2013 Book Review#81: Gone Too Far

[jethrien]

Title: Gone Too Far
Author: Suzanne Brockman
Genre: Romance/thriller (sixth in series)
Thingummies: 4

Synopsis: SEAL Sam's daughter is missing, and not only is he a leading suspect, but terrorists appear to be tied in as well. And an old flame is heading up the FBI investigation.

Thoughts: Don't read this book if you haven't read the others in the series.

Oh, Brockman does a good job of supplying necessary information, which is helpful--I actually didn't read the one before this, and it's been years since I picked up anything in the series anyway. But Sam and Alyssa have had an on-again, off-again thing going for six books now, and without having already built up that investment, readers will not appreciate the tension nearly so well now that the focus is on them.

It pays off well. Sam and Alyssa's relationship is screwed up, but hot, funny, and tender. Complications with other supporting cast weave in well. The thriller plot is also well done, with good pacing and stakes.

I appreciate that, in Brockman's world, getting the guy doesn't automatically translate to happily-ever-after. The stars of previous books show up again, and while A couples never get broken apart, their lives continue to have new problems. B and C couples, on the other hand, are fair game to keep having their romances shift until it's their turn in the limelight.

So this is a series that really requires reading from the beginning. There are just too many characters with too much history. You can understand it, but not really enjoy it without all the backstory. But it's well worth the investment.

Comments

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

I think this was the last one I read I the series. All the titles are so similar--it's hard to tell. I think the fifth one was my favorite. Was that the one with the romance between the much older woman and the younger SEAL? Cause I thought the chemistry in that was great. I think I just found her overarching plotting kind of crap, though, so stopped. Too many people doing stupid things and having emotional Moments when they really needed to be stopping terrorists or whatever.