Paradise Flawed

by Daniel Lance Wright

All Mike Hanson wants is a relaxing family vacation in the mountains of New Mexico; time away from his stressful Midland, Texas career and a chance to refocus on family. The explosion of a gasoline tanker truck and subsequent forest fire not only change vacation plans but his entire life, sending Mike and other survivors on a dash for their lives. Its no accident. He is targeted to be eliminated.

Genres: Mystery

414 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2009

About the author

A lifelong Texan, Daniel (Danny) Lance Wright is a freelance fiction writer and novelist born in Lubbock, Texas now residing in Clifton, Texas. He lives with Rickie, wife of 46 years and has two children and four grandchildren.
Having spent the first nineteen years of his life on a cotton farm on the South Plains and the next thirty-two in the television industry, he has seen the world from two distinctly different angles.
Daniel has received recognition for writing skills from The Oklahoma Writers Federation in 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2011; from Art Affair in 2008; from Frontiers in Writing in 2004 and 2010; from Writer’s Digest in 2008, and the Abilene Writer’s Guild in 2004; Canis Latran of Weatherford College in 2011.

Author of
"Six Years' Worth"/Father's Press/mainstream/print & ebook
http://fatherspress.com/?p=11

"Where Are You, Anne Bonny?"/Rogue Phoenix Press/ historical drama/ print & ebook
http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysi...

“Dancing Away”/ short story/romance/Untreed Reads/ebook only
http://store.untreedreads.com/index.p...

“Phobia”/Solstice Publishing/2018/suspense-thriller/print & ebook
http://solsticepublishing.com/phobia

"One Day in Lubbock"/Solstice Publishing/2018/autumn romance/print & ebook
http://solsticepublishing.com/one-day...

"Paradise Flawed"/Solstice Publishing/2018/suspense thriller/print & ebook
http://solsticepublishing.com/paradis...

“Helping Hand For Ethan/Rogue Phoenix Press/2012/young adult/ebook only
http://shop.roguephoenixpress.ieasysi...

“Defining Family”/Whiskey Creek Press/July 2012/young adult/print & ebook
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/stor...

“Annie’s World: Jake’s Legacy”/ATTM Press/2012/soft science fiction/print & ebook
http://www.amazon.com/Annies-World-Da...

"Annie's World 2: New Beginnings"/Sagewords Publishing/2017/soft science fiction/print & ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/099709625X/...

“The Last Radiant Heart”/sci-fi/print & ebook
http://www.amazon.com/Radiant-Heart-D...

"Call Me Mikki"/Sagewords Publishing/2017/romantic thriller/print & ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Call-Mikki-Dan...

"Beware the Bones"/Rogue Phoenix Press/2018/paranormal romance/print & ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Beware-Bones-D...

"A Version of Life"/ATTM Press/romantic suspense/2018/print & ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Version-Life-D...

Reviews

[Andrea Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

After 20 years working at Weaver Oilfield Tool and Supply, the need to alleviate stress hits Texas resident Mike Hanson hard. A relaxing vacation in the New Mexican mountains provides a chance to also refocus on his family. However, an explosion of a gasoline tanker truck eliminates all mellow plans. Mountain updrafts sends Hanson, daughter Jojo, Paradise Mountain Resort owner Katy and her son Josh up Grant Peak in to a 19th Century gold mine for refuge. As they fight for survival, they soon learn the explosion was no accident. Hanson is being targeted for elimination. Will they make it off Grant Peak alive?

Daniel Lance Wright's Paradise Flawed sends the reader on a wild ride of survival, conspiracy and gold. However, I'm not sure how much of the story I, as a reader, can believe. First of all, why rig a gasoline tanker explosion to kill one man? Could a 70-year-old oil tycoon not come up with something a bit more discreet, especially since the mountain resort is located in a small town and not fully booked? I can buy it if the explosion was to serve more than one purpose but no other one was explored with in the storyline. Matter of fact, the villain, Barry Ezell, barely makes an appearance in the novel at all.

Next, there's the romance between Mike and Katy. One moment, he's overly protective of his shallow wife. Then one second after meeting Katy, he does a total 180; barely grieves for his wife's death before exploring his feelings for Katy. Granted the romance is more of a series of teases. I guess I expect a man who goes out of his way to be watchful over a wife who doesn't give a damn about him or anyone else would be a bit more emotional over her death. The guy deserves to be happy with someone who cares about him. I guess it's the timing of the whole thing and the fact his daughter pushes for it as well.

Paradise Flawed has similar structural problems as Reads Like Murder in Honolulu which I'm sure has or will be corrected. Excluding the prologue, the mystery portion doesn't really come in to play until page 200 (digital version) as the beginning starts off rather slow. The action scenes are a bit sluggish at times. I feel like someone was telling me what happened instead of experiencing it as the story progressed. There were a few scenes that read more like an after school special; seemed a bit out of place. With the mystery elements,t he characters eventually had all the pieces to the puzzle but felt frustrating as a reader because they weren't putting it all together until the very end as if the writer was trying to wrap it up quickly. This leads me to the ending. Mike and Katy had the primary romance. However, a second one sort of developed between Mikes friend and co-worker Ed and a local diner owner named Rachael. The book ended with them. I think the scene is essential but not as an ending. The quick portion of the ending was with Katy and Mike and Ed and Rachael had a more progressed moment. I think it should have been the other way around. Felt rather disappointed.

Overall, Paradise Flawed serves as a fun fast pace adventure for your enjoyment.

[Brande Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradise Flawed by Daniel Lance Wright is a captivating thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. Daniel has created some pretty fascinating and entertaining characters and poor Mike Hanson, stressed out from twenty years of working himself to the bone for Weaver Oilfield Tool & Supply he is burnt out. A good man with a wife who has lost herself all these years so wrapped up in her social circles and keeping up with her society ladies that she has left her marriage and personality wheedle away. The relationship Mike and Brenda have with their only daughter Jojo couldn't be more different than black and white. Jojo, a college student surprises Mike and since he has decided to take a vacation on a whim and a deep breath at life Jojo is more than happy to spend time with her dad and go along for the ride. Where are they headed? To Paradise Mountain Resort owned by Eldon and his daughter Katy, a widow trying to raise her thirteen year old son.Katy I like immediately, just a single mom trying to make it through the day worrying about doing right by her son and getting on with her life, leaving the grief behind. In the background there are a few shady deals going down, Barry Ezell is a ruthless man who wants Eldon's land and what it has to offer, and unbeknownst to Mike, he is in dealings with his boss, Mr. Weaver at OTS. When he learns that Mike is on his way to vacation at Paradise Mtn. Resort he thinks that Weaver is going to double-cross him for the mineral rights and like any barbarous villain he will do ANYTHING to make that not happen. It's all about money and if he has to extinguish a few lives, then so be it!When Mike and Katy met there is an instant attraction, although subtle, it's their and you can feel it, something is going to happen between these two. When a simple hike in the wilderness turns terrifying dangerous for Katy, Josh (her son), Mike and Jojo the plot thinking and the story really starts to speed up for me here. Needless to say the four find themselves trapped in an abandoned mine from the Civil War era with all their lives in danger and no way out. This is where Jojo shined for me, the girl was just tenacious and strong, nothing was going to get her down and she sure as hell wasn't going to die, or let the other parish in the mine. Oh, and on their attempt to find a way out they find that the mine is full of gold! The pieces start coming together in Mike's head slowly but more than that this is a turning point for him, he realized that his life and life in general is more about quality than quantity. And he wants to start living with a purpose, not just because he feels obligated to make everyone happy. Live life to be happy yourself, life, love, family. These are the things that matter. Nothing like a near death experience to make you realize that!
There was an interesting back story and although you knew who the bad guy in this suspenseful tale is from a couple chapters in, it doesn't halt the readers interest because for me, the character's and the plotting are what dazzled me.

[DelAnne Frazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Paradise Flawed
Author: Daniel Lance Wright
Published: 1-14-16
Publisher: Booktrope
Pages: 241
Genre: Action & Adventure
Sub Genre: Fiction; Espionage
ISBN: 9782630257794
ASIN: B01AGN0210
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
My Rating: 5 Stars

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Mike Hanson has devoted over a dedicated to his job, much to his family's detriment. Close to total burnout Mike has decided to take his wife and daughter visiting from college off for a week in the mountains. When the resort burns and a forest fire rages out of control Mike and his family run for their lives. Little does he realizes the fires were set to eliminate him by and enemy Mike doesn't even know he has.


Starting with page one until the very end you will not be putting this book down. Mystery, thriller and suspense all rolled into one dynamic story. Mike is desperate to rekindle his family's love for one another and as an added bonus the fever with which he once enjoyed his job. A rival oil firm fears what he may know of their underhanded shenanigans and will do anything to silence him permanently. The body count rises as the dangers surrounding Mike and the other survivors closes in. You cannot miss the opportunity to read this intriguing and riveting story. I give it a 5 out of 5 stars. Thank you Mr. Wright for a captivating read. I look forward to enjoying more of your books in the future and hope to enjoy them just as much.


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[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some families are majorly dysfunctional. Others just don’t function right. Mike and Brenda, in Daniel Lance Wright’s Paradise Flawed, fall into the latter category, with college daughter Jojo gazing on in dismay. How did Brenda “reel so far out of control” and why does Mike just step back? Mike’s friend Ed suggests Mike’s working himself into his grave. And so the family head off on vacation—to Paradise Mountain Resort.

The dialog’s finely tuned and realistic, though formalities of formatting sometimes let it down. The characters are plausible and well-(sometimes overly-)described. And the scenery’s truly delightful. The author creates a beautiful early morning vista, with shooting stars and the wafting scent of coffee. But beauty here’s as short-lived as Brenda’s loveliness, and sudden terror reigns.

The battle for survival is thrillingly told, survivors rising from one danger to the next, each individual proving invaluable for their skills and knowledge. But there are surprises beyond natural disaster, and a frantic chase through the mountains ensues as mysteries wait for resolution.

Paradise Flawed is a satisfying action adventure with truly enjoyable characters and character flaws. Heroes don’t all look like they’ve stepped out of fashion magazines, and even the overweight can fight and run and save the day. A little unedited in places, a little over-explained in others, this novel remains a thoroughly enjoyable read filled with excitement and surprise.

Disclosure: I was given a free e-copy of this book by the publisher, Dream Books LLC, in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This is a very enjoyable action / adventure.
The characters are likeable and the story rolls along at a good pace.
One negative though is the poor editing with grammatical and spelling errors.
If you can ignore these it is well worth a read.