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Infamous

3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 · rating details · 1,314 ratings · 199 reviews

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 wo...more

Paperback, 433 pages

Published July 27th 2010 by Ballantine Books (first published 2010)

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Aug 03, 2010 ♡KarLynP♡ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audiobook, genre-contemporary, published-2010, read-2010, genre-suspense, steam-mild

3.5 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. While it was a romance between AJ and Alison, the main character was really James - AJ's 101 year old great grandpa's ghost. No, this isn't a paranormal romance. It is a straight contemporary romance with a ghost who helps (and helps, and helps, and HELPS!) to solve murders, rescue dying people and relay messages among the living.

The ghost (James) had a great back story that was interesting when he was alive, but his incarnation as a ghost who 'returne...more 3.5 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. While it was a romance between AJ and Alison, the main character was really James - AJ's 101 year old great grandpa's ghost. No, this isn't a paranormal romance. It is a straight contemporary romance with a ghost who helps (and helps, and helps, and HELPS!) to solve murders, rescue dying people and relay messages among the living.

The ghost (James) had a great back story that was interesting when he was alive, but his incarnation as a ghost who 'returned' to set the story of his life straight was tooooo convenient, and much of the story's progression relied on James’s mystical involvement one way or another. He was always in the right place and the right time, had a full grasp of today's lingo and technology, and was conveniently projected to scenes that would help him solve the big mystery, capture the bad guys, keep everyone safe, or even dole out his timely wise relationship advice. OK, sure.

AJ and Alison's romance was pretty simple. AJ isn't convinced he is really seeing great gramps ghost, but after a few weeks of persuasive tactics he goes to Arizona where Alison is working on a movie about James's life. Alison and AJ lock eyes, and sparks fly. Soon, clothes fly too. Then Alison learns that “perfect man” AJ was once an alcoholic (ten years sober) and he see's ghosts, which thus begins Alison’s long wishy-washy 'I can't decide what to do' diatribe that lasted through most of the book. Meanwhile, AJ realizes Alison's life is in danger so he enlists the help of James to keep Alison safe while at the same time trying to convince her that they are meant for each other, and not just for the hot sex they keep having.

Overall, it was good but not great. It is a stand alone, and there were no story arcs like we are used to in her Troubleshooters series. And while I am still waiting anxiously for the next TS book (Izzy’s story!!), I don’t think I’d be inclined to read anymore of her ghost stories – that is if she writes anymore.

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Dec 20, 2010 Mojca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suzanne-brockmann, suspense-mystery-adventure-thriller, paranormal-romance-fantasy, own, contemporary-romance, e-book, historical-romance, favorites, rrrc-1st-reading-tournament

Jamie Gallagher is fed up with the severely inaccurate version of his history, so he decides to put an end to all the lies and tell his side of the story. Unfortunately he’s dead, so he has to ask his great-grandson, A.J., for help.
And as if seeing his Gramps’ ghost isn’t problem enough for this recovering alcoholic, first Gulf War vet, the historian that can help set the record straight is a looker. And after a long dry spell that spells trouble with a capital T. So yeah, he thinks he’s crazy,...more Jamie Gallagher is fed up with the severely inaccurate version of his history, so he decides to put an end to all the lies and tell his side of the story. Unfortunately he’s dead, so he has to ask his great-grandson, A.J., for help.
And as if seeing his Gramps’ ghost isn’t problem enough for this recovering alcoholic, first Gulf War vet, the historian that can help set the record straight is a looker. And after a long dry spell that spells trouble with a capital T. So yeah, he thinks he’s crazy, his mother thinks he’s crazy, the historian thinks he’s lying…What’s a guy to do?

On top of it all, Jamie’s spirit, not that he’s really there, is spouting nonsense about a dead guy , a guy with a pony-tail, a gizmo that blocks cell signals…The film set is chaotic, he can’t stop thinking about the looker of a historian, Jamie just might be there…And someone apparently wants the looker of a historian dead and frame A.J. for it.

So really, what’s a guy to do?

Judging from what I just wrote this story was all over the place. Well, it wasn’t. This was my first venture into the writings of Suzanne Brockmann and I must say I wasn’t disappointed. Quite the contrary in fact. Also maybe because I went in with nary no expectations. The story promised quite a romp and it delivered with plenty to spare.

It was a nice mixture of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, humor, a ghost, and a few historical tidbits. And I loved it.

