Against All Odds

Heroes of Quantico #1

by Irene Hannon

For FBI Hostage Rescue Team member Evan Cooper and his partner, dignitary protection duty should have been a piece of cake. Unfortunately, Monica Callahan isn't making it easy. Estranged from her diplomat father--who is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East--she refuses to be intimidated by a related terrorist threat back in the States. That is, until a chilling warning convinces her that the danger is very real--and escalating.

As Coop and his partner do their best to keep her safe, Monica's father triggers an abduction that puts his daughter's life at risk. And with every second that ticks by, Coop knows that the odds of saving the only woman who has ever breached the walls around his heart are dropping. After all, terrorists aren't known for their patience--or their mercy.

Book one in the Heroes of Quantico series, this suspense-filled novel will whisk readers along for the thrilling ride.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Romance, Christian, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Romantic Suspense

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2009

About the author

Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.

Reviews

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I can't believe I found an author I like as much as Dee Henderson. AGAINST ALL ODDS has everything anyone who likes Christian/Romance/Suspense is looking for.

When Evan "Coop" Cooper, a member of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team, is assigned to protect Monica Callahan-a woman who doesn't want anyone interfering in her life-sparks fly. Those sparks ignite something deep inside Coop. But with Monica's safety on the line, he ignores his personal feelings even though he knows he is falling in love with Monica.

Monica, estranged from her father, is angered that her world has been turned upside down. But when she realizes the threat against her life is for real, she relies on Coop to keep her safe. What she's not ready for is the way Coop has invaded every part of her world, including her heart.

Irene Hannon has masterfully weaved a story filled with intriguing suspense and dramatic romance. Her characters are rich and warm, and the banter between them as they try to deny their feelings for each other is what keeps you turning page after page. AGAINST ALL ODDS will definitely be cataloged as one of my favorites.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second book from Irene Hannon and all of her books are now top of my list to read.

If you are a romantic suspense lover, you need to read her books. The suspense was good and the detail of the FBI was well researched. Her characters are also written in a like-able way. The build up of the romance is also done in a non-overbearing cheesy way.

Monica's father is a hostage negotiator in Afghanistan. Now the terrorists issued a threat against Monica and two HRT operatives, Coop and Mark, is assigned to Monica's protection detail. Something went wrong and Monica's is kidnapped.

The way the kidnapping was executed was well researched and came across as possible. I liked Monica, she is an independent strong women but not without her issues. I really like the interaction between her and Coop and loved Coop's partner, Mark and looking forward to read more about him in book two.

The lesson of forgiving and reconcile relationships when you still have time came across strongly.

I enjoyed this book a lot and recommend it for all romantic suspense readers.

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A second book that I read because it was a free giveaway on Kindle, I was only aware of the 'suspense' part of the 'Christian romantic suspense' descriptor for its genre when I began reading. The Christian aspects are certainly present, but well-handled (even as a non-Christian reader, I didn't find them overbearing.) The romance, on the other hand, was rather heavy handed, though there was no sex. The main characters were constantly noticing how attractive the other was, and how they'd never felt like this about anyone before. Instant physical attraction and emotional bonds forming between people is something that really shakes my suspension of disbelief in a story -- I prefer to see relationships developing over the course of time, so I found that aspect rather jarring.

The author has clearly done some research, though she still suffers from some errors like three million dollars cash fitting into a backpack (it would not) and referring to Afghanistan as part of the Middle East and Afghans as being of Middle Eastern descent (to be fair, there are definitions of the Greater Middle East that do include Afghanistan, but the typical eastern border of the region is Iran.)

It would also have been nice to see an Afghan who _wasn't_ a terrorist as an actual character -- I believe there's exactly one of those in the book, and he's basically just a name. Combined with bad guys who are essentially cardboard cutouts who are there to be evil, it's probably for the best that there's not a single mention of Islam to be found.

All in all, probably better for the romance fan who likes a little suspense mixed in.

[Victoria Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still not my fave. The romance felt rushed and honestly very physically focused with not much else going for it. Felt a little irritated at the lack of faith development for Coop before Monica decided to date him. Overall, I enjoyed the suspense aspect, but not my fave of the series. It was a little too focused on sexual and physical attraction for my preference.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hmmm. I know I read this for the May challenge, but somehow I managed to not rate or review it. Horrors!

Monica is a very spunky and memorable character. I love how she's determined not to let this rude interruption into her life ger her down or defeat her. She's a go-getter, even when she's in danger and feels terrible. I'm always drawn to a heroine with such a plucky attitude toward life and hardships.

The Christian element of the story is also very well shared; both Monica and her fearless protector have some serious forgiveness issues from their childhoods, and Coop is drawn to her faith by the way he sees her struggle with her need to forgive her father.

I've quickly decided that I love Irene Hannon's books, and this is one of the best of hers that I've read so far.

