Into the Storm

by: Suzanne Brockmann

Published by: Ballantine Books (August 15 2006 release)

Reviewed by Connie Anderson

I must confess. Even though Suzanne Brockmann has written eleven other books, this is the first of hers I've read--so I don't know if they are all this unique (and sometimes confusing) mixture of romance, adventure and horror. I understand that this is the "new" mixture--not loved by all who prefer their romance and adventure/mystery separate.

The Navy SEALS go on a training mission, and the women who work in the office are enlisted to go along--one selected as "hostage." In one training situation, the hostage was a former LAPD officer and she knew her stuff; however on a second one, they enlisted the help of a new untrained receptionist.

The SEALS train against a private group of rescuers called the Troubleshooters (many former SEALS) so that they can keep their skills sharp and be ready to go against a real enemy at any time.

The author writes very realistically, having done a lot of military research. No sappy dialogue, the single guys are all of course gorgeous and always panting after some woman. Many of these SEALS take a woman's "no thank you" as a challenge.

The story was a good read, and lots of fun until Brockmann introduces in short chapters, a sick, sick serial killer who does horrible things to the women he captured and murdered. It bothered me that the next chapter was the romance, with a romp in bed by one of the SEALS and woman from one of these two groups.

I do not like to read about women being abused, and I finally realized later on it was an important part of the story, but still, it grossed me out. Too-much-details-for-me horror.

What I did like was the women in these maneuvers were smart, tough, innovative well-trained and strong--professionally, but they were damaged emotionally and physically by some man in their past. This is where these tough SEALS could show their softer side, and they did.

Written since our military has been in A-stan (Afghanistan), this was talking about current military maneuvers in that country and terrorism where the SEALS do covert actions.

Armchair Interviews says: Very good read with great characters well defined--just be aware of the violence against women might not be everyone's cup of tea.