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A Chasing After the Wind
No one was supposed to get hurt. Young Mack Shannon, of black-Irish descent, was the driver for the two robbers. He was just the driver. He didn't steal the money and he didn't shoot the cop, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, it's him the cops are looking for.
What Mack doesn't expect is for his affluent uncle and aunt to take him under their wing and train him to be the most formidable force Memphis has ever seen: a disciplined, educated man of wealth, with a fearless passion for success. Will Mack rise to the challenge of becoming greater than he ever imagined, or will he steep into the Memphis underworld of drug lords and hit men?
Faced with racist clubbers, a tango dancing cougar with a vicious guard dog, and a Mexican rocket-firing assassin, Mack must climb to power while questioning the meaning of family, love, and loyalty.
What Mack doesn't expect is for his affluent uncle and aunt to take him under their wing and train him to be the most formidable force Memphis has ever seen: a disciplined, educated man of wealth, with a fearless passion for success. Will Mack rise to the challenge of becoming greater than he ever imagined, or will he steep into the Memphis underworld of drug lords and hit men?
Faced with racist clubbers, a tango dancing cougar with a vicious guard dog, and a Mexican rocket-firing assassin, Mack must climb to power while questioning the meaning of family, love, and loyalty.
412 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 18, 2015
“You are my sunshine . . . my only sunshine . . . you make me hap-py . . . when skies are
gray . . .” Rose kissed Mack on the head and continued singing.”
Thus begins a very powerful novel by James Carson, A Chasing After The Wind. I do not enjoy crying or feeling too sad so for me, the first fifteen pages were the hardest to get through because my heart strings were being pulled – you could almost anticipate what was going to happen, you would cringe just knowing what the finals words of the prologue were going to be. This is how powerful Carson sets the stage for Mack and his life.
Mack finds many ways to make life work for him. He has help from Buck, Irish and Father O’Brien building him a strong support system and ways of encouraging his growth from becoming a “spoiled rotten brat.” Street smart and headed down the path of a life of crime, Mack’s aunt Irish rescues him. Irish begins to build opportunities for Mack to become fearless, rich and a formidable, well respected man. Irish sets him out on his path to become an elite member of the Black Ops followed by enrolling at Harvard thus cementing his future. However, Mack deviates from this path and finds himself living simply and happily.
Life is disappointing for Mack as he finds himself nearly destitute and with thousands of dollars of debt hanging over his head and losing his inheritance and home that he had come to love. This is where the true adventure begins. The training he received as a younger man and his values that were drilled in him, he finds a way to make life grander and take care of his friends.
Carson delivers a powerful adventure that allows one to see the world from a different point of view. The descriptions were extraordinarily vivid and rich in detail. The plot line was fully developed. Carson departs from the stereotypical good guy and shows that even the good guy might be slightly tainted. Tainted or not, Mack is an underdog who overcomes obstacles and triumphs. Carson takes what might be an expected path and throws in a few twists and turns, leaving the reader “not seeing the outcome” ahead of time.
Carson builds each character skillfully allowing for connections between the reader and the characters to grow while immersing the reader fully into the novel.
“Mack sat on the side of the bed, staring at the blank wall until he heard the wheelhouse door close. He stood up and looked outside at the darkness. Did I just dodge a bullet or what?” Mack’s last thoughts demonstrate that his adventure is not over. He’s been lucky so far, but will his luck hold out with his latest dangerous situation? Will he once again lose his chance at “happiness?”
I cannot wait to read the next in this trilogy series. An excellent novel for those who enjoy adventure, coming of age and military reads. Carson successfully delivers a strong, excellently written novel. I expect the next to be equally strong.
As a 2015 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree, WordsAPlenty gives this book a 5 star rating and looks forward to the next installment.
gray . . .” Rose kissed Mack on the head and continued singing.”
Thus begins a very powerful novel by James Carson, A Chasing After The Wind. I do not enjoy crying or feeling too sad so for me, the first fifteen pages were the hardest to get through because my heart strings were being pulled – you could almost anticipate what was going to happen, you would cringe just knowing what the finals words of the prologue were going to be. This is how powerful Carson sets the stage for Mack and his life.
Mack finds many ways to make life work for him. He has help from Buck, Irish and Father O’Brien building him a strong support system and ways of encouraging his growth from becoming a “spoiled rotten brat.” Street smart and headed down the path of a life of crime, Mack’s aunt Irish rescues him. Irish begins to build opportunities for Mack to become fearless, rich and a formidable, well respected man. Irish sets him out on his path to become an elite member of the Black Ops followed by enrolling at Harvard thus cementing his future. However, Mack deviates from this path and finds himself living simply and happily.
Life is disappointing for Mack as he finds himself nearly destitute and with thousands of dollars of debt hanging over his head and losing his inheritance and home that he had come to love. This is where the true adventure begins. The training he received as a younger man and his values that were drilled in him, he finds a way to make life grander and take care of his friends.
Carson delivers a powerful adventure that allows one to see the world from a different point of view. The descriptions were extraordinarily vivid and rich in detail. The plot line was fully developed. Carson departs from the stereotypical good guy and shows that even the good guy might be slightly tainted. Tainted or not, Mack is an underdog who overcomes obstacles and triumphs. Carson takes what might be an expected path and throws in a few twists and turns, leaving the reader “not seeing the outcome” ahead of time.
Carson builds each character skillfully allowing for connections between the reader and the characters to grow while immersing the reader fully into the novel.
“Mack sat on the side of the bed, staring at the blank wall until he heard the wheelhouse door close. He stood up and looked outside at the darkness. Did I just dodge a bullet or what?” Mack’s last thoughts demonstrate that his adventure is not over. He’s been lucky so far, but will his luck hold out with his latest dangerous situation? Will he once again lose his chance at “happiness?”
I cannot wait to read the next in this trilogy series. An excellent novel for those who enjoy adventure, coming of age and military reads. Carson successfully delivers a strong, excellently written novel. I expect the next to be equally strong.
As a 2015 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree, WordsAPlenty gives this book a 5 star rating and looks forward to the next installment.
August 17, 2015
A touching and emotional story!
Jim Carson is one of my new favorite authors! This book had me go through so many emotions from heartache and sadness to relief and happiness. The main character, Mack, dealt with a horrible accident early in the book, and trouble just seemed to follow him during his life. What he didn't know was that he had people who were secretly looking after him. It was a touching and emotion story that I really enjoyed reading to see if Mack could get his life turned around or not. I highly recommend it!
Jim Carson is one of my new favorite authors! This book had me go through so many emotions from heartache and sadness to relief and happiness. The main character, Mack, dealt with a horrible accident early in the book, and trouble just seemed to follow him during his life. What he didn't know was that he had people who were secretly looking after him. It was a touching and emotion story that I really enjoyed reading to see if Mack could get his life turned around or not. I highly recommend it!
February 10, 2015
I found this book exciting and action packed. The author packs a great punch.
This was well written and with emotion at times also. I was lucky to have the opportunity to review this book from Librarything.
This book traces the life the life of Mack Shannon, from an orphaned child and the rags to riches story ending up as head of a major organisation. He was a survivor. This was some journey, a real page turner.
An author to look out for.
This was well written and with emotion at times also. I was lucky to have the opportunity to review this book from Librarything.
This book traces the life the life of Mack Shannon, from an orphaned child and the rags to riches story ending up as head of a major organisation. He was a survivor. This was some journey, a real page turner.
An author to look out for.
March 14, 2015
I am always looking for new authors. I was excited when I got a copy of the book to review. Characters are well develped. The plot flowed easy. This is a must read, I can not wait to read more by this author
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews