Gone Too Far

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful people in danger.
Review: "Gone Too Far," by Suzanne Brockmann, is one of those guilty pleasure books. It is a romantic thriller featuring macho men and beautiful women in jeopardy.

Lt. Sam Starrett is a hunky Navy SEAL who had a terrible childhood living with an abusive and racist father. Sam was rescued emotionally and physically by a black friend, Noah, whose grandfather served as a surrogate father and role model. Sam's focus is now on his soon to be ex-wife, Mary Lou, and his baby daughter, Haley, both of whom have disappeared, presumably the target of terrorists. With the help of the love of his life, FBI Agent Alyssa Locke, Sam hopes to find Mary Lou and Haley. Alyssa, meanwhile, is romantically entangled with her boss, Max, who is still carrying a torch for a former hostage he once helped rescue during an airplane hijacking.

Does all of this sound impossibly complicated? "Gone Too Far" has a great deal more plot in its four hundred and fifty pages than Brockmann can comfortably handle. There is even a series of flashbacks going back to World War II describing the romance between Noah's grandfather and the woman who became his second wife.

Potential readers of "Gone Too Far" should be warned that this book has explicit dialogue and some very steamy romantic encounters. If the repeated use of expletives and detailed anatomical references do not annoy you, you may be put off by the many cliches and the lack of realism. However, in spite of its flaws, this novel's characters are undeniably charismatic, energetic, charming, and gorgeous. For fans of romantic thrillers that border on fantasy, "Gone Too Far" is an occasionally diverting romance that will provide a few hours of escapist reading.

Rating:
Summary: Finally! Finally! Finally!
Review: I absolutely LOVE this series; otherwise, I NEVER would have even considered buying a hardcover. I prefer smaller paperback books, but Ms. Brockmann can be credited for providing such an interesting world within a fictional US SEAL Team that I couldn't possibly wait for the paperback! I had to know how the outcome of the cliff-hanger from the last book. I had to know how Sam was going to win Alyssa back, after following their nail-biting, teeth-grinding exploits throughout the other books in this series. I had to know how the investigation would end and whether Sam's estranged wife and beloved daughter were really dead in that house!

I'm happy to say Ms. Brockmann delivers on all those unanswered questions... once again providing a thrilling mystery interwoven with great characters and plenty of love. Old friends are revisited and new twists keep the pace going full throttle. And again, the flashbacks to a WWII romance are an added bonus. Thank goodness, Ms. Brockmann hasn't "Gone Too Far", but has plenty more stories of wonderful characters to tell. I now look forward to Max and Gina's story! But in the meantime, I'll reread the series start to finish... it's just that good! Worthy of keeping. For those who aren't familiar with the Ms. Brockmann's US SEALs... this team's tales are great stand-alone stories, but are even better as a series. Their stories are found in the following books (in order):

1. Unsung Hero about Lt Tom Paoletti
2. Defiant Hero about Lt JG John Nilsson
3. Over the Edge about Sr Chief Stan Wolchonok
4. Out of Control about SEAL Ken Karmody
5. Into the Night about Lt JG Mike Muldoon
6. Gone Too Far about Lt Roger "Sam" Starett

She does have another series of 11 books on a different sexy SEAL team, some of which are being republished too. These are shorter books, without the interwoven flashbacks of the newer series. They are, so far:
1. Prince Joe about Lt Joe "Cat" Catalanotto
2. Forever Blue about Lt C. "Blue" McCoy
3. Frisco's Kid about Lt Alan "Frisco" Francisco

and Night Watch (formerly published as Wild Wild Wes) about Chief Wes Skelly, which is coming in September 2003.

(There are nearly a dozen books in this older series, so only the few above are easily obtainable. Hopefully the rest will be released again too???!!!)

Rating:
Summary: Should be titled "Worth the Wait!"
Review: I am a huge fan of Brockmann's Team 16 series; and like many of her fans, I was looking forward to Sam and Alyssa's story. And boy, it was worth the wait! And worth the money!

