Raptor’s communications expert, Staff Sergeant Brian “Hawk” Bledsoe is struggling with his inner demons, leaving him on the verge of an “other than honorable” discharge. Plagued with corrupted intel, Raptor team continues to track down the terrorist playing chess with their lives. Afghan pilot Fekiria Haidary is devastated when a systems glitch on her aircraft forces a weapons launch on a safe … safe target. And when the deadly bombing separates Brian from the team, he must make an impossible choice: save his brothers-in-arms, or save the woman and children depending on him to survive a brutal snowstorm.
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No one likes being a pawn, especially Brian “Hawk” Bledsoe. He’s a tough as nails soldier, tenacious to the bone. Possessing an indomitable spirit, he is faced with grueling challenges. In brutal conditions, he must make painful choices forced upon him by merciless enemies that will test him in every way. Will he come out the victor?
Fekiria Haidary has reason to be protective. Her secret is a big one and could cost her her life. She maintains a delicate balance in her undertaking, always fearing discovery. At times the fear is overwhelming, even stymieing. Will she be found out?
Hawk is the second book in the Quiet Professionals series. It has a consuming plotline filled with engrossing and complicated technological intrigue. Between bullets and missiles and literally running for their life, there shines through some tender moments that gave me breathing space to catch my breath.
Kendig’s writing is impeccable. Once again, I lost all track of time and what was going on around me. I was transported to wherever the characters were and I found myself exhausted mentally and emotionally when I was done.
Fans of Kendig and military thrillers will undoubtedly enjoy Hawk. I’m looking forward to the next book and finally finding out who is causing Raptor team such torment. I’d like to be a fly on the wall at Ms. Kendig’s house, just so I could get a sneak peek of what’s in store for Falcon. 🙂
The publisher provided me a copy for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review, only my honest opinion of the book. No compensation has been received.
One of favorites!
What can I say about Ronie Kendig’s stories that I haven’t already said? In one sentence what I’d say about Hawk, like every other story that I’ve read of hers is, “read this story!” But, y’all know I’m not gonna leave it at that!
I LOVED this story! The writing style, the originality of the plot, the team dynamics, the character growth, the action, everything is all spot on! I also really loved how characters from the team, who are not getting their own story, Todd in Raptor 6 and Mitch in Hawk, have their stories embedded within the other stories.
If you have never read a Ronie Kendig story, you really need too! I promise she will suck you into the story and she won’t let you go until it’s done! She has single handedly made me love military suspense and science fiction stories – did I mention Brand of Light is also amazing and was my absolute favorite book of 2019? Anyway, I digress! I’m loving this series and can’t wait to read Falcon!
Military fiction. Lots of technical jargon in a far away area where most readers have never been. Especially when the story takes place in Afghanistan. Who really wants to go there anyway with all the terrorist threats and the Muslims hating Christians and women? Sounds like a dangerous place to visit. You don’t hear many people saying, I want to travel to Afghanistan. I’m definitely not one of them.
Ronie Kendig is a military brat who has traveled probably all over the world as a kid and an adult. If you haven’t read her books, she features military in the majority of her books. Her latest series, “The Quiet Professionals” takes place in Afghanistan with a group of male soldiers. The first book in the series is called Raptor 6. The second book is entitled Hawk.
Hawk, Quiet Professionals Series #2 – By: Ronie Kendig
Hawk is the nickname given to Staff Sergeant Brian “Hawk” Bledsoe who deals with the idea of God and his past of being called “smart.” Hawk is a strong hero who hates the terrorist, especially after he is told to stand down and watches two men on his team die before his very eyes. Hawk has a temper, which lands him in a lot of trouble with his team. Even through all his character flaws, he is the type of hero any girl would want protecting her in time of trouble.
The heroine is named Fekiria Haidary, a Muslim lady who struggles with the idea of the Western God and wants to be seen as an equal in the eyes of the Muslim men. Without her father’s permission and ignoring her father’s direct orders to leave the army, Fekiria trains to become a pilot secretly. She becomes one of the best pilots the group has seen in a long time. Wanting to please herself and what she believes she is called to do, she keeps flying, even though she runs into her brother and all hell breaks loose.
The plot becomes dangerous as Fekiria has to use her pilot skills to wreck havoc on a local young girl school that her friend is teaching at. Through a blizzard with the reality of frostbite while being chased further up a mountainside by the shrouded terrorists, Fekiria and Hawk must keep their skills ready at a moment’s notice while trying to survive the bitter cold temperatures with little children on their backs.
I, personally, enjoyed this military crafted story much better than Raptor 6. It was more of a struggle for the two characters who had to deal with their past issues and come together to find love, God, and true freedom. The writing was riveting, especially with the details of the frozen tundra and the wind whipping through the characters thin clothes. I felt like I was climbing that mountain with them as they struggled for their lives.
I received a e-copy of the book from NetGalley and the opinions are all my
A special forces mission member with strong will and a short fuse. I love how the writer shows that God can change a person but still leave their strength, loyalty, and commitment in tact.