Has anyone ever watched a movie (especially action films) where the main character – usually a man – meets a girl who by the end of the show is the love interest for said main character? It doesn’t even matter if the entire story takes place in only a day or even a few hours. It’s becoming a very predictable scenario. So where’s the romance in Night Hawk? Sorry, I killed it in the beginning.

This is a war story, not a love story. While it’s true I have a man and a woman playing the two leads, I’m not interested in going with stereotypes. What I want is realism. What would actually be going on emotionally during this time in the characters’ lives? As far as I can see, it wouldn’t be romance. So if it’s not realistic for these characters to be falling in love, it’s not going in the book regardless of how popular the mold.

I’ve been amused by people catching the fact that David’s response to the opposite sex is rather naïve, regardless of any flirting that may take place on the part of the female. This is intentional. David is suffering from the loss of his fiancée. Yes, he does understand love and can be very romantic under the right circumstances, but at this time in his life, he doesn’t really want to think or deal with the emotion. Furthermore, David suffers from an incurable sense of humility. He honestly doesn’t realize what an incredibly attractive man he is, which often makes him all the more desirable.

On Amber’s side, I’ll admit she’s attracted to David but knows her place and her duty. The front lines are not the place to cultivate a romantic relationship, especially for someone in her position of leadership. She understands this and is not the type to compromise lives for personal pursuits. And while there is attraction, I can’t necessarily say it’s romantic love. She cares deeply for him, but is not fantasizing about him at night.

Will romance play a role in books to come? Yes, but perhaps not in the way one might expect. That doesn’t matter to me. Love can come in many ways and often surprises people. If that’s how it is in life, why should it be different in the book?