Into the Fire (Troubleshooters, Book 13)

I became hooked on this author with Over the Edge and Gone Too Far. I just had to start at the beginning and go back to The Unsung Hero and The Defiant Hero. I even reread Over the Edge (I seldom read books twice) and then went on to Out of Control and Into the Night. I was back to Gone Too Far and read it again too, enjoying even more the second time. The characters drawn in these books were awesome and the way Brockmann intertwined the World War II stories was something else.

Then came Flashpoint and Hot Target. It was like she ran out of stories with Navy Seals and had to find more characters, so she created Troubleshooters, Inc., and added a new cast. I adapted, but they were no where as good in my opinion.

We then entered the Jules phase. I love the character of Jules, don't get me wrong, but I did tire of him and Robin. Their story went on book after book. Let's face it, they are not Sam and Alyssa, who deserved to be there for several books. (and who I wish could get a storyline and continue on) Her books to me at this point became more of political forum for gay rights as opposed to a romantic suspense story of any kind.

Now, we've come to book number 13, and between the Navy Seals, the FBI and Troubleshooters, I am having trouble keeping up with everyone, and who belongs to who, who should be with who, and why we should care. Sophia and Decker lost me several books ago. I vaguely remembered Vinh Murphy, but for the life of me could not remember if I was supposed to know who Hannah was.

I really like Izzy, but I have to agree with most of the reviews I've read here, his relationship with Eden was just a bit on the "icky" side. Though still a college student, Gina was at least an adult woman when she fell in love with Max, and the circumstances Brockmann created for them made her love for him seem realistic, and it wasn't like they just looked at each other in one book and fell into bed like Izzy and Eden did. The pains Brockmann went to for the sex to happen after midnight so Eden would be eighteen was just plain stupid.

And, finally, the cameo appearances of our previous heroes at the end did not do it for me at all. When she had them all come to Jules and Robin's wedding, at least she gave us an update on their lives.

Please, Ms. Brockmann, bring back the Seals of old that we love. Surely Tom and Kelly, Sam and Alyssa, Sam and Terri and the gang have had an adventure or two since their book. Cut down the cast and focus on the depth of your characters again like you used to do. Give us their history, and show us the qualities that makes us care about them.

I enjoyed Brockmann's earlier books, but she doesn't seem to be growing as a writer. She's not getting better, she's getting worse. Why do all her characters over act? And the dialogue is too over the top and unrealisitc. I've never heard anyone speak like they do. These characters are clones from other books, not original. And this military plot is getting boring. I rented the audiobook from the library. The male reader, Patrick Girard Lawtor, is not a good reader. He's the worst I've ever heard. I don't recommend this book or this author.

This latest of Suzanne Brockman's Troubleshooters adventure is heavy on the romance, light on the adventure.
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Vinh Murphy (from title HOT TARGET) returns and he is not doing well at all. The former Troubleshooter has been dealing with booze, blackouts, and just slumming from place-to-place since his wife, Angelina, died. Vinh blames the Freedom Network and its leader, Tim Ebersole, for her death and has loudly claimed that he would kill the man. Every few months he shows up at the door of Hannah Whitfield, a long time friend of his and Angelina's. Hannah allows him to clean up, eat, and get some sleep. This time Hannah and Vinh end up in bed together only for him to disappear before the night is even over.

When Tim Ebersole is murdered, the guys at Troubleshooter's Incorporated begin looking for him. Hannah goes to them for help locating Vinh as well because she knows Vinh is seriously suicidal lately.

Izzy Zanella is with SEAL Team Sixteen. He gets along great with all his team members except one, Danny Gillman. As Lady Fate would have it, Eden, Dan's little sister, shows up looking for Dan who is nowhere to be found. Izzy helps Eden out only for Dan to show up the next day with a major attitude. Though Dan obviously believes Izzy and Eden had been to bed together, they pair did not bother correcting his assumption. After all, the pair did get to third base. About six months later Dan shows up at Izzy's door saying that Eden is pregnant with his child. Knowing he is not the father, but refusing to discuss it with Danny's hot temper blazing, they go to Vegas. Eden has been slapped hard by her stepfather and imprisoned in a room with no place to sit, no food, and no water. Seeing this, Izzy no longer cares that he is not the biological father of the baby. He rescues Eden from her stepfather and Danny. In a few days, they plan to wed. But first, Izzy and the team must deal with a situation brought to their attention from Troubleshooter's Incorporation.

**** This is like reading two tales in one, but about half into the book the two stories begin to merge. I admit to enjoying Izzy and Eden's story a lot more than Vinh and Hannah's though. However, fans of the Troubleshooter series will be very happy with this installment to the series. Danger does not lurk around every corner, but the story has its fair share. Another outstanding piece of work! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

I love Suzanne Brockmann but I gotta say that this book fell a little short of expectation. The H/H characters for me were just not interesting enough and didn't have enough depth or chemistry.

I wasn't really interested in a story for Vinh Murphy and maybe SB just wasn't feeling it too much either. I was WAAAAY more interested in the story that developed between Eden and Izzy. I've always had a thing for crazy Izzy and I'm finally glad he got some credit with someone who had a character instead the office slut Tracy he had a thing with in the last story. I just really can't see an Izzy/Tracy relationship and I hope SB doesn't take it in that direction in the future because of the huge cliffhanger at the end of this book.

So I give this book 4 stars based on the fact that SB doesnt fail to deliver on the suspence, action, and romance (even though, in my opinion, it wasn't between the H/H advertised on the inside flap).