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Mike Romeo #1
Romeo's Rules
If you want to stay alive, you better know the rules . . .
Natalia Mayne said, “What's the first rule?”
“Fear nothing,” I said.
“You have any more?”
“Do unto them before they do unto you.”
“Really?”
”And you don’t owe the truth to people who lie."
“I’ve never met anybody like you.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
Mike Romeo is an ex-cage fighter living off the grid in Los Angeles. Running from a dark guilt that dogs him, he's finally found a place where he can rest and even heal.
Then a church blows up. And with it all of Romeo's hopes to be left alone. When he stops to help an injured woman whose kids are missing, someone decides to put a target on his back.
But whoever wants him dead picked the wrong guy. Because Romeo has rules––and he's going to make them stick.
Natalia Mayne said, “What's the first rule?”
“Fear nothing,” I said.
“You have any more?”
“Do unto them before they do unto you.”
“Really?”
”And you don’t owe the truth to people who lie."
“I’ve never met anybody like you.”
“I’ve heard that before.”
Mike Romeo is an ex-cage fighter living off the grid in Los Angeles. Running from a dark guilt that dogs him, he's finally found a place where he can rest and even heal.
Then a church blows up. And with it all of Romeo's hopes to be left alone. When he stops to help an injured woman whose kids are missing, someone decides to put a target on his back.
But whoever wants him dead picked the wrong guy. Because Romeo has rules––and he's going to make them stick.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2015
About the author
James Scott Bell
147 books1,058 followersJim is a former trial lawyer who now writes and speaks full time. He is the bestselling author of Try Dying, No Legal Grounds, Presumed Guilty, Glimpses of Paradise, Breach of Promise and several other thrillers. He is a winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Fiction, and was a fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine. He has written two books in the Writers' Digest series, Write Great Fiction: Plot & Structure and Revision & Self-Editing.
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Jim has taught writing at Pepperdine University and numerous writers conferences. He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied writing with Raymond Carver.
Series:
* Shannon Saga (with Tracie Peterson)
* The Trials of Kit Shannon
* Ty Buchanan
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
September 20, 2020
Excellent book.
Romeo, the hero, is a philosopher and a vigilante (sort of). His character's background is revealed slowly in the book so I won't spoil it.
He is keeping on the down-low in LA with a friend but gets involved in trying to help a woman find her kids. That is where everything gets more complicated.
The hero giving Latin quotes all the time and sharing his philosophical thoughts by quotes of philosophers of the past was at first interesting. A man with violent skills that thinks about his world. Then it got annoying...everyone and I mean everyone says, "you talk funny." Then I accepted that he is just that one person you know that shares the fact they think they more than you do-all the time. So I now accept his acting smart as part of his character.
Romeo is interesting, the story is interesting and full of action. I suggest you read it. This was book one in a series I will read the rest of the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 93% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 320+ reviews)
Romeo, the hero, is a philosopher and a vigilante (sort of). His character's background is revealed slowly in the book so I won't spoil it.
He is keeping on the down-low in LA with a friend but gets involved in trying to help a woman find her kids. That is where everything gets more complicated.
The hero giving Latin quotes all the time and sharing his philosophical thoughts by quotes of philosophers of the past was at first interesting. A man with violent skills that thinks about his world. Then it got annoying...everyone and I mean everyone says, "you talk funny." Then I accepted that he is just that one person you know that shares the fact they think they more than you do-all the time. So I now accept his acting smart as part of his character.
Romeo is interesting, the story is interesting and full of action. I suggest you read it. This was book one in a series I will read the rest of the series.
Review by Mike Slavin author of award-winning Kill Crime (action-packed thriller on Amazon to buy or KU. As of this writing 93% 5 and 4-star reviews on Amazon with 320+ reviews)
July 26, 2020
Fast paced thriller.
A former fighter, Mike takes up the job of undercover security. The entire story is completely action packed and enough mystery to keep us glued to the book. Enjoyed the story.
A former fighter, Mike takes up the job of undercover security. The entire story is completely action packed and enough mystery to keep us glued to the book. Enjoyed the story.
May 22, 2020
Excellent novel. Clear, crisp writing reminiscent of classic detective novels. A lovable, witty, wonderful main character. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next.
June 9, 2020
Mike Romeo is a great character and Bell writes great stories. On to the next in the series.
