Crossfire by B.J. Daniels, Harlequin, Code Red, April 2005

SWAT commander Flint Mauro and newcomer SWAT paramedic Anna Carson, team up in this installment of Code Red to tackle a hostage situation threating city councilmen and a judge.

Anna Carson has returned to Courage Bay after a five year absence, taking a job as a SWAT team paramedic not knowing that her ex-fiancé is the SWAT team commander until she gets there. She ended their engagement because Flint was not willing to accept her potentially dangerous career. She discovers that she still loves the man, those feelings come to the forfront even more when they're trapped together in a hostage situation. She has to overcome some obstacles from her past in order to accept him into her life. She also has to be sure that he won't expect her to give up her career for him.

Flint Mauro loved Anna from the moment he saw her. He proposed expecting that she would give up her career to marry him and raise a family. He's dated while she's been gone but as soon as he sees her again he knows he's in trouble. He does not want her on his team, does not want her life in danger. A call comes in, hostages at the Courage Bay courthouse building, one has been shot. Anna wants to go in. This is what she's trained for, Flint insists on going with her.

Together, the couple pose as a doctor and nurse to try to defuse the situation. The book is mostly narrative recall of their relationship five years ago, leading up to their break up from Flint's perspective. We get to know Anna through these memories. The couple love one another and the reader can only hope once they get out of the situation they'll give their relationship another go. But is Flint ready to accept that Anna can hold her own as a SWAT paramedic and still be a mother? He's seen her in action and believes she's very good, better than him, but is he ready to give up on the dream of the intact, cozy family he dreams of.

The hostage situation is a good story and keeps the reader interested as we watch Flint and Anna get to know one another in the work situation that will define their future relationship. Crossfire was a welcome addition to the Code Red series.

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