Into the Storm (Troubleshooters, Book 10) [Hardcover]

Suzanne Brockmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2006

Bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann blends high adventure, harrowing drama, and heart-racing passion into thrilling novels of suspense. Whether tackling danger or wrestling with desire, her elite heroes and heroines never fail to give their all, in stories that soar above and beyond expectations. Now, in her electrifying new novel, Brockmann takes us INTO THE STORM.

In a remote, frozen corner of New Hampshire, a Navy SEAL team and the elite security experts of Troubleshooters, Incorporated are going head-to-head as fierce but friendly rivals in a raid-and-rescue training exercise. Despite the frigid winter temperatures, tension smolders between veteran SEAL Petty Officer Mark “Jenk” Jenkins and former cop turned Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine after an impulsive night goes awry. And then, suddenly, Tracy Shapiro, the Troubleshooters’ new receptionist, vanishes while playing the role of hostage during a mock rescue operation.

Teaming up with the FBI to launch a manhunt in the treacherous wilderness, Jenk and Lindsey must put aside their feelings as a record snowstorm approaches, dramatically reducing any hope of finding Tracy alive. The trail is colder than the biting New England climate until a lucky break leads to a horrifying discovery–a brutally murdered young woman wearing the jacket Tracy wore when she disappeared. Suddenly there is a chilling certainty that Tracy has fallen prey to a serial killer–one who knows the backwoods terrain and who doesn’t play by the rules of engagement.

In a race against time, a raging blizzard, and a cunning opponent, Jenk and Lindsey are put to the ultimate test. Rising everything, they must finally come together in a desperate attempt to save Tracy–and each other.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Prolific romance novelist Brockmann returns with the next installment in her popular "Troubleshooter" series following U.S. Navy SEAL Team Sixteen. Here the focus is on Petty Officer Mark "Jenk" Jenkins and Troubleshooters operative Lindsey Fontaine. As part of a winter training exercise in the New Hampshire mountains, the SEALs team up with civilian counterterrorism outfit Troubleshooters Incorporated, run by former SEAL commander, Tom Paoletti. On Jenk's recommendation, Tom hires eye-candy Tracy Shapiro as a Troubleshooters receptionist. Jenk has a crush on the clueless Tracy, while it's Lindsey who appreciates all his jokes. And, that's just for starters. All the women are smart and sexy; all the men are brave, handsome and sensitive; and all the sex is hot-and safe. Everyone carries emotional baggage, or as the author notes, "they all had their pain." As the SEALs and Troubleshooters train together and work out their relationships and emotional issues, they discover a serial killer is on the loose. The multiple subplots converge when the killer, who scalps and mutilates his victims, snatches Tracy, setting off a frantic race against time and nature-an inconvenient blizzard socks the area-to rescue her. Jenk and Lindsey must put aside their feelings and work together to save their friend. Brockmann knows her readers and doesn't disappoint in this suspenseful and entertaining action romance.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

At first Lindsey Fontaine can't think of enough ways to "thank" U.S. Navy SEAL Team Sixteen member Mark "Jenk" Jenkins for his role in gifting Troubleshooters, Inc. with its totally clueless, completely inefficient new receptionist, Tracy Shapiro. Even if Jenk is hopelessly in love with Tracy, Lindsey quickly discovers that he really is a great guy when the two of them are assigned the task of coordinating a winter training exercise in New Hampshire between Team Sixteen and Troubleshooters, Inc. What starts out as a friendly competition soon turns into a real-life rescue mission when Tracy disappears just as evidence of a serial killer is discovered in the area. Brockmann's latest adrenaline-laced Team Sixteen--Troubleshooters, Inc. novel has all the right ingredients, including terrific characters, a riveting plot rich in action and adventure, and expertly witty writing. Into the Storm is sexy, suspenseful, and irresistible. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 374 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (August 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345480147
• ISBN-13: 978-0345480149
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #969,525 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

44 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing considering her other SEAL 16/Troubleshooter novels, August 29, 2006

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Into the Storm (Troubleshooters, Book 10) (Hardcover)

It's the Saltwater Cowboys versus the Troubleshooters... as the two are pitted together in an exercise and competition of sorts. Troubleshooter Lindsey Fontaine is nursing a huge crush on vertically challenged SEAL Mark Jenkins (hey - I'm not the one who made his stature abundantly clear 25 times in the book). When she is chosen as the "victim" she has to work double time to prove her SEAL-worthiness. Mark is attracted to Lindsey, but has always wanted childhood goddess Tracy Shapiro. He thinks he might have a chance with her now that Tracy has broken up with her wandering eyed boyfriend Lyle. Again. But after the competition, it is Lindsey who lands in his bed, then races out of it when Tracy has another meltdown and turns to Mark for comfort.

