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Troubleshooters #9
Breaking Point
Uncommon valor in the line of duty and unconditional devotion in the name of love are the salient qualities of the daring men and women who risk it all in the heart-pounding thrillers of New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann. Crafted with precision and power, her characters come alive with a depth of emotion few writers have achieved. Now, with Breaking Point, Brockmann breaks even further through the pack and delivers a stunning payload.
As commander of the nation’s most elite FBI counterterrorism unit, agent Max Bhagat leads by hard-driving example: pushing himself to the limit and beyond, taking no excuses, and putting absolutely nothing ahead of his work. That includes his deep feelings for Gina Vitagliano, the woman who won his admiration and his heart with her courage under fire. But when the shocking news reaches him that Gina has been killed in a terrorist bombing, nothing can keep Max from making a full investigation–and retribution–his top priority.
At the scene of the attack, however, Max gets an even bigger shock. Gina is still very much alive–but facing a fate even worse than death. Along with Molly Anderson, a fellow overseas relief worker, Gina has fallen into the hands of a killer who is bent on using both women to bait a deadly trap. His quarry? Grady Morant, a.k.a “Jones,” a notorious ex-Special Forces operative turned smuggler who made some very deadly enemies in the jungles of Southeast Asia . . . and has been running ever since. But with Molly’s life on the line, Jones is willing to forfeit his own to save the woman he loves.
Together with Max’s top agent Jules Cassidy as their only backup, the unlikely allies plunge into a global hot zone of violence and corruption to make a deal with the devil. Not even Jones knows which ghosts from his past want him dead. But there’s one thing he’s sure of–there’s very little his bloodthirsty enemies aren’t willing to do.
Count on the intense action and raw honesty that Suzanne Brockmann consistently delivers, as she goes for broke in Breaking Point–and never looks back.
As commander of the nation’s most elite FBI counterterrorism unit, agent Max Bhagat leads by hard-driving example: pushing himself to the limit and beyond, taking no excuses, and putting absolutely nothing ahead of his work. That includes his deep feelings for Gina Vitagliano, the woman who won his admiration and his heart with her courage under fire. But when the shocking news reaches him that Gina has been killed in a terrorist bombing, nothing can keep Max from making a full investigation–and retribution–his top priority.
At the scene of the attack, however, Max gets an even bigger shock. Gina is still very much alive–but facing a fate even worse than death. Along with Molly Anderson, a fellow overseas relief worker, Gina has fallen into the hands of a killer who is bent on using both women to bait a deadly trap. His quarry? Grady Morant, a.k.a “Jones,” a notorious ex-Special Forces operative turned smuggler who made some very deadly enemies in the jungles of Southeast Asia . . . and has been running ever since. But with Molly’s life on the line, Jones is willing to forfeit his own to save the woman he loves.
Together with Max’s top agent Jules Cassidy as their only backup, the unlikely allies plunge into a global hot zone of violence and corruption to make a deal with the devil. Not even Jones knows which ghosts from his past want him dead. But there’s one thing he’s sure of–there’s very little his bloodthirsty enemies aren’t willing to do.
Count on the intense action and raw honesty that Suzanne Brockmann consistently delivers, as she goes for broke in Breaking Point–and never looks back.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 12, 2005
198 people are currently reading
2064 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Brockmann
202 books3,587 followersAfter childhood plans to become the captain of a starship didn’t pan out, Suzanne Brockmann took her fascination with military history, her respect for the men and women who serve, her reverence for diversity, and her love of storytelling, and explored brave new worlds as a bestselling romance author.
Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.
Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
September 19, 2022
the setup…
FBI Agent Max Bhagat, who heads the elite counterterrorism unit, has recovered from the injuries he suffered back in Sarasota. However, “girlfriend” Gina Vitagliano is now in Kenya doing relief work and has been for some time now. Coincidentally, she’s working with Molly Anderson in a remote village with little creature comforts. Unfortunately, Jules intercepts a message for Max, informing him that Gina was killed in an explosion outside of a cafe in Hamburg, Germany. He knows Max’s heart and does what Jules does best…manages the situation and accompanies Max to Germany to identify the body.
the heart of the story…
When the story opened, the first thing that came to mind was what happened to have Gina be working in Kenya? What drove her away from Max as I thought they were in a good place after Sarasota? And what was she doing in Germany? Fortunately, this story transitioned between the present, 18 months prior before Gina left and four months ago to explain what led her to Germany. It was a little confusing at first but once the story got going, it all made sense and was easy to follow, especially on audio. In the present, Max and Jules’ journey led them from Germany to Indonesia to find Gina and Molly who were being leveraged by some really bad guys in order to draw out Jones/Grady Morant, the ex-Special Forces soldier who ended up as a mercenary for a host of shady and dangerous folks. Figuring out which one was behind the abduction was a toss up amongst many.
the narration…
I’m continuing to enjoy the audio version in my second reading of this series. It’s an entirely different experience and feels like my first time in the story. Lawlor is particularly masterful with his performances for Max and Jules.
the bottom line…
While we see the romance between Molly and Jones/Grady Morant resurrected, this is truly Max and Gina’s story. She pushed him to the breaking point, which was just what he needed, and he rose to the occasion. Everything was fast paced and things got dicey at every turn. I also loved seeing Jules in action, showing exactly why he excels in his job and beyond. The international aspect was also great, transporting me from Kenya to Germany into the unknowns of Indonesia. Gina held her own, too, showing that her resourcefulness during that plane hijacking wasn’t a one-time miracle. She’s exactly what Max needs and he’s perfect for her. Romance, intrigue, espionage and thrills at every corner…this story had everything. I’m just glad I chose to take it all in on audio.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
FBI Agent Max Bhagat, who heads the elite counterterrorism unit, has recovered from the injuries he suffered back in Sarasota. However, “girlfriend” Gina Vitagliano is now in Kenya doing relief work and has been for some time now. Coincidentally, she’s working with Molly Anderson in a remote village with little creature comforts. Unfortunately, Jules intercepts a message for Max, informing him that Gina was killed in an explosion outside of a cafe in Hamburg, Germany. He knows Max’s heart and does what Jules does best…manages the situation and accompanies Max to Germany to identify the body.
the heart of the story…
When the story opened, the first thing that came to mind was what happened to have Gina be working in Kenya? What drove her away from Max as I thought they were in a good place after Sarasota? And what was she doing in Germany? Fortunately, this story transitioned between the present, 18 months prior before Gina left and four months ago to explain what led her to Germany. It was a little confusing at first but once the story got going, it all made sense and was easy to follow, especially on audio. In the present, Max and Jules’ journey led them from Germany to Indonesia to find Gina and Molly who were being leveraged by some really bad guys in order to draw out Jones/Grady Morant, the ex-Special Forces soldier who ended up as a mercenary for a host of shady and dangerous folks. Figuring out which one was behind the abduction was a toss up amongst many.
the narration…
I’m continuing to enjoy the audio version in my second reading of this series. It’s an entirely different experience and feels like my first time in the story. Lawlor is particularly masterful with his performances for Max and Jules.
the bottom line…
While we see the romance between Molly and Jones/Grady Morant resurrected, this is truly Max and Gina’s story. She pushed him to the breaking point, which was just what he needed, and he rose to the occasion. Everything was fast paced and things got dicey at every turn. I also loved seeing Jules in action, showing exactly why he excels in his job and beyond. The international aspect was also great, transporting me from Kenya to Germany into the unknowns of Indonesia. Gina held her own, too, showing that her resourcefulness during that plane hijacking wasn’t a one-time miracle. She’s exactly what Max needs and he’s perfect for her. Romance, intrigue, espionage and thrills at every corner…this story had everything. I’m just glad I chose to take it all in on audio.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
November 21, 2016
Wow! Talk about emotional overload! Breaking Point is aptly titled on so many different levels. Bearing witness to the emotional breakdown of Max Bhagat delivered a knockout punch straight to my heart. Just when I think this series can't possibly get any better, it proves me wrong. As always, I love the multiple story lines, flawlessly woven into one beautiful, yet immensely tense read. What surprised me most about this one is that I loved it even though the entire Troubleshooters team did not come riding in to save the day. This rescue is left entirely up to Max, Jules, and Grady aka Jones, and the stakes have never been higher.
Breaking Point is the book where we finally get Max & Gina's story - with an added bonus of also getting Grady aka Jones & Molly's story. The icing on the cake is a good, healthy dose of Jules Cassidy is included! Did I mention I love Jules? His role in this book is the "glue" that holds it all together - makes it work. His developing relationship with Max as both a FBI agent and a friend is nothing short of awesome to watch - brilliant writing as usual. Jules plays an intimate part in bringing Max around - first by being there when Max needs his support most, and then by being the kind of friend that will get in your face and tell it like it is. Jules humorous banter brings some much needed relief to this heart-stopping, agonizing story.
Early on, the story plays out by alternating back & forth between the past and the present. Eighteen months ago, with a heavy, bruised heart, Gina finally admitted defeat, giving up on Max, and leaving him to go volunteer in Kenya, along side of Molly Anderson. What Gina didn't realize at the time is that Max set her up to leave him, as he continually struggled with guilt, anger, and regret over the rape & torture suffered by Gina at the hands of terrorists - the one he had to watch & listen to while powerless to stop it. Giving up control is not something Max does easily, but he couldn't control the situation then and he can't live with it now. He believes Gina deserves something more than he can give her, and so he pushes her away. Now, he's having to live in a world without her, and it's killing him every single day. Just when he thinks things can't get any worse, they do. Max is forced to swallow a huge dose of reality as the world as he knows it crumbles around him.
