Hot Target (Troubleshooters, Book 8) [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Suzanne Brockmann (Author), Patrick Lawlor (Reader), Melanie Ewbank (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 28, 2004

New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann knows exactly what makes hearts race and pulses pound: peril and passion. No one succeeds more brilliantly at blending these exhilarating elements in breathtaking novels of men and women forced to grapple with the deepest emotions and the highest risks. And there's no better proof than her new novel of suspense: Hot Target aims to thrill on every level. Like most men of action, Navy SEAL Chief Cosmo Richter has never learned how to take a vacation. So when he finds himself facing a month's leave, he offers his services to Troubleshooters Incorporated. Founded by a former SEAL, the private-sector security firm is a major player in the ongoing war against terrorism, carrying out covert missions too volatile for official U.S. military action. But the first case Richter takes on is anything but under the radar. High-profile maverick movie producer Jane Mercedes Chadwick hasn't quite completed her newest film, but she's already courting controversy. The World War II epic frankly portrays the homosexuality of a real-life hero - and the storm of media buzz surrounding it has drawn the fury of extremist groups. But despite a relentless campaign of angry e-mails, phone calls, and smear tactics, Chadwick won't be pressured into abandoning the project. Then the harassment turns to death threats. Though the FBI is on the scene, nervous Holly-wood associates call in Troubleshooters, and now Chadwick has an army of round-the-clock body-guards whether she likes it or not. And she definitely doesn't. But her stubbornness doesn't make FBI agent Jules Cassidy's job any easier. The fiercely independent filmmaker presents yet another emotional obstacle that Cassidy doesn't need - he's already in the midst of a personal tug-of-war with his ex-lover, and now he's also fighting a growing attraction to Chadwick's brother. Determined to succeed - and survive - on her own terms, Chadwick will face off with enemies and allies alike. And yet she hasn't counted on the bond she'll form with the quiet, capable Cosmo Richter. Even as the noose of deadly terror around them draws tighter, their feelings bring them closer. And when all hell erupts, desire and desperate choices will collide on a killing ground that may trap them both in the crossfire.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Known for her adrenaline-laced Navy SEAL romances, Brockmann displays a new, more political side in this brisk but bumpy romantic thriller, which advocates gay rights. Though the book follows the exploits of sexy, silent Cosmo Richter, the man of mystery from Brockmann's earlier romances (Gone Too Far, etc.), Cosmo must share the limelight with Jules Cassidy, a gay FBI agent and also a recurring character in Brockmann's books. Both Cosmo and Jules are charged with safeguarding hot Hollywood producer Jane Chadwick, who has come under fire (literally) for making a movie dealing with two gay war heroes. A few contrived plot twists find Cosmo and Jane initially butting heads, then coming together as friends and finally burning up the sheets as lovers. More compelling is Jules's struggle to stay away from his egocentric ex, an actor who conveniently lands a starring role in Jane's film, and from Jane's brother Robin, who's so deep in the closet that he has turned to drink. At times, Brockmann goes too far in pushing her agenda—even Cosmo is a card-carrying member of PFLAG who, thanks to his gay father, "can name every Barbara Streisand album ever made"—and readers won't need second sight to foresee the story's twists. Still, Brockmann's uncanny ability to give each character an authentic voice and dialogue to match will pull readers through this shaky installment.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Jane Mercedes Chadwick has worked hard to cultivate her image, and having a bodyguard around would prove that her reputation as Hollywood's "Party Girl Producer" is more fiction than fact. But after she begins receiving death threats from a group of neo-Nazis who object to her latest project, Jane's studio ignores her protests and hires Troubleshooters, Inc. Babysitting a hot movie producer should have been an easy assignment. Then U.S. Navy SEAL Cosmo Richter meets Jane, and not only does he have to convince the sharp-tongued and sharp-witted Jane that she really is in danger but Cosmo has to convince himself that becoming romantically involved with a client really isn't a good idea. Several characters from previous books in Brockmann's Troubleshooters, Inc., series have roles to play in her latest riveting tale of danger and desire, including FBI agent Jules Cassidy, whose old romance with actor Adam Wyndham and whose present, somewhat confusing relationship with Jane's younger brother provide even more romantic complications for the plot. Brockmann's latest is funny, sexy, suspenseful, and superb. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio Unabridged; Unabridged edition (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593555962
• ISBN-13: 978-1593555962
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.8 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,174,340 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Suzanne Brockmann is the award-winning author of fifty-one books, and is widely recognized as one of the leading voices in romantic suspense. Her work has earned her repeated appearances on the New York Times bestseller list, as well as numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's #1 Favorite Book of the Year and two RITA awards.

