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Troubleshooters series by Brockmann
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Regina
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Mar 20, 2010 09:59AM
I am loving this series. I love the way the author addresses issues concerning race and not just from a standard perspective, but friendship, work, romantic relationships, growing up -- issues not just with black and white, but asian, middle eastern, mexican. And then she always has positive gay characters and shows their relationsihps. The series is action packed, involves a decent mysetery, some good tension and romance, and of course a hot (but flawed) guy. And then a very strong female character. There is usally character progression, etc. I just can't say enough about these books. Not great literature, but a good way to past time. Okay, I have to come clean, I have been listening to these books as I walk to the train stop and back to and from work, not reading them. Anyone else?
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this series? are they contemporary?
Yes, sorry. They are contemporary. The focus is it is a bunch of tough macho guys in the U.S. Army Seals and then a few investigators of the U.S. F.B.I. You need to like thrillers, and some not so complex mystery to enjoy them. Then throw in some romance (and steamy love scenes). There are usually two or three main story lines in each book. And the books come back and revisit different story lines. It is not as formulaic as Nora Roberts, but there is somewhat of a similar outline -- tension between love interests, they are thrown together, lives are threatened, security issues exist, etc. But what I really like are the characters, the progression, the culmination and the background is a change of pace from the other stuff I usually read (fantasy, historical, urban fantasy).I haven't "read" them, just listened. But I do enjoy the story, not the best writing ever, but a good escape.
Suzanne Brockmann
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Thank-you. They do look interesting. I'll have to read the first one, and see what I think. This may be me step into the contemporary world, (haven't found that I like, yet)
I love Suzanne Brockmann, I have loved this series!!! Its one of my favorite contemporaries to read!!! Although I read more Paranormal and Historical, but this series I really have enjoyed reading!!!
I just downloaded a few of these in ebook form and cannot wait to read them. Thanks for the suggestion Regina :)
1 and 2 are just okay. 3 is where they turn amazing.
So I would say, if you are finding 1 or 2 slow -- skip to 3. I still loved 1 and 2, but I listened to the audio like 6 years ago -- and it was a new genre completely for me.
Funny, somebody posted about this series in the audiobook section yesterday and when I checked my library, I found that one of them has books 1-10 in audiobooks. I've been wanting to try it for a while and audiobooks are so much easier for me to get into!
Just give it a chance up to 3! Many people find 1 and 2 average at best. I have talked abou this series in our what are you readin thread.
And I have actually never "read" one of these books.
I'll do that, Regina.If I know the series gets better, then I'll have more patience. :)
I will keep that in mind Regina. Thanks again :)
Now that I am at my computer and not on my phone, I can respond better. :) The TS series is unique, bc the characters have flaws. Brockmann develops deep three dimnesional characters and maintains them throughout all 15 books and the read becomes attached to them b/c of the depth that she writes. Some characters are physically hot and physically flawless, some are not. But you will find yourself rooting for them and wanting them. :) The story is generally told from the POV of the men and she writes men very very well. They are not ideal or perfect at all, which I like, you know? Some common themes she addresses in her books are mixed age relationships -- younger men/older women and younger women/older men and mixed race/ethnicity relationships -- both romantically and friendship wise. Another common theme of hers is alcoholism and overcoming a rocky childhood. And then while writing this series, Brockmann's son came out as gay and she became dedicated to this issue. Each book has a gay character (one guy -- he is an FBI agent) and then later in the series he gets his HEA. One thing for sure, is all of her characters are incredibly smart and good people. Her books tend to tackle some social issues as well.The first 4-6 books (I can't remember exactly) have WWII flashbacks. These are separate storylines with a romance theme. Some people loves these, others do not. But around book 6 she drops them. Each book has several storylines running together. There is the main couple and about two other couples (in the first books one of the couples is the WWII flashback), the third couple may or may not get their HEA -- and they are usually involved in a larger story arc that will be addressed further on in the series. Some people have issues with this in the first two books, but by book 3 the reader knows the characters very well and you will find yourself looking forward to the differeing POVs -- and really, it is like 3 romance novels in one. :) The books are very much like BDB. Complex storylines (increasing in complexity as the series progresses), multiple POVs, and returning characters that the reader really gets to know. Unlike in other RS or romance books, the characters are not just ditched after their HEA -- they keep coming back and you will see them and still be able to check in and love them. :) Brockmann has been writing this series for awhile, but she has publicly said in an interview that she is a fan of Ward's BDB series. Many fans of both series see similarities. And I guess like the BDB series, it starts not as strong in many people's eyes.
And after reading alot of erotica themed PNR or erotica themed romance, Brockmann's books may *seem* tame. They do have explicit sex scenes, but not as many -- they do increase as the books go along. But each book has several sex scenes and the men thinking sexy thoughts.
Okay, enough of my rambling. :) Oh one more thing, the narration of the books changes after book 1 or 2 -- I forgot which. At around book 3 there is a fantastic team narration done. There is a male narrator for the male POV and a female narrator for the female POV. And they are brilliant.
Sorry, I just noticed my list above is out of order. I will fix later today.
Not rambling at all, Regina! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts...I tend not to read reviews of books I want to read (I want to get my own opinion) but this I love this overview! Makes me know what to expect without knowing too many details. :)The audiobook group I belong too had a list of the narrators...I think there's a team after book 5 or 6 (let me see if I find the link to that thread.)
Oh here's the list of books and their narrator.1. The Unsung Hero - William Dufris
2. The Defiant Hero - Carrington MacDuffie
3. Over the Edge - Laura Hicks
4. Out of Control - Norma Lana
5. Into the Night - Deborah Hazlett
6. Gone Too Far - Deborah Hazlett
7. Flashpoint - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank
8. Hot Target - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank
9. Breaking Point - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank
10. Into the Storm - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank
11. Force of Nature - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank
12. All Through the Night: A Troubleshooter Christmas - Michael Holland
13. Into the Fire - Patrick G. Lawlor, Renée Raudman
14. Dark of Night - Patrick G. Lawlor, Renée Raudman
15. Hot Pursuit - Patrick G. Lawlor, Renée Raudman
16. Breaking the Rules - March 2011 Release
I think they team may be earlier than that, b/c I remember the team in this book
(which is book 4), but I am not sure about 2 or 3
. 3 tends to be readers' absolute favorite.But I could be wrong and would love to see your link!
Wow, I could swear there was a team narration of #4. I can't believe my memory is that fuzzy. 16 has Lawlor and Raudman again. They literally blow my mind, they are amazing. I own 1 and 2 on the kindle, and will check if they are lendable if anyone wants to borrow them. I own 1 in audio, I tried to re-listen but couldn't do it. #1 was the only one (oh and #14) I couldn't go back and listen to again. So 1 is probably weak (I first listened to it in 2005 I think -- a random pick up at the library). I have listened to the rest 2-3X, except #16. I own it and plan to relisten in a few months.
I'll try the audio first and if I don't like it, I'll switch to print. The first book has a waiting list at the library and I'm #5 so I have almost a 3 month wait if everybody has the 21 day lending period (I hope not!)I never take the longest period if there's a waiting list. My default is 14 (because you never know) but if there's a waiting list, I always switch it to 7 days.
I always do 7 and just download and transfer right away. I hate that it is not possible to check in an audio book early. But I do the 7 and then just listen to it when I am ready (but I always delete it after I am done). I hope you don't have to wait that long. Once you get to 3, I know you'd love it.
I like the 14 day period because I like to clean my iPod periodically and delete the ones I've read so it's not crowded, but of course that means that everything is deleted and I have to re-transfer the ones I haven't read.To avoid that, I'm trying to only download something when I know I'll read it but I don't have that option for those with a waiting list. :)
How much memory do you have on your iPod? It is funny how we all have different systems. I tend to be obsessive, for some reason I can't have anything on my iPhone that I have already listened to, so I actually delete every night or morning! So for me to have a book on my phone for a few months or weeks before I listen to it doesn't bother me, b/c I know as soon as I listen to even a part of a book -- that sucker is gone!
Wow Regina, Thanks for all the information :) Now I cannot wait to read them, might start on my vacation. It's crazy because sometime you have 14 people ahead of you for a book and then they call cancel and it's ready for you. That happens to me all the time. D. G I forget do you have an ereader? Which one?
DG I am also a hoarder, so that is why I collect audio books. :) Where are you going on vaca Leea?
Oh I have enough - 32GB but I hate scrolling down, looking for the audiobook and the search never comes up right.How do you delete them once they're on your iPhone? The only way I know is to change it from manual to automatic but that deletes everything.
LOL, no, I don't have an ereader yet. I'm trying to read the print books I have (and not succeeding, LOL!)
Regina wrote: "DG I am also a hoarder, so that is why I collect audio books. :) Where are you going on vaca Leea?"
Taking the kids to Disneyland then staying in Carlsbad (San Diego area) for a week and our resort is right next to Legoland so we got a 5 day pass there. It's going to be fun but It's really not a vacation for me. It's just taking my job on the road with not all my supplies and no sleep. My boys are HUGE Lego fans. We do plan on hanging by the pool a lot so I'm hoping to get some reading in.
You can do it on manual but only when the ipod/phone is connected. You know how when it is connected your device shows up on the left bar of iTunes? If you click on books or audio books -- or the playlist you have a book set as (which is what I do for MP3), then the book or list appears in the main screen of iTunes. Does this make sense? Then you click on which part you want to delete. I was just doing that this morning! It is like a weird itch, if I know it is on there and I have listened to it -- I gotta get it off. My iPhone hasn't been switched to automatic (nor my iPod before I had my phone) since the very beginning of me owning it. If this doesn't make sense, let me know and I will try to think of a different way to explain it.
D.G. ~The Hydra~ wrote: "LOL, no, I don't have an ereader yet. I'm trying to read the print books I have (and not succeeding, LOL!)"Oh no pressure here :) Wish I did that because now I don't want to read print book because it's so easy reading from my nook. Just thought I might be able to share with you :)
Leea I agree! I even hate holding real books now -- I am so lazy! I hear you about the vaca with kids. I hope it is fun and you create lots of memories. :) All 4 of my kids are huge lego fans too. It is such an amazing skill to have, super transferable to other stuff.
Yes, I know what you're talking about, Regina. But when I click on audiobooks, the books I have from the library never appear there!Maybe I should just look more carefully. If that works for me, then I won't have to keep changing my iPod back and forth.
Regina wrote: "Leea I agree! I even hate holding real books now -- I am so lazy! I hear you about the vaca with kids. I hope it is fun and you create lots of memories. :) All 4 of my kids are huge lego fans ..."That's what's been happening with me and audiobooks. They are so much easy for me to read because I don't have to juggle a book in the subway. Of the 13 books I've read this month, 7 have been audiobooks plus 2 I dnfed after listening at least 1 hr.
I should take Picture of what Ethan creates it's amazing. He's made transformers just using lego parts. we don't even help him built set's anymore, he follows the directions all by himself so well. It's a great skill to have and he's so creative with them. I'll have to take a picture of the next thing he builds. Oh he made me a coffee maker one day - LOL!!
Hmmm, that is odd. I have no answer. LOL. Do you update the iTunes software regularly, like when you are advised that it is ready for an update? I am guessing you do ..... Let me play with my daughter's and husband's iPod tonight and see what I do. Maybe I am missing a step. I wonder if it has anything to do with the "view" -- the options and pull down at the top of iTunes? I found these links, maybe they will be helpful?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1351
http://askville.amazon.com/Deleting-I...
http://www.ehow.com/how_5626050_updat...
http://aldoblog.com/audiobooks/itunes...
This thread on GR talks about it -- http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1... which reminds me, have you checked the music section of your iPod while it is connected? Maybe they are there?
And this is from overdrive? http://www.overdrive.com/software/omc...
That would drive me crazy DG, like I said I have a sickness -- I need to get it off my device. The GR thread seems to offer some good advice but I only scanned. Good luck!
Leea, you should definitely take a picture and share! I always try to take pictures, b/c they are destroyed so easily! Learning to follow those directions is a great skill. We have little engineers and architects. :)DG that is me too! Audio books are so much easier to travel wtih.
Ethan wants to build bridges... He's 5 he also wants to be a fire man and Garrett a police man so they can talk on the walkie-talkie LOL! I will take one and share.
Thanks so much for all the links, Regina. Now I want to be home to check what's going on with my iPod! No, I've never thought of checking the music...I'll check that out too!
Leea *Fire and Gasoline* wrote: "Ethan wants to build bridges... He's 5 he also wants to be a fire man and Garrett a police man so they can talk on the walkie-talkie LOL! I will take one and share."Oh they're so cute!!
Thanks D. G. Some day's they are not so cute. LOL Today they are wonderful :)
You rock, Regina! I found what the problem was!!I hadn't clicked on the little arrow by 'devices' so I hadn't seen that menu before! When I said I understood what you were talking about (obviously I didn't), I was thinking of the menu at the top by 'summary' that also says 'music', 'movies', etc.
Yay! I don't have to put this in automatic anymore!!!
Very very cool!!! And you don't have to scroll through a list of stuff you already listened to!
I love nearly everything Suzanne Brockmann writes. I have a shelf dedicated to books by her. She started as a Harlequin author long ago, and those books are not typical romances either. Lately she's been doing books about Navy Seals and the Troubleshooters, started by a former Navy Seal. I saw her at a conference once and she told a funny story about starting the Seal series. She so wanted to make the background as authentic as possible. She flew out to whereever it is in California or Nevada where they train and tried to get information from the Public Affairs office. They were extremely stand-offish and suspicious of her curiosity. She did the best she could, but when you read those, you can tell how skimpy the details are. BUT when the 2nd one hit the best-seller lists, the Navy was falling all over itself to give her tours and escort her around the Seal training center! lol!
That is very funny!! I love love this series. That explains why there is such a huge difference after the first book and in comparison to her other books.
That would be Camp Pendleton in San Diego would be my guess... That is funny and I've had her Troublshooters series on my TBR list for way too long. That might get me out of my reading funk.
If you do start this series, remember many people don care for 1 and 2 but almost everyone loves 3++. :)
What is it with so many series hitting a stride around book 3? This happens a lot it seems.
I have them all on my nook taunting me... I was just going to finish the Virgin River books before I started another long series. Who knows what i'm doing. Yeah that does seem to happen a lot with longer series. I think it does take some time to build these characters. Regina, is it the same characters throughout the books and they build off each other or is it just one couple per book. I think you may have told me this before :)
I have GOT to get myself some kind of e-reader. I'm a substitute school teacher with no pay check in the summer. But my first paycheck in September.... Guess what I'm getting? Leea--thanks for the reminder! Yes, San Diego is where many of the books are set.
Yea it is Leea. They defineyeky build. It is more like BDB. :)
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)
Headed for Trouble (other topics)
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