Contact: Ray Keating, 631-909-1122, keatingreports@aol.com

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Conservatives have a tough time finding fictional characters they can fully embrace, that is, until author Ray Keating created Stephen Grant.

Keating's three novels -- "An Advent for Religious Liberty: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel," "Root of All Evil? A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel," and "Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel" -- are available at Amazon.com.

Keating said, "Like many of my fellow conservatives, I've long been frustrated by the lack of conservative heroes in the fictional world, whether it be in a good novel, on television or at the movies. The combination of good storytelling with conservative values and characters should not be the rare exception that it unfortunately is. For good measure, when we do come across conservative values in the creative arena, too often they are offered in stilted stories or reflected in cardboard characters."

Stephen Grant was a CIA operative, and now he's a pastor. That turns out to be an exciting and powerful combination in this series of new novels.

In "Warrior Monk," Grant has to use skills gained at the CIA and in the Church to protect a pope, face temptation, and take on assorted enemies.

The action in "Root of All Evil?" swirls around the combination of God, politics and money. It turns out that mix can be quite deadly.

In "An Advent for Religious Liberty," a newly elected mayor of New York City attacks Christianity, including calling the Catholic Church a "hate group." Some people react with prayer -- others with violence and murder. Grant faces deadly trials during what becomes known as "An Advent for Religious Liberty."

Keating added, "In Stephen Grant, I've tried to create a conservative protagonist for the 21st Century. I've also surrounded him with characters who hopefully readers come to care about and enjoy."

Regarding these books, reviewers and commentators have used such phrases as "fun adventure romp," "a fun, intriguing read," and "a good read, both as pure thriller entertainment and for pondering the Christian mind."

CNBC's Larry Kudlow declared Keating's work "a compelling thriller," and Congressman Peter King "a fast-moving, riveting read right out of today's -- and tomorrow's -- headlines."

All three Pastor Stephen Grant novels can be purchased at Amazon.com, where the average reader review rating on these thrillers is 4.3 stars of 5.

For media interviews and book talks, call 631-909-1122 or email keatingreports@aol.com.