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Infamous
In her first paperback original in more than six years, New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann delivers an unforgettable novel of contemporary romance and thrilling suspense.
When history professor Alison Carter became a consultant to the film version of the Wild West legend she’d dedicated her career to researching, she couldn’t possibly have known that she would not only get a front-row seat to a full-blown Hollywood circus but would innocently witness something that would put her life in peril. Nor did she expect that a tall stranger in a cowboy hat would turn the movie—and her world—completely upside down.
A. J. Gallagher didn’t crash the set in dusty Arizona to rub elbows with Hollywood’s elite. Unable to ignore ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried, A. J. came to put an end to the false legend that has tarnished the reputation of his family. But when he confronts Alison, sparks fly. And when Alison is targeted by ruthless criminals, suddenly she and A .J. must face the intense attraction that threatens to consume them—and survive the danger that threatens their very lives.
When history professor Alison Carter became a consultant to the film version of the Wild West legend she’d dedicated her career to researching, she couldn’t possibly have known that she would not only get a front-row seat to a full-blown Hollywood circus but would innocently witness something that would put her life in peril. Nor did she expect that a tall stranger in a cowboy hat would turn the movie—and her world—completely upside down.
A. J. Gallagher didn’t crash the set in dusty Arizona to rub elbows with Hollywood’s elite. Unable to ignore ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried, A. J. came to put an end to the false legend that has tarnished the reputation of his family. But when he confronts Alison, sparks fly. And when Alison is targeted by ruthless criminals, suddenly she and A .J. must face the intense attraction that threatens to consume them—and survive the danger that threatens their very lives.
433 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 27, 2010
78 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Brockmann
253 books3,568 followersAfter 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 thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.
Over the past thirty years she has written sixty-three novels, including her award-winning Troubleshooters series about Navy SEAL heroes and the women—and sometimes men—who win their hearts. Her personal favorite is the one where her most popular character, gay FBI agent Jules Cassidy, wins his happily-ever-after and marries the man of his dreams. Called All Through the Night, this mainstream romance novel with a hero and a hero hit the New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller list. In 2007, Suz donated all of her earnings from this book, in perpetuity, to MassEquality, to help win and preserve equal marriage rights in Massachusetts.
In addition to writing books, Suz writes and produces indie movies and TV including the award-winning romantic comedy The Perfect Wedding. Her recent feature, Out of Body, is streaming on Amazon Prime.
In 2018, Suz was given the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award from the Romance Writers of America. Her latest projects are Blame It on Rio (Tall, Dark & Dangerous # 14), available in print and e-book from Suzanne Brockmann Books, and Marriage of Inconvenience, a six-episode LBGTQ rom-com TV series, streaming on Dekkoo in April 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
August 23, 2010
Well I finally finished, and I'm asking myself--was this really a Suzanne Brockmann book? I liked the whole concept of the book--Hollywood movie being made about a famous Wild West legend (Silas Quinn), although maybe the 'legend' wasn't such a legend afterall. The legend's foe--the gambler Jamie 'Kid' Gallagher (who has returned as a ghost that only his great-grandson--42 year old blond hunk A.J. Gallagher-- can see), is out to redeem his name and restore his family's reputation by communicating his story through his great-grandson. The great-grandson (who happens to have a heck of a lot of personal baggage--Gulf War vet suffering from PTS, a recovering alcoholic, his family and friends think he may be crazy by insisting that he can communicate with his long dead Gramps)is on his way to the movie set in Arizona to see if he can get his great-grandfather's story told and put an end to lawman Silas Quinn's 'legend'. Along the way A.J. falls for history professor, and author of the definitive book on the legend of Silas Quinn (and the movie's historical consultant) Dr. Allison Carter.
Sounds pretty good and original, huh? I was expecting something along the line of an earlier SB book, Heartthrob, but this was nothing like it. The first 200 pages were so...boring, that I had a hard time slogging through it. The romance was hardly there. Anytime something looked like it was about to start developing between A.J. and Allison, SB would take us back to the movie set for some boring details about how they'd set up a shot, or to check on some historical fact, or scout for locations, or some mundane detail...blah, blah, blah. A little bit of this went a long way! And then there was the endless monotony of A.J. trying to convince Allison to believe him about how he could see and communicate with his great-grandfather's ghost, and that his great-grandfather was telling the truth when he said anything Silas Quinn said about him was a pack of lies. It took over half the book before Allison finally believed there could be a grain of truth to what A.J. was telling her.
I must admit, once Allison started to consider that what A.J. was saying could be true (and after she slept with him against her better judgment) the book started to take off, and it became more Brockmann-like. The character of A.J. became more developed, SB did what she does best and gave A.J. a military buddy to converse with, she upped the suspense by having a couple of bad guys out to kill Allison for something that she unknowingly witnessed and having A.J. (and Jamie) doing everything in their power to protect her), and the romance between A.J. and Allison heated up.
For me, the best parts of the book (besides the bits of romance between A.J. and Allison) were reading the diary entries of Silas Quinn's wife; the character of A.J., who I really liked; and the antics of Jamie the ghost ( and his interesting backstory) who basically stole the book. The worst parts for me? Too much filler about the process of movie making, how the supposed gunfight between Jamie and Silas went down, and reading yet another book where SB tries to work her political 'agenda' into the story. I've got nothing against her anti-war, gay rights ideas, but does she have to have it in every one of her (later) books? Other Brockmann-isms in this book to look for are the use of the gay male best friend (shades of Jules), the references to Star Trek, and the FBI agents who seemed suspiciously like Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke...
This book was over 400 pages long, but I'll bet it would've been a much better book if 100 of those pages were eliminated. I know this was a reworking of an earlier unpublished Brockmann book--maybe she just should have left it alone--I'm wondering what she did to 'rework' it?
If you're a die-hard Brockmann fan, you may want to give this one a shot. It may take you a while to get into it, but once you do it becomes a pretty fast read. Just stick with it. If you've never read a Suzanne Brockmann book before, please don't start with this one. She has some far superior books in her Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series, and some worthy stand alones too. This one? Hmmm, about 3 1/2 stars.
Sounds pretty good and original, huh? I was expecting something along the line of an earlier SB book, Heartthrob, but this was nothing like it. The first 200 pages were so...boring, that I had a hard time slogging through it. The romance was hardly there. Anytime something looked like it was about to start developing between A.J. and Allison, SB would take us back to the movie set for some boring details about how they'd set up a shot, or to check on some historical fact, or scout for locations, or some mundane detail...blah, blah, blah. A little bit of this went a long way! And then there was the endless monotony of A.J. trying to convince Allison to believe him about how he could see and communicate with his great-grandfather's ghost, and that his great-grandfather was telling the truth when he said anything Silas Quinn said about him was a pack of lies. It took over half the book before Allison finally believed there could be a grain of truth to what A.J. was telling her.
I must admit, once Allison started to consider that what A.J. was saying could be true (and after she slept with him against her better judgment) the book started to take off, and it became more Brockmann-like. The character of A.J. became more developed, SB did what she does best and gave A.J. a military buddy to converse with, she upped the suspense by having a couple of bad guys out to kill Allison for something that she unknowingly witnessed and having A.J. (and Jamie) doing everything in their power to protect her), and the romance between A.J. and Allison heated up.
For me, the best parts of the book (besides the bits of romance between A.J. and Allison) were reading the diary entries of Silas Quinn's wife; the character of A.J., who I really liked; and the antics of Jamie the ghost ( and his interesting backstory) who basically stole the book. The worst parts for me? Too much filler about the process of movie making, how the supposed gunfight between Jamie and Silas went down, and reading yet another book where SB tries to work her political 'agenda' into the story. I've got nothing against her anti-war, gay rights ideas, but does she have to have it in every one of her (later) books? Other Brockmann-isms in this book to look for are the use of the gay male best friend (shades of Jules), the references to Star Trek, and the FBI agents who seemed suspiciously like Sam Starrett and Alyssa Locke...
This book was over 400 pages long, but I'll bet it would've been a much better book if 100 of those pages were eliminated. I know this was a reworking of an earlier unpublished Brockmann book--maybe she just should have left it alone--I'm wondering what she did to 'rework' it?
If you're a die-hard Brockmann fan, you may want to give this one a shot. It may take you a while to get into it, but once you do it becomes a pretty fast read. Just stick with it. If you've never read a Suzanne Brockmann book before, please don't start with this one. She has some far superior books in her Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark, and Dangerous series, and some worthy stand alones too. This one? Hmmm, about 3 1/2 stars.
