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Retired from the Marine Corps and the California Department of Corrections, Major
Matt Rommel's life has been one long exercise in applied violence. The gold rush in
internet stocks made him a wealthy man. Now, he is a docent at San Francisco's
Palace of the Legion of Honor. He spends his days surrounded by art treasures and
his nights in the Mission District at Vince's bar. Matt Rommel is a grizzled combat
veteran who is afraid of women.
The roller-coaster years of the internet boom and bust have also changed the life of
Carolyn Kast, leaving her with a failed marriage to a man committed only to his
forlorn hope of a technology company. Now, Carolyn is a single mother in her middle
forties with a troubled six-year-old daughter who is obsessed with the scarred, giant
of a man she saw on a visit to the museum.
As Carolyn struggles to make a living at her fledgling ad agency, Brand Loyalty, and
keep her two new partners from each other's throats, it is becoming clear that
someone is trying to kill her. Carolyn is at a loss for either a motive or a suspect.
But her daughter Aubrey knows what to do. Go to the man she has decided is an
enforcer for Santa Claus: The Scary Man!
Matt Rommel's life has been one long exercise in applied violence. The gold rush in
internet stocks made him a wealthy man. Now, he is a docent at San Francisco's
Palace of the Legion of Honor. He spends his days surrounded by art treasures and
his nights in the Mission District at Vince's bar. Matt Rommel is a grizzled combat
veteran who is afraid of women.
The roller-coaster years of the internet boom and bust have also changed the life of
Carolyn Kast, leaving her with a failed marriage to a man committed only to his
forlorn hope of a technology company. Now, Carolyn is a single mother in her middle
forties with a troubled six-year-old daughter who is obsessed with the scarred, giant
of a man she saw on a visit to the museum.
As Carolyn struggles to make a living at her fledgling ad agency, Brand Loyalty, and
keep her two new partners from each other's throats, it is becoming clear that
someone is trying to kill her. Carolyn is at a loss for either a motive or a suspect.
But her daughter Aubrey knows what to do. Go to the man she has decided is an
enforcer for Santa Claus: The Scary Man!
Matt Rommel stood at the door, a thoroughly surprised man. That, in itself, gave
Carolyn Kast some satisfaction. She was still uncomfortable. How was she going to
explain herself?
“Madam, what are you doing here? How else have I transgressed? What new injury
have I perpetrated?”
Carolyn looked at Matt Rommel. “You could invite me in.”
“Yes, of course. Won't you please come in?”
Carolyn stepped into the foyer, making a deliberate effort not to be seen looking
around, surveying the home, any gesture that could be interpreted as mercantile. She
had to know. What was this man doing? Was he living in one place and pretending to
live somewhere else? Why? Of course, she knew that before she could reasonably
ask, she was going to explain why she was here at all. How was she going to explain
her own actions first?
“You're probably wondering why I am here,” she began.
Matt Rommel motioned toward the spacious living room, its carpets and furniture a
careful study in tans, browns and gold. The ceilings were high, but it still seemed
warm. “Would you like to sit down?”
This reception was much different from the one above Vince's bar. Carolyn had an
insight. This was his home and, being his home, the demands of hospitality were
greater. “No thank you,” she said. “When I left the bar, I got turned around in traffic.
When I finally got things straightened out, I noticed your Cadillac. You were driving so
slowly that I thought you might be having car trouble so I followed you in case you had
to pull over. When you pulled into the garage, it occurred to me that maybe it wasn't
car trouble. I thought maybe you were ill, so I…”
“Knocked on the door to see if I was all right?” Rommel ventured.
“Exactly. I gather you are. All right, I mean,” Carolyn continued.
“Yes, thank you. I'm fine.”
“I'm glad,” she said. “Well, I have to be going. You just remember that little talk we had.”
“About respecting your privacy?”
“Yes.” Carolyn flushed scarlet. However lame it seemed, it was apparent that Mr.
Rommel was prepared to accept the pretense so she would just have to bluff her way
through. As she stood, a chirpy tune blared from her purse. “I'm sorry. I have to get
this,” she said, answering the cell phone.
“Carolyn Kast.”
“It's me, Denni. Are you still in the City?”
