The Toll of Valor is first in a series of novels. Meet Russ 'Duke' Marlin - an ornery boy growing up in a small Kansas town. Duke was born to be a firefighter. Julie Goodin, a preacher's daughter, is meant to be his girl.

A family of firefighters, Duty - Honor - Valor is the Marlin tradition, and those three words transform a boy into a man. Each day, Julie matures with beauty and grace, and Duke discovers, that comes with a price. Deward Banksiana has a fetish and a pentagram tattoo, and his eye is on Julie.

Quick with his fists - faster in his Mach 1, Duke and the War Horse can't...