Where I share my love of books with reviews, features, giveaways and memes. Family and needlepoint are thrown in from time to time.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Purchased Pages and a Giveaway!


A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet Brad Thor at an author visit to our local library. The following is a repost of that visit:

Then, on Saturday, I got to meet Brad Thor, also a New York Times bestselling author - this time of thrillers, or I would call them political thrillers. Even though he was up for the Thriller of the Year award last night at Thriller Fest in NYC - he opted to come to our little ole library to continue his tour for his latest book - The Apostle. (The award went to Jeffrey Deaver for The Bodies Left Behind).

He was a great speaker and we got to hear about what pushed/enabled him to write his first novel, The Lions of Lucerne. His wife had asked him one evening (as they were drinking wine in Italy no less) that if he were on his deathbed, would there be any one thing that he would regret. He said he would regret never writing and publishing a novel. She told him then, that when they returned home, he needed to take 2 hours of time - everyday - and get busy, and she would do whatever it took to enable him to do that. (Behind every good man is a good woman you know!) And that is how The Lions of Lucerne was born. Since then he has written seven more novels.

He also entertained us with stories about his research for his last novel, The Apostle. He actually spent time with a Black Ops group in Afghanistan to learn how they would go about "recovering" someone who might be kidnapped. After he left Afghanistan, NYTimes reporter David Rohde was kidnapped by the Taliban, and the Black OPS group that he traveled with were the ones sent in to try to find him. (Mr Rohde has since escaped the Taliban last month after 7 months in captivity and is apparently in good health.) Mr. Thor said that was probably his scariest research he has ever done for a book. He also has a fun website full of pictures and information about his books - www.bradthor.com. I forgot my camera for this one - but the photographer for the library was nice enough to take our picture and will be emailing it later this week - so I will share it at that time.

I picked up a copy of his last book - The Last Patriot - and had it signed to giveaway to one of my readers.




I want to take the opportunity now to giveaway this book that I purchased and to share with you some of his other books that I either purchased that afternoon, or picked up through paperback swap since then.

The giveaway is for 2008 release - The Last Patriot - and it is autographed.


About the book: June 632 A.D.: The prophet Mohammed shares a final and startling revelation. Within days, he is assassinated. September 1789: Thomas Jefferson uncovers a conspiracy that could change the face of Islam. Present day: Men still kill to keep the secret hidden. When a car bomb explodes outside a Parisian cafe, counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is thrust back into the life he has tried desperately to leave behind. In a race to uncover an ancient secret with the power to stop militant Islam, Harvath will risk everything to reclaim Mohammed's final revelation and defeat one of the deadliest evils the world has ever known. (from the back cover)

Easy to enter giveaway - just leave me a comment as to why you would like to win this book with your email address. Giveaway will end Aug 14. Only open to U.S. (sorry guys - this is out of pocket for me)

Other books that I have purchased this month by Brad Thor:

Title: The Lions of Lucerne

I got this book from Paperback Swap.

About the book: On the snow-covered slopes of Utah, the unthinkable has happened: The President of the United States has been kidnapped and his Secret Service detail massacred. Only one agent has survived - ex-Navy SEAL Scot Harvath. He doesn't buy the official line that Middle Eastern terrorists are responsible, and begins his own campaign to find the truth - and exact revenge. But his search makes him a marked man by the sinister cabal behind the attack.

Framed for murder by the conspirators, Harvath goes on the run, taking the fight to the towering mountains of Switzerland. There, he finds an unlikely ally: the beautiful Claudia Mueller of the Swiss Federal Attorney's Office. Together they must brave the subzero temperatures and sheer heights of treacherous Mount Pilatus - and their only chance for survival is to enter the den of the most lethal team of professional killers the world has ever known. . .(from the back cover)


Title: Path of the Assassin

I bought this at the author visit and had it autographed to me!
About the book: After rescuing the President from the kidnappers, Navy SEAL-turned-Secret Service agent Scot Harvath's bloody and twisting mission of revenge leads to one man: Hashim Nidal. Having assembled an internationalleague of Islamic terrorist networks in an ingenious plot to topple both Israel and America, Nidal must be immobilized. But Harvath and his CIA-led team have no idea what the man looks like and must recruit a woman who survived a brutal hijacking, the only person who can positively identify their quarry. From the burning deserts of North Africa to the winding streets of Rome, Scot Harvath's hunt for a ruthless madman has the world's survival at stake. (from the back cover)





Title: The Apostle

This is his latest book - I also purchased this one at the visit and had it autographed, too.

About the book: Every politician has a secret. And when the daughter of a politically connected family is kidnapped abroad, America's new president will agree to anything - even a deadly and ill-advised rescue plan - in order to keep his secret hidden.

A new administration and a new approach to dealing with America's enemies have left covert counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath without a job. But when American doctor Julia Gallo is kidnapped in Afghanistan, the terms of her ransom leave the president with only one course of action.

In a dangerous assignment that the United States government will deny any knowledge of, Scot Harvath must secretly infiltrate Kabul's notorious Policharki Prison and free the man the kidnappers demand as ransom --al-Qaoda mastermind Mustafa Khan.

But when Harvath arrives, he quickly learns that there is more to the kidnapping than anyone dares to admit. And as the subterfuge is laid bare, Harvath must examine his own career of hunting down and killing terrorists, and ask himself if he has what it takes to help one of the world's worst go free.

Brimming with the kind of ripped-from-the-headlines authenticity Brad Thor's internationally bestselling novels are known for, The Apostle doubles down on the blockbuster uccess of The Last Patriot and reaffirms Thor's status as the master of the political thriller. (from the book jacket)

His other books include State of the Union, Blowback, Takedown and The First Commandment.

