Customer Reviews

Heartthrob

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the first mainstream romance by an award-winning series romance author, and it's well worth the wait! Brockmann delivers drama, comedy and believable, three-dimensional characterizations in this tale of Jericho Beaumont, a former a-list actor trying to rebuild his career after its flaming wreck due to his prescription-drug and alcohol abuse, and Kate O'Laughlin, a first time producer and screenwriter who is determined to get her independant movie made and made right, even if she has to demand her lead actor submit to daily drug testing and 24/7 supervision. The secondary characters also shine, particularly Susie McCoy, a 15-year-old child star who is trying to be taken seriously in her first adult role, and Jamaal Hawkes, a young, African-American man struggling to figure out how to deliver his best performance in the role of a slave when all he feels is anger and humiliation at the thought of being another man's property. Brockmann has obviously done her research on both movie production, and substance abuse and recovery. Yet, while the book deals with some very serious issues, the story and characters never wallow in self-pity or melodrama. I read very little romance, and buy even less of it new, but Suzanne Brockmann's name is at the top of my list. Read this book. Then do yourself a favor, and look into Suzanne Brockmann's backlist. Her books are well worth your time.

I originally borrowed this book from the library and after taking it out again 2 more times, went out and bought a copy -- for this book is definitely a keeper. The author creates a believable story from a fantasy -- a relationship with a celebrity once voted "sexiest man alive." From the fantasy any woman might have about such a man, Brockmann weaves a poignant, funny, and ultimately credible plot with well-developed characters, good love scenes, and a point of view which does not hit you over the head -- which is the damage done to us by our families and the self-destructive paths we pursue. The male protagonist -- Jericho-- is so well written that even after you finish the book you can remember his thought processes and feelings as described. This is especially true in such scenes as the one is which his bodyguard handcuffs him to a bed and then leaves him -- the anger and anguish and embarassment just flow off the page, as do his feelings for the heroine. The secondary characters are also well fleshed and contribute to the main story line. Although I generally prefer romances with a lot of humor, this book has stayed in my own library when many humorous romances have gone to the trading pile. This book is a fine example of the writer's craft and is not to be missed.

I have been a long time fan of this author. This is the first time I have read one of her older books. Previously I've only read were her SEAL team books. This book on the other hand went much deeper and really delved into a very touchy subject and that is substance abuse.

In "Heart Throb" our hero is a recovering alcoholic and prescription drug abuser. This is so different from the "perfect" hero that we normally find in the romance genre. As a result we are able to see what kind of conflict comes from this kind of life. Jed or Jericho is not perfect in life, but he had been perfect on the big screen. Then he hit rock bottom and finds that his ticket back to the A list in a movie called "The Promise". Problem is the producer of the movie Kate does not trust him as far as she can throw him. This is her movie and even though Jericho is the real life version of her hero on screen she can't run the risk that he will ruin everything by taking a drink. Kate's problem though is she finds herself attracted to Jericho and she knows that this could be the biggest mistake of her life is she allows herself to act on those feelings.

Ms. Brockmann does not tie up this romance all nice with a pretty bow. She allows both of them to experience a wide range of feelings one of which is mistrust on Kate's part. She would not be true to real feelings if this issue was ignored. As a result this was a much deeper romance and as a result of this much better. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is not afraid to have a touchy topic as a backdrop for a story.

Suzanne Brockmann won me over with "No Ordinary Man", and she hasn't lost me since. While I agree with some of the more recent reviewers that Heartthrob isn't quite up to the standard of a few of her more recent novels, I would consider it on par with others--a fine accomplishment, considering that this was her very first full-length novel.

SB's greatest strength has always been in the touching realness of her characters, and Jed and Kate don't fall short. This book is an apt demonstration that as much as we may resent celebrities of having "perfect" lives, EVERYONE has demons.

A couple of the other reviewers expressed disgust for the way in which Jed/Jericho was "degraded", and blamed Kate. I didn't see it that way. I have read many books--especially romances--in which one or both characters is routinely degraded (usually the woman), and while both characters in this one have their moments of embarassment, it is done entirely realistically and without triumph on the other's part. Kate layed out demands (someone to watch Jed, drug testing, etc.) that WERE an invasion of his privacy. However, she did not know him at the time, and his past behavior gave her no reason to trust him. Those demands were the only way in which she could get funding to produce the movie. The most humiliating incident, the one involving handcuffs, was not Kate's fault (the guard did it on his own, and Kate fired him as a result), though she does not escape blame. As the two come to know eachother better, they earn each other's respect. The book was impressive because it manages to make clear that trust must be earned. No one owes it to you, and that makes it all the more valuable a gift.

Both Kate and Jericho are haunted by their pasts, and that does not necessarily improve them. As in real life, adversity may make us stronger, but it also makes us suspicious, remote, and occasionally selfish--the traits of survivors who have learned to rely only on themselves. The beauty of this story is past hurts don't necessarily destroy your chances of future happiness. The abused are still capable of giving and receiving love, and the objectified can still find strength and self-confidence in themselves.

One of the few authors who can rival Suzanne Brockmann, Mary Jo Putney, has a novel very similar to this one, with possibly even more punch. It is called "The Spiral Path", and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Heartthrob. It, too, deals with issues of abuse, so if you're squeamish, avoid.

