Romance, Historical or Otherwise discussion
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Troubleshooters series by Brockmann
I finished last night and wow! This was my favorite so far. I cannot wait to get to Sam and Alyssa's book because hot damn those two are going to explode by them.Molly and Jones! Do they get their own book, Regina?
Max, got that man is hot and we learn more about him in this book, where his family is from.
Oh the last scene where Ken (view spoiler)
Ken is such a character! All of these charcters (except Rose) re-appear. Max is my favorite (and Izzy, but you don't really *know* him yet).Molly and Jones are in Max and Gina's book. Jules is heavy in that book too. It is really all of their book easily.
I am so glad you loved it!
I love Jones, Max and Ken so far. Ken is a sexy little beast.
** so excited **I can't wait for Sam and Alyssa's book. I just want to read book 5 right now so we can move onto 6 :)
Hmmmm, wonder where I got that? ;)Same to you, sweetie!
I started a couple of chapters of Out of Control last night. I have a quick question since i read book #3 a while back ago. Was Molly and Jones in a past book? I can't remember reading about them. I love reading about sexy, mysterious men like Jones. I can already tell that I will like him.
No, they are new to that book. I LOOOOOVED Jones!!!
Kay, How exciting!! I can't wait for Sunday to read book 5 :) I loved out of control and I know you'll love it too. Jones, Max, Sam and Ken - all wonderful!
I started the
, read the first chapter. I just wont have much time tomorrow to read and wanted to get a head start.I felt so sorry for Sams wife, forget her name, Sue Ann? (view spoiler)
Mary Ann I think?? But I forgot. I know! Brockmann completely switches up in this book and shows her to be a three dimensional person.
Yes, Mary Ann... I just feel bad for her. To be in love with a man that loves someone else. It is funny, all the older women/younger man pairings. I only know one couple where the women is like 8 years older.I feel like I don't really know Mike that well. I'm looking forward to learning more about him.
It was my least favorite coupling, but the book was still strong due to the Mary Ann, Alyssa, and Sam side stories. I felt bad for her too. Only recently have known some couples like that, but now I know one where the woman is early 50s and husband is 40, another where woman is 48 and husband is 41, and another where woman is 39 and husband is 23!!!! But before recently, I didnt know anyone like that.
Isn't it like Mary Lou? I won't be able to start until tomorrow evening. I've still got about a third left of Golden Lily.
LOL, I'm excited to start this one too. I'm eager for more.
Yes, Mary Lou... I just feel so bad for her. Can't wait for you to start Wendy, so we can chat about it :)
I'm starting today! This morning! It's a kindle book so I can read subtly while I work, haha.
I finished
and I really liked it. I liked it more than books #1 (which i DNF) and #3. Plus, the execution of the WWII story was sooooooooooooo much better than how it was in the previous books too. In the past I would skim those storylines but Brockmann really captured my attention with Rose and Hank's story. I also liked how we had to figure out in the beginning how all the couples tied together into the story. I really appreciated how that came out. I can't remember, did she keep us guessing like that in the past books?I will start Into the Night tonight but I may have to join in on the discussion late as I'm reading another book with Stacia tomorrow.
Out of Control was definitely my favorite so far. I loved Wildcard, and I really LOVED Jones, lmao.I'm liking the 5th one so far too, though I'm only on chapter 3. Mike is a cutie.
I just passed the 50% mark... It's good but not as good as Out of COntrol. Feels like a transition book.Oh. My. my heart is breaking for Mary Lou. (view spoiler)
Okay, I thought Mary Lou was older than 22? Anyone else?
Sometimes I'm really disappointed in Sam. I mean, (view spoiler). Its hard to really like a character and also really dislike a character too.
I think Sam's just unhappy and does not want to take the steps to rectify it. We all know he's not in love with poor Mary Lou and he married her because she was pregnant. It's all a mess. I agree, his behavior towards Danny is upsetting but I also think that's what I like about Brockmann's writing is she writes real people. FOr me it's the spark between Sam and Alyssa that has me interested. Plus the military is a mix of all races.
I hear you Wendy. I think he was purposely written like that so he would appeal to readers and readers would sympathize with him as mr. all american, and then as Sam grows ...... everyone, including the readers, grow. When Brockmann started writing about a gay character, she already knew her son was gay and was very upset about how he was treated. In interviews she is pretty upfront she was on a mission to help people get more comfortable with the idea. I think if everyone was okay right away with Jules, it wouldn't have been realistic to the setting and the time and many readers would be turned of. If you read reviews, you can see how many readers are turned off and say they get tired of Brockmann's politics -- so it happens eventually. Anyway, I don't want to spoil anything, just that I was with you on that. That stuff bothered me too. But I did also like the flaw in him, he wasn't perfect -- not even close. He used Mary Lou, yeah he tried to do the right thing -- but really hurt Alyssa in the process. And then he never does right by Mary Lou. And boy does brockmann show the ugly side of just having a baby!
Leea that too. Her characters are all kinds.
Kay wrote: "I will start Into the Night tonight but I may have to join in on the discussion late as I'm reading another book with Stacia tomorrow. ..."
If you need to push back our buddy read to another time, I won't be upset.
I agree completely, I love that she writes them like this. Like Jamie and the whooping. He's flawed and I know many men like that. It's not that I wish she didn't show that, just that it makes me uncomfortable to read, which was her intention, I think.
Exactly! To make peolple do an inner examination or .. reel them in. :)
And to show that men are shades of gray.
Yes, to both of you. I see his transformation coming up, Sam is right on the verg of finding his happiness. The whole way Brockmann writes about Jules and him being gay did tick me off in the beginning. I see that she's also moving his character (along with Sam because they're friends) forward.
I find the idea that readers need to be 'eased' into these type of characters just does not give readers enough credit, IMO. Having said that, I did grow up always know my brother was gay and that it's was just who he is. Even though he didn't come out till he was in his mid 30's.
Leea, I agree. I never had to be eased in to the topic either. I guess when she started writing this series, the world was a different place?? So disappointing to think that. Maybe she underestimated her readers, maybe it was her publisher, maybe it was necessary, I don't know but Jules is a huge favorite of readers in this series. And yes Wendy! She is so good at showing men in shades of gray.
Both Donny and Mary Lou are breaking my heart. So sad.
I cmopletely forgot about donny's story, thanks ladies for reminding me. It is heartbreaking. Mary Lou -- I love how we first see her as a "loose" woman and a manipulator, but then now that we get her story in this book we see her side of things. Her insecurity, her desire for better things for her baby and her (lol -- like us!) love for reading. I would hate for Alyssa or anyone like her to ever be the 'other woman' in my life!
Yes! How far are you now?My heart is also breaking for Vince because of how he feels about Charlie and (view spoiler)
Leea, re your spoiler -- yes I completely agree. Many people wrote that in their reviews. It seems horrible that he let it go unresolved and she let him think that!
Probably because he's afraid to rock the boat. He doesn't want to HEAR that she (view spoiler). It's tragic, but also romantic too.I just hit chapter 9. I just got to the part when (view spoiler).
I also love how Alyssa thought Mary Lou was racist. I can't blame her for thinking that because Mary Lou did make the 'she's black' comment. I think though that Mary Lou was just upset and lashing out when she said that, because she doesn't seem the least bit racist or cruel. She seems more forgiving and accepting than even Sam is.
I'm getting the impression that Charlie doesn't know Vince feels that way? Also, I find the Brooke (view spoiler)
I agree Wendy. I was just talking about this with my husband. I heard some people criticizing some people the other day based on one incident (calling this person a bad mother) but when we see a snapshot of a moment in a person's life, it is really unfair to judge -- that snapshot may not really represent them. It may just be a really bad moment in their life.Mary Lou was so hurt, I can still remember her pain. In many ways, Mary Lou's love interest is much more boundary crossing than Sam's. Sam is really sensitive to the race issue for many reasons that you will learn in the next book.
Mary Lou (don't read wendy till you meet the gardner, sorry!) (view spoiler)Love Brockmann's take on parenting. Mary Lou still nursing in public and she doesn't care if her boob is out. lol!
I know!! Me too Leea - -and she is pumping at McDs (if I can remember correctly). :) No matter what, it does seem like both Sam and Mary Lou care about the baby. Should I spoiler mark my comment leea (the one above?)
Bob is uber creepy!
Yeah, Mary Lou is only 22 (I thought she was older) and her life has been really hard. I like reading how honest she is. She just calls it how she sees it.We've all lost our temper and done something we regret. I'd hate to have that moment represent me.
Leea, I haven't gotten to the Brooke (view spoiler). I have to say I'm a little underwhelmed with this storyline. It's better than the contrived fighting of the last few books, but it's reminiscent of Stan convincing Mike to date Meg. Makes sense, I suppose, in showing that Mike can be a little bit of a pushover, but it still bothers me in that I don't find that attractive, lmao. I wanted him to say 'no, woman, i want to date YOU'. Be more forceful, lol. Again, I can see why she didn't, because this would be one of his flaws, so I like that, it's just not as fun for me to read.Regina, it makes me think of a conversation I had with a friend just this morning. My sister was addicted to Dog the Bounty Hunter for years, up until that scandal where he lost his temper and used a derogatory comment when he was visiting his son in jail. He made many many apologies and explained that it was wrong but he was upset and not thinking correctly. I can see this. I know people who have done the same thing, it's wrong but in the same way it's wrong for my husband to get angry and throw divorce up when he knows he doesn't mean it. Nobody should be judged for the rest of their life for one little mistake.
I do too! And oh! Now I remember, I like how she has this image of herself as fat and unattractive, but the men around her (including Sam) see her as hot, lol. Sam clearly has Alyssa front and center, but there is a scene that I won't spoil where it is clear it isn't b/c of how she thinks she looks that is the reason he wants Alyssa, he still thinks ML is hot. I really liked seeing that in the other characters.
No, you don't need to spoiler tag that.yeah, that's right. She was pumping at McD's hahaha!
Yes, Sam and ML love Haley but he's not being the best dad right now. He's not spending the time with Haley that he should. IMO
LOL, I keep responding but you guys are moving so fast I keep missing conversation! Fucking work getting in the way of chatting!
Regina wrote: "I do too! And oh! Now I remember, I like how she has this image of herself as fat and unattractive, but the men around her (including Sam) see her as hot, lol. Sam clearly has Alyssa front and c..."I just read that scene. How she says she's fat but he says she's 'lush'. She's obviously still beautiful.
Romance, Historical or Otherwise
Books mentioned in this topic
Hot Pursuit (other topics)Beginnings and Ends (other topics)
Glory in Death (other topics)
Into the Fire (other topics)
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Sam and Alyssa: when Lys over heard Sue Ann talking about his dreams, I almost cried. They're perfect for each other.
Jones/Molly: I just learned who/what happened to Jones. My guess he was part of the SEAL team and that the US didn't know he was still alive.
All these stories are so intense and i'm so connected to each character that It's hard to step away. (hide spoiler)]