And be sure to check out Analysis Paralysis, a rom-com movie that I produced—written and directed by and starring my amazing son, Jason T. Gaffney. (It’s funny AF. I’ve watched it 2,748 times in post, and I still laugh!!)
Last but way not least, thank you for choosing to spend your precious reading time with my characters and me. Life is crazy these days (Spring 2018), with daily stressors that are enormous! (Please register and #VoteBlue!)
I love getting interactive: Twitter’s my social media format of choice—give me a shout @SuzBrockmann. And if you want to be absolutely certain you’ll get hot-off-the-press news about upcoming new releases (like that TDD book about Thomas and Tasha!), reissues, appearances, and e-book deals, sign up for my e-newsletter!
Love and hugs and don’t stop fighting for equality, hope, peace, and love,
Excerpt from Ready to Roll
Meet SEAL candidate John “Seagull” Livingston and BUD/S instructor LT Peter “Grunge” Greene…
Setting the scene: Navy SEALs Izzy Zanella, Mark “Jenk” Jenkins, Jay Lopez, and Tony Vlachic are sitting in beach chairs, chatting and watching the current BUD/S class SEAL candidates run the punishing Obstacle or O-course.
We’re in Izzy’s point of view.
…They all laughed again, which caught the attention of one of two SEAL candidates—a skinny, height-challenged white guy—who was wrestling his tired ass up and over the cargo net. The wind was picking up, which made it that much harder, and his companion—a huge black guy with shoulders that looked like he could easily bench press a house—said something that Izzy couldn’t hear, but was probably a variation on “Watch yourself, Tiny,” with a side of “Don’t slow me down!”
Although in truth, it seemed like it was the little guy who was taking his time so the bigger guy could keep up, but he did a good job of covering, so the big guy didn’t realize it.
And it was then, as Izzy was watching closely to try to figure out if the little guy really was disguising the fact that he wasn’t going at a hundred percent, that the lil’ dude hooked his boot up and through and around one of the squares of rope before—holy shit!—he just let go.
To anyone who wasn’t looking closely, he appeared to slip and nose-dive toward the ground—from where he was, it was an eighty-five foot back-breaking drop to the sand below—but his fall was stopped short by that leg he’d secured to the net. Still, his sudden movement and his shout of alarm made everyone look up, and instructors and candidates alike rushed to his aid.
As he dangled there, upside down, it seemed as if he’d caught his foot purely by luck. But Izzy alone knew better.
He was the only one still sitting down. Even Jay Lopez—a hospital corpsman—had pushed himself up and out of his beach chair despite his injured knee, ready to help if the kid actually fell.
“Guys, I’m pretty sure he did that on purpose,” Izzy said mildly, but no one heard him, on account of all the yelling.
Two of the other SEAL candidates—Jackson, the big black guy who was on the net with the foot dangler, and Schlossman, another muscular dude who could’ve been Jackson’s twin brother-from-another-mother, albeit blond with a square cut crew—had been the closest. They helped secure Livingston, AKA Foot-Dangler, as two of the on-duty instructors swarmed up the net to assist.
It was then that the Dangler—Livingston—puked. Thankfully, Izzy was sitting upwind, but the four men on the net got fully chunked.
“Jesus. Fucking Livingston.”
Izzy turned, fast, to see that Grunge—Lieutenant Peter Greene—had come out of nowhere, as Grunge was wont to do. The officer sat down in the sand next to him.
Izzy started to scramble to his feet. “Sir—”
“Zanella, come on. Relax. At ease.”
Izzy had known the man way back before either of them had become SEALs—and before Grunge had done the mustang enlisted-to-officer thang. Even though he’d been residing in Officer’s Country for years, Grunge still dressed like the California surfer that he was at heart. He had sun-streaked brown hair and twinkling blue eyes in a movie-star-handsome face that had aged remarkably well, considering how much time he spent on the beach. And he spent a lot of time right here. Some years ago, he’d found his calling as a BUD/S instructor.
With his flip-flops, board shorts, and overall Zen-ishness, Grunge looked like everyone’s easy-going stoner big brother, but he was, in fact, the meanest, roughest nightmare of an instructor ever to hit Coronado.
He had the insight and ability to look inside a SEAL candidate’s soul and find his weaknesses and fears. And he had the grit and toughness required to then stomp on those weaknesses with both big feet—and he’d put on his boots to do it. He’d cheerfully grind each of the candidates’ faces into the worst of their own anxieties and phobias.
In fact, Grunge often knew, after just a few hours working with each new class, which men would make it through, no problem, and who would quit and ring out within the first few hours of Hell Week.
And he never, ever gave anyone a free pass. If you made it through BUD/S on Grunge’s watch, you were ready to wear the trident, no question.
Sadly, if you were a SEAL candidate named Livingston, and Grunge said Jesus like that, when he was talking about you, describing you not just as Livingston, but fucking Livingston…?
It was highly unlikely that you were going to be one of the men still standing after the dust of Hell Week settled.
“I don’t know what is up with this kid,” Grunge told Izzy as they watched all five men slowly make their way back down to the ground. “He was invisible up to about a week ago. Suddenly he’s all three of the Stooges simultaneously. Any time there’s a screw-up, who’s suddenly at the epicenter? John Livingston.”
“Maybe he suddenly realized that the program’s not for him, and he doesn’t know how to handle it,” Izzy suggested. “Maybe he thinks it’d be easier to get medically rolled and just never come back. Because that circus act on the cargo net…? That was definitely for show. Maybe not the hurling part, but the dangle? Absolutely.”
“Except this kid isn’t an idiot.” Grunge was really annoyed. “If his goal was to go to medical, he’d know that wouldn’t happen unless he really got hurt. He’s been here long enough to know what comes next.”
What came after an O-course cargo-net mishap—like that near-death dangle—was exactly what had happened to Izzy, years ago. Here and now, the instructors were already reaming Livingston a new one and telling him he had to run the entire O again. And if he did it fast enough, he might not have to do it twice.
* * *
From Ready to Roll
© 2016 Suzanne Brockmann
Available now in eBook, print, and audio!
Suzanne Brockmann returns to the action-packed world of her bestselling Troubleshooters series with a new novella featuring U.S. Navy SEAL Izzy Zanella, his extended family, and his kickass teammates in SEAL Team Sixteen.
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.
As Ben deals with the type of too-serious high school drama that could involve a body count, 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 st
ill 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 56,000 words or 220 pages)
Other Books and Projects from Suzanne Brockmann:
Troubleshooters Series
1. The Unsung Hero
2. The Defiant Hero
3. Over the Edge
4. Out of Control
5. Into the Night
6. Gone Too Far
7. Flashpoint
8. Hot Target
9. Breaking Point
10. Into the Storm
11. Force of Nature
12. All Through the Night
13. Into the Fire
14. Dark of Night
15. Hot Pursuit
16. Breaking the Rules
17. Headed for Trouble (Short story anthology)
18. Do or Die
19. Some Kind of Hero
Troubleshooters Short Stories and Novellas
Headed for Trouble (Short story anthology, includes a timeline of the TS series)
1. When Tony Met Adam
2. Beginnings and Ends (A Jules & Robin Short Story)
3. Free Fall
4. Home Fire Inferno
3&4. Free Fall & Home Fire Inferno 2-in-1
5. Ready to Roll
6. Murphy’s Law (A Navy SEAL Short Story, reissue originally published 2001)
1, 2 & 6. When Tony Met Adam, Beginnings & Ends, Murphy’s Law 3-in-1 (Annotated Reissue)
Tall, Dark & Dangerous Series
1. Prince Joe
2. Forever Blue
3. Frisco’s Kid
4. Everyday, Average Jones
5. Harvard’s Education
6. Hawken’s Heart (It Came Upon a Midnight Clear)
7. The Admiral’s Bride
8. Identity: Unknown
9. Get Lucky
10. Taylor’s Temptation
11. Night Watch (Wild, Wild Wes)
12. SEAL Camp (New! Spring 2018)
Sunrise Key Series
1. Kiss and Tell (Reissued 2017)
2. The Kissing Game (Reissued 2017)
3. Otherwise Engaged (Reissued 2017)
Bartlett Brothers Series
1. Forbidden (Reissue coming soon)
2. Freedom’s Price (Reissued 2017)
St. Simone Series
1. Not Without Risk
2. A Man to Die For
Fighting Destiny Paranormal Series
0.5 Shane’s Last Stand (e-short prequel) (Reissue coming soon)
1. Born to Darkness (Reissue coming soon)
Night Sky YA Series (with Melanie Brockmann)
0.5 Dangerous Destiny (e-short prequel)
1. Night Sky
2. Wild Sky
Stand-Alone Romantic Suspense
Body Guard (Rita Award winner, Reissued 2017)
Infamous (Reissued 2018)
Time Enough For Love (Reissued 2017)
Hero Under Cover
Love With the Proper Stranger
No Ordinary Man
Stand-Alone Romance
HeartThrob (Reissued 2017)
Body Language (Reissued 2017)
Ladies’ Man (Reissued 2017)
Stand-in Groom (Reissued 2017)
Letters to Kelly
Scenes of Passion
Undercover Princess (Rita Award Winner)
Annotated Editions
Embraced by Love (Reissued 2017 with comments from the author)
Future Perfect (Reissued 2017 with comments from the author)
When Tony Met Adam, Beginnings & Ends, Murphy’s Law 3-in-1 (Reissued 2017 with comments from the author)
Give Me Liberty (Annotated reissue coming soon)
Movies:
The Perfect Wedding
Written and produced by Suzanne Brockmann, Ed Gaffney, and Jason T. Gaffney
A sweet little boy-meets-boy rom-com, available on DVD and via streaming on Hulu and Amazon, distributed by Wolfe Releasing
Starring Eric Aragon, Jason T. Gaffney, Kristine Sutherland, and James Rebhorn
Russian Doll
Written and directed by Ed Gaffney, produced by Suzanne Brockmann, Ed Gaffney, and Jason T. Gaffney
An LGBTQ thriller available on DVD and via streaming from Wolfe Releasing!
Analysis Paralysis
Written by Jason T. Gaffney and Ed Gaffney, directed by Jason T. Gaffney, produced by Suzanne Brockmann, Ed Gaffney, and My Pet Hippo Productions.
Boy wants to meet boy, but boy’s got a few issues…
An LGBTQ rom-com, festival release Summer 2018
Starring Jason T. Gaffney and Kevin Held
Out of Body
Written by Suzanne Brockmann, Jason T. Gaffney, and Ed Gaffney, directed by Jason T. Gaffney, produced by Suzanne Brockmann, Ed Gaffney, and My Pet Hippo Productions.
Falling in love with your best friend can be problematic…
An LGBTQ rom-com, starring Jason T. Gaffney and Kevin Held
Production: August/September 2018, festival release Spring 2019
Suzanne Brockmann Presents: The California Comedy Series
Suzanne Brockmann Presents a new series of m/m category romance novellas set in Southern California, written by Jason T. Gaffney with Ed Gaffney. Short, spicy, and laugh-out-loud funny, the California Comedy series puts the comedy in rom-com. Available in eBook and print.
1. Creating Clark
When a handsome actor gives a nerdy friend a Cinderella makeover to help him catch the attention of an attractive man, their lessons in love go a bit too far, putting their longtime friendship at risk.
2. A Match for Mike
Sparks fly when estranged childhood friends join forces to rehab a house, but old wounds are reopened, threatening their new romance.
3. Fixing Frank
When two reality show contestants learn that their embarrassing past has been discovered by the show’s producers, they pretend to be engaged to avoid further humiliation. But when they actually begin to fall for each other, things start to get complicated…
Excerpt from Suzanne Brockmann Presents: Fixing Frank
by Jason T. Gaffney with Ed Gaffney
Frank rang the doorbell to Terry’s house and waited. A few seconds later, the door opened a crack, but Terry didn’t even peek out. His back must’ve been against the door as he said, “No one followed you, right?”
Frank stood there, still dressed only in his boxers and a wet shirt, and stared at the door. Yes, they’d won the challenge. But he was still pissed. And he didn’t get less pissed when Terry stuck his head out the door, and peered up and down the street like they were in some kind of dumbass spy movie.
“No one followed me,” Frank said.
“Come on in,” Terry said, pulling the door all the way open so Frank could step through. He shut the door as soon as Frank was inside.
“And no one knew where you were going?” Terry looked surprisingly good for a guy who’d just spent the past two hours washing cars.
“No one knew dick,” Frank said.
“I’m just making sure that the cameras didn’t follow you to my place because if they think something is going on—”
“Nobody fucking followed me! Now can I please have my stupid shorts?” Frank exploded.
“It matters.” Terry said crossing his arms.
“I get that it matters. But I’m half naked right now, and I would very much like to no longer be that way.”
“Fine. I’ll be right back.” Terry walked further into the house, leaving Frank alone in the living room.
He’d been here a few times before, back when Terry and that motherfucker Alec were together. Most of it looked familiar. There were a few differences—the sofa and
the coffee table were new. But the artwork on the walls was the same. And the line of little potted succulents was still on the mantle.
Whatever. If Terry had thrown everything out and filled the place with folding chairs that would have been fine with Frank. He could do without anything that reminded him of his relationship with Sam. That ship had sailed, exploded, and sunk.
He noticed a pile of mail on the coffee table, and saw at the top a similar invitation to the one that he’d received from his ex just a few days ago. Sam and Alec were getting married, and for some fucked up reason they had decided that inviting both Frank and Terry was a good idea.
At that moment, Terry walked in wearing a red and blue short-sleeved pullover and a pair of black shorts that looked like they had been shrink-wrapped to his ass. How was it that, all those times they’d hung out, Frank had never noticed just how nicely this guy was put together? But now, naturally, the first thing that went through Frank’s stupid head was whether Terry was still going commando. And that was immediately followed by the memory of the man’s absolutely perfect, naked butt out in the mall parking lot. Great.
Terry handed Frank the shorts he had borrowed.
“Thanks again for the loaner,” Terry said.
“No worries,” Frank replied, pulling them on. For a bizarre moment, Frank felt a warm sensation knowing that Terry had been wearing them no more than a few moments ago. Man. These thoughts about Terry were starting to freak him out a little. He needed to see a shrink. Or have a beer.
Or just sleep with the guy and get it over with.
He shook that craziness off and then picked up the invitation to the wedding and said, “I see that you’ve received a fuck-you letter too.”
“I knew it was coming,” Terry muttered, as he grabbed it away from Frank.
“Really? I didn’t. I just assumed that inviting your exes to your wedding was such an asshole move that even those two wouldn’t try it.”
“It’s not because they want us there,” Terry said. “It’s because we’re stockholders in Jones dot com. I read about it in the Financial Times. Anybody who owns shares is getting an invitation. It would look weird if they didn’t send us one.”
Frank laughed his disgust. He’d invested in Alec’s start-up because Sam had been on fire for it—without realizing that it was Alec that Sam was hot for. And after their breakup, his money guy had refused to sell—the company was exploding. So Frank had kept the investment in place, despite regularly seething about the damn thing.
SEAL Camp Page 20
