Encryption Code

The rousing narrative introduces a 12-year-old tech-savvy kid named Alex, who has escaped from two Russian mobsters who had kidnapped the boy and held him as ransom. The dastardly duo's evil scheme is to exchange Alex for a new generative AI algorithm-driven encryption program developed by Alex's grandfather, a computer scientist at the National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. However, now that the at-times-bumbling mobsters have seen their plan go awry with Alex giving them the slip, they must set out in desperate search for the boy, determined not to let anything or anyone get in their way of re-acquiring the boy and attaining the code. In the wrong hands, it could have devastating effects on the global economy.

Enter Julie Anderson, a single workaholic, brains and beauty software engineer from Minnesota who is in Nashville for a technology conference. At the behest of her closest friend, she takes a side trip to the Smoky Mountains for a white water rafting trip. As is common for tourists new to eastern Tennessee trying to navigate the abundance of mountainous terrain and its many hairpin turns, Julie eventually gets lost and stops at a gas station for directions. Hiding nearby, Alex, still on the run, seizes an opportunity and jumps into the back seat of Julie's rental, crouching low to stay out of sight. It is only when Julie finds her way to Tom's River Raftin' Rodeo that stowaway Alex is spotted by Tom Wilder, the rugged redneck river guide and proprietor.

Alex frantically tells Tom and Julie his story about the encryption code and his escape, and how he is once again being pursued by the two relentless Russian goons, Vlad and Ilya. Despite their clashing personalities, Julie and Tom agree to team up and help Alex in his quest to not only elude the two thugs and the GRU, but also find the law-enforcement help they need to stop the Russians once and for all, and save the world from a financial meltdown.

What ensues is a wild, rollicking, musical and, yes, romantic adventure with the trio of newfound helpmates chased through an astonishing succession of escapades that include getting shot at while rafting through rapids, a close encounter with a wild bear, a secluded rental cabin hideout that happens to be a honeymoon suite, an impromptu ride on a Nashville pedal tavern full of bridesmaids, a quick musical drop-in to the Wildhorse saloon where Tom, literally, runs into an old songwriting partner, Barclay Randall, now a country music star, and much more. Even Vlad and Ilya encounter some fascinating adventures of their own, such as stumbling across a moonshine still out in the woods. There, they soon find themselves staring down the barrel of a shotgun pointed at their heads by a vexed gun-totin' hillbilly who lacks the ability to understand a lick of Russian and is certainly devoid of the patience to decipher Russian-accented English.

Bonus - Throughout the book, characters share original songs and music available for download.