Dark Side of Valor by Alicia Singleton

Synopsis:

Child advocate Lelia Freeman saves children for a living. As the director of ChildSafe Shelters, she ventures to abandoned squats and crackhouses to rescue teens from the hellish streets of Los Angeles. When she is summoned to Washington to serve on a committee that aids the children of a war-torn African nation, Lelia is kidnapped and becomes a political pawn in a sinister conspiracy. Oceans away from everything she knows, she must trust a mercenary to save her life, or die in the clutches of a psychopath.

Hunting, combat and staying alive are Elijah Dune's specialties. Vengeance is his passion. Haunted by past demons, he travels to the Motherland to collect a debt. A debt that demands one payment. Death.

Caught in the crosshairs of a madman, Lelia and Elijah must survive the jungles of Zaire and the horrors of their pasts or be forever consumed by the DARK SIDE OF VALOR.



Review:  The lead character Leila, spent the first part of her life as a homeless runaway - experiencing horror after horror living on the street, including the loss of her dear friend - another child runaway.  Leila is able to turn her life around and focuses on giving back to the community - helping other children that are in the position she was once in.  Leila is a strong, compassionate character with a will to live, and a genuine love for helping others.  She was given a second chance by a church family - her remains her strongest support. 

As a result of Leila's work, she is invited to Africa to help children orphaned by the war.  She questions information or rather, misinformation that she is receiving which ultimately ends up with her being abducted.  Now she must flee through this war torn country with a mercenary - Elijah who for reasons unknown seems to hate Leila.  As the story progresses Elijah begins to fall in love - but will it be enough?

I really liked this book.  Leila as a character really works for me.  I love her passion in life and her inner strength.  The Elijah thing (which I'm not going to discuss in detail because, well, it would give things away) was interesting to me.  It's funny sometimes how our past comes back in some unexpected way.  Ms. Singleton weaves a fast paced story that keeps you emotionally invested and turning page after page until you've read every last word.  I really enjoy stories that bring attention to important issues - such as teen runaways, homelessness, and the situation in Africa.  I highly recommend this book.


About Alicia Singleton:  Born and raised in Philadelphia, the Howard University graduate embraced the written word at an early age. She credits this to her loving, older sister whom, while they were youngsters, made the author eat lotion on a regular basis. Realizing the need to sound-out the ingredients on the lotion label, Alicia stopped the lotion-eating practice, but continued to read the labels of the concoctions her sister brought for her to try. This early necessity to read flowered to a passion; hence, a writer was born.The award winning author resides in Maryland with her wonderful husband and son. Still an avid reader, label or otherwise, Alicia is hard at work completing her next suspense novel.Her latest book is the suspense novel, Dark Side of Valor.

Visit Alicia’s website at www.aliciasingleton.com.

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