Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

This discussion thread is open to discuss Larry Seeley's book 17 Degrees North.

17 Degrees North has been chosen by the Member Authors as the Recommended Book of the Month. Please join us discussing and celebrating one of our own, who has also authored an exciting book.

Congratulations Larry Seeley.


I can't wait to get reading.

(I'll post some questions in a bit as a guide to facilitate questions....um...first I want to read it!)

Here's the synopsis for 17 Degrees North.



Seventeen degrees three minutes north—the latitude of the border that separates Juarez, Mexico from El Paso, Texas—for all practical purposes, one city with two souls. This is the gritty backdrop of the new Jack Sloan thriller from author Larry Seeley, 17 Degrees North.

Seeley, a former gaming industry CEO and professional blackjack player, first introduced readers to good-guy-with-a-past protagonist Jack Sloan in the 2010 award-winning mystery/suspense novel, Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves. Now, Sloan returns in this crisply paced follow-up, the second book of an expected trilogy.

17 Degrees North follows a trail between Juarez and Santa Fe, with stops along the way in El Paso and Phoenix. The story begins and ends in the barrancos of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains north of Santa Fe, with Jack’s fateful discovery of a mysterious satchel full of cash. Jack tells his wife Darlene about his find, and they’re quickly drawn into the most dangerous mystery of their lives.

Readers soon discover that the money is tied to the kidnapping/murder of a prominent New York hedge fund manager taken hostage in Juarez then killed in New Mexico. The U.S. and Mexican authorities working together to solve the case know something doesn’t fit, but they'll need Jack to find out what. Pendleton’s beautiful wife is also connected, but how remains as much of a mystery as what a man like Pendleton was doing in a place like Juarez in the first place.

Love, greed, and betrayal propel 17 Degrees North at a quickening pace, and It comes to a shocking end that will have Seeley's growing legion of fans clamoring for the next book in the series.

Where can I get a copy?

I'm hoping Larry Seeley can come on line and give us good information on that. I ordered my copy from Amazon.com(US) as a paperback copy. Used copies are available through Amazon.com.

I'm hoping there is an e-book version available somewhere that we can get (because most of my reading time is when I'm mobile).

It may be available at B&N, I'll check that and edit this post accordingly after I get home.

It looks good. Larry's been in the group for a while. I'm glad we get a chance to read his book as a featued story.

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "I'm hoping Larry Seeley can come on line and give us good information on that. I ordered my copy from Amazon.com(US) as a paperback copy. Used copies are available through Amazon.com.

I'm hopi..."

Ah I am in the UK so doubt that I can join in sadly.

Hopefully we'll get some info on where you can get this shortly. I'd love for you to be able to join the read and discusion.

Thanks

I'm hoping to read this myself.

I check Barnes & Noble and didn't see it.

I was hoping to read this too, but it is not available on amazon!!!! I checked both .com and .ca. I have a kindle. I don't collect paper books anymore. So much for my hoping to read it. Darn!

Can't find an ebook anywhere!! checked kobo, sony, amazon, and a couple of others.

Okay, I was able to buy a paperback copy from Amazon.com and it was delivered in 3 days for less than6 dollars US currency. I live in the USA so I don't know what that does for availability elsewhere.

As anyone tried "Smashwords?"

And I meant less than $6 including shipping and handling).

Good to know. I'll go check Smashwords.


I couldn't find it.

Ibooks doesn't have it either. Neither one of the libraries I frequent has any Larry Seeley books. We may have shot ourselves in the foot with this title. I think I voted for this book, I should have checked for wider availability before voting.

Has anyone been able to get any info from Larry on availability?

No, not on smashwords , amazon, kobo, or sony. Can't find the ebook anywhere.

Lisa wrote: "Has anyone been able to get any info from Larry on availability?"

Still waiting to hear from Larry.

When it first appeared on the list, I contacted him (I'm named after a distant relative who had the surname Seeley, so we're probably related :). He said the book was out of print, but sent me a PDF. I hesitate to distribute it without permission.

I've invited him to this forum.

Peace, Seeley

here's the problem: 17 Degrees was published by INscribe. I was not happy with their marketing and decided to find a new publisher. When I told them of my decision, they pulled my books off the usual retail sites. The new publisher is bringing out a reprint of 17 Degrees, a reprint of Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves, and my new novel, The Bridge of the Americas as a The Border Wars Trilogy. It should be ready by early June.

IN the meantime, Seeley James asked if I had anything he could read, and I sent him the pre-pub PDF from the first publisher. It's okay with me if he wants to share that with you all.

Thanks for your interest.

OK, folks, there you have it. Send me an email if you want the PDF: seeley@seeleyjames.com

Peace, Seeley

That's very generous of you, Larry! I look forward to reading your book!
Congratulations on being this months winner!

Just a thought, maybe we could push the book out until June or July when Larry gets things set up with his new publisher?

Thanks Larry, that was nice of you to offer. I have emailed James. Looking forward to reading your book.

Thanks very much to both Larry and James. Looking forward to starting it either tomorrow or Monday. Just finishing off my current read.

Wow! what a captivating start! It sure has grabbed my attention!!

Ctgt wrote: "Just a thought, maybe we could push the book out until June or July when Larry gets things set up with his new publisher?"

Second. At least that way, he can get a sales bump out of it.

I've handed out 3 copies thus far, so I think some of us are committed to moving forward. BUT, for future nominations, I'm sure "currently avaialble" will be a requisite.

Again, PDF available, just email me seeley@seeleyjames.com

Peace, Seeley

I've brought a recommendation back to the Moderators on our own channel about moving or leaving it here. Stand by for more on that.

@Larry Seeley- do you have a preference? (I have also sent you an Email through your website.)

Let's leave things as they are. My new book, The Bridge of the Americas, will be released in June, and I would be honored if, after perusal, someone nominated it for later this year.

Thanks.

Sounds good, Larry! We'll keep things the way they are.

For those of you who have Kindles you can "Foreward" the email with the PDF file on it to your kindle if you want so you can read it from there.

To do that, go to

Amazon.com --> Kindle (Department) -->Manage my Kindle (you'll need your amazon.com password)--> manage my devices.

At the top of the page it'll show "YOUR" kindle address. It probably looks like your Amazon login (name) infront of @kindle.com

Then pull up Seeley's email, foreward the email to YOUR kindle email address. In about two minutes you should get it on your kindle. (Technically it's a "Personal Document" not a kindle book). Then you can read it there.

I'll be starting this as soon as I finish with my current book.

I, Curmudgeon wrote: "For those of you who have Kindles you can "Foreward" the email with the PDF file on it to your kindle if you want so you can read it from there.

To do that, go to

Amazon.com --> Kindle (Departme..."


Thanks, Hugh! I followed your instructions and it worked perfectly.

You're welcome. It works great for "Beta-reads" too, cause those are often in PDF only. If your a Google person, you go to the iCloud and there is a "reader" that will read an MS Word Document.

That's good to know, thanks again!

Has anyone read this yet? I'm curious what you think of it?

(If not, Seeley James has the PDF to send you!)

No, I haven't read it yet. It's next on my list.

I should finish the book I'm on now tomorrow and be reading this by Saturday (if not tomorrow afternoon).

Seeley, Patti (A.K.A Mama Mudgeon) wants a copy.

I've finally started this. It's very well written and the opening scene is pretty intense with some cool stuff. Larry knows how to use a pen!...well, e-ink anyway.

I think the biggest hit I'll have on it is that it's too short (I like what I'm reading and I'll want more.) It's a fast start into a mystery... and love the sense of danger.

more later, just scratching the surface now.

If anybody else is reading it... when it comes to Frank did you hear this song in your head?

(view spoiler)[ Bobby Bare Tequila Sheila

The part that goes..."...I can't make love to a squealer, Sheiler, so I guess there's just one thing to do." (hide spoiler)]

Of course, I'm not enough through to know if that's an acurate omen or not... (time to turn the page).

I've finished this, and these are my thoughts on the book (actually my review).

Full Disclosure, I received a free copy of this book in an e-format (PDF) , in return for an honest review as part of a Member Author Book of the Month Group Promotion for the Goodreads- Action/Adventure Aficionados Discussion Group. I'd already purchases a paperback through Amazon.com for the event, but I appreciate the e-copy because that’s easier for me to read.

I'll cut to the chase, after the adding and subtracting is done, this is going to be a 4 star read. There aren't enough things to take issue with, and what there is, is relatively minor and likely more akin to a difference in my personal taste than anything. Larry Seeley's book 17 Degrees North is well put together. The plot make sense, the characters are likeable...even the ones you’re not supposed to like (I like them for being not likeable) and I loved the setting. Seeley's writing made the southwest come alive for me. The story itself was violent, but heroes stayed heroes and villains stayed villains. There's sex, violence, gunplay and things that go BOOM! What's not to like?

For a closer look:

The setting- mentioned above, but there was a gentle caress of the southwestern mountains and desert in the pages and text. Jack Sloane and Darlene took coffee where they could see the view, and drew comfort from it. It's not so much the lyrical details as it was the respect for nature and natural beauty in the writing. That was wonderful for me.

The sense of a Western - This book was by no means a "western." It was a modern crime story. Yet, the book still had that flare that westerns have...wide open country, horses, guns, white hats and black hats (and a few gray hats) where a man had to handle his own problems, with his fists or a quick draw, or if you weren't that good at those things, out thinking your opponent. Maybe it was the setting but it reminded me of Silverado or Outlaw Josey Wales, both western movies that I enjoyed very much.

The characters - I liked that these characters were not perfect people. They were very much like you and I...well as much as characters in any book that's not a biography are like you and I. By this I mean, they had flaws and weaknesses. They had human problems to go with the bullets that were flying. They feared for their lives and their families and found courage when they needed it, which not necessarily all of the time, and made mistakes. I liked Jack Sloane and Carlos especially and Rosalinda for that matter. We didn't get enough time to learn about Amanda and Maria and I would have liked to get to know Frank better (there's only so much time in a book I guess).

At times I felt the power of a woman's sexuality and beauty was overplayed, which is unusual because I usually find women in books where only one or the other aspect is over played or, most often, the power of a beautiful woman is practically meaningless. So, as tiny things go, this is different and not so bad. I mean, hey? ... if I were the young man I am in my dreams and think I once was, and someone said, "We have a mission, it's dangerous, you might be killed. The only drawback is that the women are too sexy." I'd say, "SIGN ME UP!"

And more important, the women had more than one dimension to their character. They had well designed back-stories that fit the way they came across and their roles in the story. Darlene and Rosalinda had some depth to them as did Elizabeth but Liz got in a little over her head...(you'll get joke that when you read the book). And, in Rosalinda's case, I'd have to steal a quote from Jessica Rabbit, "I'm not bad, I'm just drawn that way." By that I mean that, this beauty and sexuality was not a mistake, it fit her role and character design, as did Elizabeth's. So, we’re talking about a little thing here like too much sugar on cinnamon toast. In the end, I'm still going to eat every bite and love it. (Lots of butter too).

The Plot - I found the plot interesting. It wasn't hard to figure out, but, that's the rub. A knowledge of causes and who-done it's doesn't solve a problem. I spent a lot of time entertaining thoughts like... "this Jack guy's screwed," "oh, you’re an idiot!” and my personal favorite “Dude, she's gonna cut your ...!" It was reader angst, but that’s good angst. The kind of emotional reaction that makes books fun to read. All the time spent wondering how things would work out without pine boxes or divorce ...or both was well spent and part of the fun. To me, that's great. Some things aren't hard to figure out (especially since I was privy to the minds of the bad people as well as the good guy's). Stories don't end once things get figured out, in fact, that's when the real work and dangers starts. "You may know why your tooth aches, but it's still going to hurt until you go to a dentist." Seeley not only showed us what the problem was, he let us go through the proper therapy to correct it... proper therapy in a crime-action novel usually involves violence...ain't that fun? (I think so.)

Memory Lane - This book brought me back to some of the older films of my youth, when film makers couldn't rely on special effects and sex-appeal to carry their story... well, not sex-appeal alone anyway. I’m talking about a time when movies had to rely on plot and suspense. There were violent movies, but the good ones did not show violence for ratings, it was violence for a purpose that fit the context of a gritty story about bad men and how to stand up to them. The movie that comes to mind is "The Gauntlet" with Clint Eastwood (not Dirty Harry but Dirty Ben Shockley). Good movies, if violent and it's nice that a book reminds me of those.

Summary - It's a western movie overlaid on a modern crime story. There is violence, so be careful if you are sensitive to violent things. There is sexuality and sex, but all in good taste, and lots of intrigue that brings out the thrill of the chase I enjoyed some wonderful characters with human flaws standing up for themselves like we all wish we could do.

So, overall, I give it 4 stars. And I recommend it.