Bravo Two Sierra
Stephen R. Gagin
(Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
2002 Bookman Publishing
ISBN: 1403317992

In Honduras & the Caribbean,pirates battle to fulfill the premise: absolute revenge destroys all!

Murder, satanic rites, stolen Cuban arms. Throw in a shipwreck mixed with two hurricanes & you have Bravo Two Sierra. Only a madman attacks a US Naval vessel in the middle of a raging hurricane. Santana J. Roja is just that madman. Set in the lush rain forest of Honduras & the storm ravaged Caribbean Sea, we follow the lives of Roja & his band of cutthroats, & the crew of the USS Massasoit (ATF-167), an old fleet tug currently in the business of maritime salvage, but destined for the razor blade pile.

In a flashback, Carmella Roja is sold into a life of prostitution & drugs by her village priest, after he's had his way with her. Their son, Santana Roja, grows up in the alleys & whorehouses of Puerto Cortez. Shunned by the powerful Catholic church for his illegitimacy, Santana swears faith to the arcane teachings of Satanism. Soon he is in control of the port city's thriving black market. Now he is in a position to exact revenge on the men responsible for his mother's death, & the man he blames for his lot in life.

Sr. Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:

Those who read my reviews know that I primarily read science fiction. So when Stephen R.Gagin's book was dropped into my lap, I glanced over the backcover blurb, set it on my reading shelf, & attempted to forget it was there -- not my genre.

Then one dark night, with nothing else to read, I found myself opening Bravo Two Sierra, & with a “ho-hum, I'll read until I'm sleepy” attitude, began. Blurry-eyed, I stumbled to bed about 04:30 in the morning. Though not my usual cup of tea, I was captivated & captured by this riveting tale of modernday piracy. & even though a bit noir for my taste, couldn't lay it down.

Having said all of that: Stephen R. Gagin, in his debut novel, has in fact laid out a rollicking tale of adventure of deals & double-crosses, plumbed the depths of human depravity, & climbed the summit of human honor & dignity.

I thoroughly enjoyed Bravo Two Sierra, & am looking forward to more from this author.

Stephen R. Gagin has traveled the world after receiving his Bachelors degree in biology from The Citadel. He joined the Navy & headed for the last winter class at the Naval School of Diving & Salvage. There he learnt the art of ship salvage & tap danced in the 205 pound spun copper helmeted, vulcanized rubber Mk V. During his years as a mixed gas diving & salvage officer, he served aboard a variety of salvage ships & was privileged to dive on & be the Officer in Charge of the underwater survey of the USS Arizona -- on the first official survey conducted by the National Parks Department & United States Navy in forty years. In 2001 he was invited to join the scientific crew of the Russian research vessel to dive on the wreck of the RMS Titanic & was one of the people to see the mighty liner in her actual resting place, two-&-a-half miles under the cold Atlantic.

More from Stephen R. Gagin: Code Alpha
(06/19/05)

D. H. BROWN
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries.  In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow.  During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN).  While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.

D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."

He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com