Another insta-lovey type. Ronan was sweet and sexy. Chloe was pretty strong considering what she'd been through. Good story.

Dark, dangerous, intense, exciting and full of hot sexy times…what more could you want in a good story? Wow, this book was awesome! Defending Chloe is the second book in the Mountain Mercenaries series and is just as good as the first. There is plenty of action, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and romance to hold your interest as well as some fun times, good laughs, and sexy tough as nails alpha men to make this book an excellent read. The characters are amazing and the storyline engaging. It will pull you in from the first pages and immerse you into the seedy world of murder, mafia, sex trafficking and more. Rowan and Chloe are great characters and their story is both tragic and endearing. They are strong individually and make a great team. I enjoyed watching their relationship evolve over the course of the story. It was well paced and flowed nicely. I also like the fact that the characters Stoker writes are down to earth, easy to relate to and flawed in a way that brings a more natural feel to the overall read. Defending Chloe is a wonderful addition to the series and will definitely leave you wanting more.

*I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am providing my honest review.

I love this new series!! I loved Defending Chloe so much I just had to go and read the first one in the series once I was done (I missed reading Defending Allye-it's also amazing, but know each book can be read as a standalone or out of order, which I obviously did). I love these Mountain Mercenary men so much that I need the next one stat!!

Who are the Mountain Mercenaries? They are honorable men-veterans actually, dedicated to save women and children from abuse, prostitution, sex trafficking and other such evils from all around the world or even if it is in their own backyard. They are led by a Charlie's Angels-mysterious type of man-named Rex who contacts the team through voice encrypted phones and has the knowledge, contacts, and power to locate where and when most of the deals take place. The men don't question how Rex comes by his knowledge they just follow his lead and help the people break free from the terror they have fallen under.

Ronan "Ro" Cross is one of these brave men, a man who up until he met Chloe Harris, hadn't made any connections or ties to anyone in his life, but something about Chloe draws him in like no one he's ever met. Just in the few minutes he spoke to her in his garage, the vulnerability she displayed told him she needed his help, but the strength she showed also drove home that she wasn't a wilting flower. He liked both sides to her and he knew he wouldn't rest until she was safely in his arms, but that also meant the real danger was only beginning.

Chloe Harris was living a real nightmare. She went from having a great job, living in her own apartment, owning a car, paying her own bills to somehow living in fear of daily beatings by her own flesh and blood. The day her brother convinced her to move back home was the day her nightmare began. Her independence slowly stripped away until she was threatened to becoming one of his whores earning her "keep". The day she happened upon Ronan Cross in his garage was one of sheer dumb luck. She didn't give into to hope, since her brother was only bound to take it away, but when Ro shows up to and makes her want to try again it hardly seems possible that it couldn't be a dream.

Ro and Chloe are both so timid, yet so perfectly matched for one another. Ro needs a strong woman to stand by his more brutish side and Chloe needs a caring man for her vulnerable sensibilities. Together they fit and complete each others missing spots, but will they get a chance to make it work, or will evil snatch it away before they get their HEA?

Just knowing Susan Stoker has another book out is enough to do the happy dance especially knowing it’s the next book in her Mountain Mercenaries series. What’s not to love, hot alphas with the sole purpose of rescuing woman from hellish circumstances. Ro is bound and determined to make sure Chloe is safe and ultimately his. There is nothing sexier than a man taking care of his woman. Unbelievably fantastic series

Susan Stoker is one of very few authors on my “automatic buy” list. Every book, every time I read almost in one sitting, they are all that good

I am absolutely loving these Mountain Mercenaries so far!! And this one, Ronan Cross, he is bloody amazing! Strong, sexy and sweet and totally hooked on Chloe. Chloe is strong and resilient and in trouble. Ronan hasn’t been able to forget her from their first meeting so he gets the team involved to see if the can help her. And from there a very intense story begins that kept me so wrapped up until the very end. The chemistry between Ro and Chloe is through the roof and that totally shines through during their sexy scenes. Hot stuff!! Another hit for sure from Susan Stoker!

Thank you to Netgalley/Publisher for the ARC of this book.

Defending Chloe is an awesome read! True to form, Ms. Stoker's heroine, Chole, is smart and strong and her alpha male hero, Ronan, is protective and honorable, although the Mountain Mercenaries don't exactly play by the rules and a bit grittier than some of her other characters. The story pulls the reader in with plenty of action and a lot of steam, keeping the pages turning and the reader guessing. Defending Chloe is the second in the series and left me looking forward to the next book in the series

Defending Chloe is the second book in Susan Stoker’s Mountain Mercenaries and grabs you right from the very first page. Ms Stoker has the wonderful ability of making her characters larger than life, with the reader perched on the edge of their seat throughout the entire story.

This is a book packed with intrigue, danger and action that doesn’t stop, and the storyline is easy to follow and well developed too. Chloe and Ronan have amazing chemistry and with Ronan’s innate need to protect, Chloe definitely falls into very capable hands. I’m sure this will be another extremely popular book with readers and I can’t wait for what comes next!

Leon has just learned from his father that his sister Chloe will become very rich on her 35th birthday and none of it was left to him. He knows he can't let that happen. Chloe has lost everything and is now living at the mansion with her brother and his girlfriend. They are holding her hostage and will try to turn her into a prostitute if she doesn't do what they say.
Ro works for Mountain Mercenaries. He can't get Chloe off his mind since she showed up at his garage and he had seen the bruise. He convinces his handler that they need to look into it and find her. Ro arranges with his teammates to kidnap her to get her away from her brother after she tells him she is being held against her will.
Ro will not stop until he knows she is safe and her brother can't ever find her again.

This is the second book in the series titled Mountain Mercenaries. This is a group of former military men now devoted to protect and rescue women that are being victimized.
Ronan Cross, a former SAS operative, finds a woman at the edge of his property needing to use his phone. He realizes something isn’t right, but when someone picks her up, he loses track of her, but doesn’t forget her.
Chloe Harris is being controlled and threatened by her greedy and evil brother.
The plot thickens when Ro rescues her but she is definitely not out of danger.
We get a chance to visit with the other men of the Mountain Mercenaries as well as Allye, the protagonist from the previous book.
The author reminds us that human trafficking does exist in the US, and that more should be done to help these victims.
I have to confess that I never was totally engaged in the story. Ro too alpha. As to Chloe, she was going through a horrible experience, but I had a hard time comprehending how a 30 year old , smart professional, got in the mess in the first place. Maybe too naive?
Still, it was a good read which I would give a 3.5 star rating and know that I will be looking forward to the next book in the series.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Defending Chloe by Susan Stoker was the book I was afraid to read. I LOVE Stoker but I really didn't care much for book 1, Defending Allye. But, like I said, I love Stoker so I knew I was gonna read this one. I'm glad I did because Defending Chloe harkened back to why I enjoy her books-good characters, really evil bad guys, and lots of action.

Chloe had a great life-good career, bright future. Then her dad died, Chloe lost her job, and had to move in with her brother. Things were okay with her brother at first...then he showed his true colors. He was physically abusive and was grooming her to work in the private rooms of his strip club where anything goes and all of it is recorded. Her brother is in with the mob and unbeknownst to her, Chloe actually did their taxes and books. Now her brother threatens her with the mob to keep her in line. She has been planning her escape for years but needs an opportunity.

Ronan is one of the Mountain Mercenaries, a secret group who helps women and children in bad situations. He is former British Royal Air Service but now runs his own mechanics shop. He has a chance meeting with Chloe and can't forget about her. He knows she is in a bad situation. He eventually figures out where to find her and how to save her. But, just getting her away from her brother doesn't end the danger. Then Ro has to figure out how to get her free from her sadistic brother! They build a relationship over the time they spend together, even though initially Chloe did NOT trust anyone. Ro has to show he is deserving of trust and he is really good about that. He doesn't force decisions on her or tell her what she is going to do. He makes her a part of all discussions and provides options so she can make a choice. Chloe hasn't had that in a long time.

Defending Chloe was a delightful read filled with some mafia guys, a terrible sibling and his despicable girlfriend, and the group of guys who save the day no matter what!

This author certainly knows how to write mystery, danger and intrigue with a whole lot of heart and sexiness! Each book gets better and better and it's hard to say which one is my favorite. Each hero has his own set of distinctive dispositions and temperament that matches perfectly with each heroine -- you'll cheer them on, cry with them, laugh with them and swoon over them! I knew I'd love Ronan Cross from the moment he was introduced to us in Defending Allye. I didn't know if I could possibly love another female character lead as much as I loved Allye, but Chloe is a close second -- another incredibly strong & feisty female. Can't wait for to read Arrow's story next. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Wowza! This is so awesome! I can't get over how well this author writes. She definitely knows how to intrigue, pull and anticipate very well. I was so glued to this book that I completely lost track of time...and sleep.

Ro is one of the amazing Mountain Mercenaries. He's pretty reserved, but when he knows what he wants or has to do, there's no one that could get in his way. After a woman shows up in his driveway, scantly dressed, bruise on back and expression scared, he knew that there was something NOT right about the situation. After all, rescuing abused women IS one of his jobs. So....game on.

Chloe can't believe her luck. Even since her father died, she's lost her job and moved in with her brother, which was the worst mistake of her life. Now? Now she's doing everything possible to stay alive, while trying to formulate a plan to escape. And one night when she thought her luck turns around, she ends up kidnapped. Really?

Where I thought Grey (first book) was pretty cool, I LOVE Ro. His intuition for what's both right and wrong are spot on, but it's his heart that will pull you in. And Chloe? She's stronger than she looks and determined to survive what she's been through...even when she tries to down play how bad things have been. The chemistry between the two is obvious top notch, but it's the actual relationship and how's built that I like the most.

You know why I love this series? Because these men fight for woman. They fight to make woman not only feel safe, be to be safe...even though they're scarred and flawed and totally have their own issues to deal with.

reviewed by Chris

Mystery, danger and action fill this latest story of the Mountain Mercenaries.

Chloe Harris has lived as a prisoner in her brothers house since she lost her job, her father and every penny she had. Leon was “taking care” of her, but his idea of caring for her was keeping her in a locked room, beating her, and forcing her to work in his stripper club. In an accidental encounter she comes to the attention of Ronan (Ro) Cross, and he can’t get her out of his mind, and decides to check her out. Coming upon her in her brothers club was not what he expected. The Mercenaries go into action to rescue her, but by doing so open up a whole new world of danger, including the local Cosa Nostra.
Chloe comes to depend on Ro’s protection which leads to emotions that are far hotter than protection. The dangerous action continues to the last page, and so does the heat. This second in the Mountain Mercenaries is a great read, and the hint of the next book featuring Arrow, can’t come soon enough! Each book can be read as a stand alone, but the first in the series is equally entertaining.

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

DEFENDING CHLOE – Susan Stoker
Mountain Mercenaries – Book 2
Montlake Romance
ISBN-10: 1542040027
ISBN-13: 978-1542040020
December 2018
Romantic Suspense

Colorado Springs, Colorado – The Present

In the prologue, ne’re-do-well spend thrift Leon Harris has finally earned his master’s degree in accounting. He sits down with his father, Ray Harris, who is also an accountant, to talk about his future. His controlling father has given him a measly hundred grand a year to live on, and Leon is eager to increase his income. His father, however, challenges Leon to match his older sister Chloe’s success. This, and learning he will not be working with his father’s client Joseph Carlino of the Cosa Nostra in Denver, infuriates Leon. He hates his sister. Then he learns their mother left Chloe a half billion dollars which she will receive when she reaches age thirty-five. An inheritance neither his father nor his lawyer can change and goes strictly to Chloe. His father discloses he does receive fifty grand a month for overseeing the trust fund. After he politely leaves his father’s office, Leon swears to himself to teach both his father and his sister Chloe just how much smarter, devious actually, he is than they think.

A bedraggled but also provocatively dressed woman hikes into the yard of Ronan (Ro) Cross, at his remote home in a suburb north of Colorado Springs. He notices the large bruise on her back through her transparent blouse before another woman stops and picks her up, berating her the whole time. Before she left, Ro had elicited the woman’s name: Chloe Harris. He also gave her his card before she was nearly dragged away. He suspects Chloe is an abused woman, a problem very important to his team, the Mountain Mercenaries. They work to eliminate the abuse of women and children in whatever way they can. Their mysterious boss, Rex, who seems to have clandestine contacts with those in high powered places both legal and ill-legal, arranges their missions, but in this instance, Ro prompts the investigation.

The immediate attraction between Chloe and Ro is apparent, but Chloe suffers serious trust issues since the murder of her father, followed by her brother’s and his girlfriend Abbie’s abuse of her. She is unaware of her inheritance or why her brother treats her so badly while he insists she live with him. As her thirty fifth birthday approaches, Chloe is determined to flee her brother’s vast social and political influence, and while Ro helps her, she suspects his and his friends’ purpose after they kidnap her.

Mountain Mercenary Gray and his girlfriend Allye, from the series’ first story DEFENDING ALLYE, play roles in this story as do the other men in the group: Meat, Black, Ball, and Arrow. Arrow knows some history about Englishman Ro’s unfortunate past that few others do, and of course Rex also has influence on the dire situations soon to evolve. DEFENDING CHLOE contains extreme violence and depravity, but the surrounding story shows the other side of love and caring with some very hot sex scenes. All this provides a satisfying story.

Robin Lee

Another fantastic romantic suspense from Stoker. Both the romance and the suspense were well done.

Chloe Harris's life sucks and it's about to get worse. She's been plotting to get out of town for a while, but it's taking a while to put her plan together because she has no one to trust but herself. Ronan Cross knows the woman who stumbled into his garage needs his help, but she won't admit it to him. Getting her to trust him is just as important as it will be difficult.

Thank you to the author and Montlake Publishing for granting my request for a review copy via Net Galley.

Another fabulous story here and what a great character build! Loved the interaction on the two. It was like I was sitting watching the whole thing in front of me. Got to see some past characters and I love that they don’t overpack the story. Very fast pace in certain areas so make sure the book has your full attention but definitely a page turner. I am a big fan of all stoker series and love how each one has its own “Thing”. Definitely no story repeats and each story climax is unique which makes these very interesting and keeps you reading

DEFENDING CHLOE is another of Susan Stoker's action packed stories. I just Love reading these and all the alpha men included.

An exciting second book in the Mountain Mercenaries series by one of my favorite authors, Susan Stoker. Ronan Cross, a member of the Mountain Mercenaries, met Chloe Harris when she arrived at his house asking to use his phone. Ro worked with the Mountain Mercenaries to protect and rescue women from abusive situations and he could tell that Chloe had been abused. The more he learned about her, the more he knew that he had to make sure that she was truly safe. Chloe’s mother had been murdered years before and now her father was recently murdered during a home invasion. Chloe knew that prior to her father’s death he did business with the mafia, but he had always treated her with love and respect. After losing her job and unable to find work, Chloe moved back in to the family home with her brother, Leon. What she didn’t know was how evil her brother would become as he took over her father’s business…she had to get away. Ro and his team would do what is needed to rescue Chloe from her brother. Can Ro keep her safe? Can he teach Chloe to trust again? A very moving and emotional roller coaster as the two give in to their intense attraction while fighting for her freedom. I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

Wow what a read this was. Ronan finds Chloe and helps her and something about her he can't shake.
Chloe is being held by her lunatic half brother and Ronan and the guys make it their business to figure out what's going on and what the backstory is with Chloe. Best part of the book. Plenty of steam in this one, and great twists and turns. I loved Ronan and Chloe. Great plot and plenty of action.

arc from NetGalley and Publisher for an honest review

Defending Chloe Mountain Mercenaries, Book 2 is just as good as the 1st book in the series. Solid plot and awesome romance. Enjoyed