Sammy’s review of Securing Caite (SEAL of Protection: Legacy, Book 1) by Susan Stoker
Romantic Suspense published by Stoker Aces Production 15 Jan 19
If I could title my reviews, this one would be called “52 Times.” Susan Stoker is a new-to-me author. I happen to love any and all military books. I keep chasing the Brockmann feeling. While I really liked the book and the cast of characters, and the fact that there are many, many, books on her backlist I can dive into, I could have done without the pet name the hero calls our heroine 52 times in this book. After the 10th time I was over it. “Ma Petite Fée” (My little fairy) could die in a fire. Calling a woman little anything irritates the fuck out of me. Good thing I loved her voice, the story, and the characters to ignore that annoying name. Which, by the way, he said in a bad french accent – 52 fucking times. See my point?
Caite is working overseas in Bahrain for the DOD. She upped and moved her life for a year so she could get paid more money to pay off debt and school loans. She’s pretty much a loner, works hard, and thinks she’s not much to look at. She’s headed into work and gets on the elevator, when three very big military men file in behind her. She’s a bit annoyed but scoots to the back and keeps her eyes on the floor, until she takes a peek at the men. She is struck stupid by Rocco’s good looks and she tries to crawl into herself. Of course, our hero is very friendly and very interested in the shy woman. As they are making it up to the second floor, the elevator stops abruptly. Caite is used to this, because it happens frequently. She sits down to wait for help and the Navy SEALs get comfortable with her. While they are stuck, they all get to know each other. Rocco definitely calls dibs and his SEAL teammates are amused. With the help of Rocco and his guys, they get out of that sticky situation and a promise for a date with Caite. She is very excited, because it has been a long time since she had one, let alone a date with a very attractive man. She assumes they are SEALS from the way they behave and her being around the military for her job.
Rocco is on a mission to find out who is stealing artifacts. Things get pretty dicey for Rocco and his team. Caite is upset because Rocco stands her up. She will soon learn it’s worse than that. Rocco and his men are captured in the process of locating the remaining artifacts. Caite is having lunch during a job fair at the office and she overhears a bunch of men speaking French, a language she studied hard for in college. She hears them talking about the men being captured and they are planning to kill them as soon as possible. Caite tries to get her moron boss to help, but he won’t listen to her. He’s more pissed that she got the job over his friend. Caite has no choice but to take matters into her own hands, even if that means she’s putting herself into some serious danger. She throws on a hijab and proper covering on her body and sneaks into the worst part of Bahrain. She makes it to the store where they are being held, thanks to the paperwork the brothers filled out for the job fair. Caite shows up and frees the men from the cellar they have been locked in. Rocco is in awe of her bravery. Unfortunately, they missed their date and Rocco is on the clock and his time in Bahrain is coming to a close. With a kiss, a promise when she gets back to the states for a date is made.
Caite gets fired from her job at the DOD for leaving the premise with a hijab on, which is against their rules. She makes it back to the USA defeated and disgusted. She finds temporary housing and a temporary job until she can find one in her field. Rocco gets notice that Caite is back, along with the fact she was fired for helping him and his teammates. He tracks her down and they start a very sweet relationship. While this is all starting, the bad guy knows about her and he can’t let her live. There are many attempts on her life and Rocco and his team, with the help of some retired SEALS, are on the case. The stakes are high and Rocco is in protection mode. Things come to a nice boil and the good guys win the day.
I really liked this book. I loved the interactions between Rocco’s team and Caite. I loved the brotherhood. The story was meaty enough and their journey to a HEA was everything I want in a book. I am looking forward to the next two books coming out this year. I downloaded the first of the series this one spun from, which is Wolf’s book. All their call sign names are strange to me, but like the 52 times of “Ma Petite Fée,” I kinda ignored them. If you love some alpha Navy SEALs and some strong heroines, this book is for you.
Grade:B
Summary:
Caite McCallan is a Department of Defense admin working in Bahrain when a glitchy elevator, of all things, leads to an unexpected invitation to dinner by a gorgeous Navy SEAL. When he later stands her up, Caite’s understandably upset…until she overhears a plot that confirms Rocco didn’t blow her off. Instead, he and two fellow SEALs are in danger—and Caite is forced to put her career and her life on the line to save them.
Blake “Rocco” Wise never expected his routine mission to go sideways, but he was even more surprised to find himself and his teammates rescued by the adorably shy woman he met in a stalled elevator. Caite’s selfless act saved his life, but when attempts on her own make it clear someone wants her gone, it’s Rocco’s turn to protect the brave, sweet, sexy woman. The longer he knows her, the more he wants her…but keeping Caite close could bring her nearer to the enemy than ever before.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
