Headed for Trouble

Troubleshooters #16.5

by Suzanne Brockmann

10 hours, 26 minutes New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann, whom USA Today calls “the reigning queen of military suspense,” breaks out a rapid-fire collection of pulse-pounding, heart-tugging stories and novellas featuring the intrepid men and women of Troubleshooters Inc., fiction’s hottest ultimate counterterrorism squad. Tough-as-nails Troubleshooters operative Sam Starrett learns the agony of loving someone in danger—and the hell of waiting on the home front—as his wife, Alyssa, hurtles into a foreign hotspot that’s about to boil over. Navy SEAL Frank O’Leary’s ill-fated holiday reunion with his older brother takes a turn for the better—when a chance encounter on a rainy New Orleans street gives Frank a reason to be thankful after all. In a maze of tunnels deep beneath a military base in Germany, Jules Cassidy, Alyssa Locke, and their comrades in arms match wits with terrorists on a mission with explosive consequences.Plus more never-before-released adventures featuring Jenk, Izzy, Gillman, Lopez, Kenny, Savannah, and other members of SEAL Team 16—along with Suzanne Brockmann’s exclusive interviews with her beloved characters.Looking for the best kind of trouble? You’ve found it!Story ListWhen Frank Met RosieWhen Alyssa and Sam Met the DentistWaitingSam Takes an Assignment in ItalyWhen Jenk, Izzy, Gilman & Lopez Met Tony Vlachic TrappedHome is Where the Heart IsA Seal and Three BabiesValentines DayOtherThoughts on When Frank Met RosieInterview with Tom & KellyConversation with Jenk, Gilman, Lopez & IzzyInterview with Kenny & Savannah FAQ’S Answered

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Suspense, Anthologies, Contemporary Romance

316 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 30, 2013

About the author

After childhood plans to become the captain of a starship didn’t pan out, Suzanne Brockmann took her fascination with military history, her respect for the men and women who serve, her reverence for diversity, and her love of storytelling, and explored brave new worlds as a bestselling romance author.

Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.

In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.

In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

2023 Reread
This time I listened to the story and it was an even better experience. My original comments still stand with minor updates, specifically the comments about the narration.

a bit of background…
If you haven't read Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series, you're missing out on THE most exciting romantic suspense stories out there involving Navy SEALS and security operatives. Troubleshooters, Inc. is the name of the security firm launched by the former commander of SEAL Team Sixteen. Many of their assignments are a collaboration with Navy SEALs and the FBI and there are 16 amazing full length books in the series.

the set up…
The last full length book in the series was released in 2011 and fans were dying for at least one more to end it properly. This book seriously whets the appetite with some short stories that were previously released with promotional books or earlier released novels. This is a compilation of those stories with two new ones added.

the heart of the story…
I never read any of the stories that were included in promotional books so they were all new for me. When Frank Met Rosie just about brought me to tears; Trapped is classic Troubleshooters with its combination of angst, romance and scary ops; Home is Where the Heart Is was a bit of a departure but I enjoyed learning more about Will’s sister Arlene’s choice to serve her country with multiple deployments, leaving her young daughter behind; and A Seal and Three Babies had me literally howling in laughter for most of it but then holding my breath at the end.

what worked…
I really miss this series and these characters and these stories brought it alive for me again. I'd forgotten how Brockmann really is in a class by herself in crafting the characters, the dialogue, the chilling missions and the unconventional romances. The new stories were meaty, fresh and appealing and those I'd missed from the past were insightful and interesting. These characters feel so real I forget they're fictional (I'm cringing as I write that). You just lose all sense of yourself and get wrapped up in the story. They may be short but Brockmann didn't cut corners.

what didn't work as well…
I wanted more, not more of the short stories but more books like these where I get so engrossed I become part of it. It also reminded me that the series is in limbo, with some characters stories still left undone. I thought there would be more that might have moved those situations along.

the narration…
Listening to the stories takes the experience to a different level. Even though this was a reread, they felt new the second time around. Lawlor’s storytelling makes such a difference.

the bottom line…
I enjoyed the stories a LOT. If it was intentional to leave me hungering for more, mission accomplished in a BIG way. However, it was a great opportunity to reconnect with beloved characters from the series.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