After finishing this book, I immediately rushed to the RomanceWriters of America website and nominated it for Book of the Year. Theauthor did a terrific job with a very complex and moving story. The "making-of-a-movie" setting was fresh and intriguing. Everything about the book rang true for me. The primary romance was sexy, sweet, and totally believable while the secondary romance won my heart as well. This is a fantastic book. If you like Nora Roberts, I strongly urge you to give this book a read!

I devoured this book. I read an excerpt, and then I could not rest until I had the book in my hand and finish Kate & Jed’s story.

Kate is a producer/writer who has had a hard time with her body that had matured faster than that of her friends. She was humiliated and suffered abuse from the other kids in school. She has made a tenuous peace with her past and with her ex-husband and as a result, is now working on a wonderful project. She is producing a movie that she wrote, and come hell, high water or Jericho Beaumont this movie is going to be perfect.

Jed is a man running from his emotions. His acting career has dried up and Kate’s movie is his one last chance to be considered a serious actor. He comes from an abusive past and has struggled to put the memories of shame and abuse behind him. He has overcome alcohol & drug addictions, and now 5 yrs later is prepared to humble himself and take on the greatest role of his career.

This is an interesting story. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters. I did find the constant 24/7 references a bit tedious. There were some other things that got in the way of making this a 5 star read, but over all I enjoyed reading this story and look forward with great anticipation to reading the “Bodyguard”.

This is a departure--a Brockmann book that's not about Navy SEALs. (insert mini-rant about fiction believing that the only people in the military--or at least the only interesting ones--are SEALs)

Jericho Beaumont is an actor who's trying to make a comeback after drug and alcohol addiction. Mary Kate O'Laughlin is trying to produce her first feature film, and what makes it even more important for her--she's also the screenwriter.

She doesn't want to hire him because she can't afford the problems he's had in the past--not showing up for work, or showing up drunk. But in the audition, he is by far the best choice, and, what's worse from Mary Kate's perspective, the actors she wants for the other roles agree to take them because they want to work with the famous Jericho Beaumont.

So she agrees, with stipulations: that he submit to daily drug testing and that he have a "babysitter" 24/7. Jericho agrees to the stipulations because it's the role of a lifetime.

Heartthrob is an intensely emotional story. It doesn't whitewash the problems Jericho faces in staying away from alcohol, but neither does it wallow in them. He's humiliated several times in the course of the story, and much of the plot is about how he deals with that. One of his plans is to pay Mary Kate back for the humiliation in kind--by seducing and then rejecting her--but anyone who's ever read a book can figure out how well that tactic will work.

There's a lot about trust, and for once it's not a matter of characters demanding instant, unreasonable trust. It's about the development of trust.

There's also a sweet coming-of-age secondary romance between the young co-stars of the movie that I enjoyed very much. Character development and growth isn't limited to the two protagonists--the secondary characters grow and change as well.

I doubt Brockmann will get back on my must-buy list any time soon, since I burned out pretty thoroughly on the whole Navy-SEAL-romance subgenre, but I'm not going to avoid her books, either.

I am such a sucker for Hollywood romances! By the description, this was my ideal contemporary romance. A gorgeous, larger than life, tortured hero. I couldn't wait! Unfortunatey, then I met the heroine.

This is a relationship based on control, and I really, really detest relationships based on this unhealthy premise. Jericho Beaumont is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. His career has been ruined, and he is desperately trying to rebuild his life. To say I loved this character would be a huge understatement. This is a man with a horrific past who readily admits his mistakes and courageously and humbly is trying to rebuild his life and career. I loved his honesty and his vulnerability. He embodies my definition of a "to die for" hero and I felt he deserved someone so much kinder than Kate O'Laughlin.

Kate O'Laughlin is the worst kind of heroine. She is a "control freak" who embarrasses Jericho from the get go. She holds power over him as she is the producer of the film he's attempting his "come back" with. Kate never lets him forget that she holds his future in the palm of her hand. Time and time again she has opportunities to believe in this man, and time after time she proves herself incapable of what Jericho desperately needs......someone to believe in him.

I found myself so irritated by Kate, and somewhat irritated that Jericho allows himself to be treated in such demeaning ways! Towards the end, a light bulb finally goes off in Kate's mind and she suddenly trusts this man who has been deserving of her trust for most of the book. It was a little "too little too late" for me. I think he should've moved past her and found someone with less insecurity and more heart. I recommend this book for the hero alone. I cannot recommend the story.

Suzanne Brockmann has a hit on her hands with HEART THROB. Not only has Brockmann taken on the tricky subject of drug and alcohol abuse, but she's tackled the taboo "actor"hero in a romance and she's done is successfully. In HEART THROB, Brockmann has melded the two seamlessly into one dynamite package. And what a package he is. Jed is hero enough to make every reader want one. Watching Jed come to the realization that loving someone means that you have to open yourself and vulnerable, certainly brought a tear to my eye. In Kate, Brockmann has created a wonderful blend of sex-kitten and repressed sensuality. Kate has problems reconciling a painful childhood and her current-day accomplishments. Funny, sensual, fearless and realistic, HEART THROB should not be missed. Lisa Hamilton, BookNook Romance Reviews

Suzanne Brockmann writes such wonderful books. I loved the way she took Jericho Beaumont down to the depths and brought him back up to the top. She did a wonderful job with the lead characters in Heartthrob. The sexual tension between Jericho and Kate was so thick you could almost see it. I thought Kate was the perfect foil for Jericho. She also made great use of her secondary characters, especially Susie and Jamaal. She threaded their story through very nicely. Suzanne Brockmann is an automatic buy for me.