Customer Reviews

Allah's Fire (Task Force Valor Series #1)

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I've always enjoyed Gayle Roper's writing, and her newest book--with Chuck Holton--is the best ever! Allah's Fire took me frighteningly close to the inner workings of terrorism. It helped me crawl into the mind of a suicide bomber--scary! But the story line also explained how the greatness and goodness of God's sovereignty fits with the horrors and injustice of evil as we seldom witness it in America. The book is fat, but not slow! It will push you to finish it quickly because every chapter ends with a page turner. For one who usually reads light, fluffy, inspirational romance, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed and gained new perspectives from this stimulating, adventure read! Thanks, Gayle and Chuck--I can't wait until Task Force Valor, Book TWO comes out!

Picked up the book and from the first sentance had trouble putting it down. Loved the insight into military special operations. Found the characters both believeable and likable. The writing is crisp, fresh and captivating. I look forward to more books in the Task Force Valor series.

I simply could NOT put this book down! Fast-paced. Action-packed. Even a dash of romance. It's a combination that is certain to appeal to men and women alike. The timeliness of the plot line, attention to detail and the depth of the characters lend an authenticity to this novel that will be tough to duplicate. I can't wait to read the next installment in the Task Force Valor Series. Keep em coming!

Liz and her sister Julie are two Americans that live in Lebanon. When the building that Julie was attending a party at is destroyed by a bomb, Liz goes on a mission to find her after finding evidence that she may still be alive. Meanwhile John is a member of a special ops team sent to Beruit to find Palestinian extremists who have discovered a new way to threaten terror in the region. John and Liz's lives intertwine as they try to find Julie and prevent the terrorists from instigating more fear into the lives of the people there. The story is non stop action throughout, an edge of your seat reality read.

While reading this book, I felt like I was watching the evening news. Everything seemed so real and action packed. The situations the characters got themselves in could be ripped right out of the headlines. At first John's story felt a little boring to me with all the military talk and I wanted to get back to Liz's and Julie's story. However as I got more into the book, I enjoyed reading from both angles. I thought it was very interesting learning more about the Arab and Muslim culture. Many Americans don't really understand the religion and get only a one sided view on it. By explaining customs and rituals, the reader is able to have a better understanding of that side of the world. I also liked how the explanation of the way women are viewed in that world. As westerners, it's hard to understand why women would allow men to treat them the way they do in Arab countries. I appreciated that while Liz is an American, her character is used to the customs of the country because she grew up there. She does not act like a fish out of water or have scenes displaying ignorance. This book is recommended for those who like action stories, stories that could have happened, or interested in what life is like in the Middle East.

Gayle Roper and Chuck Holton make an excellent team. I'm looking forward to more Task Force Valor novels. The book is unapologetically Christian, but that doesn't in any way detract from its value as entertaining literature. I hated to put it down, and was always in a hurry to get back to it. The action is non-stop, and the writing first-rate.

ALLAH'S FIRE transports you to Panama City, Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, and Beirut, Lebanon - all in the first three chapters! This military suspense novel has something for everyone. Non-fiction author and first time novelist, Chuck Holton teams with prolific author, Gayle Roper to write an enthralling story of an Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit (headed by Master Sergeant John Cooper) which travels the globe defusing explosives used in warfare.

In the first of a three-book series, John Cooper's EOD team is sent to Beirut after tragedy strikes their unit in the form of an unknown and deadly explosive device, following an otherwise successful mission. A suicide bomber devastates a hotel in the heart of Beirut utilising the same device and a new terrorist organisation, Ansar Inshallah, is implicated. At a function at the hotel with her Arabic husband, American Julie Assan disappears and her journalist sister, Liz Fairchild begins her own mission to locate her sister.

