I loved this book. It was a little bit too long, but I still liked it a lot. It had everything I look for in these kind of books; suspense, romance, mystery, drama. But I feel like this book was more character driven, so that what I'm going to talk about in this review.Characters I liked:◆ Jules. Yes, I'm starting out with him because he was the greatest character in this book. I just love him so much... his character development throughout the book was amazing. I want him to be happy so bad. He deserves all the happiness in the world. There's a reason Jules is the favourite character of this book of basically everyone. He's so lovable and just... fabulous.◆ Then there was Cosmo. Of course I couldn't not talk about him in this review. Let me just tell everyone that I officially claim him as my virtual-husband. There's nothing else to say.◆ Robin. Yes, I did like Robin. He pissed me the hell of multiple times, to the point where I just wanted someone to give him a good punch in the face, but I couldn't help liking him at the end of the day. He's a big fuck-up, and an asshole, but I still think him and Jules would be so freaking great for each other. Character I liked but then I didn't:◆ Jane. I started out reaaaally liking her. She was amazing and I thought she'd be like that for the whole book. But I ended up being disappointed when I saw her manipulate and use people to get famous, without thinking of the consequences of her acts. She just did what would advantage her, and then she also got mad when she got told what she did was wrong and could end up hurting people professionally. But basically Jane could be likable in some places and then unlikable a few page later. So that's why she's in this list.Characters I strongly disliked/hated◆ Patty. Gosh, Patty. So I started the book and the first time she came up I thought she was very sweet and everything. But then when we got to her first POV, oh my Gosh I couldn't stand that girl anymore. The way she was ~in love~ with Robin and the way she kept stalking him was so freaking annoying. Now, I know a lot of (teenage) girls who were like that in high school, but Patty was twenty and still acting like a love-sick puppy. I do think Robin was a jerk and handled the whole situation with her very badly, but at the same time Patty was TSTL. It took her half (50%!!!) to realize that Robin didn't want to be her boyfriend. Ugh, I really could've gone without her POVs, it was horrible to read.◆ Adam. Oh, Adam, Adam. I really didn't want to end up disliking him because he's part of the other gay couple in the book... but you can't help to just want to shove his head into the wall... multiple times. He's such a man-slut and so selfish and inconsiderate. Robin was right when imitated Adam; "me, me, me, blah, blah, blah". Adam wanted to be the center of attention, and fuck whoever got hurt along the way. Ugh, hopefully I end up liking him later (people did say that he does redeem himself), but right now I only have hate for him, to be honest.So those are the characters I felt the most strongly about. I'm starting Force of Nature right now, to see what happens next with Jules and Robin because I can't get enough of those two and their story.
One of my favorite reads! Who would of thought quiet Cosmo Richter, of the weird eyes, could string together more than two words at a time. Anywho, Cosmo and his group are tasked to keep J. Mercedes Chadwick, a supposedly flamboyant, partygirl writer/producer, safe from a crazed assassin. Cosmo almost takes an immediate dislike to J. Mercedes, the way she flaunts her curvy body and her flirtatious ways. But, you know what they say...it's a thin line between love and hate. Anyway, their romance it's wonderful. I enjoyed how they gradually got to know one another after J. Mercedes made a bad error in judgement. I liked how Cosmo listened without getting upset. I liked how he was patient without being patronizing. I liked how he was open and giving without truly expecting a great deal in return. In a word..Cosmo was wonderful. On a side note, Cosmo had some great quotable sayings regarding freedom, liberty, & America. The delight in this book was Jules. He was magnificent. The background on him was very in depth. I loved everything about him. He was so in control when I would have slapped 'whats-his-name' upside the head several times and then once more (just for good measure). I was sure hoping to see Jules get together with Robin Chadwick. I wanted Jules to be his first man/man encounter, but ol' whats-his-name screwed that up (another slap). I enjoyed how Robin & Jules talked to each other. How Robin wanted to get to know Jules. How Robin was constantly trying to have Jules' six...even though Jules could take care off himself. It was Robin who needed someone to have his back considering that he was always dunk & in denial. I really loved it towards the end when Jules said that he deserved better..he wanted to be out in the sunlight. Amen to that. I cannot wait to read Jules' story. This book is on my re-read shelf. Loved it...5 snaps & a fist bump!
What do You think about Hot Target (2005)?
I started reading this series many years ago and really enjoyed them. We had this big climatic build up to Sam and Alyssa’s story. After reading that though, I felt let down. It just didn’t live up to expectations. But I thought, okay…lots of pressure there for that one. Every writer has a disappointing book at some time or another for their fans. This one was it for me. It was awhile before I read the next book, though I had purchased it. Thinking I’m going to get back into reading her stuff. I have a mass TBR pile though so it got shoved to the bottom over time. So I ended up buying several more books by her and they ended up the same. When I finally got around to reading Flashpoint, I really didn’t care much for it. So I’m beginning to get the feeling that Brockmann just isn’t going to cut it for me anymore. Then I began hearing some negative things about Hot Target. But I had already purchased the book so I felt compelled to read it. (I hate spending money on books then not reading them.)Overall, I give Hot Target about 2.5 stars. I’m only going to go 2 here because I just don’t feel it deserves 3. I felt that there was too much of an agenda for the author to get her views across in a number of things. That’s all well and good, but I think this book could have been about 150 pages shorter without all of it. I guess she did a good job in making me dislike certain characters. I don’t think I was suppose to dislike quite so many of them though...Adam, Robin, Patty, even Jane on numerous occasions. Adam reminded me too much of Jack from Will and Grace. I still have a couple more books by Brockmann. The reprint stuff is going to go unread despite the purchase of them. I think I have 2 more of this particular series left...Max and Gina story, plus one other. I’m going to try to get them read. Hopefully she’ll get back to the hetro-romances that I prefer. So overall...way too long, annoying, predictable characters, a little too soap-boxy on issues and same-sex sex situations that I’m not use to in romances geared for women.
—Daelith
I’m really not certain why I choose to read certain books. It may be anything from the cover art to an author that I’m familiar with or perhaps a well written teaser on the jacket but I don’t think I’ve ever taken the time to look up the genera before starting one. I wish I’d thought to do that with this one. After I got into it I felt that I’d been cheated. Yes, it’s about Navy Seals and yes it’s a mystery-adventure novel but mostly it’s an adventure- romance novel ---not that there’s anything wrong with that---but I’m just not a fan. A hard assed bull of a man, the navy seal,---who is really a sweet guy inside--- is assigned to protect a beautiful, tough minded, provocative female movie producer---who is really a tender, misunderstood, sweetheart inside---when her life is threatened by a psycho killer. Meanwhile, in a parallel love story the producer’s brother who fears he may be gay, falls in love with the FBI agent investigating the threat, who is definitely gay---not there’s anything wrong with that---and realizes he must come out to find true happiness. Yes the killer is caught and love wins out---for everyone but me. I was cheated.
—Keith
I have to admit that I wasn't so sure about this book. All those Hoolywood scenes really aren't for me. Actresses, silicon and sex all over, noooo.And, instead, I finished to love this book. Cosmo, who didn't put a blink on my radar before, has become a favourite kind of hero and the heroine was really really really my kind of woman!And besides, this book has a fabulous Jules, I love him so much, it's a shame he's gay! I hope that he'll find some happiness, because at the end of this story there was so much sadness and, at the same time, hope in his words, that I think the future will have some surprise for him and for me too!
—Mareli
