In the near future, political and cultural divisions have pushed America to the brink of civil war over States’ rights.
Daniel Ridley is a newly ordained missionary, raised in the heart of the separatist South and in ignorance of the broader world. He is sent to Boston as a missionary for the Christian Nationalist Evangelicals to preach the Word of God and to advocate for a government based on religious scripture. He’s not sure why God chose to burden him with same-sex attraction, but he’s confident his faith will give him the strength to resist that temptation. But he’s not prepared for the hostility he faces up North, and his secret mission—to find an elusive killer and bring him to justice—only complicates his task.
Jaxtyn Keller is a young gay man and perpetual college student who leads a Buddhist worship group at his university in Boston. He believes everything in the universe is connected, and everything happens for a reason. Unlike most of the citizens in his terrorism-plagued city, he’s convinced the only way to hold the country together is for both sides to truly see each other.
The two men meet by chance, and each sees in the other an opportunity to achieve his goal.
As the national crisis accelerates, however, Daniel’s cherished beliefs collide with the harsh reality of separatist violence, and he is soon torn between duty to his church and his growing feelings for Jaxtyn. When their lives are threatened, the two men must find a way to overcome their differences and accept their love for each other, while they fight to both save themselves and prevent a civil war.
Excerpt
Into the Lion’s Den
John Patrick © 2024 All Rights Reserved
Prologue
“This is not a test. Take cover immediately.”
Daniel’s cheek was squished against the bathtub wall. He breathed through his mouth while Jaxtyn—on top of him—frantically tugged at the blankets to cover their heads. Outside, sirens wailed, urging action. Through the closed bathroom door, Daniel could hear the announcements from the wall screen in Jaxtyn’s bedroom.
“This is not a test. Take cover immediately.” The warning repeated again and again, first in English, then Spanish, and then several more languages Daniel didn’t recognize. Jaxtyn’s foot slipped against the tub’s wall, and his elbow dug into Daniel’s ribs. “Sorry,” he mumbled, his coffee-scented breath puffing against Daniel’s face.
“This is not a test. Take cover immediately.”
God was punishing Daniel. That much was certain. Not even two months into his first mission, he’d failed to bring any of Boston’s sinners to Jesus, and—worse, much worse—he’d violated God’s sacred plan by succumbing to his own personal demons. Had it only been five minutes earlier that he’d condemned his soul to hell? Had he really almost kissed Jaxtyn?
Sure, it was a furtive, spontaneous thing, and in his panic, he’d pulled away before it truly began. But still. Did he really think he could flaunt God’s will? Of course he couldn’t. He’d failed. A spectacular, final descent into sin, and not five minutes later God announced his wrath through…whatever this was.
“This is not a test. Take cover immediately.”
How had his life spiraled out of control so quickly? Only six months earlier, he was secure in his faith and his future, safe and cocooned in the loving community of his missionary college, confident and eager, ready to work God’s will in the world. And now this.
“This is not—” The announcement cut off, immediately replaced by a series of shrill, sharp blasts. Outside, the sirens shut down, and an ear-splitting steady alarm took their place.
“Radiation detected! This is not a test. Take cover immediately.”
Above him, Jaxtyn sucked in a breath and squeezed lower into the tub, pressing more tightly against Daniel.
Daniel closed his eyes and began to pray.
Purchase Links
NineStar Press: https://ninestarpress.com/product/into-the-lions-den/
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/lions-den
Meet the Author
Author John Patrick is a Lambda Literary Award finalist living in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, where he is supported in his writing by his husband and their terrier, who is convinced he could do battle with the bears that come through the woods on occasion (the terrier, that is, not the husband). An introvert, John can often be found doing introverted things like reading or writing, cooking, and thinking deep, contemplative thoughts (his husband might call this napping). He loves to spend time in nature—“forest bathing” is the Japanese term for it—feeling connected with the universe. But he also loathes heat and humidity, bugs of any sort, and unsteady footing in the form of rocks, mud, tree roots, snow, or ice. So his love of nature is tempered—he’s complicated that way.
John and his husband enjoy traveling and have visited over a dozen countries, meeting new people, exploring new cultures, and—most importantly—discovering new foods.
Author Links
Website: http://johnpatrickauthor.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JohnPatrickAuthor
Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217569161-into-the-lion-s-den
Giveaway
One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code!
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/555033ec1051/?widget_template=589504cd4f3bedde0b6e64c2
Leave a Comment