I love the cover photo of a female pilot in the cockpit of her plane. The author Jamie Rae tells us that her husband is a pilot. She's saddled her heroine with the name of Tinklee Pinkerton - the lady knows it won't do her any good in the macho world of fighter plane flying. She's determined to succeed, even if it eventually kills her the way it killed her brother Colin.

CALL SIGN KARMA shows that Tink has passed her course with flying colours and will be the youngest person ever to fly an F-35. She's obsessed with her brother's death, however, instead of getting on with a healthy life. If something doesn't go her way, she blames karma. On the Fourth of July, alone on a beach, she allows a handsome man with a plummy accent to break through her armour just a little. The Brits are good guys, right? Next day her base commander introduces a British flying ace who'll be joining her team for exercises. You guessed it, Flight Lieutenant Sinclair looks very familiar. They can't admit to the one night stand, or it could destroy their careers.

While she's a strong young woman, Tink has a lot of growing up to do, as do her classmates, and at times the tale comes across more as a young adult story than an adult romance. I also find it tedious that every American writing a British character gives him the exact same childish swear words. Otherwise this is a modern version of Top Gun with the roles reversed, and the instructor is the one riding the Harley. Trainee pilots get time on simulators before flying the real thing, and Tink is furious that she is made to relive her brother's last flight. Was it an accident, pilot error, or is something inherently dangerous about this model of plane? She can't let it go, and seems like nobody can help her.

I like that the scene moves to North Africa as the pilots fly their planes long-distance to where they are going to be needed, backing up Special Forces. These planes are military machines so more than just their pilots will be relying on them. The personal tensions rise as battle is engaged. I loved the dramatic climax to the tale and the daring and comradeship that carry the students through their mission. CALL SIGN KARMA is a strong adult romance with gritty realism and all the detail about fighter planes you could want.