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As the Lotus Blooms
As the Lotus Blooms is the fast-moving sequel to Logan's first novel, Finding Lien. The story follows Lien, traumatized from her ordeal as a victim of child trafficking in a Cambodian brothel, on her journey of recovery.
Despite her recurring bouts of PTSD, this courageous young woman signs on with an NGO, to work with a team to prevent trafficking and rescue victims. It is a dangerous mission for all, especially Lien, whose wounds are deep and emotional stability in question.
Despite her recurring bouts of PTSD, this courageous young woman signs on with an NGO, to work with a team to prevent trafficking and rescue victims. It is a dangerous mission for all, especially Lien, whose wounds are deep and emotional stability in question.
219 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 30, 2018
Bruce Logan has written another page turner about the dark and seamy side of Southeast Asia where sex trafficking seems endemic and where the good guys and bad guys are sometimes hard to tell apart. This is a sequel to his earlier book, Finding Lien, about a young Vietnamese girl who is sold into prostitution by a relative and later rescued by her American ex-GI grandfather, Pete Trutch
In this continuation story, Lien is free from the sex slavery she endured, but not from the psychological trauma she experienced. To purge herself of the fears that haunt her she joins Green Gecko, an anti-sex trafficking NGO to help save other victims, and by so doing give purpose to what she went through. But Lien is not the only focus of this book. The author expands his vision to look beyond Vietnam and Cambodia by creating two different scenarios involving international sex trafficking. The first involves a young girl named Pha from a poor rural family enticed to Singapore with promise of marriage to a wealthy suitor. She ends up as a street prostitute under the control of a ruthless pimp. The second victim, Chaya, is a fourteen year old girl from a well-to-do family. She finds herself hood-winked by a young Lothario who takes her to China and sells her to a marriage broker. She ends up enslaved in an abusive marriage in a squalid village.
Logan writes gripping, realistic scenes that reflect his personal knowledge of Southeast Asian people, places, and institutions which give the book its authenticity. His emotional scenes involving victims, their abusers, and the profiteers left me shaking my head and wanting to punch some of the nefarious characters that leaped from the page. Although the victims in this story are rescued, there are no winners in this story. Damage has been done even though victims have been rescued, and every day there are new victims and people willing to pay for what the traffickers are offering.
There are no real heroes in this three part tale either, other than the NGO Green Gecko, but there are quite a few villains. Some of the villains are disguised in plain view by the author until the very end. It’s one of the things that kept me reading one more chapter. As the Lotus Blooms is an excellent thriller and hard to put down once you start reading. But it’s more than just a good read, and I applaud the author for shining a bright light on sex trafficking and on the organizations that are trying to do something to combat it.
In this continuation story, Lien is free from the sex slavery she endured, but not from the psychological trauma she experienced. To purge herself of the fears that haunt her she joins Green Gecko, an anti-sex trafficking NGO to help save other victims, and by so doing give purpose to what she went through. But Lien is not the only focus of this book. The author expands his vision to look beyond Vietnam and Cambodia by creating two different scenarios involving international sex trafficking. The first involves a young girl named Pha from a poor rural family enticed to Singapore with promise of marriage to a wealthy suitor. She ends up as a street prostitute under the control of a ruthless pimp. The second victim, Chaya, is a fourteen year old girl from a well-to-do family. She finds herself hood-winked by a young Lothario who takes her to China and sells her to a marriage broker. She ends up enslaved in an abusive marriage in a squalid village.
Logan writes gripping, realistic scenes that reflect his personal knowledge of Southeast Asian people, places, and institutions which give the book its authenticity. His emotional scenes involving victims, their abusers, and the profiteers left me shaking my head and wanting to punch some of the nefarious characters that leaped from the page. Although the victims in this story are rescued, there are no winners in this story. Damage has been done even though victims have been rescued, and every day there are new victims and people willing to pay for what the traffickers are offering.
