It’s July!!  And this is the story we’ve all been waiting for.  For Suzanne Brockmann fans, “IS IT JULY YET” has become the catch phrase, stating our eagerness and anxiety to finally know what will happen to Sam and Alyssa.  Probably one of her most beloved SEAL heroes, Sam is a character that has evoked passionate responses from fans and foes alike.  His story has slowly unfolded over the beginning of her Team 16 series, beginning with UNSUNG HERO.  Finally, here it is, the long awaited GONE TOO FAR.

Roger “Sam” Starrett has arrived in Sarasota Florida to get his wife, Mary Lou, to sign the divorce papers.  He should have never married her, but he thought it was the right thing to do at the time.  Now, here he is, tracking Mary Lou down because she hadn’t signed the papers and sent them back to him, nor had she returned his phone calls.  What awaits Sam when he arrives at her house is a dead body, three weeks old, and no sign of his daughter, Haley.  When he calls for help, who is there but none other than the woman of his heart, Alyssa.

Alyssa Locke doesn’t believe that Sam is capable of killing his wife, but he’s the prime suspect.  Going to Florida is not on her list of bright ideas, especially being around the one man who has given her such heartache and grief.  An agent with the FBI, Alyssa’s team is also tracking down terrorists that were behind the assassination attempt on the President last fall.  With Mary Lou’s name involved, Sam also is now linked to the assassination plot.  Team 16’s commander, Tom Paoletti is also being detained and questioned and to top it off, Alyssa can’t let Sam out of her sight.  Being stuck with the gorgeous SEAL who broke her heart allows Alyssa time to hear his side of the story, as well as come face to face with her own feelings.  But will she be able to help prove his innocence or lose her career?

I’ve tried not to give any of the storyline away because it’s a suspense filled with thrills, raw heat and heart aching revelations.  Sam’s story actually begins with the World War Two subplot that Ms. Brockmann weaves into GONE TOO FAR.  Focusing in on the Tuskogee Airmen, new facts and missing pieces are brought together for the reader to fully understand Sam’s character.  A brilliant mix of family ties, suspense, sizzling heat and love that transcends race or color, GONE TOO FAR is Brockmann’s best work yet.  The secondary storyline involves Max and Gina, characters who first appeared in previous works, most notably OVER THE EDGE.  Sam is a multi-dimensional character that has been shaped over the course of his entire life.  With all his flaws, he has a good heart and that is clearly seen in this book.

FBI Agent Max Baghat is also tied into Alyssa’s character, being her boss, and that serves as a very good catalyst to move the story along in the directions Ms. Brockmann wants them to.  For fans who have been waiting for Max and Gina’s story, this is one you don’t want to miss.  I’m sure that this is a thread that Ms. Brockmann will continue from the looks of it.  Max is a deep character, of which I’m sure we’ve only seen the surface scratched.  Gina is a wonderful character that will be great to watch grow and match up with Max.  The ending will leave readers wondering what will happen next, but with Ms. Brockmann at the helm, we are assured it will be a great ride.

A fast paced, action filled adventure, this is a book that will go on many keeper shelves.  It has now taken over as my favorite Suz book to date, OUT OF CONTROL, but only because it’s Sam.  Finally!  Thank you Suz, it was worth the wait.