My rating: 4 stars. As much as I enjoyed this novel, I wasn't pulled in to it as I have in other novels ... I just re-read Protecting Caroline (and that whole series) for I don't know how man times!! The beginning and the end of this novel gripped my attention ... the middle, well there was way too much "getting to know each other" - that I found my attention wandering. The author came out with some really meaningful comments ... then spoiled it with some really cheesy ones. I will admit, I loved Baxter! He certainly pulled my heart strings! I also wanted to say (without giving the plot) ... karma's a bitch!!! There was one issue I had - I have a problem with understanding how someone wants to have sex just after having been shot. It's just not realistic!!! I sprained 3 ribs and there was no way my man was coming near me even for snuggle time!! Just saying!!! That being said, if you are a fan of Susan Stoker, you will enjoy this novel!! I will look forward to more of her novels.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review of her novel

4.5 stars! I'm counting down the days until the next book. Riggs is my new favorite book boyfriend: considerate, alpha, protective, and loyal. His instinct to trust and protect Carlise will make you swoon, all while hoping they both learn how to lower their walls to let love in.

Baxter steals the show in every scene he appears in, and my heart tugged with each tender moment they share with him. Animals are my weakness, and this one won me over instantly.

* Alpha cinnamon roll hero
* Rescue dog
* One bed
* Stalker

A great story, (even though I figured out the plot twist early on), with suspense, romance, and plenty of steam. I can't wait for all of the guys on Chappy's team to get their own story, even though I'm guessing my favorite will be the last one.

It’s always a wonderful experience to start a new series by this author. Her protective military men are to die for. Her innocent yet strong women are always easy to fall in love with.

Riggs “Chappy” Chapman smiled as he approached his cabin, instant calm descending.

This one was no exception. Action packed and a beautiful love story. An alpha man who is sexy and resourceful. This is the beginning of another awesome adventure.

“I’ll be careful, because for the first time in my life, I have someone to come home to.”

The love story aspect is a little bit “hard to believe”, but I read to escape reality so I was ok with it. I thought I had the plot figured out, but she surprised me which I liked. It started out military romance, but turned into plain old suspense romance, very little “military” involved. Still a good read. Enjoyed it, waiting on the second book of the series to be released in August.

The Protector review.

This book surprised me in a good way. I was unsure at first because of it being written in third person and I usually only read books in first person but i actually enjoyed it. I also thought it was amazing how for almost all of the plot they are stuck in a small cottage and it never got boring. I was excited to read the next chapter finding out what was going to happen. I did have suspicions about who the stalker was and they were correct but I was surprised by the motive of the stalker- I really didn’t see that coming. I enjoyed the romance in this book and the way Riggs was towards Carlise. He cared for her deeply. The insta-love in this book was done so well that it didn’t seem unnatural at all and it just felt right.
Overall, this book excited me and surprised me in many good ways.

Loved this book! Riggs and Carlisle were the cutest couple! Yet again, this author has turned some things on their ear. Yes, we have ex-military men. Yes, there is danger out there. I enjoyed this book so much! It was a fairly easy read, the pacing was good, and the leads had amazing chemistry.


Thanks NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Riggs “Chappy” Chapman has survived hell on earth as a POW and is now living the “easy life” as a lumberjack and trail guide living in a small Maine town with his buddies. The prospect of getting snowed in alone in his little cabin in the woods seems like his idea of heaven, until he becomes sick shortly before a storm. A chance encounter with Carlise in the woods during said storm brings all his protective instincts to the forefront, until she becomes the protector as he becomes more sick. As they ride out the storm together they soon realize a one room cabin helps break the ice better than anything either have tried before and they soon start to fall for each other. This is the start of a new series of brothers-in-arms romantic suspense books by this author and those of you new to Ms Stoker will not be disappointed ( nor will her retuning fans like me). Both Riggs and Carlisle are strong in their own ways but his protective streak and gentleness is what you always dream of, an alpha male that actually cares and is not the jerk that a lot of books seem to promote. Don’t get me wrong, the heat and tension between these two is almost instantaneous, I mean he was sick on initial siting, but they seem to connect so well that it’s dream worthy. The mystery behind Carlisle’s stalker keeps the action level high and the sweetness of Baxter makes this book a nice quick read. I can’t wait for book two. 5 stars. I voluntarily read and reviewed an arc copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I loved Chappy and Carlise's story. She was lost in a blizzard and saved by a dog who brought Chappy to her rescue. Chappy was very ill and depended on Carlise to support him until he healed. There's mystery, adventure and passion. It has everything you expect in a Susan Stoker book!

I did not realize this was a Steamy Romance. But I received a complimentary copy thru Netgalley and so I feel compelled to give a review to meet the requirements.

Honestly I really, really liked The Protector the male lead Chappy "Riggs" as Carlisle calls him is indeed a true Protector and great guy.

Carlisle is a great leading lady you can't help but like.

My heart went out to both. They each had baggage they were trying to get past and overcome.

Chappy almost immediately falls for Carlisle . . . they are thrown together in a blizzard when Carlisle ends up stranded after getting lost and then driving into a tree when she is running from a stalker.

But it's a stray dog that steals the show and leads Chappy "Riggs" to Carlisle.

The author gives the reader a great cast all friends 'Brothers' (ex Servicemen) of Chappy.

I liked them all so much that I would like to read their stories.

But the bedroom and bathroom scenes in The Protector really just turn me off. The bathroom scenes were solo.

I felt like the romance was sweet and Chappy was respectful of Carlisle and didn't push her to be intimate. (hence the bathroom scenes)

I did figure out what was gonna happen and how Carlisle would get away when the stalker arrived. But I didn't put it together who it was.

Although I thought the prologue was good in that it set the scene for Chapples story I felt like it really didn't lead in to chapter 1 smoothly.

This was a good read. It was a cute romance that developed between Carlise and Riggs and I love how protective he was of her. There was loads to like about this book - one bed trope, mystery, suspense. I also like that the stalker wasn’t who it was first made out to be and that added a bit of a twist to the story.

My one issue with the book was I just found the time scale of Riggs and Carlise falling in love a bit unrealistic. When she was looking after him unwell he was passed out for most of the time and they seemed to fall in love as soon as he was better. I’m not a massive fan of insta-love so this bugged me a little but I guess that’s more of a personal preference.

Overall though this was an enjoyable read and I would read the next book I’m the series too.

I'm in love with the start of Susan Stoker's new series. Riggs and Carlise are so perfect for each other with Carlise first taking care of Riggs before she even knows him and then Riggs protecting Carlise from the stalker who follows her to the Maine woods. Now I can't wait for the second book with Juniper and Cal!

Big thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Susan Stoker for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Context:
This book isn't in my usual sub-genre for what I like in romance, so it should probably be viewed through that lens.

What I liked:
I love forced proximity tropes, kind and calmer leading men, snowy cabins and some suspense, so this ticked a lot of boxes for me in the description. It did deliver on each of those.

The chemistry was good enough, and it was an easy, fun read to escape to during the winter months.

What I didn't like:

While it technically delivered on those things in the description that made me choose to read it, the execution was tough for me to get past.

I'm not in insta-love reader, so for that trope to work there's a lot of logic that has to be overcome - and this is definitely an issue, here. (Site note/warning: I'm also not someone where pregnancy daydreams are a turn-on, so no criticism there, but it's not my thing...if it's not yours, just know it comes up.)

The story was hindered by it being told third-person. There was a LOT of telling, which made it hard to find their insta-love probable. This had the seeds of amazing chemistry, but it would have packed more punch told first-person with alternating viewpoints (you can lose the stalker's viewpoint altogether, IMHO).

There was also a lot of info-dumping up front that would have worked better coming out as details over time - it would have made Chappy more intriguing, so we'd discover more as Carlise did. As an editor, I would have advised cutting the whole first chapter, jumping straight into Chappy's present-day life, and then had his POW story come out in his discussions with Carlise. It would have been more compelling.

It felt like we only ever got a few inches deep on each character's thoughts, which was a shame.

Carlise's behavior isn't at all believable as someone who just came from an abusive relationship, so that was distracting. She's also perfect and flawless (as is Chappy).

The book attempts to glaze over it by lots of references to "we don't know why we are so drawn to each other, we just are so it's meant to be." It missed a lot of opportunities to have a few scenes and interactions to make this work a bit better. There were spans of pages with little happening, sudden passage of days, and I think we're supposed to fill in that type of bonding with our own minds, but it didn't work for me.

There was a lot or repetitiveness in stating how attracted they were, and how it didn't make sense since they didn't meet....but it was never explored further, so it felt like the book was acknowledging it, but choosing to make you accept it b/c the characters did.

Bottom line:

This was a fun, easy read with a premise that is actually quite good - with some execution changes, I think it would have been not only a fun read, but a cool romance with higher stakes.

I love starting the first book in a new Susan Stoker series. You get to meet all of the characters who will carry through the entire length of the series and become attached to them. This one is no different and I already know the Game of Chances series is going to be fantastic. Carlise and Riggs are introduced in The Protector and they have tons of chemistry. The author is so creative with each of her books but she never strays from her core values of loyalty, bravery, integrity and love!

After being held hostage as a special forces team they vowed if got out they would move to a place they could live and work together. The loyalty and love between the group of special forces is true. Promises kept - they do what they said they would do. They look out for each other but for one Chappy - he desperately craves some seclusion away from it all. Which is why he has a cabin deep in the woods. Going up to his cabin right before a major storm was alright with him. As he began to enjoy his remote time, enter Carlise. But first enter "the dog" who guided Chappy to a woman who had someone ended up stranded in a snow storm close to his cabin. The first couple of nights are interesting as Carlise takes care of a stranger and a dog (who should would later name). No electricity, lights, and freezing cold whether are just some of the conveniences that Carlise takes in stride in order to make it through the storm outside. But the storm brewing on the inside is what makes this book a very good read. Think small cabin, no where to go, and all to lose is their hearts as they work towards making it work. Sometimes when fate strikes it doesn't give a timetable - when you know you know.

The Protector by Susan Stoker is a 5 ⭐️ read.
Riggs “Chappy” Chapman is a former special forces soldier, he was a POW along with his 3 best friends and team mates , during their time in captivity the decided that if they got to go home they would leave the military and move to Maine and become lumberjacks. 3 years later they have done what they said they would, during winter Chappy goes off to his cabin in the mountain to relax and take time away for himself, he doesn’t expect to find a woman lost in the snow near his cabin or for her to take care of him while he was ill.
Carlise Edwards hasn’t had the best of time lately, she broke up with an abusive ex and gained a stalker so after many email and texts from her stalker she decides to get in her car and just drive somewhere to get away from it in the hopes the stalker will move on. But she doesn’t expect to get lost and caught in a snow storm nor does she expect to be rescued by a dog and an extremely handsome man who passes out on her and she’s left to nurse him through the flu.
I know when I pick up a book from Susan Stoker I know I’m going to love it, she just has a way with writing the perfect heroes and heroines.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

Highly recommend! This is the first book I’ve read by Susan Stoker, and I’ve definitely been missing out. I enjoyed the romance building between Riggs and Carlise, and also the added suspense of her stalker. I was hooked from the beginning and can’t wait to read the following books in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“...we’re about to decide our future-a future with a high probability of never coming to fruition, considering where we are at the moment-with a game of chance”

The Protector is the first book in the new Game of Chance series. It had everything I have come to expect from a book by Susan Stoker; intrigue, action, a strong female character, and swoon-worthy alpha men. The series is based on four military men who decide their future when they got discharged with a game of Rock, Paper, and Scissors.

Carlise Edwards was running from a stalker and ended up stranded in the Maine wilderness. Riggs “Chappy” Chapman went to his remote cabin when he needed time away. Fate and an intelligent dog led Riggs out in the severe snowstorm so he could save Carlise’s life.
This was an amazing and memorable book to start the series and the preview of the next book looks just as captivating. I cannot wait to read Cal’s story next.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I only received the first half of the book and do not feel like I can give an accurate review of the book without reading it in it's entirety.

This is the first Susan Stoker book I have read. Not sure how that’s possible, since her bibliography stretches at least three pages and I see a TON of military romances in the mix (yes, I have a thing for men in uniform). Clearly I need to back track and read more of her books!

Carlise is on the run from a stalker when she runs off the road during a blizzard on a rural road in Maine. Lucky for her, Riggs Chapman is visiting his isolated cabin in the woods to escape society for a little while. Riggs is a former POW who prefers his solitude but doesn’t hesitate to take in the beautiful, stranded stranger that happens upon his doorstep. Their relationship quickly escalates in their isolation; but unfortunately for Carlise, nowhere is safe from her stalker.

This book was entertaining and it kept me hooked, though I have to admit the climactic scene where the stalker is revealed seems pretty outlandish. That being said, this is the first of a four book series and I will definitely be on the lookout for book 2! ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first book in a new series by Susan Stoker. A trademark of all of Stoker's novels are the alpha heroes that once they find their woman, they instantly know she's the one and do all they can to protect her. But the other hallmark of her novels is that even though these women need protection at some point. they are also very strong women on their own. They are not the too stupid to live heroines even if they are open to the occasional helping hand, Riggs/Chappy and his teammates were held hostage in the military and vowed that if they survived, they were going to go into business together in of all things, a lumber business. Fast forward a few years and the men are settled in Maine and running Jack's Lumber. While each of the men will get their own book, this is the story of Riggs and Carlise. Carlise is trying to escape a stalker when she finds herself stranded in a remote cabin during a blizzard. This is a novel of romantic suspense featuring insta-love, forced proximity, with an alpha-hero and a strong heroine. With all of these elements, it's easy to see why this was one of those books I just didn't want to put down. I'm definitely looking forward to see what Susan Stoker has in store for the rest of the series!