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John Harding: Hard Case #1
Hard Case
A young teen boy in Leavittsburg, Ohio grew up mean. He ran away from his alcoholic father at the age of fourteen. An old man in Texas takes an interest in him, helping the runaway get a new identity. The boy becomes John Harding.
Harding joins the Marine Corps with his new identity, looking for a chance to get an education and start over. While in special ops overseas, he’s recruited by a CIA agent who sees something in Harding besides his knack for languages and combat skill. Denny Strobert knows he’s found a killer.
HARDCASE begins in a back alley warehouse in East Oakland, CA, where Harding fights for money, and to keep his skills honed, coupled with the fact he likes it. Harding does odd jobs with the only guy he trusts implicitly, his handler and manager, Tommy Sands. They bodyguard, escort tourists around the Bay Area, and do bail bond, skip trace work for a lawyer named Tess Connagher.
Tess Connagher, both fascinated and repulsed by Harding, cannot stay away from him. She rapidly finds out Harding is not some East Oakland leg-breaker, and being around him can be very dangerous, whether you’re his friend or his enemy. She makes a couple of serious errors in judgment - Tess thinks she can control Harding, and she uses him to help Lora, her older sister.
Harding joins the Marine Corps with his new identity, looking for a chance to get an education and start over. While in special ops overseas, he’s recruited by a CIA agent who sees something in Harding besides his knack for languages and combat skill. Denny Strobert knows he’s found a killer.
HARDCASE begins in a back alley warehouse in East Oakland, CA, where Harding fights for money, and to keep his skills honed, coupled with the fact he likes it. Harding does odd jobs with the only guy he trusts implicitly, his handler and manager, Tommy Sands. They bodyguard, escort tourists around the Bay Area, and do bail bond, skip trace work for a lawyer named Tess Connagher.
Tess Connagher, both fascinated and repulsed by Harding, cannot stay away from him. She rapidly finds out Harding is not some East Oakland leg-breaker, and being around him can be very dangerous, whether you’re his friend or his enemy. She makes a couple of serious errors in judgment - Tess thinks she can control Harding, and she uses him to help Lora, her older sister.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 16, 2012
334 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Lee DeLeo
111 books92 followersBorn and raised in Warren, Ohio, Mr. DeLeo writes Pulp Fiction in many genres. Seventy of his novels are available on the Amazon marketplace and are free for Kindle Unlimited members. He served aboard the USS Ranger (CVA61) from 1969 until November of 1972. After the Navy, he earned an AA degree in Auto Technology from Chabot College in Hayward, CA, and a BA degree in English from Cal State Hayward.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
January 19, 2014
I was made aware of this book, the first in a series featuring former Marine Corps special ops guy turned freelancer and extreme cage fighter John Harding, through an Amazon.com offer to download it for 99 cents. I'm not even sure why I took a closer look, except it was the first in a series, so if I liked it, I'd be able to look forward to more; and, I liked that it had earned an average of 4-1/2 stars from 76 reviewers. The clincher, though, was learning that Harding spent his teenage years in Leavittsburg, Ohio.
Say what? Leavittsburg is a very small community of a couple of thousand residents along the Mahoning River in Trumbull County not many miles from my home - and it's so small that it's unlikely anyone would mention it in a book unless he or she were familiar with it. So I did a little sleuthing of my own; I didn't unearth much except that the author at one time attended the now-closed Western Reserve High School in nearby Warren, Ohio, and thus Leavittsburg would have been almost in his back yard. But that was enough for me to say what the heck? It was less than a buck, and I was intrigued.
And now that I've finished it, I'm hooked.
Harding, it seems, ran away from his Leavittsburg home and an extremely abusive father at age 14; with a little age adjustment, he got into military service, where he performed spectacularly and learned several languages. Subsequently, he's recruited by a CIA agent to take on special projects that must remain under the government radar - most of which involve utilizing his special skills and killing bad guys. To supplement that income and satisfy his need for violence, he earns money as an extreme cage fighter and takes on odd jobs doing bodyguard and skip trace work for his manager.
Along the way, Harding manages to knock the stuffing out of an extreme fighter backed by the Russian mob, thus putting himself in their crosshairs. At the same time, he's recruited to protect a young Afghani woman he knew as a child when he was doing military service there - now grown, she's come to America to speak out against the atrocities happening back at home. Helping Harding with the latter task is lawyer and love interest Tess Connagher (it's her law firm that was directed to hire Harding to protect the Afghani woman).
