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Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and very smart. She's a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.
Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn't see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best--ocean science research. She's on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop's perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she's figured out is only the beginning. If she's right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter.
"This leisurely paced tale of friendship evolving into love will strongly appeal to fans of evangelical Christian fiction." --Booklist
Submarine Commander Mark Bishop and science researcher Gina Gray seem miles, even oceans apart, but a looming military threat and threads of affection are bringing them closer together. As the gathering crisis sharpens their sense of the truly important things in life, the low-key naval officer and the recovering romantic workaholic gain new perspectives on one another. A trade paperback and NOOK Book original from a beloved author.
Far below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the USS Nevada glided silently through the waters. The storm 450 feet above the ballistic missile submarine barely disturbed their smooth, quiet ride.
Commander Mark Bishop stood off to the side in the command-and-control center, alert to what was happening but letting his crew do their jobs. The executive officer, his second-in-command, was serving as officer of the deck while the various stations were manned by the third watch. After 79 days at sea, they were at the top of their game, running drills and practice exercises with precision, handling busy nights like this one with a professional focus.
The storm above was hiding a full moon. For the crew of the Nevada it didn't matter if the moon or the sun was out—they ran their own 18-hour version of a day aboard the sub with three watches lasting 6 hours—but they tracked the phase of the moon and the topside weather so they would know conditions should they need to make an emergency ascent and surface.
They were eight days away from the end of this patrol. Handwritten signs counting down the hours were becoming artistic contests between divisions—engineering was holding the top spot in Bishop's opinion—and the chief of the boat reported crew morale was good. Mark had already made the rounds through the four levels of the Nevada on the prior watch, and he tended to concur. Problems were remarkably few for this late in a deterrent patrol.
They had four days of relative calm before they would be moving into the busy waters off the western coast of the United States, where they would be dealing with the surge in surface traffic along the shipping lanes. But that didn't mean no one else was out here in the ocean with them. Bishop left the command-and-control center and walked forward to the sonar room.
A submarine crew was blind when underwater; the only way to tell what was around them was to listen. The sonar guys were listening tonight with some of the most sophisticated acoustical devices ever created. A dome full of hydrophones stretched across the front of the submarine, and a towed array—a long cable set with more hydrophones—was now deployed and trailing behind them. Sophisticated software took the data, created a three-dimensional picture of all the noise around the boat, then worked to identify the direction and source of the sounds.
Bishop stepped into the narrow room. His sonar chief, Larry Penn, standing behind his seated men, slipped off his headphones and offered a quiet, "The whales are moving east."
"Got a count?"
"Four, plus two young."
Penn handed the headphones over, and Bishop listened for a minute to the haunting whale song. At least one male in the group, Bishop thought, given the sophistication of the melody. Bishop handed back the headphones. "Have you marked this audio for the marine biologist?"
"I'm having it dubbed," Penn confirmed.
Bishop was sure he had encountered more whales in his years on the job than most marine biologists would in their entire careers. The oceans were more active than most people realized, and whales traveled for thousands of miles just as submariners did.
"Anything more on the faint surface contact?"
"The acoustical signature identifies it as the fishing trawler Meeker III out of Perth, Australia."
"He's far from home tonight." The Navy maintained files of acoustical signatures for every military ship and submarine in service around the world, as well as most commercial vessels. Given enough time, they were able to identify nearly every ship they heard above them.
"Got time for a question, Captain?" The sonar technician at the broadband console stack turned to ask.
His rank was that of commander. It would be another two years before he might be promoted to the rank of captain, but Navy tradition designated that the man in command of a boat be addressed as Captain regardless of his rank.
"Give me the question, Sonarman Tulley."
"Do whales drink water?"
He'd been caught by that question two patrols ago. "No. They extract water from the food they digest. They don't drink salt water."
"Good answer, sir," Tulley replied.
Trying to stump the captain was considered a time-honored custom on the Nevada. Those who succeeded were noted on the captain's board for the day and got a good-natured pat on the back from fellow crewmen. Sometimes even from the captain himself.
At the sonar terminals tonight were two experienced operators along with an ensign on his first patrol. The waterfall displays were filled with small blips in all directions. The ocean was noisy tonight, both above them and below. They were crossing over the moonless mountains—a range of seamount formations deep in the ocean—that were staggering in their size and height, but none of them reached the ocean surface. Numerous volcanic vents below them were releasing magma, creating hot, flowing spirals of ocean water that climbed to the surface like chimneys. Fish congregated to feast on the plankton that bloomed in the mineral-rich water.
Nevada's sonar operators were listening for obstacles that the ship could hit—seafloor features not on the navigational maps—as well as surface ships and other submarines. In an emergency ascent to the surface, Bishop would like to reach open waters rather than turn an unlucky fishing vessel into tinder. Other submarines might have hostile intent or might simply run into him by accident. Even a friend was a potential danger to the submerged Nevada.
The sonarman monitoring the narrowband console stack leaned forward. "Sir, possible new contact. Bearing 082." He worked to bring the sound into sharper focus. "Surface contact, two screws." The software searched for a match to the sound. "Possibly the transport vessel Merrybell, sir."
The sonar chief reported the new contact to the command-and-control center. "Officer of the deck, sonar. New contact. Bearing 082. Surface ship transport vessel Merrybell."
It was a routine night. Bishop felt a sense of contentment. The men were eager to be home, but while on watch they were giving the Nevada their A-game. The boat was in good hands. They wouldn't miss whatever could be heard out there. It took an enormous amount of trust in the sonar guys for the rest of the crew to be able to sleep well while underwater. They all knew if the sonar crew made a mistake, a collision risked the safety of the boat and the lives of all aboard.
Bishop had come forward to the sonar room to more than just observe operations. He turned the conversation to his concern for the next few days. "A Russian sub, an Akula II, was hiding at 135 fathoms, 87 miles off Washington State, when the Alabama came home from patrol," he said. "The Akula was using the noise of the shipping channel and the current along the continental shelf to stay hidden. We need to assume he's around, and I doubt he's going to tuck himself into the same spot again. I want a good, solid look at the continental shelf before we approach."
"If he's there, we'll find him, sir," Penn assured him.
"I'm counting on it."
They would be able to hear the Akula before it heard them, all things being equal. But Bishop would like to tip the odds even more in his favor. "Any sign of the Seawolf?"
"Not yet, sir."
Their job was to hide, and the USS Nevada crew took it as a point of honor that no one—friend or foe—had ever located them while on a deterrent patrol. But in this situation it would be prudent to seek out some help to ensure they had a clear route home. The USS Seawolf would be in the waters to the east where they were heading, guarding the front door to the Naval Submarine Base Bangor. Cross-sonar with the Seawolf, and the picture about the possible Russian Akula would get a lot clearer.
"As soon as you get a glimmer of a contact that might be the Seawolf, we'll go all-quiet and see if we can't slip in beside him unnoticed before we say hello."
Penn grinned. "I like it, sir."
* * *
Commander Mark Bishop headed back to the command-and-control center. If asked what he did for a living, he tended to offer the deliberately low-key reply, "I'm in the Navy," and leave it at that. He was the commander of the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada gold crew. He was one of 28 men entrusted with half the U.S. deployed nuclear arsenal.
His job was to keep this nuclear submarine operationally safe, its crew of 155 trained and focused during their 90-day submerged patrol, and be prepared to launch a missile carrying a nuclear weapon on valid presidential orders. A civilian conversation about his work couldn't go very far when nearly everything he did was classified.
They were off hard-alert, the USS Maine had taken over for them, but they could be back to that highest readiness level within three to five hours.
There were always two ballistic missile submarines on hard-alert—in their watch area ready to fire—patrolling in the Pacific, another two on hard-alert in the Atlantic, with two more in each ocean ready to come to hard-alert within a few hours. The remaining six boomers in the U.S. fleet of 14 were in port undergoing maintenance and resupply, preparing to return to sea. The number of subs made possible a rotation home every 90 days while maintaining a constant strategic deterrent for the nation.
Each ballistic missile submarine was assigned two crews, a gold crew and a blue crew, who would alternate taking the submarine out on patrol. Three days after he arrived back in port, Bishop would hand over the Nevada to his counterpart on the blue crew, and the submarine would undergo 25 days of refit—maintenance and resupply—and then the blue crew would take her out to sea to patrol for the next 90 days. Bishop and the gold crew would get the Nevada back in four months' time.
His crew considered having to share the Nevada with the blue crew to be a painful time-share. The men loved having four months onshore, but they hated to give up their boat to others' hands. The grumbling would begin soon after they set foot back on the Nevada. If an item could be moved, blue crew left it somewhere gold crew wasn't expecting. The first few days would be spent returning the coffeepot, training materials, onboard movies, wrenches, maintenance logs, Nevada photos, and the boat mascot to the proper gold-crew-designated spots. Repairs and maintenance not up to gold-crew standards would get fussed over and typically redone. The rivalry between the two crews over who best handled and cared for the USS Nevada was intense. Bishop considered it a healthy attachment to the boat on which they depended for their lives and for their country's safety.
The Nevada was 560 feet long, the center third housing 24 Trident II D-5 missiles standing four stories high. Each missile carried eight nuclear warheads. The USS Nevada was one of the most lethal weapons ever built and, paradoxically, also one of the safest.
The training never stopped. The drills never stopped. Safety was life, and submariners lived it like no other profession on earth. They knew their boat inside and out and focused intensely on what could go wrong, how to prevent it, and if it couldn't be prevented, how to immediately fix it. There had never been a ballistic-missile submarine lost at sea since this class of submarines began to patrol the oceans over 30 years ago. Bishop considered it a sacred trust to maintain that record.
He was in the second of his three years in command of the USS Nevada. After three years, the Navy would congratulate him on a job well done, send him back to shore duty, and in due course promote him to captain. He was in no hurry to get that promotion. This was the sweet spot of his career. The best job in the service was the one he now had. He was taking full enjoyment in every day of this command.
His next job might be to oversee a squadron of six missile subs, or serve at the Pentagon, or teach at the Naval War College. A challenging job would emerge, he knew, but shore duty meant his not being at sea. He was going to miss this job when it came his turn to relinquish command, and that day would inevitably come. But it wouldn't be tonight.
Bishop paused beside the navigation officer and studied their position on the horizontal digital display table. The boat's location and all known contacts were electronically identified and constantly updated. The navigational map for this stretch of the Pacific had been updated just before the patrol began, and this new map had exquisitely detailed topology. The continental shelf and the canyons leading away from it stood in perfect relief. If the Akula was out there, the territory he could be hiding in was vast, and the terrain gave him numerous places to select. There was no need to risk a contact. But where to position the boat for the next few days was the question.
"XO, I have the deck and the conn," he informed his second-in-command.
"The captain has the deck and the conn," Lieutenant Commander Kingman confirmed, passing authority back to Bishop.
"Helm, come to heading 040."
"Come to heading 040, aye, Captain."
Let the Seawolf do the hunting. Bishop's job was to stay silent and never be seen. He'd follow the whales for a while. They were heading the direction he wanted to end up, and they were traveling with their young. The enormous mammals would stay well clear of any submarine they heard ahead of them. Trailing miles behind the whales and watching their movements would tell him a lot of useful information. He wished to hide. The whales would help him do so.
The world seemed like a quiet place when submerged on patrol, but Bishop was aware it was more illusion than fact. Strategic Command sent out a daily naval update, highlighting ships that might be in their area, passing on general news about military deployments around the world, often mentioning diplomatic missions and trade tensions and political concerns from all points of the globe. The military sat at the crossroads of so many dynamics going on between nations. Some nations were rising in stature, in wealth and influence, while others were declining, whose leaders strained to stay in power by any means necessary rather than fall.
It had been a quiet patrol, but sometimes the quiet wasn't the whole story. Bishop wondered if North Korea had come close to blowing something up, if Russia was arguing about natural gas shipments to Europe again, if Japan and China had more fishing boat skirmishes along the chain of islands whose ownership they disputed in the East China Sea. The daily briefings were useful, yet they were never quite enough to satisfy his curiosity about the dynamics of what had almost happened.
From the military history he had studied and the classified briefings he had for this job, Bishop was more aware than most of how close the world often was to war. A boomer didn't patrol the ocean at hard-alert status because the world had turned peaceful. It remained a deterrent against the fact the world was inherently the opposite—unstable and prone to warfare.
And if he had to pick a subject to lose sleep over at night, he would choose North Korea. When nuclear weapons were considered the reason the nation continued to exist, when warheads were stockpiled in dangerous numbers, North Korea remained an immediate threat to South Korea and a serious threat to Japan. Bishop would prefer rational actors when it came to military matters, and he wasn't convinced the new North Korean leader had a rational view of the world around the isolated country. Bishop knew some of the classified captain's-eyes-only tasking orders were launch package codes for North Korean targets.
The world might be quiet tonight, but he didn't make the assumption it was calm. Following the whales for a while sounded like a smart way to stay undetected.
* * *
She needed to get out of Boulder, Colorado. Gina Gray peeled an orange and studied the night sky through the window above the kitchen sink. The conviction had been growing over the course of the last few weeks. She needed to make a major change.
Breaking up with a guy was always difficult, but this hadn't been her choice, and she hadn't seen it coming. It put her in an uncertain mood. And continuing to cross paths with Kevin Taggert at work was too high a price to pay for her peace of mind. It was time to leave.
She'd put off the decision for weeks, for she enjoyed working at NOAA's Marine Geology and Geophysics Division. But her task of mapping the seabed of the world's oceans using satellite data was essentially finished. She'd solved the last technical problem, incorporating the earth's gravity map with the radar data. The algorithms were finished, and now it was just processing time. A set of detailed seabed maps for the Pacific were complete, and they were beautiful in their exquisite detail. They were already in use by the Navy. The rest of the world's five oceans would follow as computer-processing time was available, and her colleague Ashley had that task well in hand.
Excerpted from Undetected by Dee Henderson. Copyright © 2014 Dee Henderson. Excerpted by permission of Bethany House Publishers.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Shadowplay4u
Posted Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This is an elegantly written love story that will send your heart spinning on a most extraordinary and complex rollercoaster. You won’t see the twists and turns coming in this story, and you will treasure each of them. My heart didn’t want to let go of these unforgettably unique and beautiful characters.
Mark Bishop loves his job as a commander in the Navy. He couldn’t ask for a more challenging or fulfilling job, and he leads one of the best crews in the Navy in his humble opinion. It would seem that he has it all, but in reality there is a huge piece that is missing in his life. He lost his first wife to a tragic accident, and now his heart has begun to long for a friend, a companion, and a lover again. Gina Gray has genius level intelligence. She has never grown comfortable with the gift of her mind, and has struggled to fit in and feel anything close to normal. Instead of embracing her talents, she fights against them not knowing how to deal with the impact of her impressive discoveries. She longs for love, but each time she opens up, her heart gets broken. When true love quietly walks into her tumultuous life, will she welcome it and hold it close or will she push it away in fear of it completely breaking her?
The thought-provoking yet heart-warming mix of characters set the stage for a fascinating adventure and a breathtaking love affair. Watching as two very different people in opposite orbits slowly converge to fall into the same course was agonizing and stunning at the same time. Their simple yet powerful love healed their deep-seated hurt and opened up a new life for them that neither could have imagined.
What touched my heart the most was watching Gina fight against and then slowly accept her gift with the help of Mark’s gentle love and persistent encouragement. He did all that he could to show her that she was made with a purpose. She was not a mistake or a freak. Who she is and what she could do was beautiful and purposeful, and he made it his mission to show her this until she finally believed it herself. He gave her life meaning and direction, and she filled the empty part of his heart. If only we all had people like Mark in our life to direct us to God when we lose our way and show us how beautiful we are despite our ugly scars.
Dee Henderson continues to take my breath away with her stories that reach into your heart and make you realize just how loved and cherished you are. It doesn’t matter how different and unique a person is, they are just as important and valuable as everyone else. In reality, those people are the ones that God usually chooses to use in a profound way. He is able to show Himself through those that we view as weak and strange. Through their flaws and differences we are granted a view into how multi-faceted and incomprehensible our magnificent God really is. Do not underestimate anyone because God could use them to touch your life in the most unexpected way.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jani417
Posted Fri May 23 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Too Little Story, Way Too Much Detail
Fans of Dee Henderson may be surprised and/or disappointed by this book. For an author with such a large number of admirers, this indicates a lot of mixed reactions.
The storyline is appealing and the settings unusual and interesting, but the amount of scientific and naval submarine detail weighs heavy and makes a short story into a long, lackluster account of events. Character development is shallow and the personal interactions lacked passion and depth of emotion. The reader does not feel in tune with the characters and is unlikely to empathize. Even during the climactic crisis incident, readers will not feel the usual level of suspense.
The events move across the country and out to sea, but the story unfolds haphazardly, with readers feeling no insight into the characters’ thoughts and feelings. It is a simple story of good people, but just misses the mark for entertainment value.
I was given a free copy of this book by Bethany House for the purpose of review. My opinions are truthful and my own.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I have read all of Dee Henderson's books and enjoyed everyone of them, but I really had a hard time getting into this one. There was so much science details that cause me to be bored at times. It seemed to not go as deep into the characters as most of her books. I am looking forward to more of her books and hope they continue to be good reads.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Tue Jul 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Henderson is one of my favorite authors, and this book was very enjoyable. As with other books of hers, this one ties in characters of prior books, and I like that continuity. It gives a feeling the characters live beyond the pages of the book that featured them.
However, if you are looking for a solid adventure involving the submarine service, I found this aspect disappointing. The intrigue of submarine warfare just wasn't there. If you want that, I suggest Tom Clancy's "SSN".
I also thought the males in pursuit of Gina Gray were far too easy going toward each other as rivals for her hand. Men just aren't wired that way.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Sep 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014
No one can write a novel like Dee Henderson!
Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of excellent authors who write wonder, engaging stories that change lives and alter attitudes. However, Dee Henderson is number one in my opinion.
In her new novel, "Undetected" Ms. Henderson introduces us to two of the most loveable characters. I wish they were real and in my life. Who wouldn't want Christian friends like Mark Bishop, Naval Commander of the USS Nevada nuclear sub, and Gina Grey, Gina, the Genius, who can simplify the most complex scientific ideas, yet still can't figure out personal relationships?
Their love story will make you cry, cheer, smile. Henderson writes powerfully about the struggles these two have with their faith and living a life in which they have to make difficult decisions that could mean life or death for millions of people.
Henderson does her research. I learned about what life onboard a submarine for 90-days is like, and how it affects not only the submariners but their families. It made the characters more real and believable. I gained a greater respect for those who choose the Navy as their career and defend our country and the world from hundreds of feet beneath the ocean.
This book is a keeper and a sharer. It's too good not to share, and yet I want to hold on to it and read it over again and again. It is a powerful Christian book, safe to give to tweens and teens. In fact, I would recommend allowing young women just starting to date or go off to college to read any of Dee Henderson's books to get a good look at what a healthy relationship between a godly man and woman should look like. Don't miss this romantic suspense.
I have read all but one or two of Dee Henderson's books and have never found one I did thoroughly enjoy. I can't wait to see what her next book holds.
elsauer
Posted Mon Aug 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014
As always, Dee Henderson comes through with another great read! I couldn't put it down, often reading 100 pages in one sitting. It can get a little drug out at times, but still a great read. Highly recommend.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.dgottreu
Posted Thu Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Undetected by Dee Henderson is another great book by this author. Mark Bishop is the Commander of a ballistic missile submarine but when someone asks him what he does for a living he simply replies, “I’m in the Navy.” This is an extreme understatement for his job carries responsibilities that are not seen in any other job in the military. Mark is a widower and with all his heart he wants to come home to someone after spending several months at sea in a submarine with hundreds of men. He is attracted to Gina Gray but feels that maybe she is too young for him. Gina does ocean science research and her job is so important and secret that she has round the clock military protection. She would love to be married but due to a failed relationship, she spends nearly all her time working, sometimes even sleeping at her office. This work situation leaves her no time for a social life. She has just made a very important discovery and she needs Mark Bishop’s help to prove her theory. Fortunately, this will give them time together to get to know each other.
As with all her books, Dee Henderson did an excellent job in the development of all aspects of this story. It is very evident that she did the research necessary to write such a detailed story about life on a submarine and other jobs in the Navy. Also, she wrote in such a way that it was easy to understand what was happening on the submarine and with Gina’s work. All the characters were so well developed that I felt as if each one was a friend with Mark and Gina being close friends. Gina did not want to spend time on the submarine and this segment of the story was so real that I was feeling the same fear as Gina. There were several twists and turns to the plot line and these just added to the enjoyment of the story and kept me guessing as to what was going to happen. The characters and dialogue were so well developed that I had the feeling as if I were right in the middle of the action taking place on the submarine.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a well written story that is also a learning experience. There is romance and enough mystery to keep one reading and guessing.
Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
HollyMag321
Posted Sat Jul 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Since Dee Henderson’s return her books have been very heady and lengthy. This book is no exception, however, unlike the previous one that focused a great deal on coin collections this one looks at topics that a broader audience would enjoy. I loved Gina Gray as the brilliant expert on sonar technology. She has a sweet almost innocent personality but she also had a sassy side as she interacted with Mark Bishop. Throughout most of the story I really liked his character, although there was a section about halfway through the book I felt like he was a little aggressive in his relationship with Gina. Even with that overall he was a great character.
I enjoyed the storyline with the different technologies discussed in regards to the submarines and war tactics. I would love to know how much of the science described in the story is feasible. The romance was well done and had an interesting aspect to it that I don’t think I’ve seen before.
Each of the characters grew in their faith and a deeper understanding of what it means to trust God.
This is my favorite Henderson book since her return and would recommend it to those who have enjoyed previous Henderson’s books or if you enjoy books that focus around the Navy and Naval ships.
Disclaimer: Bethany House provided this book to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
CaraPutman
Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This was an enjoyable read. I know many have bemoaned the loss of the O'Malleys. That was a special series. I love that in Undetected it had twinges of a Clancy novel without getting bogged down in the nitty-gritty details. This book has an edge of thriller to it, and a slice of romance. It's not your typical romance because the heroine has to grow into love, but I enjoyed the way it was different from the typical romances that are available.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Fri Jul 18 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Undetected was a great way to finish off the series of the Uncommon Heros. Even if it wasn't listed in that group it just is the final touch. Great reasearch and insight of those with a very high IQ and the emotional understanding of those who are in the Navy. Could not put it down!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted Thu Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014
A very entertaining read. I now understand much more about submarines.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.ILuvBooks25
Posted Sun Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014
This is not the first book of Dee’s that I have read, however this is the first book that I have read in her new series. As always Dee’s writing is superb. She does a great job of giving you all the details and the past on the characters so that you know who they are and what their life has been like. In addition, I also like how she incorporates religion into the story. She does it without you even knowing that it is a key part of the book. This is nice especially for those readers who may want to read the story but who may not want to read an over abundance on religion.
The only part that I found difficult about the book was all the scientific and Navy terminology in the book. I think there is a need for the information in the book but it felt like it took up half the book. It is reason that it took me a while to get through the book because at times I felt like it overshadowed the story that Dee was trying to tell. About half way through the book I finally felt there was a story and I wanted to find out what happened.
I think that the book was very well written and had a great story. I felt that after reading it I had a better understanding of the Navy and about submarines that I didn’t know before. I think that Dee wrote a great story that needed to be told and has not been told before. I am very interested in reading more of Dee’s books and can’t wait to see what she has in store for the next one in the series.
bookgirl_2134
Posted Sun Jun 29 00:00:00 EDT 2014
I've loved Ms. Henderson's books for a VERY long time. In fact I believe she was my first foray into Christian
Suspense novels. She researches exhaustively and that is very much appreciated on the reader's end, since the
book's subject just makes SO much more sense when you understand the material or the character's life.
This book was no exception: awesome research so I understand the setting and plot of the book, but it was too
slow. Catch 22, you need the knowledge to understand, but getting the knowledge substantially slows down plot
progression.
Real heroes and real life situations with REAL emotions that most can relate to, all ALWAYS present
in her books.
The romance was slow going, but again it was real.
I loved getting to know these characters (+ a look ahead into the lives of her last book's heroes) and am hoping her
next book reconnects us with Ann Silver, so we can catch up with the 'real' O'Malleys.
I received a copy from Netgalley to review, but my thoughts are my own.
Anonymous
Posted Fri Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Interesting book. Had to keep reading to see where it went.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.fchatten
Posted Fri Jun 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Dee Henderson didn't let me down. I love her stories. This isn't a riveting adventure. Its a slow paced wonderful story of how God can help lead even those that don't know they are intended for each other to find each other.
Great story can't wait for the next one.
Gina is a genius, which often equates with loneliness. After a failed relationship she heads to her brother's house to wait for him to return home. He works on a submarine for the US Navy. Gina has decided she wants to be married, despite her past track record with men. So she hopes that her brother will help her find a great guy. But when Daniel and Mark both seem like perfect choices she can't make a decision about either of them. Combine this with the potential volatile information she's just uncovered about sonar and she is one stressed woman. But God has been there for everything in the past. So she knows He'll guide her through this chaotic time as well.
Combine suspense, romance, and military drama and you have Undetected. The plot is full of technical details, yet I never felt lost or confused. The author did a great job of making the story seem authentic without overwhelming the reader with hard to understand information. The romance was sweet, clean, and heartwarming. It was woven throughout the entire story, but it wasn't over powering or overshadowed the plot. There are definitely elements of the main character's faith in the story. It is clear they are Christians, but the references are in relation to the characters and their lives so it doesn't feel preachy or over done. Dee Henderson is one of my all time favorite authors and she's definitely written another winner.
I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
Undetected
By Dee Henderson
Gina Gray is smart and can come up with solutions to problems that were thought to have no possible solution. She has the ability to see simplicity in the complex, but when it comes to personal relationships Gina is at a loss. And her latest break-up has her seeking her seeking her brother's help. Asking Jeff to help her find someone who won't be threatened by the way her mind works seems like a huge favor to ask of someone, but Gina needs help and she trusts Jeff.
Mark Bishop loves his life as a commander aboard the USS Nevada - a ballistic missile submarine in the US Navy. Mark still misses his wife, though it has only been a few years since she died. But he needs to move on, he knows Melinda would have wanted him to. But the life of a Navy Commander is demanding and can put an extra strain on a marriage.
When his best friend Jeff Gray approaches him about going out with his sister Gina, Mark turns him down because Gina is 10 years younger than him. But when he starts working with Gina on her newest discovery, he realizes he may have made a mistake. Is it too late to remedy the situation or will Jeff's second choice for Gina steal her heart before Mark can reveal his?
I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at the life of a submarine crew. It was an interesting and intriguing setting for the rest of the story. Sometimes (for those not involved in this life) the strains that this puts on their personal life are fully appreciated and understood.
Dee Henderson does a wonderful job weaving an engaging and entertaining story. This can be a stand-alone story though there are a couple of characters from Unspoken who make a quick appearance in the story. If you like intense and exciting books that will capture your attention from cover to cover you don't want to miss Undetected!
I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
Anonymous
Posted Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Dee Henderson is an amazing writer. I enjoy the main characters as well as the sub characters. She elegantly weaves story lines allowing a reader to revisit with former characters and gain some insight on the status of their stories. While they are always warm loving stories centered around faith, family, etc the only comment I have about the book is a small one. The characters continually focus on Gina's security. I would have loved some of the action to have justified the personal round the clock monitoring.
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Posted Sat Jun 07 00:00:00 EDT 2014
Undetected, is the story of Mark Bishop, a captain of a nuclear submarine, and Gina Gray, a brilliant scientist who is constantly developing technological advances that no one has ever dreamed could be created. They have known each other for years through Gina’s brother Jeff (also a submarine captain), but when Gina comes up with some astonishing new developments in Navy sonar techniques, she needs more support than ever to refine the technology, and keep it secret. Mark is assigned to help her with whatever she requires to make that happen. Will enemy forces learn of this new technology and use it against the United States Navy? And what will become of Gina’s dream to find the right person to settle down with?
This book was a little different from a normal Dee Henderson book. Typically, I would classify her books as easy reading-I can sit down and read one within a day or two. This one, contained a lot more technical information-making the book longer (almost 500 pages), and a little bit of a slower read. That being said, I still loved it. I am a big Tom Clancy fan (at least his earlier books), and his books are filled with a lot of such details. This book reminded me of that style.
It is very clear that the author did a lot of research before writing Undetected-the details of submarine life, and the military scenarios she came up with were extremely plausible, and the inventions she created for Gina sounded like they could be real (even though I know nothing about such things, and I am sure if they WERE real, they would be classified!)
As a side note: there are characters from the previous book Unspoken in this book. You don’t have to have read Unspoken to read this one (I happened to have just finished it before I read this one.) I am only mentioning it as I am actually ashamed to admit that it took me almost 300 pages to even realize that Mark Bishop was brother to Bryce from Unspoken.
Now that I have rambled on and on, I will just say this: It’s a really great book, and it’s worth the read-especially if you like Tom Clancy and Dee Henderson, this book would be a perfect match for you. Another well-written, fabulous book from Dee-loved it, and am keeping it on my shelf.
A huge thank you to Bethany House for providing this complimentary book for my unbiased review!
PlantsandPillars
Posted Fri Jun 06 00:00:00 EDT 2014
My sisters and I have been waiting and waiting for this book to come out. And Dee Henderson did not disappoint us. This book combines intense action, cliff hanger suspense, and a touch of romance to make for a wonderful read. Definitely my favorite so far in her newest series.
What I Liked
Gina Gray is highly intelligent, very successful, and a little lonely. She would love to be married, but her brains seem to run men off. While the U. S. Government can’t imagine life without her, Gina wishes for someone who would care about her. Mark Bishop is a submarine commander, who understands better than anyone the power of Gina’s discoveries
On his trip home, he encourages Gina to go out on dates with another submariner. Only to discover he’s the man for Gina. Now he has to convince Gina of this and figure out a way to protect her from herself. Especially when she makes another powerful, world shaking discovery.
What I Didn’t Like
I have to wait another year before she writes the next one!
Five out of five stars!
Overview
Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: "I'm in the Navy." But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that ...