Island Inferno (Task Force Valor Series #2) [Paperback]

Chuck Holton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2007

Task Force Valor
Explosive Ordnance Disposal–The Bomb Squad

As the global war on terror heats up, the U.S. deploys a team of highly trained special operators overseas to locate and neutralize threats, bringing EOD expertise to dangerous missions that have no room for error.

A DEADLY EXPLOSIVE
A new specialty explosive is on the black market: ITEB looks like water, but when it’s exposed to air, the effects are lethal! The United States government is frantic to keep it from our shores. Staff Sergeant Euripides “Rip” Rubio knows how destructive ITEB can be. He has already risked his life to thwart a horrific terrorist plot involving the chemical. Now Task Force Valor heads to Panama, on the trail of an arms dealer who plans to use ITEB to make a killing–literally.

AN ADVENTURE ABROAD
Fernanda Lerida is a University of Panama grad student who jumps at the chance to join a biological expedition to a mysterious former prison island. But the snakes, bugs, and crocodiles are soon the least of her worries as the group stumbles upon something they were not meant to see. To make matters worse, Fernanda soon finds herself alone and being pursued by an unseen foe.

A RISKY RESCUE
When Rip’s path collides with Fernanda’s, they find themselves caught in the midst of a brutal turf war. Can they use the chaos to their advantage, or will one false step set the entire island ablaze?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Island Inferno is a boy-meets-girl story. But in Chuck Holton’s world, boy meets girl in the middle of a jungle at 25 mph, hanging under a parachute with an assault rifle strapped across his chest. You’d better plan on reading this in one sitting. And once you’re done, you’d better give yourself time for your pulse to calm down.”
Tom Morrisey, author of Deep Blue and Dark Fathom

“Island Inferno has the fast-paced action of Clive Cussler novel with all the solid research and authenticity of Tom Clancy’s books and a spiritual message that drove me to search deep within my own heart.”
Jeanette Windle, author of CrossFire, The DMZ, and FireStorm

About the Author

Chuck Holton has been an Army Ranger, a stockbroker, flown military helicopters, and now travels the world as the “Adventure Correspondent” for CBN. He is the author of five books, including A More Elite Soldier and Bulletproof. He writes from his farm in Appalachia, where he raises animals along with five children. He blogs about his adventures at www.livefire.us.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Publishers (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590525035
• ISBN-13: 978-1590525036
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #467,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chuck Holton is a backpack journalist - traveling to more than a dozen countries a year, usually reporting on conflict. His experience in the U.S. Army Rangers and extensive travel come out in his writing - both fiction and non-fiction. He is regularly featured on CBNNews.com and is currently editing the American Heroes series of books with Oliver North.

Chuck and his family live on a farm in Appalachia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great addition to the series, May 23, 2007

By 

Rel Mollet "RelzReviewz" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Island Inferno (Task Force Valor Series #2) (Paperback)

ITEB, Task Force Valor and Phoenix are back in Island Inferno, the second installment of Chuck Holton's military suspense series.

Staff Sergeant Rip Rubio and the team head down to Panama on a tip that the deadly explosive ITEB, which they discovered in their most recent tour of duty in Lebanon, has found its way on to the black market and will end up on the hands of terrorists of all persuasions.

Their search for the deadly substance leads them to the mysterious and desolate island of Coiba, formerly host to political prisoners and violent criminals. Rip literally lands on the lap of biology student, Fernanda Lerida, stranded on the island when the research team she is with falls prey to unscrupulous men and a ghost-like warrior.

Chuck Holton goes solo without Gayle Roper in this exciting sequel to the successful Allah's Fire and does so with finesse and an eye for detail. Rip Rubio takes over from John Cooper as the main protagonist, confronted not only by criminals bent on destroying peace but by his personal failings as he watches his young sister become enthralled by the gang culture in L.A. he was so much a part of. While the romance holds less significance in this sequel (the only way the reader might note Gayle's absence!), it does not detract from this high-octane tale that is fun to read, spiritually challenging and leaves you wanting to know more about the courageous Task Force Valor. A brilliant ending left me totally geared up for what Chuck has in store for the team in Book 3!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page-turning suspense. I ate this story up!, July 14, 2007

By 

Michelle Sutton (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Island Inferno (Task Force Valor Series #2) (Paperback)

Island Inferno is a page-turning suspense novel that you don't want to miss. I had not read the first book in the series and didn't feel like I missed out, so I think this can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel (though now that I've finished the story I'm dying to read the sequel).

The author takes you to numerous settings and countries and puts you into the heads of the good guys and the bad. In some ways this book made me feel like I was in Jurassic Park, but minus the dinosaurs. Island Inferno even had college students exploring the island, totally unsuspecting what was going on behind the vegetation. And that bottled water was downright scary because you never knew when someone would take a swig and possible blow up. I couldn't stop reading this book! It contained enemies who were just as frightening and deadly as man-eating dinosaurs, and you never knew when they would appear and kill someone. Very exciting and nerve-wracking.

I also totally loved the special forces and commando feel of the book. You can see that the author has experience because the details show that he knows what he's writing about, which makes it feel even more real. My favorite characters were Rip and Fernanda. The end of the story was fabulous and even a tad romantic, and while it wrapped up some details, it left just enough loose ends for a sequel.

The spiritual thread in this story truly impressed me--how the circumstances opened up situations where people truly wanted to know God in a personal way. It came out very naturally through the plot, and in my opinion was one of the best things about the story. While packed with a variety of violent situations (I'm quite squeamish and the details were awesome), the story would be lifeless without the James Bond/Mission Impossible feel to it. I highly recommend this book! In fact, I think it would make an awesome movie, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Plot and Character - Shaken, Stirred and Blended, July 3, 2007

By 

Kelly Klepfer (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Island Inferno (Task Force Valor Series #2) (Paperback)

This is a true blend of a character/relationship driven story and a plot powered novel. Holton's diverse and fascinating experiences add intriguing depth to a plot that involves so many characters it could get out of control. But Holton manages to keep things moving along and buttoned down.

I did get lost in some of the jargon, but tool/technology lovers should dig the references to guns, spy equipment, explosives and some other things that went way over my head.

Into this tight mix, Holton, weaves a fair amount of spiritual undertones and truths.

The jungle atmosphere and a legend added intensity to the plot. I appreciated Holton's clarity and strength with point of view. He stayed within the same character's head throughout each scene, making the read much more enjoyable for me.

Action lovers are likely to devour "Island", suspense fans should find much to like, too.