J. Michael Radcliffe

J. Michael Radcliffe

About

An avid reader of fantasy and science fiction novels all of my life, Michael Radcliffe published his first novel, The Guardian's Apprentice in 2010.  He lives with his family in rural Kentucky, along with their five cats. When not acquiring more ferocious felins for their plan of world domination (cat armies are terribly hard to train), he enjoy spinning stories from the wisps of magic around him.  His writing is supervised by Idris, a small dragon statuette that has a place of honor next to his computer.  Idris frequently advises Michael on all things magical, especially dragons.

Connect with Michael online at http://www.michaelradcliffe.com or http://www.theguardiansapprentice.com 

Commitment

Commitment

0.0
0 ratings

Description

<p>It’s hard to be committed to anyone when you don’t know whom to trust.</p><p>Alexis Toles, a former FBI agent turned undercover CIA agent, is quickly finding that out in Nancy Ann Healy’s newest political thriller, <i>Commitment</i>.</p><p>Alex embeds in a secret organization of intelligence operatives known as The Collaborative. Its partners include operatives from the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI, US Department of Defense, and an entanglement of foreign intelligence agencies.</p><p>It’s about half a year after the death of President John Merrow, a friend and someone she respected. But she remains committed to overthrowing The Collaborative as she works with a onetime adversary who believes the organization’s involved in the president’s death.</p><p>Meanwhile Alex; her wife, Cassidy O’Brien; and Cassidy’s son try hard to live as a family but must first overcome personal struggles, including a nasty custody battle with Cassidy’s ex-husband, Congressman Christopher O’Brien. The family has their own share of secrets that, if unleashed, could affect their hopes for the future.</p><p>There’s no place to turn without discovering people who are not who they claim to be. That can’t stop Alex. She must remain committed to the cause, both at home and as she works against The Collaborative.</p>

Story Behind The Book

Reviews

<span style="color:#333333;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;line-height:18px;"><strong style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:bold;font-style:inherit;font-size:12px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;">Review by: </strong><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kirkpatrick" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-size:12px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;color:#336699;">Joel Kirkpatrick</a> on May. 02, 2011 : <img src="https://www.smashwords.com/static/img/star.png" height="16" width="16" alt="star" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-size:12px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;" /> <img src="https://www.smashwords.com/static/img/star.png" height="16" width="16" alt="star" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-size:12px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;" /> <img src="https://www.smashwords.com/static/img/star.png" height="16" width="16" alt="star" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-size:12px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;" /> <img src="https://www.smashwords.com/static/img/star.png" height="16" width="16" alt="star" style="margin-top:0px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;font-weight:inherit;font-style:inherit;font-size:12px;font-family:inherit;vertical-align:baseline;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;" /> <br />J. Michael Radcliffe's 'The Guardian's Apprentice' is very familiar territory, just as satisfying to me as the subject of magic and the mundane could ever be. This strong story is the opening of a much wider tale, and puts us at the very edge of the veil between the worlds - the veil that keeps magic and power from overwhelming an unknowing humanity. It is the task of the Guardian to protect that division, and now, in Mr. Radcliffe's telling, one of the humble mortals must take up that task. Why he was selected, when powerful wizards and witches crave the position, that is the meat of the whole story.<br /><br />Filled with urgency, darkness, and confusion, 'The Guardian's Apprentice' wants us to believe the one thing most difficult to believe, something that character Keegan Whitestone must believe in spite of himself; magic is very real, and it can be misused. As is proper in such lessons, comes the realization that time itself is running out. It is fun to prod Keegan - a very likeable, if not very cooperative fellow - prod him, and make him hurry. It is so much easier, and more fun, to believe in magic than to resist.</span>