The characters were wonderful, especially Jamie. I loved this ghost. He was funny, sarcastic, loved to sing and dance (lol), and loved his great-grandson to bits. I adored the bond between these two men (or whatever) it shone in every scene they had together, in every word. Ms. Brockmann did a great job in transmitting this bond to the reader with her writing. Though she told us of it, she also showed it to the reader and that’s a great achievement.
The romance part was a bit subdued and at the beginning more on the humorous, friendly side, turning bittersweet toward the end, riding shotgun to Jamie’s story, which could’ve been a big no-no, but turned out great.

The only problem I had with this story was the suspense thing. Because I didn’t really get it. The explanation to all the shenanigans at the end was too rushed and a little too convenient for my taste, and I still feel a little out of the loop about it.

Despite the suspense not working quite right, all the rest was absolutely great, and I can’t wait to read more of what this author has to offer.(less)

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Aug 23, 2010 Auntee rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Suzanne Brockmann only

Shelves: brockmann-others, romantic-suspense, 2010_reads

Well I finally finished, and I'm asking myself--was this really a Suzanne Brockmann book? I liked the whole concept of the book--Hollywood movie being made about a famous Wild West legend (Silas Quinn), although maybe the 'legend' wasn't such a legend afterall. The legend's foe--the gambler Jamie 'Kid' Gallagher (who has returned as a ghost that only his great-grandson--42 year old blond hunk A.J. Gallagher-- can see), is out to redeem his name and restore his family's reputation by communicatin...more Well I finally finished, and I'm asking myself--was this really a Suzanne Brockmann book? I liked the whole concept of the book--Hollywood movie being made about a famous Wild West legend (Silas Quinn), although maybe the 'legend' wasn't such a legend afterall. The legend's foe--the gambler Jamie 'Kid' Gallagher (who has returned as a ghost that only his great-grandson--42 year old blond hunk A.J. Gallagher-- can see), is out to redeem his name and restore his family's reputation by communicating his story through his great-grandson. The great-grandson (who happens to have a heck of a lot of personal baggage--Gulf War vet suffering from PTS, a recovering alcoholic, his family and friends think he may be crazy by insisting that he can communicate with his long dead Gramps)is on his way to the movie set in Arizona to see if he can get his great-grandfather's story told and put an end to lawman Silas Quinn's 'legend'. Along the way A.J. falls for history professor, and author of the definitive book on the legend of Silas Quinn (and the movie's historical consultant) Dr. Allison Carter.

Sounds pretty good and original, huh? I was expecting something along the line of an earlier SB book, Heartthrob, but this was nothing like it. The first 200 pages were so...boring, that I had a hard time slogging through it. The romance was hardly there. Anytime something looked like it was about to start developing between A.J. and Allison, SB would take us back to the movie set for some boring details about how they'd set up a shot, or to check on some historical fact, or scout for locations, or some mundane detail...blah, blah, blah. A little bit of this went a long way! And then there was the endless monotony of A.J. trying to convince Allison to believe him about how he could see and communicate with his great-grandfather's ghost, and that his great-grandfather was telling the truth when he said anything Silas Quinn said about him was a pack of lies. It took over half the book before Allison finally believed there could be a grain of truth to what A.J. was telling her.

I must admit, once Allison started to consider that what A.J. was saying could be true (and after she slept with him against her better judgment) the book started to take off, and it became more Brockmann-like. The character of A.J. became more developed, SB did what she does best and gave A.J. a military buddy to converse with, she upped the suspense by having a couple of bad guys out to kill Allison for something that she unknowingly witnessed and having A.J. (and Jamie) doing everything in their power to protect her), and the romance between A.J. and Allison heated up.

For me, the best parts of the book (besides the bits of romance between A.J. and Allison) were reading the diary entries of Silas Quinn's wife; the character of A.J., who I really liked; and the antics of Jamie the ghost ( and his interesting backstory) who basically stole the book. The worst parts for me? Too much filler about the process of movie making, how the supposed gunfight between Jamie and Silas went down, and reading yet another book where SB tries to work her political 'agenda' into the story. I've got nothing against her anti-war, gay rights ideas, but does she have to have it in every one of her (later) books? Other Brockmann-isms in this book to look for are the use of the gay male best friend (shades of Jules), the references to Star Trek, and the FBI agents who seemed suspiciously like Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke...

This book was over 400 pages long, but I'll bet it would've been a much better book if 100 of those pages were eliminated. I know this was a reworking of an earlier unpublished Brockmann book--maybe she just should have left it alone--I'm wondering what she did to 'rework' it?

