First book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to the rest of the series.

"Defending Allye" by Susan Stoker is a romantic suspense novel with an intriguing premise. The story follows a strong heroine in need of protection, and a skilled hero ready to defend her. While the book delivers on action and suspense, the characters feel somewhat one-dimensional, and the romantic development lacks depth. Despite its potential, "Defending Allye" falls into the average territory, offering a decent option for fans of romantic suspense seeking a quick read.

A great thrilling read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. If you are looking for action and something that will keep your attention, Defending Allye is you read!

This is another classic Susan Stoker tale of strong women and the military men that love them. This book had some hard content but you always know there will be justice at the end of the Susan Stoker book! Another great read in the series!

4,5 stars!

This is a book that had basically everything I could've wish for when it comes to romantic suspense with military elements. A truly gripping story from beginning till end and I couldn't get enough of it.

The MC's were such awesome characters and I loved their dialogues and developing romance. The writing was engaging and had me hooked right from the start. There's a truly addictive story-line present that has you wanting to flip page after page. It was unputdownable for me and if you like reading romantic suspense with military elements, I hiiiighly recommend picking up this book.

I cannot wait to read more by this author and to read the next book in the series! Romantic suspense at its best!

While this was a good book, it was also deeply disturbing and not for the faint of heart. Expect some horrifying scenes, a merciless villain, and the possibility of triggers for abuse victims.

When mercenary Grayson Rogers boarded the white slavers’ boat, he didn’t anticipate finding the victim handcuffed to the bed. After killing the men aboard, he freed the girl, Allye Martin, and ended up in the ocean. During the hours they spent in the water waiting for his friend to come to their aid, he came to respect her and admire her spirit. When they parted, he didn’t expect to see her again.

But Allye hadn’t escaped empty handed-she brought with her, the flash drive she took from the room at the last minute. When she contacted Gray’s mercenary group and turned over the drive to be hacked and reviewed, Gray took her under his wing. Knowing she was still in danger, he insisted she take a leave of absence from her dancing job and hide in another state with him. But the person who tried to buy her is a vicious, merciless egomaniac who isn’t going to let her get away. Can Gray and Allye bring this monster to justice without endangering her life?

I really liked Allye. She didn’t shrink from doing what needed to be done, and she handled some scary situations with grace and humor. Gray was a little more problematic because he wasn’t willing to let Allye make her own decisions.

This book would have been improved with less detail about the monster’s actions and treatment of his captives, but it was a fascinating read.

Whoohoooo!!! First review of the year! I'm so excited - and it's about a book that moved me to the core with its story! I suspect this will be a nice reading year indeed!

Allye Martin is a victim in every sense of the word. She's kidnapped with the intention of being sold to a guy who collects HUMANS of all things. In his own personal 'zoo'. Yeah, I know, it doesn't get creepier than that. Enter Gray Rogers, one of the Mountain Mercenaries - the one who's tasked with rescuing her. After the mission supposedly goes well, the two hit it off and Allye follows Gray home - but bad guys are never that easy to evade, and Allye's would-have-been buyer will stop at nothing to get his hands on her.

I honestly had a hard time putting this one down. Not only was it fast-paced, it gets right in the action from the very start. Moreover, it manages to get a few words on the team in, so we're not completely in the dark concerning Gray's team mates. I like it when that happens - it gives me a heads up for most of the cast, and tags me along immediately to get things going.
(also, calling dibs on Ro, oh my God, I'm in love!)

Speaking of the cast, I loved Allye! And I usually find it tough to like the female lead. But this one was amazing! She was so smart and self-dependent. Sure, there were many times when she needed help and she knew it, but she wasn't acting all stubborn about it, neither was she sitting on her thumbs doing nothing - instead, she tried to help her rescuers so that the job would get done faster!

Gray, on the other hand, was a bit difficult to like. I mean, yeah, he was hot and caring and all we ever expect a male hero to be. But he kept assuming she'd leave her life behind just for him, without even asking. OK, he can't live without her - but there are other ways to compromise, don't just take over the whole thing, dude! You should be ready to make sacrifices, too! Also, I think even the writer herself understood that there was some work to be done with this character, and that's why she gave us that scene with the "little kid whose dad is in the army", to make him see his errors. In my opinion, it was a bit too convenient and kinda forced...

Finally, let it be said, Nightingale is sick - SICK, I TELL YA!

I can't wait to start reading the rest of the series. The team sounds fantastic, and I'm sure they'll find themselves in even more dangerous situations than before!

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***

Susan Stoker has written very suspenseful read that had me on the very edge of my seat. The way this author is able to write such an addictive storyline that has me feeling connected to the story is amazing. This was avery enjoyable story that had characters that I loved reading.

Omg. I love Susan Stokers books and this one did not disappoint!!!
These Alpha Males fall hard and love hard.
I loved the development of the characters and the plot kept me engaged and intrigued till the end!!

Allye, a dancer with two different color eyes was kidnapped and being transported to somewhere when Gray from "Mountain Mercenary" rescues her. Allye never knew who wanted to kidnap her yet she was thankful she was being rescued by handsome Gray. He kept her calm during the whole ordeal.
Gray wanted to track down who has rescued her so he offered her to come to his home in Colorado. Everything seems to going well. Allye found a small dance studio and keeps dancing. Another life seems to go on until they found another person from her ballet company was kidnapped and some are being killed. Alley felt she was responsible for their death and kidnap and she is determined to go back to her life.
Gray wanted to protect and keep Allye safe but she can't hide from her life forever so both agreed to get back to her life. Everything was in place incase of her being kidnapped again. Until she is kidnapped again and she can't be tracked right away.
Gray will risk everything to rescue her. She became more than just person he rescued and he will find the person who is responsible for everything.

Story moves quickly and it kept me on my toes. Suspense kept me until the end and I did love both characters. I can't wait to read about his other buddies from Mountain Mercenary.
Thanks to Netgalley and Montlake Romance for ARC in exchange for honest review.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. Defending Allye is the first book in the new Mountain Mercenaries series and it was so good. I loved getting to enter this new world and meet these new characters. I just fell in love with this story and these characters and I am so excited to see what this author writes next.

Defending Allye is the first book in a brand new series by Susan Stoker. The series is focused on a group of men who call themselves Mountain Mercenaries and they dedicate their lives to saving women and children. The MMs were introduced in another novel, so if you read Susan Stoker's books you might be already familiar with them. If you have not, don't worry because this series is not actually connected at a deep level with another one. You will find all you need to know when you read this book.

Once again the author gave us what I have come to expect from her. The book has action, suspense, and romance. What more can I ask? The main characters were likable and the other men in the group were very interesting. I am looking forward to reading their books when they come out.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Unfortunately, this was one I chose not to finish. My apologies for the late notice. As I don't want my low rating to appear on the site and potentially impact the choices of other readers, I wait until after a title has been published/no longer able to be downloaded.

Inadvertently, I waited much longer than intended to give feedback for this title.

I look forward to the next title through your company!

Thanks,
Laura

Love is a life-and-death risk for the Mountain Mercenaries in New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s explosive series of alpha heroes, hot action, and hard passion…

Ever since his rescue op off the Pacific Coast, Mountain Mercenary Gray Rogers hasn’t been able to forget his latest “job”—Allye Martin. Any other woman would have panicked during a rescue, but the wily dancer kept her cool—even after being kidnapped by an elusive human trafficker. And Gray couldn’t be happier when a grateful Allye follows him home to Colorado Springs…

For Allye, finding sanctuary in the arms—and bed—of the former Navy SEAL is only temporary. People are disappearing off the streets of San Francisco, victims of the same underground trade that targeted her, and Allye could be the key to dismantling the entire operation. She’s willing to do anything to bring them down. Gray isn’t—for good reason. But you don’t say no to a tough girl like Allye who refuses to play it safe.

Now Gray is risking more than ever before. The Mountain Mercenaries have his back. But is it enough to keep the woman he loves out of harm’s way?

My thoughts
rating : 5
I have no idea why it took me this long to read and review this book, I knew as soon as I read the synopsis it was something I would pick up and I'm so glad I did , its everything I love in a romance , the characters are amazing, the romance is there and is hot but it doesn't take away from the story line at all , it has the right mount of suspense that pulls you into the story and you never fell like you want to put it down , can't wait to see more of this author or this series . With that said I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read and review as while as helping me to find a romance series to start in change for my honest opinion

No one writes SEAL romances like Susan Stoker. While on a mission, former Navy SEAL Grayson Rogers finds himself faced with a kidnapped woman victim of human trafficking. Determined to save her, he stops at nothing to complete his mission and brings her home. Still, he knows that the psycho that wanted her will go after her again. When she shows up at his usual bar out of the blue, Grey sees that as the opportunity to rectify a wrong. He should have never left San Francisco without her contact information. Allye was different and he knew it. She was beautiful, unusual, and intriguing. She was resilient, brave, and had gotten under his skin in just a few hours they spent together over a week before. Now that they were together again, Grey was going to do whatever it took to keep her safe. But when other dancers, friends of Allye's, start to disappear, he knows he will need to up his game or he'll risk losing her to a madman. The first installment of the Mountain Mercenaries series is full of testosterone, sassiness, and madness. It also has plenty of loyal men, crazy characters and a dose of kissass to keep it all interesting. A great read for sure!

Allye believed she had the worse luck. Everything in her life made her believe she wouldn’t survive her latest predicament. Meeting Gray was a miracle. She finally felt safe in his arms and knowing he would do anything to protect her. Life is finally slowing down and with Gray beside her side she will do what she can to protect her friends. Great story and strong characters.

This new series takes off from Claiming Felicity with Ryder Sinclair's team, the Mountain Mercenaries. Here in book 1, we have Gray and Allye's story and I have to say it truly is a winner and readers are going to be hooked! We have all the elements of a Suspenseful, intriguing and hot love story. The suspense will keep you alert throughout! There are definitely very hot scenes that are great as well.

We get to meet the whole Mountain Mercenaries team and we realize what their goals are for having formed this team in the first place.

This author does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the story and keeping up your intrigue.

Since I picked up my first Susan Stoker book I have been hooked. She does a great job of creating strong alpha males who love fiercely and are loyal to their teams. Defending Allye is no exception. From their first meeting to their happily-ever-after, Gray and Allye's topsy turvy story will keep you enthralled. It's definitely a must read and I'm looking forward to more stories in this series.

This first novel in Susan Stoker's new Mountain Mercenaries series is an incredible, sexy, suspenseful, un-put-downable, thrill ride of a read, and it gets 5 stars from this reader.

The novel starts off with Gray, a sexy former SEAL, rescuing the heroine, dancer Allye Mystic, from being delivered to her new "owner" by sex traffickers, a dark subject, but it's just the tip of the iceberg of fear and loathing for one of the sickest, most sadistic, most demented, most evil villains since Hannibal Lechter.

What I loved about Allye, was that she wasn't your average damsel in distress, she had guts and a backbone, and her escape from the boat in which she was being held prisoner is a harrowing one, but she has no complaints about being tossed overboard the sinking vessel in the middle of the night, and in the middle of the ocean, and then being told by Gray that they have to swim for their lives. She impressed the heck out of this reader, and she also impressed the heck out of Gray.

The Mountain Mercenaries are all ex-military, and their leader is known only to them as Rex. They've never seen his face, and his voice is disguised when he gives them their mission objectives over the phone. This isn't your typical group of mercenaries--these men focus on cases involving kidnapped, trafficked and abused women and children, and this is the point at which I warn you that there are triggers aplenty in this novel, including graphic scenes of torture, physical and emotional violence, and sex, and it's definitely for mature readers who don't shy away from darkness and depravity.

After her rescue, Allye and Gray part ways on a deserted beach, both being so exhausted from her rescue that she forgets to give him the one thing she took from the boat at the last second--a flash drive, and she believes it may contain vital information about the missing women and children, and possibly even the names of the depraved men who purchased them. When she realizes that she still has it, she manages to contact Rex, after having seen and remembered his phone number when passing a cell phone to Gray. He's shocked that she even knew his number, and he arranges to have her flown out to their home base in Colorado, yet when she arrives at her destination, there's no one their to pick her up. She goes into what looks from the outside like a seedy bar and she waits, but no one new enters the bar. There's a poolroom in back and when she heads there, she's met with not only Gray, but with a number of other members of the Mountain Mercenaries and I couldn't tell who was more happily surprised, Allye or Gray, since neither of them could forget the other.

Gray was impressed by her sass from the beginning, her strength and her unusual look--her eyes are two different colors, and she has a white streak in her dark auburn hair, also attracted him. No sooner does she turn over the flash drive to the team's expert hacker, when she is soon ensconced in Gray's home and in his bed--the two formed a bond during her rescue and can't seem to get enough of each other, which is where the aforementioned graphic sex happens--a lot.

Allye is smart, and both she and Gray realize that someone paid a lot of money to own her, and Rex, Gray and the rest of the team believe that he'll do everything he can to recapture her, and they aren't wrong about that. Now that the man who's been stalking her can't find her with her dance company in San Francisco, he starts kidnapping, torturing and killing other members of her dance troupe, and Allye blames herself, and wants to go back to San Francisco and act as bait in hopes of capturing the villain and putting an end to his evil deeds, but Gray, who was captured and tortured while still a SEAL, and has the PTSD to prove it, refuses to let her put herself in danger again, and they have a major falling out. He goes for a long drive to cool down, Allye calls Rex and the team, and several hours later when Gray returns home to apologize, Allye and her belongings are gone, and Gray soon takes off after her--the thought of losing her forever to the sadistic SOB who bought her is unbearable to him.

Allye is barely back in San Francisco for a day when she is recaptured and finally gets to meet the sadistic serial torture-killer, and although we're given glimpses of his depravity in small doses throughout the novel, it's at this point where we get the full, complete and sickening look at his depravity. The team has had a tracking chip implanted in Allye's thigh, and the chase is on to rescue her, but they soon lose the signal. Did her captor find and destroy it? Will they get to her in time to rescue her? Will Gray be able to live with himself if they can't find her? Will Allye ever forgive him for turning his back on her. For the answers to these questions, you're going to have to read this gripping and intense romantic suspense novel, and if this is Ms. Stoker's way to kick off a new series, I can hardly wait to read the rest of the novels that will follow. This is definitely one novel to add to your TBR (to be read) list.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and I also purchased a copy.

I just loved this book. The plot flowed so well and was beautifully written. I could hardly put it down. Gray was a wonderful male protagonist!!! His character was drool-worthy. Allye was fantastic as well. I loved the dual POVs that this book is written in. I really hated to see this story end. I could have kept reading about these two.

This book is about a woman who is kidnapped with the intent to sell into slavery. This is a hard subject to read about. Unfortunately things like this happen in real life. That is what makes the story so believable. Yes, there were some graphic details on the violent happenings and the cruel deeds that some heinous people do to others. So yes, a word of warning to those that don't care for such things.

The story also contained graphic sex scenes. I normally don't care for erotica and I really don't consider this erotica. To me, there was a story here and the sex scenes between the two protagonist was a PART of the story. The story was not just sex scenes.

I can't wait to read more stories about the men of Mountain Mercenaries.