~REVIEW of Suzanne Brockmann's HARVARD'S EDUCATION~

Harvard's Education (Tall, Dark & Dangerous, #5)


Opening Line: "This was wrong. It was all wrong."

Ack this was so good. Although I will admit a bit slow to get started, by the end however I really felt like I knew our heroes and was completely wrapped up in their lives, especially during their last so called “training” mission together. Jeez talk about suspense and romance in the jungle.

“Harvard” Becker is the 5th SEAL from Brockmann’s Tall Dark and Dangerous series to have his story told. And while I somehow missed this fantastic series the first time around I’m sure enjoying the hell out of it now with the re-issues. These well written, quickie romances are impossible to put down, with delicious alpha male heroes, sweet romances and just the right amount of action, suspense and melodrama to keep you coming back for more. And except for Brockmann’s tendency to make up imaginary countries I just love her style of writing; using real military jargon she gives us larger then life Navy Seal heroes and exciting yet plausible storylines. Her romantic dialogue and love scenes are always amazing and our big, bad hero *sigh* usually even sheds a few tears.

Harvard and the rest of SEAL team 10 are running training exercises during an 8 week experiment wherein they are to train members of FInCOM in all things Navy SEAL. With the type of life and death situations they face this is an exclusive boys club and that’s just the way Harvard likes it. Enter PJ Richards, sharpshooter, most capable recruit, Harvard’s perfect intellectual match and of course all woman. With his sexist attitude these two have problems from the start. Harvard just doesn’t believe women belong in a combat zone, it’s too dangerous, too brutal and she would be far too distracting.

A great deal of HARVARD’S EDUCATION takes place within the relative downtime of training, so we really get to know our couple. Watching their relationship ebb and flow at times felt like a character study without the usual benefit of firefights, tangos and explosions. Another great aspect here was getting reacquainted with past team members in particular Joe Catalanotto from book #1 (PRINCE JOE) We are also introduced to new grey group member ‘Crash’ and I can’t wait for his story in (HAWKEN'S HEART)

The ending chapters here were fantastic as a planned out of country “training” mission goes horribly wrong. Leaving me hanging for quite a while as to whether the mission (and fatalities) were in fact real or a training op. Pinned down by hostiles, armed only with paint ball guns, and with their leader Captain Joe severely injured and taken hostage it’s going to be up to PJ and Harvard to save the day. Will he be able to set his prejudices aside long enough to let PJ do her job and help rescue their team mates? Will they make sweet love while awaiting nightfall, save their commander and maybe fall in love? Sorry my description makes this sound super cheesy when in fact this is actually suspenseful, exciting and really well done. Cheers