Most biographies start with birth and then roll through the years as they drift by but that would bore me to death, and I lived through it.
The interesting part of my life began on September 23rd, 1995 as we were driving back to Omaha after watching the Notre Dame - Texas game in South Bend with relatives. The #21 Irish beat the #13 ranked Longhorns 55-27; and in a real oddity, scored points in just about every way conceivable in the game of football. They scored touchdowns on passes and runs, kicked a field goal, intercepted a pass for a TD, returned a punt for a touchdown and even added two points for blocking a Texas extra point.
As we were driving along westbound I-80 somewhere in Illinois in our Jeep Cherokee, I absent-mindedly rubbed the left side of my neck under my chin.
My very astute wife asked, "What's wrong with your neck?"
Now I had been an Air Force medic for twelve years; and as evident in my descriptions of outlaws' agonizing deaths in my stories, have a good working knowledge of anatomy and physiology. But that knowledge is offset by being a guy and thinking that we all live forever. My neck lymph nodes had been enlarged for around three months when my wife asked that question.
I obfuscated as if I was a lawyer and replied, "Um, a few weeks or so." (Note: Twelve or thirteen weeks does qualify as a 'few' weeks if one chooses to be generous.)
"And what did the doctor say?"
"I'll ask him when we get back."
"Yes, you will."
I do not want to make my wife out to be a harpy or a nag, because she is neither. She's an incredibly patient woman who could only put up with so much stupidity by yours truly.
Three days later, after the doctor copped a quick feel of my lymph nodes, he said, "I don't know what it is, but I don't like it," which was an honest, albeit an imprecise diagnosis.
So, we trotted over to a local ENT specialist. She didn't like them either and took me into surgery a few days later where she yanked one out, so the lab could dice it and slice it, then look at it under a microscope.
The pathologist who looked at the cells through his microscope reported his findings as 'lymphoepithelioma'. That meant that it was a secondary tumor and there was a primary tumor somewhere else in my nasopharynx that was the original problem.
Back I went into the operating room where the ENT doctor did an extensive examination and found nothing. She was so sure of her reconnaissance of the back of my throat that she told me that the pathologist was wrong, and it was just a lymphoma.
Now, being a computer geek, even way back in the dark ages of the internet in '95, I did some searching and found that if the primary tumor wasn't found, then the survival rate plummeted to about a fifth of the already lousy survival rate for the advanced Stage IV cancer. My wife and I decided that a second opinion might be a good idea.
Off we went in her Jeep to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota as the lousy weather descended across the Midwest. It's been known to happen, you know.
They had a problem getting the doctor here to release the specimen she'd yanked out of my neck, which I thought was odd because I don't remember selling it and figured I still owned it. Anyway, they eventually got the lymph node, did their own peek and confirmed the pathologist's diagnosis.
It wasn't until Halloween in 1995 that they finally found the original little bugger. It was just a tiny bump in the back of my throat that must have been there for a long time before it sent its friends marching into my lymph nodes.
They wanted to treat the cancer there, but I opted to have it done in Omaha and was sent to the care of Doctor Patrick J. McKenna (a name you may recognize from Max). Doctor Mac was the perfect man for the job as he was very personable, optimistic, had a good sense of humor and wouldn't put up with my constant whining. It helped that he knew his job, too.
C J Petit is a highly imaginative, original writer who appears to really know his stuff. His leading character does tend to be larger than life, and Joe Beck fits this pattern. I admire that his lead character is admirable. This series is long, but it was never repetitive and I had a really hard time putting it down. Repeatedly, clues were dropped that I thought would work out one way but I was usually wrong. Yet the logic was internally consistent.
The series would have been improved with a copy-editor, however everything else about it was so powerful I still have to give it 5 stars. Kudos Mr. Petit!
Joe Beck and Faith Goodchild Beck take you on an incredible journey
I was hooked with the first book “Unwanted “ and couldn’t wait for the next book. Passin Years 1865 1875 1895 1910 the final book is truly an excellent ending for Joe and Faith. You will need a box of Kleenex tissues because tears will flow. Thank you C.J. Petit for bringing these two characters to life and their adventures real. I’ve read read this series twice and I’m sure I’ll read it again. You are a great writer
Absolutely wonderful, I loved it! Definitely a must read excitement galore throughout this book, lots and lots of action packed scenes, a beautiful love story and there's nothing like this one, the Author has you captured from page one and you won't be able to put it down! I never thought it would make me feel like your in the story, but it did and the tears flowed in the end, so have those Kleenex handy! This book was absolutely magnificent and so is the Author! Don't miss this one, you will be sorry! 🤠📚♥️💙🐝🎶
Although it’s hard to believe that Joe Beck was so lucky to avoid death or at least serious injury during his violent career, his story was really enjoyable to read. Unfortunately, I only gave the series a 4 star rating because of the lack of good editing. One of the latter books was missing a whole section, which was then contained in the next book. Names were mixed up and it became really irritating. On a happy note, I enjoyed Joe’s life story.
C J Petit is one of my favorite authors and I love all of his books. This series was a joy to read and I looked forward to each book. I wished he could have kept writing the series but I understand If he needed to write other books and I look forward to reading them
This series has me completely immersed. The final book is astoundingly well written and has the most beautiful ending. Truly incredible. It brought me to tears. No other book has ever done that! I only ever re-read the best books And this one will definitely be one I will read again and again. Inspiring
I love this series but the editing is something that needs to change. One of the chapters was cut off and moved further in the book. It throws you off for a bit. Plus, what happened to Will Boone and family? Other them those things that I mentioned it was a fantastic series.
I started reading this remarkable series in the completed set and binge read the set from the beginning to the end. Once I started I couldn't stop. I laughed and I wept as I shared in the lives of these wonderful characters. Kudos galore to you C.J. Petit and thank you for this amazing reading adventure.
The story could have and should have been half as long. So much redundancy. The first book was like reading a junior high love story with does he like me, does she like me... Joe, the super hero 17 year old with lady luck riding on his shoulder was not believable. I skimmed most of the books looking for some substances.
I have really enjoyed reading this series. Cried at the end. I'm sure I will be reading it again. I am so thankful for good clean books to read. C J Petit is a great writer.
It's been a wonderful ride this series is your crowning achievement I've laughed and cried with you as I read this series. Book after Book told a great story. THANK YOU SIR
I’ve read most of the Joe and Faith books. Now they are all put together in a beautiful tapestry of adventure, integrity, and love! Thank you Mr. Petit, and prayers for you as you move forward in dignity and Grace.
1st read 4 parts on kindle unlimited, but just jumped on the series complete when the boxset came out. Spelling and grammar errors aside, this set is most definitely worth the money and the epic storyline to boot 5*.
Recommend to anyone and everyone. It was a great story. All the characters and the situations, kept the story flowing. Then to end with such love between two people. Truly a masterpiece.
A great story guaranteed to take you away to a distant past. Full of adventure, suspense and love. A love so deep it makes one wish for this type of happiness. Superb. Rock on!
As with many of the later books, there are misspellings and missing words, but in this compilation, some sections are out of order, jumping back-and-forth in time.