Forever Blue

Second book in Brockmann's original Seal Tall Dark and Dangerous series. This one is weaker than Prince Joe. The female lead is a bit too perfect and the town a bit too backwater. The resolution of the plot was rushed a bit but I liked her male lead. Carter "Blue" McCoy is the real McCoy. ( )

Forever Blue is the story of Alpha Team Ten SEAL Carter "Blue" McCoy--a fitting second story in the series for the team's second in command. Most of the novel takes place back in Blue's hometown in South Carolina while he is on leave, so we hear more about the other team members' through their recounted past exploits than we actually see them in the novel. When first we saw Blue in Prince Joe, he was bemoaning the fact that his high school sweetheart was going to marry his stepbrother Gerry. As this novel starts, he is back in town to act as the best man in that wedding. Less than twenty-four hours later, he's the top suspect in his stepbrother's murder, and the only townsperson who appears to be on his side in Lucy Tait, a rookie cop who had a serious case of hero worship for Blue throughout their high school years.

Overall I really enjoyed this novel--the characters were well-fleshed out, their relationships were well written, and the mystery nicely presented. Reading the series out of order (I read #1, then #3, then #2) did not have any effect on my enjoyment, since Brockmann does a nice job of telling back story without overtelling it, for those who haven't read the other books as well as those who have. My biggest issue (would the cop investigating a murder really allow the only real suspect to stay at her house, even though she believes he didn't do it?) at least had believable consequences, so it didn't bother me as much as it could have. I am definitely looking forward to reading the others in the series this summer. ( )

Forever Blue is the second book in Suzanne Brockmann’s Tall, Dark and Dangerous series about Navy SEALs finding love, with a little bit of action thrown in to spice things up. I liked this plot and I really liked the main characters, but I found the solution a little bit too convenient. ( )

There’s nothing particularly wrong about this book, but there’s nothing that special either. Suzanne Brockmann’s earlier Tall, Dark and Dangerous series just isn’t anywhere near being in the same league as her impressive Troubleshooters series.

This is a small town murder mystery and has very little to do with Navy SEALs. The military aspect was unnecessary to the story, which isn’t exactly what I want when I pick up a military romantic suspense. Some of Suzanne Brockmann’s novels are so brilliant, weaving the military aspect into the whole story, including the relationship. Then you get books like this, where it’s non-existent, with the hero only being Navy so the story looks like it belongs with the rest of the series.

The book - as with so many of Suzanne Brockmann’s - starts out with a few pages full of action and excitement. But it quickly settles into something of a small town romance, which would be fine if it wasn’t supposed to be about SEALs. Blue returns to his hometown to attend his stepbrother’s wedding, only for the stepbrother to be murdered. Lucy - a woman he rescued back when they were teenagers - is still living there and still fascinated by him. When Blue is accused of the murder it’s Lucy who steps forward to find out the truth. It’s another one of the author’s books that’s not heavy enough on the suspense to be good military suspense. I liked the story, but it’s not a Brockmann favourite.

I liked the two lead characters - Lucy and Blue - well enough. They were good people, but they’re not going to stay with me forever. The best parts of the story were the couple of sections where Blue told Lucy about his career. Unfortunately these parts only took up a handful of pages. The rest of the book could have been any old small town murder mystery.

It is quite astounding that this book comes from the same author who wrote those amazing Troubleshooters books. These are fairly standard category books with the action as an afterthought and the military aspect just hovering in the background. The Tall, Dark and Dangerous series has its moments, but it’s the Troubleshooters you really want to run out and buy. Forever Blue is a decent read so long as you’re not expecting military romance. ( )

Another great read in the TALL, DARK AND DANGEROUS series featuring SEAL Team Ten. If you're following this series, you don't want to miss this installment. Plus, I just love Blue McCoy, and he and Lucy make the perfect couple! ( )