Embracing Juliette

by Leyna Cohan

I’d dedicated my career to extinguishing fires, but reigniting the fire inside Juliette would be my most important job.

Juliette has created a good life for herself. Despite her struggles with dyspraxia and all the quirks, awkwardness, and sometimes unintelligible speech it brings, she’s happy. Well, happy enough. Then Dylan, the sweet, sexy fireman, sweeps into her life, making her believe she could have more than she’s ever thought possible.

Dylan finally has everything he’s ever dreamed of. Juliette is perfect for him exactly as she is. He’d do anything to be her protector, her rock. But his world is about to crumble when danger comes from the one direction he never expected—himself.

Faced with a vengeful ex and a perilous rescue, Juliette summons every ounce of strength to save herself and Dylan before it’s too late. But what if her best isn’t enough? With the fantasy shattered, Juliette must choose between retreating to the safety of her previous life, or risking it all to embrace the brilliance within her reach.

444 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 11, 2025

About the author

Leyna lives in New York with her husband, two awesome sons, and their snuggly dog. Her favorite moments are filled with cheering her boys on from the bleachers and getting lost in writing her stories. She loves to write about ordinary people embracing their inner strength, finding love, and creating happiness. Leyna hopes you enjoy reading her stories as much as she loves writing them!

Reviews

[Iliana Tiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I've never heard of Dyspraxia before and after reading this book I started looking into this developmental condition to educate myself.
I found Dylan to be frustrating. He insists that Juliette is one of the strongest people that he has met yet shelters her and treats her like she is fragile and made of glass. While at time he encourages her to try new things, like hiking and a new position for work, he is quick to shelter her and "baby" her. i felt that he was very contradicting. Juliette is a difficult character to dislike. I enjoyed that I was able to understand her fully even with her condition and the fact that communication was difficult for her. I commend that she would own up to her limitations and was comfortable enough with herself to know what she could and could not do and was willing to express that. However, with someone who has such a good support system with her 2 friends, prior to meeting Dylan, and coworkers that value her, she still held herself in low regard. She allows the smallest doubt to derail any progress that she makes in a relationship or any confidence that she may have. For someone that knows who she is I wish that she would not allow others opinions influence her to the point where towards the end when Dylan gets hurt she would completely throw away a relationship that brings her joy.
I wanted her to be stronger. Yes doubts happen and disappointments can be derailing, but I feel like at times she allowed it to dictate her happiness and success most of the time.
I wished that Dylan pushed her more to be able to help her find inner strength or that she pushed herself where she could work through any doubts and insecurities either with Dylan or by herself and come out stronger on the other side.
I felt that there was more potential with her character development than what was depicted on the page.

[Amanda Marlowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juliette is an occupational therapist at a school, she helps the children find ways to cope with their lack of skills. She's excellent at her job and can explain exactly what the children need in easily understandable ways. She has dyspraxia which means when she's not at her best the words don't always come out right. Her mother never understands her, even when what she says is easily understood, what a horrible person!
She has two best friends, who also understand her as they have challenges of their own. They drag her out one night and she meets Dylan, along with his firefighter friends. He's smitten and realises she's different but that doesn't bother him. They have a lovely time until they go to eat, then she changes but he still wants to see her again but she won't give him her number!
He's a firefighter as he has a very protective nature and a bit of a hero complex!
Juliette likes that he's protective but has to persuade him not to suffocate her, she needs to work somethings out for herself.
Dylan's ex, Kayla, is taking drugs and becoming very threatening, unfortunately Juliette gets caught in the cross fire.
Then Dylan rushes into a fire to help a mother and baby leaving Juliette to get help, things don't work out as planned. Can they sort things out? Dylan's friends and their partners are great and try to intervene to help.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A great romantic suspense from Leyna, looking forward to the next one!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect:
🔥Romantic Suspense
🔥Alpha hero
🔥Heroine, who pushes herself to be better
🔥dyspraxia representation
🔥Firefighter
🔥Lots of spice!
🔥Set in Susan Stoker's Police and Fire: operation alpha world
🔥Debut book

Amazing debut book!

I was excited to read this book simply because I'm a huge Susan Stoker fan, and anytime I can see my beloved characters, I'm all for it! What i didn't expect was to fall for the characters Leyna introduced! Juliette is a sweet but shy woman who suffers from a condition that causes issues with speech and motor skills called dyspraxia. Dylan is a firefighter who was out with the guys, and he was hooked after one night of playing pool with her!

It was so much fun watching these characters fall for each other. And I didn't want to stop reading when someone decided Dylan shouldn't have interfered in their lives, and both Dylan and Juliette become targets.

This is a must-read if you like protector books with hot alpha firefighters who will stop at nothing to save not only those they love but total strangers. I can't wait to read more from this amazing new author!

[Margaret Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leyna Cohan is a spectacular addition to Susan Stoker's world. Embracing Juliette is a great debut from Leyna, and I can’t wait for more in the series. Embracing Juliette takes place in San Antonio and includes our favorite characters, the Badge of Honor series.
The main characters in Embracing Juliette are flawed but lovable. I was invested from the first chapter and could not put this book down. Each chapter is written from a first-person point of view. Leyna does a great job developing the characters and providing glimpses of their pasts that shaped them into the people they are today.

This is a slow burn relationship, and Leyna builds up to the steamy scenes. I laughed and cried. This is a great love story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Susan Stoker. You will not be disappointed

[Tesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Heart felt and loads of action.

Dealing with physical disabilities is hard for Juliette but when she meets firefighter Dylan, she thinks they can be happy until someone brings trouble.

This was filled with tension but the romance was sweet. Dylan was understanding and wanted Juliette just the way she was. They really had a sweet chemistry and a dynamic that just kept getting better and better

I truly liked this couple and it was great to see a flawed couple with vulnerabilities with each other. The journey they were on was complex from the outside forces trying to keep them apart.

Well written with characters that displayed a lot of emotion. And a simple plot.

Great book!

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Embracing Juliette, you get to know Juliette and Dylan. At first Juliette seems as just a socially awkward woman, making her way through life. Dylan, a handsome firefighter, is quickly smitten with her.

If you have ever been in a bad relationship, you probably need a Dylan in your life. Their relationship is far from perfect. However, their willingness to listen and work on each other is admirable. There is plenty of drama to test them - an overbearing mother, who dismisses most things her child says, a crappy boss, chaotic ex-partners trying to cause physical harm, insecurities from past relationships coming forward, etc. And through all of that, your heart will warm to these two people who are destined to be together.

[Heather Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

You just have to find the one, and your tribe to realise you are more than you’ve been made to believe.
Loved how Dylan saw Juliette right from the start. Of course he’s not perfect and made mistakes, but he was willing to hang in there and learn. Juliette had her own learning curve as well, to overcome the conditioning of her upbringing, and allow he to accept she was worthy as much as the next person.

Like all conditions on the spectrum Dyspraxia manifests differently for each person. Respected how this author presented some of the symptoms, in easy layman’s terms.


I received a review reader’s copy of the book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Amanda Bannister · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! Dylan is a protective hero for Juliette but don’t be fooled, she’s much stronger than her disability. While she may be flawed and struggling with her limitations, Dylan sees through it all to her genuine self and helps her see it too. This story is an adventure with drama, spice, banter, suspense, and a strong storyline that will make it hard to put down. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Definitely add this one to your Must-Read List!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christina Standridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the story and can't wait for the next book. Juliette has dyspraxia, a developmental coordination disorder that begins in childhood that causes difficulty with Motor (movement) skills and coordination. When she gets nervous the symptoms get worse. Dylan meets her at a bar and wants to get to know her better from the beginning. She acts a little weird but that ok, he still wants to see her again. An emotional journey of resilience and growing. Can they find a way to be together or will her doubts win? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cheryl Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an emotional story. I had never heard of "Dyspraxia", I can't imagine how hard it would be to live with this condition. It would be hard to know when to except your limitations or to strive for more. Juliette would be an awesome friend to have!! She is amazing!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Dylan is too good to be true. The world needs more men just like him. There were times that I thought he was a little over the top. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Embracing Juliette
by Leyna Cohan


If you like protective hero’s and the strong women they try to protect, even when they don’t need it… this book is for you!
I love how this couple spoke to each other and worked things out.
It’s sweet, spicy and heartwarming.
This is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page, and the bonus is you get to visit with some of our favorite Susan Stoker characters.
❤️❤️❤️

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new author Leyna has outdone herself. She has given a story that hits us with realities some people go through yet some never understand. She has given us Dylan an alpha who embraces everything that is Juliette yet sometimes goes overboard. Juliette's character was real & sincere. You get slow budding romance, venerabilities, trust, banter, a brilliant support system, suspense & action all weaved into an incredible story that keeps you enthralled. Brilliantly done!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man, is this one emotional story. Juliette has dysplaxia, which effects her everyday life. I love her attitude, the different ways that she has of handling situations that are triggers. Dylan sees something in her that touches a spot that non one else has. This is so I intense and emotionally written that I wanted to jump in and be her friend. Very,very, very good.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebecca Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was an ARC reader for “Embracing Juliette” and loved the book. The Hero was very compassionate, sexy, and understanding of her dyspraxia, and the heroine was “strong as F….” The Author kept me intertwined with the plot and made it hard to put the book down. You will laugh, love and even want to slap her mama. After falling in love with Juliette and Dylan , and meeting their friends , I can’t wait for future books by this author!

[Ginny Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story.
I fell in love with this story immediately.
Wonderful plot and amazing characters.
The story was believable and I learned something new. it was exciting to learn about this disability and everything Juliette did to overcome it.
Dylan was soo good for Juliette. After his failed marriage, he struggled for awhile but with Juliette, he was getting past it.
Dylan and Juliette went through some major ups and downs but work together to strive.
I can't wait for the next story.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love when Susan Stoker brings in new authors into her world, Leyna Cohan is one of them. I loved Embracing Juliette the story was unique and different could not put down. Can't wait to see what comes next from this author in this series

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book! The way Dylan sees Juliette and lifts her up and makes her believe in herself, is just everything! A beautiful and well written book and I can’t wait to read the rest in the series! 🩷

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did not enjoy this book. Too long and not enough action.

[Tom Prejsner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance

Thank you for sharing these wonderful romance novel series books. Please keep writing more of these wonderful books. Thank you