Renegade by Mel Odom

 Renegade by Mel Odom is the second in the Called to Serve series.  The characters pick up where they left off from book one but this book focuses on Pike Morgan.  Therefore you could read book two without reading book one, but why would you?  Pike Morgan grew up in a series of foster homes before ending in an orphanage, and then running off.  The demons of his past torment him constantly.  He's lived his life with the purpose of laying low until he can exact revenge against those that killed his only constant - Petey.  Pike is like 2 people.  The violent side that is always under the surface, and the loner that attempts to slip through life without making waves.  Pike finds himself glad to be deployed to Afghanistan because he's become uncomfortable with his emotional attachment to young Hector.  He's unsure how to let anyone in because then he risks losing them.  However, events in the battles he find himself in, keep reminding him of Hector and/or Petey.  He seems to be unable to shake them.  Others see a difference in him, but can't get close.  He especially notices the changes in Bekah Shaw who found Christ in book one.  Yes the story is violent.  War is violent.  God is woven throughout the story.  Scripture references that those in Pike's past have spoken come to him in moments that are shaping him.  Slowly the reader sees changes in Pike that he himself notices by the end of the story.  I look forward to the next installment in Called to Serve.