Tag Archives: Susan Stoker

Rescuing Macie by Susan Stoker-Review & Excerpt Tour

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RESCUING MACIE (Delta Force Heroes / 1001 Dark Nights) by Susan Stoker-Review Tour

RESCUING MACIE
Delta Force Heroes
by Susan Stoker
Release Date: April l23, 2019
Genre: adult, contemporary, romantic, suspense

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 23, 2019

After years of estrangement, Mercedes Laughlin has finally reconciled with her older brother. It should be the happiest time of her life, getting to know Truck and his new wife…and it would be, if an ex wasn’t causing her trouble. Add in Truck’s boss, Colonel Colton Robinson, an amazingly distracting man whom she met under embarrassing circumstances, and Macie’s got a bit more on her plate than she can handle.

From the moment they met, Colt was fascinated by Macie, and helping her through an anxiety attack at her brother’s wedding didn’t diminish the appeal. He’d do his best to sweep her off her feet, if not for a little voice telling him to tread lightly—until a frantic phone call changes the plan. Macie’s being targeted, and Colt’s determined to keep her safe while he and her brother eliminate the threat.

Colt isn’t about to let his friend lose his sister again so soon…or miss his own chance at a happy ending with Macie before they’ve barely had a beginning.

•••••••••••

REVIEW: RESCUING MACIE is a contemporary, adult story line in Susan Stoker’s DELTA FORCE HEROES military, romantic suspense series, and the latest in the 1001 Dark Nights multi-authored anthology. This is forty-three year old Colonel Colton Robinson, and thirty-three year old, author’s PA Mercedes ‘Macie’ Laughlin’s story line. RESCUING MACIE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous instalments is revealed where necessary. Macie is Ford ‘Truck’ Laughlin’s sister (Rescuing Mary).

Told from dual third person perspectives (Macie and Colton) RESCUING MACIE follows the quick building relationship between forty-three year old Colonel Colton Robinson, and thirty-three year old, author’s PA Mercedes ‘Macie’ Laughlin. Two months earlier Colonel Colton Robinson fell for Mercedes Laughlin at Ford Laughlin’s wedding, but a one-night stand, of a sorts, ended with Macie ghosting our story line hero. A break-in at Macie’s apartment finds our heroine on the run, and her lifeline is her brother’s commander Colonel Colton Robinson. With Colton in her ear, Macie battles anxiety and fear as her would-be intruders are desperate to take down our story line heroine. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Macie and Colt, and the potential fall-out as Macie’s past demands what was lost.

Macie Laughlin suffers with an extreme anxiety disorder, so much so, that her life is constantly spiralling out of control. Estranged from her brother Ford, Macie has no idea as the who or why of the recent attack but Colt Robinson is determined to protect the woman with whom he has fallen in love.

The relationship between Colt and Macie is one of immediate attraction but an attraction tempered by misunderstanding and miscommunication, Macie hates that her life is controlled by the anxiety that threatens her daily life; Colt battles the demons that continue to haunt his days and nights The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most of the previous story line heroines who feel obligated to protect our heroine from the path she has chosen

RESCUING MACIE is a story of family and lies, betrayal and vengeance. The fast paced premise is engaging and captivating; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful and energetic. As per Susan’s style of writing, our heroine battles an emotional and crippling disorder, a disorder that many are unable to understand.

Previous Reviews

Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

Haven’t started the series? Download RESCUING RAYNE book one for FREE: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

LINK to RESCUING MACIE Trailer

Direct Link: https://video214.com/play/h0dsBG3572pzlt1F24dgnQ/s/dark

“Everything good?” he asked.
Macie nodded.
“No, Macie,” he said as he put a hand on the side of her neck and leaned in. “Are you good?”
She couldn’t help the small smile that broke out. “I’m good,” she told him. “Really. I liked them. Annie is hysterical, and I loved getting to know Emily and Casey more.”
“And Mary? Did she behave?”
Macie must’ve hesitated a moment too long, because Colt sighed and pulled back. He reached for her hand and pulled her into the living room. He sat on the couch and tugged Macie down onto his lap. He put his arms around her waist and held her firmly.
Macie stared at him in shock. They’d slept curled up next to each other every night, and Colt never hesitated to touch her, to caress her cheek or run a hand over her hair. But he’d never simply hauled her around before—at least, not since the night of the break-in—and she hadn’t sat on anyone’s lap since she was five years old.
Not sure where to put her hands, she rested them in her lap awkwardly.
“What’d she say?” Colt asked.
“Nothing.”
“Mace,” he said more gently. “I can tell she said something. I mean, it’s Mary, she can’t help herself, it’s part of her charm.” He smiled. “Now tell me, so I can reassure you about whatever it was, and then I’ll go get us some dinner. I’m hungry.”
It was the last bit that made Macie change her mind about telling him. She had a feeling he would sit there all night if she didn’t spill. He was that stubborn. But his stubbornness was one of the many reasons she was crazy about him.
Pushing those feelings to the back of her mind, refusing to think about them right now, she said, “I’m sure she was exaggerating, or that she simply doesn’t know the truth.”
“About what?”
Taking a deep breath, Macie said, “She was just trying to make sure I knew what this was. What was happening here. And she told me about you killing a bunch of people when your friend was captured.”
She felt Colt’s thigh muscles tense under her butt, and it seemed as if the air in the room thickened with emotion.
Oh shit. Why had she told him? She should’ve made something up. She was such an idiot! Now he was going to tell her she couldn’t stay at his house anymore, that he couldn’t help her. She should’ve kept her big mouth shut!


