In Extreme Cruelty I, August Moore finds himself divorced and lonely. A budding online romance with a woman named Crystal reignites his lust for life. She is everything he wants-beautiful, professional, and willing to explore the adventurous side of life. The only problem is that her job places her thousands of miles away, and for months their plans to meet are mysteriously thwarted. In a state of love-induced naïveté, August is willing to go to outrageous lengths for the woman he loves. Discovering that she comes as a "package deal" with her best friend Cheyenne, August becomes entangled in a web of duplicity and compromised values. Blinded by his new-found love, he is led down a path that yields bizarre experiences with nearly every step. Before long, August is surrounded by death and unexplained phenomenon. At the end of the path, Crystal is not all that she seems... Extreme Cruelty II picks up where Extreme Cruelty I left off, continuing through the labyrinth of lies and cruelty that August Moore endured at the hands of a crafty con-artist and a cast of characters too real to ignore. Find out what happens to the precious twins and discover the truth about the woman he loved as well as the woman he married. For August, what began as a dream come true, a love that filled his heart with joy, became a web of deceit that would destroy the heart of weaker men. However, with guidance from the Hand of God, August was able to unravel the lies and expose the truth, proving that truth really is stranger than fiction, and if you trust in God, He'll lead you through your darkest hour and bring you safely back to the comfort of His everlasting arms. A true-crime story of love, deception, and redemption, Extreme Cruelty II serves as a warning that professional con artists are actively seeking to take advantage of those who are vulnerable and willing to compromise their entire lives for the sake of love.
August Moore was born under a different name, during an age of innocence and trust, before the dark hour of reason grew... before Extreme Cruelty changed everything. As an air force brat, August traveled extensively during his childhood, including Japan and the Republic of China (Taiwan), where his father met and married a beautiful Chinese woman. Growing up in Taiwan with an integrated family was a mixed blessing of sorts. The the people and culture of Taiwan as a whole was a fascinating experience. Before long, August was speaking just enough mandarin to be misunderstood, struggling with their tonal language, but beginning to feel more Chinese than American on the inside. He didn't realize it at the time, but he had become a Third Culture kid. The only English speaking school in the area was a private missionary school, supported by a variety of mission groups. The students were a mixture of missionary, U.S. military, U.S. Defense contractors, and international business students. In addition, there was also a small contingent of Norwegian and Finnish students. The school was a true melting pot of the world. Many are still close friends. August playfully refers to them as the Chinese Connection. Just as his father had, August joined the military service at age eighteen. Returning to the U.S. after living overseas for nearly ten years straight was awkward. He felt like a foreigner in his own country. Home was on the other side of the planet. However, August excelled in the service, rising through the ranks fairly quickly. He enjoyed a wide variety of assignments, especially Germany and Korea. The gruesome sights he experienced growing up in Taiwan prepared him what he would encounter during the Gulf War, among other conflicts. August eventually reaches the top enlisted rank, matching that of his father. Unfortunately, his father was too ill with cancer to attend the final promotion ceremony. In addition, military life is difficult on families. Divorce rates are high, and August suffered the same fate. After serving nearly three decades, he decided it was time to retire. Divorced and lonely, August eventually goes in search of love, only to encounter Extreme Cruelty. August has conducted multiple presentations on a variety of topics to large numbers of individuals at conferences, meetings, and private organizations during his many military assignments and since retiring from the service. He enjoys traveling and meeting new people.
