Nice group of short stories now in audio

What made the experience of listening to Headed for Trouble the most enjoyable?

The short stories with Sam, Alyssa, Jules. I also appreciated the book being bookmarked so that I could skip to the short stories I care about the most.

Would you be willing to try another book from Suzanne Brockmann? Why or why not?

Yes. I have really enjoyed the characters of this series and will read more if they come out. Her juggling multiple POVs in her books could be a bit much for some people. Having a female and male reader to narrator the famale/male character POVs help to keep track of the story in audio.

Have you listened to any of Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have enjoyed their performances in past Troubleshooter books and their performance in this collection is no exception.

Any additional comments?

Book Introduction - Melanie Ewbank - (04:33)

Troubleshooters 00 - When Frank Met Rosie - Patrick Lawlor - (39:25)
- I didn't listen to this story.

Troubleshooters 00 - Thoughts on When Frank Met Rosie - Melanie Ewbank - (07:15)
- This is Ms. Brockmann's thoughts on writing this short story about a character was dropped from the series during book 3.

Troubleshooters 06.5 - When Alyssa and Sam Met the Dentist - Melanie Ewbank - (14:45) 3*
- Nice little preview of the villain from Hot Pursuit (book 15)

Troubleshooters 07.5 - Waiting - Patrick Lawlor - (35:05) 4*
- I love Sam and Alyssa so while Alyssa is mostly off-screen I enjoyed this story. Sam gets bad news about a mission Alyssa is on while he's at home with his daughter. The other wives of SEAL Team 16 show up to provide support.

Troubleshooters 09.5 - Sam Takes an Assignment in Italy Patrick Lawlor - (31:58) 4*
- Again, Sam is the main character with Jules coming in to have his back. It's a fun little short story.

Troubleshooters 09.6 - When Jenk, Izzy, Gilman, and Lopez Met Tony Vlachic - Patrick Lawlor - (25:53) 3*
- Fun little story about when the guys get to know Tony.

Troubleshooters 09.7 - Suz's Interview with Tom and Kelly - Melanie Ewbank - (07:41) 2*
- Not a big fan of the interview style bits in this anthology. This was just OK for me.

Troubleshooters 10.1 - Trapped - Patrick Lawlor - (1:02:44) 3.5*
- First short I listened to with some real action taking place. Was nice to see other members of the group in on this op. I love Sam, Alyssa and Jules. It was also the first story with some length to it.

Troubleshooters 10.2 - Conversation with Navy SEALs Mark "Jenk" Jenkins, Dan Gillman, Jay Lopez, and Irving "Izzy" Zanella - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (06:26) 2*
- I didn't think this worked that well in audio

Troubleshooters 10.3 - Suz's Interview with Kenny and Savannah - Melanie Ewbank (07:53) 2*

Troubleshooters 12.6 - Home Is Where the Heart Is (Part I & II) - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (2:52:20) 3*
- Main characters for this short were secondary (non-Troubleshooter) characters introduced in All Through The Night (book 12). I thought the premise of the plot was a bit thin but it was OK.

Troubleshooters 15.5 - A SEAL and Three Babies - Patrick Lawlor - (1:30:18) 4*
- This was my favorite short story in this collection. I loved seeing Sam and Robin working together in this short story.

FAQ Interview with Suz - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (18:15) 2*
- I wish there had been more/longer real short stories instead of some of these entries. We can find this on the author's website.

Valentine's Day - Melanie Ewbank - (03:35) 1*
- I appreciate the sentiments in this commentary but, again, would have preferred more/longer short stories.

Fighting Destiny 00 - Bonus Story: Shane's Last Stand Patrick Lawlor (1:01:55) 3.5*
- This is a prequel to her Fighting Destiny series. I did read book 1 (Born to Darkness) and found it interesting so I liked this story. I can understand its inclusion in this collection since this takes place when Shane is a Navy SEAL (in the dystopian future) and it's one of the few short stories with some action going on.

Troubleshooters 00 - Glossary of Troubleshooters Terms - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (18:43) 1*
- A mostly straight forward glossary of terms.

Troubleshooters 00 - Troubleshooters Series Timeline - Patrick Lawlor, Melanie Ewbank - (13:45) 1*
- A brief summary of the books and short stories that are part of the Troubleshooters series. Appreciate the inclusion in an e-book but these last 2 entries of the audio take over 30 minutes and while the narrators can make it interesting, not something I'd re-visit.

While there was a lot of extra stuff in this collection that I could have done without, the short stories I enjoyed were worth the price of admission for me.

