J.D. Robb discussion

It was supposed to be a “dog and pony show”—an elaborate demonstration of SEAL rescue techniques—to celebrate a presidential visit to a California naval base. Professional, no-nonsense White House staffer Joan DaCosta arrives early to scope out the area. Assigned to be her SEAL liaison is Lt. (jg) Mike Muldoon, a born leader—strong, decisive, tough, and fearless.

Against her better judgment, Joan finds herself drawn to the handsome young officer. Skilled at being “one of the guys” in the mostly male world of politics, she is dismayed when Muldoon breaks through her defenses. While tension mounts between them, fueling their growing attraction, a far more sinister danger is lurking, as terrorists plot a daring attack against the president. To protect their commander in chief, Joan and Muldoon must not only risk their hearts—but their very lives. . . .

27 Chapters

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Mike Muldoon: Navy SEAL on Team Sixteen
Joan Dacosta: Does PR for first daughter
Sam Starrett: Navy SEAL on Team Sixteen, married to Mary Lou and father of their daughter, Haley.
Mary Lou Starrett: Sam's wife and mother of their daughter, Haley. She's a cashier at McDonalds.
Haley Starrett: Mary Lou and Sam's daughter.
Vincent DaCosta: Joan's grandfather.
Alyssa Locke: FBI Agent working in Counterterrorism.
Tom Paoletti: Navy SEAL, lieutenant and commanding officer of Team Sixteen. Engaged to Kelly.
Casper (Jazz) Jacquette: Navy SEAL, lieutenant and XO of Team Sixteen.
Cosmo Richter: Member of SEAL Team Sixteen.
Irving (Izzy) Zanella: Member of SEAL Team Sixteen.
Kenny (WildCard) Carmody: Member of SEAL Team Sixteen. Married to Savannah.
Mark (Jenk) Jenkins: Member of SEAL Team Sixteen.
Max Bhagat: Head of FBI's Counterterrorism Unit.
Larry Tucker: Rear admiral and base commander.
(hide spoiler)]

Discussion Question #1
Discussion Question #2
Discussion Question #3
Discussion Question #4

I can't wait to read the book

Looking forward to Mike's story!

I'm ordering it today!

I'm getting excited to read the book

have the audio on hold on overdrive. hopefully won't have to wait to long

Has anyone started this yet?

It's up next for me. Hoping to start it by Monday.

I've reread the first couple of chapters.

I still have one person a head of me so hopefully will be able to start it next week.

I started it yesterday but have only got through a couple of pages. Work is getting in the way of my reading enjoyment.

I finished the book just now and I really liked it

Finished this book and loved it!!!

Glad you both enjoyed!

finished this evening; wasn't my favorite, but it's still Suzanne Brockmann, so 4 star solid read. Look forward to discussion.

I'm reading - making slow progress because of RL. Enjoying it so far.

Finished it. I agree with Charlene... Wasn't my favorite of the series but still a good read.

I have to say again...I love the backstories in this series.

I'm not very good at keeping up with this group read. :( going to fit it into my plans if I'm able.

I'm finished & loved it.

Finished this one yesterday.

I finally finished this one and really enjoyed it. I am so glad that Mike finally got his chance to find someone that he will be happy with. I also really liked Vince and Charlie's story.

We have another story where the heroine, Joan, is older than the hero, Mike. How does their story differ, if at all, from Nils and Meg's?

I can't remember far enough back to compare with Nils and Meg, but I really felt Joan's super-self-consciousness about being more than five years older than Mike. This story really surprised me: I wouldn't have seen Mike in this light if asked ahead of time. What a pleasant surprise!

After awhile, I was about ready to shake some sense into Joan. I get the age difference issue, but I was ready for her to get over it before she did. Mike is a very mature man for his age & I must say, he really stepped up in a big way in this book. Like Charlene, I was pleasantly surprised at him.

Sandra ~ ♥ Cross My Heart ♥ wrote: "After awhile, I was about ready to shake some sense into Joan. I get the age difference issue, but I was ready for her to get over it before she did. Mike is a very mature man for his age & I must ..."

I will have to agree with Sandra's comments.
And Joan has to be my least favourite character in the series so far. She drove me crazy and I thought, went out of her way to be mean to Mike.

I must admit I was annoyed to see this type of storyline again. Joan's position was slightly different, primarily because she just wasn't taking Mike seriously. She was condescending towards him and like you, Wendy, I thought it mean. At least with Meg she was simply rattled about the age difference and had a child to consider.

We get Mary Lou's point of view in this story. Did it make you more sympathetic, even more annoyed with her or make no difference in your opinion of her?

Jonetta wrote: "We get Mary Lou's point of view in this story. Did it make you more sympathetic, even more annoyed with her or make no difference in your opinion of her?"

I would have to say it made me more annoyed with her. I can't get past the racist comment she made in an earlier book. However, I also feel sorry for her because she so desperately just wants to be loved.

I think it made me a little more sympathetic to her. I hated her racism remarks, but at the same time, getting her pov really did show how lost she was, how badly she wanted a "real" life with a family & a man that loved her. Her view of what that means was very warped in the beginning and quite frankly, she sells herself short with her actions - actually dooms herself to failure & a lonely life even with a SEAL in her bed. But getting inside her head did make me take a deeper look at her. I'll never "like" her, but I can sympathize.

That's pretty close to where I landed, Wendy and Sandra. Why she thought she could trap a man via pregnancy and expect him to instantly love her defies logic. She's a dismal character but at least I felt I understood her more.

Sam's behavior towards Mary Lou and his daughter took a turn in this story. Has your opinion of him altered in any way?

I got the feeling that Sam wanted to be a good father, but from Mary Lou's POV, he wasn't measuring up-- and they had not a modicum of rapport to be able to communicate on their joint parenting. It was sad and I was disappointed where this story was going.

Of course, I didn't expect a good outcome, but I was really worried about Mary Lou's involvement with several of the AA men, etc. Who was a terrorist, who was with the mob???? Will Sam get to be a dad to his daughter, now that Mary Lou has taken off? Will she grow up to be a good mom?

Jonetta wrote: "We get Mary Lou's point of view in this story. Did it make you more sympathetic, even more annoyed with her or make no difference in your opinion of her?"

I started out really hating this character, especially when we found out her pregnancy wasn't an accident. How can you expect a guy to fall in love with you after you've tricked him into marrying you? But I liked getting Mary Lou's point of view. Her plan to find love has backfired. She's in a dismal marriage. She's a racist. And she is an alcoholic. I feel kind of sorry for her.

Jonetta wrote: "Sam's behavior towards Mary Lou and his daughter took a turn in this story. Has your opinion of him altered in any way?"

I thought he would be more hands-on with his daughter and her care. It feels like he is just letting Mary Lou handle everything that has to do with the baby. I'm assuming (hoping) he is distancing himself because he doesn't want to fight with Mary Lou.

I felt for Sam and while his behavior towards his daughter was less than stellar, it humanize do him and we got to see his despair. It was just terribly sad all around and he learned a hard lesson. It was a huge mistake for him to do the "honorable" thing in marrying Mary Lou because she was pregnant. There's nothing honorable about the outcome.

The historical storyline belongs to Joan's grandmother, Charlotte as she recounts her experience in the loss of her husband and meeting Vince. Did this one connect as well as the others in the earlier books? How did you feel about her story?

Jonetta wrote: "The historical storyline belongs to Joan's grandmother, Charlotte as she recounts her experience in the loss of her husband and meeting Vince. Did this one connect as well as the others in the earl..."

I thought Charlie and Vince's story was OK, but not my favorite in the series. I did like that both of them were still around (in the present), so we got to see their romance 60 years ago and their present date relationship.

I think I'm with Robin here; it was OK, not a favorite.

Their story didn't connect with the present as well as those in the earlier books. Think that's why it was also just "okay" with me, too.