Kate’s 2¢: “Enemy At The Gate” by Vince Flynn; Kyle Mills

“Enemy At The Gate” by Vince Flynn; Kyle Mills

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   As a reader, I suspend my credibility so the story can carry me along to where-ever.  Then, after I’m back to reality, I begin to wonder how can one man take such brutal punishment and still walk the next day.

   This story had a lot of ‘current’ issues, which makes it believable or at least probable.  Scarey thought.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Flynn was one of seven children born to Terry and Kathleen Flynn,[3] and a graduate of Saint Thomas Academy (1984) and the University of St. Thomas with a B.A in Economics (1989).

Early career[edit]

After graduating, Flynn went to work for Kraft Foods as an account and sales marketing specialist. In 1991, he left Kraft to pursue a career as an aviator with the United States Marine Corps. One week before leaving for Officer Candidate School, he was medically disqualified from the Marine Aviation Program.[4]

In an effort to overcome the difficulties of dyslexia, Flynn forced himself into a daily writing and reading routine. His writing influences included Leon Uris, Tom Clancy, Ernest Hemingway, John Irving, Robert Ludlum, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Gore Vidal.[4]

Writing and media career[edit]

His newfound interest in such novels motivated him to begin work on a novel of his own. While employed as a bartender in the St. Paul area, he completed his first book, Term Limits, which he then self-published.[5]

“I had just finished reading The Government Racket: Washington Waste from A to Z, by Martin L. Gross. It is without a doubt the most disheartening and enlightening book about politics that I’ve ever read. I was out jogging one day wondering what it would take to really change Washington, when my thoughts turned to a friend who had been shot and killed in Washington, D.C., several summers earlier. As I continued running, a story started to unfold.”[citation needed]

Pocket Books published the hardcover edition of Term Limits in 1998, and the mass market paperback of Term Limits in 1999, which spent several weeks on The New York Times bestseller list. Subsequent works, including Flynn’s 1999 novel, Transfer of Power, his 2000 novel The Third Option and his 2001 novel Separation of Power, also appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with Separation of Power reaching as high as No. 7.[citation needed]

Flynn’s fifth novel, Executive Power, was published in hardcover by Atria Books in May 2003, followed by his sixth novel, Memorial Day in 2004, his seventh novel Consent To Kill in October 2005, his eighth novel Act Of Treason in October 2006, his ninth novel Protect And Defend in 2007, and his tenth novel Extreme Measures in 2008. With the exception of his first novel Term Limits, his works centered around counter-terrorism agent Mitch Rapp. His 2008 release, Extreme Measures, became the ninth novel in the series.

Flynn wrote six New York Times bestsellers for Atria Books, and had a contract for four more. He remembered deciding between following the path that was the most uncomfortable—continuing with what looked to be a promising career as a commercial real estate leasing agent—or taking a big risk and starting a new career as a writer: “I look back on it now and I couldn’t be happier with my decision, but at the time I remember a lot of people thought I was nuts.”[6]

In February 2008, Flynn agreed on film and book projects with CBS Corporation units CBS Films and Simon & Schuster/Atria Books. Lorenzo di Bonaventura was negotiating to produce Mitch Rapp films. The first film, American Assassin, was released on September 15, 2017. Atria Books got worldwide rights to four books by the author.[7] In August 2010, Flynn signed a two-book deal for a new series that he would have co-written with Brian Haig, a retired Army lieutenant colonel.[8] He was a frequent guest on The Glenn Beck Radio Program on the Fox News Channel, and on Dan Barreiro’s radio program on Twin Cities station KFAN.

Personal life[edit]

Flynn lived with his wife, Lysa, and their three children in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-St. Paul) area.[3]

Illness and death[edit]

On February 1, 2011, in his fan newsletter, Flynn announced that he was being treated for advanced Stage III prostate cancer.[9] He died of a rare form of aggressive prostate cancer in Saint Paul, aged 47, on June 19, 2013.[3][10]

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

kylemills.com

Kyle Mills (born 1966) is an American writer of thriller novels including Rising Phoenix, Fade, and The Second Horseman. Several of his books (Rising Phoenix, Storming Heaven, Sphere of Influence, Free Fall and Darkness Falls) include a character Mark Beamon, an FBI special agent. He also wrote The Ares Decision (2011), The Utopia Experiment (2013), and The Patriot Attack (2015), the eighth, tenth, and twelfth installments of the Covert-One series, originally created by Robert Ludlum.[1] He is the current writer of the Mitch Rapp series of novels after original author Vince Flynn died in 2013.[2]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Enemy at the gates DB105383

Flynn, Vince; Mills, Kyle. Reading time: 8 hours, 38 minutes.

