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26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
And Then, Once Again, I Can Dream, I've The Right... - Cole Porter, November 17, 2007
Jules Cassidy and Robin Chadwick have been through a lot together over the years and through this series. When they first met Robin was still deeply in the closet, then he got involved with Jules' ex, Adam. Then Robin finally admits to himself that he is gay, but refuses to come out to the world; hiding his torment behind alcohol and meaningless one night stands. This is not the man I would have handpicked for wonderful Jules, but by the last book, Force of Nature (Troubleshooters, Book 11), I ended up falling for Robin, too.
This is Suzanne Brockmann's Christmas novella where we finally get to see Jules and Robin make their commitment to each other both legal and permanent in a wedding ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts. Of course the story wouldn't be a story without a few more obstacles to overcome, including the always annoying ex, Adam, a news reporter, and a crazy fanatic.
This was a romantic story and a quick and enjoyable read. However I have a few bones to pick. At times it read like an extra schmaltzy family reunion. The Troubleshooter and Team Sixteen updates seemed a little forced and a tad corny. I want Ms. Brockmann to update me on the past characters I have come to know and love, but in this book it was a case of too much, too many. My other major problem was Jules' and his jealousy issues. It was dragged out throughout the entire story and I just wanted to yell "Get over it already! Let's Move On!"
The highpoints of the story were of course finally getting to watch Jules and Robin enjoy each other completely. Openly embracing each other and the life they are going to share, forever. Another highlight was a romance blossoming for Dolphina, the faithful assistant, and of course the appearance of the always entertaining Sam and Alyssa.
This was an enjoyable read, but far from the best in the series. I teetered between a three and four star rating but in the end found it closer to a four. This book got me in the mood for the holidays and looking forward to the next Troubleshooter's story. Enjoy!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVED IT! LOVED IT! AND WILL BE LOVING IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME!, October 31, 2007
What can I say? Robin & Jules get married. Readers following the Troubleshooters series certainly know who Robin & Jules are. This book was a little different from Brockmann's usual troubleshooters novels, mainly because it was a novella - a short story. But make no mistake... Brockmann doesn't disappoint and manages to pack a "whollop" of a story in this short novel.
"All through the Night" has no chapters, but it does have dates so you can easily follow the timeline. The novella starts with Jules rushing to Boston (where Robin is filming a cable series) to propose marriage. He and Robin have been dating for a few months at this point. Yet with Robin filming in Boston and Jules working in DC, they are certainly not spending as much time with each other as they would like.
Jules solution - get the FBI to transfer him to Massachusetts, (not just him, but him and a few other members of the special counter-terrorist team he works with) and propose marriage to Robin, his one true-love. And...actually get married, buy a house, and live in the one state in the US that actually allows legal marriages between same-sex couples. Yet even the most most well-thought of plans can go astray.
From the very beginning of their emotional and heart-felt journey, nothing goes according to the plan, including the proposal. (Or heck, even the wedding itself.) Throughout the story, Jules & Robin find themselves dealing with a crazed stalker, ex-boyfriend problems, family betrayals, and even their own insecurities. The only constant - the genuine true love that they feel for one another. It's enough to withstand any test.
Honestly. WOW!! Brockmann out-did herself. This was the most BEAUTIFUL love story that I've ever read, and certainly the best in the Troublshooters series. Jules & Robin's love for each other literally radiated from the pages with a bright neon flourescent glow. I'm not prone to tears, but I practically cried while reading this story.
And while Jules & Robin's love shined in rainbow colors, the secondary heterosexual love story was a tad dry. I'm sure we haven't seen the last of Dolphina and Will, b/c they didn't actually get a HEA in there, (did they?) but I really wished they were left off the pages. They kind of dragged Jules & Robin's flow, but still.... This book was AWESOME!! Loved it, Loved it and will be loving it for quite some time.
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22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sadly, just average and underdeveloped, November 19, 2007
Jules and Robin, who have endured plenty, are about to head to the altar. But this story is just a mess. It's a novella, so that means short. Jules takes a demotion of sorts to be in Boston, where Robin is shooting an HBO series. He suddenly gets called to Afghanistan and the reader thinks, cool - some action. But no, it's resolved within a couple pages. Then it's on to the next mini-drama - Jules' jealousy, which runs most of the book, assorted home renovations, a pesky reporter, a coed bachelor party, the return of Adam Wyndam, and even a convoluted stalker plot. Even with all this going on, the plot is so thin as most of the storylines are so underdeveloped. I liked that we got to catch up on the Troubleshooters, but found the additions forced and clunky in the storyline - right down to the inclusion of all the Troubleshooter offspring in the wedding party. There's also a secondary romance for Dolph and reporter Will, but it really isn't developed.
One thing that stood out for me is Robin's on-going battle with the bottle being dealt with head on, instead of sweeping it under the rug and pretending that rehab cured him. I loved the interaction between Sam and Robin, particularly Sam's distrust which turned into respect and friendship. But with all the usages of "you are so not"; "I'm just saying"; "I'm like"; "Jaysus" and other goofy phrases my 16 year old niece would utter (as well as all the sitting around discussing feelings with the assorted characters), I felt like I was reading about a bunch of teenage chicks. I was hoping for a nice story to resolve the Jules/Robin arc, and what I got instead is lots of melodrama and civics lessons. Brockmann is becoming a definite library loan; this one was just a huge let down and sadly just an okay novel. It's time for SB to get off this detour she took with "Into the Storm," and get back to writing great romantic suspense (heavy on the action and suspense).
On a side note, thank God they found a new "love song," I really hate "Hooked on a Feeling." Did anyone else break out into "oooga chuckas" while reading the last two novels whenever they mentioned this song?
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