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Crayder Chronicles #1
The Reluctant
Action, adventure, suspense, and thriller in one story told with a liberal dose of humor.
Tom’s problems are not unique. His business is failing and his wife has to work too many hours to make ends meet. He is under some rather large financial pressures and wants more from his marriage and his life.
He finds his respite in the air as a private pilot. Unfortunately for Tom, he is behind on payments for his plane and is forced to take odd jobs from a local crime boss. Tom is no criminal, but the errands he is running are just slightly on the wrong side of the law and the money is almost good enough to allow him to make his plane payments.
Just as things begin to come under some semblance of control, he meets a woman who just might represent the adventure he seeks. He soon discovers that appearances, and beautiful women, can sometimes be deceiving.
“The Reluctant” is the first in the Crayder Chronicles series and yet is a stand alone story with a satisfying conclusion of its own.
80,000 Words (approximately 320 pages)
Tom’s problems are not unique. His business is failing and his wife has to work too many hours to make ends meet. He is under some rather large financial pressures and wants more from his marriage and his life.
He finds his respite in the air as a private pilot. Unfortunately for Tom, he is behind on payments for his plane and is forced to take odd jobs from a local crime boss. Tom is no criminal, but the errands he is running are just slightly on the wrong side of the law and the money is almost good enough to allow him to make his plane payments.
Just as things begin to come under some semblance of control, he meets a woman who just might represent the adventure he seeks. He soon discovers that appearances, and beautiful women, can sometimes be deceiving.
“The Reluctant” is the first in the Crayder Chronicles series and yet is a stand alone story with a satisfying conclusion of its own.
80,000 Words (approximately 320 pages)
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 10, 2011
12 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Splitter
5 books32 followersC.S. Splitter is a business man, author, and stand-up philosopher living in rural Maryland with his beautiful wife, small dog, and astonishingly large cat. He is an avid shooter and loves being 5000 feet above the ground, upside down, in an open cockpit.
He will never again jump out of a perfectly good airplane and feels the need to color outside of the lines.
Look for book two of the Crayder Chronicles, "The Willing," in November 2011.
He will never again jump out of a perfectly good airplane and feels the need to color outside of the lines.
Look for book two of the Crayder Chronicles, "The Willing," in November 2011.
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February 21, 2012
The Reluctant—Seemed More Like the Willing to Me!
This was every bit of “Bubba Snoddy (Bubba and the Dead Woman) meets Donovan Creed (Lethal People)”
This is an enjoyable self-pub/Indie from C.J. Splitter. I’ll be honest up front, others may read this and score it higher than I, I rate it 3-3.5 on the Hugh rating system (there’s a link on my profile) because
Having said that, there is much that I liked. I liked the nostalgic blue-collar or “Folksy” tone it was written in, plain spoken, direct language. No flowery prose here, just an almost Mark Twain like directness. I also liked the humor found throughout the story. It wasn’t ha-ha-funny-ville but humor made in good taste and measured for the seriousness of the matter at hand. I also liked the characters, despite their personalities and development being a little thin here and there, they came across like real people, and reacted like real people, each having a personal touch. I’d say I liked the supporting characters more than the main character. Splitter also made flying sound pretty cool.
I’d also say that I liked the fact that everything in the story seemed plausible. Not plausible as in, I bet they really do that, I actually hope they don’t do that, but plausible in that everything done, actually could be done. This wasn’t James Bond vs. Chaos; it was a thriller/suspense story that didn’t need extra science and second world magic to pull things off. And, even though I didn’t like the
I’ll give this nod to our protagonist. He was a good thinker, and thorough, when he chose to use his brain for good and not for …”other things”… He processed things well and we didn’t get any of these scenes where we were screaming at our kindle because the protagonist didn’t see this or that coming. I liked the way splitter described the sense of living paycheck to paycheck so many people get that wrong, especially when there’s an airplane involved.
I also liked the ethical dilemma theme. What is a dislike for the protagonist, becomes a strength for the book. It’s nothing new.
For the things I didn’t like, other than mentioned in the spoiler tag above, I thought it was too short. This read almost like a prolonged prologue or a novella “the history of “the Reluctant.” It was a lot like watching the pilot to a new Tv show, where they intentionally left things unsaid, and unexplained with plans to go back to those things later, or the flash back story of a tired protagonist trying to get out of “the system” recounting how he got involved in the first place. Either way, this left me feeling that we didn’t get a complete story (clearly that was on purpose, a sequel has likely been in the works before the first book was published).
I didn’t like the main character. Here’s a guy who,
I didn’t find the plot particularly challenging or twisted. It was rather straight forward and the book was nearly half over before anything more exciting than a plane crash had occurred. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read, but this is one of the casualties of being written in direct language and leaving the book too short. There wasn’t enough time (or pages) to develop a particularly complex or challenging plot. The plot also started to hit that second or third gear too late so I didn’t get that tense, omg, omg, omg feeling about when’s all hell going to break loose.
Bottom line—3-3.5 stars -- It’s a fun story with a touch of humor. It makes a good prequel but lacks a the sophisticated plot found in some of its contemporaries. Good characters and intriguing thought provoking situations that are enjoyable, and it justifies or glorifies vigilantism.
Warnings (yes, always warnings)
Sex, guns, violence, questionable motives and themes, hard to like protagonist, It’s in there, be careful.
This was every bit of “Bubba Snoddy (Bubba and the Dead Woman) meets Donovan Creed (Lethal People)”
This is an enjoyable self-pub/Indie from C.J. Splitter. I’ll be honest up front, others may read this and score it higher than I, I rate it 3-3.5 on the Hugh rating system (there’s a link on my profile) because
Having said that, there is much that I liked. I liked the nostalgic blue-collar or “Folksy” tone it was written in, plain spoken, direct language. No flowery prose here, just an almost Mark Twain like directness. I also liked the humor found throughout the story. It wasn’t ha-ha-funny-ville but humor made in good taste and measured for the seriousness of the matter at hand. I also liked the characters, despite their personalities and development being a little thin here and there, they came across like real people, and reacted like real people, each having a personal touch. I’d say I liked the supporting characters more than the main character. Splitter also made flying sound pretty cool.
I’d also say that I liked the fact that everything in the story seemed plausible. Not plausible as in, I bet they really do that, I actually hope they don’t do that, but plausible in that everything done, actually could be done. This wasn’t James Bond vs. Chaos; it was a thriller/suspense story that didn’t need extra science and second world magic to pull things off. And, even though I didn’t like the
I’ll give this nod to our protagonist. He was a good thinker, and thorough, when he chose to use his brain for good and not for …”other things”… He processed things well and we didn’t get any of these scenes where we were screaming at our kindle because the protagonist didn’t see this or that coming. I liked the way splitter described the sense of living paycheck to paycheck so many people get that wrong, especially when there’s an airplane involved.
I also liked the ethical dilemma theme. What is a dislike for the protagonist, becomes a strength for the book. It’s nothing new.
For the things I didn’t like, other than mentioned in the spoiler tag above, I thought it was too short. This read almost like a prolonged prologue or a novella “the history of “the Reluctant.” It was a lot like watching the pilot to a new Tv show, where they intentionally left things unsaid, and unexplained with plans to go back to those things later, or the flash back story of a tired protagonist trying to get out of “the system” recounting how he got involved in the first place. Either way, this left me feeling that we didn’t get a complete story (clearly that was on purpose, a sequel has likely been in the works before the first book was published).
I didn’t like the main character. Here’s a guy who,
I didn’t find the plot particularly challenging or twisted. It was rather straight forward and the book was nearly half over before anything more exciting than a plane crash had occurred. Don’t get me wrong, it was a fun read, but this is one of the casualties of being written in direct language and leaving the book too short. There wasn’t enough time (or pages) to develop a particularly complex or challenging plot. The plot also started to hit that second or third gear too late so I didn’t get that tense, omg, omg, omg feeling about when’s all hell going to break loose.
Bottom line—3-3.5 stars -- It’s a fun story with a touch of humor. It makes a good prequel but lacks a the sophisticated plot found in some of its contemporaries. Good characters and intriguing thought provoking situations that are enjoyable, and it justifies or glorifies vigilantism.
Warnings (yes, always warnings)
Sex, guns, violence, questionable motives and themes, hard to like protagonist, It’s in there, be careful.
January 18, 2012
Four Stars: Are you ready to delve into the mind of a man?
