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Night to Knight
Special Forces Mark Steele commands an operation to save two American Missionaries. He’s injured and dismissed from the Special Forces. Not wanting to take a desk job, the Navy discharges him. Mark becomes discouraged until he discovers a new purpose in life—locate and return abducted children to their family. To protect his wife from emotional stress, Mark doesn’t tell her.
During one of Mark’s missions, Kaitlyn finds a crumbled paper in the wastebasket next to his desk. She calls the number and hears a female’s voice, then Mark’s voice in the background. “We’re a married couple headed to Phoenix,” Mark says. It’s part of his plan to reunite a mother with her son, but Kaitlyn misunderstands. She fears Mark is having an affair. At the same time, Carina, their 16-year-old daughter, becomes rebellious and starts hanging out with the wrong crowd. Mark’s practice of strict parenting makes the situation worse.
Mark returns the boy to his mother and later accepts a new assignment. He’s to locate and rescue Brenda, a 17-year-old girl. The police believe the girl had run away, and they do nothing to find her, but Tony, her dad, believes his daughter is in danger. Mark locates Brenda and sets up a rescue.
During the rescue, Brenda becomes confused, and screams. The kidnapper shoots Mark in the arm. He loses Brenda in the confusion. When he returns to his vehicle, Mark hears a phone message from his wife, “Carina is missing.” (She returns later that night, but Mark doesn’t get that message.) He abandons the mission and rushes home. But when he meets his wife at their house, he collapses because of the wound and exhaustion. An ambulance takes him to the hospital.
At this point, Kaitlyn is ready to end their marriage. Because of her personality, she hadn’t confronted him concerning the phone call but kept it secret. She calls her mother, asking for a place to stay. Her mom requests Kaitlyn at least give Mark time to explain. She reluctantly agrees to stay with Mark for the weekend.
When Mark wakes up, a police officer questions him about the gunshot wound. Mark also discovers his wife wants to leave him. Then to make matters worse, when Mark returns home from the hospital, he discovers evidence of his daughter’s plan to run away.
Can this Ex-Special Forces Commander make the changes necessary to win his family back?
During one of Mark’s missions, Kaitlyn finds a crumbled paper in the wastebasket next to his desk. She calls the number and hears a female’s voice, then Mark’s voice in the background. “We’re a married couple headed to Phoenix,” Mark says. It’s part of his plan to reunite a mother with her son, but Kaitlyn misunderstands. She fears Mark is having an affair. At the same time, Carina, their 16-year-old daughter, becomes rebellious and starts hanging out with the wrong crowd. Mark’s practice of strict parenting makes the situation worse.
Mark returns the boy to his mother and later accepts a new assignment. He’s to locate and rescue Brenda, a 17-year-old girl. The police believe the girl had run away, and they do nothing to find her, but Tony, her dad, believes his daughter is in danger. Mark locates Brenda and sets up a rescue.
During the rescue, Brenda becomes confused, and screams. The kidnapper shoots Mark in the arm. He loses Brenda in the confusion. When he returns to his vehicle, Mark hears a phone message from his wife, “Carina is missing.” (She returns later that night, but Mark doesn’t get that message.) He abandons the mission and rushes home. But when he meets his wife at their house, he collapses because of the wound and exhaustion. An ambulance takes him to the hospital.
At this point, Kaitlyn is ready to end their marriage. Because of her personality, she hadn’t confronted him concerning the phone call but kept it secret. She calls her mother, asking for a place to stay. Her mom requests Kaitlyn at least give Mark time to explain. She reluctantly agrees to stay with Mark for the weekend.
When Mark wakes up, a police officer questions him about the gunshot wound. Mark also discovers his wife wants to leave him. Then to make matters worse, when Mark returns home from the hospital, he discovers evidence of his daughter’s plan to run away.
Can this Ex-Special Forces Commander make the changes necessary to win his family back?
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2017
2 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 29, 2019
This book had me at the edge of my seat as I read. Packed with action throughout, I was so enthralled by the story that I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. Surprisingly though, what I read was also a heartfelt story about family and love.
Mark Steele has many battles to fight: both in his profession in the navy, and also in the home front. His heroism and desire to have a career that is full of danger results in placing his family on the outside. It is his wife Kaitlyn who has to constantly deal with the mundane routine of everyday life such as school drop-offs, and parenting a daughter on her own, as well as working as a secretary. Mark distances himself emotionally from his family because his mind is held hostage by the horrors of his job: of images of children that he couldn’t save. However, instead of steering clear of danger, he seeks it and when an opportunity presents itself to save more children, his instincts tell him to go for it, even if his wife may object.
The author does such an outstanding job with dealing with family issues. The complexities are presented so sensitively and showcase his extensive knowledge on the topic. I was so impressed with how this was achieved, and I found myself caring so much for the characters and being invested in each of their story to the point that I shed many tears.
The father/daughter relationship was so cleverly done. The teenage angst, as well as a family struggling to cope with their own personal losses and heartache, distances their daughter Carina more than ever during her formative years. Her parents are both not able to deal with their conflicting emotions and their relationship problems, and the impact of this is felt greatly by Carina who is struggling with her own teenage insecurities such as: her image, her lack of friends, and her desire to have a boyfriend and to feel appreciated. Her parents are so focused on their own problems, that it is difficult to see how volatile the situation is and how Carina may seek the affections from those who wish to do her harm. The parenting styles of both Kaitlyn and Mark are so different. Mark orders Carina around like he’s raising a soldier instead of a daughter, while his wife senses she needs love and is more nurturing in her parenting style. The author does an exceptional job at presenting these often real life dramas that exist in many families. The fact that Mark has a dangerous job complicates this further.
This novel has it all: drama, military action, relationship woes, and family conflict. It also deals with very serious and tragic issues and the horrors many children encounter when they are abducted. I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. The many twists and unpredictable outcomes kept me turning the pages. This was a remarkably insightful, action-packed, poignant and enthralling read from a very perceptive and gifted author!
Mark Steele has many battles to fight: both in his profession in the navy, and also in the home front. His heroism and desire to have a career that is full of danger results in placing his family on the outside. It is his wife Kaitlyn who has to constantly deal with the mundane routine of everyday life such as school drop-offs, and parenting a daughter on her own, as well as working as a secretary. Mark distances himself emotionally from his family because his mind is held hostage by the horrors of his job: of images of children that he couldn’t save. However, instead of steering clear of danger, he seeks it and when an opportunity presents itself to save more children, his instincts tell him to go for it, even if his wife may object.
The author does such an outstanding job with dealing with family issues. The complexities are presented so sensitively and showcase his extensive knowledge on the topic. I was so impressed with how this was achieved, and I found myself caring so much for the characters and being invested in each of their story to the point that I shed many tears.
The father/daughter relationship was so cleverly done. The teenage angst, as well as a family struggling to cope with their own personal losses and heartache, distances their daughter Carina more than ever during her formative years. Her parents are both not able to deal with their conflicting emotions and their relationship problems, and the impact of this is felt greatly by Carina who is struggling with her own teenage insecurities such as: her image, her lack of friends, and her desire to have a boyfriend and to feel appreciated. Her parents are so focused on their own problems, that it is difficult to see how volatile the situation is and how Carina may seek the affections from those who wish to do her harm. The parenting styles of both Kaitlyn and Mark are so different. Mark orders Carina around like he’s raising a soldier instead of a daughter, while his wife senses she needs love and is more nurturing in her parenting style. The author does an exceptional job at presenting these often real life dramas that exist in many families. The fact that Mark has a dangerous job complicates this further.
This novel has it all: drama, military action, relationship woes, and family conflict. It also deals with very serious and tragic issues and the horrors many children encounter when they are abducted. I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. The many twists and unpredictable outcomes kept me turning the pages. This was a remarkably insightful, action-packed, poignant and enthralling read from a very perceptive and gifted author!
June 7, 2021
For his first novel, I give it 5!
This novel has so much in it. It is the author's first, and just like I found in my first novel, of course after I put it on virtual shelves, there are a handful of tiny typos...here to tell you now - doesn't matter.
If your heart strings aren't pulled when you read this, then you must be taking too many steroid shots, because it made this big lug tear up several times.
Randy has a firm grasp of what stirs people's emotions, and anyone can tell from his writing that the author is a family man. And the realism in family dynamics, situations, and matters close to home is extremely well crafted. And for a guy who loves action, I found the action and violence tastefully done, and even found myself enjoying the serious and spiritual moments more because of what I think was perhaps an intentional cap on the amount of action and violence.
All you have to do is read my review to see that I liked this novel a lot; perhaps moreso than I expected (no offense, Randy - there were no radical Muslims).
Read it...for his first novel, I give it a 5!
This novel has so much in it. It is the author's first, and just like I found in my first novel, of course after I put it on virtual shelves, there are a handful of tiny typos...here to tell you now - doesn't matter.
If your heart strings aren't pulled when you read this, then you must be taking too many steroid shots, because it made this big lug tear up several times.
Randy has a firm grasp of what stirs people's emotions, and anyone can tell from his writing that the author is a family man. And the realism in family dynamics, situations, and matters close to home is extremely well crafted. And for a guy who loves action, I found the action and violence tastefully done, and even found myself enjoying the serious and spiritual moments more because of what I think was perhaps an intentional cap on the amount of action and violence.
All you have to do is read my review to see that I liked this novel a lot; perhaps moreso than I expected (no offense, Randy - there were no radical Muslims).
Read it...for his first novel, I give it a 5!
October 23, 2017
Great Story!
We need more knights in shining armor like Mark Steele. Randy Tramp did an excellent job spotlighting the mental and emotional shift required when a person leaves the military. An enjoyable read for all.
