Member Reviews
The Troubleshooters Series returns with Navy Seal Lieutenant Peter Greene who has instantly become a single father to his teenage daughter Maddie. Peter is clueless on how to raise his belligerent daughter. But he knows she's in trouble when she disappears. He calls on his Seal team for backup. But he also has the help of his neighbor, romance writer Shayla Whitman.
Once again Suzanne Brockmann does a wonderful job of entertaining you with this Seal team. Add the heat between Peter and Shay along with Shay's conversations with the imaginary character from her novels makes this a really fun read.
It's been a while since I've read a Troubleshooters book by Suzanne Brockmann so I was pretty excited to jump back into this world. I was hoping to catch up with all of the previous couples and there are quite a few of them around in <a href="http://amzn.to/2tlXV8C">Some Kind of Hero</a> but to be honest, I miss the guys from the beginning of the series.
I miss Sam Starrett and Johnny Nilsson, though I don't miss Nilsson's wife Meg. I also miss Wildcard and Cosmo and just...those guys. They've all moved on from the Navy but for me, they were the guys that I loved so much that I kept coming back for more. I like the new guys fine but they just don't compare to the older guys. My guys.
Anyway, on with the review...
Some Kind of Hero follows Lietenant Peter Greene and Shayla Whitman. Peter's daughter has gone missing and Shayla gets roped into helping him by being at the right place when Peter needed a helping hand. Peter's daughter Maddie gets herself wrapped up in some bad business and because she has no relationship with her Navy SEAL father, she doesn't turn to him for help. She decides that she can handle taking on a drug lord all by her teenage self. *sigh* Too many times I wanted to punch Maddie in the throat for being so stupid.
Anyway, so Peter and Shayla are trying to track Maddie down because she's missing and they're piecing together what happened throughout the book with the help of Peter's SEAL buddies Izzy Zanella, Mark Jenkins and a whole bunch of newbies that are all named John. It really takes a village to raise a child or in this case, find a missing child and the more I read, the more I got frustrated with a bunch of things.
<ul><li><strong>Maddie</strong>. When the only person you have left in the world is your father, someone who has bent over backward trying to fix your broken relationship and is a Navy freaking SEAL, you turn to him for help when you're framed for stealing money from a drug lord. You don't lie and make things so much worse by running away and putting those that are trying to help you in danger by not being upfront about everything. I was also not cool with the way that she kept throwing her underage self at Dingo who was trying so hard to do the right thing by keeping his distance at the same time that he was trying to help protect her from the bad guys. Maddie annoyed the shit out of me at every turn in this book. I never quite warmed up to her and that sucked.</li>
<li><strong>Shayla's internal dialogue she had with Harry</strong>. It's one thing to talk to yourself in your head or to even have conversations with your made up character in your head but the amount of times that Shayla shushed Harry out loud made me roll my eyes all over the damn place. I wanted to shake Shayla and tell her to stop acting like fucking weirdo, especially cause I thought she was too old to be acting the way that she was.</li>
<li><strong>The earthquake</strong>. As someone who grew up in Southern California and is used to the earthquakes that we have down here, the whole earthquake scene just didn't feel authentic to me. Peter did entirely too much and the earth shook for too long and I was reading that scene like, nope...that wouldn't happen, there's not enough time for all of this to happen. We've never had an earthquake that long and sure it's all explained away but nope, I didn't buy it.</li></ul>
There are more things that I was frustrated with but those were the main ones. I wasn't a big fan of the romance between Peter and Shayla because they were too old to act the way they were acting. The whole "OMG, does he like me? I'm so stupid. Why did I say that?" Ugh, seriously? You guys aren't 16 and in high school, so stop acting like you are. You're a freaking Navy SEAL, Peter...open your mouth and tell Shayla how you feel about her. Same with Shayla. She wrote romance novels for a living for crying out loud. If you can write steamy love scenes and dialogue featuring a whole lot of "I love you's" than you should be able to tell the man that you love how you feel and stop dodging what was really going on between you two.
