RS Review: Do or Die: Reluctant Heroes (Hardcover)

I've finished "Do Or Die" the first book in her new Reluctant Heroes series by Suzanne Brockmann.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

Navy SEAL Ian Dunn went rogue in a big way when he turned his talents to a lawless life of jewel heists and con jobs. Or so the world has been led to believe. In reality, the former Special Ops warrior is still fighting for good, leading a small band of freelance covert operatives who take care of high-stakes business in highly unofficial ways. That makes Ian the hands-down choice when the U.S. government must breach a heavily guarded embassy and rescue a pair of children kidnapped by their own father, a sinister foreign national willing to turn his kids into casualties. Shockingly, Ian passes on the mission for reasons he will not — or cannot — reveal.

But saying no is not an option. Especially not for Phoebe Kruger, Ian’s beautiful and unexpectedly brash new attorney. Determined to see the abducted children set free, Phoebe not only gets Ian on board but insists on riding shotgun on his Mission: Impossible–style operation, whether he likes it or not.

Though Phoebe has a valuable knack for getting out of tight spots, there’s no denying the intensely intimate feelings growing between Ian and Phoebe as the team gears up for combat. But these are feelings they both must fight to control as they face an array of cold-blooded adversaries, including a vindictive mob boss who’s got Ian at the top of his hit list and a wealthy psychopath who loves murder as much as he loves money. As they dodge death squads and play lethal games of deception, Ian and Phoebe will do whatever it takes to save the innocent and vanquish the guilty — or die trying.

Product Details
Series: Reluctant Heroes
Hardcover: 576 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition edition (February 4, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345543793
ISBN-13: 978-0345543790

My Review:

3 and 3.5/5

Born to Darkness [Hardcover]

I've finished "Born to Darkness" the 1st book in her Fighting Destiny series by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

As the New York Times bestselling author of the Troubleshooters series and a “superstar of romantic suspense” (USA Today), Suzanne Brockmann has an acclaimed history of taking readers’ breath away with her novels of hot passion and high adventure. Now she takes her talent for sexy, action-packed storytelling in a thrilling new direction: forward — into a future, both fantastic and frightening, that only the brilliant Brockmann could envision.

Dishonorably discharged, former Navy SEAL Shane Laughlin is down to his last ten bucks when he finally finds work as a test subject at the Obermeyer Institute, a little-known and believed-to-be-fringe scientific research facility. When he enters the OI compound, he is plunged into a strange world where seemingly mild-mannered scientists — including women half his size — can kick his highly skilled ass.

Shane soon discovers that there are certain individuals who possess the unique ability to access untapped regions of the brain with extraordinary results — including telekinesis, super strength, and reversal of the aging process. Known as “Greater-Thans,” this rare breed is recruited by OI, where they are rigorously trained using ancient techniques to cultivate their powers and wield them responsibly.

But in the depths of America’s second Great Depression, where the divide between the haves and the have-nots has grown even wider, those who are rich — and reckless — enough have a quick, seductive alternative: Destiny, a highly addictive designer drug that can make anyone a Greater-Than, with the power of eternal youth. The sinister cartel known as The Organization has begun mass-producing Destiny, and the demand is epidemic. But few realize the drug’s true danger, and fewer still know the dirty secret of Destiny’s crucial ingredient.

Michelle “Mac” Mackenzie knows the ugly truth. And as one of the Obermeyer Institute’s crack team of operatives, she’s determined to end the scourge of Destiny. But her kick-ass attitude gets knocked for a loop when she finds that one of the new test subjects is none other than Shane, the same smoldering stranger who just rocked her world in a one-night stand. Although Shane isn’t a Greater-Than like Mac, as an ex-SEAL, he’s got talents of his own. But Mac’s got powerful reasons to keep her distance from him — and reasons that are just as strong to want him close. She’s used to risking her life, but now, in the midst of the ultimate war on drugs, she must face sacrificing her heart.

Product Details
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition first Printing edition (March 20, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345521277
ISBN-13: 978-0345521279

My Review:

There are three couples in this series:

Shane and Mac

Shane is a blacklisted unemployed Navy Seal looking for a job. Mac is a stubborn, high-strung and tough talking covert agent with the special ability to seduce men. Shane knows he loves Mac even though they hooked up for a one-nighter. Mac is convinced that it's only her power manipulating him in believing he likes/loves her.