Breaking Point is one intense, suspenseful, heartfelt read. The trio of Max, Jules, & Grady make up one bad*ss, formidable team of "don't mess with me" alpha males on a mission where failure is not an option. Gina & Molly prove they are not wilting violets as they hold their own in the age old battle between the sexes, as well as the battle for survival. With the inclusion of some great Jules Cassidy facetime, this book becomes another Must Read! A Page Burner!
Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews
Breaking Point is the book where we finally get Max & Gina's story - with an added bonus of also getting Grady aka Jones & Molly's story. The icing on the cake is a good, healthy dose of Jules Cassidy is included! Did I mention I love Jules? His role in this book is the "glue" that holds it all together - makes it work. His developing relationship with Max as both a FBI agent and a friend is nothing short of awesome to watch - brilliant writing as usual. Jules plays an intimate part in bringing Max around - first by being there when Max needs his support most, and then by being the kind of friend that will get in your face and tell it like it is. Jules humorous banter brings some much needed relief to this heart-stopping, agonizing story.
Early on, the story plays out by alternating back & forth between the past and the present. Eighteen months ago, with a heavy, bruised heart, Gina finally admitted defeat, giving up on Max, and leaving him to go volunteer in Kenya, along side of Molly Anderson. What Gina didn't realize at the time is that Max set her up to leave him, as he continually struggled with guilt, anger, and regret over the rape & torture suffered by Gina at the hands of terrorists - the one he had to watch & listen to while powerless to stop it. Giving up control is not something Max does easily, but he couldn't control the situation then and he can't live with it now. He believes Gina deserves something more than he can give her, and so he pushes her away. Now, he's having to live in a world without her, and it's killing him every single day. Just when he thinks things can't get any worse, they do. Max is forced to swallow a huge dose of reality as the world as he knows it crumbles around him.
Breaking Point is one intense, suspenseful, heartfelt read. The trio of Max, Jules, & Grady make up one bad*ss, formidable team of "don't mess with me" alpha males on a mission where failure is not an option. Gina & Molly prove they are not wilting violets as they hold their own in the age old battle between the sexes, as well as the battle for survival. With the inclusion of some great Jules Cassidy facetime, this book becomes another Must Read! A Page Burner!
Cross My Heart Writings & Reviews
September 27, 2018
Deberían ser 3.5 y Siendo sincera como novela romántica no. No vale la pena. La pareja ya está enamorada, por muchos problemas que le metan y muchas negaciones del macho alfa.
Pero como novela de acción consigue muy bien el propósito con un ritmo que no decae lleno de giros y salteado de vez en cuando con conversaciones muy acertadas. Eso sí, me quedo con Molly y sus frases certeras llenas de humor
Eso sí, me da la sensación de que esta pareja tiene que aparecer en alguna novela anterior que no he leído y me he perdido algo. Aún así, engancha. Quizás le falte un poco de profundidad al personaje de ella dada su experiencia.
No tiene nada que envidiar a otras novelas de thriller que he leído este verano
Si buscáis una novela de acción esta puede ser una buena opción
Engancha y entretiene y te mantiene en vilo hasta la última página... eso sí, el final... muy de hollywood
Pero como novela de acción consigue muy bien el propósito con un ritmo que no decae lleno de giros y salteado de vez en cuando con conversaciones muy acertadas. Eso sí, me quedo con Molly y sus frases certeras llenas de humor
Eso sí, me da la sensación de que esta pareja tiene que aparecer en alguna novela anterior que no he leído y me he perdido algo. Aún así, engancha. Quizás le falte un poco de profundidad al personaje de ella dada su experiencia.
No tiene nada que envidiar a otras novelas de thriller que he leído este verano
Si buscáis una novela de acción esta puede ser una buena opción
Engancha y entretiene y te mantiene en vilo hasta la última página... eso sí, el final... muy de hollywood
November 9, 2009
5+ stars – Romantic Suspense
At last, Breaking Point gives a spectacular wrap-up (and fresh start) to the tentative, drama-filled, on-again/off-again, long-suffering romance of Max and Gina that first began in Over the Edge and exploded in Gone Too Far. They’ve been through hell and back together, and we finally get their long-anticipated story and struggle along with them as they try to reconcile their painful past and resolve numerous issues (including the aftereffects of the terrorist plane hijacking that brought them together but left Gina brutally raped and battered and Max inconsolable with anger, guilt, rage, and grief, his stoicism and emotional distance, and their 20 year age difference) to try and find their much deserved HEA.
My favorite part of the story is the conclusion to the emotionally intense, wildly passionate secondary romance between missionary/volunteer Molly and ex-Special Forces soldier and notorious mercenary/smuggler Jones that first began in Out of Control. They’re my favorite couple of the series, and Jones is one of the all-time best, most complex, tortured gamma anti-heroes, ever. They endure so many nail-biting, heartbreaking hardships to be together, and I was sooo hoping and cheering for their HEA.
Breaking Point is another powerful, gripping, moving, action-packed, suspenseful, and steamy read in the electrifying Troubleshooters series and a great ending (and new, hopeful beginning) of two strong, touching romances. 5+ stars!
At last, Breaking Point gives a spectacular wrap-up (and fresh start) to the tentative, drama-filled, on-again/off-again, long-suffering romance of Max and Gina that first began in Over the Edge and exploded in Gone Too Far. They’ve been through hell and back together, and we finally get their long-anticipated story and struggle along with them as they try to reconcile their painful past and resolve numerous issues (including the aftereffects of the terrorist plane hijacking that brought them together but left Gina brutally raped and battered and Max inconsolable with anger, guilt, rage, and grief, his stoicism and emotional distance, and their 20 year age difference) to try and find their much deserved HEA.
My favorite part of the story is the conclusion to the emotionally intense, wildly passionate secondary romance between missionary/volunteer Molly and ex-Special Forces soldier and notorious mercenary/smuggler Jones that first began in Out of Control. They’re my favorite couple of the series, and Jones is one of the all-time best, most complex, tortured gamma anti-heroes, ever. They endure so many nail-biting, heartbreaking hardships to be together, and I was sooo hoping and cheering for their HEA.
Breaking Point is another powerful, gripping, moving, action-packed, suspenseful, and steamy read in the electrifying Troubleshooters series and a great ending (and new, hopeful beginning) of two strong, touching romances. 5+ stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2022
09/21/2022 - Reread: I loved rereading this action-packed book and really loved it the second time around. I started out listening to the audio but found it difficult to follow with the numerous time and location shifts, so I dug out my copy of the book. The stories of Max/Gina and Jones/Molly were riveting. Max is a closed off workaholic who just couldn't believe that Gina could love him, and he finally succeeds in pushing her away. Frankly, I honestly don't know why she stuck around for as long as she did. Jones has finally determined it was safe to go to Molly and they have four months before his past catches up to them.
Original Review: I am so glad that SB has moved off the WWII backstories. I enjoyed them but am glad she has decided to try something different. In Breaking Point, we have two backstories that merge into present day.
We get Max/Gina and Molly/Jones in this book. The present day starts with a terrorist bombing in Hamburg, Germany in which Gina is named as one of the victims. Max has a melt down and Jules is there to scoop him up. Backstory #1 is what happened over a year and a half ago when Max was shot in Florida. It details Gina's attempts to make Max realize he loves her and needs her. Max absolutely cannot get past what happened to Gina on that high jacked plane or their age difference. Backstory #2 takes place 4 months ago and is about Gina at a camp in Kenya where she meets Molly and Jones shows up.
It is a complicated plot, hot romance, and high suspense.
Original Review: I am so glad that SB has moved off the WWII backstories. I enjoyed them but am glad she has decided to try something different. In Breaking Point, we have two backstories that merge into present day.
We get Max/Gina and Molly/Jones in this book. The present day starts with a terrorist bombing in Hamburg, Germany in which Gina is named as one of the victims. Max has a melt down and Jules is there to scoop him up. Backstory #1 is what happened over a year and a half ago when Max was shot in Florida. It details Gina's attempts to make Max realize he loves her and needs her. Max absolutely cannot get past what happened to Gina on that high jacked plane or their age difference. Backstory #2 takes place 4 months ago and is about Gina at a camp in Kenya where she meets Molly and Jones shows up.
It is a complicated plot, hot romance, and high suspense.
June 9, 2020
As often in this series, Brockmann includes two romantic pairings. More frequently she will resolve a storyline from an earlier book while introducing an additional pairing that may or may not be resolved in the same book (some particularly fraught relationships need several books to work things out). In this case, both stories began several books (and several elapsed years of fictional time) earlier, with Molly and Grady upstaging the heroes Ken and Savannah in Out of Control and Max repeatedly pushing Gina away until she gives up and leaves the country to do volunteer work in Africa with Molly, which is where this book picks up and recombines the two strands.
In a lot of ways, this is one of the stronger entries in this series: tighter, more complex plot, a lot going on, good mix on contrasting characters. But the main characters were all ones that I liked less in previous books. Max and Gina I never cared about. Molly seemed not one of the more developed of Brockmann's women, and I wasn't entirely convinced by her and Jones' relationship. Cassidy really shines in this one, finally getting to be a hero instead of a cute sidekick (and seriously, I'm pretty sure no matter how out one is one does not call one's CIA boss "sweetie") but it isn't "his" book and the fact that it needed him to make it work is a sign of the inadequacy of the other characters.
Not a good point to jump into this series if you haven't read the earlier books. Some of them work as stand-alones but not this one.
In a lot of ways, this is one of the stronger entries in this series: tighter, more complex plot, a lot going on, good mix on contrasting characters. But the main characters were all ones that I liked less in previous books. Max and Gina I never cared about. Molly seemed not one of the more developed of Brockmann's women, and I wasn't entirely convinced by her and Jones' relationship. Cassidy really shines in this one, finally getting to be a hero instead of a cute sidekick (and seriously, I'm pretty sure no matter how out one is one does not call one's CIA boss "sweetie") but it isn't "his" book and the fact that it needed him to make it work is a sign of the inadequacy of the other characters.
Not a good point to jump into this series if you haven't read the earlier books. Some of them work as stand-alones but not this one.
September 12, 2022
When FBI Commander Max Bhagat learns that his long-time love, Gina Vitagliano, has been killed in a terrorist bombing, he rushes to Germany to identify her body. But the woman in the morgue is not Gina. When Max learns that Gina and her friend, Molly Anderson, have been kidnapped, he and Jules Cassidy join forces with Molly's husband, Grady Morant (aka: David Jones) to search for the women.
The ninth book in Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series is action-packed. Since being introduced in the third book, we've been waiting for Max & Gina to finally get together. In this book we see what's been happening to them in the last few years. Each chapter jumps to a different point in time, from the present, to four months ago, to seventeen months ago, and back to the present. It took me a little while to get the timeline straight in my head, but we learn how Max & Gina got to this point in their relationship.
I'm happy that Brockmann brought back Molly & Jones. I loved them in "Out of Control" and hoped we'd see more of them. This book did not disappoint. My rating: 5 Stars.
2022 Re-read:: I'm re-reading the series with a group on Goodreads. This time around I'm listening to the audiobook narrated by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank. Their narration is top-notch, but I found the found jumping back and forth from present to several different times in the past very confusing. It was a little easier to follow when I read the print book several years ago. For this I'm lowering my rating to 4.5 Stars.
The ninth book in Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series is action-packed. Since being introduced in the third book, we've been waiting for Max & Gina to finally get together. In this book we see what's been happening to them in the last few years. Each chapter jumps to a different point in time, from the present, to four months ago, to seventeen months ago, and back to the present. It took me a little while to get the timeline straight in my head, but we learn how Max & Gina got to this point in their relationship.
I'm happy that Brockmann brought back Molly & Jones. I loved them in "Out of Control" and hoped we'd see more of them. This book did not disappoint. My rating: 5 Stars.
2022 Re-read:: I'm re-reading the series with a group on Goodreads. This time around I'm listening to the audiobook narrated by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank. Their narration is top-notch, but I found the found jumping back and forth from present to several different times in the past very confusing. It was a little easier to follow when I read the print book several years ago. For this I'm lowering my rating to 4.5 Stars.
August 27, 2008
Okay, Okay. I'm a Max fan. I'm a Jules fan. I'm a Gina fan. So why wasn't this a 5 star book?
Yeah, I don't know either. It just wasn't. The book was good, don't get me wrong. Parts of it were extraordinary, actually. The plot was great, although the reasoning behind it was a little weak for me. I didn't buy it after a certain point.
The action was great, although it was a little too unlikely.
Jules as Max was wonderful. More than meets the eye, definitely. He can be just as Max-esque as Max, and how wonderful was that to see! Sweetie. First rate, truly.
Gina....you know, I usually have nothing but good to say about Vitagliano. But, there were times in here, towards the end of the book, where I wanted to smack her upside her head. Maybe that's how you know you truly care....
Loved the flashback scenes. What an incredibly effective way to tell that story.
Secondary characters: Okay, I absolutely LOVE Gina's brothers. At least the one who keeps trying to get Jules to see the uh.....wisdom of Catherine Zeta Jones. Seriously? Love it. Jones and Molly? Yeah, they were all right.
After all the waiting for Max-n-Gina, I wish it wouldn't have been quite so angsty. But, it was, and that was no surprise.
Yeah, I don't know either. It just wasn't. The book was good, don't get me wrong. Parts of it were extraordinary, actually. The plot was great, although the reasoning behind it was a little weak for me. I didn't buy it after a certain point.
The action was great, although it was a little too unlikely.
Jules as Max was wonderful. More than meets the eye, definitely. He can be just as Max-esque as Max, and how wonderful was that to see! Sweetie. First rate, truly.
Gina....you know, I usually have nothing but good to say about Vitagliano. But, there were times in here, towards the end of the book, where I wanted to smack her upside her head. Maybe that's how you know you truly care....
Loved the flashback scenes. What an incredibly effective way to tell that story.
Secondary characters: Okay, I absolutely LOVE Gina's brothers. At least the one who keeps trying to get Jules to see the uh.....wisdom of Catherine Zeta Jones. Seriously? Love it. Jones and Molly? Yeah, they were all right.
After all the waiting for Max-n-Gina, I wish it wouldn't have been quite so angsty. But, it was, and that was no surprise.
June 5, 2012
Brockmann seems to have run out of both moral lessons and WWII stories in this installment of the series. I haven't been reading every book in the series, but this is the first I've come across so far that hasn't had both a big overriding "point" and a WWII subplot to emphasize that point.
Without those elements, this is a less interesting, and more typical, action-adventure-romance story. There's nothing particularly fascinating here -- although we do get to know one of the most interesting recurring characters (Jules) better, without having him entangled in romance.
Also -- every single one of these books seems to include at least one act of unprotected sex. Every time, the characters worry about pregnancy -- but nobody ever mentions AIDS or other STDs. Whatintheheck is THAT about??
Without those elements, this is a less interesting, and more typical, action-adventure-romance story. There's nothing particularly fascinating here -- although we do get to know one of the most interesting recurring characters (Jules) better, without having him entangled in romance.
Also -- every single one of these books seems to include at least one act of unprotected sex. Every time, the characters worry about pregnancy -- but nobody ever mentions AIDS or other STDs. Whatintheheck is THAT about??
February 7, 2013
I feel terrible! I feel terrible that I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I was hoping to.
I have been waiting and waiting for the Jones/Molly and Max/Gina book, but (for me) it just didn't live up to my anticipation. The first 60% of this installment was done mostly in flashbacks and it was like you were in a never ending prologue. Then, somewhere around the 60% mark all the action picked up, and it was harder to stop reading but... there wasn't an opportunity to really get into it.
I think I loved Cosmo's book so much, and I had such high hopes for this one, that it left me let down.
Oh well, next is Jenk, and then JULES!!!
I have been waiting and waiting for the Jones/Molly and Max/Gina book, but (for me) it just didn't live up to my anticipation. The first 60% of this installment was done mostly in flashbacks and it was like you were in a never ending prologue. Then, somewhere around the 60% mark all the action picked up, and it was harder to stop reading but... there wasn't an opportunity to really get into it.
I think I loved Cosmo's book so much, and I had such high hopes for this one, that it left me let down.
Oh well, next is Jenk, and then JULES!!!
November 9, 2015
The ninth book in Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series. Max Bhagat and Gina Vitagliano were introduced in previous books.
I know a lot of people love this series but truthfully I don't know why I keep at it. There is usually too many storylines going on and some that carry over through several books. Not my favorite style of writing. I will admit I struggled through this.
I know a lot of people love this series but truthfully I don't know why I keep at it. There is usually too many storylines going on and some that carry over through several books. Not my favorite style of writing. I will admit I struggled through this.
July 11, 2013
The author was trying way too hard in the beginning for humor, and way too hard to make Max seem like he was manly, what with the mf and gd dropping. I hate those cuss words. I don’t think there’s ever an instant bad enough to use those words. And I got that she was trying to capture the FBI way of life, and their lingo, she just went too far. She was dropping phrases left and right, like “go postal” and “crime of passion,” and she tried to make him talk like a badass, but he wasn’t. He was totally beta male, not alpha. I get that Max had to appear harmless, but taking off his shoulder holster would’ve been enough. He didn’t have to take his pants off. Again, that’s going too far. His underwear was bikini briefs with the word Stud on the front in red sequins. “On the other hand, the idea of being known forever throughout the Federal Bureau of Investigations as “Mr. Sequins” or, God help him, “Stud-boy,” was equally unbearable.” Yeah, not funny. That was a lame attempt.
I didn’t like Gina at all. She was cussing unnecessarily and she had a major attitude problem. And the very way she talked just got on my nerves. And I hated the age difference between them. Max is almost 20 years older than her.
The session they have with a therapist only made me dislike them more. Max had asked some woman to marry him before, and I absolutely hated that. I didn’t like how Gina was being so pushy, standing in front of him when he tried to leave and talking about really private things in front of the therapist. And I hated, hated that Gina had been raped on the plane, and especially that Max had seen it on the surveillance camera as it was happening, because he was the one that had rescued her. Talk about heavy. And it was just dumped out of nowhere with no warning. Really good writing, there!
The author dumped out a million problems and it was just all too much to take in. I had the hardest time keeping come with everything. Max had met her on the plane, saw her get raped, still wasn’t over the ordeal, even though Gina is over it. Max has issues opening up. Gina wants to talk about everything. Gina went to Kenya four months ago, is presumed dead. 18 months ago Max was in physical therapy, which was I think after he was in the hospital or something. I mean, come on. This story is like a roller coaster. I also hated how the author kept going back in time and changing perspectives. It was really confusing and annoying. I kept forgetting which scenes had taken placed when. Pick a timeframe and stay there. Get all of the past over with in one fell swoop, instead of jerking us back into the past every 5 seconds. Also, when Max is sad that Gina might be dead, it doesn’t really mean much when in the description of the book it’s already stated that she’s alive. You might wanna keep things like that a secret and not completely blow every surprise.
Gina is a total unlikable, mean, character. I’m assuming the author meant her to come off as funny, but it wasn’t. It was really unlikable, and it made me hate her in fact. She was really judgmental and had some pretty strong opinions about people, even the nuns she was working with, and about Type B personalities, like they’re weak, and she made really insulting comments about English people being lanky and made stereotypical comments about them and tweed jackets and tea. Hello, you’re insulting people! You might wanna watch it.
I really hate pushy women that make the first moves and jump the guy, even when he’s saying no. And Max said that she was the one that always initiated the lovemaking. There’s something wrong with that. And when he’s at the physical therapy place, hurt, and laid up in bed after he’s been shot in the chest, she just jumps him and ignores his attempts to stop her. Is that really the best time to do that?
I liked the part when Molly figured out that Jones was alive, and that he was pretending to be Leslie Pollard, the Englishman. That was a really good scene. I would have preferred to be with Molly and Jones instead of Max and Gina, because they’re much more likable and interesting.
Gina said “so what?” to the fact that Max had asked someone else to marry him, and she didn’t care that she was his second choice, or even if she was his fifth choice, as long as she was with him. Who wants to be someone’s 2nd choice? And she also said she didn’t care that she had him on the rebound. What an idiot.
It’s hard for me to feel sorry for Gina that Max treats her so crappily. In fact, it’s impossible. She knows that he won’t open up to her, he won’t tell her he loves her, or that he wants her. He doesn’t tell her anything personal, and she knows that. So don’t complain about the relationship when you’re the one that stays with him and repeatedly throws herself at him.
There’s a fine line between flirty banter and trash, and Gina sprints over that line. She says really bold things out loud to Max at the physical therapy center, about the sex they had, and that was completely trashy, classless, and distasteful. She also bent over to show Max that she wasn’t wearing underwear when the nurse was in the room and had her back turned. What a classy gal. You can tell a lot about the author at moments like this.
“They’d also pulled a white sheet up and over her face. He just stood there, staring at the profile of her face beneath that shroud. Her prominent nose. Gina had laughingly called it her beak.”
Uh, ew. And why am I just now hearing about this, on pg. 71?!
Molly even started to get on my nerves. She went to Jones’s tent when anyone could’ve been watching, and got mad when he said they couldn’t be together again because it was too risky. Hello, his life is in danger! If you don’t want him to get killed, then stay the freak away from him! It’s like she doesn’t even care that murderers could be after him. And I hated the age difference between them too. Molly is significantly older than Jones, so much so that Gina thought she was too old for him. What is up with that in this book?
Gina is always probing Max, asking him questions about his life when he clearly doesn’t want to answer, and insisting on talking all the time. There’s nothing more annoying than a female character that can’t shut up.
She finds out his grandpa died when he was 9, and guess what really sympathetic and compassionate response she comes up with.
“That must’ve sucked.”
She really said that; I kid you not. That is the single most inconsiderate thing a person could say to someone who’s lost a family member.
I was so livid to find out that Jones had had a wife, who he dearly loved, and even though she was dead that didn’t make me feel any better about it.
I liked that Max was jealous when he thought that Gina had been traveling with Leslie Pollard, the Englishman, who’s really Jones. And I liked that he got mad thinking that Gina liked him and has slept with him. But when he started tearing up I was turned off. I understood when he cried at the morgue, but seriously, anymore of this crying and I’m about to think of him as a girl.
The author threw out way too much in the plot area. Max finds receipts from a medical clinic addressing Gina’s possible pregnancy, and thinks that another man got her pregnant, and possibly killed her and took her passport, and wishes that she could have stayed with him and the other man’s baby could have been raised as his. Yeah, cuz that’s nice. And I don’t think we need anything else to deal with right now.
Brockmann kept throwing wrenches into the plot, and I absolutely hated it. Molly and Gina are kidnaped and are being held in exchange for Jones. Molly has breast cancer and she’s pregnant and decides to have the baby and not do chemotherapy and risk the baby’s life, meaning she’ll like die herself. I don’t really think we needed a pregnancy and an illness thrown in here.
I expected Gina to feel betrayed and hurt, because that’s clearly what the author was setting it up for, with the verbally and emotionally abusive, distant, cold, private Max, but Gina just magically puts together, in an imaginary conversation with Max, that he really does care about her, and that he’s only guilty and hung up on the plane accident where he couldn’t save Gina from being raped. What a bit of insight there. And she actually feels guilt for leaving Max, like it’s her fault. Why in the heck would you have Gina come to that conclusion when you’ve set the whole freakin book thus far to where Gina is in a bad, hurtful relationship? She’s supposed to be hurt, for gods sake!
When Max gets to talk to her over the phone, she’s all happy and tells him how glad she is to hear his voice. Really? The way things left off in your relationship, you’re just gonna be all bubbly on the phone? She’s even noticing how good he looks and making stupid jokes.
I really hated Max. He was emotionless when he thought Gina was dead, and he was emotionless on the way to get her body. Jules finally got him to show some emotion, and Max said she’s everything to him or something along the lines of that. He felt guilty that he didn’t tell her how he felt and even teared up at several points. So when he finally gets her, he does nothing. He only holds her during the escape, like to keep her from falling down or falling behind. And he doesn’t say one thing about his feelings for her. That’s a good idea, make him a cold robot up until the very end.
And despite that fact, Gina is reaching for his hand, touching his arm, wrapping his arms around him, and expressing concern over him, just like the annoying, clingy, and completely pushy girl that she is. And what the freak is up with that? Max keeps calling her a girl instead of a woman, even though she seriously acts like it, but when the man is calling her a girl, there’s a problem. That much of an age difference is just wrong.
Max, on pg. 272, after their lives have been put in danger again, and after he’s been shot, is still calling Gina a friend, and even said that when she left, he was cheering her on when she walked out the door. Wow. This man deserves a first place trophy for the a**hole of the year.
After Max made that completely heartless comment about cheering Gina on when she left, she actually apologizes for leaving. And she just comes to the conclusion that Max chased her away. Go ahead and make it easy on him. Don’t make him grovel, don’t make him apologize for hurting you, you go ahead and apologize when all you did was leave an unhealthy relationship. Dumb broad.
And Gina, while Jones is working to get the bullet out of Max’s butt, gets a little mad, but just comes to a conclusion that, again, Max should’ve told her himself, without her putting the pieces together herself. She realizes that Max purposely didn’t tell her about Ajay’s death, the boy at the physical therapy center, just so she’d get mad and leave. How nice. And I think the author could’ve come up with something better than that. Using a boy’s death to break them apart is really pathetic.
The author gives absolutely the barest details in the sex scenes. It’s completely disappointing. They finally have sex in the present time, instead of looking back on past encounters, and I expected the author to draw out the scene, but nope. It’s the same rushed, hasty job with no details. What a waste. If you’re gonna be a romance author, you have to actually write out the romance, not blow over it.
And Max just completely forgets that Gina is pregnant with another man’s baby. She’s not really, but he thinks she is. You can’t just overlook that.
The part where Jones is flipping through Emilio’s collection of porn was really disgusting. I don’t know why you’d put that in there, because it’s definitely making me dislike him more. And Molly says “let me guess. You’re looking at these in order to get a better understanding of who Emilio is. So you can figure out where he might hide something like a radio. If he had a radio to hide.” Jones laughed. “Exactly.” He couldn’t have done a better job bullshitting his way out of that one himself. “I’ve discovered that Emilio’s a lot like me. We both go for nice girls.”
Like, did you really have him set there, beside his pregnant wife who has cancer, and check out the covers of porn DVDs?
Max brings up Alyssa Locke, his ex-girlfriend who he asked to marry him, making a comment like they could use her sharpshooting skills, as if he couldn’t be any more of an a**hole. Why would he mention her? And then he says the only reason he asked her to marry him was because he thought it would keep him away from Gina. He was afraid of how much he loved her. What a load of crap.
Jones feels that if he hadn’t come to Kenya and gotten her pregnant, Molly could concentrate on her own health, which is true. I really hate when couples just have sex without thinking of safety, and a baby results from it. That’s really careless and thoughtless, especially since right after they had sex, Molly holds up condoms, or Jones does, one or the other. Why didn’t you think of that beforehand? Anyways, Jones then goes on to say that she’s got the Spawn of Satan inside her. And Molly’s like “wow. That was pretty harsh.” But then goes on to boost his attitude up like the crusader that she is. They’re constantly forgiving the really asinine comments these men make, in an instant, like a priest in the confessional. They don’t even have to think about it, or form any feelings, they just instantly forgive and forget. I’m actually surprised the author didn’t tag a “my child” on the end to really capture the mood.
The author tried to undertake way too much in the plot area. It was one thing after a freakin nother, and every time I expected them to get out and get back to America, something would happen that prevented that from happening. They were holed up in that bunker, Emilio’s house, for what seemed like a life age.
Gina actually invites Alyssa, who I’m just finding out on pg. 368 is African American, to their engagement party, because “she’d thought it was only fair to have someone that Max knew there in the restaurant.” Like, is she okay? She’s as dumb as a freakin board. Who on this planet would invite her fiancé’s ex-girlfriend who he used to sleep with and who he asked to marry him to her engagement party? An idiot.
The ending was as stupid as the rest of the book. The characters had not redeemed themselves at all in my mind, and so I really didn’t fall into the pregnant, happily-ever-after ending. It did nothing for me.
I see why this book is called Breaking Point. The women should’ve reached the breaking point many times throughout the book, but they were saints and martyrs. They refused to stay hurt, even when the men said hurtful and unforgivable things. Jones says that he wished Molly would terminate the pregnancy, and he snaps at her, but immediately apologizes, and two seconds later Molly is smiling and reaching for his hand, saying she loves him and she won’t judge him as he tells of his past mistakes. Wtf? Molly and Gina are like those plastic doll things you punch, only for them to bounce right back and stand up, every time. I’m the only one that has reached the breaking point with this piece of crap. These men are unlikable, and they’re just mean.
You might wanna spend more time developing them as a nice love interest rather than sculpting them a good butt, because actually being nice to a woman goes a lot further in my estimation than a muscular butt. Just a little tip there.
Gina consistently kept up her theme of annoying, weak, helpless female. She did nothing during the escape but reach for Max’s hands, slip down an embankment, ask stupid questions like where are we, what’s going to happen, are we going to die, and every other annoying question that a helpless female can possibly ask at the worst of times.
Jules was quite annoying at parts, but he was funny, and brought some much-needed humor into the story.
Jones was a fail too. I thought he was going to be cool and dangerous, but that quickly changed and he was actually quite pathetic. I never got the sense that he was a dangerous ex-solder-turned criminal. And then he morphed quickly into a Max clone, treating Molly just as crappily as Max treated Gina. I know that was he worried that she was dying, but you don’t treat a dying person like that, snapping at them and making them feel bad. That’s called abuse. And what was up with the name transitioning? Sometimes they called him Jones, and then sometimes they called him Grady, long after they established that he didn’t look like a Grady and preferred being called Jones. Even Molly called him Grady at times. What the freak is up with that? Pick a name and stick with it. When you change the name it makes it seem like he’s a different person altogether.
At several points throughout the book, I wanted to read it, only because of what I hoped would happen, not because it was actually good. It was a fail in every single department, and it makes me want to give up on the whole series. The only good quality was the humor the author had--even mundane things were described in a funny way because of the author's sense of humor.
I didn’t like Gina at all. She was cussing unnecessarily and she had a major attitude problem. And the very way she talked just got on my nerves. And I hated the age difference between them. Max is almost 20 years older than her.
The session they have with a therapist only made me dislike them more. Max had asked some woman to marry him before, and I absolutely hated that. I didn’t like how Gina was being so pushy, standing in front of him when he tried to leave and talking about really private things in front of the therapist. And I hated, hated that Gina had been raped on the plane, and especially that Max had seen it on the surveillance camera as it was happening, because he was the one that had rescued her. Talk about heavy. And it was just dumped out of nowhere with no warning. Really good writing, there!
The author dumped out a million problems and it was just all too much to take in. I had the hardest time keeping come with everything. Max had met her on the plane, saw her get raped, still wasn’t over the ordeal, even though Gina is over it. Max has issues opening up. Gina wants to talk about everything. Gina went to Kenya four months ago, is presumed dead. 18 months ago Max was in physical therapy, which was I think after he was in the hospital or something. I mean, come on. This story is like a roller coaster. I also hated how the author kept going back in time and changing perspectives. It was really confusing and annoying. I kept forgetting which scenes had taken placed when. Pick a timeframe and stay there. Get all of the past over with in one fell swoop, instead of jerking us back into the past every 5 seconds. Also, when Max is sad that Gina might be dead, it doesn’t really mean much when in the description of the book it’s already stated that she’s alive. You might wanna keep things like that a secret and not completely blow every surprise.
Gina is a total unlikable, mean, character. I’m assuming the author meant her to come off as funny, but it wasn’t. It was really unlikable, and it made me hate her in fact. She was really judgmental and had some pretty strong opinions about people, even the nuns she was working with, and about Type B personalities, like they’re weak, and she made really insulting comments about English people being lanky and made stereotypical comments about them and tweed jackets and tea. Hello, you’re insulting people! You might wanna watch it.
I really hate pushy women that make the first moves and jump the guy, even when he’s saying no. And Max said that she was the one that always initiated the lovemaking. There’s something wrong with that. And when he’s at the physical therapy place, hurt, and laid up in bed after he’s been shot in the chest, she just jumps him and ignores his attempts to stop her. Is that really the best time to do that?
I liked the part when Molly figured out that Jones was alive, and that he was pretending to be Leslie Pollard, the Englishman. That was a really good scene. I would have preferred to be with Molly and Jones instead of Max and Gina, because they’re much more likable and interesting.
Gina said “so what?” to the fact that Max had asked someone else to marry him, and she didn’t care that she was his second choice, or even if she was his fifth choice, as long as she was with him. Who wants to be someone’s 2nd choice? And she also said she didn’t care that she had him on the rebound. What an idiot.
It’s hard for me to feel sorry for Gina that Max treats her so crappily. In fact, it’s impossible. She knows that he won’t open up to her, he won’t tell her he loves her, or that he wants her. He doesn’t tell her anything personal, and she knows that. So don’t complain about the relationship when you’re the one that stays with him and repeatedly throws herself at him.
There’s a fine line between flirty banter and trash, and Gina sprints over that line. She says really bold things out loud to Max at the physical therapy center, about the sex they had, and that was completely trashy, classless, and distasteful. She also bent over to show Max that she wasn’t wearing underwear when the nurse was in the room and had her back turned. What a classy gal. You can tell a lot about the author at moments like this.
“They’d also pulled a white sheet up and over her face. He just stood there, staring at the profile of her face beneath that shroud. Her prominent nose. Gina had laughingly called it her beak.”
Uh, ew. And why am I just now hearing about this, on pg. 71?!
Molly even started to get on my nerves. She went to Jones’s tent when anyone could’ve been watching, and got mad when he said they couldn’t be together again because it was too risky. Hello, his life is in danger! If you don’t want him to get killed, then stay the freak away from him! It’s like she doesn’t even care that murderers could be after him. And I hated the age difference between them too. Molly is significantly older than Jones, so much so that Gina thought she was too old for him. What is up with that in this book?
Gina is always probing Max, asking him questions about his life when he clearly doesn’t want to answer, and insisting on talking all the time. There’s nothing more annoying than a female character that can’t shut up.
She finds out his grandpa died when he was 9, and guess what really sympathetic and compassionate response she comes up with.
“That must’ve sucked.”
She really said that; I kid you not. That is the single most inconsiderate thing a person could say to someone who’s lost a family member.
I was so livid to find out that Jones had had a wife, who he dearly loved, and even though she was dead that didn’t make me feel any better about it.
I liked that Max was jealous when he thought that Gina had been traveling with Leslie Pollard, the Englishman, who’s really Jones. And I liked that he got mad thinking that Gina liked him and has slept with him. But when he started tearing up I was turned off. I understood when he cried at the morgue, but seriously, anymore of this crying and I’m about to think of him as a girl.
The author threw out way too much in the plot area. Max finds receipts from a medical clinic addressing Gina’s possible pregnancy, and thinks that another man got her pregnant, and possibly killed her and took her passport, and wishes that she could have stayed with him and the other man’s baby could have been raised as his. Yeah, cuz that’s nice. And I don’t think we need anything else to deal with right now.
Brockmann kept throwing wrenches into the plot, and I absolutely hated it. Molly and Gina are kidnaped and are being held in exchange for Jones. Molly has breast cancer and she’s pregnant and decides to have the baby and not do chemotherapy and risk the baby’s life, meaning she’ll like die herself. I don’t really think we needed a pregnancy and an illness thrown in here.
I expected Gina to feel betrayed and hurt, because that’s clearly what the author was setting it up for, with the verbally and emotionally abusive, distant, cold, private Max, but Gina just magically puts together, in an imaginary conversation with Max, that he really does care about her, and that he’s only guilty and hung up on the plane accident where he couldn’t save Gina from being raped. What a bit of insight there. And she actually feels guilt for leaving Max, like it’s her fault. Why in the heck would you have Gina come to that conclusion when you’ve set the whole freakin book thus far to where Gina is in a bad, hurtful relationship? She’s supposed to be hurt, for gods sake!
When Max gets to talk to her over the phone, she’s all happy and tells him how glad she is to hear his voice. Really? The way things left off in your relationship, you’re just gonna be all bubbly on the phone? She’s even noticing how good he looks and making stupid jokes.
I really hated Max. He was emotionless when he thought Gina was dead, and he was emotionless on the way to get her body. Jules finally got him to show some emotion, and Max said she’s everything to him or something along the lines of that. He felt guilty that he didn’t tell her how he felt and even teared up at several points. So when he finally gets her, he does nothing. He only holds her during the escape, like to keep her from falling down or falling behind. And he doesn’t say one thing about his feelings for her. That’s a good idea, make him a cold robot up until the very end.
And despite that fact, Gina is reaching for his hand, touching his arm, wrapping his arms around him, and expressing concern over him, just like the annoying, clingy, and completely pushy girl that she is. And what the freak is up with that? Max keeps calling her a girl instead of a woman, even though she seriously acts like it, but when the man is calling her a girl, there’s a problem. That much of an age difference is just wrong.
Max, on pg. 272, after their lives have been put in danger again, and after he’s been shot, is still calling Gina a friend, and even said that when she left, he was cheering her on when she walked out the door. Wow. This man deserves a first place trophy for the a**hole of the year.
After Max made that completely heartless comment about cheering Gina on when she left, she actually apologizes for leaving. And she just comes to the conclusion that Max chased her away. Go ahead and make it easy on him. Don’t make him grovel, don’t make him apologize for hurting you, you go ahead and apologize when all you did was leave an unhealthy relationship. Dumb broad.