I will say that even though there were things that annoyed me, I still enjoyed being in the Troubleshooters world again. It was good to see Izzy and Eden again and to hear about Lopez and Jenk and everybody else that was brought up in this book. Izzy is my favorite hero of the newer generation of SEALs so I loved, loved, loved seeing him again. I love his personality and he hasn't changed a bit since his book. He's still freaking awesome.
Overall, the romance kind of fell flat for me and the heroine got on my nerves with her inner dialogue crap and the earthquake didn't feel right to me at all but I loved seeing the SEAL team come together and be there for one of their own. I loved how they juggled their jobs on the base with being there for Peter and helping out any way that they can. I loved hearing the Navy slang again and even though this isn't my favorite book in the series, it's still good.
<strong>Grade: 3 out of 5</strong>
When Shay recognizes the crazy man trying to flag down a car as her sexy Navy SEAL neighbor, she pulls over and thus begins the ride of her life.
Peter is desperate to find his daughter and when he thinks he sees her get into a van, he knows this is his chance to get her. After an unsuccessful car chase, he finds surprising help from his neighbor.
Drug deals gone bad, the pain of loss, hurtful memories, and relationships being born and mended, Shay and Peter have quite the journey ahead of them.
The nineteenth installment in the long popular Troubleshooters series, this can be read as a standalone, as long as you don't mind missing out on the numerous in and outs of the wide cast characters. Our main couple, Shay and Peter, along with a small secondary romance involving Peter’s daughter and her older guy friend, starts fresh here so you wouldn't miss out on any details there. One of the strengths of Ms. Brockmann's stories is her ability to juggle and incorporate characters, romance, and storylines. Those components were numerous here but I'm not sure they were all pulled off.
Our hero's daughter, Maddie, is coming to live with him after her mother died; she's fifteen and hasn't seen her father in years. This is due to Peter being a Navy SEAL and what appears to be a mother who wanted to somewhat color Peter in a less than flattering light. Maddie gets caught up in a missing ten thousand dollars owed to a drug dealer and takes off to find her friend, who got her into trouble, with the friend's ex-boyfriend. This situation simply felt too forced, Maddie has a Navy SEAL father, yes, she's a sullen teenager of fifteen and doesn't have a strong relationship with him, but her life was threatened, it was a stretch to think she would take off on her own. The author provides us an outline of how mature Maddie is in some aspects, taking care of her mother and having more common sense than the twenty year old she is with, and flips the coin to show how immaturely she thinks her father is "stupid". It felt like the author was trying to have it both ways to force the storyline the way she wanted. As this is the backbone for the book, it set-up a wobbly premise with me that I don't think the story ever overcame.
Our heroine is a romance writer and when we are first introduced to her, one of her characters likes to "speak" to her and had her continuously saying "shh" out loud. It levels off as the story continues but I personally found it somewhat intrusive, I'm trying to get to know the "real" characters in the beginning, and annoying, Shay's speaking out loud to a fictional character gave a tint of corniness. I also found it a bit odd her full throttle willingness to involve herself in Peter's situation but romantic suspense usually requires a bit of lenience. Shay's character as a whole, though, was fun, capable, interesting, and someone I'd definitely want as a friend.
Peter's attitude and actions had him coming off as a genuine good guy, with a wonderful dash of wit and charisma. There was a lack of usual rom suspense action (until the very end) that had me missing him showcasing his special ops skills. He wonderfully wears his dress whites but that's almost the full extent we get of any Navy SEAL-ness. His and Shay's romance is a whirlwind that takes place over 5-6 days, so insta-lust/love does play a part here.
In order to bring Peter and Maddie together, the author has Peter tell Shay how Maddie's mother and he got together. It's a sweet way to bond father and daughter but having it go through Shay, she types up the story segments and sends them to Maddie, had it feeling a little weird and not coming off quite right. I would have liked to have Shay and Peter bonding moments over the inclusion of these stories.
Overall, this had the multi-faceted, all inclusive plethora of characters and storyline offshoots Ms. Brockmann excels at but I also did feel the romance was lacking and I missed a bit more action. If you're a Troubleshooters reader, you'll probably enjoy seeing past cast members and everyone won't want to miss Peter and Shay try to "myth bust" one of her book's sex scenes.
