Breaking Point (Troubleshooters, #9) in 2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2

Jan 27, 2011 Jonetta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-suspense, nc-br-digital-library, audiobook, 2022-audiobook-challenge, 2022-library-love-challenge, 3500-2022

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 he 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.

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Aug 30, 2016 Sandra Hoover rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense, romance-suspense

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 c 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!

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Jul 07, 2012 Anita rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romantic-supense, kindle-libby-city

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 lon ...more

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Sep 17, 2016 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense, 2022, 2016

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 th ...more

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Aug 27, 2016 Charlene rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: asia, romantic-suspense, adult-themes, group-read, group-author-book, series-by-author, black-ops-navy-seals, follow-this-series, friends-tbr-lists, public-library

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.

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Sep 30, 2022 Lauren rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: stoic-hero, kidnapping-hostage, fbi-agents, romantic-suspense, second-chances, pregnancy, flashbacks

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" t ...more

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Jan 30, 2015 Charlene rated it it was amazing

Shelves: romantic-suspense, audio

Even better the second time around...I love Max and Gina, and Molly and Jones!

5 ★

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Oct 01, 2022 Sharon Kallenberger Marzola rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio-whispersync, romantic-suspense, great-support-characters, mystery, second-chance, fbi, series, good-romance

A good story. Full review will follow shortly.

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Aug 29, 2011 Connie rated it it was amazing

This one is about Max Bhagat and Gina. It also had Molly and Jones in it. Max thought Gina was dead but when he went to identify the body found that it wasn't her but someone else, so he finds that she has been kidnapped with Molly and he tries to save them with Jones and Jules as his only help. Fast paced and full of action.
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Nov 01, 2012 Wendy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: nov-12, oct-16

Loved this 9th book in her Troubleshooter series again :)

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Mar 18, 2022 Christina T rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, romantic-suspense, 5-stars, patrick-lawlor, melanie-ewbank, 9-in-the-series, fbi-agents, hoopla, i-love-these-characters, 2022-book-challenge

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