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A Miles Stevens Novel #1
Melting Sand
MELTING SAND
A Miles Stevens Novel, #1
MELTING SAND is the first in a series of action/adventure novels featuring Miles Stevens, CIA agent, and his time travel adventures to alter history.
Years of unsuccessful nuclear arms negotiations in the Middle East had finally resulted in warring countries facing off with unthinkable destructive powers. Regional flare-ups had escalated and geopolitical dominoes had tumbled, finally leading to a horrific 48-hour interchange that erased cities and forever changed the world and the region.
The war was already in the history books when Miles Stevens and Terri King were sent 23 years into the past to relive a botched CIA mission -- a mission intended to prevent the 2027 Middle East War. They landed at O’Hare International Airport with no memory of who they were, who they left behind, or why they were there. Their memories were gradually restored by their CIA superiors as they orchestrated Miles' and Terri's mission from their Pentagon offices in the year 2050.
Iranian subversives, acting alone, intent on fueling the war’s progress, had been alerted to the couple's arrival, putting them in danger the second they landed in Chicago. In the coming months, Miles and Terri faced the challenge of daily survival, the challenge of intercepting the events leading to the war, and the challenge of what to do with their growing love that was two decades before its time.
A Miles Stevens Novel, #1
MELTING SAND is the first in a series of action/adventure novels featuring Miles Stevens, CIA agent, and his time travel adventures to alter history.
Years of unsuccessful nuclear arms negotiations in the Middle East had finally resulted in warring countries facing off with unthinkable destructive powers. Regional flare-ups had escalated and geopolitical dominoes had tumbled, finally leading to a horrific 48-hour interchange that erased cities and forever changed the world and the region.
The war was already in the history books when Miles Stevens and Terri King were sent 23 years into the past to relive a botched CIA mission -- a mission intended to prevent the 2027 Middle East War. They landed at O’Hare International Airport with no memory of who they were, who they left behind, or why they were there. Their memories were gradually restored by their CIA superiors as they orchestrated Miles' and Terri's mission from their Pentagon offices in the year 2050.
Iranian subversives, acting alone, intent on fueling the war’s progress, had been alerted to the couple's arrival, putting them in danger the second they landed in Chicago. In the coming months, Miles and Terri faced the challenge of daily survival, the challenge of intercepting the events leading to the war, and the challenge of what to do with their growing love that was two decades before its time.
- GenresFiction
390 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2013
12 people are currently reading
425 people want to read
About the author
D.R. Shoultz
19 books125 followersAn author of mystery/crime novels, D.R. (Donn) Shoultz hails from Delavan, a small town in central Illinois, but has resided in the Southeastern U.S. most of his adult life. Donn and his wife Claudia have recently moved from their longtime residence in the Carolina Mountains to a home atop the Cumberland Plateau in Crossville, Tennessee. Claudia continues to share her considerable editing experience in shaping Donn's novels. In their free time, they both enjoy traveling and hiking nearby wooded trails with their dog, Milo.
Donn began writing fiction more than a decade ago following a sales and marketing career that took him across the world. His early work featured Miles Stevens, a time-traveling CIA agent, sent back from 2050 and his home in Langley, Virginia to intercept historic tragedies already in the history books.
Donn’s recent focus is adding stories to his Mountain Mystery Series. In each Mountain Mystery, tension rises quickly. The mystery (usually a murder) makes an early appearance. Hometown heroes spring into action, searching for clues, often competing with local law enforcement as they move closer and closer to danger. The stories are set in fictitious mountain communities with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Clues are sprinkled throughout with twists keeping readers off balance. These books are great for weekend reads, offering crisp, fast-moving chapters and up-all-night suspense.
If you’re looking for a mystery series with legs, this is it. Your favorite sleuths from the initial stories return in future novels, making them a series within the Mountain Mystery collection of novels.
