio
US Navy submarine commander Peter Vornado is at the top of his game in underwater warfare when a devastating illness takes him out of the service – and almost to the grave. Without duty, honor, or something to fight for, his life is as good as over.
But the CIA needs a man like Vornado….
A terrorist cabal has acquired a scrapped Soviet sub from the Cold War – a technologically advanced failure still able to outrun any torpedo or enemy vessel and strike at will. With a nuclear payload, it will enable the terrorists to fire directly on Israel – and throw the world into chaos. All that remains is to modernize the sub with the latest technology.
Only one man can infiltrate the group, take the helm, and stop a holocaust – a man who has already stared down death, and is ready to do battle once more….
MISCONCEPTIONS by Colleen Scott
It’s mysterious. And she’s too curious.
In this pro-life Christian romantic suspense novel, it’s the near future. Dominique, an investigative TV news reporter, is sent to solve the mystery of why the birthrate in the United States has dropped precipitously…everywhere except a few small pockets. Undercover at an Ohio hospital, she sidesteps oddly incompetent police and finds herself in a stew of kidnappings and murder threats.
Her investigation takes a radical turn when she meets Dr. Joseph Armstrong. His attention makes her heart flutter, but his theory about the birthrate decline makes her heart stutter. It’s too strange to even consider, but it’s her only lead. Is it romance or a mismatch?
Dominique follows the trail into the dangerous underworld of black-market adoptions as Joe and his family are unwittingly drawn into the web of deceit and murder. And when the truth comes out, more than just her story is on the line.
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