4.5*

Generally I enjoyed this story, but I got a little bored in the middle. I was very happy for Decker to finally find someone. Not who I expected, but I think it makes sense now why he avoided Sophia for the most part. I never would have expected Tracey, but they did seem to fit. I also get why many others were dumbfounded at how Tracey was portrayed in this one. I get that she was a complete ditz when we met her, but it's been several years since then and I think that probably being on her own and relying on herself probably made her grow up pretty quick. I also think that having Lindsay and Tess as good friends might have somehow made her aspire to be better. She really did step up in this one. I didn't find it all that far-fetched. Anyway... on to the next one.

Really enjoyed this one again. 4.5

*SPOILERS*
I was, like most people, expecting a Deck and Sophia HEA. They were both in this book, but they didn't end up together, and barely spent any time together too. I loved the way Brockmann explained why it never would've worked between them, from both of their perspectives. I am also happy for Dave, because he really, really loves Sophia.

I am not unhappy for the outcomes. And who knew what Deck really liked deep down?

I also like that this story has been playing out for a long time now. During that time, you see Deck has had feelings for a few different women. It's not like some romance books where the hero and heroine meet, and that is it, they will only be with this one person romantically throughout the series until their HEA.

Another example of that would be Sam and Alyssa. They met, but Sam had a relationship with someone else before they got together. BTW, loved Sam's speech to Nash and directions on changing the diaper.

Good for Nash and Tess. I loved when he told her she better marry him already.

Another fantastic Troubleshooters book! The plot and action in this one starts off with a sucker punch, and then it is a rip-roaring, mad dash to find out who wants to make sure Nash is dead. I have to admit, the temptation to "peek" was pretty strong, but even if I had, I would've still enjoyed the plot and action.

The female protagonists in this series are strong and capable individuals. Even though she started off as more "ditzy" in earlier books, Tracy really comes into her own in this one. She has become an important part of the organization, helping it run with efficiency. She has an amazing ability to read people, and she doesn't take crap, not even from strong and aloof Decker.

Spoiler

I do have to admit when I read one of the romantic pairings was going to be Decker/Tracy, I thought, "WTF? What happened to Sophia?" But how it is set up makes perfect sense. Besides, I do love Dave being with Sophia.

Another wonderful thing I loved was there was more JULES - *fangirl squee* - and a little bit of ROBIN. Any book that has the two of them in it is a book that I have to read.

Read this book. You won't be disappointed. Just be prepared to have your adrenaline level elevated for the duration.

this is another book i love of hers. the series is great you should read them all.

I approached this book with caution due to the traces of foam I saw splattered on the path from certain fans who didn't appreciate the ending. That being said, I loved this book and agree 100% with the direction the author took.

Spoiler

Sophia, Sophia, Sophia.
I know a lot of people wanted to see her with Decker, but I never did. They never had compatible personalities from the very beginning—and that was BEFORE Decker went ballistic over that... event... in the abandoned building.

From the first moment that Dave mentioned knowing her from his CIA days I wanted them together. Then to see how much he adored her? He has always been, imo, exactly what she needs. Those two fit together perfectly. I'm glad Sophia finally recognized it.

Tracy though?
She was a little bit of a surprise, but not completely. Brockmann I think was hinting at this particular pairing when she played out that scene with Deck and Tracy in the Hotel room. The one where she dumps out her bag with ah, embarassing items in it? There was a spark between them. Just a little one, but it's definitely there.

I also liked how Tracy AND Decker's characters developed in this book. We learned a lot about both of them, and I for one, think they make a perfect couple. Tracy's not as Ditzy as she first appeared.

I gotta say, I was nervous when I started this one. The first half was so very very slow and I was so very very bored. See, I can't tell if (at 50%) the book actually got really good or if taking a break in the middle to read Lover at Last shook me out of my funk. Either way, the second half of this book was incredibly exciting. I couldn't put it down!

Dark of Night is the conclusion of the Deck/Sophia/Dave triangle that has been on going now for a while. It also happened to bring a long needed peace with Tess and Nash. AND! We got a little more Robin and Jules, and Sam and Alyssa too. :) And any time Sam Starrett is involved in the story you know you're gonna find yourself chuckling. He's almost as funny as my boyfriend Izzy.

So for you people who don't like spoilers, the gist of my review is going to be 'YAY, really really good read!'

Now, Spoilers ahead!

Who here read my last review? And my theory and hopes for that triangle mentioned above? Guess what! I was half right! I was also half wrong, haha. Sophia has come to her senses and realized that the man of her dreams is standing right next to her, holding her up and supporting her. She's opened her eyes and discovered that Dave Malkoff is exactly what she's looking for, even if she didn't realize what exactly it was she wanted.

"Shhh," he told her, silencing her with a kiss. "That's for the future, okay? Right now, let's just show our baby how much her daddy loves her mommy."

Dave is a MAN. He's not afraid of his emotions, he's not afraid to love, and he's not afraid to hold tightly for as long as he can and then let go if that's what she needs. His goal is not to make Sophia his, his goal is to make Sophia happy. So even if only half of my wishes came true, I'm so incredibly glad that it was this one and that Dave and Sophia were written in the Troubleshooter Stars.

Which leads to the half I was wrong about... I really thought that Deck was going to wind up with Jo the Shrink. I mean, I saw all the signs in the last book. The kiss, the pink nightie, the vampire trash novels... well now I realize that it was just a well placed red heron. Brockmann snuck up behind us while we were looking over here <---, and she brought Tracy Shapiro in from behind and sucker punched us. I mean sure, the scenes between them before were funny, but I never even questioned if she would be connected to Deck. See but the thing is that I think Brockmann knew all along. She just led us on a winding journey to get to the end. And I loved it! Tracy was absolutely perfect for uptight, prudish Decker!

There's nothing wrong with you." Tracy said again. "Except for the fact that your inner prude has been shouting at you for years, telling you that you're screwed up. You've got to bring the logical part of your brain into the mix. Because how can there be a right or a wrong way to have sex? I mean, psycho-killers aside, there's just NOT. The only question that you need to be worried about is 'Honey, do you like it when I do that?' If the answer's yes, game on."

Who'da thought that underneath all that repression you had a man with a fetish. Tracy and Deck rocked the pages. They burned it up. Tracy and Deck were my favorite part of this book. The passionate arguing, the barely restrained lust... It was HOT. I hung on every single paragraph. Tracy and Deck even made me cry! And not just a drip, or a tear, I mean wiping my face and sobbing. Oh Deck, the secret you've been hiding... the pain that you must have felt to not be able to share the burden you carried. It was just another moment where I honestly felt that Tracy was perfect for you, she was exactly the kind of blunt no-nonsense woman you need.

Tracy would've completely rocked his world with the kind of physical sex that was meant to exhaust-to wear out and wear down. At which point she also would have convinced him beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was not just okay but NECESSARY for a man to cry over the painful, horrible death of his best friend in the entire fucking world.

I loved Tracy and Decker. I loved Dave and Sophia. Even though I didn't touch on them, I'm glad that Nash is going to be okay, and he learned to trust and open himself up to Tess. I'm glad I read this book.

And, since I mentioned Sam, Robin, Jules and Nash... and because it made me laugh outloud, I'm gonna go ahead and throw this last quote in there too. In closing, of course.

"I'll be with Tess. She says we're a team, too. It's funny, she used that same word." He nodded. "I guess I'm going to find out if she means it."
"She does," Robin said, and Jules turned to look at him. He was standing there looking like the movie star that he was, with his casually covered muscles and that almost too-beautiful face that still often graced magazine covers. "She loves you, Jim. Unconditionally. I know because..." He smiled at Jules, "I've got someone who loves me like that, too."
Jules looked at Sam, who was shaking his head.
"You know, Rob, you are sometimes just so fucking gay," he said, "Ow!"