[Seawood · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just...no. Which is such a shame because it starts out well and I was looking forward to a good thriller - I liked the characters initially and the set-up was interesting, but before I got 1/3rd of the way through the massive religious agenda was so offputting I had to delete it off my Kindle. It really didn't add anything to the story, and having flicked through the other reviews I'm glad I didn't continue to waste my time. As the saying goes, having a religion is like having a penis - it's great to be proud of it but don't shove it down my throat unless I ask you to.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of Irene Hannon's early suspense series featuring the HRT (Hostage Rescue Team), this story connects hostage rescue with romance to create an intriguing read. Wonderful characters especially Monica and Coop. Monica's talk the walk theories and Cooper's reticent background made a perfect combination when combined with Monica's strong faith and Cooper's developing faith. All around excellent suspense read. Looking forward to reading the other two in this early series as this one definitely shows Hannon's excellent writing talents.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written Christian romantic suspense novel with great characters. Even though the novel started out slowly, when the pace did pick up, the plot became quite action-packed. This is my first novel by Irene Hannon, but it certainly won't be my last.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irene Hannon is a wizard with suspense. I loved book one of the Heroes of Quantico series and I can't wait to read the rest!
Coop and Monica were such relatable characters and I could feel the suspense and tension with every turning of the page. Great read!

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read several Irene Hannon novels written in the past few years. Against All Odds was her first suspense novel. While I enjoy her more recent work better, Against All Odds was a good romantic suspense novel.

[Joan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I df'd when the churchy-preachy stuff became impossible to skim over. The only character I was really interested in was the father. A predictable story.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very exciting story with a Christian emphasis on the main characters. Even though they are not saved, you can see God working with their hearts. It was a very hard book to just put down and not read, but then you need to find out what happens next. Irene Hannon brought to us a very good story and keeps us wondering what is going to happen next.

[Christine Meunier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful suspense story that is obviously well researched. The characters were great, the Christian faith aspect well explored and an endearing romance. A great read.

[Alice Chittock · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a while to get going, but got there towards the halfway point, I liked the adventure, but wasn't so convinced by the romance.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a slow read for me and a bit too dark. But this is the author’s first suspense book and I know her later ones are better.
Setting: VA and Afghanistan
Monica (communication prof) and Evan Cooper, FBI Hostage Rescue Team.

[Jamie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a let down! I have never been so disappointed in a book before. Good thing it was free (on Kindle), but I am still peeved I wasted my time on it.

1st: Very upset with all the Jesus talk. It would've been fine if it was part of the story, but there are huge rants about it. It seemed more like she was trying to convert non believers than concentrate on the story. Plus it REALLY had no part in the book ... it seemed very out of place to me. AND the religious aspect of the book totally ruined the romance part of the book ... which you don't realize until the very end ... such a tease! All that no sex before marriage crap ... but the male lead is a playboy where he spends his weekends romping with various women ... then all of a sudden he meets Monica and he wants to wait to even barely kiss her and become a religious man.

2nd: The story looses focus. I really felt like there was a lot of build up on potential romance between Monica and Coop and then it just stopped and changed focus to Monica and her Dad's relationship. There was a lot of potential there for that romance to do SOMETHING ... ANYTHING, yet nothing really came of it. There was so much potential to add to the story with her kidnapping and the author just totally did not go there. The book just all of a sudden got wrapped up in a pretty bow and every one was blessed by Jesus ...

The author writes about how this is her dream to write a suspense novel or a mystery novel or whatever crap she spouts about herself but I never got any of that. I kept reading thinking that she was building suspense towards something and it never went there ... not with the hero ... not with her dad ... not with the terrorists. SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT! She sure put a lot of effort in adding in the Jesus crap ... maybe if she would've put that effort into the story itself it would've been a better book.

[Karen Baney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book because many people say Irene Hannon's books are similar to Dee Henderson's. While I agree that the subject matter is similar, I strongly disagree that her writing style is similar.

Unlike Henderson, Hannon repeatedly has the same character thinking the same basic thoughts over and over again when self-reflecting. I tend to read very fast, often reading a book in a day or two, so I don't need to be reminded that a character is thinking or feeling a certain way.

One of the things that almost made me put the book down was the frequent head popping between Monica's point of view and Coop's with no line breaks (at least in the Kindle version) to prepare the reader for the shift. There were several scenes throughout the book that did this. I don't mind changing points of view in a scene, there just needs to be some warning - otherwise it throws me out of the story until I can make sure I didn't just totally misunderstand which character's point of view I just read.

The overall story was okay. I liked the hint of romance.

As far as suspense goes, I thought there were several instances where the suspense was diffused because the author gave too much away. For example, one of the bad guys is talking to another about how he found Monica where the FBI was certain no one could have found her. The bad guy gives it all away. I think it would have created much more tension to leave the reader in the dark until later in the story - let us wonder "how did they do it?". That's what I expect from suspense.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a ride! So many edge of your seat moments! I really enjoyed the suspense and the behind the scenes look at what the FBI and specifically the HRT might do. I also like the romance, but I felt like it was a bit fast especially since they didn't share the same beliefs for the majority of the book. The characters were likable and believable and the plot definitely kept me engaged.
I started this book thinking Irene Hannon was a new to me author, but then discovered that I had read another of her books (Rainbow's End) a couple years ago that was not suspense so very different but also very good! I can say she writes suspense as well as romantic fiction very well! I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan Cooper and his partner, Mark are assigned to protect Monica Callahan. Monica is the daughter of an high official diplomatic dignitary who is on assignment in Afghanistan. Monica and her father have been estranged for years but that doesn't stop terrorists from threatening to kidnap the daughter of David Callahan. There are other hostages that are also in danger if David doesn't give in to the terrorists demands. When Monica is kidnapped, despite the highest security surveillance, Coop and the rest of his FBI team hurry to get her rescued alive.

