Suzanne Brockmann addresses serious social issues like homophobia and alcoholism in her latest installment in the Troubleshooters series, FORCE OF NATURE. That aside, she still manages to throw in two equally compelling love stories with the right amount of humor and suspense! First introduced in GONE TOO FAR, Ric Alvarado is a private investigator and former police detective who has his hands full with Annie Dugan, his receptionist who wants to be his assistant, and Pierre, her neurotic mini-mutt. Ric and Annie are working what they think is a missing person case and end up in the good graces of a local crime lord, Gordon Burns, after saving his son's life. Things only go downhill. It turns out that Ric and Annie have stumbled into an ongoing FBI terrorism investigation. Enter Jules Cassidy, openly gay FBI agent extraordinaire, a regular in the Troubleshooters series since THE DEFIANT HERO. Jules is leading the FBI team looking into Burns since their undercover agent went missing. Anyone who was eagerly anticipating Jules' story will not be let down. This was a great read that I did not want to put down. Several past characters in the Troubleshooting series make appearances, but this book can be read as a stand alone. For this long time reader and fan, it will definitely be a keeper and one that I reread. Jules finally gets his happy ending! Of course, Annie is a strong character and one I hope will appear in future Troubleshooting books because she starts out as a tomboy but becomes a woman who does what needs to be done no matter how painful. Who doesn't love a heroine with a lot of spunk, a good sense of humor and a canine sidekick?

Book Summary

When Ric Alvarado, a quiet handsome P.I., and his new assistant Annie Dugan, a tomboy trying her hand at law enforcement, prevent a client from murdering the son of Florida crime lord Gordon Burns, they suddenly find themselves welcome in Burns' inner sanctum. But the FBI informs Ric and Annie that there is more to Burns than they originally thought: He is believed to be smuggling terrorists into the United States, although they've yet to get details on when and where. And their one undercover agent--their only real hope--has disappeared.

Meanwhile, sparks are flying between Annie and Ric--first introduced to readers in the blockbuster Gone Too Far--and the heat between them is rising as fast as the mercury in a Florida thermometer. Trying to resist the passion growing between them, they soon find themselves on a desperate, dangerous hunt--the outcome of which could threaten their own lives and the safety of the entire country.