How to Read the Firehawks Series
M.L. Buchman’s action-packed Firehawks series blends military-grade aviation, tense romantic suspense, and the authentic, grueling world of wildland firefighting. While every novel is written as a standalone romance with a satisfying resolution, the characters, relationships, and overarching plot lines regarding Mount Hood Aviation develop continuously. To get the best experience, we highly recommend reading the core novels in their order of publication.
The Core Firehawks Novels in Publication Order
The main spine of the series consists of five novels that follow the helicopter pilots, mechanics, and crews of Mount Hood Aviation:
- Pure Heat (2014) – This is the perfect starting point for the series. It introduces Steve Mercer, a retired military smokejumper who now designs state-of-the-art firefighting drones, and Carly Thomas, a pilot battling to prove herself. Together, they must fight a wildfire while uncovering a dangerous terrorist threat lurking in the Oregon wilderness.
- Full Blaze (2014) – The action goes global in the second book. Australian helicopter pilot Jeannie Clark and aerial photographer Cal Jackson team up to fight fires across continents while resisting a fierce attraction that threatens to consume them both.
- Hot Point (2015) – Helicopters and military intrigue clash when Mount Hood Aviation mechanic Denise Conroy and charming pilot Vern Taylor find themselves caught in the middle of a Central American jungle coup while on a critical mission.
- Flash of Fire (2016) – When MHA's regular lead pilot goes on maternity leave, headstrong former Army National Guard pilot Robin Harrow steps in to take command. She finds herself clashing—and sparking—with veteran hotshot pilot Mickey Hamilton.
- Wild Fire (2016) – The final core novel wraps up the main series. When helicopter pilot Gordon Finchley crashes in a remote lake, pilot Ripley Vaughan is sent in to rescue him, forcing them to fight both a catastrophic forest fire and their own personal demons to survive.
The Firehawks Subseries & Spin-offs
Beyond the core novels, Buchman expanded the Firehawks universe with several parallel short story collections and novellas. These series focus on the various other groups that risk their lives on the fire lines every summer, adding depth and color to the main timeline.
Firehawks Smokejumpers Trilogy
Focusing on the elite daredevils who parachute directly into active wildfire zones, this trilogy of novellas runs parallel to the main novels and offers a closer look at ground-level firefighting action:
- Wildfire at Dawn (2014)
- Wildfire at Larch Creek (2015)
- Wildfire on the Skagit (2015)
Firehawks Hotshots Stories
These novellas and short stories focus on the Interagency Hotshot Crews—the elite ground teams who clear brush, dig lines, and directly confront the blazes on foot:
- Fire Light Fire Bright (2014)
- Firelights of Christmas (2014)
- Fire Light Cabin Bright (2015)
- Road to the Fire's Heart (2016)
- A Hotshot Christmas (2016)
Firehawks Lookouts Stories
This series of short stories focuses on the lonely, atmospheric world of fire lookouts—the scouts stationed in isolated wilderness towers keeping watch for the first curl of smoke:
- Looking for the Fire (2014)
- Fire at Gray Wolf Lookout (2015)
- Blaze Atop Swallow Hill Lookout (2015)
- Summer of Fire and Heart (2016)
- Together Atop Sapphire Lookout (2016)
What to Know Before You Start: The Night Stalkers Connection
For readers who want to appreciate the full scope of M.L. Buchman’s universe, it is helpful to know that Firehawks is actually a direct spin-off of his highly popular military romance series, The Night Stalkers. The Night Stalkers follows the pilot heroes of the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
Mount Hood Aviation is founded and managed by retired military majors Emily Beale and Mark Henderson, who are the central characters of the original Night Stalkers series. In fact, Emily Beale's pregnancy in the Night Stalkers directly affects the events of Flash of Fire, explaining why Robin Harrow has to take over as lead pilot. If you want to follow their complete journey, the author recommends starting with The Night Is Mine (The Night Stalkers Book 1) before transitioning into Pure Heat.
Practical Reading Guidance
Here are a few quick tips to help you navigate your journey through the fires:
- Can they be read as standalones? Yes. If you only want to read one or two books, you can jump in anywhere. Each romance is resolved by the end of its respective book.
- Best Starting Point: Start with Pure Heat if you want to focus strictly on the firefighting adventures, or start with The Night Is Mine if you want to understand the origins of Emily Beale and the founding of Mount Hood Aviation.
- Real-World Authenticity: Buchman’s background in geophysics and aviation shines through in his writing. Expect highly detailed, technically accurate descriptions of helicopter flight dynamics, drone technology, and wildland firefighting tactics that add a layer of gripping realism to the romance.