Tom Crayder is hoping for a quick, routine flight in his small Cesna plane. He is a private pilot, who thoroughly loves to fly. Today his cargo is a man named, Tiny, who for the record is not so Tiny. Tom, desperate to make ends meet and keep up with payments on his plane, occasionally transports passengers and items for cash for his friend, Jake. The money is good but the jobs often fall into that "grayish area." Tom isn't certain of the specifics on Tiny (the man who weighs about four hundred pounds), he prefers to remain in the dark and just do the flying. What he plans on being a simple, easy flight, goes south when one of the engines suddenly stalls. Tom makes a crash landing, err scratch that, an excellent forced landing in a cow pasture, all while listening to an enormous man, scream like a girl. A few scrapes and bruises and a few cow pies later, our hero is ready to put the event behind him. Little does he know that his graceful, crash landing, I mean emergency landing with style, has caught the attention of some powerful, clandestine people. Tom, armed with his formidable Lady Smith gun, is in for a life changing adventure. Will he live to tell the tale, or will he screw up and get shot in his private parts?
What I Liked:
*Tom Crayder, okay ladies are you ready for the next super hot, debonair, smooth, gun wielding crime fighter? Well, Tom Crayder is not any of the above. Instead, this action hero is an unassuming, regular guy. He is happily married to a wonderful, supportive, beautiful woman. He, like many Americans, is fighting to stay afloat. His business is struggling and he is trying to stay current on his plane payments. Is he sexy and hot? Not exactly. He is a slightly paunchy, middle aged man, who is still trying to prove he is a suave ladies magnet. Now you must be thinking, why on earth would I want to read about this average Joe? I will tell you, because he is a realistic portrayal of a normal guy. Ladies, if you want to get into a guy's head and see what they are really thinking, then this book is for you. No big surprise, to find that men think about sex, food, sex, guns, sex, planes, sex on planes...ok you get the point. This is a humorous look into the mind of a typical, ordinary man suddenly thrust into a dangerous situation.
*The humor in this book is so much fun. The Reluctant, is brimming with witty, slightly sarcastic commentary, that will definitely have you grinning and chuckling. I found it to be the perfect amount of sarcasm, not over the top by any means.
*As I mentioned, this is a guy's book but it is fun for a girl to get inside a man's head. I found it refreshing to see how a man thinks. Sure he leers at other women, but his heart belongs to his wife. I liked all the numerous references to the coolness of being a pilot and flying. I even for the most part, enjoyed all the discussion on flying. I know nothing about aerial transportation, so it was fun to learn the specifics of piloting small planes.
*Tom's gun. It cracked me up that Tom didn't carry a weapon with clout. Instead he chooses to pack a small, Lady Smith pistol. He gets a bunch of flack for it too. Not really what you would call "packing some heat", it is more like some warmth.
*I have to throw this in, I found it particularly funny that one of the female characters threatened Tom twice, with shooting him in his nether regions. Obviously, a man's biggest fear.
*This book is a self published book that can be purchased for $.99. Now, before you turn away and write this off as a "no thank you read", because it is self published, I will tell you that this is one indie title you do want to read. This book is properly edited and well written. In fact, the author, C.S. Splitter recently did a post on his blog regarding everything that a self published author should be doing to get a good product out to market. If you are an author, who is thinking of self publishing your work, then I would highly recommend you check out The Reluctant and Mr. Splitter's blog, Splitter's World. The Reluctant, is how a good self published book should be done. In reality, I wouldn't have known it was self published while reading it.
And The Not So Much:
*This is a man book, that doesn't mean a lady can't enjoy it. Just be prepared for some boy talk, mostly sex talk and typical guy stuff. The only problem I had was after awhile all the pilot and flying detail became a little much toward the end. Again, I am not the target audience, so perhaps if you are man, you will love every detail on planes and piloting.
*Near the end, the book had a couple of graphic scenes involving animals. To be fair, the author did warn me up front before I read the book that there was a bit of animal cruelty. He said it pained him to write those scenes, as he is an animal lover himself. He told me, it was necessary to establish the bad guy as a scum bag. Armed with that information, I chose to gloss over those pages. Mr. Splitter makes up for it by including a fat feline, with an affinity for scrambled eggs and the appearance of a lovable chihuahua at the end.
*While this book drew me in with the comedic commentary and interesting story, it took awhile for the plot to settle in and reveal itself. I was over half way in before I uncovered the true story line. Up until that point, the book focuses on character development and introductions. Thankfully, I was never bored due to the humorous quips, while I waited for the real story to be told.
The Reluctant, is a fun, entertaining book that will keep you laughing as you follow the adventures of the reluctant and unassuming, Tom Crayder. Take a chance and step outside of your normal reading zone and pick up a copy. For $.99 this comedic gem is a steal. Ladies, you will enjoy an entertaining and revealing look into a man's head. This book made it even more clear to me, that men and women must be from two different worlds. I can say that I won't be reluctant to read the next installment of the Crayder's Chronicles. The Willing, available now at amazon.com and other ebook retailers, for $2.99.
A copy of this book was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite Quotations:
"He needed one of those slaps that calms people down in the movies but I couldn't reach back that far. Even if I could, I didn't have a third hand to spare."
"Fiery death was to be avoided at all costs."
"Being tough can suck."
"Macho was mandatory in these kinds of encounters."
"I didn't want to abandon the adventure. I felt like Chevy Chase standing beside the pool, swinging his arms, and muttering, "This is crazy."
"I wasn't sure how much of my decision making was coming from either head, but that lack of knowledge didn't affect my thinking. I was on an adventure and I felt alive."
"The one thing I had never liked about the Lady Smith pistol, besides not being able to find one without "Lady Smith" printed on it, was the trigger."
"A new smell, open sewer, had also been added to his repertoire."
"I swear stores train their people to sneak up on customers. "
Orginally posted on : http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Tom Crayder is hoping for a quick, routine flight in his small Cesna plane. He is a private pilot, who thoroughly loves to fly. Today his cargo is a man named, Tiny, who for the record is not so Tiny. Tom, desperate to make ends meet and keep up with payments on his plane, occasionally transports passengers and items for cash for his friend, Jake. The money is good but the jobs often fall into that "grayish area." Tom isn't certain of the specifics on Tiny (the man who weighs about four hundred pounds), he prefers to remain in the dark and just do the flying. What he plans on being a simple, easy flight, goes south when one of the engines suddenly stalls. Tom makes a crash landing, err scratch that, an excellent forced landing in a cow pasture, all while listening to an enormous man, scream like a girl. A few scrapes and bruises and a few cow pies later, our hero is ready to put the event behind him. Little does he know that his graceful, crash landing, I mean emergency landing with style, has caught the attention of some powerful, clandestine people. Tom, armed with his formidable Lady Smith gun, is in for a life changing adventure. Will he live to tell the tale, or will he screw up and get shot in his private parts?
What I Liked:
*Tom Crayder, okay ladies are you ready for the next super hot, debonair, smooth, gun wielding crime fighter? Well, Tom Crayder is not any of the above. Instead, this action hero is an unassuming, regular guy. He is happily married to a wonderful, supportive, beautiful woman. He, like many Americans, is fighting to stay afloat. His business is struggling and he is trying to stay current on his plane payments. Is he sexy and hot? Not exactly. He is a slightly paunchy, middle aged man, who is still trying to prove he is a suave ladies magnet. Now you must be thinking, why on earth would I want to read about this average Joe? I will tell you, because he is a realistic portrayal of a normal guy. Ladies, if you want to get into a guy's head and see what they are really thinking, then this book is for you. No big surprise, to find that men think about sex, food, sex, guns, sex, planes, sex on planes...ok you get the point. This is a humorous look into the mind of a typical, ordinary man suddenly thrust into a dangerous situation.
*The humor in this book is so much fun. The Reluctant, is brimming with witty, slightly sarcastic commentary, that will definitely have you grinning and chuckling. I found it to be the perfect amount of sarcasm, not over the top by any means.
*As I mentioned, this is a guy's book but it is fun for a girl to get inside a man's head. I found it refreshing to see how a man thinks. Sure he leers at other women, but his heart belongs to his wife. I liked all the numerous references to the coolness of being a pilot and flying. I even for the most part, enjoyed all the discussion on flying. I know nothing about aerial transportation, so it was fun to learn the specifics of piloting small planes.
*Tom's gun. It cracked me up that Tom didn't carry a weapon with clout. Instead he chooses to pack a small, Lady Smith pistol. He gets a bunch of flack for it too. Not really what you would call "packing some heat", it is more like some warmth.
*I have to throw this in, I found it particularly funny that one of the female characters threatened Tom twice, with shooting him in his nether regions. Obviously, a man's biggest fear.
