Back when I first started reading Suzanne Brockmann, I had a friend that I used to post on JGBB with about our shared love of these books. She was one of those friends that made reading this series just so much fun.
We had different posts going up every week about something else, we just had to gush about and it was always such a good time for me. LindaLou was the creator of one of my favorite threads that we had going on over at the JGBB. It was about Samisms. If you’re a fan of this series than I’m pretty sure you know what a Samism is. A Samism is something that Sam Starrett said or did that we loved to bits and pieces.
LindaLou is still a great friend of mine and I’m happy that she agreed to share her thoughts on why she loves Suz Brockmann so much.
Why did I fall in love with Suzanne Brockmann’s work? Two words … well names … Sam and Alyssa! Several years ago I frequented a romance novel discussion board. I had noticed the name Suzanne Brockmann mentioned a few times, at that point I wasn’t particularly into the military type books so I didn’t really pursue the recommendations that were being made to try her stuff. Then I came across a post that mentioned chocolate syrup and a hunky SEAL named Sam … I decided I might want to give the series a shot. So I found the Unsung Hero and by about the third chapter I was hooked. I proceeded to devour the series up to Into The Night in about 2 weeks. Then I waited in sheer agony for Gone Too Far, I was a complete Same and Alyssa addict. Crazed, overthetop, posting about them constantly and majorly obsessed (let me add that I was pregnant and hormonal to boot!). Meanwhile I started going through the Team 10 books as well, they were harder to come by but I was on a mission, pardon the pun. Eventually Gone Too Far was released and within hours of it hitting the shelves, I was thrilled with Sam and Alyssa’s HAPPY ENDING. What I love about all of Suz’s characters, but Sam and Alyssa in particular, is that they are so wonderfully flawed. They are human and imperfect and often frustrating. I also appreciate that her writing is not formulaic, each story has something new and let me tell you this woman is not afraid of taking risks with her writing … other authors might have worried about dragging the Sam and Alyssa story out for as long as she did, about putting so many road blocks in their way, but Brockmann stuck to her guns and it worked … a calculated risk that paid off, IMO. So if you want heart pounding adventure, steamy love scenes, strong friendships, heartbreak and redemption, try a Brockmann!
Thanks so much LindaLou, a great huge DITTO to everything you said because we all know that I love me some Sam and Alyssa too!
And the Suz Brockmann love just keeps right on coming…=)
Oh, grrr.
I really haven’t enjoyed what I’ve read of Suzanne Brockmann so far – but if I’m not mistaken Sam and Alyssa aren’t in the same series as Prince Joe and that lot of books…??
I couldn’t stand those earlier books, but Sam keeps winning the polls on here by miles and this couple is everywhere.
I’d love to read about them, but I don’t want to if they’re anything like those early Brockmann books I’ve read.
@Anon – I don’t think her later books are any better than her earlier books. I know many love her, but I can’t recommend her.
I got sucked into reading her because of Rowena and LindaLou talking about Sam. The way they went on about him convinced me I’d love him too. I slogged through all the books prior to his, then felt SO let down by the time I got there. The early books in the series were crap, but OMG did I hate Sam and Alyssa. They were both morons about each other. DON’T DO IT, IT’S A TRAP!
I do highly recommend Heart Throb, though. It’s a standalone and really good. 🙂
Hmmm, I really want to read about Sam now!
But I don’t like her writing – I prefer Cindy Gerard amongst others.
I heard great things about Sherrilyn Kenyon’s heroes, but I couldn’t stand her books either.
Maybe I’ll give one a go, just to see what Sam’s all about. But it seems like you have to read the whole series to appreciate their relationship.
I don’t know what to do – I’ve already spent hundreds of dollars on books this month!!
Do you remember how crazy we were when Gone Too Far finally came out? Oh gosh, the memories!
Okay, Holly I’ve gone and read up on them. I believe you!
It really doesn’t sound like my thing. I will give Heartthrob a go perhaps…
Holly, love you … but bite me! 🙂 LOL
Sometimes, for whatever reason, a reader and an author just don’t mesh … I’m thinking that is what we have here with Holly and Suz. I feel that way about Lisa Kleypas’ contemps … love her historicals (she might be my fave) but HATE her contemps. I remember complaining about them on Sanctuary and was told by Patti and Rowena about the same thing .. bite me … Ha!!!
😉 LindaLou
Love you lots, Rowena!!!
Oh! Ok, maybe I should, Row. I’ll keep my eyes open for it.
btw … that book never came …
We *heart* you Holly! teehee
LindaLou
Anon,
If you’ve tried her TDD books and didn’t like them, I doubt you’d like her Troubleshooters series and that’s okay. I love Suz enough for both of us AND Holly. I’ve never tried CG though, I keep telling myself that I will but never do.
Holly,
Yeah, bite LindaLou. LOL.
LindaLou,
I remember you not liking the Lisa Kleypas contemps…I still can’t believe it! Are you going to give her other contemp series a go? I hear she’s coming out with a brand spankin’ new one…I’m curious how that will turn out.
It didn’t? I sent it out a few days after we talked. How weird, I hope it didn’t get lost in the mail. Let me check on it.
Oh! I was afraid of that. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to be a pest … shoot. Let me know, I can check my PO too. 🙁 Did you send it mail or UPS?
LindaLou