I hope you will enjoy AOTC.
"The Anvil of the Craftsman" (December 2011) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006K9Q4W8 by Dale Amidei will be made available for free download May 23-25 via KDP Select on Amazon .com and is available for borrowing now for Amazon Prime members.
"A doctoral candidate in Theological Studies accepts recruitment by a friend in the U.S. State Department for an initiative to the most troublesome province in 2006 Iraq. The many challenges of nation building expand the mission from diplomacy to a survival situation as local and international interests position themselves to oppose a State Department initiative: one vital to progress in an uncertain theater.
Terrorism and counter-terror operations threaten to keep the team from leaving the relative safety of Baghdad. Until, that is, a former USAF Special Tactics operative hunting the men who want to kill them draws duty as their protector. The simple questions posed during a tribal council threaten provincial and regional stability; the conclusions reached explode into a clash of faith, loyalty, schism and betrayal that will help shape the future of two nations."
5 stars on Amazon - typical review:
"Anvil of the Craftsman has been one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in some time. The characters are multi-dimensional and passionate in their beliefs, even when it ensures conflict with others. The basic theme of the story - choosing how we conduct our lives, is thought-provoking as we watch a young man struggling with those very issues in a very intense setting. We observe other older characters that show struggle does not end with age or experience, but involves a conscious choice on a regular basis.
The action is intense, and the storyline steadily builds to a very satisfying conclusion. But this is not just an action novel by any means. It delves into culture, culpability, personal growth, sacrifices and living with passion and commitment to a higher cause. I recommend it highly to anybody who enjoys delving into psychological, philosophic journeys. I look forward to Amidei's next installment." -HHC, Amazon reviewer
The Anvil of the Craftsman
In December 2010, after forty years of reading thrillers, I sat down at a keyboard to produce my own. The storyline, inspired by actual events in Iraq at the turning point of that conflict, had been growing as a blister in my mind for some time. The themes I included were those that shaped my adult life, and the result is a novel that, if graced to produce but one, would satisfy me as an author. I am, however, currently addressing the final touches on my second novel, The Britteridge Heresy, due out in the summer of 2012.