This was fantastic and such a fun read. I loved it so much and kept turning the pages. Can’t wait to be able to share this with friends.

4 1/2 Stars out of 5
The Protector by Susan Stoker is yet another great book and the start of another great series. Like many of Susan's book series this revolves around a group of former military men who are done being in the military and are moving on with their lives. And just when they start to get used to their new lives there is something to change their lives forever, someone to love, and usually they have to save her from some sinister forces.
In The Protector, Riggs "Chappy" Chapman just wants his new life in Maine with his brothers in arm, and to be left in peace. So when a stray dog shows up at his cabin in the woods during the snowstorm and leads him to a woman lost in the storm he doesn't know just how much his life is going to change for the better. Carlise Edwards is on the run from an abusive ex and probable stalker when she crashes her car during a snowstorm. Hoping to find help Carlise starts walking, when the handsome stranger, Chappy finds her and saves her from the storm and so much more....

The first chapter is rough. The hero and his team are prisoners of war and they do suffer. I loved how it was a poor neglected dog who saved Carlise and brought the two together. I'm a sucker for an animal finding their forever home.

I enjoyed the story and the characters and I certainly would continue the series. It's a quick easy read with an interesting suspense thrown in.

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Susan Stoker is starting an new series and our first book is a great start. Chappy was a POW and three years after being rescued he and his Delta team members are living in a small, quite part of Maine. Chappy just wants to retreat to his cabin the woods and decompress, with a show storm coming he is all prepared. What he wasn't prepared for was getting sick being lead by a stray dog to a woman lost in the snow storm. Carlise is on the run from a stalker and she is very very lost, crashes her vehicle and is wondering in the wood. Found by the burly Riggs "Chappy" she nurses him back to health and it is pretty much insta-love. I did find some parts pretty cheese worthy but overall I am already now invested in all these characters and can't wait to read all the HEA for these Delta teammates.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't quite sure about this book, as I had run out of mood for romantic books, but “The Protector” turned out to be so good that it made me want to read all of Susan Stoker's other books, and they are a lot.

I really liked the writing style - it is descriptive, conveys the environment, feelings and reflections of the characters and at the same time grabs attention without stopping to maintain it. The story itself was very interesting to me, and for that helped the well-developed and thought through plot. The pace at which the story unfolds is great - smooth and slow. And although the relationship between the main characters becomes serious in a short time, nothing is hasty or forced.

Riggs and Carlise are a cute couple without being unnecessarily too sweet. The two are just in the right amounts passionate and caring for each other, understanding and helping, protective and acceptive.

And individually they are no less good characters, because they are built great. You can clearly see the depth of each of the characters, which helped to get to know them better, to understand what their past was, what their fears and desires were. And here I am not just talking about the two main characters, I am also referring to the others, more secondary – Riggs' friends, with whom it is evident from the beginning how strong a connection he has and whose books I can no longer wait to get out so that I can read.

I admit that the plot twist caught me very off guard because I expected a completely different character to set it in motion. It was a big surprise and a complete shock, but I liked this very much because it showed that the story is not so predictable.

The climax is very good - it is full of tension and maintains the dynamics without unnecessarily stretching the action so as to bore. All the time I read with interest where things would go.

The ending is very nice and hints at what to expect in the second book in the series, which I will gladly read.

The Protector by Susan Stoker

A well written story. Chappy is spending some much need quiet time in his remote cabin in the woods not expect to be disturb. Sitting in the cabin hearing scratching at the door finding a stray dog who leads him into the snow and finding a woman who’s lost after crashing her car in the snow. Carlise stays with Chappy til the weather settles down and she can have car repaired. Follow their tale of intrigue as Carlise hides out from her stalker and finds in expected romance.

An easy read to curl up on the sofa on a lazy Sunday

A heartwarming romantic suspense. I'm not a huge fan of the trapped in a cabin during a snowstorm trope but it worked great here mainly because both of the characters were so lovable. Their relationship was very endearing from the beginning with Chappy being sick and Carlise looking after him. Add in a stray dog needing TLC for a guaranteed extra tug at your heartstrings.
I had an inkling how the stalker storyline was going to play out and I wasn't too surprised when the big reveal finally happened. The suspense in the last part of the book kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading Cal's story next.

I love a good book that has the MMC as a protector and cares for her. Oh it gives me all the feels. Such a good storyline and continuing on with the rest of the cast in the next book.
I really enjoy Susan’s books and writing style. I will definitely read the next one

It gives what the title promise you, they are dealing with a stalker so he is set to protect her. and IT IS SO GOOD.

IT SERVES, SERVES SERVES, the angst, the vulnerability, everything. i love it.

Deny it all you want, but as a woman, it is comforting having someone wanting to protect you. Riggs (Chappy) always knew he was a protector. As one in the military he just was used to it being victims of war. Once Carlise stumbles into his world, he just KNOWS he must protect her. And that is exactly what she needs in her life. After being abused, not only by her father, but by her boyfriend, she needed someone to step up to the role of protector. Someone who would love her, despite any flaws she thinks she has. Riggs was perfection. Their connection was so heartwarming. And Baxter. I was as invested in his story as I was in Riggs and Carlise!

Content: There is swearing and open door content.

I enjoyed The Protector. It was a good start to the series. I'm looking forward to Cal and June's story next, and I can't wait to see what happens between April and JJ.

This would make a great movie. Two people being thrown together while being stalked by the same person. He is so deeply passionate and drawn to her. Keeping themselves safe while also falling in love in the steamy passion and threat of danger.

After their last mission went wrong Chappy and his teammates retired from the military and have relocated to Maine where they are living a very different life. What was supposed to be some rest and relaxation at his mountain cabin takes a turn when he comes across a woman and a dog who are being pursued by a stalker.

When Carlisle finds herself stranded in a snowstorm she isn’t certain how she is going to get out of the predicament she finds herself in. Fate brings her to Chappy and while she may have been there to assist in the beginning he is there when she needs someone the most.

Both Chappy and Carlisle have difficult pasts that they haven’t allowed to define who they are. Her strength and resilience shines through and he shows her that she can count on him for now and always. Intrigue, romance and surprises will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

In this psychological thriller, three identical sisters engage in some rather disturbing crimes -- they stalk men for sex and killing. It's quite disturbing and yet I found myself going back for more. There were times that I didn't want to read any more and times I was compelled to take a look inside these serial killers heads.

Sissy tells their story. it gets complicated when she falls for her first kill. The look inside her head is just fascinating and was the thing that kept me coming back to this rather disturbing book. No doubt about it, this is not a story for everyone.

In spite of the interesting characterizations, I did find the pace a bit slow and the content disturbing which kept me from devouring the pages. I could only read a bit at a time. But the writing was terrific and I would definitely check out another time from this first-time-to-me author.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

A new series with a great group of guys who instead of going into the protection business - they are lumberjacks!

After a terrible mission goes wrong, the four friends get out of the military and make a new life for themselves in Maine. Chappy likes to stay away from their small town and enjoy his solitude life until he has a dog lead him to a lost woman, Carlise.

She is running from an abusive ex and had sworn off men. Chappy is the total opposite of her ex so they kind of have a love a first sight story.

There is lots of drama and romance so it was hard to put down and had to read it in one sitting. Now, I am looking forward to Cal's story and hope that JJ and April won't be too long.

The cover is what first caught my eye and then once i started this book, I knew I picked a good one to read.
Love the characters and this book is the beginning of a new series which I am looking forward to reading.
I enjoyed Riggs and Carlisle story,

Really enjoyed this action packed and emotionally thrilling adventure filled with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists and exciting turns. An edge of your seat thrilling journey from beginning to end and so hard to put down.

4.25 stars

I have just refamiliarized myself with this author after discovering so many books, by other authors, that are based on a world that she created. Her backlist is daunting, to say the least, so, up until now, I wasn't making her a priority because it was daunting. However, this was the first book in a series and was a good jumping point.

The author did a great job at setting the foundation for this series and I can see how she will build on it in the future. I am a sucker for forced proximity and often find a hard time finding good books on this premise that don't come across as extra cheesy usually because of the instant love aspect. While this book did have that instant love, it didn't rub me the wrong way for the most part. I liked the characters. There were areas that I wished had been fleshed out more but this was a very solid book. I plan to continue the series because I was invested in these men.

I have read quite a few Susan Stoker books and I know that my review is going to be in the minority but I felt that The Protector was an average book. Not one of her best but not a bad book either. The story starts out with four soldiers being held captive and trying to think what they're going to do when they're rescued even though they feel that they won't be rescued. Thank goodness these guys are rescued and they end up retiring and opening a tour guide/forestry service in rural Maine. The Protector is Riggs "Chappy" Chapman's story. One day he's at his rural cabin and a strange dog comes to lead him towards something and what he finds is lost traveler Carlise Edwards. Carlise has fled her life in Cleveland due to an unknown stalker situation. She just kept driving until a snowstorm in Maine gets the best of her. After getting her car stuck she sets out on foot in search of help when Riggs and the dog that had initially spotted her come to her rescue. At this point in the story I was hooked. Two strangers thrown together in a snowstorm with an unknown enemy in pursuit of the heroine is usually catnip for me. Then our hero Riggs gets sick and Charlise is in charge of keeping them all alive in this small secluded cabin. Great stuff right? My problem with The Protector was the middle of the story. There wasn't much plot or action so it was full of the intimate details of Riggs and Charlise's bedroom escapades and frankly it was pretty boring. The ending saved the story for me. The supporting characters were great too. So I can't give this book more than 3*. I am sure others will love it however I am not one of them. I need more action to my story and less action in the bedroom scenes.

I haven't read a book from Susan I so long but when I saw this one I knew I needed to read it. I don't even know what to say about this book.... Ex mililitary lumberjacks and I was sold. I immediately fell in love with JJ, Chappy, Bob, and Cal.

I seriously couldn’t put the book down. The connection between Chappy and Carlise is unmistakable. This book is full of such beautiful sweet and sexy moments.