In order of publication, his books include:
Miles Stevens Series
* Melting Sand
* Cyber One
* Gone Viral
Mountain Mystery Series
* At the River's Edge (Emily Edwards #1)
* Butcher Road (Jack Fowler #1)
* Fallen from Sight (Ryan Nelson #1)
* A Town Divided (Luke Maxwell #1)
* A Town in Fear (Luke Maxwell #2)
* Dark River (Emily Edwards #2)
* Road to Justice (Jack Fowler #2)
* Rising River (Emily Edwards #3
* Border Town (Luke Maxwell #3))
Donn's short stories, which he interweaves between writing novels, are an eclectic collection of tales looking at the lives of lovers, schemers, everyday people, and even pets. Each includes a twist and is designed to bring a tear and/or a smile to the reader. His stories have received national contest recognition, including from Writer's Digest magazine. His short story collections include:
* It Goes On
* Most Men
You can find more about Donn and his writing at DRShoultz.com.
Donn began writing fiction more than a decade ago following a sales and marketing career that took him across the world. His early work featured Miles Stevens, a time-traveling CIA agent, sent back from 2050 and his home in Langley, Virginia to intercept historic tragedies already in the history books.
Donn’s recent focus is adding stories to his Mountain Mystery Series. In each Mountain Mystery, tension rises quickly. The mystery (usually a murder) makes an early appearance. Hometown heroes spring into action, searching for clues, often competing with local law enforcement as they move closer and closer to danger. The stories are set in fictitious mountain communities with the Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Clues are sprinkled throughout with twists keeping readers off balance. These books are great for weekend reads, offering crisp, fast-moving chapters and up-all-night suspense.
If you’re looking for a mystery series with legs, this is it. Your favorite sleuths from the initial stories return in future novels, making them a series within the Mountain Mystery collection of novels.
In order of publication, his books include:
Miles Stevens Series
* Melting Sand
* Cyber One
* Gone Viral
Mountain Mystery Series
* At the River's Edge (Emily Edwards #1)
* Butcher Road (Jack Fowler #1)
* Fallen from Sight (Ryan Nelson #1)
* A Town Divided (Luke Maxwell #1)
* A Town in Fear (Luke Maxwell #2)
* Dark River (Emily Edwards #2)
* Road to Justice (Jack Fowler #2)
* Rising River (Emily Edwards #3
* Border Town (Luke Maxwell #3))
Donn's short stories, which he interweaves between writing novels, are an eclectic collection of tales looking at the lives of lovers, schemers, everyday people, and even pets. Each includes a twist and is designed to bring a tear and/or a smile to the reader. His stories have received national contest recognition, including from Writer's Digest magazine. His short story collections include:
* It Goes On
* Most Men
You can find more about Donn and his writing at DRShoultz.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 15, 2017
Melting Sand was a great, action-packed read, full of well written and intense action scenes.
The book’s beginning was fairly cliché, what with the protagonist having no memory, which is common in thrillers, but the added twist of time-travel does make it less stereotypical.
As I said, Melting Sand was action-packed, but not immediately. The first quarter of the book had quite a bit of setup, as Miles figures out his mission. The relationship between Miles and Terri was good, with great dialogue exchanges and a friendship turning into a romance. However, Miles and Terri were also the only two characters you really get to know and even then I’d have liked to have gotten more about Miles’s past.
I’d have also liked to have seen more of the time-travel aspects, as I felt it helped set the book apart from other thrillers and due to the memory loss it was like two normal people on a spy mission, not trained professionals; although their characters were very likeable.
Melting Sand had unpredictable twists and a great last stretch, definitely leaving things open for sequels. All in all, a good thriller.
The book’s beginning was fairly cliché, what with the protagonist having no memory, which is common in thrillers, but the added twist of time-travel does make it less stereotypical.
As I said, Melting Sand was action-packed, but not immediately. The first quarter of the book had quite a bit of setup, as Miles figures out his mission. The relationship between Miles and Terri was good, with great dialogue exchanges and a friendship turning into a romance. However, Miles and Terri were also the only two characters you really get to know and even then I’d have liked to have gotten more about Miles’s past.
I’d have also liked to have seen more of the time-travel aspects, as I felt it helped set the book apart from other thrillers and due to the memory loss it was like two normal people on a spy mission, not trained professionals; although their characters were very likeable.
Melting Sand had unpredictable twists and a great last stretch, definitely leaving things open for sequels. All in all, a good thriller.
