Light Up the Night

Sparks and bullets both fly in the ninth entry of Buchman's high-flying Night Stalkers series, which sees the elite helicopter pilots of the Army's 160th SOAR fighting pirates off the Somali coast. Second Lt. Trisha O'Malley, one of their newest members, extracts Navy SEAL Lt. William Bruce from his undercover role during an operation. Though their first interaction resembles a good old-fashioned Army-Navy rivalry, with personalities clashing, they quickly surrender to their immediate mutual attraction, finding moments of bliss between death-defying missions. With the action between the sheets as intense as the action in the air, they seem like the perfect match%E2%80%94if only they can work past lingering issues and traumas. As always, Buchman's writing is smooth and fast-paced, full of visceral adrenaline-packed scenes and authentic military details, while his characters enjoy simmering chemistry, with love scenes bordering on the poetic at times. For those who like steamy romance wrapped around heart-pounding combat, Buchman's work is a sure bet. (Sept.)