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Unlimited
Simon Orwell is a brilliant student whose life has taken a series of wrong turns. At the point of giving up on his dreams, he gets a call from an old professor who has discovered a breakthrough in a device that would create unlimited energy, and he needs Simon's help.
But once he crosses the border, nothing goes as the young man planned. The professor has been killed and Simon is assaulted and nearly killed by members of a powerful drug cartel.
Now he must take refuge in the only place that will help him, a local orphanage. There, Simon meets Harold Finch, the orphanage proprietor who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause.
With Harold's help, Simon sets out on a quest to uncover who killed the professor and why. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the worldchanging device and his own unlimited potential.
But once he crosses the border, nothing goes as the young man planned. The professor has been killed and Simon is assaulted and nearly killed by members of a powerful drug cartel.
Now he must take refuge in the only place that will help him, a local orphanage. There, Simon meets Harold Finch, the orphanage proprietor who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause.
With Harold's help, Simon sets out on a quest to uncover who killed the professor and why. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the worldchanging device and his own unlimited potential.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2013
43 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Davis Bunn
110 books1,039 followersDavis Bunn is an internationally-acclaimed author who has sold more than eight million books in twenty languages.
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
Honored with four Christy Awards for excellence in historical and suspense fiction, Davis was inducted into the Christy Hall of Fame in 2014.
His bestsellers include The Great Divide, Winner Take All, The Meeting Place, The Book of Hours, and The Quilt. A sought-after lecturer in the art of writing, Bunn was serves as Writer in Residence at Regent's Park College, Oxford University.
Davis Bunn also writes under the names Thomas Locke (for his epic fantasy and techno-thriller novels) and T. Davis Bunn (for books published prior to 2002).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 18, 2023
Just what I was looking for, even as a re-read. A bit predictable, perhaps, and far too abrupt at the climax, even for Bunn. That’s the moment when I want to see what’s happening and watch it unfold. But altogether, this is an enjoyable read. Because several of Bunn’s books have strayed into speculative fiction, which is not my cup of tea, I wasn’t sure how realistic the presentation of this fantastic new invention would be, but it comes across as very plausible—although no one seems to address whether “free power for the masses” is really an effective way to solve a country’s problems. It would have been nice if the terms were more precise than “the apparatus,” “the machine,” “the device,” etc., but perhaps Bunn didn’t know what to call it either.
As I said before, great characters and great action scenes. I love Bunn’s action scenes. My original review also said, “Great salvation arc.” I still partly say that, but it does seem a little vague—more the notion of accepting divine help and recognizing that Jesus is right there waiting than acknowledging his substitutionary death and resurrection on behalf of personal sin. But what’s there is well developed within Simon’s character arc. I also appreciate that faith was Sofia’s deciding factor in relationships, something that is too often ignored in Christian fiction.
I’ve now seen the movie as well, and as is typical, there is wide divergence between the book and the movie (although in this case, the movie came first). But both are good, and I enjoy having faces and voices to imagine while reading (although I think I prefer to read about maniacal bad guys rather than watch them). I’ve read so many of Bunn’s books now that I can say this is definitely typical Davis Bunn, and I was excited when I found a good one I hadn’t read yet. Perfect for a few slow days when I just wanted something to relax with. Somehow I can relax while reading Bunn’s suspense—well, except for the moment near the end when I just wasn’t sure…
Still four stars, and recommended for readers who like Christian suspense fiction with a bit of a scientific bent. (And for anyone who’s wondering—yes, I do read authors besides Davis Bunn, despite what my recent reviews may indicate!)
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As I said before, great characters and great action scenes. I love Bunn’s action scenes. My original review also said, “Great salvation arc.” I still partly say that, but it does seem a little vague—more the notion of accepting divine help and recognizing that Jesus is right there waiting than acknowledging his substitutionary death and resurrection on behalf of personal sin. But what’s there is well developed within Simon’s character arc. I also appreciate that faith was Sofia’s deciding factor in relationships, something that is too often ignored in Christian fiction.
I’ve now seen the movie as well, and as is typical, there is wide divergence between the book and the movie (although in this case, the movie came first). But both are good, and I enjoy having faces and voices to imagine while reading (although I think I prefer to read about maniacal bad guys rather than watch them). I’ve read so many of Bunn’s books now that I can say this is definitely typical Davis Bunn, and I was excited when I found a good one I hadn’t read yet. Perfect for a few slow days when I just wanted something to relax with. Somehow I can relax while reading Bunn’s suspense—well, except for the moment near the end when I just wasn’t sure…
Still four stars, and recommended for readers who like Christian suspense fiction with a bit of a scientific bent. (And for anyone who’s wondering—yes, I do read authors besides Davis Bunn, despite what my recent reviews may indicate!)
Join my newsletter list for monthly reading roundups and author updates, plus a free short story.
January 20, 2015
Simon Orwell is a brilliant scientist who has thrown a promising career away due to unwise choices. When he receives a message from an old professor to come to Mexico and help him with a revolutionary device that could provide electricity for the poor, he jumps at the chance. However, his life is soon in danger and he discovers the professor has been killed. With the killer on his trail, Simon hides out in an orphanage run by a remarkable man called Harold who has turned his back on worldly success to help orphans reach their full potential. Can Simon escape the sins of his past, or will he endanger the lives of the children? And what of the beautiful Sophia who regards him with suspicion? Can he win her heart, or will he be her undoing as well?
I've read a number of books by Davis Bunn, but this one had a different origin. From the acknowledgements section in the front of the book, we learn that a movie of 'Unlimited' was already being made and that Bunn was commissioned to write a novel based on the movie. Not having seen the movie, I'm not sure how closely the two align and how much leeway Bunn had with the novel. That might explain one of my reservations with the book. While it has a good premise, strong characters, and a good moral (i.e. that anyone can overcome their past to reach their potential), I felt it was more predictable than some of his other novels. It was pretty easy to work out who the bad guy was, and I felt it moved a bit too slowly through the middle section. However, the faith elements were handled sensitively and there was a lot of thought-provoking material. The last 50 pages or so were more suspenseful and there was a satisfying conclusion. I just didn't think it was as good as some of his previous books, such as The Great Divide, Drummer in the Dark and Imposter.
I hope this doesn't seem overly negative. It's still a good book and I'm not sorry I read it. I've just loved some of his other books and am always hoping the next one will grab me as much. This one didn't quite do it, but was still an enjoyable read.
I've read a number of books by Davis Bunn, but this one had a different origin. From the acknowledgements section in the front of the book, we learn that a movie of 'Unlimited' was already being made and that Bunn was commissioned to write a novel based on the movie. Not having seen the movie, I'm not sure how closely the two align and how much leeway Bunn had with the novel. That might explain one of my reservations with the book. While it has a good premise, strong characters, and a good moral (i.e. that anyone can overcome their past to reach their potential), I felt it was more predictable than some of his other novels. It was pretty easy to work out who the bad guy was, and I felt it moved a bit too slowly through the middle section. However, the faith elements were handled sensitively and there was a lot of thought-provoking material. The last 50 pages or so were more suspenseful and there was a satisfying conclusion. I just didn't think it was as good as some of his previous books, such as The Great Divide, Drummer in the Dark and Imposter.
I hope this doesn't seem overly negative. It's still a good book and I'm not sorry I read it. I've just loved some of his other books and am always hoping the next one will grab me as much. This one didn't quite do it, but was still an enjoyable read.
September 7, 2013
I wish I could give this book many more stars. The story and plot for Unlimited hit the ground running...literally. And away from a burning car! Just by opening the cover, Davis Bunn immediately propels readers into the dust and heat of a Mexican city, the peace of which is broken by an American on the run from a deadly hunter. Simon Orwell's story is instantly intriguing, and grows more so as bits of his past are revealed and a burdened heart is slowly laid bare to the possibility of healing. I thoroughly enjoyed Simon's camaraderie with Pedro - a good-hearted man caught up in the American's dangerous path - as well as his friendship with Juan, and his subtle relationship with Sofia. I also truly appreciated the open and frank presentation of a Christian message.
With every one of his books that passes through my hands, I conclude that Davis Bunn could not outdo his own work with the next, and this time was no exception. Unlimited is by far my favorite of Davis's books. I am totally thrilled to know that he was involved with the screenplay for the movie of the same title, and look forward to enjoying that as well.
Unlimited had me intrigued, excited, wide-eyed, and turning pages rapidly. It left me satisfied, smiling, and ready for another adventure penned by this marvelous author. Very well done.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
With every one of his books that passes through my hands, I conclude that Davis Bunn could not outdo his own work with the next, and this time was no exception. Unlimited is by far my favorite of Davis's books. I am totally thrilled to know that he was involved with the screenplay for the movie of the same title, and look forward to enjoying that as well.
Unlimited had me intrigued, excited, wide-eyed, and turning pages rapidly. It left me satisfied, smiling, and ready for another adventure penned by this marvelous author. Very well done.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
September 15, 2013
I must say, Davis Bunn is beginning to grow on me. I’m not a real big fan of his earlier work just based on the genre that it was written in (Not many guys like that whole Regency Romance period that I know of). But I will say that his latest works have been welcomed additions to my church library. That continues, then, with his latest release, “Unlimited”.
