Media
British Columbia's CFJC interview with Author Jonathan McCormick where he discusses Wyoming Secrets, 30,000 Secrets & his passion for helping women overwhelmed with violence in their lives. Readers gain strength, courage and direction through the female characters, all of whom are martial artists struggling with human dilemmas. The officers' relationship successes and failures are situations to which readers can relate and apply to their own challenges.
Reader Response
Barkley Sound Secrets has been on my bed-side
“Barkley Sound Secrets has been on my bed-side calling out to me and finally, tonight I picked it up. I told myself, just for a moment.
Of course, it pulled me in, and I just stopped at page 30 to write you this note. I was so pleased you were able to use my quote. I am very flattered!! I sent a pic to my son.
I really love it when books are a series.
The characters almost feel like family. You have done a great job at letting the reader become connected with the characters, especially Jessica and Karen. I also love all the Canadian references.”
Michelle G, Kamloops, British Columbia
In Barkley Sound Secrets
Jonathan McCormick quickly establishes his knowledge and expertise in martial arts, law enforcement, and the drug game.
His research speaks for itself, almost to the point where I thought he was overshadowing the plot just a bit much.
I had to appreciate his development of several strong female characters to lead the charge. The strongest, of course, was Jessica, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well McCormick was able to craft her insecurities into her development and then allow them to mature as the novel progressed. Overall, there is interesting writing here and a strong premise.
McCormick could do more to develop the novel as a product, as I'll share below, but it should be a fun read for people interested in crime, drug, and female starring thrillers.
Writer’s Digest December 2021
I really liked the use of the drone in 30,000 Secrets
“I really liked the use of the drone in 30,000 Secrets. I thought that was really cool. The cesium was great. It seemed to be the linchpin of the book. Rebecca was great as usual, especially when kicking ass.
You really have cut out your own territory with the integration of the fine-cuisine element in your books.
I always remember my mother loved the early James Bond books and the early movies because of “all the luxury and fantastic settings.” She loved opulence.
I think she would have liked your novels. And that is indeed my highest compliment.”
Les Wiseman
Royal Roads University
In 30,000 Secrets, a genre novel by Jonathan McCormick
“In 30,000 Secrets, a genre novel by Jonathan McCormick, we are presented with a taut and captivating thriller that travels the lengths of the world and the depths of the human heart as it works to clear the convoluted plot.
The title for the novel seems to this reader to be a key to expectations, signaling a sense of mysteries and hesitancies, of the importance of what is said and what is unsaid.
The overall design of the book is professional.
It features an interior layout that is clean and clear with text design on each page that is readable and crisp. Also, the cover image for the book has the gloss of a political thriller but with perhaps too much of the wedged title elements interposed.
The characters here are fully realized, vivid and alive, and often do surprising things–or do/say things that are very human, which can be rare. I especially like Jessica. In short, she is a well-developed character, fully realized on the page with a plausible sensibility in an increasingly tragic and complex world.
The chapters are nicely paced, with enough meat to make them satisfying but not so ponderous as to make it difficult to keep track of the narrative as it develops.
In fiction, so much of the pacing comes from the deployment of the chapters, how they build the suspense and in this case, things move along in a compelling manner.”
Writers’ Digest November 2017
A noble reason for writing
“A noble reason for writing (i.e., the author’s desire to end violence against women) provides a strong foundation for Vancouver Secrets.
Thematically, this thread works well in the novel in terms of protagonist creation and plotting. There’s also lots of high-octane energy in the prose, especially with chapters like 21 where the scenes of discovery deepen the character development.
The author’s insight into law enforcement techniques reads as if he was one of them.
There are a lot of characters, but the author is good with descriptions.
How many of them think is evident and the romance between two main female characters is handled eloquently. Why ‘bad guys’ do what they do is well-rounded.”
Writer’s Digest December 2021
I liked Santa Barbara Secrets a lot.
You have cut out your own turf and are sticking to it. As far as I know, no one has staked out this turf as you have.
The luxury life is your beat. The men hopelessly shopping for summer togs was quite funny. Also, the detective agency opens up lots of interesting avenues for sub- and parallel plots. The ladies’ shit-kicking men remain my fave scenes. I think we need them to meet a foe whose skills match their own in hand-to-hand.
And, gotta love them kitties.
Good work, my friend, and I look forward to the next installment.
Best always,
Les Wiseman
Royal Roads
man
Royal Roads Unive
Writer’s Digest reviews Wyoming Secrets.
In Wyoming Secrets, a mystery / thriller novel written by Jonathan McCormick, we are presented with a fast-paced globe-hopping tale that presents flawed characters and convoluted plans in a way that keeps the reader turning pages to uncover those titular secrets.
The title for the novel seems to this reader to be haunting and interesting, providing a suggestive entry point to the work that establishes keen alignment with the genre and strong expectations. The dialogue here is particularly solid, sounding realistic and still readable, aiding the characterization and adding layers of nuance to the proceedings. An ear for dialogue is a wonderful thing in a writer and, throughout, scenes come alive and motivation seems earned as a result of believable dialogue.
The characters here are fully realized, vivid and alive, directing the action with trackable motivation which the reader can believe. And, the hallmark of well-drawn characters, they often do surprising things making them very human, which can be rare.
The overall design of the book is professional. It features an interior layout that is crisp and clean with text design on each page that is readable and presented soundly. It may seem minor but getting the interior in order is an important step in getting the reader hooked and able to enter into the flow of the work! Also, the cover image for the book is much too dominated by script font, slightly difficult to read, to allow the imagery to really take over and give the reader an impression.
Black Press Review
With a background in martial arts and as a law-enforcement trainer, the former United States Marine has penned many articles for publications, such as the law enforcement periodicals, Blue Line, Twenty-Four-Seven, and the Canadian Firearms Journal. He was also the security columnist for the Vancouver Province newspaper.When he decided to write his first novel, Wyoming Secrets, it was natural the story is set in a world that he knows so well.
The suspense thriller follows Secret Service investigator Jessica Fukishura and her hand-picked team of cow hand agent Rebecca Simpson, former Delta agent Jackson Pennington, North African Al-Qaeda fighter Jason Spencer and former junior high computer science teacher and hacker Elisabeth Peltowski on assignment in trendy spots all over the world.
McCormick tells his story through a plot seeped in suspense, mystery, love, sex and martial arts.Wyoming Secrets was published on Jan. 28, 2012 and already it’s destined to become part of a series called “J” Team Novels. The second of the series, 30,000 Secrets is due to come out in February 2017.The series’ target reading audience is women aged 21 years and over, but the reading demographics is fifty percent male.“I’ve used personal background for the book, including martial arts, education, military and shooting.”
All his books are available from Amazon.ca and Amazon.com
ARLENE JONGBLOETS
Reader responses via Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Wyoming Secrets, March 4, 2012 by Colleen
“The beginning of the book was like a Robert Ludlum book, but once the characters are introduced it gets very intense. I could not put the book down, and disappointed that the next book wasn’t sitting waiting for me to read. I would highly recommend this book to readers.”
Kris Patterson 4.0 out of 5 stars nice first offering Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2014
The author was my former high school English teacher and a few years later was my instructor in a self defense program. He certainly knows the subject matter which is evident by the rich detail in this story. Only someone with his training and experience could add the necessary realism to this kind of story. I look forward to the next instalment of these characters and their exploits. Vancouver Secrets "There are a lot of characters, but the author is good with descriptions. How many of them think is evident and the romance between two main female characters is handled elegantly. Why certain ‘bad guys’ do what they do is well-rounded."
"The author is big on intricate descriptions concerning clothing worn, food prepared, and dwelling outlay, giving those who do not reside on Santa Barbara and Costa Rica a backdrop. The good guys are likeable and the villains well-rounded." "McCormick's insight into law enforcement techniques reads as though he was one of them. " "The book is exemplary in character appearl and development. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits. Secondary characters are unique and have a meaningful purpose." Writer's Digest December 2021
Congratulations on the publication of Wyoming Secrets. I trust you are at work on the next book.”
Sue Grafton
“Hooah! MAX congrats! and WELL done!”
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman
“I love Jessica! She is a woman who knows what she wants and how to get it. Am loving the book!”
Lucille – A Fan
“I hope by now your Jessica has found a literary agent worthy of her exploits. Be well! Write on!”
Harley Jane Kozak.
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2019 This book is great! You will fall in love with the characters. Bad ass female lead. Very empowering!
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!! Wyoming Secrets
Reviewed in Canada on April 24, 2014 Only about a third of the way through. Really enjoying it. What’s really cool is I recently found out I went to school with the author.
GROOVE335.0 out of 5 stars ACTION PACKED Wyoming Secrets
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2019 This book is great! You will fall in love with the characters. Bad ass female lead. Very empowering!
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!! Wyoming Secrets
“I enjoyed 30,000 Secrets. Lots of action. And it is educational too. You will learn about weapons and wines you probably never heard of.”
Brian Lavery, April 10, 2018 I enjoyed 30,000 Secrets 4.0 out of 5 stars
This is a good book, once it got going. I think the author wanted to be either a fashion designer or an interior decorator. Descriptions of both are way too detailed and more than we needed.
Kindle Customer 3.0 out of 5 stars Santa Barbara Secrets Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2020
I liked it very much. But I didn’t need all the fashion descriptions of clothes and furniture! I thought some of the good guys were going to turn out to be bad guys’. Nope!
Toby M. Shapiro 5.0 out of 5 stars Santa Barbara Secrets Reviewed in the USA on Sep 6, 2020