Married to author Ed Gaffney, Suz divides her time between Sarasota, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts and New York City. They have two grown children, Melanie, who is a personal trainer and a writer, and Jason, who is an actor and tap dancer, and two miniature schnauzers, C.K. Dexter-Haven and Little Joe, both of whom (unlike Mel and Jason) still live at home.

Suz is a proud member of PFLAG -- Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. She is also a card-carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign, and MassEquality. A firm believer in civil rights for all people, she has fought hard to bring equal marriage rights to all citizens of her home state, Massachusetts.

Suz also recently produced her first independent feature-length movie, a romantic comedy called THE PERFECT WEDDING, that she co-wrote with her husband Ed and her son Jason. The film is currently in post-production. (Find out more at www.ThePerfectWeddingMovie.com)

Visit Suz's Website at www.SuzanneBrockmann.com
Find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Usual Brockmann Page-Turner!, December 31, 2004

By 

L. McCreadie "slmchicago" (Elmhurst, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Target (Troubleshooters, Book 8) (Hardcover)

There has yet to be a Brockmann book that I haven't loved. And this one is no exception - it contains her usual realistic dialogue, fully formed three-dimensional characters, and the perfect balance of a-plot and romance without tipping into the "too technical" abyss that could happen in such stories.

I did love the relationship between Jane and Cosmo. But...I have to say that I was slightly disappointed when Cosmo turned out to be not quite the "dangerous man with a mysterious past" character he had appeared to be in previous stories, but actually a very open-minded, generous-hearted and very understanding man. Don't get me wrong - I think these traits are absolutely necessary in a good hero. I just almost felt that Cosmo was too good to be true. There was no digging beneath the layers of toughness and mystery to find the tender jewel beneath his exterior - he pretty much laid it all on the table up front. And in the end, all of the dark mystery surrounding him was actually based on a bunch of gossip that had just gotten blown out of proportion. The truth of the story was very moving, and it made me fall in love with Cosmo. But I felt the "menace" of his character in past stories was missing in this one.

As for the heroine, Jane, at first I really didn't like her. What she did - using her bodyguards so expoitively to promote her own agenda - was really low. But she did redeem herself once she fully understood how what she had done affected those around her. And I was very touched by her reaction to the tragic events that occurred to others trying to protect her. It seemed to be a very realistic response.

I also loved that Brockmann has brought Jules Cassidy to the forefront as a leading character. I wanted to weep for him as he found himself on the verge of a wonderful relationship only to be thwarted by the hangups of his would-be-partner. Jules is such a wonderful man, and I want nothing more than for him to fall in love and settle down, since this is what he seems to want for himself. I'm hoping that perhaps, in a future novel, he'll meet Robin Chadwick again and Robin will be ready for him.

Which leads me to Robin Chadwick. Now this is a character I do hope Brockmann shows us more of. I felt so sorry for him - it was so obvious to me who and what he is, but that he feels he can't be that person is tragic. I prayed through the whole book that his feelings for Jules would be enough to allow him that freedom, and despite my sadness that things didn't work out the way I'd hoped, his actions seem very, very realistic given his history and his desires for the future.