Familiar with Beirut having spent her childhood there, Liz is on assignment, investigating the condition of Palestinian women in the Sainiq Refugee Camp on the outskirts of Beirut. With her sister's disappearance she returns to the camp in search of clues, and instead finds death and terror. The storylines converge and John and Liz clash over his need to maintain the tenuous military and political stability in Lebanon, and Liz's desire to launch a rescue mission for Julie in the hope she is still alive.

While initially the writing style is erratic as the location and characters change with each chapter, once that distraction is overcome readers can settle in and enjoy this intense and exciting ride. The military and weapons information is detailed and authentic, with Chuck Holton previously serving as an Airbourne Ranger for the United States Army and flying helicopters for the National Guard prior to commencing his writing career. The relationship between John and Liz is well developed, yet does not overpower the suspense and action of the story.

The remaining books will be written solely by Chuck Holton and the first sequel, to be released early in 2007, will revolve around Staff Sergeant "Rip" Rubio, a member of John's EOD team.

With a plot that could have been ripped from yesterday's newspaper, Chuck Holton and Gayle Roper have crafted an intriguing beginning to what is sure to be a popular and riveting book series.

Allah's Fire is the story of Master Sergeant John Cooper of the special ops group in charge of explosive ordnance disposal--the bomb squad of the Middle East. It is also the story of Liz Fairchild, an American reporter living in Lebanon, whose sister Julie is presumed dead in a suicide bomber blast.

When Liz finds evidence to suggest Julie may still be alive, her path crosses that of Task Force Valor, and their lives will take more twists and turns than even they are prepared for. The enemy turns out to be a common one: those who are manufacturing ITEB, a highly explosive substance known as Allah's fire.

Fans of Gayle Roper will not be disappointed by this new venture. Her storytelling style transfers well from her previous Seaside Seasons suspense-filled novels to the Middle East setting. Chuck Holton's military experience lends an unparalleled realism to the military portions of the novel. (In fact, in the author's note, he reassures the reader that he purposely changed many details to protect the men and women serving our country.)

For readers who may be unsure about tackling a military-themed book, I can assure you it is very interesting. The pace of the book is quick, but not so quick that it's impossible to keep up with. It helps that the military scenes are interspersed with scenes of the "bad guys," and with Julie's and Liz's stories.

Armchair Interviews says: Overall, this book is highly recommended as an intriguing and contemporary suspense and love story, full of faith and love, duty and family.

After being severely injured in the Ivory Coast due to stopping to help a woman in labor whose father performed an honor kill, Special Ops Explosives Ordinance Detachment Master Sergeant John Cooper recovers at Fort Bragg. At about the same time at the Hotel Rowena in Beirut, a suicide bomber decides not to set off his liquidly devices because so many of those in attendance are innocent Palestinians, but the bottles are jostled and a fiery explosion occurs that kills many.

Reporter Liz Fairchild originally believed her sister Julie Assan, married to a local, died in the blast, but soon finds evidence otherwise. The mastermind behind the suicide bombing Imad Hazari abducted Julie as proof that his group committed the "freedom" act in the name of Allah. John and his EOD unit head to Lebanon to capture terrorists with an undetectable bomb at the same time Liz begins her quest to rescue her sibling. When the true believer Liz and the doubter John meet, they argue over her insistence of finding her sister and the presence of God in their lives as they search for the same terrorist.

ALLAH'S FIRE is a fabulous inspirational romantic thriller that provides readers with an insightful look at the hypocrisy of those who claim God as the rationale to kill whether that is an honor kill, a blowing up of an abortion clinic, or a suicide bombing. What is really interesting is the contrast between Liz and John. She turns to God for comfort while the doubter rejects a violent creator as not worthy of his adulation. The first task Force Valor novel is fast-paced from start to finish, but also contains a strong message that God is benevolent even if free will enables people to use his name to rationalize atrocities.

Harriet Klausner

Captivating and well written story that covers more than one viewpoint of the USA and Israel. I am looking forward to book #2 in the Task Force Valor series.

Enjoyable read. Impressed with the obvious research that went into the writing of this series.