Against All Odds (Heroes of Quantico, #1)

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Against All Odds (Heroes of Quantico #1)

by Irene Hannon (Goodreads Author)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 2,234 ratings · 195 reviews

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, unti...more

Paperback, 334 pages

Published February 1st 2009 by Fleming H. Revell Company (first published January 1st 2009)

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Apr 30, 2013 Dora Hiers rated it 5 of 5 stars

FBI Hostage Rescue Team Member Evan Cooper is content to work hard and party even harder, and with plenty of available, attractive women, he avoids commitments and emotional entanglements...until he's assigned to protect Monica Callahan. Monica's gentle prodding breaks down the barriers he's erected since his mother's death and father’s subsequent emotional withdrawal.

Estranged from her father after his abandonment to pursue his diplomatic ambitions, Monica overcame hurt and betrayal, earning a...more FBI Hostage Rescue Team Member Evan Cooper is content to work hard and party even harder, and with plenty of available, attractive women, he avoids commitments and emotional entanglements...until he's assigned to protect Monica Callahan. Monica's gentle prodding breaks down the barriers he's erected since his mother's death and father’s subsequent emotional withdrawal.

Estranged from her father after his abandonment to pursue his diplomatic ambitions, Monica overcame hurt and betrayal, earning a PhD in communications and forging a successful career. If she ever commits to a relationship, she intends it to be with a man who communicates well, someone who doesn't put his career first. Not Coop. But, she finds herself drawn to the quiet, determined-to-protect-her man.

I like how Monica, a believer, struggles with the issue of forgiveness towards her absentee father. Considering forgiveness a tenet for Christianity, Coop doesn’t understand, and calls her on it. She admits that’s her biggest failing, and in doing so, opens the door for several conversations. I found her honesty refreshing and their discussions on faith realistic.

Monica’s father attempts to reconcile his moral principle of not negotiating with terrorists with his desire to save his daughter. He's never told his daughter he loves her, yet now she hears his unspoken message. I love how this unfolds during the story.

Wow! With a fast paced, action-packed, nail-biting plot, you might be tempted to sail through this book in a few hours. But I'd recommend against that. This book is flavored with spiritual and moral issues, juicy nuggets I preferred to chew on for a few days. Although it lacks the physical intensity (um, more displays of affection) I generally prefer, Against All Odds more than compensates in emotional and spiritual depth as love and forgiveness transform Monica and Coop. Action, suspense, a tender romance~this book has it all! Definitely a keeper!

Disclaimer: I purchased this book. No monies were received in exchange for my fair and unbiased review, and all opinions expressed are my own.(less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Anja rated it 5 of 5 stars

Die Nachricht hätte nicht schockierender sein können.
David Callahan, als Diplomat in Afghanistan stationiert, erhält er die Information, dass drei Amerikaner von Terroristen entführt worden sind. Sollten die Amerikaner nicht den Forderungen der Entführer nachkommen, werden nicht nur die drei Gefangenen hingerichtet, sondern auch seine eigene Tochter getötet.
Monica Callahan, die Tochter von David, ist eine junge Frau, die sich ihr Leben nach ihren Wünschen eingerichtet hat. Nach der Veröffentlich...more Die Nachricht hätte nicht schockierender sein können.
David Callahan, als Diplomat in Afghanistan stationiert, erhält er die Information, dass drei Amerikaner von Terroristen entführt worden sind. Sollten die Amerikaner nicht den Forderungen der Entführer nachkommen, werden nicht nur die drei Gefangenen hingerichtet, sondern auch seine eigene Tochter getötet.
Monica Callahan, die Tochter von David, ist eine junge Frau, die sich ihr Leben nach ihren Wünschen eingerichtet hat. Nach der Veröffentlichung ihres Buches "Lass den Worten Taten folgen" erntet sie viel Lob und Anerkennung, privat ist sie zufrieden und führt ein christliches Leben. Seit vielen Jahren hat sie keinen Kontakt mehr zu ihrem Vater, der als Diplomat in den Brennpunkten der Welt unterwegs ist.

Gleich nachdem die Nachricht von der möglichen Gefahr bekannt ist, werden die beiden HRT-Agenten Mark Sanders und Evan "Coop" Cooper, zur Überwachung von Monica entsandt. Sie sollen die Frau rund um die Uhr beschützen und eine mögliche Entführung verhindern.
Nach der Ankunft ist jedoch klar, dass dieser Auftrag für Coop nicht leicht werden wird, denn der Agent verliebt sich beim ersten Anblick in die hübsche und clevere Monica. Allerdings hat er selbst so viele Probleme mit seiner Vergangenheit, dass er sich ein Leben an der Seite einer Frau nicht vorstellen kann und das, obwohl Monica ihn immer wieder aus seinem selbst errichtetem Schneckenhaus hervor holt.
Auch Monica fühlt sich in der Nähe von Coop sicher und geborgen. Sie legt ihr Leben in seine Hände und vertraut ihm dabei vollkommen. Zusätzlich greift Monica immer wieder zur Bibel und holt sich damit die nötige Kraft, die sie für die gefährliche Situation benötigt. Wird Gott sie, Coop und ihren Vater beschützen können?

Aus der Reihe "christlicher Bücher" ist dies ein überzeugender und spannender Krimi, der fesselt und den Leser ganz in seinen Bann zieht. Mit zwei sehr lebendigen und sympathischen Hauptprotagonisten erschafft die Autorin eine warme und herzliche Atmosphäre, die berührt und gleichzeitig voller Hoffnung steckt.
Die kleinen christlichen Elemente werden glaubhaft mit eingebaut und verleihen dem Werk einen realistischen Eindruck. Auch die Handlung ist weder übertrieben noch kitschig, sie ist passend erzählt und wirkt dadurch umso logischer und nachvollziehbarer.
Der gesunde Mittelweg zwischen Glaube, Liebe und Hoffnung sind die Grundpfeiler des Buches und machen deutlich, wie wichtig die Kommunikation zwischen den Menschen ist und wie viel Kraft in einem Gebet stecken kann.

Der Handlungsstrang ist hervorragend ausgearbeitet und bietet ein solides Grundgerüst, das durch den steten Wechsel der Protagonisten einen wunderbaren Eindruck in die Gefühlswelt der einzelnen Betroffenen ermöglicht. Dadurch wirken die Charaktere noch ausdrucksstärker. Die kriminalistischen Elemente werden passend aufeinander aufgebaut und bilden einen sehr guten Spannungsbogen, der sich stetig steigert und ein packendes Finale beinhaltet. Gleichzeitig hofft und bangt der Leser die ganze Zeit mit Monica, Coop und David.

Fazit: Mit einem überaus realen Thema wirkt das Buch zeitnah und realistisch. Eine perfekte Mischung aus Romantik, Glaube und Spannung bietet leichte Unterhaltung, die überzeugt und wunderbar unterhält. Große Empfehlung!(less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Joan Reeves rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cross-genre, mystery-thriller

Irene Hannon is a skilled author because she managed to keep me reading to the end of Against All Odds which was a fairly successful marriage of mystery/suspense and Christian sensibilities. I wanted to see how everything worked out. I don't automatically dismiss a book because it's Christian-based fiction, but I don't seek them out either.

The problem with this book is not so much the book itself as the public's perception of the hard-as-nails men of a Hostage Rescue Team and the violent terrori...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Tamara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: irene-hannon, favorites

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 w...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Radella rated it 3 of 5 stars

Evan Cooper is a member of the elite HRT (hostage rescue team) run by the FBI. A diplomat, whose daughter is in danger, pulls strings to ensure that Coop and his team keep Monica safe. While they are good at what they do, the terrorists are equally skilled. Throughout it all, we see the other side of the story from the diplomat, estranged from Monica for many years, as well as from the perspective of the terrorists.
This book wasn’t exactly what I had expected when I picked it up on my Kindle. It...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Karen Baney rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 thin...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Jamie rated it 1 of 5 stars

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 t...more

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May 08, 2010 Jeremy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, general-fiction

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 fe...more

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May 02, 2010 Karin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense-thriller, inspirational-romance, christianity, terrorism, terrorists, kidnapping, realistic, families, relationships, fbi, received-review-copy, donated-to-the-library

When terrorists threaten to murder hostage negotiator, David Callahan’s, daughter Monica, Callahan arranges to have her whisked away to a safe house by the FBI, and monitored 24-7 until the threat passes. Evan Cooper, “Coop,” and his partner Mark Sanders are assigned to the case, and they take their jobs seriously. Coop, however, finds himself drawn to the attractive and intelligent young woman he’s protecting – an attraction that is returned by Monica. After Monica’s safety at home is compromis...more

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Apr 07, 2010 Ruth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Evan Cooper, a member of the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, isn’t thrilled when his next assignment is dignitary protection duty. “Babysitting” VIPs isn’t his dream job, especially when the VIP in question comes with some very high profile baggage. Monica Callahan, the daughter of a prominent State Department official, has become the unwitting target of a kidnapping plot. Terrorists want to use her as leverage against her estranged father, who is involved in sensitive hostage negotiations in A...more Evan Cooper, a member of the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team, isn’t thrilled when his next assignment is dignitary protection duty. “Babysitting” VIPs isn’t his dream job, especially when the VIP in question comes with some very high profile baggage. Monica Callahan, the daughter of a prominent State Department official, has become the unwitting target of a kidnapping plot. Terrorists want to use her as leverage against her estranged father, who is involved in sensitive hostage negotiations in Afghanistan. Monica is unwilling to accept that her father’s life could interfere with hers until the would-be kidnappers succeed in sending a message with a threat that’s impossible to ignore. Coop finds himself falling hard for Monica, and thanks to the job forcing them to keep constant company, their budding relationship grows at a rapid pace. When Monica is kidnapped, with only hours to rescue her before the terrorists’ deadline, it’s a race against time for Coop and his team to rescue the only woman who’s ever left him vulnerable to the possibility of faith and love.

I absolutely loved the international angle to this story. The timeliness and relevance of the ripped-from-the-headlines plot ups the stakes and results in a page-turning, suspenseful read. Though Against All Odds is the first book in Hannon’s Heroes of Quantico series, I read the second book first. Each story works well as a standalone novel, but in hindsight I’d recommend reading them in order to get a better introduction to the heroes and witness how their characters and friendships are established and formed through their HRT assignments. Hannon really nails the male point-of-view, and the camaraderie between Coop and his partner, Mark, comes across as authentic and genuine. Thanks to the international angle, I actual prefer this novel to its sequel, An Eye for an Eye. There’s something about the high stakes of sensitive negotiations that can have massive political fallout or finding yourself caught up in events out of your control and not of your choosing, as Monica does, that resulted in a gripping and compelling read. Hannon introduces readers to all of the players in this international drama, and the scenes featuring the terrorist mastermind fighting to regain power and David Callahan’s agony over his work threatening his daughter’s life intensify the story’s fast pace and raise the emotional stakes for all those involved.

Reading Against All Odds has solidified my opinion that Irene Hannon is a romantic suspense author to watch. The plot plays out with a military-like precision, each scene layering on the suspense and increasing the romantic tension between Coop and Monica. Hannon’s research into FBI procedures shines and lends the action sequences authenticity. I also loved how she develops Coop and Monica’s relationship in a completely believable way. When characters meet under high-stress circumstances, an author can make it too easy and convenient for them to fall in love without developing any sort of real, grounded relationship. Hannon goes the extra mile by showing Monica and Coop cement their relationship long after the danger is resolved. The faith angle is also well incorporated into the storyline, such as when Coop’s questions challenge Monica’s faith and deep-set prejudices towards her absentee father. In Monica and Coop, Hannon has crafted a pair of flawed, real characters who find their faith tested by incomprehensible danger and learn new lessons in faith, trust, and forgiveness – it’s a thoroughly enjoyable thrill ride and I can’t wait to read Hannon’s next book! (less)

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Mar 10, 2010 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Against All Odds is the first in the romantic suspense series, Heroes of Quantico. I was lucky enough to receive two copies of this book, so I have a brand new one to giveaway. This is one you want to win; I really enjoyed it.
Monica Callahan is estranged from her diplomat dad, but when someone wants to get to him, she is targeted. The FBI Hostage Rescue Team is assigned to keep her safe. She is less than cooperative with Evan Cooper (Coop) and his partner when they explain the situation, but aft...more

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Sep 02, 2009 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Against All Odds
Heroes of Quantico
Irene Hannon
2009
Revell
Fiction/Christian Suspense/Mystery

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

A hardened, experienced FBI agent, a hard headed woman and terrorist bent on teaching someone a lesson. Evan Cooper (Coop) and his partner have a assignment that is the hardest one they have ever faced. A diplomat's daughter had been targeted by a terrorist group, as a bargaining tool for hostages.

Sparks fly between the lovely diplomat's daughter Monica, and Coop. The attraction betw...more

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Jul 16, 2009 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had the privilege of interviewing Irene Hannon, author of Against All Odds which is the first book in the Heroes of Quantico series published by Revell Books. The heroes are Evan Cooper, known as “Coop” and Mark Sanders, agents of the FBI’s exclusive Hostage Rescue Team.

