Customer Reviews

Blown Coverage (Riley Covington Thriller Series #2)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Professional Football League (PTL) Colorado Mustangs linebacker player Riley Covington looks forward to the NFL mini-camp season though he knows that the drills are much worse than boot camp. However, he also recognizes football is a game albeit even with billions of dollars involved after spending a military tour in Afghanistan and confronting terrorists in the United States (see MONDAY NIGHT JIHAD).

However, Riley has to put aside his football helmet and pads for the dangerous mission of the Counterterrorism Division when al-`Aqran the lethal brilliant leader of the Cause escapes incarceration and activates sleeper cells in America and Europe. As the threat goes red, Riley realizes he and his CD unit are part of the enemy's coordinated concerted effort to stop any defensive counter attack by targeting personnel and their family members with a keen fatwa as well as hitting key locations. The free world is under a severe blitz in which the deadly Jihadists look to exploit any BLOWN COVERAGE to sack the infidels; Riley prays for the safety of his loved ones, his teammates, and others while placing himself in God's care to counter the terrorists' assaults at a time he has doubts since a personal tragedy struck his soul.

As with the exciting first tale, readers see deep into the soul of the Cause leader who believes he and his team have God on their side just like the Americans; in fact the Muslims are even more certain as Riley in spite of his prayers has some major doubts. The story line is fast-paced never slowing down yet enables fans to better understand what motivates a Jihadist as the terrorists are humanized by Jason Elam & Steve Yohn, who score their second game winning touchdown with BLOWN COVERAGE.

Harriet Klausner

Blown Coverage by Jason Elam came to me via the LibraryThing Early Reviewer program. The book contains some of my favorite things: NFL football, mystery, intrigue and ties them together with Christian fiction elements.

Summary: Linebacker Riley Covington returns to another season of mini-camp for the Colorado Mustangs just as a wave of terrorist attacks begin to occur across the country. Sleeper cells are being awakened--likely by the leader of the Cause, who has recently escaped from captivity and is coordinating attacks not only on America but also on Riley and his loved ones. As Jim Hicks, Scott Ross, and the rest of the Counterterrorism Division follow leads in Europe, Riley goes on the offensive to draw out his attackers. But can the Cause be stopped before they're able to reach their ultimate goal?

I enjoyed this story. It was a good plot, interesting characters and some intensity. Not the best in any of those categories, however it's a good, solid book. This is the second in the series but I didn't feel like I was missing information. I am interested in going back and reading the first one. Sounds like it was a good story.

One thing I did not like about this book was it's treatment of Muslims. All but one Muslim in this book was a terrorist, mostly as a sleeper in the US. I realize these folks are needed for the story-line, but it leaves the reader (or at least me) with the impression the author thinks all Muslims in the US are sleepers. Which I know not to be the case and hope the author didn't mean to imply.

I recommend this book to folks who like a good mystery, intrigue story. It's not a preachy Christian book, but does talk about Christians and Muslims.

Football player, Riley Covington, is coming back to football. Terrorist cells are awakeing. While his friends are working in Europe he is taking the offensive to draw them out stateside after they kill his dad..

Jason Elam and Steve Yohn made a splash in the evangelical fiction world with their fast-paced thriller, MONDAY NIGHT JIHAD. Now, the pro NFL kicker and pastor turned full-time writer have composed a follow-up to their first endeavor, BLOWN COVERAGE, which will please their reading base and be sure to command even more attention from the Christian fiction market at large. They successfully capture and deepen each character's profile while delving more intently into the ever-tangled world of terrorism and religion.

With Riley Covington still reeling over the death of his best friend Sal (and the shock that Sal was a terrorist), Riley is just not ready to return to another football season. Too many memories, too many tough events, have him working hard to manage and make sense of the recent months. Unfortunately, even with security levels at their peak, Riley isn't safe and soon has to face the fact that he has now become the Cause's target.

