Countdown to

Breaking Point

7/1/05

It's JULY!!!

11 days (and counting to Breaking Point, in stores on July 12th)

Quote of the Day:  When Trent did talk, it was without listening.  Gina got the feeling that when she spoke, Max listened with every cell in his body.   -- Gina Vitagliano's point of view, from Over the Edge.

Note from Suz: Reviews for Breaking Point are starting to come in!  

Romantic Times BookClub Magazine gives the book four and a half stars and a Top Pick!  

Reviewer Jill M. Smith says:  "The long wait is finally over--it's time for Max and Gina to get their due!  That this exceptional couple has faced unique obstacles makes their story sweeter.  With undeniable skill, Brockmann delivers an action-packed and breathtaking thriller that was well worth the wait."  (Read the complete review in the July issues of RP BookClub!)

Suzanne Coleburn of Reader To Reader Reviews/The Belles & Beaux of Romance says:  "Hot damn, I have been dying to hear Max and Gina’s story for years, and now that I’ve read it, I say double hot damn.  BREAKING POINT is a humdinger filled with scary parts that will have you holding your breath, and hanging by your fingernails as the suspense builds and builds by the second.... I adored this book!"

And my long-time first draft reader, Deede, (also a first grade teacher!) just sent out this email:  

"Wow!

Due to Suz's deadlines and my own personal circumstances, I missed my chance to be a pre-reader of Breaking Point.  However, before leaving on vacation, Suz gave Patricia a copy of the book, which she promptly read. As a matter of fact, she and Scott and our friend Steven were here for dinner and games last night, and she spent the first third of the evening finishing it so that she could leave it for me.

So, last night, after they left (1:30 am) I had to get a little taste. Ha! Finally went to bed at 3 cursing at the gods of exhaustion because what was happening to Gina and Max was SO much more important than sleep! But, unlike an FBI agent, a Navy SEAL, or a former rogue agent, I have not trained myself mind-over-matter to ignore my bodily needs in times of crisis. OK -- it wasn't my crisis, it was Gina's and Max's and Molly's and Jones' and Jules'. But still -- my adrenaline was high.

Woke up today with all sorts of good plans for the first true day of summer. Bike ride. Go for a walk. Go to a movie. Drink many cups of good coffee while reading the paper... Work on my wedding album. Hang out with Kirsten...

Wrong! I just spent the past 8 hours completely immersed in the absolutely satisfying tale of "what FINALLY happens!" I must say that these are the most amazingly real and complex characters. I really feel like I know these people, I like these people, I care about these people, I ache for these people, and I must say I am a bit annoyed at Suz for the things she put them through!

So, so totally believable. The grief is so real. I am always skeptical when someone writes about grief and shock, or puts it in a movie. I watch cynically thinking that it doesn't ring true. But this really does. And yet, this book is full of humor. What a difficult line to walk, and Suz did it so beautifully. And she managed to get in so many important things-- things that I know matter to her and matter to a lot of the rest of us as well, such as homophobia, the continuing plight of women and girls in patriarchal societies, the desperate need for medical assistance in third world countries... It's all there without one ounce of preachiness or 'message'.

I love that Molly is so darn sexy -- and a normal middle aged woman. 

And it was great to see Jules... I thought Hot Target was his story. But now I think his story is a special gift we still have waiting in our future. Thanks to Suz for not letting him get away with being just the awesomely competent, emotionally available hottie. I have always loved Jules, but this story was my favorite of his so far.

Anyway, I guess it is a good thing Suz didn't give this to me 6 weeks ago in manuscript -- I would have neglected my first graders in my desire to finish it up and know what happened."

That's all for now!  Be sure to come back on Monday for the next installment in the Countdown to Breaking Point!

See you then!