October 19, 2020
Protagonist Mike Romeo steals the show here with his pedantic wise guy sense of humor and martial arts "courage under fire" personality. He endeavors to help a woman rescue her kidnapped children from her billionaire ex husband and he's kidnapped, beaten and tortured by an assortment of bad guys for his efforts but always prevails with a smile on his battered face. It's a good read because it presents us with an original character in Romeo whose wise guy retorts, literary quotations and cage fighting expertise are worth the price of the book. I will continue reading the series because as Romeo would say; "Once more into the breach" with a smile on his face, and mine.
October 24, 2025
3.75🌟
Audiobook (virtual voice)
I suspect I am not as intelligent as the character Mike Romeo, but I take great delight in the words I recognize from books and movies. I enjoy Bell’s style of writing. Spare. A little hard-boiled. Romeo is a character I can root for. He’s rough and tough, no doubt, but just like other characters in the book who care about Romeo, I hold out hope for him and look forward to reading more books in this series.
obin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Glad I read it. Will probably read more by this author.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed others so much more.
1🌟 = I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
Audiobook (virtual voice)
I suspect I am not as intelligent as the character Mike Romeo, but I take great delight in the words I recognize from books and movies. I enjoy Bell’s style of writing. Spare. A little hard-boiled. Romeo is a character I can root for. He’s rough and tough, no doubt, but just like other characters in the book who care about Romeo, I hold out hope for him and look forward to reading more books in this series.
obin’s Ratings
5🌟 = Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.
4🌟 = Loved it. Will recommend to others.
3🌟 = Glad I read it. Will probably read more by this author.
2🌟 = The book was okay, but I’ve enjoyed others so much more.
1🌟 = I didn’t like it and can’t recommend it.
January 8, 2019
This was the first fiction I've read by James Scott Bell and it sure won't be the last! I was sucked in from the time I read the "look inside" on Amazon. I really liked the characters, especially Mike Romeo. I liked his smart-ass attitude and the bits of his history that we learned were fascinating. I did not see the ending coming! I've already ordered the other books in this series.:)
October 23, 2023
Another all star story
Mike Romeo rocks as a character. Teamed with an interesting plot makes this one a winner. This is the 2nd or 3rd Mike Romeo story and I've loved them all.
Mike Romeo rocks as a character. Teamed with an interesting plot makes this one a winner. This is the 2nd or 3rd Mike Romeo story and I've loved them all.
October 17, 2020
Five years ago, Mike Romeo became the latest heroic figure in male fantasy fiction. He checks many of the Jack Reacher boxes — and then some. Tall and muscular. Fearless and defiant in the face of mortal danger. A natural chick magnet. Skilled in MMA. Impertinent and quick to quip.
A “then some” is how Romeo likes to pepper his speech with Classical Literature quotes, which as Descartes said about the study of Philosophy, is designed to make him admired by the less learned. Indeed, the author spends a copious amount of print and a tiresome amount of time trying too hard to impress his readers that both he and Romeo are educated.
Another “then some” is his improbable sidekick, a former Mossad agent who’s also an Orthodox rabbi, so Romeo has at his disposal a world-class spy master and two millennia of Talmudic wisdom — though there’s scant evidence of either of these skills being utilized by the rabbi in this book.
Also unlike Reacher, Romeo speaks conversational Chinese, had been admitted to Yale University at age 14, plays chess like a champion, has a working knowledge of film noir, is a walking dictionary of obscure Latin phrases and is a veritable encyclopedia of trivia. You know, just your average everyday guy.
The author even copies Lee Child by dissecting each fight blow-by-blow to help readers who avoid physical confrontations in real life, experience the adrenaline rush: “I did a half-body turn to the left at the same time I grabbed his wrist and pushed down. With my right I gave him a hammer to the nose.”
But watching the Romeo character wisecrack and battle his way through so many death-defying situations soon becomes monotonous, and his philosophic references intended as sublime were instead sophomoric.
For example, David Hume, the British empiricist who Kant famously credits with waking him from his “dogmatic slumbers,” is essential to every college course in Modern Philosophy, but the writings of Thomas Reid are studied by virtually no one today except, apparently, Mike Romeo.
One final note. Every Superman needs a worthy adversary, and in this book we are led to believe that Romeo’s nemesis is a rich and powerful benefactor of the Democratic Party (no joke: see page 25). Of course, creating such a villain in today’s climate of cancel culture would suggest that the author has courage to rival Mike Romeo’s. But without me spoiling the ending, you may be disappointed to learn that he doesn’t.
A “then some” is how Romeo likes to pepper his speech with Classical Literature quotes, which as Descartes said about the study of Philosophy, is designed to make him admired by the less learned. Indeed, the author spends a copious amount of print and a tiresome amount of time trying too hard to impress his readers that both he and Romeo are educated.
Another “then some” is his improbable sidekick, a former Mossad agent who’s also an Orthodox rabbi, so Romeo has at his disposal a world-class spy master and two millennia of Talmudic wisdom — though there’s scant evidence of either of these skills being utilized by the rabbi in this book.
Also unlike Reacher, Romeo speaks conversational Chinese, had been admitted to Yale University at age 14, plays chess like a champion, has a working knowledge of film noir, is a walking dictionary of obscure Latin phrases and is a veritable encyclopedia of trivia. You know, just your average everyday guy.
The author even copies Lee Child by dissecting each fight blow-by-blow to help readers who avoid physical confrontations in real life, experience the adrenaline rush: “I did a half-body turn to the left at the same time I grabbed his wrist and pushed down. With my right I gave him a hammer to the nose.”
But watching the Romeo character wisecrack and battle his way through so many death-defying situations soon becomes monotonous, and his philosophic references intended as sublime were instead sophomoric.
For example, David Hume, the British empiricist who Kant famously credits with waking him from his “dogmatic slumbers,” is essential to every college course in Modern Philosophy, but the writings of Thomas Reid are studied by virtually no one today except, apparently, Mike Romeo.
One final note. Every Superman needs a worthy adversary, and in this book we are led to believe that Romeo’s nemesis is a rich and powerful benefactor of the Democratic Party (no joke: see page 25). Of course, creating such a villain in today’s climate of cancel culture would suggest that the author has courage to rival Mike Romeo’s. But without me spoiling the ending, you may be disappointed to learn that he doesn’t.
March 16, 2023
4.25🌟
Audiobook (narrated by James L. Rubart)
James Scott Bell’s books never disappoint me. Mike Romeo is a fascinating character. Intelligent, educated, and widely-read (as the author must be as well), he was also a professional fighter for a time. He’s running from personal pain, and I look forward to learning more of his story in future books.
Audiobook (narrated by James L. Rubart)
James Scott Bell’s books never disappoint me. Mike Romeo is a fascinating character. Intelligent, educated, and widely-read (as the author must be as well), he was also a professional fighter for a time. He’s running from personal pain, and I look forward to learning more of his story in future books.
June 10, 2016
Mike Romeo is back, and he's just as sarcastic as ever. This time he's headed to San Francisco where he hopes to unravel the machine of a dirty political campaign. But as is always the case for Mike, there's more going on than first meets the eye, and he soon finds himself right in the middle of more than he bargained for. With a rat-a-tat style that's fast becoming a Bell trademark, Mike exchanges fists and quips with the speed of BART. Lots of great supporting characters too. Will the city by the bay mean the end for our ex-cage fighter with a penchant for quoting dead philosophers and Shakespeare? There's never a dull moment in a Mike Romeo thriller, and while a few times I might've appreciated a tad more breathing room between the action, this one is even better than the first book, Romeo's Rules, which I also enjoyed. Bring on book three!
May 4, 2021
Loved the action
A real winner of a book. Lots of action, good plot, likeable if not quirky main character. The ending seemed thrown together quickly in order to tie up the loose ends. It felt rushed and although satisfying, the outcome was told to the hero. He didn't figure it out himself. Satisfying but yet awkward. I'll read the next one in the series.
A real winner of a book. Lots of action, good plot, likeable if not quirky main character. The ending seemed thrown together quickly in order to tie up the loose ends. It felt rushed and although satisfying, the outcome was told to the hero. He didn't figure it out himself. Satisfying but yet awkward. I'll read the next one in the series.
June 25, 2019
An intriguing look at politics
I love the Romeo character and always feel smarter after I’ve read one of the books. Solid plot, good dialogue, love the action.
I love the Romeo character and always feel smarter after I’ve read one of the books. Solid plot, good dialogue, love the action.
May 31, 2022
When it comes to these ubiquitous series featuring detectives (licensed, police, amateur, etc.) solving crimes, there’s usually a formula. The formula that here, in this first-in-series of Mike Romeo’s adventures is worked pretty well to the author’s credit.
