OVER THE EDGE (Troubleshooters #3; two stars)
Description from Goodreads: Her passion is flying. As one of the best helicopter pilots in the naval reserves, Lieutenant Teri Howe is strong, dedicated, and highly skilled-until a past mistake surfaces, jeopardizing everything she's worked for.
Rock steady Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok has made a career of tackling difficult challenges. So it's no surprise when he comes to Teri's aid, knowing that his personal code of honor-and perhaps his heart-will be at risk. But when a jet carrying an American senator's daughter is hijacked, Stan's unflinching determination and Teri's steadfast courage are put to the ultimate test. The rescue mission will be daring and dangerous. But somewhere between peril and resolution, the line between friends and lovers begins to blur, pushing both their lives "over the edge." . . .
So... this was a book that exists. It is simultaneously pretty much forgettable, and surprisingly rough. I read it a couple weeks ago, and just don’t have that much to say. Literally, this is all I've got:
#1: Stan and Teri
#2: So I guess this is the sexual violence themed book?
#3: Everything else
#1: Stan and Teri. Are characters. I guess? I mean, obviously they are, but I'm trying to remember if they even show up or are mentioned in later books. Stan, at least, must be, but hell if I can remember him in any of them. Like Nils, he falls into that void of "honorable, smart, does the right thing SEAL" with very little else to distinguish him. But where Nils was young and pretty, Stan is older and ugly. Which is like definitive characterization!
To be fair, I did actually like Stan fine. Particularly his reaction to the various SEALs who all hero worship him, which is that he realizes they are basically ducklings who have imprinted on him and will literally follow him home if he lets them. He loves them and shows it by being a stern daddy figure. Honestly, the opening section with him and Ken might be my favorite section of the book. (Ken has gotten drunk and picked a fight with about twenty marines. Stan is called in to rescue him, and does so, finds out it all goes back to Ken not coping well with his breakup -- the ex now has a restraining order -- and lectures him to knock that shit off. Ken does so.) (...actually, between this and his interactions with Sam later, Ken might be my favorite part of the book, which does not say great things about the plot, or about Stan and Teri. /o\ )
So yep, Stan is fine. Teri is also fine. She's a great pilot, and she's brave and generally competent -- except at standing up for herself, specifically to men. Unfortunately, the entire relationship between the two of them hinges on that. Stan sees her being sexually harassed and rescues her, then helps her learn to stand up for herself, and then they bang. So even though she's a great pilot, it's one of the more brave-man-comes-to-the-distressed-heroine's-rescue type plots I've run across in this series, and that just isn't a story that does much for me. I feel like Brockmann usually manages to avoid that by having female characters who are ultra-capable, even when they're being rescued, and Teri does take part in the action climax, but the relationship set up very much turns her into a damsel. (Plus there's a weird thing where Stan decides the way to teach her to stand up for herself is to harrass her? It works out fine, that's when they finally kiss, but like... no, dude. Just no.)
The other issue with Stan and Teri is that there just wasn't much build there at all, or reason for them to not get together. In the previous two books, the couples had tons of history with each other; the Sam and Alyssa throughline is about building up that history. Stan and Teri don't have that. And there's nothing wrong with kicking your romance off with a meetcute, but Stan and Teri don’t have that either. Basically, they'd worked together once previously, and Stan thought she was awesome and had a crush on her; she thought Stan was great and had a crush on him, too. On the one hand, I'm pleased that it didn't go straight from "I have rescued you from a gross sexual harasser" to "let's bang," but on the other hand, they were very clearly into one another, so there was no reason for them to not just actually SAY that. So, I dunno. Not my faves, individually or as a couple.
#2: This book is rough. I was warned it would be, and I'm glad I had that warning. There is a lot of sexual violence:
These are not things I really want in my romance novels, which I mostly read for fun and escapism. They don't necessarily make for a bad book, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be there, they just don't make for a fun reading experience.
(And oh yeah, while Teri was removed from her situation with the harasser, he is in no way called out or rebuked or anything. So. Great.)
#3: Everything else. Okay, so the other couples/plotlines:
I think that's it.
BROCKMANN-ISM TALLY
So that wasn't my favorite book, but next time: KEN!!!
Rock steady Senior Chief Stan Wolchonok has made a career of tackling difficult challenges. So it's no surprise when he comes to Teri's aid, knowing that his personal code of honor-and perhaps his heart-will be at risk. But when a jet carrying an American senator's daughter is hijacked, Stan's unflinching determination and Teri's steadfast courage are put to the ultimate test. The rescue mission will be daring and dangerous. But somewhere between peril and resolution, the line between friends and lovers begins to blur, pushing both their lives "over the edge." . . .
So... this was a book that exists. It is simultaneously pretty much forgettable, and surprisingly rough. I read it a couple weeks ago, and just don’t have that much to say. Literally, this is all I've got:
#1: Stan and Teri
#2: So I guess this is the sexual violence themed book?
#3: Everything else
#1: Stan and Teri. Are characters. I guess? I mean, obviously they are, but I'm trying to remember if they even show up or are mentioned in later books. Stan, at least, must be, but hell if I can remember him in any of them. Like Nils, he falls into that void of "honorable, smart, does the right thing SEAL" with very little else to distinguish him. But where Nils was young and pretty, Stan is older and ugly. Which is like definitive characterization!
To be fair, I did actually like Stan fine. Particularly his reaction to the various SEALs who all hero worship him, which is that he realizes they are basically ducklings who have imprinted on him and will literally follow him home if he lets them. He loves them and shows it by being a stern daddy figure. Honestly, the opening section with him and Ken might be my favorite section of the book. (Ken has gotten drunk and picked a fight with about twenty marines. Stan is called in to rescue him, and does so, finds out it all goes back to Ken not coping well with his breakup -- the ex now has a restraining order -- and lectures him to knock that shit off. Ken does so.) (...actually, between this and his interactions with Sam later, Ken might be my favorite part of the book, which does not say great things about the plot, or about Stan and Teri. /o\ )
So yep, Stan is fine. Teri is also fine. She's a great pilot, and she's brave and generally competent -- except at standing up for herself, specifically to men. Unfortunately, the entire relationship between the two of them hinges on that. Stan sees her being sexually harassed and rescues her, then helps her learn to stand up for herself, and then they bang. So even though she's a great pilot, it's one of the more brave-man-comes-to-the-distressed-heroine's-rescue type plots I've run across in this series, and that just isn't a story that does much for me. I feel like Brockmann usually manages to avoid that by having female characters who are ultra-capable, even when they're being rescued, and Teri does take part in the action climax, but the relationship set up very much turns her into a damsel. (Plus there's a weird thing where Stan decides the way to teach her to stand up for herself is to harrass her? It works out fine, that's when they finally kiss, but like... no, dude. Just no.)
The other issue with Stan and Teri is that there just wasn't much build there at all, or reason for them to not get together. In the previous two books, the couples had tons of history with each other; the Sam and Alyssa throughline is about building up that history. Stan and Teri don't have that. And there's nothing wrong with kicking your romance off with a meetcute, but Stan and Teri don’t have that either. Basically, they'd worked together once previously, and Stan thought she was awesome and had a crush on her; she thought Stan was great and had a crush on him, too. On the one hand, I'm pleased that it didn't go straight from "I have rescued you from a gross sexual harasser" to "let's bang," but on the other hand, they were very clearly into one another, so there was no reason for them to not just actually SAY that. So, I dunno. Not my faves, individually or as a couple.
#2: This book is rough. I was warned it would be, and I'm glad I had that warning. There is a lot of sexual violence:
- Teri is being sexually harassed by someone she's forced to work with, and afraid of career ramifications if she calls him out. (This is what Stan jumps in to help rescue her from.)
- It is also revealed that Teri's inability to stand up for herself to men stems from having been molested as a child.
- In the B-plot (you know, the hijacked airplane thing -- seriously, it took Brockmann awhile to figure out how to actually integrate romance with action plots, and this book really doesn't manage that at all), there's a gang rape.
These are not things I really want in my romance novels, which I mostly read for fun and escapism. They don't necessarily make for a bad book, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be there, they just don't make for a fun reading experience.
(And oh yeah, while Teri was removed from her situation with the harasser, he is in no way called out or rebuked or anything. So. Great.)
#3: Everything else. Okay, so the other couples/plotlines:
- WWII: There's a Holocaust survivor working with the FBI crew. She's dealing with Alzheimers and trying to hide it, but realizing that she can't be effective in her role anymore. Meanwhile, there are flashbacks to her family going into hiding and fleeing from Nazis. Stan turns out to be her long-lost sister-in-law's son, which is the only thing tying her flashback plot to the present day stuff at all. The flashbacks overall not only didn't fit in, but they also didn't really feel like they went anywhere. The fact that I literally can't even remember her name pretty much tells you everything you need to know about those scenes.
- Max and Gina: Max was introduced in the previous book (he's Jules's and Alyssa's boss) and I know how this turns out in the long run, too, but man, what a grim beginning. But I still found them more gripping than Stan and Teri, and liked them as characters more, too. (Max feels a bit like Tom in the first book -- ie, super respected as a leader, and highly skilled, though maybe a bit more ruthless; and Gina is brave and smart and awesome.)
- Ken: Like I said, Ken ended up being one of my favorite parts of this book. He's a fairly minor character in it, but very memorable. I love that he's a completely socially dysfunctional genius without turning into a nerd stereotype -- he just can't figure out how to navigate his friendship with Sam now that Sam is an officer. Him then being the one who realized Sam has feelings for Alyssa was brilliant. Basically, I loved every scene he was in and I am very very very excited to read his book (next!!!).
- Other characters floating around in the background: Heyyy, Izzy and Dan's first appearances! I would not have noticed or cared if I hadn't read Izzy's book from the end of the series, but I have, so I super love them. Izzy has already started singing for no reason, and Dan is referred to almost exclusively as Gilligan -- I'm not sure his actual name is ever stated, heh. Also, all of the other dudes are floating around in the background, too (Jay, Nils, Muldoon, etc). I really enjoy just how built out the Troubleshooters world feels by having so many minor recurring characters and slowly fleshing them out.
- Sam and Jules: Aww, they manage to have a conversation without Sam actually calling Jules a fruit out loud. Breakthrough! Actually, it really is -- Sam complains that Alyssa has pre-judged him and entirely written him off, and does Jules even know what that's like? And Jules just stares at him until he puts together that actually, that is Jules's entire life, so maybe Sam should get over his homophobia. A+ scene, one of the best in the book, and the beginning of their beautiful friendship. (Incidentally, I don't think Alyssa actually did that much pre-judging, Sam. You repeatedly called her "sweet thing" instead of "ma'am." She has a right to think you're an asshole, because you are.)
- Sam and Alyssa: KILLING. ME. After their usual UST-but-also-hate-filled bantering, Alyssa, again not being super professional, gets drunk specifically so she’ll have an excuse to hook up with Sam, and Sam, with some prodding from Jules, tells her he wants more because while yeah, the sex is great, he has real feelings for her. She realizes she reciprocates and maybe she can even handle the career ramifications, if it's for a real relationship and not just sex. Buuuut whoops, Sam's ex-girlfriend is pregnant, it's his, and now he has to do the right thing and try to make things work with her, even though it's very clear he's doing that solely out of duty, because he definitely loves Alyssa. They manage to be kind and understanding to one another, finally, and it's heartbreaking. DAMN YOU, SUZANNE BROCKMANN. I am very glad I'm not reading these as they were released, because I would probably assume that was the end of that, and that would be pretty much awful.
I think that's it.
BROCKMANN-ISM TALLY
- USES OF THE PHRASE "SOUL-KISS": remarkably, none
- COUPLE WHO KNEW EACH OTHER IN HIGH SCHOOL AND/OR SHE'S HIS FRIEND'S SISTER: absent
- PREGNANCY SCARE HE SECRETLY THINKS IS HOT: Brief pregnancy scare, but no lingering on Stan finding it hot, thank god. (Have I mentioned yet that pregnancy is my hugest squick? This particular recurring trope always makes me shudder.)
- SEX AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME AND HE CAN'T PULL OUT BECAUSE REASONS: Absent. It's like this book is from a different series or something.
- SOMEONE HAS THE FLU/FOOD POISONING/OTHERWISE VOMITS FOR NO REASON: Stan has the flu in the beginning, but manages not to vomit.
- JAY LOPEZ SHOWS UP, EXPLAINS THAT HE'S A MEDIC, AND VANISHES AGAIN: Lopez is in the background of a few scenes, including one where, yep, the narrative explains that he’s a medic as he offers Teri first aid.
- JULES: Has fully embraced his (whoops, fairly stereotypical) role as Alyssa's gay BFF.
- SAM AND ALYSSA: WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME
So that wasn't my favorite book, but next time: KEN!!!