What do you think?
Rate this book
Troubleshooters #12.5
When Tony Met Adam
An exclusive short story featuring characters from the Troubleshooters series
Tony Vlachic, a ruggedly handsome Navy SEAL, has kept his sexuality a secret for years under the threat of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.� That is, until he meets Adam Wyndham, a charismatic yet troubled film star. Tony knows that by approaching Adam in front of his teammates he’s jeopardizing his military career. And Adam, nursing a broken heart, has no interest in a relationship. Still, neither man can deny their instant attraction.
Tony didn’t become a SEAL by accepting rejection, and his pursuit of Adam leads to one unforgettable night. But the next morning, Tony is ordered to ship out to Afghanistan, and he’s forced to leave Adam with too much left unsaid. As Tony enters a dangerous war zone, Adam, back in Los Angeles, struggles with the demons of his past, while dealing with the very real possibility that Tony could be killed in action. Half a world apart, both men must face their feelings for each other—and decide if what they’ve found is worth risking everything in the name of love.
BONUS: This eBook includes an excerpt from Suzanne Brockmann's Hot Target.Ìý
Tony Vlachic, a ruggedly handsome Navy SEAL, has kept his sexuality a secret for years under the threat of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.� That is, until he meets Adam Wyndham, a charismatic yet troubled film star. Tony knows that by approaching Adam in front of his teammates he’s jeopardizing his military career. And Adam, nursing a broken heart, has no interest in a relationship. Still, neither man can deny their instant attraction.
Tony didn’t become a SEAL by accepting rejection, and his pursuit of Adam leads to one unforgettable night. But the next morning, Tony is ordered to ship out to Afghanistan, and he’s forced to leave Adam with too much left unsaid. As Tony enters a dangerous war zone, Adam, back in Los Angeles, struggles with the demons of his past, while dealing with the very real possibility that Tony could be killed in action. Half a world apart, both men must face their feelings for each other—and decide if what they’ve found is worth risking everything in the name of love.
BONUS: This eBook includes an excerpt from Suzanne Brockmann's Hot Target.Ìý
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2011
53 people are currently reading
1060 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Brockmann
242Ìýbooks3,541ÌýfollowersAfter 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
January 17, 2023
2023 Reread
I feel exactly as I did the first time I read this book except listening to it made such a difference in hearing Adam’s voice, the pain and desperation that apparently defined him. I’m really glad I decided to opt for the audio version for my reread.
2011 Review
This is a fitting tribute for the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell military policy.
There was a brief moment in All Through the Night when relatively new Team 16 member Tony Vlachic meets Adam Wyndham as he is leaving Robin and Jules' home on their wedding day. Tony writes his phone number on Adam's hand and, with that action, pretty much comes out to his team members. This story picks up from that moment and addresses the reaction of Tony's SEAL team members, their attitudes about the situation and Tony's future relationship with Adam.
Adam wasn't a character I liked from the past and I had to move past that to embrace this story. Tony is just a wonderful guy and you cannot help but root for him in his attempt to engage Adam, even if it is Adam! It's a good story that puts the military policy in it's rightful perspective...what was it like for gays in the military to maintain committed relationships in secret. It was insightful for me, even though I thought I had a good idea.
Good read and I hope to see more of these short stories from Brockmann.
Posted on
I feel exactly as I did the first time I read this book except listening to it made such a difference in hearing Adam’s voice, the pain and desperation that apparently defined him. I’m really glad I decided to opt for the audio version for my reread.
2011 Review
This is a fitting tribute for the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell military policy.
There was a brief moment in All Through the Night when relatively new Team 16 member Tony Vlachic meets Adam Wyndham as he is leaving Robin and Jules' home on their wedding day. Tony writes his phone number on Adam's hand and, with that action, pretty much comes out to his team members. This story picks up from that moment and addresses the reaction of Tony's SEAL team members, their attitudes about the situation and Tony's future relationship with Adam.
Adam wasn't a character I liked from the past and I had to move past that to embrace this story. Tony is just a wonderful guy and you cannot help but root for him in his attempt to engage Adam, even if it is Adam! It's a good story that puts the military policy in it's rightful perspective...what was it like for gays in the military to maintain committed relationships in secret. It was insightful for me, even though I thought I had a good idea.
Good read and I hope to see more of these short stories from Brockmann.
Posted on
January 8, 2023
Tony Vlachic never believed in love at first sight until he met Actor Adam Wyndham. Because of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy, Navy SEAL Tony kept his sexuality a secret from everyone. But when he gives Adam his phone number in front of most of the Team Sixteen members, his secret is out. Adam has not got over his last love and doesn't feel ready for another romance. He is agreeable to a one-night stand, but Tony says he wants more.
This short story is an interesting addition to the Troubleshooters series. Adam has always been a villain in this series. I'm very surprised that Brockmann could turn him around and make us care about him. My only complaint is the story was too short. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
2023 re-read: I'm doing a re-read of this series with a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ group. This time around I listened to the audiobook narrated by Patrick Lawlor. As usual, he does a fantastic job with the voices. This is a good story, but I wasn't as forgiving of Adam as I was the first time I read the book. Yes, he does rehabilitate himself to some degree, but I wasn't sure he wouldn't go back to his old self at a later time. The major point of this story is the military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and how it impacted gay soldiers. Brockmann makes a good point with this book. My rating: 4 Stars.
This short story is an interesting addition to the Troubleshooters series. Adam has always been a villain in this series. I'm very surprised that Brockmann could turn him around and make us care about him. My only complaint is the story was too short. My rating: 4.5 Stars.
2023 re-read: I'm doing a re-read of this series with a Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ group. This time around I listened to the audiobook narrated by Patrick Lawlor. As usual, he does a fantastic job with the voices. This is a good story, but I wasn't as forgiving of Adam as I was the first time I read the book. Yes, he does rehabilitate himself to some degree, but I wasn't sure he wouldn't go back to his old self at a later time. The major point of this story is the military's policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and how it impacted gay soldiers. Brockmann makes a good point with this book. My rating: 4 Stars.
June 8, 2011
I really enjoyed this one, which surprised me, since I didn't have positive feelings about Adam from the previous books he was in. For half of this book he was a petulant, brooding a**, but SB gave us some more background about him, so I understood him more and felt bad about his past. And I warmed up to him towards the end.:)
I wasn't totally convinced about this "love at first sight" thing that Tony experienced, but I went along with it. Not exactly sure just what Tony (who seemed to have a lot going for him) saw in the messed up Adam...but Brockmann's writing made it work for me. As always, her dialogue was convincing, and the love scene between Adam and Tony was hot, without being explicit or raunchy. I liked how Adam thought he was calling the shots in this encounter, but Tony more than held his own and showed Adam a thing or two!
SB gives us a little background on Tony (scholar, athlete, charitable, skilled, ripped, sexy, good guy), but I wished for even more! I feel like I don't know Tony as well as I'd like to, but maybe he'll appear in future books and we readers will get to know and love him more (like we do with her other characters who have story arcs that span more than a few books). But what I learned about Tony I really, really liked--the guy's got it all...why wasn't he taken by now?
Brockmann spends a fair amount of time in the book bringing up the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy" and illustrates the unfairness of it all. I have to admit I never gave it much thought before, but wow, the whole thing seems kind of ridiculous that Tony risked losing his career if he even admitted to his teammates that he was gay...
What I really loved though was seeing Tony interacting with his fellow teammates (Izzy, Dan, Jay, Jenkins), and I loved the little phone message he got from Kenny. This is where Brockmann really excels. These characters just seem sooo real...they just leap off the pages. I suppose since she's been writing about them for books and books by now we know all their idiosyncrasies and how they'll react in certain situations. Izzy was Izzy and Danny was Danny, and Lopez was the peacekeeper...I'm curious to see how his teammates will treat Tony in future books (whenever that may be!) now that his 'big secret' has been revealed. I know they're all cool with it, but will Izzy razz him and make some off color jokes like he does with Dan, or will he hold back and be respectful? Will Tony now be able to discuss his personal life with the guys? I hope so, and I'm looking forward to hearing more about his relationship and his future with Adam.
When Tony Met Adam takes place right around the time of so make sure you've read that one first. This well-done novella is a must read for Team Sixteen and Troubleshooters fans, and even if you're not into m/m romance, you won't want to miss it if you're a fan of Brockmann's writing. She delivers with this one. 4 1/2 stars
I wasn't totally convinced about this "love at first sight" thing that Tony experienced, but I went along with it. Not exactly sure just what Tony (who seemed to have a lot going for him) saw in the messed up Adam...but Brockmann's writing made it work for me. As always, her dialogue was convincing, and the love scene between Adam and Tony was hot, without being explicit or raunchy. I liked how Adam thought he was calling the shots in this encounter, but Tony more than held his own and showed Adam a thing or two!
SB gives us a little background on Tony (scholar, athlete, charitable, skilled, ripped, sexy, good guy), but I wished for even more! I feel like I don't know Tony as well as I'd like to, but maybe he'll appear in future books and we readers will get to know and love him more (like we do with her other characters who have story arcs that span more than a few books). But what I learned about Tony I really, really liked--the guy's got it all...why wasn't he taken by now?
Brockmann spends a fair amount of time in the book bringing up the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy" and illustrates the unfairness of it all. I have to admit I never gave it much thought before, but wow, the whole thing seems kind of ridiculous that Tony risked losing his career if he even admitted to his teammates that he was gay...
What I really loved though was seeing Tony interacting with his fellow teammates (Izzy, Dan, Jay, Jenkins), and I loved the little phone message he got from Kenny. This is where Brockmann really excels. These characters just seem sooo real...they just leap off the pages. I suppose since she's been writing about them for books and books by now we know all their idiosyncrasies and how they'll react in certain situations. Izzy was Izzy and Danny was Danny, and Lopez was the peacekeeper...I'm curious to see how his teammates will treat Tony in future books (whenever that may be!) now that his 'big secret' has been revealed. I know they're all cool with it, but will Izzy razz him and make some off color jokes like he does with Dan, or will he hold back and be respectful? Will Tony now be able to discuss his personal life with the guys? I hope so, and I'm looking forward to hearing more about his relationship and his future with Adam.
