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Rogue Vengeance
Charles Stewart’s Rogue Vengeance is a muscular military thriller about loyalty under fire, the cost of service, and the long shadow cast when governments use warriors and then try to discard them. Colt Hawkins is trying to build a future with Liberty Starr on the Sabre T Ranch, but peace barely has time to take root before a wedding becomes a battlefield; Jesse remains trapped in a brutal Chinese prison, and Task Force 24 is pulled back into a widening conflict that stretches from Montana to Madrid, Hainan Island, and Taiwan. The novel moves with the urgency of an operation already in motion, blending domestic trauma, covert rescue planning, political betrayal, and geopolitical escalation into one restless story about people who keep answering the call even when the call has taken too much from them.
What stayed with me most was the emotional weight beneath all the tactical movement. The opening contrast between Jesse’s suffering in captivity and Colt’s quiet hope at the Raven’s Nest sets the tone beautifully: this is a book interested in bodies under pressure, but also in what people build when they’re desperate to believe they can still have a life. Stewart lets readers feel the tenderness, and that makes the violence feel less like a spectacle and more like a violation. At its best, the novel understands that survival isn’t clean or triumphant. It’s sore, frightened, stubborn, and sometimes quietly beautiful.
The writing has a hard-edged cadence that suits the material. Stewart favors clipped sentences, procedural detail, and scene cuts that mimic surveillance feeds or tactical briefings, and that gives the novel a cinematic, forward-driving rhythm. I found the operational details convincing and immersive, especially when the book follows intelligence gathering, safe houses, cell structures, and rescue planning. At times, though, the sheer density of names, agencies, acronyms, and moving parts can crowd the emotional space. The story occasionally explains when it could trust the moment to breathe. Still, there’s an authenticity in the worldview that’s difficult to fake. The ideas are clear and strongly felt: duty doesn’t end just because politics shifts, loyalty is heavier than policy, and the people who protect a nation are often least protected by it. I didn’t always need every briefing, but I believed deeply in the ache behind them.
I found Rogue Vengeance intense, heartfelt, and deeply invested in the bonds between warriors, families, and the country they serve. It’s a large, ambitious thriller with a bruised heart, one that works best when its action is anchored in grief, devotion, and the fragile possibility of home. The ending opens the door to an even larger conflict, but it also reinforces the novel’s central truth: Colt and his team may be wounded, but they’re not finished. I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy military thrillers with detailed operations, sprawling geopolitical stakes, and a strong emotional core, especially those who like stories about brotherhood, sacrifice, and the private costs behind public missions.
Pages: 429 | ASIN : B0GFXJYSQ2
The “Right” Call
Rogue Vengeance is the third installment in the Colt Hawkins Series and follows a network of CIA and special forces operations figures as their personal lives collide with international violence. What draws you to the espionage thriller genre?
There’s a particular tension in espionage that you don’t find anywhere else in fiction- the collision between the personal and the geopolitical. A spy can’t have a normal conversation, can’t fully trust the person across the dinner table, can’t ever truly come home. That fascinates me. The genre lets me explore loyalty, deception, and sacrifice at their absolute extremes, where a single decision ripples across borders and lives.
With the Colt Hawkins Series, I wanted to write thrillers that move at full throttle but never lose the human heartbeat underneath. The CIA briefings and the firefights are the engine, but the fuel is always the story and the characters. Rogue Vengeance is where that combustion really ignites- the stakes feel global, but every chapter comes back to people you’ve grown to care about over three books.
Colt is repeatedly forced to choose between duty and personal happiness. Why was that conflict important to the story?
That conflict is Colt Hawkins. A man who’s exceptional at his job precisely because he’s willing to give up everything- and a man who’s slowly realizing that “everything” includes the people he loves most.
I built that tension into the story because I think it’s the truest thing about anyone who serves. The mission demands total commitment, but commitment has a cost, and someone always pays it. By the third book, Colt can no longer compartmentalize. The two halves of his life crash into each other, and watching him try to be both the operative the world needs and the man his loved ones deserve- and learning he may not get both- is the emotional core of Rogue Vengeance. Readers who’ve followed Colt from the beginning will feel that weight in a way that hits hard.
What does the novel say about the limits of patriotism?
This is the question that kept me up at night while writing. Patriotism is often portrayed as uncomplicated–love your country, serve without question. But real loyalty gets tested in the gray spaces, where the “right” call and the “being ordered” aren’t the same thing.
Rogue Vengeance asks what happens when serving your country means betraying your conscience, or when the institutions you’ve bled for stop deserving that blood. Colt and the network around him are forced to define where their loyalty actually lives- in a flag, in their orders, in each other, or in their own sense of right and wrong. I don’t hand the reader an easy answer, because there isn’t one. What I do offer is a story that makes you feel the cost of every choice and respect the people willing to make them.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
We are going to release an Audio version of Rogue Vengeance that will be out around August. The sequel to Rogue Vengeance, Book 4, The Price of Freedom, picks up moments after Rogue finishes. And it is the centerpiece of the Colt Hawkins Series. It is completed and sitting on the shelf. We are going to wait a bit before its release. I have maybe a standalone WWII Historical Epic Fiction Novel, Ties That Bind (179K words), that just went through final edit. That I will seek representation for. And we have done the rough outline for Book 5 of the Colt Hawkins Series, Arch Angel.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Their own government outcasts Colt and his team, Task Force 24, as ruthless Chinese assassins brutally attack the woman he loves on their wedding day, leaving her severely wounded.
But Colt isn’t dead- Now, it’s personal, he won’t rest until he’s hunted down every last person responsible.
With a mole at the highest levels of power and a ruthless enemy leader pulling the strings, Colt finds himself a target of both the intelligence community that abandoned him and a vengeful Chinese death squad. Aided by his former teammates, Colt uncovers a conspiracy that goes deeper than he ever imagined. Now, his quest for revenge becomes a race against time to save his country from a devastating espionage plot.
The lines between loyalty and betrayal blur as Colt must decide if he can trust the very agency that cast him out. With a new CIA director at the helm and an elite operative watching over the woman he loves, Colt must navigate a deadly game of international espionage where the only rule is survival.
Rogue Vengeance
Rogue Vengeance, by Charles A. Stewart, is a military espionage thriller about betrayal, loyalty, and the heavy cost of service. The story follows Colt Hawkins, Liberty Starr, Jesse, and a network of CIA and special operations figures as personal lives collide with international violence. What begins around a wedding and a fragile hope for peace quickly turns into a larger conflict involving China, covert missions, political pressure, revenge, and survival. It’s an action-heavy thriller, but underneath the gunfire and strategy, it’s also about people trying to hold onto love, purpose, and identity after trauma.
The pacing in this story is fantastic. Stewart writes in short, sharp bursts that often feel like quick camera cuts. One scene is intimate and warm, with family gathered around a ranch house or Colt trying to imagine a quieter future, and then the next scene drops into surveillance, ambush planning, or prison brutality. That contrast works well for the genre. It keeps the pressure high. The book feels almost built for the screen, with clean scene breaks, direct action, and a strong sense of movement. I did sometimes want a little more breathing room, especially when the cast widened and the operational details stacked up. But I also understood the choice. This is a thriller that wants the reader alert, not settled.
I was most drawn to the emotional spine of the book. Colt isn’t just another tough operator who can take a bullet and keep moving. He is a man being asked, again and again, how much of himself he can give before there’s nothing left. The scenes with Liberty give the story its heart, and they make the violence matter more because there is something real at stake beyond mission success. Jesse’s captivity adds another layer, showing endurance in a quieter but no less brutal form. Stewart’s ideas are clear: duty can save people, but it can also consume them; loyalty is noble, but it can become a chain; and governments often treat sacrifice like a renewable resource. That’s where the book feels most grounded to me.
I would recommend Rogue Vengeance to readers who enjoy military thrillers, CIA action stories, and revenge-driven espionage novels with a large cast and a strong patriotic edge. Fans of high-stakes operations, tactical detail, and stories about brotherhood under pressure will probably appreciate it most. Readers looking for a fast, emotional, mission-focused thriller with both firepower and heart should find plenty to enjoy here.
Pages: 429 | ASIN : B0GFXJYSQ2
The Silent Professional
Sky Thunder follows a man retired from the military who now works as a CIA operative leading a mission to protect a scientist defecting from Morocco while facing off against a group of radical terrorists. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
As I finished my first book Cry of the Eagle I was doing some research on how I was going to continue the Colt Hawkins Series. During my research, I was reading about how the stealth technology had gone from aircraft to missiles and how China actually has a stealth missile called Sky Thunder. I loved the name. As I was building the outline, I remembered a book from the late 70’s that I read in high school by Gayle Rivers called The Five Fingers. I used that as the base idea for Sky Thunder.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I research everything. For Sky Thunder, I did an in-depth study of Russian Services like the FSB, Elite units, and how Russia uses contractors to be mercenaries, and even though I may know some of it, I still researched to make sure I am as accurate as I can be. I always want the story to sound authentic with the reader in mind. Especially my fellow brothers and sisters who wear or have worn the uniform. If I get positive feedback from them, then I know I did ok.
Colt Hawkins is such an engaging character. What was the inspiration for his traits and dialogue?
That is really a good question. Colt is a combination of people that I have had the pleasure to work with. Hell, part of him is me. Colt is the silent professional, Once you have been through some real life and death experiences you have nothing to prove to anyone. Colt knows what he can do when he has to do it. He doesn’t like it but he will do it for the greater good. The part where he tries to keep his emotions to himself. All the good that comes his way he is afraid to trust it. The bad he keeps in because he doesn’t want to burden anyone.
Colt slowly realizes he can’t do it alone. This is my story. Use what you know, right? I think as warriors we have it ingrained into us that we can endure, I don’t need help, I am ok, we shake it off, ignore it, or bury it deep within regardless and continue the mission at all cost. But now the mission is us, our families. At some point you have to depend on others if you don’t it becomes a lonely world. So Colt and his teammates are flawed. Like every team I have ever been on.
Where will the next installment in this series take readers? When can they expect to see it released?
Book Three Rogue Vengeance is the aftermath of Sky Thunder on so many levels. The opening paragraph reveals several things from Sky Thunder that will catch the readers by surprise. China reveals itself to Taiwan. I will say this, for Colt and Liberty things hit too close to home.
Rogue Vengeance is ready. As of right now, we are looking at every Veterans Day to be a release date for all my books. But that may all change if I acquire representation with an agent.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
“Sky Thunder” is the story of the men and women of one of the world’s most elite and secretive paramilitary organizations. Special Activities Division of the CIA, Former Tier One Operator Colt Hawkins is gritty, smart, honorable, battle-tested, and devoted to his fellow operators and his country, who are frequently put in harm’s way by the evils of the world.
Colt Hawkins has recently retired from the military and is now a CIA Operative engaged with NASA Director Dr. Liberty Starr. A new team has been assembled on their first mission in Morrocco to protect a CIA spy transferring a defecting Chinese Scientist. During the defection, Vlad Benchiko, the mastermind behind the Dallas bombings, and Wahid Madi and Amal Sefer, the two Iranian-trained radical terrorists who were also responsible for all the killing and destruction in Texas, catch Task Force 24 and the CIA off-guard trying to stop the defection.
The scientist discovered a secret about Russia and China collaborating to develop the first strike weapon, a stealth missile called Sky Thunder. The new President is determined to obtain the innovative technology that America abandoned and orders the mission- seize the technology and destroy a secret facility deep inside Russia in the Caucasus Mountain ranges. Colt leads his team, U.S. Army Special Forces members, and U.S. Navy Seals into a never attempted feat. Inside the White House, a Chinese double agent is a top advisor and part of the President’s inner circle.
CIA Special Activities Division Task Force 24 retrieves the technology. Another team is ambushed by Vlad and his army of mercenaries of Red Star Group. At the same time, the President gives the abort order, afraid of being blamed and giving the White House a black eye, leaving the CIA operatives inside Russia to fight for their survival, not giving up Dr. Liberty Starr and the CIA team with Washington insiders try to save Colt and the men and women in Russia.
An unbreakable bond is forged when people sacrifice their lives for each other to bring these brave men and women home.
Sky Thunder
Sky Thunder is an intense military thriller that drops the reader straight into the chaos of war, espionage, and political maneuvering. The book follows an elite group of operatives navigating missions that blend battlefield tactics with high-stakes intelligence work. From the brutal streets of Iraq to the tangled webs of Washington D.C., Sky Thunder doesn’t hold back. It’s a gritty, unapologetic look at modern warfare, where danger lurks at every turn, and loyalties are tested in life-or-death situations.
One of the book’s strongest points is its sheer realism. The author’s descriptions of sniper teams setting up in war-torn Iraq feel authentic. The opening sequence, where a sniper team eliminates insurgents planting a bomb, is a perfect example. The technical details, the tension of lining up a shot, and the small but critical mistakes that can happen in combat all make this an immersive read. I found myself completely absorbed in these moments, feeling the weight of every trigger pull.
But for all its action-packed sequences, some of the dialogue, particularly in the political and intelligence briefings, can feel a bit bogged down by exposition. The high-level discussions about espionage, classified leaks, and international threats are fascinating but occasionally read more like a debriefing. That being said, these sections show the bureaucratic chaos behind military operations. The tension between intelligence agencies and boots-on-the-ground soldiers is palpable, and Stewart does a solid job illustrating the frustration that comes with politics interfering in war.
The characters are where Sky Thunder really shines. Colt Hawkins, the battle-hardened yet emotionally scarred operative, is compelling because he’s both an unstoppable force and a flawed man. His PTSD-fueled nightmares, like the flashback of an Iraqi ambulance carrying insurgents instead of babies, add layers to his character. And the relationships in the book, especially between Colt and Liberty, bring a much-needed human element to all the gunfire and strategy. While some side characters fade a bit into the background, there are standouts like Bo and Sam, who help ground the book’s non-stop action with camaraderie and humor.
Sky Thunder is for readers who crave military fiction that doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If you love military thrillers and American Sniper or Lone Survivor kept you up at night, this book is made for you. It’s intense, action-packed, and filled with the kind of insider knowledge that makes military fiction feel real.
Pages: 298 | ASIN : B0DK655KYG
Sky Thunder
Sky Thunder is an intense, high-stakes military thriller that plunges readers into a covert operation aimed at stopping a dangerous new stealth missile program. The story follows a specialized team of operatives as they infiltrate Russian territory to sabotage a top-secret facility developing advanced weaponry. The stakes are global, the action relentless, and the geopolitical intrigue thick with tension. Through a mix of tactical precision, political maneuvering, and pulse-pounding combat, the book captures the high-risk world of special operations and intelligence warfare.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its commitment to authenticity. Stewart clearly knows his stuff when it comes to military operations, and he doesn’t hold back. The mission briefing sequences, the chain of command details, and the breakdown of special forces strategy all feel meticulously researched. This level of detail makes the story immersive, especially the section where Colt and his team receive their OPORD (Operations Order), which is packed with acronyms and unit designations, making it feel more like a declassified military report.
The action sequences, however, are where Sky Thunder truly shines. The book is loaded with high-adrenaline combat scenes that feel cinematic. A standout moment comes during a chaotic firefight with Russian attack helicopters, where the operatives engage in a desperate battle to stay alive. The descriptions are vivid, the stakes high, and the sense of danger palpable. There’s also a particularly tense HALO (High Altitude, Low Opening) jump scene where Colt experiences a moment of sheer isolation as he plummets through the night sky, uncertain whether his team followed him out of the plane. These moments make the book gripping, giving readers a front-row seat to the intensity of modern warfare.
Character development, while present, takes a backseat to the mission. Colt, the team leader, is competent and battle-hardened, but his internal struggles are only briefly explored. We get glimpses of his doubt and leadership pressure, especially during critical moments, but the book focuses more on external threats than deep emotional arcs. Supporting characters like Smitty, Super Dave, and Lindsey add personality, but the sheer number of operatives and military personnel makes it hard to form strong attachments to any single one. That said, the camaraderie and sharp banter between team members help keep the story grounded in human connection.
Sky Thunder is a must-read for fans of military thrillers who appreciate realism and tactical depth. If you love books by authors like Tom Clancy or Brad Taylor, this will be right up your alley. However, if you prefer character-driven stories over mission-driven plots, the technical detail might feel overwhelming. The action is top-tier, the tension real, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Just be ready for a deep dive into military logistics along the way.
Pages: 298 | ASIN : B0DK655KYG