Read by George Guidall.

Suspense Fiction

Spy Stories

Political Fiction

Bestsellers

CIA operative Mitch Rapp is tasked with a special assignment to protect the world’s first trillionaire, Nicholas Ward, while luring in the mole who is targeting Ward. Rapp and CIA director Irene Kennedy are dragged into the secretive world in which governments, multinational corporations, and the hyper-wealthy trade in power. Sequel to Total Power (DB 100955). Unrated. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2021.

Downloaded: December 17, 2021

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Kate’s 2¢: “The Hollow Inside” by Brooke Lauren Davis

“The Hollow Inside” by Brooke Lauren Davis

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   I enjoyed this story. It had an interesting middle and I approve of the final scene.

http://www.brookelaurendavis.com

Bornin Richmond, Virginia

Brooke Lauren Davis is the author of THE HOLLOW INSIDE (Bloomsbury YA, spring 2021), and she never quite knows what to say when people ask her where she’s from. An unruly child in suburban Virginia, a surly teenager in rural Ohio, and a bewildered college student in small-town Indiana, she’s now a hopelessly book-obsessed adult in Louisville, Kentucky. She loves stories of all kinds, from plays, to ballets, to TV shows, to memories rehashed over the dinner table. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found annoying her cats, haunting bookstores, or shouting Jeopardy! answers at the TV.

From nls/bard/loc       :

The hollow inside DB104223

Davis, Brooke Lauren. Reading time: 10 hours, 27 minutes.

Read by Gabriella Cavallero.

Suspense Fiction

Young Adult

After years on the run, sixteen-year-old Phoenix and mom Nina travel back to Nina’s hometown to get revenge on the man she says ruined her life. Strong language, some violence, and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. 2021.

Downloaded: October 7, 2021

Kate’s 2¢: “The Judge’s List” by John Grisham

“The Judge’s List” by John Grisham

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Sometimes, Grisham’s stories seem to get bogged down when there is a trial, but, there’s no trial in this story. It moves right along within the mystery, investigation, and conclusion. Well done.

John Ray Grisham Jr. is an American novelist and attorney, best known for his popular legal thrillers. His books have been translated into 42 languages and published worldwide. Grisham graduated from Mississippi State University and received a J.D. degree from the University of …See more

   Grisham, the second of five siblings, was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to Wanda (née Skidmore) and John Ray Grisham.[3] His father was a construction worker and a cotton farmer, and his mother was a homemaker.[10] When Grisham was four years old, his family settled in Southaven, Mississippi, a suburb of Memphis, Tennessee.[3]

As a child, he wanted to be a baseball player.[8] As noted in the foreword to Calico Joe, Grisham gave up playing baseball at the age of 18, after a game in which a pitcher aimed a beanball at him, and narrowly missed doing the young Grisham grave harm.

Grisham is a Christian who has described a salvation experience at age 8 as “the most important event” in his life.[11] After leaving law school, he participated in some missionary work in Brazil, under the First Baptist Church of Oxford.[12]

Although Grisham’s parents lacked formal education, his mother encouraged him to read and prepare for college.[1] He drew on his childhood experiences for his novel A Painted House.[3] Grisham started working for a plant nursery as a teenager, watering bushes for $1.00 an hour. He was soon promoted to a fence crew for $1.50 an hour. He wrote about the job: “there was no future in it”. At 16, Grisham took a job with a plumbing contractor but says he “never drew inspiration from that miserable work”.[13]

Through one of his father’s contacts, he managed to find work on a highway asphalt crew in Mississippi at age 17. It was during this time that an unfortunate incident got him “serious” about college. A fight with gunfire broke out among the crew causing Grisham to run to a nearby restroom to find safety. He did not come out until after the police had detained the perpetrators. He hitchhiked home and started thinking about college. His next work was in retail, as a salesclerk in a department store men’s underwear section, which he described as “humiliating”. By this time, Grisham was halfway through college. Planning to become a tax lawyer, he was soon overcome by “the complexity and lunacy” of it. He decided to return to his hometown as a trial lawyer.[14]

He attended the Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi and later attended Delta State University in Cleveland.[3] Grisham changed colleges three times before completing a degree.[1] He eventually graduated from Mississippi State University in 1977, receiving a B.S. degree in accounting. He later enrolled in the University of Mississippi School of Law to become a tax lawyer, but his interest shifted to general civil litigation. He graduated in 1981 with a J.D. degree.[3]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The Judge’s list DB105337

Grisham, John. Reading time: 11 hours, 37 minutes.

Read by John Grisham.

Suspense Fiction

Mystery and Detective Stories

Legal Issues

Lacy Stoltz, from The Whistler (DB 86026), is thinking about leaving the Florida Board on Judicial Conduct when she’s contacted by Jeri Crosby. Jeri’s father was murdered twenty years ago and believes a current judge was behind it. Lacy must discover the truth. Violence and strong language. Commercial audiobook. 2021.

Downloaded: December 11, 2021

Download The Judge’s list

Kate’s 2¢: “The Return” by Nicholas Sparks

“The Return” by Nicholas Sparks

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Perhaps, the benefit of this story is to shed some light on the issues a person faces with PTSD and what strategies could be useful in coping with the physical and emotional feelings.

   The reading time of this story, according to my Victor Stream Reader, is 9:59:03.

nicholassparks.com, WIKIPEDIA:

Nicholas Charles Sparks is an American novelist, screenwriter, and philanthropist. He has published twenty one novels and two non-fiction books, all of which have been New York Times bestsellers, with over 115 million copies sold worldwide in more than 50 languages.[1]

Eleven of his novels have been adapted to film, including The Choice, The Longest Ride, The Best of Me, Safe Haven (on all of which he served as a producer), The Lucky One, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember, Nights in Rodanthe, Dear John, The Last Song, and The Notebook, with a cumulative domestic box office totaling more than $574M.[2]

Sparks lives in North Carolina, where he contributes to a variety of local and national charities. In 2011, he launched The Nicholas Sparks Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages. [3]

Sparks and his then-wife Cathy lived together in New Bern, North Carolina, with their three sons and twin daughters until 2014. On January 6, 2015, Sparks announced that he and Cathy had amicably separated. They subsequently divorced.[11] Sparks still resides in New Bern.

Philanthropy[edit]

Sparks donated nearly $900,000[12] for a new, all-weather tartan track to New Bern High School along with his time to help coach the New Bern High School track team and a local club track team as a volunteer head coach.[13]

Sparks contributes to other local and national charities, including the Creative Writing Program (MFA) at the University of Notre Dame by funding scholarships, internships and annual fellowships. The Nicholas Sparks Foundation, launched by Sparks in 2012, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to improving cultural and international understanding through global education experiences for students of all ages was launched in 2011. Between the foundation, and the personal gifts of the Sparks family, more than $15 million dollars have been distributed to deserving charities, scholarship programs, and projects.[14] In 2008, Entertainment Weekly reported that Sparks and his then-wife had donated “close to $10 million” to start a private school, The Epiphany School of Global Studies.[15][16]

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The return DB100846

Sparks, Nicholas. Reading time not available.

Read by MaryBeth Wise.

Mystery and Detective Stories

Human Relations

Bestsellers

Romance

When he is sent home from Afghanistan with devastating injuries, the dilapidated cabin Trevor Benson inherited from his grandfather seemed a good place to regroup. Trevor feels a connection with local deputy sheriff Natalie Masterson. Some descriptions of sex. Commercial audiobook. Bestseller. 2020.

Downloaded: November 29, 2020

Kate’s 2¢: “The Last Patriot, A Thriller” by Brad Thorr

“The Last Patriot, A Thriller” by Brad Thorr

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   John Polk  did an excellent job of reading this fast moving spy and counter-spy story.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (September 2019)

   bradthor.com: Bradley George Thor Jr. (born August 21, 1969)[citation needed] is an American thriller novelist.[1] He is the author of The Lions of Lucerne, The First Commandment, The Last Patriot, and other novels. His latest novel in the Harvath series, Near Dark, was released in July 2020. Thor’s novels have been published in countries around the world. He also contributed a short story entitled “The Athens Solution” to the James Patterson-edited anthology, Thriller. Thor also makes frequent appearances on Fox News and The Blaze.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

The last patriot: a thriller DB71529

Thor, Brad. Reading time: 10 hours, 42 minutes.

Read by John Polk. A production of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.

Suspense Fiction

If the ancient prophet Mohammed’s lost revelation can finally come to light, militant Islam will be defeated. This secret, which is connected to Thomas Jefferson, draws Scot Harvath back into covert operative work after a nine-month hiatus with his injured girlfriend. Violence and strong language. 2008.