When Tony Met Adam takes place right around the time of so make sure you've read that one first. This well-done novella is a must read for Team Sixteen and Troubleshooters fans, and even if you're not into m/m romance, you won't want to miss it if you're a fan of Brockmann's writing. She delivers with this one. 4 1/2 stars
March 31, 2011
This came as bonus with my Virtual Signing copy of Breaking the Rules. If you are waiting until June for a chance to purchase this in e-book format, you won't be disappointed. AT ALL. In fact, I enjoyed this more than Breaking the Rules, which I wasn't expecting. I really didn't think Brockmann could redeem Adam, who is horrid to Jules for several books, downright disgusting in Hot Target, slightly pathetic in Jules and Robin's story (title escaping me right now) and in All Through the Night. But, I knew from the little scene in All Through the Night that Brockmann could and would work her magic on Tony and Adam. And how much did I love Tony? He is made of Awesome. He's the classic Brockmann hero--shades of Kenny and Mike Muldoon (my favorites). He just won't give up, but in a really good, dare I say healthy way. Brockmann's politics have dominated several recent releases, and they factor into this story, but it seemed more balanced, even as it was more central to Tony's character. There's no escaping the fact that DTDT is a huge part of Tony's life. We also get to see Dan pre-enlightenment (loved his transformation in Hot Pursuit and now we see why), which also felt realistic. A little bit of a heads-up: A number of readers noted that Jules and Robin's love scenes stopped a little beyond the bedroom door and weren't the same heat level as her M/F pairings. She answers those readers with a SMOKING M/M scene here. But it's short and still not that explicit, so if you'd rather skip it, just move to the scene break--not a biggie. I wish Tony and Adam had a whole book, and I'd love to see them make another appearance. I ended up liking them even more than Jules & Robin (I KNOW--the sacrilege!) Even if M/M isn't usually your thing, you will most likely enjoy the love story at the heart of this short, and Brockmann fans won't want to miss it.
February 8, 2018
Ok, I'm going to keep this one really short and sweet. It just didn't work...it was probably one of the most underwhelming books I've listened to in a while. I thought the story had potential but for me the characters were incredibly flat. Adam was an arrogant, self-absorbed actor who thought the world revolved around him and Tony...well, honestly I just never got a sense of this character. He was a navy seal and it felt like he was lucky if he was 20, I think he was suppose to be older I'm just not sure and honestly...didn't care. As for the relationship...I didn't get it...not even a little bit.
What probably makes this one even worse for me was that at 2 hrs., 10 min. it had 25 minutes more than the audio book that I listened to just before it and didn't deliver nearly as good of a story.
Patrick Lawlor was the narrator on this and while not a new narrator, he is new to me and the narration was solid. I think I would have enjoyed it better if it had been supported by a better story so I'm definitely willing to give the narrator another try but I think I may take a pass on this author.
What probably makes this one even worse for me was that at 2 hrs., 10 min. it had 25 minutes more than the audio book that I listened to just before it and didn't deliver nearly as good of a story.
Patrick Lawlor was the narrator on this and while not a new narrator, he is new to me and the narration was solid. I think I would have enjoyed it better if it had been supported by a better story so I'm definitely willing to give the narrator another try but I think I may take a pass on this author.
February 26, 2012
2.5 stars. My final thought when I finished this: Tony is going to get his heart broken, and Adam is just not worthy.
I **loved** the Troubleshooters series. I devoured it to the point I thought of the characters as real people, which is partly why I didn't care for this romance between Tony and Adam. I hated Adam in the previous books, and I didn't think he was redeemable as a hero. And turns out he wasn't. Adam made life miserable for Jules and Robin, (who I love and consider some of my closest friends. Nuts I know, but again this series does make you believe they are all real people).
Tony was a much smaller character in the series, but what we saw of him we learned he was a great person. Honest, true, and loyal. Anyone would be proud to call him a friend, gay or straight.
I went into this book knowing Tony had a huge crush on Adam, and wishing I could talk him out of it, but Tony had that love-at-first-sight thing going on and sadly it was aimed square onto douche bag Adam.
So when Adam agrees to a hookup-only situation with Tony, I wanted more for Tony. But I have to give Tony credit for laying his intentions out there and not wavering. He came off a bit desperate, but he knew what he wanted. He saw something in Adam even Adam didn't see, and some how he got Adam to believe it too.
The story is short so I didn't expect a long courtship, but I would have liked either more time spent together or them taking slower steps toward the end. The commitment between them given all that was between them was just too much to buy. This could of been a better case for 'less is more'.
And speaking of 'less is more', the sub-plot of this little story is heavy handed with a DADT (don't ask, don't tell) agenda. I was all for its removal and supported the rights for the military to come out if they so chose, but the preaching is HEAVY in this story for a casual read. Some will love that, but others will feel a bit bashed over the head by it.
On the plus side it was great to see Sam and Izzy again. I love those guys. Dan G and Jay L were both in the story too. And while they are awesome SEALs, they are not in the same class as Sam and my dream boat Izzy. (BTW Izzy and I were going to get married, then Ms Brockmann messed it up and wrote Breaking The Rules where Izzy falls for Eden. I'm still heartbroken). This was a good story to reconnect with the series and see some interesting characters, but the romance wasn't for me. Tony deserves better.
I **loved** the Troubleshooters series. I devoured it to the point I thought of the characters as real people, which is partly why I didn't care for this romance between Tony and Adam. I hated Adam in the previous books, and I didn't think he was redeemable as a hero. And turns out he wasn't. Adam made life miserable for Jules and Robin, (who I love and consider some of my closest friends. Nuts I know, but again this series does make you believe they are all real people).
Tony was a much smaller character in the series, but what we saw of him we learned he was a great person. Honest, true, and loyal. Anyone would be proud to call him a friend, gay or straight.
I went into this book knowing Tony had a huge crush on Adam, and wishing I could talk him out of it, but Tony had that love-at-first-sight thing going on and sadly it was aimed square onto douche bag Adam.
So when Adam agrees to a hookup-only situation with Tony, I wanted more for Tony. But I have to give Tony credit for laying his intentions out there and not wavering. He came off a bit desperate, but he knew what he wanted. He saw something in Adam even Adam didn't see, and some how he got Adam to believe it too.
The story is short so I didn't expect a long courtship, but I would have liked either more time spent together or them taking slower steps toward the end. The commitment between them given all that was between them was just too much to buy. This could of been a better case for 'less is more'.
And speaking of 'less is more', the sub-plot of this little story is heavy handed with a DADT (don't ask, don't tell) agenda. I was all for its removal and supported the rights for the military to come out if they so chose, but the preaching is HEAVY in this story for a casual read. Some will love that, but others will feel a bit bashed over the head by it.
On the plus side it was great to see Sam and Izzy again. I love those guys. Dan G and Jay L were both in the story too. And while they are awesome SEALs, they are not in the same class as Sam and my dream boat Izzy. (BTW Izzy and I were going to get married, then Ms Brockmann messed it up and wrote Breaking The Rules where Izzy falls for Eden. I'm still heartbroken). This was a good story to reconnect with the series and see some interesting characters, but the romance wasn't for me. Tony deserves better.
April 8, 2017
Everybody who has read this series hates Adam for how he treated Jules and Robin. I never thought that Adam could become a good guy, and while I think his personality changes rather abruptly, I never thought he was an evil guy, just selfish and super-egomaniac.
At the end of , we see "when Tony met Adam." And in , we see Tony have a secret cell phone call with a mystery man. ;) At the end of Hot Pursuit, Brockmann tells us that yes, Tony is seeing who we think he is seeing, and things are going very well. I was so bug-eyed and excited that when I was able to read "When Tony Met Adam," I was just a little giddy. When Tony Met Adam retells how they met for the first time outside of Robin and Jules home, and then how they become a couple which would then lead to the secret cell phone call Tony has in Hot Pursuit.
This whole series is best read together, but most of the books are MF, which doesn't appeal to everybody. I can't really tell you which books contain Adam because in some he is just referred to, and not actually in the story, and then there are books like , where he plays a key role and gets major story time. Suzanne Brockmann might tell you on her website which books contain who, but honestly, I am so in love with this series I am going to tell you to read them all, even if they ARE MF.
This is a case of insta-connection/insta-love, which I am kinda squinty eyed at, but hey, it's Adam and since he was never my fav, I am ok with this for him. Seriously bummed Brockmann is taking a break from writing this series as there are more Seals who need their HEA. I know Brockmann isn't abandoning the series, but she's warned this isn't her priority right now. :(
Jules & Robin; Adam and Tony; Adam and Jules; Adam and Robin. Adam sure got around!!! My favs will forever be Jules & Robin.
I liked the narration for this story as the voice seemed better suited to these characters than he did for Jules and Robin in . Happy reading (or listening as the case may be!). :-)
At the end of , we see "when Tony met Adam." And in , we see Tony have a secret cell phone call with a mystery man. ;) At the end of Hot Pursuit, Brockmann tells us that yes, Tony is seeing who we think he is seeing, and things are going very well. I was so bug-eyed and excited that when I was able to read "When Tony Met Adam," I was just a little giddy. When Tony Met Adam retells how they met for the first time outside of Robin and Jules home, and then how they become a couple which would then lead to the secret cell phone call Tony has in Hot Pursuit.
This whole series is best read together, but most of the books are MF, which doesn't appeal to everybody. I can't really tell you which books contain Adam because in some he is just referred to, and not actually in the story, and then there are books like , where he plays a key role and gets major story time. Suzanne Brockmann might tell you on her website which books contain who, but honestly, I am so in love with this series I am going to tell you to read them all, even if they ARE MF.
