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Special Operations Group #2
From Russia Without Love
SEAL Team Six veteran Chris Paladin left the Navy to become a pastor, but CIA spook Hannah Andrade pulls him back into Special Operations Group to locate the White House Chief of Staff’s kidnapped son-in-law before he is executed by Greek terrorists. Cantankerous Army Delta Force operator Sonny Cohen reunites with Chris and Hannah as they race the clock to save the hostage. In Athens, Chris and his teammates discover that Russia is secretly behind the kidnapping, part of a murderous plan to attack the flow of natural gas in Europe. The Cold War has heated up again. Chris and his crew’s rescue quickly changes into a mission to capture-or-kill a Russian spy. About the Author Since elementary school, STEPHEN TEMPLIN felt a need to write, dreaming of becoming a novelist, and now he is a New York Times and international bestselling author, with the movie rights to one of his books purchased by Vin Diesel. Steve's books have been translated into thirteen languages. He is a "hybrid" author who maintains active book contracts with top publishers such as Simon and Schuster and St. Martin's Press while also publishing independently. After high school, he completed Hell Week, qualified as a pistol and rifle expert, blew up stuff, and practiced small-unit tactics during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. Later, Steve left the Navy and became a missionary. Then for fourteen years he lectured as a tenured professor at Meio University in Japan, where he practiced the martial art aikido. His PhD is in education, and he lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Feel free to talk with Steve through his website, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 7, 2015
89 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Templin
21 books506 followersGet your FREE book at www.stephentemplin.com. Steve is a NYT, USA Today and international bestselling author, with the movie rights to one of his books purchased by Vin Diesel. His books have been translated into 13 languages, and he publishes with three of the Big 5 publishers: Simon and Schuster, Macmillan, and Hachette UK. Steve's writing is "action packed...harrowing...adrenaline laced" (New York Times).
He wasn't a SEAL, but he completed Hell Week, qualified as a pistol and rifle expert, blew up stuff, and practiced small-unit tactics during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. Later, Steve became a missionary. Then for 14 years he lectured as a tenured professor at Meio University in Japan, where he trained in the martial art aikido. His PhD is in education, and he lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Secretly, he's a dark chocolate thief. Feel free to talk with him on Twitter or Facebook.
ALSO BY STEPHEN TEMPLIN
Special Operations Group Thrillers
Trident’s First Gleaming [#1]
From Russia without Love [#2]
Autumn Assassins [#3]
Assassin’s Sons [#4]
Special Operations Group Short Story
Dead in Damascus [#0]
Nonfiction
Navy SEAL Training Class 144: My BUD/S Journal
SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper
I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior (Young Adult version of SEAL Team Six)
SEAL Team Six Outcast Novels
SEAL Team Six Outcasts [#1]
Easy Day for the Dead [#2]
He wasn't a SEAL, but he completed Hell Week, qualified as a pistol and rifle expert, blew up stuff, and practiced small-unit tactics during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. Later, Steve became a missionary. Then for 14 years he lectured as a tenured professor at Meio University in Japan, where he trained in the martial art aikido. His PhD is in education, and he lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Secretly, he's a dark chocolate thief. Feel free to talk with him on Twitter or Facebook.
ALSO BY STEPHEN TEMPLIN
Special Operations Group Thrillers
Trident’s First Gleaming [#1]
From Russia without Love [#2]
Autumn Assassins [#3]
Assassin’s Sons [#4]
Special Operations Group Short Story
Dead in Damascus [#0]
Nonfiction
Navy SEAL Training Class 144: My BUD/S Journal
SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper
I Am a SEAL Team Six Warrior (Young Adult version of SEAL Team Six)
SEAL Team Six Outcast Novels
SEAL Team Six Outcasts [#1]
Easy Day for the Dead [#2]
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 1, 2015
“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. “ Elbert Hubbard. Author Stephen Templin returns with From Russia Without Love, a Special Operations Group Thriller of dynamic proportions. Beyond the accurate descriptions of special operations gear and military maneuvers, the real characters are fleshed out with human characteristics, humor, and vulnerability. Templin takes it to the next level with depth and detail. Hailing from the DFW area, our hero flies out of Addison Airport. Of course he does. Addison Airport, just north of Dallas, is home to Million Air, the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, and was the location of Texas Governor Rick Perry’s presidential candidacy announcement. There’s cool and collected, and then there’s Texas cool. Rare among the military action and adventure genre is the hero that is spiritually unique both on and off the field of battle. In the fight for our very lives, nothing matters more than the soul. At the end of the day, there’s a friend waiting for each of us, a friend who knows us very well indeed.
