Shielding Sierra by Susan Stoker

 

4 stars

Sierra was kidnapped by insurgents, and she thought she was never going to get free. She regretted not getting to know Grover better and not being able to see her family one more time. When Grover is thrown into the cell next to her, she is happy to see him but also devastated that he is there. He and his team are able to get her home but is she truly safe?

I’ve been waiting forever for this book. Sierra has been held for a year by terrorists and Grover saves her and she repays him. I loved the fact that Stoker showed them working through this trauma before getting together. I loved how Sierra saves the day in the end. Stoker also included an epilogue that goes out several years and I love seeing where Stoker sees her character in the future.

Book 8 Delta Team Two

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Shielding Ember by Susan Stoker

 

3 Star

Delta Team 2 is sent to the Olympic Games to keep people safe from threats.  Craig “Doc” Wagner has actively avoided the spotlight since he was a child and there were issues.  When the team gets to the Olympics, they run into Ember who is always in the spotlight on social media.  She looks like she’s in need, so he brings her over to sit with the team. 

It was an interesting story and I enjoyed it.  Not one of my favorite books by her but it was good. The best part of the book was literally the last page and makes me wish it was January so I could read the last book in the series.

Book 7 Delta Team 2

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Shielding Devyn by Susan Stoker

 

3.5 stars

Devyn lifther job and her family to move closer to her brother and getaway from her other brother. She's not sure if she will be staying or moving on somewhere else. Her brother's friend and teammate Lucky hopes she stays. He's willing to take it as slow as she needs but isn't willing to walk away. Will he be able to keep her safe ?

I struggle with reviewing this book. I liked Lucky and Devyn but I wasn't in love with the story. Devyn ends up kidnapped because of her brother. The brother knows she's been taken but doesn't Call anyone or does anything. She ends up held longer because of this and it frustrated me. On top of this the guys all come together to get the 50,000 the brother needed to pay off his debt. This is great but the legality of handling it themselves verses working with the police just rubbed me the wrong way. Then Devyn lets her precious brother get all sorts of attention leaving her to deal with the fallout of her kidnapping. For me this all made the book meh for me.

Book 6 Delta Team Two

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Shielding Riley by Susan Stoker

 

5 Star

Porter "Oz" Reed has had his life turned upside down.  A sister he was estranged from has died and left her son without anyone to care for him.  Oz now has to figure out how to care for a child while still being a Delta.  He turns to his neighbor Riley for help.  Recently out of an abusive relationship Riley steps up to help Oz out.  She knows how hard life is in the system and helps guide him.  Oz knows his nephew is keeping secrets and wants him to tell him what they are but will have to earn the trust while still completing missions.  When he finally discovers what the secrets are he will bend over backwards to make everything right.

I loved this story.  When you think all the bad to happen has concluded and they are in for some happily ever after you get thrown a curveball and more drama.  The book showed some struggles single parents have to deal with.  I loved seeing the rest of the team come together to help Oz out.  One of the only things that frustrated me with this book was the epilogue.  Susan Stoker wrote glimpses of future books and I need them right now! The first one isn't coming out until May so yay short wait but the hints of what will happen in that book built an anticipation I don't want.  The other book won't be out until January 2022.  It makes it so I want to wait to read the rest of the series until the last book comes out in January.  All that aside the book was one of the better books I've read from her and I really enjoyed it. 

Book 5 Delta Team Two

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Shielding Jayme by Susan Stoker

 

3 Star

Jayme had dreamed of owner her own bakery in Seattle.  When her boss decides to sell the bakery to someone else she quits and moves to Killeen, Texas to be with her grandma.  Winnie wants the best for her granddaughter and thinks the big strong helicopter mechanic Rocket is perfect.  Even though Jayme says she isn't interested Winnie manufactures a connection.  Will Jayme allow herself to reach for her dreams?

This was an ok book to read.  I wanted more about why Jayme had moved from Washington to Texas.  It seems like a drastic move just because her boss sold to someone else.  The conflict in the story wasn't anything major and was kind of meh.  There was also a ton of epilogues that went into their lives later and with the longer series I enjoy this but I wasn't feeling that big of a connection to care about their future.  The love story between Jayme and Rocket was good if not a whole lot of insta love.  The one character I loved the best was Winnie, Jayme's grandma.  She was awesome and we saw her in passed books.  It fit with the overall series just not one of my favorite books.

Book 4 Delta Team Two

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Shielding Aspen by Susan Stoker

4 Star

Aspen wanted a man he went on a couple of dates with to leave her alone.  She has asked and justified why they won’t work but he won’t take no for an answer.  After yet another spurned advance she walks up to a man in a bar and kissed him.  Using this random man to deter the guy she ends up with another soldier.  However, this one is a good one.  Brain has never had much luck with women.  He was too smart and too awkward.  When a random woman kisses him in a bar, he is enthralled with her.  When their relationship continues to deepen the could have been was not happy and was determined to make her and everyone else’s life miserable.

I enjoyed this book for the most part.  I didn’t really feel like the bad guy was really a bad guy.  It was more relationship book than here is this big bad guy that they will need to be rescued from.  I really liked Aspen’s character.  She was struggling with who she was and whether she should stay in the Army.  Brain frustrated me.  He was very smart but very stupid man.  Aspen made him a better person.  The ending literally sets up the rest of the books in the series and now I have to wait an indeterminate time to get all of them.  I really need to stop reading that last couple of pages of her books to not torture me with the wait. 

Book 3 Delta Team Two

Shielding Kinley by Susan Stoker

5 Stars

Kinley has always felt like an outcast since her time in the foster system so when she connects with Delta Force member Gage “Lefty” Haskins she thinks it’s not going to work out.  She ghosts him after their first meeting.  When they meet a second time she swears she’s going to call him even though he lives in Texas and she in DC.  Instead she accidentally ghosts him a second time when her life falls apart after witnessing a high-powered state official with a murdered girl.  She is fired from her job and on her way home is shoved in front of a train which destroys her phone.  With no one to turn to she tracks Gage down for his help and advice.  The longer they’re together the greater their connection is but it puts his life in danger and Kinley will need to decide what is best for them.

I loved loved loved this story.  I was so mad and sad at one point in the book so many feelings.  Kinley makes the hardest decision in the world to protect those she loves and it’s months and months of waiting.  I loved the build up to this point and then I got very mad at the book and wanted to throw my device I was reading on.  It all works out in the end but the journey to the happily ever after was the best part.  I also enjoyed seeing characters from the other series in this book.  The set up for the next one was also nice to see and I now can’t wait for the book to come out.

Book 2 Delta Force 2

Shielding Gillian by Susan Stoker

 

4 Stars

Event planner Gillian was heading home from a job in Costa Rica when their plane was hijacked by terrorists.  They are flown to Venezuela with demands.  They use her as a mouthpiece to get their needs met and kill any hostages when they don’t get their way.  Walker “Trigger” Nelson has his Delta Team called in to rescue the hostages.  A bond is formed between them and when they get back to Texas they both want to see where this is going.  Trigger hesitates to start something as he is concerned about her mental health until he is told there was a missed hijacker who was among the hostages and they’re blaming Gillian for the failed attack.

I enjoyed the story a lot.  I did figure out who the hijacker was almost from the beginning but this book never claimed to be a mystery.  The pacing was spot on and so was the romance.  It ties into other series by Susan Stoker so it can technically be read alone as the beginning of a new series but it is better to have read the previous series.  Overall, it was a good edition to the rest of her books.

Book 1 Delta Team 2