January 26, 2014
Melting Sands by D.R. Shoultz is an intricate speculative fiction novel centering on the exploits of Miles Stevens and Terri King, CIA operatives in the Department of Historical Intervention. This time travel program has been designed to send agents through time to manipulate history in averting a future catastrophe. One of the deleterious effects of the process is memory loss, and the agents have trouble getting back up to speed as they tackle yet another assignment. Again the team finds itself trying to stave off a renewed Middle East catastrophe in this action tale.
The theme of deception resonates throughout the plot as the team is forced to rely on Terri’s sexuality in trying to determine the cause and effect of political lobbying and behind-the-scenes scheming by representatives of New Age Pharmaceuticals in promoting their new product. Soarizon has been hailed as a breakthrough drug in curing Alzheimer’s Disease, and Terri becomes a crash test dummy in testing the product on herself. It brings back recollections of a previous relationship with Captain James Sullivan, which she suppresses in becoming a 21st century Mata Hari in charming her targets to gain their confidence. It brings her ever closer to finding the parties responsible for the kidnapping of Dr. Avid Bergmann, the developer of the new Regional Antiballistic Missile. She and Miles next find themselves up against the Woods brothers and Ginger Robbins, who may be prepared to stop at nothing to further New Age Pharmaceuticals’ interests. This leads to a climactic confrontation between the conspirators and the CIA agents, whose ultimate target appears to be a key negotiator in the Middle East peace talks.
Thriller/suspense readers will find this novel to be crafted in the tradition of Tom Clancy in blending corporate conspiracy and political intrigue with current day affairs. Melting Sands by D.R. Shoultz is a worthy addition to the genre you won’t want to miss.
The theme of deception resonates throughout the plot as the team is forced to rely on Terri’s sexuality in trying to determine the cause and effect of political lobbying and behind-the-scenes scheming by representatives of New Age Pharmaceuticals in promoting their new product. Soarizon has been hailed as a breakthrough drug in curing Alzheimer’s Disease, and Terri becomes a crash test dummy in testing the product on herself. It brings back recollections of a previous relationship with Captain James Sullivan, which she suppresses in becoming a 21st century Mata Hari in charming her targets to gain their confidence. It brings her ever closer to finding the parties responsible for the kidnapping of Dr. Avid Bergmann, the developer of the new Regional Antiballistic Missile. She and Miles next find themselves up against the Woods brothers and Ginger Robbins, who may be prepared to stop at nothing to further New Age Pharmaceuticals’ interests. This leads to a climactic confrontation between the conspirators and the CIA agents, whose ultimate target appears to be a key negotiator in the Middle East peace talks.
Thriller/suspense readers will find this novel to be crafted in the tradition of Tom Clancy in blending corporate conspiracy and political intrigue with current day affairs. Melting Sands by D.R. Shoultz is a worthy addition to the genre you won’t want to miss.
February 1, 2017
Deciding upon reading a book by an unknown author is taking a chance. One knows not what to expect and, if the choice is poor, regrets can set in from the early pages. It really is a lottery. But occasionally someone wins the lottery. And so it is with Melting Sand.
The writing is always excellent, typos and other errors minimal and irrelevant, and the story compelling and imaginative. From the outset we are faced with an unusual and interesting premise. Two characters on the same airplane do not know who they are or why they are there. It is, for a moment, reminiscent of The Bourne Identity but the focus quickly shifts and the book becomes a fascinating time-travel story.
Over the first third or so of the book a complex scenario has to be set up and the writing is more cerebral than action-filled. There is a sense in which the story could be said to be somewhat slow here but the excitement and tension in the second half of the book makes the waiting worthwhile. Plot lines overlap when the memory of one of the characters returns, leading almost to a conflict of interest at a time when tensions are sky-high and there is little room for manoeuvre. Shoultz, however, handles these problems with great skill and, while the ending did not sit well with me (although there seems to be scope for the story to continue in the next volume), I very much enjoyed this unusual thriller and have no qualms about recommending it to all readers who like thrillers in the broad sense, and thrillers involving time travel in particular.
The writing is always excellent, typos and other errors minimal and irrelevant, and the story compelling and imaginative. From the outset we are faced with an unusual and interesting premise. Two characters on the same airplane do not know who they are or why they are there. It is, for a moment, reminiscent of The Bourne Identity but the focus quickly shifts and the book becomes a fascinating time-travel story.
