No Control

At the opening of Butcher's tense, fast-paced latest, First Light Foundation do-gooder Lana Hancock is still recovering from being kidnapped and tortured 18 months before in Armenia. Covert Delta Force operative Caleb Stone, who allowed her to come to harm instead of blowing his cover, learns that the group that tortured Lana is still active, and comes to alert her and see if she remembers anything. Lana doesn't trust or forgive Stone, and withholds the identity of one of her attackers. As the two grapple with their growing feelings for each other, evildoers bent on killing her to protect their own identities close in. Lana's PTSD and quiet strength are believable and gut-wrenching, while Stone is more of a studly caricature. Their chemistry, however, is excellent, and the other Delta Force men have a nice rapport. On the whole, Butcher (No Regrets ) is in control. (Feb.)