Storming the Black Ice: Pacific Rim Series by Don Brown (Author of the Navy Justice Series)

Zondervan
ISBN:  9780310330165

About the book:  When a Venezuelan surprise-attack against a secret British research station in Antarctica triggers a shooting war between the great nations, Chile and Britain ask America for help. For two couples separated by the raging battle, the outcome will be either love reunited or devastating heartbreak. When British geologists secretly discover the world’s largest oil reserves under the desolate, icy tundra of Antarctica, Britain and Chile form a top-secret alliance against Venezuela, Argentina, and Russia for control of resources that will rival the economic power of OPEC. But the secret of the discovery is soon uncovered by an Argentinean intelligence officer using highly sophisticated monitoring equipment. When a Venezuelan surprise-attack against a secret British research station in Antarctica triggers a shooting war between the great nations, Chile and Britain ask America for help.

For two couples separated by the raging battle, the outcome will be either love reunited or devastating heartbreak. There is no in-between and no turning back.

For a young boy living with his mother in London, the life of the boy’s father and mother’s long-lost love is on the line. And for an American sub commander detailed on a special military assignment to his father’s homeland of Chile, any hope of a future is in danger. But will his fate be a crushing death under the icy-cold waters of the Antarctic Ocean, or a fate of life, light, and a second chance for love?

  
Review:  This is a very well written story whose greatest appeal will most assuredly be men. While women can enjoy it, the plot which is intricately woven throughout with scenes of naval action on submarines. Conflict militarily. Abuse of prisoners. Descriptions replete with strategic maneuvers and the complexities of South America and Antarctica geography and political atmosphere. References to the Falkland Island war of 30 years past are important to this story. International intrigue that span oceans and continents.

The romantic by play is a very minor subplot though it does exist and is part of the story.

The supposition and potential of a real "Black Ice" scenario is not a far cry from what could happen. Men and the nations they inhabit are greedy and often it takes the conflict of warfare to control that greed. The book will surely be enjoyable by those who delight in a submarine thriller. I found the following scene moving. The setting: An opposing submarine has just been sunk....

     Pete took the shipwide microphone. "Now hear this.This is the captain speaking. Both active and passive sonar have verified that the enemy sub has been destroyed."
     Cheering erupted throughout the sub.
     "Silence!" Pete demanded.
     The cheering stopped.
     "There will be no cheering, no reveling, no applause for what we have done. For what we have done is our duty. We have defeated a worthy opponent and taken the life of a great warrior who, if he had an extra second or two on his side, would have killed us first. He battled gallantly, commanding a boat that is inferior to ours.
     "There is no rejoicing at the death of a warrior. Only by the grace of God are we still alive, and only by his grace did we have weapons of war that were superior to the weapons of the enemy.
     "Join me in a moment of silence and remembrance."
     More sounds of grinding, whining metal over passive sonar--the death sounds of a sub falling to its watery grave.
     "That is all. This is the captain."

A very intense book sure to capture the attention of someone who desires a griping and intense read.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary review copy was provided by BookLook Blog Review Program in exchange for our honest review. Opinions expressed were solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review. (Rev. VG)