Veena’s review of Light Up the Night (Night Stalkers, Book 9) by M.L. Buchman
Romantic Suspense published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 02 Sep 14
We’re back with our favorite SOAR team who have left behind the burning heat of the desert sands for the deck of an aircraft carrier. Joined by some of the special ops team members we’ve met before and new member Trisha O’Malley in her little bird, the team is tasked to hunt down Somali pilots and make the shipping lines safer for water craft large and small. The story opens with bullets flying as Trisha and her team complete their mission.
Amongst the people rescued that night is navy seal Bill Bruce, who’s been embedded undercover with the pirates. The action just never stops as Bill and Trisha move beyond the angry hating of the rescue to a love story for the ages.Trish and Bill both carry their fair share of baggage from their pasts. Interestingly enough, they come from two different ends of the spectrum. Trisha’s family belongs to the cream of Boston society, and yet because of their indifference, she’s sown her fair share of oats until she ends up as one of the few women ace pilots to make SOAR. Bill, on the other end, comes from a military family, and who lost his father before he was born and saw his mother struggle to raise her son and provide for him.
As we all know, there’s no stopping intense emotional responses and out-of-control chemistry when it occurs. Bill finds himself assigned to the mission to hunt down and stop the Somali pilots while he struggles with his feelings, as well as his history, with a hot-shot, shoot-from-the-hip, risk-taker Trisha. The death of his mother has Bill flying home to take care of arrangements for his only family member, closely followed by Trisha who’s given a strong warning by her commanding officer, Lola, and a send-off on mandatory leave to consider how to be a team player on an elite unit.
Both Bill and Trisha do not fall into the run-of-the-mill characters. They both have strong personalities and dare-devil natures, as evidenced by the professions they embrace. I find it bitter sweet that Trisha has every privilege of a trust fund baby and yet chooses to expose herself to death and danger every night. Bill is more of a stereotype, and so it is very sweet that each embraces the other’s baggage and chooses to lead the other into the light.
Hats off to the author who gives us glimpses into the team members who’ve moved to different locations while building a strong story. As I read I was reminded very strongly of the recently viewed Captain Phillips and how the Somali pilots attack innocent ships, though, of course, this time the story played out differently from the book.
Another great story from Mr. Buchman. I highly recommend it and, of course, if you’re keeping up with the series, this is a great way to reconnect with all the characters from the earlier books.
Grade: B
Summary:
Name: Trisha O’Malley
Rank: Second Lieutenant and AH -6M “Little Bird” Pilot
Mission : Take down Somali pirates, and deny her pastName: William Bruce
Rank: Navy SEAL Lieutenant
Mission : Rescue hostages, and protect his past—against all comersThey both have something to hide. When hotshot SOAR helicopter pilot Trisha O’Malley rescues Navy SEAL Bill Bruce from his undercover mission in Somalia, it ignites his fury. Everything about Trisha triggers his mistrust: her elusive past, her wild energy, and her habit of flying past safety’s edge. Even as the heat between them turns into passion’s fire, Bill and Trisha must team up to confront their pasts and
survive Somalia’s pirate lords.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
