Flight of the Sparrows [Paperback]

Laura Baumbach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2007

Black Ops Leader Daniel Burke is beginning to tire of his lonely nomad's lifestyle, but he stays in the game because he's good at it, loyal and he feels a bond of brotherhood for his longtime teammates. When someone starts to dog his trail, it leads him and his team back to England where his career and life took a different turn eighteen years ago. Now people want him dead and they are willing to take his team out with him. Enter teenager computer whiz Quill Tarquin who hacks into secret government files detailing joint, clandestine operations between American and British forces and stumbles on something much more sinister. Suddenly Burke and his boys have their hands full with assassins, internal betrayals and career changes. And now they're get to play father to an orphaned teenage terrorist dropped into their laps. Taking flight seems the only answer. "Exquisite writing and good description dominate this book. Baumbach creates strong characters, with interesting personalities that any reader can relate to. The story is fluid. The words flow together well, melding to make an inspiring story. Flight of the Sparrows has a plot thick with intrigue, adventure and unexpected twists. The author easily melts character analysis together with action-packed prose. " ....Rocky Riechman, TCM Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Review

Exquisite writing and good description dominate this book. Baumbach creates strong characters, with interesting personalities that any reader can relate to. The story is fluid. The words flow together well, melding to make an inspiring story. Flight of the Sparrows has a plot thick with intrigue, adventure and unexpected twists. The author easily melts character analysis together with action-packed prose....It's lively and lovely, both at the same time. Most important of all, however, is Baumbach-s uncanny ability to write a rare kind of story. To write a book that is both a literary gem and a blockbuster novel.  ~Rocky Reichman, TCM Reviews
--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: MLR Press (April 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934531103
• ISBN-13: 978-1934531105
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,350,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Laura Baumbach is the author of numerous short stories, novellas, novels and screenplays. Her favorite genre to work in is manlove or m/m erotic romances. Manlove is not traditional gay fiction, but erotic romances written specifically for the romantic-minded reader, male or female. She works as an emergency trauma nurse by night and an author by day, with her husband and two sons filling in her free hours.

Among her numerous awards over the years, Laura was the 2007 EPPIE Finalist for best GLBT novel with her book sci-fi adventure DETAILS OF THE HUNT, the first in the Details Series, winner of the 2008 EPPIE for best GLBT novel with her vampire adventure story THE LOST TEMPLE OF KARTTIKEYA and was give Honorable Mention for her collaborative novel MEXICAN HEAT , the first in the Crimes & Cocktails Series, at the San Fransiciso Book Fair. MEXICAN HEAT is also currently a 2009 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best Gay Romance.

Laura is the owner of ManLoveRomance Press, a small print publishing house that specializes in gay erotic romance, mystery and fiction. (http://www.mlrpress.com) MLR Press was founded in January of 2007. She is also the owner of the promotional co-op for authors of gay romance and fiction, Manloveromance.com. (http://www.manloveromance.com)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read, August 5, 2007

By 

gemini (usa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flight of the Sparrows (Paperback)

At first it was hard to get into. I was expecting somethign else entirely, however it quickly became a book worth reading. Bastard son finds black-ops father and then the fun really begins. The author has written some gay books but this is not one of them.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love suspense novels, you'll love this book..., January 14, 2009

By 

Bryl R. Tyne "Bryl Tyne" (South Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flight of the Sparrows (Paperback)

Quill Tarquin: orphaned teen, computer whiz kid with an eidetic memory, asthma, and one helluva attitude.

Daniel Burke: Black Ops leader ready to settle down, but to what and how, when someone wants you dead?

I was a bit skeptical at first, when I read about a another teenager accessing top secret government files with a couple of buddies. But it wasn't long before Quill's convincing character and his motivation (wanting to find his father), along with the suspense of the plot, drew me in and made me believe the storyline was plausible.

Ms. Baumbach expends great detail in characterization, which I often find boring with many other authors, but not her and not in this story. Each character was unique and contributed to the plot. I especially liked the camaraderie between Burke and his men. When five men work closely for over a decade, it's to be expected I suppose. But, these men were as close, if not closer, than brothers, and their diverse personalities made the story even more enjoyable.

High action around every corner and likable, believable characters makes Flight of the Sparrows one of my favorite books. I can easily picture this story as an exciting action-adventure film!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars intriguing intrigue, November 12, 2008

By 

Victor J. Banis "Victor J. Banis" (West Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Flight of the Sparrows (Paperback)

I confess, if I saw this book in a store, I would probably pass it by, based on the title. I mean, Sparrows? Sparrows are pretty unexciting critters, aren't they?

But, in fact, I chose to read it because I knew that the author was popular and successful with her M/M romance/erotica.

Surprise on all counts: the book turned out to be exciting indeed, and it was neither M/M romance nor erotica.

What it is, is an exciting and emotionally moving thriller,with a touching relationship between a son and his father who have never known one another, and get off this first time on bad footing.

Quill Tarquin is a teen age computer whiz who hacks into the files of Britain's M15, and stumbles upon a grisly plot to murder special agents; Black Ops Leader Daniel Burke is allied with the British team sent to find the hacker; but unknown to Burke, the British leader's orders are to find and kill. Also unknown to Burke: he and his men are among the intended murder victims

Burke saves the boy and spirits him to the States to protect him; and recognizes him as the son he never knew he had. Fast paced, plenty of action as the would be murderers launch several attempts to eliminate the one person who knows their plans, but the action is never at the expense of the characters or the emotional content.

A very satisfying read.