We need more knights in shining armor like Mark Steele. Randy Tramp did an excellent job spotlighting the mental and emotional shift required when a person leaves the military. An enjoyable read for all.
January 18, 2017
It's a military thriller with a heart. Commander Mark Steele has an exciting job in Special Forces. Though it's dangerous, he knows his work is critically important. But that job separates him from his wife and child. When an injury brings him home, his wife is glad to have him back. But other issues cause struggles within the family, leading to distrust and hurt. Steele takes dangerous risks in his new work. The thriller plot thickens, as he seeks to save a life. But can he save his family?
February 20, 2017
Fast paced and engaging
Maybe it's because the author wrote about so many places I'd lived or visited, like Guam, Japan, and Hawaii, but I was immediately drawn in.
When it came to the abduction of Brenda, the content was raw but not over the top with too many vivid details. I appreciated that the author gave a glimpse of reality without painting the full picture. The darkness of the sex slave or trafficking world is apparent but not overdone.
Mark Steele is a character every parent can relate to as he balances his own passion for rescuing children while honoring his own family ties. Most men, the providers or heads of households, work hard to not only provide for their family but work at being the problem solver of all areas in life. With the arena of work, sometimes guys forget to take a step back and refocus on family when they step through the door to their home. Mark Steele embodies this to a T. He's distracted by his passions to rescue so much so that he almost loses everything.
Great job on putting this story in an arena that we all can relate to. The author took an experience that would not be the norm for any of us and made it relatable. It's a great reminder to keep God first, family second, and all else in line.
Great writing, characters, and plot.
Maybe it's because the author wrote about so many places I'd lived or visited, like Guam, Japan, and Hawaii, but I was immediately drawn in.
When it came to the abduction of Brenda, the content was raw but not over the top with too many vivid details. I appreciated that the author gave a glimpse of reality without painting the full picture. The darkness of the sex slave or trafficking world is apparent but not overdone.
Mark Steele is a character every parent can relate to as he balances his own passion for rescuing children while honoring his own family ties. Most men, the providers or heads of households, work hard to not only provide for their family but work at being the problem solver of all areas in life. With the arena of work, sometimes guys forget to take a step back and refocus on family when they step through the door to their home. Mark Steele embodies this to a T. He's distracted by his passions to rescue so much so that he almost loses everything.
Great job on putting this story in an arena that we all can relate to. The author took an experience that would not be the norm for any of us and made it relatable. It's a great reminder to keep God first, family second, and all else in line.
Great writing, characters, and plot.
September 1, 2017
It took me a little bit to get hooked, but once I was, I couldn't put this book down. Tramp did a great job delving into the world of sex trafficking without being overly graphic and still allowing for a clean read. I was definitely on the edge of my seat in the midst of some of the scenes. He also did a great job not only in developing the hero but in developing his wife and daughter as well, allowing the reader to view things from their perspectives and empathize with each of their own personal struggles. There were a few times, however, that I felt the conversations were a bit choppy and not fully developed and also that some emotions and/or thoughts needed to be expounded upon a little further. But, overall this was a great read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
April 21, 2021
The novel seems slow to pick up at the beginning but to piece together the whys of the story, the traumatic ordeal has to be the set up. It's good standing on its own. But the author takes us into the heart of the trafficking world, and keeping it secret from his wife and daughter. As things spin out of control with his family, Mark has to overcome his fears to finish the job - and keep his family from falling apart. The reader follows the family through years - all in one book, and he did a great job of roping this reader in!
August 9, 2018
An intense drama that delves into the trauma and emotional pain of a wounded soldier and his attempts to reclaim his life as a civilian. As Mark Steele tries to find himself, he almost loses the most valuable part of his life, his family. The author paints a graphic picture of the dynamics of a modern-day family and the dangers that children face daily. The plot is powerful and takes the reader on a roller coaster of emotions.
December 14, 2020
A first novel by freelance writer deserves five stars.
Action, adventure, danger, drama, and a bit of romance all rolled into a fast paced novel. From tragedy to triumph, character Mark Steel lives life large on the pages of this book. As the reader turns the pages, family man, Mark learns through trials to balance his life. Places in the book had me chuckling, talking aloud to Mark, and shedding a few tears. I look forward to reading more from Randy Tramp. Could there be a sequel?
Action, adventure, danger, drama, and a bit of romance all rolled into a fast paced novel. From tragedy to triumph, character Mark Steel lives life large on the pages of this book. As the reader turns the pages, family man, Mark learns through trials to balance his life. Places in the book had me chuckling, talking aloud to Mark, and shedding a few tears. I look forward to reading more from Randy Tramp. Could there be a sequel?
May 18, 2017
This is a cool story that gives more insight into the lives that soldiers lead in the aftermath. The different perspectives and real life issues make it a good read!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews