Product Description

Beloved and bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann writes terrific edge-of-your-seat novels of romantic suspense set in the world’s exciting danger zones and exotic hotspots. Now, in her new sensational novel, she comes stateside for her most action-packed adventure yet.

It was supposed to be a “dog and pony show”—an elaborate demonstration of SEAL rescue techniques—to celebrate a presidential visit to a California naval base. Professional, no-nonsense White House staffer Joan DaCosta arrives early to scope out the area. Assigned to be her SEAL liaison is Lt. (jg) Mike Muldoon, a born leader—strong, decisive, tough, and fearless.

Against her better judgment, Joan finds herself drawn to the handsome young officer. Skilled at being “one of the guys” in the mostly male world of politics, she is dismayed when Muldoon breaks through her defenses. While the tension mounts between them, fueling their growing attraction, a far more sinister danger is lurking, as terrorists plot a daring attack against the president. To protect their commander in chief, Joan and Muldoon must not only risk their hearts—but their very lives. . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1511367 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11-26
• Released on: 2002-11-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 480 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A terrorist plot to assassinate the president on U.S. soil transforms what could have been another humorous, larger-than-life Navy SEAL romance from Brockmann (Out of Control, etc.) into a sobering story that will strike a patriotic chord with readers. Brash, 30-something White House PR assistant Joan DaCosta and shy, super-polite 25-year-old Navy SEAL Mike Muldoon are an unlikely couple, but the two quickly connect when Joan is sent to scope out the naval base in Coronado, Calif., for a presidential visit. Though their attraction is immediate, Joan can't bring herself to get over their age difference and the fact that they live on opposite sides of the nation. Intertwined with their off-and-on romance are the recollections of Joan's grandparents (one a WWII veteran and the other a WWII widow); details of a terrorist plot to sneak machine guns onto the base; and a side story involving SEAL wife Mary Lou Starret's friendship with a man of Arab descent. As always, Brockmann's snappy dialogue infuses each encounter with wit and vigor, but what really stands out is her sympathetic portrayal of Mary Lou, arguably one of her least likable recurring characters. Although it will take readers a while to warm up to Mary Lou, as well as to Joan and Mike, who are less dynamic than the protagonists from Brockmann's earlier books, this is a worthy addition to the author's SEAL saga.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
A terrorist plot to assassinate the President of the United States as he visits a Naval base sounds like a macho adventure. However, Brockmann's many fans will find that the latest in this series offers more romance than adventure. Navy SEALs are handsome, well built, young, with "cute butts." They range from insensitive bozos to being in touch with their feminine sides. Female characters complain about their physical inadequacies, gossip about who's dating whom, and worry about relationships with younger men. Racial issues are touched on but never developed, and the attempted assassination fizzles. Narrator Laura Hicks does her best, elevating a middling entertainment to something more than it is. Her voice has star quality. She switches characters believably, even in the most intense exchanges. Hicks makes this "gung-ho" military romance worth a listen. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
When the president decides to honor the United States Navy SEAL Team 16 for their bravery, White House public relations assistant Joan DaCosta is sent to San Diego to prepare for his visit. Once Joan meets Lieutenant Mike Muldoon, who is assigned as her liaison, all she can think about is how tempting a fling with the sexy SEAL would be, but believing that for her any affair with a much younger man is doomed from the start, Joan vows to keep their relationship strictly professional. As Joan and Mike fight their attraction for each other, a terrorist group plans their own surprise for the presidential visit. New York Times best-selling and RITA Award-winning Brockmann continues her Troubleshooter series with the fifth book featuring members of Team 16, and she skillfully builds suspense by shifting the focus between Joan's and Mike's romance, the troubled marriage of another Team 16 member, and a World War II story with ties to the present day. All come together seamlessly in a dynamite conclusion and, with its complicated, complex characters and a sexy romance seasoned with humor and danger, Brockmann's latest is absolutely irresistible. John Charles
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