Susan Stoker's Blog, page 11

Read Securing Jane Now! 📘

It's release week!

I feel like I just had a release...but I know if you guys had your way, I'd have a release EVERY week! lol

This week you get Securing Jane. I love this story. It's Storm North's story. He's the commander of both Wolf and Rocco's teams. You'll see Phantom, Rocco, and others in the book, as well as hear a bit about Mustang and his team who you met in Securing Kalee and who live in Hawaii (You'll get Mustang's book in Finding Elodie!)

Writing about older characters is fun because they know what they want and there's not a lot of angst that goes along with that. The same is true with Jane and Storm. And both are pretty darn badass in this book!

This book will be only on Amazon for the first 3 months. That's the publisher's decision, not mine, but it will be on Kobo, Apple, B&N, and Google Play after three months have passed. It IS available on audio and paperback everywhere now though.

I hope you enjoy Securing Jane!
~Susan

Why do we...

Well, the silly groundhog says here in the US we're supposed to have another 6 weeks of winter (but duh! I Mean, it's only the beginning of Feb! Of COURSE, there's 6 more weeks! lol And...why are we taking weather advice from a rodent...but whatever).

But for all of YOU, to get you through the week, and the wait for Securing Jane to come out, I've put the first chapter on my website! I love this story because Jane and Commander Storm North are older, "seasoned", and they both know what they want (and don't want) out of life! And of course, there's a villain who wants to cause madness and mayhem that must be stopped as well!

As far as me...I'm still staying home, dreaming about traveling again, and missing all my book friends. I told Mr. Stoker last night, after he got talking about the half marathon trip he's taking in March, that I need to leave the house and go to a hotel for a night "just to get out of the house"...and he AGREED! lol Although I LIKE my house. I LIKE my dogs. And I LIKE my bed. So it probably won't happen, but still. Lol

Take care of yourself and be kind, especially to yourself. You're doing the best you can.
~Susan

Get a Securing Jane excerpt here + other news!

Hello again everyone!
Why does January ALWAYS seem to take forever?!?

But the good news is that in 2 weeks you'll get a new SEAL of Protection: Legacy series book, Securing Jane! If you remember, near the end of Securing Kalee, the commander took notice of the woman who delivered mail in his building...This is their story! I love writing characters who are a bit older. I've left you a small excerpt below, as well as a first look at a teaser graphic.

And in case you missed it, there are two anthologies coming up that I'm a part of. Both with all proceeds going to charity.

The first will be out around Valentine's Day called Love is in the Air. I'm joining 29 other authors with a brand new short story. It's not connected to any of my series but is about a Delta soldier and the woman he's had his eye on. All proceeds are going to the American Heart Association.

The second anthology comes out in March, is called Holding Onto You, and includes my book, Shielding Gillian. I'm hoping most of you have already read this one, but you can get a ton of other great books for one low price! All proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House.

I hope 2021 is treating you all okay so far. Stay safe out there, be kind, and read on!
~Susan

Are you looking for something to read?

Thank you to everyone who picked up Shielding Jayme and Shielding Riley the last few weeks. Jayme was a fun story to write about some side characters, even if it wasn't directly related to the Deltas. And it's so fun to write stories like Shielding Riley with children. It brings an extra layer of emotion to the story!

Next up will be Securing Jane in a few weeks. This one is a novella in the SEAL of Protection: Legacy series, and it features Commander North and the woman he can't believe he'd never noticed before. These are older characters, seasoned, and they so deserve a Happily Ever After.

In the meantime, if you're looking for some books to read, I've got 2 free ones from a couple of my author friends. I'll be sharing 2 free books each month, so keep your eye out.
First up is Kerrigan Byrne's book, The Business of Blood. I admit that I haven't read this one, but I freaking LOVED her To Seduce a Highlander collection. So I can't wait to get this one. Click on the graphic below to download., It's exclusively available to members on my Newsletter list.

Also, this month, if you join the Girls Night In group, you can pick up Carrie Ann Ryan's Breathless With Her book by clicking on the graphic below.

I also wanted to remind you about my upcoming series, SEAL Team Hawaii. Remember in Securing Kalee when Phantom brought Kalee to Hawaii to recover from her ordeal? They spent a lot of time with Mustang, Midas, Aleck, Pid, Jag, and Slate. Well, you get Mustang's story in April with Finding Elodie. I watched the movie Under Siege to research this one...which was such a tough job. NOT! I know it's always hard to start a new series because you're loving the current guys so much, but this is one of my favorite books and I know you're totally gonna want more of this team once you read the first book! :)

I hope you're all staying healthy and safe out there. Life can be tough but know that you're appreciated by me, and the loved ones in your life. Hang in there, Be kind, and Read on!

~Susan

Breathless With You

Read Shielding Riley now! 📘

Shielding Riley is finally here!

I can’t wait for you to meet Oz, Riley, and Logan. They have quite the road ahead of them, but together they can make it through.

It’s available on all the reading platforms (and audio!). You can also pick up an autographed copy from my online store, HERE, as well as t-shirts, other books, tote bags, and other swag.

Enjoy!

~Susan

Read Shielding Jayme now! 📘

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We’ve been waiting for 2021 for a very long time. I hope it’s worth the wait!

This is the official release week for Shielding Jayme! It’s live on all platforms, along with the audio as well. You can get an autographed paperback from my online store if that’s your thing as well. Enjoy Rocket, Jayme, and Winnie’s story!

Also released this week is the AUDIO of Shielding Riley. This is a long book, almost 100,000 words, and I’m so in love with it. Logan, Oz’s nephew, steals the show in this book. He’s resilient, protective, unsure about his new situation, and desperate to be “good” so he’s not given up. And of course, I’ve thrown in a few surprises as well. :)

I’m not a resolution kind of girl, but if you’ve made some, I wish you all the luck and determination in the world to meet them.

Read on and be kind!
~Susan

Listen to Shielding Jayme now! 📡

Has everyone recovered from the holiday? I hope everyone ate more than you should’ve and maybe had time to yourself to read a few words amidst all the chaos of the holiday.

Today I’m happy to announce that the audio of Shielding Jayme is LIVE! If you are an audiophile, I hope you’ll check it out! I love this little story, and I love Rocket and Jayme together! The ebook comes out next week, but you can get your listen on NOW!

And if you’re interested in the paperback, you can pick up an autographed copy (along with Shielding Riley) from my online store, HERE

I shared an excerpt of Shielding Riley a couple of weeks ago, but today I’ve got the first chapter up on my website! Find out what happens after Oz’s nephew is dropped off on his doorstep and how he gets some assistance from his neighbor, Riley. I also wanted to share another exclusive teaser graphic with you all as well.

An exciting time for the Delta Team Two with not one, but TWO new stories being released within a week of each other. (I know you guys like that as I’ve been begged to release my books once a week! Ha!)

If you’re planning on celebrating New Year's Eve out on the town, be safe! Don’t drive drunk and be aware of your personal safety at all times. And if you’ll be spending it at home, reading, watching TV, or asleep like me…enjoy!
~Susan

Happy Holidays! 🎄

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanzaa!

Whatever you may celebrate, or not celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful week.

Say “I love you,” to your family and friends, (and pets!) and count your blessings for all you have. Life is short, it really is, and even though it’s hard to step back and see all that you have, I think it’s worthwhile to take some time to do just that.

All of you are important to me. I couldn’t do what I do without you. Please know I will never, EVER, take you for granted.

Have a wonderful holiday week.

~Susan

Open to read Shielding Riley excerpt now!

Hi! We’re another week closer to 2021 (Thank goodness!)

This week I wanted to share an excerpt from Shielding Riley. This book comes out on Jan 12th and it features a Delta force operative who learns he not only has a ten-year-old nephew, but he’s now the boy’s guardian. He doesn’t know anything about being a father, but luckily has a neighbor who’s willing to help him out. But it turns out she has her own issues…ones he can help her with if she’ll let him.

The excerpt below is when Oz introduces Riley, his neighbor, to his nephew.

But don’t forget that Shielding Jayme comes out the week before Oz and Riley’s story though. It’s currently available to read in the ‘Tis the Season anthology HERE, if you don’t want to wait until Jan 5th. I’ve included an exclusive teaser graphic for Jayme’s story below.