Anna and Joseph

Anna's little sister, Nika, has been kidnapped and is desperate to find her. Joseph is a rare Greater Than with a high level of 70% mental powers. Joseph vows to Anna that he will help find and rescue Nika but along the way he starts to fall in love with her.  I didn't like how she accused Joseph of wanting her 13 yr. old sister just because their magic was compatible.

Elliot and Diaz

Elliot is the head of the Research and Support department.  Diaz is a Greater Than with a mental power of 50%.  Diaz has has been in love with Elliot for the last three years but he's reluctant to start a relationship with him.  He believes Elliot is still hurting from the divorce from his cheating husband.

4/5

Breaking the Rules: A Novel (Troubleshooters) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Breaking the Rules" the 16th book in her Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

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.

Product Details
Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition first Printing edition (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345521226
ISBN-13: 978-0345521224

My Review:

I highly recommend this series if you love a sexy Navy Seal hero with a kickass heroine in an action packed mystery thriller.

Really glad to see Jules take part in a rescue mission and his speaking interactions with the guys! Very enlightening conversation!

Storyline: The first time Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella saw Eden Gillman, he fell head over heels. And when she was pregnant by another man and in need of help, Izzy offered her marriage and anything else she could want. But when Eden suffered a miscarriage she took off and putting as much distance between herself and Izzy as possible.

Now Eden needs help again. Her teenage brother, Ben, is in danger. To get Ben away from their stepfather and safely in her custody, Eden needs Izzy to stand by her and prove that they can give Ben the ideal home. Eden would do anything to keep Ben safe and Izzy's willing to play knight in shining armor once more. Only now, old wounds aren't so easy for him to ignore. Izzy wants Eden as his wife, in every way, but he knows he can't trust her. To make things worse, Danny, Izzy's teammate and Eden's older brother is also along for the ride, as is his girlfriend, Jenn. Danny and Izzy have never gotten along, Eden's relationship with Danny is very tumultuous and Danny's relationship with Jenn is going anything but smoothly. Can the four of them put aside their problems long enough to gain custody of Ben?

Ben has befriended a teenager who has escaped from a child prostitution ring and the girl's captors are on the hunt for her - and will kill anyone who might know where she is.

Romance: Eden and Izzy's problems stemmed from a lack of trust and communication, which means results in "big misunderstandings." I wish they had an open mind and listened to one another earlier.

The secondary romance between Danny and Jenn is very sweet. Danny is head over heels in love with Jenn but he messed up in the past and she's very wary of believing that his claims of love are the real thing.

Killer(s): The killers were quite vile and sadistic in their killings. They had no remorse and no respect for women/girls. They use them and treat them like a speck of grain.

4/5

Infamous [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Infamous" by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

In her first paperback original in more than six years, New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann delivers an unforgettable novel of contemporary romance and thrilling suspense.

When history professor Alison Carter became a consultant to the film version of the Wild West legend she’d dedicated her career to researching, she couldn’t possibly have known that she would not only get a front-row seat to a full-blown Hollywood circus but would innocently witness something that would put her life in peril. Nor did she expect that a tall stranger in a cowboy hat would turn the movie — and her world —completely upside down.

A. J. Gallagher didn’t crash the set in dusty Arizona to rub elbows with Hollywood’s elite. Unable to ignore ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried, A. J. came to put an end to the false legend that has tarnished the reputation of his family. But when he confronts Alison, sparks fly. And when Alison is targeted by ruthless criminals, suddenly she and A .J. must face the intense attraction that threatens to consume them — and survive the danger that threatens their very lives.

About the Author

Since her explosion onto the publishing scene more than ten years ago, Suzanne Brockmann has written more than forty books, and is now widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the USA Today and New York Timesbestseller lists, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's #1 Favorite Book of the Year (three years running), two RITA Awards, and many Romantic TimesReviewers' Choice Awards. Suzanne Brockmann lives west of Boston with her husband, author Ed Gaffney.
 
Product Details
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 27, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 034552120X
ISBN-13: 978-0345521200
 
My Review:


I enjoyed the love story between Jamie and Melody.  I also enjoyed the interactions between Jamie and A.J.

3/5

Nowhere to Run: Not Without Risk\A Man to Die For [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Nowhere to Run" by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

Two timeless stories from the master of romantic suspense.


Not Without Risk

It began as a day's pleasure cruise on the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico. But then Emily Marshall stumbled into a deadly maze of drug smuggling and murder—and discovered that the only person who could help her was the man who had once torn her heart to shreds.

A sudden and passionate interlude showed Jim Keegan the truth he'd been hiding from for so long. Now he knew exactly what he lost when he walked away from Emily — and what he would lose forever if he couldn't save her.…

A Man to Die For

Carrie Brooks left her home, her job, her very existence, to run away with a murder suspect, a man whose only prior introduction to her was as her kidnapper. She has no reason at all to trust him. After all, he's the enemy — isn't he?

Felipe Salazar's been in disguise for so long, he's not even sure who he is anymore. But he knows two things: he's innocent. And he's waited all his life for someone like Carrie….

My Review:
 
I will write my review within the next 2 days (I'm too tired right now), so please check back later, thanks!
 
5/5

Otherwise Engaged (Mass Market Paperback)

I've finished reading "Otherwise Engaged" the 3rd book in her Sunset Key trilogy by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description


A woman convinced she must choose between the sensual and the sensible, between romance and reality. A man who settled for nothing less than having it all. A powerful novel of second chances, last chances, and a relationship that almost wasn’t—by New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann…

It was the chance Molly Cassidy was waiting for and she wasn’t letting it slip away. She’d unexpectedly inherited the Kirk Estate and was determined to restore the historic house as one of Sunrise Key’s finest bed-and-breakfasts. Of all the obstacles she faced, the biggest challenge was the man determined to buy the roof from over her head. Sexy billionaire Preston Seaholm owned the biggest resort in the little Florida community. But Molly knew well that the best things in life couldn’t be bought or sold. She had come to Sunrise Key with a dream, her ten-year-old son, and no intention of falling for a thrill-seeking adventurer. But from the moment they met, when he risked his own neck to save hers, Pres Seaholm proved he wasn’t the man Molly thought he was. Now, with something even more precious on the line, was she too late to recognize that he was the man she’d given up ever finding?

About the Author

Since her explosion onto the publishing scene more than ten years ago, Suzanne Brockmann has written more than forty books, and is now widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year (three years running), two RITA Awards, and many Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards. Suzanne Brockmann lives west of Boston with her husband, author Ed Gaffney.
 
My Review:
 
I really enjoyed reading this trilogy by Suzanne Brockmann!
 
I loved the romance between Molly and Preston because you can see the heat between them and Preston didn't pressure her in sleeping with him.  I liked the way that he was there for her and her son and didn't take no for an answer but he still want after her but didn't come on too strong, etc.
 
4/5

Hot Pursuit: A Novel (Hardcover)

I've just finished reading "Hot Pursuit" the 15th book in her Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

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 assemblywoman and her chief of staff after a political controversy generates a blizzard of hate mail–including death threats–from hotheads and cranks. But as soon as she mobilizes her squad of moonlighting Navy SEALs in New York City, Alyssa begins butting heads with the hard-case cop who thinks that the Troubleshooters are chasing shadows.

Until they discover a dead body. And then another. Now Alyssa really 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, while investigating a suspect, Alyssa is ambushed and suddenly finds herself imprisoned by The Dentist. 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, meanwhile trusting that her Troubleshooter teammates, led by her beloved Sam, will reach her before it’s too late.

About the Author

Since her explosion onto the publishing scene more than ten years ago, Suzanne Brockmann has written more than forty books, and is now widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year (three years running), two RITA Awards, and many Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards. Suzanne Brockmann lives west of Boston with her husband, author Ed Gaffney.

My review (SPOILERS!!!!):

Glad to see Alyssa and Sam again along with Robin and Jules.

Don't read further if you don't like to read about SPOILERS!!

SPOILERS!!!!!

