Suzanne Brockmann's latest book

Yesterday I picked up a copy of Hot Pursuit Suzanne Brockmann's latest Troubleshooters novel. I was hesitant to gt it as the last few IMO seemed to be targeted to the wrong audience. Most of her readers are women. Reading about gay lovers isn't usually where their interests lay.
For those who are not familiar with her works these are romance/military thrillers. Featuring SEAL team 16 and the Troubleshooters anti-terrorism/protection company (made up of former FBI and SEAL team 16 members) these brave men and women fight terrorism reminding us of the real lives behind the heroes. Ms. Brockmann has always done an excellent job of showing the humanity behind the heroism. These men and women are realistic. They experience pain, fear, heartbreak and although they are able to shoot straight and are willing to face crazed armed fanatics and serial killers their lives like everyone else's are fraught with mistakes, wrong decisions, and the fear of having their hearts broken. Most of the characters are beloved to her readers. Sam, Tom, Max, Jules, Jenk, Nils, Wildcard, and my favorite Muldoon. Others like Robin seem to just be intrusive.
I applaud her desire to include her son in her life and her books. However I remember, hopefully correctly, that she has a daughter too although the last several introductions have not mentioned her to the best of my memory. This latest doesn't - I know I double checked.
There is probably a gay SEAL out there. But I doubt every team has one. This is a life that most don't choose - because they must keep their choice of sexual partners secret, simply not a place where they feel comfortable , or some other reason I don't know. I'm amazed at the number of gay characters in her books. The preaching from the characters is simply distracting on this subject.
I've read every book she's written or published I should say since I was a preteen reading Prince Joe- the first book I ever kept to reread. Same with my now 84 year old mother. I was born into a military family, married into one and now have a son at USMC boot camp- the subject of heroic military men was a vision close to my heart. And I could tell it was the same for Ms. Brockmann. However as time has passed she's written outside her novels of her dislike of the previous administration and her preference for the current one. She's doesn't seem to be able to merge these visions of pro-military with her dislike of the politicians who do not openly disdain those same men and women.
Gay rights and military service would seem to not be related. And in many ways they aren't. She's said that the next novel will be the last Troubleshooter novel and as much as I will miss them I agree that it's probably for the best. Reading these last 4 novels has been like visiting a high school friend - the memories of what you had are so precious but the changes in your lives can't be ignored leaving awkward silences and and an exhausting battle to curb your thoughts and opinions to preserve the illusion that you are both still the same.
For the record I'm torn on gay rights. I do believe marriage is between a man and woman. What two men have or two woman isn't necessarily less but it's not the same. I also believe that no one should be discriminated against in the workplace - period. And that one's sex life unless you are a prostitute is totally not to be brought to the work place heterosexual or homosexual. I don't want to hear about anyone having sex that I know. I like to keep that imagery to fictional characters thankyouverymuch. You should be able to designate anyone you want to inherit and the idea of family only to visit people in hospitals is asinine. Everyone should take precautions like living wills and such married or single. I guess it comes down to I believe in civil unions. Reading a man referring to another man as his husband is just disconcerting to the story IMO. Like having a him inserted where it should say he - I get the meaning of the sentence but I still reread it because I know something is off - rereading a line in a book interrupts the flow of the book.

Pulling back to the book now I have enjoyed her novels and I hope to find an equally talented author to write books dealing with the same subjects. I'm looking forward to see what new direction she'll be heading in and I'm hoping one where she doesn't feel so torn bedtween author, mother and activist.

Now if I could convince Iris Johannson to give Eve Duncan a rest and return to her earlier style- The Ugly Duckling was the creme de la creme of her books. No more mystical stuff that makes me feel like I've missed a chapter or book expaining the Wind Dancer etc.