Blue Mood Café

Some Kind of Hero by Suzanne Brockmann @SuzBrockmann @TheRealBahniT @PLawlorAudio

September 11, 2023 6:00 am

the setup…
Navy SEAL Lieutenant Peter (Grunge) Greene is a formidable BUD/S instructor, tough and is up to any assignment he’s handed. However, becoming a father to his 15-year old daughter for the first time after her mother’s sudden death might be the challenge that brings him to his knees. She’s now missing and his instincts are screaming at him that she’s in serious trouble (she is). Romance author and divorced mother of two Shayla Whitman was in the right place at the right time when he needed help. She just happens to be his neighbor and together they begin putting together clues and actions to find Maddie.

the heart of the story…
There’s a different vibe to this story but at the same time, a lot that’s familiar. Told from Peter, Maddie and Shayla’s points of view, it transitions from the varying voices rather seamlessly. I liked that Peter and Shayla are older (he’s close to 40; she’s there already) so it’s a more mature relationship that develops without the protracted angst you typically find between two people thrown together in these circumstances. On the surface, they don’t seem all that compatible but when they’re together, everything about them works. I loved these two together and how she helped him forge a relationship with Maddie. It was brilliantly orchestrated while at the same time providing us with his crucial backstory.

Shayla writes romantic suspense and her main fictional character is an FBI agent named Harry who is a major part of her own inner dialogue. It was disconcerting at first but as the story moved along, I found myself wanting Harry’s opinion! It ultimately works as he’s really her own alter ego that pushes her into romantic action with Peter.

the narration…
I read this story over six years ago and decided to listen to it the second time around. My feelings about Lawlor are well known at this point (big fan!) but discovering that the fabulous Bahni Turpin was partnering with him on this story put me in my happy place! I loved everything about her performance.

the bottom line…
I loved this story and how the members of Boat Squad John and SEAL Team Sixteen were woven into the action. And through Shayla, we get an important plug for the romance genre, presenting a smart, talented writer who really shatters a few myths. She was classic Suzanne Brockmann and I adored her, especially with Turpin giving her voice. Well done on every level.