July 29, 2016
3.5 stars. I liked it, but didn't love it. While it was a romance between AJ and Alison, the main character was really James - AJ's 101 year old great grandpa's ghost. No, this isn't a paranormal romance. It is a straight contemporary romance with a ghost who helps (and helps, and helps, and HELPS!) to solve murders, rescue dying people and relay messages among the living.
The ghost (James) had a great back story that was interesting when he was alive, but his incarnation as a ghost who 'returned' to set the story of his life straight was tooooo convenient, and much of the story's progression relied on James’s mystical involvement one way or another. He was always in the right place and the right time, had a full grasp of today's lingo and technology, and was conveniently projected to scenes that would help him solve the big mystery, capture the bad guys, keep everyone safe, or even dole out his timely wise relationship advice. OK, sure.
AJ and Alison's romance was pretty simple. AJ isn't convinced he is really seeing great gramps ghost, but after a few weeks of persuasive tactics he goes to Arizona where Alison is working on a movie about James's life. Alison and AJ lock eyes, and sparks fly. Soon, clothes fly too. Then Alison learns that “perfect man” AJ was once an alcoholic (ten years sober) and he see's ghosts, which thus begins Alison’s long wishy-washy 'I can't decide what to do' diatribe that lasted through most of the book. Meanwhile, AJ realizes Alison's life is in danger so he enlists the help of James to keep Alison safe while at the same time trying to convince her that they are meant for each other, and not just for the hot sex they keep having.
Overall, it was good but not great. It is a stand alone, and there were no story arcs like we are used to in her Troubleshooters series. And while I am still waiting anxiously for the next TS book (Izzy’s story!!), I don’t think I’d be inclined to read anymore of her ghost stories – that is if she writes anymore.
March 10, 2022
I read this several years ago and wanted to listen to the audiobook. This is a mix of romance, humor, supernatural, mystery, & suspense with a bit of historical.
At 15 hours, this is the kind of book that many authors would break into a duet or trilogy - but Brockmann packs it all into a single audiobook.
I like AJ (42) & Alison (30s) as characters and how they become a couple. Both have a great deal of baggage and emotional healing to work through. However, I found them particularly endearing.
The ghost of AJ’s great-grandfather, Jaimie, is around to help set the historical record straight. He also provides quite a bit of punchy commentary as AJ & Alison navigate their blooming attracting. While this makes for an adorable romcom - weaved through is a murder mystery that starts to pose a risk to many members of the cast and crew. Compounded by everyone assuming that AJ has a mental illness so it’s difficult for them to believe the “insider” information from Jamie.
I really enjoyed the pacing as well as the action and romance scenes. It was just a delightful listen.
Narration:
I adore the performances by both Patrick Lawlor and Angela Dawe. They’re both so skilled at accents, character voices, emotions, and tension. I’ll definitely listen to this one again.
At 15 hours, this is the kind of book that many authors would break into a duet or trilogy - but Brockmann packs it all into a single audiobook.
I like AJ (42) & Alison (30s) as characters and how they become a couple. Both have a great deal of baggage and emotional healing to work through. However, I found them particularly endearing.
The ghost of AJ’s great-grandfather, Jaimie, is around to help set the historical record straight. He also provides quite a bit of punchy commentary as AJ & Alison navigate their blooming attracting. While this makes for an adorable romcom - weaved through is a murder mystery that starts to pose a risk to many members of the cast and crew. Compounded by everyone assuming that AJ has a mental illness so it’s difficult for them to believe the “insider” information from Jamie.
I really enjoyed the pacing as well as the action and romance scenes. It was just a delightful listen.
Narration:
I adore the performances by both Patrick Lawlor and Angela Dawe. They’re both so skilled at accents, character voices, emotions, and tension. I’ll definitely listen to this one again.
November 17, 2012
Probably Suzanne Brockmann's masterpiece.
I thought she couldn't do better than her Troubleshooters series
but clearly I was wrong.
It's nice to realize there's still others good books from this
author waiting for me.
I thought she couldn't do better than her Troubleshooters series
but clearly I was wrong.
It's nice to realize there's still others good books from this
author waiting for me.
July 4, 2017
Aside from a little political soapboxing, this was a terrific book! It's what I love about Brockmann, and it's one of the reasons I will always want to pick up a book by her. Aside from SEP, Brockmann is one of the first contemporary romance authors I picked up strickly by chance. This makes book #17 of hers I've read, and out of that 17, I've really enjoyed 15 of them, one was okay and Izzy's story, Breaking the Rules was dismal, but this is still pretty good odds! I think she does an excellent job of combining characters with real life issues, great storytelling, and lots of adventure/action into a pretty exciting read.
I'll admit, the whole plot to kill Allison because she might be a loose end thing was a little slim, even though she didn't actually witness a crime, but I think it worked well enough. It's one of the things I love most about Brockmann's stories, the action parts she does so well, and in my and my husband's opinion, realistically. (No, I've yet to get him to read one, but I've read scenes to him, and he's ex-military and agrees, she does a pretty good job of covering the military hero's POV - this may also be why I love her heroes so!) AJ is great, I think it's interesting and different that he's just a little older than the average romance hero, age 42, and he's a veteran from a war in which most of the world has forgotten (the first Gulf War). There are two things that come across loud and clear every time I read one of her books. First, she is definitely a defender of not just gay rights, but human rights. Sometimes I get a little tired of hearing about this through her books, but if this is her worst offense, then I'll still pick up her books as long as she continues to write them. Second, and this one is very personal to me, it's also very clear that she is staunchly proud of the men and women who serve this country, whether or not she agrees with the politics. The way she portrays her military characters, as real humans who are just everyday individuals who have chosen to defend America is so . . . so. . . . well, it's damn good! I can't come up with a word, or words. It's obvious she loves her characters, because they are among the best written in contemporary romance, in my honest opinion. No two dimensional flakes, everyone in the book seems well fleshed out, I have absolutely no complaints about her characters. In this book I especially love the ghost Jamie! How can you not love the ghost of an late 19th/early 20th century gambler who is carefree and charming in life, and fierce and honorable in do-or-die matters? Plus seeing AJ and later Allison react to him while no one else can see him is comical. I loved seeing AJ through his eyes, it gives a whole 'nother perspective of him, one that's not tragic, but real, as real as a loving father can see of his great grandson.
The premise of the story is great too. How often have you heard about fairy tales or legends and ever thought to question if it was right? Say for instance Wyatt Earp, every one reveres his memory. But how do we know for sure how things really happened? Sure, we have lots of documentation, but it's still interesting to think, what if the documentation wasn't right? What if someone, just one person got it wrong? Taking a Wyatt Earp-like story and turning it around to make the good guy into the bad is just the kind of storytelling I enjoy! This is another reason why I love Brockmann, she's not afraid to do things differently!
Really, the only thing I didn't like about this was the obvious pro-gay sentiments sprinkled too heavily into normal conversation for me. I am, without a doubt, a strong supporter of equal rights for everyone. In fact, I wish more people would get this isn't about religion or morals or anything more complex than Everyone should have the freedom to live without fear or harm. EVERYONE! However, I think the author is getting just a little clumsy in her execution. For example, when AJ calls his old military buddy, and they are talking about relationships, his buddy makes a bad joke about him being gay. Immediately he's remorseful of his joke, and goes on, and on about how it's okay to be gay, it's not a sin to him, and if AJ is gay, his friend will support him 100% and this conversation goes on for far longer than it needs to. A simple 'hey man, if you are gay, it's cool with me,' would have sufficed. Maybe one extra tiny statement. But most people don't give political rants about how it's okay to be gay in everyday conversation. Especially two military buddies who are talking for the first time in 10 years. There's another occurrence or three in the book, and again, it doesn't have to be cut out, just make it flow more with the normal conversation, that's all I'm asking. But again, if this is the worst thing that happens in her books, I'll still read them.
I highly recommend this, it's got action, great characters, a most excellent ghost story, the second love story from the past that Brockmann is famous for, it's just great! And narrated by the same people who did most of the Troubleshooters series, so I of course loved that. Definitely worth the time!
I'll admit, the whole plot to kill Allison because she might be a loose end thing was a little slim, even though she didn't actually witness a crime, but I think it worked well enough. It's one of the things I love most about Brockmann's stories, the action parts she does so well, and in my and my husband's opinion, realistically. (No, I've yet to get him to read one, but I've read scenes to him, and he's ex-military and agrees, she does a pretty good job of covering the military hero's POV - this may also be why I love her heroes so!) AJ is great, I think it's interesting and different that he's just a little older than the average romance hero, age 42, and he's a veteran from a war in which most of the world has forgotten (the first Gulf War). There are two things that come across loud and clear every time I read one of her books. First, she is definitely a defender of not just gay rights, but human rights. Sometimes I get a little tired of hearing about this through her books, but if this is her worst offense, then I'll still pick up her books as long as she continues to write them. Second, and this one is very personal to me, it's also very clear that she is staunchly proud of the men and women who serve this country, whether or not she agrees with the politics. The way she portrays her military characters, as real humans who are just everyday individuals who have chosen to defend America is so . . . so. . . . well, it's damn good! I can't come up with a word, or words. It's obvious she loves her characters, because they are among the best written in contemporary romance, in my honest opinion. No two dimensional flakes, everyone in the book seems well fleshed out, I have absolutely no complaints about her characters. In this book I especially love the ghost Jamie! How can you not love the ghost of an late 19th/early 20th century gambler who is carefree and charming in life, and fierce and honorable in do-or-die matters? Plus seeing AJ and later Allison react to him while no one else can see him is comical. I loved seeing AJ through his eyes, it gives a whole 'nother perspective of him, one that's not tragic, but real, as real as a loving father can see of his great grandson.
The premise of the story is great too. How often have you heard about fairy tales or legends and ever thought to question if it was right? Say for instance Wyatt Earp, every one reveres his memory. But how do we know for sure how things really happened? Sure, we have lots of documentation, but it's still interesting to think, what if the documentation wasn't right? What if someone, just one person got it wrong? Taking a Wyatt Earp-like story and turning it around to make the good guy into the bad is just the kind of storytelling I enjoy! This is another reason why I love Brockmann, she's not afraid to do things differently!
Really, the only thing I didn't like about this was the obvious pro-gay sentiments sprinkled too heavily into normal conversation for me. I am, without a doubt, a strong supporter of equal rights for everyone. In fact, I wish more people would get this isn't about religion or morals or anything more complex than Everyone should have the freedom to live without fear or harm. EVERYONE! However, I think the author is getting just a little clumsy in her execution. For example, when AJ calls his old military buddy, and they are talking about relationships, his buddy makes a bad joke about him being gay. Immediately he's remorseful of his joke, and goes on, and on about how it's okay to be gay, it's not a sin to him, and if AJ is gay, his friend will support him 100% and this conversation goes on for far longer than it needs to. A simple 'hey man, if you are gay, it's cool with me,' would have sufficed. Maybe one extra tiny statement. But most people don't give political rants about how it's okay to be gay in everyday conversation. Especially two military buddies who are talking for the first time in 10 years. There's another occurrence or three in the book, and again, it doesn't have to be cut out, just make it flow more with the normal conversation, that's all I'm asking. But again, if this is the worst thing that happens in her books, I'll still read them.
I highly recommend this, it's got action, great characters, a most excellent ghost story, the second love story from the past that Brockmann is famous for, it's just great! And narrated by the same people who did most of the Troubleshooters series, so I of course loved that. Definitely worth the time!
November 29, 2012
3 stars
Well, I adore Suzanne Brockmann. Her Troubleshooters series is one of my most favoritest series ever...please don't read this book if it's going to be your first by her, PLEASE! This is not a good example of this outstanding author.
There were two different stories being told at the same time...one past, one present. The present story is being told by Alison Carter and Jamie Gallagher, who is the great grandfather ghost of Alison's new love interest, AJ Gallagher. WTF, you ask? Yes, I asked that too. Jamie has inexplicably shown himself to AJ, reasons unknown and never really explained. Since only AJ sees him, this cause quite a problem. See, Alison wrote a book about Jamie's arch nemesis, the old time US Marshall Silas Quinn, whom supposedly shot and killed Jamie back in the year 1898, earning the hero title from modern day gunslinger fans. But Jamie is the real hero, and AJ now feels the need to defend his great grandfather's actions and tamp down the rumors of his evil nature.
The past story is told through the diary entries of Jamie's wife Melody, who is AJ's great grandmother, now deceased. I thought that the story itself was beautiful and could have had it's own book. SB is such a great author, I wish she would have fleshed out Jamie and Melody's tumultuous meeting and subsequent love affair and let me see the entire story instead of just the bits thrown into this book as a secondary plot.
Without the ghost, this would have received a higher rating from me, but the paranormal aspect just got in the way of the actual plot. I think the ghost element was supposed to add some humor and depth, but it was just annoying for me and ended up making it feel hokey. Also, if you know this author at all, you know that her son is gay and that she tends to fit in each book some homosexual characters, usually men, and it tends to work. But this book seemed to tout a lot of her own political agenda and liberal views a bit too much... she touches on oil drilling, the US military's choices during the first Gulf war, gay rights, of course, and even goes so far as to state her religious views pretty definitively. Or maybe I assume too much there, but it sure seemed like a statement to me. Maybe I'm sensitive, who knows? I was just annoyed and felt like she used this book to air her beliefs, which again took away from the book and made me focus on something entirely different. It's never bothered me before with her, but too much was shoved into this book.
I hope that Brockmann goes back to her SEALS, but maybe she's just trying to branch out. I say, please don't cave and start trying to go mainstream PNR. Your loyal fans became enamored of your men and women in the military for a very good reason...you shine when you write romantic suspense.
Well, I adore Suzanne Brockmann. Her Troubleshooters series is one of my most favoritest series ever...please don't read this book if it's going to be your first by her, PLEASE! This is not a good example of this outstanding author.
There were two different stories being told at the same time...one past, one present. The present story is being told by Alison Carter and Jamie Gallagher, who is the great grandfather ghost of Alison's new love interest, AJ Gallagher. WTF, you ask? Yes, I asked that too. Jamie has inexplicably shown himself to AJ, reasons unknown and never really explained. Since only AJ sees him, this cause quite a problem. See, Alison wrote a book about Jamie's arch nemesis, the old time US Marshall Silas Quinn, whom supposedly shot and killed Jamie back in the year 1898, earning the hero title from modern day gunslinger fans. But Jamie is the real hero, and AJ now feels the need to defend his great grandfather's actions and tamp down the rumors of his evil nature.
The past story is told through the diary entries of Jamie's wife Melody, who is AJ's great grandmother, now deceased. I thought that the story itself was beautiful and could have had it's own book. SB is such a great author, I wish she would have fleshed out Jamie and Melody's tumultuous meeting and subsequent love affair and let me see the entire story instead of just the bits thrown into this book as a secondary plot.
Without the ghost, this would have received a higher rating from me, but the paranormal aspect just got in the way of the actual plot. I think the ghost element was supposed to add some humor and depth, but it was just annoying for me and ended up making it feel hokey. Also, if you know this author at all, you know that her son is gay and that she tends to fit in each book some homosexual characters, usually men, and it tends to work. But this book seemed to tout a lot of her own political agenda and liberal views a bit too much... she touches on oil drilling, the US military's choices during the first Gulf war, gay rights, of course, and even goes so far as to state her religious views pretty definitively. Or maybe I assume too much there, but it sure seemed like a statement to me. Maybe I'm sensitive, who knows? I was just annoyed and felt like she used this book to air her beliefs, which again took away from the book and made me focus on something entirely different. It's never bothered me before with her, but too much was shoved into this book.
I hope that Brockmann goes back to her SEALS, but maybe she's just trying to branch out. I say, please don't cave and start trying to go mainstream PNR. Your loyal fans became enamored of your men and women in the military for a very good reason...you shine when you write romantic suspense.
August 10, 2010
Infamous is a stand alone book. Yay, for those of you who want to try Ms. Brockmann and don't know where to start. I'd definitely recommend starting here.
Alison Carter is a history buff and professor back in Boston. She writes a book centering around a famous gunslinger and sheriff. A famous producer reads her book and makes a movie according to the legend. He hires Allison to be his historical advisor for the movie. While on the set, Allison mistakes A.J. for an extra. While she is reprimanding him for wearing briefs (which were not worn in the Wild West) A.J. has an ulterior motive for wanting to meet Allison. See, his grandfather was the infamous gunslinger the movie represents as a murderer. But A.J is being haunted - I use the term loosely because the grandfather has no malice - but wants A.J to set his story straight. So A.J. travels to the movie set to meet with Allison to share the real story.
I am just going to tell you right now, I absolutely loved everything about this story and I feel like gushing about it. Seriously, Suz absolutely rocks!! I just wish she would write faster, LOL! Fans of Suzanne Brockman will still see her signature style - deep, well developed characters, fantastic dialogue and a fly by the seat of your pants plot. What more could a reader ask for? Lots of passion, well not to worry, Suz delivers there too!
There is a lot going on in this book. You have the present day romance between A.J., a carpenter from Alaska, whose tall and buff and is great with his hands *wiggles eyebrows*. You have Allison who is a no nonsense gal with a winning smile and down-to-earth outlook on life. These two are completely explosive when it comes to chemistry. Hang on dear reader, things aren't so simple. Both come with heavy baggage that must be dealt with before the happy ever after can be achieved. Not to worry, Suz mixes in plenty of light hearted moments to even out those ball-busting ones.
Too make things unique and change things up a bit, a ghost is thrown into the mix. This ghost is not hokie in anyway. It is actually very interesting how Suz tied actual historical accounts from the ghost and his past love through her diary. Then to make things even more on the edge there is a suspense plot that puts Allison's life in danger. Trust me, there is a lot going on, but is all brilliantly concocted. I highly recommend this book to all different kinds of readers - fans of contemporary, romantic suspense, Suzanne Brockmann and westerns won't want to miss out on Infamous.
Alison Carter is a history buff and professor back in Boston. She writes a book centering around a famous gunslinger and sheriff. A famous producer reads her book and makes a movie according to the legend. He hires Allison to be his historical advisor for the movie. While on the set, Allison mistakes A.J. for an extra. While she is reprimanding him for wearing briefs (which were not worn in the Wild West) A.J. has an ulterior motive for wanting to meet Allison. See, his grandfather was the infamous gunslinger the movie represents as a murderer. But A.J is being haunted - I use the term loosely because the grandfather has no malice - but wants A.J to set his story straight. So A.J. travels to the movie set to meet with Allison to share the real story.
I am just going to tell you right now, I absolutely loved everything about this story and I feel like gushing about it. Seriously, Suz absolutely rocks!! I just wish she would write faster, LOL! Fans of Suzanne Brockman will still see her signature style - deep, well developed characters, fantastic dialogue and a fly by the seat of your pants plot. What more could a reader ask for? Lots of passion, well not to worry, Suz delivers there too!
There is a lot going on in this book. You have the present day romance between A.J., a carpenter from Alaska, whose tall and buff and is great with his hands *wiggles eyebrows*. You have Allison who is a no nonsense gal with a winning smile and down-to-earth outlook on life. These two are completely explosive when it comes to chemistry. Hang on dear reader, things aren't so simple. Both come with heavy baggage that must be dealt with before the happy ever after can be achieved. Not to worry, Suz mixes in plenty of light hearted moments to even out those ball-busting ones.
Too make things unique and change things up a bit, a ghost is thrown into the mix. This ghost is not hokie in anyway. It is actually very interesting how Suz tied actual historical accounts from the ghost and his past love through her diary. Then to make things even more on the edge there is a suspense plot that puts Allison's life in danger. Trust me, there is a lot going on, but is all brilliantly concocted. I highly recommend this book to all different kinds of readers - fans of contemporary, romantic suspense, Suzanne Brockmann and westerns won't want to miss out on Infamous.
December 20, 2010
Jamie Gallagher is fed up with the severely inaccurate version of his history, so he decides to put an end to all the lies and tell his side of the story. Unfortunately he’s dead, so he has to ask his great-grandson, A.J., for help.
And as if seeing his Gramps’ ghost isn’t problem enough for this recovering alcoholic, first Gulf War vet, the historian that can help set the record straight is a looker. And after a long dry spell that spells trouble with a capital T. So yeah, he thinks he’s crazy, his mother thinks he’s crazy, the historian thinks he’s lying…What’s a guy to do?
On top of it all, Jamie’s spirit, not that he’s really there, is spouting nonsense about a dead guy , a guy with a pony-tail, a gizmo that blocks cell signals…The film set is chaotic, he can’t stop thinking about the looker of a historian, Jamie just might be there…And someone apparently wants the looker of a historian dead and frame A.J. for it.
So really, what’s a guy to do?
Judging from what I just wrote this story was all over the place. Well, it wasn’t. This was my first venture into the writings of Suzanne Brockmann and I must say I wasn’t disappointed. Quite the contrary in fact. Also maybe because I went in with nary no expectations. The story promised quite a romp and it delivered with plenty to spare.
It was a nice mixture of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, humor, a ghost, and a few historical tidbits. And I loved it.
The characters were wonderful, especially Jamie. I loved this ghost. He was funny, sarcastic, loved to sing and dance (lol), and loved his great-grandson to bits. I adored the bond between these two men (or whatever) it shone in every scene they had together, in every word. Ms. Brockmann did a great job in transmitting this bond to the reader with her writing. Though she told us of it, she also showed it to the reader and that’s a great achievement.
The romance part was a bit subdued and at the beginning more on the humorous, friendly side, turning bittersweet toward the end, riding shotgun to Jamie’s story, which could’ve been a big no-no, but turned out great.
The only problem I had with this story was the suspense thing. Because I didn’t really get it. The explanation to all the shenanigans at the end was too rushed and a little too convenient for my taste, and I still feel a little out of the loop about it.
Despite the suspense not working quite right, all the rest was absolutely great, and I can’t wait to read more of what this author has to offer.
And as if seeing his Gramps’ ghost isn’t problem enough for this recovering alcoholic, first Gulf War vet, the historian that can help set the record straight is a looker. And after a long dry spell that spells trouble with a capital T. So yeah, he thinks he’s crazy, his mother thinks he’s crazy, the historian thinks he’s lying…What’s a guy to do?
On top of it all, Jamie’s spirit, not that he’s really there, is spouting nonsense about a dead guy , a guy with a pony-tail, a gizmo that blocks cell signals…The film set is chaotic, he can’t stop thinking about the looker of a historian, Jamie just might be there…And someone apparently wants the looker of a historian dead and frame A.J. for it.
So really, what’s a guy to do?
Judging from what I just wrote this story was all over the place. Well, it wasn’t. This was my first venture into the writings of Suzanne Brockmann and I must say I wasn’t disappointed. Quite the contrary in fact. Also maybe because I went in with nary no expectations. The story promised quite a romp and it delivered with plenty to spare.
It was a nice mixture of contemporary romance, romantic suspense, humor, a ghost, and a few historical tidbits. And I loved it.
The characters were wonderful, especially Jamie. I loved this ghost. He was funny, sarcastic, loved to sing and dance (lol), and loved his great-grandson to bits. I adored the bond between these two men (or whatever) it shone in every scene they had together, in every word. Ms. Brockmann did a great job in transmitting this bond to the reader with her writing. Though she told us of it, she also showed it to the reader and that’s a great achievement.
The romance part was a bit subdued and at the beginning more on the humorous, friendly side, turning bittersweet toward the end, riding shotgun to Jamie’s story, which could’ve been a big no-no, but turned out great.
The only problem I had with this story was the suspense thing. Because I didn’t really get it. The explanation to all the shenanigans at the end was too rushed and a little too convenient for my taste, and I still feel a little out of the loop about it.
Despite the suspense not working quite right, all the rest was absolutely great, and I can’t wait to read more of what this author has to offer.
July 30, 2010
Having read most of Suzanne Brockmann's other work, I want to give fans of her Navy Seals and Troubleshooters series a warning that no earlier books are reflected in this tale. (The next Troubleshooters book is due out in early 2011.)
What do you do when you see the ghost of your great-grandfather, and he tells you what to say, and nobody believes you? Do you believe it yourself? Do you question your own sanity? Do you act on his advice? Do you run to the doctors and get an MRI? Our hero does all the above.
This book has an excellent plot. There is the ghost of the hero's great-grandfather as one of the point-of-view characters, often as narrator. There is someone out to kill the heroine. There are issues with trust. There is a recovering alcoholic. There is a gang of murderous evil wicked mean bad guys. There is even a homosexual pal giving the heroine advice. All of this taking place against the setting of a movie being filmed in the Arizona desert, with a side trip to Alaska.
I didn't give it the highest rating only because the protagonists show very little character growth going on as part of the tale, though they do have conflicts that end up resolved as one would expect in any romance story.
A wonderful lively romping frolic, a great beach read. It goes on my keeper shelf.
What do you do when you see the ghost of your great-grandfather, and he tells you what to say, and nobody believes you? Do you believe it yourself? Do you question your own sanity? Do you act on his advice? Do you run to the doctors and get an MRI? Our hero does all the above.
This book has an excellent plot. There is the ghost of the hero's great-grandfather as one of the point-of-view characters, often as narrator. There is someone out to kill the heroine. There are issues with trust. There is a recovering alcoholic. There is a gang of murderous evil wicked mean bad guys. There is even a homosexual pal giving the heroine advice. All of this taking place against the setting of a movie being filmed in the Arizona desert, with a side trip to Alaska.
