Pure Heat (Firehawks)
*Starred Review* Injured in a firefighting accident, Steve Mercer, smoke jumper-turned-drone pilot, is new to Oregon’s Mount Hood Aviation unit, and he is feeling physically useless and unmanned after months in rehab. Carly Thomas, known in firefighting circles as “The Flame Witch” for her legendary firefighting ability, is a third-generation firefighter who has lost both her father and her fiancé to fires and wants nothing serious to do with another man. Their attraction, however, is instant and hot, though it does take them a while to admit to it, let alone trust it. Beyond the love story, Buchman provides a riveting adventure involving forest aviation firefighting and a band of home-grown terrorists. Mark Henderson and Emily Beale, SOARofficers and helicopter pilots from Buchman’s (Take Over at Midnight, 2013) great Night Stalkers series, are now part of the MHA unit, allowing addicted Night Stalkers readers to catch up with them and meet another impressive crew of adrenaline junkies. Strong, competent female characters and compelling technical and regional details are juxtaposed with a tender romance as Buchman launches his new Firehawks series, a natural for all military romance fans. --Mary K. Chelton