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BBC Audiobooks America (2003), Edition: Unabridged Audiobook, Downloadable WMA/MP3 Audiofile, 15 hrs 27 mins
Description
Fiction. Literature. Romance. Suspense. HTML:Suzanne Brockmann�s wildly popular Troubleshooters series showcases this master storyteller�s rare gift for blending intense adventure with sensuous romance. And it all begins with The Unsung Hero, a heart-pounding tale of love that reveals hidden truths and brings two solitary people together against all odds. BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Suzanne Brockmann�s Born to Darkness. After a near-fatal head injury, Navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the Navy dismisses the sighting as injury-induced imaginings. In a last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorism team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly war veterans, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton. As the town�s infamous bad boy, Tom was always in love with Kelly, a sweet �girl next door� who has grown into a remarkable woman. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day. �Thanks to Suzanne Brockmann�s glorious pen, we all get to revel in heartstopping adventure and blistering romance.��RT Book Reviews.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member rocalisa
Over on Dear Author, there was recently a post discussing Suzanne Brockmann's books and I thought her Troubleshooters series sounded interesting. Generally, books about Navy SEALs (and there are a lot of them out there) don't interest me at all and I give them a wide berth. But the points mentioned
I did like this book. The best word I can come up with to describe my overall reaction is solid. This seems like a pathetic word, a real case of damning with faint praise, and I don't mean it like that at all. There was a real solidity to Brockmann's world building that made it seem extremely real. These were people you could believe you could meet out on the street; their actions and reactions, successes and mistakes felt real. And considering a number of them were highly trained and secretive soldiers in a field I know nothing about, that's saying something.
Brockmann easily juggled three main plot lines, one of which was sixty years old, and didn't let either of the secondary storylines suffer from either a lack of "on screen" time or take over the main romance plot. Add to that mix a terrorist on US soil (in a book written pre-9/11) that manages to provide a satisfying climax without taking over the book and you are left with clear evidence of a writer who knows what she's doing.
Tom and Kelly's romance was satisfying (if occasionally frustrating) and David and Mallory's secondary romance was a delight. Personally I was less taken with the World War II plot, although it was as well done as the rest of the book, the trips back in memory beautifully blended into the main story. All the characters were solid and interesting and I suspect I'll be reading more Brockmann in the future, although not immediately.
The Unsung Hero
Suzanne Brockmann
Troubleshooters, Book 1
8/10
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in the article, along with quotes, decided me to give the series a try. (Hooray for libraries!)I did like this book. The best word I can come up with to describe my overall reaction is solid. This seems like a pathetic word, a real case of damning with faint praise, and I don't mean it like that at all. There was a real solidity to Brockmann's world building that made it seem extremely real. These were people you could believe you could meet out on the street; their actions and reactions, successes and mistakes felt real. And considering a number of them were highly trained and secretive soldiers in a field I know nothing about, that's saying something.
Brockmann easily juggled three main plot lines, one of which was sixty years old, and didn't let either of the secondary storylines suffer from either a lack of "on screen" time or take over the main romance plot. Add to that mix a terrorist on US soil (in a book written pre-9/11) that manages to provide a satisfying climax without taking over the book and you are left with clear evidence of a writer who knows what she's doing.
Tom and Kelly's romance was satisfying (if occasionally frustrating) and David and Mallory's secondary romance was a delight. Personally I was less taken with the World War II plot, although it was as well done as the rest of the book, the trips back in memory beautifully blended into the main story. All the characters were solid and interesting and I suspect I'll be reading more Brockmann in the future, although not immediately.
The Unsung Hero
Suzanne Brockmann
Troubleshooters, Book 1
8/10
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LibraryThing member AnnaAbner
I'm a little late to the Suzanne Brockmann party as I only just finished Troubleshooters #1, but I can see what all the fuss is about. This was a fantastic, multi-generational, sexy love story. I probably won't re-read it (it's feeling slightly dated, and rightly so), but I will certainly read her
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other books. Show Less
LibraryThing member vegetarianlibrarian
I hate romantic suspense and so I don't usually read military-type romances because it's always - the killer is after her and she keeps passing out but the man in the camo pants will save her! Not into that. But I like the general hero part (it is a romance, after all), and I really liked this one.
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The thing that stood out to me is the amount of back story - the hero and heroine have a history (they've been in love since they were teens! But never said anything!), and their fathers also have a history, told in WWII flashbacks. That made the ending emotionally satisfying, if sad. Show Less
LibraryThing member dianaleez
The earlier 'Troubleshooter' books are Brockmann at her best.
