Member Reviews

Ronie Kendig's Rapid Fire Fiction holds true in book one of the Tox Files! The story is so true to life that it's frightening to consider. A secret society bent on disproving the foundations of Judaism in order to destroy Israel? Way too believable.

Cole "Tox" Russell was declared dead nearly four years ago. They had a funeral. Most everyone at the funeral wept for his loss. In reality, he was basically exiled from the United States and forbidden to return. Then, he is lured back when he is informed that his niece, daughter of the US President - his brother, Galen Russell - has been kidnapped. Evie is one of the people Tox would lay his life down for but when he discovers that the information was a lie to bring him out of hiding, he breaks into the White House - yes, that White House - to confront his brother. He gets one good punch in before he is captured and given the real reason they called him in.

Kasey Cortes fell in love with Cole Russell as a 12-year-old girl when he was dating her older sister, Brooke. When Brooke dumped him and married his brother, Galen, she never forgave her for her duplicity. She has spent the last four years trying to prove his innocence in the charges that ultimately sent him to Federal Prison, and finally to his death. She is stunned to learn that he's alive, and thrilled to be the deception expert on his team for the new op. A new Black Death is sweeping the world, and it's tied to an archaeology dig that Tzivia Khalon is in charge of.

This book has so many threads in it that you'll wonder how in the world Ms. Kendig will ever be able to tie all of them up by the end! Tox Russell is almost an indestructible Ironman. He nearly dies so often that I can't believe he was still on his feet at the end - barely, but still standing. His team is scary good and I especially loved Chiji and his kali sticks. Ram Khalon, Tzivia's brother, is former Mossad, and a key member of the team. I'm not sure if there was a series before this that all of these people were together in, or not, but Tox's team is pulled together because they used to work black ops before Cole was imprisoned, and he asks for their help.

I've read Ms. Kendig's books before, most notably her Operation Zulu Redemption series and her Discarded Heroes series, so I kind of new what to expect from her. Fast pace - and by fast paced, I mean, screaming fast - plausible events, accurate history, all play a part to draw readers into her world. Tox's world screams from the US to Israel to India to Saudi Arabia, and everywhere he goes, mortal danger follows.

Suspense readers will love this first book in the Tox Files. I'm trying to decide, since I also have book 3 if I can skip book 2, which I don't have. It's a dilemma, but a good one. I highly recommend Conspiracy of Silence, or really, any book written by Ronie Kendig for anyone who feels the need to get their heart pumping. Her books pull you in and put, in many cases, real terror into your mind because, sometimes, they're almost TOO realistic!

Was this review helpful?

This is one adrenaline rush of a novel, and I found myself physically tensing up as the action progressed. Cole "Tox" Russell and his former Special Forces team have some serious skills and if you've ever wanted to read an action-packed, testosterone heavy, knock-down, drag-out, suspenseful military adventure full of politics, spies, assassins, ancient history, present day conspiracies, secret societies, with Biblical archeology and a plague thrown in, then this is just the ticket. The action is, if I had to choose one word, relentless. Don't let any lulls fool you.

Though not strictly necessary, I recommend reading the prequel novella first. Events and characters are referred back to and it does set the stage for the state of the relationships between Tox and his team as well as his family. It may also enhance appreciation for my favorite character introduced in this novel, Chiji. I adored Chiji and admired his faith.

Highly recommended for fans of smart, well written, fast paced military suspense and archeology. A tolerance for violence and death in fiction is helpful, though a tolerance for strong language is not necessary, and not to worry if you need strong female characters and/or a bit of romance thrown in.

My thanks to the publisher for approving me for a NetGalley e-galley and apologies for taking so long to read it. All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I have been a huge fan of Ronie Kendig's since I read her first book in the Discarded Heroes series. I don't even need to read the back to decide. If she's written it, I'm reading it. After reading the novella for the Tox Files series I knew I needed to read this one. As per Ms. Kendig her stories are jam packed action and I love that this new series has a biblical archaeological thread. I can't wait for the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his team, Cole "Tox" Russell has been disavowed by the United States. And that's fine--he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed, Tox is lured back into action.

In Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig, Tox and his former Special Forces team regroup to work with FBI deception expert, Kasey Cortes, and fiery archaeologist, Tzivia Khalon, to search the globe for answers--and a cure. As the mission leads from one continent to another, it becomes clear they're not just fighting a plague but battling an ancient secret society whose true goals remain hidden.