And Gina, while Jones is working to get the bullet out of Max’s butt, gets a little mad, but just comes to a conclusion that, again, Max should’ve told her himself, without her putting the pieces together herself. She realizes that Max purposely didn’t tell her about Ajay’s death, the boy at the physical therapy center, just so she’d get mad and leave. How nice. And I think the author could’ve come up with something better than that. Using a boy’s death to break them apart is really pathetic.
The author gives absolutely the barest details in the sex scenes. It’s completely disappointing. They finally have sex in the present time, instead of looking back on past encounters, and I expected the author to draw out the scene, but nope. It’s the same rushed, hasty job with no details. What a waste. If you’re gonna be a romance author, you have to actually write out the romance, not blow over it.
And Max just completely forgets that Gina is pregnant with another man’s baby. She’s not really, but he thinks she is. You can’t just overlook that.
The part where Jones is flipping through Emilio’s collection of porn was really disgusting. I don’t know why you’d put that in there, because it’s definitely making me dislike him more. And Molly says “let me guess. You’re looking at these in order to get a better understanding of who Emilio is. So you can figure out where he might hide something like a radio. If he had a radio to hide.” Jones laughed. “Exactly.” He couldn’t have done a better job bullshitting his way out of that one himself. “I’ve discovered that Emilio’s a lot like me. We both go for nice girls.”
Like, did you really have him set there, beside his pregnant wife who has cancer, and check out the covers of porn DVDs?
Max brings up Alyssa Locke, his ex-girlfriend who he asked to marry him, making a comment like they could use her sharpshooting skills, as if he couldn’t be any more of an a**hole. Why would he mention her? And then he says the only reason he asked her to marry him was because he thought it would keep him away from Gina. He was afraid of how much he loved her. What a load of crap.
Jones feels that if he hadn’t come to Kenya and gotten her pregnant, Molly could concentrate on her own health, which is true. I really hate when couples just have sex without thinking of safety, and a baby results from it. That’s really careless and thoughtless, especially since right after they had sex, Molly holds up condoms, or Jones does, one or the other. Why didn’t you think of that beforehand? Anyways, Jones then goes on to say that she’s got the Spawn of Satan inside her. And Molly’s like “wow. That was pretty harsh.” But then goes on to boost his attitude up like the crusader that she is. They’re constantly forgiving the really asinine comments these men make, in an instant, like a priest in the confessional. They don’t even have to think about it, or form any feelings, they just instantly forgive and forget. I’m actually surprised the author didn’t tag a “my child” on the end to really capture the mood.
The author tried to undertake way too much in the plot area. It was one thing after a freakin nother, and every time I expected them to get out and get back to America, something would happen that prevented that from happening. They were holed up in that bunker, Emilio’s house, for what seemed like a life age.
Gina actually invites Alyssa, who I’m just finding out on pg. 368 is African American, to their engagement party, because “she’d thought it was only fair to have someone that Max knew there in the restaurant.” Like, is she okay? She’s as dumb as a freakin board. Who on this planet would invite her fiancé’s ex-girlfriend who he used to sleep with and who he asked to marry him to her engagement party? An idiot.
The ending was as stupid as the rest of the book. The characters had not redeemed themselves at all in my mind, and so I really didn’t fall into the pregnant, happily-ever-after ending. It did nothing for me.
I see why this book is called Breaking Point. The women should’ve reached the breaking point many times throughout the book, but they were saints and martyrs. They refused to stay hurt, even when the men said hurtful and unforgivable things. Jones says that he wished Molly would terminate the pregnancy, and he snaps at her, but immediately apologizes, and two seconds later Molly is smiling and reaching for his hand, saying she loves him and she won’t judge him as he tells of his past mistakes. Wtf? Molly and Gina are like those plastic doll things you punch, only for them to bounce right back and stand up, every time. I’m the only one that has reached the breaking point with this piece of crap. These men are unlikable, and they’re just mean.
You might wanna spend more time developing them as a nice love interest rather than sculpting them a good butt, because actually being nice to a woman goes a lot further in my estimation than a muscular butt. Just a little tip there.
Gina consistently kept up her theme of annoying, weak, helpless female. She did nothing during the escape but reach for Max’s hands, slip down an embankment, ask stupid questions like where are we, what’s going to happen, are we going to die, and every other annoying question that a helpless female can possibly ask at the worst of times.
Jules was quite annoying at parts, but he was funny, and brought some much-needed humor into the story.
Jones was a fail too. I thought he was going to be cool and dangerous, but that quickly changed and he was actually quite pathetic. I never got the sense that he was a dangerous ex-solder-turned criminal. And then he morphed quickly into a Max clone, treating Molly just as crappily as Max treated Gina. I know that was he worried that she was dying, but you don’t treat a dying person like that, snapping at them and making them feel bad. That’s called abuse. And what was up with the name transitioning? Sometimes they called him Jones, and then sometimes they called him Grady, long after they established that he didn’t look like a Grady and preferred being called Jones. Even Molly called him Grady at times. What the freak is up with that? Pick a name and stick with it. When you change the name it makes it seem like he’s a different person altogether.
At several points throughout the book, I wanted to read it, only because of what I hoped would happen, not because it was actually good. It was a fail in every single department, and it makes me want to give up on the whole series. The only good quality was the humor the author had--even mundane things were described in a funny way because of the author's sense of humor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
idtgr
May 2, 2020DNF @ 43% - Both these couples are annoying and/or idiotic, and the plot is worn out and predictable. It's good to see Jules in a prominent role and all, but why does he keep calling all his straight male friends "sweetie"?
February 1, 2018
Max and Gina. This is my favorite book so far in this fabulous series. I couldn't wait for this story and it exceeded my expectations. I just loved it! All the way around! WTG, Jules!
November 9, 2017
Está más cerca de las 3 estrellas pero como me he reencontrado con una pareja que me gustó mucho en el cuarto libro le subo a 4.
En este libro se cierran las historias de Jones y Molly a quienes conocimos en un libro anterior, entonces su trama ya me llamó mucho la atención sobre todo por los claroscuros del personaje de Jones. Y también se cierra, por fin, la historia de Max y Gina que la llevamos arrastrando varios libros y se me ha hecho especialmente larga (Max y sus dudas han sido plomizas).
También tenemos a Jules!! siendo muy Hules y todo un badass
La trama de suspense se mantiene a muy buen nivel durante todo el libro, además de ser muy visual.
Otro libro muy entretenido de la serie algo lastrado por Max y sus eternas dudas
En este libro se cierran las historias de Jones y Molly a quienes conocimos en un libro anterior, entonces su trama ya me llamó mucho la atención sobre todo por los claroscuros del personaje de Jones. Y también se cierra, por fin, la historia de Max y Gina que la llevamos arrastrando varios libros y se me ha hecho especialmente larga (Max y sus dudas han sido plomizas).
También tenemos a Jules!! siendo muy Hules y todo un badass
La trama de suspense se mantiene a muy buen nivel durante todo el libro, además de ser muy visual.
Otro libro muy entretenido de la serie algo lastrado por Max y sus eternas dudas
June 26, 2014
I expected better from this book which disappointed me for several things.
First, it's awfully slow to start, with like 4 different story lines in parallel, 3 of whom flashback to different periods - and those last until almost half of the book. Regarding Max and Gina's past, I felt there was not much new that I did not already remember from previous books, so that also contributed to my feeling of boredom.
Then, what deeply irritated me was several misconceptions about Indonesia and the totally twisted presentation of East Timor predicament and history.
The book was printed in 2005 and supposedly took place in 2005. That's 3 full years after the formal independence and full recognition of East Timor as a sovereign state by the UN. And calling the independence fights from Indonesian occupation a civil war is simply an insult to East Timorese - East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975 when it declared its independence before 9 days later being invaded and annexed by the Indonesian army. I'll stop my rant there, but I consider such a twisted presentation of history not acceptable from someone claiming to defend civil and human rights.
Regarding Indonesia, Ms. Brockmann also do not understand anything about the language(s), as I had already noticed in the previous book taking place there. Indeed there are plenty of different ethnic groups all along the archipelago who all speak their own dialect. However those local dialects are oral and limited to a family / neighborly use. At school, whatever school in whatever remote village, the classes are given in Bahasa Indonesia. That's the language the people speak when they meet people coming from different regions or from the village next door with a different dialect and everyone speaks it, even if in a rather basic form for some. Anyway most of the local dialects are not intelligible, even from what could appear as very close ethnic group, so there's just no way a dialect from around Java could resemble that of Nusa Tenggara (>2000 km - 1250 miles away). Obviously Indonesians would never need to use English to talk with one another (as it was totally incorrectly hinted in Out of Control). And Indonesian is the one acceptable language for anything related to politics (so there would never be any political tracts written in dialects). Orders in the army would only be given in Bahasa.
And there was a third WTF moment, when it was explained why Gina took a pregnancy test in Hambourg Gina was repeatedly presented as very intelligent, but considering that and her insistence on doing anything, until the American embassy in Jakarta (still 1250 miles away) miraculously heard about it and obviously immediately understood that something like that had to be mastered by superior American minds, I felt really irritated and not convinced that she was that bright.
Going back to the romance, it was just ok. For way too long, Max just considered himself too old, not good enough and it took the given news of death for him to start acknowledging his feelings, plus a long series of bad news to him to accept that he could not do without her. She was so ready to accept anything from him without asking for anything, that I did not care so much how it ended and how much he really grovelled - not too much.
The secondary story between Molly and Jones felt more balanced with deeper feelings. And I liked how Jones regularly put his feet in his mouth.
More like a 3.5, but I'm feeling too irritated to upgrade my rating.
First, it's awfully slow to start, with like 4 different story lines in parallel, 3 of whom flashback to different periods - and those last until almost half of the book. Regarding Max and Gina's past, I felt there was not much new that I did not already remember from previous books, so that also contributed to my feeling of boredom.
Then, what deeply irritated me was several misconceptions about Indonesia and the totally twisted presentation of East Timor predicament and history.
The book was printed in 2005 and supposedly took place in 2005. That's 3 full years after the formal independence and full recognition of East Timor as a sovereign state by the UN. And calling the independence fights from Indonesian occupation a civil war is simply an insult to East Timorese - East Timor was a Portuguese colony until 1975 when it declared its independence before 9 days later being invaded and annexed by the Indonesian army. I'll stop my rant there, but I consider such a twisted presentation of history not acceptable from someone claiming to defend civil and human rights.
Regarding Indonesia, Ms. Brockmann also do not understand anything about the language(s), as I had already noticed in the previous book taking place there. Indeed there are plenty of different ethnic groups all along the archipelago who all speak their own dialect. However those local dialects are oral and limited to a family / neighborly use. At school, whatever school in whatever remote village, the classes are given in Bahasa Indonesia. That's the language the people speak when they meet people coming from different regions or from the village next door with a different dialect and everyone speaks it, even if in a rather basic form for some. Anyway most of the local dialects are not intelligible, even from what could appear as very close ethnic group, so there's just no way a dialect from around Java could resemble that of Nusa Tenggara (>2000 km - 1250 miles away). Obviously Indonesians would never need to use English to talk with one another (as it was totally incorrectly hinted in Out of Control). And Indonesian is the one acceptable language for anything related to politics (so there would never be any political tracts written in dialects). Orders in the army would only be given in Bahasa.
And there was a third WTF moment, when it was explained why Gina took a pregnancy test in Hambourg Gina was repeatedly presented as very intelligent, but considering that and her insistence on doing anything, until the American embassy in Jakarta (still 1250 miles away) miraculously heard about it and obviously immediately understood that something like that had to be mastered by superior American minds, I felt really irritated and not convinced that she was that bright.
Going back to the romance, it was just ok. For way too long, Max just considered himself too old, not good enough and it took the given news of death for him to start acknowledging his feelings, plus a long series of bad news to him to accept that he could not do without her. She was so ready to accept anything from him without asking for anything, that I did not care so much how it ended and how much he really grovelled - not too much.
The secondary story between Molly and Jones felt more balanced with deeper feelings. And I liked how Jones regularly put his feet in his mouth.
More like a 3.5, but I'm feeling too irritated to upgrade my rating.
February 21, 2020
4.5 stars. This was my favourite of the series so far! Woot!
To say I've been looking forward to this book is an understatement. I've been dying to get to Max's story since Book 3. I was a little ticked off that I had to wait that long since I'm not really that patient of a person. Sure, the book had long been written but I'm not someone who usually reads a whole series all at once. Luckily I've had some time off recently and I breezed through this in two days. This was fantastic!
I've always thought of Max as being such a compelling character. He's this perfect good guy who struggles so much with the mistakes he's made, things he's had little control over but sees them as personal faults. I want to just sit there and hold his hand or give him a hug...or... something. But, I also want to slap the shit out of him for being so frustrating! I think the biggest surprise for me in this book was Gina. Yes, we've known her as readers for a while now. I loved her when I first met her but she perplexed me a bit in her last book. In Breaking Point, I really understood her and loved her. She's absolutely hilarious, strong, sweet, smart and tough. She's clearly my favourite of all of the Troubleshootin' women.
Oh, and what I also loved was the continuation of the story of Molly and Jones. I didn't know this book was going to include the two of them and I was pleasantly surprised.
The characters were fun and intriguing and the storyline was action-packed emotional and amusing. This book packed a lot of punch. I highly recommend it but you must read this series in order. You would lose a lot of the impact if you book-skipped.
To say I've been looking forward to this book is an understatement. I've been dying to get to Max's story since Book 3. I was a little ticked off that I had to wait that long since I'm not really that patient of a person. Sure, the book had long been written but I'm not someone who usually reads a whole series all at once. Luckily I've had some time off recently and I breezed through this in two days. This was fantastic!
I've always thought of Max as being such a compelling character. He's this perfect good guy who struggles so much with the mistakes he's made, things he's had little control over but sees them as personal faults. I want to just sit there and hold his hand or give him a hug...or... something. But, I also want to slap the shit out of him for being so frustrating! I think the biggest surprise for me in this book was Gina. Yes, we've known her as readers for a while now. I loved her when I first met her but she perplexed me a bit in her last book. In Breaking Point, I really understood her and loved her. She's absolutely hilarious, strong, sweet, smart and tough. She's clearly my favourite of all of the Troubleshootin' women.
Oh, and what I also loved was the continuation of the story of Molly and Jones. I didn't know this book was going to include the two of them and I was pleasantly surprised.
The characters were fun and intriguing and the storyline was action-packed emotional and amusing. This book packed a lot of punch. I highly recommend it but you must read this series in order. You would lose a lot of the impact if you book-skipped.
February 25, 2012
In this book we see Max & Gina's relationship such as it's been since the Sam/Alyssa book. We also revisit Molly & Jones from the WIldcard book, and we get a little Jules, which is never enough.
Sigh. I think I've grown tired of Suzanne Brockmann's heroines. Or maybe it's just me. I'm just not feeling the love between the main characters in these books lately. In this case it feels like Gina pushed Max until he finally relented. A lot of the book is them just rehashing the same old arguments. Molly and Jones were sweet and it was nice to find out what happened to them. Also in this book it was nice to see Jules get to be in charge of things. My heart did break for him a little in the last book because he lost boys and he was without his partner. But seeing him now it seems like Alyssa was overshadowing his awesomeness as an agent so good for him. And there was a little romance potential for him with someone other than a guy in the closet or a unforgivable scumbag.
Also it seems that the world war two story lines are a thing of the past, which is too bad. Some of them were really interesting. Well I'm off to pick up two Alex Cross books and then I'll be back with the troubleshooters...
Sigh. I think I've grown tired of Suzanne Brockmann's heroines. Or maybe it's just me. I'm just not feeling the love between the main characters in these books lately. In this case it feels like Gina pushed Max until he finally relented. A lot of the book is them just rehashing the same old arguments. Molly and Jones were sweet and it was nice to find out what happened to them. Also in this book it was nice to see Jules get to be in charge of things. My heart did break for him a little in the last book because he lost boys and he was without his partner. But seeing him now it seems like Alyssa was overshadowing his awesomeness as an agent so good for him. And there was a little romance potential for him with someone other than a guy in the closet or a unforgivable scumbag.
Also it seems that the world war two story lines are a thing of the past, which is too bad. Some of them were really interesting. Well I'm off to pick up two Alex Cross books and then I'll be back with the troubleshooters...
June 13, 2020
I enjoyed this one. A fast-moving and gripping read. Two romances from earlier books were resolved. Finally Max and Gina got their HEA, also Molly and Grady.
I did find the structure of the earlier part of the book a bit annoying. It kept jumping back and forth in time and also place, with mini cliffhangers that would suddenly cut to a flashback or another scene. I know the back story needed to be told, but I did find this way of doing it was a little frustrating. Fortunately as the story proceeded, it began to stay mainly in the gripping present, and the storytelling became smoother.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
I did find the structure of the earlier part of the book a bit annoying. It kept jumping back and forth in time and also place, with mini cliffhangers that would suddenly cut to a flashback or another scene. I know the back story needed to be told, but I did find this way of doing it was a little frustrating. Fortunately as the story proceeded, it began to stay mainly in the gripping present, and the storytelling became smoother.
Overall, an enjoyable read.
May 30, 2009
I was really expecting this to be a quick thriller to read on vacation, but it got really bogged down in all the relationship crap, especially towards the end. No wonder men drop women for talking too much about their relationship! I literally skipped over all the stupid relationship dialogue. The author should have left it out and focused more on a good, complex story.
September 25, 2012
I really wanted to love this book. Again, the plot is fantastic and the writing is great, but Max's resistance to Gina, although moral and wonderful, just struck me the wrong way. This has one star only because of my own personal issues with the plot and not because of a bad plot.
April 11, 2018
Didn't finish it. I ALWAYS finish books once I start and I just couldn't with this one. The female characters are one note and all the men are uber macho assholes. Don't bother.
April 9, 2016
This was my second book in this series, I have already read The Unsung Hero which I liked better than this one.
The beginning of this book was driving me crazy and not in a good way. It was mainly written in retrospections! I generally don't mind some flashbacks on characters or how that all started but man… When I read a book I want the story and not jumping from one previous event in the heroes life to the another. And what bothered me even more it was just jumping from one to the other - nineteen years ago, two months ago, then two years ago and twenty two months ago, than again two months ago and so on. At 25% of the book there are only three minor parts set in present times. And all that is mostly useless because after the first retrospection I already get that Gina and Max has some past together and what they think about this situation. I don't need another hundred pages about the past events to understand that.
Also, I don't think I liked Gina. She is one of those bitches who always knows better and are ready to tell you their opinion whatever you want it or not. She always has to have the last word in every conversation. And, of course, she knows better what will be good for Max. She makes him into some therapy for couples because she thinks he needs it, she helps in the hospital in Kenya even though she can't stand blood so she is useless, when Max is hurt she decides it's a perfect moment to tell him about her feelings and what he should do about them. And so on. Yep, she is annoying.
The romance part is definitely undeveloped. It's probably because of this huge retrospection part. But rather than that I would like to see how Gina and Max explain everything between them and built their relationship once again. Instead they overcome everything instantly and go for a happy ending. I was a bit disappointed.
