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Looking Out the Window: James Scott Bell Wins International Thriller Writers Award




A Warm Welcome to James Scott Bell


James Scott Bell's Book, Romeo's Way, won the award for Best E-Book Original at the International Thriller Writers Awards banquet in New York , held July 11 - 15th.

ThrillerFest is the annual conference of ITW, International Thriller Writers. It was created in 2004 by bestselling authors to bring thousands of writers, readers, publishers, producers, editors, and agents together to promote and support thriller authors everywhere.

Their mission is, “To bestow recognition and promote the thriller genre at an innovative and superior level for and through... Active members; to provide opportunities for mentoring, education, and collegiality among thriller authors and industry professionals; and to grant awards for excellence in the thriller genre."

About the honor, Mr. Bell says, "The award means a great deal to me, as the goal for my entire career has been to write quality fiction, to keep getting better at it. The ITW Award is a lovely confirmation."




About Romeo's Way

Mike Romeo, the former cage fighter living low in L.A., doesn't look for trouble. He doesn't have to. It comes after him. So when he's hired by a California senatorial campaign to do undercover work, Romeo doesn't have any illusions. Especially when his duty takes him to San Francisco.

But as Romeo gets closer to solving the mystery of who is behind the hit job on an honorable man, things heat up in the City by the Bay -- and between Mike and a beautiful political operative. Until a bullet nearly takes him out for good.

Now all bets are off. Because if there's one thing Romeo wants, it's justice. And he's going to get it--his way.

Brief Excerpt

   "I don't want anybody bleeding to death, okay?" I said. "I think your problem is education. There's just no discipline anymore. You have to know there are consequences for bad behavior. Without that, society falls apart."

   Baton Guy croaked, "I can't breathe."

   "You just can't go around doing this sort of thing," I said. "It isn't right. Now, one of you is bleeding pretty badly and won't be riding a bike anytime soon. The other one still needs to learn, am I right?"

   "Don't kill us," Knife Guy said.

________


I'm a fan of Mr. Bell's Mike Romeo books. Here's my review of Romeo's Way.

Mike Romeo, who used to be a fighter, can take care of himself and handle bad guys. He’s hired to find out who’s behind a hit job that occurs in the midst of a political campaign.

First, he beats up a couple thugs, but they’re just the hired hands and none too willing to fill him in on what they’re up to. One path after another takes him to more thugs, a murdered woman and few answers. But, he won’t stop until he finds out who’s committing the crimes and why.

The plot kept me on the edge of my seat and the main character, Romeo, who takes his name from the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet, is a tough guy with past pain that gnaws at him. He rather reminded me of Mike Hammer, but deeper. He’s a Christian man of faith and honor wedging himself into a sub-culture that has little of either. At the same time he’s struggling to make peace with his own missteps. They keep him from opening up to people who may want to be friends with him or more. Toward the end there’s a hint he’s growing in his inner struggle and his outward approach to others, especially one lady. I highly recommend this book as a crime drama with an interesting Christian main character and a plot that includes a behind-the-scenes peek at politics.

Buy Romeon's Way here

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