5 people found this helpful

Bummer:(

I love this series... when I saw this audiobook I bought it immediately!! I still would have bought it even if I had read the reviews because I strongly believe in making my own judgment calls....but, they were right.
I made it through 2 1/2 hours w/ 7+ to go, but it's just too unbearable. These stories were just too short to really add anything to the storyline. Plus, unless you are a major fan & have read every single book in this series you simply won't get it.
And I have read & listened to every book, some of them numerous times and though I know the characters, this book doesn't go anywhere.
I love this author & the narrators, but you can easily skip this one.
On the other hand, this audiobook is very cheap, so it would be worth it.
Even though this particular audiobook is not my cup of tea, I don't regret getting it.
I just wish I knew that it was a compilation of lots & lots of short stories and these blurbs that are more like a stream of thoughts put onto paper.
Anyways, best for you to be the judge. 😉

4 people found this helpful

I really tried

I really tried to like this book. I couldn't. I love the Troubleshooters and SEAL team 16, I didn't love this book at all. Most had been published previously and the rest shouldn't have been published at all. To much moralizing and not enough story. Sounds like the same couple of paragraphs were repeated in every story. So what Jules and Robin are gay, get over it. So Sam loves and respects his wife, get over that too, I get the impression Sam spends most of his time walking on glass around Alyssa, fawning over her and afraid to be himself. So Jules spends his time rescuing his friends, someone's in trouble, call Jules. Seems like no one can help themselves and Jules spends his time driving back and forth to the airport. Come on SB, drop the moralizing and write some real stories.

3 people found this helpful

Lots of memories from Troubleshooters.

Lots of short stories ranging from 15 mins to 3 hrs, I will round them out time wise for each story. This has some good stories in it, but you don't need to read it. Don't read if you haven't read the Troubleshooter series. Here's a list of what is in the book. I skipped interviews and Intro, because I never like to listen to that stuff.

• Intro from Author. 5 mins. Skipped.
• When Frank met Rosie. 40 mins. Cute story but sad because we know that Frank dies.
• Author's note on When Frank met Rosie. 7 mins. Gives statistics and explains previous story.
• When Alyssa and Sam Met the Dentist. This story should have been a flashback in Hot Pursuit. 15 mins
• Waiting. 35 mins. Sam angst about Alyssa in the field.
• Sam Takes an Assignment in Italy. 32 mins. Funny story.
• When Jenk, Izzy, Gilman, and Lopez Met Tony Vlachic. 26 mins. Boys at the poker table.
• Suz's Interview with Tom and Kelly. 8 mins. Skipped.
• Trapped. 1 hr. 2 mins. More action, good story.
• Conversation w/ Navy SEALs Mark "Jenk" Jenkins, Dan Gillman, Jay Lopez, & Irving "Izzy" Zanella. 6.5 mins. Skipped.
• Suz's Interview with Kenny and Savannah. 8 mins. Skipped.
• Home Is Where the Heart Is (Part I & II). 2 hrs. 53 mins. Okay story. It was about Will sister and best friend.
• A SEAL and Three Babies. 1 hr. 30 mins. Funny especially since I had been there done that. I feel for Sam on this one. Best story.
• FAQ Interview with Suz. 18 mins. Skipped.
• Valentine's Day. 4 mins. Skipped
• Shane's Last Stand. 1 hr. 2 mins. New series, prequel to Born of Darkness, which I haven't started yet, because I was waiting until she wrote more first. Not sure about how I will like the series or not.
• Glossary of Troubleshooters Terms. 19 mins. Skipped.
• Troubleshooters Series Timeline. 14 mins. A nice flashback to all the books.

3 people found this helpful

Very disappointing

I love Suzanne Brockmann, I love Troubleshooters and the Seals, I loved the idea of a bunch of short stories to fill in the characters, but I did NOT love this.
1. Hated the commentary in between the stories. Sure, she's political but politics built into a story are one thing, straight political commentary (which is what this felt like) is another. For that, I'll just turn on the talking heads on tv.
2. I escape into the books. I escape with the characters. I hated the short stories in which the characters I've grown to love not only have a conversation wtih the author, but know they are characters and are concerned about their story lines. I don't read or watch "behind the scenes" books and programs for the same reason. *I* know they are characters but I don't want THEM to realize and worry about what happens in the next book. It ruins the escape for me.
I'll stick with Brockmann, but I will definitely stay far, far away from short story compilations from now on!

2 people found this helpful

Why did I have to pay for this

What disappointed you about Headed for Trouble?

It was just a bunch of repeats and what the author likes about her characters.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I would love for it to be another Suzanne Brockman military, romance, action packed, 5-star book. I truly love her writing.

What does Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Patrick Lawlor is soooo good at putting the exact spin on his voice to match the emotion of the character. Truly his reading skill fascinates me. Melanie brings life and emotion to her characters and is consistent with maintaining the correct voice.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Headed for Trouble?

The entire "book". This should have been just a YouTube interview.

Any additional comments?

As I said, I LOVE Suzanne Brockman's writing. Had been waiting a long time for another book in her Troubleshooters series, or maybe even a book to start an entire new series. I feel her fans, her very loyal readers, were duped into thinking this was a continuation of the series. I can't believe her precious writing time was wasted on this.

1 person found this helpful

Great bonus material for fans of the series

10/2021 - Audio (updated the review below)

11/2016 - This is a good “bonus” for fans of the series. Several little short stories and a few novellas. Some giving more insight into secondary or lesser explored characters which is fun. Some of these were included as bonuses in other books or part of other smaller “collections” like The Troubleshooters Reader’s guide. So it’s not all new content. (For audio-only fans this will almost entirely be new content. I think the only one previously recorded was “Sam Takes an Assignment in Italy” which was at the end of Into the Storm. However there it was read by Brockmann herself. Here it’s performed by Lawlor. While Brockmann isn’t bad - she’s no Lawlor. 😉)

The ebook starts out with a timeline of all the books, novellas, & shorts so that you can read things in chronological order - which is handy to have. (In the audiobook it’s at the end.)

I don’t think they’d be enjoyable for folks who aren’t at least mostly familiar with the series and several of the series arcs. Some contain spoilers for books that precede them.

4 chapters (about an hour of the audio) is Shane’s Last Stand which is a novella prequel to Brockmann’s Born to Darkness.

Overall an enjoyable read/listen.

Patrick Lawlor & Melanie Ewbank are wonderful as always. I continue to love the way they bring Troubleshooters characters to life.

Hardta keep track but enjoyed every word of it!:)

I didn't realize that it was a book of several stories....but that wasn't going ta stop my enjoyment....my favorite short story was the most bad luck story of allll…..stuck in a bad country with 3 babies that are contagious traveling....wow!!!! It coulda happened....Loved every bit of these stories....Thank you for an escape from a very domesticated bird in her self made gilded cage.... :)

Stories that fill in the blank

A compilation of stories, maybe an interview, set in the world of Troubleshooters.
Story #1: When Frank Met Rosie
Frank is referenced a few times, primarily in Over the Edge.
Story #2: When Alyssa and Sam met the Dentist
This takes place after Gone too Far, before Flashpoint.
Story #3: Waiting
Sam has 3-1/2 year old Hailey visiting while Alyssa is OCONUS escorting a Diplomat on a peacekeeping mission. When one of the helicopters is shot down, Sam gets support from the Seal wives.
Story #4: Sam Takes an Assignment in Italy
After Breaking Point and before Into the Storm. Sam tries to ride herd at a corporate honcho’s wedding from hell, which has already dragged into 3 weeks. His begging for Alyssa to rescue him has her sending Jules to the rescue. At this time, Jules was still dating Ben.
Story #5: When Jenk, Izzy, Gilman, and Lopez met Tony Vlacic
The guys share stories while playing cards. I love Jenks’ story with the three Drag Queens.
Story #6: An Interview with Tom and Kelly
Story #7: Trapped
Takes place before Force of Nature.
The women of TI run a Red Cell to prove a security assessment for a military base in Germany, when they run into the terrorists they warned against. A gunfight leaves Alyssa and Jules trapped underground with a bomb. The men of TI have to come to the rescue.
Story #8: Conversation with Jenk, Gilman, Lopez and Zanella.
Takes place after Into the Storm.
Story #9: Interview with Kenny and Savannah
Takes place shortly after Into the Storm.
Story #10: Home is Where the Heart Is
After All Through the Night. Features Arlene Schraeder, sister of journalist Will, love interest of Dolphina, assistant to Robin Chadwick.
Story #11: A Seal and Three Babies
This takes place after Hot Pursuit, when Max, Alyssa and Jules have to go overseas prior to a Presidential trip. Robin, Sam, and Gina bring the kids to vacation in a nearby country, but get stranded on the way with flu, in the middle of a political coup.
Story #12: FAQs: Interview with Suze
Story #13: Valentine’s Day
Story #14: Shane’s Last Stand
Intro-Prequel to another series.
Glossary of Troubleshooters Terms
Lawlor and Ewbank do a decent job of narration.
Troubleshooters series timeline.

Behind the authors crazy

So neat to hear the author interact and engage with her characters and follow her thought processes.