Till now Jules seems to be the most interesting character in this book. I wish he has his own story.
I'm rating this book 2.5.
The beginning of this book was driving me crazy and not in a good way. It was mainly written in retrospections! I generally don't mind some flashbacks on characters or how that all started but man… When I read a book I want the story and not jumping from one previous event in the heroes life to the another. And what bothered me even more it was just jumping from one to the other - nineteen years ago, two months ago, then two years ago and twenty two months ago, than again two months ago and so on. At 25% of the book there are only three minor parts set in present times. And all that is mostly useless because after the first retrospection I already get that Gina and Max has some past together and what they think about this situation. I don't need another hundred pages about the past events to understand that.
Also, I don't think I liked Gina. She is one of those bitches who always knows better and are ready to tell you their opinion whatever you want it or not. She always has to have the last word in every conversation. And, of course, she knows better what will be good for Max. She makes him into some therapy for couples because she thinks he needs it, she helps in the hospital in Kenya even though she can't stand blood so she is useless, when Max is hurt she decides it's a perfect moment to tell him about her feelings and what he should do about them. And so on. Yep, she is annoying.
The romance part is definitely undeveloped. It's probably because of this huge retrospection part. But rather than that I would like to see how Gina and Max explain everything between them and built their relationship once again. Instead they overcome everything instantly and go for a happy ending. I was a bit disappointed.
Till now Jules seems to be the most interesting character in this book. I wish he has his own story.
I'm rating this book 2.5.
November 11, 2020
3.5stars really
It took time for this reader to appreciate this tale as I’m not a fan of flashbacks, though it’s actually parallel reads in time. That said, this outing relives Max’ early days at the Bureau and shows his tumultuous relationship to bring us up to date, after hearing Gina’s been killed. Traveling to claim Gina’s body, Max finds things aren’t what they seem.
Secondary thread for ex-SEAL Jones’ romance with Molly which was sweet, linear and more to my taste. The sometimes hard to take alpha male; action sequences that deserve film and… Jules, a story detailing the strong FBI alliance with Troubleshooters must have Jules. New secondary characters were a good fit within the universe.
Granted Max and Gina are familiar series fans and their story needed to be told but the time jumps annoyed and colored my opinion of the read. Also, the fact that Seal Team 16/Troubleshooters, Inc., didn’t show up!
It took time for this reader to appreciate this tale as I’m not a fan of flashbacks, though it’s actually parallel reads in time. That said, this outing relives Max’ early days at the Bureau and shows his tumultuous relationship to bring us up to date, after hearing Gina’s been killed. Traveling to claim Gina’s body, Max finds things aren’t what they seem.
Secondary thread for ex-SEAL Jones’ romance with Molly which was sweet, linear and more to my taste. The sometimes hard to take alpha male; action sequences that deserve film and… Jules, a story detailing the strong FBI alliance with Troubleshooters must have Jules. New secondary characters were a good fit within the universe.
Granted Max and Gina are familiar series fans and their story needed to be told but the time jumps annoyed and colored my opinion of the read. Also, the fact that Seal Team 16/Troubleshooters, Inc., didn’t show up!
June 5, 2008
While this book tells an interesting and potentially compelling story--the first half of the book is told in a series of confusing, difficult to follow, and in my opinion unnecessary flashbacks by the author. Once the story reaches the mid-point and is told completely in the present tense voice it's a decent read.
February 2, 2020
Max es un hombre de unos 40 años, jefe de una sección del FBI con un pasado doloroso. Conoce a Gina, cuando es secuestrada en un avión y él es el encargado de negociar con los raptores para que dejen libre a la joven como a sus ocupantes.
Gina una joven de unos 20, alegre y positiva ante la vida queda impresionada desde el primer momento que conoce a Max. Inician una relación sexual que termina en amor.
El libro aunque es de romance tiene muchísima acción. Pues Max temeroso de perder a Gina, nunca le abre su corazón y se distancian. Por lo que Gina decide ir a Kenia junto a su amiga Molly, sin imaginar el peligro que les avecina.
Los protagonistas principales son Max y Gina, pero a la vez se cuenta el romance de Molly y Jones, quienes pasan por problemas más graves para establecer su relación.
El libro empezó muy bien, pero cuando ya quedaba un cuarto del mismo decayó muchísimo la historia y se tornó un poco repetitiva. Me quedé con la duda de qué fue lo que le pasó exactamente a Max cuando le dispararon y quedó en un centro de rehabilitación. La autora nunca explicó este suceso, a pesar de que lo menciona varias veces en el libro. Como dije anteriormente tiene mucha acción, es uno de esos libros que deberían llevarse a la pantalla.
Gina una joven de unos 20, alegre y positiva ante la vida queda impresionada desde el primer momento que conoce a Max. Inician una relación sexual que termina en amor.
El libro aunque es de romance tiene muchísima acción. Pues Max temeroso de perder a Gina, nunca le abre su corazón y se distancian. Por lo que Gina decide ir a Kenia junto a su amiga Molly, sin imaginar el peligro que les avecina.
Los protagonistas principales son Max y Gina, pero a la vez se cuenta el romance de Molly y Jones, quienes pasan por problemas más graves para establecer su relación.
El libro empezó muy bien, pero cuando ya quedaba un cuarto del mismo decayó muchísimo la historia y se tornó un poco repetitiva. Me quedé con la duda de qué fue lo que le pasó exactamente a Max cuando le dispararon y quedó en un centro de rehabilitación. La autora nunca explicó este suceso, a pesar de que lo menciona varias veces en el libro. Como dije anteriormente tiene mucha acción, es uno de esos libros que deberían llevarse a la pantalla.
September 9, 2016
Max, Gina, Grady, Molly - they get their story; add in Jules, some really bad guys and off the map locations (not in a good way), and what's not to keep you turning pages?
No WW II story in this one; there wouldn't have been room, but characters from previous books had their own terrifying adventures.
No WW II story in this one; there wouldn't have been room, but characters from previous books had their own terrifying adventures.
September 30, 2022
Breaking Point
3 Stars
FBI negotiator Max Bhagat excels at his job, but when it comes to his relationship with Gina Vitagliano, he just can't seem to get it right. When he receives the devastating news that Gina has been killed in a terrorist attack, Max is determined to identify the body and get justice for her. However, Max is in for another shock as the dead woman is not Gina, and she along with Molly Anderson, has been abducted. Soon Max finds himself working with Grady Morant, a.k.a "Jones" to rescue the women they love.
To be honest, this installment is very disappointing.
The pacing in the first half is slow with an excessive number of flashback scenes. Not only are there too many but they cover two different time periods, and all of the information could have been summarized in a prologue.
While the pace improves at the halfway mark, the plot becomes overly convoluted with several confusing and inexplicable twists and turns. The resolution is also completely far-fetched and lacks believability.
In terms of the romance, the focus is on two couples, Gina and Max as well as Molly and Jones (from book #4). I had been looking forward to the resolution of Gina and Max's storyline, but it simply does not live up to its potential. The details provided about Max's past, which may explain his reticence, are superficial and never really provide any insight into his mindset. Moreover, the intense chemistry that characterized their connection in previous books is lacking here.
With regard to Molly and Jones, they never resonated with me as a couple so their reunion and the challenges they face are ok but not awe inspiring.
Overall, not one of the better additions to the series although the ending is quite sweet.
3 Stars
FBI negotiator Max Bhagat excels at his job, but when it comes to his relationship with Gina Vitagliano, he just can't seem to get it right. When he receives the devastating news that Gina has been killed in a terrorist attack, Max is determined to identify the body and get justice for her. However, Max is in for another shock as the dead woman is not Gina, and she along with Molly Anderson, has been abducted. Soon Max finds himself working with Grady Morant, a.k.a "Jones" to rescue the women they love.
To be honest, this installment is very disappointing.
The pacing in the first half is slow with an excessive number of flashback scenes. Not only are there too many but they cover two different time periods, and all of the information could have been summarized in a prologue.
While the pace improves at the halfway mark, the plot becomes overly convoluted with several confusing and inexplicable twists and turns. The resolution is also completely far-fetched and lacks believability.
In terms of the romance, the focus is on two couples, Gina and Max as well as Molly and Jones (from book #4). I had been looking forward to the resolution of Gina and Max's storyline, but it simply does not live up to its potential. The details provided about Max's past, which may explain his reticence, are superficial and never really provide any insight into his mindset. Moreover, the intense chemistry that characterized their connection in previous books is lacking here.
With regard to Molly and Jones, they never resonated with me as a couple so their reunion and the challenges they face are ok but not awe inspiring.
Overall, not one of the better additions to the series although the ending is quite sweet.
December 1, 2021
This is a rare DNF for me.
October 24, 2010
One of my least favorite TS books, although Brockmann writes so well that even my less-favorites are always included in a series re-read.
This is finally Max and Gina's book but it's told in a crazy time-hopping manner that shows Suz's skill as a writer but doesn't appeal to me personally. A number of things don't actually: Max's desperate need to push Gina away, Gina's personal style (I just don't get the sense she and I would be friends, so I don't feel as invested in her journey), even Molly and Dave's romance.
Yep, just not a favorite. Which doesn't mean it still isn't a good book!
This is finally Max and Gina's book but it's told in a crazy time-hopping manner that shows Suz's skill as a writer but doesn't appeal to me personally. A number of things don't actually: Max's desperate need to push Gina away, Gina's personal style (I just don't get the sense she and I would be friends, so I don't feel as invested in her journey), even Molly and Dave's romance.
Yep, just not a favorite. Which doesn't mean it still isn't a good book!
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