Customer Reviews

Hawken's Heart (Tall, Dark and Dangerous)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Typical of Ms. Brockmann and her SEAL team stories this read previouse released as "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" offers the reader a smart fast paced read with one yummy hero and one fiesty heroine that will keep the reader entertained right up to the final page.

Nell Burns is the personal assistant to Daisy Owens. Daisy is the cousin of William "Crash" Hawkins. Daisy has also found out that she has a brain tumor and will not survive. Nell goes to Crash to give him this bit of bad news. Hawkins can't believe that he's about to loose such an important person in his life. His life as a SEAL prevents him from getting involved with anyone. Problem is he was not counting on Nell. She speaks to him in a way that no woman ever has. But, he lets her walk away from him. Will he get a second chance with her?

Nell falls, and falls hard for Hawkins. After just one night with her prince she walks away after he makes it clear to her that things would never work between them. Problem with this is Nell's heart doesn't get the message. A year later when Crash is arrested for murder, Nell, knows that he is innocent. She risks her life to help him and in the process they are thrown together and feels can't be ignored...or can they?

Billy "Crash" Hawkins is one hero you will instanly fall in love with yourself. Nell is another Brockmann heroine that is just sassy and fiesty enough to handle her man. This was a fast paced read that will capture the readers attention. I love her SEAL series and this read was not exception.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

This book is fast paced and the plot is tightly woven. The scenes are memorable and believable (I find that hard to concieve in some romance novels). So I rate this a high 5 and wish i could give it a 10 for page turning, keep you on your toes writting.

recommending: Katlyn Stewart and Janet Evanovich

This author delivers the bang for the buck! Unforgettable characters, keep reading through the night suspense.

Crash Hawken, government agent, becomes the prime suspect in the assassination attempt his commanding officer. He is charged with treason, conspiracy, and murder. The only friend he has left is Nell Burns, a woman who believes that a friend in need is a friend indeed. These two, who were once lovers, flee together in an effort to find the real killer and clear Crash's name.

Nell and Crash have a history -- as friends, as lovers. And she knows he could not have committed these crimes. Soon they are on the run, determined to uncover what really happened the night of the attempted assassination. But first they have to survive another day.

If you are even reading this review, you are probably a fellow Suzanne Brockmann fan. If not, buy this book and you will join the growing group of fans. Ms. Broackman's books always feel "real," no matter how far fetched the back of the book may make the plot seem.

This book was previously released as "Upon a Midnight Clear," and is my favorite of the TTD books, and probably my favorite romantic fiction book period.

One of the faults attributed to Ms. Brockmann is that her female characters are not as interesting or likeable as her male charaters. Ms. Brockmann herself has refered to this as the "too stupid to live" female lead problem. That is definately not the case with this book. Nell Burns is spunky and easy to root for.

Crash Hawken, the title character, is one of the best written characters that you will find in the genre. I love every scene told from his point of view, and love whenever he appears is later TDD books, as you learn from this book what is going on behind his quiet demeanor.

The sub-plot of this story is the lovely romance between Crash's surragete parents, his cousin Daisey and Jake Robinson (the lead charater of the Admiral's Bride). It is poingent, and makes you appreciate every day (and every sunset) you have with those you love.

William 'Crash' Hawken doesn't make any promises. He meets a girl, treats her well, but lets her know that he'll only be in town for a few days. Because being a Navy Seal means he won't be in any one place for long. He can't even promise a woman his government will let her know if he's killed in the line of duty. Because duty, for a Navy Seal working covert operations, is very much a gray zone. That's why Hawken has ignored the obvious chemistry he has with Nell Burns. Nell is the kind of woman who could capture Hawken's heart--put both himself and herself at risk.

When Hawken is framed for the murder of his best friend, Admiral Jake Robinson, though, only Nell believes in him. The court is lined with his brothers-in-arms, all quick to believe the 'evidence' and unwilling to believe that Hawken could never have committed this crime.

Nell doesn't mind rocking boats and calling on old connections to make sure Hawken gets a fair investigation--even though he did stomp on her heart the one time they made love. What she doesn't know is that her involvement puts her at risk. Because whoever framed Hawken definitely doesn't want anyone taking a closer look.

Author Suzanne Brockmann has become one of today's top-selling authors with her Navy Seal-inspired heroes and the tough, smart women who tame them. HAWKEN'S HEART shows Brockmann in an early stage of her career. (HAWKEN'S HEART is a re-release of Silhouette Intimate Moments #896 from 1998 entitled IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR). HAWKEN lacks the tight pacing of more recent Brockmann titles. I found the first half slow going as Hawken and Nell develop and then abandon a relationship. In the second half, Brockmann delivers her trademark mix of action, danger, patriotism, and emotion.

Bottom line, skim the first half, then hunker down and savor the second.

Nearly 7 years have passed but this reissue from Suzanne Brockman's Tall, Dark and Dangerous series continues to captivate with its beautifully-spun characters. Hawken's Heart, originally entitled "It came upon a Midnight Clear", is a heartfelt romance between Navy SEAL Billy "Crash" Hawkens and his cousin's personal assistant Nell Burns. Brockman sculpts the secondary romance between Admiral Jake Robinson and Daisy Owens with tenderness and pumps up the adrenaline when Crash is being framed for the assassination of Robinson. The chemistry between the feisty Nell and the brooding Crash is masterfully done. With some climactic surprises and a heart-rendering finale, Hawken's heart aims straight for the heart and establishes itself as one of Brockman's best.

