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Trilogy of the Chosen #1
Cursed Blessing
Shrouded in secrecy, the Ark of the Endowment has remained hidden for millennia. Those fortunate enough to know of its location have but one task: to keep its contents from being stolen. Like Pandora's Box, the legend says that anyone who partakes of its sacred contents will invoke divine judgment upon the world. But who is to say that it cannot be used for good? Who could resist the temptation of its promise: eternal youth? Brent Venturi owns and operates a library in Palm Cove, Florida, that has been in his family for generations. But unknown to most, his simple life and dedication to structure have been engrained in him by a career of elite military service. As the retired captain of a group known only as the Phantom Squad, he has no history or records on file, and he remains the property of the United States Government. His rigidity and devotion have cost him dearly; his service has left psychological and physical scars, and he is emotionally distant. When the heirlooms of a man he hardly knew show up unannounced in his office, his everyday routine is shattered. Cursed Blessing is a rollercoaster thriller that will keep you guessing at every turn. Each revelation leads to more questions, cryptic warnings, secret maps, and shady allies. When the last guardian of the world's most important secret is dead, who can be trusted?
327 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
42 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
J.M. LeDuc
21 books35 followersMark Adduci (J.M. LeDuc) was born in Boston, MA. and lives in south Fl. He writes in the genre of mystery/thriller and in the subgenres of crime, historical and YA. "Cornerstone" peaked on Amazon at #1 in Historical Mystery and #9 overall. "Evil Awakened," a YA paranormal thriller based in Native American mythology/folklore will be released in the first quarter on 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 31, 2013
Very interesting read. All the characters were great except one. Loved the town for the setting. The tunnel system was brilliant and would love to go through one like it. People are always looking for the Fountain of Youth. Wonder if they'll ever find it? Don't think so, but for one in this book, he thought he did. So much for thinking on his part. Will be definitely be reading the next two in this trilogy.
June 22, 2017
Loved everything about Brent and his adventures. If you want a thriller with legends and artifacts thrown into the mix, this is the book for you.
October 7, 2011
“Cursed Blessing” by JM DeLuc:
Captain Brent Venture, former leader of the Phantom Squad is now a librarian at Pine Grove, Florida’s public library and lives in the house his grandfather left him. It’s not only the home he grew up in after his parents died, this house holds secrets. Secrets that will need to be unraveled.
Joseph Conklin, an elderly gentleman and great admirer of the library’s antiquarian book collection, bequeaths his own collection to Brent personally. His collection was quite valuable, but beyond the books’ value, Brent found a handwritten note from his grandfather who was now deceased inside one of the boxes of books. The note held clues to a formula believed to be the cure for aging, whose main ingredient was said to have been held in the Arc of the Covenant.
Chloe Adler, Brent’s lost love has been kidnapped by Donovan Ferric, a dangerous man and the only assignment Jonathan Swain, a.k.a. Joseph Conklin could not complete as a member of the S.I.A. (Strategic Intelligence Alliance).
I was on the edge of my seat as everything unfolded perfectly in front of me. Brent contacted his former teammates, Phantom Squad Instructor, Seven and fellow colleagues Fitzgerald and Jefferson to help him infiltrate Ferric’s compound and rescue not only Chloe, but Maddie Smith who also knew Swain from the S.I.A. while at the same time, saving countless others whom Ferric would have done away with had Brent not been a barrier.
Secret passages, espionage, several key characters, lots of bad guys, serious weapons and a whole lot of faith in God, bring this book full circle just in time to set us up for the next installment, which personally I can’t wait to read!
This book is a fantastic story with romance, danger, action, faith and even the president of the United States. If you love an adventuresome story, this is definitely for you. I loved the way everything came together in the end. DeLuc did a superb job at penning this tale.
Reviewed by Terri Ann Armstrong, author of "Morning Menace" and “Medieval Menace”
Captain Brent Venture, former leader of the Phantom Squad is now a librarian at Pine Grove, Florida’s public library and lives in the house his grandfather left him. It’s not only the home he grew up in after his parents died, this house holds secrets. Secrets that will need to be unraveled.
Joseph Conklin, an elderly gentleman and great admirer of the library’s antiquarian book collection, bequeaths his own collection to Brent personally. His collection was quite valuable, but beyond the books’ value, Brent found a handwritten note from his grandfather who was now deceased inside one of the boxes of books. The note held clues to a formula believed to be the cure for aging, whose main ingredient was said to have been held in the Arc of the Covenant.
Chloe Adler, Brent’s lost love has been kidnapped by Donovan Ferric, a dangerous man and the only assignment Jonathan Swain, a.k.a. Joseph Conklin could not complete as a member of the S.I.A. (Strategic Intelligence Alliance).
I was on the edge of my seat as everything unfolded perfectly in front of me. Brent contacted his former teammates, Phantom Squad Instructor, Seven and fellow colleagues Fitzgerald and Jefferson to help him infiltrate Ferric’s compound and rescue not only Chloe, but Maddie Smith who also knew Swain from the S.I.A. while at the same time, saving countless others whom Ferric would have done away with had Brent not been a barrier.
Secret passages, espionage, several key characters, lots of bad guys, serious weapons and a whole lot of faith in God, bring this book full circle just in time to set us up for the next installment, which personally I can’t wait to read!
This book is a fantastic story with romance, danger, action, faith and even the president of the United States. If you love an adventuresome story, this is definitely for you. I loved the way everything came together in the end. DeLuc did a superb job at penning this tale.
Reviewed by Terri Ann Armstrong, author of "Morning Menace" and “Medieval Menace”
February 25, 2017
Awesome thriller
First in the series Chosen. Thrilling adventure with biblical references and end of the world consequences. An interesting group of characters take on a sick man determined to cheat death and obtain immortality.
First in the series Chosen. Thrilling adventure with biblical references and end of the world consequences. An interesting group of characters take on a sick man determined to cheat death and obtain immortality.
August 6, 2011
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Brent is a librarian but also a lot more. His specialized training makes him a lethal weapon and no one knows about it! Chloe, his somewhat ex-girlfriend, wants him back but only with one condition. Maddie has her own agenda in everything. Ferric and his men are ruthless and everyone is after the secret formula! Some want it for safekeeping while others want it to use for themselves. There is a severe consequence to using the formula and being the new guardian, Brent must keep it safe at all costs.
I absolutely loved all the characters in this book. Brent is a God fearing man who wants to honor his grandfather's wishes but is completely in love with Chloe. Chloe knows exactly what she wants and won't settle for less...still she trusts Brent completely. Maddie is somewhat a mystery while Ferric and his men are evil. The history throughout the book is great. God is woven throughout the storyline without being 'in your face' about it. There is plenty of mystery and suspense along with betrayal, love and a wonderful ride!
I rate this a 5/5. I can't wait for the next in this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
I absolutely loved all the characters in this book. Brent is a God fearing man who wants to honor his grandfather's wishes but is completely in love with Chloe. Chloe knows exactly what she wants and won't settle for less...still she trusts Brent completely. Maddie is somewhat a mystery while Ferric and his men are evil. The history throughout the book is great. God is woven throughout the storyline without being 'in your face' about it. There is plenty of mystery and suspense along with betrayal, love and a wonderful ride!
I rate this a 5/5. I can't wait for the next in this series!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy of this book. I received this book in exchange for an honest review and the opinions stated above are 100% mine.
June 29, 2012
I met the author at a book signing locally and I was interested in the book’s concept. Similar to Dan Brown’s work, Cursed Blessing is a DaVinci Code style of story involving a gift from God to mankind promising immortality but with a terrible price. Knowing the penalty should the treasure fall into the wrong hands, it’s passed down through the centuries to the next generation’s moral champion. Trouble begins when a retired Special Forces commander working as a librarian is given the clues to defending the secret from a powerful force that wishes to claim it as its own.
I’m a huge fan of Dan Brown, and I found myself drawn to this book for that reason, and when I started to read it I found the story line was very captivating and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I won’t go into too much detail, but it melds the worlds of government agencies, military, and religion into a highly enjoyable read.
I’m a huge fan of Dan Brown, and I found myself drawn to this book for that reason, and when I started to read it I found the story line was very captivating and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I won’t go into too much detail, but it melds the worlds of government agencies, military, and religion into a highly enjoyable read.
January 29, 2013
Cursed Blessing by J.M. Leduc: The Endowment, a responsibility passed down through time to protect what we known as the fountain of youth. This was a very good book with a great plot, suspense, and action. But I offer a word of warning. The book goes on something of a Jesus bender starting at about the 33% mark. All of a sudden nearly all of the characters start talking or thinking about their savior and praying a lot.
So, this would be the kind of thriller ideal for a church book club or a reader of very similar faith. For others, the shifting of gears might be a little jaring.
That said, the plot and characters are strong and a lot of fun. There is a strong backstory that grows and expands to strengthen the present day plot. Woven together, this shows J.M. Leduc's skill as an author. Perhaps best of all, this is just book one in the series. So, if you like it, there's plenty more where that came from!
So, this would be the kind of thriller ideal for a church book club or a reader of very similar faith. For others, the shifting of gears might be a little jaring.
That said, the plot and characters are strong and a lot of fun. There is a strong backstory that grows and expands to strengthen the present day plot. Woven together, this shows J.M. Leduc's skill as an author. Perhaps best of all, this is just book one in the series. So, if you like it, there's plenty more where that came from!
August 23, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Cursed Blessing. It kept me on the edge of my seat! I devoured more and more of the story until I made it to the last page. The crew of characters are fantastic and the author does a great job of putting the characters in intense situations while still keeping it believable. Great plot line, likable characters, and super cool fictional Florida town where I want to live. Brent Venturi is a librarian with military backround in the most covert squad unkown to most, he will need that training in his journeys to come becuase he is chosen. The Ark of Endowment is being hunted down for its content wich in the wrong hands could mean certain death. Brent must except his new role and outsmart te enemy before its to late.
Cursed Blessing is a fantastic first installment in an amazing trilogy! Five star read!
Cursed Blessing is a fantastic first installment in an amazing trilogy! Five star read!
August 23, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed Cursed Blessing. It kept me on the edge of my seat! I devoured more and more of the story until I made it to the last page. The crew of characters are fantastic and the author does a great job of putting the characters in intense situations while still keeping it believable. Great plot line, likable characters, and super cool fictional Florida town where I want to live. Brent Venturi is a librarian with military backround in the most covert squad unkown to most, he will need that training in his journeys to come becuase he is chosen. The Ark of Endowment is being hunted down for its content wich in the wrong hands could mean certain death. Brent must except his new role and outsmart te enemy before its to late.
Cursed Blessing is a fantastic first installment in an amazing trilogy! Five star read!
August 19, 2013
Cursed Blessing by J.M. LeDuc is a 1st class Christian Thriller. Brent, a member of the black-op Phantom Force, on the suffice seems at 1st to be somewhat a contradiction. Here is a man who has served the U.S. and witnessed and also done the unthinkable..... yet, is a devout Christian who relies on prayer and his relationship with God. In Cursed Blessing, he is reunited with his ex-girlfriend, Chloe and with the Phantom Force. Brent is thrown into a mystery that is related to a secret formula.
Cursed Blessing is a action thriller mixed with religion but not in a preachy way. Fantastic writing. A must read novel!
Cursed Blessing is a action thriller mixed with religion but not in a preachy way. Fantastic writing. A must read novel!
February 3, 2013
I really liked this book. I loved it. It was a great adventure with a quick pace, intriguing and lovable characters and a very interesting story line. It grabbed my attention from the get go and read like butter. There was a sprinkle of fun humor along with a dose of spirituality that had me in tears at times. But during it all the action never stopped. I am looking forward to book number two and three. Good stuff.
April 25, 2014
I really enjoyed the storyline in this book (I won't get into, as there are many great reviews already written). I really liked the characters and the overall story and action in this book, but the strong religious overtones were distracting to me and I found I was just skipping over all the praying. I am all for having theology mixed in with a good story, but this was just praying and talking about accepting Jesus. However, it didn't prevent me from enjoying the book.
May 27, 2015
In the beginning..
This book gave me a fresh new look at fictional writing. No sex scenes, degrading use of the English language, nor violent acts of savagery. I was captivated from the beginning to the end of the book and intrigued by what's to come in the next book of the Trilogy of the Chosen.
This book gave me a fresh new look at fictional writing. No sex scenes, degrading use of the English language, nor violent acts of savagery. I was captivated from the beginning to the end of the book and intrigued by what's to come in the next book of the Trilogy of the Chosen.
January 7, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. I love that the main character is a librarian by day yet so much more when needed. I thought it was interesting to have a cast of characters who seemed reluctantly drawn together but were such a good group in the end. I thought the story was fast-paced and I have already started the next book!
November 5, 2016
Awesome Book!
Well written, very likeable characters, started out good and kept getting even better. I didn't want the book to end and can honestly say this is one of the best books I've ever read! Can't wait to read books 2 & 3 of the Chosen Trilogy. And thank you Mr LeDuc for including our Lord Jesus Christ!
Well written, very likeable characters, started out good and kept getting even better. I didn't want the book to end and can honestly say this is one of the best books I've ever read! Can't wait to read books 2 & 3 of the Chosen Trilogy. And thank you Mr LeDuc for including our Lord Jesus Christ!
October 5, 2011
Even though I took a long time to finish the book, it was easy reading as the chapters were short. Toward the end it got more exciting and I couldn't put it down. There's a cliff hanger for the sequel.
September 7, 2012
I won this and Cursed Presence in the giveaways. This novel was fast paced, had good character development, and will lead perfectly to the second book. Mr. LeDuc is very talented and has created a cast of characters that made me want to know more about them. I can't wait to start the second book!!
January 21, 2013
It draws you in right away. I kept wondering what was going to happen next and enjoyed the read immensely. Interesting characters, intriguing plot and I liked the style. Will be picking up the whole trilogy!
January 21, 2016
Totally awesome!
Love the suspense, drama, and with a strong religious influence. Way to go! Going to download the next one now. Can't wait to see where this will take us. Great work.
Love the suspense, drama, and with a strong religious influence. Way to go! Going to download the next one now. Can't wait to see where this will take us. Great work.
December 20, 2016
Wow!!
What an exciting adventure. A page Turner for sure. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. So glad I bought the whole trilogy together. Thanks J.M. LeDuc. Great characters. On to the next book I go.
What an exciting adventure. A page Turner for sure. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. So glad I bought the whole trilogy together. Thanks J.M. LeDuc. Great characters. On to the next book I go.
January 28, 2013
An intriguing story filled with spies, danger and romance and plenty of action. Keeps you wondering what will happen next.
January 23, 2013
Fabulous, roller coaster of a read and what an ending, for once I didn't see it coming.
I've downloaded book two in this trilogy already and can't wait to get started.
I've downloaded book two in this trilogy already and can't wait to get started.
January 21, 2013
Great story - fast paced. Brent is the kind of character you love to read about and see in action....can't wait to read the next one!
August 7, 2013
This book was a real page turner from beginning to end. The characters were compelling, and the plot was thrilling. An excellent start to the Trilogy of the Chosen.
January 14, 2016
It was okay.
February 13, 2016
Awesome
This was a very gripping book. I couldn't put it down and when I did I kept thinking about the story.
This was a very gripping book. I couldn't put it down and when I did I kept thinking about the story.
October 25, 2016
Cursed blessing
What a great read.I could not wait to finish this book . It was so entertaining and fast pace. I can't wait to read the other two books.
What a great read.I could not wait to finish this book . It was so entertaining and fast pace. I can't wait to read the other two books.
December 9, 2016
Remarkably suspenseful.
I must say I was surprised to find this a Christian novel. It was a really good story but a bit excessive on their faith for the average reader I believe.
I must say I was surprised to find this a Christian novel. It was a really good story but a bit excessive on their faith for the average reader I believe.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews