Melissa Moore is the second woman ever to qualify for Delta Force. Book 1 in the series, Target Engaged, is about the first woman to make it to Delta Force, Carla Anderson (referred to as Carla Effing Anderson by Melissa, who sees Carla as someone with a record for her to beat). Having made the team, we can easily see that Melissa has the skills to comport herself admirably as one of the best of this elite force, even if she's a little unsure of it herself. Less than 24 hours after graduating from the grueling Delta Force training course, Melissa finds herself as part of an existing team operating in South America, with Carla as the titular head. Melissa is uncertain if she can fit in easily with this new team that's already been functioning tightly for the last 6 months. Her uncertainty seems a little unreal; I would think that a woman who has just succeeded in making Delta Force would have to have a mind of steel to make it through the hazing and crap from all the guys who don't want to see a woman succeed in "a man's world," but it certainly does make her a much more sympathetic character.

Richie Goldman is the team geek of Delta Force. Richie's moniker is Q, after the Q in the James Bond movies who runs the MI6 department with all the amazing gadgetry, because Richie is his team's technical wizard. Richie and Melissa are tapped to be the two pilots for their upcoming mission since they've both flown before, and they train together frantically for a couple of days to learn to fly the vast number of airplanes that they're need to be familiar with to pull off the appearance that they are a drug smuggler team for hire. Drawn immediately to each other by insta-attraction, Richie and Melissa quickly learn that each of them is competent, intelligent, and loyal. The mutual respect Buchman's hero and heroines develop for each other is always so refreshing. The more time Richie and Melissa spend together, the more they are drawn to each other, and the sexual sparks build up to the point of a raging fire. It does seem like they fall into bed and into a relationship super quickly, but they have the role model of Carla and Kyle (the true head of their Delta Force team), who are already romantically involved.

It's easy to get hooked on Buchman's books. The combination of competent military people, sexual tension, and action with suspense make these books addictive like catnip. One story is never enough. Thank goodness Buchman also has the Nightstalkers military series and Firehawks heli- aviation wildland firefighters series as well as this Delta Force series, so there is plenty of action and lovin' to be had. Buchman's books always satisfy, and HEART STRIKE is no exception.

Book Summary