“When both the Seahawk and its pilot took a direct hit, things went from bad to worse.” — Prologue (first paragraph)
My first and only Suzanne Brockmann book was Ladies’ Man, which I read back in December 2007. I enjoyed it very much, and I can say the same for The Unsung Hero, the first book in the Troubleshooters series. I love its good mix of intense adventure, love story, and flashbacks by the Second World War veterans.
Thirty-six-year-old Navy SEAL Lieutenant Tom Paoletti returns to his New England hometown on a medical leave after a near-fatal head injury, which could potentially end his military career. Back home, he meets again with his old-time love Kelly Preston, now a paediatrician, whom he left behind sixteen years ago. He has never stopped thinking about her, and his feelings for her are still very strong.
During this time, he spots someone in his hometown who looks like the international terrorist he had been tracking but was thought dead. His superiors won’t listen, thinking his injured head is acting up, so he sets up his own team to tackle the problem.
Lots of things ensue as you will see further down this post, but the primary story is the sizzling romance between Tom and Kelly. He now has a chance to win back her heart, but Kelly is afraid he will leave her again, so she stays non-committed. Expect to read lots of steamy scenes with these two.
The secondary characters namely David Sullivan and Mallory Paoletti (Tom’s niece) are interesting. David is a geeky graphic novelist who sees Mallory as his Nightshade muse, and Mallory is a cigarette-smoking girl who works in an ice cream shop. Their story follows two very unlikely individuals finding love together. I like their story more than that of Kelly and Tom’s.
Another storyline that catches my interest is the tight friendship between Charles Preston (Kelly’s father) and Joe Paoletti (Tom’s great-uncle). They knew each other during the Second World War and went through hell together. Flashbacks to their past involve a woman they both loved. The tension lingers even into the present day. I admit I grew somewhat impatient reading those flashbacks, but they are really not that bad. They touched me, knowing that people can love so deeply and are willing to sacrifice themselves.
The novel is truly multi-layered. The lack of affection between Kelly and her terminally ill father, Charles, also touched me. Kelly tries her best to care for him, but he always seems hostile and cold toward her. Is that how he truly feels about his daughter?
The verdict? I loved it! I will keep reading the rest of the books in the series. The Unsung Hero is a joint read with Julia, who introduced me to the series.
Message to Julia: Hey Julia, I’ve totally enjoyed the experience with you. I know you’ve read the series umpteenth times, and I really appreciate you still reading it with me. For that, I thank you! I’d love to start the next Troubleshooters book with you!
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