With time running out and the threat for a global pandemic rising, Tox and his team realize their sole chance might be to reach back through centuries of silence to find the only answer that can save them all.

This was a very suspenseful and energetic read. But, I also found it a little confusing. I don't know if I was reading it too fast, or if it was that so many of the characters and places started with the letter “T.” I was a bit lost sometimes, and I think that may it difficult for me to be completely engrossed in it. But, with that said, I still did find it a good read. I also found the setting and places talked about are so timely in the news right now, which was interesting. So, I do recommend this book, especially if you like characters in the military. It is the first book in a series, so there is more to come with the characters. I am not sure if I will be reading the rest of this series, but I know there are others who will really enjoy this book and the rest of the series.


I received a free copy from the publisher. No review, positive or otherwise, was required—all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book took me longer to read than many. It was intriguing, but still left me needing to set it down between times to digest the content.
It is fiction, but so much of the information was deep. I needed to comprehend it and think before moving onto the next part of the story. It was excellent story telling, but a lot of info packed into a fiction book with military fights that were so well written, you felt like you were there.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my! Conspiracy of Silence is full of intense, thrilling action with a suspenseful plot. The team members are loyal and have each other's backs, even with a harsh history of being caught in the middle of politics and lies. Mistrust and misinformation brings a tension to the scenes as Tox must work with agency contacts and intel that is being fed to him piecemeal and objectives are changed mid-mission. Tox is a strong and determined character with highly skilled training, but he also has his share of flaws and emotional vulnerabilities- which made him more easy to relate to. I loved Kasey's role as the deception expert, and her history of having an unrequited crush on Tox. She sees him differently than most, and has an innate sense for his real self under all the defenses (except when it comes to how he feels about her). Another great character in Tox's life is Chiji, a member Tox added to his team after spending time with his family while exiled in Nigeria. His calming influence was needed several times throughout the story as Tox's rage escalates. It's interesting how he can keep his cool in all sorts of crazy dangerous scenarios but when his loved ones are harmed, he comes a bit unglued. The Biblical history of the artifacts, Codex, and secret societies are fascinating, especially as they tie in to the present-day war for power. I definitely recommend reading the free e-book of the prequel novella, The Warrior's Seal, since it introduces the characters and gives details of the mission that is referred to several times in Conspiracy of Silence. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in The Tox Files and learning more about the team members!

Highly recommend to fans of H.B. Moore's Omar Zagouri series and Julie Coulter Bellon's Griffin Force series!

(I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher; all opinions in this review are my own)

Was this review helpful?

I was excited to read another book from Ronie Kendig, and I was not disappointed! Great story setup and characters! Ready for the next book in the series!

Was this review helpful?

"Conspiracy of Silence" is the first in the new series by Ronie Kendig, 'Tox Files'. Though this is the first novel in the series, there is a prequel novella, "The Warrior's Seal" and it is available for free on www.amazon.com. Though not required to follow Conspiracy, I would recommend the reader read that first. In "Conspiracy of Silence" Tox, a Special Forces Operative, has been asked by his brother, the POTUS, to find a killer that is considered a threat to the US. As Tox and his men, along with Kasey, the president's sister-in-law and FBI agent, search for the assassin, one thing leads to another, revealing a world wide conspiracy involving the Aleppo Codex and an old world plague.
I liked this book a lot. It is really long though, over 400 pages, so be prepared to commit. The characters are great, I like how Tox and Ram (a member of Special Forces team) maintain their beliefs and yet are soldiers. Kendig's whole family is full of veterans, so she knows her stuff. Heck, even her dog is a vet! I received this book in exchange for an honest review from Bethany House Publishers.


Posted by beckie at 5:16 PM No comments:

Email This

BlogThis!

Share to Twitter

Share to Facebook

Share to Pinterest









Saturday, January 14, 2017




Pat Crowe



"World, Chase Me Down" by Andrew Hilleman is the fiction telling of a true story. Pat Crowe is a scoundrel from the turn of the century (not this one, the last one). During a down on his luck time, Crowe kidnapped a Omaha millionaire's son for ransom. The novel follows Crowe through three time periods intermittently. The author switches by the chapter so it is easy to follow. I am unsure on how historically accurate the author is as I hadn't heard of Crowe before reading this book. But Hilleman does weave a pretty interesting tale. Crowe's character is fun to read. He is always wallering in misery and yet he never gets down and keeps his chin up. Just keeps on going through one failure after another. I recommend this book to history buffs who aren't scared off by a little grit. I received this e-book in exchange for an honest review from www.firsttoread.com.


Posted by beckie at 7:58 PM No comments:

Email This

BlogThis!

Share to Twitter

Share to Facebook

Share to Pinterest









Thursday, December 29, 2016




Phoenix's new book will stir you up



"Of Stillness and Storm" by Michele Phoenix follows a married couple Sam and Lauren on his journey to Nepal to work in God's ministry. Notice I said "his." Sam feels a calling to spur of the moment take his wife and son, Ryan, to Nepal and live, sacrifice, and struggle with the Nepali's, sharing God's word. While there, Sam leaves his family alone for 3 weeks out of the month to minister to the poor in surrounding impossible to reach villages. Meanwhile, Lauren must work to keep Sam's visa. The job he insists she have is an hour walk away. Why? Because she must struggle. She supports the family and cares for the son alone. Somewhere along the way, Sam comes to think of himself as a god and drags Lauren along with him. When Lauren refriends an old schoolmate on Facebook and starts to reconsider her relationship with Sam and God, Same continues to spiral out of control in his obsession with the natives and the family rapidly falls part. Though I hate Sam and most of the characters tick me off, this book stirred a lot of passion in me. The reader will not read idly; the reader will read with fervor! Be prepared to have this book really make you reconsider you life and your relationship with God. I received this book in exchange for a review from litfuse Publicity. Please see the giveaway button on the side!


Posted by beckie at 10:04 PM No comments:

Email This

BlogThis!

Share to Twitter

Share to Facebook

Share to Pinterest









Monday, December 26, 2016




Newsmakers series



"The Candidate" by Lis Wiehl is the second in the Newsmakers series that came out this fall. Erica Sparks is the top news reporter for fictional station GNN. She's a single mother with a "past" and has a knack for solving the unsolvable and reporting it to the masses. In this novel, the Ortiz's are running for president, yes that was plural. Mike Ortiz is the man officially running for office and his wife Celeste is running the show. Nothing gets by her or in her way. When a bomb goes off killing the competition, Sparks smells something fishy and is off to investigate. Putting herself and child in danger while she is at it.
Though I probably like this series the least of Wiehl's books, it is still a really good book. I haven't read the first in the series and I highly recommend it. At times the reader may not be able to follow "The Candidate" unless you read the first, but it isn't entirely mandatory. There are lots of twist and turns and it is a lot of fun to try to figure it out before Sparks does. I received this book in exchange for an honest review from www.booklookbloggers.com


Posted by beckie at 5:58 PM No comments:

Email This

BlogThis!

Share to Twitter

Share to Facebook

Share to Pinterest









Saturday, December 24, 2016




Newest Pike novel



"Ring of Fire" is Brad Taylor's newest Pike novel. In this one, Pike and the team are trying to stop another 9/11 terrorist attack. The terrorist are trying to attack ports around the US to shut down the inport-outport system in the US to seize our economy. The team is globetrotting to capture the criminals and stop the attacks.
I really like the Pike novels. I will certainly be going back and reading the ones that I haven't gotten to. I would highly recommend this series if you are interested in lots of action and Intel. I received this book in exchange for an honest review from www.firsttoread.com.


Posted by beckie at 11:45 AM No comments:

Email This

BlogThis!

Share to Twitter

Share to Facebook

Share to Pinterest









Saturday, December 10, 2016




Mehl's new series



"Fatal Frost" is the first book in the new series "Defenders of Justice" by Nancy Mehl. Mehl has steered off into a completely new direction. The new series though still in St Louis, centers around Mercy, a US Marshall, and her two crime fighting friends Tally and Mark. The plot is what if the police/black shootings were not so shall we say, black and white. What if it were a conspiracy to appear that way to keep both the public and the authorities attention else where while another party were taking control? Mercy and her men are about to find out.
I like that Mehl is trying something new. I think the new series is good. I don't especially like Mercy. She's a bit of a cold fish. I do like Tally and Mark. I received this book in exchange for a review from Bethany House.


Posted by beckie at 9:12 AM No comments:

Email This

BlogThis!

Share to Twitter

Share to Facebook

Share to Pinterest









Tuesday, December 6, 2016




saffire review



"Saffire" is the newest novel by Sigmund Brouwer. This novel is about a Dakota cowboy, James Holt, during his time in Panama during the building of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt has sent him there to do some investigating in exchange for the money to pay off the ranch which is close to foreclosure.
This book is a mystery; however, instead of the usual where the reader and main character try to solve the mystery, both spend the majority of the book trying to figure out what the mystery is. He is sent to investigate, but what? This book is very well written, the characters are great, but the mystery within a mystery grows a little old by mid book. The parts about the building of the canal and the culture and politics of the time are fascinating. Good novel, but not one of my favorites by Brouwer. I received this book in exchange for an honest review from www.bloggingforbooks.com.

Was this review helpful?

I have read a good handful of Kendig's books. I'm usually interested in the titles or the book description, and I thought I knew, at least more or less, what this author writes like. Instead, I got a read that took everything up a notch. Multiple characters that I liked, adventure, romance, military, drama, plot, it really managed to have it all. That is a hard to thing to do. I liked so many of the characters that I can't share it all without doing another one injustice.

The Warrior's Seal is the prequel and it's free in most places I looked. It's a thriller and it has archeology and Biblical history and while I don't like to use a cliche to compare a book to a movie, it's true in this case. I love things in the style of Indiana Jones, and things along that line. This book didn't disappoint me one bit.

My thoughts; Page turning I-don't-want-it-to-end-read = 5 Stars. My copy came from Bethany House Bloggers. My review is entirely my own, and of my own free choosing.

Was this review helpful?

Oh my gosh, guys! I loved this military thriller with hints of romance. Ronie Kendig has made her place in fiction with novels that have high octane military action, and Conspiracy of Silence is a FANTASTIC addition. This novel has political overtones, Biblical archaeology threads, and the military, globe-jumping pacing. There is a fantastic, reluctant team that comes together to try to stop a global plague from spreading. This plague may have ties to the Old Testament, but it’s spreading and they have to find a way to stop it before it makes the Black Plague look like a small killer.

I love the action in Conspiracy of Silence. As someone who grew up reading Tom Clancy, it all strikes me as realistic, hard-hitting, and can’t-put-me-down intense. The whispers of romance were light enough to give a moment to breathe without feeling forced. And the team dynamic of the group was pitch perfect. They didn’t all get along all the time, but what team does? Conspiracy of Silence can also feel like you’re part of a globe trotting escapade as you race around the world with Tox’s team. I appreciated that this story stood alone, but also cannot wait for the next installment.

This book is perfect for those who love page-turning thrillers with heart.

Was this review helpful?

This is book one in The Tox Files, however you must read the prequel, The Warrior's Seal, to completely understand and not be lost from the get go. This is not an easy read, you will need to focus on what is going on and will probably still get a bit lost, but it will all start making more sense eventually.
I fell in love with all the main characters in this novel and look forward to reading more from this series. It is full of action, suspense, mystery, history and some romance. Kendig always does a great job at grabbing your interest from the beginning and keeping it till the end, while still keeping you hanging in their for the next one in the series.
This is not my favorite of Kendig but it is still a good read, and I look forward to reading the next novel in this series.
Cole 'Tox' Russell is a complex man. He has a past that he must deal with and an uncertain future. Tox has much to deal with in this novel, with family, associates, a plague, and assassins. Each man on his team has a personality all their own and I look forward to getting to know them all better.

Was this review helpful?

Conspiracy of Silence is the first full length book in the Tox Files series. When I decided to read this book, I wondered if I should read the prequel novella The Warriors Seal as I was just dying to start this book. I am glad I decided to read the novella because it helped me learn more about Tox and his team. And who would want to miss out on anything Ronie Kendig wrote? Kendig filled this book with interesting history, and was amazing at making the fictional parts seem plausible. There was so much mystery, and I had fun trying to figure everything out right along with the team. When you pick up a Kendig book, you know it is going to be filled with jaw dropping action. This book was all that and more. I found it nearly impossible to put down, and when I finally did, I couldn't get it off my mind. I loved seeing the dynamic between Tox and those around him. I found myself questioning people's motives right along with the team.

Tox is dead to the world, and most of the time, that's fine by him. But when a deadly virus with out a cure is unleashed, the country needs our best men on it. Tox doesn't know who to trust, but is glad to be back in action. Can he and his team figure out who and what is causing this virus to spread? The questions take them all over the world, and often cause more confusion. Will looking to the past give them the answers they seek? Or will it be too late to save those they love?

