Amazon Fountain Blue Publishing Category:  Action/Thriller Publisher: Fountain Blue Publishing ISBN-10:  1628680407 Type: Fiction Pages: 390 Copyright: April 2014 ISBN-13: 9781628680409 Price: $5.99 (eBook) Some people climb for Glory and pride - others for healing and closure Sarah lost her husband twenty-five years ago to Mt. Everest, and vowed that she’d never speak its name again, let alone ever go there. But the mountain that claimed her husband was now in her son’s blood and it would not let go. Despite all her efforts, she could not dissuade her son, Greg, from his burning desire to conquer the monster that had stolen his father from him as a toddler. This time, she would not remain at home while the one she loves climbs the killer peak. If the mountain were going to claim her son, it would have to do it staring her in the face. Frank Kincaid’s reputation as being the finest Everest Expedition guide for over the last twenty years has been the means for supporting his treasured charity work in Khum Jung. Adhering to uncompromising dated tried and true methods, he has never lost a client on the mountain. But this group of expedition client’s had a reminder of the past. Living close to the earth among the Sherpa people on the steppes of the majestic Himalaya, he is suddenly confronted with the memory of the disaster that took his best friend, Sherpa Pasang so long ago. That he would now lead the son of the man who Pasang died trying to save gives him pause to reflect on that tragedy. As history threatens to repeat itself, Frank is suddenly put to the supreme test. Will he obey his cardinal rule of protecting his Sherpa guide at all cost even if it means sacrificing his thought-impaired client on the mountain? But, the decision may cost him the fragile love of a mother that has turned his life upside down. Or will he trust his heart and roll the dice? Can Sarah accept the excruciating decision that is before him and what it will mean for those fighting for their lives on the mountain? Will the mountain tear them apart or bind them together? No one ever escapes unchanged by Everest.      https://youtu.be/CwYo20BJW2o Excerpt Everest Base Camp - 1985 Frank ran into the Frontier Expedition Command tent and found Jack Trammel talking on the radio while the rest of his team crowded around him. When Frank stepped beside him, Jack glanced up from where he sat. The alarm in the expedition leader’s deep brown eyes told all as the crackled voice came back over the two-way radio. “We on way down, but he locking up. Can you radio Camp 4? See if Tar-Chin there? Over,” the faint voice said. “Will do, over,” Jack replied. “Keep moving, over.” “Trying. Wind picking up, snow too, over.” Frank’s eyes widened when he glanced at the large bulky laptop sitting amongst the strewn weather reports on the table. The data glaring back on the screen wasn’t good: FL270, 290/80, MS48, valid at 10:15 GMT. That meant Jack’s Sirdar Sherpa and his client were walking right into a goddamned blizzard. He tapped Jack’s arm, pointed to the laptop and whispered, “When did these numbers come in?” Jack nodded, put his hand over the microphone. “Fifteen minutes ago.” “Jesus,” Frank muttered. The mountain had once again decided to have its own party while the rest of the world obeyed the weather forecasts. “What’s their elevation?” “8,400 meters,” Jack replied, and gave Frank a knowing look. There was no way Pasang and the American with him were going to make it back to Camp 4 before the storm roared in. They were trapped. In fact, for those who had already made it back, it was going to be a hell of a ride. Again, the Sherpa’s voice came through the static. “Has Tar-chin made Camp 4 yet? Over.” Jack bit his lip and rubbed his grizzled face. Frank knew the expedition leader was in a tight spot. If Jack told Sherpa Tar-chin that Sherpa Pasang was in trouble and asking for him, the man would go without question. But how could he ask Tar-chin knowing there was barely a chance of success, let alone that it would likely cost the Sherpa his life? Finally, Jack radioed back. “No response yet. How’s your O2? Over.” A long silence passed and Frank worried for the worst. Finally, Pasang’s voice came crackling back. “One hour on Steve’s tank, maybe little more if I crank it back to one. But doubt he could stand it. I have four on mine. I could switch if need be. Over.” “Up to you Pasang, over,” Jack said, as the crowd behind them in the Command Tent whispered back and forth. Frank turned to look at those who’d gotten news of the unfolding drama on the mountain. Word always traveled quickly in the climbing community when lives were at stake. It was the one time when the guarded members of Base Camp came together; working tirelessly to figure out a way to bring men back alive. But the stone-cold fact was that there was little anyone could do when the mountain decided to roar, and that was what it was doing right now. Jack Trammel’s job was keeping Pasang’s spirits alive and strong, and he was trying every trick in the book. Whether Pasang knew his expedition leader was lying to him about Tar-chin being at Camp 4 was anyone’s guess, but it was a fair bet Pasang knew Jack wasn’t being straight with him. Every climber knew it was whatever kept you going that mattered, and if you had to be lied to, then so be it. As long as you kept moving, that was the only thing that mattered. Freeze up and stop thinking and you die, simple as that! The minutes turned into an hour and the hour turned into two then three, and as the minutes slid by, Pasang’s voice came back less and less over the radio. The end had come for Pasang and the American, or it was looming close and it was crushing Frank’s hopes. The last time he’d heard Pasang’s reedy voice, it was obvious they weren’t going to make it down to Camp 4 where the wind was barreling across the slopes and creating wind-chills of minus sixty-five and lower. Frank plopped down in the corner of the command tent brooding and checked in with Camp 4 at Jack’s request to keep track of their situation. He knew Jack had given him the task to take his mind off the tragedy going on high above. But it wasn’t working. All Frank could think about was Pasang lying in the snow and fighting for his last breath. He closed his eyes, saw the short, stout, round face of the Sherpa smiling back at him, and felt his lip quiver. Someone came around with mugs of warm Mango juice and Masala tea. Frank waved them off when they came to him. He couldn’t eat or drink knowing Pasang was dying in a futile attempt to drag a man off the mountain who hadn’t listened to reason. Moreover, Frank was angry Pasang had let the American manipulate him and doubly frustrated that he couldn’t do a damn thing about it. As he sat listening to the wind lash the Command tent’s nylon skin beside him, he thought of Pasang’s mother, Nuri. It would fall on him to tell her Pasang wasn’t coming back. The thought of it was more than he could handle. His throat knotted as he balled his hand into a fist. If I ever lead an expedition, I’ll make sure this never happens again. Any asshole that disobeys my Sirdar’s advice is on his own!