The protagonist traditionally has to be both quirky and damaged. Romeo’s both. But more of the former. A child prodigy son of Ivy League professors, he’s smart. Unapologetically randomly booksmart and not shy about it, confusing most people around him. Kinda funny about it too.
Otherwise, you have a pretty standard Jack Reacher-esque character – a giant musclebound, peripatetic dude with zero possessions, great fighting skills, and a strong sense of justice.
Romeo just kind of wants to mind his own business, but he gets involved with helping a pretty lady sort out the shambles of her marriage and ends up stepping on all sorts of toes. The toes belong to feet that try to kick him, but Romeo is the kind of guy who can take a kicking.
Soon everyone’s kicking everyone, those cats are fast as lightning. Scheming, manipulative, lying cats.
So yeah, it’s that kind of a book. But it reads quickly. And it entertains. The plot didn’t really do much for me, so the book rode solely on the strength and charm of Romeo as a character. And actually did ok, as such. Like most first books in series, this one was a kindle freebie. I might not be opposed to reading the next one…if it came along as a freebie too. But objectively, for people, who love these sorts of books, this one was nicely done and did a good job of attracting attention to the further adventures of Mike Romeo.
The protagonist traditionally has to be both quirky and damaged. Romeo’s both. But more of the former. A child prodigy son of Ivy League professors, he’s smart. Unapologetically randomly booksmart and not shy about it, confusing most people around him. Kinda funny about it too.
Otherwise, you have a pretty standard Jack Reacher-esque character – a giant musclebound, peripatetic dude with zero possessions, great fighting skills, and a strong sense of justice.
Romeo just kind of wants to mind his own business, but he gets involved with helping a pretty lady sort out the shambles of her marriage and ends up stepping on all sorts of toes. The toes belong to feet that try to kick him, but Romeo is the kind of guy who can take a kicking.
Soon everyone’s kicking everyone, those cats are fast as lightning. Scheming, manipulative, lying cats.
So yeah, it’s that kind of a book. But it reads quickly. And it entertains. The plot didn’t really do much for me, so the book rode solely on the strength and charm of Romeo as a character. And actually did ok, as such. Like most first books in series, this one was a kindle freebie. I might not be opposed to reading the next one…if it came along as a freebie too. But objectively, for people, who love these sorts of books, this one was nicely done and did a good job of attracting attention to the further adventures of Mike Romeo.
January 24, 2021
If you are searching for a book full of testosterone and Fight Club antics performed by a pretentious wannabe-intellectual, this is DEFINITELY the right read for you! On the other hand, should you prefer things like a believable plot and well-developed characters, with a minimum of unwarranted machismo, avoid this at all costs. If Mike Hammer, Hulk Hogan and Noam Chomsky had a weird threesome and simultaneously impregnated Jerry Springer, the result would be Mike Romeo, title character and a man able to engage in myriad pissing matches and win each and every one. He must have a seriously huge....amount of inner fortitude. Any further commentary on my part would probably consist of snippy little barbs, so before I go there....oh, wait...
June 25, 2018
Mike Romeo, talks "off the wall," not like a normal person. In a conversation, watch for sharp turns. So interesting.
As a former cage fighter, trouble seems to follow Romeo. When he's hired by a senatorial campaign to do undercover work, challenges come, including a near miss.
What makes this series so good is the main character. You never know what random thing he's going to say. Romeo is determined to find answers. To find justice.
This book has politics at its best-or worst.
As a former cage fighter, trouble seems to follow Romeo. When he's hired by a senatorial campaign to do undercover work, challenges come, including a near miss.
What makes this series so good is the main character. You never know what random thing he's going to say. Romeo is determined to find answers. To find justice.
This book has politics at its best-or worst.
September 9, 2018
A bibliophile's thriller
Mike Romeo (not his real name) should be a knockoff Jack Reacher, a vagabond wandering the American highways and byways kicking ass and serving justice... He turns out to be more than that.
Mike Romeo (not his real name) should be a knockoff Jack Reacher, a vagabond wandering the American highways and byways kicking ass and serving justice... He turns out to be more than that.
November 23, 2018
Romeo Wiseacre
This is a short book with a decent twist at the end. But the most enjoyable part is the wise cracking Romeo and his philosophy. Recommended.
This is a short book with a decent twist at the end. But the most enjoyable part is the wise cracking Romeo and his philosophy. Recommended.
December 14, 2018
Short take: enjoyed the narrative. Story was not great.
January 12, 2022
I found this book to be enjoyable, but I didn't like myself for enjoying it: the level of violence is considerably higher than I was comfortable with.
August 26, 2020
Fun! I was in the mood for some fast moving summertime reading, and this book delivered exactly that. I’ve read some of James Scott Bell’s books on the craft of fiction, and when I saw this title in my reading list I knew I wanted to try some of his actual fiction. I’m glad I did. I found Mike Romeo to be an interesting character. Of course there’s the tough guy thing, but a tendency to quote latin at the bad guys works for me. This was the first in a series, and I’m fairly certain I’ll read the others as well. I’m not a fan of grade inflation when handing out stars to books, but this one really did amuse me so five-stars it is. I’m a fan.
October 20, 2022
Romeo A Man of Reckoning
This was a good read. Romeo is a different kind of hero, who does what he has to to survive. Story line was good. Big D
This was a good read. Romeo is a different kind of hero, who does what he has to to survive. Story line was good. Big D
March 28, 2019
Mike Romeo is an former cage fighter trying to stay off the radar in Los Angeles—until he comes to the rescue of an attractive woman whose children are missing after a church bombing. Helping Natalia gains him some powerful—and violent—enemies, but Mike is not one to back down.
This is a noir-feel thriller, fairly clean but so violent in a couple of places that I skipped some pages. That said, it’s written with a pleasing dry humour. And Mike and his wheelchair-bound Rabbi friend Ira (a former Mossad agent) are seriously impressive in their skill sets.
Although this is a mainstream novel, the author’s Christian worldview comes through in a few places, never in a preachy way. The hero, Mike, is prone to highly intellectual philosophizing—often right before he has to lay somebody out. And violent as he can be toward criminals, he’s outspoken against domestic abuse.
Romeo’s Rules is the first in the Mike Romeo Thriller series. At the half-way mark (the bit I skipped) I thought it’d be the only one I could read, but after that scene it was manageable and I hope to read book 2, Romeo’s Way.
James Scott Bell also writes legal thrillers (including a few with zombie lawyers) and he’s a respected author of books on the craft of fiction writing. For more about the author and his work, visit jamesscottbell.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
This is a noir-feel thriller, fairly clean but so violent in a couple of places that I skipped some pages. That said, it’s written with a pleasing dry humour. And Mike and his wheelchair-bound Rabbi friend Ira (a former Mossad agent) are seriously impressive in their skill sets.
Although this is a mainstream novel, the author’s Christian worldview comes through in a few places, never in a preachy way. The hero, Mike, is prone to highly intellectual philosophizing—often right before he has to lay somebody out. And violent as he can be toward criminals, he’s outspoken against domestic abuse.
Romeo’s Rules is the first in the Mike Romeo Thriller series. At the half-way mark (the bit I skipped) I thought it’d be the only one I could read, but after that scene it was manageable and I hope to read book 2, Romeo’s Way.
James Scott Bell also writes legal thrillers (including a few with zombie lawyers) and he’s a respected author of books on the craft of fiction writing. For more about the author and his work, visit jamesscottbell.com.
[Review copy from my personal library.]
September 30, 2015
Mike Romeo is an ex cage fighter on the run from his past. All he wants is to escape and maybe, finally, make peace with life. But then the church explodes, and he discovers someone's covering up a murder.
"To survive means to fight. There is never any rest. You've either got enemies outside, inside, or both."
Rule #1: Fear Nothing.
Mike has nothing to lose, which is his downfall and his strength, and he digs deep to find the men responsible not only for the murder but the vicious attempts on his life.
Rule #2: Do unto them before they do unto you.
He's learned the hard way that you can't always be the nice guy and come out on top. Or alive. Mike's not a guy who goes looking for trouble simply for the fun of it, but this is different. This is personal. You don't mess with Mike without bleeding.
Rule #3: You don’t owe the truth to people who lie.
And the lies run deep in this thriller. Who can Mike trust? With only one true friend and enemies lining up with each twist and turn, Mike just might be down for the count... but anyone who believes that doesn't know Mike Romeo.
Romeo's Rules is a fantastic culmination of James Scott Bell's best works to date. Taking the noir genre into the 21st century, this series mixes the grit of Ty Buchanan, the fight of Jimmy Gallagher, and the introspection and wit of Sister Justicia Marie into a suspenseful blend all its own. Some of Mike's hilarious quips would be perfect for the big screen and had me cracking up. Bell also proves with Romeo's Rules that you can write a gritty thriller without resorting to foul language. Highly recommended for those who like a little edge in their books but don't want to feel like they rolled around in the gutter. I'd love to see this book made into a movie!
"To survive means to fight. There is never any rest. You've either got enemies outside, inside, or both."
Rule #1: Fear Nothing.
Mike has nothing to lose, which is his downfall and his strength, and he digs deep to find the men responsible not only for the murder but the vicious attempts on his life.
Rule #2: Do unto them before they do unto you.
He's learned the hard way that you can't always be the nice guy and come out on top. Or alive. Mike's not a guy who goes looking for trouble simply for the fun of it, but this is different. This is personal. You don't mess with Mike without bleeding.
Rule #3: You don’t owe the truth to people who lie.
And the lies run deep in this thriller. Who can Mike trust? With only one true friend and enemies lining up with each twist and turn, Mike just might be down for the count... but anyone who believes that doesn't know Mike Romeo.
Romeo's Rules is a fantastic culmination of James Scott Bell's best works to date. Taking the noir genre into the 21st century, this series mixes the grit of Ty Buchanan, the fight of Jimmy Gallagher, and the introspection and wit of Sister Justicia Marie into a suspenseful blend all its own. Some of Mike's hilarious quips would be perfect for the big screen and had me cracking up. Bell also proves with Romeo's Rules that you can write a gritty thriller without resorting to foul language. Highly recommended for those who like a little edge in their books but don't want to feel like they rolled around in the gutter. I'd love to see this book made into a movie!
January 16, 2017
Los Angeles, CA. Our Lady of Church.
Natalia jog by this church all the time. BOOM!
Officer Huck (LAPD) arrived on the scene on long the LAFD.
Natalia Mayne (wealthy business woman) informed him there was a body in the church & it wasn’t from the arson.
Detective John Davis (40+, LAPD) was on the scene also.
Natalia 2 kids: Brianna (girl), & Sam (boy) are nowhere to be found.
Mike Romeo (PI, ex-cage fighter, Yale) offers to help find them.
Stephen (Nurse) was looking at Phil’s vitals,
Officer Valenzuela came to ask him a few questions.
Phil Rizzoli (aka Mike) was going to see Mark David Mayne (Billionaire, ex-husband/father, software designer).
FBI SA Dominic Posting, & Agent Holly Samara (DEA) caught up with him 1st.
Will Mike find Natalie’s kids?
Will he wrap his other cases he is working on?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; Compendium Press; Amazon Digital Services LLC; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Natalia jog by this church all the time. BOOM!
Officer Huck (LAPD) arrived on the scene on long the LAFD.
Natalia Mayne (wealthy business woman) informed him there was a body in the church & it wasn’t from the arson.
Detective John Davis (40+, LAPD) was on the scene also.
Natalia 2 kids: Brianna (girl), & Sam (boy) are nowhere to be found.
Mike Romeo (PI, ex-cage fighter, Yale) offers to help find them.
Stephen (Nurse) was looking at Phil’s vitals,
Officer Valenzuela came to ask him a few questions.
Phil Rizzoli (aka Mike) was going to see Mark David Mayne (Billionaire, ex-husband/father, software designer).
FBI SA Dominic Posting, & Agent Holly Samara (DEA) caught up with him 1st.
Will Mike find Natalie’s kids?
Will he wrap his other cases he is working on?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free Goodreads; Author; Compendium Press; Amazon Digital Services LLC; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
November 15, 2017
The Pilot Book of the Mike Romeo Series
Get ready for a really good mystery thriller series! This book is the kickoff of the Mike Romeo mystery thriller series, and I can tell you, I am hooked. I read the book in one night and to let you know something; I couldn't put the book down. If this book was a movie, it would keep you on the edge of your seat. I like this book; Mike Romeo puts me in the mind of Humphrey Bogart, whose character was always to me serious and dark; but in this story, Mike tries to be serious but is funny at the same time.
The author, James Scott sets the stage - in California, close to the San Francisco Bay area. The principal character is Mike Romeo - he was a former cage fighter just wanting to take life easy. Things change when Mike accepted an undercover security job from a California senator, during campaign time. Talk about not a dull moment, this book has a lot of action in it, like; solving an old murder case, a church being bombed, people getting shot and much more.
