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Of Love and Courage
From the teeming metropolis of New York to the seething streets of Manila and Cotabato City in the Philippine south, this is a timely tale of forbidden and courageous love -- set against the backdrop of today's pressing issues involving cultural division and religious conflict.
Michael Marshall is the Homeland Security Director of New York, a former NYPD officer, and a Delta Force Ranger who has seen action in Fallujah and Mosul. He spends his waking hours safeguarding the people of his beloved city from terrorist attacks, living his life with the knowledge that every day brings the possibility of another 9/11, another incident that will take the lives of innocent people or another hapless person he could not save. His Catholic upbringing tells him to love mankind, but this is increasingly difficult to do given the hatred and evil that he faces each day. Until one chance meeting at a New York subway challenges all his convictions and principles.
Amina Ismail is a devout Muslim woman who hails from Cotabato – a city in Southern Philippines where more than 50% of the population claims Islam as a religion. Against his better judgment, Michael finds himself fascinated by this mysterious, kind and charming woman. Will they be able to overcome the divisions and conflicts of their respective religions, as well as the weight of family opinion, to make room for what they feel in their hearts?
Michael Marshall is the Homeland Security Director of New York, a former NYPD officer, and a Delta Force Ranger who has seen action in Fallujah and Mosul. He spends his waking hours safeguarding the people of his beloved city from terrorist attacks, living his life with the knowledge that every day brings the possibility of another 9/11, another incident that will take the lives of innocent people or another hapless person he could not save. His Catholic upbringing tells him to love mankind, but this is increasingly difficult to do given the hatred and evil that he faces each day. Until one chance meeting at a New York subway challenges all his convictions and principles.
Amina Ismail is a devout Muslim woman who hails from Cotabato – a city in Southern Philippines where more than 50% of the population claims Islam as a religion. Against his better judgment, Michael finds himself fascinated by this mysterious, kind and charming woman. Will they be able to overcome the divisions and conflicts of their respective religions, as well as the weight of family opinion, to make room for what they feel in their hearts?
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 28, 2016
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Smith
21 books52 followersDuring his 18 years as a New York City firefighter, Dennis Smith developed a profound respect for the professionalism of the firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and nurses with whom he worked in the more than 40 alarms his engine company responded to every day. He witnessed their willingness to give of themselves in the course of their duty. His experiences in the fire service have been immortalized in his books, most notably "Report from Engine Co. 82," which became an immediate New York Times bestseller, sold 3 million copies, and was translated into 13 languages.
In 2001, Dennis responded to the attack on the World Trade Center, arriving there just as the second building fell. He stayed for 57 consecutive days, first in rescue work and then in recovery. The following year, he wrote “Report from Ground Zero,” which also rose to the top of the bestseller lists.
Dennis has spent half of his life in the emergency service and the other half writing books. His experience and reputation make him powerfully and uniquely able to represent the interests and needs of emergency professionals and departments. His career as firefighter, best-selling author, magazine publisher, business leader, and director of important youth service and emergency-service not-for-profit organizations provides him with a sound point of view about what is needed to make the world better and more connected.
Dennis Smith most recently founded an international social media website: www.wavepeg.com.
In 2001, Dennis responded to the attack on the World Trade Center, arriving there just as the second building fell. He stayed for 57 consecutive days, first in rescue work and then in recovery. The following year, he wrote “Report from Ground Zero,” which also rose to the top of the bestseller lists.
Dennis has spent half of his life in the emergency service and the other half writing books. His experience and reputation make him powerfully and uniquely able to represent the interests and needs of emergency professionals and departments. His career as firefighter, best-selling author, magazine publisher, business leader, and director of important youth service and emergency-service not-for-profit organizations provides him with a sound point of view about what is needed to make the world better and more connected.
Dennis Smith most recently founded an international social media website: www.wavepeg.com.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 12, 2016
This is a brilliant book that is very timely and tackles many of the issues we are faced with in our world today. Our heroine, Amina, is a strong professional woman who must balance her Muslim religious and cultural beliefs with those of the Western world. I like a book that has a good strong female lead that takes action on her own. Our American hero, Michael, also has strong Catholic religious beliefs as he works in law enforcement to combat terrorism. The male and female leads are well matched and come together as equals.
The story has romance, mystery, adventure, danger, interesting settings, and conflict, everything to hold the reader’s interest. It touches on religion, politics, and culture in addition to the personal relationships that grow throughout the story. I hated to put it down as the story unfolded.
The characters are well developed, interesting and relatable. I would love to see this as the first book of a series because there were so many themes in it that could be developed further. The ending is satisfying but has some openings that would allow the story to be picked up again.
The cultural and religious differences between Michael and Amina as their relationship develops would alone be the start of a good series. But the work relationships and the infinite possibilities for further mystery and adventure scenarios provide all the material necessary for a good series. I do hope the author will write some more for these characters.
I also hope he will publish a print edition because this is the type of story that can make a good gift.
The story has romance, mystery, adventure, danger, interesting settings, and conflict, everything to hold the reader’s interest. It touches on religion, politics, and culture in addition to the personal relationships that grow throughout the story. I hated to put it down as the story unfolded.
The characters are well developed, interesting and relatable. I would love to see this as the first book of a series because there were so many themes in it that could be developed further. The ending is satisfying but has some openings that would allow the story to be picked up again.
