Nowhere to Run: Not Without Risk / A Man to Die For

Undercover Cops #1 & 2

by Suzanne Brockmann

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Susan Mallery is back with the captivating story of a woman who believes in the power of love and a man who believes in the power of money...

WANTED:

- Single mom seeks billionaire's pocketbook to fund dying son's research cure. Will seduce if necessary. Blackmail is not out of the question. Miracles welcome.

- Cynical billionaire seeks working mom with a heart of gold for PR campaign to improve his standing in the community. Must be willing to attend social events. Anyone looking for love need not apply.

It seemed like the perfect match...until the unthinkable happened.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Anthologies

569 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 19, 2010

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

[Buggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nowhere To Run is a double reissue of two of Brockmann’s earlier titles. Both were originally published in 1995 but stand up pretty well today. There’s nothing super remarkable about either of these stories but it is Brockmann so you know the writings above average and while they’re fairly simple in the plot department they’re also credible, romantic and ultimately satisfying. She always manages to add these little details to her characters that make them more relatable and damn if she doesn’t continually create to die for heroes; Sexy, mysterious, self-sacrificing and always willing to shed a tear in the name of love. I think I’ve fallen for every single one of them.

Here we get to know police partners Jim Keegan and Felipe Salazar as they protect their potential lady loves from the bad guys and fall hard in the process. The sunny Florida setting here was fantastic, a nice bit of escapism (for a snowbird like myself) with palm fronds, sandy beaches and loads of action on boats and the clear blue seas of the Gulf of Mexico.

First up was NOT WITHOUT RISK (3 stars) which gives us school teacher Emily Marshall and Jim’s story. Lovers 7 years ago, Jim broke Emily’s heart but as it turns out he had his reasons (they always do!) Jim’s never quite gotten over Emily while she’s still in the anger phase. This may have something to do with how he ended things the morning after they first slept together. Anyways, when Emily discovers that her new wealthy boyfriend is importing drugs she goes to the police, willing to do anything to keep them off the streets and away from her students.

Seems simple enough, allowing one of officers to pose as he brother to gain access to the yacht where all the deals seem to be going down. But hello, wouldn’t you just know it Jim, her Jim, Jim from 7 years ago is the one assigned to go undercover. Looks like she’ll finally learn why he left. Gotta admit his reasons surprised me. Jim cries quite a bit here, a little too much and Emily plays the anger card a little long but I enjoyed the suspense in this one, a bomb on a boat always assures some fun times.

The second book is A MAN TO DIE FOR(5 stars) and I loved this one; Carrie Brooks and yummy undercover bad boy Detective Felipe. Carrie is leaving her job at Seaworld when she stumbles upon a gang of bad guys, when it looks like they’re going to do bad things to her their leader locks her in the trunk of a car to protect her. Weeks later she spots “Carlos” at a black tie event and blows his cover with the crime syndicate he’s infiltrating, sending them both on the run. Felipe is super yummy all messed up because he’s been undercover for so long he doesn’t really know who he is anymore. Great secondary characters and a running theme with “Te Amo” which Felipe says to Carrie way too early during a night of unexpected passion and then spends the rest of the book afraid she’ll find out what it means. It was so romantic!

“She pushed his hair back from his face in a gentle, loving caress. It warmed him, and he smiled back at her, whispering words of endearment in Spanish—words he wouldn’t have dared say to her in a language she could understand.” “Te amo. Te adoro.”

Yup with to die for heroes, well written romance and a credible plot as with all of Brockmann’s stories (even these older ones) you can’t go wrong. Cheers.

[Luli · Rating 2 out of 5]

You can find this review in English below.

Not Whitout Risk.
En mi última reseña me quejé de que a la historia le había faltado drama... pues entonces no me voy a quejar ahora de que le ha sobrado, ¿no? No hay quién acierte, la verdad.

Pudiera ser que la historia es un poco antigua, pero me inclino a creer que la autora se le fue la mano con el melodrama.
Esta es una de esas historias que, pasados unos días después de leerla no consigo recordar nada remarcable.

La protagonista es TSTL, piensa que cualquiera puede ser un poli y que puede tomar decisiones que afectan a la operación policial. Y encima le aguanta al protagonista todas las tontería que tiene, que no son pocas. No mi protagonista favorita.