August 21, 2015
The latest adrenaline-charged thriller from NYT Times bestselling author Stephen Templin doesn't disappoint. While the action is realistic and visceral, and the technical details impeccable, the real gem of the story is in the character development. Stephen does a superb job of casting the protagonist, Chris Paladin, a former SEAL and current Christian pastor, as a man struggling to balance the moral tightrope between those separate yet uniquely similar callings.
The relationship between Chris and Hannah, his mysterious and loyal teammate and occasional lover, could have been overdone in less capable hands. Stephen makes Hannah much more than a love interest, and I enjoyed how they came to grips with who they are and what they do in the context of each other.
Nobody does it better than Stephen Templin. I tore through this book!
The relationship between Chris and Hannah, his mysterious and loyal teammate and occasional lover, could have been overdone in less capable hands. Stephen makes Hannah much more than a love interest, and I enjoyed how they came to grips with who they are and what they do in the context of each other.
Nobody does it better than Stephen Templin. I tore through this book!
September 1, 2015
I make an attempt to rate every book I read, but I do not always take the time to write a review. I was so moved by the insider's grasp of the reality of a man at war, and the interplay between operators, and the deep character develop in Templin's first SOG thriller, Trident's First Gleaming that I was honestly hesitant to read the 2nd in the series.
I worried that it would be impossible to live up to its predecessor. I had NOTHING to worry about.
Templin is a master at character development in a compelling narrative. From Russia Without Love is a terrific example of this talent at work. It combines the knowlege that can only come from having direct contact with very rough and complex men. When you combine that techincal/tactical knowledge interwoven with the internal war of a man at war, not just with people who intend to do harm to innocents, but at war with himself and his own nature. Between the two callings that have pulled him into what would appear to be polar opposite directions. A rough man, surrounded by rough, talented, and complex people, who manage to rise above their own limitations to do good. To right wrongs. To prevent evil. Even while, wreaking their own form of violence in order to to so. I would love to buy him a drink or a cup of coffee and hear his story about his own path of spiritual development. This kind of moral clarity can only come from having carried a gun and also known that he serves a noble cause.
To say more about this story line would be to spoil it for those that will be reading it themselves. I won't do that now. What I will say is this, if you like this genre do yourself a favor and fall in love with Chris, Sonny, Hannah, and even some less than likable foes and give the SOG series a shot. You won't be sorry you did.
Keep them coming, Stephen. Thanks again for such an entertaining ride!
I worried that it would be impossible to live up to its predecessor. I had NOTHING to worry about.
Templin is a master at character development in a compelling narrative. From Russia Without Love is a terrific example of this talent at work. It combines the knowlege that can only come from having direct contact with very rough and complex men. When you combine that techincal/tactical knowledge interwoven with the internal war of a man at war, not just with people who intend to do harm to innocents, but at war with himself and his own nature. Between the two callings that have pulled him into what would appear to be polar opposite directions. A rough man, surrounded by rough, talented, and complex people, who manage to rise above their own limitations to do good. To right wrongs. To prevent evil. Even while, wreaking their own form of violence in order to to so. I would love to buy him a drink or a cup of coffee and hear his story about his own path of spiritual development. This kind of moral clarity can only come from having carried a gun and also known that he serves a noble cause.