If you're a die-hard Brockmann fan, you may want to give this one a shot. It may take you a while to get into it, but once you do it becomes a pretty fast read. Just stick with it. If you've never read a Suzanne Brockmann book before, please don't start with this one. She has some far superior books in her Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series, and some worthy stand alones too. This one? Hmmm, about 3 1/2 stars.(less)

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Nov 06, 2010 Regan rated it 5 of 5 stars

OMG! This is now the best book I've read this year! The beginning had me a little puzzled and turned off because it not only seemed to ramble but it looked like it was going to be a first person POV which I generally do not like. What a fabulous surprise just past the prologue with some well done twists and surprises. Also, Ms. Brockmann delves into the issues our vets are dealing with and rather than sensationalize it into a vehicle for the story, it is woven into the very fabric of the story s...more

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May 09, 2012 Kris rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemportary-romance, paranormal, library-book

Requires complete suspension of belief. Ghosts, weird movie goings on, drug lords, weird FBI stuff, etc etc. My foremost thought throughout the entire book was 'W. T. F.?' because it was so over the top and unbelievable.

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Sep 20, 2012 Mary rated it 1 of 5 stars

I love Suzanne Suzanne Brockmann's writing. I have been reading her since the beginning of her career. When she was touring small books stores around the county in a car with her husband and Eric. I am a firm supporter of her Jules character and throughly enjoyed that character's development. Also enjoyed Adam's short story.

The attack on Conservative Views (Oil Drilling,etc..) in this book, however, kept drawing me out of the story, making it a difficult read. Also, these comments were presente...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Mandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Before this, I had only read Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series. This is completely different than those. To start with, there’s a ghost. Yup, a ghost. The ghost part is written in first person and the rest of the story is in third person. Then, there’s the fact that Brockmann gets super preachy in this book about the evils of war and tolerance of gay people. I’m a firm LGBT supporter, but even I had enough of her hitting me over the head with it.

I enjoyed the first half of the book. Alison is a...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Mfred rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, romance-suspense

The first moment Jamie’s first person narrative interrupted AJ and Alison, I kept thinking about the story this book could have told.

A story about AJ, descendant of a man presumed dead long before he actually died, who himself struggles to come back to life from the horrors of war and addiction. A story about Alison, made to face the historical inaccuracies she based her whole career and professional life on. Hell, I kept thinking, is this really a romance novel discussing the awesome implicati...more The first moment Jamie’s first person narrative interrupted AJ and Alison, I kept thinking about the story this book could have told.

A story about AJ, descendant of a man presumed dead long before he actually died, who himself struggles to come back to life from the horrors of war and addiction. A story about Alison, made to face the historical inaccuracies she based her whole career and professional life on. Hell, I kept thinking, is this really a romance novel discussing the awesome implications of micro- and macro-history, women’s history, and the influence of personal mythology on the historical record?! I wrote papers about that shizz in college! Now add that great, irresistible attraction AJ and Alison have for each other— the passion, the friction, and the heat?!

Too bad the ghost kept getting in the damn way.

Jamie is a convenient plot point. A dues ex-machina. He gets people into trouble and then saves them from it with his ghostly powers. He sees and hears all; he’s in all the right places at the right times, and when the going gets rough, he even gets new and even more unexplainable powers that save the day.

I wasn’t sure if it was Jamie’s fault, for hogging up so much narrative space, but I found AJ hard to pin down through the course of the novel. I kept having to remind myself this was a man in his forties and not his twenties. It’s not that AJ reads as immature, it just maybe that he is oddly insecure? So doubtful of himself, his feelings for Alison, her feelings for him… I especially felt a jarring contrast between AJ’s alpha male physical competence (how very handy, being an ex-solider, when you find yourself in a romantic suspense novel!) and a very beta inner voice. Perhaps Brockmann meant to underscore the lost years of his life— a man who spent ten years in a prolonged blackout perhaps maybe would be less formed as an adult. Whatever she intended, it didn’t work for me.

Alison I just doubted from the beginning. A 30-something tenured history professor, who has, in her thirties, written the definitive book on the most beloved subject of the American West? Who is totally in charge of all sorts of important decisions on a movie set where the director actually gives a shizz about historical accuracy? I don’t know much about Hollywood, but this read as pure romance novel make-believe. Ahem, ya know, besides the whole ghost thing and the unbelievable-attraction-it-must-be-true-love thing.

So, when all is said and done, I can only give Infamous a “eh, it was ok.” I wanted to love it, but couldn’t. I’ll give it 3 of 5 stars.
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Sep 07, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: traded-sold

I LOVED IT!!!!!!! I literally ignored my family and stayed in my pajamas until 3pm today so I could sit around & read it.

Gosh, maybe I just need to start each book expecting it to suck... that way if it does, I'm not disappointed. Then when a book really turns out great like this one, then I'm astoundingly surprised! Honestly, I went into this not expecting much, so maybe I'm just a huge fan of Brockmann's writing? Her characters actually think like normal people, the dialogue is normal conv...more

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Sep 06, 2011 RomReader rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

History writer acts as a consultant of a movie based on a biography she wrote about a famous US Marshall. She gets a visit from the great-grandson of the arch-enemy of the US Marshall who wants to inform her of some historical inaccuracies of her book. What Hero doesn't tell her at 1st is that he's getting his facts from the ever-present ghost of his great-grandfather. He shares a mutual attraction with heroine but he's cautious of getting involved with her due to his history with PTSD & alc...more History writer acts as a consultant of a movie based on a biography she wrote about a famous US Marshall. She gets a visit from the great-grandson of the arch-enemy of the US Marshall who wants to inform her of some historical inaccuracies of her book. What Hero doesn't tell her at 1st is that he's getting his facts from the ever-present ghost of his great-grandfather. He shares a mutual attraction with heroine but he's cautious of getting involved with her due to his history with PTSD & alcoholism. Heroine is wary of getting entangled in another bad r/s & is skeptical about his historical claims. Her doubts about Hero's mental state diminishes as the danger around her increases & as his great-grandpa's warnings & information of ongoing crimes & people involved prove to be accurate.

I liked how Brockmann mixed present story with diary entries & old letters. It was done in a coherent way & added to the story. The romance, sexual tension, & sex scenes were good. Overall, emotional involvement was good & I even got teary-eyed at the end & found the suspense part at the end engaging. Emotional pull of the story dwindled, though, around the middle part when the characters were discussing in detail what happened or didn't happen to Hero's great-grandpa's past. It also got interrupted during the proselytizing parts of the story. I've noticed that Brockmann's been inserting her "preaching" bits in her most current books. In this book, she's preaching about religion, homosexuality, & politics of war. It really took away from the emotional tone of the story for me. It's like those annoying commercial breaks during a really engaging TV shows. I did what I do with annoying TV commercials, I skipped them.

The characters were strong & dynamic. Both Hero & heroine had their issues that made them wary about being in a r/s & they also had strengths that made them a good fit for each other. The character I found to be the most interesting & an invaluable part of the story was Hero's great-grandpa's ghost. He provided the link b/w the past & present. He greatly aided the romance b/w cautious Hero & heroine & saved their lives quite a few times too.

Recommended with some conditions.(less)

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Jul 21, 2011 Sandy M rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, paranormal

Because I’m a book ho, I’ve read only one Suzanne Brockmann book, the first in her Troubleshooters series, The Unsung Hero, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and then subsequently vowed I would continue with the series as often as I could. Of course, life, the thousands of other books strewn around my condo and piled high in my storage unit, and a million other things got in the way of that vow, and Infamous is the only other Brockmann I’ve read to date. That’s okay, though, because I love this book....more Because I’m a book ho, I’ve read only one Suzanne Brockmann book, the first in her Troubleshooters series, The Unsung Hero, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and then subsequently vowed I would continue with the series as often as I could. Of course, life, the thousands of other books strewn around my condo and piled high in my storage unit, and a million other things got in the way of that vow, and Infamous is the only other Brockmann I’ve read to date. That’s okay, though, because I love this book. It’s her first paperback in six years, it’s full of action, a ghost that could be hero of his own book, and it’s vintage Brockmann, expertly giving us two romances instead of one.

A.J. Gallagher’s great-grandfather, Jamie, has been vilified in history as a murderer, thief, kidnapper, and any other number of criminal activities, all thanks to the real culprit from his day, Silas Quinn, who has been portrayed as a knight with the proverbial white hat on the proverbial white horse. A movie is in production regarding Quinn and his story, and A.J. has come to the set in Arizona to set some facts straight with Alison Carter, the consultant on the film who touts herself an expert on Quinn. He’s there at the behest of his great-grandfather, an apparition who has been appearing to A.J. for a while now, wanting the truth to finally be known.

Mistaking the good looking cowboy as an extra on the film, Alison scoffs when she discovers his true reason for seeking her out. She’s done her homework and knows Quinn and his times up one side and down the other, plus A.J. has no proof, at least any he can produce without delays in filming.

In between all of this, Alison inadvertently witnesses something so innocuous she doesn’t even realize it, and bizarre events begin to happen, all jeopardizing her life, no one figuring it all out until it’s nearly too late. It’s when she and A.J. grow closer and Jamie begins to put two and two together when attempts on Alison’s life escalate that A.J. is forced to tell her about his resident ghost. Fearing she’s given her heart to a mad man, Alison retreats from their budding relationship.

But when they find themselves on the run while trying to fit puzzle pieces together that started it all, Alison becomes a believer when Jamie is suddenly their lifeline. I love all three of these characters. A.J.’s past keeps Alison at bay, until the next time he touches her. She is determined, however, not to fall in love with him because of his past. These are very moving scenes from both characters’ points of view.

Then comes the confession of A.J.’s ability to see Jamie, which, along with the bad guys getting closer and closer, and once again the emotion these two fight and eventually embrace is gut wrenching.

Jamie himself is definitely hero material, as A.J. eventually proves to Alison, causing her to rethink the history she thinks she knows. And in a do-or-die situation, Ms. Brockmann pulls a twist you don’t see coming.

Mixed in between A.J. and Alison’s love story are letters written by Melody, Jamie’s wife, chronicling their lives, when and how they met, how they escaped danger even back 100 years before, how they fell in love. I really enjoy how Ms. Brockmann intertwines stories like this. It seems effortless, seamlessly moving from to the other, adding another dimension to the entire story as it goes along.

If you’re a Suzanne Brockmann fan, do not hesitate in picking this book up. You’re in for one hell of a good time.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Aug 17, 2010 Leylakyrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story! It had a little bit of everything to keep me going with a non-stop smile. A great read with action, historical fiction, romance, a little ghostly mystery, and of course practical humor as each scenario played out. Great great read!

What do you do if you've dedicated your career to researching the facts to one of the biggest, well-known historical gun-slinging show-downs...to today, being in the position of maintaining that historical accuracy in the eyes of the Hollywood produ...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ok so this is the first book I have read by this Author. I was in the library looking for some new reading material, and I walk by and see the picture of a very good looking cowboy and read the synopsis. Sounded interesting. So I pick it up take it home and read it.

Yeah, the synopsis was not very truthful. We have Cowboys, ghosts, mobsters, and the FBI. This book has a lot going on, and that's not a bad thing. This book has a very clear and important message to it's readers. It's more then a lov...more

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Oct 25, 2010 Darcy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, audio-book

I wasn't too sure what to think of this book when I started it, the male narrator's voice was weird for me, but the story intrigued me so I kept going on with it and am I glad that I did. I loved the 2 parallel story lines and while each couple was dealing with different issues, the feelings behind them were at the heart the same. AJ seemed so perfect when you met him, but as the story went on you realize that he had his demons like every other person. How odd that seeing a ghost is the least of...more

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Aug 19, 2010 Gamatst rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, audio-i-ve-listened-to

This review is for the Audiobook Version

I finished listening to Suzanne Brockmann’s Infamous yesterday and I feel like I’ve been on a roller coaster! I laughed, I cried … and I fell in love with AJ. I’m not generally a fan of the more beta type heroes but AJ was awesome. And then there was Jamie, a true hero in every way by the end of the book.

Loved Alison’s open minded character too, and the fact that each time I was ready to slap her she ended up doing the right thing. :) Then there was Hugh a...more

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Dec 26, 2010 Erin rated it 2 of 5 stars

This would have been three stars if it weren't for a few details. The relationship between A.J. and Alison is solid and interesting, although the tension fizzles out a bit after they have sex. After that, the tension is between A.J., Alison, and ghost Jamie. I've never read a Brockmann novel with paranormal elements, and I have to say it feels a bit shoehorned in here. So much time is spent determining whether or not Jamie is real that the rest of the story suffers. The novel clocks in at 400 pa...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Lynn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-adventure, paranormal

As far as Brockmann books go, I still prefer the titles in her Troubleshooters and category Tall, Dark and Dangerous series. However, this is a pleasant enough read. The characters are likable and the premise is unique.

Dr. Alyson Carter is a history professor whose particular interest and expertise lies in the famous legend of hero Marshall Sylas Quinn and the shoot out the Red Rock Saloon back in the mid 1800s. Marshall Quinn has always been her personal hero as well, and she view the man who s...more As far as Brockmann books go, I still prefer the titles in her Troubleshooters and category Tall, Dark and Dangerous series. However, this is a pleasant enough read. The characters are likable and the premise is unique.

