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I Own the Dawn (The Night Stalkers #2)

by M.L. Buchman (Goodreads Author)

3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 · rating details · 236 ratings · 56 reviews

Name: Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III
Rank: First Lieutenant, Dap Hawk Copilot
Mission: Strategy and execution of special ops maneuvers

Name: Kee Smith
Rank: Sergeant, Night Stalker Gunner and Sharpshooter
Mission: Whatever it takes to get the job done

You Wouldn't Think It Could Get Worse, Until It Does...

When a special mission slowly unravels, it is up to Kee and Archie t...more

Paperback, 404 pages

Published August 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

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Best military romance book

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Jan 30, 2013 Lynn Aoude rated it 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

I was really disappointed with this one. The first book was way better. in I Own the Dawn there was a lot of focus on Kee's insecurities and internal struggles. The romance was the dominant part, not the action and the suspense. Even when you get to the interesting part, it just wasn't that interesting compared to the 1st book. Not to mention that you don't get to the interesting part until you're 3/4 through with the book. It just felt like Buchman went on and on about Kee and Archie's...more

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Jan 23, 2013 Jami rated it 5 of 5 stars

I must say I've never before read a romance novel written by a man. I was quite skeptical, to say the least, which is weird because if I'm being honest, I don't really like that many romance novels to begin with. They all seem kind of sappy and unrealistic with people just jumping into bed with strangers and are suddenly in love having had no real conversation or interaction other than sex in the whole book.

So I decided after being massively disappointed with Shades of Gray by Maya Banks, that I...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Jacqueline rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: abuse-as-child, airplanes-pilots, baby-child-involved, beta-hero, from-readers-world, from-wrong-side-of-tracks, hero-is-a-super-nice-man, heroine-is-feisty-heroine, military-fiction, romantic-suspense, seals-spec-ops-mercs, up-by-the-bootstraps

Had to read this one when I found out it was written by a man. Very good military romance. I think men just do a better job than most women with the details and feel of military life. I like the realism of all of the guns and helicopters being properly named and their effects explained correctly. I enjoyed the tough as nails heroine and the hero who, while not an alpha guy, was strong and quite good and confident at what he did military wise. He just didn't really do well with women. The romance...more

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Oct 25, 2012 D.C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK: "The first novel in Buchman's new military suspense series is an action-packed adventure. With a super-stud hero, and strong heroine, and a backdrop of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the world of the Washington elite, it will grab readers from the first page."--RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

Name: Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III
Rank: First Lieutenant, Dap Hawk Copilot
Mission: Strategy and execution of special ops maneuvers

Name: Kee Smith
Rank: Sergeant, Night Stalker Gunner and Sharpshoot...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Marlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

This review was originally published at Book Lovers Inc

M.L. Buchman's military romance series is about the four soldiers who crew one particular chopper in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne), famously known as The Night Stalkers. SOAR exists; they operate out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, just as the unit does in Mr. Buchman's first two books, The Night is Mine, and I Own the Dawn.

What SOAR doesn't have, at least according to the documents I can find, is female pilots like E...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Amy Jacobs rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own

I Own The Dawn is the second book in the Night Stalkers series by M.L. Buchman. Even though it is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone novel.

This book wasn't as great as the first book in the series. While the author kept with her usual theme of writing, I found myself disliking the characters. Kee is a character that you have to read more of before you actually start enjoying her character. Archie was more of a passive hero than I am used to. He just didn't fit the bil...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Sandy M rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

I had a blast reading M.L. Buchman’s first book in this series, The Night is Mine. Interspersed in all that military jargon and mystery is a terrific sense of humor, which is always fun to read and usually difficult for most authors to convey. Not for Mr. Buchman. He does a terrific job. So when I received the ARC of I Own the Dawn, I was expecting more of that. I got the military jargon and the mystery, but this time the humor isn’t present nearly as much. Instead, he brought me to tears.

Kee Sm...more I had a blast reading M.L. Buchman’s first book in this series, The Night is Mine. Interspersed in all that military jargon and mystery is a terrific sense of humor, which is always fun to read and usually difficult for most authors to convey. Not for Mr. Buchman. He does a terrific job. So when I received the ARC of I Own the Dawn, I was expecting more of that. I got the military jargon and the mystery, but this time the humor isn’t present nearly as much. Instead, he brought me to tears.