 

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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Defending Morgan (Mountain Mercenaries #3) by Susan Stoker-a review

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DEFENDING MORGAN (Mountain Mercenaries #3) by Susan Stoker

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters/Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 5, 2019

Dispatched to the Dominican Republic to rescue a kidnapped child, former Navy SEAL Archer “Arrow” Kane makes a startling discovery: another hostage—Morgan Byrd, a very beautiful and very well-known missing person who disappeared off the streets of Atlanta a year ago. She’s brave, resilient, and unbroken. All Arrow wants to know is why she ended up in a shack in Santo Domingo. All he feels is the desire to protect.

Morgan is done being the victim and is determined to find out who hates her so much that they want her gone—but not dead. Until then, she has Arrow, an alpha stranger who’s offering a warm and safe place to hide. But as the passion between them flares, so does the fear that whoever took Morgan will do anything to get her back. For Arrow, protecting this woman with a mysterious enemy is the most dangerous mission of his life. And it’s worth every beat of his heart.

••••••••••

REVIEW: DEFENDING MORGAN is the third instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult MOUNTAIN MERCENRIES romantic, military, suspense series focusing on a group of six former soldiers and Navy SEALS who call themselves Mountain Mercenaries, headed by the mysterious ‘Rex’. This is former Navy SEAL Archer ‘Arrow’ Kane, and apiarist (bee keeper) Morgan Byrd’s story line, DEFENDING MORGAN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: The Mountain Mercenaries is a spin off from the author’s Ace Security series but you do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current timeline. The Mountain Mercenaries were first introduced in CLAIMING FELICITY (Ace Security 4).

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Morgan and Arrow) DEFENDING MORGAN follows in the wake of the Mountain Men’s discovery of not one but two hostages on their latest assignment. Sent to the Dominican Republic to rescue an American five-year old girl kidnapped by her father, the Mountain Men team locate and identify the child’s would be protector-twenty six year old apiarist Morgan Byrd, another American missing for close to a year. Struggling to survive Morgan and Arrow do battle with armed terrorists and civilians in an effort to escape, and return safely to America. Upon their return Arrow becomes Morgan’s guardian and protector in an effort to ferret out the person(s) responsible for the attack against the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Morgan and Arrow, and the potential fall-out as the Mountain Mercenaries begin to uncover the depths to which someone is willing to destroy Morgan, and the man that she loves.

Morgan Byrd had no idea as to the who or why of her kidnapping, imprisonment and on-going sexual assaults. For close to a year, our heroine battled between life and death in an effort to survive or withdraw from the continuing violations and onslaught. Determined to protect the young girl now imprisoned along side her, Morgan bears the brunt of their kidnappers’ aggression and anger. Arrow Kane’s overwhelming urgency to protect Morgan Byrd is visceral and real. His immediate attraction is countered by Morgan’s need to heal both emotionally and physical, healing that involves patience and time.

The relationship between Morgan and Arrow begins as an assignment but Arrow makes it his personal mission to protect and guard the woman with whom he will fall in love. Like all of Susan’s heroes the attraction is instantaneous; he knows that the woman is his HEA. The $ex scenes are limited due in part to our heroine’s need to heal and recover.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Navy SEAL Lowell ‘Black’ Lockard, computer guru and Navy SEAL Hunter’Meat’ Snow, and former Coast Guard officer Ball; Grayson and Allye (Defending Allye #1), Ronan and Chloe (Defending Choe #2) as well as the mysterious ‘Rex’; five year old Nina, and Morgan’s parents Carl Byrd and Ellie Jernagan. Black and Harlow’s story is next in Defending Harlow

DEFENDING MORGAN is a story of family, betrayal, vengeance and love. The premise is intriguing and entertaining; the romance is passionate; the characters are colorful and energetic. I guessed the person responsible early on in the story; I suspect the identity of the mysterious Rex; but I had issues with the number of times the hero calls the heroine ‘beautiful’, Arrow uses beautiful as a form of endearment ninety (90) times throughout the story line-a bit redundant, repetitious and excessive.

Reading Order and previous reviews
Defending Allye
Defending Chloe
Defending Morgan

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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Shelter For Quinn (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes #13) by Susan Stoker-Review

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SHELTER FOR QUINN (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes #13) by Susan Stoker-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date: February 12, 2019

Freak. Witch. Ugly. Abomination.

Having grown up with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, Quinn Dixon’s heard them all. Her own mother couldn’t bear to touch her, let alone strangers. Years of stares and insults from everyone from classmates to foster families have made her understandably reluctant to trust. So when John comes along, of course he couldn’t be interested in more than a brief affair. He’ll get sick of all the gawking and whispers soon enough and leave her…just like everyone else.

John “Driftwood” Trettle was captivated by Quinn the moment they met. After months of skirting around their attraction, one pivotal evening finds John seizing the reins and refusing to be denied a chance to prove he’s worthy of Quinn’s time, her trust, and her love. To show her he’ll have her back, always, and defend her against anyone cruel or stupid enough to hurt his woman.

But he can’t protect against an unknown threat. Even if it wears a familiar face

•••••••••••

REVIEW: SHELTER FOR QUINN is the thirteenth instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult BADGE OF HONOR: TEXAS HEROES romantic suspense series focusing on a group of first responders and law enforcement heroes, and the women they love. This is thirty-one year old, fire fighter John ‘Driftwood’ Trettle, and twenty-eight year old lab technician Quinn ‘Emmy’ Dixon’s story line. SHELTER FOR QUINN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Quinn and John) SHELTER FOR QUINN follows the friends to lovers relationship between thirty-one year old, fire fighter John ‘Driftwood’ Trettle, and twenty-eight year old lab technician Quinn Dixon. Quinn Dixon knows discrimination and bullying first hand. Born with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, our heroine bares the brunt of rejection and nasty comments every day of her life. Meeting fire fighter John Trettle gives our heroine the hope for a future but a future that is threatened by hatred and betrayal. What ensues is the slow building romance between John and Quinn, and the potential fall-out as Quinn is targeted by a psychotic mind.

John and Quinn met through mutual acquaintances and friends, friends who support our heroine regardless of her handicaps or looks. Quinn struggles with the public bigotry and hatred she must endure; John battles to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.

The relationship between John and Quinn is one of mutual attraction; a friends to lovers romance that pulls John into Quinn’s world of intolerance inflicted by those who refuse to accept or acknowledge the physical differences between one another. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including a several previous story line couples and characters. We are introduced to Hudson’s (aka Taco) new girlfriend Jennifer, as well as travel agent Koren Garner. Koren and Taco’s story line is next in Shelter for Koren.

The world building focuses on discrimination, intolerance, hatred and bigotry. Most of Susan’s heroines struggle with some sort of physical, emotional or traumatic issues that affect their every day existence; her hero’s continue to be impossibly perfect and the epitome of fearless, accepting and bold.

SHELTER FOR QUINN is an emotional and sensitive story line. The premise is intriguing; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful, strong and energetic…..but I did struggle with (or question) the inordinate amount of discrimination and bigotry directed at our story line heroine: is the intolerance a reality for people afflicted with port-wine birthmarks, or exaggerated for the fictional bias? Other than the immediate group of friends, virtually every one she met or those with whom she came in contact with were narrow-minded and intolerant of her birthmark, to the point of distraction, hatred, bullying and life threatening- a real or abstract reflection of the world in which we live?

Previous Reviews
Justice for Sophie
Justice For Erin
Justice for Milena
Justice for Hope

Copy supplied for review.

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Follow: Amazon/  Instagram/ Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Newsletter Sign Up /  

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Securing Caite (SEAL of Protection: Legacy #1) by Susan Stoker-Review Tour

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SECURING CAITE (SEAL of Protection: Legacy #1) by Susan Stoker-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / IBOOKS

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 15, 2019

Caite McCallan is a Department of Defense admin working in Bahrain when a glitchy elevator, of all things, leads to an unexpected invitation to dinner by a gorgeous Navy SEAL. When he later stands her up, Caite’s understandably upset…until she overhears a plot that confirms Rocco didn’t blow her off. Instead, he and two fellow SEALs are in danger—and Caite is forced to put her career and her life on the line to save them.

Blake “Rocco” Wise never expected his routine mission to go sideways, but he was even more surprised to find himself and his teammates rescued by the adorably shy woman he met in a stalled elevator. Caite’s selfless act saved his life, but when attempts on her own make it clear someone wants her gone, it’s Rocco’s turn to protect the brave, sweet, sexy woman. The longer he knows her, the more he wants her…but keeping Caite close could bring her nearer to the enemy than ever before.

••••••••••

REVIEW:  SECURING CAITE is the first instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult SEAL of Protection: Legacy military, romance series-a spin off from the author’s original SEAL of Protection series. This is thirty-five year old, US Navy SEAL Blake ‘Rocco’ Wise, and twenty nine year old, administrative assistant Caite McCallan’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Caite and Rocco) SECURING CAITE follows the building relationship between thirty-five year old, US Navy SEAL Blake ‘Rocco’ Wise, and twenty nine year old, administrative assistant Caite McCallan. While working for the US Navy in Bahrain, Caite would find herself trapped in a malfunctioning elevator with three US Navy SEALs Blake ‘Rocco’ Wise, Decker ‘Gumby’ Kincade, and Beckett ‘Ace’ . With their attraction to one another undeniable, Rocco will invite Caite out for dinner but in the ensuing timeline, Rocco and his men disappear without a trace leaving a saddened Caite to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. Overhearing a plot to kill three imprisoned US SEALs Caite sets about to rescue the man with whom she will fall in love but things go from bad to worse when Caite is fired for leaving the base, and sent back home with no money and no job. What ensues is the building relationship, once back on US soil, between Caite and Rocco, and the potential fall-out as Caite is targeted for information she knows.

Rocco and Caite had no idea that someone was after our story line heroine until too many incidents point to a potential plot. Hoping to uncover the truth about the how and why, Rocco calls in a group of Navy SEALs in an attempt to take down the person responsible, an attempt that may be too little, too late.

The relationship between Caite and Rocco is one of immediate attraction, a palpable sexual attraction that does not go unnoticed by Gumby and Ace. Rocco’s slow seduction of our story line hero is matched by Caite’s need for passion and love. The $ex scenes are passionate but limited.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and fascinating secondary and supporting characters from several of the author’s earlier story lines. The requisite evil is someone familiar and close.

SECURING CAITE is a cleverly written and realistic story line. The character driven premise is moving; the characters are flirty and fun; the slow building romance is intimate and tender. SECURING CAITE is an energetic and animated look at Navy SEALs and the women they love.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Follow: Amazon/  Instagram/ Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Newsletter Sign Up /  

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Naughty or Nice Anthology by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward et al

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NAUGHTY OR NICE Anthology by Vi Keeland, Penelope Ward, Jodi Ellen Malpas, Emma Chase, Marie Force, Corinne Michaels and Susan Stoker-a review

 

Get your FREE copy of Naughty or Nice now:  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/x5n9vn7exd

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 24, 2018

Six new holiday short stories from seven New York Times Bestselling Authors.

OVERVIEW:  NAUGHTY OR NICE is a collection of six ‘naughty and nice’ short stories perfect for those nights when you want to cuddle with someone close.

•••••••••••

SEXY SCROOGE by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward

The last thing I needed was to share an Uber with Scrooge—a cocky lawyer on a snowy Christmas Eve. It was bad enough I was on my way to court for the gift of eviction. Although maybe today wouldn’t turn out so bad after all. The Sexy Scrooge and I started to connect as we trudged our way through a storm. Our ride was about to end. But would I ever see him again?

REVIEW: SEXY SCROOGE follows twenty-eight year old Meredith Eden on Christmas Eve as she embarks on a mission to save herself from potential eviction. For weeks, nothing has gone right for our story line heroine but meeting attorney Adam Bullock sets Meredith towards a path of making all of her wishes come true.

A quick read, SEXY SCROOGE is a realistic, clean, Christmas tale with a down on her luck heroine, and a sexy ‘Clark Kent’ hero. A flirty and fun holiday short with a spirited couple.

••••••••

BIG BAUBLES by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Shannon’s last-minute Christmas shopping trip quickly goes from tedious to thrilling when she meets a sexy stranger in Harrods. He’s irresistibly cheeky, hot as sin, and he seems to want to play. So when he sets Shannon the challenge of completing her Christmas shopping before he completes his, she can’t help but accept. And she plans on winning. But the sexy stranger plays dirty on the shop floor. And even dirtier in the women’s changing rooms…

REVIEW: BIG BAUBLES follows executive PA Shannon as she finds herself in a dilemma on Christmas Eve. Forced to babysit her boss’s children, our heroine must make a last minute run in order to fulfill her own Christmas shopping list. Meeting a sexy stranger in a similar situation, Shannon reluctantly finds herself in a competition at Harrods, with said sexy stranger, to see who finishes their shopping first- winner takes all including an almost tryst in the change room!

Another quick read, BIG BAUBLES is a fun, sexy and flirty short story wherein our couple make a date to go shopping every day of the year.

••••••••••

THE NAUGHTY LIST by Emma Chase

Evie Sanders has a secret. She’s in love with her boss, Jace Winters, the hot as hell, hardworking owner of the best bar in the snowy, ski resort town of Alpine. She thinks Jace barely knows she exists—that to him, she’s just an employee. But at this year’s Christmas party, bells get jingled, stockings get stuffed, snow—and other things—get thoroughly plowed, and Christmas wishes (even the naughty ones) just might come true.

REVIEW: THE NAUGHTY LIST is an erotic short that follows twenty-five year old Alpine Colorado bar waitress Evie Sanders as she struggles with her attraction to, and love for her boss Jace Winters. When given the opportunity to complete a sexual fantasy questionnaire, the answers become a naughty list of things she would like to do with her boss, a man whose own sexual fantasies include our story line heroine.

THE NAUGHTLY LIST is a sexy, spicy and provocative short wherein Christmas wishes, really do come true.

••••••••••••••

JOYOUS–A QUANTUM CHRISTMAS by Marie Force

After a remarkable year that included a wedding and a big Oscar win for Quantum Productions, Hollywood superstar Flynn Godfrey wants to give his wife, Natalie, and closest friends a Christmas they will never forget. But when best-laid plans go awry, Flynn will learn that sometimes the season’s greatest gifts are those that can’t be bought or wrapped.

REVIEW: JOYOUS is a sexy, short story in Marie Force’s contemporary, adult QUANTUM series. Focusing on Hollywood superstar Flynn Godfrey and his wife Natalie, JOYOUS follows Flynn as he sets a plan into motion to give his wife the most amazing, special Christmas of her life. Things do not go according to plans when the entire Quantum Productions family is forced by bad weather to spend Christmas at the Castaway Inn in Saint George Utah.

JOYOUS is a heart warming and spicy look at the familiar faces we have grown to love.