There are no real heroes in this three part tale either, other than the NGO Green Gecko, but there are quite a few villains. Some of the villains are disguised in plain view by the author until the very end. It’s one of the things that kept me reading one more chapter. As the Lotus Blooms is an excellent thriller and hard to put down once you start reading. But it’s more than just a good read, and I applaud the author for shining a bright light on sex trafficking and on the organizations that are trying to do something to combat it.
June 29, 2018
Bruce Logan is a man on a mission. Over the past while Logan has released fiction and non-fiction books aimed at promoting attention to social problems in Southeast Asia, most notably in this, and his first book on the subject, Finding Lien, the principal target is the practice of child trafficking.
His writing style reminds me of an investigative journalist which, initially, can distract the reader looking for a by-the-book thriller novel but his authoritative voice leaves no doubt that while the story is fictional, the social issues are shockingly very real. Child trafficking is a phenomenon that is crippling a society that for the most part consists of people within a culture, within a nation that deserves to be known for its incredible recovery from a devastating war.
As the Lotus Blooms speaks of corruption within the country’s police hierarchy, arrogance amongst the elites, outright misogyny towards women that defines Asia today. But it also illustrates how all of that will one day be replaced by social equality because of the next generations beginning to contribute and the common people’s willingness to sacrifice for the future of their family and for their country.
The Vietnamese people are surging into the forefront of this world’s technological and cultural diaspora. It’s obvious that Logan is proud of his friends within that culture. The pride comes through on every page of the story. You just know that Logan knows the characters in the story as well as each of us know our own friends and neighbours.
Bruce Logan and his partner, Elain Head, have spent past decades of their lives on and off inside the Vietnamese culture. They know it well.
Buy this book and read it – your life will be changed.
His writing style reminds me of an investigative journalist which, initially, can distract the reader looking for a by-the-book thriller novel but his authoritative voice leaves no doubt that while the story is fictional, the social issues are shockingly very real. Child trafficking is a phenomenon that is crippling a society that for the most part consists of people within a culture, within a nation that deserves to be known for its incredible recovery from a devastating war.
As the Lotus Blooms speaks of corruption within the country’s police hierarchy, arrogance amongst the elites, outright misogyny towards women that defines Asia today. But it also illustrates how all of that will one day be replaced by social equality because of the next generations beginning to contribute and the common people’s willingness to sacrifice for the future of their family and for their country.
The Vietnamese people are surging into the forefront of this world’s technological and cultural diaspora. It’s obvious that Logan is proud of his friends within that culture. The pride comes through on every page of the story. You just know that Logan knows the characters in the story as well as each of us know our own friends and neighbours.
Bruce Logan and his partner, Elain Head, have spent past decades of their lives on and off inside the Vietnamese culture. They know it well.
Buy this book and read it – your life will be changed.
June 18, 2018
Don’t be fooled by the tranquil title of “As the Lotus Blooms” – this book is dynamite!
In “As the Lotus Blooms,” R. Bruce Logan’s superb sequel to his superb first novel “Finding Lien,” the author returns to the dark world of child sex trafficking in Southeast Asia.
A sex trafficking ring led by an elusive leader known only as The Pied Piper has been luring and kidnapping girls from Vietnam to sell to the brothels and pimps of Singapore or to men seeking young brides in rural China. An organization of courageous anti-trafficking workers whose mission it is to rescue these young victims must take on the dangers, hairpin logistics and super-sleuthing of organizing rescues where minutes make the critical difference between saving the lives of these children or losing them forever.
“As the Lotus Blooms” is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat page turner that also pulls your heart along for the ride. However be sure and read “Finding Lien” first, as this second book continues from where the first left off. Hopefully there will be a third.
Patti Liszkay, author of "Equal and Opposite Reactions."
In “As the Lotus Blooms,” R. Bruce Logan’s superb sequel to his superb first novel “Finding Lien,” the author returns to the dark world of child sex trafficking in Southeast Asia.
