Out of Control
3.5 Stars

Once again Brockmann has skillfully interwoven a number of different plotlines into the narrative. This time the focus is on Chief Ken Karmody, who finds himself accompanying Savannah Von Hopf to Indonesia to deliver a ransom for her kidnapped uncle. One secondary romance centers on Molly Anderson, a missionary in a small village, and the enigmatic Jones, a former member of the special forces turned local smuggler, while the other is a WWII storyline recounting the romance between Savannah's grandparents.

In a reversal of fortune, it is actually the WWII storyline that is the most enjoyable. Rose and Hank have excellent chemistry and the nature of their relationship double agents is captivating.

Ken and Savannah have potential, unfortunately, their childish and immature actions make them more irritating than engaging. Moreover, they both exhibit several TSTL moments, which is especially grating for Ken as he is supposedly a well-trained and skilled Navy SEAL.

Similarly, Molly and Jones's relationship is not as satisfying mainly due to the fact that it feels forced and Brockmann has once again focused unnecessarily on the age gap between them.

In addition to these three romances, there are also updates on Alyssa and Sam whose heartbreaking separation is weighing on them both. If I did not already know that they are destined for one another I would have become more invested in the hints of a romance between Alyssa and the sexy FBI negotiator, Max Bhagat. But alas, he is suffering heartache of his own ...

Despite my issues with this installment, the suspense narrative is well-written and exciting and I am eager to read more about these characters. ( )

Another of my favorites of the series. I love Ken/Wild Card. It's great how Brockmann can make these characters, particularly the men, seem so multi dimensional. He's super capable in his job but is almost innocent when it comes to relationships. One of the things that makes these books so strong is that we know Ken from other books and parts of his story have already been told so that we come into the book familiar with him and rooting for him. The heroine was okay, she was good about not bitching too much in the jungle and did her best.

Survival together in the jungle is one of my favorite plots in the romantic suspense genre and this was very well done in my opinion.

The thing I dislike most about this book is that she wasn't up front with him from the first and so caused unnecessary hurt and trauma.

The WWII story in this one was one of my least favorites of the WWII stories. I like the books better afters she stops writing them in.

I love both Grady Jones and Molly the secondary couple. Grady is a great dark character and really comes into his own in the conclusion to his story a few books on. ( )

Another fun book in the Troubleshooters series, featuring Ken "WildKard" Karmody and Savannah von Hopf, her grandmother Rose & von Hopf and Rose's remembrances of both Hank von Hopf and playing double agent for the allies against the Nazis. [On the side, we get a taste of the sad state of affairs between (my personal favorite characters in the series) Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke.] ( )

I've given this an extra half mark because I didn't think it would be as good as book 2 but it was just as good! Really enjoyed Wildcard. ( )

Savannah von Hopf has to deliver a quarter of a million dollars to her kidnapped uncle in Indonesia. She decides to look up Ken “Wildcard” Karmody, US Navy SEAL, whom she met years ago when his ex-girlfriend lived in her dormitory, and see if he will come with her. We've met Ken in earlier stories and he's been portrayed as the off-the-wall, think-outside-the-box guy without a filter who's part of SEAL Team 6. Romance ensues, but of course it's never straightfoward.

There are two other stories interwoven with the main story of Savannah and Wildcard. One is the story of Savannah’s grandmother, Rose, who was a double agent during World War Two. Rose has written a book about her experiences, which reveals her life as a secret agent. The other plotline takes place in the jungles of Indonesia, where a missionary named Molly is having a love affair with the mysterious Jones, a man with no past and a name that, if spoken aloud, carries a death sentence.

The story is filled with terrific action, some serious jungle survival, and just enough of the continuing character development of the FBI and Seal teams round out the strengths of this romantic suspense novel. I have enjoyed the first four and plan to read more in the Troubleshooters series. ( )