Fire of the Raging Dragon (Pacific Rim Series)
In the not-too-distant future, the new Chinese president decides that all cars manufactured there will run on natural gas, not oil. To make that a reality, he orders a naval attack on Itu Aba, an island occupied by U.S. ally Taiwan, under which lies untouched natural gas. The U.S. president orders the Seventh Fleet to do whatever it can to stop the fight. One of the first ships to respond is the U.S.S. Emory S. Land. On board is Stephanie Surber, a recent graduate of the Naval Academy and the first daughter. When her ship is put in harm’s way, the president must decide which is more important, defending Itu Aba or saving his daughter’s life. VERDICT: With strong character development and steadily building tension, Brown’s second fast-paced series entry (after Thunder in the Morning Calm) should appeal to readers who enjoy Joel C. Rosenberg’s thrillers. (Library Journal)