Brockmann has another hit on her hands. Love the storyline of a Navy SEAL suddenly getting custody of his teenage daughter, neither of whom knows what to do. Trusting the wrong person causes major problems... all of which are solved by the SEALs, who all come out to help. Highly recommend this story.
As always Suzanne Brockmann did not disappoint. The story held my attention from start to finish.
Suzanne Brockmann is one of my go-to authors. She tells great stories and always hooks me from the very beginning. It has been a while since we had a new Brockmann book to read, but the wait was well worth it. Some Kind of Hero reads like classic Brockmann. The dialogue is witty and fast, there is a historical subplot (though it could have been expanded), as well as a series of flashbacks to when Pete met Lisa. Long time readers will love seeing favorite characters again. Readers of Ready to Roll will enjoy catching up with Boat Squad John, I know I did. This book is fun, funny, and a great summer read. I read it in one sitting.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.
Yeah I could not sleep, so I did nothing, nothing but read..Anyway, you might want to read a couple of Suzanne Brockmann's previous books, to familiarize yourself with some of these characters. So this book, took be a little while to get into it, but eventually I kind of got there. So we have Peter and he has trouble with his daughter Maddie, who has recently come to live with him, since her mother died, and they really do not know each other, so do not have a good relationship. Maddie, is difficult, and gets in trouble and instead of going to her dad (well she really does not know him) she goes with an older guy and runs. Here we meet Shayla, next door neighbor, who ends up also being a novelist, who ends up assisting in finding his daughter. Now, what cracked me up, was here they are on the run, trying to find his wayward daughter and yet they have time to get it on? Yeah priorities much.. Anyway, this is one of the troubleshooters books, so we get to reconnect with the group..enjoy
If you like your romantic suspense with hot SEALs, great suspense, and lots of romantic tension, Brockmann is for you. This was an excellent story that had me both tearing up and laughing so hard I couldn't see the words on the page. Shayla Whitman had noticed the hot SEAL who moved in across the street with his daughter but hadn't met him until she picked him up on the side of the road and, at his urging, followed the car that he was sure his fifteen-year-old daughter Maddie had taken off in.
Maddie had been missing for a couple of days and Pete Greene - Lieutenant Peter Greene, US Navy SEAL - was determined to find her. Pete and Maddie's relationship was new. He got custody of her when her mother died. Though he had faithfully sent child support, Maddie's mom Lisa had been determined to keep the two of them apart. Now, he's dealing with a grieving child who is convinced that Pete never wanted her and didn't care about her while dealing with becoming a full-time father of a teenager.
Maddie has made only one friend at her new school but Fiona isn't the kind of friend anyone needs. Fiona set up Maddie when she blew town with $10,000 that she owed her drug dealer. Now Maddie is on the run from the drug dealer with her older boyfriend Dingo. We get her viewpoint as she tells about what is going on with her and Dingo.
Meanwhile, Shayla, a writer of romantic suspense herself though suffering through a bout of writer's block, and Pete begin to follow the clues to find his missing daughter. I liked that Shayla has the voice of her main character in her head giving her advice and I liked that she kept trying to fit her and Pete's story into some sort of romance novel trope.
I liked Pete because, besides being very hot, he was concerned, caring, and really listened to Shayla. Starting a romance wasn't what either of them planned for and both threw up barriers that caused a lot of the romantic tension in this story. I liked that we got a chance to reconnect with some characters from earlier books in this series - this being book 19. But even if you have never read another book in the Troubleshooters series, this book will grab you and keep you reading. I was up well past my bedtime because I couldn't sleep until I knew how the story would work out for Pete and Shayla.
I can remember hardly being able to wait for a Suzanne Brockman book to come out then having to patiently wait for it to be in paperback so I could afford it. Needless to say, I was thrilled to see Some Kind of Hero coming out in July and being put up on Net Galley for review. The title sounded as if Ms. Brockmann has returned to her tried and true especially since it is part of the Troubleshooters Series. Yeah, that is exactly what this story is. There is often a bit of subplot history in her full-length books; this is a fascinating added feature that I always enjoy. Some Kind of Hero also has it with the Japanese Americans’ treatment during WWII. Of course, it connects to the main plot.