[Erica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, I gave it a REALLY good try, but after getting to 51%, I just finally gave up. And I hate to do that because I always finish books but this one was truly boring to me. And I don't honestly think it was because I hadn't read any of the other books...after reading these little shorts, I don't think this series would be my cup of tea period. It was classified as "romance" in Netgalley, and I guess it kind of was, but to me, there just wasn't enough romance (and no sex scenes, at least in the ones that I read) to classify it as romance. To me, this is more of a fan book, kind of like The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel is for Outlanderers. It is an anthology for little snippets into the team's lives, little chapters between the short stories where Ms. Brockmann discusses why she wrote about each character the way that she did (which I skipped since I hadn't read any of the other books) and even had some "pretend" conversations and interviews with the characters, but to me, it was more about the military ops that the characters had than anything else, and that's just not really that interesting to me. I loved "When Frank Met Rosie". New Orleans during the holidays is really romantic and there was a definite spark between the two. That was a romantic short. All of the shorts with Alyssa and Sam to me were boring. My favorite story was "When Jenk, Izzy, Gillman, and Lopez Meet Tony Vlachic" because let's face it, guys bullshitting and insulting each other and contemplating meaningless crap such as their best lesbian encounters over poker and beer is just plain funny. The stories about Jules that discussed his relationships with Robin and Ben were touching. Cute how Sam and Jules called each other SpongeBob and Squidward, although strange in a way. I thought it was distracting and annoying using Pig Latin and words like "crapitation" and "stankariffic". People in the military don't talk that way. Not even in their heads. But where I really just said, "Yup, had enough" was "Home Is Where The Heart Is"...Jack and Arlene's story where her daughter Maggie is so desperate for her mom not to go back to Iraq (which I totally get btw) that she cons an ex-lover of her mom's into trying to get her knocked up and married and when that doesn't work, she runs away. That's when I said, "yup, DONE". What I really wish is that a) Netgalley had not housed this under romance (because it wasn't really wasn't) and b) that Netgalley had made a mention in their description that it was so far into the series because I definitely would not have requested.

DNF at 51%

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a mixed bag of short stories involving characters from Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series. I've read some of them before since they were published as extras in her full-length stories. There are a couple of original stories and some interviews involving characters and the author. If you're a fan of the Troubleshooters series and a fan of short stories, you'll enjoy this book. My rating: 3.5 Stars.

2023 Re-read: I'm re-reading the series with one of my Goodreads groups. This was an entertaining assortment of short stories in the Troubleshooters Universe. I am surprised that I forgot some of these stories. This was a nice way to revisit some of the past characters, but I wish a couple of the stories had been longer. My rating: 3.5 Stars.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzanne Brockmann is a popular romance and romantic suspense author. In my opinion, her Troubleshooters books are unique in the romantic suspense genre. Suz’s books have romance, the sweetness of meeting someone and connecting, some sexy steam and a great happily ever after. So for readers looking for that – Brockmann offers this. But she offers so much more. Headed for Trouble is a continuation of the Troubleshooters series; it contains short stories and novellas revolving around characters already introduced in the series. Brockmann writes these complex characters who like most real people – make decisions and choices for complex reasons. Things do not happen easily or coincidentally in her Troubleshooters world; characters die and suffer and their happily-ever-afters are hard won. Characters introduced at the beginning of the series stay with the series over the course of the book. Readers get to see their favorites coming back and living their lives – or previously introduced characters become the main characters later on. And yeah, this sounds like many serial romance books but it isn’t. Each of the characters has a unique voice, a unique background – and reads like a unique person. There isn’t a formula in these books. The characters are all written in complex layers – sounds silly but it is true, they are meaty and tangible. These books and characters offer so much for readers to sink their teeth in. The Troubleshooters characters cross racial and ethnic lines, gender and sexuality lines and economic lines. The characters are tall, short, thin, bigger – and beautiful. They are so similar to real people we might know in real life. All of these factors are why I love the Troubleshooters series. Like anything else, I haven’t loved all of the books in the series, but I have loved many and enjoyed most so overall this is my favorite series out of any genre. And unfortunately, I have not yet found another author like Suzanne Brockmann. Because I don’t read Suzanne Brockmann for the genre, I read her for how she writes.

Headed for Trouble brings together most of the short stories and novellas that Suz has written in the Troubleshooters world. Some are new and some are not. Included in the book are some character interviews and an interview with Suz herself. Normally, I am not a fan of this sort of book and often feel like I have been short changed as a consumer when I buy something like this. That is not how I felt when I finished with Headed for Trouble. Headed for Trouble was very satisfying and made me just want more. She wrote these short stories and novellas, she wrote them just like she did her books –to further the storyline line and with great character development.

The stories involve favorite characters like Sam, Alyssa, Jules, Robin, Gina, and Max. We get to see Sam in action and acting his old ornery but sweet funny self. My favorite is a novella involving Will’s sister in “Home is Where the Heart Is”. The story is set in Spring 2008 and takes place sometime after All Through The Night but before Into the Fire. The character Will was introduced in All Through The Night and in that book we learn that he is caring for his sister’s daughter while she is stationed in Iraq. “Home is Where the Heart Is” is similar to other Troubleshooters stories in that it is beautifully told and wonderfully touching. The characters do not make easy choices but the ending is rewarding.