To say more about this story line would be to spoil it for those that will be reading it themselves. I won't do that now. What I will say is this, if you like this genre do yourself a favor and fall in love with Chris, Sonny, Hannah, and even some less than likable foes and give the SOG series a shot. You won't be sorry you did.
Keep them coming, Stephen. Thanks again for such an entertaining ride!
September 1, 2015
Once a SEAL, always a SEAL and veteran Chris Paladin gets pulled back into the job he left behind in the the Navy that conflicts with his private profession as a pastor but his duty to his country never wavers. He joins his fellow friends and mission buddies CIA spook Hannah Andrade and Army Delta Force soldier Sonny Cohen to try to save the kidnapped son-in-law of the White House Chief of Staff. The off the books rescue mission forces them into searching for a dangerous Russian spy and they writing is fast paced and the dialogue is crisp and concise as they cover each other's backs and infiltrate situations that get trickier as they get closer to closing in on the man behind the kidnapping. When Chris discovers the true reason behind the terror the Russian is trying to unleash it is a race against time to capture him before he causes more deaths of innocents.
Templin's books are combat geared and there are some great teamwork gunfights that are descriptive and fun to imagine as he takes us inside the mind of a SEAL and his training is as much a part of him as his belief in God and his loyalty to his team.
Templin's books are combat geared and there are some great teamwork gunfights that are descriptive and fun to imagine as he takes us inside the mind of a SEAL and his training is as much a part of him as his belief in God and his loyalty to his team.
September 1, 2015
Stephen Templin has hit a home run with his latest installment of the Chris Paladin / Special Operations Group saga, "From Russia Without Love". Drawn once again back into the world of counter-terrorism, Paladin teams up with his cohorts CIA operative Hannah Andrade and operative Sonny Cohen to combat a terror cell bent on disrupting the worldwide flow of petroleum by any means necessary. This is a great read, and in the descriptive style we've become accustomed to from past installments, Templin puts words to paper in a way that captivates the reader and holds them spell-bound until the final sentence. This book is one thrill after another as the story unfolds across the globe; from down and dirty counter-terror operations to international political intrigue, this book
will keep you glued to the pages.
will keep you glued to the pages.
September 1, 2015
From Russia Without Love - A review. I was given this book in exchange for a fair review. Chris Paladin, former SEAL Team Six operator and currently a pastor, CIA Officer Hannah Andrade and Solomon "Sonny" Cohen a member of the elite Delta Force are in Greece to try and locate the kidnapped son-in-law of the White House Chief of Staff. A group of Greek pro-Marxists called 21D claim responsibility for the kidnapping and want Greece to reject plans for the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. As things progress in the book though we find that Russia is actually behind the kidnapping as part of a plot to stop the flow of natural gas in Europe. Later in the book the team goes on the trail of a Russian Spy code named 'Lullaby'. The book contains a lot of CIA and SpecOps tradecraft used during their mission. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good thriller.
August 27, 2015
From "Russia Without Love," is Stephen Templin’s newest addition in his Special Operations Group Thriller series.
The story follows heroes Chris, Hannah, and Sonny, on the trail of a kidnapped Chief of Staff's son-in-law. The book is a fast paced, nail-biting addition to the military fiction genre, which you cannot put down.
As with all Templin's thrillers, the stakes are high, the road is full of misdirection, and the action is always high octane, and authentic.
Stephen Templin is a solid writer, who writes sharp, believable dialogue, and intriguing stories. He paints his scenes with words, to bring foreign locals, and the action to life on the page.
From "Russia Without Love," should definitely be on the TOP of your to-be-read pile.
The story follows heroes Chris, Hannah, and Sonny, on the trail of a kidnapped Chief of Staff's son-in-law. The book is a fast paced, nail-biting addition to the military fiction genre, which you cannot put down.
As with all Templin's thrillers, the stakes are high, the road is full of misdirection, and the action is always high octane, and authentic.
Stephen Templin is a solid writer, who writes sharp, believable dialogue, and intriguing stories. He paints his scenes with words, to bring foreign locals, and the action to life on the page.