This is a case of insta-connection/insta-love, which I am kinda squinty eyed at, but hey, it's Adam and since he was never my fav, I am ok with this for him. Seriously bummed Brockmann is taking a break from writing this series as there are more Seals who need their HEA. I know Brockmann isn't abandoning the series, but she's warned this isn't her priority right now. :(
Jules & Robin; Adam and Tony; Adam and Jules; Adam and Robin. Adam sure got around!!! My favs will forever be Jules & Robin.
I liked the narration for this story as the voice seemed better suited to these characters than he did for Jules and Robin in . Happy reading (or listening as the case may be!). :-)
January 2, 2017
A novella has to be special...has to really push my buttons to earn 5 stars from me. When Tony Met Adam did that and more. Anytime an author can make me change my mind about a character - make me see the heart of a man I previously thought heartless, they deserve nothing less than 5 stars. Adam's story is perfect. And Tony . . . *give me a moment to fan myself!* . . . Holy Moly! He's hot! The only thing sweeter than his gorgeous physique is his beautiful heart. A real man who knew what he wanted and went after it. A definite Must Read!
March 29, 2011
Suzanne Brockmann included When Tony Met Adam as part of the virtual signing for Breaking The Rules--a gutsy move that reinforces an indisputable fact: Brockmann isn't afraid to break the rules herself. When Tony Met Adam arrived in mailboxes across America this week. For Troubleshooter fans, this heartfelt little shortstory about Adam, the bastard ex of both Jules and Robin, is a must have. And if you haven't read Brockmann yet-- what are you waiting for?
February 6, 2017
What a great addition to the Troubleshooter series!
February 26, 2015
This was super way cute! Get that? Super WAY cute!
I know that Adam has been a bane in poor Jules and Robin's lives for a while now, but there has almost always been a part of me that felt sad for him. Like, I just knew that there was something more to him, something deeper. And I'll tell ya, I was PISSED when nobody was taking his stalker threats seriously. His life isn't a joke just because they may not like him... grumble grumble. And so yeah, I liked Adam. We got hints about his side of 'the story', meaning him and Jules. And that's not to say anything bad about Jules, because ya'll know I love him. Just that usually one person isn't just all bad and one isn't just all good. Sometimes people are just not good for EACH OTHER, and that's what I think happened with Jules and Adam. I liked Adam, and I thought he was hilarious. I mean, he was so good with the one-liners, and he used his sexual orientation as a weapon brilliantly. How could you not laugh and applaud him when he landed a good one?!
Anyway, I knew I was right, because in this short we got a glimpse into what made Adam who he is and his own personal history and what he had to do in order to survive. Guess what folks, it sure wasn't pretty.
So with all that, I was really glad that he found someone that he wanted in his life, someone who grounded him. Tony and Adam were so sweet, and there was nothing Adam could do that was going to push Tony away. I really loved it.
My only minor complaints... too short, lol. I enjoyed it so much that I would have been happy with somewhere around 150 pages (or more, but I get why it wasn't one of the actual books), somewhere in the Novella range instead of a 'short'. Also, we got some heat in the bedroom in these quick little 60 pages, which was awesome. Except, it only made me a little more frustrated that the Jules/Robin story (book 12) didn't have that. I suppose Brockman did what Ward was saying she would at first, meaning that she didn't want to alienate some of her fans and kept the full length book tame and let us have a dose of real M/M in a short. I just wish she'd thrown caution to the wind and really given us the depth and steam we saw between Tony and Adam with Jules and Robin.
Anyway, loved it. I'm so happy for Adam. :)
I know that Adam has been a bane in poor Jules and Robin's lives for a while now, but there has almost always been a part of me that felt sad for him. Like, I just knew that there was something more to him, something deeper. And I'll tell ya, I was PISSED when nobody was taking his stalker threats seriously. His life isn't a joke just because they may not like him... grumble grumble. And so yeah, I liked Adam. We got hints about his side of 'the story', meaning him and Jules. And that's not to say anything bad about Jules, because ya'll know I love him. Just that usually one person isn't just all bad and one isn't just all good. Sometimes people are just not good for EACH OTHER, and that's what I think happened with Jules and Adam. I liked Adam, and I thought he was hilarious. I mean, he was so good with the one-liners, and he used his sexual orientation as a weapon brilliantly. How could you not laugh and applaud him when he landed a good one?!
"Stay away from them," Sam said, not unkindly, "or I will fuck you up."
"Yikes," Adam said. "You almost gave me a heart attack - until you added that last 'up'."
Anyway, I knew I was right, because in this short we got a glimpse into what made Adam who he is and his own personal history and what he had to do in order to survive. Guess what folks, it sure wasn't pretty.
So with all that, I was really glad that he found someone that he wanted in his life, someone who grounded him. Tony and Adam were so sweet, and there was nothing Adam could do that was going to push Tony away. I really loved it.
"I've got three weeks and I'm going to spend them with you. And after that, I'm going to say some things that'll really scare the hell out of you, and one of them's going to be a demand that you don't hook up with anyone else while I'm away."
"Demand?" Adam repeated.
"I was going to say request," Tony told him, "but I thought demand would make you get all oppositional, and up in my face. I love it when you do that, baby. It's incredibly hot."
My only minor complaints... too short, lol. I enjoyed it so much that I would have been happy with somewhere around 150 pages (or more, but I get why it wasn't one of the actual books), somewhere in the Novella range instead of a 'short'. Also, we got some heat in the bedroom in these quick little 60 pages, which was awesome. Except, it only made me a little more frustrated that the Jules/Robin story (book 12) didn't have that. I suppose Brockman did what Ward was saying she would at first, meaning that she didn't want to alienate some of her fans and kept the full length book tame and let us have a dose of real M/M in a short. I just wish she'd thrown caution to the wind and really given us the depth and steam we saw between Tony and Adam with Jules and Robin.
Anyway, loved it. I'm so happy for Adam. :)
June 7, 2011
This is a fitting wrap-up to the Troubleshooters series, and finally rights the injustice of the sex scenes in Hot Target (where, probably necessarily for the wide audience, Cosmo got to have a lot more explicit sex with his female lover than Jules did with Adam or Robin.) Tony is the perfect lover, the one who is sweet and gorgeous and sexy, and who knows you better than you know yourself. One who doesn't take no for an answer when you really mean yes, but isn't domineering or stalkerish about it. I loved the character of Tony even when I kept thinking that he was much too emotionally solid and intuitive for a guy this young and by necessity this closeted. I wish this story had been a little longer. I think Adam needed a little more time to understand and redeem himself. But I will read it about a dozen times, and fall for Tony every time, so it's all good.
March 5, 2013
4 steamy stars...
At the end of we get this little scene where Adam is leaving Jules and Robins Boston Townhouse. He's upset, heartbroken and at a low point in his life. He steps past some SEALS on his way to the airport to fly back to LA... when one SEAL steps out of the group and want's to know if he's Adam?
That's the moment that Tony met Adam... In When Tony Met Adam we get to see what happens after that fateful meeting. Not only to Adam when he returns to his solitary life back in LA. Tony as he struggles with his inability to come out of the closet because of Don't Ask - Don't Tell in the military. Their story is sweet, it's real and I began to really understand why Adam is the way he is and my heart felt for him. I'll admit he's really pissed me off in the past books but something clicked and you could feel Adams hurt and pain coming off the pages.
Minor complaint... I wanted more! I could have read a whole book about Adam and Tony meeting and how the SEAL team reacted to their relationship or even how Adam delt with Tony having to be gone so much. My other little pet peeve is the steam factor, it's not what you think. Adam and Tony's book is hot! That part was fun to read but it made me wish that Jules and Robin got the same thing...
In conclusion this was a fun snippet into the life of Adam and Tony. I loved seeing the SEAL team and how they felt for Tony having to hide that part of himself from everyone. The interactions between Tony and Adam were fun to read and I loved how honest and straight forward Tony was. My only hope is this is not the last we'll see of this new couple and knowing Brockmann my guess is it's not.
At the end of we get this little scene where Adam is leaving Jules and Robins Boston Townhouse. He's upset, heartbroken and at a low point in his life. He steps past some SEALS on his way to the airport to fly back to LA... when one SEAL steps out of the group and want's to know if he's Adam?
That's the moment that Tony met Adam... In When Tony Met Adam we get to see what happens after that fateful meeting. Not only to Adam when he returns to his solitary life back in LA. Tony as he struggles with his inability to come out of the closet because of Don't Ask - Don't Tell in the military. Their story is sweet, it's real and I began to really understand why Adam is the way he is and my heart felt for him. I'll admit he's really pissed me off in the past books but something clicked and you could feel Adams hurt and pain coming off the pages.
Minor complaint... I wanted more! I could have read a whole book about Adam and Tony meeting and how the SEAL team reacted to their relationship or even how Adam delt with Tony having to be gone so much. My other little pet peeve is the steam factor, it's not what you think. Adam and Tony's book is hot! That part was fun to read but it made me wish that Jules and Robin got the same thing...
In conclusion this was a fun snippet into the life of Adam and Tony. I loved seeing the SEAL team and how they felt for Tony having to hide that part of himself from everyone. The interactions between Tony and Adam were fun to read and I loved how honest and straight forward Tony was. My only hope is this is not the last we'll see of this new couple and knowing Brockmann my guess is it's not.
June 14, 2011
LOVED IT! Troubleshooters is one of my favorite series and I have loved everything to do with this series! This story was way to short, IMO, but I'll take what I can get! I even felt Adam somewhat redeem himself when I thought he never could!!
January 24, 2018
Years ago I read Suzanne Brockmann and I wasn't bowled over with her portrayal of a male couple. This time around even though the story was short she made these men feel like men. I know that sounds picky but honestly foggy characterization can destroy a good story.