Over the first third or so of the book a complex scenario has to be set up and the writing is more cerebral than action-filled. There is a sense in which the story could be said to be somewhat slow here but the excitement and tension in the second half of the book makes the waiting worthwhile. Plot lines overlap when the memory of one of the characters returns, leading almost to a conflict of interest at a time when tensions are sky-high and there is little room for manoeuvre. Shoultz, however, handles these problems with great skill and, while the ending did not sit well with me (although there seems to be scope for the story to continue in the next volume), I very much enjoyed this unusual thriller and have no qualms about recommending it to all readers who like thrillers in the broad sense, and thrillers involving time travel in particular.
March 20, 2016
I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author for the opportunity to read his work.
This is not the first book I've read from Mr. Shoultz and it will not be the last either.
As in the first one, the story is fast paced, well written and easy to follow, with just enough hints to keep you guessing what would come next along with the protagonists, a couple of CIA agents who has been sent in the past to prevent a nuclear war.
As in any time travel stories you can expect some twists and turn. (Of course, it goes with the territory!) I would have liked to have a little more of these through out the book but even if I was left a little hungry for more, the last 60 pages or so picked up the theme very well, and rose up to my expectancy; they made it worth the wait.
Once again, D.R. Shoultz delivered a good story with solid characters and plot. Although Melting Sand is a first of a future series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I can’t wait to read more of Miles Stevens' adventures.
This is not the first book I've read from Mr. Shoultz and it will not be the last either.
As in the first one, the story is fast paced, well written and easy to follow, with just enough hints to keep you guessing what would come next along with the protagonists, a couple of CIA agents who has been sent in the past to prevent a nuclear war.
As in any time travel stories you can expect some twists and turn. (Of course, it goes with the territory!) I would have liked to have a little more of these through out the book but even if I was left a little hungry for more, the last 60 pages or so picked up the theme very well, and rose up to my expectancy; they made it worth the wait.
Once again, D.R. Shoultz delivered a good story with solid characters and plot. Although Melting Sand is a first of a future series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I can’t wait to read more of Miles Stevens' adventures.
January 19, 2018
Melting Sand is a highly enjoyable thriller with a bit of time travel in it. It was a lot of fun to read. At times, it felt like a log journal of surveillance duties ticked off, but for the most part the book stayed nicely on the path of scandalous and exciting.
Having said that, there were some plot points that made me groan:
1. The main villain telegraphing his intentions on the last day where everything happens. Who would do that, especially a trained agent?
2. Terri the young girl wasn’t identified consistently in the chapter about her. I would have said, “Young Terri” until her turn was finished. I spun my head around thinking it was adult Terri.
3. Miles not conveying the incredible news about the “save” to Terri right away was unforgiveable, as was Terri’s momentary amnesia about the taut, breaking news that affects her so personally.
4. How the heck can people communicate back and forth, although in sporadic and limited ways, twenty-three years apart? How do the guys in the future know what’s happening day by day twenty-three years ago, if it’s altering the timeline and therefore not recorded in their version of history? Similarly, how do Miles and Terri get messages from the future, since messages can’t time travel, but can only be transmitted live?
5. What, if anything, does the title have to do with the plot? Also, maybe a better cover? An explosion is so... cliche.
6. Wouldn’t there be a paradox? A major event such as a localized nuclear war would have resulted in different leadership in the CIA, thus if this nuclear war is removed from history, wouldn’t the absence of a world-altering event result in different leadership, hence not sending Miles and Terri back into the past? Also, if this nuclear war is averted there would be no reason for them to go back to the past. That’s what makes time travel such a headache!
Nonetheless, for a delightful, fun, thrilling read, I highly recommend this book. It’s rare that two principal characters can be described and fleshed out equally so well.
Having said that, there were some plot points that made me groan:
1. The main villain telegraphing his intentions on the last day where everything happens. Who would do that, especially a trained agent?
2. Terri the young girl wasn’t identified consistently in the chapter about her. I would have said, “Young Terri” until her turn was finished. I spun my head around thinking it was adult Terri.
3. Miles not conveying the incredible news about the “save” to Terri right away was unforgiveable, as was Terri’s momentary amnesia about the taut, breaking news that affects her so personally.
