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Traveling with Andrew Watts and Harmony Kent

5/29/2021

18 Comments

 
Hello friends! Today I am sharing two reviews. My week of travels, with long flights and equally long layovers, provided great reading opportunities.

I downloaded Andrew Watts' The War Planners after reading the blurb and a few of the reviews. I was not disappointed. This is a fast moving political/military thriller. 

My reason for wanting to read this book is somewhat unique. When I wrote The Culmination, I wrote entirely on inspiration and research. Serious research. Watts wrote The War Planners from inspiration and experience.  

I was greatly relieved to discover that his underlying conclusions echo my own. Very different stories, very different approaches, but we share a common understanding about the profiteers and plotters of war. 

If you enjoy thrillers, this is one you won't forget, because it is frighteningly plausible. 
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​Andrew Watts is the USA TODAY bestselling author of Max Fend thrillers and The War Planners series. He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 2003 and served as a naval officer and helicopter pilot until 2013. During that time, he flew counter-narcotic missions in the Eastern Pacific and counter-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa.

He was a flight instructor in Pensacola, FL, and helped to run ship and flight operations while embarked on a nuclear aircraft carrier deployed in the Middle East.

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A review from Jeff Benham:

​Let's just suppose that China wanted to start a war with the United States. How would they go about it to have its greatest effect and not do too much damage to the infrastructure? Further suppose that the CIA gets wind of this and wants to figure out how China plans to do this so they can stop it. They just might get together some of the best minds in their field of expertise to analyze the probabilities. What the experts don't know, and what the reader theorizes soon enough, is that it is not the CIA and they do not want a plan to stop a war. They want a plan to implement a war.

Good action and worth the read, but the conclusion awaits in the next book (I hope).


The second book I read was Harmony Kent's The Vanished Boy. Well-written and carefully paced, Kent takes the reader through a parent's worst fears -- the disappearance of a child, and worse, his potential demise. As the mom of three sons and a daughter, this book tugged at my heartstrings. I couldn't set it down, and once begun, I read until I finished it. If you like psychological mysteries, this is one to consider. I strongly recommend it. 

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Harmony Kent is an award winning, multi-genre author from Cornwall, England. She’s also an active member of Story Empire. When Harmony is not blogging or working on her latest and greatest, she is busy helping other writers with editing, proof reading, and manuscript appraisal.  

Harmony explains, “I spent 13 years in a Buddhist temple—10 of those ordained. For a shaven-headed, black-robed novice, the days were long and the life hard. And at the end of it all, a new woman emerged, as a beautiful butterfly from a chrysalis, and spread her wings. She’d learnt how to fly. In 2013, I returned to the world and wrote my first book." ​

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A review from writer Mae Clair:

​Harmony Kent delivers a powerhouse novel about a teen’s disappearance. Carole is a widow with an eighteen-year-old son. When Jayden fails to return home one evening, she discovers she missed a cryptic text he sent. Two words only: “I’m stuck.” Those words propel her into a frantic search that begins with her delving into his life online. The police insist Jayden is an adult, and there’s not much they can do—at least not until time has passed. But Carole reacts with the anguish of a mother for her only child.


As she begins to piece together Jayden’s life through online activity, she learns there is a side to her son she didn’t know about. A side that has led him into a dangerous situation. The more she delves the more the tension mounts, clues unravelling a bit at a time, for a staggering revelation at the end.

I had read this book in two days, flipping pages well into the night. The story is well-plotted with a thoroughly satisfying wrap. If you enjoy psychological fiction and domestic suspense, this is engrossing story with a plot highly relevant to current times.

18 Comments
Harmony Kent link
5/29/2021 04:29:15

What a wonderful surprise this Saturday morning! Thanks so much, Gwen. I’m thrilled you enjoyed The Vanished Boy. Thanks for sharing Mae’s great review! Hugs xx 🙂

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Gwen M Plano
5/29/2021 08:27:57

My pleasure, Harmony. It was a captivating read. 😊

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john howell link
5/29/2021 10:23:09

Excellent reviews, Gwen. Thank you for sharing.

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Gwen M Plano
5/29/2021 10:54:36

Thank you, John. Airports are perfect places to read and both books grabbed my attention. 😊

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D.L. Finn
5/29/2021 11:32:34

Great reviews, Gwen. I loved Vanished Boy and The War Planners intrigues me:)

Reply
Gwen M Plano
5/29/2021 14:00:23

Thank you, D.L. I hope you're having a delightful weekend. 💗

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Mae Clair link
5/30/2021 17:40:48

Great reviews, Gwen and what a pleasure to see my own thoughts for Harmony's The Vanished Boy featured here. Congrats to her and also to Andrew. Thanks for sharing!

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Gwen M Plano
5/31/2021 06:23:23

Thank you, Mae. I enjoyed both books very much. And when I saw your beautiful review, I thought it perfect to share. 😊

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Staci Troilo link
5/31/2021 10:01:21

Great reviews, Gwen. I loved Harmony's book, too, and your thoughts on The War Planners has me intrigued.

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Gwen M Plano
6/1/2021 10:12:38

Thank you, Staci. Both books are great for different reasons. So good, in fact, I could block out the noise from long flight delays. 😊

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Pamela link
6/1/2021 06:15:49

Thanks for reviewing these two books I didn't know about, Gwen! They both sound fascinating, yet so different from each other. I love trying new kinds of books, particularly when they are recommended by a fellow blogger/reader/writer.

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Gwen M Plano
6/1/2021 20:14:44

Thank you, Pamela. They are quite different, but both are excellent. It really depends upon one's interests. All the best to you!

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Jacquie Biggar link
6/1/2021 11:52:45

I loved Harmony's book, and Andrew's sounds interesting (especially with his air force background!)
Great reviews, Gwen.

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Gwen M Plano
6/1/2021 20:16:00

Thank you, Jacquie. I enjoyed them both. BTW, congratulations on your latest book. I'm looking forward to the read! 💗

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Jan Sikes
6/1/2021 20:42:40

I loved "The Vanished Boy" by Harmony Kent and glad you did too. The book by Andrew Watts sounds intriguing. Thank you for sharing!!

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Jill Weatherholt link
6/4/2021 04:29:22

Terrific reviews, Gwen! Thanks for sharing!❤️

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mark bierman link
6/4/2021 18:19:02

Fantastic reviews, Gwen. I've got The Vanished Boy on my kindle and War planners in the sights. Thanks for sharing!

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Miriam Hurdle link
6/4/2021 22:23:13

Thank you for sharing these excellent reviews of The War Planners and The Vanished Boy. Andrew ad Harmony would be thrilled about them. Best wishes on your long travel!

Reply



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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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