Going Dark: The Lost Platoon, Book 1

McCarty’s exciting contemporary series launch will not disappoint fans of her historical Highlands romances, as she finds plenty of ways to bring in Scottish elements and even the occasional kilt. Annie Henderson, a naive marine ecologist with a shiny new Ph.D., visits Scotland’s Western Isles to board an experimental oil drill ship and stage a sit-in to protest oil drilling. She was recruited to join the cause by her new boyfriend, Frenchman Julien Bernard, but starts having second thoughts when she meets his unlikable mentor, Jean Paul La Roche. Dan Warren, who captains the boat that will take them out to sea, immediately suspects that the “protestors” are actually saboteurs planning to damage the ship, but he doesn’t want to get involved because he’s got serious reasons for laying low: Dan, aka Dean Baylor, is one of the few surviving members of the top-secret SEAL Team Nine, which was attacked while deep in Russia. As he gets involved with Annie and helps to save her from her dangerous companions, he also tries to figure out who targeted his team and why, setting up future series entries featuring other surviving SEALs. Fast-paced chase scenes and adrenaline bring Annie and Dean together, and they take full advantage of time spent hiding in picturesque beach towns and grubby shacks. Agent: Annelise Robey, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Sept.)