"An exciting military romance"

Captain Tanner "Bronco" Bennett and flight surgeon Captain Kathleen O'Connell have experienced animosity and had a power struggle ever since she was his training officer at the Air Force Academy. They were both too stubborn and opinionated to get along then and they both are now. Not even the memory of the kiss they shared at Christmas, the night his sister died twelve years ago could change that.

Now Kathleen has the uneviable task of grounding Tanner because of a back injury. Tanner, as predicted, fights her all the way, until their disagreement comes to the attention of their Squadron Commander, who sends them together on a mission, as a way of making them learn to get along. They are to investigate possible causes of the crash of a C-17 military aircraft in California. During this investigation, they have orders to "Spend every waking hour with each other until things settle out." As Tanner reflects, it isn't the waking hours that worry him..

As Tanner and Kathleen set about conducting their investigation, the inevitible struggle for leadership emerges and they find themselves at odds about everything. It doesn't help that they each secretly are attracted to the other and fight this by being argumentative. When their mission turns dangerous, they each struggle to learn to be a team player in order to get them both out alive.

Author Catherine Mann is quickly establishing a trademark of penning strong heroes and heroines who learn how to bend when they must. Tanner has a deep need to control his surroundings, and to protect people he cares for. Kathleen has always been a loner, not expecting anyone's help, and not appreciative of Tanner's attempts to protect her. She is strong, self-reliant, and reluctant to admit that she might need help at times. It is a struggle for them to appreciate and accept these qualities in each other, and to admit that they often share those traits which drive them crazy in the other. TAKING COVER is wonderful relationship story with warm, witty humor and some danger thrown in to round out an exciting read.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted October 2, 2002

Summary

Battle lines are drawn when Flight Surgeon Kathleen O'Connell temporarily grounds Captain Tanner Bennett from flying combat. No way does Tanner plan to watch his crew from the sidelines. Not that he has a choice, thanks to by-the-rules Kathleen and his ground duty assignment to investigate a crash. When Kathleen is teamed with him in the investigation, they're both diving for cover as they battle an attraction ready to detonate!