The Dharma King is a story of an American that has been entrusted with a task that will change his life. Samuel Falk Simms Jr., a recent college graduate, purchases a ticket to Kathmandu because it is the farthest spot from his home he can find. As he is running from a dark and buried secret, he finds himself in a life-threatening race to find a Tibetan baby.

I really enjoyed reading about Sam and his friend, Parker and their adventures as they encounter danger, but also beauty and trust as they try to find the Panchen Lama. Reading about a part of the world, as well as a religion that I know very little about was fascinating. I also enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the areas where the story takes place; I was able to see the land and buildings the characters encountered during this fast-paced story. I also enjoyed the characters and the way they were developed throughout the book.

I always love reading different types of books (especially ones that I may not pick up on my own)! I would certainly recommend The Dharma King.

BECKY’S VIEW

The adventure begins when a Buddhist monk slips a map to a sleeping Sam while on the flight to Kathmandu. Upon landing, the monk is arrested and the authorities begin an in depth, but unsuccessful, search for the map. Soon after, Sam discovers the map hidden by the monk and the journey begins. The story follows Sam and Parker, a feisty girl he meets along the way, as they battle time and a cruel Chinese Colonel. Together they search for the baby boy who may be the last hope for the Tibetan culture. You can’t help but cheer this young man on as he fights to find his way. Hence the title- Dharma means "The Way" and each man is ruler of his own way. Each man is his own "Dharma King".

The storyline and format is similar to a Dan Brown novel. The imagery is vivid and the story takes the reader down a series of twists and turns as the adventure unfolds. As I finished this story and closed this book, I knew that the author not only wrote a wonderful tale but stirred in me a desire to learn more about this fascinating religion and the Tibetan area. You can go to the author’s web site (http://dharmaking.com) to follow some of the history and background behind this tale. This is a wonderful, easy to read adventure and would be great to take on vacation or to give as a gift. ◊

That is the question Karen Mehringer had to ask herself after years of a scripted and hectic existence. Unfulfilled and craving adventure, Karen and her husband embarked on a pivotal sailing odyssey that inspired them to change their lives in order to live out their true dreams. Restored to a life of purpose, peace and bliss, Karen shares her journey and spiritual wisdom with practical tools for anyone who’s ever asked, "Is this all there is to life?" www.liveapurposefullife.com