October 22, 2018
So I only read this because of which I really enjoyed. This book, really not so much. The only thing it had going for it was the fact it was short.
December 31, 2015
I was really looking forward to this novella ever since Suz announced it was being released as an ebook. I really like Tony, and was interested in getting a more balanced view of Adam.
Minor quibbles: I wish it were longer (okay, yes, novella. I get it); I hate the cover (I do not need half-naked men on covers, thank you very much. If this had been a paperback book, I probably would not have read it as fast, since I read on the train, and with that on the cover, that book would have never left the confines of my condo); I wanted more of the other characters (again, yes, novella).
Not so minor quibble: I still don't like Adam. He was more human, yes, and he had a back story that explained why he was such an asshole in previous books. But I fully believe that a bad past is no reason to have a bad present, and that you can either use your history as an excuse for dragging yourself down or you can move beyond it. Adam did the first and suddenly after meeting Tony changes for the better - I found that a little hard to believe, especially given just how long he's followed his modus operandi of use 'em and lose 'em, and to hell with everyone else. I definitely enjoyed the story more after I did some mental gymnastics and compartmentalized this Adam from the Adam whose balls I wanted to kick in from the other books.
I did like this more than Breaking the Rules.
Minor quibbles: I wish it were longer (okay, yes, novella. I get it); I hate the cover (I do not need half-naked men on covers, thank you very much. If this had been a paperback book, I probably would not have read it as fast, since I read on the train, and with that on the cover, that book would have never left the confines of my condo); I wanted more of the other characters (again, yes, novella).
Not so minor quibble: I still don't like Adam. He was more human, yes, and he had a back story that explained why he was such an asshole in previous books. But I fully believe that a bad past is no reason to have a bad present, and that you can either use your history as an excuse for dragging yourself down or you can move beyond it. Adam did the first and suddenly after meeting Tony changes for the better - I found that a little hard to believe, especially given just how long he's followed his modus operandi of use 'em and lose 'em, and to hell with everyone else. I definitely enjoyed the story more after I did some mental gymnastics and compartmentalized this Adam from the Adam whose balls I wanted to kick in from the other books.
I did like this more than Breaking the Rules.
March 4, 2013
Tony is an ARMY guy .....
Met an actor like this one... Adam.
From one "f***" date (really....no dinner, no talking, no kissing....at least...that was the planned, once...but...) suddenly Adam and Tony felt a bond to each other. At first, Adam denied he felt in love with Tony the ARMY guy, and he went to this club, tried to screw a guy...but FAILED!.
It's always Tony he sees everywhere,but Tony gone, to the war.
Adam then live like a monk until he pound out something happened to Tony at war.....
Will he survive? Will they meet again?
and...who's marriage is this...uuum...three years later?
It was a quick read, sweet love story, and most of all....they're being faithful to each other...Love it !
Met an actor like this one... Adam.
From one "f***" date (really....no dinner, no talking, no kissing....at least...that was the planned, once...but...) suddenly Adam and Tony felt a bond to each other. At first, Adam denied he felt in love with Tony the ARMY guy, and he went to this club, tried to screw a guy...but FAILED!.
It's always Tony he sees everywhere,but Tony gone, to the war.
Adam then live like a monk until he pound out something happened to Tony at war.....
Will he survive? Will they meet again?
and...who's marriage is this...uuum...three years later?
It was a quick read, sweet love story, and most of all....they're being faithful to each other...Love it !
December 30, 2011
The repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell� provides a nice happy ending for this short m/m romance, which also gives a redemption to one of Brockmann’s biggest asshat characters, Adam. Tony, a young Navy SEAL who is determined in a very engaging way, makes the romance sweet, in a very hot way.
I do have to wonder if Adam can really stop being a lying user so quickly, especially given that his new lover is in an even more dangerous profession than his old one was. (Fear turns out to have been behind a lot of Adam’s behavior.) This was also the first time I really noticed the “preachiness� others have lately complained about in Brockmann’s books; a lot of characters seem to be there primarily to serve as mouthpieces to describe the unfairness and awfulness of DADT -- which I completely agree with, but I would have like more show and less tell. Still a charmer of a story.
June 6, 2011
I never thought I would actually hope for a happy ending for Adam since he was so horrid to my favorite character Jules. But by the time I finished this short story, I was very glad that he did. This is a nice closure to the story thread that started in All Through the Night. Since I missed reading about Sam in Breaking the Rules I am glad he had a very short yet critical guest part in this story. Thank you for this nice little gift .Brockmann Sensei!
Recommended for anybody who follows the Troubleshooter series, and those who've never read the series but like m/m romances!
Recommended for anybody who follows the Troubleshooter series, and those who've never read the series but like m/m romances!
June 16, 2011
Very romantic and touching. I loved Tony, he's a wonderful and endearing hero and perfect for making the injustice of Don't Ask Don't Tell palpable. His interaction with his teammates was entertaining. Adam's role brought some angst and emotions to the plot. Overall the pacing of this story was good, I just wished it had been longer. Much longer.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
December 28, 2016
I loved Tony!!! He was an awesome character. He was just the right amount of confidence, take charge, put your heart out there. I love how he dealt with his Navy Seals buddy. Even though the sex wasn't graphic it left things to my imagination.and I was okay with that. Now I'm debating if I should read the entire series or just the books that focus on the M/M characters. What should I do??
Read
August 8, 2024i recommend beginning this series in the middle so you have no idea what's going on
July 13, 2012
I didn't think I'd like this one. Adam has always been such an asshole in other books that I really didn't see how I could enjoy his story. That being said, I really enjoyed his story. Lol. Tony was perfect for Adam. And probably the bigger reason they worked out was because Adam was finally at a point in his life where he was really ready for someone.
So what made me end up liking Adam? Well first, I liked that he knew he was an asshole. I think we can all can relate to knowing we have a flaw, but not changing. (whether that's a good thing or not is debatable.) Second, his background was very enlightening. It didn't excuse his past actions, but it made them understandable.
This story was very good. So why not 5 stars? I just thought there should have been more. I suppose thats expected with a short story, but I just can't help think this wasn't complete. i.e. Tony joined the SEALs after graduating an ivy league school. Adam asks, "Who does that?" and immediately answers "Tony, apparently." But why?? Please remind me if this was covered in another book! But I don't think it was. So I'm left wondering why? Not because it's super important to the story but because I want to know more about Tony and what makes him tick. That's why I can't give it 5 stars.
Overall though, this was a great read. Anytime I sit down to read a Suzanne Brockmann book, I expect good things. And this one did not disappoint!
So what made me end up liking Adam? Well first, I liked that he knew he was an asshole. I think we can all can relate to knowing we have a flaw, but not changing. (whether that's a good thing or not is debatable.) Second, his background was very enlightening. It didn't excuse his past actions, but it made them understandable.
This story was very good. So why not 5 stars? I just thought there should have been more. I suppose thats expected with a short story, but I just can't help think this wasn't complete. i.e. Tony joined the SEALs after graduating an ivy league school. Adam asks, "Who does that?" and immediately answers "Tony, apparently." But why?? Please remind me if this was covered in another book! But I don't think it was. So I'm left wondering why? Not because it's super important to the story but because I want to know more about Tony and what makes him tick. That's why I can't give it 5 stars.
Overall though, this was a great read. Anytime I sit down to read a Suzanne Brockmann book, I expect good things. And this one did not disappoint!
June 18, 2011
I really really liked this one - and it definitely got bonus points for letting me revisit the Troubleshooters gang (loved Sam!). While heavy on the social commentary as per usual Brockmann style, it felt relevant to the characters' lives and plot line. And she pulled off the impossible and managed to redeem Adam.
This book left me with a smile on my face - you'll obviously get a lot more from this story if you've read the previous books, but I think I would go as far as saying this would work even for new readers.
This book left me with a smile on my face - you'll obviously get a lot more from this story if you've read the previous books, but I think I would go as far as saying this would work even for new readers.
June 23, 2011
2 1/2 to 3 stars.
This just didn't really work. Tony falls in love with Adam right after meeting him, talks his way into Adam's bed (which wasn't hard) and suddenly it's love. Adam did nothing to redeem himself. We know he's an ass because of how he treated Jules and then hooked up with Robin. But apparently Tony is so good in bed that Adam is now a good guy.
Maybe it was just too short and needed more story. Not sure. I'm not sorry I read it, but I would have liked more.
This just didn't really work. Tony falls in love with Adam right after meeting him, talks his way into Adam's bed (which wasn't hard) and suddenly it's love. Adam did nothing to redeem himself. We know he's an ass because of how he treated Jules and then hooked up with Robin. But apparently Tony is so good in bed that Adam is now a good guy.
Maybe it was just too short and needed more story. Not sure. I'm not sorry I read it, but I would have liked more.
April 2, 2014
I'm impressed that Suzanne Brockmann got me to care about and like Adam, but I never really felt like I saw the connection between him and Tony. What did Tony find so appealing about him, anyway? And while I can see Tony's appeal, I never quite got exactly why he was the right man for Adam. I think my favorite part of this story was the relationships and reactions of the SEALs upon learning that Tony's gay.
August 7, 2016
I haven't read the Troubleshooters series, only this snapshot and perhaps that's the reason I didn't like it much? Not sure, but I didn't have any feelings for either character, it felt like it was more a retelling of events than a love story, and I didn't get any of the awww moments I so love in the gay military stories I've read. It was well written, as you could only expect from Ms Brockmann, but perhaps she should stick to hetero romance.
March 18, 2012
I didn't think I would like this book because I really don't like Adam, but, he grew on me. I wish we had learned more about him and now that I'm reading a few books ahead, I think it's weird that Tony is never mentioned again, at least not so far...
April 2, 2023
Adam gets his chance at redemption. Tony sees something in him that he doesn’t see in himself.
Verdict: Everyone deserves a happy ending
Verdict: Everyone deserves a happy ending
Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.