4. How the heck can people communicate back and forth, although in sporadic and limited ways, twenty-three years apart? How do the guys in the future know what’s happening day by day twenty-three years ago, if it’s altering the timeline and therefore not recorded in their version of history? Similarly, how do Miles and Terri get messages from the future, since messages can’t time travel, but can only be transmitted live?
5. What, if anything, does the title have to do with the plot? Also, maybe a better cover? An explosion is so... cliche.
6. Wouldn’t there be a paradox? A major event such as a localized nuclear war would have resulted in different leadership in the CIA, thus if this nuclear war is removed from history, wouldn’t the absence of a world-altering event result in different leadership, hence not sending Miles and Terri back into the past? Also, if this nuclear war is averted there would be no reason for them to go back to the past. That’s what makes time travel such a headache!
Nonetheless, for a delightful, fun, thrilling read, I highly recommend this book. It’s rare that two principal characters can be described and fleshed out equally so well.
August 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this book from several aspects. It was a good political thriller with plenty of machinations between Corporate America and the State. The time travel added an additional element of intrigue as they were chased by people from the future and the past (or should that be future too since the past is in 2027 ;-)), while trying to save the world from a devastating war.
With plenty of twists I didn’t see coming, this book kept me flicking the pages wondering where it would go next. Miles Stevens is the time travelling Felix Leiter of CIA agents. A great read.
With plenty of twists I didn’t see coming, this book kept me flicking the pages wondering where it would go next. Miles Stevens is the time travelling Felix Leiter of CIA agents. A great read.
February 28, 2017
This is a must read book !!!!Miles and Terri and the mission to change history is a time travel to remember.Lots of action finding out who they are and what they need to do to go home just makes you not want to put the book down.Now I need to know what happens next.I cant wait to read the next book.I received this book free as part of goodreads giveaways.No matter what type of book you read this book has it you need to read this book.
October 22, 2013
Miles Stevens was just like every other young man his age, except he didn’t know who he was or where he was. Then he met Terri…and she was the same. Together, they were locked in a time and place where they had been sent to thwart the beginnings of what had proven to be the most destructive war in world history.
D.R. Shoulz’s Melting Sand takes a simple premise of time travel and turns it into a novel of action, intrigue, mystery, romance and betrayal. It all makes for some very entertaining reading. The first action scene erupts before the end of Chapter 1.
We learn about Miles and Terri in real time, that is, as they learn about themselves; what brought them to where they were in time and space. They are CIA agents working for the Department of Historic Intervention. One of their own, an agent previously sent on the mission, operated in subterfuge, intent on fulfilling his own agenda.
The author’s use of narrative and dialogue to move the story along made this book refreshingly to read. The language is understandable and the descriptions of scene and action are precise and clear.
There is a nice arc to the evolving story line and I quite enjoyed the sensitive manner in which Shoultz develops the relationship between the two protagonists. But even love has its pitfalls. I found myself anxious to learn what was to be the outcome of the relationship and situational development for the protagonists. As it turns out, they…well, you’ll see when you read the book.
The author tells us than MELTING SAND is the first in a series of Miles Stevens’ action - adventure novels. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
D.R. Shoulz’s Melting Sand takes a simple premise of time travel and turns it into a novel of action, intrigue, mystery, romance and betrayal. It all makes for some very entertaining reading. The first action scene erupts before the end of Chapter 1.
We learn about Miles and Terri in real time, that is, as they learn about themselves; what brought them to where they were in time and space. They are CIA agents working for the Department of Historic Intervention. One of their own, an agent previously sent on the mission, operated in subterfuge, intent on fulfilling his own agenda.
The author’s use of narrative and dialogue to move the story along made this book refreshingly to read. The language is understandable and the descriptions of scene and action are precise and clear.
There is a nice arc to the evolving story line and I quite enjoyed the sensitive manner in which Shoultz develops the relationship between the two protagonists. But even love has its pitfalls. I found myself anxious to learn what was to be the outcome of the relationship and situational development for the protagonists. As it turns out, they…well, you’ll see when you read the book.
The author tells us than MELTING SAND is the first in a series of Miles Stevens’ action - adventure novels. I’m looking forward to the next installment.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
October 17, 2013
After reading the first chapter of Melting Sand on D.R. Shoultz's blog, I was eager to find out more about Miles Stevens, and expectant of good things.
