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Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3)
Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3)
Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3)
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Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3)

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

3/5

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More Archaeological Adventures from Popular Suspense Writer Don Hoesel

A decade after Serpent of Moses, Jack is married to Espy and back teaching at Evanston University. They have two sons, one of whom has cystic fibrosis. Despite this challenge, life is comfortable. But that all changes when the CIA, while combing through the papers of the late Gordon Reese, uncovers the secret of Elisha's bones. Jack's world is then turned upside down by an urgent call from his old friend Duckey, who's been alerted to the CIA's probing by one of his former contacts. Jack and his family escape from their home just ahead of the CIA, and he decides to do what he should have done long ago: recover the bones and destroy them. Except the bones aren't where he left them.

So now Jack is in a race, for the last time, to find the bones. And he's not the only one. Pitted against both the CIA and an organization that will kill to protect their secrets, Jack and Espy follow hard-to-decipher clues across the globe before arriving in the catacombs of Paris for a final showdown that will either save their family--or tear apart everything they hold dear forever.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateJul 1, 2013
ISBN9781441261441
Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3)
Author

Don Hoesel

Don Hoesel is a website designer for a Medicare carrier in Nashville, TN. He has a BA in Mass Communication from Taylor University and has published short fiction in Relief Journal. He lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and two children. The Alarmists is his third novel.

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Reviews for Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3)

