Received via Tyndale House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif


Kill Devil was not what I expected, and yet was entirely what I expected. This novel is movie-esque with exciting action scenes, plenty of spy craft scenes, many conspiracy theories and an evil villain you can't help hating even though you understand his motivations. I especially loved that Jed was a down to earth guy, even if he is a highly trained ex-sniper who also happens to have been a super spy for a shady black-ops government organization. That's pretty bad-ass.

Dellosso's writing is top notch and I applaud his ability to create an exciting yet coherent plot. A man on the run from a shady organization must rescue his kidnapped daughter by untangling a conspiracy that goes as high up in the political stratosphere as the President himself. A lot could go wrong with this plot, but Dellosso perseveres and creates an enjoyable read with little to no loop holes.

My only concerns about this book were the level of Christian references - although this book is published by a Christian publisher so it is to be expected. Regardless, I am not a religious individual and felt like this aspect of the novel drew away from my overall satisfaction, especially concerning the daughter who may have a neurological disorder of some kind. Obviously, Kill Devil was written specifically with Christian readers in mind so I understand the need for religious representation through this novel and even applaud it. The publishing of Christian based novels that are simultaneously consumable by those who are not religious is not only a smart publishing decision, but a rarity that I can definitely appreciate.

I couldn't give this book four stars if only because of Jed's wife who consistently shows herself as a horrible mother and wife time and again..and Jed continues to call her the love of her life. She abandons her daughter not once, but TWICE throughout this entire novel and then runs to hide from everything at a random man's house. She literally hands over her daughter, abandons her in a shoot out and then tells her husband to fix it while shacking up with another man. At the end she is the only one who comes out unscathed and Jed STAYS with her. I mean, really? This triggered me so hard, I can't even describe it. Jed's wife was the worst portrayal of a woman imaginable and most of the women in this novel, with a few exceptions, were meek and/or rather dull witted. I am certain the author did not mean to make the women in this novel appear that way, but it stood out for me through the wife most of all as a serious pitfall.

Kill Devil is a wonderful mix of religious literature and an epic, action packed tale of a family man's journey into the darkest of conspiracies and facing the most toxic back-ops organization he used to be part of in order to rescue his kidnapped daughter. A wonderful tale of a parent's love and one man's ability to make a difference, Kill Devil was an inspiring read.

This book will appeal to readers who are fans of Christian fiction, spy craft novels, novels featuring strong male leads and high-velocity action. I would not recommend this book to feminists, people with torture triggers or people who are extremely non-religious as many aspects of this book touch on these subjects in ways that may offend or upset readers. ( )

Kill Devil, by Mike Dellosso, is the follow-up book to Centralia, a thriller par excellence. And Kill Devil will not disappoint lovers of edge-of-the-seat suspense. From first chapter to last Dellosso brings non-stop action and tension. It's a story of faith--not trusting feelings or sight but moving forward knowing that God is at work and is present. It's a story of fear--not knowing what is real, what is the truth...is it all just lies and manipulation? "There is never an explicit threat, but Lilly's well-being loomed over them every time they were ordered to follow instructions precisely." When the bad guys hold all the cards, what is a good man supposed to do? The characters are memorable...strong in their faith and cunning. The plot is fascinating; with the twists and turns, the author keeps the reader wondering how in the world will they get out of this fix! A book definitely not for the faint of heart but definitely one for lovers of books filled with white-knuckle drama.
I received a copy of this book through The Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review. ( )

What an adventure this book is. The action is explosive and the tension is felt in every page. Jed has been chosen to assassinate someone. Is this person a powerful leader or a random person? When Jed's family is taken , he has no choice but to carry out the plan . I loved how his daughter had such strong faith . She was a great character and seemed to guide Jed to believe and keep his faith strong.

I loved how the author weaved the story and kept me guessing till the end. It was hard to figure out who to trust and that made the story so intriguing. There were times when Jed wasn't sure if he was doing the right thing but he knew he had to keep his family safe. The author keeps the story going at a fast pace with many unpredictable twists that you don't see coming. The scenes where Jed had to fight for his life were well written and gave the reader a vivid picture of the action going on. The book is a edge of your seat page turner. The theme throughout the book was faith and trust. It may seem hard to have faith when everything around you is crashing in, but his daughter was really a great advocate on faith. I really liked her character and have to say I wish I had her kind of faith sometimes. There are several characters in the book that play key roles in the story. They were intense, focused and ready to do their job. Get ready for a thriller in the political world where lives are at stake, dangers lurks at every turn and faith is the key to trusting the right people.

"Cling to God and trust Him to carry me."

I received a copy of this book from The BookClub Network for an honest review. ( )

I loved this book. I was not able to set it down. I had not read the first book in this series but I was able to catch up with most of what was happening. I plan to read the first book because I loved this one so much. I look forward to reading more about Jed, Karen and Lilly. This book flowed wonderfully. This is a thriller with lots of twists and turns. I received this book from Tyndale blog network for a fair and honest opinion. ( )

Title: Kill Devil
Author: Mike Dellosso
Pages: 402
Year: 2016
Publisher: Tyndale House
Jed Patrick thought that Centralia was behind him. He and his family had moved on and changed their identities to start a new life, but there were those in high places that found them. With his wife and daughter threatened, Jed was put in a position to commit an unthinkable and desperate act, but what choice did he have if he was to save his family? In this sequel to Mike Dellosso’s Centralia, Kill Devil proves to be even more suspenseful and action-packed than the first novel. And this time, the stakes are higher as the protagonist is manipulated through mind control by a rogue CIA agent who has plans to undermine everything that America stands for.
Mike Dellosso’s second suspense thriller revolving around former Army Ranger Jed Patrick continues the adventure and suspenseful mystery that made the first book, Centralia, so well received. The characters are realistic and well-developed. The story is superbly written. And the action is fast-paced. It was hard to put this book down once I started reading. Not all sequels live up to the first book of a series, but that is definitely not the case with Kill Devil. Dellosso nails it and drives it home with an exciting resolution that leads Jed and his family into a new life. Although the novel ends with the dismantling of the Centralia project, the arrest of people in high positions, and the promise of a new life for Jed and his family, I wouldn’t be surprised if a third Jed Patrick book would be available in the near future. If fact, I will disappointed if Delloso doesn’t write another in this series. I highly recommend this novel and look forward to more by this author.
My rating is 5.
Note: I received a complimentary copy for an honest review of this book. The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspot.com/ . Also follow me on Twitter@lcjohnson1988, FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/lisa.johnson.75457 ( )