Irene Hannon's Against All Odds ~ Reviewed

AGAINST ALL ODDS
By Irene Hannon
Published by Revell
ISBN# 978-0-8007-3310-0

Back Cover:

For FBI hostage rescue team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, beautiful but determined Monica Callahan isn't making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father – who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East – she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the states. That is, until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real – and escalating.

As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, the threat against Monica is rising. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever breached the walls of his heart, are dropping. After all, terrorists aren't known for their patience – or their mercy.

REVIEW:

This is the first book I have read by Irene Hannon. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed how this author put Monica's struggle with God and her faith throughout the story. She made it so real, so natural.

David Callahan, a diplomat, struggles with the tough stance he has taken with terrorists, now that his only child's life is on the line. Will he cave in?

Monica Callahan doesn't want anything to do with her father. Diplomat David Callahan abandoned his family years ago for the sake of his job. He chose his career over family life when she was only six years old. She wasn't letting him back into her heart now. Monica remembers her mother and what she said "Forgiveness is hard, honey. But it's what God calls us to do...You don't have to wait for someone to apologize to forgive them.". Ouch! Deep inside she knew her mother was right. Now Evan Cooper a FBI hostage rescue team member is asking her questions she doesn't want to think about. He happened to find the book she wrote on her shelf and read parts of it. He asked her, Monica "…I'm having difficulty reconciling your obvious commitment to your faith with your bitterness toward your father….. Let me rephrase. How do you justify your feelings toward your father in light of what your faith teaches?" She doesn't have answer that. This has nothing to do with the terrorists.

She was an author that taught others how to communicate and here she was stuck not knowing what to say. She was human and couldn't help how she felt. It was a cop-out and she knew it. Who was this guy anyway? He had no right to start getting in her face about personal matters. He was there to protect her against terrorist attacks period the end.

I enjoyed the story of these real and believable characters stuck in the middle of high terrorist drama. It's amazing what goes on in a hostage situation and the procedures to deal with them. Irene brings you into all the action and suspense without being gross. I'm looking forward to her next adventure.

Reviewed by: Nora StLaurent