My problems with this book - the reasons I didn't give it five stars - have been mentioned by others. Several characters where given voice when I didn't really see a need for it. For example, Lawrence Decker made a POV appearance on several occasions, but I'm not really sure why it was necessary. His story wasn't advanced in any way, nor was he integral to the two main romances at hand. Too, Max Baghat showed up in one scene only to fade right back into the woodwork. Sometimes I feel like Brockmann thinks she needs to remind us of her entire cast of characters so we'll remember them when they show up as the primary characters of future stories. A sort of name-dropping habit that really isn't necessary.

Also, I didn't much like the portrayal of the Adam character. He confused me. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to hate him or like him. Often he appeared to be a first class sleaze bag who used people shamelessly, only to do something mildly heroic. Instead of viewing these contrasting actions as making him three-dimensional, they seemed more out-of-character. I never understood what Jules had ever seen in the guy, so Jules heartbreak was hard for me to understand. Rather than throw the "lover from the past" into Jules' story, I would have loved more development of his relationship with Robin and how Robin's total denial of his homosexuality caused heartache.

Neither did I much like Patty, Jane's assistant. She was so incredibly naive, and Robin's treatment of her was horrid. I just felt sorry for her, but only in a pathetic way rather than in a sympathetic way.

These complaints aside, I did find myself unable to put the book down. Once again Brockmann has written a story that pulled me so completely into her world that I felt I was hanging out with old friends. And now, sadly, I'm back to waiting the long months until the next Brockmann release...

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 1/2 stars from a Brockmann Fan, January 7, 2005

By 

E. Schwarz - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Target (Troubleshooters, Book 8) (Hardcover)

The first Suzanne Brockmann book I read was "Out of Control", and after that I bought or borrowed nearly every book she's ever written. Reluctantly, then, I give Hot Target three and a half stars, but not for the reasons many other reviews have given.

This is a story of a Hollywood director who is threatened by a fringe hate group because of the content of the movie she's filming. But the bad guys are never really fully described, and the threat never feels personal. (This is in stark contrast to another of her best books, "Over the Edge", where, with Gina's story, you feel the very real threat throughout the whole book.)

There is tension in this book, but it's mainly "please don't do anything dumb" tension as the main characters seem to make stupid decision after stupid decision, whether in their actions or their love decisions.

All of this being said, Suzanne Brockmann still writes a gripping story that I had a hard time putting down. I just hope she focuses more on action, on SEALs, and on her plot development in her next book.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling characters that will keep you hooked, August 25, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hot Target (Troubleshooters, Book 8) (Hardcover)

After receiving death threats for her screenplay depicting a decorated gay war hero and his lover, Jane is forced by the studio to have around-the-clock protection from Troubleshooters, Inc., a firm comprised of security experts, Navy SEALS, FBI agents, and the like. At first she's against it, but a burgeoning attraction to by-the-book Cosmo Richter soon has her singing a different tune - especially when someone takes a shot at her. Sharing the spotlight is Jules Cassidy, a charismatic FBI agent (usually banished to the background), who hasn't been in a relationship since his lover, aspiring actor Adam stepped out on him one time too many. Further complicating Jules' life is a growing attraction to Jane's brother, alcoholic heartthrob actor Robin Chadwick. Robin is so deep in the closet that he doesn't understand his feelings toward the captivating Jules, which just sends him further into the bottle.

Make no doubt about it; the book starts out as romance between Jane and Cosmo. But soon the more compelling triangle of Jules-Adam-Robin heats up the story, giving it heart and soul, particularly when Adam is cast as Robin's lover in the movie, much to Jules' chagrin. Brockmann portrays the triangle with such sensitivity and compassion, that the reader is swept away with her character development and their own imagination to the point that you really care about the characters, flaws and all, regardless of their sexual orientation. When it comes to fast-paced SEAL action, no romantic suspense writer surpasses Brockmann.