A sex trafficking ring led by an elusive leader known only as The Pied Piper has been luring and kidnapping girls from Vietnam to sell to the brothels and pimps of Singapore or to men seeking young brides in rural China. An organization of courageous anti-trafficking workers whose mission it is to rescue these young victims must take on the dangers, hairpin logistics and super-sleuthing of organizing rescues where minutes make the critical difference between saving the lives of these children or losing them forever.
“As the Lotus Blooms” is a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat page turner that also pulls your heart along for the ride. However be sure and read “Finding Lien” first, as this second book continues from where the first left off. Hopefully there will be a third.
Patti Liszkay, author of "Equal and Opposite Reactions."
June 13, 2018
Bruce Logan's "As the Lotus Blooms" is an excellent follow-up to his first novel, "Finding Lien" as now I know what has happened to Lien in the intervening years. Bruce's story telling has grown with his character Lien.
Having accompanied Bruce on a number of TOP Tours of Peace Vietnam Veterans' trips to much of the country and Hoi An regularly, Bruce gives an excellent account of Central Vietnam and the beauty of the people and area, except for the bad guys who traffic in young women. But those villains are real people who do real damage to young women, men and their families. We in "safe" America do not seem to comprehend the depth of depravity that runs through many countries, including our own, willing to condone child/white slavery and the people who flock to those countries that turn the other cheek to their depravities for profit.
Bruce's story has the proper balance of education, involvement, repair, the tension of opposites and the juxtaposition that makes for a good read while learning something despicable and unsavory. I won't begin to do any spoilers in this book review because I hate spoilers.
I encourage you to read all of Bruce's books as they all "bring you along" with the experience of Vietnam even if you cannot go yourself.
It continues to be my favorite line to Vietnam veterans who still harbor animosity towards Vietnam, that "Vietnam is country, not a war".
Every country though has its seamy side, a dark underbelly that no one wants to admit is true and sex slavery trafficking is one such fact of life. From "Camel Jockeys" (small males taken as young as 3) enslaved for sport in the Middle East, to women and children in Africa sold into sexual slavery, little boys sold into sexual slavery throughout Asia, child sex slavery in Bali as a tourist destination activity and as a multi-billion dollar business in the good old USA. Snuff movies are made with live females on a regular basis. How did we get this low in life and not try to do something about it? How can we ignore this global issue that kills our children without an AR-15?
Thank you Bruce for shining the flashlight on this awful issue.
I hope "Stewy" Fitzsimmons, AKA Steve"Bug Boy" Fitzsimmons, enjoys his character for he too, as has Bruce, returned to Vietnam and immersed himself in the healing process that TOP and Jess DeVaney has given to us as tools to continue to use. See you all at the Top of the Rex.
Having accompanied Bruce on a number of TOP Tours of Peace Vietnam Veterans' trips to much of the country and Hoi An regularly, Bruce gives an excellent account of Central Vietnam and the beauty of the people and area, except for the bad guys who traffic in young women. But those villains are real people who do real damage to young women, men and their families. We in "safe" America do not seem to comprehend the depth of depravity that runs through many countries, including our own, willing to condone child/white slavery and the people who flock to those countries that turn the other cheek to their depravities for profit.
Bruce's story has the proper balance of education, involvement, repair, the tension of opposites and the juxtaposition that makes for a good read while learning something despicable and unsavory. I won't begin to do any spoilers in this book review because I hate spoilers.
I encourage you to read all of Bruce's books as they all "bring you along" with the experience of Vietnam even if you cannot go yourself.
It continues to be my favorite line to Vietnam veterans who still harbor animosity towards Vietnam, that "Vietnam is country, not a war".
Every country though has its seamy side, a dark underbelly that no one wants to admit is true and sex slavery trafficking is one such fact of life. From "Camel Jockeys" (small males taken as young as 3) enslaved for sport in the Middle East, to women and children in Africa sold into sexual slavery, little boys sold into sexual slavery throughout Asia, child sex slavery in Bali as a tourist destination activity and as a multi-billion dollar business in the good old USA. Snuff movies are made with live females on a regular basis. How did we get this low in life and not try to do something about it? How can we ignore this global issue that kills our children without an AR-15?