“Yes, but I'm just leaving, and I should be there to pick up Aubrey in less than an hour.”
“I don't think so,” Denni responded. Her tone seemed strained.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Without knowing why, she braced herself. She could see,
both Mr. Rommel and the dog were responding to her tension, studying her.
“The San Francisco Police called. They need you to meet them back at the office”
Denni spoke slowly, choosing her few words with care. “Sarah has been murdered.”
Carolyn Kast some satisfaction. She was still uncomfortable. How was she going to
explain herself?
“Madam, what are you doing here? How else have I transgressed? What new injury
have I perpetrated?”
Carolyn looked at Matt Rommel. “You could invite me in.”
“Yes, of course. Won't you please come in?”
Carolyn stepped into the foyer, making a deliberate effort not to be seen looking
around, surveying the home, any gesture that could be interpreted as mercantile. She
had to know. What was this man doing? Was he living in one place and pretending to
live somewhere else? Why? Of course, she knew that before she could reasonably
ask, she was going to explain why she was here at all. How was she going to explain
her own actions first?
“You're probably wondering why I am here,” she began.
Matt Rommel motioned toward the spacious living room, its carpets and furniture a
careful study in tans, browns and gold. The ceilings were high, but it still seemed
warm. “Would you like to sit down?”
This reception was much different from the one above Vince's bar. Carolyn had an
insight. This was his home and, being his home, the demands of hospitality were
greater. “No thank you,” she said. “When I left the bar, I got turned around in traffic.
When I finally got things straightened out, I noticed your Cadillac. You were driving so
slowly that I thought you might be having car trouble so I followed you in case you had
to pull over. When you pulled into the garage, it occurred to me that maybe it wasn't
car trouble. I thought maybe you were ill, so I…”
“Knocked on the door to see if I was all right?” Rommel ventured.
“Exactly. I gather you are. All right, I mean,” Carolyn continued.
“Yes, thank you. I'm fine.”
“I'm glad,” she said. “Well, I have to be going. You just remember that little talk we had.”
“About respecting your privacy?”
“Yes.” Carolyn flushed scarlet. However lame it seemed, it was apparent that Mr.
Rommel was prepared to accept the pretense so she would just have to bluff her way
through. As she stood, a chirpy tune blared from her purse. “I'm sorry. I have to get
this,” she said, answering the cell phone.
“Carolyn Kast.”
“It's me, Denni. Are you still in the City?”
“Yes, but I'm just leaving, and I should be there to pick up Aubrey in less than an hour.”
“I don't think so,” Denni responded. Her tone seemed strained.
“Why? Is something wrong?” Without knowing why, she braced herself. She could see,
both Mr. Rommel and the dog were responding to her tension, studying her.
“The San Francisco Police called. They need you to meet them back at the office”
Denni spoke slowly, choosing her few words with care. “Sarah has been murdered.”
| Reviews for Brand Loyalty |
| Excerpt for Brand Loyalty |
| Brand Loyalty Frank Kahren |
Fiction-Mystery/Thriller
Whimsical Publications,
LLC/paperback, 332 pages
October 2009
$15.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-02-9
Whimsical Publications,
LLC/paperback, 332 pages
October 2009
$15.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-936167-02-9
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Comment/review = I am a mystery/spy story junkie, and I thought I had read every
great author in the genre.....And now I have added another great author to my list.
Frank Kahren's writing is clear, crisp, with humor. I fell for the characters..strong
women immediately, and since I finished the book in one night, I want MORE. I do hope
a sequel is on the way....How bout a series! Oh My God, waiting is not my best suit. Do
not miss this read, and the setting is the San Francisco Bay Area, and Frank creates
the area's wonderful flavor as he weaves his adventure. Thank you Frank!
Amazon review by: Cheryl Andersen
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Brand Loyalty is a mystery that embroiders suspense,
quirkiness,and humor as it draws the reader into the inner lives of the characters,
making it an engrossing reading experience. Social justice obsessed Major Matt
Rommel and whimsical little Aubrey Kast grabbed my interest , making this reader want
more of them. Perhaps the author will develop them in future books. I hope so.
Amazon review by: Freddie Daly
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = This is a great read. The style of writing is a treat, being like a
cross between P.D. James and Janet Evanovich. The plot is tight and there are no
loose ends. It is also informative.
