The stakes are personal, hot, and dangerous in New
York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s riveting Mountain Mercenaries
novel.
As tough as Everly Adams may be, the Colorado Springs SWAT officer is near a breaking point. Her fifteen-year-old half sister, Elise, has disappeared from Los Angeles without a trace, and the window to find her is closing fast. Committed to the search is Mountain Mercenary Kannon “Ball” Black. He and Everly already have a history—of rubbing each other the wrong way.
Still, Everly has to admit the man is heart-stopping. His brash alpha swagger takes her breath away. And most importantly, as a former Coast Guard first responder, Ball has what it takes to bring Elise home.
Nobody’s buying the LAPD’s “runaway” theory. And the fear that Elise is the victim of a human trafficking ring is a gut-punch that Everly and Ball can’t ignore. If only the trail were that clear cut. Because the one they’re following is more insidious and intimately dark than they could have imagined.
Now as the bond between Everly and Ball grows stronger, so does the heat. And as the stakes rise, so does the danger.
Book 5
Buy Links
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Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
As tough as Everly Adams may be, the Colorado Springs SWAT officer is near a breaking point. Her fifteen-year-old half sister, Elise, has disappeared from Los Angeles without a trace, and the window to find her is closing fast. Committed to the search is Mountain Mercenary Kannon “Ball” Black. He and Everly already have a history—of rubbing each other the wrong way.
Still, Everly has to admit the man is heart-stopping. His brash alpha swagger takes her breath away. And most importantly, as a former Coast Guard first responder, Ball has what it takes to bring Elise home.
Nobody’s buying the LAPD’s “runaway” theory. And the fear that Elise is the victim of a human trafficking ring is a gut-punch that Everly and Ball can’t ignore. If only the trail were that clear cut. Because the one they’re following is more insidious and intimately dark than they could have imagined.
Now as the bond between Everly and Ball grows stronger, so does the heat. And as the stakes rise, so does the danger.
Book 5
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.
This is Kannon's book and I've loved each and every one of the Mountain Mercenaries' books. You should get them all! However, this could be read as a standalone book. You might miss some of the relationship nuances, but overall, this could be read as a standalone.
Everly is a strong, independent SWAT officer who knows that her younger sister didn't just run away. Everly knows that something is wrong, and she asks the Mountain Mercenaries to help. But her first impression of Kannon is less than stellar.
Kannon "Ball" has been burned a few times by women he cared about, so when he hears that a civilian, and a female civilian at that, will be accompanying the mission, he voices his objections loudly... with her standing right behind him.
As Ball and Everly try and figure out where Elise could be and who might have taken her, they also discover things about each other that help them see past that horrible first impression. Ball realizes that he did treat the women in his life differently – his own bias shown through without him thinking it had. Everly realized that Ball was protecting himself and that she didn't have to feel guilty about finding herself before reaching out to help her younger sister.
This is action packed and full of slow burn chemistry. I love that Everly can surprise Ball and vice versa. These two have an attraction that goes beyond the physical. It's their minds and abilities that draw them to each other. I loved this story and loved that this was another independent, strong woman who finds her happily ever after.
Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and I would highly recommend that you read them in order, as we get to see each member of the Mountain Mercenaries team find love. In this installment, we get to see how the unfortunate first meeting between Ball and Everly can still lead to a happily ever after... Yes, Susan Stoker is that good!
Kannon aka Ball has a very poor view of women, thanks to two truly awful experiences... but really, can he let the rest of his life be blighted by them? It is fascinating watching how he finally reconciles his past with the potential of a much improved future. Everly most definitely has a significant impact on his thinking, and it would be true to say that the couples that he now spends time with have also made him think more closely about his prejudices. I thought that this worked really well through the book, even if there are times when he can't help but engage alpha mode.
Everly is convinced her sister, Elise, has been kidnapped, and Rex offers to send Ball to help her find Elise. And cue another pretty tense scenario were the men do their thing, and this time Everly gets to show that she too can use her policing skills to find Elise. Ball has no choice but to let her, as her sister is deaf and he doesn't have the skills to communicate with Elise. This gives Ball the chance to show that he is a good guy.
If you like your romance heavily laced with suspense and drama, then this will keep you on the edge of your seat without too much angst. And be warned that the epilogue definitely leaves you wanting more.
Also Available in the Mountain Mercenaries Series
Book 1
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
For reviews & more info, check out our Defending Allye post.
Book 2
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
For reviews & more info, check out our Defending Chloe post.
Book 3
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
For reviews & more info, check out our Defending Morgan post.
Book 4
Buy Links
Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon Au ~ Amazon Ca
Amazon Audiobook ~ Audible
~ Also Available with KindleUnlimited ~
For reviews & more info, check out our Defending Harlow post.
Susan Stoker is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose series include Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, SEAL of Protection, and Delta Force Heroes. Married to a retired army noncommissioned officer, Stoker has lived all over the country—from Missouri to California to Colorado—and currently lives under the big skies of Texas. A true believer in the happily ever after, Stoker enjoys writing novels in which romance turns to love. To learn more about the author and her work, visit her website or find her on Facebook.
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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Defending Everly (Mountain Mercenaries #5) by Susan Stoker to read and review.
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