Into the Fire

Against All Odds leads off the week for the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance Tour. Written by Irene Hannon, author of more than 25 novels, she points this story right at the hearts of her target audience: the mainstay CBA market of women—and hits a bulls-eye.

Two FBI agents from the Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) are assigned to protect the stateside daughter of a key diplomat situated in the hotbed of Afghanistan terrorist activity. When the American diplomat David Callahan receives a demand for a hefty ransom and prisoner release with a murderous threat against his estranged daughter, he is seized with regret for the closeness he sacrificed in order to do his job. The importance of his work over the last 40 years has earned him topnotch favors and he calls them all in to keep his daughter safe.

Monica Callahan tries to refuse the protection but quickly realizes she virtually has no choice in the matter. All too soon in spite of additional security efforts, Monica finds a terrifying breach to these efforts within her bedroom, and she is whisked off to a safe house in another state. Numerous video cameras, night vision apparatus, several agents, and local law enforcement cannot stop the terrorist efforts to kidnap Monica, and she is snatched right out from under their noses.

At the heart of this novel, it’s a love story. One of the two HRT members can’t quite keep his personal feelings for the woman contained which is a major surprise to him. She finds his strength and concern for her well being both welcome and worrisome. Both of them find they have father issues which have contributed to their independent spirits and put their resistance levels to forgiveness at a high mark. When Monica realizes the severity of the threat, she decides to speak with her father to try to reinvent what they never really had, and his long distance gratitude is palpable.

The cunning and brilliant methods used to capture Monica confound the teams of agents working on trying to find her. Her father is frantic and plans a return to the States after hoping to resolve the hostage crisis without compromising the tenets of negotiation and demands to speak with his daughter before proceeding. There is plenty of tension, intrigue, sadness, and joy before it’s all over.

If I had to pick a weakness, for me it seemed implausible how the terrorists tracked the movement and location of their mark, but Irene consulted an FBI guy for verification, so who am I to think they would’ve discovered it sooner. The writing is sound, well done, good characterizations of the protagonist and heroine and supporting cast, but some of the story falls into the cliché mode which seems to happen with accomplished authors after penning several books to a specific market. And, frankly, it’s doubtful this market will even notice.

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, Against All Odds zooms in on the target female market with a genuine Christian storyline, suspenseful drama, the hint of romance, interesting characters with realistic interaction between them, and a satisfying conclusion. The supposed mainstay CBA focus audience will appreciate this novel.

Father, I pray you would continue to supply all of Irene’s needs, give her many stories to tell, and bless her obedience and heart after you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.