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The Carolyn Factor
Max Kugar is a dealer in vintage sporting and military treasures, a vet with tours of Afghanistan under his belt, and a history of heartbreak when he succumbs to his weakness for women named Carolyn.
A call from a new beautiful Carolyn, a failed actress, lures him to California where she retains Kugar to broker the sale of a Japanese sword brought back from WWII by her grandfather. The sword is the legendary sword of the shoguns, Honjo Masanume, declared a Japanese national treasure in 1939, and a sword that vanishing at the end of WWII.
Kugar must broker the sword without attracting the attention of the Japanese or US Government, while pursued by Carolyn's psychopath brother and his drug cartel partners, who are determined to own the priceless sword at any costs.
Carolyn joins him in flight from their pursuers, urgent to find a buyer and end this whirl of danger, trying their best to stay alive and ahead of men who are determined to see them both dead.
A call from a new beautiful Carolyn, a failed actress, lures him to California where she retains Kugar to broker the sale of a Japanese sword brought back from WWII by her grandfather. The sword is the legendary sword of the shoguns, Honjo Masanume, declared a Japanese national treasure in 1939, and a sword that vanishing at the end of WWII.
Kugar must broker the sword without attracting the attention of the Japanese or US Government, while pursued by Carolyn's psychopath brother and his drug cartel partners, who are determined to own the priceless sword at any costs.
Carolyn joins him in flight from their pursuers, urgent to find a buyer and end this whirl of danger, trying their best to stay alive and ahead of men who are determined to see them both dead.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2020
2 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
About the author
J.J. Bruce
3 books26 followersJ. J. Bruce is a product of the Southern Appalachians and weaves that locality and way of life into his writings as only a native could.
Bruce has written best sellers in other fields, an branches into fiction with “The Carolyn Factor.”
At times he has been a construction worker, reporter, photographer, editor, publisher, historian, knife trader, museum director, expert witness, appraiser, auctioneer, real estate broker, landlord and sometimes rascal, while writing in his spare time.
Bruce calls himself a “boomerang”, yielding to the tug and returning to the Carolina mountains of his childhood after years in professional urban business surroundings, recording and noting both the changes and inertia of a small town deluged with a new casino, second-home tourists and real estate brokers.
His adopted city is New Orleans, which he claims in ways adopted him and lures him back several times a year from Mardi Gras to the Red Dress Run.
Bruce has written best sellers in other fields, an branches into fiction with “The Carolyn Factor.”
At times he has been a construction worker, reporter, photographer, editor, publisher, historian, knife trader, museum director, expert witness, appraiser, auctioneer, real estate broker, landlord and sometimes rascal, while writing in his spare time.
Bruce calls himself a “boomerang”, yielding to the tug and returning to the Carolina mountains of his childhood after years in professional urban business surroundings, recording and noting both the changes and inertia of a small town deluged with a new casino, second-home tourists and real estate brokers.
His adopted city is New Orleans, which he claims in ways adopted him and lures him back several times a year from Mardi Gras to the Red Dress Run.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 3, 2020
I tried and tried to read this and give it a fair chance, since it was a giveaway and I knew I should review it. But finally, I gave up. The writing was hard for me to read. It could have been a good story, but a good editing is definitely needed. At times, I felt like I was reading something written by a teenage boy.
The technical aspects did seem well-researched- details about the swords in particular.
The romance part was stilted. I felt no empathy for the characters and did not care if they ever got together.
I hate giving bad reviews, and if this wasn't a giveaway, I probably would have quietly closed it and not said a word, because I know that writing is not easy, and just getting a book to the point of publication is quite an accomplishment. But I guess the good thing is, I'm not any powerful literary critic, so my review won't have much weight.
In conclusion, I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
The technical aspects did seem well-researched- details about the swords in particular.
The romance part was stilted. I felt no empathy for the characters and did not care if they ever got together.
I hate giving bad reviews, and if this wasn't a giveaway, I probably would have quietly closed it and not said a word, because I know that writing is not easy, and just getting a book to the point of publication is quite an accomplishment. But I guess the good thing is, I'm not any powerful literary critic, so my review won't have much weight.
In conclusion, I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
October 5, 2022
I received a free Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
As a few of the other reviews have pointed out this book was poorly edited making it very hard to read. I almost gave up after the first few chapters. I resisted the urge to quit and was able to finish the book. It seemed like it got a little easier to read after the first few chapters but still needs editing throughout.
The Good: the story itself was pretty good. Kept me interested throughout. With some editing it would be a good book.
The Bad: in desperate need of editing (spelling, word usage, stilted language, etc.) Reads like a first draft. Makes it hard to enjoy.
As a few of the other reviews have pointed out this book was poorly edited making it very hard to read. I almost gave up after the first few chapters. I resisted the urge to quit and was able to finish the book. It seemed like it got a little easier to read after the first few chapters but still needs editing throughout.
The Good: the story itself was pretty good. Kept me interested throughout. With some editing it would be a good book.
The Bad: in desperate need of editing (spelling, word usage, stilted language, etc.) Reads like a first draft. Makes it hard to enjoy.
September 7, 2020
He has a weakness for women with the name Carolyn and now he is in a life and death situation all about a sword that she is trying to sell. The sword is a old Japanese relic with a long history and worth millions. Usually he can sell the unusual and quickly, but not this time. He is also falling in love with her, but she will be trouble because she is another Carolyn. Kept you on the edge of your seat to find out what would happen next.
July 24, 2020
This is a quick book and I did not like it.
You read this kind of "adventure" sometimes within a story.
Max is a dealer of military paraphernalia. His so called girlfriend
Carolyn has a sword which is considered a treasure. Max and Carolyn attempt to get a buyer but first has to go through your typical dangers with drug cartels and psychopaths.
You read this kind of "adventure" sometimes within a story.
Max is a dealer of military paraphernalia. His so called girlfriend
Carolyn has a sword which is considered a treasure. Max and Carolyn attempt to get a buyer but first has to go through your typical dangers with drug cartels and psychopaths.
July 24, 2021
The worst story ever created without substance and literally garbage. Not worth anyone’s expense.
Read
March 1, 2022never received
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews