Blackout

BLACKOUT is the third book in the Riley Covington series, written by former Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam and his pastor, Steve Yohn. With themes taken from the media's lead stories, the writing team has created some timely and chilling scenarios. Beginning with MONDAY NIGHT JIHAD, in which terrorists carry out a devastating stadium bombing and continuing through BLOWN COVERAGE, in which Riley himself becomes the target because he prevented even more carnage, recurring characters and topics spark interest and correlation. Stories about terrorism and counter-terrorism are, by their nature, usually more complex than your average mystery, which is why I generally avoid them. I don't want my head to hurt when I sit down to relax with a book. However, every now and then, I'm willing to step outside my comfort zone and read something more complex than my favorite whodunits. While I had not read the first two books in the series, I found enough backstory in BLACKOUT to understand the situations and the relationships without much strain. Although it was a bit disconcerting at first to follow alternating chapters switch from North Korea to Colorado and from Alaska to Washington, D.C., the connections soon became apparent and were nicely tied together. To balance out the suspense and fear factors involved in these all-too-realistic situations, the authors have created characters who are a little larger than life, people who share an easy camaraderie and genuinely like each other. It's refreshing to read about a strong Christian man who is not a fanatic or some kind of wacko attempting to convert everyone in sight. While there are zealots presented on both sides of the terrorist drama, there are also reasonable people in each camp who are trying to understand one another's beliefs. For example, Riley's romantic interest is an American Muslim woman who works on the counter-terrorist elite team. While I don't think that an electromagnetic pulse weapon exists, the thought of everything with any kind of electronic connection coming to a stop is staggering: no electricity, no cell phones, cars rendered useless, the country paralyzed. To thwart this plot is the task of Riley and his team. Once the magnitude of the mission is realized, you won't be able to stop reading until it is accomplished. Crackling dialogue and adrenaline-filled action bring the story to a heart-pounding conclusion. In addition to an exciting story, BLACKOUT offers a bonus. Many thought-provoking ethical questions and honest searching for answers to the conflicts facing the world provide topics for continuing contemplation and discussion long after the book is closed. --- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened.

If you are looking for books for guys, get these Riley Covington thrillers by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn. I just finished reading the three books I purchased last week (Blackout is the third, so far, in the series) and I'm bummed there isn't, like, twenty more to go! The main character is a Christian, so if men or women openly discussing their Christian faith and praying for strength to do what is right offends you, you probably aren't going to like these books. Elam, a former longtime NFL kicker for the Denver Broncos, brings authentic behind-the-scenes detail to the main character, a pro football linebacker and former special ops guy who is also a solid Christian. The first two books ("Monday Night Jihad" and "Blown Coverage") were very good, but "Blackout" was simply amazing! While each book is considered a stand alone plot, I recommend reading them in order, since quite a few characters are the same and you will have a firm understanding/bond with them by the time you reach Blackout. The plots of muslim extremist terror attacks are definite page-turners, with gripping suspense, explosive and sometimes graphic military action and sparkling dialogue. Seriously, the witty banter between characters will make you laugh out loud in some parts. Like I mentioned before, Blackout is the best of the three, although the other two are solid. The plot of terrorists using EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) weapons against the U.S. is plausible and gripping. The details of our society dealing with a total loss of technology are stark and believable. If you don't experience involuntary orbital sweat (us guys don't call them "tears") during one sequence involving a rookie linebacker caught in the aftermath, then you just don't have a soul (*another reason I recommend reading the books in order - you will be firmly bonded with that character by then*). I can't say enough about the dialogue. It can be tricky to write, but Elam and Yohn do it in spades. The banter between characters is funny and witty. Competitive guys talk like this and when stress gets ratcheted up in their lives, so do humorous insults and laugh out loud one-liners between each other while they work to reach a goal. The female characters also join in and deliver great dialogue of their own. Nicely done. The military action is explosive and detailed, with most of it being the "black ops" variety, which lets it loose from chain of command details and other intricacies that might bog down the plot. I haven't enjoyed tearing through a series of books since I devoured a number of Clancy novels years ago, and I can't wait for the fourth book due out late this year.

This book turned out to be better than I thought it was going to be. It begins with Muhammed Zerin Khan, Colorado Mustang's football player, visiting his father in prison, where he tells Zerin to be prepared, something 'big' was going to happen. Then you read about men from North Korea, who become traitors to their country because they share information, and Ayatollah Allameh Beheshti from Iran, who sets the whole plan into motion. Riley Covington, football hero and FBI Special Forces, then comes onto the scene when he finds out he is being traded to another football team. He is stunned because he is a star player. To get over the news, Riley goes to Alaska with his Bodyguard, Skeeter, to relax. Their time is cut short when a plane is waiting for them and takes Riley, dirty clothes and all, off to an important meeting. Riley meets with his friend and fellow colleague, Scott Ross, where they then go to meet with the President of the U.S. to discuss Electromagnetic Pulse Bombs, which Riley has some experience with since studying and doing a thesis in college. They aren't taken too seriously until the day when all the lights go out and planes start dropping from the sky in New York City. Then it's a race to try to find the other bombs before the U.S. is destroyed. The action scenes range from fighting aboard a ship, to fellow football players fighting for their lives trying to bring back food in NYC. There is a little faith, humor, a few sparks in the romance category, plenty of action, and a believable plot to destroy the U.S.

Black-Out is the 3rd and latest novel from the Riley Covington Series, written by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn. It is an action thriller, with Special Ops, international intrigue and even some football thrown in. This was the first book that I read from this series, and while it is clear that there had been previous books, reading them was not necessary to follow what was happening in this book. It was filled with drama, suspense, action and just a touch of romance. It drew me in immediately and kept me turning pages. The characters were very interesting and the faith element was strong, while not the least bit preachy. This book, and I'm sure, whole series, would be a great one for the guys to read, and I'm guessing for lots of the girls too! I truly enjoyed it and would like to read the other books in this series. This book was provided to me for review by Tyndale House Publishers.