Since there are two more books in the series that I know of - Hard Case - The Lure of Hell and Hard Case - Voyage of the Damned - it's clear from the beginning of this one that Harding will survive. And given his background and occupation, it's also clear there'll be no shortage of knock-down, drag-out fights in this book. In fact, those events are pretty much ongoing - moving from action in the field to action in a cage. People get killed right and left (but, as Harding points out, he doesn't kill people who don't deserve it). There's a little romance, a little humor here and there, and the result is that it's really a good book that held my attention all the way to the end. I will caution, though, that it you don't like reading about blood and guts, this probably isn't your style. As for me, bring on the next one!
Say what? Leavittsburg is a very small community of a couple of thousand residents along the Mahoning River in Trumbull County not many miles from my home - and it's so small that it's unlikely anyone would mention it in a book unless he or she were familiar with it. So I did a little sleuthing of my own; I didn't unearth much except that the author at one time attended the now-closed Western Reserve High School in nearby Warren, Ohio, and thus Leavittsburg would have been almost in his back yard. But that was enough for me to say what the heck? It was less than a buck, and I was intrigued.
And now that I've finished it, I'm hooked.
Harding, it seems, ran away from his Leavittsburg home and an extremely abusive father at age 14; with a little age adjustment, he got into military service, where he performed spectacularly and learned several languages. Subsequently, he's recruited by a CIA agent to take on special projects that must remain under the government radar - most of which involve utilizing his special skills and killing bad guys. To supplement that income and satisfy his need for violence, he earns money as an extreme cage fighter and takes on odd jobs doing bodyguard and skip trace work for his manager.
Along the way, Harding manages to knock the stuffing out of an extreme fighter backed by the Russian mob, thus putting himself in their crosshairs. At the same time, he's recruited to protect a young Afghani woman he knew as a child when he was doing military service there - now grown, she's come to America to speak out against the atrocities happening back at home. Helping Harding with the latter task is lawyer and love interest Tess Connagher (it's her law firm that was directed to hire Harding to protect the Afghani woman).
Since there are two more books in the series that I know of - Hard Case - The Lure of Hell and Hard Case - Voyage of the Damned - it's clear from the beginning of this one that Harding will survive. And given his background and occupation, it's also clear there'll be no shortage of knock-down, drag-out fights in this book. In fact, those events are pretty much ongoing - moving from action in the field to action in a cage. People get killed right and left (but, as Harding points out, he doesn't kill people who don't deserve it). There's a little romance, a little humor here and there, and the result is that it's really a good book that held my attention all the way to the end. I will caution, though, that it you don't like reading about blood and guts, this probably isn't your style. As for me, bring on the next one!
May 21, 2013
This is the kind of book they mean when someone says a book is "action packed." Seldom does the main character, John Harding, sit still. Whether fighting brutal bouts in ultimate fighting style arenas, or fighting terrorists or modern day pirates, Harding moves quick and hits harder. He'd be a good friend to have, and a terrible enemy. Of course, he wouldn't be your enemy for long. You'd pretty quickly be dead.
June 4, 2017
The Dark Lord wins! Loved this ebook.
I read this in one setting. It was really good. I highly recommend this one if you have a couple free hours cause you are not gonna want to put it down.
I read this in one setting. It was really good. I highly recommend this one if you have a couple free hours cause you are not gonna want to put it down.
August 7, 2017
Yes, I'm hooked again ! Bernard Lee DeLeo's Characters Rock.
The John Harding Series has me hurrying to finish this review, so I can get to Book #2. More Later as the Series unfolds.
The John Harding Series has me hurrying to finish this review, so I can get to Book #2. More Later as the Series unfolds.
June 20, 2018
3.895 stars. Really enjoyed this book. Is the writing perfect? No, but the man can tell a very compelling story and can write the hell out of characters. I honestly am looking very forward to the rest of series. starting book 2 right after posting this as a matter of fact.
August 14, 2018
No comment . Do the stars...
Dialogue was dreary. Made the big marine sound dopey and this was not a good interpretation of a real marine. I married one and this was not done too good. My opinion only....sorry!!