Kee Smith has turned her life from the streets around, and she’s now one of the first women of SOAR, the Army’s Special Operations Aviation Regiment. She’s worked her ass off to make this elite team, after a judge gave her this chance, instead of locking her up and throwing away the key. She’ll even show up Legend Beale – Major Emily Beale – who is supposedly the best of the best and the first woman on the team. Everything Beale does can’t be true. Can it? No matter, Kee is here to show them how it’s done.

So when sassily addressing who she thinks is the pilot of a DAP Hawk helicopter – again, the best of the best – Kee has her first shot of attitude doused when Archie Jefferson Stevenson III cocks a crooked smile and passes her on to none other than Major Beale. Kee is going to need a lot of that attitude adjusted, as she well knows, but holding back has always been difficult for her, even in the military. She has the time docked in the brig to prove it. But on their first mission, Kee does prove herself at her job, not only taking out insurgents but rescuing a young girl left on her own after seeing her parents killed. At first Kee really doesn’t want much to do with Dilyana, but the youngster’s fear and tenacity tug Kee’s heart, which begins to soften for the first time in years.

Archie is having a tough time himself. He has no problem interacting with the Major and other teammates or utilizing his logical, analytical thinking while on missions. It’s Kee Smith who pushes him into a tizzy every time he bumps into her. Yeah, she’s got a great rack and a body to die for, but it’s her eyes that bring him to a standstill. But he’s an officer and she’s enlisted. A taboo situation. That doesn’t stop Archie from inviting Kee to go along on his Italian vacation, and he also includes Dilya, that enchanting child who has also stolen his heart. Both Archie and Kee are looking forward to getting to know each other much better, but their plans are slightly derailed when they find his parents aboard his sailboat on arrival. They don’t let that deter them too long, however, when they find solitude on an Italian hilltop. And, boy, do these two have stamina. Even affter a contest of wills running across the Italian countryside, their lovemaking session doesn’t suffer one bit.

Amid all of this in getting to know Dilya, Kee has promised to find the men who killed the girl’s parents. A tall order she probably can’t complete, but it’s important to Dilya. Archie has also bonded with the orphan, playing games with her and making her laugh. When the group is called back early from from their vacation, they’re tasked with a strange mission that will have repercussions later in the book, and that’s when the action really picks up in chasing the men who are determined to start World War III. It’s Archie and Kee who take the mission on when original plans have to be scrapped. The Night Stalkers Don’t Quit, as we’re told throughout the story, and even when looking death in the face, these two characters never flinch in their duty, despite the fact they’ve just found one another and will hopefully have a future together.

So it’s mystery and duty that take center stage in this book. It’s near the end when Kee truly opens up, doesn’t deny her feelings any longer, and brings both Archie and Dilya into her life that really pulled the emotion out of me. This child tugs on every heart string she comes across, even the reader’s, and this scene had me reaching for the tissue. Those kids get me every time.

I enjoy the military theme of this series a lot. Mr. Buchman does his research very well. At least to this obviously non-military gal. According to his web site, he’s not served in the armed forces, but, as far as I can tell, he’s getting every nuance of it all down pat. There are some points where Kee would more than likely be reprimanded for her near insubordination, but it’s Major Beale who knows there’s something special about Kee and she holds back when Kee is a bit too assertive. The Major’s instincts are always right on. And their location may have a bit to do with it too.

I do like The Night is Mine a tad better than this book. I just love the humor and the White House antics were fun in between all the seriousness, but Archie, Kee, and Dilya will give you a great read. I am looking forward to the other books in this series, however many that may end up being. These characters are intense, loyal, and fun when needed. The storylines are always full of action with a touch of mystery and lots of romance between the unlikeliest of characters. The military background only pulls you in that much more and keeps you reading to the very last page.

See my complete review at http://www.goodbadandunread.com (less)

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Aug 06, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, action-adventure, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

I Own the Dawn is not your average action story, it's so much more!

This is the second in the Night Stalkers series, but even though I hadn't read book one, I didn't have a hard time at all catching up with the action. M.L. Buchman writes with eloquence and a feel for emotion that drew me right into the story. The characters are realistic and fun as well as darned good with guns. I loved it.