When the competition proves successful, they decide to do it all over again... in the freezing cold mountains of New Hampshire. Tracy gets to come along as the victim, and Lindsey relishes in letting her know she can only bring one carry on. As they set out on the new excursion, the tension between Mark (who is now head over heels for Lindsey) and Lindsey is so thick you can cut it with a knife. But ever the professionals, they try to keep their feelings in check. During the exercise, chaos ensues, and then suddenly, Tracy is nowhere to be found, and falls unwittingly into the hands of a sadistic serial killer. Will the cowboys and troubleshooters find her in time?

There is so much going on in this story. And yet, it really lags. There are three potential romances, two of which are triangles. And a serial killer on the loose... each could be a story itself. While Izzy can be humorous at times, it got old really quick. I found that the only compelling romance was between Sophia and Deck, and that one is destined to play out longer than Sam and Alyssa.

Was it just me, or did Marc and Lindsey's romance sound eerily familiar, like perhaps Wes and Brittany from "Night Watch?" Vertically challenged guy in love with a woman they cannot have so they have a "casual" relationship with the next best thing that really turns out to be the best thing... It was a good read, but not one that would stand up to repeated scrutiny or readings. If this is your first SEAL 16 novel, go back and read an earlier one like "Over the Edge" first.

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very well done, August 16, 2006

By 

Katydid (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Storm (Troubleshooters, Book 10) (Hardcover)

I wasn't sure I even wanted to read this book, because I knew it was about Jenk, and who cares about Jenk? But I bought it and I'm glad. I could not put it down - I read it in one day. This is the Brockmann of old. I admit I didn't like her other Troubleshooter book - I didn't like Tess, Nash, OR Decker. But Sophia is very interesting, and her sidestory is intruiging, and I hope, not over yet. Izzy was the best secondary character, hands down, I can only hope he succumbs to true love next. He is taking WildCard's role in the series, I think, the lovable goofball who says outrageous things.

But Mark Jenkins and Lindsey are wonderful characters. They have real chemistry, and are very likable. I loved the setting too, having them in cold weather was quite a switch. Lopez cannot take cold weather? Who knew?

I laughed out loud over some parts, well, pretty much every time Izzy talked. The scene where they're making Jenks tell a ghost story in the car and Izzy keeps interrupting - classic.

The camaradarie between the characters was very strong in this book, and is one of the things I liked the best. Lots of kidding around, but real emotion, too.

Good job, Suzanne.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, Witty, and Riveting Blend of Romance and Intrigue, December 23, 2006

By 

Lauren Sophie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Into the Storm (Troubleshooters, Book 10) (Hardcover)

I've read all the books in this series, and _Into the Storm_ may feature my favorite stand alone romance (i.e. a romance that doesn't progress over the course of several books, but begins and ends in one volume). Lindsey and Mark have great dialogue, a ton of chemistry, and some believable conflict. They aren't a tortured couple, but they do have depth, and Lindsey, without a doubt, is one of the strongest female leads of the series. I liked her, I liked Mark, and I liked watching them fall in love.

The supporting stories are riveting, although I suspect most readers will find it hard to warm up to Tracy. Izzy, though, has a fresh and funny voice, and there are two scenes in particular that made me laugh out loud (something I rarely do while reading). Dave is a good guy as well, although I'm rooting for Sophia and Decker to finally get together.

I also think Brockmann should be praised for being one of the very few authors in an overcrowded "romantic suspense" market who is able to seamlessly blend romance that is truly romantic, and suspense that is actually suspenseful.

That said, there were a few things in this novel I enjoyed less than others. The serial killer plot, although original in terms of the plots of the other books in the series, is very hard to get through. Yet again, it's nice to see an author keep the focus on one group of people-- Navy SEALs in this case-- and yet branch out to include differing scenarios to amp up the drama.

My one other complaint is that I think it's time for Sophia and Decker to have their own book. They've reached that same point as Sam and Alyssa did in "Into the Night" where the misunderstandings and the angst are starting to grate. Having their story evolve into a kind of triangle is a twist, but one that quickly out-stayed its welcome, in my opinion.

But I can't wait for the next book in the series. This was is absolutely worth reading.