Dialogue was dreary. Made the big marine sound dopey and this was not a good interpretation of a real marine. I married one and this was not done too good. My opinion only....sorry!!
August 15, 2018
Gets and keeps your attention
Unfortunately half of these types of books are about an ex marine! Finally one with a little depth. This one makes you want to read the next in the series.
Unfortunately half of these types of books are about an ex marine! Finally one with a little depth. This one makes you want to read the next in the series.
October 19, 2018
Freaking good books....
Just am loving these books. They have good humor in them. The characters are unIque and different, Jafar is a neat hero type
Lora is going to be a good wife for The Dark Lord . All the
others are fun to read. about. Thanks , Amarillo Turtle
Just am loving these books. They have good humor in them. The characters are unIque and different, Jafar is a neat hero type
Lora is going to be a good wife for The Dark Lord . All the
others are fun to read. about. Thanks , Amarillo Turtle
August 8, 2019
Great fights awesome
Great book, nice story keep you interested all the way through. Enjoyed the story behind the people in the book. Great fictional story start to finish. John Harding character was great. Awesome.
Great book, nice story keep you interested all the way through. Enjoyed the story behind the people in the book. Great fictional story start to finish. John Harding character was great. Awesome.
April 30, 2020
Just the latest in the long line of action/adventure books I've read. Well-written; keeps moving. Books like this are light and entertaining; good for evening hours when you don't want a lot of weighty thoughts burdening your mind. Helps to pass the time during lockdown, as well.
May 15, 2017
It was all over the place. Hard to follow. 🙄
June 7, 2017
First book of the series by this author I have read. Found it very entertaining and enjoyable. Liked the numerous encounters the character go into and handled. Look forward to additional books.
August 29, 2017
Gr8 Read
This book was an excellent read the whole way through. The characters were excellent and you felt like you knew them, they were well defined. This book is a must read.
This book was an excellent read the whole way through. The characters were excellent and you felt like you knew them, they were well defined. This book is a must read.
October 21, 2017
violent
Good story, not too easy to follow .way to much violence for my taste.. I'll pass on the rest of the series
Good story, not too easy to follow .way to much violence for my taste.. I'll pass on the rest of the series
November 6, 2017
John
I wasn't sure I liked it at first but the more I read the more I liked. I feel the Harding series is gonna be good. Can't wait to read book 2.
I wasn't sure I liked it at first but the more I read the more I liked. I feel the Harding series is gonna be good. Can't wait to read book 2.
November 8, 2017
A new Reacher!
A great start to an assassin series again. This might be better than Nic McCarthy series, will have to wait and see.
A great start to an assassin series again. This might be better than Nic McCarthy series, will have to wait and see.
December 3, 2017
Hard case
Definitely bloodthirsty in every aspect and the ultimate bad boy in the true Clint Eastwood every which way but loose manner. Made Claude van Damme look like a wimp.
Definitely bloodthirsty in every aspect and the ultimate bad boy in the true Clint Eastwood every which way but loose manner. Made Claude van Damme look like a wimp.
December 4, 2017
EXCEPTIONAL!!
January 24, 2018
Really, really great! Well written witty prose. Highly recommend all his books!
February 18, 2018
Captivating
If you liked the Jack Reacher Novels, you will love this series. Suspense, Intrigue, even a little romance thrown in. Could not put it down.
If you liked the Jack Reacher Novels, you will love this series. Suspense, Intrigue, even a little romance thrown in. Could not put it down.
August 11, 2018
Interesting story line,good characters,strong,hard ass leading man
September 1, 2019
Great entertainment
If you like straightforward action without the usual angst of the protagonist, you will probably love this book! Very entertaining and fun.
If you like straightforward action without the usual angst of the protagonist, you will probably love this book! Very entertaining and fun.
November 23, 2019
Another good book in a new series that keeps your attention; neve a dull moment.
October 21, 2018
Interesting character development
I really thought that I was going to hate this book. It took a while to develop any kind of relationship with this character. That being said all of this characters developed and soon enjoyed the flow of the book, though at times things just seemed scattered. I will be reading the next installment of this series.
I really thought that I was going to hate this book. It took a while to develop any kind of relationship with this character. That being said all of this characters developed and soon enjoyed the flow of the book, though at times things just seemed scattered. I will be reading the next installment of this series.
March 6, 2017
Me?
Who starts sentences with "me"? This author does--a lot. So much, in fact, I only kept reading so I could review the poor writing. When writing as the subject, use the subjective case "I." Basic grammar from first grade eludes this author.
Who starts sentences with "me"? This author does--a lot. So much, in fact, I only kept reading so I could review the poor writing. When writing as the subject, use the subjective case "I." Basic grammar from first grade eludes this author.
May 24, 2016
John Harding is another bad-ass fighter, killer, soldier, lover and friend - a force to be reckoned with. If you are a Jack Reacher fan, you will love this book. There is no shortage of action...from fighting in the octagon ring, finding Russian hitmen, protecting a young girl who is the target of many, battling pirates of Somalia and others. John is a normal guy to his friends and an equal opportunity employer for his new business. With the backing of the three-letter secret service groups, John and his team get additional help from the agencies and satellites overhead, which help to equal the odd against an overwhelming force. He is smart, cunning, and somebody to have on your side.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and see that the author has additional books published with other John Harding missions. I'll be sure to look into them. Highly recommended and hard to put down. Great job, Mr. DeLeo!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
and When Can I Stop Running?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and see that the author has additional books published with other John Harding missions. I'll be sure to look into them. Highly recommended and hard to put down. Great job, Mr. DeLeo!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
and When Can I Stop Running?
February 2, 2013
This books fast paced action adventure featuring an alphabet of agencies, Russian Mob, the underworld of cage fighting, some pirates and a romance. John Harding is an ex Marine come black ops and cage fighter, he has a gentler side and plenty of luck comes his way. A loyal man you trust if he has your back you know he will keep his word.
If your into NCIS, Bourne with a 007 element this is for you.
This book does have some typos and grammatical errors but that never distracted me if that would annoy you at least you have a heads up. I'm happy to recommend to all as I loved this book and could not put it down. Can't wait to see if there is another would be fantastic as a film.
If your into NCIS, Bourne with a 007 element this is for you.
This book does have some typos and grammatical errors but that never distracted me if that would annoy you at least you have a heads up. I'm happy to recommend to all as I loved this book and could not put it down. Can't wait to see if there is another would be fantastic as a film.
October 25, 2015
John Harding is multi-talented
I thoroughly enjoyed the Cold Blooded series, so I thought I should give Hard Case a look-see.
John Harding wears many hats. He's a MMA cage fighter, an assassin, a bodyguard, a skip tracer, and a Marine, among others. In this first book, he participates in many varied adventures. He has a large, competent supporting cast.
John didn't steal my heart the way Nick McCarthy did, I suspect because of the violence of the fights. I deducted my usual one star for the many errors, mostly punctuation but several others such as "isle" for "aisle."
I intend to give the second book a shot to see if I want to continue this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed the Cold Blooded series, so I thought I should give Hard Case a look-see.
John Harding wears many hats. He's a MMA cage fighter, an assassin, a bodyguard, a skip tracer, and a Marine, among others. In this first book, he participates in many varied adventures. He has a large, competent supporting cast.
John didn't steal my heart the way Nick McCarthy did, I suspect because of the violence of the fights. I deducted my usual one star for the many errors, mostly punctuation but several others such as "isle" for "aisle."
I intend to give the second book a shot to see if I want to continue this series.
October 18, 2015
After reading the first book in the Rick Cantelli series, I jumped at buying the first in the John Harding series. The beginning was promising, but the further I got into it, the less I liked it. I think my problem with the book is that it didn't seem believable. (I know, it is, after all fiction.) This kind of book usually deals with plans that don't always pan out and may have repercussions to deal with; in this book, there are no flaws and only fairy tale endings. I wanted to love the book, but I just didn't.
June 24, 2015
Great New Series
John Harding is a hero, ex-Marine that loves his country, wife and killing those who deserve it. Sometime CIA assassin, Harding pulls no punches nor plays diplomacy. No holds bard bad ass. Need more of these heroes. Only mistake is the Dexter TV show reference. It isn't a HBO series. it was on Showtime.
John Harding is a hero, ex-Marine that loves his country, wife and killing those who deserve it. Sometime CIA assassin, Harding pulls no punches nor plays diplomacy. No holds bard bad ass. Need more of these heroes. Only mistake is the Dexter TV show reference. It isn't a HBO series. it was on Showtime.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews