Abel Yeager is dead broke, down on his luck, and suffering from a serious case of what-the-hell-does-it-matter. His transition from active Marine to stateside long-haul trucker hit a wicked speed bump when his rig was involved in a wreck that claimed the life of a pregnant woman and laid him up for several months.
Back at work but deeply in debt, Yeager meets bookstore owner Charlie Buchanan in St. Louis and jumps at the chance to haul a load of remainder books to Austin for her. On the way south, a crew of truck thieves tracks his every move. But none of them know what Charlie’s ex has smuggled inside the book pallets, who he stole it from, or how far the owner will go to get it back. Charlie’s the first person Yeager has cared about in a long time, but as their bond deepens, so does the danger they’re in.
With enemy forces closing in, Yeager battles greed, corruption, and his own fatalism in a bid to hold true to Yeager’s First Law: come home at the end of the day.
Scott Bell writes because that way he can daydream and claim it on his taxes. A Certified Fraud Examiner and professional Suburban Man, Scott has a wife, two grown kids, and at least one cat sleeping on his keyboard. (The cat, not the wife and kids. They have their own keyboards to sleep on.)
When he's not writing, Scott fights a relentless battle against weeds, slow drivers, and ever-shrinking pants.
4.25 stars! I really enjoyed this book. It is up there as one of the better books I’ve read this year! I thought it was fantastic!
Yeager is a truck driver with some serious ex-marine, beat-up-the-bad-guys skills. So when the lovely Charlie randomly saves his life from a man with a grudge, besotted Yeager agrees to drive and pick up a load of books for her bookstore. However Charlie’s ex husband is playing her, and its not only books that Yeager picks up and brings to Charlie. Suddenly he has a bunch of bad guys after him, a drug cartel to somehow outfight, and a certain young ladies life to save!
Loved it! What a fabulous action packed read! I LOVED the action scenes! Lots of violence, blood and gore! Thought it was fantastic! There was one cringe worthy scene in particular which I won’t spoil for you, but I LOVED it! OUCH!
The characters were so likeable! Yeager! What a character! I thought he was fantastic. In the book he is described as having a Russell Crow vibe. I didn’t exactly picture him like that. In my mind perhaps I had a more Gerard Butler type in my mind… I guess they look kind of similar. Anyway he was awesome none the less! And I really liked Charlie, she is a feisty independent woman with a cute son and a dickhead of an ex husband. She was classy yet tough. Loved the secondary characters too. Victor and Cujo were awesome! Loved Victor in the action scenes! And Nina! What a piece of work she was! I thought she was a great character.
The tension and budding relationship with Charlie and Yeager was a highlight of the book for me. I love a bit of romance in a story and this did not disappoint. It was sexy without being overly graphic and the chemistry between the characters just worked.
There wasn’t much I didn’t like about this novel to be honest. I didn’t quite buy Yeager as a broke truck driver, although I’m not sure exactly why. I enjoyed how each chapter was written according to place and not character. I found it to be written very well overall.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely! Yeager’s Law is a fun ride for all action/thriller/romantic suspense fans!
Many thanks to author Scott Bell for a review copy.
"Guilt is an acid that corrodes a man's self-image, etching it with scars that never heal."
The book description on this one really caught my attention, giving me very high hopes for this book. I am so glad that Mr. Bell didn't disappoint.
From the very beginning, I was pulled into the story, and the action - which there is a lot of - was awesome. Just when you think things are beginning to settle down, something else comes out of left field to peak your interest and get your heart racing once again. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this story.
The descriptions of Texas, where a lot of the story takes place, are spot on and you feel like you're there with them. I like how the author includes the things they are "seeing" in the story without it making you feel like you're on some sort of tour through the cities.
The characters are easy to take a liking to and are well written. I really liked Abel and Charlie. Both of them were more than what you expected them to be when you first met them. Even the bad guys had personalities that kept you wanting to follow their every movement, to know more.
Favorite character is Victor ("Por Que") - I guess I just have a thing for the sarcastic ones. He had my full attention from the very first we meet him, and there were times in the book that I wanted him to be part of the action. (Just made me appreciate when he was there more, I guess.)
Favorite line: "My papa finished your gun. Nice sights, by the way. I went by our house, man, and I have to tell you... you ever hear about a thing called paint, dude? I mean, shit, your house, it wouldn't even qualify for a crack house." (I laughed pretty hard. Maybe it's because I knew people back in San Antonio that talked like this.)
I do want to point out that I felt the editing on this one could have been a lot better. After checking to make sure that I had received a final copy, I was disappointed to find that there were words missing from sentences and words out of order. I do realize that it is often hard for me to turn off the editing side of me. I, however, read this book for fun and there were parts, though really good, that could have been better if I didn't have to go back and reread, trying to figure out what word should be there. This could be just a personal thing for me, but I find poor editing bothersome and something that takes away from the flow of the story.
An ex-Marine trucker gets involved with a bookstore owner, and a whole lot of conspiracies.
What starts out as a fairly simple story of a guy trying to evade the vengeance of a Mexican Cartel figure, becomes more and more complicated until so many crosses, double crosses, and triple crosses happen, that the whole thing falls apart of its own weight.
I'm always up for a trucker novel, but this one needs a little work.
Yeager rocks!!! Both the story and Yeager himself!! So Yeager is a truck driver, and on a routine drive, he is hijacked when pulls into a rest stop. Now Yeager is an ex-marine and will not take this lying down, but just as he is trying to come up with a way to disarm the guy, a woman comes out with a gun pointed at the hijacker. What follows is an action packed and addicting read!!
Plot wise, this is the kind of book that would translate really well to the big screen as there is plenty of action and plenty of things that the special effects folks would have a ball with!! The whole book reminded me of Rambo!
Character wise, Yeager is the bomb!! A total and utter bad ass!! I'll tell you one thing, the bad guys didn't know what they were getting themselves in for :) I don't want to say much about what he does, but gosh he is awesome!! Lol.
I really liked Charlie too. She is a quiet girl but when she sees what is happening to Yeager, she isn't afraid to pull out her gun and step in. She is badass in her own way, plus she runs a book store!!! Lol. Also Victor is awesome! Such a fun character!!
In all, this is one of those books that you can't help but enjoy. All action, big scenes, plenty of bad guys and a hero worthy of the the name!! It's not all action though, because we get to see Yeager and Charlie's relationship develop. We also get a look at Yeager before and find out why things are happening to him! Extremely well written and developed, this is a must red for fans of big blockbuster type books!
I've said it before about J. Scott Bennett, and I'll say it again, his range of tones and accents is truly impressive!! It really felt like there was multiple people narrating the story! Loved his portrayal of Victor!!! He absolutely nailed the performance in this and he brought the book alive.
*I received this for free but voluntarily reviewed it. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.*
The start was a bit slow with a wide array of names I sometimes had to double check for my own sanity, but soon enough i was hooked.
The fact that the story stretched over a vast area made it that much more interesting, reaching places from Austin all the way down to Mexico.
Yeager, a truck driver who at first seemed to have bucket loads of bad luck trailing him just beyond his shadow, but thanks to a fiery red head (and a lover of books) who saved his but, he realised being the damsel in distress isn't so bad after all. He seemed rugged and not much compared to a model on a GQ cover but there's something about a guy with beard that just works for a girl...
We meet Charlie when she comes to Yeager's aid and we develop a respect for a person, especially a woman who is prepared to save a man she has never met.
Por Que , or Victor if you're more civilised, deserves some recognition, having to deal with catching cheep and bullets bouncing off your head and then living to tell the tale is without a doubt something that scarcely happens.
There's a lot of characters in the story and as it develops you learn who is the bad guys and who is the good guys and you come to a point where you're at the edge of your seat shouting of or the good guys to kick ass and wanting to damn the bad guys to hell.
I'm not a lover of stories which stretches over days/weeks but this one had more that enough action to keep me glued to the pages.
One heck of a roller coaster ride and worth every loop and twist.
This was a fun, fast-paced read, as you want from a thriller. It also has a budding romance for an occasional change of pace and the main characters, Abel and Charlie, are easy to care about. Even the minor characters add to the story. Abel's ex-brother-in-law and long-time friend, Victor, not only adds to the story, but provides a bit of comic relief, as does Victor's side-kick, known as Cujo. However, it wouldn't be a thriller if there wasn't an antagonist or two shaking things up for the good guys. Yeager's Law has plenty of those, too. Maybe even bordering on too many.