Kate’s 2¢: “Every Last Secret” by Torre Alexandra

“Every Last Secret” by Torre Alexandra

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Well done. Nina got what she deserved and got the man, too!  But, what about Cat and what she deserves. She sure lived up to her name.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Torre A Alessandra Torre is an American novelist best known for contemporary romance.[1][2][3] Torre is a New York Times, USA Today,[4] Wall Street Journal[5] and Amazon International bestselling novelist.[6] Alessandra is the Bedroom Blogger for Cosmopolitan.[7] She has been a guest columnist for the Huffington Post, RT Book Reviews, and was featured in Elle Magazine.[1] In 2017, she created Alessandra Torre Ink, an online community for authors, which offers webinars, courses and the Inkers Con conference. [8]

In 2015, her novel The Girl in 6E was optioned for film by EuropaCorp.[9] In 2017, her novel, Hollywood Dirt was released as a full-length movie by PassionFlix.[10] R Every last secret

www.alessandratorre.com

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Every last secret DB103215

Torre, A. R. Reading time: 9 hours, 28 minutes.

Read by Maggy Stacy.

Suspense Fiction

Psychological Fiction

Cat and her husband William live in the privileged California community of Atherton. When new neighbors move in, Cat does the right thing and welcomes them to the neighborhood. But wife Neena soon sets her eyes on William and everything Cat has. Except Neena doesn’t know Cat’s secrets. 2020.

Kate’s 2¢: “Dancing in Combat Boots” by Teresa R. Funke

“Dancing in Combat Boots” by Teresa R. Funke

Kate’s 2¢: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as,     describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ merely shares my thoughts about what I read.  I’m just saying…

   Funke’s series of fictional vignettes are based on her interviews with the actual woman in the vignette. The stories are roughly chronological and begin before WWII to after the end of the war and high-light the many facets’ women of the era had to do to survive, cope with the emotional aspects, and break the stereotype of what women could do in a ‘man’s world’.

   I enjoyed this book and could tie these examples of women’s successes with other books I’ve read about these amazing women.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/535023Actions for this site

Teresa R. Funke is the author of “Bursts of Brilliance for a Creative Life,” a highly regarded collection of her postings from her popular blog of the same name. She is also the author of seven novels for adults and children about World War II including “Remember Wake,” “Dancing in Combat Boots,” and the Home-Front Heroes Series.

   Funke. Teresa Funke was born and raised in Boise, Idaho. She now lives in Colorado where she is the owner of Teresa Funke & Company, Victory House Press, and Bursts of Brilliance (r).

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Dancing in combat boots: and other stories of American women in World War II DBC13263

Funke, Teresa R. Reading time: 4 hours, 36 minutes.

Read by Bev Zier.

Short Stories

War Stories

Eleven fictional stories representative of the millions of housewives and mothers who took off their aprons and stepped into the factories, offices and hospitals to do the work of husbands, sons and brothers who were called to war. For grades 4-7.

Downloaded: December 11, 2021

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Cornucopia: Holiday Beginnings, Christmas, 1998

Holiday Beginnings, Christmas, 1998

copyright © 1998, Jenine Stanley

Long ago and far away Or at least it seems so from today, A little ball of
fur and feet, The Holiday season did gently greet.
This pup was special, soon to grow, So many things that he must know. He
learned to stay then come and sit, And only minded baths a bit.
His legs grew long, his expression wise, As the world unfolded before his
eyes. This pup saw stores and parks and malls. He walked through church and
workplace halls.
All these things were done with care, For important work they did prepare.
Dad and the kids walked him about, While Mom gave baths and took him out.
One day they went to “Puppy Camp” Where he performed just like a champ! He
sat and stayed and came on cue, They said “a fine job he will do!”
This pup did not fear loud trucks, Or men with beards, or even ducks! He
laid quite still at his family’s side, And simply loved to “take a ride.”
The family talked of one sad day, When their “wonder pup” would go away.
They knew that this was meant to be, This well bred dog was meant to “see.”
That special season came again, Up went the tree and fun began! This year
the pup was old enough, To play with kids and other stuff.
Just a sniff, to see what’s there! Boxes wrapped with such great care! But
through the year this dog had learned, Many corrections he had earned.
He would not sniff or root around, Or pick things up from off the ground.
He’d learned to stay out of the trash, But only after a big old crash!
Photos hugs and quiet tears, Filled the days through end of year. And then,
right after New Year’s Day, That once small pup went on his way.
Off to school that puppy went, To learn just what those trainers meant.
“Forward.” “Good dog.” “Left.”then “Right.” He’d concentrate with all his
might.
As months went by, the young dog moved, Through repetition he improved. He
stopped at curbs and went around, The many obstacles trainers found.
Then through the city that smart dog worked, From speeding cars he backward
jerked! The trainer told him “Find inside.” This meant to look for doorways
wide.
“Find the counter.” “Find a seat.” Then lie there at the trainer’s feet.
They bragged about him on and on. He’d passed the tests. He’d soon be gone!
The summer class was almost full, Yet no one there would like his pull. This
dog would work the trainer thought, For someone who liked to walk, a lot!
That special person was finally found, Just as the snow lay on the ground.
The class began December First, Some students said it was the worst!
It was hard to spend a month away, Coming home so close to Christmas Day.
New dogs were handfuls that first week, This wouldn’t due with the holiday
peak!
The dog remembered trees and such, But thoughts of mischief he gave not
much. This was just like any time, Behave yourself and you’d be fine!
Meeting his handler was quite a surprise, Though she looked pretty normal,
what was wrong with her eyes? She was just like the trainer in the commands
that she gave, But he soon discovered she couldn’t see him behave.
She patted his back and his glossy fine head, Though she could not see his
eyes, she could feel him instead.
They walked very fast with the trainer behind, This dog showing off all the
things he could “find.” And once they had walked everywhere that they could,
The trainers pronounced this team was quite good!
The weekend before Christmas the class got decked out. There was hustle and
bustle and rushing about! From his room on that Sunday, the dog could just
hear, The sounds of his first family, ever so near.
His person had left him on his bed chain to go, Out to the living room so
she could know, Who raised him from such an adorable pup, “What was he like
then?” “Where did he grow up?”
Someday he knew he would see them again, His very first family, it just
wouldn’t be then. They did send him gifts that all smelled like their home,
His toys and his bed and even a bone!
The last day of class was a quite sad affair. Before they went home all the
students did share. Hugs and thanks to the trainers, emotions did show. “Now
you’re off on your own.” “Now you’re ready to go!”
The dog and his person went home in a plane, And throughout that first week
he heard the refrain, “Leave it.” “No, bad dog.” “Stop sniffing, right now.”
He really did want to, but didn’t know how.
For those first months he tested his person a bit, But as she grew to know
him, he showed her his wit. They traveled on planes and buses and cabs, And
when they weren’t walking, on her he kept tabs.
He guided as she walked with her children again, Through malls and to
college, around every bend. He liked her new husband and kids and the rest,
But the dog knew that always, his person was best.
Each year that rolled by saw the holidays near, With so much more meaning
because he was here. Small celebrations were held in his name, As “3”, “4”,
and then “8” years passed since they’d trained.
He’d gone back to visit his first family’s home, Where he’d been allowed off
leash to party and roam! He’d been to the mountains and run on the beach,
All while guiding his person and loving them each.
But now he was tired and his pull was so slight. He laid on his rug from
morning till night. Guiding was over, it was too hard to move, But life as a
pet did see things improve. A new dog now walked where he had once been, And
he happily rested a loving old friend.
This night before Christmas he lay by the tree, While the family took
pictures, just where he should be. They knew that his days with them were
not long, So to the Christmas Eve service, they took him along.
His person took out the old harness with care, And placed it around him then
stood just right where, She’d found herself standing for walk after walk. To
his ear she bent low and then started to talk.
“I love you, you know that?” she said with a tear. “And I realize next
Christmas, you might not be here.” One more time she commanded him,
“Forward, outside.” The dog lifted his head and his tail wagged so wide.
The family moved back and let the team go, This trip was so special, they
all seemed to know. For that last night he guided her safe on their way,
This devoted partner and friend crossed The Bridge” the next day.
Christmas could have been sad, a time none would forget, But the dog’s
loving family saw something else yet. His person did miss him as by him she
knelt, But she kept thinking of all the joy she had felt.
She’d walked by herself with confidence and pride, For the first time since
her blindness, this dog by her side. They had worked as a team so long and
so far, Her independence was his shining star.
Each year after that when the holidays came, They remembered this first dog
and called him by name. The family told stories and always would say, “We’ll
each see him again, some Christmas Day!”