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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
I was totally in the mood for a good contemporary romance and this one delivered in spades. The fictional town of Baldwin's Bridge felt totally real, the characters were people I knew, and the romance thoroughly believable. I especially loved the best frenemies relationship of Joe and Charles. Brockman NAILED grumpy old men who had fought in WWII. I felt like I was able to spend time again with my Bumpa, a Pacific theatre vet who passed a few years ago.
There's also enough sequel bait going on here that I will totally check out the next one either through the library or if it's on sale via Amazon.
There's also enough sequel bait going on here that I will totally check out the next one either through the library or if it's on sale via Amazon.
2022 Update
I first read this book in 2010 and this time reread it by listening to the audio version. What a difference that makes as I enjoyed the narrator’s performance! He was a great storyteller. It was remarkable how many details I’d forgotten but not the essence of the story. I actually liked it more the second time around, possibly because of the narrator but also as I had a higher appreciation for the historical story involving Charles & Joe. The ending touched me more deeply as well. I’m increasing my rating to 4.5 stars.
2010 Review
Quick summary
During a mission, Navy SEAL Tom Paoletti suffers a head injury that sidelines him. While recuperating at his New England hometown, he catches a glimpse of a notorious terrorist but no one believes him. See, Tom was the leader of SEAL Team 16 and no matter the injury, his instincts are stellar. He puts together a bare-bones team to help him figure out what's going on. In the meantime, he's also reconnecting with Kelly Ashton, his teenage crush and the woman who got away.
Why this book is special
Tom is the consummate hero. If you were to outline the qualities you'd like to see in one, you'd find them in this character. His subordinates respect and admire him and it was no wonder that Kelly fell for him all over again.
This book is also the first in one of my all-time favorite series. It's not as exciting and suspenseful as those that follow but it's important in that Tom creates the Troubleshooters group, setting the stage for all that comes next. It's romantic, funny, suspenseful and downright frightening at times.
The bottom line
Tom Paoletti exemplifies all that is honorable about our armed forces. It's a wonderful story to begin an incredible series written by one of my most favorite authors.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I first read this book in 2010 and this time reread it by listening to the audio version. What a difference that makes as I enjoyed the narrator’s performance! He was a great storyteller. It was remarkable how many details I’d forgotten but not the essence of the story. I actually liked it more the second time around, possibly because of the narrator but also as I had a higher appreciation for the historical story involving Charles & Joe. The ending touched me more deeply as well. I’m increasing my rating to 4.5 stars.
2010 Review
Quick summary
During a mission, Navy SEAL Tom Paoletti suffers a head injury that sidelines him. While recuperating at his New England hometown, he catches a glimpse of a notorious terrorist but no one believes him. See, Tom was the leader of SEAL Team 16 and no matter the injury, his instincts are stellar. He puts together a bare-bones team to help him figure out what's going on. In the meantime, he's also reconnecting with Kelly Ashton, his teenage crush and the woman who got away.
Why this book is special
Tom is the consummate hero. If you were to outline the qualities you'd like to see in one, you'd find them in this character. His subordinates respect and admire him and it was no wonder that Kelly fell for him all over again.
This book is also the first in one of my all-time favorite series. It's not as exciting and suspenseful as those that follow but it's important in that Tom creates the Troubleshooters group, setting the stage for all that comes next. It's romantic, funny, suspenseful and downright frightening at times.
The bottom line
Tom Paoletti exemplifies all that is honorable about our armed forces. It's a wonderful story to begin an incredible series written by one of my most favorite authors.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
This was a beautiful and moving story about lifelong friends from WWII coming to peace with events that happened during the war that deeply effected both of them. Charles is dying and reflecting back on his life and the meaning of love. Tom is home on leave after being injured during duty and dealing with the fears that his remaining symptoms from his injury will end his career. When he discovers an terrorist from his past is in his home town he tries to sound the alarm, but no one is willing to listen to him thinking he is just paranoid. In the end he has to assemble his own team to save the people from the attack. This was a beautiful story of second chance at love.
I would not pick this up by myself at the library. But I was intrigued when I saw this recommended on Booktube by She Reads Everyday. However, the book recommended was the fifth book in this series and is not a standalone. So I thought I would try the first one and see where it went from there.