When Tony and Izzy were in Maria Bonavida's office they didn't check every crack and nook. If they did they would have known "The Killer" was hiding in the closet and could see and overhear everything they said.

Tony was careless telling his lover on the phone which hotel and which room they were staying in. Guess who's his lover!!!! LOL!

4/5

Eggs in Purgatory: A Cackleberry Club Mystery (Cackleberry Club Mysteries) (Paperback

I've just finished reading "Eggs in Purgatory" the 1st book in her Cackleberry Club Mysteries by Laura Childs.

Product Description

Now Laura Childs is cracking a whole new case of murder in a brand new series—RECIPES INCLUDED.

Introducing the Cackleberry Club Mysteries...

Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lose their husbands but find independence when they open the Cackleberry Club. Then their cozy cafe becomes the scene of a crime when a lawyer dies with a secret on his lips and egg on his face. What this all has to do with a religious cult and Suzanne’s past could put her own life on the line.

The Kissing Game (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading "The Kissing Game" the 2nd book in her Sunrise Key series by Suzanne Brockmann.


Product Description

A Florida beauty who hides her stunning good looks. A childhood friend who’s made a career of seduction. A thrilling story of mystery, secrets, and romance—as only New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann can tell it…

Sunrise Key native and aspiring private investigator Frankie Paresky has her first bona fide case — a client has hired her to find the missing heir to a priceless property. But there’s one complication: Simon Hunt, her best friend’s brother and a notorious heartbreaker, insists on being Frankie’s assistant. For Frankie, even Simon’s street - smart know -how isn’t worth the cost of dealing with his distracting good looks and overactive libido. But Simon’s on a mission to prove he’s not the man Frankie thinks he is. The truth is, he’s been dreaming about Frankie since they were teenagers, and not one woman on his endless list of conquests has managed to stop him. But he needs to work fast. Because the real Frankie — every gorgeous inch of her—isn’t under wraps anymore, and a stranger is already moving in.

About the Author

Bestselling author, Suzanne Brockmann has won numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, seven Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, sixteen WISH Awards, and two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America. She lives outside Boston with her husband and two children.

Kiss and Tell (Mass Market Paperback)

I've just finished reading "Kiss and Tell" the 1st book in her "Sunset Keys" trilogy series by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

From New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann comes a funny, feisty, romantic tale about childhood rivals who discover the mystery of grown-up love.

When Leila Hunt is swept off her feet by a ninja at a New Year's Eve costume party, she has no idea who the masked man is—but after he disappears into the night, she’s determined to find him. When the clock struck twelve, what began as a friendly New Year's greeting quickly became the most unforgettable kiss Leila had ever experienced with anyone—including her absent boyfriend. But of all the possible suspects, Leila hardly imagines that the ninja is the same man who’s teased, tormented—and secretly intrigued her—since childhood.

Marshall Devlin is finally ready to face the terrifying truth: he’s in love with his best friend’s sister, and has been for years. There’s just one complication: Leila didn't know he was her ninja. To win her, Marsh will have to woo her. But can he make Leila forget their decades of verbal sparring in time to stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life?

About the Author

Bestselling author, Suzanne Brockmann has won numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, seven Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, sixteen WISH Awards, and two RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America. She lives outside Boston with her husband and two children.

Dark of Night (Troubleshooters, Book 14) (Hardcover

I've just finished reading "Dark of Night" the 14th book in her Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

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.

About the Author

Since her explosion onto the publishing scene more than ten years ago, Suzanne Brockmann has written more than forty books, and is now widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year (three years running), two RITA Awards, and many Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice awards. Suzanne Brockmann lives west of Boston with her husband, author Ed Gaffney.

Into the Fire (Troubleshooters, Book 13) (Hardcover)

I'm currently reading "Into the Fire" the 13th book in her Troubleshooters series by Suzanne Brockmann.

Product Description

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.

About the Author

Since her explosion onto the publishing scene more than ten years ago, Suzanne Brockmann has written more than forty books, and is now widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America’s #1 Favorite Book of the Year (three years running), two RITA Awards, and many Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice awards. Suzanne Brockmann lives west of Boston with her husband, author Ed Gaffney.

www.suzannebrockmann.com