I'm very happy to tell you I got those good things and more. I just finished reading Shoultz's novel and am already looking forward to whatever he has in store for Miles in future books.
Melting Sand isn't your typical time-travel book. I love a good time-travel novel if it's done well. So many of them are based on something magical happening to cause the travel through time, and that's fine, as long as certain things aren't overlooked which cause consistency errors (such as nobody noticing or questioning someone's wristwatch in Ancient Egypt). Melting Sand is different in this aspect: the time travel is scientific and purposeful, with all details attended to.
Miles Stevens and his partner, Terri, are CIA agents who work for the Department of Historic Intervention. They've been sent back 23 years on a mission which, if executed correctly, will prevent a major war in the Middle East. Unfortunately, they're not the first team to have been sent by the DHI on this same mission, and they need to figure out how to work in such a way as to not botch the job like the previous team. They're in constant danger, as one would expect, due to Iranian subversives expecting their arrival and trying to stop them (thank you very much, previous team, for blowing the whole mission that completely).
Although there are specific events which need to be altered for the mission to succeed, they never happen in quite the direct way one would expect, and I like that. No simple "stop this and the war won't happen" kind of things in this book; everything is intertwined and non-linear.
Being me, of course I was pleased that there were very few editing issues. Less than a handful, and most likely things the average non-OCD person would never notice.
When all is said and done, it's not a tidy ending, just like regular life, with the hope of better things in days to come. Excellent read, plenty of action, and a likable hero.
I'm very happy to tell you I got those good things and more. I just finished reading Shoultz's novel and am already looking forward to whatever he has in store for Miles in future books.
Melting Sand isn't your typical time-travel book. I love a good time-travel novel if it's done well. So many of them are based on something magical happening to cause the travel through time, and that's fine, as long as certain things aren't overlooked which cause consistency errors (such as nobody noticing or questioning someone's wristwatch in Ancient Egypt). Melting Sand is different in this aspect: the time travel is scientific and purposeful, with all details attended to.
Miles Stevens and his partner, Terri, are CIA agents who work for the Department of Historic Intervention. They've been sent back 23 years on a mission which, if executed correctly, will prevent a major war in the Middle East. Unfortunately, they're not the first team to have been sent by the DHI on this same mission, and they need to figure out how to work in such a way as to not botch the job like the previous team. They're in constant danger, as one would expect, due to Iranian subversives expecting their arrival and trying to stop them (thank you very much, previous team, for blowing the whole mission that completely).
Although there are specific events which need to be altered for the mission to succeed, they never happen in quite the direct way one would expect, and I like that. No simple "stop this and the war won't happen" kind of things in this book; everything is intertwined and non-linear.
Being me, of course I was pleased that there were very few editing issues. Less than a handful, and most likely things the average non-OCD person would never notice.
When all is said and done, it's not a tidy ending, just like regular life, with the hope of better things in days to come. Excellent read, plenty of action, and a likable hero.
March 17, 2016
A 5 STAR CRACKER
Congratulations to our author D.R.Shoultz for producing a literary masterpiece. It is very difficult to explain the pleasure I experienced following the two characters, Miles and Terri, during their adventures 23 years back in time.
To give you an insight to the story, It is themed on time travel but is not in any way or form a science fiction novel. The author describes it as action/adventure, but I would class it more of an action/thriller. Our hero and heroine wake up on a plane that is just about to set down on American soil. They have no knowledge of where they are or who they are. Miles notices that there is a woman in the same predicament as himself and waits for her inside the terminal. They both link up and head off to find out what awaits them with a car park ticket that is found among the few possessions Miles has.
They are immediately accosted by a gun totting Arab who tries to welcome them back in time with a dose of lead poisoning. They kill him and Nick his car. The adventure begins. All they have to do is change several events that led to a minor nuclear war and change the outcome. The whole story is jam packed with action and adventure and will leave you guessing wrong at every turn and twist in the story. Even the ending had me totally wrong and leaves it so that it can be seamlessly woven into the second book in the series
If action thrillers are on your reading list, then this novel is a must read
Congratulations to our author D.R.Shoultz for producing a literary masterpiece. It is very difficult to explain the pleasure I experienced following the two characters, Miles and Terri, during their adventures 23 years back in time.