*This book is a self published book that can be purchased for $.99. Now, before you turn away and write this off as a "no thank you read", because it is self published, I will tell you that this is one indie title you do want to read. This book is properly edited and well written. In fact, the author, C.S. Splitter recently did a post on his blog regarding everything that a self published author should be doing to get a good product out to market. If you are an author, who is thinking of self publishing your work, then I would highly recommend you check out The Reluctant and Mr. Splitter's blog, Splitter's World. The Reluctant, is how a good self published book should be done. In reality, I wouldn't have known it was self published while reading it.
And The Not So Much:
*This is a man book, that doesn't mean a lady can't enjoy it. Just be prepared for some boy talk, mostly sex talk and typical guy stuff. The only problem I had was after awhile all the pilot and flying detail became a little much toward the end. Again, I am not the target audience, so perhaps if you are man, you will love every detail on planes and piloting.
*Near the end, the book had a couple of graphic scenes involving animals. To be fair, the author did warn me up front before I read the book that there was a bit of animal cruelty. He said it pained him to write those scenes, as he is an animal lover himself. He told me, it was necessary to establish the bad guy as a scum bag. Armed with that information, I chose to gloss over those pages. Mr. Splitter makes up for it by including a fat feline, with an affinity for scrambled eggs and the appearance of a lovable chihuahua at the end.
*While this book drew me in with the comedic commentary and interesting story, it took awhile for the plot to settle in and reveal itself. I was over half way in before I uncovered the true story line. Up until that point, the book focuses on character development and introductions. Thankfully, I was never bored due to the humorous quips, while I waited for the real story to be told.
The Reluctant, is a fun, entertaining book that will keep you laughing as you follow the adventures of the reluctant and unassuming, Tom Crayder. Take a chance and step outside of your normal reading zone and pick up a copy. For $.99 this comedic gem is a steal. Ladies, you will enjoy an entertaining and revealing look into a man's head. This book made it even more clear to me, that men and women must be from two different worlds. I can say that I won't be reluctant to read the next installment of the Crayder's Chronicles. The Willing, available now at amazon.com and other ebook retailers, for $2.99.
A copy of this book was provided by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Favorite Quotations:
"He needed one of those slaps that calms people down in the movies but I couldn't reach back that far. Even if I could, I didn't have a third hand to spare."
"Fiery death was to be avoided at all costs."
"Being tough can suck."
"Macho was mandatory in these kinds of encounters."
"I didn't want to abandon the adventure. I felt like Chevy Chase standing beside the pool, swinging his arms, and muttering, "This is crazy."
"I wasn't sure how much of my decision making was coming from either head, but that lack of knowledge didn't affect my thinking. I was on an adventure and I felt alive."
"The one thing I had never liked about the Lady Smith pistol, besides not being able to find one without "Lady Smith" printed on it, was the trigger."
"A new smell, open sewer, had also been added to his repertoire."
"I swear stores train their people to sneak up on customers. "
Orginally posted on : http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/
Read
June 1, 2021In fairness to C.S. Splitter, I won’t give his book a star rating. After all, it is one of those freebies on my Kindle that I used to pick from Book Bub. You get what you pay for in this case.
An average guy who loves flying his small plane and shooting guns (though he does not hunt, whew!) gets sucked into killing bad people. And of course, he has the obligatory gorgeous wife.
The author sat down and wrote about his interests in flying and shooting in great detail. He threw in some intrigue with sex and bad guys. Splitter either thought he was being funny (wasn’t) or he has issues with lesbian women.
Thankfully the book is short and my review should be too because it is not worth any more of my thoughts and time.
An average guy who loves flying his small plane and shooting guns (though he does not hunt, whew!) gets sucked into killing bad people. And of course, he has the obligatory gorgeous wife.
The author sat down and wrote about his interests in flying and shooting in great detail. He threw in some intrigue with sex and bad guys. Splitter either thought he was being funny (wasn’t) or he has issues with lesbian women.
Thankfully the book is short and my review should be too because it is not worth any more of my thoughts and time.
July 30, 2011
Title: The Reluctant
Author: C.S. Splitter
Publisher: Published April 2011 by C.S. Splitter
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Ebook
ISBN: 0011269340
Tom Crayder is living the American Dream. He has a wife he loves, a house to call a home and his very own plane to go with his fulfilled dream of being a pilot. But like many know, the American dream isn’t always as carefree as some might like to believe.
Tom’s consulting business is failing, he’s behind on the loan payments to his plane and his wife works too much. And, he’s bored. Turns out that the great life he has isn’t very exciting.
How to spice things up???
He starts taking some jobs from a local crime boss, delivering people and cash to various locations and, because that just isn’t fun enough, he starts flirting with a woman at the shooting range.
Tom finds himself caught up in a web of people and situations that turn his excitement into danger. How will he get himself out of the mess he’s in, and…does he even want to?
This book is a bit of a departure from my usual paranormal genre but I enjoyed it anyway. The plot was easy to get into and easy to follow, and it took twists and turns that I didn’t always see coming. Some of the things that happened to Crayder had me turning the pages to see what he would do to get out of his situation.
Tom Crayder is a guy’s guy, a married man with a bachelor’s heart. Even though I knew that a man wrote this book before I started reading it would have been obvious the minute I picked it up. In many ways I found it interesting because I really felt like me (the reader – and yes a girl) got a clear glimpse into a man’s head. He thought about food and women a lot. Big surprise there. He also thought about adventure and fun. Yet, Tom was also someone who thought about his friends and right and wrong. He had a conscious in him even when he was doing things that weren’t – shall we say – legal. I will say that his estimation of right and wrong sometimes went into the gray area and sometimes he was lead astray by his man parts…but I found that all to be in line with who Tom was. Hey, don’t hate the player - hate the game.
The characterization in the novel was solid as was the writing. I didn’t once get tripped up over a mistake or an awkward sentence and the book flowed well. This book set up Crayder and a cast of characters very well for the next book, which I will definitely read.
I will mention that I thought for being such an ordinary guy, Tom seemed to have quite a knack for getting himself out of sticky (and dangerous) situations. And sometimes his “I’m so cool because I’m a pilot” attitude made me roll my eyes.
My favorite part of the book was the ending and the Chihuahua. Want to know all about the little smiling dog with the underbite? Read the book, but beware not all doggies in this book are nice (my least favorite part of the book).
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes some suspense, good writing and to definitely all men everywhere.
You done good, Splitter, and I salute you.
So there you have it, my opinion.
Author: C.S. Splitter
Publisher: Published April 2011 by C.S. Splitter
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Ebook
ISBN: 0011269340
Tom Crayder is living the American Dream. He has a wife he loves, a house to call a home and his very own plane to go with his fulfilled dream of being a pilot. But like many know, the American dream isn’t always as carefree as some might like to believe.
Tom’s consulting business is failing, he’s behind on the loan payments to his plane and his wife works too much. And, he’s bored. Turns out that the great life he has isn’t very exciting.
How to spice things up???
He starts taking some jobs from a local crime boss, delivering people and cash to various locations and, because that just isn’t fun enough, he starts flirting with a woman at the shooting range.
Tom finds himself caught up in a web of people and situations that turn his excitement into danger. How will he get himself out of the mess he’s in, and…does he even want to?
This book is a bit of a departure from my usual paranormal genre but I enjoyed it anyway. The plot was easy to get into and easy to follow, and it took twists and turns that I didn’t always see coming. Some of the things that happened to Crayder had me turning the pages to see what he would do to get out of his situation.
Tom Crayder is a guy’s guy, a married man with a bachelor’s heart. Even though I knew that a man wrote this book before I started reading it would have been obvious the minute I picked it up. In many ways I found it interesting because I really felt like me (the reader – and yes a girl) got a clear glimpse into a man’s head. He thought about food and women a lot. Big surprise there. He also thought about adventure and fun. Yet, Tom was also someone who thought about his friends and right and wrong. He had a conscious in him even when he was doing things that weren’t – shall we say – legal. I will say that his estimation of right and wrong sometimes went into the gray area and sometimes he was lead astray by his man parts…but I found that all to be in line with who Tom was. Hey, don’t hate the player - hate the game.
The characterization in the novel was solid as was the writing. I didn’t once get tripped up over a mistake or an awkward sentence and the book flowed well. This book set up Crayder and a cast of characters very well for the next book, which I will definitely read.
I will mention that I thought for being such an ordinary guy, Tom seemed to have quite a knack for getting himself out of sticky (and dangerous) situations. And sometimes his “I’m so cool because I’m a pilot” attitude made me roll my eyes.
My favorite part of the book was the ending and the Chihuahua. Want to know all about the little smiling dog with the underbite? Read the book, but beware not all doggies in this book are nice (my least favorite part of the book).
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes some suspense, good writing and to definitely all men everywhere.
You done good, Splitter, and I salute you.
So there you have it, my opinion.
July 31, 2011
Ok, I know I got a great read when a few sentences grab my attention and compel me to read this book. It is not something I would normally read, but tonight, as I was doing my job, bits and pieces of this book jumped out at me. Curiosity won over and I found myself going BAKWARDS in the book to see what in the world was going on, then giving up and starting it from the beginning. AND I'M GLAD I DID.
This is a GUY book, first and foremost, so I did question myself a few times as to why I kept reading it. And my answer is simple: because I was enjoying it and having fun. Some of Tom's inward banter cracked me up. I always wondered if men really thought the way I always assumed they did, and if this book is any indication of what really happens inside a man's mind - I WAS RIGHT!! LOL
Tom is an all American guy, has the wife, a kid, a dog, and he gets to fly!! Not like a super spiffy helicopter or anything, but a plane nonetheless. When he starts to need some extra money, Tom starts to take up some side jobs. One of these side jobs makes him famous without him even realizing it! A beautiful maiden starts to make eyes at him, and eventually shows off another pair of "something" that men typically like. (of course I'm talking about her shoes, guys...come on!!)
This new life of the up-and-coming criminal takes turns that I never would have expected, and kept me page turning til I ran out of pages to turn!
Tom is a wonderful character. Even when he is dumb, tasteless, and tactless, you love him. I'm not really sure why - even after I have finished the book, but I know that if he were to come a-knockin' on my door (without his gun, of course) I would let him in, and share some of my bacon pizza with him. His beautifully bodied 'friend', Lorena, I found to be quite the character as well. I'm not sure I'd invite her over for lunch, however, some lessons on how to take care of yourself would be greatly appreciated.
If you are wanting some action, fun, excitement, laughs, twists, turns, and naughty-naughty talk, this is a great book for you to pick up. If you are looking for locker-room talk, drunks, and drug users, this book is ALSO for you. See all of the different topics Splitter threw out there for you to enjoy? Now make him feel like an excellent host and enjoy what he has put out there! I dare ya...
This is a GUY book, first and foremost, so I did question myself a few times as to why I kept reading it. And my answer is simple: because I was enjoying it and having fun. Some of Tom's inward banter cracked me up. I always wondered if men really thought the way I always assumed they did, and if this book is any indication of what really happens inside a man's mind - I WAS RIGHT!! LOL
Tom is an all American guy, has the wife, a kid, a dog, and he gets to fly!! Not like a super spiffy helicopter or anything, but a plane nonetheless. When he starts to need some extra money, Tom starts to take up some side jobs. One of these side jobs makes him famous without him even realizing it! A beautiful maiden starts to make eyes at him, and eventually shows off another pair of "something" that men typically like. (of course I'm talking about her shoes, guys...come on!!)
This new life of the up-and-coming criminal takes turns that I never would have expected, and kept me page turning til I ran out of pages to turn!
Tom is a wonderful character. Even when he is dumb, tasteless, and tactless, you love him. I'm not really sure why - even after I have finished the book, but I know that if he were to come a-knockin' on my door (without his gun, of course) I would let him in, and share some of my bacon pizza with him. His beautifully bodied 'friend', Lorena, I found to be quite the character as well. I'm not sure I'd invite her over for lunch, however, some lessons on how to take care of yourself would be greatly appreciated.
If you are wanting some action, fun, excitement, laughs, twists, turns, and naughty-naughty talk, this is a great book for you to pick up. If you are looking for locker-room talk, drunks, and drug users, this book is ALSO for you. See all of the different topics Splitter threw out there for you to enjoy? Now make him feel like an excellent host and enjoy what he has put out there! I dare ya...
February 19, 2012
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This story is about Tom Crayder a failing consultant and unlikely events that change his life. When I’m reviewing a bout, I typically go in cold. I may read the summary but by the time I actual read the story I may have forgotten what the story is about. I like reading cold, because my view on the story is untainted. I’m also not looking for events that the summary may elude too.
With that said, I literally had no idea what I’d gotten myself into when I began reading. So without given spoilers I’ll give you the play by play as I read. It went something like this. Well, this is interesting and new, wow what a feat, I wonder what’s going to happen, gosh he’s such a guy, tell me he’s not going to do, OMG he is going to do it, he got what he deserved, I wonder where this is going, really, wow, hmmm, not likely, okay, can’t wait for the next one.
I don’t have to like the main character of a story in order to enjoy this. And yes, I really didn’t like Tom much. My poor husband paid the price of me reading this book and coming home late. But really it was a very interesting story.
I did have a few questions about this story.
So do I recommend reading it. Yes, I liked it. It brought me back to some of my favorite male authors I’ve neglected as of late. You if you like thrillers, mysteries or crime novels, this is for you.
My book boyfriend is Jake. He’s not t he main guy of the story but Tom’s just not my type, lol. Now the picture I’m adding probably resembles a younger thinner Jake. But I can’t pass up a chance to post a picture of a hot guy.
This story is about Tom Crayder a failing consultant and unlikely events that change his life. When I’m reviewing a bout, I typically go in cold. I may read the summary but by the time I actual read the story I may have forgotten what the story is about. I like reading cold, because my view on the story is untainted. I’m also not looking for events that the summary may elude too.
With that said, I literally had no idea what I’d gotten myself into when I began reading. So without given spoilers I’ll give you the play by play as I read. It went something like this. Well, this is interesting and new, wow what a feat, I wonder what’s going to happen, gosh he’s such a guy, tell me he’s not going to do, OMG he is going to do it, he got what he deserved, I wonder where this is going, really, wow, hmmm, not likely, okay, can’t wait for the next one.
I don’t have to like the main character of a story in order to enjoy this. And yes, I really didn’t like Tom much. My poor husband paid the price of me reading this book and coming home late. But really it was a very interesting story.
I did have a few questions about this story.
So do I recommend reading it. Yes, I liked it. It brought me back to some of my favorite male authors I’ve neglected as of late. You if you like thrillers, mysteries or crime novels, this is for you.
My book boyfriend is Jake. He’s not t he main guy of the story but Tom’s just not my type, lol. Now the picture I’m adding probably resembles a younger thinner Jake. But I can’t pass up a chance to post a picture of a hot guy.
January 30, 2012
Tom Crayder loves the gray area—you know, that dingy realm hovering in-between right and wrong that includes omitted details about how he spends his time, and especially, who is spending time with him. His feisty wife, Jenny, has not a clue he’s aching for adventure, love on the wild side, and more money…yeah, he really needs more money. The fun begins with a plane crash. No, scratch that, because Tom hates the word “crash,” so let’s say “The Reluctant” (Crayder Chronicles #1) starts with a forced landing. According to Tom, “Crashes involved fire and death.”
Things go from bad to worse since his flirtations at a gun range with a beautiful woman named Lorena catapult him into a life and death situation…that he’s handpicked for. This is where the story really takes off; the thrills and surprises do not stop until the last page. Now, back to Lorena, who is one hell of a character! This woman, with her hazel eyes, long legs, and “hair so black it could look blue in the right light,” easily mesmerizes Tom to the point he daydreams constantly about her, although Tom makes it clear he loves Jenny. Yes, this guy makes some rotten choices, but without them…there would be no story for him to tell.
Tom is a perfectly flawed character who manages to stay likeable, even though he is rough around the edges. That roughness is what makes him the chosen one for Lorena. Their relationship is my favorite part of “The Reluctant,” and lucky for me, Lorena is in book two of the Crayder Chronicles called, “The Willing.”
What else did I enjoy? Tom’s choice in weapons, but you’ll have to read “The Reluctant” to find out why, and I also liked the dialogue between Tom and the sheriff. Splitter’s characters are memorable, and seem like people you’d actually run into somewhere, sometime. Jenny, Tom’s wife, is one character I hope gets more say in “The Willing,” because I liked her spunky attitude.
This book is adventurous, has plenty of intrigue, and leaves the reader wanting more, so I’m looking forward to “The Willing,” yet it also addresses the dangerous allure of forbidden desire and how desperation for money can lead a person to stray far away from what’s right. It’s possible Tom Crayder learned to tolerate a lighter shade of gray by the end of “The Reluctant.” I shall soon see…
Things go from bad to worse since his flirtations at a gun range with a beautiful woman named Lorena catapult him into a life and death situation…that he’s handpicked for. This is where the story really takes off; the thrills and surprises do not stop until the last page. Now, back to Lorena, who is one hell of a character! This woman, with her hazel eyes, long legs, and “hair so black it could look blue in the right light,” easily mesmerizes Tom to the point he daydreams constantly about her, although Tom makes it clear he loves Jenny. Yes, this guy makes some rotten choices, but without them…there would be no story for him to tell.
Tom is a perfectly flawed character who manages to stay likeable, even though he is rough around the edges. That roughness is what makes him the chosen one for Lorena. Their relationship is my favorite part of “The Reluctant,” and lucky for me, Lorena is in book two of the Crayder Chronicles called, “The Willing.”
What else did I enjoy? Tom’s choice in weapons, but you’ll have to read “The Reluctant” to find out why, and I also liked the dialogue between Tom and the sheriff. Splitter’s characters are memorable, and seem like people you’d actually run into somewhere, sometime. Jenny, Tom’s wife, is one character I hope gets more say in “The Willing,” because I liked her spunky attitude.
This book is adventurous, has plenty of intrigue, and leaves the reader wanting more, so I’m looking forward to “The Willing,” yet it also addresses the dangerous allure of forbidden desire and how desperation for money can lead a person to stray far away from what’s right. It’s possible Tom Crayder learned to tolerate a lighter shade of gray by the end of “The Reluctant.” I shall soon see…
January 3, 2012
Title: The Reluctant (Crayder Chronicles #1)
Author: C.S. Splitter
Genre: Action/Suspense/Thriller
This is another first time author for me C.S. Splitter writing is first rate, the character descriptions were nicely done and his word flowed smoothly. The plot was easy to follow and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. C.S. Splitter next book in this series is The Willing: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13..., and I am definitely going to purchase it so I can see what happens next in the (Crayder Chronicles #2) .
Tom Crayder is a happily married man, son in college, wife’s works hard to help make ends meet you would say the all American family. To keep up with the payments on the house, bills and his plane Tom takes on small jobs from the head of the local biker’s gang. Tom and Jake have a deal that he will delivery small packages and sometimes people but never drugs, Tom doesn’t ask and Jake doesn’t tell what’s in the packages or who the people are. This relationship works out well for both of them and Tom is paid for his time. Tom is a calm and relatively reliable man and gets along with everyone he appears to be a mans man. As a hobby or stress reliever Tom sometimes heads over to the gun range and practices shooting, there he meets a woman who he in visions taking to a hotel for you all a quick romp in the hay let’s say. But nothing ever turns out the way Tom expects or even imagines in his head. This story is full of suspense, murder, and truly some funny situations that somehow Tom seems to think fast and work calmly through.
Now for the reason I thought this wasn’t my type of book is because it all done from the POV of the main character Tom Crayder so to say it’s written with a man’s perspective is true but it worked out well and I actually enjoyed it more then I imagined. Once I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down. I will follow C.S Splitters writing and try to keep up with this series. It was truly a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspense, murder, mystery, and a bit of a laugh. It is quite a fascinating how Tom ends up in these situations and how he seems to work calmly and think fast through it all.
Author: C.S. Splitter
Genre: Action/Suspense/Thriller
This is another first time author for me C.S. Splitter writing is first rate, the character descriptions were nicely done and his word flowed smoothly. The plot was easy to follow and I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. C.S. Splitter next book in this series is The Willing: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13..., and I am definitely going to purchase it so I can see what happens next in the (Crayder Chronicles #2) .
Tom Crayder is a happily married man, son in college, wife’s works hard to help make ends meet you would say the all American family. To keep up with the payments on the house, bills and his plane Tom takes on small jobs from the head of the local biker’s gang. Tom and Jake have a deal that he will delivery small packages and sometimes people but never drugs, Tom doesn’t ask and Jake doesn’t tell what’s in the packages or who the people are. This relationship works out well for both of them and Tom is paid for his time. Tom is a calm and relatively reliable man and gets along with everyone he appears to be a mans man. As a hobby or stress reliever Tom sometimes heads over to the gun range and practices shooting, there he meets a woman who he in visions taking to a hotel for you all a quick romp in the hay let’s say. But nothing ever turns out the way Tom expects or even imagines in his head. This story is full of suspense, murder, and truly some funny situations that somehow Tom seems to think fast and work calmly through.
Now for the reason I thought this wasn’t my type of book is because it all done from the POV of the main character Tom Crayder so to say it’s written with a man’s perspective is true but it worked out well and I actually enjoyed it more then I imagined. Once I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down. I will follow C.S Splitters writing and try to keep up with this series. It was truly a good book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes suspense, murder, mystery, and a bit of a laugh. It is quite a fascinating how Tom ends up in these situations and how he seems to work calmly and think fast through it all.
July 25, 2011
Well-written, great plot, with some unexpected twists. The Reluctant is the first in what promises to be a series of novels about Tom Crayder, a pretty much average, generally well-intentioned guy who is as prone to making ill-advised decisions as the next person. His great joy in life is flying, so he buys a plane. He can’t really afford the loan on the plane, so he takes on some questionable work for a rather shady “contact” to help him make the payments. Things, as you might predict, kind of snowball from there.
It has to be said that the central character annoyed the hell out of me for probably the first half of the book! Seemed like the poor guy couldn’t go half a page without causing the hackles of my inner feminist to rise for one reason or another, but he's a pretty accurate rendering of (some examples of) the male of the species, and is proof positive that you don’t have to actually like a book’s protagonist in order to enjoy reading it. That said, as the story developed, my initial feeling of ambivalence-bordering-on-outright-dislike towards our main man Crayder began to change. He’s the kind of guy that just grows on you after a bit once you get used to his “ways”. I’m sure he would put this thawing on my part down to his having a pilot’s license and otherwise being downright irresistible to women, but I prefer to attribute it to the author’s skills as a writer!
Splitter has created a character full of potential in Crayder, and this debut novel sets the stage for further mishaps and adventures. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment.
It has to be said that the central character annoyed the hell out of me for probably the first half of the book! Seemed like the poor guy couldn’t go half a page without causing the hackles of my inner feminist to rise for one reason or another, but he's a pretty accurate rendering of (some examples of) the male of the species, and is proof positive that you don’t have to actually like a book’s protagonist in order to enjoy reading it. That said, as the story developed, my initial feeling of ambivalence-bordering-on-outright-dislike towards our main man Crayder began to change. He’s the kind of guy that just grows on you after a bit once you get used to his “ways”. I’m sure he would put this thawing on my part down to his having a pilot’s license and otherwise being downright irresistible to women, but I prefer to attribute it to the author’s skills as a writer!
Splitter has created a character full of potential in Crayder, and this debut novel sets the stage for further mishaps and adventures. I’ll be looking forward to the next installment.
July 21, 2011
Tom Crayder is an average man – he has a happy marriage, a son in college and runs his own business. He is also a pilot, and when business is slow he takes offers from an acquaintance named Jake, who has his deliver packages and transport people here and there. Tom recently met a woman named Lorena while on the shooting range and has been carrying on a mild flirtation with her – one day it starts to turn serious, and he agrees to go to her home and take her for an airplane ride, and … he would see where it went. When he arrives, he sees a note on the door that she is in the shower and he should let himself in – and then hears her screaming. He finds her in her bedroom, being held at gunpoint by a strung-out looking man – and ends up shooting the man. Things just keep getting hairier from there.
A thrilling book, “The Reluctant” reminds me why I like suspense and thriller novels. Splitter has created a compelling and interesting character in Tom Crayder, and taken care to make the story interesting and well-written. I was impressed by the smoothness of the plotting – the story just rolled along in such a natural way that it was truly a joy to read. I highly recommend this book for fans of thrillers and suspense, or just a good novel. There are plenty of twists and turns and surprises throughout the book to keep you guessing!
A thrilling book, “The Reluctant” reminds me why I like suspense and thriller novels. Splitter has created a compelling and interesting character in Tom Crayder, and taken care to make the story interesting and well-written. I was impressed by the smoothness of the plotting – the story just rolled along in such a natural way that it was truly a joy to read. I highly recommend this book for fans of thrillers and suspense, or just a good novel. There are plenty of twists and turns and surprises throughout the book to keep you guessing!
August 1, 2011
Let me start of by saying that this book is not my normal reading material.
I'm 99% paranormal but after having some interaction with C.S. Splitter in an online group, I decided to go ahead and buy it.
Why you ask?
Because he cracks me up on a regular basis and I thought that if his writing style was anything like his personality, I would not regret the buy.
Did I?
Nope!
The Reluctant showcased some of his own quick wit and self deprecating humor with the main character Tom Crayder.
