Protecting Dakota

silver fox... I mean, SEAL <3

What attracted me first is the cover OH MY
Love military romance and this one was pretty good. What I liked the most is that the main characters are not 20 something, the idea that there is always a chance later in life for a HEA. Although I do believe in love at first sight, I didn't really feel like it was between them, maybe because they recognized each other from a previous life? It felt a bit too easy. But loved their interaction and it was easy to fall in love with Cutter.

Overall the story was pretty intense, when Dakota and Caroline were captured and how they were treated, and again when they finally found Dakota. What a twist when the terrorist's identity was revealed!!! But all ends well and those are my fave endings.

My first listen from Ms. Bloom, loved the voices she gave the characters, especially the male voice. But when she was voicing Dakota, the pitch was a bit on the high and made me cringe a few times, not a good feeling. If that could be toned down a bit, it would earn the 5 stars.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Cutter is the man!!

Holy Smokes! I loved Susan's SEAL of Protection Series. I have missed them boys dearly and boy howdy, this one may be a new start to something new but it has the old boys in it. It was awesomesauce! And Hot! Haha

The narator on the sudio edition did a fantastic job, as always!!

Never say a man who is a little gray has been used up. Slade "Cutter" Cutsinger is just as badarsed today as he was in his younger SEAL days. When he is given a secret, off the books mission, he agrees. There is so much that could go wrong. There were things that could good. When he finds his target, a girl on the run from a terrorist, things get real.

Dakota James is a sweet, good ole girl, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Who knew being in the airport as a psycho sets off a bomb could lead to so much trouble. Trouble that she can not get away from alone. But she tries. This is how and where she meets Cutter.

When things get hairy and they have to bug out... that leads them back to San Diego.. and into the hands of SEALs and trouble. When the crap hits the fan the men all jump into action. Control is not something Cutter is used to balancing anymore. However, when the man in charge of the trouble gets found... oh it gets good. LIKE REALLY GOOD!!!!!

Your mission now is to read it so you can see what happens!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

You can't go wrong with this author

Susan Stoker is a great writer- suspenseful stories, real people with believable dialogue, sexy brave women that do not act like doormats or idiots and - of course- hot honorable heroes. I could not stop listening and landed up getting though this book in one day and a who-needs-sleep night. : ) I have loved all of her series and enjoy the overlap so you get glimpses into the other characters. Already waiting for the next one!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Coming of age...

This was one of my Stoker favs. Her books always draw you into the adventure, the love & friendships. I usually wait until at least 3 of a series are available on Audible before I listen. I usually want the next one right after and am too impatient to wait. I have now listened to EVERY Susan Stoker book available on Audible and am dying for the next.

My favorite part of Protecting Dakota was that Dakota & Slade are my age!!! Often times the parents of the love interest are my age. Us forty something like a good love & sexy story too.
Cannot wait until book 2 in the sleeper series.

Stella Bloom amazes me. I'm not sure how she makes her voice into so many believable characters. Bravo!@!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Recommended

This is the first story I have read by Susan Stoker. It is evident many of the side characters have stories previously told I need to go back and read. Mot that this story is dependent upon them. They do pique my interest tho.

I enjoyed all the characters. Their close bonds were more than evident. The insta-love story was good and made more plausible because it was addressed so many times. I was a little uncomfortable with how much reincarnation had such a focus as that is well outside my comfort zone. I'll leave it like that.

Weak Storyline

This is the first out of 13 Susan Stoker books that I was disappointed with. The storyline was just a little to cheesy and intense in the beginning of a new relationship.

ACTION!

I love this one! It's nice to see an older love story. 43-48

There was so much action in this one I never got bored. I'm a reader who likes 90% story and action and 5-10% sex. This book delivered.

A Plot with too many holes

Romances with hot older dudes are few and far between, especially in military romance. I couldn't wait to dig into this one. While the plot sounded intriguing, you had to decide early on whether to continue in view of the sheer implausibility (such as she sneaks out after bombing and no one notices except some unknown gov agency that taps a retired SEAL but NOT the FBI?). I stuck it out. It is unique to have older protagonists.

It was disappointing when it became a "love at first sight" thing for him falling for her pic and her falling for first sight and confessing it all immediately and then this serial bachelor is suddenly all in, and beginning and ending each sentence calling her "luv".

The writer may not have any experience with these kind of guys, which would explain how she portrays some of them. The mens' dialogue is what a woman would WANT a man to sound like. But in reality they Don't sound like that. Especially these kind of guys. There are the usual problems with strategy, tactics and practices that plague this genre sometimes, but they were minor compared to the overarching weakness in the story and the romance.

The one thing Stoker has going for her is she can tell a story, has a good sense of place, and the pacing kept it moving briskly. More research or draft readers who get the spec ops community would be beneficial.

Dang....I cried and laughed and sighed

Guess I’m more of a romantic than I thought. Wished this story would have gone on and on! Loved it!!

Good Seires

Stella Bloom is awesome!!! Just starting this series but so far I love that we get to go back home to our seal team