Virtuality

by H.L. Wegley

What would you do with innovative technology that could make you the next Bill Gates but could unravel the fabric of civilized society? “Don’t sell Virtuality. Jess can help.” His brother Paul’s dying words to Vince van Gordon, a struggling author who can’t write happy endings, inherits controlling interest in Virtuality, a growing high-tech company with a mysterious product the US Army classified Top Secret. Paul’s last words force Vince to return home to Seattle to run Virtuality and face the girl he walked away from seven years ago. Can Vince, once again, endure being eclipsed by Paul’s larger-than-life shadow, a shadow that cost him the woman he loves? Jessica (Jess) Jamison is a genius, a beautiful, highly introverted, young woman who can count her friends on her thumbs. Seven years ago, Vince left, shattering her heart. Now Jess has a Computer Science degree and still prays her childhood soulmate will come home. If he’s willing to reconcile their relationship, Jess can help Vince take the reins of Virtuality. But why is someone trying to kill Vince and her? And could Professor Scoggins be right—that, in the wrong hands, Virtuality’s technology could shred the fabric of civilization, and stopping it may literally take an act of Congress? Virtuality is a character-driven thriller with romance about dangerous technology lurking on the near horizon—a story of love and sacrifice, illustrating that there are no shadowed, worthless people in God’s economy.

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2018

About the author

H L Wegley's stories are always Christian and always inspirational, with a climate of suspense and a forecast of stormy weather. What else would you expect from a Meteorologist?

He published a high-action, romantic suspense, 4-book series through Pelican Book Group. The stories include cyber -espionage, human trafficking, and cyber terrorism, all written to CBA standards.

His award-winning, 3-book, political thriller series, with romance (also CBA-compliant), released across the year 2016. Book 1, Voice in the Wilderness, Gold Medal winner in Readers' Favorite awards, is currently on Amazon with numerous reviews. Book 2, Voice of Freedom, Silver Medal winner in Readers' Favorite awards, released in late May 2016, and Book 3, Chasing Freedom (The Prequel), released in October 2016.

In addition to his scientific publications, H. L. Wegley has published 2 non-fiction books, including his Boomer book, Colby and Me: Growing up in the '50s.

You can find him on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/HLWegley/ and on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/H.-L.-Wegley/e/...

In the USAF H. L. Wegley served as an Intelligence Analyst, working closely with NSA and, after obtaining a degree in Meteorology, served as a Weather Officer. Upon leaving the military, he worked as a forecaster and a Research Scientist in Atmospheric Physics, where he published scientific articles, reports, and books. After earning an MS in Computer Science, he worked more than two decades developing large-scale computing systems for Boeing before retiring in the Seattle where he resides with his wife and where he writes. He is currently finishing his 12th manuscript.

Reviews

[Glenda Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review today is on the Romantic Suspense, Virtuality. I was sent this book to read, I don't have to review it but I enjoyed it so much I felt I must review it. This book is well written action packed and really quite scary. I know you are going to love it.

Author Vince van Gordon is trying to figure out an end to his latest book. He can never seem to make happy endings. He's called by his childhood best friend to let him know his brother is dying and needs to talk to him right away. Vince drops everything to fly to Seattle. Jess meets him at the airport. They make it to the hospital before his brother dies. He makes Vince promise not to sell his business, Virtuality, to any one especially his partner. He tells him someone is spying on them and they are in danger. Then he dies. He and Jess goes to the lawyer and then checks in at the lab. Patrick, the partner, refuses to allow them entrance but offers him four million to buy the company. Why is he willing to pay that kind of money? They are soon on the run by men they have dubbed the three stooges. Vince has always loved Jessica but she loved his brother. Now he must keep her safe without letting her know his heart. Vince sneaks into the lab and what he learns shocks him but now he understands.

Jessica Jamison has loved Vince since she was five. There was a time at thirteen that she had a crush on his brother Paul but that hadn't lasted long. Paul being several years older had squelched that idea. Then Vince left seven years ago and never came back. As a computer programmer Jess has helped Paul with his business a couple of times but doesn't have a high enough security clearance to work for him. She doesn't know why someone was spying on the company or why they suddenly find themselves in danger. They kidnap her but she gets away and Vince finds her. Now they are on the run.

A terrifying journey of two soul mates torn apart by circumstances. Three killers are after them bent on destruction. If they are killed and the three stooges get the business; life as we know it will be destroyed. God has a plan for these two, a plan for a hope and a future. God has a plan for you too, a good plan and not for evil. Give Him your heart and watch Him work in your life.

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what some people would do if they had to lay aside their smart phone for a while or walk away from their video games? I wonder about such things and am concerned at times when I see the impact the games and social media have on others. H.L. Wegley digs much deeper with his story of a young man who inherits his brother’s share of Virtuality Incorporated, a high-tech company that is developing a product for use by the US Army. The product is based on virtual reality but goes far beyond that concept. With his dying breath, his brother tells Vince to keep control of the company. The other partner seems intent on gaining control and Vince has to work closely with Jess who he left behind when he went to college. I enjoyed the adrenalin-charged opening of the story about three days after he returns home and the first chapter ends just as Vince and Jess are about to go over the Snoqualmie Falls to the rocks three-hundred feet below. Then the author steps back to Vince getting a call from Jessica to come home because his brother only has a few hours to live. The book begins with a huge rush and continues at full throttle with a lot of suspense, thrills, action, romance, faith, and interesting twists. I may have forgotten to mention that someone besides the Army knows about the product being developed and sees billions and trillions of dollars flowing into their coffers, but their distribution would be for evil gain rather than the good intended by the original design. The story is not only a wake-up call concerning how technology can be used for either good or evil. It also highlights that we can achieve great good when we seek to adhere to God’s original design, but we create major problems for ourselves and society when we veer away from God’s design. I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.

[Stella Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great book. I first became acquainted with Mr. Wegley’s writing with Voice in the Wilderness and I thought that was one of the best books I had ever read but he has just blown it out of the park with this one also. I was hooked from the very first page and it was intense until the very end. He writes all his books with such thorough knowledge and you never feel like something is just made up to fit the story. Vince and Jess kept me enthralled with their bantering and the romance that simmered throughout the book. You will be guessing until the end about how they are going to get out of the situations they get themselves into. A very lovable hero and heroine. I was given this book by the author with no requirement for a review. All views stated are my very own.

[Vibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both entertaining and interesting

Overall this was an enjoyable romance/suspense story. The romance does use a miscommunication trope, so fair warning to those who dislike them. The explanation for the misunderstandings between the two is plausible to some extent, though I have to admit that I wasn't fully sold on it.

There were also several times where the story felt disjointed and I had to reread to see if I'd missed anything that would have clarified things for me, but I had not.

The suspense level was high enough to be exciting, but not so much that it was exhausting. And there was enough detail to know what the villains were saying/threatening without them explicitly doing so. My gratitude to the author for keeping it clean as well as lighthearted as much as possible.

Clean romance level: sweet kisses, a few positive religious references without preachiness, no undesirable language

[Linda Goff · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opener

An eye opener ....this book gave me information I never gave a thought to.....how high tech could help bring down society as we have known it. We see our children (and even us) engrossed in our video games to the point of wasting hours of our time.....this book opened my eyes to how this technology can be turned into pure evil. A great read! It does have a happy ending!

[judy dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah!

I have gotten hooked on H.L. Wegley. These books are well written and thought provoking. In this day and age, the scenarios are very probable. I read the series of the truth finding warriors and tried to read another author but had to download another series by Mr. Wegley. Excellent author and highly believable story teller. Clean reading as well. Very important to me. GOD bless you, sir and thank you.

[Brenda C. McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!!!!!

This author certainly made it plain how damage can be done when the wrong people get hold of our technology. I pray that someone, somewhere will the courage that these two young people in this story had to do something about the pornography that is so readily available on our imternet

[sue becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was great and really hard to put down!

The book was really interesting and scary at the same time when you realized that something like this could really happen. The author made the story and the characters so true to life. You can tell he did a lot of research. I really have enjoyed reading several of his books.

[Eugenia Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller That Raises Important Questions

H.L. Wendy's books have lots of action and tackle real world issues from a Christian perspective. This novel has suspense and romance while confronting the problems of addiction to computer games and the dangers of virtual reality in pornography. Virtuality is a thought-provoking and exciting novel. Definitely worth the time to read.

[Clara K Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little dark

Loved the characters. This book was a little darker than I usually read, but it held my interest so I had to keep reading it. Did like the way it ended and it certainly made me think about how immoral this world is but how much worse it could become.

[Bonnie L Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

For Virtually

Great book!!! I am waiting for new books. I know they will be great too! Thanks for all the wonderful reading.

[Linda Kay Orpet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our future ?

I didn't have to understand all or, even most of the technology, to understand the threats to current society this book exposes. In the handful of years since it was a first draft, the threats have multiplied exponentially.

[Frances M. Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This book kept me interested from start to finish. Love, romance, fear and intrigue are all here. Hope you enjoy it!

[Mary Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic and frightening

This is an excellent story and one that could happen any time! The twists and turns really kept me wanting to read more.

[Alissa Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great educational and enlightening read

This was a great read and I definitely recommend it to others. The storyline is fascinating, but I do think there is such technology. This author is very educated and experienced. It appears to me that he writes fiction stories that are actually possible. Great reading with action and adventure edits best.

[Deb Haggerty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deb’s Dozen: Struggling author inherits brother’s company—virtual reality turns into a virtual hell.

H. L. Wegley writes extremely well-researched romantic suspense. Virtuality warns us that virtual reality portends dangers we might not realize.

Struggling author Vince van Gordon returns home because his brother Paul is dying. Paul tells Vince that Virtuality, his technology company, will be Vince’s upon Paul’s death. His last words to Vince plead, “Don’t sell Virtuality. Jess can help.”

Vince knows next to nothing about the company or technology or virtual reality. And he left home in the first place because of Jess. He believed she loved Paul instead of him, which destroyed him—his best friend loved another.

Jess never knew why Vince left—she only knew she was heartbroken at his leaving. She’s always loved him—he was her best friend! Now she knows she has to help Vince save Paul’s company.

Virtuality has taken virtual reality to lengths perhaps never anticipated when the concept originated. Now, the experience, because of technological advances, can addict a person to its use. A porn king pin, in an industry often at the forefront of new technology, hatches a scheme to take over the company.

Jess and Vince struggle to evade the killers sent by the king pin and to save the company. Along the way, they must overcome the feelings they had and acknowledge the feelings they now realize they never lost. I couldn’t put the book down. Wegley knows whereof he writes and therefore, the education I received along with the excitement kept me turning page after page. Five stars!

H. L. Wegley served in the Air Force as an Intelligence Analyst and a Weather Officer. He has worked as a research scientist and developed computing systems. Harry and his wife retired near Seattle. Wegley writes, to quote Harry, “inspirational thrillers and high-action, romantic-suspense novels.”

The author gave me a copy of Virtuality, but I was in no way obligated to write a review.

[Chrissy Garwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember how I came to add this book to my to-be-read collection. As soon as I started reading it, I began to ask questions about my choice. This is more than a story about a company that is developing virtual reality technology. Woven into the story there is a lot of depth to the ethical considerations should this kind of technology fall into the wrong hands. The story didn't grab me straight away, but I'm glad I persisted. By the time I reached the eighth chapter, I was hooked.

There was romantic tension from the very beginning. The two central characters used to be best friends, but something happened that broke their close friendship and led to their estrangement for seven years. Throughout their adventure, they often resorted to the kind of youthful taunts that are common among teenagers. The habit of taunting and baiting each other continued to the very end.

If you read this book and it leaves you with questions about whether the author overemphasised the negative aspects of this kind of technology, may I suggest you check out a science fiction novel, "Apprentice" by Kristen Young. I read the second in the series, "Elite" yesterday. Perhaps that influenced my choice today...

[Beth Sears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Virtuality by H.L. Ashley is a suspense Action Thriller. I could not put it. Down. It has everything you want in a book. Faith based. The characters were awesome. It will keep you keep you reading until the last page. I've read a lot of this author books and This is my favorite one. I would recommend this book to any one that loves fast pace thrillers.I received a copy of this book. Not contingent on a review. How ever I was happy to read it and do a review.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great mind bending idea for a novel. So very well written. I loved it from the first paragraph. Could hardly put it down. A very thrilling ride with a love story weaving through, but Jess and Vince can't seem to get on the same page. Highly recommend. I received a copy from the author. Opinions are my own.

[Marla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and I didn’t want to put it down! I love the characters. I will definitely be reading more of this author’s books. I appreciate the great writing, the mystery and the clean romance.