•••••••••••

A HOLIDAY LIFT by Corinne Michaels

Holly has had enough pain around the holidays to last her lifetime. All she wants is to focus on her work. All of that becomes impossible when she’s stuck in the elevator with her co-worker Dean. She can’t avoid his intense stares, deep voice, and scent that drives her crazy. Will the holiday season bring them an unexpected lift or will they come crashing down?

REVIEW: Told from dual first person perspectives (Holly and Dean) A HOLIDAY LIFT follows Holly Brickman as her life continues to spiral out of control. With the timeline for a new campaign pitch for a new promotion shortened to within hours instead of days, Holly must face her one-night stand, a co-worker and competitor who all but ignores our story line heroine. Getting stuck in a elevator goes from bad to worse, when her only companion is Dean Pritchard, her one-night stand, and the man who could destroy her heart.

A HOLIDAY LIFT is a sweet, clean short story about two people drawn together by fate and love. A few minutes in the life of Holly and Dean, A HOLIDAY LIFT is a wonderful addition to this multi-authored anthology.

••••••••

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER by Susan Stoker

When Chris and Sienna meet during an accident in Texas, the perfect strangers soon discover they’re inexplicably linked…in more ways than one. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or maybe the makings of their very own Christmas miracle.

REVIEW: BEST CHRISTMAS EVER follows fifty-two year old, paramedic Sienna Bernfield in the aftermath of a car accident on Christmas Eve. Having witnessed said accident Sienna will find herself commiserating with accident victim, forty-nine year old prison guard Christopher King, as they wait for an ambulance and the police to arrive. One thing leads to another and our couple discover they have something in common including their children currently on leave from the US Army.

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER is another sweet, clean and encouraging short story. A spirited heroine, and a passionate hero who struggles to move on from the past.

Copy supplied by Bookfunnel

Reviewed by Sandy

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Justice for Hope (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes #12) by Susan Stoker-Review Tour

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JUSTICE FOR HOPE (Badge of Honor:Texas Heroes #12) by Susan Stoker-Review Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iBooks

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 18, 2018

Hiding from her ex is exhausting enough, but for Hope Drayden, putting her seven-year-old son through a life on the run and living on the streets has been mentally torturous. When a kind diner owner offers her a job, Hope begins to claw her way toward a new beginning for herself and Billy, one tip at a time. But since her son’s recent abduction, and with threats from her ex still fresh in her mind, she’s constantly looking over her shoulder. Then a surprising, and lucky, tip from a diner regular puts yet another target on their backs.

At the request of a friend, medical examiner Calder Stonewall has been looking for Hope and Billy for weeks. When they unexpectedly show up at the scene of a crime, his interest soon becomes personal. He’s amazed by the beautiful, brave woman and her resilient son. He’s also surprised by his growing need to take care of them both, although winning Hope’s trust won’t be easy. But when a tragedy thrusts the couple together, Calder quickly proves he’s a man Hope can rely on.

Which is a good thing…because she’ll need all his support, and love, to get through a threat they never saw coming.

•••••••••

REVIEW: JUSTICE FOR HOPE is the twelfth instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult BADGE OF HONOR: TEXAS HEROES romantic suspense series. This is forty-year old medical examiner Calder Stonewall, and thirty-two year old diner waitress/single mother Hope Drayden’s story line. JUSTICE FOR HOPE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Hope was first introduced in SHELTER FOR BLYTHE book #11.

Told from dual third person points of view (Calder and Hope) JUSTICE FOR HOPE follows the building relationship and romance between forty-year old medical examiner Calder Stonewall, and thirty-two year old diner waitress/single mother Hope Drayden. Single mother Hope Drayden and her seven-year old Billy are on the run from an abusive ex who isn’t above threatening our story line heroine. With no friends or family to whom to turn, Hope finds herself in the town of San Antonio, Texas where she struggles to earn enough money to support her small family. Several months earlier Billy Drayden was kidnapped by pedophile Jonathan Jones, and in the ensuing time has not spoken a word or communicated verbally. But the recent death of a homeless veteran finds our heroine face to face with her future in the guise of medical examiner Calder Stonewall, a man sent to look for Hope by her friend Blythe Coopman. What ensues is the slow building relationship and romance between Hope and Calder, and the potential fall-out as jealousy and betrayal attempt to destroy Hope’s precarious hold on life.

As a waitress, Hope depends upon the generosity of customers but the jealousy of fellow co-workers threatens Hope’s hard fought need to stay one step ahead of her abusive past. Calder Stonewall has been attracted to Hope from the very start but our heroine is reluctant to trust any man with her heart as well as the safety of her son.

The relationship between Hope and Calder is slow to develop as Calder bides his time with the woman who has stolen his heart. The limited $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters, many of whom cross over from the author’s other series. We are introduced to Hope’s boss, and diner owner Joseph Roberts who takes Hope’s son Billy under his wing; as well as fellow co-workers and waitresses Donna, Audrey, Hannah and Tori.

The world building focuses on the building relationship and trust between Hope and Calder, and the struggles of a single mom trying to make it on her own. Most if not all of Susan’s heroes are impossibly perfect, and the women in their lives have physical and emotional issues that have left lasting scars.

JUSTICE FOR HOPE is an engaging, entertaining and romantic storyline. The premise is touching; the romance is intimate; the characters are real and tender.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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Defending Allye (Mountain Mercenaries #1) by Susan Stoker-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

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DEFENDING ALLYE (Mountain Mercenaries #1) by Susan Stoker-Review, Guest Post & Giveaway

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters Indigo /
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 7, 2018

Ever since his rescue op off the Pacific Coast, Mountain Mercenary Gray Rogers hasn’t been able to forget his latest “job”—Allye Martin. Any other woman would have panicked during a rescue, but the wily dancer kept her cool—even after being kidnapped by an elusive human trafficker. And Gray couldn’t be happier when a grateful Allye follows him home to Colorado Springs…

For Allye, finding sanctuary in the arms—and bed—of the former Navy SEAL is only temporary. People are disappearing off the streets of San Francisco, victims of the same underground trade that targeted her, and Allye could be the key to dismantling the entire operation. She’s willing to do anything to bring them down. Gray isn’t—for good reason. But you don’t say no to a tough girl like Allye who refuses to play it safe.

Now Gray is risking more than ever before. The Mountain Mercenaries have his back. But is it enough to keep the woman he loves out of harm’s way?

••••••

REVIEW:DEFENDING ALLEY is the first instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult MOUNTAIN MERCENARIES erotic, romantic, military, suspense series focusing on a group of six former soldiers and Navy SEALS who call themselves Mountain Mercenaries, headed by the mysterious ‘Rex’. This is thirty-six year old, former Navy SEAL Grayson Rogers, and twenty-nine year old, dancer Allye Martin’s story line. The Mountain Mercenaries is a spin off from the author’s Ace Security series but you do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current timeline. The Mountain Mercenaries were first introduced in CLAIMING FELICITY (Ace Security 4).

NOTE: DEFENDING ALLYE contains scenes of abuse, torture and threats of a sexual nature, and may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from several third person perspectives including Allye and Gray DEFENDING ALLYE focuses on the hunt for a kidnapper in the San Francisco area, and the person responsible for a suspected human trafficking ring. Grayson Rogers and his fellow Mountain Mercenaries have been handpicked for their current roles by the mysterious, and as yet unidentified, team leader ‘Rex’. Hoping to intercept the hand-off of money, Grayson discovers more than he had bargained for when he finds Allye Martin instead. A quick take-down of the kidnappers, a struggle out at sea, and the rescue of our story line heroine, finds Allye falling for Grayson but not before she reveals she has information that may be important to the team’s investigation. What ensues is the quick building romance between Allye and Gray, and the potential fall-out as a number of women are kidnapped and killed in an effort to draw Allye out into the light.

Grayson Rogers knows lost first hand when his entire team of Navy SEALs was killed leaving our hero the only one to survive. Memories, of the horrific ordeal including the murder of his friends, have forced Gray into an over protective male where it concerns the woman with whom he is falling love. Never again wanting to lose anyone close, or witness the death of someone he loves, Gray struggles with Allye’s demands and need to place herself in harm’s way.

The relationship between Allye and Grayson is quick to develop. From hours alone at sea, to finding herself ‘living’ with the man that calls to her heart, Allye knows that Grayson will protect her against the odds, but Grayson battles between memories of the past, and his ability to stop the woman he loves from becoming a willing target in an effort to catch the bad guy. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and seductive without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Grayson’s fellow Mountain Mercenaries: Ronan ‘Ro’ Cross, Lowell ‘Black’ Lockard, Meat, Arrow, and Ball. Ronan and Chloe Harris’ story is next in Defending Chloe.

DEFENDING ALLYE is a story of action, suspense, romance and love. The premise is entertaining and engaging; the romance is passionate and intense; the characters are colorful, dynamic and animated but the heroine’s need to place herself in danger to ‘save’ a friend and other potential victims screams TSTL (too stupid to live), incredibly destructive and ill-fated. DEFENDING ALLYE is a sexy, intriguing and fated introductory story line in Susan Stoker’s new Mountain Mercenaries series.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Writing Defending Allye by Susan Stoker

Defending Allye is the first book in my new Mountain Mercenaries series. In the last book in my Ace Security series I introduced the characters and hinted that they’d get their own stories. The series’ main characters Gray and Black are former SEALs, Ro is a former British SAS member, Arrow is a former Marine, Ball is a former Coast Guard member, Meat was former Delta Force, and Rex, the handler, was also former military, but he’s a bit of a mystery at this point.

In the series starter, Grayson Rogers is on a Mountain Mercenary mission that goes completely sideways and unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, without a boat, with Allye Rogers.

Allye is a dancer from San Francisco who unfortunately, found herself the object of a crazy man’s obsession.

But of course, after being rescued from the sea, Allye’s life is still in danger and Gray uses his skills as a former Navy SEAL to track down the bad guy who has become obsessed with her. He’s possessive and Alpha, but not a jerk (at least most of the time…he does make one BIG mistake which causes a whole lot of chaos).

The Mountain Mercenaries are a group of former Special Forces soldiers from all branches who were hired by their their mysterious handler, Rex, a man they’ve never met, only spoken to on the phone. They take cases primarily involving women and children and are based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. As Allye points out, they are really more like Vigilantes, but that didn’t sound as good as Mercenaries. HA!

I lived in the Colorado Springs area for a few years when my husband was stationed in South Korea. I love how diverse the area is and it was fun to include places I’ve actually been to in real life. Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Black Forest, The Broadmoor, etc.

 

Pulling her closer, Gray wrapped an arm around Allye’s waist again, using his legs to keep them above water. Her body felt cold even through the wet suit, and her lips were no longer ringed with blue as they’d been earlier—now they were almost completely bluish purple. She needed to get out and get warm. Now. But she didn’t complain. Just did whatever he asked of her with minimal questions. He liked that.
He liked Allye. A lot. He knew nothing could come of his attraction, as he lived in Colorado Springs and she lived in San Francisco. But it had been a long time since a woman had piqued his interest as she had.

Gray eyed the boat and saw the second Black picked up his signal. The vessel took an obvious turn and changed course to head straight for them. He turned to Allye and gave her a smile. “There are one hundred and eighty-seven quintillion gallons of water in the Pacific Ocean. That’s sixty-two-point-four million square miles. If karma had it out for you, as you claim, there’s no way that boat would be headed straight for us right now. No one would find us out here . . . especially not in the dark. Chin up, kitten. We’re about to be rescued.”

She turned once again and faced the oncoming boat. “It’s a good thing,” she quipped. “My fingers and toes are prunes. I’m not sure they’ll ever go back to their original state.”

Gray couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped. She never ceased to surprise him.

They waited without another word as the light from the boat came closer and closer.

Finally, Gray heard Black call out his name.

“Yo! It’s about time!” Gray yelled back.

He heard his friend laugh as he cut the engine and slowed the boat. It floated toward them, and Gray maneuvered himself and Allye so he could grab one of the ropes on the side of the rubber boat when it got close enough.

“Where’d you pick this thing up?” he asked Black. It wasn’t the sleek fiberglass boat they’d been on earlier.

“Long story. Jeez, Gray. Only you could pick up a chick in the middle of the ocean, my friend.”

“How about you talk less and help me get her inside?” Gray asked dryly. He wasn’t going to introduce Allye to his friend while they were bobbing in the ocean.

“Yeah, sorry.” Gray turned to Allye. “You ready to go home?”

“Oh yeah,” was her heartfelt response.

“Grab Black’s hand. I’ll push from here, and he’ll pull you up.”

Black reached down, not waiting for her to reach up, and grabbed her under the arms instead. He began pulling her on board the large, inflatable Zodiac boat. Gray did as promised, putting a hand on her ass and pushing upward as Black pulled, and within seconds, she’d disappeared over the side.

He heard her “umph” as she hit the bottom of the boat, but when she didn’t scream out in pain or otherwise protest, he relaxed a fraction. She’d still need to be looked over by paramedics, but hopefully her little swim hadn’t done her any long-lasting harm.

Black’s face returned over the side of the boat a second later, and he held out a hand. Without fanfare, as they’d done this exact thing many times, Gray used his friend’s help and his own upper-body strength to haul himself over the side of the boat.

He immediately looked for Allye. He could see her more clearly now with the lights from the boat. She was huddled against the side with her knees drawn up. Her face was slightly blue from the cold water, but she gave him a weak smile.

Ignoring his own chilled body, Gray turned to ask Black for a blanket, but his friend was already there, handing him a stack of them. Gray crawled over to where Allye was huddled. He tried not to look at her long legs, but he was only human. She was built, her thighs thick and muscular, appropriate for a dancer, he supposed. He could see her calf muscles clearly, even through the wet suit. He had the thought that she’d look amazing in a pair of high heels.

Holding out a blanket, he said, “As much as it’s gonna suck, you need to get out of that wet suit.”

“But I’m freezing.”

“I know, kitten, but all that thing will do is make you colder. Take it off, and I’ll get you wrapped up in these nice, warm blankets.”

She rolled her eyes at the cajoling tone of his voice, but did as asked. She struggled with the zipper, but just as Gray was going to offer to help with it, she managed to pull it down. She wriggled and squirmed as she attempted to pull the wet suit off.

Gray handed the blankets back to Black and kneeled next to her. He pulled on the sleeve of the wet suit as she eased her arm out. He helped her with the other arm, then said, “Lie back. I’ll pull it off your legs.”

She did as he asked without question, but as soon as he began peeling the material down her legs, she quipped, “If I’d known I’d have a cute guy taking off my pants in the middle of the night, I would’ve made sure to shave.”

 

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

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NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the publisher

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Rescuing Sadie (Delta Force Heroes 7.5/ Masters and Mercenaries Cross Over) by Susan Stoker-Review & Excerpt Tour

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RESCUING SADIE (Delta Force Heroes 7.5 / Masters and Mercenaries Cross Over) by Susan Stoker-Review and Excerpt Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play/ ibooks

About the book: Release Date April 10, 2018

Sadie Jennings was used to being protected. As the niece of Sean Taggart, and the receptionist at McKay-Taggart Group, she was constantly surrounded by Alpha men more than capable, and willing, to lay down their life for her. But when she learns about a friend in trouble, she doesn’t hesitate to leave town without a word to her uncle to help. After several harrowing weeks, her friend is now safe, but the repercussions of her rash act linger on.

Chase Jackson, no stranger to dangerous situations as a captain in the US Army, has volunteered himself as Sadie’s bodyguard. He fell head over heels for the beautiful woman the first time he laid eyes on her. With a Delta Force team at his back, he reassures the Taggart’s that Sadie will be safe. But when her past catches up with her, Chase has to use everything he’s learned over his career to keep his promise…and to keep Sadie alive long enough to officially make her his.

••••••••

REVIEW: RESCUING SADIE is instalment 7.5 in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult DELTA FORCE HEROES romantic, suspense series, and crosses over with Lexi Blake’s Master and Mercenaries series. RESCUING SADIE is also part of the multi-authored 1001 Dark Nights anthology series. This is twenty-seven year old US Army captain Chase Jackson, and twenty-five year old McKay-Taggart receptionist Sadie Jenning’s story line. We were first introduced to Sadie and Chase in Justice for Milena (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes by Susan Stoker). Sadie is Sean Taggart’s niece-Ian and Sean Taggart can be found in Lexi Blake’s Masters and Mercenaries series.

SOME BACKGROUND: Working at the Bexar County School and Orphanage for Girls, Milena Reinhardt (Justice for Milena) and Sadie Jennings found themselves captive and imprisoned by proprietors Jeremiah and Jonathan Jones- a father and son duo, pedophiles h*ll bent on spawning their own harem of useful children. Milena and Sadie were rescued but Jeremiah and Jonathan escaped into the unknown.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Sadie and Chase) RESCUING SADIE focuses on the continuing protection of Sadie Jennings-a young woman who is being stalked by a sexual deviant. Sadie, the niece of security specialist Sean Taggart, is taken into protective custody where her safety and security is overseen by former members of the US military. Enter US Army Captain Chase Jackson, and the man with whom Sadie will fall in love. What ensues is the quick building relationship between Chase and Sadie, and struggle to stay one step ahead of a psychopath determined to make Sadie his own.

RESCUING SADIE is an action-packed, edgy, suspenseful and energetic story as Sadie’s safety and lives of the men and women of the Delta Force heroes are threatened by a sadistic mind. Jonathan Jones is desperate to reacquire Sadie for his twisted plans, and will stop at nothing to reclaim Sadie as his own.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including a number of previous story line couples introduced in the authors Delta Force Heroes including Fletcher, Emily and their precocious daughter Annie. Chase Jackson will soon discover that he is no longer the lone survivor of a mission that went all to h*ll; and Fletcher’s compound is not as secure as he had hoped it to be.

The relationship between Chase and Sadie is one of immediate attraction. Chase knows Sadie is his happily ever after, and claims ‘ownership’ of the woman within days of her rescue but Sadie refuses to become of the McKay-Taggart’s overprotected clients. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate and intense.

RESCUING SADIE is a quick read; a novella length story line that sees another Delta Force Hero rescuing the woman that he loves. The premise is thrilling and engaging; the romance is intimate; the characters are spirited, sassy and animated.

Copy supplied for review

Revewied by Sandy

Sadie faced the man in front of her without trepidation.
Sean Taggart might know twenty ways to kill without making a sound thanks to his time as a Green Beret, but to her, he was just Uncle Sean. She’d only known him for six years, ever since Aunt Grace got married, but he’d always supported her no matter what she wanted to do and treated her and her aunt Grace like princesses.
Not this time.
“Uncle Sean, this is ridiculous.”
Sean crossed his arms, giving her what she knew was his “displeased” face. Brows drawn, lips pressed together, eyes narrowed. “It’s not and you know it.”
“Why can’t I just go back up to Dallas with you?”
Her uncle sighed. They’d been over this before, but Sadie couldn’t let it go.
“Because Jonathan is still missing. Captain Jackson said he’d continue to look after you until he’s caught.”
Sadie shook her head. “But if I came home, you could keep me safe.”
Sean looked down at her with love in his eyes. His voice gentled. “I could, you’re right. But I think we both know that you wouldn’t like my kind of protection. Or Ian’s. Or anyone else we could find.”
She knew what he meant without him coming right out and saying it. Sean was overprotective. As was Ian, and probably most of the other men who worked for McKay-Taggart. She could handle their overprotectiveness and bossiness…but only to a point. If she had to endure it twenty-four seven, it could damage their relationship. And that was the last thing she wanted.
“I can go stay with Milena’s parents again,” Sadie volunteered almost desperately. Maybe she’d even make it in time for Milena’s surprise engagement party. She might not want to become one of McKay-Taggart’s overprotected clients, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to be in close quarters with Chase Jackson anymore either.
From the second she’d laid eyes on the man, she’d wanted him. It was as if her body had said, This is it. This is the man I want.
Unfortunately, he’d been in the middle of rescuing her from a crazed, perverted pedophile at the time, and now she was afraid he felt responsible for her, rather than wanting her back.

New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Texas where she lives, but this all-American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, and Indiana. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

She debuted her first series in 2014 and quickly followed that up with the SEAL of Protection Series, which solidified her love of writing and creating stories readers can get lost in.

Follow: Amazon/  Instagram/ Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / Newsletter Sign Up /  

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