This book was not only a fun read but an intriguing and interesting read as well.
C.S. lures you into the story with humor and then hooks you with unforeseen bombshells and twists.
As if that were not enough, he leaves you with a cliffhanger and begging for more.
If you are a fan of mystery and suspense, you will LOVE this book.
And even if you are like me and this isn't your normal genre, check it out.
I don't think you will regret it!
I'm 99% paranormal but after having some interaction with C.S. Splitter in an online group, I decided to go ahead and buy it.
Why you ask?
Because he cracks me up on a regular basis and I thought that if his writing style was anything like his personality, I would not regret the buy.
Did I?
Nope!
The Reluctant showcased some of his own quick wit and self deprecating humor with the main character Tom Crayder.
This book was not only a fun read but an intriguing and interesting read as well.
C.S. lures you into the story with humor and then hooks you with unforeseen bombshells and twists.
As if that were not enough, he leaves you with a cliffhanger and begging for more.
If you are a fan of mystery and suspense, you will LOVE this book.
And even if you are like me and this isn't your normal genre, check it out.
I don't think you will regret it!
August 9, 2011
Ladies and Gentlemen buckle up, put your seat backs in their upright positions, and prepare to take flight! C.S. Splitter's debut novel, The Reluctant, is going to take you on one thrilling ride. A ride with twists and turns on every page. One that, when you're finished, you'll beg to ride again.
First person narrative is tricky to say the least. The main character has to be one that every reader can relate to. The descriptions given by the character have to be vivid, as if the reader is seeing them with their own eyes. The most important aspect, I feel, is that the story has to be believable. You have to feel like if roles were reversed you could see yourself in their shoes. Splitter has accomplished all this and more. He's created this story that has a realistic quality, but still has that little bit of fantasy and mystery we all desire in our lives.
Tom Crayder is the main character of the story. He's a guy we can all relate with these days. He is a pilot that charters his own plane, nothing fancy, but it gets you where you need to go. This job may be his dream, but right now it's not paying the bills. With the current economy his charters are less and less, and he's stretched out his and his wife's incomes to cover a mortgage that would make the best of us a little cranky. This puts a lot more than stress on his life and his marriage. Crayder, like many of us, starts thinking that maybe the grass is greener on the other side. So, he resorts to odd and end jobs, some would say aren't exactly legal, from Jake, the head of the local biker "gang". These jobs seem to add the income, but more they add that sense of adventure that Crayder feels is missing from his "cool, sexy pilot" image. Then enters the enticing Lorena, who is more than a little easy on the eyes "if you liked that over thirty and well preserved look." In Lorena, Crayder finds not only a hell of a shot, but a willing flirt. There are a series of other strong characters that round out Splitter's cast and add even more depth to the many twists and turns in the story so that it hooks you from page one, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end.
So what do we have readers? A well written book that has believable characters and a story line that keeps you on the edge until the end. What more could I ask for? Except for it to continue! I really enjoyed this book. I felt like I was watching a new television pilot and now I can't wait for the series.
~Kiki
(PS - I did follow the author's suggestion and read chapter 5 first)
First person narrative is tricky to say the least. The main character has to be one that every reader can relate to. The descriptions given by the character have to be vivid, as if the reader is seeing them with their own eyes. The most important aspect, I feel, is that the story has to be believable. You have to feel like if roles were reversed you could see yourself in their shoes. Splitter has accomplished all this and more. He's created this story that has a realistic quality, but still has that little bit of fantasy and mystery we all desire in our lives.
Tom Crayder is the main character of the story. He's a guy we can all relate with these days. He is a pilot that charters his own plane, nothing fancy, but it gets you where you need to go. This job may be his dream, but right now it's not paying the bills. With the current economy his charters are less and less, and he's stretched out his and his wife's incomes to cover a mortgage that would make the best of us a little cranky. This puts a lot more than stress on his life and his marriage. Crayder, like many of us, starts thinking that maybe the grass is greener on the other side. So, he resorts to odd and end jobs, some would say aren't exactly legal, from Jake, the head of the local biker "gang". These jobs seem to add the income, but more they add that sense of adventure that Crayder feels is missing from his "cool, sexy pilot" image. Then enters the enticing Lorena, who is more than a little easy on the eyes "if you liked that over thirty and well preserved look." In Lorena, Crayder finds not only a hell of a shot, but a willing flirt. There are a series of other strong characters that round out Splitter's cast and add even more depth to the many twists and turns in the story so that it hooks you from page one, and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the end.
So what do we have readers? A well written book that has believable characters and a story line that keeps you on the edge until the end. What more could I ask for? Except for it to continue! I really enjoyed this book. I felt like I was watching a new television pilot and now I can't wait for the series.
~Kiki
(PS - I did follow the author's suggestion and read chapter 5 first)
July 2, 2011
Tom Crayder is a happily (for the most part) married man who is just looking to rake in some extra cash to pay off his massively large debt. To do this, he loans out his services as a private pilot (he owns his own plane - thus the massively large debt) to the local crime boss. His main stipulation is that he will not transfer drugs; anything else is free game.
The author, C.S. Splitter, did an awesome job of bringing his main character, Tom Crayder, to life. He is just a normal guy trying his best to get by, dealing with the same stresses and worries as the rest of us. In the first of the Crayder Chronicles, Tom's moral compass and values are challenged and we follow him as he tries to distinguish right from wrong all the while falling deeper into the mess that has become his life.
***** I really enjoyed C.S. Splitter's debut novel, The Reluctant! I found myself getting caught within the story, and Splitter was forever surprising me with each turn of the page. The book's synopsis does not do this novel of action, suspense and mystery justice. Even though I may not have agreed with a lot of the decisions that he made, or contemplated making, Tom quickly became someone that I knew I could like in real life.
There were some unexpected twists thrown in that one might think would muddle the overall plot but I am happy to report that wasn't the case with this novel. I also learned a lot about flying and the ins and outs of being a pilot. Splitter did a great job of encompassing bits of useful information within his story that helped me to understand the experience of flying in greater depth and detail.
My one complaint is that the author waited until some where around 60% into the book to really throw in the punches with a major plot addition. But that's nothing that would allow for anything less than a rating of 5 and, in fact, made me want to read the book faster so I could find out what was going to happen to Tom.
This debut novel has something for everyone- murder, mystery, intrigue, humor, romance, justice... You name it, it's got it!
I can't wait until the second Crayder Chronicles is published!
*Note: I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://historicallyyoursbookreviews.b...
The author, C.S. Splitter, did an awesome job of bringing his main character, Tom Crayder, to life. He is just a normal guy trying his best to get by, dealing with the same stresses and worries as the rest of us. In the first of the Crayder Chronicles, Tom's moral compass and values are challenged and we follow him as he tries to distinguish right from wrong all the while falling deeper into the mess that has become his life.
***** I really enjoyed C.S. Splitter's debut novel, The Reluctant! I found myself getting caught within the story, and Splitter was forever surprising me with each turn of the page. The book's synopsis does not do this novel of action, suspense and mystery justice. Even though I may not have agreed with a lot of the decisions that he made, or contemplated making, Tom quickly became someone that I knew I could like in real life.
There were some unexpected twists thrown in that one might think would muddle the overall plot but I am happy to report that wasn't the case with this novel. I also learned a lot about flying and the ins and outs of being a pilot. Splitter did a great job of encompassing bits of useful information within his story that helped me to understand the experience of flying in greater depth and detail.
My one complaint is that the author waited until some where around 60% into the book to really throw in the punches with a major plot addition. But that's nothing that would allow for anything less than a rating of 5 and, in fact, made me want to read the book faster so I could find out what was going to happen to Tom.
This debut novel has something for everyone- murder, mystery, intrigue, humor, romance, justice... You name it, it's got it!
I can't wait until the second Crayder Chronicles is published!
*Note: I received an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://historicallyyoursbookreviews.b...
March 6, 2012
my rating 3.5 The Reluctant by C.S. Splitter is the first book in the Crayder Chronicles. This adult-fiction offers suspense, mystery and murder delivered with a touch of humor. I enjoyed this easy flowing read and finished it in just a few hours. It isn’t often that I read a book from a male point of view and I found it to be refreshing.
The tale is told from the POV of our protagonist Tom Crayder. A middle aged, married man, whose wife Jenny works too much as they struggle to make ends meet. Jenny is clueless about Tom’s need for adventure and his straying eyes. Tom’s pride and joy is his plane. In order to keep up the payments on the plane, he begins accept jobs from the head of a biker gang. Tom’s never broken the law, accept maybe for a few speeding tickets but his work with Jake is questionable. Tom’s only rule..No drugs. This arrangement works well for them.
Tom’s other hobby is the shooting range and he goes there to decompress. He meets a young woman named Lorena and imagines taking her to a seedy hotel for a good time. Despite being a fairly calm and level headed guy, the tale that unfolds finds Tom in some risky situations. Thanks to his encounter with Lorena he finds himself dealing with life and death situations. The tale is action packed and full of suspense, murder and surprising twists. I found Tom to be witty and level headed and I realize he’s not really a bad guy; he just makes really stupid choices. I am not a fan of men and women who are unfaithful and this aspect turned me off….but admittedly it makes for a good story. Having said that Tom loves Jenny and I think this is more of a mid-life crisis. Lorena is the typical other woman and she casts quite a spell on Tom.
Splitter’s writing style is smooth and the tale is easy to read. I enjoyed the story and will continue on with the series. I recommend this to fans of suspense and mystery. The Reluctant is currently available in eBook format. The second book in this series is also available entitled The Willing.
The tale is told from the POV of our protagonist Tom Crayder. A middle aged, married man, whose wife Jenny works too much as they struggle to make ends meet. Jenny is clueless about Tom’s need for adventure and his straying eyes. Tom’s pride and joy is his plane. In order to keep up the payments on the plane, he begins accept jobs from the head of a biker gang. Tom’s never broken the law, accept maybe for a few speeding tickets but his work with Jake is questionable. Tom’s only rule..No drugs. This arrangement works well for them.
Tom’s other hobby is the shooting range and he goes there to decompress. He meets a young woman named Lorena and imagines taking her to a seedy hotel for a good time. Despite being a fairly calm and level headed guy, the tale that unfolds finds Tom in some risky situations. Thanks to his encounter with Lorena he finds himself dealing with life and death situations. The tale is action packed and full of suspense, murder and surprising twists. I found Tom to be witty and level headed and I realize he’s not really a bad guy; he just makes really stupid choices. I am not a fan of men and women who are unfaithful and this aspect turned me off….but admittedly it makes for a good story. Having said that Tom loves Jenny and I think this is more of a mid-life crisis. Lorena is the typical other woman and she casts quite a spell on Tom.
Splitter’s writing style is smooth and the tale is easy to read. I enjoyed the story and will continue on with the series. I recommend this to fans of suspense and mystery. The Reluctant is currently available in eBook format. The second book in this series is also available entitled The Willing.
January 18, 2012
If you enjoy fantastic, quick-paced storytelling, complete with realistic details, self-deprecating internal commentary and an anti-hero who is real guy, then you will love this book. The descriptions of the situations, an unusual amount of realistic and orienting detail make the reader feel as though they're right next to Tom throughout the story. The writing itself is concise, but exceptionally well done, and the characters are very real.
Although the action/adventure isn't usually my cup of tea, it was written so compellingly, that it was difficult not to enjoy. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is a personal qualm with one of Tom's character flaws that aggravated me enough to make me not like him, but for others, he could easily be a character that you love to hate for those same flaws. As I considered my original 3 star review, I realized my only real issue with the story was disliking the main character (which is sort of a deal breaker for me, I'm afraid, but don't let it dissuade you, Harry Dresden rubs me wrong in a similar way). The writing itself, the storytelling, the plot--they're all first class. It's certainly worth a read, and worth looking for the next one, just to see if the opinion sticks.
Although the action/adventure isn't usually my cup of tea, it was written so compellingly, that it was difficult not to enjoy. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is a personal qualm with one of Tom's character flaws that aggravated me enough to make me not like him, but for others, he could easily be a character that you love to hate for those same flaws. As I considered my original 3 star review, I realized my only real issue with the story was disliking the main character (which is sort of a deal breaker for me, I'm afraid, but don't let it dissuade you, Harry Dresden rubs me wrong in a similar way). The writing itself, the storytelling, the plot--they're all first class. It's certainly worth a read, and worth looking for the next one, just to see if the opinion sticks.
March 26, 2012
Tom Crayder is a happily married businessman who’d rather be flying. So whenever he gets the chance to make a few bucks under the table by flying clients around, he jumps at the opportunity. Things begin to spin out of hand when one job crashes… er, forcibly lands him in the field of an unhappy farmer. Then Lorena, a mysterious beauty, enters his life to complicate things further, and his week starts to get a little too interesting.
Things I liked: well-written, well-edited, sparkling humour. Plus hearing Tom’s mind talk.
Things I didn’t like: Hearing Tom’s mind talk! Sometimes I wanted to tell him, “Tom, seriously, shut up.” But that’s what was great about the story. Even when I really didn’t want to know what he was thinking, Tom has his own character.
I gave this a 3.5, but would’ve given this a solid 4, except for the decision Tom made about Lorena before visiting her. That really threw me. It seemed so out of character and bugged me a lot. Of course, that could just be me. Tom Crayder reminds me of a kinder, gentler and more overweight version of Donovan Creed.
Things I liked: well-written, well-edited, sparkling humour. Plus hearing Tom’s mind talk.
Things I didn’t like: Hearing Tom’s mind talk! Sometimes I wanted to tell him, “Tom, seriously, shut up.” But that’s what was great about the story. Even when I really didn’t want to know what he was thinking, Tom has his own character.
I gave this a 3.5, but would’ve given this a solid 4, except for the decision Tom made about Lorena before visiting her. That really threw me. It seemed so out of character and bugged me a lot. Of course, that could just be me. Tom Crayder reminds me of a kinder, gentler and more overweight version of Donovan Creed.
May 30, 2012
C.S. Splitter writes a face paced thriller. There is a lot of detail on flying here that I found interesting. for the ladies, he does offer an insight into the way we males think. There is a lot here that a guy can identify with, writing style, world view, what we would like ladies to be like. He does avoid having his lead character, Tom Crayder, engage in the impossible physical stunts many other thriller writers seem to insert into a story. I found the first 75% of the novel to be pretty enjoyable. the last 25%, which I think sets up the series, is less believable. But, this is a fun read if you like the genre. the book is pretty well edited, avoiding most of the mistakes rampant in self published work. While I haven't decided if I will continue the series, I think it is worth a visit to sample his writing.
January 9, 2012
In Tom Crayder author C. S. Splitter has created an interesting, multi-faceted and thoroughly engaging protagonist. Tom is braver than most, calmer in crises than most and all in all a good guy. At the same time, he is prone to the temptations of money, women and general ego gratification. One of his best traits is that he is aware of, and tries to resist, these temptations, not always successfully. I also like his sardonic and self-deprecating humor. The choices he makes in the face of temptation propel the complex and exciting plot of The Reluctant. If you like thrillers, you’ve got to love this one. I look forward to the further Crayder Chronicles.
June 28, 2012
The Relucant is a deceiving book. It starts out looking like an action-adventure story that could continue in that vein, or possibly take a turn and become a cautionary tale with the protagonist’s life spiraling out of control based on arguably questionable decisions. Instead, it does something different. Or maybe not. How the decisions the protagonist, Tom, makes in this book will play out in the future aren’t entirely clear. But at least in this book, they lead to more action-adventure and many tension filled moments.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
August 10, 2011
I thought this book was interesting. I had read a couple of other reviews on this and I kept thinking some bomb was going to drop somewhere in the story line. I was surprised how Tom (main character) went from a aiding and abetting position to doing true crime himself. I thought the author's writing style was good and that he was funny. I especially liked the part where he referenced Chevy Chase. I think I may have actually laughed out loud. I don't watch westerns so those references went right over my head. I believe that I would read the next Craydon book when it comes out..
December 24, 2011
3 and 1/2 stars.
I'm not going to be as effusive with my praise of this novel as some of the other reviewers have been.
Overall a good and interesting story, with action, adventure and a bit of humor. I like the twist with Lorena.
My only true criticism is that there is way too much info about flying contained herein. Stuff about flaps and air currents and things like that that only another pilot would care about.
I did enjoy this story and would be interested to read more of the adventures of Tom Crayder.
I'm not going to be as effusive with my praise of this novel as some of the other reviewers have been.
Overall a good and interesting story, with action, adventure and a bit of humor. I like the twist with Lorena.
My only true criticism is that there is way too much info about flying contained herein. Stuff about flaps and air currents and things like that that only another pilot would care about.
I did enjoy this story and would be interested to read more of the adventures of Tom Crayder.
December 19, 2011
A great book and an easy read.
C.S. Splitter creates very believable characters and dialog and that is the number one reason why I was able to get into this book so easily and devour it so quickly.
In fact, after finishing this book I was craving more and jumped into the next one (The Willing) within a matter of days.