From "Russia Without Love," should definitely be on the TOP of your to-be-read pile.
August 22, 2015
Having read the first instalment and thoroughly enjoyed it, here we are again with the difficult second book. There is nothing difficult here, it's as good as the first. The characters are likeable and you want to root for them as well being genuinely invested in them. The detail is all there but not so in your face it detracts from the story.
The London set piece is crying out for a big movie work over and hopefully we will see this in the near future.
Great read Stephen, thank you once again and as always when's the next one!!!!
The London set piece is crying out for a big movie work over and hopefully we will see this in the near future.
Great read Stephen, thank you once again and as always when's the next one!!!!
August 22, 2015
Another nonstop thriller from Stephen Templin. I had to force myself to stop reading at times so I could get things done. I have been reading the series since the beginning and cannot wait for the next book as usual. I hope someday this series makes it to movie form but until then the images Stephen's writing creates for me will have to do. Great Job as always Sir.
September 2, 2015
I love the continuing story of Chris, Hannah and Sonny. Each new mission seems to be more intriguing than the last and the villains, even more evil. NEVER start reading this late in the evening because you won't get any sleep!! Thank you for another fabulous story. Please keep writing!!!
September 24, 2015
I had a little background and connection with the characters in this story having read the first two SEAL TEAM SIX books, but even from an outsiders perspective, I can see this working wonderfully as a standalone read.
Though not a genre I delve into very often, there are a few where the story rules the day. Now don't get me wrong, there are certainly higher political powers at work and aspirations of countries outdoing other countries (not my cup of tea), but you get so caught up in the more focused story that you can choose to acknowledge its existence without it taking over the entire read. We've got a killer story filled with action, espionage, and mayhem hat will keep you on the edge of your seat. The finite details will enchant some, but for me, the characters are where it's at!
Chris (codename Reverand), Hannah (Infidel), and Sonny (Mr. Sunshine) are a lethal trio. Whatever they put their minds to, consider it done....and I mean REALLY done. There's no escaping when they've set their sites on you. Even if they have to go to the ends of the earth, sneak aboard a cruise ship, jump overboard in the dead of night to chase a shadow through the streets of Russia...you are going down. *Hoo Rah* Despite all of that, they aren't just kill and capture machines. Chris is actually a Reverand in his "other life", something that brings him great inner peace and joy. True, he'd love for that world to encompass Hannah a bit more on the regular but he'll take what he can get until her path ties into his (*fingers crossed*). Being our "leading man", we get inside his head much more than those of his teammates, but it allows us to see the human aspect of what they do. As for those mates, Hannah is rather deadly herself. If you don't get knocked out my her looks (according to the reactions of most men surrounding her), she'll easily pick you off with a well placed shot and erase all traces of it occuring with a call to one of her many contacts. Never mistake her for an unassuming woman; she just might have to MMA your butt to the ground. (*high five*) That brings us to Sonny. He's certainly the most crass and loves nothing more than the heat of the mission (well, except his food and women) but we actually see a small crack in that bada** veneer this time around. I won't exploit it (though I should), but it once again brings him back out of the realm of married to his work and everyday dude.
Admittedly, it won't be for everyone, but for those that venture between the pages, you may be surprised just how high it rates on your reading list. Recommended for adult readers due to the story itself and violent content...otherwise, we're clean like the take downs they aim for.
**ebook received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
Though not a genre I delve into very often, there are a few where the story rules the day. Now don't get me wrong, there are certainly higher political powers at work and aspirations of countries outdoing other countries (not my cup of tea), but you get so caught up in the more focused story that you can choose to acknowledge its existence without it taking over the entire read. We've got a killer story filled with action, espionage, and mayhem hat will keep you on the edge of your seat. The finite details will enchant some, but for me, the characters are where it's at!
