A pilot and a mountain man elude a team of assassins in the wilds of Alaska.Leo Eddowes is the pilot for Polaris, a team of elite ex-military operatives. Their current mission: trying to locate a deadly virus before it's found by Chronos Corp, the American pharmaceutical company hoping to weaponize it. When the trail goes cold, Leo's team evacuates the remote town of Schink's Station, leaving her behind to recover from a bout of flu. The next morning, an older woman from the town approaches Leo with directions to a remote cabin, promising that she'll find what she's looking for there. Leo has no choice but to investigate. After a harrowing solo flight, Leo finds Elias Thorne, a man with a mysterious past who says he knows the location of the virus. The novel is a test of Leo and Elias' physical endurance in the harsh Alaskan backcountry. They traverse melting ice floes, hike remote mountain trails, and elude hungry grizzly bears, all while trying to outwit and outsmart the relentless pursuers from Chronos, led by an enigmatic tracker named Ash. The harsh environment and close proximity force Leo and Elias to lean on each other for survival, and their mutual respect and overwhelming attraction lead to love. Anders' writing is brisk, with deft descriptions of the unforgiving landscape and its taxing effects on the human body. The book is an action-packed survival story and rip-roaring adventure, but romance readers might wonder if Leo and Elias' connection will outlast their intense circumstances. The nonstop pacing outshines the moments of quiet connection and emotional intimacy, which leaves the romance feeling slightly underdeveloped.A dazzling adventure eclipses a still-pleasing romance.

Anders dials things up a notch in her riveting second Survival Instincts romance (after Whiteout), another life-or-death chase through extreme climates. Retired Lieutenant Commander Leo Eddowes takes on more than she bargained for when she accepts a rescue mission in the wilds of Alaska. Disgraced U.S. Marshal Elias Thorne has been living in hiding for more than a decade to protect a deadly secret. Though the pair-s first meeting is disastrous, they band together when powerful enemies come after Elias and are willing to kill to get what they want. As he and Leo work together to evade their vicious pursuers, blazing chemistry erupts between them. Near-death situations give rise to some intense emotions, but it remains somewhat dubious that these two would proclaim undying love after mere days of knowing each other. Still, the breakneck pacing and superbly executed manhunt plot makes for a thrilling page-turner. Readers who enjoy a heavy dose of suspense with their romance are in for a gripping time. Agent: Laura Bradford, Bradford Literary. (Aug.)