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Monday, April 27, 2009:
"Hot Pursuit" cover blurb!
Alyssa Locke is no stranger to dealing with danger. As team leader of the nation's number one personal security company, Troubleshooters, Inc., she's seen more than her share of action, survived plenty of close calls, and holds her own with the best of them--and against the worst of them. Guarding lives is her game, and no one plays it better. But her toughest challenge will be protecting herself from a serial killer she's been after for years -- known only as "The Dentist" -- who is determined to make her his ultimate trophy. The assignment was supposed to be an easy one: teach self-defense techniques to a newly-elected New York State Assemblywoman and her chief of staff, after a political controversy generates a blizzard of hate mail -- including some death threats -- from hotheads and cranks. But as soon as she mobilizes in New York City with her squad of moonlighting Navy SEALs, Alyssa begins butting heads with the hard-case cop who thinks they're chasing shadows. Until they discover a dead body. And then another. Now Alyssareally has her hands full -- bodyguarding two independent, busy women, managing a murder investigation, and trying to find time for her husband, Troubleshooters operative Sam Starrett, and their infant son. Meanwhile, it wouldn't be a Troubleshooters operation without romantic sparks and heated rivalries--and any time the SEALs of Team Sixteen are involved, there are plenty of both. But then, in the middle of investigating a suspect, Alyssa is ambushed, and suddenly finds herself imprisoned by The Dentist. Now cut off from everyone she loves and relies on, Alyssa must call upon all of her strength and skill to survive this final confrontation with the sadistic monster, and trust that her Troubleshooter teammates, led by her beloved Sam, will reach her before it's too late. The suspense is killing me! Labels: Suz, Troubleshooters
posted by Stacy~ at 4/27/2009 07:32:00 AM
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Wednesday, February 04, 2009:
SPOILERS! "Dark of Night" by Suzanne Brockmann (2009) - SPOILERS!!!!!!
Taking on the world’s deadliest criminals is what the elite security force Troubleshooters Incorporated does best. But now they face a new and powerful threat from their most lethal enemy yet–a shadowy government outfit known only as The Agency.
For years, operative James Nash has performed ultra-covert “Black Ops” missions for The Agency, but when he decide to walk away from their dirty work, his corrupt bosses aren’t about to let him go. After Nash is nearly assassinated, Troubleshooters team leader Lawrence Decker launches a skillful deception to neutralize the threat and protect his friend. With the FBI’s help, Decker fakes Nash’s death, then brings him to a safe house with his fiancée, Tess Bailey, to recover from his injuries and strategize their next move.
Only a handful of people know that Nash is still alive–and fellow Troubleshooters Dave Malkoff, Sophia Ghaffari, and receptionist Tracy Shapiro aren’t among them. Believing that Nash is dead and that Decker has begun a romantic relationship with Tess, Sophia settles for second best and begins a love affair with Dave, who has adored her for years. But Tracy puts two and two together, discovering the truth about Nash–much to Decker’s dismay.
As passions flare, Decker struggles to keep his scheme afloat, and to keep Nash alive. But when he finds himself targeted for death, the game turns even more perilous, and Sophia, Tracy, and Dave are swept into the deadly play. Under fire and racing to unmask their relentless adversary, the Troubleshooters know that the closer they get, the greater the risks. But sacrifices and consequences come with the territory. Forced to choose between love and loyalty, they are no longer just solving a crime–they’re fighting for survival.
I've only mentioned a gazillion times that I am an unabashed Suzanne Brockmann fan, that I have an undying love for her Navy SEAL books, and now that is true more than ever. I don't care if what she writes is believable or not. It's fiction, after all. What matters to me is how I feel at the end of it. Have you ever felt really sad after reading a truly unforgettable book? That's how I'm feeling after reading the 14th installment in the Troubleshooters series. Suz effectively rips my gut apart and then makes me fall completely in love with the choices she's made for her characters. I know some readers feel like she throws too much into the mix (ala everything plus the kitchen sink method of writing) but with Suz it totally, totally works for me. This time around it's not quite so overwhelming, so I was better able to concentrate on the people that I was rooting for in this book. And yes, there will be spoilers here. I really don't know any way around it, so stop now if you don't want the dirt before you're ready for it. *SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS* Okay, you've been sufficiently warned. Well. Where do I begin? I'm still overcome with emotion though I finished this book over 12 hours ago (Saturday). One thing I will say is that I am a huge fan of the drawn-out storylines that Suz has mastered since "Unsung Hero" (the first Troubleshooters book). The reason being is because we meet these people, and see into their complicated, messy lives, and inevitably begin to care for many of them. Sometimes we might hate them, and sometimes we really don't care one way or the other. Other times we adore them, then hate them, then fall in love all over again. A lot of times we cry. And laugh. Rejoice. And mourn. No one, not even my beloved Lisa Kleypas, can run me through the emotional ringer like Suz does. My heart is racing from the very first page, mostly in anticipation of what's to come. I haven't loved every book, nor every storyline, but not once did I ever close a Troubleshooters book and feel nothing. I am completely invested from the get-go. Yes, this is a total Suz lovefest. And I'll tell you why: because she took what I would describe as a completely impossible situation and made it work in such a way that I was completely, completely happy with the outcome. That's saying something because I had my heart on things turning out a certain way, but they didn't go that way at all. And if you don't want to find what I'm talking about, I hope you stop reading. Because I cannot review this book without giving spoilers. I just cannot. SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "Dark of Night" picks up immediately where "Into the Fire" leaves off - with tortured hero Jimmy Nash dead and his friends in mourning. With equal parts grief and relief at still being alive, we find Dave and Sophia at the bar, kissing. So here I was sitting, squirming in my chair because as much as I liked Dave, and I really did like the guy, I was in the Sophia & Decker camp. Even during my moments of wanting to smack Deck for being so stupid, and self-sacrificing, and guilty, I still had hopes that these two damaged souls would end up together and finally, FINALLY get their shot at much deserved happiness. But then Dave and Sophia kept kissing, damn them. And then Soph is inviting Dave up to her room. And then they are getting naked. No, no, no. This was not the plan. Suz, what the hell are you doing to me here? I can't handle this. Argh! I am dying a slow, achy death and my heart is hurting. Then we flash-forward about 7 weeks into the future, which is actually the present, to Dave. And he's remembering his short but glorious time with Sophia. Next we're going back four days from the present, where one phone call sets about a chain of events that leads to what happes next... See, here's another spoiler, one that actually goes back to "Into the Fire". Not everyone knows this, and certainly not Dave and Sophia, but Nash is not really dead. Some very bad people want him dead, and they are willing to kill innocent people in order to make that happen. They seem to be one step ahead at all times, and when Jimmy is seriously hurt, Decker, Jules Cassidy and Jimmy's fiancee' Tess pretend that Jimmy died from his injuries in order to protect him and find out who's after him. Because at one time Decker had feelings for Tess, it seemed natural to everyone that he would be there for Tess, and if Jimmy's out of the picture, it would clear the way for Deck and Tess to eventually end up together. Or so everyone believes, including Dave and Sophia. Dave knows Sophia has loved Decker for a long time, but he's willing to be second best. He loves her so completely that he sees any chance with her as a gift, and it's also obvious that he does make her very happy (ugh! Damn you, Dave, for being such a good guy!). Sophia, in the meantime, has come to terms with the fact that Decker doesn't love her, and wants to have a life, a normal one with a nice, ordinary man and maybe children one day. She sees Dave as that man. But in reality, Dave is not that man. Despite his paunch and his nice guy demeanor, Dave is not just a regular guy with a desk job and a mortgage. He's a trained Troubleshooter, one who knows how to kill and how to handle deadly situations. When Dave is stabbed in what initially appears to be a random attack, Sophia starts to realize that Dave is much more than what she bargained for, and that she cares much more for him than she ever thought possible. She will do anything to keep him safe, even disregard orders if it means she can protect him. Meanwhile, Lawrence Decker is one of very few people who knows Jimmy Nash is still alive, and he wants to make sure it stays that way. But it's obvious whoever is after Jimmy is not satisfied with mere reports of his death. They are coming after those who cared for Jimmy, and it soon becomes imperative that Decker bring on reinforcements in the form of Sam and Alyssa (who now have an adorable son named Ashton!). With the help of Jules' husband Robin, they set up a safe house for him in California. All is going well under the Troubleshooters' too perceptive receptionist Tracy Shapiro starts to figure out a few things and realizes that Nash is still alive. Incredulous, and concerned for her safety, Deck decides the only thing he can do is bring her along. As the two make their way to the safe house, they have an encounter with Dr. Jo Heissman, who first appeared in "Into the Fire", and whom Deck is convinced is working for the Agency. She insists she's innocent but Decker doesn't want to hear it. They leave her behind and end up injured when the motel where they were planning to stay is blown up and Deck is shot. As they run to safety, it's evident that there is something sizzling between them, something Tracy is more than willing to explore, but Deck, not so much. The sexy receptionist is infamous for falling in love on a dime, but he can't help but admire her guts, and how she's not afraid to stand up to him, which is something no one ever does. She's much smarter than he ever gave her credit for. But Deck has a little secret, something that will probably have Tracy running for the hills. Only when she finds out what it is, she lets him know that she has absolutely no problem with it. In fact, she's giving him the green light all the way. Deck definitely floats her boat, and for the first time, she's falling for a man before having sex with him. But she knows he's hung up on Sophia so.... Except that's the thing - he's not. Hung up on Sophia that is. Yes, there's a ton and a half of residual guilt for a sexual act that occurred between them years ago, but he feels more guilty about how much he totally got off on it. He figures there's something definitely wrong with him, and he tries to hide his true nature. He also believes that there could never be anything between him and Sophia. Whew! Can I just say that at this point, despite wanting Deck and Sophia to hook up, that I'm totally relieved that Deck doesn't want to be with Sophia because now I want him with Tracy. Whom I didn't much like in "Into the Storm" but who has become someone I really genuinely like in this book. Go Tracy! I totally switched sides, just that easily. I know. I am such a fairweather fan. Suz wrote both storylines in such a way that I was completely onboard with how it all played out. There's also a storyline involving Dr. Jo Heissman, whom I admit I didn't care for much in "Into the Fire". Colleen Gleason compared Dr. Jo to Molly Jones. I can see why she'd say that, but I really liked Molly, right from the start, and I never warmed up much to the Dr. Jo, and that doesn't change here. I felt a little sorry for her (as long as she kept her needy hands off Decker) but mostly I just want her to go away. Yet it turns out the Doc is being blackmailed and has an interesting connection to someone who works at the Troubleshooters office. So now the good guys are trying to find out who is trying to kill Jimmy Nash by using any means possible. There is nothing they won't do - they have no limits. They are not just protecting Jimmy anymore, they are protecting each other.... My thoughts: (I stopped there because there is a lot more going on, and chances are if you're reading this, you've already read the book, so you know what happens. If you haven't read the book, then hopefully I left you curious enough to want to read it. And yes, I am all over the place here, but don't let that stop you from reading the books). The biggest obstacle Suz had in making this story work for me was the whole Decker/Sophia/Dave dynamic. I was firmly in the Decker camp, even when there were times I wanted to go up to him and smack him silly for hurting Sophia like he did. Turns out that he does care for her, just not in the way she deserves, and he knows he would not be the man for her because of his own nature. But rather than sitting her down and explaining all this to her, which probably wouldn't have worked anyway with the way Sophia felt, he stayed away from her. I think Decker is the type of guy who was willing to let other people hate him as long as he didn't hurt Sophia. It all makes a crazy kind of sense now, but at the time, yeah, I would get so mad at Deck, much like Dave would. All you could see was this great guy willing to let a very special woman slip through his fingers, and it was very hard to watch. Dave. He probably laid the adoration on a bit too thick here, but considering all the brutal abuse and trauma Sophia has suffered throughout her life, she deserved a man who loved her unconditionally, and that is exactly how Dave loved her. She could have gone off with Decker and he still would have loved her. He had those normal guy tendencies Sophia wanted, plus he was a little insecured. But he was also a very smart man who's lived a dangerous life, and knows how to take care of himself in those kinds of situations. Sophia didn't always want to see it, but Dave was hero material, just no so upfront about it. I think his involvement with the Troubleshooters put them more on even ground because it wasn't just Dave getting the girl, it was Sophia getting the hero. Tracy. Like I mentioned, I didn't like her in "Into the Storm", when Mark was all in love with her before he met Lindsey. She was, essentially, a needy bitch. But she grew up A LOT since becoming the receptionist for Troubleshooters, Inc. And the heat between her and Decker went through the roof. I was impatient to see these two hook up, because every exchange, whether they were talking about Jimmy or Sophia or running from the bad guys, was charged with this incredible sexual tension. Deck tried to push it away, but Tracy surprised him. See, she's figured out what he's all about, and she's okay with it. In fact, she's more than okay with it and wants to give him a go. I admired the hell out of her for being as assertive as she was. I also loved watching her break through Deck's defenses until he cared for her more than he ever expected. She totally got to him on so many levels, and he genuinely liked her as a person and saw how smart she was, especially to figure out something that many trained professionals did not. She impressed the hell out of him, and when these two are around each other, they make the perfect match. I loved their pairing up. And it gave me the reason I needed to let Dave and Sophia be happy. The one thing that drove me a little crazy, just a minor detail, is how freakin' beautiful both Sophia and Tracy are. I know it probably was to balance how messed up emotionally they were, but it still was a little annoying to hear that they were more gorgeous without makeup (eye roll). Perfect bodies and celebrity hair. Ugh. Enough already. A zit from time to time wouldn't have killed them. But seriously, this book did everything I expected and more. I've read some other reviews around the 'net, and many were favorable, though a few commented on the idea that any SEAL, agent, cop, etc., could essentially get a job at Troubleshooters, Inc., no questions asked, and that how the business was run was not too realistic. Fine. I don't get mired in those details. I don't want too much realism in these books. They are larger than life, and if things work out a little too perfectly, so be it. It never once took away from my enjoyment of the story. In fact after reading "Into the Fire" I was ready to have my emotions completely engaged by a central couple (or couples, as it ended up being) that I cared wholeheartedly for. No offense to Vinh and Hannah, but they just didn't have me at the edge of my seat, in a total maelstrom of emotion. This has been a long review, and I could go on and on and on, but suffice it to say, I was so completely happy when I finished this book. As always, I enjoy seeing the other characters, and I wish there was a way to have them all in the book: Ken & Savannah, Tom & Kelly, Max & Gina, Molly & Jones, Mark & Lindsey, Cosmo and Jane, Mike and Joan. You get the idea. If you haven't read this series, sorry, but I really don't believe this is the place to start. You might enjoy it, but there's just so much backstory that you should read first. It's the 14th installment. In fact I am planning a massive re-read of the Troubleshooters series starting this month. I can't wait!!! Rating: ***** out of *****
Labels: Brockmann, Troubleshooters
posted by Stacy~ at 2/04/2009 07:00:00 AM
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008:
"Into the Fire" by Suzanne Brockmann 2008)
Hardcover: 496 pages Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (July 22, 2008) ISBN-10: 0345501535 ISBN-13: 978-0345501530 Suspense doesn’t burn any brighter and desire doesn’t run any deeper than when Suzanne Brockmann takes the helm, opens the throttle, and takes readers along for a breathless ride as she breaks the thrill barrier–again and again. With Into the Fire, Brockmann lights the fuse on her most explosive story yet. Vinh Murphy–ex-Marine and onetime operative for the elite security firm Troubleshooters Incorporated–has been MIA ever since his wife, Angelina, was caught in a crossfire and killed during what should have been a routine bodyguard assignment. Overcome with grief, Murphy blames the neo-Nazi group known as the Freedom Network for her death. Now, years later, Freedom Network leader Tim Ebersole has been murdered–and the FBI suspects Murphy may have pulled the trigger. To prevent further bloodshed, Murphy’s friends at Troubleshooters scramble to find him and convince him to surrender peacefully. Murphy himself can’t be sure what he did or didn’t do during the years he spent mourning and lost in an alcohol-induced fog. He does know he occasionally sought solace from Hannah Whitfield, a former police officer and the very friend who’d introduced him to his beloved late wife. But Hannah, still grappling with the deafness that resulted from an injury sustained while on duty, was fighting her own battles. For years Hannah had feelings for Murphy, and one painful night their suffering brought them together in a way neither expected–and both regretted. Murphy is ready to rejoin the living. As always, he finds himself knocking on Hannah’s door, and as always, his longtime friend welcomes him back into her home. Yet even as Murphy slowly rebuilds his splintered life, he continues to fight his growing feelings for Hannah. Then he learns of Ebersole’s murder and comes to believe that the Freedom Network has targeted him–and Hannah–to avenge their leader’s death to violence. Now Murphy must face the terrifying prospect of losing another woman he loves. As the Troubleshooters desperately search for him, Murphy races toward a deadly confrontation with the Freedom Network and ultimate choice: surrender his life in hopes that Hannah will be spared, or risk everything to salvage whatever future they may have together.
This has been my most anticipated book of 2008, though not my most anticipated couple from the Troubleshooters series. One of the things I enjoy about Suz's books is how well we get to know most of the characters before they get their HEA. I love that. I know a lot of readers are like "all right already!" but I'm not one of them. I enjoy the scenic route. I feel more invested in the characters this way. So, here we go. It's six months ago, and we have our hero Vinh, whose beautiful, vivacious wife Angelina was violently killed years before. During that time, he stayed in a fog of pain, rage and alcohol, and doesn't remember most of what happened during that time. When he re-surfaces, it's to visit an old friend, Hannah, who's only been in love with him forever. Hannah is a cop who was badly hurt on her last case that also left her deaf, and now she's living like a hermit in California. To make things more complicated, Hannah was also Angelina's best friend, and had introduced the two. So Hannah has secretly harbored her love for Vinh since the day she's met him, and stood aside when the two people she loved most got married. So now, when Vinh reaches for her during his grief, she doesn't turn him away, and they have a quick, fumbling quickie. Ashamed, drunk, he leaves her before she wakes in the morning. Around this same time, Izzy (and who doesn't want to read more about Izzy? Such a smart-ass, but a damn hot one at that) meets this beautiful girl that takes his breath away. Turns out this vision is Eden Gillman, younger sister of his fellow SEAL Danny, who happens to have it bad for Sophia, who's totally in love with Decker, who is dead inside...well, yeah, it's complicated. Fast-forward to the present, where Vinh once again comes to see Hannah, only this time he's sober and clear-eyed. Where Jimmy Nash is hiding something big but refuses to tell anyone, least of all his fiancee' Tess, even after he's shot. Where Eden Gillman shows up back in Izzy's life in an unexpected fashion. Where Deck has a major meltdown. And where it's discovered that Timother Ebersole, the leader of a violent and radical group called the Freedom Network, whom everyone believes is responsible for Angelina's death, has been discovered dead. And everyone suspects Vinh. Even he suspects himself, as he can't remember not doing it, that's how bad off he was. And where Tracy thinks Dave has a great butt (?!?!?!) My thoughts: True, this sounds like a convoluted mess, but Suz manages to weave her magic and have it all come together, mostly. There are always loose ends to carry on to the next story, and sometimes the outcome is not what we'd always expect. But that is why she's one of my favorite writers. Suz can completely rip my guts out, get me all twisted, crying and cussing and laughing all in the matter of seconds. There was one instant I was seriously ready to throw the book across the room in denial because my heart had stopped and I was like "Nooooo!" but she turns it around on me and jump-started my faith again. I shoulda known better, but when you're emotions are so completely engaged as mine were, you lose rational thought. I liked Hannah and Vinh together a lot. She was so completely different than Angelina, more complicated, but she totally complemented the man that Vinh had become since his wife's death. Their love story was very different, but it was perfect for them. I like that Suz never tried to make Hannah a replacement for Angelina, because truth be told, she was just as important to Vinh, only she'd been so in a different way. And not that for one minute I believed Hannah needed a man to "complete" her, Hannah was finally given a chance at happiness, and I was happy to see her take it. Izzy was very amazing here. Still the smart-ass, but one with a big heart. I think he has it in him to love big, but he's only found superficiality in his life. He might have a shot for something special here, but will it end up being Eden? Or ould it possibly be Tracy? Maybe someone totally different? Who knows. I think Izzy finally wormed his way into my heart in this book. I always thought he was pretty hot, but never gave him much credit before, not really. Here, he became a man, one worthy of his own HEA, and I'll be rooting for him all the way. As for the other SEAL buddies, I thought Danny was a complete jerk and I'm glad Sophia didn't fall for his pretty looks when he so relentlessly pursued her. And then there was Jay Lopez, the quiet medic. Will he find someone to love too? Decker. Sophia. Dave? Oh my. Things are finally coming to a head with this unlikely triangle here. I am pretty much in the Decker/Sophia camp. Decker