There were forty-eight hours still left in Hell Week. Anything could—and would—happen. Interesting was an understatement.
Suzanne Brockmann
Ready to Roll
Format:
ebook & Audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
The only easy day is yesterday. BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL) training is known for being the toughest, meanest, most physically punishing program in the entire U.S. Navy, and a new crop of tadpoles have arrived in Coronado eager to prove their worth—to make it through Hell Week, and become U.S. Navy SEALs.
Although Izzy prefers assignments out in the “real world,” he’s happy enough to be TDY as an instructor for the current BUD/S class, because it allows him to spend time at home with his wife, Eden, and her lively and lovable extended family.
Eden’s sixteen-year-old brother, Ben, is dealing with a new crush and a homophobic bully in his high school, but it soon appears that things are not as they seem.
Meanwhile, Eden’s other brother (and Izzy’s SEAL teammate and former frenemy) Danny Gillman and his wife Jenn have just had a baby who has colic and cries constantly.
As Ben deals with the type of too-serious high school drama that could involve a body count, and Danny and Jenn juggle a new baby, lack of sleep, and postpartum blues, Izzy is intrigued by “Boat Squad John,” a misfit team of young SEAL candidates all named John, who include the intriguing young Seagull, his swim buddy Timebomb, and Seagull’s nemesis Hans.
Does Seagull have what it takes keep Boat Squad John still standing when the dust of BUD/S Hell Week settles, or will they ring out?
Set in Coronado during BUD/S training Hell Week, in Ready to Roll Brockmann introduces the SEAL officer and instructor nicknamed Grunge—Lt. Peter Greene—as she delivers what she does best: a story celebrating the U.S. Navy SEALs—and the women (and sometimes men) who wholeheartedly love and support them. (About 55,000 words or 200 pages)
READY TO ROLL is the third of a connected trilogy of Troubleshooters shorts and novellas that starts with FREE FALL and continues in HOME FIRE INFERNO.
Point of view:
3rd person. Alternating perspectives by so many characters. Always clearly defined.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
Note: Ready to Roll is the third of a trilogy of Troubleshooters shorts and novellas that starts with Free Fall and Home Fire Inferno. Additionally, these are probably best read after Into the Fire, Hot Pursuit, & Breaking the Rules (which are the main books for Izzy & Eden and Danny & Jen).
In true Brockmann style – what she calls a “novella” other others call full length books. But then again, her full length novels are probably twice as long. Anyway – at just over 6 hours this is a fun mix of YA (Ben Gillman gets some major page time), catching up on more personal life of the Zanella/Gillman clan PLUS detailed experiences of up & coming going through BUD/s, specifically Hell Week.
It’s a solid mix of low steam romance, suspense, thriller and humor.
It’s also an introduction to Grunge (Pete) in a nice set up for his book, Some Kind Of Hero.
I’d hoped that Brockmann might someday do a Troubleshooters spin-off featuring all the men of Boat Squad John… but so far (latest relisten in 2021) it hasn’t happened. Fingers crossed.
Narration:
As always, a treat to listen to Patrick Lawlor and Melanie Ewbank. They do a great job with the many, many POVs in this one – plus keeping characters from previous books consistent. It’s so easy to binge these.
About the author:
After 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 twenty-five years she has written more than fifty-five novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts.
You can connect with Suzanne Brockmann here: (Rellim’s note: She’s most active on Twitter.)
About the narrators:
You can connect with Melanie Ewbank here:
You can connect with Patrick Lawlor here:
My Favorite Quotes
There were forty-eight hours still left in Hell Week. Anything could—and would—happen. Interesting was an understatement. – Ready to Roll @SuzBrockmann #Audiobook narrated by @PLawlorAudio @EwbankMelanie #Troubleshooters #SEALs #RomanticSuspense #Novella
Tweet
No, you don’t understand. Because I love you epically, too. And I’m not going to just let you throw this away. I am not! – Ready to Roll @SuzBrockmann #Audiobook narrated by @PLawlorAudio @EwbankMelanie #Troubleshooters #SEALs #RomanticSuspense #Novella
Tweet
“Your whole family’s pretty freaking adorable,” Grunge said. “The Zanella-Gillmans. Who would’ve ever thought.” – Ready to Roll @SuzBrockmann #Audiobook narrated by @PLawlorAudio @EwbankMelanie #Troubleshooters #SEALs #RomanticSuspense #Novella
Tweet
Whenever he day-shifted Hell Week, he stayed through the final night. This shit was better than reality TV. – Ready to Roll @SuzBrockmann #Audiobook narrated by @PLawlorAudio @EwbankMelanie #Troubleshooters #SEALs #RomanticSuspense #Novella
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Rellim Reads 