Customer Reviews

All Through the Night (Troubleshooters, Book 12)

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

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!

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.

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?

I'm a big fan of Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooter series. To me, her earlier work was much better, more action and suspense, along with the love story. I also liked how in her previous books she incorporated a World War II story line.

If you've gotten as far as reading reviews, you know that this book is about Jules and Robin's wedding, and the events leading up to it. Most her previous characters make an appearance in the book, even if just a cameo. I particularly enjoyed catching up with everyone, their children and finding out which characters were expecting new arrivals. This part alone brought it up to four stars for me from three. Sam and Alyssa are awesome together as usual.

I like the character of Jules, and his homosexuality isn't an issue for me. But, that said, I'm getting a little tired of it. Force of Nature was dedicated to Jules and Robin, as is this book. Enough already, let's move on. Jules seemed a lot more insecure in this book, and his jealousy started to get old.

I hope Ms. Brockmann gets back to the action, suspense and adventure these books are known for. I thought we'd get a taste of it in this one, when Jules and Max were in Afghanistan and trapped in a shoot out with insurgents, but all of a sudden the calvary arrived and it was over.

I understand the author's passion for gay rights. But as I said before, enough already, let's move on. This book was written so that she could donate all proceeds to MassEquality, an organization dedicated to preserving the right of gay marriage in Massachusetts. Ms. Brockmann has more than covered her passion, I look forward to seeing if she can get back to the quality of her previous Troubleshooter books.

I was so happy when I heard that this Christmas novella was going to be the story of Jules and Robin's wedding, and as usual Ms. Brockmann has told a wonderful story.

Robin's been in Boston working on a cable show and Jules decides to go and surprise him for the weekend and with a marriage proposal. The night doesn't go quite as planned and there's a scene with Jules, Robin and Sam Starret that had me ROFL.

The story goes onto a surprise wedding shower where many of my favorite characters from the earlier stories show up and it turns out to be an interesting night.

Add to this a hostage situation in Afghanistan, a secondary romantic storyline with the wonderful Dolphina (Robin's former handler and now Jules and Robin's assistant) and you have another wonderful Troubleshooters story.

The authors notes and the fact that ALL the authors proceeds of the book are being donated to charity are just another (of the many!) reasons that this book is highly recommended.

You'll laugh, you'll cry and you won't want to miss this wonderful story!

Okay. This was the best book in the Troubleshooters Series. Hands down. Has any couple ever radiated as much love as Jules & Robin? I don't believe so. I mean you didn't even think of them as a gay couple. You just saw two people in love.

All I can say is Wow! This book was beyond great. Boy, I hope we can get more stories about this awesome couple.

Certainly nowhere near the best of Ms. Brockmann's offerings but the profits go to a good cause. I appreciate what such books (and coverage of Jules, et al in her other books) can do to further improve the inclusion of the gay community into American Society. That being said, this particular book, I hope, will be the last one of the Troubleshooter/Seals series where Jules is featured so predominately. One of the things I most appreciate about series in general and Ms. Brockmann's TS/Seals series in particular is keeping up with "old friends". You don't lose sight of them but, in general, only one book in the series will focus on a specific couple. Jules is becoming far too much a central character in this series and that bores me. I hope that Ms. Brockmann returns to the energy-packed and adventure background of the series with her next offering. In fact, I'd really love to see if she addresses the whole issue of mercenaries in light of the awful experience we've had with Blackwater in real life.

I love books like this... when the author treats us to a little gift and lets us see lots of favorite characters together. This book is packed full of many of our favorite Troubleshooter and Team Sixteen and FBI characters, interacting, relaxing, doing reconnaissance, taking down crazed killers, playing laser tag. I mean, just think about it! Sam and Lys and Jones and Robin all playing laser tag, with Jazz and Izzy and Jenks, etc... The list goes on and on. Even Nash is there. Now, even though all these characters are "there", the truth is there aren't enough pages to go into any detail about them, but they and several more characters are mentioned, and that in itself was a whole lot of fun. So are all the little kids that make cameo appearances in this book: Max's daughter, Cosmo's son, Tom's son, Sam's daughter, Jones and Molly's daughter... And just wait until you find out who all are pregnant!!! The best part of this book, for me, was seeing Jules and Robin sharing domestic bliss in their Victorian home in South End, a place where gays are pretty well accepted. Jules and Robin make a very cute couple, and their affection and joy in each other is very apparent and heart warming. And Sam's and Alyssa's undying loyalty to Jules and Robin is very touching. I didn't like Will Schroeder - he's not an appealing character. He went too far, and was not redeemed, IMHO. Dolphina should just keep walking. She deserves someone way better than Will. Enjoy!!

Okay, it's a bit corny. But folks, get real. That's pretty much what holiday novellas ARE. Look at it for what it is; a tender love story about two people who really love each other with faults acknowledged and lived with. Jules' jealousy is a counterpoint to Robin's alcoholism. Both are lingering, ongoing, dealt with in real ways. Just as rehab didn't cure Robin or stop his daily struggles, no single event/realization is going to end Jules' jealousy. As Sam said, Jules is hard-wired for jealousy.

What is fun is that this is a real story about two guys who love each other. Not platonically, not running or hiding, but open, sexual and in the sunlight. Readers who might not otherwise encounter gay couples find themselves really liking these guys, sharing Jones' and Sam's personal growth in accepting these guys and yes, loving them. If one knee-jerk response to gay marriage is mitigated by this story, that's great.

Me? I've read it probably half a dozen times, over and over, just to be with the whole gang of Troubleshooters, Sam and Alyssa, Jones and Molly, Max and Gina, Jules and Robin. I'm still sorry when I near the end of the book, because I'm leaving them again, and want to know how they're doing. I'm glad Brockmann introduced a gay SEAL; the world needs more successful and tough guys, gay or not. We need to see guys like Sam and Jones and the SEALS of Team Sixteen accept Jules and Robin as they are, just as J&R accept Sam and the guys. We need to meet people and characters who we care about as people first and last, and whose sexuality is not the sum total of their personal and professional identities. That's what Jules gives us, and why we care about him.

Nine books featured Agent Jules Cassidy. Finally, he's the star of All Through the Night - where his marriage to Robin Chadwick may or may not take place (have to read it to find out).

I fell in LOVE with Jules in Breaking Point (My first time meeting him) and soaked him up in all the other books he was in. Only, in this book? I was a little...let down. And there were always SO many people around Robin and Jules I didn't really feel the deep love and connection I felt when they first met (in Hot Target) and in Forces of Nature.

A LOT of Brockmann's quick whit and humor was missing in this book. Jules has always been good for a laugh - but kinda fell on his face in this book. Robin - always had some quick catch phrases that he used a lot (like score!) that didn't make an appearences....

There were so many other sub-plots going on that I didn't get any sort of suspense feeling - just a lot of anger and frustration. First example, reporter Will is back. I wanted to strangle him the first time I read about him and he played a major role in this book, so I was to the point I justed wanted to go Postal on him. And you can't skip over parts of the book that his in - which makes him even more frustrating...Second example, Adam. Sure I was expecting him to poke his stupid little head in and was really looking forward to Sam and Lys taking care of him. But Jules and Robin argued to many times about him - giving him a certain amount of importance he shouldn't have had. AND THEN when he finally does leave he meets someone which hints that he may just have a happy ending that he DOES NOT deserve!

I don't think this is one of Brockmanns' best works. It felt a little too rushed and choppy. Felt like I was being bounced all over the place. HOWEVER, there were some really tender moments, and some really funny laugh out loud parts.