Breaking the Rules - Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis:
Izzy Zanella wasn’t looking for another reason to butt heads with his Navy SEAL teammate, and nemesis, Danny Gillman. But then he met Danny’s beautiful younger sister, Eden. When she needed it most, he offered her a place to stay, a shoulder to cry on—and more. And when she got pregnant with another man’s child, he offered her marriage. But Eden’s devastating miscarriage shattered their life together—and made the intense bad blood between Izzy and Danny even worse.

Now Eden’s back, and she’s on a mission to rescue her teen brother, Ben, from their abusive stepfather. Even if she and Izzy can prove that their broken marriage is still in one piece, winning legal custody of Ben is a long shot. But they’re not alone: Danny and his girlfriend, Jenn, offer to help, and he and Izzy agree to bury the past and fight for Ben’s future.

As they plan their strategy, Izzy and Eden grapple with the raw passion that still crackles between them—while Danny and Jenn confront new depths in their own rocky relationship. But events take a terrifying turn after Ben befriends a girl fleeing a child prostitution ring. When the young runaway seeks refuge with Eden and Izzy, her pursuers kidnap Ben—and a deadly standoff begins. Now they must all pull together like never before and strike back, swift and hard, to protect their unconventional little family and everything they hold most precious.

Review:

Breaking the Rules is the 16th book in the Troubleshooters series.  There was a lot to this book and if you didn't keep up, you got lost.  First you have Izzy and Eden who are married but haven't seen each other in 10 months despite Izzy's attempts to contact her.  Izzy comes back after helping out Dan (Eden's brother) to end it with Eden.  It turns out, they need to stay married for a while longer to help Ben (Eden's other brother).  During the few weeks they are together and coming up with a plan to help Ben, their apparent raw lust for each other can't be contained and they tend to do it like rabbits when ever the mood hits.

Cut to Dan and Jenn.  Dan is in love with Jenn but she doesn't believe him, she thinks he only wants to marry her cause it is convenient to help Ben.  Through many ups and downs, a few kidnappings and near death experience, they make it down the isle, only to wake up to a phone call on their wedding night of another kidnapping.  Can these two catch a break?

Finally you have the story of Ben, the youngest brother who happens to be gay.  Yep, you didn't think you would get away from reading a Brockmann book without some gay rights stuff added in did you?  Ben finds a girl at the mall, who he finds out is basically living there.  Through trying to help her, he brings the wrath of some very bad people in on his family.

Rating:

The story was good, but seemed to keep going on and on, it kind of jumped all over the place and didn't seem to really flow.  I had major issues with the characterization of Jenn.  In the last book, she was described as plain but pretty and almost cute, tall but not overly overweight.  In this book she is described as 'larger-than-large & amazon size'.  Which is it?  I had head that Mrs. Brockmann will be taking a break from writing the Troubleshooters series, and I think it is time to take a break.  Troubleshooters only came in to play for about 20 pages of this book, how can it be classified a Troubleshooters book, with no Troubleshooters?  Not only that but this book left more questions than answers, Lindsay loosing another baby, then is just okay with it??  On what planet?  I hope if this series is restored, we can get back to the actual Troubleshooters.

Into The Fire - Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis:
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, hecontinues 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.

Review:  

Into the Fire is the 13th book in the Troubleshooter series.  FINALLY, we have gotten back to the basics that is the Troubleshooters.  I almost gave up on this series, the last few books have been filled with nothing to do with the Troubleshooters but were listed in the series, but this book brings us back to whats important.  Vinh lost his wife and his grip on reality at the same time.  His best friend and rock, Hannah, seems to be the only thing helping him keep it together, but she has been in love with him since she was young keeping that to herself when he chose Angelina over her, choosing to keep her feelings to herself.  The man that was believed to have killed Murphy's wife is found murdered and Murphy doesn't know if he actually did it.  Hannah along with the help of the Troubleshooters set out to prove Murphy's innocence.  I loved getting to see how their relationships all came together.  Very complex and yet simple all at the same time.  The action was jam packed in this book and we got not one but 2 love stories that appeared in this book, plus one of our favorites relationship is going down hill fast.  Throughout the book, we get to see clips of all of the different relationships.  The beginning of the book is like a flashback of when Hannah and Angelina meet...then skip to when Vinh and Angelina are introduced.  It was great to be back in the land of the Troubleshooters and see all of the dynamic relationships, even when a team member doesn't necessarily care for another member, they are still willing to die for them.

Notable Quote:

"Careful, I feel myself slipping back to actively not liking you." (Nash and Dave)

Rating:

The beginning of the book was a little hard to follow jumping back and forth in time, but that would be my only gripe with this book.  I loved the story line and how it all came together in the end, even if I wasn't completely happy with the turn out of who gets whom.  I would recommend this book, as I would many of the Troubleshooter series.  Looking forward to Dark of Night.  