As always, but especially this time of year, be kind. You never know what someone is going through just by looking at them. I think we could all use a smile or a kind gesture.

~Susan



Excerpt from Shielding Riley

“Logan, this is Riley Rogers. She’s our neighbor.”
The boy didn’t even look up.
“Logan,” Porter repeated. “It’s rude to ignore someone when they’re introduced to you.”
His nephew reluctantly looked away from his show over to where she was standing. “Hey.”
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” Riley told him.
Logan merely shrugged and turned his attention back to the show.
Porter whispered, “Sorry,” as he headed for the kitchen.
“It’s fine,” Riley said in a low tone. “I take it things are a little rough right now?”
To her surprise, Porter put the casserole dish down and rested his hands on the countertop. He lowered his head and sighed.
Her heart went out to him. She hadn’t known this man for very long, but it was obvious he was struggling.
“I think he hates me,” Porter said. “He’s barely said more than a dozen words to me since we left post this afternoon. He communicates via grunts and shrugs. I saw him smile only once today, and that was at a random soldier on base who was showing him around, and not at me.
“We went to the store and I bought a shit-ton of stuff, but I have no idea if he likes any of it because all he did was sulk as he followed me around the store. I bought furniture, and again, he could hate it for all I know, because not one iota of emotion crossed his face the entire time.” Porter looked up at Riley, and she saw the frustration and sadness in his eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”
Riley wasn’t exactly an expert on kids, but she did know some of what Logan was probably thinking. She’d been in his shoes. Pawned off on strangers while her parents tried to get their lives back together. She put a hand on his arm. “You just need to be patient.”
“I know,” Porter said, keeping his gaze locked on hers. “But I care about this kid so much already, and it’s only been a day! I want him to know how sorry I am that I didn’t know about him before, and that he’s safe with me.”
“Have you told him that?” Riley asked.
Porter blinked. Then shook his head. “Not quite. He overheard me talking with my team today about how they’d take care of him if anything happened to me. I made sure he knew that my friends were like my family, and they were now his family.”
Riley struggled to find the right words. She wasn’t sure she was qualified to help this man and his nephew, but she wanted to try. “When I was taken away from my parents the first time, I was terrified. I didn’t know where I was going to live, what I was going to eat, where I was going to sleep. I was placed with a very nice family, who were great to me, but it wasn’t what I was used to. It wasn’t my home. I didn’t know them. Then, just when I was getting comfortable again, I was picked up and brought back home to my parents. I was happy, but also felt extremely guilty because I’d begun to like it at that other house. My parents tried hard, but they fought a lot. It was uncomfortable in my house. I constantly had to be on my best behavior so I didn’t set either one of them off.
“The second time I was taken away, it was a little easier, but still scary. That family wasn’t as nice as the first one, but I didn’t have to worry about being smacked around or not having enough to eat, like I did at home. The feelings of guilt were still there. Every time I got shuffled around, those feelings came back. I was confused, and it was always scary having to move in with strangers, even if they were nice.
“Cut Logan some slack, Porter. You two aren’t automatically going to be best buds simply because you’re related by blood. And I know you’re a guy, but you’re going to have to tell him how you feel. A lot. He probably won’t reciprocate. But get over it. Talk to him about how you felt about your sister. Tell him that you care about him. That you’re glad he’s here even though it means a lot of changes in your life. If you open up to him, I think he’ll eventually return the favor. But trust takes a while.”
Porter shifted, and before she knew what he was doing, she was in his embrace.
She was a foot shorter than he was, but somehow they still managed to fit together. Her cheek rested on his chest, and when his arms went around her, she felt absolutely surrounded by him. She could tell Porter had probably taken a shower before she’d come over. He smelled fresh and clean. Even his T-shirt smelled as if it’d just been laundered.
Riley had never been a touchy-feely person, mostly because her parents didn’t hug her a lot, and she’d learned to keep people at arm’s length. But instead of feeling uncomfortable…she felt as if she’d come home.
Just as she moved her hands to return his hug, Porter stepped back. His cheeks were rosy, as if he was embarrassed.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
“For what?” Riley asked in confusion.
“For touching you without asking first.”
Movement out of the corner of her eye caught Riley’s attention. She turned her head to see Logan standing just outside the kitchen.
“It’s okay,” she told Porter.
“It’s not,” he said with a shake of his head. “It’s never okay to touch a woman without making sure she’s okay with it. I just…I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry all that stuff happened to you, but it makes me admire you more than I already did. And you’re right, I’m just being impatient. I need to curb that and just go with the flow. What did you bring us?”
For a second, Riley was thrown by his quick change of topic, but then she realized that he’d seen Logan watching them too.
“Green bean casserole. And before either of you wrinkle your noses and say you don’t like it, trust me, you’ll like mine.” She turned and looked at Logan. “You want to know what’s in it?”
Logan shrugged.

