I’ve heard some people talk about J.R. Ward’s series of being as addictive as crack. Though I like Ward, that comparison doesn’t quite work for me.

It does work for this series, though. I’ve read the first five books in the last week and a half, and am up to number six.

Harry Dresden is my current drug of choice.

I’ve had Suzanne Brockmann’s Breaking Point since it first came out in 2005, but I put off reading it. Why? Max and Gina aren’t my favorite couple, and I was afraid I’d be in for more of the push-pull that defined their relationship. The title of the book reinforced my concerns. I didn’t want to see Gina push Max to the breaking point.

In the meantime, I accumulated a pile of Brockmann’s books that I couldn’t read because they come later in the series. So this month for TBR Day, I decided to read Breaking Point.

As commander of the nation’s most elite FBI counterterrorism unit, agent Max Bhagat leads by hard-driving example: pushing himself to the limit and beyond, taking no excuses, and putting absolutely nothing ahead of his work. That includes his deep feelings for Gina Vitagliano, the woman who won his admiration and his heart with her courage under fire. But when the shocking news reaches him that Gina has been killed in a terrorist bombing, nothing can keep Max from making a full investigation—and retribution—his top priority.

At the scene of the attack, however, Max gets an even bigger shock. Gina is still very much alive—but facing a fate even worse than death. Along with Molly Anderson, a fellow overseas relief worker, Gina has fallen into the hands of a killer who is bent on using both women to bait a deadly trap. His quarry? Grady Morant, a.k.a “Jones,” a notorious ex-Special Forces operative turned smuggler who made some very deadly enemies in the jungles of Southeast Asia . . . and has been running ever since. But with Molly’s life on the line, Jones is willing to forfeit his own to save the woman he loves.

Together with Max’s top agent Jules Cassidy as their only backup, the unlikely allies plunge into a global hot zone of violence and corruption to make a deal with the devil. Not even Jones knows which ghosts from his past want him dead. But there’s one thing he’s sure of—there’s very little his bloodthirsty enemies aren’t willing to do.

Brockmann’s single titles usually have subplots. In Breaking Point, the Jones/Molly subplot is the most significant one. Another subplot features Max and Gina during the time between when he was shot (in Gone Too Far) and the beginning of this story. This makes for a slightly confusing read at first, but ultimately this structure provides information that’s crucial to the here-and-now story. The time-jumping thing stops about halfway through the book, and that’s when the story goes from pretty compelling to completely gripping.

As for my thoughts about Max and Gina—I like them both better now. One moment in particular stands out. Gina has coped with what happened to her in Over the Edge, but in Breaking Point she (finally!) realizes how it affected Max, and how her pushing affected him. Max is finally pushed to his breaking point, but not by Gina. Instead, it’s by believing she is dead for 24 hours and realizing that nothing else matters except having her in his life.

It took me a long time to get to this book, but it was well worth it. And now I’m playing catch up with Brockmann’s books. Breaking Point: 4 out of 5.

Oh, and revisiting Molly and Jones? Awesome.

I’ve enjoyed futuristics for years, so I was intrigued by the description of Cheryl Brooks’ debut, Slave.

He may be the last of his species . . . whose sexual talents were the envy of the galaxy. Even filthy, chained, and beaten his feline gene gives him a special aura.

Jacinth is on a rescue mission . . . and she needs a man she can trust with her life.

Enmeshed in a tangle of deception, lust, and love, they must elude a race of violent killers and together forge a bond stronger than any chains.

Slave is a lighter read than I expected it would be, given the subject matter. This isn’t a bad thing—Jack (Jacinth) has a distinctive voice filled with humor (if a bit too heavy on exclamation points). Here are a few examples.

I also wondered what he would do once we found Ranata and his obligation to me was fulfilled. Would he take his forty credits and disappear, or would he follow me home like a stray dog? It was probably better for everyone if our ways parted—although if he truly wanted to stay with me and would keep on rubbing my neck like that . . . I might just decide to keep him.

and

I found that I truly liked having Cat no more than a chain’s length away from me—although we were usually even closer than that. Cat either held my hand or had his arm around me for most of the journey that day, and I didn’t even get annoyed by the pack-droid’s singing. It was then that I decided that whoever designed the damn thing must have been in love—who else could stand it?

Brooks has a knack for world building. I got a kick out of all the different devices and substances Jack uses; as a trader, she is always looking for something she can sell.

The planet where Jack believes her sister is being held is a revealing one—literally. Men and women wear strategic clothing designed for easy access. This results in some humorous moments. One in particular as they consider how to ride horses in the clothes. Another scene, this one in a restaurant, struck me as distasteful rather than amusing, but other opinions may vary.

The light tone seems incongruous at times, such as when we learn the story behind the disappearance of Jacinth’s sister. It’s discussed but glossed over in a way that doesn’t feel true to the experience. (I don’t want to say more to avoid giving spoilers.) Cat’s enslavement is handled with more realism.

The romance was nice, although I would have liked to see Cat’s point of view. Aside from his enslavement and his growing feelings for Jack, he remains somewhat enigmatic.

Ultimately, Slave rates 3 out of 5. It’s an interesting tale best not taken too seriously. I’m intrigued enough to seek out the next installment of the series.