Tinderbox is the first book in a series that takes place in the very volatile region of the Horn of Africa. Dr. Morgan Adler is a paleoanthropologist whose job is to research two dig sites outside of Djibouti to determine if either of them has enough historical significance to warrant rerouting a proposed water pipeline being constructed by the Chinese government. In her first attempt, she finds a skeleton of a prehuman she calls Linus after the famous Lucy skeleton found in Ethiopia. When Green Beret, Pax Blanchard is put in charge of Morgan's protection detail, sparks of attraction fly even though they both must attempt to resist. Tinderbox is in a class above the usual protector/protectee romance in that the main characters' attempts at resisting each other include realistic consequences if they can't. Another aspect of the story that makes it a cut above the norm is the true to life way Morgan Adler's job is portrayed as well as the political machinations of heads of state of Djibouti and the American military, especially those involving China's desire to make inroads into the region. A very timely - well researched story with a level of realism not always found in novels of this type.