The book begins with David Callahan, long time member of the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, based in Afghanistan. He receives a message that unless the terrorist’s demands are met his daughter, Monica, will be their next target. His ph...more

I had the privilege of interviewing Irene Hannon, author of Against All Odds which is the first book in the Heroes of Quantico series published by Revell Books. The heroes are Evan Cooper, known as “Coop” and Mark Sanders, agents of the FBI’s exclusive Hostage Rescue Team.

The book begins with David Callahan, long time member of the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, based in Afghanistan. He receives a message that unless the terrorist’s demands are met his daughter, Monica, will be their next target. His phone call is what activates the HRT. This is a high tension novel with the action switching back and forth between Richmond, VA and Afghanistan at high speed. Coop and Mark are not only dealing with a reluctant Monica but an extremely competent, organized enemy that seems to be one step ahead of them. On top of that there is this growing attraction between Coop and Monica that further strains the already highly strained team.

In addition to the nerve-wracking suspense there is also the wonderful theme of communication effectively woven throughout the storyline. Monica Callahan is a author/speaker on a book called “Talk the Walk”, a book on how to communicate. Coop is one of those strong, silent type men who can really only communicate with his partner, Mark, and even that only to set limits. David Callahan is a State Department diplomat highly skilled in the art of communication yet he cannot communicate with is daughter. Even Monica, an author and sought after speaker has a problem with communication. The book makes it very clear that not only does communication take effort but it also takes God to make it work.

This is a fun read, it is a fast read, however I do not recommend starting this book late at night because it will cost you sleep as you will not want to put it down. Ms. Hannon is an excellent writer and knows how to twist your nerve endings as she tightens the suspense. We look forward to book two which will be released at the end of August.
(less)

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May 25, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is fantastic.....and, in my humble opinion, has the hottest hero of all of my romantic suspense novels (and I've got lots of those!)

Evan Cooper (even the name screams "FBI") is the classic law enforcement tough guy....all action, and no touchy-feely stuff. When he is assigned to protect Monica Callahan, a diplomat's feisty daughter, he finds himself attracted on a deeper level for the first time.

Monica Callahan is so angry at her father for choosing his diplomatic career over her and h...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Patrice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone that likes a good suspense story

Shelves: 2013-books-read

This is a story for our time. It deals with extremists and terrorists. Three Americans are taken hostage in Afghanistan and it’s up to diplomat negotiator David Callahan to get them released. He’s followed the United States’ stance on not giving into to demands from hostage takers. Then in a twist, David is informed by the terrorists that should he not meet their demands, his daughter, Monica Callahan, would become a fourth hostage. More unfortunate is that he and his daughter have been estrange...more This is a story for our time. It deals with extremists and terrorists. Three Americans are taken hostage in Afghanistan and it’s up to diplomat negotiator David Callahan to get them released. He’s followed the United States’ stance on not giving into to demands from hostage takers. Then in a twist, David is informed by the terrorists that should he not meet their demands, his daughter, Monica Callahan, would become a fourth hostage. More unfortunate is that he and his daughter have been estranged for the better part of 20 years. She wants nothing to do with him and won’t take his calls. This leads to David Callahan to use everything at his disposal to protect his daughter.
A directive from the White House to the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) is called in. Evan Cooper, “Coop”, and his partner, Mark Sanders, are brought in to handle the situation. This should be a relatively straight forward assignment, but there is nothing easy in dealing with Monica. She feels that her father is being over-dramatic and that it’s” too little, too late”. She is a published author of self-help books and a professor at the local University in Washington D.C. She refuses to be intimidated by a threat from terrorists in the Middle East and wants the HRT to disrupt her life as little as possible. Coop is finding Ms. Callahan too much of a distraction and can’t figure out what it is about this woman that has him thinking about things he has tried to keep buried in his past and making him question some of his choices in life.
Then a very personal warning is left for her and she realizes how much danger she is really in. After that it takes all their know-how and the help of the local FBI officers to keep her safe. They follow all the standard procedures and know they are doing their best, but the terrorist kidnappers seem to be a step ahead of them at each turn. Will David Callahan give in to the terrorist demands? Will the HRT and Coop be able to keep Monica safe? What will happen to the hostages? Will Coop do anything about his new realizations about himself and what part Monica Callahan plays in them?
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Jan 18, 2011 Julie Graves rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, kindle-reads

Monica and her father are estranged. Her father gave up his family for his country. Now his job has put Monica in jeopardy. Terrorists have kidnapped 3 American citizens. They have now threatened to kidnap Monica if her father does not give in to their demands.