Chris (codename Reverand), Hannah (Infidel), and Sonny (Mr. Sunshine) are a lethal trio. Whatever they put their minds to, consider it done....and I mean REALLY done. There's no escaping when they've set their sites on you. Even if they have to go to the ends of the earth, sneak aboard a cruise ship, jump overboard in the dead of night to chase a shadow through the streets of Russia...you are going down. *Hoo Rah* Despite all of that, they aren't just kill and capture machines. Chris is actually a Reverand in his "other life", something that brings him great inner peace and joy. True, he'd love for that world to encompass Hannah a bit more on the regular but he'll take what he can get until her path ties into his (*fingers crossed*). Being our "leading man", we get inside his head much more than those of his teammates, but it allows us to see the human aspect of what they do. As for those mates, Hannah is rather deadly herself. If you don't get knocked out my her looks (according to the reactions of most men surrounding her), she'll easily pick you off with a well placed shot and erase all traces of it occuring with a call to one of her many contacts. Never mistake her for an unassuming woman; she just might have to MMA your butt to the ground. (*high five*) That brings us to Sonny. He's certainly the most crass and loves nothing more than the heat of the mission (well, except his food and women) but we actually see a small crack in that bada** veneer this time around. I won't exploit it (though I should), but it once again brings him back out of the realm of married to his work and everyday dude.
Admittedly, it won't be for everyone, but for those that venture between the pages, you may be surprised just how high it rates on your reading list. Recommended for adult readers due to the story itself and violent content...otherwise, we're clean like the take downs they aim for.
**ebook received in exchange for my honest review, full post can be seen on my site**
January 27, 2016
Thanks to netgalley.com and Stephen Templin for the advance copy for my review.
This was my first time reading a Stephen Templin book, did like it, hated it at the end and on the fence whether to read the first book in the series or not.
From Russia Without Love is a espionage-terrorist thriller that takes you all over the World, full of twist and turns, realistic at times, predictable and the books ending just plain sucks.
All three characters, Hannah Andrade, Chris Paladin and Solomon 'Sonny' Cohen are part of a Special Operations Group and are after a terrorist known as 'Lullaby'.
Just Hannah is a full-time member, Sonny is on load from the Army's Delta Force and Chris is a assistant Pastor that does special assignments for the agency. I do feel that for what Chris's character does, it would be more realistic if he was in law enforcement or be a full-time member of the group like Hannah.
To have him use his religion believes, stopping him from just killing 'Lullaby' after chasing him into Russia and all the chasing they do throughout the story. All the innocent life's that his group kills, even has his Wife killed, doesn't even care that his daughter was killed helping him and this killed the entire book for me.
I honestly believe, this type of book needs to be realistic, you can't straddle the fence having a religious character that picks and chooses how to react to situation based on his faith believes.
This was my first time reading a Stephen Templin book, did like it, hated it at the end and on the fence whether to read the first book in the series or not.
From Russia Without Love is a espionage-terrorist thriller that takes you all over the World, full of twist and turns, realistic at times, predictable and the books ending just plain sucks.
All three characters, Hannah Andrade, Chris Paladin and Solomon 'Sonny' Cohen are part of a Special Operations Group and are after a terrorist known as 'Lullaby'.
Just Hannah is a full-time member, Sonny is on load from the Army's Delta Force and Chris is a assistant Pastor that does special assignments for the agency. I do feel that for what Chris's character does, it would be more realistic if he was in law enforcement or be a full-time member of the group like Hannah.
To have him use his religion believes, stopping him from just killing 'Lullaby' after chasing him into Russia and all the chasing they do throughout the story. All the innocent life's that his group kills, even has his Wife killed, doesn't even care that his daughter was killed helping him and this killed the entire book for me.
I honestly believe, this type of book needs to be realistic, you can't straddle the fence having a religious character that picks and chooses how to react to situation based on his faith believes.
September 1, 2015
Since reading Templin's Trident's First Gleaming, where I met the main character Chris Paladin and his mission buddies CIA black ops Hannah Andrade and Army Delta Force's Sonny Cohen, I looked forward to more of their heroics. Paladin, a SEAL who is now following his heart as a preacher, is sometimes called back into the field to apply his specialized skill sets to save lives.
