'The Hydra Effect' is a romantic action adventure, eco-terrorism based tale that will grip you from the beginning of its ancient origins, to the contemporary settings of the final page. Ralph Simon is abruptly torn from his peaceful retirement and equally peaceful home in the middle of Colorado's Bayou Salade, and thrust back into the violent chaos of the Black-Op career he's detested for over thirty years. If it wasn't for the shrewd manner his old boss whisked him away and dropped the information on him about the eminent destruction of all North America and the impending ice age to follow, he'd have told them all to go to hell. With the aid of the lovely widow and geochemist, Dr. Samantha Boyer, will they meet the deadline that saves the world? ECO-INTRIGUE IN THE BACKYARD A review of 'The Hydra Effect' by V. Christian Kingsford by Karina Wetherbee- Special to The Summit Daily News. 'The Hydra Effect' by V. Christian Kingsford is a tidy book with timely 21st century themes melding romance, western vistas and a planet in peril. With quick, curt scene changes that flit the reader from helicopter to speeding car to the back of a rearing horse, with this action-adventure brings to mind heroes of the big screen, namely Harrison Ford during his glory days. The narrative follows a retired black-op agent who is unwillingly thrust back into the hot seat, naturally with a lovely, witty and whip-smart woman at his side. The local western scenery and lifestyle drive the story, which brings international intrigues to a peaceful mountain community. The author clearly is connected to where he lives, and his love of home is evident in every page. His fascination with mythology and history also flows through the narrative, though the monster needing slaying is modern man's greed and his penchant for over-consumption, rather than the literal many-headed beast from Greek mythology. More familiar beasts do abound, however, namely bears of all sorts, wolverines and snakes...though not on a plane. A dire future awaits, for both man and beast, as well as for the earth all inhabit- but maybe, just maybe, a hero can save the day.