Manning A Raptor is the fifth installment of the Sam and James series by AA Freda. James and Samantha (Sam) Coppi are happily married and have a business empire anyone would envy. With Sam being pregnant, the couple eagerly awaits the birth of their fourth child when James is sought by the military to assist the Bolivian rebel group, the Guerreros, in their fight against the Federales. Additionally, the President of the United States asks James to vouch for Phil Eisley, a man who owed millions of dollars to the banks and someone James has severe misgivings about. After a senator and an assistant district attorney open an investigation into James's company while multiple attempts are made on his life, can James and Sam find a way to survive and protect their love?

A gripping political thriller full of suspense, romance, and intrigue, Manning A Raptor is a book you don't want to put down. AA Freda's novel follows the story of a power couple who find themselves embroiled in high-profile cases that have large-scale political ramifications. The plotting is intricate, and the narrative moves at a brisk pace. All the characters have well-defined personas, and their interactions with each other are always a pleasure to read, primarily due to the crisp and entertaining dialogue. James and Sam's relationship oozes chemistry and feels genuine. All in all, I had a wonderful time reading Manning A Raptor, and if you're a fan of fast-paced political thrillers, you should definitely check it out.

Now the wealthy owner of a powerful business enterprise in the US, former Vietnam War veteran James Coppi finds himself between a rock and a hard place. It all started after a few US government officials convinced him to get involved in delicate South American political affairs. They wanted James to supply the rebels in Bolivia with ammunition to aid a coup. Some members of Congress are against the plan and even passed an amendment bill to curb such efforts. A disagreement with a senator over this puts James in danger. Things get even nastier when James audits one of the President’s allies at the President’s request and uncovers unsettling truths. Since the report from the audit will put the President’s reputation and career at stake, they secretly work out a plan to stop James from releasing the audit. With desperate top government officials coming after his business empire, an angry senator as his adversary, his controversial involvement in foreign political affairs escalating, and his life on the line, what will James Coppi do? Get yourself AA Freda’s Manning a Raptor to discover how it all goes down.

AA Freda had me hooked with this gripping read, flipping through page after page. He bases his narrative on an unraveling tale of deception, betrayal, blackmail, secrets, loyalty, desire, love, power, money, war, and murder. If you love action thriller novels with a touch of romance and mystery, Manning a Raptor is a must-read for you. Freda hatches the most intriguing plot, lacing it with cliffhangers and ingenious plot twists. He kept me on edge with exciting action, suspense, thrills, wit, and adventure. I particularly relished the conversations between Samantha and James. The scenes come to life with dramatic effect through vivid descriptions. Reading the book felt like watching a movie. Freda brings out the qualities of the well-developed characters boldly, allowing me to experience their emotions. This made me connect with and understand the cast. The intelligent, quick-thinking and brave James knows his way around trouble. This is a magnificent piece of work, and I loved it.

Manning a Raptor by A.A. Freda is a fast-paced adventure about a government contracting company in the 1980s that is involved in supplying arms and mercenaries to some of the world’s hotspots, often at the behest of the U.S. Government. Samantha and James Coppi had come up from virtually nothing to build a business empire that encompassed not only secret government work but also railways, which they had big plans to expand. James, a Vietnam veteran with a chequered past who appears to thrive on the adrenaline and dangerous missions for the organization, runs the company with Sam, who is involved in almost all the business decisions. The couple lives with their four children on a massive ranch in Colorado Springs and appears to have an idyllic life. However, when you move to the top echelons of government and big business, enemies and political hatchet jobs are never far away. Despite his penchant for dangerous missions, James knows his priority must always be the protection and safety of his beloved wife, family, loyal operatives, and employees.

Manning a Raptor is an exciting and enjoyable read. Set around the same era as the infamous Nicaraguan Contra scandals, many of the situations and dangers James, his family, and his company face will be familiar to readers. A.A. Freda has used a novel concept to bring us this story, presenting it as a biography of James and Sam Coppi, as written by a new management employee of the company, Miles Cornish. The author imbues James’ character with depths that were thoroughly explored. I liked that James had a handle on his shortcomings, but was always prepared to do what he saw as the morally right thing even if it pushed the boundaries of legality from time to time. The hypocrisy and double-dealing of politicians of any shape or color, be they U.S. Senators, Zairian warlords, or Bolivian rebels was perfectly exposed by the story. I particularly enjoyed Samantha as a character. Although portrayed as tough, stern, and demanding as an employer, a wife, and a mother she was still wracked by doubts and fears. This is a thrilling read that requires no great depth of thought but rather takes the reader along on a roller-coaster of excitement and adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can highly recommend it.