Ronie Kendig made me fall in love with a fictional character. I would like to say this is the first times she's done this, but it's not. What is more hunky than a special ops hero? And Tox is the best of the best. This book is full of fight scenes that caused me to sit on the edge of my seat rooting for the good guys. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys military books with a little bit of romance thrown in. This story made me even more in awe of those who serve our country, knowing that often the ones who do the most dangerous and heroic acts are often those who don't get recognized. God bless our military and their families. I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig. Ronnie is one of the authors that I will read any book she writes without reading the book description. In addition, I had not read The Warrior’s Seal which was the novella that is currently free and sets up the story. So for me finding out that Tox/Cole has a relationship with the president was a shock and the entire backstory of the president’s wife and sister was fascinating. Within the first three chapters, I felt like there was tidbits of information revealed that just kept building my interest. I love the entire team and can't wait for Ram and Cell to get their own stories. Once again Ronie gives you just enough information that you cannot wait to find out the rest of Ram’s backstory. I'm also assuming "the stranger” will continue to make appearances. Ronie does an amazing job of creating a captivating cast of characters that are easy to follow. Each of them is so unique in their talents and mysteries. The Flame and Arrow organization was a very well created villain. A story of good versus evil through the centuries. The president’s advisor is one of those people that you absolutely hate, sometimes even more so than the Flame and Arrow organization. Ronie has also taken the path less traveled with some of her main characters which leaves you on the edge of your seat not sure who will live or die or come back with all their limbs(you know who I am talking about). I was absolutely fascinated by Haven's job. My only criticism was that I wanted to see Haven and more of her work. It was enthralling to see her dissect a conversation for deceptions. I would be thrilled if she had her own spinoff series. I think this is a skill I would love to have but at the same time you probably don't want to know how many times people are being deceptive. The book is mesmerizing on so many levels; the personal side of the story with Tox and Haven, Tox and his brother, watching Haven work, and the suspense/action of the poison and people trying to kill them. I am sure there will be even more revealed in future books.

Was this review helpful?

As this story opens, our hero, Tox, is attempting to rescue his kidnapped niece. The odds were against him, but his training and tenacity wins out, especially when he suspected it was a trap. The opening scene grabbed my attention and didn’t let go until the end. Tox and his team travel through many countries and deal with intense situations. As typical for a Kendig novel, it’s intense and action packed from start to finish.

In my opinion, Tox is a dark hero. He has a lot of demons that haunt him, which at times makes it hard to like him. But I found myself liking him more and more as this story progressed. Although he has a lot of rough edges he is beginning to soften in the right ways.

I loved the chemistry between Tox and Agent Cortes. She was a spit fire FBI agent who was trained in lie detection. She added much to the story to help Tox and his team get the answers they needed.

Much like the previous novella that introduced us to Tox, this story deals with a deadly virus. The author has added a secret society to the mix in this story, which I’m still trying to determine if I really like that aspect. I do look forward to what is next for Tox and his team.

You do not have to read the previous novella to understand what is happening here, although it has been free on Amazon. It’s a quick read, so I suggest reading it before reading this one.

I give this book 5 Stars! (Learn more about my rating system)

Was this review helpful?

This book is a thrill ride from start to finish! If you’re reading this soon, you should buckle up and secure your armor and weapon before page 1 because you won’t want to stop reading until the final conflict is over. The location changes and hand-to-hand combat situations remind me of a Jason Bourne movie. With all the action, there is suspense and intrigue with a political thriller element. And, a slight family drama and romance plays out in the middle of it all!

Kendig expertly weaves Biblical history and modern Middle Eastern/Jewish culture into the story with skill and style. The ties to a plague in the days of Moses interestingly work into a twist on a biological weapon, of sorts. With mysterious characters and a possible secret organization behind it all, Kendig kept me anxiously guessing just what would happen next! Just when you think you can catch your breath, a surprise comes your way.

With all of the action and traversing the globe, the characters still have a strong presence throughout. “Tox”, in particular, is a steadfast example of honor and leadership with a classic guilty conscience, blaming himself for past calamities completely out of his control. He is an instantly likable hero to root for… especially where a certain prominent female is concerned. The ladies of this story, Tzivia and Kasey, hold their own in sticky situations, too.

I appreciated the subtle thread of faith and Divine orchestration in the events of the story. I suspect (and hope) we will learn more behind the layers of Tox and his team in stories to come because I still have some lingering questions. The interesting and brotherhood-like supporting cast of this novel promise more surprises to come. I don’t think I can come up with any more adjectives to describe this story without giving away too much. So, I’ll just say this is a military thriller to rush headlong into with both eyes open!

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary review copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?