GTF shows us Sam as a young boy becoming a man, which made me fall in love with the character. His history is mapped out and assists the reader to understand his past actions (which made many of the readers rather cranky!). GTF also addresses Alyssa's history and her relationship with Max.

Sam and Alyssa's story is so rich! Action packed, snappy dialogue and steamy scenes!

As usual, this book also follows other couples. I know some people do not like the historical threads in Team 16 books (I am a history buff and really enjoy them), I found this story to be important in GTF, because it deals with a couple of 2 different races; a common thread found in other couples in the book.

Look for Max and Gina! Tom and Kelly! Another couple from "Into the Night."

Nobody in romance writes such a textured story like Ms. Brockmann! She is one of the few "romance" writers I suggest for my friends who claim to not enjoy "romance" novels.

My friends will have to buy their own copy of GTF, I am keeping this book on shelf (which is really the highest compliment I can give an author)!

Rating:
Summary: Got it in time for vacation - it was the best part :-)
Review: If Suzanne Brockmann has written a lousy or even kind of blah book I haven't read it. Oops, I've searched out and purchased everything she's written - and read them several times. I would imagine that all her Navy Seal devoted fans have been gnawing knuckles over the Sam Starrett/Alyssa Locke heartbreak for some time, hoping for a resolution. I found the story line to be right up there as usual - couldn't put it down, lots of action and intrigue. Sam's ex-wife Mary Lou actually showed smarts I didn't know she had, and I found her very likeable. As Sam's history developed, I thought the fact that he missed his baby daughter Haley made a lot of sense. I very much liked that his character now truly wants to make sure she grows up with a daddy she knows and loves, and is loved in return.

I am always happy to see beloved characters from other books in a series; it's like old friends dropping in for a surprise visit. And too, I remember that these Seals are ultra close and generally arrive when one of their own needs them.

The one thing - Max Bahgat underneath was nothing that I imagined. I still am not sure how I feel about his character as he reveals himself in the story. I can say it made the book more interesting just based on the surprise factor alone. Read it and go hmmmmm.

Buy it, read it dozens of times, and keep it always. I can honestly say that if these Arizona fires threaten my home I have a case with handle full of my Suzanne Brockmann's near the door by my photos - ready to grab.

Rating:
Summary: Sam and Alyssa are One of the Best Romantic couples
Review: It seems that those who've given 'Gone Too Far' less than the stellar reviews that it truly deserves simply don't get it. It's like they like things wrapped up in one nice and neat package, and unfortunately for these readers, 'Gone Too Far' is not the easy beach read that many expected. It's an emotional rollercoaster ride into the minds and hearts of two people with a lot of preconceived notions and personal baggage.

In many romances, the alpha male and the beta female stay in their tidy little box and never experience any emotional growth whatsoever. That formula has long since outlived its usefulness and personally, I've way outgrown such trite plots and characterizations. I say, challenge me and make me feel something different.

Thankfully, Ms. Brockmann has written a gritty and wonderfully realistic romantic-suspense novel with two of the most multi-dimensional characters ever to grace the pages of any book.

Sam Starett is both maddening and wonderful. He's got a true heart of gold in his rough and tumble exterior. Sometimes you want to kiss him and other times, you want to kick him. And knowing a little more of his backstory (from The Defiant Hero) makes him even more sympathetic.

What can I say about my girl Alyssa Locke? Ms. Brockmann wrote a character I fully identify with, being a black woman in a predominantly male field. I totally understand how Alyssa feels--that she has to be better, smarter and tougher than the guys in order to be seen as competent. Sam and Alyssa's sparring matches are one of the major highlights of this book. Oh yes, they're going to get together, but it's not going to be easy--but it will be worth it.

Sam and Alyssa have got to be one of the best (as well as one of the sexiest)in romantic fiction. I consider them like 'old friends' and can't wait to see if they appear in more adventures.

A small yet cynical part of me thinks that those who didn't like 'Gone Too Far' haven't quite left the dark ages when it comes to a book that deals honestly and refreshingly with interracial relationships. In this day and age, we're supposed to be a lot more enlightened--and I've always believed love to be colourblind. I'm glad to see that Suzanne Brockmann feels the same way.