Rating: 3.165094445283019 out of 5 stars
3/5

106 ratings18 reviews

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An archeologist is chasing story of a religious relic and a biblical reference. It starts with the death of Jack’s brother on a dig in Egypt. With the death of Will he retires from field archeology for 5 years to teach in North Carolina. A meeting with a billionaire in Dallas is the start of this relic search taking him to pre-Mayan ruins in Venezuela, to Addis Ababa to the Orthodox Church and on to Australia.It starts out slow, about the first 35% is a setup and only after getting ready to depart Venezuela is when the action starts. Then I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down, even for sleep. If you enjoy archeology, a trip around the world and a thriller I recommend this book to you.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    From the publisher:Every year, professor of antiquities Jack Hawthorne looks forward to the winter break as a time to hide away from his responsibilities. Even if just for a week or two. But this year, his plans are derailed when he's offered almost a blank check from a man chasing a rumor.I want to start with the fact that I did like the story that was told in this book. That being said it took me almost a week to finish the just under 300 page ARC. While the story was enticing I unfortunately struggled with the authors writing style. Good characters and lots of action over all I would recommend this book.I received this as part if the early reviewer program.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Elisha's Bones was a good, well-edited, thorough and satisfying story. Full of action and adventure, I read for a long time with two questions niggling at the back of my mind. I was afraid they wouldn't be answered, but I should have known better. Not only were my questions answered, there was a surprise near the end. I hadn't guessed it would end the way it did, and that says a lot for the writer. I would have liked more. I would have read another 100 pages about The Brotherhood, and I would have loved the story of Elisha as a bigger reminder in the book, but for what I think it was supposed to be, I loved it. And it makes me do the one thing I love to do, as well - a little research of my own. Jack Hawthorne, I hope you become a central character in many, many more of Don's books.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I was pleasantly surprised when Elisha's Bones by Don Hoesel was offered for free. The blurb made it sound interesting and after 20 pages I still wasn't bored! Well I just finished it and I have to say it was the BEST free book Amazon has offered. It is Hoesel's first novel so of course there was a lot to be desired but there were many good things about it as well. The characters were interesting and story line was actually really good. I like how Hoesel mixed in a bit of history, religion and paranormal activity. It really made you wonder if Elisha's Bones really did exist and how real the things in this story could seem. The actual writing was good too. It didn't have the juvenile feel that a lot of beginning writers tend to have. Now for the bad... the story wasn't ALL that believable and when that happens, the plot starts to weaken. I think if Hoesel would have gone more in depth with what the Bones meant for history, family and religion and the covenant trying to protect them...he would have come away with a better story. Also..why did almost EVERYONE have to die? Really? That is my biggest complaint. Just as soon as I got a chance to mourn one characters death, boom, another one would happen. I think the body count was up to like 12 or something. Anyways. It was a solid book for a newbie. I would give it a B-.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I would like to preface what I am about to say with the fact that this is not my usual genre when I choose the books I buy to read.With that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.I read the book in under a day, and wanted to skip to the end to see what happened through most of the book.I have always been fascinated by the world of archaeology and found that the author captured the lure of discovery ancient worlds very interesting.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was a fairly interesting read. It revolved around Jack Hawthorne, an archaeologist who is hired to prove the existence of Elisha's bones, an ancient relic said to have the power over life. This search takes him all over the world and gets him involved with some mysterious organizations. Naturally adventure and peril follow him as well.The concept behind the relic was interesting. The book is also a fairly fast read. There was a lot of action. In fact, I almost felt there was too much going on. You never really got a chance to breath, and you almost want Dr. Hawthorne to stop talking to people because a perilous situation inevitably followed. Who knew the world of antiquities could be so dangerous? The plot also seemed to jump a bit in time from one chapter end to the next chapter beginning. It could feel a bit choppy at times. After all that adventure, the ending felt a bit sudden. Perhaps a bit random too (although apparently this was meant to be Christian fiction, so maybe not?). Overall, I didn't think it was a bad book. It was pretty entertaining at times. I'm just glad I'm not friends with an archaeologist. Looks like it's pretty dangerous.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This is one of the worst books I have ever read. Imagine a Dan Brown wannabe who's out to prove God exists--only with a truly outlandish plot, writing that is about at the level of an 8 year old, and utterly unbelievable characters who are one dimensional at their best. The "plot" revolves around a secret group who, taking over from the ancient Israelites who preserved the prophet Elisha's bones, which supposedly can bring the dead back to life, pass the bones from one set of "caretakers" to another down through the ages, managing to wind up in such places as Egypt's Valley of the Kings, Venezuela, Ethiopia and Australia. The characters act in totally unbelievable ways, the plot is made up of loose ends, and in what I consider a truly outrageous interpretation, killing is justified to keep the secrets of the bones, using the excuse that even the ancient Israelite priests killed to keep the secret. And yet the protagonist "finds God" in two sentences, after he learns how to kill.This book is an insult to intelligence and to the Judeo-Christian faith community.Avoid this like the plague.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I have to say, this book was not nearly as bad as I'd expected. I requested it from Early Reviewers because I was intrigued by the description, but came to expect the worst when I found out after the fact that a) It was from a Christian publisher and b) The average rating was below 3 stars, which is pretty terrible.My first concern turned out to be entirely unfounded. Despite coming from a Christian publisher, this book isn't particularly preachy; the main character is extremely skeptical about the existence of God throughout most of the book, and as a non-Christian I found nothing to be troubled by even at the end.My second concern was a bit more valid; this isn't a great book by any means. Especially after the halfway point, I got a bit tired of the repetitious nature of the plot: Protagonist visits old friend to ask for help. Old friend is assassinated in front of protagonist, while protagonist barely escapes with his life. Rinse and repeat. Still, the book wasn't nearly as awful as it could have been either. There was enough of interest to keep me reading, and I did ultimately come to care about the characters. I've certainly received ER books that were much worse. Considering that this is an Advanced Reader Copy of a debut book, I'm perhaps inclined to be more forgiving than some. While I can't really recommend this novel in itself, I do think the author has potential for the future.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I really wanted to like this book, the premise of it really caught my interest. So the moment I got this book I put the others I was reading aside to start to read it. I didn't get past the first two chapters. I know a bit about archeology so I understood some of the jargon and the background with KV35 but I couldn't continue. It was bogged down with over dramatic writing and reading the reviews apparently it got better later on but life is too short to read bad books.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This book was just awful. The writing was disjointed in many places. The characters were so cliche it wasn't funny. It was so bad I couldn't get past page 67. Very few books are bad enough to make me stop reading them.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Despite a wordy, slow beginning, the book picks up the pace soon enough. With likeable characters and an interesting plot, this book is well-written and enjoyable. One quibble is that more time should have been spent on the climax and ending as it felt slightly rushed. I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I received this book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers group. I enjoyed this book very much. The main character, who is an archaeology professor, has a great sense of humor. His "sidekick", an old girlfriend, is also a very interesting character and they play off each other well. The search for Elisha's Bones takes you on a fun and dangerous adventure, hopping from country to country. I thought the writing was very good and it kept my interest till the end. I think it would be great if this book could be just the first in a series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Early Reviewers, December 2008A two sentence passage in the Old Testament reveals a story in which the bones of the prophet Elisha bring a man back from the dead. If the story is true and if the bones could be found they would be an invaluable source of power for whoever possessed them. But there would certainly be those who would not want the past to be uncovered... Sent on a trail for the ancient relics is archaeologist turned professor Jack Hawthorne. A hero in the spirit and tradition of Indiana Jones, Jack turned to the classroom after a life-altering dig in Egypt. The promptings of a wealthy businessman bring Jack back to the field where he must face his past - including a spurned woman - in order to move forward on his quest. Right from the start of the novel, Don Hoesel unfolds the action in this page-turner of a debut novel. Suspense is built layer by layer with conspiracies, ancient symbols and the ever present clash of doubt and belief. Jack Hawthorne is a cool mix of rough gunslinger and caring hero and he leads a cast of equally endearing characters. Though labeled as "Christian Fiction", a better classification might be "Biblical-Themed Adventure". Action and suspense dominate this novel but themes of faith are tied in well through the questions raised by the potential power of the bones driving the globe-crossing search. Elisha's Bones is a great novel that readers will definitely enjoy discovering!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Loved the journey that Jack and Epsy took. They could have used the bones to heal their son years earlier but believed that it wasn't their right to use the bones for that. Honour and respect gave them their reward
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    Interesting, needs more lore of the bones, how did Victor know what was in the tomb in Egypt? It was entertaining.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Archaeologist turned college professor Dr. Jack Hawthorne has been recruited by an incredibly wealthy man to search for the bones of Elisha – recorded in scripture to bring the dead back to life by simply touching them. Though skeptical, Jack takes on the assignment and soon jets to international destinations on the hunt for the bones. He soon discovers the dangers that accompany his quest, as his life and the lives those that he cares for are placed in danger.Debut novelist Don Hoesel’s Elisha’s Bones reads like an installment in a well-established adventure series. The characters seem dropped right into the middle of…life. There is believable back-story and character connections that simply exist without a great deal of expository narrative (always nice.) Jack is a realistic explorer, a bit of a bumbler with plenty of imperfections; he’s a guy who should be easy for most men to relate to. Plunged into danger he finds himself making many mistakes and poor judgment calls – very believable.I found the ending somewhat surprising, and the faith elements weren’t woven into the plot in a particularly personal, deep way. Still if you are looking for a clean adventure read, this is a fun choice; men should particularly enjoy it. There isn’t a strong romantic focus; while there is a love interest present, it’s more background than a focus of much tension. Fans of Indiana Jones, Matt Bronleewe’s work, and even The Da Vinci Code will enjoy following Jack around the world as he hunts for clues inside tombs, on the internet, in churches, and even in works of art.Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Elisha’s Bone has it all, a mysterious organization stretching back through the ages, reluctant brainy hero, beautiful genius sidekick, wealthy good guys who might just be bad guys. This globe trotting novel spans globe as well as the centuries. It’s filled with action, adventure, mystery and intrigue. I should have loved it. Why I didn’t? That’s the mystery to me. These types of books are usually right up my alley. I’ve always been an archaeology buff, love ancient history and a good action yarn is my favorite. But it took me a couple of weeks to get through this slim novel. I caught myself turning on the tv instead of reading the book. I would read the newspaper that was next to me instead of walk across the room and pick up the book. It wasn’t conscious avoidance, just a total lack of compulsion to read it. And really, there’s not a darn thing wrong with this book. I just couldn’t get into it. I’ve decided that I didn’t connect on any level with the protagonists of the novel. I don’t know if this is a problem with the character development or if it’s a problem that I had with the writing. I wish I could point to something in the book that seemed bad, pin my ennui on something within the pages, but I simply can’t. I suspect the book is quite a good read. It just wasn’t what my pointy lil brain was looking for at that time.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I guess I'd sum up my reactions by saying the book is a good first effort...but it reads like just that, a first effort.This is a thriller that is in the rough mold of Dan Brown's The DaVinci Code: Professor Jack Hawthorne sets off on a hunt for the bones of the prophet, Elisha, that are reputed to be able to resurrect the dead. Gunfights erupt, exotic locales are visited, betrayals abound, and lots of people are killed as Jack and his erstwhile girlfriend, Espy, race around the world trying to beat others who want to beat them to the prize or stop them dead.On the plus side, I liked the main character, just the right blend of ineptness and pluck. I especially liked Espy—she managed to come across as the feisty, "you're not getting off that easy" ex without being completely trite. The action is swift, though that is also a problem I note below. The potential for a preachy religious theme was very large and, thankfully, well avoided.On the negative side, the book felt rushed at times. The action scenes were fine but there was very little backstory to help us get to know the characters; they'd appear, talk a short bit, and then disappear—often to the graveyard, so we know we’ll never get to know them. Unlike the best of thrillers, there was no sense of the reader being part of the action; too much information was hidden from us. The result of this was that the book felt flat, lacking the depth that would have made it a more involving read. The ending was predictable, but left too much unanswered (perhaps plans for a sequel?).All in all, I just give this a "OK" rating; I can't recommend it. However, unlike Mr. Brown's work, I don’t rule out the prospect of trying something by this author at a later date once he's more practiced.

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Blood and Bone (A Jack Hawthorne Adventure Book #3) - Don Hoesel

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