I felt that this book was all over the place, the first chapter was great and then the rest was slow, it picked up at the half way mark and was pretty exciting at the end. The story follows Tom Paoletti and Kelly Ashton's romance, her relationship with her dying father, Charles and the friendship between Charles and Joe.
There is also this fight they are having about revealing their involvement as resistance fighters in WW2 and there are flashbacks. Moreover, the story follows Tom's niece, Mallory as she meets the geeky David and unexpectedly falls for him. But the main plot is Tom thinking he sees an international terrorist in his home town. So alot going on.
I enjoyed the flashbacks and found it really sad that Cybele loved Charles though Joe was in love with her. It is a testament to how forgiving Joe is because 60 years later, he is still loyal towards Charles despite knowing the truth.
The romance development between Kelly and Tom was cliche. I did not like it, it is the "Oh you are the bad boy of the town and I am the good girl. We were hot for each other when we were teenagers, then the you leave for the military and I kinda hold a torch for you. And I have been spying on you in your bedroom from my tree house". The things they talked about like "black lingerie and whip cream" sounded so meh, it has been overdone. I can't really blame the author since this book is very old. Oh and the miscommunication was just irritating. I like them better as individuals.
The romance and intimacy between Mallory and David seemed to fast and not very necessary. At first, when the chapter opens on David spotting Mallory, I was thinking he was a creep.
I enjoyed Kelly's relationship development with her stoic and kinda heartless father. She has been taught to hold back all her emotions and be the nice girl. I liked that she learns that she should not have to. The main plot of Tom seeing the Merchant in Baldwin Bridge was exciting as well because he can't be sure that it is not a hallucination because of his head injury.
I think that some parts of this book are interesting but I don't want to continue with the series.
I felt that this book was all over the place, the first chapter was great and then the rest was slow, it picked up at the half way mark and was pretty exciting at the end. The story follows Tom Paoletti and Kelly Ashton's romance, her relationship with her dying father, Charles and the friendship between Charles and Joe.
There is also this fight they are having about revealing their involvement as resistance fighters in WW2 and there are flashbacks. Moreover, the story follows Tom's niece, Mallory as she meets the geeky David and unexpectedly falls for him. But the main plot is Tom thinking he sees an international terrorist in his home town. So alot going on.
I enjoyed the flashbacks and found it really sad that Cybele loved Charles though Joe was in love with her. It is a testament to how forgiving Joe is because 60 years later, he is still loyal towards Charles despite knowing the truth.
The romance development between Kelly and Tom was cliche. I did not like it, it is the "Oh you are the bad boy of the town and I am the good girl. We were hot for each other when we were teenagers, then the you leave for the military and I kinda hold a torch for you. And I have been spying on you in your bedroom from my tree house". The things they talked about like "black lingerie and whip cream" sounded so meh, it has been overdone. I can't really blame the author since this book is very old. Oh and the miscommunication was just irritating. I like them better as individuals.
The romance and intimacy between Mallory and David seemed to fast and not very necessary. At first, when the chapter opens on David spotting Mallory, I was thinking he was a creep.
I enjoyed Kelly's relationship development with her stoic and kinda heartless father. She has been taught to hold back all her emotions and be the nice girl. I liked that she learns that she should not have to. The main plot of Tom seeing the Merchant in Baldwin Bridge was exciting as well because he can't be sure that it is not a hallucination because of his head injury.
I think that some parts of this book are interesting but I don't want to continue with the series.
Navy SEAL Lieutenant Tom Paoletti is on his way home after being forced into a thirty days' convalescent leave after a severe head injury. While at Logan Airport, he spots a terrorist known only as "The Merchant". He reports the sighting but isn't believed.
Dr. Kelly Ashton, Tom's teenage crush, is dealing with her father's impending death, hoping that he will show she's more than an annoyance. She finds herself attracted to Tom, but has a fear of marriage and commitment.
This started with a bang, then screeched to a crawl until Tom's team and friends gather to do a serious search for the terrorist. Not only are they not believed by Tom's immediate superiors, but the word was sent out that he's delusional and should be ignored, leaving them without adequate backup. I wound up skipping around.
The amount of characters thrown at the reader? Too many in too short a time. It took quite a while to sort them out and remember who was who.
