Breaking Point
3 Stars

FBI negotiator Max Bhagat excels at his job, but when it comes to his relationship with Gina Vitagliano, he just can't seem to get it right. When he receives the devastating news that Gina has been killed in a terrorist attack, Max is determined to identify the body and get justice for her. However, Max is in for another shock as the dead woman is not Gina, and she along with Molly Anderson, has been abducted. Soon Max finds himself working with Grady Morant, a.k.a "Jones" to rescue the women they love.

To be honest, this installment is very disappointing.

The pacing in the first half is slow with an excessive number of flashback scenes. Not only are there too many but they cover two different time periods, and all of the information could have been summarized in a prologue.

While the pace improves at the halfway mark, the plot becomes overly convoluted with several confusing and inexplicable twists and turns. The resolution is also completely far-fetched and lacks believability.

In terms of the romance, the focus is on two couples, Gina and Max as well as Molly and Jones (from book #4). I had been looking forward to the resolution of Gina and Max's storyline, but it simply does not live up to its potential. The details provided about Max's past, which may explain his reticence, are superficial and never really provide any insight into his mindset. Moreover, the intense chemistry that characterized their connection in previous books is lacking here.

With regard to Molly and Jones, they never resonated with me as a couple so their reunion and the challenges they face are ok but not awe inspiring.

Overall, not one of the better additions to the series although the ending is quite sweet.