El héroe es el rey del drama, salido de un mal New Adult. Se pasa toda la historia quejándose y lloriqueando de que no merece ser feliz…sip…ese tipo de héroe.

Y el romance, ¿qué puedo decir del romance? Es un romance de segundas terceras oportunidades. El héroe fue un auténtico patán en el pasado y lo vuelve a ser esta vez, pero no hay que preocuparse, la protagonista le da una tercera oportunidad. Esta vez sí que me quedé con la sensación de cuando (no si) el héroe la iba a dejar tirada de nuevo.

En fin, una historia para olvidar.
No creo que lea la segunda historia, A Man to Die For.

***

Not Whitout Risk.
In my last review I complained about the story's lack of drama (famous last words), so I don't think I should complain now for the amount of it on this one, shouldn't I??

It could have been that the story is dated, but I'm inclined to think that the author overdid the melodrama.
This story has been one of these you can hardly recall after a few days.

The heroine was TSTL, she thought that anyone can be a police officer and thought that she had a say in the police operation and she put up with all the nonsense the hero throw her way. Not my kind of heroine…
The hero is a drama-king, all the time whining and complaining about how he doesn´t deserve happiness, yep, that kind of hero.

And the romance, what can I say about the romance? It´s a second third chance romance. The hero was a total jerk the first time and he did it again the second time around, but no worries, the heroine gave him a third chance. I was left with the feeling of when (not if) the hero would left the heroine again.

In short, a story to forget.
I don´t think I´ll try the second story, A Man to Die For.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It is a reprint of 2 of Brockmann's earlier titles which were published in 1995.

The first was Not Without Risk. The hero Jim Keegan and the heroine Emily Marshall had been lovers 7 years before. When she found out that her current boyfriend Alex was a drug runner she agrees to have a police officer go undercover as her brother to catch him. That police officer turns out to be Jim. This is a type of plot that I don't particulary care for in that I like to read about characters from their first meeting not while they are reuniting, but I realize that's just me. The author did a good job with the story though and I found I didn't mind too much. The way they worked through their problems seemed believable. The suspense plot was fairly light and not explored in great detail. This is more romance than suspense. It does that job pretty well.

The second book was A Man to Die For. The suspense part of the plot was better developed than the first novel. It started well with undercover cop Felipe Salazar locking Carrie Brooks in the trunk of her car to save her from some bad guys and to keep his cover going. Later they are on the run together. But in this book there was a plot device that I absolutely hate not just sorta don't like.

SPOILERS

They are on the run and she thinks he's a bad guy and doesn't believe he's a cop. Everytime he convinces her to believe him, something happens to bring up some doubt and she doesn't believe him. This happens 3 times, even after she has said she loves him and will marry him. I hate it when the heroine doubts the hero. This is overused plot device in my opinion. I want to see a woman standing by a man even in the face of apparent proof he is a bad guy. That's a more more moving love story to me. And it happened at least 3 times in this book. Felipe was a wonderful character. The way he loved her was very well written. He deserves better than Carrie.

This is a common failing with Brockmann's books in my opinion. Her male characters are usually more fully developed and more sympathetic than the females and I many times wonder why exactly the hero fell in love with her. Still it was an okay read. Just 3 stars because I'm grading her against herself and her more recent books are much better.

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this author and her writing style. Although this is an older book and both stories are pretty short, it's still very good.

[Relly]

Thank you Ginger Bells Elf

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still on a Ms. Brockmann kick... she has so many series I have missed. Getting caught up on these is like giving an addict a huge payload of drugs. I snarfed down this new series with undercover cops. It was the happy hit I needed during a dark frustrating time in early 2020. This is actually the first 2 books in the series combined into one. I found it to be a quick read. Recommended to romance lovers.

[Gail G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good not great

Enjoyable read. 2 policemen get their girl with some adventures thrown in to add excitement. I usually enjoy this author.

[Terry Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining mystery set in Florida with heavy romance laced thru it. But not too much to ruin the suspense.

[Jean Cable · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great writing style but sorry to say the stories were so boring and lacking in plot.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed both stories very much.

[Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boy oh boy does this need updating (it was written in 1995) . Felipe is a dream and Caroline is feisty and all in all I enjoyed this (I had already read Jim & Emily’s book)

[Alger Smythe-Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this is the kind of book that you like, then this is a good one.

A double hitter of connected stories, both taking place in the same fictional city modeled on Tampa. Another link is that the love interest in the two stories are magazine quality police officers with troubled pasts that in the first story are partners and in the second are working together to expose corruption in the department. Aside from that there is not much difference in the books, the women are smart, pretty, and single and the narration relies heavily on descriptions of just how hot the one thinks their particular match is in an extraordinary level of details about their hair and eyes, and the sexy sex scenes are pretty sexy and graphic in to a degree that will only seem adventurous to the straight-laced, but are really well done. As you would expect, the plots are essentially an excuse to get the protagonists together and keep them that way. ninety percent of the narrative tension would go away if the characters spent moments talking to each other rather than just ogle and screw to express how they feel.

Anyway, to my surprise these books are actually very enjoyable, and certainly better than the usual run of romance writing. The characters have actual character, the plots are a cut above that of most rom-coms, and even though the suspense plots are just foolishness, they are at least believable.

I discussed this novel with the woman who gave me the book in exchange for a pile of Patricia Cornwells. I knew that she was a big fan of Brockman, so I was circumstantial about how I thought the people behaved and their lack of emotional intelligence. To my surprise, my friend was even more cynical about Brockman's writing than I was. She simply enjoyed it for what it was. Good for her.

[JED · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two short stories, the first one:
Not Without Risk: A love story that started while Emily Marshall was in college and met the Hanson Jim Keegan a detective that is helping to catch a rapist in campus, Emily will be in love of the officer who’ll have an instant attraction for the freshman in college. But because of the terrible ghost from the past, Jim will break her heart, after having a sexual encounter with the freshman whom had win his heart…Seven years later the past will walk in his life again bringing them to work together one more time. To catch a drug smuggler who currently is dating Emily, Alexander Delmore a multimillionaire whom appears to be a good citizen, but Emily has set her mind in bring down the man whom she was at one point set her mind to get involve and get married, but as a teacher she needs to making him pay the price for bringing drugs in to the country via his yacht.

But life will bring her in contact with the person who broke her heart and stole her virtue. Jim Keegan pretending to be her brother Daniel Marshall an Astrology professor will help in the quest of bringing Delmore to justice and to protect her in this risk business. A man who had hunted her dreams for seven years, but this time it will be different….Other characters in the book are Carly Wilson-neighbor, Felipe Salazar, Diego’s best friend and detective, Jewel Hays, Emily’s former student and drug abusive, Vincent Marino “the shark” drug dealer, Lieutenant Katherine Bell, Diego’s and Salazar’s boss…
Second one:
A Man to Die For:
.....?????

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOT WITHOUT RISK

This one is really only worth 3-stars. It is and early romance by Suzanne Brockman, but not as good as her other early work. This one is about Emily, a high school teacher in an poor school and Jim, an old boyfriend and detective with the police force. They meet up again after 7 years when she reports that the man she is currently dating is maybe smuggling drugs. Sparks fly immediately and it is clear that they both love each other and always have. He has a martyr thing going and refused to be happy with Emily 7 years ago and still doesn't feel worthy of her now. He broke her heart and she is very leery of him now.

A MAN TO DIE FOR

This one is a good 5-stars. Sexy romance and great suspense plot. Felipe is undercover when he first meets Carrie late at night in the parking lot. To protect her he stuffs her in the trunk of her car. She was not a happy camper, even thought Felipe went out of his way to be kind. Six months later she spots him in a fancy restaurant and promptly blows his cover in front of two very dangerous people. Felipe grabs her and runs. She freaks and is not trusting even when he tells her he is an undercover cop. It doesn't help that Felipe is being set up for a double homicide by a mole in the station. It doesn't even take 24 hours before these two can't keep their hands off each other. Very sexy. I love the love on the run plot.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suzanne Brockmann's amazing talent shines through again. These two stories from 1995 highlight her skill in crafting romantic suspense.

Not Without Risk tells the story of Jim Keegan and Emily Marshall. Emily is a schoolteacher whose beau is mixed up in some nasty business. When she goes to the police, Keegan is sent undercover as her brother to get to the heart of the matter. What's the matter with that? Seven years before, his baggage had him breaking her heart. I really liked the way she ended up rescuing herself.

A Man to Die For involves Carrie Brooks, a marine biologist who inadvertently blows the cover of Felipe Salazar. As there is a dirty cop who is framing him, the two of them end up on the run for most of the rest of the book. She doesn't know if she can believe a word Salazar says. Trust issues dominate, and it takes Carrie's life nearly ending for her to know whom she trusts. She ended up rescuing herself and the hero.

Both heroines earned their happily ever after.

Another one for the keeper shelf.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find it interesting to read an author's work from before I "discovered" them, which is the case in Nowhere to Run. Not Without Risk and A Man to Die For were both written in 1995, before her successful Troubleshooters series began. I can see how she got there from here, however.

These detectives, these hot guys (she's got a natural talent for creating the most yummy male characters!)are predecessors to her later heros and in fact I could see either of them popping in to Troubleshooters/Black Ops books without my knowing it. The setting is in beautiful Florida and the ocean is a prime player as well. There is nothing "lesser" about these two tales even tho Ms. B has not yet fully developed her talents and her bad boy heros' world. But her female protagonists have not really changed much :)

I am very glad to have read this 600+ page book over the weekend. Not only is it teriffic, but I get to use A Man to Die For in my Bad Boy "kidnapper" category in my Dangerous Hero Addiction group's contest!

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two short stories in this book each one focused on the police partners Jim Keegan and Felipe Salazar. Each are forced through their job to protect their ladies and battle the bad guys.

Why I picked this book up: Suzanne Brockmann all the way!

Why I finished this book: This is a reprint of an early Brockmann story. It's not as smooth, the characters aren't as developed but it is still fun to read.

Who I would recommend this book to: Anyone who loves her Troubleshooters series. But know that there are no Navy SEALs here.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

A double feature of early Brockmann (both stories circa 1995) rebound as one release. As with much of her early work, you can see hints of later Troubleshooters novels here. (Jim Keegan of Not Without Risk is called Diego by his partner...hm, where have I heard that before?) The weight distribution of both shorts is a bit off - the male characters come laden with backstory, while the women are thin as cardboard - which leaves the reader wishing Brockmann had been a bit more even-handed fleshing out the narrative.

[Siobhan Muir · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were two stories in this book Not Without Risk and A Man to Die For. I liked the first book okay, but the head hopping without breaks made it harder to read. The second story I really liked. There was the usual Suzanne Brockmann intrigue, tension, and excitement that I love, Felipe has that magical combination of toughness, determination, and compassion that makes her stories magical. Definitely a fun summer read.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read but not nearly as fantastic as her Troubleshooter or Tall, Dark books. Still...Brockmann really knows how to write a story. I did like that the characters knew each other from before.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found these two books to be on par with Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series – which are by far the best books that Brockmann has written (if my sampling of her work is any indicator). Both stories were fast-paced, sweet and included just enough danger to keep me on the edge of my seat.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have truly become a Suzanne Brockmann fan. There's yet to have been a book that doesn't hook and keep me on the edge. You come to love each and every one of her characters. I can literally feel my heart racing with her stories and this one was no different.

[Kenton Monjon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another blockbuster from Brockmann

Fast paced action and hot sex are a lethal combination in all of Suzanne Brockmann's novels. Her plot has plenty of twists and turns and she never disappoints the reader. Her characters are true to life and her stories are believable.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the first story better than the second. Both are less intense than Brockmann's newer books, although they still pit the flawed good guys against the evil bad guys. And love triumphs in the end.

[Carol Brunquell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding pair of novels by Suzanne Brockmann from, I think, 1995 or so. Action, adventure, etc. Page turner!

[willaful · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first started out well but went somewhat downhill, the second started out okay and ended up pretty darn good.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good suspense and romance. More sex in the second story. The men are cops and tough as nails, but soft to the touch. Happy endings, both.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two books in one, with a few overlapping characters. Both were satisfying romantic intrigue stories on their own with danger and romance and the required happy endings. I enjoyed both books.

[Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Nowhere to Run, but, didn't like A Man to Die For as much.