One thing I really liked about the story was...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Marcia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: military

Bookswagger Danielle: Three Crowns, swagger jacked, decent read. This book had me on the fence. I found I had to come to like Kee and it was a real struggle for me. She initially came off as a bitter and immature woman with a chip on her shoulder. I really and I mean I really hated one of the opening scenes where she wanted to use her “ample” chest to get on the chopper she desired. It just struck me as wrong due to how she had supposedly worked hard to get where she was only to use her breast a...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

From this title, you might be inclined to think this is a vampire story. Wrong. This is the story of a group of men and women in the Afghani mountains. One of them, Kee Smith has a black past that she says she’s dealt with but she hasn’t – not even close. Another, Major Emily Beale, married to a Major as well, was the first woman to make the SOAR team – the Night Stalkers. Kee was the second. Kee came in with an attitude and a mouth. One of the first things she had to learn was to keep the attit...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Blodeuedd Finland rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: militaryromance, romanticsuspense

It has been so long since I read romance with a bit of suspense in it, I do not know why really since I enjoy the subgenre. Even if this was more military romance.

The book is not so action packed that you might think at first glance, there is of course action. But it's also of course about the tension between Kee and Archie, the budding romance and, well I can't tell you that. Another part of the book is "a project", so not to spoil it all. It shows Kee's soft side and we get under her skin. I g...more

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Dec 28, 2012 Bukcrz rated it 4 of 5 stars

A 4.5 read for me. A perfect love in the chaos of the middle of a dessert battlefield.
I love the heroine, (though age-wise too young for me for her supposedly rank and the miles/hurdles/years she has to overcome to reach where she is) her character make sense. All her actions add up to what her supposed background and made her a unique character for me. My problem with supposedly strong heroine in the past is that once they met the hero they are always ruled with this 'uncontrollable' lust/attr...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenges, romantic-suspense, blog-tour

I enjoy reading romantic suspense books that involve the military. Usually, we have a tough as nails hero who needs a special woman to bring out their softer side. With I Own the Dawn, we have the reverse. It's a tough read, because our heroine doesn't fit into a neat mold and you don't always like her, but it's an excellent story about redefining oneself and learning to love who you are, despite your past.

Keiko "Kee" Smith has had a traumatic life. At a young age, she was left to the streets an...more I enjoy reading romantic suspense books that involve the military. Usually, we have a tough as nails hero who needs a special woman to bring out their softer side. With I Own the Dawn, we have the reverse. It's a tough read, because our heroine doesn't fit into a neat mold and you don't always like her, but it's an excellent story about redefining oneself and learning to love who you are, despite your past.

Keiko "Kee" Smith has had a traumatic life. At a young age, she was left to the streets and gangs of LA with no one to depend on but herself and her best friend. When her best friend is murder and she dispenses vigilante justice on her killers, the County of Los Angeles and the State of California decide the Army is the best place for Kee. In the Army Kee finds a home. She's excellent with weapons and in clutch situations. She's worked hard to get to be a member of the Army's Night Stalkers unit, a elite group of men and 2 woman who fly on the DAP Blackhawks.

But when Kee joins the group in the forward operations, she finds two things that will test who she thought she was: a young Uzbekistan girl, Dilya, rescued during a mission and the Lieutenant on her bird, Archie Stevenson.

Both of them call to her for different reasons.

Dilya, because she sees a girl who, like her, was left alone in the world. While her head may tell her to leave Dilya with someone else, her heart won't let her. Despite the dangers of her job and feeling as if she can't give Dilya what she needs, she does what she can to ensure the little girl is safe and fed. You could tell, in each interaction she has with the little girl, she's doing all the things she wished someone would have done to her when she was left to the street. It's heartbreaking, while at the same time heartwarming watching his woman, who's learned to hardened her heart as a method of protection, have her walls come crumbling down because of this little girl.

Then there's Archie. He has his own set of issues. He's extremely shy and finds himself locking up anytime he's around a woman he's attracted to. Then there are his issues with his mother and trying to prove that he's good enough to be her son. He internalizes a lot of his emotions and contemplates situations inside his own head, which not only confuses and frustrates Kee, but also has her questioning just what she is to Archie. It's hard enough for Kee to fight her own demons, but when she has to try and figure out where she stands with this man who kicked down the remaining pieces of her protective walls, she tens to err on the side of what she knows and thinks he doesn't want her. Of course, that causes fights, hurt feelings, and awkward situations.

What I loved about this story, was that while on the front lines flying covert missions and thwarting attempts to start a war, our heroine finally learns the meaning of love and family. It's not just blood that makes you family, but having those that love you for who you are and will have your back no matter what. Kee found her family in the Night Stalker unit, as well the two people who mean more to her than anything.(less)

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Feb 21, 2013 Brenda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the series, and it's amazing, as was the first. The characters surprised me for some reason- a calm, intelligent soldier and a hot headed, chip on her shoulder gal who trusts no one but herself. Add in an orphan, a ton of action, political intrigue, and some amazing sexual tension and I was hooked. M.L. Buchman is one of my new favorite authors. Before I read any romance at all, I read book hand-me-downs from my father. I've read most of Tom Clancy's early stories, and...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Julie (Manga Maniac Cafe) rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5/ 4 stars

"The relationship between Archie and Kee develops slowly, and I enjoyed the tension that boiled between them. Kee keeps him at arms length, emotionally, afraid that a long-term commitment with him would never work. Their backgrounds are too different, she believes, and so she does everything she can to keep from getting her feelings destroyed. Physical pleasure is one thing, but she just can’t bring herself to trust him with her heart. Archie, on the other hand, is bewildered by the...more

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Aug 01, 2012 E. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: military-romance

4 1/2 stars

Kee Smith has had to fight her way up through the Army ranks as she breaks through the gender barrier but she is not willing to give the benefit of the doubt to the Major whose squadron she is assigned to. A young orphan girl teaches her that she still has another side besides warrior and an officer tempts her into flouting the rules about fraternization. An enthralling and exciting military romance.

A wonderfully fast-paced glimpse of military life seen through the eyes of women servi...more

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Jun 20, 2012 NL Gassert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Not too long ago I reviewed ML Buchman’s THE NIGHT IS MINE, the first book in a four-book series (because there’re four seats on a Black Hawk helicopter) featuring “women pilots who fly for the immensely secretive, real-life U.S. Army SOAR.” I loved it and eagerly anticipated book two in the series.

Book two, I OWN THE DAWN, revisits the sunbaked, forward SOAR operations in Pakistan and doesn’t disappoint. I may actually like it even better than book one. Sergeant Kee Smith is an immensely flawe...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Andreasoldier rated it 3 of 5 stars

Kee Smith finally makes SOAR, with a giant chip on her soldier. But she doesn't want fly on the little choppers, she wants the big guys. And like a matador, she waves a red flag at the guy she thinks is in charge. He likes what he sees, but is a little too much of an officer. The real boss isof course a woman, and sparks fly.
Then on a mission, Kee ends up in charge an Uzbeki orphan girl, and everyone can see she wears her heart on her sleeve - including Lt. Archibal Stevenson III, the previously...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for_review, rom-suspense

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: 3.5/5

Kee is one tough woman. She’s worked hard to get where she is, one of two women in SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) or the Night Stalkers. Kee’s youth was troubled and dangerous, she lived on the streets and stole what she needed to in order to survive. When she watched her only friend be gunned down, she turned her own gun on the killers, killing them as well. She killed men who were on the most wanted list so she was given a...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: 3.5/5

Kee is one tough woman. She’s worked hard to get where she is, one of two women in SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) or the Night Stalkers. Kee’s youth was troubled and dangerous, she lived on the streets and stole what she needed to in order to survive. When she watched her only friend be gunned down, she turned her own gun on the killers, killing them as well. She killed men who were on the most wanted list so she was given a deal: enlist in the Army or go to prison. She enlisted and it changed her life. She scored high in everything she did, she pushed herself and now she’s part of the Night Stalkers. Only problem is, after landing in Pakistan, she doesn’t want to be on the “girlie’s” bird, flying with Major Emily Beale (I Own the Night). Kee doesn’t believe one bit of the hype surrounding Emily, but she learns fast just how wrong she is.

Part of Emily’s team is Archie Stevenson, or the Professor, as Kee calls him. He’s been side by side with Emily for years as her right hand man and close friend. He’s a bit on the quiet side, but a genius when it comes to strategizing. It’s a skill that he’s becoming more comfortable with and that’s largely due in part to Kee’s influence. I could say these two butt heads early on, but Kee butted heads with everyone she came in contact with, so no surprise there. Archie’s attracted to her, but their differing ranks forbid any type of relationship. Kee ends up having her hands full anyway as during a nighttime mission, they come across a young orphan girl, Dilya, whose parents were recently killed. Kee has such a hard shell but this little girl starts to get to her. Kee relates to her, having grown up alone, hungry, scared so she takes the girl back with them and watches over her for the time being.

In addition to now having a young girl to watch out for, Archie is getting also getting to Kee, it’s subtle at first, their romance felt like it snuck up on them and me as I was reading. It was during a 10-day leave that Archie, Kee and Dilya all get closer and I really started liking the pairing of Kee and Archie. Kee’s a tough one to like early on. She’s rude, she has a huge chip on her shoulder, she wants nothing to do with Emily, thinking that everything had been handed to her. Kee’s eyes get opened up on more than one occasion, and while she never loses that edge that makes her a great teammate and sniper shot, the personal edges she had soften and the love from Archie and Dilya impact Kee in a nice way.

There’s quite a bit of action in the second half of the book. The men who killed Dilya’s parents have direct contact with the SOAR team and their mission is to stop these men before they’re able to exact their own vengeance that has the potential to start a war. During the Night Stalker’s set up to take these men down, a lot of strategizing and planning takes place. It’s very military heavy with the speak and I was confusing myself reading these scenes. It’s a quite a bit of information to take in and there were a few scenes I had to reread to make sure I got the details, names and places all down. It was action packed at the end and found Archie and Kee on their own to complete the mission.

I enjoyed their romance very much. Like I mentioned above, it at times felt like the romance snuck up on everyone. Archie is such a sweet guy, very caring and he’s the first person to show love to Kee. I liked who Kee was when she let herself be loved and feel love. She was a hard character to like early on, but she not only grew on me as the story went along, she turned into a character I rooted for and wanted to be happy. The rank issue between Archie and Kee was never really brought up again, other than team members looking the other way when they caught Archie and Kee. It felt like such a huge issue in the first book in this series, but it was never addressed much beyond initially mentioning it here.

This was a story that I got into the more I read. The beginning felt a little slow, but when the action and the relationships hit their stride, it was an easy story to get into. Kee’s a strong female character, she has to be strong physically and mentally to keep up on the team but I liked seeing her softer sides. The sweetness she shows a scared young girl, the moments she lets herself be vulnerable with Archie, that’s when I really started liking her and got invested in the story. (less)

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Aug 30, 2012 Kanya rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book, but two things were annoying :

1. Kee is not one of my favourite character. I thought she was way too judgemental. She makes assumptions about everyone, from Archie to Emily, and she's always wrong. Ok, she had a hard life, but that's not a good reason to act so immature. Also, and this is a note for Kee : flaunting your breasts is not a good way to be accepted as one of the guys.

2. Too much military lingo. I got lost in all the details about choppers, weapon and all those a...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Calisto rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: military-hotness, netgalley

Action, suspense, romance and heartbreak for soldiers in the middle of the a scorching desert mired by political turmoil.

Kee Smith has had to fight tooth and nail for everything she has and nothing irritates her more than the born into privilege of the likes such as Lt. Archie Stevenson. But first impressions, such as getting stuck in a 'girlie-chopper', are often wrong and Kee learns that opening her heart turns out to be her biggest strength of all.

Now, I absolutely loved the first installment...more Action, suspense, romance and heartbreak for soldiers in the middle of the a scorching desert mired by political turmoil.

Kee Smith has had to fight tooth and nail for everything she has and nothing irritates her more than the born into privilege of the likes such as Lt. Archie Stevenson. But first impressions, such as getting stuck in a 'girlie-chopper', are often wrong and Kee learns that opening her heart turns out to be her biggest strength of all.

Now, I absolutely loved the first installment of The Night Stalkers, The Night is Mine. The plot was completely over the top and reminded me of a summer blockbuster. I have to say that I was expecting more of the same in I Own the Dawn, but that's not the case. The plot here is much more grounded in reality. Part of me was disappointed by that but only a little bit. It's still such a refreshing change to see female soldiers that kick butt and are unapologetic about it without being 'Rambolinas' that I was more than willing to put up with a more realistic plot-line.

There is no doubt about the size of the chip on Kee's shoulder, but it turns out she is also a very likeable character. She reminded me of Pvt. Vasquez from Aliens: tough and a capable bad ass but also very human especially when faced with the unexpected events.

Archie is a great, if somewhat low-key hero. If you want a big bad alpha who takes no prisoners, then you'll be disappointed. But what Archie lacks for in your face alphaness, he makes up for quiet intelligence and fierce loyalty.