This story has many twists, ups and downs and hides emotional hurts like never before. All I can say to you are, “it’s a good story." Furthermore, it’s filled with humor, temper and excitement with each character used throughout the story. It’s a lot more I can say, but I don’t want to be a book spoiler. Like I stated earlier, “it’s a good story."
This is a must read book. I recommend this book to everyone who love mystery thriller books and the Word of God.
My Leaving Thoughts:
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6
NEED I Say More!
Get ready for a really good mystery thriller series! This book is the kickoff of the Mike Romeo mystery thriller series, and I can tell you, I am hooked. I read the book in one night and to let you know something; I couldn't put the book down. If this book was a movie, it would keep you on the edge of your seat. I like this book; Mike Romeo puts me in the mind of Humphrey Bogart, whose character was always to me serious and dark; but in this story, Mike tries to be serious but is funny at the same time.
The author, James Scott sets the stage - in California, close to the San Francisco Bay area. The principal character is Mike Romeo - he was a former cage fighter just wanting to take life easy. Things change when Mike accepted an undercover security job from a California senator, during campaign time. Talk about not a dull moment, this book has a lot of action in it, like; solving an old murder case, a church being bombed, people getting shot and much more.
This story has many twists, ups and downs and hides emotional hurts like never before. All I can say to you are, “it’s a good story." Furthermore, it’s filled with humor, temper and excitement with each character used throughout the story. It’s a lot more I can say, but I don’t want to be a book spoiler. Like I stated earlier, “it’s a good story."
This is a must read book. I recommend this book to everyone who love mystery thriller books and the Word of God.
My Leaving Thoughts:
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6
NEED I Say More!
February 21, 2018
I really like James Scott Bell's characters and the characters in this book are fantastic. There is something about a nerd turned cage fighter who baffles people when quoting classic literature and philosophers that puts a smile on my face.
Secondly, I like the story telling in this book. I thought of Doomsday Book by Connie Willis toward the end. The dialogue and story telling flow so well, much like I found with Willis.
This is a quick moving, fun read. I had a couple of moments when I thought that perhaps the author was channeling a perspective of political parties through the main character. I had to remind myself that this is a fictional story, not my Facebook feed, though a lot of that is fictional these days. Without giving any spoilers, neither party is given a preference or characterized as that of good or evil.
This is a book I would not hesitate to come back to for a second read. Thank you, James Scott Bell, for bringing Mike Romeo to life to speak truth while struggling to figure out what truth is.
Secondly, I like the story telling in this book. I thought of Doomsday Book by Connie Willis toward the end. The dialogue and story telling flow so well, much like I found with Willis.
This is a quick moving, fun read. I had a couple of moments when I thought that perhaps the author was channeling a perspective of political parties through the main character. I had to remind myself that this is a fictional story, not my Facebook feed, though a lot of that is fictional these days. Without giving any spoilers, neither party is given a preference or characterized as that of good or evil.
This is a book I would not hesitate to come back to for a second read. Thank you, James Scott Bell, for bringing Mike Romeo to life to speak truth while struggling to figure out what truth is.
November 12, 2016
James Scott Bell's signature writing voice and storytelling mastery hit a new high watermark for me with this first book in his new Mike Romeo thriller series. A masterful blend of action, suspense, wry humor in just the right moments, and...I will say nothing about the ending, because I don't want to give any hints to spoil it in the least. I'm starting book two, Romeo's Way, tonight, and can't wait for more stories featuring Bell's compelling character Romeo. If there were six stars, that'd be my rating. Outstanding entertainment!
July 6, 2022
DNF. There is no plot or story just the 'hero' pontificating about how much philosophy and literature he has read, how he's a world chess genius, top world cage fighter, takes multiple beatings that would cripple or kill any other living being but can walk away by thinking about greek philosophy so it takes him to another place mentally. He also gets away with being an international man of mystery and while beaten to a pulp still has random old lady strangers to give him money and help. Yet, he didn't go to school.
October 11, 2017
Second in a great series.
Mike Romeo is a man who seems to find trouble with our even trying. In this second book, his friend, ex missed Ira, introduced Mike to the world of California politics. Dirty politics, it turns out, and between robberies and gunshots and fake news, the reader is in for late night reading again! Looking forward to book #3.
Mike Romeo is a man who seems to find trouble with our even trying. In this second book, his friend, ex missed Ira, introduced Mike to the world of California politics. Dirty politics, it turns out, and between robberies and gunshots and fake news, the reader is in for late night reading again! Looking forward to book #3.
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