Dr. Alyson Carter is a history professor whose particular interest and expertise lies in the famous legend of hero Marshall Sylas Quinn and the shoot out the Red Rock Saloon back in the mid 1800s. Marshall Quinn has always been her personal hero as well, and she view the man who stole the Marshall's beloved wife, Melody, to be the most vile villain of all time. When A.J. Gallagher, a man claiming to be the great grandson of the Evil Jamie Gallagher appears on the set of a movie about Marshall Quinn, where Alyson is currently serving as the historical consultant, she is very reluctant to believe A.J.'s assertion that everyone has had it all wrong all along, that Quinn was actually the monster and that Jamie Gallagher was wrongly accused of all sorts of misdeeds.

A.J. Gallagher isn't sure why he's all of the sudden seeing the ghost of his great grandfather, Jamie. Could be that he's going crazy. That the stress of his time serving in Iraq and the results of too many years drinking too much booze have finally sent him over the edge. Still, he determines to prove to Alyson that his family doesn't deserve the infamy it has received over the past hundred and fifty years.

Alyson and A.J. have an immediate attraction and the story follows A.J.'s attempts to convince Alyson of the truth and her attempts to ignore her feelings for him given the amount of baggage he comes with.

A sub-plot involving a crime that Alyson witnessed adds an outside edge of danger, but to be honest, this was wholly unnecessary and is one of the reasons I give the book only three stars. The last quarter of the book when the "bad guys" catch up to Alyson becomes practically impossible to follow, the string of events convoluted and the cast of bad-guy characters and their relationships with each other confusing. I ended skimming most of this part of the book just to get to the end.

Too, another problem I had with this book was the presence of Jamie Gallagher as a ghost. An honest to goodness, visible only to A.J. ghost. First of all, as the only supernatural element in an otherwise entirely real-world story, it seemed silly and out there. Too, Jamie made things too easy because as an entity that was invisible to all but one person and that could move around at will, he was there just in the nick of time to solve all sorts of problems.

My final issue was in how the premise played out. Silas Quinn was supposedly a national hero with an insanely famous legend surrounding him. Yet as Jamie Gallagher's story comes out, it is clear that Quinn was far from a hero. As more and more of his bad deeds came to light, I found it harder and harder to believe that an entire nation had been so thoroughly duped to buy into the massive lie wholesale. If only one aspect of the legend had been untrue - an important aspect - at least I could believe how Quinn might have gotten away with all of the lies he told. As it stands, the whole "national legend" aspect seemed far fetched.

In the end, this book was entertaining but not one of my favorite of Brockmann's. (less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Duchess Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: dead-tree-books, genre-contemp-romance, z-audiobooks, genre-romantic-suspense, read-in-2012, library

3 stars

Well, I adore Suzanne Brockmann. Her Troubleshooters series is one of my most favoritest series ever...please don't read this book if it's going to be your first by her, PLEASE! This is not a good example of this outstanding author.

There were two different stories being told at the same time...one past, one present. The present story is being told by Alison Carter and Jamie Gallagher, who is the great grandfather ghost of Alison's new love interest, AJ Gallagher. WTF, you ask? Yes, I ask...more 3 stars

Well, I adore Suzanne Brockmann. Her Troubleshooters series is one of my most favoritest series ever...please don't read this book if it's going to be your first by her, PLEASE! This is not a good example of this outstanding author.

There were two different stories being told at the same time...one past, one present. The present story is being told by Alison Carter and Jamie Gallagher, who is the great grandfather ghost of Alison's new love interest, AJ Gallagher. WTF, you ask? Yes, I asked that too. Jamie has inexplicably shown himself to AJ, reasons unknown and never really explained. Since only AJ sees him, this cause quite a problem. See, Alison wrote a book about Jamie's arch nemesis, the old time US Marshall Silas Quinn, whom supposedly shot and killed Jamie back in the year 1898, earning the hero title from modern day gunslinger fans. But Jamie is the real hero, and AJ now feels the need to defend his great grandfather's actions and tamp down the rumors of his evil nature.

The past story is told through the diary entries of Jamie's wife Melody, who is AJ's great grandmother, now deceased. I thought that the story itself was beautiful and could have had it's own book. SB is such a great author, I wish she would have fleshed out Jamie and Melody's tumultuous meeting and subsequent love affair and let me see the entire story instead of just the bits thrown into this book as a secondary plot.