In From Russia Without Love, Templin sets up a series of moral conflicts - conflicts between Paladin's calling to serve God and to serve the United States in a special ops capacity; conflicts caused by the act of taking lives to save lives; romantic conflicts caused by a different set of values between Paladin and Andrade, and smaller conflicts in the moment by moment decision making that often means the difference between someone living and someone dying. The one thing that is never conflicted or in doubt is that Paladin is indeed the best of the best and his actions are heroic.
This book starts off with a bang as Paladin joins a rescue mission that leads his team into a search for a dangerous Russian attempting to manipulate Europe's energy reliance. Templin's writing pushes the pedal to the floorboard and never eases up, making this a one sitting - "shush, leave me alone; I'm reading" novel.
In From Russia Without Love, Templin sets up a series of moral conflicts - conflicts between Paladin's calling to serve God and to serve the United States in a special ops capacity; conflicts caused by the act of taking lives to save lives; romantic conflicts caused by a different set of values between Paladin and Andrade, and smaller conflicts in the moment by moment decision making that often means the difference between someone living and someone dying. The one thing that is never conflicted or in doubt is that Paladin is indeed the best of the best and his actions are heroic.
This book starts off with a bang as Paladin joins a rescue mission that leads his team into a search for a dangerous Russian attempting to manipulate Europe's energy reliance. Templin's writing pushes the pedal to the floorboard and never eases up, making this a one sitting - "shush, leave me alone; I'm reading" novel.
September 3, 2015
Again, a "can't put it down" read from Templin. We learn more about Chris, Templin's main character, and I am intrigued that Templin chose such an interesting angle on a character's internal struggles. Most authors tend to steer clear of the spiritual turmoil their characters face when dealing with death and destruction. However, in Templin's case, he puts it front and center. Along with the non stop action, which propels a reader forward at a dizzying pace, he offers a character that the "everyman" can relate to.
The back drop to the conflict in the novel is set in the high tension world of "who controls the energy resources, controls people". The power struggles and megalomaniacs painted so richly by Templin are something we see in the news everyday, so it was very easy to relate. I always enjoy his novels and wait with baited breath for the next. I hope he continues with these characters as I believe they make a great and diversified team.
The back drop to the conflict in the novel is set in the high tension world of "who controls the energy resources, controls people". The power struggles and megalomaniacs painted so richly by Templin are something we see in the news everyday, so it was very easy to relate. I always enjoy his novels and wait with baited breath for the next. I hope he continues with these characters as I believe they make a great and diversified team.
September 15, 2015
Highly recommend this book. Superior writing by Steven. He has really hit a home run with this one! The characters Chris, Hannah and Sonny are terrific and Steven's knowledge of the world they operate in really shines. Looking forward to their next adventure and seeing where it takes them! Bravo Steven!!
September 16, 2015
The second book in the "special operations group thriller" series is as good as the first book. Stephen Templin does a great job writing and keeping the story moving along at a nice pace that it is very hard to put down.
November 10, 2016
From Russia without love
Good action thriller but entirely too much internal brain strife by the main character that really detracts from the action and wasted mood. Too much given as an indication of his Faith but then the situation ended with "he killed him anyway". Not one of my favorite characters but I will try again.
Good action thriller but entirely too much internal brain strife by the main character that really detracts from the action and wasted mood. Too much given as an indication of his Faith but then the situation ended with "he killed him anyway". Not one of my favorite characters but I will try again.
March 3, 2019
Quite good, seems weird a ex seal now, pastor would happily murder People on a recall mission for the CIA then go back to church work. But he is american.
Also seems odd after years away from being a seal he is the most qualified! Also the bad guys went to star wars shooting school as none of them with automatic weapons could hit the side of a bus surrounded by busses in a field of busses.