The action scenes are well done and at times very intense, the humor is well placed and actually caused flashbacks to conversations of my youth.
I recommend this book (and series) to anyone who wants a good fun romp.
C.S. Splitter creates very believable characters and dialog and that is the number one reason why I was able to get into this book so easily and devour it so quickly.
In fact, after finishing this book I was craving more and jumped into the next one (The Willing) within a matter of days.
The action scenes are well done and at times very intense, the humor is well placed and actually caused flashbacks to conversations of my youth.
I recommend this book (and series) to anyone who wants a good fun romp.
February 14, 2012
This book is a very easy read. I love reading books such as this that keep me on the edge of my seat wanting more. Tom is a character who just doesn't seem to know how to keep himself out of trouble. Although I didn't like Lorena at first for luring Tom in, I quickly began to fall in love with her just as she showed how strong of a person she is. I will definetely be recommending this to my fellow book lovers!
December 3, 2011
I read Book 2 first, so I already know what to expect. I love Tom’s voice and humor and am enjoying my a-ha moments (like “A-ha, this his why in The Willing he…”). Yeah, I don’t have a problem with spoilers! ;-) So I know I’m going to enjoy this ride and recommend the title along with its sequel...
I suggested a pilot friend to try it, and he thanked me after reading the first 2 pages... we'll see if I lose him by the time he gets to the end of the book! ;-)
I suggested a pilot friend to try it, and he thanked me after reading the first 2 pages... we'll see if I lose him by the time he gets to the end of the book! ;-)
April 1, 2012
An interesting twist on the thriller genre. I am intrigued enough to keep reading the series but was turned off by language and adult content. A little bit goes a long way.
May 27, 2012
What a delightful romp - part 'Date Night' meets Harlan Coben. The perfect thing to gobble down in one greedy gulp on a sunny Sunday in the garden.
June 27, 2025
I love a good smartass. That’s probably why I married my wife. It’s also probably why I dug the hell out of The Reluctant by C.S. Splitter. In fact, I thought so much of it I pestered Splitter until he agreed to sit down for an interview about his work . The Reluctant is the first in a series called The Crayder Chronicles about—brace yourselves—a guy named Tom Crayder. Who would have thought, right? I’m not exactly what genre to put it in—it’s not really a Mystery, and it’s kind of a Thriller, but I’m just going to call it a Crime story and leave it at that.
Genres aside, what really sets the novel apart is the narrative style and voice. As you might have guessed already, the narrator (which would be Tom Crayder, as it’s first person) is a wise-acre of the first order. He’s got more jokes than a stand up comedian, but they never get in the way of the telling of the story. At times tongue-in-cheek, at others hard as nails, it reminds me a lot of Donald E. Westlake, the master of the humorous crime-caper.
As far as the plot goes, it’s something that’s been done before, but Splitter throws enough twists in there to make it his own. It starts out with a bang. Or rather, a crash—I mean, forced landing. Crayder’s consulting business has hit a slow patch recently, and in order to make ends meet he’s taken a couple under the table jobs ferrying men and cash in his Cesna C-180 for a local “businessman” he happens to be friends with. Of course it’s all strictly illegal, so when his plane’s engine conks out in mid-flight, the “forced landing” isn’t the only fancy flying he has to do. He also has to hide his criminal involvement from local law enforcement, weather an FAA investigation, and—perhaps most harrowing of all—make up with his wife for not coming home on time. All of this catches the eye of some very interesting people. After a little test (which involves rescuing a damsel in distress and disposing the dead body that results from said rescue), he is propositioned by an organization that specializes in making up where normal law enforcement drops the ball—or, as the folks at home might recognize it, vigilante justice.
The idea is that Crayder seems to be constantly walking the line in some way or another—with his consulting business, with his airplane gigs on the side, with his marriage—but in the end he’s actually a decent-hearted person. All that line-walking and heart-in-the-right-place stuff turns out to be the perfect combination for a vigilante hit man. Splitter does a good job of illustrating these themes and the moral quandaries they present while keeping the mood light, and that alone takes some talent to do.
Now, if there’s something that could be improved upon (and you knew I was going to point it out if there was), it would have to be a minor structural element that just… got to me. About five chapters into the novel there’s a flashback which explains a little bit of Crayder’s business and why he was on the extra-curricular trip in his plane when it went down. It’s not very long, and before you know it we’re back in business and on with the story. Being the over-analyzing SoB that I am, I can’t help feeling like the flashback was an unnecessary inclusion. The same objective could have been accomplished through a phone call or something like that after the crash, and the use of the flashback felt a little jarring given the rest of the narrative stream. But only a little. And really, if this is the only thing I have to bitch about with the book, it’s got to be pretty damn good, don’t you think? Major props should go to Splitter’s editor as I noticed only one typo in the entire novel. When it comes to self-published fiction (I think that’s what this is, though I’m not exactly sure) that’s kind of like seeing only one piece of trash on the side of the highway in New Jersey—amazing to the point of being miraculous. I give The Reluctant by C.S. Splitter four stars.
Genres aside, what really sets the novel apart is the narrative style and voice. As you might have guessed already, the narrator (which would be Tom Crayder, as it’s first person) is a wise-acre of the first order. He’s got more jokes than a stand up comedian, but they never get in the way of the telling of the story. At times tongue-in-cheek, at others hard as nails, it reminds me a lot of Donald E. Westlake, the master of the humorous crime-caper.
As far as the plot goes, it’s something that’s been done before, but Splitter throws enough twists in there to make it his own. It starts out with a bang. Or rather, a crash—I mean, forced landing. Crayder’s consulting business has hit a slow patch recently, and in order to make ends meet he’s taken a couple under the table jobs ferrying men and cash in his Cesna C-180 for a local “businessman” he happens to be friends with. Of course it’s all strictly illegal, so when his plane’s engine conks out in mid-flight, the “forced landing” isn’t the only fancy flying he has to do. He also has to hide his criminal involvement from local law enforcement, weather an FAA investigation, and—perhaps most harrowing of all—make up with his wife for not coming home on time. All of this catches the eye of some very interesting people. After a little test (which involves rescuing a damsel in distress and disposing the dead body that results from said rescue), he is propositioned by an organization that specializes in making up where normal law enforcement drops the ball—or, as the folks at home might recognize it, vigilante justice.
The idea is that Crayder seems to be constantly walking the line in some way or another—with his consulting business, with his airplane gigs on the side, with his marriage—but in the end he’s actually a decent-hearted person. All that line-walking and heart-in-the-right-place stuff turns out to be the perfect combination for a vigilante hit man. Splitter does a good job of illustrating these themes and the moral quandaries they present while keeping the mood light, and that alone takes some talent to do.
Now, if there’s something that could be improved upon (and you knew I was going to point it out if there was), it would have to be a minor structural element that just… got to me. About five chapters into the novel there’s a flashback which explains a little bit of Crayder’s business and why he was on the extra-curricular trip in his plane when it went down. It’s not very long, and before you know it we’re back in business and on with the story. Being the over-analyzing SoB that I am, I can’t help feeling like the flashback was an unnecessary inclusion. The same objective could have been accomplished through a phone call or something like that after the crash, and the use of the flashback felt a little jarring given the rest of the narrative stream. But only a little. And really, if this is the only thing I have to bitch about with the book, it’s got to be pretty damn good, don’t you think? Major props should go to Splitter’s editor as I noticed only one typo in the entire novel. When it comes to self-published fiction (I think that’s what this is, though I’m not exactly sure) that’s kind of like seeing only one piece of trash on the side of the highway in New Jersey—amazing to the point of being miraculous. I give The Reluctant by C.S. Splitter four stars.
February 23, 2014
You've heard the term "food porn?" If not, it's gratuitous pictures and descriptions of food. This book could best be termed as "pilot porn."
Seriously. I don't care in the least to know the minute details of how to fly and land a plane. I don't care. At all. If you took out all the gratuitous descriptions of flying a plane, you'd probably be left with about 50 pages of actual action.
The story was alright, but I had a hard time liking any of the characters, especially the main one. I wouldn't read any more of these at all.
Seriously. I don't care in the least to know the minute details of how to fly and land a plane. I don't care. At all. If you took out all the gratuitous descriptions of flying a plane, you'd probably be left with about 50 pages of actual action.
The story was alright, but I had a hard time liking any of the characters, especially the main one. I wouldn't read any more of these at all.
August 17, 2014
a little heavy on the aviation details
February 7, 2017
Quick and easy , interesting read . Took unexpected twists and turns that really keep me turning the pages . Loved the characters !
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