HAWKEN'S HEART by amazing storyteller, Suzanne Brockmann, was such a good read.

I have read literally ALL of this fabulous writer's books and have enjoyed each one of them. I'm such a fan.

Ms. Brockmann has her own unique trademark in creating hot and believable characters, read-through without wanting to stop dialogue, and nail-biting suspensful plots that hold the reader captive for hours on end.

She could have easily been the creator/writer for the newer James Bond stories, like, "Die Another Day." One of my favorite.

If you are a die-hard romantic-suspense lover then, "HAWKEN'S HEART," is without question the book for you. You won't be disappointed!

(Highly Recommended Novel!)

The holidays aren't a great time for William "Crash" Hawken. Last Christmas, his cousin Daisy died of a brain tumor after finally tying the knot with Jake, her lover of 20 years. Daisy and Jake (a Navy admiral and former SEAL) were surrogate parents to Crash, who was abandoned by his distant father. Nell, Daisy's personal assistant fell for Crash the first time she saw him, but like any good SEAL who does not want to leave anyone behind, he kept his distance from her until he desperately needed comfort after Daisy's funeral.

A year later, he stands accused of treason in the murder of Jake his mentor, as well as two SEALS on his team. He knows it is a set up. He knows that a high ranking officer is behind it, since Jake told him this just before passing out. He just does not know who. Not even his SEAL team believes he might be innocent; Nell is the only one who believes in him. She helps him escape from custody at the courthouse then tells his lawyer she'll pay to have the ballistics tests rerun on the gun that killed Jake, knowing that Crash will be exonerated. This manages to put Nell on the bad guys poop list, and just as a hit man is about to strike, Crash puts a halt to it. His plan is to get the name of the top dog out of the gunmen's mouth, by any means necessary. But can her and Nell possibly have a future after she sees this other side to him?

One of Brockmann's better earlier Harlequin offerings (originally published as "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear"), she manages to make this more than a revenge fantasy. Despite Nell being a girly girl, she manages to prove to Crash and the reader that she is no shrinking violet.

Well this was another excellent instalment from Brockman's Tall Dark & Dangerous series. Here with this 6th addition we get Billy "Crash" Hawken's story and jeez did I ever fall hard for him. A member of "grey group" (who occasionally work alongside SEAL Team 10) Crash is aloof, loyal to a fault and oh so sexy in his secretive, lethal sort of way. He's a man of few words and even less emotion, or so it seems.

HAWKEN'S HEART is a well written and moving story, told here in two distinct sections each taking place a year apart. Brockmann also manages to encompass one of my favourite themes with this one; that of reunited lovers, made even better here as they're on the run and that always guarantees a good time. With a fast paced plot, memorable characters, searing love scenes (which for the most part take place in hotel bathrooms and against walls) and an ending that had me saying "perfect, how does she do it?" This one is not to be missed.

Navy SEAL Crash Hawken is the prime suspect in the assassination of his commanding officer. Charged with treason, conspiracy and murder he's been stripped of his commission and awaits the death penalty. The last person he expects to visit him in prison is Nell Burns; I mean things didn't exactly end well between them last Christmas and he hasn't spoken to her since, avoiding any contact by accepting multiple overseas missions. Her faith in him is unwavering though and as she tries to clear his name Nell unwittingly becomes a target, forcing these former lovers on the run. When it becomes evident that Crash is going to give his life (are those explosives in your pocket or ...) to keep Nell safe and find the man responsible for killing the Admiral, SEAL Team 10 finally enters the picture to back up our boy.

Waiting almost the entire book to hear from our SEALs had me full of anticipation, (which I'm sure Brockmann did on purpose) because when we'd last left them several team members had been injured and I wasn't entirely sure of their fate. Thankfully she didn't disappoint, with Blue, Cowboy and Joe Cat all playing roles. I also really enjoyed the significant subplot involving Admiral Robinson (THE ADMIRAL'S BRIDE) and his wife Daisy. This is bittersweet as Nell and Crash find each other but ultimately we witness the last days of Jake and Daisy's love story. Cheers people.

This story is also available along with HARVARD'S EDUCATION in the re-issue TALL, DARK AND DEVASTATING.

There are three main reasons to buy this book: 1) Suzanne Brockmann wrote it, so you know it's going to be good; 2) it IS a great story, and 3) both Ms. Brockmann and MIRA are very up-front about this book being a reissue of one of her previous releases.

Originally published in December 1998 as It Came Upon A Midnight Clear (Tall Dark And Dangerous) (Silhouette Intimate Moments, 896), the story has lost none of it's originality, sensuality, or action/adventure.

The story revolves around William "Crash" Hawken, a member of SEAL Team Twelve who gets framed for the murder of his Admiral boss and mentor, Jake Robinson. With his SEAL Team, superiors, and once friends convinced that he set the Admiral up for assassination, Crash has no one to turn to. Thankfully, someone comes to HIM.

Nell Burns spent a lot of time with Crash the previous year, at the home of Admiral Robinson and his live-in lover, Daisy Owens. The couple had been together for over twenty-years, and although they'd never had children of their own, they considered Crash to be their son. When Daisy is diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor, both Nell, her personal assistant, and Crash, her nephew, decided to make her last days as wonderful as possible.

That last year, Nell and Crash were lovers--for one night. But neither has ever forgotten the other, and now that Crash is literally fighting for his freedom, reputation, and very life, the two are on the run to find the real murderer of Admiral Robinson.

You won't go wrong with this book, or any other in Suzanne Brockmann's SEAL series.