To give you an insight to the story, It is themed on time travel but is not in any way or form a science fiction novel. The author describes it as action/adventure, but I would class it more of an action/thriller. Our hero and heroine wake up on a plane that is just about to set down on American soil. They have no knowledge of where they are or who they are. Miles notices that there is a woman in the same predicament as himself and waits for her inside the terminal. They both link up and head off to find out what awaits them with a car park ticket that is found among the few possessions Miles has.
They are immediately accosted by a gun totting Arab who tries to welcome them back in time with a dose of lead poisoning. They kill him and Nick his car. The adventure begins. All they have to do is change several events that led to a minor nuclear war and change the outcome. The whole story is jam packed with action and adventure and will leave you guessing wrong at every turn and twist in the story. Even the ending had me totally wrong and leaves it so that it can be seamlessly woven into the second book in the series
If action thrillers are on your reading list, then this novel is a must read
February 8, 2014
I enjoyed this fast-paced story right from the first page. Miles Stevens finds himself waking up on an airplane not knowing who he is or how he got there. He soon meets an attractive CIA agent in the same predicament. Now having somehow traveled back two decades in time, the two of them become entangled in a complex mission to save the near future world from nuclear disaster. Although the plot becomes somewhat heavily layered about three quarters through the book, which caused some degree of confusion to me anyway, the book is still easy and enjoyable reading. Mr. Shoulz shows his creative talents once again, as he did in the previous book of his that I read last year. If you are a fan of time-travel themes in particular, I would highly recommend this well-written novel. It is a little bit long and dragged somewhat for me at times, but the conclusion is exciting and worth waiting for. I'll look forward to reading the next installment for sure.
Read
January 4, 2014Action-packed Time travel adventure
With action sequences peppered throughout the story, supported by interesting characters and concept, and accented by a splash of romance, Melting Sand is a fun read. From the start of the story, the reader is engaged by the tension of being thrust into the same fugue state of the main characters, Miles Stevens and Terry King, as they discover who they are. D.R. Schultz also does well including the time travel aspect without overloading the text with the technicalities of how it's done. I would recommend this book to readers of political thrillers, spy thrillers, time travel, and action/adventures.
With action sequences peppered throughout the story, supported by interesting characters and concept, and accented by a splash of romance, Melting Sand is a fun read. From the start of the story, the reader is engaged by the tension of being thrust into the same fugue state of the main characters, Miles Stevens and Terry King, as they discover who they are. D.R. Schultz also does well including the time travel aspect without overloading the text with the technicalities of how it's done. I would recommend this book to readers of political thrillers, spy thrillers, time travel, and action/adventures.
November 24, 2013
"Melting Sand" grabbed me before the end of the first chapter. This is Shoultz' finest novel to date, with a chilling and imaginative plot, believable characters and crisp dialogue. I got a bit bogged down with the author's description of events triggering 21st century Middle East unrest, but I can forgive him for providing the historical background for the exciting mission assigned to CIA agents Miles Stevens and Terri King. "Melting Sand" is billed as the first in a series of Miles Stevens adventures. I can't wait to read where Miles goes next....and whether Terri will return.
January 1, 2017
Time travel? Check. Action? Check. Interesting characters? Check. Melting Sand has all the elements to keep a reader like me entertained. The story follows Miles Stevens as he finds himself in the middle of a complex mission that can change the fate of humankind. A novel of introspection and self-discovery, Melting Sand completely absorbs you into the story. I wasn’t keen on some of the techniques for deception but that is complete subjective. I find this to be an entertaining read and I look forward to the next adventure.
October 16, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I thought the characters were very interesting and believable (even for a time travel novel). There was constant action and the story was well written and kept me interested until the end.
September 23, 2015
I absolutely love this book! This book is a new and refreshing book that is more that expected. with complex characters and a great adventure made this book a fun read. I couldn't put this book down. I can't wait to see what happens next!
November 23, 2013
You cannot leave me like this, a great story with loads of suspense. I cannot wait for the second instalment from series.
February 6, 2014
Certainly a finely woven plot with just the right twists and turns. Other than bits of wooden TV dialogue (which I found to detract from the story) I thought this was a good read.
March 26, 2017
I won this book from goodreads. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was believable, good characters, and a page turner. This is definitely a keeper. Looking forward to reading the next book from the series.
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