The shelves in the romance section of bookstores are crowded with tales of former or active Navy SEALs and other special operation forces.

Known as military/romantic suspense, this is a world filled with uber-Alphas, typically men, but sometimes women, who can save the day and fall in love at the same time.

This is a genre that Suzanne Brockmann knows well. Her "Troubleshooters" series, which is filled with the stories of SEAL Team 16 and the Troubleshooters Inc. security firm launched and run by SEAL Team 16 members, debuted in 2000. Prior to that, she introduced readers to SEAL Team 10, with the "Tall, Dark and Dangerous" series. Her characters (a core group moves in and out of the stories) are remarkably human. And she weaves current events into her stories, which is part of the appeal of the "Troubleshooters" novels.

Her latest offering, "Headed for Trouble," a "Troubleshooters" anthology, is a collection of short stories and novellas, as well as musings from Brockmann. The stories are engaging, but much of the material has been published before, if only on her website, www.suzannebrockmann.com.

The stories offer added insights into the characters - side stories that are interesting but that weren't germane to the plots of the novels. The series has run throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Brockmann was never shy about tying reality to her fiction. The stories are a reminder of the tensions both on the battlefields and on the home front that those conflicts have wrought.

For example, "Home Is Where the Heart Is" explores how families cope when loved ones are deployed. The second half of the story is new. Much of the action centers on Sgt. Arlene Schroeder, a divorced mom who has custody of her 13-year-old daughter, Maggie. Her ex-husband is an alcoholic and Schroeder has been deployed, so her brother is raising Maggie. The plot revolves around Maggie trying to fix her mother up with a longtime crush, so that Mom can get pregnant and not have to go back to war.

In addition to the romance, there's also talk about whether the government broke promises and let the troops down.

The story also touches on the conflicts faced by Jules Cassidy, gay FBI agent extraordinaire, and his husband, Robin, when Jules has to go on assignment - he's just returned from Afghanistan.

Brockmann doesn't stereotype her heroes. Fan favorites Sam Starrett (he's from Fort Worth) and his wife, Alyssa, a former FBI agent, are a modern couple. Sam, a former SEAL, and Alyssa both work with Troubleshooters.

"A SEAL and Three Babies" is the new entry in the anthology. Sam gets left behind with the baby when Alyssa, Jules and Max Bhagat, head of the FBI's counterterrorism unit, have to go fight the bad guys. Jules, of course, leaves Robin behind, and Max's wife and two young children are also left alone. Sam and Alyssa are used to working as a team, but since the birth of their son, they don't go out on assignment together.

In addition to the stories, Brockmann also has a conversation with readers about how the characters developed and what was going on when she wrote the story. The conversations give the anthology an Inside the Actors Studio feel as Brockmann talks craft and motivation. Each story begins with a subhead that gives the time frame for the story in relation to the novel. "A SEAL and Three Babies" is set after "Hot Pursuit" and just before "Breaking the Rules."

The anthology is a great way to meet up with old friends and remember old times.

"Headed for Trouble" by Suzanne Brockmann; Ballantine ($7.99)

THE 'TROUBLESHOOTERS' SERIES

"The Unsung Hero," Ivy, June 2000

"The Defiant Hero," Ivy, March 2001

"Over the Edge," Ivy, September 2001

"Out of Control," Ballantine, April 2002

"Into the Night," Ballantine, November 2002

"Gone Too Far," Ballantine, July 2003

"Flashpoint," Ballantine, March 30, 2004

"Hot Target," Ballantine, Dec. 28, 2004

"Breaking Point," Ballantine, July 12, 2005

"Into the Storm," Ballantine, August 2006

"Force of Nature," Ballantine, Aug. 14, 2007

"All Through the Night," Ballantine, Oct. 30, 2007

"Into the Fire," Ballantine, July 29, 2008

"Dark of Night," Ballantine, Jan. 27, 2009

"Hot Pursuit," Ballantine, July 28, 2009

"Breaking the Rules," Ballantine, March 22, 2011

"When Tony Met Adam," Ballantine e-short story, June 6, 2011

"Beginnings and Ends," Ballantine e-short story, June 2012