The plot here is much more grounded in reality when compared to it's predecessor. I liked the sympathetic villains (and I was really interested to see how far the 'good guys' were going to go to do the 'right thing') and the stark realities of a war zone.

Didn't like the one-dimensional moppet who is only present to 'soften' Kee's badassery and make her more 'feminine'. However, as much as I dislike that trope it wasn't completely unrealistic in this setting. I also really disliked the "Big Mis". I saw it coming from a mile a way and really hoped that I was wrong. Instead, I did end up going, "Are you kidding me?" because a simple conversation would have and did solve it.

If you enjoyed the over-the-top plot of the first book, you might be disappointed by the lack of popcorn fun, but I Own the Dawn is still a tense and exciting addition to The Night Stalkers series.

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley. (less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Sia McKye rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Night Is Mine Book one (Emily Beale's story).
I Own the Dawn Book two. Can be read as a stand alone.

Amazing story! Highly entertaining and very well written. I literally didn't want to put it down. The author put me on the Black Hawk team and I was there for each battle--military and personal between Kee and Archie. This one goes on my keeper shelf.

Competition to get into the elite military forces is brutal and only the best make it. It takes a great deal of discipline and drive to make it th...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Abbey Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-and-a-half-out-of-5, read-july-2012, books-reviewed-by-me

Also posted at http://abbeyannsbookland.blogspot.com/

3 and a half out of 4

This was a very good book. It wasn't perfect, but overall I'm glad I read it.

Kee was unlikeable at first. She was a bitch to everyone she met, and they almost never deserved it. I understand the author was trying to portray her as a hard-ass with a giant chip on her shoulder, but in the beginning it's almost like he took it a little too far. As the story went on however, she gradually improved. By the end of the book, I re...more Also posted at http://abbeyannsbookland.blogspot.com/

3 and a half out of 4

This was a very good book. It wasn't perfect, but overall I'm glad I read it.

Kee was unlikeable at first. She was a bitch to everyone she met, and they almost never deserved it. I understand the author was trying to portray her as a hard-ass with a giant chip on her shoulder, but in the beginning it's almost like he took it a little too far. As the story went on however, she gradually improved. By the end of the book, I really liked her. She became nicer, and stopped treating everyone she came across like crap. She still had a bit of a chip on her shoulder though. I think part of what changed her was Dilya. Kee formed a bound with her that was heartwarming, while at the same time, incredibly interesting to read about.

Archie was different from your typical heroes. He wasn't very alpha-like, but he was intelligent and sweet. If I'm not mistaken, I think he was supposed to be awkward around beautiful women. I'm not really sure though, because other than a brief mention along with a sentence about his failed romantic history, they didn't really elaborate on it.

Now on to the romance. Unfortunately, it might have been the worst thing about this book. It felt like there was a piece of the story missing. During most of the first half of the novel, it was basically non-existent. Then, it just came out of nowhere.They went from being just two people who aren't allowed to act on their romantic tension to falling asleep in each others arms and going on vacation together with little regard for the consequences in a blink of an eye. It was just a sudden, unexpected change.

I love the location that this book took place. This was my first romance set in a war zone, and I can gurantee it won't be the last.

I really liked this novel. In fact, I liked it so much that right after I finished it, I went and bought the first one in the series, ending my non-book buying streak that I had been on at least two months. You can read my review of that novel here. While this book wasn't as good as that one, it was pretty dang close. (less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Amy Denim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-romances-challenge

Loved how I got some more story from the hero and heroine of the first book in this series but not to the detriment of this couple's story. I also really liked how this one was mostly set in country instead of back in the states as in the first book.
Although I totally didn't relate to the heroine, the author did a great job of making me sympathetic to her. My absolute favorite part of this book is the orphan and her tale. Loved how every once in a while we got a to see the world from her point o...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Conny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I was a first reader winner and was really looking forward to reading this book, and let me tell you it did not disappoint. It is not your average romantic story it is a military romance full of action with all the ups and downs that war will bring with it. Kee is a female gunner and sharpshooter and is reluctant to let anybody get close to her, but how can she possible resist First Lieutenant Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III? Well she does not make it easy that is for sure. I loved the character...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, special-forces, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Setting:
Base of western Karakoram; base and surrounding area of Uzbekistan

Theme: resolving the past; falling in love; seeing true self

Characters:
First Lieutenant Archibald Jeffrey Stevenson III – aka Professor – Emily chose him at West Point, and he has flown with/ partnered with her since; father a rich builder of yachts, mother head of a think tank – and mother gone a lot – and though he loves his mom, he has felt abandoned by her and not connected to her like he is to his dad; kinda geeky, an...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Darcy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, military, romantic-suspense

When I started out reading this one I wondered if I was going to have to give it up. I didn't like Kee, she had such a chip on her shoulder that I wanted to reach through the pages and knock it off and take her down a couple of pegs. I hated how Kee acted with her team at the start, especially Emily. She should have been asking her for advice, instead she was doing what men did to her, make snap judgement based on looks.

It took me a while before warming up to her, mostly until she she ended up r...more When I started out reading this one I wondered if I was going to have to give it up. I didn't like Kee, she had such a chip on her shoulder that I wanted to reach through the pages and knock it off and take her down a couple of pegs. I hated how Kee acted with her team at the start, especially Emily. She should have been asking her for advice, instead she was doing what men did to her, make snap judgement based on looks.

It took me a while before warming up to her, mostly until she she ended up riding herd on a stray she picked up. I could tell right away what was going to happen with these two, but Dilya was so sweet that you couldn't help but love when you saw how those two interacted. Dilya became my favorite part of the book. I loved how she managed to worm her way into everyone's life and how she seemed to be part of the team, always in the background. I also loved how she became an important part of the mating dance between Kee and Archie.

As Kee's past came out you could understand why she had such an understanding with Dilya, it was like she was looking at her past. I loved how Kee used that past to impart a big part between Archie and his mother. I found it interesting that after hearing that, Archie found himself having to look back at his past with different eyes.

Betty was another one that I wasn't sure about when we first meet her. But slowly she won me over. I found it interesting that she could read Kee so easily, yet had a hard time interacting with her own son.

Archie was a funny guy. I loved how he was struck dumb around Kee for so long. He doesn't seem like he would be like that, but his social skills were lacking around women who attracted him. It was only when he didn't know Kee was looking that he seemed to win her over, especially how he was with Dilya.

I loved the ending, loved the question that Kee asked Dilya, loved how Kee just assumed Archie would agree. It seems like they all have big changes coming.

I can't wait to read more in this series!(less)

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Aug 01, 2012 Christi Snow rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Review:

OMG! I LOVE this series. I read the first book last year...you can see that review HERE...and was completely blown away by this author's voice. I had no idea if book #2 could live up to book #1, but it so totally did!! LOVE!!!

At the beginning of this book, I wasn't too sure. Kee is a tough, really strong gal. She's immediately guilty of judging Major Beale (heroine from bk #1) falsely just because she's female. But I quickly started changing my mind. Kee has come from awful circumstanc...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Tam B. rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a good book but for me not as good as the first. Not that I wanted or expected this book to be a repeat of that, but there was almost no tension over the issue of the leads breaking regulations with their relationship. It was almost an open secret.

The hunt for the bad guys whilst less dramatic in terms of characters involved had greater consequences but I think for me as it involved the whole crew acting on orders with back up, it didn't feel as intense. This book for me was more of a...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Livia rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good addition to the Night Stalkers series. The "professor" and Sgt Kee Smith are polar opposites but so well matched; he, a Boston uppercrust that attended West Point she, a street smart wise-ass, forced into the Army in lieu of prison. Together they are keeping the world safe and falling in love. I OWN THE DAWN picks ups exactly where THE NIGHT IS MINE ends. I suggest reading the books in order because of the close knit relationship of the characters and how they easily slide in and out of e...more

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About M.L. Buchman

NPR named M.L. Buchman's "I Own the Dawn" as a Top 5 Romance of 2012. Booklist named "The Night is Mine" as a Top 10 Romance of 2012.
...and he couldn't be more shocked if he fell in love! (No, wait, he already did and married her 15 years ago.)

M.L. (Matthew Lieber, but my friends call me "Matt") Buchman has flipped fish, sold stereo equipment, rebuilt a 50' sailboat, and sung opera. He's worked in...more

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Books by M.L. Buchman

The Night Is Mine (The Night Stalkers, #1)

Wait Until Dark (The Night Stalkers, #3)

Daniel's Christmas (The Night Stalkers, # 2.5)

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I Own the Dawn (The Night Stalkers #2)

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