Ballantine Hot Target: A Novel

Let me start by saying that I am a die-hard Brockmann fan. She creates characters that you instantly care about with very little effort. Both of her series and her individual books have that intensity and that charasmatic draw. This book is no different. As usual, she offers a central story and also let's you explore another previously met character in greater depth. This is the story of Cosmo Richter, and truthfully.... his appearance in "Flash Point" made me want to know what happened to him, so I looked forward to this book. It was a good read. Her characters were definitely compelling and I've read it more than once. It just wasn't my favorite book in her huge collection.Cosmo is a legend as being a machine. He is intense and tends to frighten people into giving him a wide berth. When his opera loving mother has an accident and breaks both arms, Cosmo drops everything to go to her. Well, she's not having him help with the indelicate care taking tasks, so while he's got time he takes a job with the troubleshooter inc., located near his mother. Former Seals commander, Lt. Paoletti has just the perfect "fluff" job for this tough Seal. Bodyguard to a party girl producer whose life has been threatened.As you can imagine, not is all as it seems with this woman and love finds its way. (I'll avoid the spoiler by being vague).Jules, someone that has been brought to life over the course of several trouble shooter books, quits being quite so easy going and flip in this story. You see his heart break, the soul of an optimist, and the courage of a realist. Brockmann has been successful in creating his storyline, and though I know it is fiction, I can't help but hope that Robin pulls his act together sometime soon!If you have never read a Brockmann book, I'd recommend starting with another in this series. This is one of the few books of hers that doesn't stand alone, and works better if you know the history. (Most of her books in this series can be read without having to start at the beginning).If you are a Brockmann reader, you'll enjoy this! It isn't her best, but it really is better than most of the books out there!Last note: I was so touched by the eloquent dedication Suz wrote in this book. It exposes the pride and love of a great mother!

ブロックマンファンにはおなじみの息子ジェイソン君に捧げられた本作。本文を読む前に献辞だけで大泣きしてしまった作品は初めてでした。トラブルシューターものロマンスが多くなり、長らくブロックマンからは遠ざかっていましたが、キャラクターのオリジナリティと文章のかっこよさは、やっぱりブロックマン、超一流です。内容としてはアルファ・スクワッドの大男コスモと薄っぺらそうに見えるハリウッド・プロデューサーの話で、いつもの戦闘シーンの緊張感が少ない分、星を4つ（3つでもよかったかも）にしましたが、サイドのジュールズの話が切なく、そしてジュールズがどうしてこんなにすてきなのか、これを書いたブロックマンの息子さんへの愛情がひしひし伝わってきて、ブロックマンファンは、「絶対」読まなければならない作品です。最新作はジュールズがハッピーエンドらしいので、このタイミングで読めてよかったです。軽妙な現代英語が炸裂で、そろそろ日本語に訳すのは限界が来ているような気もします。

Ich habe Brockmanns neues Buch mit großer Spannung erwartet und muss im Nachhinein sagen:1. Es hält dem Vergleich mit den Vorgängern (besonders Out Of Control und Gone Too Far) leider nicht stand - aber2. es lohnt sich trotzdem, und zwar wegen Jules Cassidy.Nun habe ich mir von Cosmo zwar nicht so viel erwartet wie viele andere (für mich ist er auch vorher immer recht blass geblieben, und die lifers wing-Gerüchte reichen nicht aus, um jemanden interessant zu machen), aber war doch etwas enttäuscht. Cosmo ist einfach zu gut, um wahr zu sein; wenn er wirkliche Kanten und Charakterfehler hat, so habe ich sie überlesen. Das macht einen Hauptdarsteller aber auch ganz schnell langweilig und so war es für mich nicht verwunderlich, dass die Geschichte zwischen Cosmo und Jane/Mercedes schon bald im glatten Fahrwasser Richtung Happily Ever After war.Was mich atemlos bei der Stange hielt, war Jules' Story. Oder sagen wir, Jules' und Robins Story? Beide erleben wir von ihrem POV und es ist spannend, lustig, traurig, fesselnd und herzzereißend, mitzuerleben, wie Robin Fehler macht und sich selber alles zerstört. Aber auch Jules macht Fehler, und manche Fehler kann man einfach nicht wieder gut machen, da hilft kein Sorry...Suzanne Brockmann beweist hier, dass es egal ist, welches Geschlecht die Personen haben, solange es gut und mit Herzblut geschrieben ist. Leider konzentriert sich das Herzblut etwas zu sehr auf Brockmanns politische Agenda (Rechte der Homosexuellen), so dass Cosmo eben blutleer daher kommt.Dazu kam für mich auch die storyline, die ich im besten Falle für übertrieben hielt, meistens jedoch einfach unglaubwürdig fand. Es ist alles so merkbar zurecht gestrickt, und Brockmann verliert über dem Kunstprodukt völlig die Realität aus dem Sinn. Ein Filmdreh, in dessen Folge Menschen verletzt und ermordet werden, und zwar von einem verrückten Einzelgänger, der sich daran stört, dass der ebenfalls tote Sohn seines lange toten Helden als schwul geoutet wird?? Findet das noch jemand weithergeholt? (Ich komm ja schon durcheinander, wenn ich versuche, die storyline zusammenzufassen...)Ergo: Weniger ein SEAL-Roman als die bisherigen Bücher, zumal die Nebenpersonen wie Decker und Sophia nur schwach gestreift werden, aber wer SB-Fan ist, ist auch Jules Cassidy-Fan, daher trotz der Einschränkungen lesenswert!(Übrigens gibts eine tolle Szene mit Max und Jules...*grins*)

Once again, Suzanne Brockmann has turned in one amazing book. Jane Chadwick is a producer making a movie with a very touchy subject line, Cosmo Richter is part of the security team assigned to protect her. Some people have claimed that the Cosmo in this book doesn't match up with the one in Brockmann's previous SEAL books, but I have to disagree. He was portrayed as very quiet and mysterious about his background. Though he talks to Jane (and quite a few women dream about the mysterious man who only feels comfortable talking to them) and has a couple long conversations with people who need it (can't say too much for fear of giving away plot) he for the most part is quite spare and simple with his words. Also he has a complicated family history that accounts for his mysterious background with out being too dark and dangerous.However, if this book had been about only Jane and Cosmo, I probably would have only given it max 4 stars. Their story is a near cliche - beautiful woman needs bodyguard, they don't like each other at first but then ooops, that's changed. In fact, Brockmann already wrote that one and called it "Body Guard". But it's the story of Jules and Robin that makes this story sky-rocket into amazing territory. Jules is openly gay and dealing with the reappearance of his ex-lover, Adam, who has once again used him, this time to get a part in a movie. Robin is so deeply closeted, he's lying even to himself and [...] with every woman who'll stand still. But he has to get incredibly drunk to do it, and that's turning into incipient alcoholism. There's one gay love scene that's alluded to (unfortunately not with Jules) but it fades to black before they even leave the bar, so if you're worried about that, don't be - it's not there. To me, Jules and Robin's story line seemed to have slight shades of Sam and Alyssa's line, though this time it's only one of them who makes the mistakes. Robin has to be drunk for anything physical to happen (like Alyssa) and sleeps with another person even though we all know who he'd really like to be with (like Sam with Mary Ellen). Now, a few people have moaned that Jules and Robin take up too much time, but I'd be willing to bet these are the same people who were screaming for more, more, MORE of Sam and Alyssa. Robin's absolute repression, in California of all places, didn't make a ton of sense to me until I remembered he wanted to be a movie actor, specifically, and seemed to have no interest in theater. It's quite unfortunate that in our country a handsome, talented actor who happens to be gay will only get zany best friend parts. (Remember Rupert Everett anyone?) But watching Jules and Robin struggle with themselves was amazing. I can't wait to see more of them in the future.

Cosmo Ritcher is on vacation from his job as a SEAL. In order to pay the bills (and not be bored), he gets a job with Troubleshooters Inc guarding Mercedes Chadwick a hotshot producer who's getting death threats because she's making a movie about a real life hero - who just happened to be homosexual. In addition to this mix, an FBI agent (Jules Cassidy) is helping Troubleshooters in their investigations - as well as trying to avoid being entangled with both Jane's brother (Robin) as well as Jules' ex lover (Adam).A caveat here: if you're homophobic, you might want to give this book a miss. If you are expecting stereotypical send ups of the gay male, give this book a miss. In addition, if you're hoping for some hot 'Queer as Folk' action (hubba hubba), you'll be disappointed. However, if you're from a fandom that's heavily into slash or m/m relationships, or just relatively open minded, and like reading about all romantic relationships, this book will tick the boxes - and then some.It's rare that you get a homosexual character in conventional romance that is as fully fleshed as Jules Cassidy: he's funny, sensitive, and yet can be mean when he needs to be. He isn't a stereotypical gay character and the love/lust triangle among himself, Adam and Robin was very compelling. All the characters in this little love triangle are flawed, but likable to a point. I won't give Robin and Jules' story away - you'll have to read Force of Nature to find that out - but the subject is sensitively approached.For the heterosexual couple now: Cosmo and Mercedes - I loved the relationship from its initial discomfiture, to friends, to lovers. There are a lot of nice moments in this book between the two protagonists. Cosmo is quiet and easy, Mercedes is upfront and brassy. It's nice to see these two find some compromise and meet in the middle.The reason why I gave this book four stars - I expected a bit more in terms of 'life threatening' tension. I do know that these sort of books tend to walk a fine line : too much action and you risk underdevelopment of the characters, too little action and the books starts to drag. In spaces, the book seemed to snag - only for it to snap towards the end in a heartbreaking way.Highlights of the book are Ms Brockmann's knack for popular culture references from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas to various classic musicals, likable characters with a keen sense of the ridiculous, and snappy dialogues that make you cackle while reading.Highly recommend this novel, I'd read it again.