Then it becomes too much of the same ol' same ol.'
Then it becomes too much of the same ol' same ol.'
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Tom Paoletti was involved in an accident during a SEAL mission that nearly killed him, or at least nearly put him in a permanent vegetative state. Now he's home and trying to work out what's wrong with his uncle and his lifelong friend and employer; and adding to the confusion is his long running
The details about the long-term issues Tom has with the head injury are interesting and add to the character. Malory is great fun and David comes across as a proper geek. I enjoyed the ride.
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yearning for Dr Kelly Ashton. When he thinks he sees a terrorist he's been chasing for a while, a terrorist assumed dead, his superiors put it down to his head injury, he's not sure, and enlists a motley crew to investigate.The details about the long-term issues Tom has with the head injury are interesting and add to the character. Malory is great fun and David comes across as a proper geek. I enjoyed the ride.
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LibraryThing member jjmcgaffey
Me gusta. I love her Tall, Dark and Dangerous Harlequin series - this is just like that only more so. In the Harlequins, there's one romance per book, with maybe a few hints of setting up others. In this, there's the main characters' romance, the ancient romance, the easy romance (that could easily
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have been an entire Harlequin book - just would have to add a few more obstacles and a bit more obtuseness on the part of the people involved), plus hints of at least one more major romance and maybe another. And all written with Brockmann's usual style and elegance. Me gusta mucho. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
After reading several wretched novels on a romance book recommendation list, this contemporary novel of "romantic suspense" set in the Boston area was a relief. The novel features some of the usual overwriting found in the romance genre about the gorgeousness of the lead characters, but not quite
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as incessant as in most. Likable leading characters at that: both over 30 for once and both career professionals--Tom Paoletti, a Navy SEAL officer, and Kelly Ashton, a divorced doctor. There were even memorable and appealing supporting players! I liked the secondary geek-love romance between Mallory, Tom's niece, and David, an artist even more--it's what raises this book to a four star for me. (And David *gasp* is Asian--I can't tell you how rare it is in the romance genre to have a romantic protagonist to be anything but Caucasian.) And behold a real plot along thriller lines. I did have some style issues, and I wouldn't call the novel a keeper: not a prose style to savor or quotable lines, and it never elicited tears or laughter or a gasp of surprise. But it was entertaining--a good beach/airplane read. This is the first of a series and since some have told me the novels get much better, I intend to try the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member ZosiaCanberra
I have read a few books in the Troubleshooters series now, and enjoyed them. Well, except for this one - which is possibly the worst start to a series I have ever read.
This is absolutely, totally, completely NOT military romance or romantic suspense. It is straight out contemporary romance,
Here’s my problem. If this book was marketed as women’s fiction (I hate that genre!!) I could maybe have given it three stars. But it’s not marketed that way. Apparently it’s military romance - though there is next to no military and next to no romance. As a military romance story it fails dreadfully and doesn’t earn those extra stars.
This book is really boring. I attempted a foray into Suzanne Brockmann’s gigantic world (her earlier Navy SEALS series) some time ago, and failed. So I thought I’d give it another shot. What I didn’t like about her books in the past - and didn’t like about this one - is that they were slow-moving contemporary romance with a teensy bit of suspense as an afterthought. If something claims to be military romance, then it should be military romance. This is not. (The next book in the series, however, is the complete opposite of this one and well worth the time and effort.)
This book started out well (for the first eight or so pages), and maybe I got my hopes up a bit too high.
The author does have a nice, easy writing style, and she does characterisation well. The story was a little light on the excitement and a bit heavy on the discussion. As I did in the past, here I got the impression Brockmann is more into writing straight romance, and the only way this story has anything to do with Navy SEALS is that it occasionally mentions a character’s rank or for an unnecessary information dump to illustrate all the military knowledge she has. So much of the book was telling rather than showing. I want to see the story unfold as I read, not be told the details after the event.
There were too many people in this story. It was setting up an entire series, but when a series goes on for so many books it probably isn’t necessary to set up all the heroes and heroines in book one! The hero and heroine were hardly in any scenes together, and the romance was about on the bottom of the list of priorities. I couldn’t care less about a bunch of old codgers and their war memories, nor about some kids and their comics. I actually wanted to read about the hero and heroine, but there was very little of that to be found.
Kelly was a stupid heroine. I didn’t like her bizarre and conflicting personality. And seriously, how could she have been so stupid as to not know making personal declarations over the radio meant other people would hear her?!
Tom was a completely forgettable hero. For all the supposed Navy SEAL toughness, he was such a weak, Beta character.
Tom and Kelly were both forgettable. Some of the most boring characters I’ve read. And then the secondary characters...well, why in the world would or should I care about a couple of teenagers creating graphic novels?! Why in the world does this take up a third of the book? Isn’t this supposed to be military suspense written for adults? The fact the secondary characters took over was bad enough. But the fact the woman who was the subject of the love triangle that took over the book was a self-absorbed, undeserving little miss was even worse. When she rejected a marriage proposal, claiming the only thing she could care about was her baby...well...I hated her with a passion. I don’t want to read about annoying little wenches from World War Two in my contemporary romance stories. The fact two elderly characters had spent the better parts of their lives alone because of this woman...that fact alone earned this book its low rating.
The coincidences in this story were embarrassing. Guy just happens to spot radically transformed terrorist at the airport in his hometown? Then he just happens to spot him again when he’s out shopping? Teenage niece just happens to photograph terrorist when she’s out practicing photography? It was hard to get involved in a story that was silly and then some.
I appreciate Brockmann’s attempts to make all the characters ‘real people’ with ‘real problems’. But we hear a whole lot about how the hero is going bald - it gets very tiring very fast! Characters don't need to be defined by such silly, unimportant things.
I assumed this book might have some serious military stuff in it. Not goofy declarations of love over the radio in the middle of the couple of pages at the end that actually dealt with military stuff. I was just completely taken aback at how little this book had to do with what the blurb claimed it to be.
I prefer my military romance to have the action part of the storyline intrinsic to the romance. I like, for example, Cindy Gerard’s books, where the plot is pulled more tightly together and all the characters are in it together. Here the action was quite the afterthought, coming a distant - DISTANT - fourth to three other storylines (the main relationship, Tom’s niece, the veterans).
That said, if you can get through this tedious beginning, the series does get bette
This is absolutely, totally, completely NOT military romance or romantic suspense. It is straight out contemporary romance,
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bordering on women’s fiction. Here’s my problem. If this book was marketed as women’s fiction (I hate that genre!!) I could maybe have given it three stars. But it’s not marketed that way. Apparently it’s military romance - though there is next to no military and next to no romance. As a military romance story it fails dreadfully and doesn’t earn those extra stars.
This book is really boring. I attempted a foray into Suzanne Brockmann’s gigantic world (her earlier Navy SEALS series) some time ago, and failed. So I thought I’d give it another shot. What I didn’t like about her books in the past - and didn’t like about this one - is that they were slow-moving contemporary romance with a teensy bit of suspense as an afterthought. If something claims to be military romance, then it should be military romance. This is not. (The next book in the series, however, is the complete opposite of this one and well worth the time and effort.)
This book started out well (for the first eight or so pages), and maybe I got my hopes up a bit too high.
The author does have a nice, easy writing style, and she does characterisation well. The story was a little light on the excitement and a bit heavy on the discussion. As I did in the past, here I got the impression Brockmann is more into writing straight romance, and the only way this story has anything to do with Navy SEALS is that it occasionally mentions a character’s rank or for an unnecessary information dump to illustrate all the military knowledge she has. So much of the book was telling rather than showing. I want to see the story unfold as I read, not be told the details after the event.
There were too many people in this story. It was setting up an entire series, but when a series goes on for so many books it probably isn’t necessary to set up all the heroes and heroines in book one! The hero and heroine were hardly in any scenes together, and the romance was about on the bottom of the list of priorities. I couldn’t care less about a bunch of old codgers and their war memories, nor about some kids and their comics. I actually wanted to read about the hero and heroine, but there was very little of that to be found.
Kelly was a stupid heroine. I didn’t like her bizarre and conflicting personality. And seriously, how could she have been so stupid as to not know making personal declarations over the radio meant other people would hear her?!
Tom was a completely forgettable hero. For all the supposed Navy SEAL toughness, he was such a weak, Beta character.
Tom and Kelly were both forgettable. Some of the most boring characters I’ve read. And then the secondary characters...well, why in the world would or should I care about a couple of teenagers creating graphic novels?! Why in the world does this take up a third of the book? Isn’t this supposed to be military suspense written for adults? The fact the secondary characters took over was bad enough. But the fact the woman who was the subject of the love triangle that took over the book was a self-absorbed, undeserving little miss was even worse. When she rejected a marriage proposal, claiming the only thing she could care about was her baby...well...I hated her with a passion. I don’t want to read about annoying little wenches from World War Two in my contemporary romance stories. The fact two elderly characters had spent the better parts of their lives alone because of this woman...that fact alone earned this book its low rating.
The coincidences in this story were embarrassing. Guy just happens to spot radically transformed terrorist at the airport in his hometown? Then he just happens to spot him again when he’s out shopping? Teenage niece just happens to photograph terrorist when she’s out practicing photography? It was hard to get involved in a story that was silly and then some.
I appreciate Brockmann’s attempts to make all the characters ‘real people’ with ‘real problems’. But we hear a whole lot about how the hero is going bald - it gets very tiring very fast! Characters don't need to be defined by such silly, unimportant things.
I assumed this book might have some serious military stuff in it. Not goofy declarations of love over the radio in the middle of the couple of pages at the end that actually dealt with military stuff. I was just completely taken aback at how little this book had to do with what the blurb claimed it to be.
I prefer my military romance to have the action part of the storyline intrinsic to the romance. I like, for example, Cindy Gerard’s books, where the plot is pulled more tightly together and all the characters are in it together. Here the action was quite the afterthought, coming a distant - DISTANT - fourth to three other storylines (the main relationship, Tom’s niece, the veterans).
That said, if you can get through this tedious beginning, the series does get bette
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LibraryThing member amongstories
The Unsung Hero is the first book in Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series. Navy SEAL Tom Paoletti is forced to take medical leave after a near-fatal head injury. He decides to head home for the month off, but when he’s in his small hometown in Massachusettes he spots a terrorist. When he
The plausibility of Tom’s small hometown being targeted by an international terrorist is not the only problem he has to face. Kelly Ashton, who’s father is best friends with Tom’s Uncle Joe, asks Tom to step in and help the two older gentleman settle a dispute they are having over finally speaking up about what happened to the two men during World War II. Kelly also happens to be the love that Tom ran away from all those years ago and he tries to distance himself from her,but Kelly wants no part of that. She’s got her mind set, and its time for Tom to stop viewing her as the “nice girl.” Tom’s sister, known by many as a screw-up in the town of Baldwin’s Bridge asks him to deal with Mallory, his neice.
There is a lot going on in The Unsung Hero, but it is not difficult to follow. Brockmann’s execution of the different story lines is flawless – at least it is in my opinion. Overall, I loved this book, it was very enjoyable. Brockmann had me laughing, crying, and sighing.
There are actually two developing romances in the story, that of Tom and Kelly, and also Tom’s neice Mallory with David Sullivan. The two relationships were different, which I really liked, and its not just because of the age difference between the two couples. Tom and Kelly were attracted to each other as teenagers, but because Kelly was younger than Tom, and too young by his standers, as well as innocent, he ran from her. Now that the two are older, and Kelly is divorced, Tom has no excuse to run this time. The relationship between Mallory and David is different, and awesome if I may say so myself. David approaches Mallory when he realizes she would be the perfect model for his new graphic novel character, Nightshade. Mallory wants nothing to do with the totally dorky David, but he is persistent, and eventually romance buds between the two.
Another component to the story is the argument between Joe and Charles. The two are in disagreement over their past in World War II and there are flashbacks to the war so that you can understand what it is the two men are fighting about. What happened during the was was actually one of the more emotional points of the story for me because of the fact that I have several family members who have served in wars. There is a lot of soul in that piece.
When everything comes together with the romances, the two old men, and the possible terrorist threat that the small town is facing, its a great read. The last chunk of the book is where all of the terrorist action is, so up until that point its more getting to know the characters, Tom dealing with his family and injury, and all the background that you need to know for the ending to make sense. All in all, an enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing the series.
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calls his superiors for help with the situation he is brushed off because the man he thinks he saw is on the presumed dead list. While Tom is home he struggles with the unknown. Is the man he saw really just a civilian, or is he a terrorist responsible for the deaths of over 900 people?The plausibility of Tom’s small hometown being targeted by an international terrorist is not the only problem he has to face. Kelly Ashton, who’s father is best friends with Tom’s Uncle Joe, asks Tom to step in and help the two older gentleman settle a dispute they are having over finally speaking up about what happened to the two men during World War II. Kelly also happens to be the love that Tom ran away from all those years ago and he tries to distance himself from her,but Kelly wants no part of that. She’s got her mind set, and its time for Tom to stop viewing her as the “nice girl.” Tom’s sister, known by many as a screw-up in the town of Baldwin’s Bridge asks him to deal with Mallory, his neice.
There is a lot going on in The Unsung Hero, but it is not difficult to follow. Brockmann’s execution of the different story lines is flawless – at least it is in my opinion. Overall, I loved this book, it was very enjoyable. Brockmann had me laughing, crying, and sighing.
There are actually two developing romances in the story, that of Tom and Kelly, and also Tom’s neice Mallory with David Sullivan. The two relationships were different, which I really liked, and its not just because of the age difference between the two couples. Tom and Kelly were attracted to each other as teenagers, but because Kelly was younger than Tom, and too young by his standers, as well as innocent, he ran from her. Now that the two are older, and Kelly is divorced, Tom has no excuse to run this time. The relationship between Mallory and David is different, and awesome if I may say so myself. David approaches Mallory when he realizes she would be the perfect model for his new graphic novel character, Nightshade. Mallory wants nothing to do with the totally dorky David, but he is persistent, and eventually romance buds between the two.
Another component to the story is the argument between Joe and Charles. The two are in disagreement over their past in World War II and there are flashbacks to the war so that you can understand what it is the two men are fighting about. What happened during the was was actually one of the more emotional points of the story for me because of the fact that I have several family members who have served in wars. There is a lot of soul in that piece.
When everything comes together with the romances, the two old men, and the possible terrorist threat that the small town is facing, its a great read. The last chunk of the book is where all of the terrorist action is, so up until that point its more getting to know the characters, Tom dealing with his family and injury, and all the background that you need to know for the ending to make sense. All in all, an enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing the series.
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LibraryThing member Lost_Lenore
Tom Paoletti is on leave after a serious head injury and while returning home he sees a terrorist that is supposed to be dead. Despite being afraid that his temporary leave turn into a permanent one, Tom reports what he had seen only to be dismissed. Going with his gut, he creates a small SEAL team
I don't know how many times I've read this book but even knowing some parts by heart, the feeling I get while reading it is the same as if it was the first time.
Suzanne Brockmann can make you fall in love with the characters; I confess that I have a crush on Tom Paoletti. In addition, the subplot is well done and everything combined creates a wonderful romance/suspense novel...I am a suspect because I really love this series (and all the other books by Suzanne Brockmann).
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with some of his friends, his uncle Joe and Charles Ashton, both WWII veterans, his niece Mallory and her boyfriend David and Dr. Kelly Ashton, his teenage fantasy.I don't know how many times I've read this book but even knowing some parts by heart, the feeling I get while reading it is the same as if it was the first time.
Suzanne Brockmann can make you fall in love with the characters; I confess that I have a crush on Tom Paoletti. In addition, the subplot is well done and everything combined creates a wonderful romance/suspense novel...I am a suspect because I really love this series (and all the other books by Suzanne Brockmann).
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LibraryThing member bookwormdreams
Suzanne Brockmann is Featured Author for May 2012 at Romance Readers Reading Challenges Group. I hoped I will have more luck with her, than with previous featured authors and that I will enjoy this book. But unfortunately I just could not get into it. Military lingo and characters were not
I don't say this is a bad book, but it's just not the style of book that I like.
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interesting to me. I did not like how they spoke, the plot seemed to drag and I found myself skimming and skipping more and more. After a couple of chapters I officially gave up.I don't say this is a bad book, but it's just not the style of book that I like.
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LibraryThing member AddictedToMorphemes
The Unsung Hero
Book #1 Troubleshooters series
U.S. Navy Lt. Tom Paoletti, Team Commander of one of the most elite Spec. Ops. forces, is on a 30-day leave to recover from a near-fatal head injury which had left him in a coma for weeks. Because of the severity of his injury, Tom's job is on the line,
When he spots a long sought after and presumed dead terrorist (known as the Merchant) in his little town, he is caught between trusting his instincts and doubt about whether his brain injury is causing him to have delusions and/or bouts of paranoia. Even though there is a special ceremony coming up in town which will be hosting U.S. Senators as well as foreign dignitaries, his superiors write his reports of a terrorist sighting off as related to his injury (with a warning to watch himself at the risk of his career) so Tom is on his own to track and stop the terrorist. He has the help of the remaining members of his SEAL team--those who were not assigned positions elsewhere--as well as his elderly uncle and his uncle's best friend of 60+ years, Charles Ashton--both of whom are veterans of WWII.
Mr. Ashton is also the father of Dr. Kelly Ashton, whom Tom has been friends with and had a thing for since they were both teenagers. The timing was never right for them because the last time he saw her, she was still too young for him to get involved with. Their developing relationship becomes an important part of the story, although I think she is not that interesting and is a little too self-centered to be worth the hassle.
This story has several plots going and all help keep the story interesting and tie together nicely at the climax. The most interesting is that of old Joe Paoletti and Charles Ashton themselves, shown in flashbacks, the heroic story of their exploits behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France during the War slowly reveals their shared past and a woman they both loved, uniting them in their lifelong friendship.
This was well written and had a great flow to it, especially considering it highlighted several different characters and their stories, which all cohered at the end.
Book #1 Troubleshooters series
U.S. Navy Lt. Tom Paoletti, Team Commander of one of the most elite Spec. Ops. forces, is on a 30-day leave to recover from a near-fatal head injury which had left him in a coma for weeks. Because of the severity of his injury, Tom's job is on the line,
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dependent upon his recovery and whether or not he'll be fit for duty. He returns to his New England hometown of Baldwin's Bridge to spend time with his Uncle Joe. When he spots a long sought after and presumed dead terrorist (known as the Merchant) in his little town, he is caught between trusting his instincts and doubt about whether his brain injury is causing him to have delusions and/or bouts of paranoia. Even though there is a special ceremony coming up in town which will be hosting U.S. Senators as well as foreign dignitaries, his superiors write his reports of a terrorist sighting off as related to his injury (with a warning to watch himself at the risk of his career) so Tom is on his own to track and stop the terrorist. He has the help of the remaining members of his SEAL team--those who were not assigned positions elsewhere--as well as his elderly uncle and his uncle's best friend of 60+ years, Charles Ashton--both of whom are veterans of WWII.
Mr. Ashton is also the father of Dr. Kelly Ashton, whom Tom has been friends with and had a thing for since they were both teenagers. The timing was never right for them because the last time he saw her, she was still too young for him to get involved with. Their developing relationship becomes an important part of the story, although I think she is not that interesting and is a little too self-centered to be worth the hassle.
This story has several plots going and all help keep the story interesting and tie together nicely at the climax. The most interesting is that of old Joe Paoletti and Charles Ashton themselves, shown in flashbacks, the heroic story of their exploits behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France during the War slowly reveals their shared past and a woman they both loved, uniting them in their lifelong friendship.
This was well written and had a great flow to it, especially considering it highlighted several different characters and their stories, which all cohered at the end.
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LibraryThing member beckymmoe
Wow, just wow. The first in Brockmann's Troubleshooter series, The Unsung Hero was a fantastic read. It had it all--action, drama, romance, human relationships, history--and was a whole lot of fun to read. If I'd had the time to read this all in one sitting, I'd have loved to; as it was, when I
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wasn't reading this book I was thinking about it and figuring out how soon I could finish what I HAD to do to get back to it. I loved all the characters--they were well written, believable people who you'd want to know in real life. The main characters are Lt. Tom Paoletti and pediatrician Kelly Ashton, but the secondary ones--Kelly's father Charles and Tom's uncle Joe, World War II veterans; Tom's niece Mallory and her geeky friend David; and the makeshift members of Tom's thrown-together anti-terrorist team--are just as solidly written. The main storyline: Tom, on convalescent leave from the Navy, has thirty days to prove he's healthy enough to keep his leadership position, but believes he sees a presumed-dead terrorist on his first day back in his uncle's small New England town. Suffering from headaches and dizziness, he is torn between his fear that it's all in his head and his need to act on his instincts. This book had me laughing and crying--multiple times--and really caring what happened to each and every one of them. The storylines were all well-crafted, and came together nicely in the end. This series was begun before 9/11--significant both because it follows a Navy SEAL special ops unit and its terrorist theme--so it will be interesting to see what the author does with the books that take place after that time. I will definitely be looking for more books in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member castiron
Strong characters, a believable romance, a nail-biting plot -- what more could you ask?
LibraryThing member AnnaAbner
I'm a little late to the Suzanne Brockmann party as I only just finished Troubleshooters #1, but I can see what all the fuss is about. This was a fantastic, multi-generational, sexy love story. I probably won't re-read it (it's feeling slightly dated, and rightly so), but I will certainly read her
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other books. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephenskel
Ok, I didn't read this series in order and now after reading this one I'm glad I didn't. If I had read Book 1 first, I may not have read any more and would have missed out on a great series. I was already familiar with the characters since I've read almost every other book in the series, so I was
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very surprised that I had a hard time getting into Kelly and Tom's story. It was slow and didn't keep my attention. Highly recommend the series, but it's not necessary to start with this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member jendoyle2000
Great story, both in terms of the romance and in terms of the family relationships across several generations. I loved the way Brockman wrote the character of Tom, in particular the way he responded to both his uncle and to Charles. The parallel World War II story was engaging, although [SPOILER
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ALERT] much more tragic than I tend to like overall. That, plus the side story of a child that Kelly was caring for as a pediatrician -- both of which made me outright cry at times -- brought this down from a 5-star for me. I want my happily ever afters with no strings attached. But other than that, I had no complaints, and I can't wait to read my next Suzanne Brockman. Show Less
LibraryThing member Debbie97462
This was ok not one of my favorites.
LibraryThing member msralways
The book took its sweet time in picking up some speed and something actually happening in the story, but once it did things got REALLY interesting for everyone involved. Kelly and Tom were the couple who frustrated me the most, with their constant fight about their feelings their story dragged a
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little for me. Joe and Charles had some amazing story of friendship and test thrown at them with time spent together. Mallory and David were one of my favorites to see developing and then ending as they did was pretty cute. Kudos for the suspense and never letting as know if Tom was indeed going crazy from his injuries or if there was really a terrorist in the middle of New England. The sex scenes were far from explicit, but they held an intimacy and were plenty sexy to convey the characters emotions to the point and beyond. I thought the writing was pretty good, though I think the book could've had some 150 pages less if the characters were more to the point with each other. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dawn772
The plot of this story was good and the ending was exciting but the secrets unraveled too slow, the romance was immature, too many tangents and so much of the story was told through thoughts. I started skimming early. Injured navy SEAL Tom returns home to heal and encounters old high school friend
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Kelly who is now a doctor. Show Less
LibraryThing member olongbourn
Great Book but Not Great Narrators.
Disclaimer: I received this audio book through Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review.
Suzanne Brockman is an author new to me, but not new to others as she has more than 8,600 ratings and 400 reviews on GoodReads and another 200 reviews at Amazon. Over
Audible has two versions of this book available -- one narrated by William Dufris and the other narrated by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank. I received the Lawlor/Ewbank version. I do prefer more than one narrator, especially if there are multiple POVs. It is simply less distracting and more enjoyable to have a female reader handle the female POV/characters and the male reader the male POV/characters. My only criticism is that these two narrators read very slowly throughout the entire book and throughout every scene -- action scenes, emotional scenes, tearful scenes, ALL scenes. In my opinion, TOO slowly! (Thus, I listened to the majority of the book at fast speed.) Furthermore, these two readers read without feeling or emotion for so much of the book; this was disappointing. The sole and consistent exception of Mr Lawlor reading the bits from Charley Ashton's POV. Mr Ashton is an 80 year old man in pain from inoperable cancer for which pain relief medication is no longer helping, with only a short time left to live and he is angry for past actions and the inability to correct them. Mr Lawlor does a superb job narrating Mr. Ashton's character.
I highly recommend this book! It should appeal to many readers: fans of military, suspense, character-based, and love stories alike.
Disclaimer: I received this audio book through Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review.
Suzanne Brockman is an author new to me, but not new to others as she has more than 8,600 ratings and 400 reviews on GoodReads and another 200 reviews at Amazon. Over
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the course of nearly 400 pages, Ms Brockman lays out four stories, three romances and one thriller from five POVs. She does a terrific job moving from character to character and weaving the subplots together into one cohesive story. And, apparently, this is not all as this is the first of the Troubleshooters series (currently numbering 16).Audible has two versions of this book available -- one narrated by William Dufris and the other narrated by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank. I received the Lawlor/Ewbank version. I do prefer more than one narrator, especially if there are multiple POVs. It is simply less distracting and more enjoyable to have a female reader handle the female POV/characters and the male reader the male POV/characters. My only criticism is that these two narrators read very slowly throughout the entire book and throughout every scene -- action scenes, emotional scenes, tearful scenes, ALL scenes. In my opinion, TOO slowly! (Thus, I listened to the majority of the book at fast speed.) Furthermore, these two readers read without feeling or emotion for so much of the book; this was disappointing. The sole and consistent exception of Mr Lawlor reading the bits from Charley Ashton's POV. Mr Ashton is an 80 year old man in pain from inoperable cancer for which pain relief medication is no longer helping, with only a short time left to live and he is angry for past actions and the inability to correct them. Mr Lawlor does a superb job narrating Mr. Ashton's character.
I highly recommend this book! It should appeal to many readers: fans of military, suspense, character-based, and love stories alike.
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LibraryThing member CC123
Kelly and Tom
Mallory and David
Charles and Joe
So many relationships, all of them "Unsung Heroes."
Two stories are told concurrently, one present time and one that took place in 1944 France at the end of WWII.
This entire book takes place over seven days! So much is going on it was surprising to look
Mallory and David
Charles and Joe
So many relationships, all of them "Unsung Heroes."
Two stories are told concurrently, one present time and one that took place in 1944 France at the end of WWII.
This entire book takes place over seven days! So much is going on it was surprising to look
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back and realize it was within just one week's time. Show Less
LibraryThing member CC123
Kelly and Tom
Mallory and David
Charles and Joe
So many relationships, all of them "Unsung Heroes."
Two stories are told concurrently, one present time and one that took place in 1944 France at the end of WWII.
This entire book takes place over seven days! So much is going on it was surprising to look
Mallory and David
Charles and Joe
So many relationships, all of them "Unsung Heroes."
Two stories are told concurrently, one present time and one that took place in 1944 France at the end of WWII.
This entire book takes place over seven days! So much is going on it was surprising to look
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back and realize it was within just one week's time. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sunshine22222
The story was very good; however, I thought it dragged a bit in parts.
3.5 ****
3.5 ****
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann
Book #1 in The Troubleshooters series.
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
This is the first book in the series focusing on Tom Paoletti and Kelly Ashton.
On a mission to rescue an ambassador's wife, Tom receives a life-threatening head injury. Forced to take recuperation
Two additional side stories are also included. One revolves around Tom's Niece, Mallory, and a geeky boy who wants to draw her. The second involves a love triangle between Tom's uncle, Kate's father, Charles, and a woman in the French resistance during World War II.
Review:
The complex plot with its multiple story lines is handled very well. Some of the stories are more detailed than they need to be but this does not detract from the main romance. The characters are engaging, especially Kelly's father and Mallory's geeky beau, David. The element that I enjoyed the most was the excellent and well timed dialogue.
Book #1 in The Troubleshooters series.
Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis:
This is the first book in the series focusing on Tom Paoletti and Kelly Ashton.
On a mission to rescue an ambassador's wife, Tom receives a life-threatening head injury. Forced to take recuperation
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leave, Tom travels home to see his uncle Joe and is reunited with an old flame. He also spots someone he believes is an international terrorist. Is he right? and if so, what is the target?Two additional side stories are also included. One revolves around Tom's Niece, Mallory, and a geeky boy who wants to draw her. The second involves a love triangle between Tom's uncle, Kate's father, Charles, and a woman in the French resistance during World War II.
Review:
The complex plot with its multiple story lines is handled very well. Some of the stories are more detailed than they need to be but this does not detract from the main romance. The characters are engaging, especially Kelly's father and Mallory's geeky beau, David. The element that I enjoyed the most was the excellent and well timed dialogue.
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Subjects
Awards
AAR Annual Reader Poll (2001)
AAR Top 100 Romances (85 — [Previously 2000-#8] Most Recent Rank - 2004)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000-06-06
Physical description
6.88 inches
ISBN
0792731220 / 9780792731221
Local notes
Publisher's Summary
After a near-fatal head injury, Navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a terrifying glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the Navy dismisses the danger as injury-induced imaginings.
In a desperate, last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorist team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly war veterans, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton - the sweet girl next door who has grown into a remarkable woman.
The town's infamous bad boy, Tom has always longed for Kelly. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day.
After a near-fatal head injury, Navy SEAL lieutenant Tom Paoletti catches a terrifying glimpse of an international terrorist in his New England hometown. When he calls for help, the Navy dismisses the danger as injury-induced imaginings.
In a desperate, last-ditch effort to prevent disaster, Tom creates his own makeshift counterterrorist team, assembling his most loyal officers, two elderly war veterans, a couple of misfit teenagers, and Dr. Kelly Ashton - the sweet girl next door who has grown into a remarkable woman.
The town's infamous bad boy, Tom has always longed for Kelly. Now he has one final chance for happiness, one last chance to win her heart, and one desperate chance to save the day.