This book is probably the best romantic suspense I have ever read. Hands down. I complained in my review of Over the Edge that there were too many characters to keep straight and that I hated the WWII story. But in OOC everything works right. These are the main characters:

Savannah & Ken
Molly & Jones
Sam & Alyssa
Rose & Hank (WWII)

Three of these couples have their happy ending including the WWII story (which I loved). Sam and Alyssa keep making appearances in this series of books and there is no HEA yet, but I know eventually somewhere down the line there will be one. I only have a general complaint that I wish Brockmann would wind things up faster for Sam and Alyssa. Their story is strung out over too many books. The action in OOC is non-stop and set in the Indonesian jungle. I have a huge fondness for stories set in the jungle. The dialogue was pretty crude at times but I think realistic in terms of how guys actually talk. I especially loved the dialogue between Savannah and Ken aka "Wildcard". I highly recommend this book for those who love romantic suspense. (Grade: A) ( )

Suzanne Brockmann did it again. A terrific novel which balances the past with the present . ( )

Each Troubleshooter novel has at least two romance threads, with one being centered in the present and the other around WW2.

PACING: fast paced; quick read; CHARCTERIZATION: most important part; series characters that are secondary in this book are very compelling and make you want to read more now; developed over time but immediately recognizable; intertwined lives; roguish; sympathetic; emotional involvement; reader identification; STORYLINE: at least 3 storylines interwoven; character-centered, but lots of action; resolved episode ending with open-ended threads; plot twists; explicit violence; rich-and-famous elements; family-centered thread; community-centered series; FRAME: hard-edged; bittersweet to heartwarming; melodramatic; suspenseful; nostalgic elements; military; special forces; detailed settings; isolated locales; contemporary; conversational style ( )

Now this is my all time favorite of the Troubleshooters series. I love Ken Wildcard Karmody and totally believe the love that grows between him and Savannah. I love the trekking through the jungle schtick. I even love Molly and Mr Jones and the grandmother. This is a frequent reread and a keeper for me.

This was the first Suzanne Brockmann title I had ever read, and from pretty much the first chapter, I fell completely in love with her SEAL heroes. Her ability to capture male dialogue and thought is amazing, and she infuses each character with a unique voice. Pair this with a story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and secondary characters that rival the primary characters in appeal and I was completely hooked.

Ken "Wildcard" Karmody is the SEAL Troubleshooter Team's most unpredictable - and possibly immature - member. When he meets Savannah Von Hof, he falls instantly head-over-heels. When she seems equally smitten - and spends their first day in his bed - he's ready to walk down the aisle. But when Ken learns that Savannah had an ulterior motive in hunting him down, he's sure she's only out to use him.

Savannah is desperate. She needs to get ransom money to the men who've kidnapped her uncle, and she needs a SEAL to help her accomplish the mission. Remembering her college crush - her roommates boyfriend, Kenny - she asks him to escort her to Indonesia. She never expects to fall in love.

My only quibble about this book is the third subplot that involves a World War II story. Brockmann has these "flashback" style threads running through all of the books in this series, and to be honest, I don't read them. They simply distract from the main stories without adding anything to them. I'm sure they are interesting in their own right, but I'd be better pleased if Brockmann would use the page space for further scenes with Ken, Savannah, Molly and Jones.

Excellent read. One of the best in this series.
Ken "Wildcard" Karmody is the SEA ( )