Short but funny is the story which features Jenk, Izzy, Gillman and Lopez. It takes place slightly before Into the Storm and is set in 2005. As would be expected, Izzy is his usual hilarious self. In telling his friends about meeting a beautiful stranger who seeks out his help he describes what she says to him,

“I need a huge favor. And I’m thinking, Well it’s your lucky night because I’ve got a huge favor,” Izzy told them.

Of course it doesn’t turn out quite how Izzy expected!

“A Seal and Three Babies” is a new novella included in Headed for Trouble. It is set in March 2009 and takes place after Hot Pursuit but before Breaking the Rules. The story centers around three couples: Jules/Robin, Max/Gina, and Alyssa/Sam. It is full of a lot of action and is really focused on interaction between Sam and Robin,

“What if you go out ….. and they mug you?” (Robin asks) “That’ll be their mistake,” Sam said. “Not if they catch you off guard and knock you unconscious.” “Not gonna happen.” “Your eyes are closed right now,” Robin pointed out. Sam opened them and looked at him. “Because I’m pretty sure you’re not going to jump me.”

To fully enjoy this book and the stories in it, readers should read the other books in the series first. This is a series I strongly recommend – I have my thoughts and issues with the first two books in the series. But starting with book #3, the series is amazing and readers will not be disappointed.

To read more of this review and others like it check out Badass Book Reviews

[Leea · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a fan of the Troubleshooters Series and you've read all the books and haven't yet picked up Headed for Trouble then you're missing out... big time. Never before have I read a book like this, that is all about the fans. This book is filled with little snippets of our beloved characters, those side or back stories that took place when another major event happened. My emotions ran the gamete while reading this book. I cried, laughed and then cried happy tears. There were several short stores but my favorites were...

Sam in agony over being apart from Alyssa when she's in harms way. Talk about heart breaking but also sexy. We get to see Sam at home with his daughter playing daddy while his heart is hundreds of miles away residing in the hands of Alyssa Locke. You know he's not worried about her ability to protect herself, no that's not it. He just wants to be at her six protecting her the only way he knows how.

More Jules and Sam bromance moments. These two men couldn't be more different in some way but in others they're so alike. This is a friendship forged thru so many books and countless moments where they've saved each other and the ones they both love dearly. Under all this action is a story of friendship and mutual respect. Sam never ceses to amazing me when he opens up to Jules.

“You have no idea how much I appreciate your friendship,” Jules said. Sam held out several bills. “Yeah, actually I do,” he said. “It’s probably as much as I appreciate yours.”

Brockmanns interview with Jenk, Izzy, Lopez and Gillman that had me holding my side laughing so hard. Izzy has got to be my favorite character and i'll just leave you with this quote from Jenk...

JENK: Here’s how you know you’re gonna be the hero of her next book. Ready for this? (They nod.) JENK: You stop having sex.

At the end of Hot Pursuit, we know that Alyssa is going on a mission to Afganistan to be part of the team to help protect the president when he goes there for a visit. It's clean that Sam and Alyssa cannot go on ops together because of little Ash so they put a plan in place to make it a vacation for Sam, Gina and Robin... In Headed for Trouble you get this story and it's not what I expected at all. Somehow Ms. Brockmann is able to capture parenthood so perfectly, it's a huge cluster sometimes and you've always got to be ready for the unexpected. This was hands down my favorite short in this book.

Ultimately Headed for Trouble was Ms. Brockmann way of honoring our armed forces. I would argue that she does that with every book but there was an underline theme thru all the novellas. Soldiers being away from the ones they love in order to protect the country they love. Those holidays, birthdays and special moments that are missed while gone. The ones left at home to facilitate the every day life struggles without their partner as support. That every goodbye could be the last kiss or hug. Those are powerful moments, that those who get to sit under the flag of freedom tend to forget because it's not in our face everyday.

As she gazed into her own eyes, they welled with tears. And for those few brief moments, before Maggie emerged from the bathroom, Arlene allowed herself to acknowledge the dreadful fact—a terrible possibility—that this might be it for her. When she said goodbye to her daughter at the airport, it might be for the very last time. She might never come home again. But there were tens of thousands of servicemen and -women out there, just like her, who had said goodbye to their sons and daughters, their husbands and wives, their mothers and fathers and families, uncertain as to their own futures. That was always the case when one served one’s country.

At the end of Headed for Trouble there is Q/A section. One of the questions was about Brockmann waving the 'Rainbow flag' and I thought she answered it perfectly. I'll leave you with this quote. In away in sums up these novellas.

I believe strongly that my books are entertainment. I hope you might learn a thing or two while reading them, but first and foremost, my job is to entertain you. If I’m waving a flag in Hot Target, it’s the same flag I’ve always waved in all my books—the American flag. And that’s a flag that’s supposed to stand for acceptance and understanding. For freedom for all—and not just freedom for all Americans, but freedom for all of the diverse and wonderful people living on this planet; freedom to live their lives according to their definitions of freedom. It’s a flag that’s supposed to stand for real American values like honor and honesty and peace and love and hope.

[♡Karlyn P♡]

More Troubleshooters?!! Wow, I so didn't see this coming. Sounds like it may be one big epilogue for all? We will see. Count me in.

[Jennifer Wardrip]

How do I desire thee? Let me count the ways... Come on, December 2012!

[Vic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook read by Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank. I split the audio into the individual stories/interviews/etc so will list the running time as I split it. This list is also in the order as presented in the audio version. I think anyone interested in this book/audio should have read or listened to the entire Troubleshooters series first. Many of these shorts have been available for some time but I believe this is the first time they are available via audio. I have enjoyed Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbanks narrations in this series on other books and this collection is no different.

Book Introduction - Melanie Ewbank - (04:33)

Troubleshooters 00 - When Frank Met Rosie - Patrick Lawlor - (39:25)
- I didn't listen to this story.

Troubleshooters 00 - Thoughts on When Frank Met Rosie - Melanie Ewbank - (07:15)
- This is Ms. Brockmann's thoughts on writing this short story about a character was dropped from the series during book 3.

Troubleshooters 06.5 - When Alyssa and Sam Met the Dentist - Melanie Ewbank - (14:45) 3*
- Nice little preview of the villain from Hot Pursuit (book 15)

Troubleshooters 07.5 - Waiting - Patrick Lawlor - (35:05) 4*
- I love Sam and Alyssa so while Alyssa is mostly off-screen I enjoyed this story. Sam gets bad news about a mission Alyssa is on while he's at home with his daughter. The other wives of SEAL Team 16 show up to provide support.

Troubleshooters 09.5 - Sam Takes an Assignment in Italy Patrick Lawlor - (31:58) 4*
- Again, Sam is the main character with Jules coming in to have his back. It's a fun little short story.

Troubleshooters 09.6 - When Jenk, Izzy, Gilman, and Lopez Met Tony Vlachic - Patrick Lawlor - (25:53) 3*
- Fun little story about when the guys get to know Tony.

Troubleshooters 09.7 - Suz's Interview with Tom and Kelly - Melanie Ewbank - (07:41) 2*
- Not a big fan of the interview style bits in this anthology. This was just OK for me.

Troubleshooters 10.1 - Trapped - Patrick Lawlor - (1:02:44) 3.5*
- First short I listened to with some real action taking place. Was nice to see other members of the group in on this op. I love Sam, Alyssa and Jules. It was also the first story with some length to it.

Troubleshooters 10.2 - Conversation with Navy SEALs Mark "Jenk" Jenkins, Dan Gillman, Jay Lopez, and Irving "Izzy" Zanella - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (06:26) 2*
- I didn't think this worked that well in audio

Troubleshooters 10.3 - Suz's Interview with Kenny and Savannah - Melanie Ewbank (07:53) 2*

Troubleshooters 12.6 - Home Is Where the Heart Is (Part I & II) - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (2:52:20) 3*
- Main characters for this short were secondary (non-Troubleshooter) characters introduced in All Through The Night (book 12). I thought the premise of the plot was a bit thin but it was OK.

Troubleshooters 15.5 - A SEAL and Three Babies - Patrick Lawlor - (1:30:18) 4*
- This was my favorite short story in this collection. I loved seeing Sam and Robin working together in this short story.

FAQ Interview with Suz - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (18:15) 2*
- I wish there had been more/longer real short stories instead of some of these entries. We can find this on the author's website.

Valentine's Day - Melanie Ewbank - (03:35) 1*
- I appreciate the sentiments in this commentary but, again, would have preferred more/longer short stories.

Fighting Destiny 00 - Bonus Story: Shane's Last Stand Patrick Lawlor (1:01:55) 3.5*
- This is a prequel to her Fighting Destiny series. I did read book 1 (Born to Darkness) and found it interesting so I liked this story. I can understand its inclusion in this collection since this takes place when Shane is a Navy SEAL (in the dystopian future) and it's one of the few short stories with some action going on.

Troubleshooters 00 - Glossary of Troubleshooters Terms - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (18:43) 1*
- A mostly straight forward glossary of terms.

Troubleshooters 00 - Troubleshooters Series Timeline - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (13:45) 1*
- A brief summary of the books and short stories that are part of the Troubleshooters series. Appreciate the inclusion in an e-book but these last 2 entries of the audio take over 30 minutes and while the narrators can make it interesting, not something I'd re-visit.


While there was a lot of extra stuff in this collection that I could have done without, the short stories I enjoyed were worth the price of admission for me.

[LaurenHartwellWhite · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good sauna book

[Gwennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know how in a series you'll get a snippet of something that happened off the pages, like 'Sam plans to take Gina, Robin and the kids on a vacation' but you don't get to read it? Well in this book we got all these little side quick looks into events that happened over the course of the Troubleshooters books. Plus, we got interviews with specific characters. Suzanne interviews Tom and Kelly, Suzanne interviews Savannah and Ken, Suzanne interviews Izzy, Jenk, Lopez and Gillman (one of my favorites!).

I'm sure everyone who's read this book has their own personal little favorites. Mine was the first time Izzy, Jenk, Lopez and Gillman hang out with Tony V. Funny and cute, and I could read more books about these 4 just hanging out.

But don't let this book of shorts fool you, because not only did I laugh but I cried too. Brockmann brought us face to face with the struggles and tribulations of life as/with a soldier. They die, they leave behind their loved ones, and their family's live every day with a certain amount of fear. It was heart breaking.

I didn't save any special quotes or any special notations, but mostly because my friend Leea wrote a beautiful review for this book that I intended to bring to your attention. There's no way I could say it better.

[Rellim · Rating 4 out of 5]

10/2021 - Audio (updated the review below)

11/2016 - This is a good “bonus” for fans of the series. Several little short stories and a few novellas. Some giving more insight into secondary or lesser explored characters which is fun. Some of these were included as bonuses in other books or part of other smaller “collections” like The Troubleshooters Reader’s guide. So it’s not all new content. (For audio-only fans this will almost entirely be new content. I think the only one previously recorded was “Sam Takes an Assignment in Italy” which was at the end of Into the Storm. However there it was read by Brockmann herself. Here it’s performed by Lawlor. While Brockmann isn’t bad - she’s no Lawlor. 😉)

The ebook starts out with a timeline of all the books, novellas, & shorts so that you can read things in chronological order - which is handy to have. (In the audiobook it’s at the end.)

I don’t think they’d be enjoyable for folks who aren’t at least mostly familiar with the series and several of the series arcs. Some contain spoilers for books that precede them.

4 chapters (about an hour of the audio) is Shane’s Last Stand which is a novella prequel to Brockmann’s Born to Darkness.

Overall an enjoyable read/listen.

Patrick Lawlor & Melanie Ewbank are wonderful as always. I continue to love the way they bring Troubleshooters characters to life.

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series then this book is an absolute must have. I am fairly new to the series so to be honest this book was not really made for me. This book is made for fans which I think is really nice.

Headed For Trouble is an anthology of short stories from the Troubleshooters series, each story is about well-known characters and couples. This book doesn’t only contain stories there are also character interviews and some really nice and informative authors notes explaining the writing of the series and what inspired her to write these small stories. There is also a very handy and easy to understand time line letting you know where in the series each story is set, which I thought was a nice touch.

I really liked the idea behind this; it fell personal and was really well planned and put together. For me the stories were a little too short and I couldn’t quite connect with the characters as much as I would have liked but for people who have read all the books in the series this will not be a problem.

[Aimz · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review

I loved the Troubleshooters series. I love Suzanne Brockmann.
I do not love this book.

It was okay. Too cluttered for my tastes. It is a series of short stories about all 16 from the previous books. It was supposed to give us a bit more insight into their lives, but I just felt it was forced. I didn't feel any of the magic of the originals. The cover is misleading. I was disappointed. There wasn't any substance I felt. Overall it took me 4 days to finish. And I never put a book down until I am finished that day. So I have to call it like I see it. Meh...
Some may like it some may not. Different strokes for different folks they say.







This is my opinion. I am neither now nor will I ever be a professional critic. Thank you Netgalley and Random house publishing for allowing me to review.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Brockmann, it was fun to visit with old friends.
As a huge fan of Brockmann, I had already read most of this compilation of short stories including the two most recent ebooks for sale at most book sellers.
Yes, there were a couple of new stories here. And as usual, Brockmann made them fun, compelling, entertaining and emotional.
But for only two new short stories, it is a little difficult for me to justify the pricing but it seems the norm these days to do handbooks and dictionaries.
Bottom line, I enjoyed the visit with well written, previously formed friendships.

I received a promotional copy from NetGallery.

[Mir · Rating 3 out of 5]

The more more substantial stories were okay, although I'd read some of them elsewhere. The shorter ones were pretty weak. Some of the items included weren't really stories. Brockmann's idea of having an author "interview" with her characters or be discussed by the characters works fine as cutesy way discussing the writing process, but doesn't work from a story-telling perspective. Overall, I felt like she was struggling to come up with enough material to reach book length. But given how many multi-book story arcs she's written, I don't think short is her strength.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a wrap up to the Troubleshooters series - It wasn't. The stories were fun and the one about Frank O'Leary made me cry. The one with Izzy and the guys made me laugh out loud. The interviews were funny and the story about Shane made me dig out Born to Darkness to read sooner rather than later. I love Suzanne Brockmann and will read anything she writes, even when she is standing on her soapbox doing it.

[Isabel Luna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta es una antología bastante original, xq no solo tiene relatos cortos de los protagonistas favoritos - Sam&Alyssa, Jules&Robin y Max&Gina, sino también hay entrevistas cortas entre la autora y otros personajes; lo q al menos para mi fue toda una novedad y al mismo tiempo resultó muy divertido.
Obviamente todos los relatos que no fueron entrevistas, giraron en torno a alguna anécdota del peligrosísimo trabajo de inteligencia y seguridad q siempre está involucrando al FBI, los SEAL´s del equipo 16 y los agentes de TI; y aunq el suspenso es increíblemente intenso, a pesar de lo corto de las historias, vuelvo a lamentar q la autora sacrifica mucho romance a favor del suspense.
El material tiene mucha calidad, pero como a mí me gusta romántica, siempre echo en falta ese pequeño detalle.
Tengo la mejor intención de q esté sea el último libro de la serie q leo. Los otros q me he saltado no me han llamado mucho la atención pero tengo q reconocer q la autora es muy buena y probablemente lo vuelva a intentar con ella, así q no prometo nada.

[Peridot_Lyoness · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a collection of interviews and short stories based on our favorite boys and girls. My favorite story was Arlene's, Will Schroeder's sister and Maggie's mom. She was previously mentioned in All Through The Night. It was so poignant, and heart-breaking and sweet. Always good to see the fan faves: Alyssa and Sam, Robin and Jules, and Max and Gina.

[Llaph · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to have all of the shorts, plus some new ones, all in the same place. There were some stories that I missed because back when they came out I wasn't able to access them due to accessibility issues. But, hey I loved them and my desire to read the entire series has gotten a bit harder to ignore.

[Booklover, Indianapolis · Rating 3 out of 5]

(June) I think a 3* is a bit generous - and if you've never ventured into the world of Seal Team 16 and the Troubleshooters, this book is truly pointless, so don't bother. If you love the world created by SB, then this book is a nice way to revisit some of the best characters created in romantic suspense. However, as most of what is in here has been available for free in either promo books or at the backs of other books, paying for this is a bit of a waste.

The introduction and timeline were wonderful reminders of all the books I've read that I've truly loved - SB never disappointed me, which is not something everyone can say. But the little snipits and outtakes and stories here - meh, nothing to get that excited about (except I forgot how much I love Sam and Jules and Izzy, etc.). The first story, When Frank Met Rosie, was very sweet, but sad for those who know the fate awaiting Frank in later books. The "interviews" with Tom & Kelly and Kenny & Savannah were fun, as was the poker game (and later conversation, discussing how one becomes a hero in a SB novel)between some of the best characters. I am kind of sad poor Lopez never got his day in the sun. There are 5 mini stories featuring Sam and/or Jules that, while not really anything special, are special just because of Sam and Jules. The two longest stories were actually my least favorite. Home Is Where the Heart Is annoyed me - I could not stand Maggie - and I find it hard to believe that a 13 year old would approach a complete stranger and ask him to impregnate her mom or that a 13 year old (Lizzie) would speak to an adult stranger, mother of her bff, the way she did. The second part of the story was even more tedious - and I found it insulting to Jack's kids that he was so gung ho to marry Arlene that all that mattered was that Maggie was there - his boys didn't seem to matter to him that much (if they did, then they should have moved to live near them once Arlene came home). Finally, the last story takes place in the new world SB has created - it was a prequel teaser about how the main character, Shane, got screwed over by the army. While I found the excerpt that followed interesting, I'm not sure I want to read it - I think I'll wait and see.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Ballantine Books and Edelweiss for providing me with the review copy

Oh Suzanne, how I have missed thee ;) It was a sad day when I finished the last few pages of Breaking the Rules (#16 in the series), because I knew that it would be the last one (at least for a while). There would be no more yearly anticipation for the release of the new book in the series and then the torture that I put myself through before letting myself read it (because I knew that once I started, I just wouldn’t stop)…so when I saw that there was an anthology coming out – I did a happy dance (and yes, I truely did…around my house).

This book was comprised of a number of little snippets (day of the life kind of deals), a couple of interviews with characters, a few of the shorts that had appeared as bonus excerpts in books and then my favorite – 2 brand-new short stories – that were actually rather chunky (and I loved them for it!) Trying not to be spoilerish, the first one takes place mostly with secondary characters that appears in All Through The Night (#12 – aka Jules and Robin’s story), so there was actually very little of my favorite SeAL’s showing up in it, but it was still super cute. And the second one, what happens when you mix a SEaL, a famous actor, 3 kids and a bout of food poisoning in BFE (in case you don’t know what that means, butt-f… egypt)…hilarity ensues for sure.

I would totally recommend this for anyone who has read and loved Suz’s characters in the past. If you haven’t read the rest of the books in the series, you might get a bit lost, but maybe these snippets will entice you to pick up the other books in the series. I just hope that Suz’s puts us out of our misery and revisits the teams in a few years with some new stories (puleeze!!). 4 stars!

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

KcLu‘s review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews

4.5 Stars

Goodness this is kind of a hard review to write. I have to say that Suzanne Brockman really wrote this book for the fans of her Troubleshooters. So instead of just doing a review of individual stories in this book and giving away their greatness, I’m going to tell you guys about this great series.

The Troubleshooters series centers on Navy SEAL team 16 and Troubleshooters INC. These are true alpha males of the biggest order!! I know you are looking at the list and saying to yourself. That is a lot of books to invest time and money in. I will tell you that you will not be disappointed if you do. She writes in a way that these characters come to life for you. You will find yourself wondering what they are up to now. This is one of the series my mom and I read together, and I will tell you we both read all of them in about a week. Each of these characters holds a special place in my heart, and for such different reasons. This series is one of the few romantic suspense series that I read and will reread.

This current anthology Headed for Trouble is a collection of short novellas that she has written throughout the series and some new ones, but she also has thrown in some great behind the scenes insight into her and her characters. Also she sits down with some of our favorites and interviews them, which is truly funny and heartwarming!! These stories had me on the edge of my seat, laughing, and even crying.

I hope you guys will pick up not only this book by this whole series. I promise you will not be disappointed. It is truly one of the first book recommendations I give out to people.

Review copy provided for an honest review.

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose this collection of short stories won't be as signifant if you aren’t a fan of the successful Navy Seal Team Sixteen & Troubleshooters series.
Pretty much a decade ago I fell in love with Suz Brockmann’s books; particularly the earlier books in the TS series are spectacular. All her characters, whether they are a navy seal, a high ranking officer, a helicopter pilot, a journalist, an intelligence officer, etc. All of them are endearing, strong, and passionate and honest. The female characters are above par as well. They are not your typical whimsical female leads, but strong and skilled women - and no stereotypes either. I always liked that.

Brockmann's books are not just about romance, but they are about defending your country, the world against evil, and it's about coming home safe to your family.
Another wonderful element in Brockmann's stories, is that she brings in various age groups. It's great to have teenagers & children of all ages being part of the story. They are, after all, part of life. There's a great sense of family in every story. And those kids portrayed, feel real too.
To sum it up, it's a pleasure be reunited with many of the TS characters I've adored for so long. I miss them all so much - (in order of preference: Stan/Teri, Gina/Max, Sam/Alyssa, Jules/Robin, Tom/Kelly, and so many others). I hope that Brockmann will resume writing about them.
In one of the novellas here, I particularly enjoyed the story of Journalist Jack Lloyd, Sergeant Arlene Schroeder and her daughter Maggie. What a great unit they formed. That family was meant to be.
I had almost forgotten how much I love these books; how fun they were, and the excitement they brought during so many books... and how I miss them…!!!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a Troubleshooters groupie you may have already read many of the 14 short stories, vignettes, character interviews and notes from Suz that make up "Headed for Trouble." But having them all together in one package makes this book one for the keeper shelf! The one new short story "A Seal and Three Babies" featuring Sam and Alyssa, Jules and Robin, Gina and Max, and their families, is in itself absolutely worth the price of the book. The story is about 30 pages and manages to pack in a real page turning plot line that provides a satisfying ending. Though who can get enough of Cowboy Sam? There's also a new chapter in Arlene and Jack's previously released short story.
The book contains extras including a timeline of where each story falls in the TS universe that acclimates you whether you've read none or all of the previous TS novels. Not every TS character makes an appearance but it's a fun and often laugh out loud experience as familiar faces make an appearance.
The stories pack in romance, suspense, military action, and comedy all while facing life TS style. Funny, sensitive, action packed and well-written, "Headed for Trouble" serves as an amazing introduction for new fans and a wonderful gift to longtime TS fans. Here's hoping for more full length novels and short stories in the Troubleshooters series.

*I received a free advanced review ebook copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by Net Galley

If you are looking for a full-length novel, HEADED FOR TROUBLE IS NOT THAT.
Instead, it is a behind-the scenes look at Brockmann's characters from her Troubleshooter series.

That being said--Suzanne Brockmann is the reason why I am addicted to military romance. She writes such strong characters with a realism that is sometimes lacking in the fictional world. And I have come to adore her Troubleshooters series with a borderline obsessiveness.

The Troubleshooters series is like a huge family to me. And one that I have re-read on occasion, because they're just that damn good.

HEADED FOR TROUBLE is a compilation of short stories, interviews, etc, featuring the characters from her Troubleshooters series, and for the most part is not something new. But this is a great addition to those who have grown to love Brockmann's sexy military men and desire to have everything about them in their collection.

Here is some of what is included:


Troubleshooters Series Timeline
Several short stories including A SEAL and Three Babies--new
Interviews with characters
FAQ with Suzanne Brockmann
Glossary of Troubleshooter Terms
Bonus story ~ Shane's Last Stand
For what it is and the market it is directed toward, HEADED FOR TROUBLE only gives the reader a taste to how truly remarkable and talented Suzanne Brockmann is. I highly recommend the full length novels instead for a first time read, starting with Unsung Hero.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid 4 stars!
RECOMMENDED FOR: True Troubleshooter fans

This book is so packed full of "extras", it definitely feels like more than an anthology... almost like a few additional "last" books. There's something in here for everyone, but it's all about the FANS!

And bless her heart, but Ms. Brockmann even gave us a timeline, so we could neatly fit all these "extras" into the overall timeline of the Troubleshooters series.

Just wish that she'd given us updates on EVERYONE - a quick blurb, especially on the couples and characters we met or really got to know in the last few books, like Izzy & Eden, Dan & Jenn, and Maria.

But there are nice tidbits for the favorites, including an awesome and unexpected story about when Sam takes Ash, Robin, and Gina and her 2 kids on a vacation to Greece, while Max, Alyssa, and Jules head off to Afghanistan as an advance team for the President's USO tour. Wow!

The other story that I just loved was about Arlene and Jack... Arlene being Will Schroeder's younger sister, who's in the Army, and the mother of Maggie, whom we meet in "All Through The Night".

But the one that really broke my heart, and that I wished I hadn't read, was When Frank Met Rosie. I was in tears! It's a great story, and I appreciate it. I just... it hit me very hard, knowing what we know about Frank.

Forgive me for the no quotes. There are lots that I marked, but it would take the rest of the day to put them all here.

[figuranta❤️addicted❤️to❤️books❤️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Headed for trouble is a collection of short stories with the main characters from troubleshooters series and how their life has developed after we read their stories in the previous books.

This book definitely can't be read as a stand alone, as you won't understand wot's going on, and will be such a shame cause are so many great characters in this series.

I must admit, i quite enjoyed this book even if they were only short stories, a big deference from the main books from the series which they were fairly long. I loved to read again about Sam, Alyssa and their baby, which by far they are my fave characters from the entire series. As usual Suzanne didn't disappoint her readers with how well this little stories are written.

If you are a fan of Suzanne Brockmann and troubleshooters series this book is a must read, finding out more about your fave characters.

ARC courtesy to NetGalley and Ballantine Books in exchange for honest review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Headed for Trouble is a magnificent collection of short stories giving us further background on characters that we’ve come to love from the Troubleshooters Series. Quick short reads that are packed with heart, romance and action! I am so glad I read this fabulous collection… it gave me a greater appreciation and insight into the lives of Suzanne Brockmann’s characters. Don’t miss out; any Troubleshooter fan needs to read these stories. If you haven’t read her books before, Headed for Trouble gives you the perfect sampling of Brockmann's work, and you’re definitely going to want more.

This copy of Headed for Trouble was given to me by Edelweiss and Ballantine Books in exchange for an honest review.

[D.B. Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd read most (but not all) of these stories, but I knew that going into this anthology, so it didn't bother me. I'm actually puzzled by people who seemed surprised to discover this was an anthology, since it seems clear in the description. But for me, there was no surprise. I enjoyed re-reading the stories I'd read before, enjoyed re-visiting characters who have starred in some of my very favorite books over the years. And the interviews were kind of fun, too. I'm not sure which stories were new and which were simply stories I'd never read before, but like everyone else, I loved reading more about Sam and Alyssa and their baby. Any story with Sam in it is a good story. I'm only sorry Brockmann won't be writing anymore about Team Sixteen and the Troubleshooters.

[Jenifer Mohammed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection of short stories that give you a chance to catch up with some of your favourite characters. They were like getting a sneak peek into the loves and lives of both some of the major and minor characters.