Chock full of exciting info. Click now!

I hope everyone is hanging in there. December is a tough time of year for many people, especially this year with everything that has happened.

The next few Newsletters will be chock full of exciting info because I have TWO releases in January! First up is Shielding Jayme, a novella in the Delta Team Two world. Jayme is the granddaughter of Brain’s elderly neighbor, Winnie. I’ve included a small excerpt below!

Also up in January is Shielding Riley. I think this book might be one of my favorites. I love writing single parent stories because kids are just so honest and endearing. In this book, Delta Force operative, Oz, gets the shock of his life when his 10-year-old nephew, that he didn’t know existed, is dropped off at his doorstep. He’s out of his league and turns to his beautiful neighbor for help. I’ll be sharing more about this story in the upcoming weeks! But you guys are the first to see the teaser graphic below!

And if you haven’t picked up Rescuing Macie, you can now get it, along with three other amazing books, in this 1001 Dark Nights bundle!

Amazon • NOOK • Googleplay • Apple • KOBO


Stay safe, stay healthy, and don’t forget to take care of yourself during the holiday season!

~Susan


Excerpt from Shielding Jayme
“Can I take you on a date?”
“I’d like that,” Jayme said shyly. “I haven’t seen much of Killeen yet.”
Rocket grinned. “I’d be honored to show you around.”
“Cool.”
“Cool,” he echoed.
Then he surprised her by sitting back on the couch but not letting go of her hand. “I could leave now, but that would deprive Winnie of the satisfaction of knowing how well we got along…and how well her little plan worked.”
Jayme laughed. “Right? Although she probably deserves to be disappointed and think her scheming didn’t work for a while.”
“Do you really care?” Rocket asked.
Did she? No. She loved her memaw, and while it was a little embarrassing to be set up by her, if things worked out between her and Rocket, she couldn’t really be too mad. “No,” she told him.
“Me either. I don’t suppose Winnie’s got cable?” he asked skeptically.
Jayme laughed. “Not only does she have cable, she has Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Apple TV.”
Rocket’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Yup. She says that she needs to stay up on what’s hip in the world,” Jayme told him.
“Your grandmother’s cooler than I am,” Rocket said.
“Me too,” Jayme agreed as she reached for the remote and clicked on the television.
She had no idea how much time had passed while they watched a British reality series about a helicopter 9-1-1 unit, but Jayme realized she’d fallen asleep when she heard voices speaking around her.
Opening her eyes, she saw that Rocket had turned off the lights…and she’d somehow snuggled herself almost onto his lap. His arm was around her, and she was using his shoulder as a pillow. He’d covered her up with a blanket, and she felt warm and safe in his arms.
He shifted next to her, and Jayme felt herself being lowered to the cushions. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” Rocket told her softly.
Jayme nodded. She was having a hard time keeping her eyes open.
“Go back to sleep,” Rocket told her. “I’ll see myself out.”
“Rocket?”
“Yeah?”
“I had a good time tonight.”
“Me too.”
Then she felt his warm lips against her forehead before she sensed him moving away. She heard more low conversation, probably Rocket saying goodbye to Memaw, before she heard her grandmother shuffling back into the room. Knowing she needed to get up and go to her bedroom, Jayme slowly sat upright, keeping the blanket that smelled like Rocket around her shoulders.