Call of Duty

by Merline Lovelace

The United States Air Force is no place for free-spirited Captain Jennifer Vargas, but shortly after her superior refused her resignation, she discovers an illegal training operation--leading her to place her own life at risk to expose the truth. Original.

Genres: Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery Thriller, Suspense

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

After a 23-year AF career, Colonel Merline Lovelace launched a second career as a writer, basing many of her tales on her own experiences in uniform and on her travels all around the globe.

The USA Today best-selling author now has more than 11 million copies of her books in print. Her works have won numerous awards, including the Romance Writers of America's prestigious RITA. Merline is especially proud to have been named the University of Oklahoma's Writer of the Year and the Oklahoma Female Veteran of the Year.

Reviews

[Maryann Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The characters are very realistic, and the story was not predictable. I highly recommend it!

[airwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Military Romantic Suspense

Core Elements: A high-stakes military conspiracy, a rogue officer risking her career/life for justice, and (likely) a forbidden romance.
Tropes: Disobeying orders, uncovering corruption, life-or-death stakes.
Comparable Books: Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series (Navy SEAL ops + romance), Katie Ruggle’s Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters (less military but similar lone-wolf heroine).
2. Conspiracy Thriller Romance

Plot Focus: Jennifer stumbles upon an illegal operation and must expose it—likely while being hunted by powerful enemies.
Tension: Trust issues, hidden agendas, danger from within her own ranks.
Comparable Books: Laura Griffin’s Tracers series (forensic + military suspense), Iris Johansen’s Eve Duncan series (less military but strong conspiracy plots).
3. Maverick Heroine / Rebel Officer Romance

Heroine Type: Jennifer is a free spirit in a rigid system, making her an outsider—similar to classic "rogue cop" or "disgraced agent" arcs.
Conflict: Her refusal to conform puts her at odds with superiors, but her instincts prove right.
Comparable Books: Rachel Grant’s Flashpoint series (archaeologist + military ops), Lindsay McKenna’s Shadow Warriors (military heroines breaking rules).
4. Undercover/Covert Ops Romance

Possible Angle: If Jennifer goes undercover or works with an ally (love interest?) to expose the operation, this adds espionage elements.
Tropes: Fake identities, high-risk infiltration, forced alliances.
Comparable Books: Toni Anderson’s Cold Justice series (FBI + undercover ops), Sidney Bristol’s Hotshots series (military/DEA undercover work).
5. Forbidden Military Romance (if there’s a love interest involved)

Potential Dynamics:
Superior/Subordinate: If her love interest is higher-ranked, adding a fraternization taboo.
Enemy Ally: If the love interest is part of the conspiracy (or suspected to be).
Comparable Books: Susan Stoker’s Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes (military/police romance with power imbalances).

[Tintin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cerita dalam buku ini mirip dengan buku yang saya baca sebelumnya, yaitu "Silent Witness".
Berkisah tentang dua orang USAF officer (di Silent Witness satu US Navy officer dan satu civilian) yang bertugas di Personnel Center (kalo di sini mungkin bagian Administrasi Personel kali yak?), seorang captain dan seorang lieutenant colonel. Si kapten yang cewek digambarkan bersifat emosian dan sering terlibat dalam masalah, meskipun bukan karena kesengajaan. Si letkol digambarkan penuh dedikasi dan strict to the rules.
Keduanya terseret dalam permasalahan dunia "bawah tanah" yang dimotori oleh seorang mantan Direktur CIA (kok pasti ini yak?) dan seorang mantan komandan pasukan khusus (tuh, kan?). Yang mantan Direktur CIA punya keyakinan bahwa dia harus membela kepentingan negaranya dengan biaya berapa pun tanpa memikirkan imbalan. Pendeknya, dia patriotik sekali. Sang mantan kumendan pasukan juga gak kalah patriotik dan loyal pada bossnya, si mantan Direktur CIA.
Permasalahan muncul saat sang kapten menemukan suatu perbedaan pada data yang dikelolanya. Data-data personel yang ada di sistem komputer ternyata dipalsukan dan disadap oleh organisasi rahasia yang dipimpin oleh mantan Direktur CIA itu.
Dan dibantu oleh sang letkol, dia akhirnya berhasil membongkar skandal ini, meskipun harus dibayang-bayangi ancaman yang membahayakan jiwanya.
Endingnya, ya begitulah. Mereka hidup berbahagia untuk selama-lamanya..

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Merline Lovelace, but it certainly won't be the last. Mystery, romance, humor, and a couple of dogs rounded out a solid plot. I also learned a lot about the U. S. Airforce from this book.