The novel has strong, solid writing with the perfect blend of suspense and romance. There is a buildup in the story that by the end you can’t wait to see the conclusion but you also don’t want the book to end. Besides the suspenseful plot there are real, genuine characters who are also smart, risk takers and problem solvers. Peter and Shayla aren’t just some kind of heroes, they are my kind of heroes. Hurray, by the end of the book many of the Team have shown up to help, too. You have to love the camaraderie of these characters.
Troubleshooters is one of my all-time favorite series with Some Kind of Hero being a splendid addition. This is romantic suspense written by an accomplished writer. Highly recommend to fans of romantic suspense and to all those who enjoy a well-crafted story.
Suzanne Brockmann's Trouble Shooter's series is one of my favorites. Some Kind of Hero does not disappoint. Lots of action along with romance. This is not the best of the series, but definitely better than most romantic suspense available. Lot's of fun, perfect for the summer break.
I have been a Suzanne Brockmann fan for years and her Troubleshooters series is one of my favorites. This story had everything I love about a Brockmann book... mystery, action, romance and characters that are loveable. I love the way she creates realistic characters with realistic emotions and puts them into exciting situations where love is always the driving force. The story line was well done and the shifts in perspective make it easy to quickly become sucked into the story. One of my favorite things is the way Brockmann brings in so many great characters from her other works; it is exciting to see how they have ended up since their novel ended. Looking forward to more!
I was so happy to receive this ARC from Netgalley and to be back with the Troubleshooters! I loved this story so much! Suzanne Brockmann truly knows how to write some awesome romantic suspense!
Peter and Shayla our H/h, were both so real, likable and relatable. I loved getting to know them as they got to know each other during this crisis. The storyline itself was intense and I was on the edge of my seat hoping everything would work out in the end.
Peter, aka Grunge, is a sexy Navy SEAL who finally meets his next door neighbor Shayla, who is a romance writer, when he asks for her help to follow a car he thinks he saw his missing 15 year old daughter get into. This is the beginning of quite an adventure for them and for us as readers. I love that Shayla is a bit older than Pete but he is also older. It was refreshing and more relatable to have the H/h be single parents with teenagers for a change.
Shayla has this internal dialogue with Harry, the main character in her novels that is fun, witty and just a hoot!!
It's fun watching these two fall in love and can I just say I would meet this man in the garage in a heartbeat!!
I loved getting more of Izzy, Lindsey and Adam in this story. I have missed this group of amazing characters. I also loved being introduced to Maddie and Dingo and I hope to see more from them in the future when Maddie is older.
5 amazing stars for the newest book in the Troubleshooters series!!
It was fabulous to once again be immersed in the lives of Seal Team 16.
It’s been several years since I’ve been to visit these old friends but it was like we’d never been apart.
This is a bit different from the other books in this series, that I’ve read, because there is no threat from terrorists who are threatening the security of US citizens or the country, which is refreshing.
Lt. Peter Greene and his neighbour Shayla Whitman head up the team looking for Greene’s fifteen-year-old daughter who has run off.
There are three plots throughout this novel. The first is the team’s attempt at finding Maddie with all its trials and tribulations with the expected road to romance theme. Additionally, we have the sub-plot of Maddie, finding out why she has run and with whom as well as the steps they are taking to keep safe. Finally, you have the story of Peter and his ex, Maddie’s mother through the medium of emails to Maddie, written by Shayla but told by Peter in a bid to share their story with his estranged daughter.
Obviously, we also have some input from the members of the unit showing us that nothing much has changed with their relationships and their love for their naval ‘family’ and its unending capacity to add members illustrating that the ability to love is boundless!
Throughout the storyline we have quips from ’Harry’ a well-known character in a series of novel written by romance author Whitman who offers unsolicited advice like an imaginary friend which is inspired and hysterical, especially when Shayla answers him back! I loved that Peter, after finding out about Shayla’s career, sets about reading some of her work. Go Grunge!
As I have come to expect from Suzanne Brockmann the dialogue is engaging and entertaining with a fair amount of the expected humour, especially where these characters are concerned. In my opinion, this author can’t write fast enough!
Another winner. <3
Lieutenant Peter Greene was the ultimate hero. A Navy Seal who recently gained custody of his teenage daughter Maddie. Of course being as a single father he provides everything to his daughter still reeling over the death of her mother. He meets Shayla after Maddie ends up missing. She provides excellent clues and ways to reach out to heal their relationship and bring his daughter home. Not knowing his daughter is in danger he continues to race against the clock to ensure her safety. All the time he spends with Shayla he develops feelings he buried in the past. I reviewed an advance copy for an honest review and was captivated by the chemistry between Peter and Shayla.
Suzanne Brockmann's Some Kind of Hero is a great read for summer and perfect for the 4th of July.
I was surprised by the book in the beginning. While it does follow a Navy SEAL, Lt. Peter "Grudge" Greene, the main conflict of the story involves his personal struggle as the single father of a teenager who has run away. I didn't personally connect with this plot element and expected the intensity, danger, and suspense I've experienced in other Troubleshooters novels, but the characters in Some Kind of Hero and Brockmann's socially conscious writing overshadowed any doubts I had about the storyline.
The heroine, Shayla, is one of the best heroines I've met in romance as of late. She's smart, hilarious, and selfless. Peter was also portrayed as a loyal, dedicated, and all around 'good guy.' The two were a great match.
The secondary characters and the attention given to Japanese-American suffering in America during WWII, were the highlights of the book for me.
While this wasn't my favorite Troubleshooters book in the series, I will recommend and support Suzanne Brockmann's projects every time. She is vital to romance and Some Kind of Hero reinforces that belief for me and speaks to her talent and versatility as an author.
Fantastic story you can not put down! This author knows how to craft characters that leave you wanting more and more
This book was awesome. It's about a seal that moved across the street from a romance writer and on their first day of meeting the seal watched his daughter run away, and through out the book the seal and writer become more than friends and they also find ways of healing the past.
Where do I even begin with Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series? There’s so much diversity in the pairings, so much differing action (you never quite know what you’re going to get) with just so many things going on… to the extent where some of her books have had the power to bore me limp, while others have brought me to my knees with a swoon-worthy type fairytale ending.
With ’Some Kind of Hero’, I was left disappointing unmoved and a more than a tad bit incredulous. But what’s clear however, is that it isn’t quite a standalone.
The initial meeting between Peter Green and Shayla is an out-of-nowhere jump into a car on the street to search for a missing teenager. And during the search, Peter finds himself telling his life story to Shayla while the latter finds herself using her skills as a writer to figure out just what Peter’s teenager could have gotten herself into. Their (coincidental) joint-effort simply eschews Brockmann's very slow burn between characters that spans books and the quickness with which Peter and Shayla jumped into bed took out any sense of anticipation that I’ve come to expect. Instant-love or lust aside, the shenanigans with the teenagers just felt like an elaborate plot to bring 2 very opposing characters—whose lives otherwise wouldn’t ever intersect—together and it was difficult to buy into this forced connection when it simply felt more like bad parenting going out of control over a teenager who might or might not have done unsavoury things.
In many ways, this story left me in a bind, which on a whole, pretty much describes my entire Brockmann reading experience. There were parts that I couldn't stop turning the pages, just as there were parts that had me skimming, despite the some amusing meta-details of what is means to be a romance author, fictional voices in head and scatterbrained-moments notwithstanding. On the other hand, Brockmann’s heroes never quite do what you think they do and here, there’s hardly enough SEAl action involved that could make me think of Peter as a SEAL instructor or his friend Izzy as a fellow brother-in-arms when the way they speak or act just lacked that intensity and the ‘je ne sais quoi’ that have pretty much defined the RS ‘alpha’ hero.
Maybe it’s because I’ve not read the entire series that ‘Some Kind of Hero’ made little sense to me overall, but this read (judging from the books that made my favourites list at least) unfortunately fell short by a long way.