Also seems odd after years away from being a seal he is the most qualified! Also the bad guys went to star wars shooting school as none of them with automatic weapons could hit the side of a bus surrounded by busses in a field of busses.
August 30, 2018
I modern day story that rings to be true. A diplomats son is kidnapped. An SOG team is called in for the rescue. The team deploys to Greece and are soon in contact with the kidnappers when they discover the kidnappers are Russian. The SOG team then reconsidered their info and find that the kidnapping is about control of natural gas in the Middle East. This is An excellent read for the genre.....DEHS
December 3, 2022
Another exciting adventure for this intrepid team
Second installment in this series did not disappoint. The three heroes again took the reader on an exciting rollercoaster of an adventure. Looking forward the next book of this series.
Second installment in this series did not disappoint. The three heroes again took the reader on an exciting rollercoaster of an adventure. Looking forward the next book of this series.
August 3, 2018
SUSPENCEFUL
I enjoyed the book it had a lot of twists and unexpected the ending was a real surprise there is a lot of killing but that is war
I enjoyed the book it had a lot of twists and unexpected the ending was a real surprise there is a lot of killing but that is war
September 21, 2015
Stephen Templin once again rises to the occasion, bringing Navy SEAL-turned-minister Chris Paladin back into the action with this non-stop thriller. Paladin joins forces with Hannah and Sonny, his team mates from his previous book, Trident's First Gleaming, and this time they're on the trail of a Russian terrorist and his mob. The story is always fast-paced and from the opening sentence you're right in the action. The plot has more twists and turns than Six Flags has roller coasters and takes place in several countries. Chris Paladin endures plenty of close calls, shoot-outs and running for his life, using his SEAL know-how to survive, as at times the hunter becomes the hunted. I enjoyed that Paladin's ministerial side would pop up throughout the book, such as when he would be in a tight spot and the next line would be a quick prayer - "Lord, help me!" Also worth noting is there was virtually no cussing printed in the book - a welcome reprieve from what is often the usual. The book is ultimately a triumph of good over evil. If you like action novels, add Stephen Templin to your list of favorite authors. Overall, a great, solid, satisfying read.
September 19, 2016
This is a "not so covert" action story. In an attempt to locate and rescue the son-in-law of the White House Chief of Staff, the group becomes engaged in multiple shoot-outs, a demolition derby in London, and some really strange activities in the Crimea. The big winners in this tale are the ammunition manufacturers and the people cleaning up the wrecked cars. The body count is over the top, although it is mainly the bad guys. When all is said and done, is there any resolution? That is up to your imagination.
April 12, 2022
Book Review - ...book two of the Special Operations Group series by Author Stephen Templin. A very quick read while enjoying the beach. Former SEAL Team Six veteran and former pastor Chris Paladin teams back up with CIA spook Hannah Andrade to capture-or-kill a Russian spy. A muscular action thrill ride that was good reading but not as good as the first Special Operations Group book, Trident's Gleaming. I enjoyed the characters and the sometimes 'too relaxed' dialogue during an operation but overall a good read.
July 14, 2016
Just when you thought Stephen's story telling couldn't get any better, he turns the heat up another ten notches. Templin characters truly reflect real life unlike the characters in so many thrillers where they take on a whole army and never get a scratch. I can hardly wait to read book three in this series. All the books in this series rte a ten star rating, but I'm stuck with five stars so five stars it is.
December 25, 2015
Fast paced Spy Thriller
Exciting and surprisingly clean language for a spy thriller. Appreciated the tension between Chris the pastor and Chris the Seal. I have another Templin book to read loaded on my Kindle.
Exciting and surprisingly clean language for a spy thriller. Appreciated the tension between Chris the pastor and Chris the Seal. I have another Templin book to read loaded on my Kindle.
January 16, 2016
A good read!
An action packed story with a hint of romance and deep friendship. Looking forward to reading the next Special Operations book.
An action packed story with a hint of romance and deep friendship. Looking forward to reading the next Special Operations book.
August 31, 2016
Pretty good....
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews