The Night Is Mine

Buchman’s romantic fiction formula consists of one part romance, one part action/suspense, and two parts military procedural. Capt. Emily Beale blends the unlikely combination of gourmet cook and ace Black Hawk helicopter pilot in one beautiful (natch), highly toned body. When the first lady receives threats, she decides Emily will make the perfect guard in the guise of a chef, so President Peter Matthews, who was Emily’s literal boy-next-door childhood crush, orders her reassignment from “an undisclosed location in southwest Asia” to the White House’s East Wing. Emily misses her high-energy, high-risk nighttime missions as well as her CO and lust object, Maj. Mark Henderson. Unbeknownst to her, Mark returns her feelings, so when he shows up stateside, sparks begin to fly. Predictable red herrings join a few unsurprising plot twists in this well-written but unexceptional offering. (Feb.)