Defending Chloe: Mountain Mercenaries Book 2, Susan Stoker

Family should be our first line of support when life throws us curve balls, but that's often not the case, unfortunately.  For Chloe, the support offered by her brother is deceiving and covers a number of ulterior motives that ultimately trap her under his control.  A foot to the back and being stranded by that same brother puts her on the radar of a sexy, quietly dangerous, and fiercely protective Ronan.  His mission in life is to assist his brothers in helping women and children in abusive and dangerous situations.  The curvy Chloe calls to all his protective instincts and no matter the trials he has to face, he'll help her escape.  If he can get her to fall just as hard for him as he has for her in the process, then all the better.

Chloe is a very intelligent woman and while I was shocked at first that she could be so smart and yet get stuck in her horrendous situation, it became clear that it wasn't just the obvious abuse from her brother and his girlfriend that kept her seemingly compliant.  There were much bigger foes she was afraid of that kept her mostly in line.  What I loved the most about her was that she quietly amassed information and inner strength to escape and rebuild her life.  Her fight and her determination to survive was definitely admirable.

Ronan's heart was always in the right place, though it didn't always keep him out of trouble with Chloe.  His reliance on his team and his staunch belief in serving their brand of justice to abusers of all types is incredible.  Learning of his relationship with his family was a mixed bag of feelings because I certainly wasn't expecting what we got, but it felt genuine in it's complicated nature.  It was a unique personal conflict that gave a different kind of depth to the man.  And loving Chloe the way he did was as sweet as it was sexy.

One thing I will say is that while I don't have a problem with insta-lust or when one or both of the MC's feel and know who their one person is, there were quite a lot of sexual situations, and crude descriptions during those moments, that occurred in a really short timeline.  The language of the more sexual stuff in this author's books can never be described as shy, subtle, or even tame, and I'm a fan of that, there were just a couple moments that I had to cringe a little.  Other than that, this was a super sexy story with a whole lot of tenderness wrapped up in a suspenseful package.  I love strong women and alphamallows and we get both here.  It was most definitely an enjoyable read and I can't wait for more from this series.

*$1.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Gorgeous women don’t just stumble onto Ronan Cross’s remote property. But this one—vulnerable, victimized, and needing the kind of help only Ronan can offer—tells a story that makes his blood boil almost as hot as his need to protect her.

Since her father’s death, Chloe Harris has become a prisoner. Her own brother, a flesh peddler and low-level player in the Denver Mafia, is forcing her to sell her body for an endgame Chloe never saw coming: control over a vast fortune. Her only way out is to run—straight into the arms of the one hard-bodied man she can trust.

Defending Chloe could rain punishment down on the Mountain Mercenaries. Her brother has Mob connections and the local police in his pocket. But Ronan still has an edge—the unshakable loyalty of his deadly teammates. As well as an unquenchable thirst for retribution…and Chloe.

Justice for Hope: Badge of Honor Book 12, Susan Stoker

Take the Cinderella trope mixed with It Could Happen to You all with a darker edge and you have Hope Drayden's story.  Grief, pain, struggle...there's only so much you can take when you're on the run.  But Hope has her little boy with her and she's determined to survive for him.  When she meets Calder Stonewall she's reluctant to trust him.  He's law enforcement, big, awkward, imposing...and yet she's surprised to find that her son and a small part of her soul trusts him.  Calder is determined to create a place for himself in her life, to support, encourage, and to love her.  But an unknown enemy threatens everything they're building.

Calder has a quiet strength about him that I enjoyed quite a lot.  I found his bumbling endearing when he would overshare, babble, or say those slightly disturbing things that didn't make it through the filter.  I would have liked it if his endearing quirks were consistently present throughout the story instead of pretty much ending right after he shows up at the diner.  Most things go away with the ease of comfort he finds with more time with Hope but the things that made him so very unique seemed to be lost and set aside in favor of his declarations of intention.  I loved that he wore his heart so clearly on his sleeve for Hope, and especially Billy, but in and amongst all those heartfelt, direct, fierce statements I wanted a little more of his brand of unique.

Hope was straightforward in her character.  A fierce mother, a kind mother, an alluring woman with a spine of steel and an open heart.  I'm glad she wasn't so determined to do everything on her own that it was to her detriment, that she didn't allow her stubborn will to usurp her good sense.  Because when she opened her mind she also opened her world to the amazing community Calder brought with him.  That when she needed help in a big way, she had friends and adopted family at her back and in her corner.

While the dramatic element was expected, the villain was not.  It was a surprise that both dropped the severity of the moment while at the same time making it scarier.  When we don't have a name for the enemy it has you jumping at any and all shadows and threats.  The resolution was sweet and triumphant.  Where family is everything, this story made sure to keep that love as a focus throughout.  Love, healing, relief, support...when you have a family surrounding you with those things what you really find is freedom.

*$5.99 on Amazon!

Justice for Milena: Badge of Honor, Texas Heroes Book 10, Susan Stoker

When the love of your life walks out it's hard to know where to go from there.  With a shattered heart but so full of love for an unexpected gift left behind, Milena makes a success of her life with the support of friends and family.  But when she's in danger it's the man she thought she could move on without that comes to her aid.  TJ regrets every day that he left the woman that had a home in his soul.  Yet his demons wouldn't let him stay and be happy.  Though he's tried to make a life without her there's not one part of him -- mind, body, heart, or soul -- that can move on without her.  And when he gets a chance to be a part of her forever he's going to use every method, connection, and honest confession he can to make his part permanent.  Nothing and no one will get in his way, not even a sadistic pair of men bent on eliminating Milena.

LOVE the celibate hero.  FINALLY!  I've honestly been hoping there was a sexy hero out there that doesn't become a manwhore after a breakup.  So Alpha -- at every turn.  But, and this is the best, he didn't "imprison" Milena because of his fierce need to protect.  His interactions with JT were so very sweet.  To see his heart find completeness, all the love he could ever want, deserve, hope for, dream of...I'm not sure it's possible not to love this man.

And for his partner I couldn't wish for a better woman in Milena.  Now, when they meet again after years, Milena's gut reaction was not awesome.  Yes, it was understandable, but it wasn't very nice.  I mean, we get a lot of pain, a sense of abandonment, some resentment, but a lot of what we read before their meeting was more of her love and tenderness toward the broken man that left her.  And then, after all the expressions of love and keeping his memory present, for her to explode with vitriol at their first interaction I was completely floored.  I could guess that there would be a bunch of banked anger in and amongst all her feelings for the man but for that one to take center stage was shocking and slightly disappointing.  That being said, she's strong, independent, but not mule-headed.  Her trust in the man who shattered his heart is staggering and as she allows him to put those pieces back together more securely than if it had never broken in the first place, she finds her own happiness, one that she could never have imagined before.

The antagonists were truly sick and I now this is completely un-PC to even think this, but I was glad for TJ's brand of justice.  I'm not going to get into politics here in a book review, but with a rotten, festering soul that does what these men did and have all the money and political connections they had, knowing that the legal process wouldn't bring justice on them, a different kind of justice needed to be carried out.  So in this fictional story with fictional men doing drastic things to bring about justice for the innocents in the fictional story, I'm 100% behind TJ's actions.  In real life situations like this may occur and my feelings might be more complicated regarding the resolution, but for the purposes of this particular story, I agreed with how the conflict was settled.

Drama, incredible feels, intense passion, regret, forgiveness...there is so much to love about this story.  I've wanted to get TJ's story for so long and he has lived up to every one of my heart's hopes for him and his own happily ever after.  And now for Sadie's story...without Sadie at Milena's side over the years things might have gone very differently.  But that teaser at the end with Sadie getting an earful of Chase's intentions?!?!?!?!  Holy Eff.  I'm tingling right now.  Must. Read. Soon!

*$4.99 on Amazon!

Shelter for Elizabeth: Badge of Honor, Texas Heroes Book 5, Susan Stoker

A minor kitchen fire brings Beth and Cade together but that same element just might have the power to tear them apart.  While Beth is struggling with agoraphobia as a result of an intensely traumatic situation from her past, she can't help but be drawn to the large, handsome firefighter who seems to know just what she needs when the request for medical treatment might take her from the safety of her home.  Cade has a soft spot for damsels in distress.  He needs to be needed.  Lucky for him, his confidence that Beth is someone worth pursuing leads him into his ideal relationship.  But when that relationship is tested by hasty conclusions, harsh words, and dangerous new habits, it'll take more than a chivalrous nature to save what they're building.

As always, I love the way difficult situations are tackled by this author.  In this story there's counseling, not shying away from bad things, and complete honesty in behaviors.  It's not as simple as that list suggests, it's much more in-depth considering all that the characters experience and what they have to go through to find their happy ending.

Beth was good, in her head a little much, but overall a great character struggling with traumatic events and their effects.  I enjoyed that she was brilliant, relatively resilient, a strong woman who knew what she was doing and why.  It would have been nice if she were completely transparent and forthcoming about her newest struggle with the man she was falling for but the fallout from that got her into a place to get the help she really needed.

Cade was solid.  Yes, his emotions and mouth ran away from him at times, but still a solid man who knows who and what he wants.  I wasn't a fan of Cade jumping to conclusions and then down her throat.  The way he spoke to Beth because of his misunderstandings of what she was really struggling with, the real reason behind her new coping mechanism, wasn't a way to get his point across or to hear hers either.  She pushed for him to open up and talk about what was bothering him really got them into that situation, but I can't say that waiting until the next morning would have been better either.

Both the reunion and resolution were honest, painful, and full of love and acceptance.  The way the author orchestrated their reunion and then tackled the incident from Beth's past was a surprise and definitely necessary for her characters' evolution.  It opened doors for Beth to see a different perspective, to move beyond what happened and find healthy ways of coping with her situation.  It also gave us a sense of "completion" even though the individual struggles aren't magically healed for anyone that was involved.  What it did was bring it all full-circle allowing Beth to incorporate the healthy aspects into her recovery rather than allowing her to continue blocking out the experience and never fully addressing it so she can move beyond it.

Such a great story with a stellar ending.  So much happiness and love surrounding them to show that while struggles don't magically disappear at the words "The End," there's always support, compassion, and community backing you while you heal.

*$4.99 on Amazon!

Claiming Felicity: Ace Security Book 4, Susan Stoker

Fighting for what's right is never really easy.  And when what you're fighting against sets its sights on you?  Sometimes the only thing you can do is run.  A decade later and Felicity is still running.  Despite making friends, being accepted into their family, and having a steady job with people she loves it seems her trouble has found her again.  When her preparations for running bring all her friends into her drama it's Ryder, the mysterious fourth brother, that gives her the hope of freedom.

Ryder is a man who knows himself.  When his brothers jump at the call to go to Felicity he knows the call is meant for him too.  He's not sure why, he just knows that when that feeling hits his best bet is following it.  What he finds when he does is the woman who was meant for him and him alone.  Immediately he's on her side, in her space, giving her the support she needs to face her demons, her worst fears, and her past.

The drama from her past is pretty big.  We get a good sense from the prologue that the man haunting her is no one to tangle with.  Felicity has used all the tools in her brilliant mind to stay as many steps ahead of him for the past decade but it's clear that he's found her again, and he's close.  What she feels from Ryder is sincerity and safety.  Never in her life did she think it would be possible to have a future free from fleeing and free from loneliness.  But it looks like Castle Rock is the place meant for her, for them.

I loved Felicity.  She was strong, smart, and still scared.  She was honest and still such a badass when it mattered.  She had the biggest heart and would do anything for and to protect those she loves.  I especially loved it when she agreed to not go alone to meet Joseph.  Her response was all sass and all savvy.  A lot of times when a heroine is strong and finally feeling anger instead of fear she also gets stubborn and willing to give in to the villain's demands because of their perceived power over the situation.  What Felicity does instead is perfect.  Trusting that she has a whole team of awesome at her side and behind her she knows that it's not smart to put any faith whatsoever in the bad guy and to only go into the fray with both protection and support.

And Ryder.  I'm a huge sucker for a big alpha man who is perfectly devoted to the one woman he knows he's meant for.  From the beginning it's clear that he's not a manwhore, not a playboy, not a badass mercenary who takes physical pleasure just because he can and needs soft bodies and intense release to balance the evil he fights.  Instead, he's reserving his sexual passion for encounters that matter and because his job isn't one that allows for encounters that matter, he's mostly celibate.  That is so very rare in romance novels featuring strong alpha-type men who are physically captivating and I find myself craving those kinds of men more and more frequently.

So anyway, back to Ryder.  He's all in when it comes to Felicity and his passion for her is matched by the zeal he feels towards her protection.  Knowing who she is inside from the very beginning there's no angst in them regarding her past self and present self.  He's just in.  No questions, no reservations, just devotion.  He's noble, honest, and absolutely determined to protect what's his and everything she loves.  He is also incredibly resourceful.  With no hesitation he called on all his friends to give him the information he needed to do his job.

The direction of the drama wasn't exactly expected and yet when Joseph made his move we could look back and say, "Yeah, I can see that he'd do that."  It escalated the drama into more than just a "final showdown" and it also made for a much more powerful ending.  It was a catalyst for so much more than the plot's progression and resolution, it tested the couples, the friendships, and the connection they all shared.  By having short little scenes from each couple we get to see each of the brothers as they experience their hard-won love and how much intimacy means to them after overcoming tragic events.  Their lives are dramatic but so very filled with the tenderness that connects them, gets them through all the crazy that comes to them.

And then the little scene from Rex's POV?  Dang.  I haven't heard if this is going to be its own series but Susan Stoker doesn't introduce a group of men and not give them their own stories unless there's a crossover of some kind with another author.  I'm more than eager to get to know the rest of the Mountain Mercenaries.  All the men are charming, intriguing, darkly awesome, and have that same noble, protective streak that I love about Ryder.  Each of them deserve their own kick ass woman and I can't wait to get to know them and the women they fall for.

$4.99 on Amazon or FREE on KU!

Rescuing Casey: Delta Force Heroes Book 7, Susan Stoker

Stuck in a hole for almost two weeks, Casey is about to give up.  Her water supply has dried up and so has her hope.  What was supposed to be an enjoyable research trip turned deadly when she was kidnapped along with her three students in the remote jungle of Costa Rica.  Her brother and his Delta Force team are determined to save her no matter the obstacle.  Troy 'Beatle' Lennon is more invested than all of them.  His attraction for his teammate's sister is intense and deep and he's more determined than all the rest to see her home safely.

Yet again Susan Stoker has brought us an amazing heroine.  And she truly is a hero.  She's brave, smart, strong-willed, quick-thinking, resourceful, and tenacious.  She won't let her inner turmoil keep her from returning home.  What happened to her is horrific and with no understanding of why it happened in the first place she's confused and frightened but with her brother's Delta Force team with her every step of the way she won't succumb to her desire to fall apart.  I admired her all the way through the story.  Her grit and ability to think in the face of danger was incredible.

At her side is Beatle.  From the first look at her picture he was hooked.  His admiration and affection for her grows steadily as her brother, Blade recounts story after story of their youth and if he wasn't in love with her before, her smile beaming at him from her prison of mud and filth alone thrust him over the abyss.  He's smitten, enchanted, and absolutely sure that she's the one for him.  With his generous heart and patience he's determined to win her over and convince her that there's no one he wants more than her for the rest of his life.

Their trek through the jungle is fraught with peril and Beatle has a gut feeling that she won't even be safe when they reach home.  From start to end the story was intense and exciting.  Beatle's patience and resolve to keep Casey safe, even from him, was awesome.  I've read other stories where danger in the jungle or on a rescue leads to intense sex during extraction and it never sat well with me because of the inherent psychological issues accompanying the entire ordeal.  Rescuing Casey, however, deals with it in a realistic way.  Yes, there's attraction and desire, yes, there's honest sexual attraction from Beatle, but nothing is ever pushed.  Every bit of the psychological issues are addressed in a way to be realistic and honest.  From Blade's involvement to the pull between Casey and Beatle there's never any question that these men know what happens, what could happen, and what should happen for the best outcome of the rescuee's psyche.

With a hopeful, heartwarming ending I'm in love.  Everything about this story grabbed me and kept me invested in all these men.  The small snippets of what we can expect with Blade, Truck, and Chase are also perfect in giving a small yet complete glimpse of everything that we're going to read about in their stories.  Perfection.  This whole story moved me and I couldn't put it down.

*$5.62 on Amazon!

Justice for Erin, Susan Stoker

Yet again Susan Stoker creates a heroine that truly is a heroine.  She saves herself as far as she can in so many ways it's astounding.  Erin is inspiring and still so vulnerable and damaged.  Conor is hot and so compassionate that he's the perfect man to bring Erin out from hiding.  Such a perfect MC pairing.

I love that Erin is very real.  She's troubled and dealing with the physical and emotional toll her past has inflicted on her.  With a mother who wishes her only ill and no father figure in her life she found a way to cope with all of that.  Her way of coping left scars of many types and isn't so different from ways that we as mere humans choose to deal with various stressors in our own lives.  Despite having such a giant issue holding her back from accepting everything that Conor is offering, she's honest, fun, and eager to learn and grow with him.  She might be holding part of herself back but she's honest with him that something is there.

Conor can see that there's something keeping her from being all-in in their relationship but he's patient, kind, understanding, and very observant.  So much so that he can make some close guesses as to what holds her back.  He's not willing to give up or allow distance to grow between them, though, and for that I am so proud.  There is undeniable sexual chemistry there and he's upfront about what he desires from her but doesn't add any pressure to it by giving her all the time in the world to accept them for all they could be before hoping she opens herself to him fully.  That love and patience is what really wins me over.  So many alpha males run in and push to solve all the problems that face their women but for him to show restraint at the same time as easing her out from underneath the pressure that weighs her down is what makes him such a good man.  His family is perfect and opens the door to them finally finding Erin's courage to confess everything.

Just when things are making their way to perfection and openness in every way something comes in and could possibly ruin everything...forever.  Erin is made of some seriously strong stuff, though, and she uses her brain and her body to survive and save herself.  If only it weren't for those ants...  Conor gets to see all the strength she possesses and finds himself truly humbled by her capability, fortitude, and sheer will to not just survive, but to rise above all that has happened to her.

There are parts that are a little over the top when describing heroism, strength, and praise for overcoming difficulties.  Not that it doesn't need to be said and it probably needs to be known a hundred times over because sometimes you just can't hear the words enough, but as a reader I found it a little repetitive and, as stated before, over the top.  I enjoyed the sentiments quite a lot, I just think it could have been a little more succinct.

Overall, this was a really great story with characters that were not only ideal for one another, but displayed character traits worth admiring and emulating.  Susan Stoker wrote wonderful human beings who were so very real and totally deserved the HEA she wrote for them.

Quick Reads and Quick Reviews 10

  

• Dragon's First Rule, Silver Milan
• Lupine Road, Cal Matthews
• Rescuing Bryn, Susan Stoker

The beginning was intriguing, exciting, and interesting. As Jett and Ariel got closer to one another I could feel something big building for them. As they fell deeper in like (not love at this point), all that made Ariel a fighter, a strong woman, an independent woman, shrank to nothingness. Everything that made her really great in the beginning disappeared and I couldn't understand why she would be written that way. Jett went through a character change as well. He got softer, more introspective, more tender. Those changes were good. His immaturity regarding his kingdom and seeing the potential problems with those he left not just in charge, but as a support system around him once he made his choice, was extremely disappointing. And why wouldn't a king be able to look at the dumb laws of the past and change what was necessary for his race to form better ties to the races he was so used to belittling? The end is a definite opening for the next book in the series and is interesting enough that I'd look forward to seeing who and what comes next. I had some strong suspicions about who the villain(s) might be but either that's coming down the pike or I am completely wrong. I'm interested to see if I am. 2.5 stars.

This was a pretty solid book that felt like the beginning of a series rather than a standalone novel. Although that's probably because I've been reading series after series lately. Nevertheless, there were intimations toward unfinished business and that probably gave it that feeling. I enjoyed how sweet Cyrus was. Despite his alpha tendencies he had a heart and was drawn toward the seemingly broken Nate. He was hardworking, as honest as he could be, understanding, patient, and kind. There were also endearing moments when he stuck his foot in his mouth so seeing him bungling his apologies for those moments was surprisingly cute. Nate wasn't nearly as broken as he appeared, instead he had a quiet strength and determination despite his insecurities. They were good for one another. The drama surrounding them was interesting but I constantly felt like I was missing something, like this was a second in a series and the background was already given. Lacking details gave the book a more ominous and mysterious vibe that was mostly forgivable, except there were lots of things not explained by the end. The reckoning was big and messy and a bit more "realistic" with outcomes than other novels that have the alpha suddenly finding the strength to vanquish all foes. The emotional conclusion, however, was a bit lacking. I'm not actually sure what was missing, it just felt like more was held back than necessary. Overall, the book was a solid read, and enjoyable.  3 stars.

To be honest, I totally procrastinated on reading this book.  But how was I to know that Bryn would be quirky yet awesome and Dane would be both tender and badass?!  So Bryn with her incredible brain and difficulty with common sense and time management is so very endearing.  What she does for Dane in the beginning is perceptive and understanding with no pity or self-serving motives.  Dane doesn't comprehend that people are actually decent, mostly because he isn't decent to himself.  He says hurtful things to Bryn and later comes to regret it for pretty much the rest of the book.  As he falls for her he also finds healing through her fascination and complete lack of awareness.  Her intuitive way of caring for him and lack of caring for his status as an amputee is enough to give him hope and solace when he was missing it in himself.  The entire story is filled with his tender groveling and falling for the brainy Bryn.  Together they make a really great pair.  I love that Bryn isn't so ditzy that she doesn't recognize her own mistakes and strive to overcome them.  She's resilient and extremely quick when following Dane's cues when she gets into trouble.  Dane's team of friends are absolutely amazing and I want to know more about them and read their stories.  The whole story is filled with cute moments, passion, seemingly random factoids, quirkiness, and sweetness.  5 stars.

Protecting Dakota, Susan Stoker

Usually I gravitate toward a younger set of MC's because it's closer to my own age and tastes. This book, however, made me see that a more mature coupling can be just as intense, tender, and relate-able. From start to finish both of these people made me want more. I could have used a bit more background on each of them and would also do well to read the related stories to know the men and women surrounding and supporting Cutter, but overall, I felt like I could know these people and want them in my life. Well, if my life involved kidnapping, terrorists, and other life-threatening situations.

Dakota was a solid, strong woman with a good head on her shoulders. She knew what she wanted but was able to adapt to her new life on the run. Knowing that she was in danger she used her brain to get away and to stay sane while doing so. With Cutter's appearance she found something she needed more than she ever knew she would. Having his protection and support was a boon indeed, but it was also his passion, devotion, and tenderness that had been completely missing in her life up to this point that won her love and trust. Confident that he would be around for her and come for her if she should need him she allowed herself to share and grow into the woman she knew was inside. Cutter was a great partner for her and together they were an awesome pairing.

The drama was plentiful and there wasn't a quick save to keep Dakota or anyone else from experiencing stress, trauma, and borderline despair. I though this was a realistic and mature way to handle all the stuff going down. Not everyone gets saved in the nick of time and there's always something that people have to heal from and the situations in this story shouldn't be any different. I really enjoyed how things were handled. There were some pretty cheesy moments, but they weren't so bad that I would wish them gone, they just felt a little weird and made the conclusion feel slightly mystic instead of grounded. Not bad, just a bit farther than I expected it to go even with all the destiny references between them throughout the book. Still a great read!

*Caroline played a big role in helping and supporting Dakota.  Read her story for free!

Shelter for Sophie, Susan Stoker

Shelter for Sophie, Susan Stoker

I really, really enjoyed this book. Having seemingly imperfect women that had such amazing strength and inner goodness was wonderful and also different. Not because there aren't other books with great, strong women, but because those women are either attractive with humility or attractive without any neuroses or imperfections beyond vulnerability and/or sass. Sophie, Quinn, Beth, Adeline...these women and more in this series are truly human, truly remarkable. They steal the show and have so much to offer. I'm a huge fan.

This is the first book I've read, not just of this series, but from this author. I'm in. I've signed up to be a reader for her because I can't get enough of these stories and am too impatient to wait for the released version.

On to the actual book review...

The mysticism aspect here was sometimes laid on quite thick and seemed a little contrived. Not that it wasn't accurate, I actually wouldn't know if it was or wasn't, but those moments were a bit awkward. That only happened a couple times, like the sudden realization of the need for the Enemy Way ceremony. I get it and the actual ceremony and the after part were great, it was just the explanation part that got a little awkward for me as a reader. Aside from that and one other moment, I was happy to have a huge, essential part of such a vibrant culture included. The way that it was an integral part of Chief is believable and heartfelt. I could honestly see a man like Chief both loving his heritage and becoming who he was as a result of it for both good and bad.

Chief as a man was solid, dependable, spiritual, and loyal. I liked him very much. His initial misunderstanding and then his determined and patient way of wooing Sophie was sweet and built up a lot of anticipation for the deepening of their intimacy. Their interactions were honest and sweet. Overall, it was a good match with his respect and reverence for human frailty and her spunk, tenacity, and inherent goodness.

Because of how tame it was in the passion department, I was perpetually surprised by the instances of cussing and dirty talking. I see nothing wrong with either thing, I was just taken aback every time it happened because I was never really expecting it. The tone of the book didn't just straddle the line between being suited for sweet or erotic, it was kind of schizophrenic about it. I would have liked it to be one or the other or a bit closer to both sides to switch between instead of shift from one extreme to the other. I'm not sure if this is just the author's style or something that other readers didn't see as an issue, but for me it was noticeable and a bit jarring. Other than that, I was glad that someone so sweet could also be very willing to be completely real and raw in her language and enjoyment of sexuality.

The dramatic stuff and the villain weren't really one in the same. The biggest drama came from the Navajo understandings of interlopers and spiritual interference in good things. Second to that was the drama with the hospital and arsonist. Having both of those things try to endanger both Sophie and the romance was interesting and kept the book from being too formulaic.

Overall, this was a really great book and I'm totally looking forward to the rest of the series. I happily read and reviewed this ARC for the author via thatbookrocks.