All Through The Night - Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis:
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.

Review:

All through the night is the 12th book in the Troubleshooter series.  I fear that someone picking up this book, would see on the cover "A Troubleshooter Christmas" and think they will be following the Troubleshooters on a mission at Christmas.  That is soooo not the case.  This book is the wedding of Jules and Robin. Of course lots of our friends from the Troubleshooter organization make an appearance, as to some of SEAL Team 16, but when I first fell in love with this series, it was because of the missions. Granted, there is a small mission in this book. It lasts for about 6 pages, and during this time, Robin is at home and the wives of the SEAL Team 16 and Troubleshooter's visit Robin to help him get through his first crisis. There's a secondary romance that blooms between Dolphina, Robin's and Jules's personal assistant, and Will, a newspaper reporter, who catches Robin in a too-candid moment that results in unwelcome publicity. Will's acting as guardian for his niece while his sister serves in the military in Iraq.  

I had a huge issue with some of the verbiage that was used in this book. The male characters - gay and straight - seem to be comfortable discussing love and relationship issues in depth and at great length. Men can talk about subjects other than hot chicks, sports, cars, and cool gadgets? Who knew? The SEAL, Troubleshooter, and FBI characters are ultra-macho with enough testosterone to float a battleship, but nobody -absolutely nobody - has even a hint of homophobia. Jules and Robin are getting married. Isn't that sweet seems to be the consensus.

Notable Quote:

"Yeah, I was just practicing being an asshole.  It takes hard work and constant dedication to my craft to excel the way I do..." (Sam helping Robin along in his quest to ask Jules to marry him)

Rating:

Ms. Brockmann's personal agenda permeates the story. Her son is gay, and she is very active in organizations trying to end discrimination against gays. This is a position I support, but I'd just as soon not have it hammered it at me in a romance novel.  A lot of the dialogue borders on TMI.  I did enjoy getting to see a few of the TSI and SEAL's lives, and how they have changed with marriages and babies.  In my opinion, we seem to have veered way off course to what this series was advertised as.  I need a rescue, someone stopping a terrorist, some bombs and highly tense situations and a HEA.  It was there, it has been done in most of the books in this series, but the last 2 books, haven't worked for me.

Into The Storm - Suzanne Brockmann

Synopsis:
In a remote, frozen corner of New Hampshire, a Navy SEAL team and the elite security experts of Troubleshooters, Incorporated are going head-to-head as fierce but friendly rivals in a raid-and-rescue training exercise. Despite the frigid winter temperatures, tension smolders between veteran SEAL Petty Officer Mark “Jenk” Jenkins and former cop turned Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine after an impulsive night goes awry. And then, suddenly, Tracy Shapiro, the Troubleshooters’ new receptionist, vanishes while playing the role of hostage during a mock rescue operation.

Teaming up with the FBI to launch a manhunt in the treacherous wilderness, Jenk and Lindsey must put aside their feelings as a record snowstorm approaches, dramatically reducing any hope of finding Tracy alive. The trail is colder than the biting New England climate until a lucky break leads to a horrifying discovery–a brutally murdered young woman wearing the jacket Tracy wore when she disappeared. Suddenly there is a chilling certainty that Tracy has fallen prey to a serial killer–one who knows the backwoods terrain and who doesn’t play by the rules of engagement.

In a race against time, a raging blizzard, and a cunning opponent, Jenk and Lindsey are put to the ultimate test. Rising everything, they must finally come together in a desperate attempt to save Tracy–and each other.

Review:

This is book 10 in the Troubleshooter series. Suzanne Brockmann had skillfully woven the many personalities and storylines together, and adds enough tension and suspense to keep the reader turning the pages.  With a blend of humor and suspense, she adds enough passion and angst to make this a realistic and fascinating tale.  The banter between Izzy and Jenks kept me in giggles and Lindsay is a sassy and remarkably smart woman that no one underestimates after their first encounter with her.  One of the great things I love about the Troubleshooter series is while the stories move forward, lots of old friends pop up and we are able to keep tabs on their lives while getting to know new characters.

Notable Quote:

"Why do people say, I hate to break it to you, when they're obviously gleeful about the news they're going to share?" (Jenks reply to Izzy after Izzy told him that Tracy wants to jump his bones)

Rating:

5 out of 5.  I love this series.  There is a great mix of suspense & romance, new and old characters and the story flow is flawless.  The chemistry between all of the characters just "works".  There is also a short story at the end of the book, kind of a bonus with Sam and Alyssa (and Sam is my FAV).  Highly recommend this entire series, although I would suggest reading from the beginning as there are so many recurring characters.