Simon his headed to Mexico to meet up with his old professor as they continue to work out kinks in a machine that they have developed that could potentially create an unlimited source of energy. They are testing this in Mexico because of the huge need for energy because the power sources there are controlled by the drug cartels and dirty politicians. Upon his arrival, though, he finds out that his friend has died of a heart attack and the device is worthless. After Simon leaves a meeting with the local council, he’s attacked and so begins this whirlwind adventure. Sofia and her brother, Pedro, assist at the local orphanage where they grew up. When Simon shows up there, Sofia only wants him gone so as not to endanger the kids. Simon is sure that he can get the device to work, but he needs to find his mentors notes. As Simon continues to search for the notes, the noose around his neck gets tighter and tighter. Who’s behind the attacks on Simon’s life? What do the local politicians want with Simon and his device? Does Simon put the lives of the children in the orphanage in danger? Does he ever get the device to work properly? You will get the “energy” to know those answers when you BUY THE BOOK!
From the moment you open this book, Davis Bunn draws you into the intense hunt that has already started. He continues to turn up the heat on the characters until it doesn’t seem as if they can take anymore. And then he turns it up again. He provides you with some humorous dialogue between his characters that makes them feel realistic, not like cardboard figures. Characters that make you want to cheer for them, that you want to pick up your phone and text them to get their advice. I appreciate when I read books like this that not only do I get entertained, but I get to see moral issues resolved in Christ-like fashion.
Is this a "Guys Book"? Right from the start you see that this is filled with danger and intrigue. Throw in corrupt politicians, the drug cartels and an unlimited supply of power and you have just the right book to be read by any guy.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
Simon his headed to Mexico to meet up with his old professor as they continue to work out kinks in a machine that they have developed that could potentially create an unlimited source of energy. They are testing this in Mexico because of the huge need for energy because the power sources there are controlled by the drug cartels and dirty politicians. Upon his arrival, though, he finds out that his friend has died of a heart attack and the device is worthless. After Simon leaves a meeting with the local council, he’s attacked and so begins this whirlwind adventure. Sofia and her brother, Pedro, assist at the local orphanage where they grew up. When Simon shows up there, Sofia only wants him gone so as not to endanger the kids. Simon is sure that he can get the device to work, but he needs to find his mentors notes. As Simon continues to search for the notes, the noose around his neck gets tighter and tighter. Who’s behind the attacks on Simon’s life? What do the local politicians want with Simon and his device? Does Simon put the lives of the children in the orphanage in danger? Does he ever get the device to work properly? You will get the “energy” to know those answers when you BUY THE BOOK!
From the moment you open this book, Davis Bunn draws you into the intense hunt that has already started. He continues to turn up the heat on the characters until it doesn’t seem as if they can take anymore. And then he turns it up again. He provides you with some humorous dialogue between his characters that makes them feel realistic, not like cardboard figures. Characters that make you want to cheer for them, that you want to pick up your phone and text them to get their advice. I appreciate when I read books like this that not only do I get entertained, but I get to see moral issues resolved in Christ-like fashion.
Is this a "Guys Book"? Right from the start you see that this is filled with danger and intrigue. Throw in corrupt politicians, the drug cartels and an unlimited supply of power and you have just the right book to be read by any guy.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 17, 2014
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This is the first novel that I've read from Davis Bunn and unfortunately, as excited as I was to read this, it just didn't really work for me. Man, I read the first few chapters and I was really enjoying getting to know the characters, the action was awesome and the storyline was great. But then it just fizzled out.
I'm not totally for sure where it actually went wrong. I really connected with the main character, Simon. I thought that he was intriguing and I couldn't wait to get to know him more. But then he became one of those characters that was great at everything and knew everything ABOUT everything and it became tiresome. Even with the intrigue about his past, I was just bored with him. It almost felt like a cop out ... having the character perfect except for one thing in his past. I don't want to read about a perfect person ... I want someone who is flawed and struggling and that is what I thought that Unlimited had in store for me because of the beginning of the novel.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just sensitive to that because the constant preaching. Well, it wasn't preaching but it was too much. I know that this is a Christian Fiction novel. But this felt like it was being force-fed to the reader. If I wanted to read the Bible, I would have picked it up instead of this book. I found myself rolling my eyes at the, "What God has in store" comments that happened frequently. Maybe I'm not the Christian that this book was made for. I don't know that I could ever really enjoy a book that made me question my faith - i.e. Am I not Christian enough because I find this annoying?!? All I know is, after I was about halfway through the book, I just kept picturing Elaine from Seinfeld and the whole Jesus fish thing.
I wish that the excitement hadn't tapered off. I think it would have kept my attention more if the action had kept at the same pace it was in the beginning. I'm obviously in the minority with this one because there are only a hand-full of negative ratings, most everyone loves it so if you are on the fence, go ahead and get it ... statistically speaking, you'll probably like it. Good luck!
September 5, 2013
Davis Bunn returns in fine form with his latest literary offering, "Unlimited". From the first page to the last, the novel explodes with action that is captured in vivid descriptions, so realistic that I felt like I was there experiencing everything along with the characters. I greatly enjoyed the character of Simon Orwell in particular, as he is a man with flaws like anyone of us, a man who makes mistakes, but who also proves that no one is beyond the redemptive power of God. "Unlimited" not only entertains with its taut writing and enjoyable suspense, but it also explores the meaning of our lives in light of Jesus dying to redeem us and give us true life. I also felt that the romance that permeates the story is handled very well, developing in a very real way. I was intrigued to read that this book is actually based on an upcoming movie that Davis Bunn also played a part in bringing to fruition, and I am looking forward to see how the plot of "Unlimited" plays out on the big screen. I must say that Davis Bunn is easily one of my favorite authors, and I enjoy his books so much it will be hard to match his writing in movie format. However, the story itself holds power, with a unique premise that I wish were true in real life, the idea of capturing wasted energy and making it free and available for those trapped in poverty.
Fans of Davis Bunn will absolutely enjoy "Unlimited", and I give this book my highest rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and FIRST, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
Fans of Davis Bunn will absolutely enjoy "Unlimited", and I give this book my highest rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and FIRST, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
July 12, 2016
Unlimited is a truly interesting novel. I’ve read many of Davis Bunn’s books and find them all very well written. Unlimited is even more so.
From the first page to the last you will be on a rollercoaster of adventure, danger and intrigue. I found this book truly fascinating.
As soon as Simon crosses the border his life takes a very bad turn. One bad thing after another keeps happening to him. He escapes death many, many times.
God brings Simon to a worker from an orphanage and they help him and they know about the professor who Simon worked with.
You will discover in this book that not everyone who seems bad is bad and not everyone who seems good is good. You have to watch out for the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Also the drug cartel will go to any lengths to get what they want. They only care about money and their drugs.
Simon has made many mistakes in his life and wants to make up for them and start over. Find out if he gets a chance to do something for someone that doesn’t help himself and will he be drawn to the Lord by the people at the orphanage.
Very, very good novel. Truly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended.
I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
From the first page to the last you will be on a rollercoaster of adventure, danger and intrigue. I found this book truly fascinating.
As soon as Simon crosses the border his life takes a very bad turn. One bad thing after another keeps happening to him. He escapes death many, many times.
God brings Simon to a worker from an orphanage and they help him and they know about the professor who Simon worked with.
You will discover in this book that not everyone who seems bad is bad and not everyone who seems good is good. You have to watch out for the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Also the drug cartel will go to any lengths to get what they want. They only care about money and their drugs.
Simon has made many mistakes in his life and wants to make up for them and start over. Find out if he gets a chance to do something for someone that doesn’t help himself and will he be drawn to the Lord by the people at the orphanage.
Very, very good novel. Truly enjoyed reading it. Highly recommended.
I received my free copy from Net Galley for my review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255
September 26, 2013
Davis Bunn is one of my favorite authors. I have read all his books and some of them twice. I found this book
Unlimited is part science fiction, and part inspirational. Having lived close to the Mexican border, ot also paints a true picture
of how drugs affect those living in Mexico. This book is filled with suspense, betrayal, and it is also beautifully protrays Hope, and daring to believe, and not giving up.
Unlimitred started slowly for me but soon became a book I couldn't read fast enough and was sorry when it ended. Unlimited was written from the movie "Unlimited" which Davis Bunn had a part in the screenplay.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to be part of the launch team for this book.
Unlimited is part science fiction, and part inspirational. Having lived close to the Mexican border, ot also paints a true picture
of how drugs affect those living in Mexico. This book is filled with suspense, betrayal, and it is also beautifully protrays Hope, and daring to believe, and not giving up.
Unlimitred started slowly for me but soon became a book I couldn't read fast enough and was sorry when it ended. Unlimited was written from the movie "Unlimited" which Davis Bunn had a part in the screenplay.
I am so glad I had the opportunity to be part of the launch team for this book.
September 23, 2023
Title: "UNLIMITED"
Author: Davis Bunn
"Playing with the bull might lead you to the horns."
The narrative is straightforward, and a compelling aspect of the book is how Simon, a scientist, becomes stranded in Mexico City and discovers his divine calling to aid underprivileged children. This novel is a must-read.
Author: Davis Bunn
"Playing with the bull might lead you to the horns."
The narrative is straightforward, and a compelling aspect of the book is how Simon, a scientist, becomes stranded in Mexico City and discovers his divine calling to aid underprivileged children. This novel is a must-read.
September 5, 2014
Really good book, well written. The first page pulls you in then it keeps on doing that!
December 21, 2017
Unlimited by Davis Bunn starts off with a bang: Simon Orwell has just had an accident on a hot dusty road in Mexico. He is carrying some sort of apparatus with him. something highly valued, though damaged, and he’s escaping from the man who deliberately caused the accident.
He had been on his way to see his former MIT professor with whom he had helped work on the apparatus. But when he finally makes his way to a safe place, he learns not only that the professor has been killed, but the emails from him were sent after his death.
Simon ends up hiding out at an orphanage run by the professor’s dear friends. Some of those friends see Simon as a danger who needs to leave ASAP. Others, particularly the orphanage director, Harold, see Simon first as a desperate soul in need of help, and secondly as the man who could finish the professor’s research.
Simon had come for only one reason: to apologize to the professor for a former betrayal. Wracked with uneased guilt, with no confidence in his own potential, Simon is at loose ends. But when Harold shows him some of the professor’s further research on the device, a source of free energy, Simon begins to tinker with it and then to believe he can fix it. While Harold is thrilled, he is more concerned with the weight on Simon’s soul and his reclamation.
There are others, though – some lurking in darkness, like the man who caused the car accident, and others lurking behind fake smiles and assurances, who want the apparatus for far different reasons.
Bunn does an excellent job keeping the reader in suspense throughout the book on several fronts: whether the apparatus can be fixed and made to work as intended, whether the wrong people will get their hands on it and hurt people in the process, and whether Simon will respond to the truth Harold is sharing with him and living out before him.
Parts of the story are true, especially the fact that Harold is a real person, a former NASA engineer, who retired to establish orphanages in India and to lecture on principles of success. Honestly, what I read about the latter online, that “internal powerful forces that can propel [people] from ordinary to extraordinary…You can begin now to illuminate your path to future unlimited greatness and Dr. Finch wants to show you how” made me a little uncomfortable and wary. What was presented in Unlimited was fine but I wouldn’t endorse the rest of his teaching without knowing more about it.
This book was made after the 2015 movie of it, rather than the movie being made after the book as is usually the case. I had not heard of the movie and couldn’t find it in any of the usual rental places. I did look it up on Pureflix and found it there – we aren’t members, but it may be worth a trial membership to see it.
He had been on his way to see his former MIT professor with whom he had helped work on the apparatus. But when he finally makes his way to a safe place, he learns not only that the professor has been killed, but the emails from him were sent after his death.
Simon ends up hiding out at an orphanage run by the professor’s dear friends. Some of those friends see Simon as a danger who needs to leave ASAP. Others, particularly the orphanage director, Harold, see Simon first as a desperate soul in need of help, and secondly as the man who could finish the professor’s research.
Simon had come for only one reason: to apologize to the professor for a former betrayal. Wracked with uneased guilt, with no confidence in his own potential, Simon is at loose ends. But when Harold shows him some of the professor’s further research on the device, a source of free energy, Simon begins to tinker with it and then to believe he can fix it. While Harold is thrilled, he is more concerned with the weight on Simon’s soul and his reclamation.
There are others, though – some lurking in darkness, like the man who caused the car accident, and others lurking behind fake smiles and assurances, who want the apparatus for far different reasons.
Bunn does an excellent job keeping the reader in suspense throughout the book on several fronts: whether the apparatus can be fixed and made to work as intended, whether the wrong people will get their hands on it and hurt people in the process, and whether Simon will respond to the truth Harold is sharing with him and living out before him.
Parts of the story are true, especially the fact that Harold is a real person, a former NASA engineer, who retired to establish orphanages in India and to lecture on principles of success. Honestly, what I read about the latter online, that “internal powerful forces that can propel [people] from ordinary to extraordinary…You can begin now to illuminate your path to future unlimited greatness and Dr. Finch wants to show you how” made me a little uncomfortable and wary. What was presented in Unlimited was fine but I wouldn’t endorse the rest of his teaching without knowing more about it.
This book was made after the 2015 movie of it, rather than the movie being made after the book as is usually the case. I had not heard of the movie and couldn’t find it in any of the usual rental places. I did look it up on Pureflix and found it there – we aren’t members, but it may be worth a trial membership to see it.
February 3, 2024
Poorly written and disappointing book (2 stars)
Brilliant student Simon Orwell and his professor have created a device which potentially can create unlimited electrical power. But Simon is soon on the run after his prof's sudden death, and an attempt on his own life. He finds himself at a Mexican orphanage, trying to make sense of what is happening to him and those around him. This book is based on a film, which in turn is partly based on the real-life story of Harold Finch, a man who walked away from a well paid career in order to work in charity.
For a Davis Bunn novel (I really enjoyed his book "The Great Divide"), I found it a big disappointment. The writing style isn't engaging, with far too many sentence fragments; while this style can be used to good effect, here it felt amateurish. The action was too slow, and even tedious at times. The main concept of the storyline is mediocre, and even somewhat boring.
As far as the Christian content is concerned, unfortunately this is not a strong element. At one point one of the characters is considering marrying a mayor who is not even a Christian, and says that "God is silent" even when she prays about it, despite the fact that God speaks quite clearly about this in the Bible (1 Cor 7:39)!
Overall, "Unlimited" is a big disappointment, and a poorly written novel that just doesn't live up to Davis Bunn's potential.
Brilliant student Simon Orwell and his professor have created a device which potentially can create unlimited electrical power. But Simon is soon on the run after his prof's sudden death, and an attempt on his own life. He finds himself at a Mexican orphanage, trying to make sense of what is happening to him and those around him. This book is based on a film, which in turn is partly based on the real-life story of Harold Finch, a man who walked away from a well paid career in order to work in charity.
For a Davis Bunn novel (I really enjoyed his book "The Great Divide"), I found it a big disappointment. The writing style isn't engaging, with far too many sentence fragments; while this style can be used to good effect, here it felt amateurish. The action was too slow, and even tedious at times. The main concept of the storyline is mediocre, and even somewhat boring.
As far as the Christian content is concerned, unfortunately this is not a strong element. At one point one of the characters is considering marrying a mayor who is not even a Christian, and says that "God is silent" even when she prays about it, despite the fact that God speaks quite clearly about this in the Bible (1 Cor 7:39)!
Overall, "Unlimited" is a big disappointment, and a poorly written novel that just doesn't live up to Davis Bunn's potential.
September 26, 2021
Simon was a brilliant student but unfortunately he had messed up his life and dropped out of university. His former professor, who still believed in him, invited Simon to come to Mexico to help with a project to bring electricity to the poor people in Mexico. When Simon arrived in Mexico, he was attacked by the drug cartel and soon learned that the professor had been killed. Simon ends up taking refuge in an orphanage and risks bringing danger to the children. Harold, the proprietor of the orphanage, has confidence that Simon wants to mend his ways. Together they and the other orphanage employees work together to find out who is behind the professor's murder, and who was responsible for the attack on Simon.
December 9, 2024
What a surprise! I had no idea what to expect when I started this book other than it included two scientists and a device they had worked on together.
Oh, it was that and a lot more. This was centered around an orphanage full of children whose parents had been killed by the Mexican drug cartel, including two former orphans who are now adults. This orphanage is extremely important to them, and something dear to one of the scientists.
It was also the place where the younger scientist was hiding from a hit-man intent on getting his hands on the device.
This was unlike my usual genre, but it was a recommendation so I went with it, and I’m glad I did. Some suspense, some sweet moments with the kids and a faith message to satisfy my Christ-loving heart.
Oh, it was that and a lot more. This was centered around an orphanage full of children whose parents had been killed by the Mexican drug cartel, including two former orphans who are now adults. This orphanage is extremely important to them, and something dear to one of the scientists.
It was also the place where the younger scientist was hiding from a hit-man intent on getting his hands on the device.
This was unlike my usual genre, but it was a recommendation so I went with it, and I’m glad I did. Some suspense, some sweet moments with the kids and a faith message to satisfy my Christ-loving heart.
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September 23, 2013Here's a Q & A with Davis Bunn that just might get you excited to read this one. :)
Q & A with Davis Bunn
The storyline in Unlimited is inspired by true events. What actual events inspired the story?
Harold Finch was formerly the founder and CEO of the first management-leadership consulting groups in the US. In the mid-seventies he sold the company to H&R Block for over a hundred million dollars—back when a hundred million actually meant something. Answering God’s call, he has spent the past three decades traveling the world, teaching his concepts for free and helping underprivileged children learn that they do indeed have both a purpose in God’s eyes, and the potential to succeed. His experiences form the basis for this story.
What ignited your idea for the characters to create a device that would convert raw wasted energy into useable power?
I actually wrote the screenplay for the film before writing the novel. This happens occasionally—Godfather and Love Story were both conceived in this order. While working on the film script, the producer and Harold and I were discussing what might work as a basis for the story’s suspense element. We were looking for something that had the means of revealing this ‘unlimited’ potential in people. I don’t actually remember who first came up with the idea of wasted energy, but soon as it was said, we all jumped on it.
Simon Orwell, the protagonist in Unlimited, is a brilliant, cynical electrical engineering student who finds danger irresistible. Did you model his character traits after yourself or anyone you know?
Alas, we all know a Simon. These days, this type of person is all too common. An individual with huge potential, who allows himself or herself to become distracted by the multitude of temptations that basically define modern life. And yes, I do know several such people. Some turn this into hugely productive directions, thank goodness. Usually to do so requires divine help, a clarification of focus, and strength they must reach out and ask to receive.
