Customer Reviews

Prince Joe (Tall, Dark & Dangerous, Book 1)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I usually dislike any action/adventure in romances because the authors forget to concentrate on the characters and spend the entire book on car chases and gunfights. Well, Brockmann is one author who does it right! The characters are always the focus, with the action a nice bonus.

Joe Cat is a wonderful hero: a tough, intelligent, funny, blue-collar kind of guy. He is the leader of the Alpha Squad of the Navy SEALs. Veronica is a high-class and hoity toity media consultant. A job brings them together: Joe must pose as the Prince of Eustanzia to catch a terrorist. Veronica must turn this macho sailor with the atrocious New Jersey accent into a prince in 2 days!

The attraction between them is immediate and very powerful, but many things stand in their way. Joe, a usually confident man, feels insecure for the first time. His blue-collar background makes him think Veronica won't want him for more than a fling. Is he right? You have to read the book! Veronica, for her part, is scared for Joe as catching dangerous terrorists is a daily thrill for him. Does she ask him to quit the SEALs? You have to read the book! Believe me, it's better than I can ever describe.

I was excited to learn that this is Brockmann's 1st book in a 10-book (or more) series about Navy SEALs. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

I aboslutely love this book and must have read it a dozen times. Joe is the most amazing, complex, sexy hero you could ask for and Veronica at first seems to be so reserved and stand-offish, but wow, do things heat up! This is the first book in the TDD (Tall, Dark and Dangerous) series and I can't believe they just keep getting better and better with each adventure. I love them all and can't wait for Lucky's book, which is next, but Joe Cat has a very special place in my heart. When an author makes you care about, remember and want to re-read about a character, you know you've found one terrific author. Keep up the marvelous work, Suzanne. And thanks from the bottom of my heart. (Yes, the one last skips a few beats thinking about a certain Navy SEAL.)

FRISCO'S KID was the first Brockmann book I had read and now I am hooked on the TDD series. The first three books in this series have recently been re-issued (with MUCH better covers than their original releases - what were they thinking with those hokey covers?). First was PRINCE JOE, second FOREVER BLUE and third FRISCO. Looking forward to the re-issues of EVERYDAY AVERAGE JONES in spring 2004 and HARVARD'S EDUCATION coming July 2004. I hope all of the books in the series are re-issued and soon or I may have to look for them used.

Navy SEAL Joe Catalanotto is enjoying his leave fishing with friends when a chopper approaches their rented boat, drops a ladder and over the loudspeaker a voice announces "Lieutenant Joseph P Catalanotto, your shore leave is over". And just like that Joe finds himself whisked off to Washington, DC with no idea of why or what his mission might be. He finds himself face to face with media consultant Veronica St John who breaks the bad news: because of his uncanny resemblance to Prince Tedric of Ustanzia, he is to impersonate the prince on his US tour. The prince has been the target of an assassination attempt and they need Joe to act as the Prince until the terrorists are caught. Joe balks at first since he hates Tedric - because of Tedric, one of Joe's guys (Frisco) was seriously wounded when they rescued him from Baghdad years before. But Joe ultimately agrees to the plan.

Veronica St John certainly has her work cut out for her! She has to turn this rough, Jersey-accented sailor into a suave European prince in three days! While Joe is confident and cocky that he can play this part, Veronica is not so sure. He's more interested in the strategy and security aspect of his mission than getting down Tedric's mannerisms, accent and background - much to Veronica's frustration. She thinks he's not taking her seriously, but boy is she wrong. Joe takes her very seriously and he's starting to become attracted to her. But uncharacteristically, he's unsure - she's a rich, classy, professional who spends time in the company of royalty. While he hates this feeling of inadequacy, he starts to wonder if maybe she's out of his league. But he's a SEAL, the best of the best for God's sake! And anyway, he thinks he sees interest in her eyes, so why not go for it?

Oh, she's interested all right, but she's also wary of getting involved with a Navy SEAL who risks his life everyday - and enjoys it! It would be very difficult to watch him leave on a mission not knowing if he will come back. But being together so much with this undercurrent of attraction is bound to lead to something - and so it does. And as the tour moves on with Joe impersonating the prince, making himself a target each day, her feelings intensify as well as her fears. She's not sure she can live like this, always worrying for him. For Joe, things couldn't be better. The job's a cakewalk and he's got a girl he's crazy about. But when the terrorists are caught and the job is over will their relationship remain?

Joe is a great character, just so cute and cocky and sweet and tough. But a couple of issues: the end seems a bit rushed with the resolution to their conflict a little too easy, and I've heard this before about this author, while Joe's character is pretty well developed Ronnie could have used a bit more depth and dimension. But I still love and recommend this book highly!

Suzanne Brockmann is a genius. This book is perfect...But since I have read all 10 of the existing Tall, Dark, Dangerous (TDD) series, I figure it was time to put in my 2 cents. Not all of them are as good as this one, but since you get to revisit with the guys I wouldn't miss any...You won't be disappointed. This book is so good that you should just find it now and read it...I have already read this book 5 times. And I am sure I will read it again.

This is the first book by Suzanne Brockmann that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As a single woman in San Diego, I am familiar with the "boys" who grace our city. Additionally, I was luck enough to have a roommate who was the Public Affairs Office (PAO) for the Seal training center, "Buds." I know some Seals firsthand and the characters depicted are as real as these men. Suzanne Brockmann has done her research! They are unassuming and down-to-earth like "Prince" Joe but carry an amazing ability to assimilate into all types of situations.

Our heroine, Ronnie, is a publicist for a small European country who is trying to get US aid to drill for oil. While on a US goodwill tour, an assassination attempt is made on the Prince. As a result, Ronnie is to create a prince out of a New York bred Navy Seal, Joe Catalanotto. This doesn't appear an easy task, except Ronnie doesn't know much about the Seals and how they are trained to absorb any role asked of them.

If you liked the movies, "Dave", "Top Gun" and "Romancing the Stone" this book creates some of the same warm and fuzzy feelings. Plus you get a bonus of learning about the awe- inspiring jobs that the Seals do for our country.

I absolutley love this book. Veronica and Joe make a great couple and team. I love the story line: it is fun, exciting and keeps you held to the end, I wish Suzanne Brockman would write a sequel to Joe and Veronica's story!

It seems that the topic of terrorism has infiltrated our zeitgeist so much so that even romance cannot escape drawing plots parallel to it. This timely re-issue of Suzanne Brockmann's Prince Joe blends the heroics of SEALS with a scorching romance tinged with a fairy-tale charm. Ustanzian Prince Tedric on a diplomatic trip to America is being ambushed by an infamous terrorist organization The Cloud of Death. After a close brush with death, Prince Tedric resorts to finding a substitute with an uncanny resemblance in looks. He is SEALS Lieutenant Joe Catalanotto who previously rescued Tedric from an attack in Baghdad. Prince Tedric leaves the uphill task of transforming the coarse Joe to refined royalty to media consultant Veronica St. John. Saturated with chemistry and passion, Prince Joe shows Suzanne Brockmann at crafting top-notch romance with believable characters. Their polarized status and differences - not to mention the insecurity that Joe's occupation brings poses obstacle to their fragile relationship. The ultimate triumph to love is bittersweet and Suzanne Brockmann creates an epilogue that will twist your heart out with its poignancy. Her well-researched materials on armoury and SEAls serves to fortify the credibilty but it is the strength of her romance that marks it a royal treat.

A lot more interesting than your basic one night stands! Suzanne Brockmann stirs up a sensual read in Prince Joe. I can't wait till her next book! A definate pleasure for all romance readers!

Joe and Veronica's story is a thoroughly enjoyable read. If you want a break from the norm... dukes in Regency England, Cowboys and half-breeds of the old west... and more realistic than vampires or aliens falling in love with human females in futuristic/sci-fi romance novels... then try Brockman's Prince Joe! A Navy Seal meets a no-nonsense business woman. Read how they unite for a life-threatening mission and deal with realistic challenges to any possible future together--as Veronica faces her fears of the unknown ... of loving a man who puts his life on the line in ways and places that are top-secret--as Joe confronts a side of himself he's never had to before...to make a decision between his male pride and the woman he loves.
Brockman has found her niche in romance... women capable of capturing the hearts of military men, and even better: Navy Seals!

Although this was my first Suz Brockmann, I see many more of her books in my future. I LOVED this book!!! I have since ordered several more in the series and I am impatiently waiting for their delivery!!! If you like your books HOT and action packed, I highly recomend this book. Joe is the perfect balance between sweet and tough, and Veronica is helpless to resist his charm. Brockmann will make you wish you were the heroine! My one regret is that I hadn't found her awsome books sooner. I have heard that the rest of the series is just as good, so I am looking forward to many happy reading days.