Breakpoint (Thorndike Romance) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

JoAnn Ross (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1410419290 | ISBN-13: 978-1410419293 | Publication Date: September 2009 | Edition: Lrg

Air Force Combat Controller Dallas O’Halloran is as tough as he is loyal. So he’s not pleased when he’s recruited into a new anti-terror unit and teamed up with Academy graduate Julianne Decatur—the icy blond JAG officer who nearly court-martialed his friends.

Assigned to investigate a Navy flyer’s apparent suicide, they discover the trail of a ruthless killer—and an attraction between them that can’t be denied. And when their prey turns the tables on them, Julianne will have to depend on the one man daring and reckless enough to keep them both alive…

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fire and ice make for an incendiary mix in the newest High Risk novel by the always excellent Ross. These strong-willed protagonists were once on opposite sides of a court-martial, but now they must work together. Watching their stimulating relationship develop while they're immersed in a murder case shows how skillful a storyteller Ross is. Brava!" 4 1/2 stars --Jill M. Smith, RT Book Reviews

This is probably the best book I've read this early summer. A true page-turner, and who-done-it, readers will find the excellent characterization and plot stunning to follow. I especially loved the dialogue between these two complex characters and the sexy way they think together as they try and figure out the murder.

This hot novel has everything a reader might want in romantic suspense, from sexy, complex characters, to a fascinating setting, and intense intimacy. --Jeri Neal, The Romance Readers Connection --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

Air Force combat controller Dallas O'Halloran has a reputation as a hell-raising lady-killer. But he's also fiercely loyal. So when he's recruited by a new combat unit, Dallas is none too pleased to find himself teamed up with the icy blond JAG officer who nearly court-martialed his friends.

Academy graduate Julianne Decatur is tough, tenacious, and driven by her belief in military law. She has zero patience for hotshot Spec Ops cowboys who think the rules don't apply to them -- and even less tolerance for Dallas' tough-as-nails Texas attitude.

But when they're assigned to investigate a Navy flyer's apparent suicide, they discover the trail of a ruthless killer with a secret to hide -- and an attraction between them that can't be denied. And when their prey turns the tables on them, Julianne will have to depend on the one man daring and reckless enough to keep them both alive. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 563 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; Lrg edition (September 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410419290
• ISBN-13: 978-1410419293
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,459,127 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I wrote my first story -- a tragic romance about two star-crossed Mallard ducks -- as a second grade writing assignment. The paper earned a gold star. And I kept writing.

I've since written around a hundred novels and have been published in twenty-six countries. Two of my titles have been excerpted in Cosmopolitan magazine and my books have also been published by the Doubleday, Rhapsody, Mystery Guild, and Literary Guild bookclubs. As a New York Times, U.S. Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller, I'm also a member of the Romance Writers of America's Honor Roll of best-selling authors.

I'm currently writing my Shelter Bay series, set on the magnificent Oregon coast where, when I was eighteen-years-old, my high school sweetheart bought me a bag of taffy, then proposed. The smartest thing I ever did was say yes!

My husband and I live in our beloved Pacific Northwest, with three rescued dogs who pretty much rule the house. (And, in case you're wondering, that taffy store is still there! )

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Too many cliches, not enough heat, July 26, 2009

By 

J. Mullally "booklover4ever00" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breakpoint: A High Risk Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

This could have been a great book were it not for some really silly things in it which got in the way of it working well as either a suspense or a romance.

First we get way too much background on the hero Dallas at the present time, and not enough on the way he and Julianne first met.

Second, all of the mental lusting after her gets in the way of everything, plot, setting, character (he comes off as a badly behaved hormonal teen). She comes off as the ice princess for most of the book, and the thaw is never really that believable. Nor is the fact that the 'playboy of the armed forces' doesn't have a condom for most of the book, so they don't 'make love' til page 309?? I put that phrase in quotes because the scene is so bad and over so fast, wham bam sounds slow by comparison.

Then we have Wiccans/pagans in the armed forces, not developed, just a throwaway, and the suspense and any sort of danger or thrills in about the last 30 pages with the kidnap of, well, you will be able to guess from the endless details about Julianne's sexy dress from the start of the book.

I am giving it 3 stars because there are some people who like armed forces-type action romances, who will find this a good beach read, but to me it just read like a lot of slang and alphabet soup of acronyms and insults. But in terms of romance, there is so much sizzle at the start, it is bound to fizzle, and in terms of the suspense, it is just too uneven throughout the book.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breakpoint will keep you on your toes, July 13, 2009

By 

Judy "book reader" (Cincinnati, ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Breakpoint: A High Risk Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

JoAnn Ross continues her pulse pounding High Risk series with Breakpoint.

Tech Sergeant Dallas O'Halloran is loyal do his family and friends. He gets assigned to a new unit and is paired up with the one woman who tried to send his teammates to prison.

For former JAG officer Julianne Decatur her life is strictly black and white with no gray areas on what is right and wrong. She isn't too happy either to be paired with Dallas O'Halloran but she is a professional and can per her feelings aside for the investigation.

Dallas and Julianne are assigned to investigate a possible suicide aboard a naval carrier. Once aboard things are not what they seem. The suicide turns out to be murder and someone is willing to silence anyone that gets in their way.

As they investigate the murder their attraction to each other takes them both by surprise. But can their love survive is someone is out to kill them and those that they love?

JoAnn Ross's High Risk series will keep you enthralled from the very first page. This is a fast paced, delightful sexy story. The military part is intriguing and will keep you guessing who all is involved. The chemistry between Julianne and Dallas will knock your socks off. I am anxiously looking forward to this authors next book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars One eyeroll after another..., December 14, 2009

By 

D. Corder "dcorder" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Breakpoint: A High Risk Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

I love the first three books in this series.

And this book had such great promise...is this going to be another "Tailhook" scandal? Did the female "top gun" commit suicide or was she murdered? Based on the genre you know it was murder.

But this book really never has any heat/focus/continuity. The first half of the book is reviewing past interactions of the hero and heroine. It has a weird sidebar with the heroine's very pregnant (with twins) sister (who becomes a poor plot device in the end - eyeroll). But the time the H/H get on the boat you think "finally we're going to get to the mystery". Again, no. In the end with no real investigation, the hero works out the mystery with GEOMETRY! (eyeroll)

Here are some of the other eyerolls:
1) NCIS doesn't investigate this murder/suicide - they are mentioned many times but NO! there is a new gov't agency (THOR) investigate.
2) Why does the 1st guy they talk to commits suicide? It was never made clear what his part of this scandal/cover up was.
3) Paganism as a "major" religion on this this boat. Who cares - it wasn't germane to the plot.
4) The pregnant sister.
5) Security cameras that never get investigated.

I could go on but you get the point. Oh one more...after 4 books shouldn't we know a bit more about Phoenix Team? Who started it? Why? What's their mission (because it seems to be all over the board)?

Here's hoping the next book in the series will be more focused.