Which is as good of a segue as any into my concerns. All fiction requires suspension of disbelief to some degree. Things that we've learned to take on faith in fiction, we'd never believe if told they happened in real life. The thriller genre requires more of the reader in this regard than most other genres happening in the real world and contemporary times, so if you read a lot in the genre, as I do, you've learned to turn off your no-way-in-heck alarm while reading. Yeager's Law pushed me to the point where I was teetering on the brink of a full scale no-way attack, but I managed to avoid it. Barely.
There were two reasons my ability to suspend disbelief was stretched almost to the breaking point. One is too many coincidences. The other is too many groups of bad guys. I can't even begin to explain without giving away too much. If you're prone to saying, “bull-pucky, no way that could happen,” this might be too much for you. Experienced thriller readers will probably be okay.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
“Yeager found himself humming along with a song on the radio. What in the hell had gotten into him? A little dust-up with a couple of punks, a smile from a pretty woman, and all of a sudden a few rays of sunshine had pierced his gloomy cloud. That, and maybe his luck had finally turned around...”
Not the case for this ex-Marine turned long-haul trucker! Abel Yeager has no idea what’s ahead once he meets bookstore owner ‘Charlie’ Buchanan. Thankfully in "Yeager’s Law” author Scott Bell does, introducing situations and characters in an action-packed thriller guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Yeager is a man’s man that other men admire, women find intoxicating, and criminals come to fear. Toughened by war and tragedy, he is a master of strategic thinking in the midst of impossible odds and incredible circumstance.
Bell has a talented eye for details and an ability to take several story threads and meld them in a heart-pounding page-turner. Whether Yeager is fighting threats posed by his past or new perils directed toward people he cares about, “Yeager’s Law” is a hardboiled, sexy, fast-moving, gripping read. Yeager and his band of ex-military misfits are indeed characters I hope to meet again.
This is a great book to read. It is full of action. It is hard to put down and when you are not reading it you are thinking about reading it, you look forward to reading it. Scott Bell is now one of my favorite authors. Onward to Yeager's Mission.
With Abel Yeager you get more than a long haul truck driver. Right from the start people are after his butt. As the story progresses, more join the crowd out to get him. Help from the comely owner of a book store saves his bacon the first time. Then he uses the skills he learned in the Marine Corps as well as some shady friends. Plenty of action and a high body count as Yeager takes on a few Mexican drug baddies.
This was free from Amazon. It was a good move made me buy the 2nd in the series. The recommendation title was to those who love Lee Child. Well, they were right. The book is written as a script to an action movie. Lots of twists. Every word and sentence count. Above all I liked the cynical and humoristic way things were described. Ruined my last night sleep, when I couldn't put it down and had to finished it. Characters are full 3 dimension. Could be a great action movie ( Maybe it was) . Not for the soft hearted. Some books you can summarized in few sentence. For this one the description may be as long as the book itself.
Accolades for Scott Bell! I was intrigued by his mix of characters and the plight they took. Every chapter offered a surprise. If you like NCIS and Rambo mixed this is it? Great read!!!
This book was exciting, suspenseful and had just enough romance to keep this reader satisfied. The narrator was spot one with this one, love all the accents the Mexican, Yeager and even the women's voices were very well done. I had listened to this one in the car, and at home and had no difficulty picking it up each time. Definitely want to read more by this author Scott Bell.
I listened to the audio version of this book, and I highly recommend it!
Staff Sergeant Abel Yeager may be a former Marine, but as they say, there's no such thing as an Ex-Marine - and that's a very good thing. Now a trucker just trying to make an honest living, he needs every edge he can get, with vengeful hijackers, Mexican cartels, kidnappers, and a cutthroat crooked lawyer after him and his rig.
What he doesn't expect, is to be rescued by a completely different type of hero - a redheaded bookstore owner named Charlotte - aka Charlie - who packs a .41 Magnum Smith & Wesson loaded with hollow points. Charlie's just trying to make an honest living too, but she can't walk away from a person in need. Not when she can help.
Add in a motley crew of fellow brothers-in-arms Por Que' and Cujo, and what could possibly go wrong?
And, is there any chance at all that a classy gal could possibly be interested in a down-on-his-luck trucker?
This book is not a quick listen, which is too bad because you're not going to want to stop. It really is action-packed. Lots of bullets and fists flying, but none of it was gratuitous violence. Abel's side-kick Victor (aka Por Que') is a riot, full of snarky one-liners that made me snort coffee more than once. I hope he gets his own story somewhere along the line. Pilot Cujo doesn't say much, but what he does is priceless.
I particularly appreciated the fact that these heroes are not suffering from PTSD. They've been able to overcome the horrors they've seen - and had to deal out, realizing that what counts most is Yeager's Law #1 - Do what ya gotta do to come home at the end of the day.
Well done, Scott Bell.
And VERY well done, J. Scott Bennett, on a masterful telling of this rollicking story, complete with Texas, Russian, and Hispanic accents galore. I'm not sure I would have been able to keep all the characters straight, if not for your excellent portrayals. I will look for more of your work.
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.
*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Abel Yeager lives by his own laws and his First Law is: come home at the end of the day. His laws served him well in the Marines, but he never thought he would have to apply them to his long-haul trucking job. One day while making a pit stop in an out-of-the-way rest area, he catches some thugs trying to steal his rig. He puts the hurt on three of them, but when their boss aims his gun at him, Abel thinks his luck has finally run completely out. Then Charlie Buchanan steps out of the restroom and trains her honking big gun on the bad guy. The boss gathers his beaten lackeys and hightails it down the highway. Bad guys: 0, good guys: 1. The police are called, reports are made, thanks are given and Abel and Charlie part, encounter over. Or is it?
Ooh-Rah! This is one of those books that sounds interesting and you think you’re in for a decent ride and it does start off that way. But then…Wham! The next thing you know you’ve been carjacked and kidnapped, traveling down a road at top speed heading into the night toward Whothefuckknowsville. Except, instead of being terrifying, it’s fucking awesome! Twists and turns and multiple players with their own POV and agenda with Abel and Charlie swimming in the dark with no idea how to answer the Who, What, Why and Where of it all. Does it sound like it should be a mishmash mess? It so isn’t. It all comes together with action, suspense, humor and a dash of romance. Yeager’s Law wins the Can’t Turn the Pages Fast Enough Award. I had to force myself to put it down when it came time to do Real Life things. Well-written with characters you’ll love or love to hate, a romance that’s sweet and steamy without being blatant, action reminiscent of Die Hard and suspense that will have you leaving half-moon marks on any available surface, I dare you to pick this one up. In fact, I double dog dare you. Author Scott Bell is officially on my Favorite Author List.
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
I just could not stop reading and at the same time I did not want the book to end! The way the story unfolded speaks of a well-planned book which had me riveted to the end. The suspense had me on the edge of the chair, hanging on to the Kindle for dear life and shouting out loud when the battery bleated at me indicating it is time to charge the Kindle!!
Abel Yeager, battling to survive and on the brink of financial ruin, has to fight and protect people (which he only met a few days before), for something he has done and paid the price for already.
Charlie Buchanan a willing stranger, finds herself amidst Yeager’s unfolding drama and in his hour of need, she steps forward and saves the day.
Steven Buchanan, the cheating ex-husband of Charlie Buchanan, using unsuspecting people to invest in his failed research project, while planning to skip the town. These are only a few of the characters you will get to meet in this book and some are pretty colourful!
I loved the style of writing. Although filled with suspense it almost comes across as a casual, matter-of-fact read. This book has a good blend of twists, turns, action and humour.
A wonderfully put-together book and my congratulations to the author.
If you love suspense with a healthy dose of twists you will enjoy this book.
I received the book from the author for an honest review.
A suspense filled story that captivated me from the start, very well written while you could relate to every character-good or bad. I simply loved Yeager's character. True to the bone he just gave of the persona of a in-control guy while his life was falling apart. His honesty and pure will to survive made this an excellent read. The action was believable and well timed throughout the book. Charlie, in her own right was the perfect match for him. She showed her vulnerability but wasn't afraid to cover his back at all times. Coming from 2 different worlds these two people met under a very explosive time which bonded them. Sparks between the two was evident from the beginning and you knew you were in for some fun time. All the elements for a good suspense romance book were evident and the plot had enough intensity to enjoy the pages. The writers descriptive writing drew you as he paints a picture with each word and phrase and you could really connect with the situation as it unfold. A perfect book to relax with and enjoy while you are going on an adventure of abductions, hijacking, drugs and the vengeful cartel with a good dose of romance to glue everything together. Thanks for the opportunity to read the book Mr. Bell.
Yeager’s Law is a fast-paced, competent thriller with a side of humor. I really enjoyed this book. Mr. Bell’s humor and style kept me interested from the first page to the last. The hero, Abel Yeager, reminded me a lot of the Walter Longmire character created by Craig Johnson, so if you are a fan of those stories, you would most likely appreciate this one.
The story is essentially a Western set in a modern timeline. Good guys, bad guys, damsel in destress, piles of money, a wisecracking sidekick, and a shoot-em-up at the end that will leave you cheering for the good guys. I would, however, caution you that there are a few graphic scenes and some coarse language, so if those bother you, this book may not be for you.
Hat tip, Mr. Bell, you did the Yeager name up right. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
This is an action packed, fast moving story that will keep your adrenaline going right to the end. The intertwining subplots and various twists keep you thinking and the softness in the development of the romance between Charlie and Yeager contrasts well with the violence and inhumanity of the drug cartels. Scott Bennett did an excellent job of the various characters and accents in the narration of the audiobook. They were believable and he managed to show the humour, anxiety, attraction and aggression very well. His voice drew you into the story and painted images in your mind, bringing both the characters and the story to life. This book would make an excellent action movie as it has intrigue, suspense, lots of action, great characters, plenty of "boom" and romance too. I received this audiobook at no cost and under no obligation.
I really liked this book. I was really exciting - lots of action, suspense, and even a bit of romance. The characters were interesting - I really loved the two main characters, Abel Yeager and Charlie Buchanan. They were easy to connect with and care about. I listened to the Audible audio version narrated by J. Scott Bennett. I really like everything I've heard him do, and this book was no exception. He has a comfortable reading voice and great character differentiation. I was even impressed with his accents in this one. Overall, an entertaining book and I look forward to more about Abel Yeager.
Able Yeager is almost broke veteran, now truck driver. Accident on the icy roads killed pregnant woman he can't forgive himself. Also woman's father cannot forget Yeager. Their are many twists in this sometimes hilarious story.
This book introduces Abel Yeager, his buddies and his new girlfriend. It is full of suspense and action as he is beset by old and new enemies while trying to get his trucking business solvent. The characters are unique and interesting, and there are twists, turns and traitors all along the way. The story is interesting, and the characters demonstrate the loyalty and bravery to be expected in Marines who have fought together. Yeager has a number of laws arising from his training and experience. They serve him well as he is embedded in danger from several sides. This is a great book, and sets the stage for more.
I just loved Abel Yeager as a character. Ex military, now a long haul trucker. Been there done that. I experienced the same career path. What happens to him with one of his loads really does happen. Not sure about hidden cash but I know for a fact that drugs are hidden in sealed loads that come across our northern border as well as the southern borders. Great story! Looking forward to the next in the series!
What an entertaining novel. Charlie, Yeager and best of all PorQue. So much action, twists and turns and great characters. Thoroughly enjoyable and impossible to put down. Absolutely loved the cheep chase. Perfect fun read from start to finish. P.S. Gotta love those Marines.
A fast-paced thriller full of twists and turns. The author has you trapped from the very beginning to the end. Characters that literally jumped out at you and either had you routing for them, or, routing against them. A storyline that kept on going. Who would claim the victory and who would go down in defeat?
Scott Bell packs an intricate plot and plenty of action in this page-turning thriller. His characters are spot on, and I enjoyed the various interplay between them. I definitely will buy the next book in the series.
Read the book in one sitting...edge of the seat thriller with unexpected twists and turns. Abel is a down-to-earth type of hero and his matchup with Charlie was a delightful addition. Looking forward to the next book!
Started well-ended well, even the middle didn’t disappoint. Enough going on to satisfy those addicted to action and adventure stories. Hopefully the books to follow will also be fast paced, action packed and thoroughly enjoyable.
What a refreshing good read. This was my first experience with Scott Bell’s novels and I enjoyed it very much. It began a little slow and like a freight train, picked up speed. I’m looking forward to a sequel. Dr. C. 🎉🎊👍🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷
Bell begins on a comfortable note and progressively builds to what seems impossible odds for realistic, loveable characters who keep the pages turning!