There is also a secondary romance between Tom's younger sister and an aspiring graphic artist. Honestly I thought Joe and Charles might turn out to be in love, but that didn't turn out to be more than very good friends. I think that was a missed opportunity.
I can see the potential in this series, but I do hope that future installments work better. I liked the first in the Tall, Dark & Dangerous series better. 3 out of 5.
Dr. Kelly Ashton, Tom's teenage crush, is dealing with her father's impending death, hoping that he will show she's more than an annoyance. She finds herself attracted to Tom, but has a fear of marriage and commitment.
This started with a bang, then screeched to a crawl until Tom's team and friends gather to do a serious search for the terrorist. Not only are they not believed by Tom's immediate superiors, but the word was sent out that he's delusional and should be ignored, leaving them without adequate backup. I wound up skipping around.
The amount of characters thrown at the reader? Too many in too short a time. It took quite a while to sort them out and remember who was who.
There is also a secondary romance between Tom's younger sister and an aspiring graphic artist. Honestly I thought Joe and Charles might turn out to be in love, but that didn't turn out to be more than very good friends. I think that was a missed opportunity.
I can see the potential in this series, but I do hope that future installments work better. I liked the first in the Tall, Dark & Dangerous series better. 3 out of 5.
Loved! I've enjoyed many of the Troubleshooters books and it was great to finally read Tom & Kelly's story. Fantastic read!! :)
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I have finally read the first book in the Troubleshooters series. Somehow, I had never read Tom and Kelly's story. It was very enjoyable and a nice start to this series. I loved their second chance romance. I enjoyed the secondary romance between Mallory and David. The historical backstory between Tom's uncle Joe and Kelly's dad Charles was a bit lacking for me if I'm honest. The climax of the story was very exciting, but over a bit too fast. Overall, the pacing of this story was a bit slow and meandering for me. I really liked when some of the SEALs came to help. The introduction to Sam and Alyssa was so interesting knowing where their story goes from here. Jazz is such a solid background character and I really liked getting to see him in action a bit.
Overall, I really appreciate this as the set up for the rest of this long running and wide reaching series.
One thing I have to note as well, was that I didn't really enjoy this narrator. There is another audiobook with a different narrator that I think I will have to find when I want to listen to this again. The voices just didn't match the characters very well and this narrator was really not good at female voices...and his Sam...that just wasn't Sam...
Overall, I really appreciate this as the set up for the rest of this long running and wide reaching series.
One thing I have to note as well, was that I didn't really enjoy this narrator. There is another audiobook with a different narrator that I think I will have to find when I want to listen to this again. The voices just didn't match the characters very well and this narrator was really not good at female voices...and his Sam...that just wasn't Sam...
I'm not sure why this book didn't appeal to me as much as the rest of the series. Maybe it was just the fact that this was the last book that I can read in the series for awhile. Or it was so far in the beginning of the series that Brockmann hadn't yet developed the style I love.
Oh well. Tom Paoletti is on leave from the SEALs after a horrific accident that left him in a coma for over a week. That's why, when he sees a known terrorist in a small town in New England, no one believes him. Well, at least not his hire-ups. His team comes in to town to help him out, as does his old flame Kelly Ashton, a pediatrician.
As with most of the Troubleshooters novels, there is a secondary, historical story, this one about Kelly's grandfather and Joe's uncle during WWII.
Oh well. Tom Paoletti is on leave from the SEALs after a horrific accident that left him in a coma for over a week. That's why, when he sees a known terrorist in a small town in New England, no one believes him. Well, at least not his hire-ups. His team comes in to town to help him out, as does his old flame Kelly Ashton, a pediatrician.
As with most of the Troubleshooters novels, there is a secondary, historical story, this one about Kelly's grandfather and Joe's uncle during WWII.
More of a strong 3,5 but lots to like about this - the attraction between Kelly and Tom, the two main characters is very palpable and they're both interesting characters and the side-romance is SO adorable (and wonderfully avoids some painful nice-guy clichés). I wasn't always super captivated by the flashbacks but the present day conflict between Joe (Tom's grand uncle) and Charles (Kelly's elderly dad), two life-long best friends with a secret dating back to WWII, was pretty well-drawn and the ending was a great emotional pay-off.
This is a great book! I really fell in love with the teenagers in the subplot though, even more than the main characters.