Mark and his partner Evan Cooper(Coop) are sent to protect Monica. They are part of the FBI’s HRT(Hostage Rescue Team). Monica thinks that everyone is overreacting and refuses to go to a safe house. She agrees to let Mark and Coop protect...more

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Feb 12, 2009 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, christianfiction, suspense

Against All Odds is the debut suspense novel from author Irene Hannon. Terrorists are threatening the daughter of the ambassador to Afghanistan and the ambassador wants his daughter in protective custody NOW. The problem - he and his daughter, Monica, aren't on speaking terms and the last thing she wants to do now is hear what he has to say. Enter the FBI hostage rescue team and Evan Cooper. He finds himself attracted to Monica and intrigued by her faith in God ... neither are part of his game p...more

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Dec 17, 2012 David rated it 4 of 5 stars

The author Irene Hannon won a prize for writing fiction at age ten, says the back cover. This one is a romance novel, but a thriller. Two more books in the series follow. This was a quick read. I can see where the series may lead, but to tell more would be a spoiler.

I gave it my test for good creative writing. I read the Prologue and the Epilogue. The author passes the test. The first page, first paragraph, and first chapter make me want to read further. The Epilogue is a spoiler if you give it...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Kame rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-romance, christian-fiction

Against All Odds is the first in the Heroes of Quantico Series.

Monica Callahan is the estranged daughter of a diplomat, David Callahan, who is in Afghanistan trying to gather clues so he can give the information needed to rescue three hostages. Immediately it gets personal for David when he receives word from the terrorists that they intend to make his daughter residing in the USA there fourth hostage.

Evan Cooper is an FBI agent who is part of an exclusive team of agents who risk their lives to...more

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Oct 15, 2009 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksfree, read-october-2009, ebook-kindle

I picked this up because I had seen it around the internet and heard good things about it. It was also romantic suspense and that is my favorite genre. Added to that it was Christian romantic suspense and I definitely wanted to try it and I'm glad I did.

From the start I really liked Monica and Coop. Monica was a very strong woman who is faced with a tough situation. Her life is in danger. This makes her face her mortality and also face an estranged relationship with her father. Monica is a well-...more I picked this up because I had seen it around the internet and heard good things about it. It was also romantic suspense and that is my favorite genre. Added to that it was Christian romantic suspense and I definitely wanted to try it and I'm glad I did.

From the start I really liked Monica and Coop. Monica was a very strong woman who is faced with a tough situation. Her life is in danger. This makes her face her mortality and also face an estranged relationship with her father. Monica is a well-known communication expert who has written several books and she does her job well. Monica is also a Christian, but she is not a preachy character - her Christianity is just a part of her. Ms. Hannon brings this out with references to Monica reading the Bible and from some things she says to Coop, but you can tell she is very human and knows it and struggles with some issues in her life. I like that Monica was strong, but she knew when she needed help. She was stubborn but smart too. Sometimes that is overlooked in the characterization of heroines in books and it goes to far to one side or the other. Monica is a perfect balance and a joy to read about.

Coop is definitely the brooding distant male. He's good at his job but he doesn't want to form attachments. Some of this goes back to some instances in his past. The problem is Monica is starting to slip past his defenses and in his protecting her he may also be falling for her. As I said in my interview with Irene - I want Coop if my husband ever leaves me. :)

For the plot - it moves along well with the characters and the suspense line pushing it along. We get a glimpse into all sides of this, Monica's, Coop's, her father's, and even the bad guys behind the plot. But even though you think everyone is known, not everyone is known, there are several subplots going on and it is suspenseful to the very end.

The romance is wonderful too. Watching Coop and Monica deal with their growing feelings for each other and sensing their attraction is amazing. It's a great love story to go along with the suspense.

In summary, this is a great romantic suspense with Christian elements. It's not preachy, yet it doesn't have sex or foul language which can be refreshing. It's full of romance and it's very suspenseful. It kept me reading and turning the pages. I also can't wait to read the next one in the series - An Eye for An Eye to learn more about Coop's partner, Mark who was also in this book.