Armando Vasquez and Harold Finch are important mentors in Simon’s life. Who has been a critical mentor in your life, Davis? How has that person encouraged you to push beyond the boundaries of what you thought possible?
There have been several such mentors, for which I remain extremely grateful. One such person is Carol Johnson, who recently retired as editor-in-chief at Bethany House Publishers. Carol has been instrumental in my becoming the best writer I could be, and continues to act as a sounding board for new ideas and characters. Another, I am happy to say, is Harold Finch. His lessons on combining God’s teachings with lifelong aims have been a genuinely rewarding experience with far-reaching results.
Many of the characters in the story are orphans. What parallels do you see between the orphans in the story and real-life spiritual orphans?
A beautiful question. While researching the core components of this story, orphanage leaders repeatedly stressed the need to teach orphans to believe in themselves and their natural abilities. Too often they see themselves as lost, without purpose, without a role to play, without chances, without love. What made this story work, I think, is how Simon Orwell shares these same feelings about himself. And how he comes to realize God is the only one to fill this need.
Many people believe they must wear a mask to hide the parts of themselves they are ashamed of. How is this story about removing that mask?
So much of life remains hidden away. The darker elements of a life without God only amplify this falseness. Simon has spent so much of his life, so much of his energy and time, in hiding. As the story unfolds, he discovers that an essential element of arriving at his full potential is being honest with himself. This is where the mask is most damaging, and also where it is often hardest to release. We seek to hide the truth, even when we know the act is a lie in itself. And the mirror we require to see the truth about ourselves is the one that God offers, in infinite patience, in gentle love.
The title, Unlimited, has multiple layers of meaning. What does that title mean to you?
Unlimited was the title brought to me by the film’s producers. When I first began working on this story, it was just that, a title. But as I grew to know Harold, and heard him teach, and read his lesson plan, and then actually applied what he has come to call his ‘Dynamic Life Retreat’ (see Harold full teachings on his website, HaroldFinch.com) I have come to agree with them in their choice. Bringing God into the equation of life’s direction, success, and reaching full potential does reveal the true meaning of Unlimited.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website and blog are at www.davisbunn.com
Subscribe to my blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn
Sign up for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm
Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/ -- check out my “Scenes from Unlimited” board.
Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn
Q & A with Davis Bunn
The storyline in Unlimited is inspired by true events. What actual events inspired the story?
Harold Finch was formerly the founder and CEO of the first management-leadership consulting groups in the US. In the mid-seventies he sold the company to H&R Block for over a hundred million dollars—back when a hundred million actually meant something. Answering God’s call, he has spent the past three decades traveling the world, teaching his concepts for free and helping underprivileged children learn that they do indeed have both a purpose in God’s eyes, and the potential to succeed. His experiences form the basis for this story.
What ignited your idea for the characters to create a device that would convert raw wasted energy into useable power?
I actually wrote the screenplay for the film before writing the novel. This happens occasionally—Godfather and Love Story were both conceived in this order. While working on the film script, the producer and Harold and I were discussing what might work as a basis for the story’s suspense element. We were looking for something that had the means of revealing this ‘unlimited’ potential in people. I don’t actually remember who first came up with the idea of wasted energy, but soon as it was said, we all jumped on it.
Simon Orwell, the protagonist in Unlimited, is a brilliant, cynical electrical engineering student who finds danger irresistible. Did you model his character traits after yourself or anyone you know?
Alas, we all know a Simon. These days, this type of person is all too common. An individual with huge potential, who allows himself or herself to become distracted by the multitude of temptations that basically define modern life. And yes, I do know several such people. Some turn this into hugely productive directions, thank goodness. Usually to do so requires divine help, a clarification of focus, and strength they must reach out and ask to receive.
Armando Vasquez and Harold Finch are important mentors in Simon’s life. Who has been a critical mentor in your life, Davis? How has that person encouraged you to push beyond the boundaries of what you thought possible?
There have been several such mentors, for which I remain extremely grateful. One such person is Carol Johnson, who recently retired as editor-in-chief at Bethany House Publishers. Carol has been instrumental in my becoming the best writer I could be, and continues to act as a sounding board for new ideas and characters. Another, I am happy to say, is Harold Finch. His lessons on combining God’s teachings with lifelong aims have been a genuinely rewarding experience with far-reaching results.
Many of the characters in the story are orphans. What parallels do you see between the orphans in the story and real-life spiritual orphans?
A beautiful question. While researching the core components of this story, orphanage leaders repeatedly stressed the need to teach orphans to believe in themselves and their natural abilities. Too often they see themselves as lost, without purpose, without a role to play, without chances, without love. What made this story work, I think, is how Simon Orwell shares these same feelings about himself. And how he comes to realize God is the only one to fill this need.
Many people believe they must wear a mask to hide the parts of themselves they are ashamed of. How is this story about removing that mask?
So much of life remains hidden away. The darker elements of a life without God only amplify this falseness. Simon has spent so much of his life, so much of his energy and time, in hiding. As the story unfolds, he discovers that an essential element of arriving at his full potential is being honest with himself. This is where the mask is most damaging, and also where it is often hardest to release. We seek to hide the truth, even when we know the act is a lie in itself. And the mirror we require to see the truth about ourselves is the one that God offers, in infinite patience, in gentle love.
The title, Unlimited, has multiple layers of meaning. What does that title mean to you?
Unlimited was the title brought to me by the film’s producers. When I first began working on this story, it was just that, a title. But as I grew to know Harold, and heard him teach, and read his lesson plan, and then actually applied what he has come to call his ‘Dynamic Life Retreat’ (see Harold full teachings on his website, HaroldFinch.com) I have come to agree with them in their choice. Bringing God into the equation of life’s direction, success, and reaching full potential does reveal the true meaning of Unlimited.
How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website and blog are at www.davisbunn.com
Subscribe to my blog’s feed (to get my latest posts via e-mail or through your feed reader) at http://feeds.feedburner.com/DavisBunn
Sign up for my e-newsletter (for subscriber-only giveaways and advance notice of my upcoming novels): http://www.davisbunn.com/news.htm
Facebook Author Page: facebook.com/davisbunnauthor
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/davisbunn/ -- check out my “Scenes from Unlimited” board.
Twitter: @davisbunn - http://twitter.com/davisbunn
May 8, 2020
This was a hard book for me to follow or finish. Found myself rereading so much of it just to follow the flow of the story. I did however finish it... it is not a book I will read a second time for sure. It is a good clean read...just not very exciting.
September 6, 2020
Another winner!
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy this author and his stories. Such a great storyteller. I always enjoy the character development, storylines, and the fact that the story always holds and delivers a powerful message.
I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy this author and his stories. Such a great storyteller. I always enjoy the character development, storylines, and the fact that the story always holds and delivers a powerful message.
January 5, 2023
Good fast, paced book.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and it felt like the story was good, and it moved along quickly. Sometimes, Christian fictional books get way too preachy, but this one didn't.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and it felt like the story was good, and it moved along quickly. Sometimes, Christian fictional books get way too preachy, but this one didn't.
October 20, 2022
Mystery about Mexico and US drug cartels. Story about an American scientist and a Mexican scientist trying to make low cost electricity for Mexic0. It kept your interest and very intriguing story.
June 29, 2025
I found it confusing and lacking in reality
September 25, 2013
I have for you, a review of Davis Bunn's Unlimited - a fantastic story that takes place in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. (I received a complimentary copy from the publisher B&H Books via NetGalley) I've read several other of Mr. Bunn's books, and loved them all. He has the ability to catch you in a fast paced adventure, but still get you to stop and think about what you are reading, and reflect on your life, and God's involvement in it.
Summary: Simon is an MIT dropout bent on making restitution to the one man who believed in him - his former professor now living in the town of Ojinaga, Mexico. Coming at the professor's request, Simon brings with him what he hopes will be his redemption - a device that could save Mexico from corruption and greed. Yet, as soon as he crosses the border, Simon realizes that all is not what it seems. The professor is dead, and Simon finds himself hiding at an orphanage founded and run by Harold Finch, a man who quit a lucrative career with NASA and several other companies to come care for the lost and broken in Mexico, and to show them their unlimited potential in Jesus.
While there, Simon meets several interesting people including Sofia, the local doctor; Pedro, her brother and Assistant Town Manager; Enrique, Sofia's love interest and the mayor of Ojinaga committed to keeping corruption out of his town, and the state as he runs for governor; and Juan, a young teen from the orphanage who does everything he can to help this Yanqui during his visit.
Doing his best to make the device work, while also trying to figure out who killed the professor and who is secretly bringing the cartels into the supposedly safe town, Simon and the rest find themselves serious trouble as things progress.
What I enjoyed: I loved the interactions Simon had with Juan and Harold. Both tugged at my heartstrings. I also enjoyed the adventure of the story, of trying to figure out what the device is, and what it does/is supposed to do. While I figured out who the bad guy was, it took me a while longer to do so, and I was totally stumped about why they kept trying to get the device. I also enjoyed the plot twists Bunn had in there that totally threw me for a loop. Great writing. It brought me back to my missions trips to Mexico on the Baja Peninsula. Different part of the country, but same sandy, hilly desert. It made me miss it, just like his other books made me want to go to Iraq, Israel, and Northern Africa.