The main adult characters appeared flawed initially but with each subsequent chapter I
thought that their strengths, intelligence and moral compasses became apparent until,
in the end, when I was just reluctant to close the book I liked them so much. I'd like to
hear more about these folks.
Amazon review by: C. Nuesslein
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = This is a great, enjoyable book. A book once started will be hard to
put down. This murder mystery was cunning and calculated from start to finish. Flowed
well and placed the reader within the boundries of each character. It is a lighter
murder mystery, smiles appeared on my face, even a chuckle every now and then
while visualizing well known Bay Area places and events. The characters are
believeable and current. I cannot wait for the sequeal. There is certainly more great
writing to come from this Bay Area author. Hat's off to Frank Kahren.
Amazon review by: Colleen Kaida
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = While vacationing in Altos Del Maria, Panama I read this wonderful
mystery by what I felt was an unknown author. Of course it took thirty years to be the
overnight success by what I read. I believe this book is a home run of writing. If you
have limited to no knowledge of San Francisco and the Berkeley area in the way they
are layed out, you will have a general idea where you are located upon entering the
area. Great buildup of characters and detail of time movement(going from one scene
to another).
GREAT BOOK!
Amazon review by: Michael C. Davis
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = This book was fun to read and I couldn't put it down. The
characters were complex and I could visualize where the scenes took place. The
attention to detail was phenomenal and I really had emotional feelings for each of the
main characters. I hope Matt Rommel will continue his adventures and I look forward to
the next book!
Amazon review by: M. Tanner
Rated: 5 stars
great author in the genre.....And now I have added another great author to my list.
Frank Kahren's writing is clear, crisp, with humor. I fell for the characters..strong
women immediately, and since I finished the book in one night, I want MORE. I do hope
a sequel is on the way....How bout a series! Oh My God, waiting is not my best suit. Do
not miss this read, and the setting is the San Francisco Bay Area, and Frank creates
the area's wonderful flavor as he weaves his adventure. Thank you Frank!
Amazon review by: Cheryl Andersen
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = Brand Loyalty is a mystery that embroiders suspense,
quirkiness,and humor as it draws the reader into the inner lives of the characters,
making it an engrossing reading experience. Social justice obsessed Major Matt
Rommel and whimsical little Aubrey Kast grabbed my interest , making this reader want
more of them. Perhaps the author will develop them in future books. I hope so.
Amazon review by: Freddie Daly
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = This is a great read. The style of writing is a treat, being like a
cross between P.D. James and Janet Evanovich. The plot is tight and there are no
loose ends. It is also informative.
The main adult characters appeared flawed initially but with each subsequent chapter I
thought that their strengths, intelligence and moral compasses became apparent until,
in the end, when I was just reluctant to close the book I liked them so much. I'd like to
hear more about these folks.
Amazon review by: C. Nuesslein
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = This is a great, enjoyable book. A book once started will be hard to
put down. This murder mystery was cunning and calculated from start to finish. Flowed
well and placed the reader within the boundries of each character. It is a lighter
murder mystery, smiles appeared on my face, even a chuckle every now and then
while visualizing well known Bay Area places and events. The characters are
believeable and current. I cannot wait for the sequeal. There is certainly more great
writing to come from this Bay Area author. Hat's off to Frank Kahren.
Amazon review by: Colleen Kaida
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = While vacationing in Altos Del Maria, Panama I read this wonderful
mystery by what I felt was an unknown author. Of course it took thirty years to be the
overnight success by what I read. I believe this book is a home run of writing. If you
have limited to no knowledge of San Francisco and the Berkeley area in the way they
are layed out, you will have a general idea where you are located upon entering the
area. Great buildup of characters and detail of time movement(going from one scene
to another).
GREAT BOOK!
Amazon review by: Michael C. Davis
Rated: 5 stars
Comment/review = This book was fun to read and I couldn't put it down. The
characters were complex and I could visualize where the scenes took place. The
attention to detail was phenomenal and I really had emotional feelings for each of the
main characters. I hope Matt Rommel will continue his adventures and I look forward to
the next book!
Amazon review by: M. Tanner
Rated: 5 stars
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