Without the ghost, this would have received a higher rating from me, but the paranormal aspect just got in the way of the actual plot. I think the ghost element was supposed to add some humor and depth, but it was just annoying for me and ended up making it feel hokey. Also, if you know this author at all, you know that her son is gay and that she tends to fit in each book some homosexual characters, usually men, and it tends to work. But this book seemed to tout a lot of her own political agenda and liberal views a bit too much... she touches on oil drilling, the US military's choices during the first Gulf war, gay rights, of course, and even goes so far as to state her religious views pretty definitively. Or maybe I assume too much there, but it sure seemed like a statement to me. Maybe I'm sensitive, who knows? I was just annoyed and felt like she used this book to air her beliefs, which again took away from the book and made me focus on something entirely different. It's never bothered me before with her, but too much was shoved into this book.

I hope that Brockmann goes back to her SEALS, but maybe she's just trying to branch out. I say, please don't cave and start trying to go mainstream PNR. Your loyal fans became enamored of your men and women in the military for a very good reason...you shine when you write romantic suspense. (less)

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Apr 19, 2012 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, contemporary, read-2012, romance, romantic-suspense, paranormal-elements

Actually 3.5 stars.

Infamous was better than I thought it would be. My previous experience with Suzanne Brockmann's writing was disappointing (see my review of Body Language), but this was better. The story did lag a bit in places, one of the central characters was often annoying (yes, that's directed at your insubstantial ass, Jamie), and I got tired of Brockmann using her characters as mouthpieces for her political ideals, but I still really enjoyed this book. The romance was well done: a littl...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Becky Moe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, contemporary, action

I really enjoyed this book, though I had no idea it had fantasy elements until I started reading it--the description I read pretty much tiptoed around that aspect of the story. I was totally okay with that, though, as I like to read both fantasy books and those written by Suzanne Brockmann--so, bonus! It's a fun read blending the supernatural and real-fake history (if that makes sense--it works in my head, anyway) with action and suspense. You gotta love a book with a historian for a main charac...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Jenifer rated it 1 of 5 stars

This was the first Suzanne Brockman book I've read and will probably be the last. I picked it up at a bookstore on a whim, so I hadn't read any previous reviews of this book or any of the author's other books. Apparently, it's a common theme of Ms Brockman's to insert her political views/stances into her books, which I have no problem with. There were probably at least 10 different ones going on in this one. I was simply bored. I skimmed the majority and read the last couple of chapters and don'...more

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Aug 26, 2010 Ana rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: did-not-finish

– Let me start off by saying, I am a huge Brockmann fan-girl and I’ve been waiting for this book since I first heard about it late last year. I really, really wanted to like this book but there just wasn’t much to enjoy. The author, who is known for telling it like it is in real life, gets on a soap box about how Bad War Is and she reiterates this over…and over…and over… I’m all for authors who want to have their say but give it up, Ms. Brockmann. Fiction is just that, fiction and its all about...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Heather in FL rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio, z-from-audible, a-i-own-it, elements-romance, mix-m-f

This was my first Suzanne Brockmann, and it won't be my last. I had no idea what to expect. I got this from Audible because it was on sale and highly rated. I didn't know we'd have actors, cowboys, Wild West, thugs, history buffs, and ghosts. I thought Allison was a great, strong character. I was a little bit sad for her that her fascination with Quinn was that she wanted a hero when she was growing up. And she picked Quinn who turned out to be total slime. AJ was a great character as well. He'd...more

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Mar 15, 2013 LaFleurBleue rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book, romance-contemp, romantic-suspense

I finally managed to finish it.
It was a never-ending series of disappointment, especially as I really appreciate this author who's able to do so much better than this. Let's list a few of those disappointments/
- I never connected either to Alison or AJ; they did not seem real but only characters with not much interest
- the main character in the story is actually a ghost (I do not like paranormal and paranormal in a "regular" book is even worse)- he's the narrator for about 1/3rd of the story and...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Sho rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

3.5 stars!

This is my first "not-Troubleshooter Inc" book by the author and I'm really glad I tried it.

As with some of her other books Suzanne Brockmann adds a love story of separate timeline with the main love story in this book. In this case James "Kid" Gallagher, and the supposedly kidnapped Melody in the past and A.J. Gallagher and Alison in the present. In the other books I found the juxtaposition sometimes annoying, but in this case it works really well in building the relationship of the m...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Sara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: military-heroes, paranormal-fantasy

I know that most authors get berrated when they only write the same types of stories over and over again, but this is not the case for Suzanne Brockmann. Her writing is interesting and different enough that she has readers coming back for more and more of her books.
that said, i don't understand her reasoning behind Jamie in this book.... all i could think was WTF?!!
Jamie was more of a hinderence in this book than any type of support for AJ. The idea that he could talk to and see this ghost is e...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: appealing-characteristic-story, contemporary, paranormal, romance, 2011

Oh my god it took me a long time to read this book. Do authors really need to jump on the paranormal bandwagon? I like Suzanne Brockmann. Good for her for trying to break out of her SEAL Mode (which, btw, I LURV) but it was only the fact that she wrote this book that kept me reading.
Alison Carter is the historical consultant for a movie based on her own research. A. J. Gallagher shows up because the movie doesn't show his great-grandfather in the most flattering light... and he's hanging around...more

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Aug 08, 2010 Sueij rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think so highly of Suz's stuff that this was a bit of a disappointment.

