Fire and Ice: A Rick Holden Novel

by George Galdorisi

Long a thorn in Russia’s side, the tiny country of Belarus has become the fulcrum of a geopolitical standoff. When Belarusian vigilantes sabotage pipelines carrying Russian oil, Vladimir Putin seizes upon the attacks as a pretext to invade and occupy the former Soviet Republic. When the West responds weakly to his aggression, an emboldened Putin begins launching devastating and deadly attacks against energy infrastructure across the globe—including North America. With no way to import oil and gas, all of Western Europe has fallen hostage to Putin and his rogue nation.To meet the challenge, CIA Operative RICK HOLDEN is recalled from his cover as a Navy SEAL and Naval Intelligence Officer LAURA PETERS, newly assigned to an elite cell within DoD’s European Command, is tasked with his oversight. After spending the last several years assigned to commands half a world apart, the highly effective duo is reunited against a backdrop of international intrigue and political brinksmanship.Their Rescue a captured American from Putin’s henchmen and then race against time to recover stolen nuclear weapons before they can be sold to vengeful terrorists.

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 28, 2021

About the author

George Galdorisi is a career naval aviator and writer. His thirty years of active duty service included four command tours and five years as a carrier strike group chief of staff. He is the Director of Strategic Futures and Technical Assessments at the Navy's Information Warfare Center Pacific in San Diego, California. He has been writing for decades and it is the ultimate “flow” experience for him.

In addition to his recent Rick Holden thrillers published by Braveship Books (The Coronado Conspiracy and For Duty and Honor), he has written twelve books distributed by mainstream publishers, including several New York Times bestselling novels in the rebooted Tom Clancy’s Op-Center series, including Out of the Ashes, Into the Fire, Scorched Earth, and Dark Zone. With his longtime collaborator, Dick Couch, he coauthored the New York Times best seller, Tom Clancy Presents: Act of Valor, the novelization of the Relativity Media number-one rated movie. He is also the author of The Kissing Sailor, which proved the identity of the two principals in Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph; as well as over 400 articles in professional journals and other media.

George has received a number of national and international writing awards, including: the Navy League of the United States Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement, the U.S. Naval Institute General Prize Essay Contest, the Surface Navy Association Literary Award, the Navy League of Australia's Annual Essay Competition, the Naval Helicopter Historical Association Literary Award, and the Military Writers Society of America Silver Medal Award, among others.

Other than writing thrillers, George likes nothing more than connecting with readers. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about his books, blogs and other writing on his website: http://www.georgegaldorisi.com/ - especially his “Writing Tips,” – which offer useful advice for all writers from established authors to future best-selling writers.

Reviews

[Thomas Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain Galdorisi has done it again. He's taken a frightening what if scenario and crafted a realistic portrayal of what could happen. Given the Russian president's predilection for defying international norms and his craving for expansion back to the Soviet Union's boundaries, it's not a leap to see the likelihood of something such as the events in this book unfolding. Only clear thoughtful action by the international community will prevent it. In addition, the characters Galdorisi has created, both Rick Holden and Laura Peters, are likable and realistic. I "knew" many like them in the Navy, and it is people like this who keep us safe. Finally, the technology that he describes is what gives America a strategic to tactical edge over our adversaries.

Great book and I look forward to the next in the series!

[Kevin Shiple · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful suspense story

It is a great military suspense story. It brings together some of Americas military items that the action world already knows about as well as Putin's military items and his perchance to keep himself in power.

[Greg Parrott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good yarn. Just enough technical info to catch your interest, just enough "current" politics to make you wonder, and plenty of action. Some times I wonder how "easy" some of the action would be, but you know, when it is fiction and pleasure reading, just let it go and enjoy the story!

[Richard L Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story with many very interesting characters! Timely and update with the world situations. Look forward to the next book!

[Rodger E Graham]

Good Read

Actually seems ripped from todays headlines. Good story with action and suspense. Rate it right in there with Tom Clancy.

[Allen Kuhns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Book

This is another Outstanding Book in the Rick Holden Thrillers Series. Sure wish there was more to come. Was hard to put down.