Veena’s review of Taking Fire (Shadow Warriors, Book 7) by Lindsay McKenna
Military Romance published by HQN 24 Feb 15
As a woman a huge plus in this series is the strong women role models. Khat Shinwari is an interesting multi-cultural mix. Born and brought up in the US of an Afghan father, she’s feels guilty for her life of ease while her brethren are in such dire straits. She joins the military and the shadow warrior program in her desire to do more for her people and becomes embedded amongst the locals in the Hindu Kush mountains. I don’t totally agree with her rationale, but I admire her for taking a stand and basking in the love her father’s family offers her while providing valuable intelligence to the US military. The author does a superb job in building her and Mike’s back stories, as well as pulling in characters from previous stories, as she demonstrates that romance can flourish anywhere, including the grim realities of a terrible war.
Khat is a like a wounded animal, damaged beyond belief by the atrocities that she’s suffered in captivity, compounded by her father’s attitude toward her for making the choices he can’t agree with. From her first meeting with Mike, who’s a SEAL she rescues from the Taliban, I enjoyed the development of their relationship, as well as the camaraderie offered by some of his teammates and friends. One of Mike’s best friends is fellow SEAL Gabe, who’s a hero in a previous book. It’s great that he has a small role to play in this story and that Mike lives in a condo unit that he owns in San Diego, but it becomes quite redundant with the repetition of that fact multiple times in the story. On the other hand, I quite enjoyed learning some of the salient facts regarding Arabians, given that Khat’s horses play a meaningful role.
The Shaheens and his Afghan blood is an interesting touch in trying to get the reader to understand that Khat isn’t unique in her desire to do her bit for the people. It does seem a bit extreme, however, that Khat is willing to walk away from everything good to sacrifice her life for her people. Not sure how her death is going to benefit them?
Mike is a great character. He’s a Navy SEAL and cool under pressure. I love how he steps out of the box and establishes a relationship with Khat and gets through to her and her local family. His relationship is sweet and tender, and I totally enjoyed the solemnity of his visit to the matriarch of her family.
The skirmishes with the Taliban are very realistically described. I could feel myself clinging to the slope of the mountain on the goat trails and rat trails as icy wind blew down my neck, watching Khat sight down her sniper rifle, taking aim. As the series continues, I look forward to meeting more brave women and the courageous men who love them.
Grade:B
Summary:
She dances on the edge of life…and death
Not all are meant to walk in the light. Marine Corps Sergeant Khat Shinwari lives among the shadows of the rocky Afghanistan mountains, a Shadow Warrior by name and by nature. She works alone, undercover and undetected—until a small team of US Navy SEALs are ambushed by the Taliban…and Khat is forced to disobey orders to save their lives.
To go rogue.
Now, hidden deep in the mountains with injured SEAL Michael Tarik in her care, Khat learns that he’s more than just an operator. In him, she sees something of herself and of what she could be. Now duty faces off against the raw, overwhelming attraction she has for Mike. And she must decide between the safety of the shadows…and risking everything by stepping into the light.
Other books in this series