Another super cool thing is that the character of Harold Finch is based off a real person, also by the name of Harold Finch. (what a coincidence ;) ) He also worked at NASA and several Fortune 500 companies before feeling God's call to something more. He eventually quit those jobs and moved to India where he runs an orphanage for the lowest castes. Sound familiar? You can learn more about him on his website here. (Side note, the whole time I was reading this book, I kept thinking of the main character on CBS's Person of Interest - also named Harold Finch. Now that I know he's a real person, I wonder if the show based the character off him/used it to pay homage to him)
One of the other things I really liked was the spiritual aspect of the story. Mr. Bunn is fantastic at bringing the spiritual side in without it being preachy, but rather convicting. The theme of this book is somewhat obvious. It is unlimited, that is our potential through Christ. Jesus has a plan for our lives, and when we allow him to take control, the potential for success is unlimited. God can and will do incredible things through us if we are willing, and everyone has that potential in side of us. This was hugely convicting for me. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what God wants me to do. I graduate in December with my MDv, but I'm not sure where to go from here. I feel like I haven't been living up to my potential, and have limited myself in many ways because of that. This book convicted me that I need to stop living for me, and live for God and his plan for my life.
What I didn't like: There are a few scenes that are a bit confusing - such as the flashback to what Simon actually did to the professor. It is sort of explained, but sort of not. Did Simon make the professor complicit in his actions, or did the professor just leave? Perhaps I just missed something, but to me, it did not seem clear at all.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the book, and I hope you do too. If you like a good adventure, with some mystery and intrigue, you'll love this book. If you just want a good read that will make you think, this is also for you. Enjoy! http://sarahksbookreviews.blogspot.co...
Summary: Simon is an MIT dropout bent on making restitution to the one man who believed in him - his former professor now living in the town of Ojinaga, Mexico. Coming at the professor's request, Simon brings with him what he hopes will be his redemption - a device that could save Mexico from corruption and greed. Yet, as soon as he crosses the border, Simon realizes that all is not what it seems. The professor is dead, and Simon finds himself hiding at an orphanage founded and run by Harold Finch, a man who quit a lucrative career with NASA and several other companies to come care for the lost and broken in Mexico, and to show them their unlimited potential in Jesus.
While there, Simon meets several interesting people including Sofia, the local doctor; Pedro, her brother and Assistant Town Manager; Enrique, Sofia's love interest and the mayor of Ojinaga committed to keeping corruption out of his town, and the state as he runs for governor; and Juan, a young teen from the orphanage who does everything he can to help this Yanqui during his visit.
Doing his best to make the device work, while also trying to figure out who killed the professor and who is secretly bringing the cartels into the supposedly safe town, Simon and the rest find themselves serious trouble as things progress.
What I enjoyed: I loved the interactions Simon had with Juan and Harold. Both tugged at my heartstrings. I also enjoyed the adventure of the story, of trying to figure out what the device is, and what it does/is supposed to do. While I figured out who the bad guy was, it took me a while longer to do so, and I was totally stumped about why they kept trying to get the device. I also enjoyed the plot twists Bunn had in there that totally threw me for a loop. Great writing. It brought me back to my missions trips to Mexico on the Baja Peninsula. Different part of the country, but same sandy, hilly desert. It made me miss it, just like his other books made me want to go to Iraq, Israel, and Northern Africa.
Another super cool thing is that the character of Harold Finch is based off a real person, also by the name of Harold Finch. (what a coincidence ;) ) He also worked at NASA and several Fortune 500 companies before feeling God's call to something more. He eventually quit those jobs and moved to India where he runs an orphanage for the lowest castes. Sound familiar? You can learn more about him on his website here. (Side note, the whole time I was reading this book, I kept thinking of the main character on CBS's Person of Interest - also named Harold Finch. Now that I know he's a real person, I wonder if the show based the character off him/used it to pay homage to him)
One of the other things I really liked was the spiritual aspect of the story. Mr. Bunn is fantastic at bringing the spiritual side in without it being preachy, but rather convicting. The theme of this book is somewhat obvious. It is unlimited, that is our potential through Christ. Jesus has a plan for our lives, and when we allow him to take control, the potential for success is unlimited. God can and will do incredible things through us if we are willing, and everyone has that potential in side of us. This was hugely convicting for me. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what God wants me to do. I graduate in December with my MDv, but I'm not sure where to go from here. I feel like I haven't been living up to my potential, and have limited myself in many ways because of that. This book convicted me that I need to stop living for me, and live for God and his plan for my life.
What I didn't like: There are a few scenes that are a bit confusing - such as the flashback to what Simon actually did to the professor. It is sort of explained, but sort of not. Did Simon make the professor complicit in his actions, or did the professor just leave? Perhaps I just missed something, but to me, it did not seem clear at all.
Other than that, I really enjoyed the book, and I hope you do too. If you like a good adventure, with some mystery and intrigue, you'll love this book. If you just want a good read that will make you think, this is also for you. Enjoy! http://sarahksbookreviews.blogspot.co...
September 22, 2013
Spoiler Alert!
Unlimited is an interesting battle set in Mexico and partially based on a true story. By battle I mean that it is a human drama about good vs. evil, but much more about finding a personal sense of meaning and responsibility in this life.
Simon Orwell is a man who has made a complete mess of his life: taking wrong turns at every opportunity. He is a brilliant scientist, although still a student, whose latest wrong turn has gotten him and his favorite professor booted out of MIT. Simon feels so ashamed and remorseful for betraying his professor that he wants to somehow make things right. The two had been working on a project together to create a device that would garner the unused (“wasted”) energy and create unlimited free energy from it. The professor dreams of bringing free energy to Mexico, his home, since the current power company there is very expensive and oppressive. The professor has sent Simon an email saying he has made a breakthrough in their design and needs Simon’s help to finally make their device work.
Simon takes everything he has including his version of the device in his car and goes to Mexico with the intention to apologize for betraying the professor and to do everything he can to help him complete his device. The minute Simon crosses the border everything goes wrong. Simon is run off the road and forced to flee with his device from a man with a gun. Simon hides the machine in a drainage ditch and manages to make it into town to meet the professor at the town council meeting to present their device in hopes of receiving funding. When he arrives he is greeted with the news that the professor is dead and the council claims they never offered funding, but would like to buy his device for 1000 bucks. Devastated, not only that his friend is dead, that there is no funding and the lo-ball price the town offered for years of his research, Simon leaves only to find that someone is still trying to kill him. Simon is rescued by the assistant to the mayor and taken to the orphanage for refuge. There Simon meets Harold Finch, who helps Simon set out to find out who killed the professor and why. He also helps Simon believe in himself (and the love of the heavenly father) and to rebuild the machine and to make it work. But they must fight against a powerful drug cartel which has other more sinister plans for the device.
It is a wonderful story of redemption and hope! There is even some romance involved. Mostly the reader is exposed to the hardships and terror that living in Mexico can be today. The powerful drug cartels are ruthless and dangerous and make just surviving difficult in an already treacherous environment.
Davis Bunn has created a wonderful novelization of his screenplay for the film “Unlimited” which is also coming to theaters soon. Writing a book based on a movie is difficult because all the dialog and stage directions together have already produced the story; there is no room for embellishment or change. There were a couple of instances in reading the book that the conversations seemed a bit stilted but I’m sure the same conversations flowed in the movie and were necessary to the plot. I am looking forward to the movie!
I received a complimentary copy of Unlimited from B&H Publishing group in exchange for my honest review.
September 14, 2013
A burning car, a hit man on a mission, a mysterious device and an American scientist on the run in Mexico - yes, that's the opening scene in Davis Bunn's book, Unlimited. This is a book based upon a movie that is based upon a person, and I truly felt as though I was watching a movie as I read it. The story drew me in as I met Simon Orwell, Sofia Marin and her brother Pedro, the young orphan boy named Juan and Dr. Harold Finch, the one character that actually exists beyond fiction. I also drew insight into the character of Dr. Armando Vasquez, Simon's former professor, dead even before Simon gets to Mexico. He forgave, he loved.
I could tell you about the plot, but you can read the back of the book for that. In short, Simon has a penance to make, a legacy to fulfill, and a destiny to choose. He has opposition, and in spite of himself, he overcomes. There is corruption, greed, politics, drug cartels, orphans, families and love. There is no profanity, sex or lewd conduct displayed; but the presence of evil is apparent. It is heartrending and an awakening to read about the recruitment of child gang members. The drug cartel "representatives" went from village to village recruiting every child over the age of nine [Join up, or we kill your family.] The people of Mexico maintain a level of dignity that is beautiful to behold, even in the midst of oppression and violence. Davis Bunn captured that beautifully.
I prefer to tell you about the story's heart. The children of Mexico see a lot, too much that has absolutely nothing to do with Hollywood's stylized violence. They know meanness and cruelty firsthand. Even the state run orphanages serve as a kind of way station for acts and agendas regarding children that are too heinous to mention, and too prevalent to ignore. I enjoyed the book. I liked Simon, understood Sofia, was proud of Juan, loved Pedro and wanted to meet Dr. Harold. Yet, even as I read, it raised questions within my heart about my part in changing this world for the better.
And that is the heart of the story. Yes, the title pertains to the limitless capacity of human potential and value, we are unlimited. It's about discovery and change as only God can do. But the true limitless capacity that is woven in the thread of the story is really not about man, it is about the adoption of the created by the Creator, the one with boundless love and compassion and a relentless ability to rescue us even when we don't realize He is doing it. This is the story's heart, what Harold Finch stands for. This is what changed Simon, softened Sofia's heart, expanded the vision of Pedro, educated Juan and paid tribute to Dr. Finch.
Simon: "You're facing ruin. Everything you worked for could collapse tomorrow. But you're talking about changing the world."
Harold: Son, that's the power of dreams. If they're not big, if they're not impossible, they're not worth investing your life." (pg. 177)
I closed the book with a stronger resolve to make a difference in my communities: local and global. I know that I can, I know that I will, I know that I do. Read the book. Watch the movie. Make a difference.
I received a complimentary copy of Unlimited from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
I could tell you about the plot, but you can read the back of the book for that. In short, Simon has a penance to make, a legacy to fulfill, and a destiny to choose. He has opposition, and in spite of himself, he overcomes. There is corruption, greed, politics, drug cartels, orphans, families and love. There is no profanity, sex or lewd conduct displayed; but the presence of evil is apparent. It is heartrending and an awakening to read about the recruitment of child gang members. The drug cartel "representatives" went from village to village recruiting every child over the age of nine [Join up, or we kill your family.] The people of Mexico maintain a level of dignity that is beautiful to behold, even in the midst of oppression and violence. Davis Bunn captured that beautifully.
I prefer to tell you about the story's heart. The children of Mexico see a lot, too much that has absolutely nothing to do with Hollywood's stylized violence. They know meanness and cruelty firsthand. Even the state run orphanages serve as a kind of way station for acts and agendas regarding children that are too heinous to mention, and too prevalent to ignore. I enjoyed the book. I liked Simon, understood Sofia, was proud of Juan, loved Pedro and wanted to meet Dr. Harold. Yet, even as I read, it raised questions within my heart about my part in changing this world for the better.
And that is the heart of the story. Yes, the title pertains to the limitless capacity of human potential and value, we are unlimited. It's about discovery and change as only God can do. But the true limitless capacity that is woven in the thread of the story is really not about man, it is about the adoption of the created by the Creator, the one with boundless love and compassion and a relentless ability to rescue us even when we don't realize He is doing it. This is the story's heart, what Harold Finch stands for. This is what changed Simon, softened Sofia's heart, expanded the vision of Pedro, educated Juan and paid tribute to Dr. Finch.
Simon: "You're facing ruin. Everything you worked for could collapse tomorrow. But you're talking about changing the world."
Harold: Son, that's the power of dreams. If they're not big, if they're not impossible, they're not worth investing your life." (pg. 177)
I closed the book with a stronger resolve to make a difference in my communities: local and global. I know that I can, I know that I will, I know that I do. Read the book. Watch the movie. Make a difference.
I received a complimentary copy of Unlimited from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
August 27, 2013
Think of the possibilities of wasted energy being able to be collected and harnessed in such a way that it would provide unlimited energy with minimal costs. In fact such wasted energy does exist in the world of quantum physics as Simon Orwell has discovered while attending college at MIT and working with a colleague and fellow Professor Vasquez to uncover how to tap into that with an electronic device that would generate unlimited power. When Simon receives an urgent email from Professor Vasquez from Mexico, he only agrees to go in hopes of apologizing in person for something he has carried with him for years. Something that can only be done in person and Simon won't be set free from his internal prison until he comes face to face with Professor Vasquez.
Only once Simon crosses the Mexican border, things are about to take an unexpected turn for the worse. He is soon hunted by what he believes are drug cartels who are looking for the device that Simon has with him. While attempting to flee, he runs over a spike strip in the middle of an isolated road, that cripples his car and leaves Simon on foot to make a run for it. Now if he can only hide the black canvas bag with all his critical data in it along with a now damaged device somewhere in the middle of nowhere before he is found.
In the latest science fiction suspense novel from best selling author Davis Bunn, he takes the reader on an unexpected journey like never before. Soon to be released on the big screen, the novel sets the stage for a new war in Mexico, one that will not only involve gangs and drugs but a new source of revenue, power in the form of electricity. The cost per kilowatt in Mexico is now the highest in the world and new political enemies want their hands on Simon's device. He's not even sure that with the right funding that the device will even work as Professor Vasquez and himself believe it can. If they can only discover how to tap into the frequencies and particles to make them work in harmony.
Simon's only safe haven is an orphanage being funded through private donations and a pension from owner Harold Finch, who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause. He has offered Simon a place to find more than safety here and in doing so many in fact put the children who live there in danger unless Simon can find a way to make the device work as planned. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the world-changing device and his own unlimited potential.
I received Unlimited by Davis Bunn compliments of B and B Media Group and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. This one honestly took me awhile to get into the story. It takes its time establishing the background before the reader understands just what is being sought after and what the potential is. However like all great books perseverance ultimately pays off. For those that love a good science fiction with a suspenseful twist, then you will definitely want to check this one out. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.
Only once Simon crosses the Mexican border, things are about to take an unexpected turn for the worse. He is soon hunted by what he believes are drug cartels who are looking for the device that Simon has with him. While attempting to flee, he runs over a spike strip in the middle of an isolated road, that cripples his car and leaves Simon on foot to make a run for it. Now if he can only hide the black canvas bag with all his critical data in it along with a now damaged device somewhere in the middle of nowhere before he is found.
In the latest science fiction suspense novel from best selling author Davis Bunn, he takes the reader on an unexpected journey like never before. Soon to be released on the big screen, the novel sets the stage for a new war in Mexico, one that will not only involve gangs and drugs but a new source of revenue, power in the form of electricity. The cost per kilowatt in Mexico is now the highest in the world and new political enemies want their hands on Simon's device. He's not even sure that with the right funding that the device will even work as Professor Vasquez and himself believe it can. If they can only discover how to tap into the frequencies and particles to make them work in harmony.
Simon's only safe haven is an orphanage being funded through private donations and a pension from owner Harold Finch, who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause. He has offered Simon a place to find more than safety here and in doing so many in fact put the children who live there in danger unless Simon can find a way to make the device work as planned. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the world-changing device and his own unlimited potential.
I received Unlimited by Davis Bunn compliments of B and B Media Group and B and H Publishing Group for my honest review. This one honestly took me awhile to get into the story. It takes its time establishing the background before the reader understands just what is being sought after and what the potential is. However like all great books perseverance ultimately pays off. For those that love a good science fiction with a suspenseful twist, then you will definitely want to check this one out. I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars in my personal opinion.
September 14, 2013
Unlimited by Davis Bunn--Can't Wait to See the Movie
If you've read Davis Bunn's Lion of Babylon, Rare Earth, or Strait of Hormuz, you may expect the central figure in Unlimited to be similar to Marc Royce. If so, you're in for a surprise. Simon Orwell is super intelligent when it comes to science, but he has failed in most every other aspect of his life. He dropped out of MIT, became a bartender and got into illegal activity to the point where he was forced to do things he didn't want to do. He had no family and alienated the one person who cared about him. That person was his professor at MIT, Armando Vasquez.
Simon is not a very likeable character, and the more we learn about him, the harder it is to believe that he is worth caring about. The first hint that there is hope for him is that he jumps at the chance to help his former professor even though doing so jeopardizes Simon's life. He wants to make amends, but he is too late. Vasquez is killed shortly before Simon arrives.
Simon is attacked and hurt. Friends of Vasquez's take him to an orphanage run by Harold Finch. Simon is forced to stay at the orphanage while he heals and waits for a new passport. Harold, who teaches the children about God and about setting goals for themselves, sees hope for Simon.
There is a lot more at stake in the story than the question of whether Simon will become the man his professor believed he was. And it's not a decision that can be made in a vacuum. There are deadlines to meet, scientific equipment to repair, secret codes to decipher, people who are not whom they seem, and bullets to dodge. If Simon fails, lives can be lost, children can become wards of the state, drug cartels can prosper.
I found the story compelling. It is the kind you can read in a single setting if life allows. I was also intrigued by the characters. Not just Simon. By the time I got to know them, I cared about all the good ones. In these ways, Unlimited is not so different from other Bunn novels.
Unlimited is a movie novelization based on at least some actual people. Usually, an author of a novelization begins with a story and a set of characters. However, since Davis Bunn is credited as one of two screen writers on the movie, he may have had some say in the details of the movie as well. The movie will open October 11, 2013. I can hardly wait to see it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advance review copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
If you've read Davis Bunn's Lion of Babylon, Rare Earth, or Strait of Hormuz, you may expect the central figure in Unlimited to be similar to Marc Royce. If so, you're in for a surprise. Simon Orwell is super intelligent when it comes to science, but he has failed in most every other aspect of his life. He dropped out of MIT, became a bartender and got into illegal activity to the point where he was forced to do things he didn't want to do. He had no family and alienated the one person who cared about him. That person was his professor at MIT, Armando Vasquez.
Simon is not a very likeable character, and the more we learn about him, the harder it is to believe that he is worth caring about. The first hint that there is hope for him is that he jumps at the chance to help his former professor even though doing so jeopardizes Simon's life. He wants to make amends, but he is too late. Vasquez is killed shortly before Simon arrives.
Simon is attacked and hurt. Friends of Vasquez's take him to an orphanage run by Harold Finch. Simon is forced to stay at the orphanage while he heals and waits for a new passport. Harold, who teaches the children about God and about setting goals for themselves, sees hope for Simon.
There is a lot more at stake in the story than the question of whether Simon will become the man his professor believed he was. And it's not a decision that can be made in a vacuum. There are deadlines to meet, scientific equipment to repair, secret codes to decipher, people who are not whom they seem, and bullets to dodge. If Simon fails, lives can be lost, children can become wards of the state, drug cartels can prosper.
I found the story compelling. It is the kind you can read in a single setting if life allows. I was also intrigued by the characters. Not just Simon. By the time I got to know them, I cared about all the good ones. In these ways, Unlimited is not so different from other Bunn novels.
Unlimited is a movie novelization based on at least some actual people. Usually, an author of a novelization begins with a story and a set of characters. However, since Davis Bunn is credited as one of two screen writers on the movie, he may have had some say in the details of the movie as well. The movie will open October 11, 2013. I can hardly wait to see it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advance review copy of this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
October 10, 2013
I really like this author. So I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to read Davis Bunn’s newest book, Unlimited, before it was published. To do so, I promised to write a review for it on Amazon and GoodReads. Well, the reading the book part was great. Now, writing the review seems too much like English homework. So I am just going to tell you why I liked it. Because I did like it, very much. Even if they hadn’t sent it to me in the mail for free I still would have liked it.
Unlimited is about a young man, Simon, who is quite brilliant, but is his own worst enemy. You know the type; he never makes the right choice, but instead always manages to make the choice that hurts himself and those around him. He was a graduate student at MIT and one of those choices managed to get himself thrown out of the program and his professor fired.
That professor ends up continuing his research for an alternative power soure in a small village in Mexico. He calls Simon and asks him to come to Mexico to help him. Before Simon can get to Mexico, the professor is killed. So Simon must figure out what happened to the professor, try to complete his research and avoid whoever is now trying to kill Simon. He takes refuge in the only place that will help him, a local orphanage. There, Simon meets Harold Finch, the orphanage proprietor who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause.
The story takes place in Mexico, with all that entails. The region is plagued with drug cartels, corrupt government officials and poverty. But in the midst of all that Simon meets some really good people. People who want to give orphans a chance for a good life, a life full of hope and faith. I like that, although this is Christian fiction, it does not preach to you. It is an honest rendering of faith-filled people living their lives in this world with all of its difficulties (and probably a few extra problems that most of us will never have to deal with).
If you have never read a book by Davis Bunn, this is a good one to try. Oh, and as a bonus, this book has been made into a movie. Actually, I think the movie came first. But it is being released in October. So if you have the opportunity, go see the movie. It will be a good family movie; good characters, some action, and a moral to the story when all is said and done.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Unlimited is about a young man, Simon, who is quite brilliant, but is his own worst enemy. You know the type; he never makes the right choice, but instead always manages to make the choice that hurts himself and those around him. He was a graduate student at MIT and one of those choices managed to get himself thrown out of the program and his professor fired.
That professor ends up continuing his research for an alternative power soure in a small village in Mexico. He calls Simon and asks him to come to Mexico to help him. Before Simon can get to Mexico, the professor is killed. So Simon must figure out what happened to the professor, try to complete his research and avoid whoever is now trying to kill Simon. He takes refuge in the only place that will help him, a local orphanage. There, Simon meets Harold Finch, the orphanage proprietor who walked away from a lucrative career with NASA and consulting Fortune 500 companies to serve a higher cause.
The story takes place in Mexico, with all that entails. The region is plagued with drug cartels, corrupt government officials and poverty. But in the midst of all that Simon meets some really good people. People who want to give orphans a chance for a good life, a life full of hope and faith. I like that, although this is Christian fiction, it does not preach to you. It is an honest rendering of faith-filled people living their lives in this world with all of its difficulties (and probably a few extra problems that most of us will never have to deal with).
If you have never read a book by Davis Bunn, this is a good one to try. Oh, and as a bonus, this book has been made into a movie. Actually, I think the movie came first. But it is being released in October. So if you have the opportunity, go see the movie. It will be a good family movie; good characters, some action, and a moral to the story when all is said and done.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
September 17, 2013
Unlimited ~ by Davis Bunn... What are YOUR Limits??
Simon Orwell (an MIT dropout, but brilliant scientist) is called to Mexico by his old professor. He is on the verge of a breakthrough in a device that could provide unlimited energy to millions of impoverished citizens and the world. But the Professor needs Simon’s help with the device. Upon crossing the border, nothing goes as expected. Simon learns the professor has been murdered, and he himself is nearly killed by members of a powerful drug cartel. The only place he can find to take refuge is a nearby orphanage. There, he meets the orphanage director, Harold Finch, who walked away from a lucrative career to serve a higher cause. Harold is the only one who sees Simon’s potential and believes in him. With skepticism high among the other adults at the orphanage, Harold encourages Simon to find out who killed the professor and why. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the world-changing device and his own unlimited potential.
As an avid reader of suspense, I normally prefer page-turners that keep you up late into the night; stories so exciting you can't put them down. This book was not that for me. I found it a bit more predictable than I prefer with not enough twists and turns to the plot for my personal taste. But it IS a good read. In fact, it would be a great book to take on vacation, or something to read when you need a break from more intense drama. I liked Simon's character very much. He was quite believable -a young man who's pretty much given up on any dreams he once had; one who doesn't see any value or potential in himself. I liked how Simon's character grew in strength and confidence with the gentle encouragement from Harold Finch, the orphanage director.
My favorite character was one of the orphans, a young boy named Juan, who pops in and out of the story like a Mexican jumping bean. He was delightful, full of mischief, and you just had to smile whenever he was around. I also really liked Pedro and his sister Sophia.
I found it interesting to learn that Harold Finch is a true person whose coaching has helped many people find their own unlimited potential. I also learned that the movie screenplay was written first, ahead of the book. I look forward to seeing the movie, but wonder how the book's story might have evolved, had it not been limited by the movie screenplay.
I give the book a 4 out of 5 because although I liked it, I didn't love it.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
Simon Orwell (an MIT dropout, but brilliant scientist) is called to Mexico by his old professor. He is on the verge of a breakthrough in a device that could provide unlimited energy to millions of impoverished citizens and the world. But the Professor needs Simon’s help with the device. Upon crossing the border, nothing goes as expected. Simon learns the professor has been murdered, and he himself is nearly killed by members of a powerful drug cartel. The only place he can find to take refuge is a nearby orphanage. There, he meets the orphanage director, Harold Finch, who walked away from a lucrative career to serve a higher cause. Harold is the only one who sees Simon’s potential and believes in him. With skepticism high among the other adults at the orphanage, Harold encourages Simon to find out who killed the professor and why. In due time, he will discover secrets to both the world-changing device and his own unlimited potential.
As an avid reader of suspense, I normally prefer page-turners that keep you up late into the night; stories so exciting you can't put them down. This book was not that for me. I found it a bit more predictable than I prefer with not enough twists and turns to the plot for my personal taste. But it IS a good read. In fact, it would be a great book to take on vacation, or something to read when you need a break from more intense drama. I liked Simon's character very much. He was quite believable -a young man who's pretty much given up on any dreams he once had; one who doesn't see any value or potential in himself. I liked how Simon's character grew in strength and confidence with the gentle encouragement from Harold Finch, the orphanage director.
My favorite character was one of the orphans, a young boy named Juan, who pops in and out of the story like a Mexican jumping bean. He was delightful, full of mischief, and you just had to smile whenever he was around. I also really liked Pedro and his sister Sophia.
I found it interesting to learn that Harold Finch is a true person whose coaching has helped many people find their own unlimited potential. I also learned that the movie screenplay was written first, ahead of the book. I look forward to seeing the movie, but wonder how the book's story might have evolved, had it not been limited by the movie screenplay.
I give the book a 4 out of 5 because although I liked it, I didn't love it.
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2013
Book Reviews for Bibliophiles: Unlimited - Intense and Sublime
by Davis Bunn, NY Times Best-Selling Author
Simon Orwell is an MIT electrical engineering student who makes a serious mistake. Known as a brilliant loner, he worked for years with professor Armando Vasquez, performing world-changing energy research. Yet Simon betrays his friend, who leaves MIT, choosing to return to his home in Mexico.
A BREAKTHROUGH LEADING TO PEACE?
Two years later, Vasquez emails Simon about a breakthrough in their former research. Simon drives to Mexico to find him, anxious to make amends. Simon needs to apologize, knowing he will not find peace until he does.
Davis Bunn sets the stage with his trademark vibrant prose:
“The Mustang’s engine bellowed a manic note, as though giving voice to all his bitter tumult. Simon blasted out of town and flew into the desert. The industrial zone and border station were masked by the dusky sunset. And beyond that lay two thousand miles of road and the cold, hard reality of nothing to lose.” (page 15)
FERAL SMILES AND DANGER
Crossing into Mexico, Simon notices a man with a feral smile who seems to watch him as he arrives. Good thing, as the mysterious predator shows up everywhere. After a terrifying car crash in the desert, Simon learns Vasquez is dead, and discovers a web of treachery and political deceit that stuns him. Unlimited becomes a thrill ride in print that keeps you guessing, with Simon’s awareness of burgeoning evil drawing you further into the story.
Simon’s journey leads him to an orphanage where he meets inventor Harold Finch, the one character in the book who is real. Harold left a lucrative career with NASA to help children living in the shadows. He and Simon form a friendship, along with the team that runs the place.
UNLIMITED POWER
Thus begins the race to discover the source of Vasquez’s unlimited power and the dark elements wanting to capture it. Unlimited inspires readers to confront their personal challenges, and hints that there is a greater purpose in life than mere survival.
Treat yourself to the book and the movie, due to release next week. They are both intense and sublime, leading the way to powerful discoveries of their own.
See the movie trailer:
See the Movie "Unlimited" Trailer:
http://youtu.be/ZLd5MCOR3rg
Read the first three chapters for free:
Link to free preview of Chapters 1-3 of Unlimited (http://on.fb.me/1c5IyCS)
I received a complimentary copy of Unlimited from B & H Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
by Davis Bunn, NY Times Best-Selling Author
Simon Orwell is an MIT electrical engineering student who makes a serious mistake. Known as a brilliant loner, he worked for years with professor Armando Vasquez, performing world-changing energy research. Yet Simon betrays his friend, who leaves MIT, choosing to return to his home in Mexico.
A BREAKTHROUGH LEADING TO PEACE?
Two years later, Vasquez emails Simon about a breakthrough in their former research. Simon drives to Mexico to find him, anxious to make amends. Simon needs to apologize, knowing he will not find peace until he does.
Davis Bunn sets the stage with his trademark vibrant prose:
“The Mustang’s engine bellowed a manic note, as though giving voice to all his bitter tumult. Simon blasted out of town and flew into the desert. The industrial zone and border station were masked by the dusky sunset. And beyond that lay two thousand miles of road and the cold, hard reality of nothing to lose.” (page 15)
FERAL SMILES AND DANGER
Crossing into Mexico, Simon notices a man with a feral smile who seems to watch him as he arrives. Good thing, as the mysterious predator shows up everywhere. After a terrifying car crash in the desert, Simon learns Vasquez is dead, and discovers a web of treachery and political deceit that stuns him. Unlimited becomes a thrill ride in print that keeps you guessing, with Simon’s awareness of burgeoning evil drawing you further into the story.
Simon’s journey leads him to an orphanage where he meets inventor Harold Finch, the one character in the book who is real. Harold left a lucrative career with NASA to help children living in the shadows. He and Simon form a friendship, along with the team that runs the place.
UNLIMITED POWER
Thus begins the race to discover the source of Vasquez’s unlimited power and the dark elements wanting to capture it. Unlimited inspires readers to confront their personal challenges, and hints that there is a greater purpose in life than mere survival.
Treat yourself to the book and the movie, due to release next week. They are both intense and sublime, leading the way to powerful discoveries of their own.
See the movie trailer:
See the Movie "Unlimited" Trailer:
http://youtu.be/ZLd5MCOR3rg
Read the first three chapters for free:
Link to free preview of Chapters 1-3 of Unlimited (http://on.fb.me/1c5IyCS)
I received a complimentary copy of Unlimited from B & H Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
July 8, 2014
A few months ago my dad gave me a Davis Bunn book to read. I loved it and have read about five more since then. He is a great writer and his stories have lots of action and intrigue.
This book started out at full speed. It was so tense. Simon is being chased and knows he has to get away but he doesn’t really know why. His brain is still a little scrambled from his car accident. He came to Mexico to apologize to Vasquez for ruining his career only to find that Vasquez is dead and now his own life is in danger.
Simon made a grievous choice years ago. He has lived under the weight of that for years. He grows so much in this book as Harold, the old man who runs the orphanage, talks to him and teaches him that failure is not permanent, that sins can be forgiven, that he can still accomplish amazing things with his life. Others extend much needed grace and forgiveness to him as well and he begins to change. It is a beautiful thing to read about.
I really liked Sofia. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives. She overcomes her aversion to Simon and allows God to use her. She struggles through some important decisions about relationships, seeking God and His plan. She waits when His voice is quiet to make sure she is hearing Him. What a great lesson.
Harold was amazing. He gave up a brilliant career at NASA to run an orphanage in Mexico, to teach kids the right way to live. He exuded joy. At one point, Simon said, “You’re facing ruin. Everything you worked for could collapse tomorrow. But you’re talking about changing the world.” Harold responds, “Son, that’s the power of dreams. If they’re not big, if they’re not impossible, they’re not worth investing your life.” Wow! We would all benefit from having a Harold in our lives.
I fell in love with Juan, an orphan in this book. He is so exuberant. He flew off the page. I could see him running around, so eager to help. I could see the disappointment and the excitement on his face. The characters are beautiful in this book….Well, most of them…..a few of them were creepy!
The storyline was great. The science was fascinating. You can figure out the good guys from the bad guys pretty early on but not all the reasons why. It was hard to put this book down. For all these reasons, I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to B&H Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review.
This book started out at full speed. It was so tense. Simon is being chased and knows he has to get away but he doesn’t really know why. His brain is still a little scrambled from his car accident. He came to Mexico to apologize to Vasquez for ruining his career only to find that Vasquez is dead and now his own life is in danger.
Simon made a grievous choice years ago. He has lived under the weight of that for years. He grows so much in this book as Harold, the old man who runs the orphanage, talks to him and teaches him that failure is not permanent, that sins can be forgiven, that he can still accomplish amazing things with his life. Others extend much needed grace and forgiveness to him as well and he begins to change. It is a beautiful thing to read about.
I really liked Sofia. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives. She overcomes her aversion to Simon and allows God to use her. She struggles through some important decisions about relationships, seeking God and His plan. She waits when His voice is quiet to make sure she is hearing Him. What a great lesson.
Harold was amazing. He gave up a brilliant career at NASA to run an orphanage in Mexico, to teach kids the right way to live. He exuded joy. At one point, Simon said, “You’re facing ruin. Everything you worked for could collapse tomorrow. But you’re talking about changing the world.” Harold responds, “Son, that’s the power of dreams. If they’re not big, if they’re not impossible, they’re not worth investing your life.” Wow! We would all benefit from having a Harold in our lives.
I fell in love with Juan, an orphan in this book. He is so exuberant. He flew off the page. I could see him running around, so eager to help. I could see the disappointment and the excitement on his face. The characters are beautiful in this book….Well, most of them…..a few of them were creepy!
The storyline was great. The science was fascinating. You can figure out the good guys from the bad guys pretty early on but not all the reasons why. It was hard to put this book down. For all these reasons, I would highly recommend this book.
Thank you to B&H Publishing Group and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review.
September 19, 2013
In Davis Bunn’s Unlimited, scientist Simon Orwell, who has spent most of his life making wrong choices, has the chance to make a right one. His friend and mentor, Armando Vasquez, has made a scientific breakthrough that could revolutionize the lives of the Mexican people. However, when Orwell arrives in Mexico, he finds Vasquez dead and, with the professor’s death, the chance to salvage anything from own his ruined life. Now he just wants to get out of the country, but finds himself being chased by a powerful drug cartel. The only chance of survival for him and his dreams rests in an orphanage. Will Orwell stay alive long enough for a second chance at life?
Davis Bunn has the incredible ability to transport the reader to places never seen. As the daughter of a thirty-four-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol, the scenes are strangely familiar. Bunn’s imagery of the desert landscapes, the food, and the people are amazing, and the Mexican resentment for border control is clear. The corruption portrayed in the novel permeates the culture and is both riveting and heartbreaking as the children are caught in the crossfire of the drug war. The story underscores the importance of respect for the rule of law, and electing people of integrity to power.
The book is based on true events and the movie of the same name. If the movie is as good as Bunn’s writing it will be excellent. The novel is fast-paced, easy to read, and finished well. There is a distinctly clear, Christian message that isn’t overplayed like so much of Christian fiction. Unlimited is worth the read. I give it four stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
You could win a $50 Fandango gift card plus UNLIMITED, Davis Bunn's new suspense novel. Ten additional winners will receive a copy of UNLIMITED. Enter right now by clicking this link: http://woobox.com/mp5qew. You can enter once per email address per day. Rack up bonus entries by sharing the contest with your Facebook and Twitter friends! If you don’t have a Pinterest account, enter by filling out the form on the Official Rules page here http://bit.ly/15vTr8u.
Davis Bunn has the incredible ability to transport the reader to places never seen. As the daughter of a thirty-four-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol, the scenes are strangely familiar. Bunn’s imagery of the desert landscapes, the food, and the people are amazing, and the Mexican resentment for border control is clear. The corruption portrayed in the novel permeates the culture and is both riveting and heartbreaking as the children are caught in the crossfire of the drug war. The story underscores the importance of respect for the rule of law, and electing people of integrity to power.
The book is based on true events and the movie of the same name. If the movie is as good as Bunn’s writing it will be excellent. The novel is fast-paced, easy to read, and finished well. There is a distinctly clear, Christian message that isn’t overplayed like so much of Christian fiction. Unlimited is worth the read. I give it four stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from B&H Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.
You could win a $50 Fandango gift card plus UNLIMITED, Davis Bunn's new suspense novel. Ten additional winners will receive a copy of UNLIMITED. Enter right now by clicking this link: http://woobox.com/mp5qew. You can enter once per email address per day. Rack up bonus entries by sharing the contest with your Facebook and Twitter friends! If you don’t have a Pinterest account, enter by filling out the form on the Official Rules page here http://bit.ly/15vTr8u.
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