I didn't give it the highest rating only because the protagonists show very little character growth going on as part of the tale, though they do have conflicts that end up resolved as one would expect in any romance story.
A wonderful lively romping frolic, a great beach read. It goes on my keeper shelf.
June 1, 2023
What you're thinking when you look at the cover is probably right. It's a cheesy romcom with a cowboy from Alaska, a beautiful history professor, and the ghost of the cowboys great grandfather. It's funny, steamy, sweat, and crazy. It's as predictable as it is entertaining.
March 18, 2012
3.5 - 4 stars. There's a really good story here, that I wish hadn't gotten jumbled up with a time-waster, mcguffin of a suspense subplot.
It's been over a hundred years since Jamie Gallagher supposedly kidnapped and murdered Melody, the wife of legendary Marshal Silas Quinn, and he's getting pretty darned tired of being cast as the big bad wolf in the fairy tale -- despite the fact that he's dead. The making of yet another movie about the perfect Quinn and the villainous Gallagher brings Jamie back to lovingly haunt his great-grandson A.J., so that A.J. can clear his name. The obvious person to help is Alison, the historical consultant for the movie. But when Alison falls for A.J., and then starts to believe that he's insane, their relationship gets very tense.
Meanwhile, a number of bad guys are doing bad guy stuff, for some neurotic reason of their own -- i.e. I barely noticed why and didn't care.
I loved the tender story of Jamie and Melody, told through his reminiscences and her diary entries; it brings to mind Brockmann's multistory romances in the beginning of the "Troubleshooter" series. The present day romance is also sweet but I found Alison kind of a pain in the ass -- I suppose her reasons for mistrusting and rejecting A.J. were very understandable, but I still didn't like how she treated him and how he just took it. I remained invested in their story though, and very much in Jamie's, so overall it was a good read.
It's been over a hundred years since Jamie Gallagher supposedly kidnapped and murdered Melody, the wife of legendary Marshal Silas Quinn, and he's getting pretty darned tired of being cast as the big bad wolf in the fairy tale -- despite the fact that he's dead. The making of yet another movie about the perfect Quinn and the villainous Gallagher brings Jamie back to lovingly haunt his great-grandson A.J., so that A.J. can clear his name. The obvious person to help is Alison, the historical consultant for the movie. But when Alison falls for A.J., and then starts to believe that he's insane, their relationship gets very tense.
Meanwhile, a number of bad guys are doing bad guy stuff, for some neurotic reason of their own -- i.e. I barely noticed why and didn't care.
I loved the tender story of Jamie and Melody, told through his reminiscences and her diary entries; it brings to mind Brockmann's multistory romances in the beginning of the "Troubleshooter" series. The present day romance is also sweet but I found Alison kind of a pain in the ass -- I suppose her reasons for mistrusting and rejecting A.J. were very understandable, but I still didn't like how she treated him and how he just took it. I remained invested in their story though, and very much in Jamie's, so overall it was a good read.
July 30, 2010
Really good stuff - a single title and a paranormal with an active character who is the ghost of the hero's great grandfather. I was a little leery of the premise. Heroine is a historical consultant who wrote a book on the protagonist of a movie being made about a supposed classic historical "good guy marshal" who killed the bad guy who had kidnapped and murdered the Marshal's wife.
Except the 42 year old first Iraq war vet greatgrandson of the supposed bad has an entirely different version where the bad guy and the woman he supposedly killed lived out long lives in Alaska.
This book has a similar feel to Heartthrob and to the Unsung Hero and if you enjoyed those, I think you'll like this, unless you are allergic to ghosts. Personally I loved the ghost.
I liked the fact that the thriller part of the plot didn't involve terrorists or spies, although the real present day bad guys were a little over the top.
I'd love to see more like this one from Suzanne. Much as I like the Troubleshooters it gets hard to have such a huge ensemble cast hanging around.
Except the 42 year old first Iraq war vet greatgrandson of the supposed bad has an entirely different version where the bad guy and the woman he supposedly killed lived out long lives in Alaska.
This book has a similar feel to Heartthrob and to the Unsung Hero and if you enjoyed those, I think you'll like this, unless you are allergic to ghosts. Personally I loved the ghost.
I liked the fact that the thriller part of the plot didn't involve terrorists or spies, although the real present day bad guys were a little over the top.
I'd love to see more like this one from Suzanne. Much as I like the Troubleshooters it gets hard to have such a huge ensemble cast hanging around.
October 4, 2015
3,5 stars
April 20, 2012
Actually 3.5 stars.
Infamous was better than I thought it would be. My previous experience with Suzanne Brockmann's writing was disappointing (see my review of Body Language), but this was better. The story did lag a bit in places, one of the central characters was often annoying (yes, that's directed at your insubstantial ass, Jamie), and I got tired of Brockmann using her characters as mouthpieces for her political ideals, but I still really enjoyed this book. The romance was well done: a little angsty, occasionally frustrating, but ultimately satisfying. A.J. was a great hero. It took me longer to warm up to Alison, but I liked her by the end. I'll probably be willing to read more of Brockmann's books in the future.
A note on the audiobook: I'm not sure quite whether it improved or detracted from my over-all impression of the novel to hear it on audio. My biggest problem was that there were two readers - the female reader (Angela Dawe) read the sections from Alison's 3rd perspective, and the male reader (Patrick Lawlor) read the sections from A.J.'s 3rd person perspective and Jamie's first person perspective. At first I really disliked Patrick Lawlor's narration (his voice sounded a bit too old), but it grew on me. I think the audio book would have been much stronger if it had been read entirely by Lawlor. Angela Dawe did a fine job, but she couldn't have read Jamie's first person sections convincingly, and switching back and forth between the two readers was jarring.
Infamous was better than I thought it would be. My previous experience with Suzanne Brockmann's writing was disappointing (see my review of Body Language), but this was better. The story did lag a bit in places, one of the central characters was often annoying (yes, that's directed at your insubstantial ass, Jamie), and I got tired of Brockmann using her characters as mouthpieces for her political ideals, but I still really enjoyed this book. The romance was well done: a little angsty, occasionally frustrating, but ultimately satisfying. A.J. was a great hero. It took me longer to warm up to Alison, but I liked her by the end. I'll probably be willing to read more of Brockmann's books in the future.
A note on the audiobook: I'm not sure quite whether it improved or detracted from my over-all impression of the novel to hear it on audio. My biggest problem was that there were two readers - the female reader (Angela Dawe) read the sections from Alison's 3rd perspective, and the male reader (Patrick Lawlor) read the sections from A.J.'s 3rd person perspective and Jamie's first person perspective. At first I really disliked Patrick Lawlor's narration (his voice sounded a bit too old), but it grew on me. I think the audio book would have been much stronger if it had been read entirely by Lawlor. Angela Dawe did a fine job, but she couldn't have read Jamie's first person sections convincingly, and switching back and forth between the two readers was jarring.
March 10, 2021
This is my second time reading Infamous and I have to admit I enjoyed it a lot!
Historian author Alison Carter is hired by a Hollywood production company to remain on site for the filming to make sure the costumes, vernacular, and settings are accurate for their big budget film, Quinn.
When a handsome cowboy blows into town insisting Alison’s facts are more like fiction, she thinks it’s all a ruse to stir up trouble, but the guy is cute, so maybe she could look into his suppositions…?
A.J. Gallagher doesn’t want to leave his Alaskan home and travel thousands of miles to the Nevada desert just to stop the filming of a movie, but his great-grandfather insists— and since he’s dead…
When A.J. gets to Jubilation, he’s bowled over by the smart and funny Alison. The more he tries to correct her misinterpretations of the past, the deeper he falls for her beauty, even if she doesn’t believe a word he’s saying. Unless, he tells her the ghost of Jamie ‘Kid‘ Gallagher is guiding his steps- and how crazy does that sound- there’s no real way of proving the story didn’t happen the way she thinks.
Then Alison witnesses something she wasn’t supposed to see and her life is endangered, forcing A.J., with the help of Jamie, to find the criminals before he loses the woman he’s fallen in love with.
Jamie is a hoot; popping in with his version of the infamous gunfight at the Red Rock Saloon, and making a quick disappearance when his great-grandson decides to woo the fair Alison. He also makes a good amateur detective when a man is murdered near the film set.
If you need an entertaining read and enjoy a sassy ghost, this one’s for you!
Historian author Alison Carter is hired by a Hollywood production company to remain on site for the filming to make sure the costumes, vernacular, and settings are accurate for their big budget film, Quinn.
When a handsome cowboy blows into town insisting Alison’s facts are more like fiction, she thinks it’s all a ruse to stir up trouble, but the guy is cute, so maybe she could look into his suppositions…?
A.J. Gallagher doesn’t want to leave his Alaskan home and travel thousands of miles to the Nevada desert just to stop the filming of a movie, but his great-grandfather insists— and since he’s dead…
When A.J. gets to Jubilation, he’s bowled over by the smart and funny Alison. The more he tries to correct her misinterpretations of the past, the deeper he falls for her beauty, even if she doesn’t believe a word he’s saying. Unless, he tells her the ghost of Jamie ‘Kid‘ Gallagher is guiding his steps- and how crazy does that sound- there’s no real way of proving the story didn’t happen the way she thinks.
Then Alison witnesses something she wasn’t supposed to see and her life is endangered, forcing A.J., with the help of Jamie, to find the criminals before he loses the woman he’s fallen in love with.
Jamie is a hoot; popping in with his version of the infamous gunfight at the Red Rock Saloon, and making a quick disappearance when his great-grandson decides to woo the fair Alison. He also makes a good amateur detective when a man is murdered near the film set.
If you need an entertaining read and enjoy a sassy ghost, this one’s for you!
August 9, 2010
I think so highly of Suz's stuff that this was a bit of a disappointment.
The writing and story were, as always, very well done. The characters are interesting and realistic. The conflicts are believable and lead the characters to new actions and perspectives.
But hero sees a ghost, and that ghost actually tells about a third of the story from his first-person POV. And the ghost can "travel" between different places related to his own and the hero's life, except for when he suddenly and unexpectedly gets transported to where a bad guy is doing a "bad thing." Huh? Even if I suspend disbelief enough to believe in a ghost the hero can see and hear, that plot device just doesn't hold water for me.
But even a "bad" book by Suzanne Brockmann is a good read, so I'm not sorry that I bought it.
The writing and story were, as always, very well done. The characters are interesting and realistic. The conflicts are believable and lead the characters to new actions and perspectives.
But hero sees a ghost, and that ghost actually tells about a third of the story from his first-person POV. And the ghost can "travel" between different places related to his own and the hero's life, except for when he suddenly and unexpectedly gets transported to where a bad guy is doing a "bad thing." Huh? Even if I suspend disbelief enough to believe in a ghost the hero can see and hear, that plot device just doesn't hold water for me.
But even a "bad" book by Suzanne Brockmann is a good read, so I'm not sorry that I bought it.
August 26, 2010
– Let me start off by saying, I am a huge Brockmann fan-girl and I’ve been waiting for this book since I first heard about it late last year. I really, really wanted to like this book but there just wasn’t much to enjoy. The author, who is known for telling it like it is in real life, gets on a soap box about how Bad War Is and she reiterates this over…and over…and over… I’m all for authors who want to have their say but give it up, Ms. Brockmann. Fiction is just that, fiction and its all about escapism, not airing political views (for the thousandth time). Make your statement and move on.
And yes, Ms. Brockmann, gay people are human too. You don’t need to tell us over and over and over.
I didn’t bother to finish the book because I just couldn’t be bothered. The day after I received it, I sold it back to Amazon because it was just that bad. ~ Renee, www.ireadromance.com
And yes, Ms. Brockmann, gay people are human too. You don’t need to tell us over and over and over.
I didn’t bother to finish the book because I just couldn’t be bothered. The day after I received it, I sold it back to Amazon because it was just that bad. ~ Renee, www.ireadromance.com
August 23, 2010
Just a few days ago I left a review that stated I didn't like ghosts in my stories, even benign ones. Well, I must have lied, because I loved the ghost n this story. And the hero, A.J. is maybe my new favorite hero of all time. He is an amazing character and all too rare in romances.
I could spend some time picking apart the weaknesses in the book, but I won't. It isn't a perfect book, but it was compelling, well-written, complex and thoroughly enjoyable. Did the author fudge a few parts and write a couple of convenient events? Yes. Did she get on a soapbox a time or two? Yes, but that still didn't ruin it for me. This book made flawed characters seem real, vulnerable and even likable. This is my favorite Brockmann since Bodyguard.
I could spend some time picking apart the weaknesses in the book, but I won't. It isn't a perfect book, but it was compelling, well-written, complex and thoroughly enjoyable. Did the author fudge a few parts and write a couple of convenient events? Yes. Did she get on a soapbox a time or two? Yes, but that still didn't ruin it for me. This book made flawed characters seem real, vulnerable and even likable. This is my favorite Brockmann since Bodyguard.
January 16, 2018
Wow, what an intriguing book that covers many genres. Contemporary with an historical theme and a murder mystery intertwined.
INFAMOUS by Suzanne Brockman, a ghost from the past comes back to right a wrong that was done to him in 1898, but this book is set in the time around 2010, but as this ghost visits with his great grandson, the woman his grandson is in love with, is in danger & the ghost ends up relaying the danger to his grandson and trying to save her before the killer’s strike. I’ve never read a book like this before, but it’s really a fun one.
I found myself really engaging with all the characters and fell totally in love with this book.
If you’re a lover of contemporary, historical, & Murder mystery, this one hits the mark.
INFAMOUS by Suzanne Brockman, a ghost from the past comes back to right a wrong that was done to him in 1898, but this book is set in the time around 2010, but as this ghost visits with his great grandson, the woman his grandson is in love with, is in danger & the ghost ends up relaying the danger to his grandson and trying to save her before the killer’s strike. I’ve never read a book like this before, but it’s really a fun one.
I found myself really engaging with all the characters and fell totally in love with this book.
If you’re a lover of contemporary, historical, & Murder mystery, this one hits the mark.
August 2, 2010
Loved it. Loved the characters, particularly the hero. Not a 5 star for me mainly because there are other Brockmann books even better and because the hero was so irresistible that the heroine started to seem pretty stupid to keep resisting ... The ghost was fun, although I wasn't all that interested in the snippets of the old west story.
Although I am not tired of the Troubleshooters series, it was nice to see a stand-alone romance from Brockmann.
Although I am not tired of the Troubleshooters series, it was nice to see a stand-alone romance from Brockmann.
December 26, 2018
I listened to this on audio. A male and female narrator were used to tell the story. Both of which were familiar to me. I enjoyed the back and forth of the voices. This is a little different story. AJ approaches the film set of a movie being made about his great-grandfather's life. Allison, the author, has it all wrong and AJ is there to set the record straight. Allison pretty much ignores him because she has documents from the late 1800s and early 1900s to prove her story. AJ has a secret weapon, his great-grandfather's ghost, who follows AJ around pointing out all the mistakes.
This was a fun read.
This was a fun read.
July 21, 2011
Because I’m a book ho, I’ve read only one Suzanne Brockmann book, the first in her Troubleshooters series, The Unsung Hero, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and then subsequently vowed I would continue with the series as often as I could. Of course, life, the thousands of other books strewn around my condo and piled high in my storage unit, and a million other things got in the way of that vow, and Infamous is the only other Brockmann I’ve read to date. That’s okay, though, because I love this book. It’s her first paperback in six years, it’s full of action, a ghost that could be hero of his own book, and it’s vintage Brockmann, expertly giving us two romances instead of one.
A.J. Gallagher’s great-grandfather, Jamie, has been vilified in history as a murderer, thief, kidnapper, and any other number of criminal activities, all thanks to the real culprit from his day, Silas Quinn, who has been portrayed as a knight with the proverbial white hat on the proverbial white horse. A movie is in production regarding Quinn and his story, and A.J. has come to the set in Arizona to set some facts straight with Alison Carter, the consultant on the film who touts herself an expert on Quinn. He’s there at the behest of his great-grandfather, an apparition who has been appearing to A.J. for a while now, wanting the truth to finally be known.
Mistaking the good looking cowboy as an extra on the film, Alison scoffs when she discovers his true reason for seeking her out. She’s done her homework and knows Quinn and his times up one side and down the other, plus A.J. has no proof, at least any he can produce without delays in filming.
In between all of this, Alison inadvertently witnesses something so innocuous she doesn’t even realize it, and bizarre events begin to happen, all jeopardizing her life, no one figuring it all out until it’s nearly too late. It’s when she and A.J. grow closer and Jamie begins to put two and two together when attempts on Alison’s life escalate that A.J. is forced to tell her about his resident ghost. Fearing she’s given her heart to a mad man, Alison retreats from their budding relationship.
But when they find themselves on the run while trying to fit puzzle pieces together that started it all, Alison becomes a believer when Jamie is suddenly their lifeline. I love all three of these characters. A.J.’s past keeps Alison at bay, until the next time he touches her. She is determined, however, not to fall in love with him because of his past. These are very moving scenes from both characters’ points of view.
Then comes the confession of A.J.’s ability to see Jamie, which, along with the bad guys getting closer and closer, and once again the emotion these two fight and eventually embrace is gut wrenching.
Jamie himself is definitely hero material, as A.J. eventually proves to Alison, causing her to rethink the history she thinks she knows. And in a do-or-die situation, Ms. Brockmann pulls a twist you don’t see coming.
Mixed in between A.J. and Alison’s love story are letters written by Melody, Jamie’s wife, chronicling their lives, when and how they met, how they escaped danger even back 100 years before, how they fell in love. I really enjoy how Ms. Brockmann intertwines stories like this. It seems effortless, seamlessly moving from to the other, adding another dimension to the entire story as it goes along.
If you’re a Suzanne Brockmann fan, do not hesitate in picking this book up. You’re in for one hell of a good time.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
A.J. Gallagher’s great-grandfather, Jamie, has been vilified in history as a murderer, thief, kidnapper, and any other number of criminal activities, all thanks to the real culprit from his day, Silas Quinn, who has been portrayed as a knight with the proverbial white hat on the proverbial white horse. A movie is in production regarding Quinn and his story, and A.J. has come to the set in Arizona to set some facts straight with Alison Carter, the consultant on the film who touts herself an expert on Quinn. He’s there at the behest of his great-grandfather, an apparition who has been appearing to A.J. for a while now, wanting the truth to finally be known.
Mistaking the good looking cowboy as an extra on the film, Alison scoffs when she discovers his true reason for seeking her out. She’s done her homework and knows Quinn and his times up one side and down the other, plus A.J. has no proof, at least any he can produce without delays in filming.
In between all of this, Alison inadvertently witnesses something so innocuous she doesn’t even realize it, and bizarre events begin to happen, all jeopardizing her life, no one figuring it all out until it’s nearly too late. It’s when she and A.J. grow closer and Jamie begins to put two and two together when attempts on Alison’s life escalate that A.J. is forced to tell her about his resident ghost. Fearing she’s given her heart to a mad man, Alison retreats from their budding relationship.
But when they find themselves on the run while trying to fit puzzle pieces together that started it all, Alison becomes a believer when Jamie is suddenly their lifeline. I love all three of these characters. A.J.’s past keeps Alison at bay, until the next time he touches her. She is determined, however, not to fall in love with him because of his past. These are very moving scenes from both characters’ points of view.
Then comes the confession of A.J.’s ability to see Jamie, which, along with the bad guys getting closer and closer, and once again the emotion these two fight and eventually embrace is gut wrenching.
Jamie himself is definitely hero material, as A.J. eventually proves to Alison, causing her to rethink the history she thinks she knows. And in a do-or-die situation, Ms. Brockmann pulls a twist you don’t see coming.
Mixed in between A.J. and Alison’s love story are letters written by Melody, Jamie’s wife, chronicling their lives, when and how they met, how they escaped danger even back 100 years before, how they fell in love. I really enjoy how Ms. Brockmann intertwines stories like this. It seems effortless, seamlessly moving from to the other, adding another dimension to the entire story as it goes along.
If you’re a Suzanne Brockmann fan, do not hesitate in picking this book up. You’re in for one hell of a good time.
See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com
January 11, 2013
This is so not what I expected... :( I'm actually pretty sad about that. When I see a man on the front of a book that looks like a cowboy I expect a studly cowboy and perhaps a ranch or at least a horse... but Infamous was just... weird! Horrible. Terrible. Want a good indication of how bad it was? I could not tolerate the stupidity any longer; I had about 30 pages left and decided that I couldn't bring myself to finish it! The hell with that! I just read the epilogue...
Now, A.J.: Ladies, run. Don't walk. Run if you should ever stumble upon a man like A.J. Let me count the ways!
1. The alcoholic bit isn't enough to stay away, but how low he got before he got help?? Holy crap!
2. Traumatized soldier from the Gulf War.... helllooooo have you seen Rambo???
3. Not the most articulate person ummmmmm ever. That would drive me nuts.
4. Oh, did I mention that he's nuttier than squirrel shit!?!?! Even if he could see a ghost, no thanks. That't more than enough baggage to not want to be near the hero of this book.
Ok, so besides the fact that Mr. Hunkular had some very disturbing characteristics, the story was so STUPID! As soon as I read that it took place on a movie set, I was disappointed.:(
Then jumping back and forth into the ghosts mind... Oi ve...
I started getting really frustrated when there was a murder plot involved. Yes, I realize that it was intended to be ironic that it involved Quinn's decedent, Neil Sylvester, but really? It was a stupid and pointless plot filler. It just got worse from there.
The only saving grace this book had was the letters that were strategically placed throughout the story from the late Melody, written more than 100 years earlier. I was truly touched when she wrote about the rape from the Monster and then the resulting child. Her gambler would love it anyway he said. He wanted to make it his baby... as if it were really possible. But when that baby was born and he knew it was not his, he gave that baby boy his name to show Melody that that was in fact his baby and nobody else's.
All I can't thinking while reading this book was ... is it almost over?
July 2, 2011
Infamous by Suzanne Brockman has got characters! They're fabulous!
The conversations the occurred between Alison and AJ were real, train-wreck fascinating, and down right funny at points. These are two people who both think out loud. Alison talks the entire time she's thinking, so you hear everything in her mind with no filters. AJ talks to the spirit of his departed grandfather. How can that not create humor when the two of them are trying to talk to each other at the same time?
AJ's Grampa? What a personality on that guy! During parts of the story the reader is being talked to by Gramps. As he's telling us what adventure he's up to now, his thoughts will meander in another direction and we'll digress right along with him. It was humourous, but also a very realistic touch. Everyone diverges off course a little as they relate something to happened to them. It gave the story a very personal touch.
As Gramps is a ghost, we get to "travel" to quite a few locations as he pops in and out of the picture with AJ. His story takes us from Jubliation, Arizona to Heaven, Alaska and we have a few brief touchdowns in Tuscon and San Fransisco. He takes us on meandering journeys through his history with Melody, he catches us up on his family's past, and he still manages to keep everything rolling along for Alison and AJ.
Unfortunately things are all fun and games for these three. There is a definite sub-plot of menace (suspense) and Trace's nasty past will play a part. Who's Trace? You'll have to read it and find out. Drugs, alcohol, and the damange they can cause is also a theme here.
Unfortunately, while all the elements came together nicely, it wasn't a superb combination. Suzanne Brockmann would normally receive a higher rating, but there were just too many times in the first half of the book where the temptation to set it down was strong. Not in a permanent way, but in a better-things-to-do-right-now kind of way.
However, if you hang in there, you won't be sorry. The characters, the fun conversations, and the last half of the story will make your sticking around worth it.
The conversations the occurred between Alison and AJ were real, train-wreck fascinating, and down right funny at points. These are two people who both think out loud. Alison talks the entire time she's thinking, so you hear everything in her mind with no filters. AJ talks to the spirit of his departed grandfather. How can that not create humor when the two of them are trying to talk to each other at the same time?
AJ's Grampa? What a personality on that guy! During parts of the story the reader is being talked to by Gramps. As he's telling us what adventure he's up to now, his thoughts will meander in another direction and we'll digress right along with him. It was humourous, but also a very realistic touch. Everyone diverges off course a little as they relate something to happened to them. It gave the story a very personal touch.
As Gramps is a ghost, we get to "travel" to quite a few locations as he pops in and out of the picture with AJ. His story takes us from Jubliation, Arizona to Heaven, Alaska and we have a few brief touchdowns in Tuscon and San Fransisco. He takes us on meandering journeys through his history with Melody, he catches us up on his family's past, and he still manages to keep everything rolling along for Alison and AJ.
Unfortunately things are all fun and games for these three. There is a definite sub-plot of menace (suspense) and Trace's nasty past will play a part. Who's Trace? You'll have to read it and find out. Drugs, alcohol, and the damange they can cause is also a theme here.
Unfortunately, while all the elements came together nicely, it wasn't a superb combination. Suzanne Brockmann would normally receive a higher rating, but there were just too many times in the first half of the book where the temptation to set it down was strong. Not in a permanent way, but in a better-things-to-do-right-now kind of way.
However, if you hang in there, you won't be sorry. The characters, the fun conversations, and the last half of the story will make your sticking around worth it.
February 25, 2011
If you like Suzanne Brockmann, I recommend you DO NOT read this book. Billed as her first paperback in over 6 years, I expected this stand-alone to be at least reminescent of her Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark & Dangerous series. Well, its not. What is perhaps most disappointing to me is that there's absolutely no reason why this story is not a hit with me.
The premise is good: history prof publishes the definitive book about outlaw Jamie Gallagher and the US Marshall who kills him thereby bringing peace to the small town of Jubilation, Arizona. She is then hired as the historical consultant when the movie about Marshall Silas Quinn is made. A.J. Gallagher is the great-great grandson of said outlaw who shows up on set to convince Alison that her facts are wrong and that Gramps was actually the good guy. The twist is that A.J. knows what really went on during those frontier days in the late 1800's because he is being haunted by the ghost of Jamie.
I can't say what exactly turned me off on Ms.B's book. Characters? Plot? If it had been written by someone else and my expectations were tempered, maybe I would have liked it more. Let's just say it wasn't a Troubleshooter's book.
The premise is good: history prof publishes the definitive book about outlaw Jamie Gallagher and the US Marshall who kills him thereby bringing peace to the small town of Jubilation, Arizona. She is then hired as the historical consultant when the movie about Marshall Silas Quinn is made. A.J. Gallagher is the great-great grandson of said outlaw who shows up on set to convince Alison that her facts are wrong and that Gramps was actually the good guy. The twist is that A.J. knows what really went on during those frontier days in the late 1800's because he is being haunted by the ghost of Jamie.
I can't say what exactly turned me off on Ms.B's book. Characters? Plot? If it had been written by someone else and my expectations were tempered, maybe I would have liked it more. Let's just say it wasn't a Troubleshooter's book.
September 20, 2012
I love Suzanne Suzanne Brockmann's writing. I have been reading her since the beginning of her career. When she was touring small books stores around the county in a car with her husband and Eric. I am a firm supporter of her Jules character and throughly enjoyed that character's development. Also enjoyed Adam's short story.
The attack on Conservative Views (Oil Drilling,etc..) in this book, however, kept drawing me out of the story, making it a difficult read. Also, these comments were presented with the assumption that the author's views on these issues are considered to be common sense and that any views to the contrary are not sensible and do not coincide with mainstream beliefs.
Putting aside any political abeliefs one way or another. I believe that the author needs to expose herself more to people with views other than her own. To show the same type of tolerance of others views on issues that she demands and expects of those whom she disagrees with on social issues.
This book comes across as mocking her readers with views other than her own. Alienating many of the readers that have supported not only her books, but also many of her social issues through the years.
The attack on Conservative Views (Oil Drilling,etc..) in this book, however, kept drawing me out of the story, making it a difficult read. Also, these comments were presented with the assumption that the author's views on these issues are considered to be common sense and that any views to the contrary are not sensible and do not coincide with mainstream beliefs.
Putting aside any political abeliefs one way or another. I believe that the author needs to expose herself more to people with views other than her own. To show the same type of tolerance of others views on issues that she demands and expects of those whom she disagrees with on social issues.
This book comes across as mocking her readers with views other than her own. Alienating many of the readers that have supported not only her books, but also many of her social issues through the years.
August 29, 2010
I loved this book! What a great story! So many people complained about the ghost in this story and I can't see how the story would have been anything without him! He's not so much a ghost as he is a very important and wonderful character.
i've also heard complaints that SB got a little soapboxy with her views. I didn't feel that way at all. Granted, her characters all have relatively liberal views. Buy why not? They're created from her imagination. There is a rant or two from AJ, but I compare it to many other stories I've read where a character has seen atrocities or something else bad that has changed his views on that subject. Again, it was all fine for me.
However, none of that matters when you read the story. AJ is a broken soul and his great-grandfather, Jamie, both wants him to heal and wants AJ to find a way to tell his story. That story is currently being made into a movie by Alison. They meet, the story continues beautifully.
I did have a gripe or two, but they weren't enough to take away from the story. I didn't want to put it down and finally closed the book with a happy smile on my face.
i've also heard complaints that SB got a little soapboxy with her views. I didn't feel that way at all. Granted, her characters all have relatively liberal views. Buy why not? They're created from her imagination. There is a rant or two from AJ, but I compare it to many other stories I've read where a character has seen atrocities or something else bad that has changed his views on that subject. Again, it was all fine for me.
However, none of that matters when you read the story. AJ is a broken soul and his great-grandfather, Jamie, both wants him to heal and wants AJ to find a way to tell his story. That story is currently being made into a movie by Alison. They meet, the story continues beautifully.
I did have a gripe or two, but they weren't enough to take away from the story. I didn't want to put it down and finally closed the book with a happy smile on my face.
September 8, 2011
I LOVED IT!!!!!!! I literally ignored my family and stayed in my pajamas until 3pm today so I could sit around & read it.
Gosh, maybe I just need to start each book expecting it to suck... that way if it does, I'm not disappointed. Then when a book really turns out great like this one, then I'm astoundingly surprised! Honestly, I went into this not expecting much, so maybe I'm just a huge fan of Brockmann's writing? Her characters actually think like normal people, the dialogue is normal conversation between two people, her main characters are very seldom too stupid to live, etc. A.J. was terrific - not perfect (40-something ex-military recovering alcoholic suffering from PTSD), but he was charming and cute and REAL. Alison was smart and assertive and realistic and I could see the draw (of her) for someone like A.J. I liked the plot, I liked the mystery, the paranormal aspect (Jamie's ghost "haunting" A.J.) was done a heck of a lot better than I expected, and I loved the diary entries intermittently thrown in throughout the story, which told the love story between Jamie and Melody. This book definitely gave me the warm fuzzies!
Gosh, maybe I just need to start each book expecting it to suck... that way if it does, I'm not disappointed. Then when a book really turns out great like this one, then I'm astoundingly surprised! Honestly, I went into this not expecting much, so maybe I'm just a huge fan of Brockmann's writing? Her characters actually think like normal people, the dialogue is normal conversation between two people, her main characters are very seldom too stupid to live, etc. A.J. was terrific - not perfect (40-something ex-military recovering alcoholic suffering from PTSD), but he was charming and cute and REAL. Alison was smart and assertive and realistic and I could see the draw (of her) for someone like A.J. I liked the plot, I liked the mystery, the paranormal aspect (Jamie's ghost "haunting" A.J.) was done a heck of a lot better than I expected, and I loved the diary entries intermittently thrown in throughout the story, which told the love story between Jamie and Melody. This book definitely gave me the warm fuzzies!
August 26, 2016
This was the first Suzanne Brockman book I've read and will probably be the last. I picked it up at a bookstore on a whim, so I hadn't read any previous reviews of this book or any of the author's other books. Apparently, it's a common theme of Ms Brockman's to insert her political views/stances into her books, which I have no problem with. There were probably at least 10 different ones going on in this one. I was simply bored. I skimmed the majority and read the last couple of chapters and don't believe I missed anything important. The ghost character I found mostly annoying. When reading the back of the book, I didn't realize the "ghosts from the past" meant an actual ghost talking to the hero. Although, without that ghost character, our hero & heroine would have been dead by the 5th chapter, which doesn't make for a good romance, and wouldn't have been saved by numerous other predictable circumstances.
March 15, 2013
I finally managed to finish it.
It was a never-ending series of disappointment, especially as I really appreciate this author who's able to do so much better than this. Let's list a few of those disappointments/
- I never connected either to Alison or AJ; they did not seem real but only characters with not much interest
- the main character in the story is actually a ghost (I do not like paranormal and paranormal in a "regular" book is even worse)- he's the narrator for about 1/3rd of the story and completely instrumental to the story
- the dialogues were poor, and some of them horribly written
- the plot was weak, the investigation uninteresting
- every now and then, some right-minded well-meaning do-gooder sentence was added to this already bad mix; as if a lesson in moral was required!
I would not recommend this book to a fan of Brockmann's TDD or Troubleshooters or even other romance.
It was a never-ending series of disappointment, especially as I really appreciate this author who's able to do so much better than this. Let's list a few of those disappointments/
- I never connected either to Alison or AJ; they did not seem real but only characters with not much interest
- the main character in the story is actually a ghost (I do not like paranormal and paranormal in a "regular" book is even worse)- he's the narrator for about 1/3rd of the story and completely instrumental to the story
- the dialogues were poor, and some of them horribly written
- the plot was weak, the investigation uninteresting
- every now and then, some right-minded well-meaning do-gooder sentence was added to this already bad mix; as if a lesson in moral was required!
I would not recommend this book to a fan of Brockmann's TDD or Troubleshooters or even other romance.
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