This is a well researched and thoughtful story.
This is a well researched and thoughtful story of adventure and love set in the venue of the Himalayas. The book was a free copy in exchange for my honest review. I was initially skeptical, however, being a sucker for books concerning Mt. Everest and climbing, I decided to give it a go. While I’m not a big fan of fiction, I found myself drawn into the story. There’s plenty of drama and lots of crazy characters to keep the readers’ attention. I enjoyed the struggle and resolution between Catholicism and Buddhism that the players endured; in which the writer seemed to have first-hand experience. The basic story-line was mildly predictable and some adult content may deter a few readers. I found though, that as other pieces of the story unfolded, I was able to enjoy the climbing sequences and was eager to get to the next chapter. The author obviously did his homework, describing the landscape and the peoples of this magnificent region perfectly. Whatever your tastes in reading may be, it’s hard to go wrong with any story set in such a dramatic backdrop. I look forward to reading other works by Mr. Bagliere.

Bagliere weaves a powerful combination of love, loss
Bagliere weaves a powerful combination of love, loss, and renewed hope in his latest adventure, The Lion of Khum Jung. In addition to a wonderfully written novel, the backdrop of the region of Mount Everest where the story takes place is rich in detail and history, as well as reflecting the author's own trek into Nepal. The dynamics between expedition leader Frank Kincaid and Sarah Madden, along with Sarah's son, mountain climber Greg Madden, keeps the reader turning the pages. I hadn't intended to read the book from cover to cover, but found myself staying up until the early morning hours until I finished. An adventure story, a romance -- this book has it all.

Adventure, Love, Forgiveness, Self-Examination-A story that has it all.
Adventure, Love, Forgiveness, Self-Examination-A story that has it all.
A well-written and well-researched tale of adventure, self-examination, and recrimination that tests the love between a mother and son, as well as the stirrings of a new love between two people who appear so different … yet are they?
The author’s apt description of the Himalayas and his portrayal of the people who live there and carve a living out of the mountain side is flawless. I was drawn into this story and it was easy to visualize the simplicity of their lives in a complicated land that is full of beauty as well as danger.
If you enjoy adventure stories, and wonder about what it takes to climb Everest, the author doesn’t disappoint with his presentation of life at base camp, and the outpost camps on the way to the summit. This is a story that won’t disappoint.