Official Review: The China Formula by Ray Simmons

[Anki_Real_Reviews]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The China Formula" by Ray Simmons.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The China Formula by Ray Simmons is a compilation of action, romance, politics, and — interestingly enough — Forex. Chinese officials receive a report that reveals that a Canadian student, Leonidas Lambros, has developed a formula that can predict currency fluctuations with pinpoint accuracy. The readers, who are actively involved in trading, must realize the value of a formula of this kind. The government officials of China wish to get a hold on this formula before the US or any other country does. For this mission, Mr. Jonathan Steward, Director of Central Intelligence, sends a CIA team and a terrorist cell to find the boy and get the formula. However, he is not the only officer involved in this mission. Guo Hong Yu, Intelligence Minister, takes another approach to obtain it; he sends his granddaughter, Xin Tong, to Canada to get this powerful formula from Lambros. With three parties being sent on this mission, it was quite thrilling and hypnotic to read who would claim a victory.

If Ray Simmons had described only the seriousness of this mission, then I would have found this book boring; however, this was not the case. Against all the odds, a love story blossoms between Leonidas Lambros and Xin Tong. Other than the romantic and action pieces, the author talks about China and its culture. This insight into another country's traditions and cultures shows the dedication and research of the author, and at the same time, provides the readers an additional knowledge about the country.

The characters are playing their assigned roles to the perfection. There is a level of maturity in the government officials, an expected cruelty in the terrorists, and a sense of urgency in the members of CIA. When the government officers are conversing, one cannot miss the common traits of politicians. The author has introduced a depth in his characters and has done a remarkable delivery of dialogues. Overall, when you read this book, you are transported to the exact place where a particular scene is taking place.

In describing his characters, the author has taken a slightly different road than usual. He has not just given a physical description of the characters, rather, introduced the readers to their family background or the past. This strategy helps the readers in connecting with them on an emotional level. This connection plays a significant role in elevating the interest in the plot. Xin Tong's past is my favorite part of the book. When Hong Yu remembers how much his wife tortured Xin Tong's mother because she had conceived a girl and not a boy, this flashback introduces the orthodox mentality prevailed in the society against women.

The major part of the book is full of action scenes, and these scenes are executed, flawlessly. The involvement of Xin Tong in these scenes is highly impressive. The author's elegance in writing about her dilemma in choosing between her love and her country is engaging. The conspiracy among the terrorists, as well as, the officers of China could not have been written better.

I would gladly rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to action-loving readers, who enjoy the traces of romance, conspiracy, and politics in a book. I was captivated by this book and finished it in only two hours. I believe this is enough to explain how much I liked this book. I have only one suggestion for the author, though; this title does not seem very intriguing to me. I am sure the author can attract a wider audience by changing the title of the book to a more interesting one. Well, this is a subjective opinion, and everyone may not think the same way. In conclusion, this is one of those books that I thoroughly enjoyed.

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The China Formula
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