J.D. Robb discussion

Savannah von Hopf has no choice. To save her uncle's life, she goes in search of Ken "WildCard" Karmody, a guy she barely knew in college who is now a military operative. She must convince him to help her deliver a cache of ransom money into the hands of terrorists halfway around the world. What she doesn't expect is to end up in WildCard's arms before she can even ask for his help.

WildCard has always had a soft spot for beautiful women. But when he discovers Savannah's hidden agenda, he is determined to end the affair. But Savannah is bound for Indonesia with or without his protection, and he can't just walk away. When her plan goes horribly wrong, they are trapped in the forsaken jungle of a hostile country, stalked by a lethal enemy. As time is running out, they scramble to escape, risking their lives to stop a nightmare from spinning even further out of control. . . .

This will be a spoiler zone on April 8.

Author's Book Page

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Kenneth (WildCard) Karmody: Navy SEAL who accepts a request from Savannah to help her deliver a package. Petty Officer Third Class.
Savannah (Van) Von Hopf: Blond hair. Lawyer. Works in New York. Her grandmother Rose is a WWII hero.
Molly Anderson: Works in a religious mission in Indonesia
Alyssa Locke: FBI Agent.
Roger (Sam) Starrett: Navy SEAL. Member of Team 16.
Rose Von Hopf: She was a spy during WWII. Alex and Karl's mother, Savannah's grandmother.
Billy Bolten: Molly's colleague at the mission.
Alexander (Alex) Von Hopf: Rosie's son and Karl's twin brother. Savannah's uncle.
George Faulkner: FBI Agent.
Adele: Savannah's friend.
Jules Cassidy: FBI Agent.
Max Bhagat: Head of FBI's Counterterrorism Unit.
Mary Lou Starrett: Sam's wife.
Gordon (Gordie) MacKenzie: Member of the SAS.
Heinrich (Hank)Von Hopf: Born in Austria and a secret member of the opposition against the Nazis.
David Jones: Lives by himself in Indonesia. His home is near Molly's mission. Owns a plane.
Danny (Gilligan) Gillman: Petty Officer. Navy SEAL on Team Sixteen.
Dwayne: School teacher, wants to date Alyssa.
Herr Schmidt: Seems to be connected with the Gestapo.
Karl Von Hopf: Rose's son. Alex's twin brother. Savannah's father.
Grady Morant: American, former prisioner of war, now on the FBI most wanted list.
Bob Heath: Alex's assistant.
Laronda: Max's assistant.
Priscilla: Savannah's mother.
Tunggul: Indonesian thug.
Chai: Leader of a criminal group.
Lieutenant John (Nils) Nilsson: Member of Seal Team 16.
Akeem: Works at a recording studio.
(hide spoiler)]

Discussion Question #1
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Discussion Question #6

Looking forward to rereading this one!

This is one of my favorites!

FYI, if anyone would like to lead the discussion, you're welcome to do so!

I can't remember if this will be a re-read for me! I think so, but will soon know when the book comes in from the library. I know I've loved this series, so I look forward to our discussions.
====well, I see I gave it 5 stars, so it will be a re-read===

Sounds like another winner!

I ordered the book on Amazon

All downloaded to my phone and iPad!

I'm a little over halfway through. Can't wait for the discussion!

I am starting this next and can hardly wait :)

Just started the book today and already hooked.

I have the audio downloaded on Overdrive, just have a couple other books to finish first

I finished this one! Loved it!

Started this at lunch today and realized it is another of my favourites of the series :)

I am about 3 chapters in (audio) - so far so good

Just finished the prologue early this morning and quite resentful that real life had to intrude. I am starting to remember what was so endearing about Wildcard with that prologue alone.

I love WildCard:)

Jonetta wrote: "I love WildCard:)"

Me too :)

I don't know, he was pretty irritating with the way he treated Sam in the previous book. But I did appreciate how he tried to help Sam protect himself when it became clear that his feelings for Alyssa were deeper than WildCard had believed.

I'm a sucker for the nerdy guys.

Jonetta wrote: "I'm a sucker for the nerdy guys."

I am too. I laughed all the way through the prologue because of the references Brockmann made through WildCard's thought process.

I think this re-read will be next up for me!

Starting the Audio Now....Shouldn't take me to long to get through it since I have been out of work since Friday with the Flu.

Emerson wrote: "Jonetta wrote: "I'm a sucker for the nerdy guys."

I am too. I laughed all the way through the prologue because of the references Brockmann made through WildCard's thought process."

I really like the way the author flushes out the typical nerdy character in his reactions to Savannah. Don't know what it is about that type of character. Well done!

Sheri wrote: "Starting the Audio Now....Shouldn't take me to long to get through it since I have been out of work since Friday with the Flu."

Hope you feel better!

Sheri wrote: "Starting the Audio Now....Shouldn't take me to long to get through it since I have been out of work since Friday with the Flu."

Do not be dumb like me and try to tough your way through it - rest and relax - I still have the remnants from two weeks before Easter.

I won't Sandra....I don't think I have ever been so sick. Left work Friday and slept all weekend. When I wasn't any better by Monday I went to the doctor. I have no energy to do anything so have just been doing a lot of catch up with books since i didn't read any over the weekend.

Jonetta wrote: "Sheri wrote: "Starting the Audio Now....Shouldn't take me to long to get through it since I have been out of work since Friday with the Flu."

Hope you feel better!"

Thanks Jonetta, working on it.

Sheri wrote: "I won't Sandra....I don't think I have ever been so sick. Left work Friday and slept all weekend. When I wasn't any better by Monday I went to the doctor. I have no energy to do anything so have ju..."

Feel better soon, Sheri! Take lots of fluids & rest!

Hope you are getting better, Sheri.

I finished my re-read of this book yesterday and loved it. The WWII part might have been my favorite part of the story! It was very nicely integrated into the present-day story, one of this author's strengths, imho.

Feel better, Sheri!

Charlene wrote: "Hope you are getting better, Sheri.

I finished my re-read of this book yesterday and loved it. The WWII part might have been my favorite part of the story! It was very nicely integrated into the p..."

Definitely a strength of this author's! She weaves it in flawlessly and it adds so much to the story.

I am loving this book.....I am on Chapter 15 and have not been able to put it down.

I finished the book last night and I really liked it

Of all the WWII stories that pepper this series, the one in this book has is my favorite.

Loved this just as much the 2nd time!

I also enjoyed the WWII part of this book. I find this author does an excellent job of weaving her storylines all together.

Savannah and Ken (WildCard) seem like the most unlikeliest of matches. What worked about these two? How did their differences serve the relationship?

I'm wondering the same thing. We know that Savannah has had a crush on Ken since she was a freshman (fresher) in college; he is her dream-come-true guy.

Ken has wanted to love and be loved for a long time.

Could it be this simple, at least for starters?

I think it began as more of a sexual attraction than anything.
However she did witness how loving Kenny was towards his ex and how horrible the ex was to him too.

I think Kenny and Savannah are an interesting case where opposites attract really work for their personality types. He is extremely unpredictable in impossible situations allowing for out of the box thinking and flexibility of planning that is not unlike James Bond, without the suave facade. And her personality completely buttons itself up when she is in impossible situations where she is not in control. In some ways, he needs her to ground him so he doesn't get out of control and she needs him to realize that you don't always have to be in control. They accept each other the way they are but also drive each other to be better too. That is why their love is an eleven.

This one is becoming my favorite of the series so far. I just love how the author has so much in the book without having me feel overwhelmed or like it's too jumpy. Though there are times when she jumps to another character that makes me go no no go back! Then sucks me into this other part enough I can wait.

I think Ken and Savannah are pretty stubborn in their ways, but they are also accepting and open people. I think the way they are opposite brings something to the other to compliment who they are. Since they seem very self aware and confident in who they are, it makes it so they can allow some organization to the mess or some mess to their organization.

They were in a situation where they had to depend on each other and work together; that made it possible for them to see beyond the differences. Add in opposites attract and the fact that Van already had a crush on Ken and it all worked.

Brockmann continues to include historical subplots, this time Savannah's grandmother, Rose Von Hopf's story as a WW2 spy. How well did she integrate it into the storyline? Did you find it interesting or a distraction?

I thought it was a wonderful storyline and added so much to the book.

I thought so, too, Wendy. It explained where Savannah got her determination, bravery and spine.

Jonetta wrote: "Savannah and Ken (WildCard) seem like the most unlikeliest of matches. What worked about these two? How did their differences serve the relationship?"

They seemed to be the perfect complements to each other. She's grounded, almost to a fault and he's impulsive. But they seemed to fuse very well. Even though they approached things differently, they "got" each other.

I thought this WWII plot line, more so than any other, interwove all three plots really well because it was in the form of a book that was in the hands of many of the characters across the globe. It was akin to George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones series where you could head hop and be in a different location based on who was reading the book. Very cleverly done.

I also liked that each pair of people reading the book (or partially enacting it) were affected greatly by Rose's story. How romantic that "book" was, even more so the second time through for me!

I agree with you Charlene

We learn that Max Bhagat is in contact with Gina Vitagliano, the hostage from the hijacked plane. Do you think her feelings are real for Max or transference as the psychiatrists imply? Your thoughts about him pursuing a relationship with her?

I think her feelings are real. If, as Max says, they have been talking on the phone after he has stopped meeting her for coffee, etc., then she must be working through any feelings of transference as well. The talking over the phone late at night hints that it is becoming real and substantial. Max's avoidance hints at his fear of it becoming so. If he truly thought it was transference and he did not reciprocate her feelings, why would he try to avoid her by not being at home at night? Furthermore, why the elaborate hoax with Alyssa to try to derail Gina?