So give it a try - I think you will really like it. Maybe you will want a Hero of Quantico all your own too.(less)

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May 08, 2010 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, adult, romance

Coop is a member of the HRT (hostage rescue team). He and his partner are assigned to a woman whose estranged father is a prominent ambassador in the middle east. The daughter (Monica) has been threatened by terrorists but she refuses to go to a safe house. Coop and Mark must guard her and try to persuade her to move to safety. There are romantic sparks between Coop and Monica from the very first - but he is the strong silent type - which is exactly why Monica is estranged from her father. She i...more

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May 20, 2011 Melanie rated it 4 of 5 stars

FBI HOSTAGE RESCUE TEAM member Evan Cooper and Mark Sanders are assigned to protect Monica Callahan, but she isn't making their job easy. She is estranged from her diplomat father, who is involved in a hostage situation in the Middle east, and refuses to be scared by a terrorists threat involving her. Until she gets a chilling warning that convinces her the danger is real.

This book centers around Monica Callahan, Her relationship with her father, her growing attraction to Evan Cooper, and the te...more

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Jul 05, 2011 Sheree rated it 3 of 5 stars

I went into reading this book a little skeptical because I felt it would have a high cheese factor. FBI agent protects damsel in distress. And sometimes when I read these so-called suspense thriller type books, there's no real thrill. If there is a crime such as a murder, it's so sugar coated its not believable.

But, Irene Hannon surprised me with this one. Characters actually got their throats slit and beat up and blown up. I mean, there are terrorists in this story. They are not nice people. I...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

My first dive into Irene Hannon's action-packed world with the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team. I discovered Ms. Hannon's work through the endorsement of one of my all-time favorite authors, Dee Henderson. And while I'm trying my best NOT to compare them to each other, it's hard to do. "Against All Odds" was a very good read, but personally, it just fell a bit flat for me. Not enough to keep me from reading the rest of the series, but I just didn't feel the need to stay up til 3am to read it. The plot...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Candace rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was my first foray into Hannon's literature and I enjoyed it. This is the second suspense/romance novel I have tried and I liked it better than the previous one I read. The characters were great and the romance felt real despite the short amount of time the characters had to get to know one another. I really liked having the point of view of the terrorists; that made the threat seem real and dangerous. While I was hoping they would fail, the tactics and planning of the terrorists was impres...more

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Nov 12, 2009 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational

A little slow at the beginning, but the plot quickly picks up and takes off. This, first in the Heroes of Quantico series, is Hannon's first foray into romantic suspense. She does a great job!

Male subject of this book: Evan "Coop" Cooper -- member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). Female: Monica Callahan -- father is in Afghanistan doing hostage negotiation for the State Dept. when a threat is delivered against his daughter. It is the job of the HRT to protect Monica and make sure she stay...more

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Jan 29, 2010 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, christian-fiction-romance, romantic-suspense

This was the first book I read by Irene Hannon and it definately will not be the last! I'm a fan of Dee Henderson and that is how I found out about Irene Hannon, since Henderson endorsed her. The book reads like a Henderson novel (similar plot to The Guardian) but dare I say...maybe even better!

The plot was great and I loved how it flipped back and forth between the FBI and the terrorists point of views. Plus, the in depth detail of all the FBI HRT was really cool (at least to me). The book was...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Seawood rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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 gre...more

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Feb 13, 2009 Janna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love that this book spotlighted something I had never thought of before - the Hostage Rescue Team division of the FBI. The HRT is responsible for rescuing people that have been kidnapped or taken hostage - or in this case - been threatened.

Monica is in danger through no fault of her own, but her estranged dad deals with terrorists and they don't like him. Since he doesn't take threats to himself seriously they decide to threaten his daughter. By pulling some strings he gets the HRT involved t...more

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Mar 09, 2009 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars

i loved this book and will be looking for this author again. coop is a fbi hostage rescuer and when Monica callahan is targeted as a possible hit for a terrorist organization, him and his partner are called in to make sure the threat doesn't get carried out. David Callahan is a high up terrorist negotiator with alot of enemies wanting revenge. He has been estranged from his duaghter because he chose work over family. there are changes in the heart and priority changes that happen in this book as...more

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About Irene Hannon

Irene Hannon, who writes both romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 40 novels. Her books have been honored with two coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romantic fiction), a National Readers' Choice Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award, a Retailers Choice Award and two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine.

A former...more

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Books by Irene Hannon

Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice #1)

An Eye for an Eye (Heroes of Quantico, #2)

Deadly Pursuit (Guardians of Justice #2)

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Against All Odds (Heroes of Quantico #1)

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