The writing and story were, as always, very well done. The characters are interesting and realistic. The conflicts are believable and lead the characters to new actions and perspectives.

But hero sees a ghost, and that ghost actually tells about a third of the story from his first-person POV. And the ghost can "travel" between different places related to his own and the hero's life, except for when he suddenly and unexpected...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Megan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012, listened-to-in-2012, soa-listening-challenge-2012

It was a fun listen and a fun ride. But like a theme park towards the end of the day, I felt like I was on sensory overload.

I liked the narration itself, though I've never been a big fan of Lawlor. History professor Alison Carter is a noted expert on Wild West legendary hero Silas Quinn. AJ Gallagher is the great-grandson of James "Kid" Gallagher who supposedly kidnapped and killed Silas beloved wife Melody. AJ is being haunted by his great-grandpa Jamie's ghost. In hopes of recovering his "san...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Shera Melton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Let me start off by saying, this is my first Suzanne Brockmann novel. I really, really, really enjoyed the first half of this book. I laughed out loud, a lot, which I don't often do, and I found myself ready very quickly to see what happened next. The dialogue felt real, and was very easy to follow and read. If I hadn't of had one main problem with the novel, Alison's Stupidness (see below) then I would have given this book 4 stars. If I was rating just the first half, I would give it five and w...more Let me start off by saying, this is my first Suzanne Brockmann novel. I really, really, really enjoyed the first half of this book. I laughed out loud, a lot, which I don't often do, and I found myself ready very quickly to see what happened next. The dialogue felt real, and was very easy to follow and read. If I hadn't of had one main problem with the novel, Alison's Stupidness (see below) then I would have given this book 4 stars. If I was rating just the first half, I would give it five and wish I could give it more. But there were a couple of flaws that really irked me as I read.

Here are the things I really liked about the novel:

1.) Jamie. I LOVED the ghost. He was funny, and charming, and he added something to the story that made it more than just your typical romantic suspense novel. Without him, I wouldn't have really liked this book.

2.) I loved AJ. He was the perfect Hero for this book, and he was the kind of man you instantly want to root for.

3.) I loved the romance between AJ and Alison. When they were falling in love, kissing and eventually making love for the first time, it was so fun and exciting.

4.) I loved all of the action. There are little bits of action all throughout the novel, where as most novels have one big event near the end. The pacing of leading up to the main action is perfect, and the pacing of the romance was perfect until Alison went all stupid.

Now here is what I didn't like about the novel:

1.) Alison. She was so obviously in love with the guy, but when he comes clean about his issues and all that he has overcome, she bolts. She repeatedly tells herself, and AJ, that she will have sex with him, but she WILL NOT fall in love with him or ever be in a serious relationship with him. Everyone in the novel, and me the reader, could tell that she loved him and that she was just being dumb, and I hate a dumb heroine more than anything else. Just go with your heart already, and as AJ said, take it one day at a time! Have a little bit of faith for goodness sakes.

2.) AJ's mom, Rose. His own mother, who has been through a lot with him, didn't even believe him. She didn't think enough of him to think that he could actually be telling her the truth, and mothers are supposed to love their kids and believe in them no matter what. She just felt weak and all wrong.

(less)

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About Suzanne Brockmann

Suzanne Brockmann is the author of nearly 50 romance and romantic suspense novels, including her wildly popular 15-books-and-counting Troubleshooters series. She also wrote the popular Tall, Dark & Dangerous series for Silhouette Intimate Moments.

In her free time she likes to sing and do volunteer work. She is a proud member of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) as well...more

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Quotes from Infamous

“That was the word she used to describe herself - fit. A.J. would've used other words. Like holy shit and sweet baby Jesus.

A) If it were up to me, Alison, you'd never wear clothes again. Nor, for that matter, would I....

Things not to say.” — 3 people liked it

“They were big and black and rubber—the kind of boots you might be wearing as you came in the kitchen door, shaking off your rain slicker and saying, Grab the young’uns, Ma. Crick’s a-rising.” — 3 people liked it

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