You’ve been duped. Hoodwinked. Bamboozled.
Let me explain: This book should come with a major disclaimer—not some cute little, happy whoo-whoo blurb about a girl that gets in trouble and a guy that saves her. That is not this book. Well, that’s not all this book is. I’m doing my civic duty in warning you. This book is a total SET-UP. Yep, you heard me or read me or whatever. It’s a set-up. A master planned, super-sneak, evil genius (in the nicest sort of way), SET-UP. Alright, I might be stretching the civic duty thing a bit, but I don’t think so. I’m doing you a solid. You’re welcome.
Let’s start out with some basic facts. ‘Securing Piper’ is the 3rd book (technically, the 4th book if you include Brenae’s book. Yes! Totally include Brenae cuz that story is sweet) in the SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series authored by Susan Stoker. Hopefully, you’ve read the first three books with Caite, Brenae, and Sydney. You don’t need too, but it makes the story more complete if you’re familiar with Rocco, their commander and Gumby.
On to my civic duty—Piper is an introvert. She does the ‘indoors’ like feral wildebeests do the ‘outdoors’. She’s not into ‘peopling’. So, what does Piper do? Like any good introvert with an extrovert friend (this is a true thing—I’m the biggest introvert I know and most of my friends are extros) does, she hops on a plane for an island. Nothing wrong with that. Except that whole scenario is fraught with wrongness. She meets Ace. I’m sure you’d love to read that they meet, fall in love and live happily ever after. So, yeah, they do that. But, Susan Stoker doesn’t write for Disney. Get real people. She’s like if Disney and...the Investigation Channel (it’s a cable channel; all sorts of crazy, scary crime scene shows with killers) got together for a dinner party. There might be a beautiful heroine and a sexy-alpha male, but you know you’re going to get some bloodshed, maybe a kidnapping and a gruesome, creepy weirdo lurking in the shadows somewhere.
Back to my civic duty—Piper is all that: a beautiful, strong-willed, slightly pragmatic, introvert. She’s doing the best she can with the circumstances she’s found herself in. And she lucky enough to found herself in Ace’s world. Or Ace is lucky enough to have his world collide with hers. She can thank her lucky stars. He’s just the kind man that’s been dreaming about a pretty Piper. You can’t help but love Ace. He’s alpha, but not a$$hole-ish. He’s patient, gentle, and understanding. He’s strong, dedicated and determined. You can totally fall for him.
Now, for the SET-UP. You know that Piper is the 4th book. And if you’re doing your math that means that there were 3 books before Piper (Caite, Brenae, and Sydney). And if you’re forward-thinking, you’ve stalked the Susan Stoker pages and you know that there are at least 2 books after Piper. That means you better pay attention to Piper’s book folks. Stoker is a major meannie. It’s a elemental, make sure your boots are firm on the ground, check your seatbelt SET-UP. Pay attention.
Even though Piper’s book has jungle rebels, dead bodies, orphaned children, a SEAL team of hot dudes, it’s not harsh. I felt a softer tone with Ace and Piper. The stuff around them is awful, but the stuff between them is sweet and poignant. They a couple profoundly and earnestly in-tune with each other. They are a matching pair that fit together beautifully.
Susan Stoker is one of the few authors that I’ll wait for. What I mean is this: I detest finding a kick-butt author with an amazing book and series and then having to wait for the next book in that series. I loathe waiting for the next book (which seems to take years for. Like what’s with that? Waiting a year for the next book? I’ve already forgotten the first story!! ). I digress. I’ll wait for a Susan Stoker book. I’ll reread the series, or reread her other series, or go do housework I should have finished months ago. I’ll wait for her books because I know I’ll get a master story with real-world people and a strong love. (All those other authors? Heck, I’ll let the author take 5 years to complete her series before I start them. I’ll read them when I’m ready). So, yes, I’m waiting for the next book and the next book and next book by Susan Stoker. It’s what you do if you love reading a Stoker series. Even if I know I’m being set-up. {shrugs shoulders}. I do it happily.