Suzanne Brockmann

Bellissimo e avvincente, più storie intriganti e appassionanti intrecciate tra loro, sia nel presente che nel passato, molto ben costruite con personaggi ben delineati che conquistano.
Tom Paoletti è un SEAL, Kelly una pediatra, si conoscono da sempre e da sempre si amano pur senza esserselo mai detto.
Accanto alla loro viene raccontata la bellissima storia dell'amicizia nata in Francia, durante l’ultima guerra, tra lo zio di Tom, Joe, e il padre di Kelly, Charles, entrambi innamorati della stessa donna, Cybele.
L’altra vicenda che si intreccia con la principale è quella di Mallory, la ribelle nipote di Tom, con David, disegnatore di fumetti.
Un libro che mi è piaciuto moltissimo, per me un imperdibile.… (mer)

The Defiant Hero
2 Stars

Unfortunately, this is not a good follow-up to Brockmann's first Troubleshooters book mainly due to the fact that John "Nils" Nilsson and Meg Moore are not an appealing couple. The constant reminder of the age difference between them becomes increasingly annoying and detracts from their romance.

Moreover, the suspense plot is completely contrived. In real life, the terrorists would have killed Meg's family the second she took hostages.

The only saving grace in the book is the developing love/hate relationship between FBI agent Alyssa Locke and Navy SEAL Roger "Sam"Starrett. Their snarky bickering is well-written and their chemistry is explosive. It will be worth reading the next one to see where Brockmann takes these two characters.… (mer)

Over the Edge
4 Stars

Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok is the "go-to" man for solving any problem that arises with the headstrong SEALS of Team Sixteen. Thus, when he observes Lieutenant Teri Howe, a strong, dedicated and highly skilled naval reserves pilot, in a difficult situation, he does not hesitate to offer his assistance. Unfortunately, Stan's plan takes a troubling turn when he and Teri along with the rest of the team become involved in a hostage crisis involving the hijacking of a jet carrying the daughter of a US Senator.

This is another series that has been languishing on my TBR for several years. However, a group read provided me with the opportunity to continue, and I am glad it did as this is an exciting and entertaining read that lacks the irritating issues from book#2 that led me to put it aside.

Like the first two books, there are several intertwining threads including Teri and Stan's slow-burn romance, Alyssa and Sam's ongoing angst fest, the suspense of the hijacking, and the sad story of Helga Shuler's past as a young Jewish child in Denmark.

Of these, the WWII thread is the most problematic, which is also the case for the two previous books. The knowledge that the characters either died during or since the war makes it difficult to become immersed in their stories. For instance, here, it is clear from the start that Marte died of cancer, Herschel was killed, and Annabet lived a lonely life without the man she loved. As such, it is virtually impossible to become attached to any of them.

In contrast, the threads set in the present are captivating. Teri and Stan are simply adorable both as individuals and as a couple. Their conversations and interactions made me smile. Likewise, the developments in Alyssa and Sam's relationship are excellent - they certainly know how to set fire to the sheets. That said, there are times when Alyssa's prejudices and treatment of Sam become annoying, and the twist at the end is quite troubling.

Finally, the hijacking plot is nail-bitingly intense and had me riveted from the start. Gina Vitagliano is an incredible character, but the rape scene is completely unnecessary. I have said it before (see my review of Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs) and I'll say it again - there are better methods for building up a strong, intelligent and resourceful heroine without resorting to this trope.

Overall, this is an edge-of-the-seat read and I hope that the next one continues in the same vein.
… (mer)