Thank you Bruce for shining the flashlight on this awful issue.
I hope "Stewy" Fitzsimmons, AKA Steve"Bug Boy" Fitzsimmons, enjoys his character for he too, as has Bruce, returned to Vietnam and immersed himself in the healing process that TOP and Jess DeVaney has given to us as tools to continue to use. See you all at the Top of the Rex.
June 19, 2018
I review a number of books and this one is a diamond in the gravel pile. Read it. Buy it. I haven't read Bruce's first book in this series, but can tell you this: Lotus is engaging and clearly written from a depth of knowledge of the countries and societies involved and a deep commitment to the subject; it sucks you in. Fast paced; couldn't wait to find out what happened next as I read it. Was both gratified and sorry to reach the end. A story well worth telling and reading both. Five, well earned stars!
Wayne D. McFarland, Author, Tales From The Day
Wayne D. McFarland, Author, Tales From The Day
June 4, 2018
The author's impassioned focus on a topic from which many would shy away shines a light on the devastating sex slavery industry in which countless victims are held captive. Bruce's treatment will open the eyes of readers, just as it did mine, and keep them on the edge of their seats in this page-turner.
Having completed Bruce's very well written novel, Finding Lien, I jumped at the opportunity to be a beta reader for the sequel. With a release date of September 20th, As the Lotus Blooms, seamlessly carries on from where Lien left off. If I could have read it faster I would have, a paradoxical statement if there ever was one. While wanting to read what came next, I didn't want the novel to end. I would have done my emotions a favor by reading it as slowly as possible but speed won out, which left me wondering, "Will there be a book three?" I don't know the answer to that question so nothing you do to bribe me for the answer will benefit your own curiosity. If you haven't read Finding Lien, do so now before the sequel is released in September. You will be so glad you did.
Having completed Bruce's very well written novel, Finding Lien, I jumped at the opportunity to be a beta reader for the sequel. With a release date of September 20th, As the Lotus Blooms, seamlessly carries on from where Lien left off. If I could have read it faster I would have, a paradoxical statement if there ever was one. While wanting to read what came next, I didn't want the novel to end. I would have done my emotions a favor by reading it as slowly as possible but speed won out, which left me wondering, "Will there be a book three?" I don't know the answer to that question so nothing you do to bribe me for the answer will benefit your own curiosity. If you haven't read Finding Lien, do so now before the sequel is released in September. You will be so glad you did.
August 19, 2018
In the sequel to “Finding Lien” Bruce Logan continues to delve into not only the dark and depraved world of child trafficking, but educates the reader as to the outcome and real struggles that Lien faces as a former marked prostitute trying to right her life. It is sobering to read about the emotional, psychological. financial, and cultural hurdles that follow Lien, as she now tries to save other young girls from being sold and kidnapped into bondage. “As The Lotus Blooms” reads as a steamy detective style novel, but in doing so makes the message about the depravity of child trafficking more poignant.
October 2, 2018
I was given As the Lotus Blooms by the author Bruce. I met Bruce when I traveled to Vietnam with Tours of Peace Vietnam Veterans. This book follows victims of sex trafficking in Vietnam and in particular Lien as she deals with PTSD and her work with a NGO working to prevent child trafficking and rescue victims. It is helpful to read Bruce's Finding Lien first. Although a hard subject to read about it is a necessary read to bring attention to the awful world of sexual trafficking. I very much appreciate that Bruce donates the proceeds from the sale of his books to NGOs involved in combating trafficking.
May 16, 2019
A consistently interesting and entertaining read.
Bruce brings the reader along the beautiful terraine as we follow those who fight human trafficking in this complex region.
Bruce brings the reader along the beautiful terraine as we follow those who fight human trafficking in this complex region.
September 16, 2021
As the Lotus Blooms is the first book by this author.
In this story, he weaves a story where Lien is traumatized from her past experience. The storyline was believable
In this story, he weaves a story where Lien is traumatized from her past experience. The storyline was believable
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews