The Unsung Hero

Rating:
Summary: Moving story could well be best contemporary of 2000
Review: Both my mother and father served in the European Theatre during WWII and because romance novelists rarely tap into this dramatic time in history, I adored this book for mining its richness. Tom Paoletti is a Navy SEAL in trouble. After sustaining a life-threatening head injury he's ordered to take 30 days off to rest. One small problem: at the airport he spots a terrorist thought dead. The brass all think he has a screw loose. Luckily his Uncle Joe and Joe's best friend, Charles, two WWII vets, are willing to believe Tom and help him. Charles is dying and mad as hell at Joe for wanting to talk to an author about their time with the French Resistance. Tom's immediate need forces the friends into a truce and not a moment too soon. Tom's other problem is his overwhelming attraction to Charles's daughter Kelly. He's always loved her. She's always loved him. But can a SEAL commit? Can a woman afraid of failing at marriage twice commit? A third thread adds to the rich tapestry of THE UNSUNG HERO in Tom's troubled niece, Mallory, and her burgeoning relationship with a loveable geek. Believe it or not, Suzanne Brockman weaves all these stories into a satisfying whole, combining not one, but three love stories, including one told in flashbacks to WWII. The flashbacks are never distracting and provide a powerful setup for one of the most dramatic finishes to a book I've read in a long, long time.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: I admit that I'm a big fan of Suzanne Brockmann's books, so I may have been predisposed to like The Unsung Hero. However, I can objectively say that the book surpassed even my high expectations with its attention-grabbing mix of action/adventure, long-simmering romance, young love and an important secondary story told in flashback.

Intricate? You bet, but Suzanne does an incredible job weaving it all together in a way that kept me spellbound.

Everything in this novel works for me. The plot of injured Navy SEAL Tom Paoletti returning to his small-town Massachutsetts home to recover from a possible-career-ending head injury and spotting someone who could be a deadly terrorist is a great set-up.

The conflict between hometown doctor Kelly Ashton and her terminally-ill father Charles touches the heart.

Even though there's a lot going on, the primary romance between Tom Paoletti and Kelly Ashton is dynamite. I love having two people who have known and been attracted to each other for years finally meet up again.

Some readers don't like the addition of the WWII backstory involving Charles Ashton and Tom's great-uncle Joe Paoletti. I disagree. I think the flashback segments are extremely well done and make for compelling reading. I HAD to find out the whole story.

So, count this a rave for The Unsung Hero because it is definitely at the top of list of my favorite books of the year.

Rating:
Summary: Might be my favorite in the Navy Seal Series
Review: I agree! WOW! Another winner from SB for me! I thought Tom Paoletti to be sexy as "all-get-out!" and Kelly Ashton perfect for his equal! This is one of those books that has a half-a-dozen things going on at one time. You can't get bored with it and the tension between the girl and guy is sooo strong! You can't wait to see what is going to happen next.

Kelly Ashton is the girl-next-door from Tom's youth who is now a pediatrician that has returned home to stay with her father while he is slowly dying. She is still on call but trying not to work as many hours so she can be home for her dad. During their youth Tom was the "bad boy" that all the girls were crazy for- the one with a reputation. Kelly was a good bit younger but had a crush on him hoping that one day he would look at her as a young lady instead of a tom-boy. She had it so bad that she would climb up into her tree house which had a perfect view into Tom's bedroom. Imagine the view she had. ha, ha!!! Well, she is no longer the tom-boy but a beautiful, intelligent, professional woman who can hold her own- but still wants to hold Tom Paoletti.

Tom Paoletti is Lt. of the Navy Seals. He is on medical leave after receiving a head injury during one of their recent missions. So he heads home to his uncle's house where he was raised- pretty much the only family he has except for his sister and her teenage daughter. Tom has changed too from the infamous "bad boy" to a well respected position of LT. over the Navy Seals. When Kelly discovers that Tom is back in town after years of being gone and still single- and Tom sees Kelly for the first time in years, my how she has grown, and discovers she is unattached (divorced) sparks start to fly! And there is no one-sidedness to this relationship. They can both carry their own. But neither wants to have a serious relationship--- they think! Tom because of his career and Kelly because of her career and heart. But the passion is just too strong - feels there were there a long time ago but were put away now come to surface.

Then you have everything going on around them like - Tom's uncle and Kelly's Dad are best friends and having to deal with the issue of death in the near future. Then there's Tom's niece finding a someone that cares for her and not just her well stacked body. Then there's the terrorist that Tom recognizes who is wanted by the FBI - what is he doing in a small New England town. And it just goes on from there. There's not a dull moment.

Well, it's just a book you need to read for yourself. A keeper for me! Now I am looking for Frisco Kid's story. After his name and circumstances being mentioned by Tom (Unsung Hero), Blue (Navy Blue, and Joe (Prince Joe) I want to see what his story is- bet it will be a good one!

Rating:
Summary: My first Brockmann novel and NOT my last!
Review: I like the books where the hero is so fragile : even if he's a SEAL, he's a tormented man. Is he mad or not when he saw a terrorist in the Boston airport and begins to believe in a terrorist attack in town ? he's been badly wounded on his head and must recover and no one of his superior believe him when he tells them his fear.
And then, he meets again Kelly, "the girl next door". He had feelings for her and he still has.
Unfortunately, Kelly wants only sex for a while and the hero doesn't follow her on that and they battle very often.
There are two other love stories and the one of the young people is the great : it was so sweet to read, I think it was the best part of the book...
Well, read it, it's a good book even if the heroine is not so sympathetic...

Rating:
Summary: This book rung my heart out
Review: I read probably 200 books every year, but this is one of the most powerful and touching books I have ever read. A keeper..no way I am going to sell this book! My coworkers give me grief for reading what they refer to as
"fluffy romance novels" but this book had nothing fluffy about it at all. I laughed, I cried like a baby at the end and throughout the book I was hooked. This is a "romance novel" with so much more. This book is a totally gripping, mysterious, intrieguing, captivating story...that also contains a measure of romance. Read this! You will learn a lot, care more and, if you are anything like me, you will cry like a baby at the end and be a better person having read it!

Rating:
Summary: Brockmann is a real hero!
Review: I really like books that have depth and great writing and Brockmann has both. Her series based on the SEAL's is one of the best around. Each book has a tremendous plot line with a sizzling guy and great action intertwined that keeps you reading to the end and still wanting more.
Tom is a hero with real flaws, but when he meets the girl next door all grown up it is strictly sizzle! Add to the main story a sweet and sad love story based on during WWII and it seems to make the current day seem more poignent. I cried at the end but it was a happy tear.
Get hold of any of Brockmann's books and devour them you won't be disappointed in her very real 'guy next door who just happens to be a SEAL' romances.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE S. Brockmann
Review: If you have never read any of Ms. Brockmann's books, you MUST try this one. Great story, great characters (esp Mallory and David!), great author. I have read all of Ms. Brockmann's work and she is truly great. When I purchase her books I can't put them down. In this book there are no main characters, all of Ms. Brockmann's characters play center stage. I strongly recommend reading this and catching up on other Suzanne Brockann novels!!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Perfect balance of romance & suspense
Review: Lt. Tom Paoletti undergoes massive head trauma during an assignment as a Navy SEAL. Even after he recovers physically, he is required to take a 30 day convalescent leave. Since his injury, he has been more short-tempered, which can be a symptom of such injuries. Other possible symptoms include paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations. Tom goes to visit his Great Uncle Joe, and sees an international terrorist in the airport at Boston. Or was it just his imagination? Tom wonders if he'll be able to go back to active duty as a SEAL and do his job properly.

Pediatrician Kelly Ashton has come home to small-town Massachusetts to care for her dying father, Charles. She is surprised to see Tom, although it was inevitable, as Charles and Joe have been best friends for nearly 60 years. Kelly still feels the same attraction for Tom that she did when she was a teenager, even though Tom left abruptly after one of the best nights of her life.

It's hard to say what exactly it is about Ms. Brockmann's books that appeal to me so much. I'm usually not big on military types, nor on suspense. I suppose it's that I care about these characters, and thus, about the situations into which they are thrown. With the huge threat of terrorism in today's real life, perhaps it is comforting to read about people like the SEALs who are trained to deal with such things.

The balance between romance and suspense is just about perfect, with secondary plots and interactions throughout. Joe and Charles drift off in their thoughts to their time fighting Nazis in France during WWII. Tom's teenage niece, Mallory, is trying to get out from the shadow of her irresponsible mother when a nerdy guy starts following her around (I have to admit I like him a lot :) Kelly tries to repair her relationship with her father before he dies. There is a lot going on, but Ms. Brockmann keeps all the threads hanging together superbly.

Whatever secret charm the author possesses, THE UNSUNG HERO kept me glued to the pages all evening. Don't start reading it on a day you must get other things done -- they won't get done. This is my favorite kind of book of all, one that grabs me and immerses me completely.

Rating:
Summary: Getting the Bad Guy & The Girl
Review: Tom Paoletti must take a 30-day leave or risk getting discharged from the Navy. As commander of Unit 16, an elite Navy Seal team, he grudgingly agrees. On his last mission, Lt. Tom (L.T.) sustained a head injury. Now that he has time to waste, he wants to go home to New England and visit his Uncle Joe. While in the airport, he sees a man that reminds him of an assassin that is presumed dead. Confused enough to doubt his own eyes after the accident, he calls his suspicion in to the Admiral. The Admiral agrees to put out feelers about `The Merchant', but orders Tom to stay low.

While home visiting, Tom runs into the one person who ever tempted him into staying in his small hometown, Dr. Kelly Ashton. Kelly is the daughter of his Uncle Joe's best friend, Charles Ashton. Charles was a wealthy local businessman who employed Joe after they met in WWII. Upon Tom's return, he learns that Charles is dying of cancer and doesn't have more than three or four months. Helping Kelly with Charles (while trying to perform inquiries about `The Merchant') brings up old and strong feelings for Tom. However, more pressing matters lead L.T. to call in reinforcements to help in his search for an international killer.

There are two subplots going on as well. The first is the story of how Joe and Charles met during WWII. I'm not a fan of flashback storytelling and this was not an exception here. I found it distracting when I really wanted to spend time with Tom and Kelly's story. Another story that better (keep your fingers crossed) inspire their own book is Mallory, Tom's niece, and David. David meets Mallory when he asks her to be the face and body of the comic heroine he is creating. Their story is weaved throughout the story and was one that I looked forward to reading about.

Once again Suzanne Brockman has given us a thrilling page-turner. Despite the historical flashbacks, I still felt this was worth reading. The characters developed are Ms. Brockman's strong suit and this book is no exception.