[Kaziah Mustard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I generally love this author's books, however this one was not my favorite. There were two times someone was described as a Christian when they clearly were not, but another time a very accurate description was given about what it means to be a believer. It felt very contradictory to me. I did appreciate the unbeliever calling the professing christian on her unforgiveness. This one took me a little while to get into, but once I did it went quickly.

[PepperP0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

3star read

This light Christian Contemporary Romantic Suspense novel wasn’t bad but could have been better. My feeling is more disappointed that it wasn’t better. I did have some issues with it – let’s get those out of the way.

Mainly it seemed as if the God/Faith mantra was a little much. Originally it was implied that this would have a place in the story but as a secondary storyline it had too much prominence. That one of the central characters was very religious made this aspect important – but as it bled into other aspects of the story it was a bit much. Secondly the romance portion was going steady – then switched gears – then wrapped up. I felt it was a little disjointed. What there was of the romance was good but it should have been more consistent. Finally the typesetting was off so that some sentences were duplicated or partially duplicated.

The good things included the characters although not deeply drawn were likable, the overall plot & storyline were good but not necessarily strong. The complexity of Monica’s character made her interesting but made Evan’s character seem dull in contrast – however it also portrays some real couples

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published in 2009. Evan Cooper is a member of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. He’s been tasked with protecting Monica Callahan whose diplomat father is involved in a sensitive hostage situation in the Middle East. She doesn’t believe there is any danger, but Evan knows differently. As he and his partner do their best to keep her safe, Monica's father activates an abduction that puts Monica’s life at risk. Now, Evan has to find the woman that has touched his heart before the terrorists take action.
This was an excellent romantic suspense novel filled with romance, nonstop action, and an element of faith that was sweet. I loved how the theme was to speak from your heart, it reminded me that what we speak to each other has power. The main characters were very well devised and likeable. I felt the sparks between the characters from the start. I would recommend this novel to anyone who wants a little action with their romance.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

mostly this book was boring. I did manage to finish it, but just barely. It gets a big meh from me.

[June Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Excellent book, I couldn’t put it down. The detail was very good but not overdone. Can’t wait to read book #2.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

The thing I really loved about this book was that the leading lady’s dad was willing to risk job and life to save her. Though he was estranged from his daughter, it was clear to me that he loved her. He was a great example of “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13).

Things I disliked…
1. The leading man, who worked for the FBI, was a drunk and a flirt and acted unprofessionally in the first several chapters, which set a really weird tone. When he first saw how attractive the female client was via one of her pictures, he nearly ran his car off the road. He also flirted with the client in the first scene they shared. If I were her, I wouldn’t have trusted him to protect me after that.

2. The leading lady didn’t forgive her dad because she couldn’t help how she felt about him. Where in the Bible does forgiveness depend upon our feelings? Forgiveness, like faith, is an action; whereas, feelings are simply emotions.

That last point being said, I did like how father and daughter were on a journey to learn to meet in the middle. David really was my favorite character, because he showed his love for his little girl but let her set the pace for their reunion.

Once the action got started, the suspense was riveting.

The narrator, Stevie Ray Dallimore, did a fantastic job of setting a good tone for the audiobook and keeping a great pace going. He made it easy to cruise through this book.

Content: alcohol, tobacco, drugs, sexual content

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read about Evan Cooper of the FBI Rescue Team. The team and
Coop are to guard and protect Monica Callahan from a hostage situation.
Her father is a diplomat involved in a hostage situation in the Middle East
And Monica is in danger of being kidnapped. It is a fast moving story with
Action, twists, turns, suspense and romance thrown in. I recommend this
Author and series of the heroes of Quantico..

[Isis Ray-sisco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. I will definitely be reading the next one in the series. I will also be looking for her other books to read in the future as well. I liked the characters they had room to grow and they also had to figure out their faith and how to apply it in their lives. They weren't perfect but who is? I liked the give and take between the main characters and how they challenged each other. They were a good fit and you could see it from the beginning. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy this genre.

[Kimberly Mutchler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a book I would normally choose but I ended up enjoying the characters and their storylines. The authors words elicit emotions without the mention of physical touch, making this a true romance in my opinion.

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Good plot but shallow. Maybe more research for some of the technical stuff. For the sake of the plot the FBI had to look inept and careless. Spoiled it for me.
Then again, today the Secret Service and the FBI are looking ……compromised.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked parts of this book but there were a few moments in it that weren't so great. I might try another book by this author.