Between trying to minister to Sal's wife Meg and their young daughter, work through his feelings toward fellow agent Khadi, and figure out how Whitney Walker, newcomer to the TV reporting team, fits into his life, the women in Riley's world keep him sharp. Though he doesn't have the time to ponder long on matters of the heart, these ladies are indeed distractions interspersed between the mega doses of football training action and the war on terrorism.

While Riley is attempting to re-enter the world of professional football, life throws him another challenge. His coaches draft a collegiate linebacker named Afshin Ziafat to join the team, which has him baffled and angered. How could they trust another Muslim after Sal's deception? Riley soon realizes that nothing outside of God's intervention is going to enable him to move on, forgive and start living again.

So when the next blow hits, Riley is stunned and paralyzed by his anger. His parents become the target of the terrorists in an explosion that kills his father. His grandfather meets with him, and they exchange some stern but necessary words before Riley plans his next move. All the while, sleeper terrorists are being awakened across the United States, blowing up public places and killing innocents. Each of these "awakened" agents is given specific targets and must kill or be killed.

As the tension escalates, Riley decides to plant false leading information to the press to lure terrorists away and almost gets killed in the process. Still, there's more excitement brewing in the States and throughout the world as both sides make aggressive attempts at dismantling their enemy. Before the final page, Riley does his country proud and finds some measure of peace given the losses he has sustained. Fans will eagerly await the next Riley Covington thriller, where they will journey alongside this hero's adventures both on and off the football field and behind the lines fighting terrorism.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

I love how the author brings the possibility of terrorism to small town, middle America. It's hard to read his books without wondering if you're next to experience a terror attack. His characters are so very real and he develops them so well.

I found this to be an interesting book, not so much for its story, but because of its story construction. The plot was good although I think it could have been developed in a much better fashion in the hands of another author. There were enough interesting characters, although I thought they also could have been developed better. I suspect some of that occurred in an earlier book, Monday Night Jihad, which I have not read. The story seemed implausible, not because of the basic terrorist plot, but because of the characters. There was a strong message of Christianity and faith throughout the book but it did not overly dominate the story. Nevertheless, I think at times it just did not fit in the places it was found and at times distracted from the story. It was certainly a book I could put down and walk away from, and it did take me a while to finish, something I did only because I had agreed to be an early reviewer and therefore felt an obligation. I am not certain I would have read this book otherwise and I would not buy another from these authors.
First reviewed and published for Library Thing Early Reviewers Club

I read the whole series of these books because I got the first ones during a promotion where they were giving it them away. I liked them so much that I bought the remaining books in the series. The book has religious tones to it. I found it to be a good, entertaining read. It kept me reading it more so than I usually do. I can't wait for the next book in the series so I can read it too.
Thank you Jason and Steve for putting out a book that is entertaining and not full of foul language.

While you could read this book as a stand alone novel, it really would be best read after you have read Monday Night Jihad. The character development picks up where that novel left off and it behooves the reader to have that information before moving on to this book.

You have to suspend belief for portions of this book. Not in the manner of terrorism though. The threats and actions that the bad guys take are all too plausible and are what lend a spirit of urgency to the book. While obviously, Elam knows the ins and outs of being a professional football player, having a hero double time as a star linebacker is a little of a stretch. If you can put yourself past this implausability, you can enjoy the rest of the book.

The characters in both of these books so far have been a little stilted and awkward; too formal at some times and too immature in others. Riley Covington, the main character is unwavering in his christian faith. At times he seems almost a little too perfect in his beliefs. Maybe if more people were of this ideal things in life would truly be better.

I look forward to the third novel in the series, Blackout, because I want to see how some of the storyline plays out.

I give this, and the book it follows, 5 stars. Awesome series. The books are action packed, clean, nothing offensive, and the characters are very likable. Held my attention the whole way through, hoping there is another one coming in the series

BLOWN COVERAGE is a great followup to the first novel of Riley & company !!! I wasn't sure they could repeat but just like Jason does on a field goal IT'S GOOD !! & right thru the uprights . The book has plenty of action again !! We can't wait for the trilogy !!!! ITS just a great book .