In My Life, For Her by Robert J. Saniscalchi small town cop, Rob Marrino, calls in a favor from his Vietnam War buddy, Tex, and together they take on a violent and heavily armed drug smuggling cartel in the jungles of Columbia in a do-or-die rescue mission.
Ten years have passed since his hellish time as an army medic in Vietnam; Rob is now a Pikeville, New Jersey police officer, husband, and father. Despite his success, he continues to suffer from the occasional nightmare of his experiences from `Nam. While off duty and enjoying his favorite diversion, cruising in his classic Mustang, he is involved in a shootout with some heavily armed suspects. Rob kills one suspect and injures the other.
It turns out that the dead man's brother is a kingpin of a Columbian drug cartel. The reader can sense that the drug lord won't sit still and that he will soon avenge his brother. When Rob's wife, Beth Anne, disappears it doesn't take long for the cartel to suggest a trade of Beth Anne for the jailed brother.
The FBI learns that Beth Anne had been taken to Columbia. The government's strict policy of not dealing with terrorists will not allow a trade of Beth Anne for the surviving smuggler. Rob has other plans. He calls in a favor that goes all the way back to the war. He friend, Tex, was a top U.S. Marine sniper and he still does covert ops for various government agencies. Together they will save Beth Anne or die trying. Luckily the FBI knows exactly where the cartel hideout is and that Tex has a plan. Rob puts together the cash for the trip to South America and the two men head out on their vigilante operation.
Rob's emotional struggle to deal with the possible death of his wife endeared me to him and his plight. His love for his wife and family and his unfaltering faith make him a realistic, intriguing protagonist.
Adding at least 100 pages to My Life, For Her would have allowed the author to develop the characters to their full potential and to flesh out a stronger plot. I would have liked to have seen Rob using his police skills and his own contacts to track down the drug cartel instead of the info being simply handed to him by the FBI. In the prequel, Bullets and Bandages, Rob was a skilled soldier who led his comrades in numerous battles. Now with his wife's life on the line, Rob takes a back seat to his friend, allowing Tex to plan and lead the rescue. I rarely mention typos; however, it seems like this book could have used another round of proofreading.
The attack on the cartel compound is full throttle action that will delight any thriller aficionado. Car chases, blazing fire fights, explosions, and pulse raising suspense make this a good summer read for the die-hard action fan. By Reader's Choice Book Reviews.
