The Defiant Hero (Troubleshooters Series #2)

Exciting thriller

The hostage incident inside the Kazbekistan Embassy started with an extremist group kidnapping widow Meg Moore¿s seventy-five years old grandma Eve and her ten-year-old daughter Amy outside the Smithsonian. The terrorists demand Meg, who has access to the embassy, kill a rival leader, Osman Razein of the Islamic Guard of Kazbekistan if she wants to see her beloved family members alive.

Knowing the seriousness of the terrorist threat, Meg captures her target and several other hostages before holing up in a bathroom. Her only demand is that Navy SEAL John Nilsson negotiates with her. Meg knows John from an incident he successfully performed when she worked in the American embassy in Kazbekistan. John is stunned when he learns about the situation inside the DC embassy because Meg is the woman he loves and he will assist her in any way possible.

THE DEFIANT HERO is a fast-paced action adventure novel with a touch of romance that works because the reader will realize the dilemma facing the heroine feels real. The characters make her Hobson Choice feel genuine as everyone plays their part to near perfection, which in turn provides the audience with a powerful story line. Suzanne Brockmann will garner new suspense thriller fans even as her current audience will remain faithful with this action-packed drama.

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

4stars --Barely I’ve read a few books in this long running

4stars --Barely
I’ve read a few books in this long running series but had somehow managed to miss this one. The adventure, tension and storyline were all there. The boys were in fine form. As much as I liked book one of the series (The Unsung Hero), later books were written more in this style which I’ve decided is the true Troubleshooters style. The drama that is Alyssa & Starrett was ongoing and fun; meeting Jules for the first time was a treat. I even enjoyed the second storyline running thru Eve.

As much as there is good about this episode, there is a humungous elephant in the middle. It was the so-called heroine, Meg. I intensely dislike TSTL heroines and she must be the queen of that particular brand and she sucked the joy out of the book for me and gave me a thought I never have. I didn’t think she was good enough for him and I didn’t want them to have a HEA.

I’m definitely continuing this series secure in the knowledge that I don’t have to read Meg as a lead again.

Exciting read!

Terrorists holding hostages meet up against SEAL Team 16. Plenty of action, adventure and romance permeate the story. I would recommend the story for adults and for book clubs. I have read all of the Troubleshooters series (17 books to date) and enjoyed them all. I also enjoyed Brockmann's "Tall Dark & ..." series.

Highly recommend this entire series

Again, this is a great series and will reread this often.

Eh...it was okay....

This one definitely wasn't of the same caliber of the first in the Troubleshooters series, The Unsung Hero. For this one, I definitely was looking forward to hearing the stories of the secondary characters--Eve and Ralph from World War II era and Sam and Alyssa from present day--more than those of the main characters, Meg and John. Actually, come to think of it, Alyssa was really annoying me as well, with her larger-than-the-average-boulder-sized chips on her shoulder regarding her gender and race. I'm not saying there isn't some truth to what she experienced, but she took it way to far. For someone who wants to be judged on her own merits, she sure is awfully judgemental about Sam/Roger/Houston (at this point, I don't even remember what his real name is. Hopefully I'll have it figured out by his book, which I think is number six). She definitely has a lot of growing to do before she gets my vote as a sympathetic character; at this point I'm thinking Sam can definitely do better. Which leaves me with Eve and Ralph. I loved their story! Definitely a highlight of the book, especially since it wasn't obvious from the start what was going to happen there. It almost made up for the rest of the book. Almost. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series, but this one will never be counted among one of my favorites.

Setting Up the Series

This is the second book in Brockmann's Troubleshooter Series. I don't recommend reading them out of order but if you do, PLEASE don't start with this one. It's not the best. ---

In Defiant Hero we are introduced to more of the circle that become The Troubleshooters. The main characters are Niels and Meg, but honestly their storyline isn't the best in this book. The other two couples in this story are far more interesting. (FYI: Brockmann usually tells her stories from the perspective of three different couples.) ---

The second couple is Meg's grandmother and her beau during WWII. (FYI: The first few books in the series have a WWII story line told from a character's perspective.) ---

The third couple is Sam and Alyssa. They were in Unsung Hero, but we get a better introduction to them - and all of their dysfunction - in this book. (That's HUGE plus for me because I <3 this couple.) ---

A good book. I recommend it because it's part of the series and the series is worth the read.

Military Men Have Feelings Too

What I love about this series is that is a combo romance (the sex scenes will get you as hot and bothered as the characters) and thriller (terrorists, kidnapping, etc) with touches of historical reference (WWII).

Another surprising aspect to this series is that the protagonists are military men.... and the author reminds you that their tough exteriors are filled with soft, emotional tendencies.

It combines all my favorite escapist tendencies when reading. I am up to book 4 in the series!

Not disappointed at all...

I rate all my books by content and romantic pull (some call it smutt) whatever you call it. I rate them in my catalog 1 being the lowest 5 being the best. This is definitely 5 content and 4 romantic pull. I thought there was plenty of chemistry. And just to get the story straight, she was not having an affair. Read it again.

sensational!

Any and all the books in this series are a must read. They keep you on the edge of your seat.

Just ok...

I love most Suzanne Brockmann novels, but this one was just ok. The main storyline between Meg and Nils was frustrating at best. I tried to sympathize with Meg, but she was just too stubborn to be believable. However, the character of Nils was sweet, endearing, funny and sexy.

It was the sub-plot of Sam and Alyssa that really held my interest. Since I didn't start this series at the beginning, I was already familiar with them as a couple, but it was good to see how it all began for them. Even the memory recall by Grandma Eve of her romance back in the 1940's was more enjoyable for me than listening to Meg whine and continually resist the assistance that Nils was offering.

If you are a "Troubleshooters" fan, I don't think you should miss this story. But if this is your first attempt at this series, I'd say pick some of the other books to start with and then come back to this one. The wonderful thing about this series is that you don't have to start with the first book to understand what is going on and to become thoroughly hooked. It really is one of my favorite series!

Not what i expected

I was so looking forward to this book but i was disappointed. the hero and heroine did not have any chemistry. And the whole romance with the married woman and younger man was not that romanctic. I didn't like how her husband gave her permission to cheat and she was going to do it. I didn't see where she was actually inlove with the hero.I like ms.Brockman's writing but i find that the supporting characters take away from the main hero and heroine. She make you more interested in the other characters than the main ones. Like sam and Assyla, A havent read their story yet but i hope it's good.

Wonderful!

I've never read a Suzanne Brockmann book before, but you can bet I will be getting more of her books! I couldn't put this book down. Lately I've been lucky to read a book a week, but I read this book in two days. I loved how Ms. Brockmann made Nils (the male lead) a decent guy with feelings and depth. So often military men are portrayed as cavemen beating their chests. But in this book the author took the time to make him human and the effect was sensational. I especially liked the way he allowed Meg to come to certain realizations on her own instead of using brute force. I also loved the fact that there were really three stories going on at once. It was AMAZING. Eve's story was touching and fit perfectly into the context of the book despite the fact that it had happened sixty years ago. And I liked how the author launched Alyssa and Sam's story within the context of Nils and Meg's story as well. I feel all the characters were as developed as they needed to be to serve their purpose within the story and I was particularly appreciative of the fact that the story was never allowed to drag. Don't miss this book.

My favorite 'Troubleshooters' hero!

I absolutely LOVED this book. The story between Nils and Meg was fantastic. For those reviewers who claimed it was unbelievable that Nils couldn't get the handgun away from Meg, one of the major points of the story was that he could have taken control at any time, but he wanted her to give it up VOLUNTARILY. Meg makes this realization herself in the book. For those of you who haven't read it, don't miss this book!

Outstanding Read!

I loved this book. I thought Brockman did a another great job with this book. I love they way she included the love story of Meg's great grandmother and also Sam and Alyass's rocky start. I love all the novels she has written about Team Sixteen and can't wait to read more. Great Job Suzanne. Can't wait to read more!!!

Read it within 24 hours

This is the first book by Suzanne Brockman that I have read and I loved it. I fell in love with Nils and his devotion to Meg. I can't wait to read all the other books by Suzanne.

Could not put this down!

This is my favorite of the 5 books I've read about Navy Seals by Suzanne Brockman. While I agree that the plot was a bit far-fetched (a big Navy Seal can't get a gun away from an itty bitty woman??), the character of John Nilsson facsinated me, and I'm not even sure why. Maybe it's his deep love for Meg, his gentle demeanor or his undying trust in that Meg will do the right thing

My least favorite Brockmann book

I've read all of the Team 16 books and can't wait for the next one! But, this is my least favorite. I just could not get into Meg + Nils. Nils is a SEAL and he can't get a gun away from Meg after spending 3 days in a car with her - come on! The flash back WWII was my favorite of the 'sub plots' that she's done, though.

Disappointing

I read Unsung Hero and I just loved it, couldn't put it down so I immediately got another Suzanne Brockman book, Defiant Hero. I was very disappointed. The story was totally unbelievable, the characters not well developed, and I had to force myself to finish it. A mother kidnaps a big ferocious male terrorist single handedly, drugs him and carries him around, is exhausted with no sleep and we are supposed to believe that a well trained elite Navy Seal can't knock a small gun out of her hand while sitting practically on top of her. Please. I do not recommend this book.

I Love This Book

I couldn't put it down. If you've ever fantasized about Navy Seals, like I have, this is the book for you. But, Suzanne, you've GOT to change Sam Starrett's situation.

She Has Captured what it means to be a SEAL

I spent six years of my life as a United States Navy SEAL. Suzanne Brockmann has captured on paper, the type of men, I worked with everyday of those six years. Not only does she get it right but she does with a great story. Enjoy the read.