This is not the type of book I typically read; however, this one piqued my interest for some reason so I requested it on NetGalley. I didn’t notice at the time that this was the second book in a series, but I don’t think I missed anything by not reading the original book first. Here are my pros and cons:

Pros

- This book is fast-paced and jam-packed with action! If you love this kind of military-style action, this is the book for you!
- The story was very current – I could have been reading a news account it seemed so real.
- I thought Keller was a good character, even if he was a little over-written (see con #2 below).
- I got a little bored in the middle (remember military action novels are not my thing) but the ending got a little more exciting. The ending was good.

Cons

- This book took me a little longer to read than is typical for me. There are a lot of characters with a lot of moving parts and this isn’t a genre I love. I struggled a bit getting through it because there was simply so much going on! I was able to follow the storylines, but it took a little more effort than I wanted to give it.
- Keller seems a bit super-human. He seems to be able to do anything/everything and gets himself out of some incredible situations. I’m not sure I was buying all of it.

Summary
This was a solid story and probably actually a great book for the genre, but I have nothing to compare it against. I do believe that if you are a fan of military and political thrillers, then you would love this book. However, I probably won’t be requesting any more military/political action novels. They just aren’t my cup of tea.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rogue Strike by David Ricardi left me whiplash. It’s an endless battle between enemies, friends and foes, putting out small fires that ended up inferno. Rogue Strike was a roller coaster ride without the slow build up before you have to take a scary dip. In fact, there is no buildup. It begins with a fight scene and it goes on from there.

David Ricardi knows his stuff, military jargon, weapons and fighting and I like that. His latest book, published on June 4th, is exactly why military thriller junkies love and follow this genre. Usually, I would like the books that  I read to have more complex plot than so much fighting, but Ricardi’s done it right. His plot takes us to the  worst case scenario and now what? 

CIA agent Jake Keller and Curt Roach are on a mission when they receive a tip of a secret meeting between Al Qaeda leaders. The plan is to disrupt the meeting by detonating several missile via drone but the drones stop responding mid air and instead their course is modified and they hit Mecca, the holy site for Muslims, killing innocent people.

The world is outraged. Terrorist cells begin to infiltrate the U.S. seeking revenge. Keller believes the missiles were tempered with to draw the homeland into another war. Keller and Roach are left on their own to clean up the mess and find out who is behind the crime.

Rogue Strike is a stellar book.

Interesting characters and an even paced plot. The author is obviously knowledgeable about military action and weaponry as well as the details of the continuing middle east conflicts. Not quite believable scenarios made this a less than thrilling read.

I read the whole thing and it had many exciting moments. But I could not help feeling that this book is a piece of propaganda for the American Empire. It glamorizes the military and enables us to worship the "defenders" of our country...

Couldn't put this title down. Fast pace, suspenseful read that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. Situation could happen in today's world.

This is a modern-day shoot 'em up race against time in a global setting. Although the main character is CIA operative Jake Keller, the narrative changes point of view and setting frequently as various key players in many countries do their best to derail the United States standing in the world. From one horrific act of terrorism to another, we read about unimaginable inhumanity that seems unstoppable. This novel is not for the faint of heart reader looking for complex character development.

Rogue Strike was a tense, fast paced read. Fans of military thrillers will enjoy this book. To be fair, I was likely distracted by the screaming children, turbulence, and non stop talking of those around me on the plane. I was not as into Rogue Strike as I thought I might be.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley to provide an unbiased review.