The Bulls of Bashan

by

Jodi Lea Stewart

High-energy adventure spurred on by a mysterious mission of global proportions.

The Bulls of Bashan by Jodi Lea Stewart is a gripping, high-energy tale of action and adventure, set in the early 1950s. Young waitress Savannah is swept up into the adventure of a lifetime when two strangers to her small west Texas town recruit her to join them on a lucrative, exciting, but mysterious mission. Having recently come to realize she wants more out of life than to own the diner she manages, she agrees. Still, the specifics of their upcoming journey and duties remain a murky secret, all engineered from afar by the unseen Mr. A. What follows in a great adventure story that finds her traveling around the world with a team of three additional people: Malone, a former military officer and their leader, the only one in contact with Mr. A., Reno, a handsome, charismatic rogue, and Shifrah, a spoiled socialite, with a secret or two in her past. 

Savannah is a delight as the main female protagonist. Disenchanted with her current life, she does the unthinkable and jumps at the chance to join Shifrah and Malone as they travel to, literally, parts unknown to complete tasks undisclosed. Malone (and Mr. A) take "need-to-know basis" to new heights. It was a little unnerving how much Shifrah, Malone, and Reno knew about Savannah at the book's opening, having thoroughly vetted her background, all without her knowledge. Yet, she knew nothing about them. Naturally, I was delighted when she was able to surprise them with skills they didn't know she possessed. 

My other favorite character is Shifrah. I love a fun fish-out-of-water trope, and this certainly fits the bill. Just like Savannah did, I enjoyed Shifrah's sophistication and fashion sense (loved the descriptions of all the clothing selections), and the hints about secrets in her past had me glued to the page waiting for an eventual reveal. 

The plot moves fast; it's an absolute whirlwind of action as Savannah and the rest of the crew would be mobilized at a moment's notice to strange and exotic locales to fulfill the next task. The author's descriptions of their surroundings are vivid, and the ensuing plot twists were riveting as danger soon entered the picture. I was literally out of breath after some scenes, but I enjoyed every minute! 

I recommend THE BULLS OF BASHAN to readers of thrillers, mysteries, and action and adventure. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.