The cultural and religious differences between Michael and Amina as their relationship develops would alone be the start of a good series. But the work relationships and the infinite possibilities for further mystery and adventure scenarios provide all the material necessary for a good series. I do hope the author will write some more for these characters.
I also hope he will publish a print edition because this is the type of story that can make a good gift.
August 14, 2018
Insightful read!
This is one those books I just didn't want to end.
The author gives such an in depth and uncritical view of modern day Islam, giving hope for those of us who long for a world which is more tolerant and accepting of other faiths.
Equally engaging is the warm and all pervasive romance between Michael an American whose day job consists of keeping America safe from terrorist threats and Amina, a modern Muslim doctor from Philippines. How they overcome the odds posed by different cultures and religions is what keeps us turning the next page, not wanting the book to end.
This is one those books I just didn't want to end.
The author gives such an in depth and uncritical view of modern day Islam, giving hope for those of us who long for a world which is more tolerant and accepting of other faiths.
Equally engaging is the warm and all pervasive romance between Michael an American whose day job consists of keeping America safe from terrorist threats and Amina, a modern Muslim doctor from Philippines. How they overcome the odds posed by different cultures and religions is what keeps us turning the next page, not wanting the book to end.
October 26, 2018
** I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review **
I have previously read five of Dennis Smith's books: three nonfiction (Report from Engine Co. 82, Firefighters: Their Lives in Their Own Words, Report From Ground Zero) and two fiction (The Final Fire, Glitter & Ash). All five concerned fires and firefighters. Of Love And Courage did not.
Even though it is not written from a firefighter's perspective, it is obvious that Dennis Smith is knowledgeable about the subject matter. I did not remember (if I ever knew) that there is a large Muslim influence in the Philippines, but Dennis includes details about the history, the dress, the food, and the customs there that makes me think either a) he's spent a lot of time in the area or b) he has a lot of Filipino Muslim friends and has done his research.
The main male character is Michael Marshall, Homeland Security Director of New York, a former NYPD police officer and former Delta Force Ranger who has personal experience of Islamist-inspired terrorism both in the Mideast and at home. He also has COPD from working at Ground Zero after 9/11.
Enter Dr. Amina Ismail, a Filipina medical doctor who is in the USA for several months to improve her medical knowledge and give her patients better care when she gets home. She is from a Muslim family in Mindanao and is feeling confined by the traditional strictures placed on a Muslim woman's behavior.
Amina and Michael could not be from more different worlds, and yet (slightly misquoting Jane Austen's Lizzie Bennet) "nobody thinks of that when they fall in love." The plot was so absorbing that I spent several late nights / early mornings eagerly reading to find out what happened next.
CHARACTERS: Amina and Michael are both portrayed as flawed and vulnerable, which makes them "real" and relatable.
SEX: Some sensual and suggestive scenes, but nothing explicit or offensive.
LANGUAGE: Mostly clean. There were a couple of mild vulgarities later in the book, but no blasphemy, and no use of the F-bomb. This proves that a writer can create a contemporary thriller without descending to the gutter.
VIOLENCE: This IS a book about terrorism, so there are some graphic passages. The "good guys" ultimately win, but not all of the innocents survive. Unfortunately, terrorism is a fact of life in our modern world; just watch the TV news or read your newspaper.
RECOMMENDED TO: Probably anyone over 12. It might be too intense for some younger children. If this were a movie, it would likely be PG-13.
I have previously read five of Dennis Smith's books: three nonfiction (Report from Engine Co. 82, Firefighters: Their Lives in Their Own Words, Report From Ground Zero) and two fiction (The Final Fire, Glitter & Ash). All five concerned fires and firefighters. Of Love And Courage did not.
Even though it is not written from a firefighter's perspective, it is obvious that Dennis Smith is knowledgeable about the subject matter. I did not remember (if I ever knew) that there is a large Muslim influence in the Philippines, but Dennis includes details about the history, the dress, the food, and the customs there that makes me think either a) he's spent a lot of time in the area or b) he has a lot of Filipino Muslim friends and has done his research.
The main male character is Michael Marshall, Homeland Security Director of New York, a former NYPD police officer and former Delta Force Ranger who has personal experience of Islamist-inspired terrorism both in the Mideast and at home. He also has COPD from working at Ground Zero after 9/11.
Enter Dr. Amina Ismail, a Filipina medical doctor who is in the USA for several months to improve her medical knowledge and give her patients better care when she gets home. She is from a Muslim family in Mindanao and is feeling confined by the traditional strictures placed on a Muslim woman's behavior.
Amina and Michael could not be from more different worlds, and yet (slightly misquoting Jane Austen's Lizzie Bennet) "nobody thinks of that when they fall in love." The plot was so absorbing that I spent several late nights / early mornings eagerly reading to find out what happened next.
CHARACTERS: Amina and Michael are both portrayed as flawed and vulnerable, which makes them "real" and relatable.
SEX: Some sensual and suggestive scenes, but nothing explicit or offensive.
LANGUAGE: Mostly clean. There were a couple of mild vulgarities later in the book, but no blasphemy, and no use of the F-bomb. This proves that a writer can create a contemporary thriller without descending to the gutter.
VIOLENCE: This IS a book about terrorism, so there are some graphic passages. The "good guys" ultimately win, but not all of the innocents survive. Unfortunately, terrorism is a fact of life in our modern world; just watch the TV news or read your newspaper.
RECOMMENDED TO: Probably anyone over 12. It might be too intense for some younger children. If this were a movie, it would likely be PG-13.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews