Review: Troubleshooters Series #16 Breaking the Rules

Two things to remember from previous books:

1. At the end of Book 15: Hot Pursuit, Dan Gillman tells Jennilyn LeMay that he loves her, but Jenni doesn't believe it's real. "If you really do," she tells him, "then call me when you get back from Afghanistan." 
2. Also, from Book 13: Into the Fire, Izzy Zanella married Dan's sister, Eden because she was pregnant. Not with his child but someone else's. After a miscarriage, Eden left Izzy and refuses to see him, no matter how many time Izzy goes to Germany to see her. 

Synopsis:
Dan is seriously injured in Afghanistan. Izzy uses some heroics to save him, coming close to death himself, and the two of them are recovering in Germany. When Jenni gets word of Dan's injury she immediately flies to his side. Izzy makes another attempt to see Eden, and when her roommate turns him away one more time, he finally realizes that it's time for him to move on.

Meanwhile, Eden is now back in the States dancing as a stripper in Las Vegas. The money is good and she needs all the money she can get in order keep her younger brother, Ben, from being sent away. Ben is 15 and gay and his abusive step-father is going to send him to a Christian camp in an attempt to "pray the gay away".

While at the local mall, Ben approaches Neesha, a young homeless girl that he's seen in the same clothes and eating the leftovers of others. Eventually, Neesha tells Ben that she's escaped from a child prostitution ring and she knows there are bad men out there looking for her.

When Ben is taken to the "gay camp" and nearly dies due to diabetic complications, Dan, Jenni, Izzy and Eden team together in an attempt to gain custody from Dan and Eden's waste of a mother and loser of a step-father. They also look for Neesha to protect her, but Nessha doesn't know whom to trust. The men from the prostitution ring spot Neesha and give chase. Eden makes a distraction and Neesha gets away, but the men now know the group has information they need and things go from bad to worse.

My Response:
I found it annoying that the two couples, Dan/Jenni and Izzy/Eden, don't want to admit they love each other. Or, they think the other doesn't love them as much, so they're just not going to say anything. Of course, neither of these couples know the other very well, so maybe it's for the best, but they just keep second guessing themselves.

I thought there was a little less action in this book, but we get to hear a lot about how Dan and Eden grew up and the things they went through. We learn why Dan is so hard on Eden and doesn't trust her as well. I'd actually be interested in a story about Ben and/or Neesha when they get a little older. I could see Neesha becoming a strong female character like Alyssa Locke.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.5
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+

Review: Troubleshooters Series #15: Hot Pursuit

I'm getting to close to the end of this series and I'm not sure what to do when I'm done. It's been a great series!

Synopsis:

Troubleshooter Alyssa Locke has been trying to catch a serial killer known as "The Dentist" for years. The Dentist, known for keeping the teeth of his victims, has resurfaced and is doing everything he can to lure Alyssa to the scene of his crimes so that he can make her his next victim. What begins as an easy lesson in security for an assemblywoman quickly becomes dangerous for not only Alyssa, but also for Jennilyn, the assemblywoman's chief of staff.

Dan "Gilligan" Gilman is assigned to protect Jenni and they both quickly agree to two weeks of great sex with the understanding that they'll both just walk away when Dan goes wheels up. It sounds like a good plan in the beginning, but can they really just walk away?

My Response:

This was a great thriller. I really wasn't sure who The Dentist was going to be as Brockmann cleverly had you believing it could be any one of three suspects. The assignment really starts off as a kind of vacation for the group, and when they discover there is a real threat, several characters that we know and love are brought into the story. 

As Jules Cassidy enters the story, Robin comes too (because he is safe with Jules than away from) and ends up taking care of Alyssa and Sam's son, Ashton. Not only does this keep Ash well cared for, it also helps keep Robin sober as it's been announced that Jules and Alyssa will soon be leaving for Afghanistan. Robin can't even bear to think of the possibility of something happening to Jules. With the birth of their son, Alyssa and Sam now have to address the fact that they can't afford to go on dangerous missions together. I sense there may be a change of career for one or both of them in the future.

Jenni and Gilman's story ended a little differently than I expected, but I appreciate the way Brockmann wrote it. This series has created its own little world and endings are not always neat and tidy. Gilman is a bit of a jerk, but he's still very likable and you want to believe he's sincere by the end of the book. I guess we'll find out in the next one, which I'm downloading from the library right now.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.5

Language: Yes

Explicit: Yes

Age Appropriate: 21+

Review: Troubleshooters Series #14: Dark of Night

Synopsis:
The Troubleshooters are reeling after the loss of one of their own. Led by Navy SEAL Lawrence Decker, a team of investigators, including my favorite, Jules Cassidy, former CIA operative Dave Malkoff, Sophia Ghaffari, Tess Bailey and even receptionist Tracy Shapiro, band together to uncover the truth regarding The Agency, a black-ops sector that will stop at nothing to achieve their objective.

When Decker barely escapes an attempt on his life, it becomes clear that the hunters have become the hunted, and the Troubleshooters are no longer just solving a crime, they are also fighting for survival.

My Response:
This book is getting a lot of bashing on Amazon. There's a lot of complaints about characters changing personalities. I don't know, it really didn't feel that way to me. Okay, so Tracy is a little smarter now. Is that really so hard to believe? I couldn't work the office phone system either after being there for 4 years, but I had the smarts to figure other things out. Maybe she really buckled down and learned some things.

It seemed like so much was happening and I really wasn't sure what was going to happen. Seriously, Suzanne Brockmann changed things up on us. And finally, Decker finds some peace.

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+

Review: Troubleshooters Series #13: Into the Fire

Synopsis:
Vinh Murphy has been MIA ever since his wife, Angelina, was caught in the crossfire of a routine security assignment gone bad.  (See Book 8: Hot Target) Swamped by his grief, Murphy basically keeps himself in an alcohol-induced haze.

Hannah is a former cop, now deaf from an injury sustained on duty. She and Murphy have always been "just friends". And even though Hannah is the one who introduced Murphy to Angelina, she's always had feelings for him. Murphy seeks solace in Hannah's arms and is completely guilt ridden. In fact, Hannah's not sure she'll ever see him again. Finally, after several months, Murphy has decided to re-enter the land of the living and comes to Hannah. Things are easy with Hannah and Murphy finds his attraction to her growing. When it's announced that the leader of Freedom Network, a neo-nazi group that Murphy blames for Angelina's death, is dead and the FBI thinks he may have pulled the trigger, Murphy and Hannah set off to investigate because Murphy honestly cannot remember the last few months of his life. He thought about killing the leader many times. Did he actually do it?

Secondary Story:
Irving "Izzy" Zanella gets involved with Danny Gilman's younger sister, Eden. In fact, she's not even 18. Okay, it's the day before her birthday, but she's still much younger than Izzy. When Eden turns up pregnant six months later and is claiming Izzy to be the father, Gilman goes crazy as Izzy steps up and marries her. As Eden thinks Izzy is going wheels up, she discovers damaging footage of herself on the Internet. Izzy has been nothing my nice to Eden, but Eden leaves him before he can leave her.

And throughout all of this investigation and searching (oh yes, some of the group is taken) Nash and Tess are fighting. In fact, Nash is almost telling Tess to leave him. It's clear to Decker that he's hiding something, but Decker is so twisted inside about what happened between him and Sophia way back in Book 7: Flashpoint, that he hardly even speaks to Nash anymore.


My Response:
Wow. This story had some heartbreaking parts. First, Murphy is just a mess and you feel for this big, tough guy who just doesn't have an idea on how to heal after Angelina's death. The Troubleshooters are called in and there's a heart-pounding confrontation with members of Freedom Network as you wait to hear who's still standing. And I'm still not sure how I feel about it.


Overall Enjoyment: 4.5
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate 21+

Review: Troubleshooters Series #10: Into the Storm

You'd think by Book 10 I'd be looking for something else to read, but I just can't get enough of this Suzanne Brockmann series. When I realized what was going on in this book, Into the Storm, it kind of creeped me out, but this is another great suspenseful story.

Synopsis:
The guys from Troubleshooters, Inc. are going head-to-head with a team of Navy SEALs in a mock training exercise. While playing the role of hostage, the Troubleshooters' new receptionist, Tracy Shapiro, vanishes.

SEAL, Mark "Jenk" Jenkins had a one night fling with former cop turned Troubleshooter, Lindsey Fontaine. Both wanting to ignore the other, Jenk and Lindsey must set aside their feelings and team up to find Tracy in the New Hampshire wilderness as a record breaking snowstorm approaches. As they discover a brutally murdered young woman wearing Tracy's jacket, Jenk and Lindsey realize Tracy may be in the hands of a serial killer.

My Response:
Good and creepy. The serial killer in this story is not your average serial killer if such a thing can be said. Rather than doing the killing himself, he puts his victims together and waits for one to kill the other.

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+ years old

Review: Troubleshooters Series #9: Breaking Point

Ever since Suzanne Brockmann's third book of the series Over the Edge, I've been waiting and hoping for this book.

Synopsis:
Max Bhagat, FBI commander, pushes himself to the limit and puts nothing ahead of his work, including his feelings for Gina Vitagliano. Having met Gina many years ago when Max served as negotiator as Gina was held hostage on a plane, Max has buried his attraction to her. Not to mention he's about 20 years her senior. But when Max receives the shocking news of Gina's death, there's no question that he will investigate her death himself. As he arrives to the scene of Gina's death, Max discovers that Gina is still alive and proceeds to do everything in his power to find her.

Gina is in Southeast Asia with Molly Anderson, who we met in Out of Control, Book 4. She's with Molly in the same little village working as a relief worker. Gina and Molly soon both find themselves being used as bait in a deadly trap against Grady Morant, a.k.a "Jones", whom Molly loves.

Max and Jones find each other and team up, with FBI agent Jules Cassidy as their only backup, in an attempt to make a deal with the devil and get Gina and Molly back.

My Response:
Wow, I liked this book. There's something about Max that I've always loved. He's always on top of his game, never looking ruffled and never breaking a sweat. It was great to see Max become a little more human and finally confront rather than run from his feelings. Gina is a strong young woman who has always known what and who she's wanted.

And again, we have more Jules helping to save the day. He's a great character!


Overall Enjoyment: 4.5
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+ years old.

Review: Troubleshooters Series #8: Hot Target

Hot Target is another great book by Suzanne Brockmann in the Troubleshooter Series. And this one sets up some characters that we'll be seeing in future books.

Synopsis: 
Jane Chadwick is a high-profile movie producer in LA working on a film that portrays the homosexuality of a real-life hero during World War II. A group of extremists known as the Freedom Network is pressuring Jane to abandon the project. As the harassment turns to death threats, Troubleshooters, Inc. is called in to provide round-the-clock security.

Navy SEAL Chief Cosmo Richter finds himself facing a month's leave with little to do. As he's never really learned how to just take a vacation, he offers his services to Troubleshooters, Inc. and ends up in LA protecting Jane, which she fights the entire time.

Starring in Jane's movie is her brother, Robin Chadwick, who is in denial with regard to his messed up life. Robin meets with openly gay FBI agent, Jules Cassidy, in an attempt to research the gay community. Suddenly, and seemingly out of the blue, Jules' ex-lover, Adam, walks back into Jules' life and turns him upside-down. Jules knows Adam is trouble, but he just has a hard time staying away from him. Jules suggests Adam for the co-starring role in Jane's movie, and after Adam gets the part a tense dynamic begins between Jules, Adam and Robin. Robin, who Jules finds himself attracted to. Robin, who is straight.

My Response:
Even though Jane and Cosmo are the focus of this book, I was really drawn to the story between Robin, Adam and Jules. I love Jules' character and I'm hoping he gets a book of his own. Robin is very likable and his life becomes a little more out of control as the book goes on.

There's a tragic event that takes place in this book which, as surprising as it was, I appreciate Brockmann writing it as she did. These SEALs and protectors are in a dangerous business and to gloss over the danger and not have anyone ever get hurt is unbelievable. The tragic event added a realism that made the story even better.

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+ years old

Review: Troubleshooters Series #7: Flashpoint

---Spoiler Alert in 1st paragraph---
Skip to Synopsis if you haven't read the first six books.

This book feels like the beginning of a new series. And in a way, it truly is. If you've read Suzanne Brockmann's first six books of the series, you'll remember how Tom Paoletti was basically run out of the SEALS on a rail. I'm still a little annoyed by all that transpired, but those events have led us to a new group of characters taking the limelight and to Paoletti's new business venture, Troubleshooters, Inc.

Synopsis:
Run by a former SEAL, Troubleshooters, Inc. helps anyone in desperate need - which provides a perfect cover for its other objective: covert special operations. An expert team is assembled to go into earthquake-ravaged Kazbekistan, under the guise of relief workers, to find a missing laptop computer that is believed to hold secrets vital to national security.

Jimmy Nash is a rule-breaker with secrets of his own, and is part of the team assembled together to retrieve the lost laptop. Also on that team and in the field for the first time, is Tess Bailey, the woman from the support staff he had a fling with and never called. Their attraction to each other is still deep, but they're in a volatile situation isolated from their own government and surround by people they can't trust. The last thing they need to do is act on their attraction. Tess is tired of being overlooked and is out to prove to the men around her that she is fully qualified and capable of being in the field.

We're also introduced to Lawrence Decker, who has just been briefly mentioned in the previous books. Deck is the leader of this group and has an unexpected encounter with Sophia, the widow of the owner of the laptop, that's throws him off balance.

My Response:
Flashpoint is a little different from the other books in the series, in that the romance part of the story is not the focus. And you know, that didn't bother me at all. The story is a really good story with action and suspense at every turn.

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes, but not as much as previous books in the series.
Age Appropriate: 21+

Review: Troubleshooters #6: Gone Too Far

If you've been reading this series by Suzanne Brockmann, finally...finally! We get to Sam's and Alyssa's story. I gotta tell ya, I really like Sam, aka Ringo, formerly known as Roger Starrett. All his many names are explained and Sam's back-story is something else. You really feel for this poor little lost kid, trying to be tough.

Alyssa Locke has her own struggles from a difficult childhood, and it's no wonder these two have had such a volatile and passionate relationship. They just can't trust each other! 

Synopsis:

Picking up where Book 5: Into the Night left off, Sam's soon-to-be ex-wife, Mary Lou, takes their daughter and runs off to Florida. As Sam shows up at Mary Lou's door, he finds his daughter is missing and a brutally murdered woman is laying on the floor. Alyssa Locke is assigned to help with the murder investigation, bringing her and Sam face to face once again. Unfortunately, Sam doesn't trust her and ends up on the wrong side of the law. Alyssa puts her career on the line as she tries to solve this case and gain Sam's trust.

In the historical story that is always present is this series, the love story between Sam's Uncle Walt, a Tuskegee airman and his Aunt Dot, a helicopter pilot, unfolds in a series of letters written during WWII. They struggle with the possible ramifications of being a bi-racial couple during a time of segregation.

The third story-line brings us back to Max Bhagat, FBI negotiator, and Gina Vitagliano, former hostage. Gina hasn't forgotten about Max and insists she's in love with him despite their 20 year age difference. Max insists that it isn't love, but rather transference as a result of being held hostage. Max, however, can't seem to forget about Gina either, and doesn't know what to make of that.

My Response:
I loved this book! Sam is an interesting character. Tough as nails, cocky and arrogant, he also feels his emotions deeply. A jerk, most of the time, he has a great sense of humor as well and just can't stop thinking about Alyssa. Alyssa is a strong woman keeping up her guard and having a hard time trusting someone that seems so completely out of control. The action and suspense of the story was great. I just wanted to sit and read all day.

Overall Enjoyment: 4.5
Language: Yes, it's Sam Starrett after all.
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+

Review: Troubleshooters Series Books 1-5

I started this book blog in the middle of Into the Night, book three in the Troubleshooters Series by Suzanne Brockmann. Since I just finished book five, now seemed like a good time to review the first few books in this series.

I love this series! The series revolves around the lives of Team Sixteen, an elite group of Navy SEALS. Each SEAL has a unique personality and interesting characteristics. Some are true golden boys, while others still struggle with their demons from the past.

In all of these books, Brockmann weaves additional historic stories that recount Nazi Germany or battles during World War II, with those characters becoming involved in the present-day story as well. Oft times, I wished the historic characters had a book of their own, as they were very intriguing.

The Unsung Hero (Troubleshooters, Book 1)
Story of Lieutenant Tom Paoletti who catches a glimpse of an international terrorist in his hometown as he is recovering from a near-fatal head injury. But, he can't trust himself to believe if what he sees is real or an injury-induced hallucination. Dr. Kelly Ashton is the girl he's always longed for.

The historical story is between Tom's uncle and Kelly's father, both struggling with the idea of being called heroes, as well as the loss of a woman they both cared for during World War II.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.5
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+




The Defiant Hero (Troubleshooters, Book 2)
Meg Moore's daughter and grandmother have been kidnapped by extremists. Following the demands of the kidnappers, she is soon holding a foreign ambassador hostage. Found in a no-win situation, she requests former flame, Navy SEAL John Nilsson, to be called it to serve as negotiator.

The historical story is of Meg's grandmother, as she recounts the events of falling in love with her husband during WWII in an attempt to keep Meg's daughter calm.

This book has a third storyline that gives us great introduction to the tumultuous relationship between Roger "Sam" Starrett and Alyssa Locke. Sam and Alyssa's story was the one I really wanted to read about. I'm looking forward to more.

Overall Enjoyment: 3.5
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+



Over the Edge (Troubleshooters, Book 3)
While on a simple training op for reserves, Lieutenant Teri Howe finds herself hoping that a past mistake won't jeopardize everything she's worked for. As she lacks assertiveness, she seeks out the assistance of Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok, who gives her pointers on being assertive. The training op suddenly becomes a real-life mission to rescue the daughter of an American senator when her flight is hijacked. As they prepare for the rescuer, Teri and Stan find themselves becoming more that friends and colleagues.

The historical story is about Helga Shuler who is brought in on the negotiating side of the hijacking. Helga, an older woman, is constantly writing everything in a notebook so that no one will find out that she is experiencing the early symptoms of Alzheimer's. She constantly finds herself drifting back to when she was a child, during WWII, and Denmark had been invaded by the Germans. Stan is her childhood friend's grandson.

We are also fortunate to get another dose of Sam and Alyssa. Again, this was who I really wanted to read about. Additionally, the bond that develops between Max, the FBI negotiator and Gina, the hostage that pretends to be the Senator's daughter, is heartwarming, yet tragic.

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+



Out of Control (Troubleshooters, Book 4)
In an attempt to save her uncle's life, Savannah von Hopf seeks out navy SEAL Ken "Wildcard" Karmody, a guy she met a couple of times in college and had a crush on. When Wildcard discovers that Savannah hasn't been upfront with him, he's tries to walk away, but just can't quite turn his back on her. The two of them fly to Indonesia and soon find their own lives in jeopardy.

The historical story is about Savannah's grandmother and grandfather, both of whom were double agents during WWII. The fun part about discovering this story line was having it unfold in the grandmother's published memoir that several different characters were reading. A very cleaver way to tell the story.

In a third storyline,  Molly the missionary and Jones the mercenary have an interesting relationship. Jones doesn't trust anyone, and Molly isn't sure she trusts Jones. We're never told Jones' whole history, and I'm hoping he'll get his story down the road.

And, we get some more of Sam and Alyssa. When things finally appear to come together, a former fling drops a bombshell and both Sam and Alyssa are crushed.

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes - Wildcard's language is a little cruder than the other's in previous books.
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+



Into the Night (Troubleshooter, Book 5)
To celebrate a presidential visit to a California naval base, White House staffer Joan DaCosta arrives to scope out the area. Lt. Mike Muldoon is assigned as her SEAL liaison and is immediately attracted to her. Although there is only a seven year difference in their ages, Joan balks about it he entire time. Meanwhile, terrorists are plotting to assassinate the President during his visit.

In the historical story, we learn how Joan's grandparents fell in love after the death of her grandmother's first husband in WWII.

And, we get more of Sam and Alyssa. Unfortunately, they have completely separate lives. Sam is married to Mary Lou with a daughter, Haley and Alyssa is involved with Max, the negotiator from Book 3. Or is she?

Overall Enjoyment: 4
Language: Yes
Explicit: Yes
Age Appropriate: 21+