37 comments:

Sue said...

I love a book that grabs my attention and makes me not want to stop reading. Thanks for the giveaway~

s.mickelson at gmail dot com

tetewa said...

I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

Libby's Library said...

I'd love to win this book, cause my husband would love to read it (after I'm finished reading it, hee-hee)!
Thanks so much!

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

KR said...

I love books that both hubby & I will read and discuss. This fits the bill!!

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Anonymous said...

It sounds like he really researches his books, so I'm sure that makes them better! Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

Wow, I have got to check that guy out. I love political thrillers. I've yet to find a series that I like better than watching the film versions. Although John Grisham's books seem to fall into this category and I usually enjoy them.


http://leeaverday.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/leeaverday -twitter takeover 7/26 Jess takes over my twitter and YOU are invited.

Bingo said...

How exciting! I would love to win the book as Brad Thor is such an amazing author. I wish our little town could attract some notable writers like that. It is exciting to hear them speak, isn't it! Great photo, as well! THE LAST PATRIOT looks great and I can't wait to read THE APOSTLE..I have heard so much about it. Thanks for a great giveaway!

LuAnn said...

I've not read any of Brad Thor's books, so winning this would give me the opportunity to do just that!

reading_frenzy@yahoo.com

Park Avenue Princess said...

Please include me as well! (I'm having a giveaway too if you'd like to stop by)!

IAmHiMaintenance@aol(dot)com

Amy

Beth (BBRB) said...

This looks interesting! Please enter me!

I've never read any of his stuff before and it looks great!

BethsBookReviewBlog AT gmail DOT com

Kelly said...

I'd love to enter the giveaway! I can't believe I've never read any Brad Thor, and that's the reason I'm entering. If I have a book he wrote, I won't forget to give him a try, and I love the genre.

bookworm2511 at yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I would like to win this book because I love a good book that has lots of mystery.

bjhopper(at)me(dot)com

Cackleberry Homestead said...

I would like to win this book because I have never read Brad Thor and I really think I would like his books. I just haven't had the time to try them.

crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

enyl said...

please enter me in your giveaway enyl(atinbox(dot)com

enyl said...

I'm an e-mail subscriber enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I've never read anything by Brad Thor but his books sound like the sort of thing my mother and I would both enjoy. I'm always on the look out for new authors to try so this would be great.
jessica(at)fan(dot)com

rainstorm said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Annmarie Weeks said...

This looks like a wonderful read! I love books that tie the past to the present like this!

Alyce said...

I haven't read anything by Brad Thor, so I think it would be fun to give this book a try.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

ossmcalc said...

This book means more because you thought enough of it to purchase it yourself. Plus, to top it off, the book is even autographed. Can't beat this giveaway. I know that I will have to share it with some of the history teachers at school when I have completed reading it, if I win.

Thank you,

Christine

womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Theresa N. said...

I love reading a will written book. This sounds like a great story.
Theresa N
weceno(At)yahoo(dot)com

ibeeeg said...

After reading your first post about attending the author chats at WNPL, I have started seeing Brad Thor's name everywhere. **smile**
I was at Borders last week and there was a wall with many books by Brad Thor and I thought of you and thought... I must stop by WNPL.
I did and saw the poster featuring author's visits...Brad Thor.

Ok...so what I am getting at is I am now very interested in reading something by Brad Thor as I am very curious about his writing. Very curious. Winning this book would give me a chance to read a book of his (yes, I could check one out but that then would require me to think and list...hehe)

Long winded...yep.
Please enter me. Thanks.

ibeeeg(at)gmail(Dot)com

Dawn M. said...

I would love to win this because I've never read any of his books before. Plus, it sounds like a great thriller. :0)

Thanks!
librarygrinch at gmail dot com

mrsshukra said...

Brad Thor is one of the hub's favorite authors and I would like to win this for him because he's the best!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please add me to your giveaway list...sounds great.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower :)

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Renee G said...

I love reading thrillers, but I haven't read anything by him before. This looks like a book and an author that would appeal to me.
rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)com

Nelsby said...

Thanks so much for the giveaway -- I have read some really good reviews for this book! I really enjoy politically-based suspense/thrillers.
Aimee
sierranelsby (at) gmail (dot) com

budletsmom said...

I would love to win this book - sounds like it is really action packed and one that my husband would like to read when I am done.

budletsmom at yahoo dot com

Michael said...

Great Giveaway!!
I have enjoyed all his books ever since Path of the Assassin.

Carol M said...

I love political thrillers and I like to find new authors. This looks like a book I would enjoy. I would give it to my grandsons after I'm done because they also enjoy political thrillers.
Carol M
mittens0831 AT aol.com

Dixie said...

Wow, this book has some history anf intrigue, along with being a political thriller-sounds great.
I'd love to read it.
southrngal(at)gmail(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I'd love to win this book because I enjoy reading Brad Thor's books & I haven't read this one yet. Thanks for the opportunity!

megalon22{at}yahoo{dot}com

ChristyJan said...

I haven't had a chance to read any of Brad's books yet, but I've been hearing great things about them.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

Luvdaylilies said...

A signed copy, how wonderful!
He's a great author & I'd be thrilled to have this book=)

Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

Cindy said...

I would love to win this book because I love to read political thrillers! I enjoy keeping up with politics - national and international. I think this book would be a great read!

I haven't read anything yet by this author but I enjoyed reading your post about him. I think it is neat how he started writing with his wife's encouragement.

Thanks for such a great giveaway!

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

hippmom said...

I haven't read anything by this author - yet. I love that his wife asked the question about what he might regret and then acted on it!

Thanks for the giveaway!

angelahipp (at) charter (dot) net

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