Helpful Score: 7
This is my least favorite of the TS series. I love Izzy & Dan & Jenn, but can't stand how immature & manipulative Eden still is. You'd think she'd have grown up a little after such a tryiing year away from Izzy.
The story isn't all that great either, and the author uses it mostly to preach about her opinion on gay rights. It ruined what little story there was. No joke,you are fed a political agenda the whole time. It is also very repetative. I actually skipped parts & I never do that.
Overall, this book was just bad. I absolutely LOVE the TS series, but this was just not on par with what Brockmann usually does. Maybe its a good idea for her to take a break from this series. She's supposed to be writing a different series, but if its nothing but a story about the injustices of the world i won't bother reading anymore of her stories.
The story isn't all that great either, and the author uses it mostly to preach about her opinion on gay rights. It ruined what little story there was. No joke,you are fed a political agenda the whole time. It is also very repetative. I actually skipped parts & I never do that.
Overall, this book was just bad. I absolutely LOVE the TS series, but this was just not on par with what Brockmann usually does. Maybe its a good idea for her to take a break from this series. She's supposed to be writing a different series, but if its nothing but a story about the injustices of the world i won't bother reading anymore of her stories.
Kris G. (CaseyEmma) - , reviewed Breaking the Rules (Troubleshooters, Bk 16) on + 286 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
such a disappointment. I absolutely love, love, love the Troubleshooters....until now. I have no problems with gay themes (Jules and his love life is one of my most favorite storylines and it is so well written, tender and emotional). But, this book tries waaaaayyyy too hard to wrap in the gay issue. It's distracting and it's unneccessary to have it shoved in there like some political platform. But, even more importantly, is that there is hardly any TS action at all. Sole focus seems to be on Ben and his diabetes and being gay. So, while the story iself is okay, it's most definitely not a Troubleshooters book. I never, ever thought I'd say this, but I'm really glad SB is taking a break from the TS series.
Helpful Score: 3
I've been waiting for Izzy's book since Into The Storm. Granted, since then we had an Izzy-centric storyline in Into the Fire and I was among those who was not feeling the Eden love. Hot Pursuit showed us an Izzy who was coping with losing Eden. The common theme of these 3 books re: Izzy is his integrity. Yes, he's loud and irreverent. He can be obnoxious and oblivious, but the man has heart and depth. In Into the Storm, he goes UA to help find Tracy, knowing the trouble he will be facing. In Into the Fire, he marries Eden and rather than take advantage, he tries to woo her, because he loves her and thinks she is special and wants her to believe that, too. In Hot Pursuit, he turns down a blatant come on by an intelligent, beautiful woman because she isn't Eden. I LOVE Izzy. So my expectations were pretty high for Breaking the Rules.
I'm not good at plot summarization, so I am not going to try here. There is a lot going on in this book, as mentioned in previous reviews. Sex trade, JD, "curing" a homosexual teen by sending him to a quasi-religious camp...I didn't feel like I was getting hit over the head with a "Be a more politically correct person!" cudgel, though. The story unfolded at a fast pace, and didn't read as preachy to me. The only part I thought was a little overdone was the Juvenile Diabetes angle, and I am pretty sure that isn't a political issue.
In Hot Pursuit, Dan tells Jenn that his sister Sandy is 400 years old in drug years. Well, I think Eden is about that old in experience years. Good grief, are her mother and stepfather are a freaking nightmare. I really got over my problem with Eden's age in this book. Yes, she is very young chronologically, but she is ancient in living. Eden is strong in BTR. She is determined to rescue her brother, Ben, from her parents who are bent to send Ben to the above referenced camp. She has a plan, has a job to earn the money to make it happen. We find out Eden tried to contact Izzy, and that her employer, Anya, was instrumental in keeping Izzy from connecting with Eden during his many visits to Germany. When Ben and Eden find out that Danny has been injured, Izzy learns Eden is back in Vegas, and heads out on the next plane.
Izzy wants to see Eden, to find some sense of closure, to learn how to let her go. It is heartwrenching when he sees her. "Are you okay?" he asks her. Eden -"I am-I'm okay." He walks away from her and you can feel the heaviness of his soul, his sorrow. Of course, events unfold, and Eden needs Izzy's help, so they reconnect. He thinks Eden is just using him to get custody of Ben, Eden knows he doesn't trust her. I felt like Izzy's anger towards Eden kind of caught him by surprise, and he uses his hurt as kind of a shield to keep from getting his heart ripped out all over again. This is a different Izzy, in a way. Usually so insightful about everyone's motivations, he is not thinking here; he is reacting to his previous experiences with Eden. He doesn't trust her feelings for him, thinking she is just grateful. Eden is frustrated by Izzy's trying to tell her why she is feeling the way she feels. She is terrified that he will walk away from her without giving her a real chance.
Dan is Dan. Dan has been Dan since Over the Edge - tense, a man with an angle at all times, a man with a sense of doom hanging over him, which we now know is due to his family and his financial obligation to them. I loved seeing him brought to his knees by the fabulous Jenn. I loved his POV, especially in the hotel room, where he feels such a sense of rightness and belonging with her.Yes, he is kind of a jerk at points. He is DAN, he is supposed to be a jerk on occasion. The difference is, he gets when he is being a jerk now. Jenn's influence is telling. Think about it - he is being blackmailed by his mother and stepfather to provide a home for his youngest brother. He feels very trapped by them, he can't see how he can continue to have a bicoastal relationship with Jenn when he won't be able to afford to go see her... Trapped equals cranky Dan. I was so glad to see this issue resolved. I love Dan and Jenn together. I love that Jenn wasn't glamming it up to keep Dan's attention and she had his attention anyway.
The last quarter of the book is action packed, with lots of resolution. Dan and Eden, Dan and Izzy, Eden and Izzy...lots of revealing info that leads to realisitic reconciliation. There is a sense of renewal, of new beginnings. And Izzy and the plane...classic.
I'm not good at plot summarization, so I am not going to try here. There is a lot going on in this book, as mentioned in previous reviews. Sex trade, JD, "curing" a homosexual teen by sending him to a quasi-religious camp...I didn't feel like I was getting hit over the head with a "Be a more politically correct person!" cudgel, though. The story unfolded at a fast pace, and didn't read as preachy to me. The only part I thought was a little overdone was the Juvenile Diabetes angle, and I am pretty sure that isn't a political issue.
In Hot Pursuit, Dan tells Jenn that his sister Sandy is 400 years old in drug years. Well, I think Eden is about that old in experience years. Good grief, are her mother and stepfather are a freaking nightmare. I really got over my problem with Eden's age in this book. Yes, she is very young chronologically, but she is ancient in living. Eden is strong in BTR. She is determined to rescue her brother, Ben, from her parents who are bent to send Ben to the above referenced camp. She has a plan, has a job to earn the money to make it happen. We find out Eden tried to contact Izzy, and that her employer, Anya, was instrumental in keeping Izzy from connecting with Eden during his many visits to Germany. When Ben and Eden find out that Danny has been injured, Izzy learns Eden is back in Vegas, and heads out on the next plane.
Izzy wants to see Eden, to find some sense of closure, to learn how to let her go. It is heartwrenching when he sees her. "Are you okay?" he asks her. Eden -"I am-I'm okay." He walks away from her and you can feel the heaviness of his soul, his sorrow. Of course, events unfold, and Eden needs Izzy's help, so they reconnect. He thinks Eden is just using him to get custody of Ben, Eden knows he doesn't trust her. I felt like Izzy's anger towards Eden kind of caught him by surprise, and he uses his hurt as kind of a shield to keep from getting his heart ripped out all over again. This is a different Izzy, in a way. Usually so insightful about everyone's motivations, he is not thinking here; he is reacting to his previous experiences with Eden. He doesn't trust her feelings for him, thinking she is just grateful. Eden is frustrated by Izzy's trying to tell her why she is feeling the way she feels. She is terrified that he will walk away from her without giving her a real chance.
Dan is Dan. Dan has been Dan since Over the Edge - tense, a man with an angle at all times, a man with a sense of doom hanging over him, which we now know is due to his family and his financial obligation to them. I loved seeing him brought to his knees by the fabulous Jenn. I loved his POV, especially in the hotel room, where he feels such a sense of rightness and belonging with her.Yes, he is kind of a jerk at points. He is DAN, he is supposed to be a jerk on occasion. The difference is, he gets when he is being a jerk now. Jenn's influence is telling. Think about it - he is being blackmailed by his mother and stepfather to provide a home for his youngest brother. He feels very trapped by them, he can't see how he can continue to have a bicoastal relationship with Jenn when he won't be able to afford to go see her... Trapped equals cranky Dan. I was so glad to see this issue resolved. I love Dan and Jenn together. I love that Jenn wasn't glamming it up to keep Dan's attention and she had his attention anyway.
The last quarter of the book is action packed, with lots of resolution. Dan and Eden, Dan and Izzy, Eden and Izzy...lots of revealing info that leads to realisitic reconciliation. There is a sense of renewal, of new beginnings. And Izzy and the plane...classic.
I loved this! I enjoyed all the twists and turns, the maybes and the what-ifs, in Izzy and Eden's relationship, as well as the relationship between Danny and Jenn.
I choked up several times when I was afraid things weren't going to work out (silly me!).
The subplots about the anti-Gay camps, human trafficking, and child prostitution were handled with care and finesse.
The only character that didn't work for me was Nisha. She was TOO wounded and yet not enough. I had a difficult time with her.
Another great addition to the series. I can't wait to see where we go next!
I choked up several times when I was afraid things weren't going to work out (silly me!).
The subplots about the anti-Gay camps, human trafficking, and child prostitution were handled with care and finesse.
The only character that didn't work for me was Nisha. She was TOO wounded and yet not enough. I had a difficult time with her.
Another great addition to the series. I can't wait to see where we go next!
Laura P. (hemmputnam) reviewed Breaking the Rules (Troubleshooters, Bk 16) on + 1152 more book reviews
Amazing level of excitement as well as lots of social issues in this one. There are two romances for the price of one with this novel! Brockmann also addresses gay rights, human trafficking, the feminist debate about stripping, and PTSD in service members. I love the action and romance she delivers!
Loved this book. Love this author.
Bridget C. (tonispinone) reviewed Breaking the Rules (Troubleshooters, Bk 16) on + 28 more book reviews
The book was fine. This couple really didn't excite me all that much and there simply wasn't enough of the other TS characters/couples for my taste.
Robin M. (robinmy) -
Eden Gillman has moved to Las Vegas to try to get custody of her younger brother, Ben, from their violent step-father. She has appealed for help to her older brother Dan who is currently in a hospital in Germany recovering from injuries suffered in Afghanistan. But when that fails, she turns to her estranged husband, Izzy Zanella. Even though Izzy hasn't seen Eden in a year, he hasn't been able to get her out of his mind. Izzy and Eden, along with Dan and his girlfriend Jenni, band together to help Ben when he gets mixed up with some nefarious criminals.
The 16th book in Brockmann's Troubleshooters series is a little different from the rest. This book was a little more about social issues and family dynamics than the usual terrorist plot. I was happy to see Izzy back with Eden, and Danny back with Jenni. The romance portions of the book were split pretty evenly between the two pair. The suspense portion really doesn't kick into full gear until the last third of the book. It didn't matter. I enjoyed this story anyway. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
The 16th book in Brockmann's Troubleshooters series is a little different from the rest. This book was a little more about social issues and family dynamics than the usual terrorist plot. I was happy to see Izzy back with Eden, and Danny back with Jenni. The romance portions of the book were split pretty evenly between the two pair. The suspense portion really doesn't kick into full gear until the last third of the book. It didn't matter. I enjoyed this story anyway. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
