The Unsung Hero: 1 (Troubleshooters) Mass Market Paperback – 1 Jun. 2000

I love this series from Suzanne Brockmann.While each of the troubleshooters books can be read as individual self-contained stories they do run together to give the later books a general background and history. Having read several of the later books I decided it was time to start over at the beginning, partly in order to get the timeline sorted out but mostly because I loved the others so much I wanted to read everyone's story.I love the way Ms Brockmann writes because, unlike some authors, she doesn't feel the need to conceal vital plot information in order to prevent the reader from working out the intentions of the bad guys. By giving the reader the pertinent information at the same time as the characters get it she draws you in to the plot and you become one of the team rather than just an observer.The characters are well written with enough background history to make them believable and allow the reader to become invested in their lives. You get to share their hopes and fears. their laughter and their tears.I realise that that last statement sounds a little corny but this book really did move me to both laugh out loud and blink back tears. I recommend it as a thoroughly good read!

Mixed thoughts on this book. I purchased it for a modern day story about a woman, in a difficult situation, and the alpha male comes to the rescue. I was a bit disoriented when a relative starts to replay memories from the war. For the length of the book, both stories bob back and forth, and come together at the end. I did enjoy both stories, once I had adjusted to the different time lines but t wasn't quite what I expected.

Read this book in two days after reading a recommendation from someone in a Kristen Ashley’s Facebook group. I love a good romantic suspense and this has it all. Great secondary characters too! It took a little to get used to everyone’s POV as it just sort of changes but don’t let that put you off. This is good read.

Very good I thought. The story circulates primarily around the protagonists, Kelly and Tom, but also offers you side characters and their stories which, at the time seem annoying and a little irritating, but also have their own relevance as discovered later.An easy read too, and I particularly enjoyed Tom. For once, it's the male alpha hero who wants the relationship and the female who needs convincing. I found their yes/no relationship very believable which is an added bonus.Would make a fab summer's read.Rated five stars as I have bought the sequel

I am not sure about this series yet, but I will definitely read no. 2, etc. I love her characters usually, so I'll persevere.

The first Suzanne Brockmann I have read. Loved that there were 3 love stories involved throughout. Great story, characters you could relate to. Will be downloading the next one!

I enjoy Suzanne Brockmann's novels. They are fast paced, have exciting plotlines and believable characters. Each one is a thrilling read, very enjoyable.

Rereading this book again for at least the 4tb time. I love this series and all books by this author.

**You can find this review in English below.**Esta lectura ha sido un completo desastre. Llena de melodrama, repeticiones cansinas y personajes sin carisma, planos y sin atractivo alguno.Lo primero que falla es la sinopsis. Es totalmente engañosa ya que no hay un ápice de suspense. La primera vez que aparece algo es, aproximadamente, al 95%. Lo considero una tomadura de pelo, la verdad.Lo segundo que fallan son los romances.Lo tercero, los personajes. Todos.De ahí que mi sentimiento general sobre la historia es que ha sido un despropósito.Hablemos de los romances. Por lo general, esta historia sigue el patrón preestablecido de esta autora: varios romances, siempre uno de ellos ubicado en el pasado pero con lazos en el presente y los demás en la actualidad.El romance del pasado, en esta ocasión, está ambientado a finales de la segunda guerra mundial. No es la primera vez que la autora hace esto, pero sí es la primera vez que ha sido R-I-D-Í-C-U-L-O. Tener que leer cómo convierte a su heroína en un ser deshonesto, egoísta y frívolo ha sido doloroso.Todo ello disfrazado de triángulo amoroso, cuando en realidad ha sido una pareja deshonesta y egoísta y un tercero en discordia que, aunque en ese momento era el único personaje interesante y por el que podía sentir un poco de empatía, acaba siendo otro personaje más de cartón-piedra sin ningún interés.Hablemos ahora del romance principal. La base del romance es una obsesión entre adolescentes. Ella tenía 15 años y él 19. Se besan. Y no se ven más hasta pasados 16 años. Ningún tipo de contacto. Y en cuanto se ven, empiezan a actuar como si no hubiesen pasado esos 16 años. Ha sido extenuante leer puñados y más puñados de dialogo interior y no poder ser testigos ni una sola vez de una conversación sincera entre adultos. Y, por si leer los diálogos interiores no era suficiente, la autora los copia y pega y los repite cuando hace a sus personajes "decirlos" en voz alta a un tercero (nunca al objeto de su interés). He tenido que leer algunos párrafos dos veces porque no podía creer que estaba leyendo otra vez exactamente lo mismo.El otro romance ha estado un poco mejor. Le enseña una lección al romance principal, desde luego, y eso que involucra a una chica de 18 años y un chico de 20 (creo). Hay que hacerse un poco la loca, porque, de nuevo, la autora convierte a su personaje femenino en una descerebrada y una frívola, a pesar de que la intenta pintar como todo lo contrario, pero bueno, una vez que "supera la fase", el romance es tierno y creíble. Sinceramente, estos dos adolescentes tienen más papeletas para tener una relación sana y estable que la pareja protagonista.Del resto de personajes no sé muy bien qué decir. Está el guaperas que es un borde de tomo y lomo, que culpa al universo de todos sus errores, y que, aunque es incapaz de amar a su propia hija (y créeme, ella lo ha intentado) te tienes que creer que amó a una mujer con la que se acostó una vez 50 años atrás. El otro personaje masculino (el tercero en discordia) empezó siendo tierno y sincero y acabó siendo digno de lástima. Desperdiciar toda tu vida de esa manera debería ser delito.De los protagonistas principales poco puedo decir. Son bidimensionales y siguen un guion absurdo más propio del NA que de adultos.Y después está el drama de la otra mujer. Con la que tu marido tiene una aventur a tus espaldas y tú, en vez de cantarle las cuarenta al que destroza tu matrimonio y no volverlo a mirar en la vida (nadie me va a convencer de que la culpa es de la otra mujer, que no tenía marido al que engañar) vas y le pones un mote denigrante a la mujer y quedas con tu ex de amigos. Tu ex, que te mintió, te engañó y te demostró que es un ser humado en el que no se puede confiar.Pffff…Estos son las historias que le dan mala fama a este género maravilloso que tanto me gusta.***This read has been an utterly disaster. Full of melodrama, tiresome repetitions and flat characters without charisma nor appeal.The first thing that fails is the blurb. It is totally misleading since there is not an iota of suspense. The first time something related with the suspense appears, it is approximately at 95% mark. I consider it a joke.The second thing that fails are the romances.The third, the characters. All of them.Hence, my general feeling that this story has been a completely nonsense.Let's talk about the romances. In general, this story follows this author's pre-established pattern: several romances, one of them always set in the past but with ties in the present and the others in the present day.The past romance is set at the end of the Second World War. It is not the first time that the author does this, but it is the first time that it has been R-I-D-I-C-U-L-O-U-S. Having to read how she turns her heroine into a dishonest, selfish and shallow being has been painful. All disguised as a love triangle, when, actually, it has been a dishonest and egoistical twosome and a third wheel. The later, at the time, was the only interesting character and for whom I could feel a bit of empathy, but at the end, he become another anodyne cardboard figure.Let's talk now about the main romance. The basis of this romance is a crush among teenagers. She was 15 years old and he was 19. They kissed. And they did not see each other for the next 16 years. No contact at all. And as soon as they see each other, they begin to act as if those 16 years hadn't pass at all. They are at the same point they were. It has been strenuous to read tons and tons of inner dialogue and not be able to witness not even one sincere conversation between adults. And, as if reading the inner dialogues was not enough, the author "copy & paste" them and repeats them when she makes her characters "say them" aloud to a third party (never to the object of their interest). I had to read some paragraphs twice because I could not believe I was reading exactly the same thing again.The last romance has been a little better. It sure could shows a thing or two to the main romance. It involves an 18-year-old girl and a 20-year-old boy (I think). Of course, you'll have to turn a blind eye, because, again, the author turns her female character into a brainless and a shallow girl, although she tries to paint her as the opposite, but hey, once she "overcome this", the romance is sweet and lovely. Sincerely, these two teenagers have more chances to have a healthy and stable relationship than the MC's.About the rest of the characters, I'm not sure what to say.There is the eye-candy guy who is a boor through and through, who blames the universe for all his mistakes, and although he is unable to love his own daughter (and believe me, she has tried) you have to believe that he loved a woman with whom he bedden once 50 years ago.The other male character (the third wheel) started being tender and sincere and ended up being worthy of pity. Wasting your whole life that way should be a crime.About the MC's, I cannot say a lot. They are two-dimensional and follow an absurd script more typical of the NA than of adults.And then there is the OW drama. The one that your husband screws behind your back and you, instead of hauling him over the coals for destroying your marriage and remove him from your life, (nobody will convince me that the fault lies with the other woman, who did not have a husband to cheat on) you go and give the woman a denigrating nickname but remain friends with your ex. Your ex, who lied to you, deceived you and showed you that he is a human being that cannot be trusted.Pffff ...These are the stories that give a bad name to this wonderful genre that I love so much.

Two stories in one. Suspense. romance, Drama and a lot more. Couldn't put it down. Looking forward to the next one.

It was a great book with the mix of the 3 stories.

I love this series of books by Ms. Brockmann. The characters she brings to life are profound enough to stick with you throughout the series. I anxiously await the latest installment in this awesome saga of hero's--Navy SEAls, FBI Agents, and private anti-terrorism operatives.Tom Paoletti is a tough, yet vulnerable hero. Handsome and moral and very human. He has a lot of issues to deal with and is incredibly worthy of `hero' status.His heroine, Kelly Ashton, is bold and sexy and perfect for him. Kelly and Tom remain solid characters throughout the stories of the other players Ms. Brockmann introduces. Tom is the foundation of the following tales.The plot is solid. The suspense builds with every scene to a satisfying ending. And the love scenes are hot. Really pretty hot. This whole book takes place in a week's time and will keep you riveted. And, there is more than one unsung hero is this tale.However, one of the best things Ms. Brockmann does, is tell numerous stories simultaneously. Each story includes conflict, tension, and a lot of human emotion.In THE UNSUNG HERO, Joe Paoletti and Charles Ashton's story, and friendship, span sixty years. Through them, you travel back to a war-torn France in WWII and get a glimpse of the hardships people went through, the sacrifices they made. There are two perspectives offered and two love stories.David Sullivan and Tom's niece, Mallory Paoletti, create another story--this one sweet and new because they're both so young.So, in this tale, you've got three generations of stories being told. Although any of them could stand on their own, together they make a truly spectacular story.Three other characters are introduced, Jazz Jacquette, Tom's XO, Ensign bad boy Sam Starrett, and sharpshooter, Alyssa Locke. These characters are well thought out and enjoyable in this and later books.I thought there were a couple of mistakes, or weak spots. The first deals with `a raft-load of luggage', that is overlooked by the best of the best American warriors and anti-terrorism experts. I picked up on it immediately and figured the good guys would have, too. The second is when the tango is finally found and one of the best of the best calls him by his latest, bogus name--immediately telling the bad guy that he's been identified. Despite these minor weaknesses, this is one hell of a good read.There are some earlier books by Ms. Brockmann with characters involved in this series. FRISCO'S KID, PRINCE JOE, THE ADMIRAL'S WIFE, if I remember correctly. These were Harlequin books early in this splendid writer's career.If you've never read Ms. Brockmann before you're missing a lot of entertainment and should start reading her today.Shelley Dawn, author of  Sweet, Sweet Jessie  and  Dark Nights , Dark NightsSweet, Sweet JessieDark NightsDark Nights

La série des Troubleshooters, membres des SEALS, commence avec Tom, le chef de la 16e unité qui, blessé, part se reposer chez son oncle dans la ville où il a grandi. Il y retrouve Kelly, la voisine, qui l'attire depuis l'adolescence.Mais voilà, même au repos, un militaire reste un militaire et Tom croise la route d'un homme qui pourraît bien être un ancien terroriste qu'il a combattu. Tom souffre-t-il de paranoïa suite à sa commotion, comme le croient ses supérieurs, ou le danger est-il réel?Tom doit aussi mettre ses talents de négociateur à contribution afin de réconcilier son oncle avec le meilleur ami de ce dernier, qui n'est autre que le père de Kelly, mourant. Et pour cela Kelly et lui vont essayer de comprendre ce qui s'est passé en Normandie, à la fin de la 2e guerre, où les deux hommes servaient.Et entre-temps, il combat son attirance pour Kelly...L'action se déroulant sans les équipiers de Tom (qui n'arrivent qu'à la fin), ce livre manque un peu de l'ambiance militaire que j'apprécie et de personnages aussi variés que hauts en couleur. Par contre, il y a moins de personnages que dans d'autres tomes et on se concentre donc plus sur les protagonistes principaux.J'ai bien aimé la 2e histoire d'amour parallèle, je n'ai pas trop aimé les récits liés à la 2e guerre mondiale. D'où les trois étoiles.