has been a complete jerk, no, an ass, to Sophia, hurting her time and time again, pushing her away, but. Yes, I still want them together. Dave has been a wonderful friend to Sophia, sticking with her during her darkest moments, and he's so totally in love with her. I want him to find his own true love, but I don't think it should be Sophia. Will I be upset if Suz goes against my wishes. A little. I would feel like what was the point of all the build-up if she decides to go in another direction? Decker's pain should be assuaged, and I think Sophia would be exactly who he needs to help him heal. True, the more I get to know Dave, the more I like him, but I don't think it's his time. Not yet. Not quite yet. So of course I wait impatiently for the next installment, which may be out as soon as next spring. Do I recommend this book? Hell yes. If you love emotionally intense stories, this is the perfect series. No other author's work quite manages to affect me as much as Brockmann, and I've loved her books since "Kiss and Tell" a Loveswept from '96 or '97 (that will actually be re-released later this year). I adore books that stay with me, and this one surely does. In fact, I can't wait to re-read it. Rating: **** 1/2 out of ***** Labels: reviews, Suz, Troubleshooters
posted by Stacy~ at 7/29/2008 05:30:00 PM
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Monday, November 05, 2007:
"All Through The Night" by Suzanne Brockmann (October 30, 2007)
Since I posted the cover blurb a few days ago, I won't re-post it, just jump right into the review. I have loved Jules since he first came on the scene, what, in "The Defiant Hero"?, and to have him finally get his HEA is a huge deal to this reader. The fact that Jules is gay has never been a problem for me, and I was just as anxious to read his story as I was to finally read Sam & Alyssa's story. While not perfect, "All Through The Night" is still a lovely happy ending for one of my favorite characters.
Some backstory: Jules Cassidy is a well-respected FBI agent who was out of the closet from day one. When Robin Chadwick and Jules first met, Robin was already in the midst of raging alcoholism, brought on by a great many things, least of all the conflicting feelings he had about his sexuality. Just barely getting his life together with an acting career, Robin decides to hang out with Jules in an attempt to understand the gay lifestyle as the character he's playing is homosexual. The more he was around Jules, the more his shell started to crack, until eventually the mutual physical attraction between the two explodes, and Robin can't help but indulge in a forbidden yet satisfying kiss with Jules (Note: a kiss so scorching hot it could put a multitude of love scenes to shame). But Robin's self-destructive habits are still controlling him, making him do several regrettable things, including hurting Jules, who values himself too much to not be happy, and walks away.
Fast forward to book 11, "Force of Nature", when Robin and Jules meet up again. Robin is now on top of the world, one of the most famous movie stars in the world, yet he's still brutally unhappy, pining for Jules but unwilling to admit it, drinking constantly, denying what he knows to be true, veering between aggressively coming on to Jules yet pretending it means nothing. However by the end of the book, after much misery, soul-searching, and life-threatening danger, Robin reaches the point where he can't pretend anymore. After what he's gone through, nearly losing Jules, it's just not worth it, not when the alternative is never being happy. He starts to become the man worthy of Jules, goes to rehab, and stops thinking only of himself. It's a tearful yet wonderful transition to watch, because the reader knows he will probably always be a work-in-progress, like we all are, but he's going to finally be good enough for Jules, who sincerely deserves it. Once Robin accepts his feelings, his true self, he embraces it wholeheartedly, and in a moment that he can't walk away from, declares to the whole freakin' world without a doubt just who it is that he loves.
Now we get to "All Through The Night", and Jules' & Robin's love story. (Because really, that's what it is). Jules is commuting to Boston, where Robin is shooting a cable series, from D.C., and Robin is doing the same from Boston when he can, and the separation is hard on the two men. After finally getting together, it still wasn't enough. Unbeknownst to the other, marriage is on their minds, and Boston is the logical place to settle if that's to happen. In their hearts, that's what they want, and so after some confusion, Robin and Jules get engaged.
Well, this is a Troubleshooters book, so it's not without its share of drama and even danger, not to mention emotional turmoil, a fixer-upper dream house, Sam & Alyssa, and the U.S. President. I wrote earlier how this wasn't a perfect story - after awhile, I was convinced that all the characters were the same person because the exact same slang and catch phrases are spoken by just about everyone in the book - yet I still felt the romance. It would have been nice to have seen more Robin & Jules together instead of through interactions with others, but the underlying core of the story is still the love Robin and Jules have for each other.
As in any SB book, all the world's problems aren't miraculously solved just because two people love each other. Robin stuggles on a daily basis with his alcoholism, proving that even happiness can't keep the demons at bay all the time, and Jules, wonderful, thoughtful Jules, reluctantly acknowledges the possessive jealousy he feels over Robin, a trait that caused friction in previous relationships and one he worries will push his soulmate away for good. But the thing is, Robin and Jules are perfect for each other, and know that marriage isn't going to make everything all better, but as long as they are together, facing those challenges will be a lot easier.
Something I really did love about this book is that finally Jules not only gets the guy, but he gets the recognition from friends and family as just how special he is. Throughout so many of the previous books, Jules' heroism and generous heart towards others has always seemed to go unnoticed, but here, we feel the affection and gratitude his friends and colleagues feel for this amazing FBI agent. Jules has saved lives, both figuratively and literally, and proves what a true friend he is to those in his life. I love that he is not your stereotypical gay man: he's in a physically and mentally demanding job, an extremely important one, and he can be just as alpha as Sam or Max or any of the other heroes we've read about. He's confident in who he is, he's gorgeous but more worried about his looks and his clothes than the safety of those he protects. Jules truly is a hero, and a very special one at that.
I know I'm rather vague in my reviews, mostly because I never want to give anything away, yet if you've been following the series, then this one is a treat to add to the list. Suz uses emotion and doesn't get graphic with the love scenes between Robin and Jules, which is kind of a shame, but it was nevertheless a romantic story. I had happy tears in my eyes throughout parts of the book. Call me a sap, but I sighed with happiness when it was over. And It's always nice to see Sam & Alyssa, and also a bit of Max & Gina, though I really missed Wildcard, Mark Jenkins, Izzy and Decker. And as always, I cannot wait for the next book in the series, with hopefully more Robin and Jules and their beautiful life together. Rating: ****1/2 out of ***** Labels: love, mine, Suz, Troubleshooters
posted by Stacy~ at 11/05/2007 05:16:00 AM
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Wednesday, October 31, 2007:
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (October 30, 2007)
ISBN-10: 0345501098
ISBN-13: 978-0345501097 It’s Christmastime in Boston, and this year the silver bells will be wedding bells as FBI agent Jules Cassidy ties the knot with the man of his dreams, Hollywood heartthrob Robin Chadwick. The pair plan a quiet, intimate ceremony, to be witnessed by family and close friends from the FBI, SEAL Team Sixteen, and Troubleshooters, Incorporated, including Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke. But the holiday season brings more to the happy couple than they expect. A waterfall coming through their kitchen ceiling, a bat colony in the attic, old family tensions . . . even an international incident can’t dampen their spirits. But add to that a parade of unexpected guests, including a reporter looking for a scoop, an ex-lover hell-bent on causing trouble, and a dangerous stalker, and suddenly the wedding is poised to unravel in chaos. But nothing will stop Jules and Robin from getting their happy ending, because along with a guest list featuring the most elite counterterrorism force in the world, they have their own secret weapon–true love. About time! Anyone who visits here on a regular basis knows that Suz Brockmann is an auto-buy author for me, and this 12th release of the Troubleshooters series is no exception. Other than Sam & Alyssa's story, Jules' HEA has been one of the most highly anticipated stories for me in the series, so I will be getting myself to the bookstore today to get my copy. So what if it's Halloween?! This is a Brockmann Troubleshooters story!
And, this I learned at Kate Davies' blog: "Every penny of Suz's earnings -- advance, royalties, foreign rights, audio royalties, subrights -- is being donated to MassEquality. Every penny." Now how cool is that? The lady rocks. Labels: Suz, Troubleshooters
posted by Stacy~ at 10/31/2007 05:23:00 AM
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