Love is a life-and-death risk for the Mountain Mercenaries in New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s explosive series of alpha heroes, hot action, and hard passion… wily dancer kept her cool—even after being kidnapped by an elusive human trafficker. And Gray couldn’t be happier when a grateful Allye follows him home to Colorado Springs…
For Allye, finding sanctuary in the arms—and bed—of the former Navy SEAL is only temporary. People are disappearing off the streets of San Francisco, victims of the same underground trade that targeted her, and Allye could be the key to dismantling the entire operation. She’s willing to do anything to bring them down. Gray isn’t—for good reason. But you don’t say no to a tough girl like Allye who refuses to play it safe.
Now Gray is risking more than ever before. The Mountain Mercenaries have his back. But is it enough to keep the woman he loves out of harm’s way?
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I am in love with All of Susan’s book. I am so excited for this new series. I LOVED this first book. More hunky guys to fall in love with. Susan’s books are always amazing. This one is no different! Read It!!
I’ve never read a Susan Stoker romance but a friend was chatting about her so when Defending Allye popped up on Netgalley, I decided to jump on it. I’m glad I did! With lots of action, suspense, and loads of chemistry between the MC’s, I found this to be a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
Defending Allye did suffer just a tad from first-book-in-a-series-itis, but it wasn’t a bad case so I easily got past it. My main issue was with the backstory of how the Mountain Mercenaries came together. It had my BS meter flirting with the danger zone but I decided to just ignore it. Instead, I allowed myself to just enjoy meeting this wonderful group of extremely interesting guys.
This story focuses on Gray who is a Navy Seal that is now out of the military. He is an accountant by day and a superhero vigilante who saves women kidnapped by slavers by night. I have to say, when he rescued Allye from the ship in the opening chapters, I was unbelievably impressed. He was one hell of a calm during the storm, keeping Allye from panicking even though the situation was dire. He did get on my nerves a bit with his reaction to a certain situation towards the end of the story but I was relieved when he quickly got his head out of his posterior.
Allye impressed me from the beginning. She kept her cool throughout the entire book even knowing she was being targeted by the head of a sex slavery ring. Although not a traditional badass heroine, she showed over and over that she had a backbone of steel.
We also get introduced to the rest of the Mountain Mercenaries, a group of men who I definitely want to know about, especially Rex, their mysterious leader. Once I got past the completely unbelievable way they were formed, I found myself intrigued by their group’s dynamics. I also want to know more about the bartender at their favorite haunt. He seems to fit well with them. Maybe too well.
The suspense swirled around a sex trafficking ring and the whacked out leader who the Mountain Mercenaries were determined to take down. Although it did keep me interested and turning the pages, I thought the main antagonist was maybe a bit cartoon-like in his evilness.
Defending Allye had enough strong chemistry, action, and suspense to keep me glued to my iPad and my curiosity about the rest of the Mountain Mercenaries will have me one clicking the next book when it comes out.
Rating: 4 Stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Enjoyed this book.
Good start to Stokers new Mountain Mercenaries series. A little adventure, a twisted villain, a hero backed by a great team and a heroine who is smart and cool add up to a great read. Can’t wait to read the next one!
Wow!! What an awesome start to
the new Mountain Mercenaries series.
Defending Allye is an emotional,
extremely intense & suspenseful book.
It is so skillfully written, you feel everything Allye went through
& the compassion of Gray & team.
The story pulled me in, & kept me
reading, wanting to find out what
happens next.
Can’t wait for Defending Chloe!
Hold On! It’s A Page-Turner!!!
I have to say when Susan Stoker starts off a new series she does it with hold your breath action. Now I’ve read just about everything she’s written so I know she’s going to be mean to her heroine. I somehow just wasn’t prepared for this opening in the Pacific Ocean.
Gray and Black are alone on this mission, the others having headed to Mexico on another. It should have been simple, but Gray got the surprise of his life when instead of just information he finds ‘the package’ that was to be delivered. One Allye Martin.
As with all missions once they had Allye safe they had to leave. Somehow Gray didn’t feel right about leaving, there was something about the feisty dancer that called to him.
The last thing he expected was to see her at The Pit with something that could be key in their investigation. She expected to meet with Rex so she was hesitant, then Gray reminds her about his ‘interview’.
The stakes keep going up as Allye stays safe with Gray and the other Mountain Mercenaries working to figure out the data she brought them.
Plenty of sparks fly between Gray and Allye and not just the sexual ones.
I loved meeting the Mountain Mercenaries, each one with a specialty that enhances their efforts and with flexible daytime jobs. I am definitely curious about Rex, their mysterious boss. It should be interesting when we finally meet him.
Human trafficking is appalling and I applaud Susan for taking on this difficult subject.
This book snagged me on the first page and kept me enthralled until the end. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Riveting, wow! So good!
Defending Allye by Susan Stoker is the First book in the Mountain Mercenaries series. This is the story of Gray Rogers and Allye Martin.
Gray is part of the Mountain Mercenaries and has been assigned to gather information on a Human Trafficking assignment. On this assignment he meets Allye a dancer who has been kidnapped when she caught the eye of a man who does the trafficking. Allye a strong women who continues to be in danger wants to help get this man to justice and help others. Gray and Allye have a instant connection and chemistry. Besides being a romance story this has the underlining suspense and mystery….all around great story!
Wow! This book! Intense doesn’t come close to describing this book. And when you add in suspense, lots of action and some smexy-times you have a book that kept me flying through the pages until I was done. Grayson and Allye are just so good together. And the secondary characters add multi layers to the book. This was an excellent first book in Ms. Stoker’s new Mountain Mercenaries series. I recommend it and look forward to the next book in the series.
Please note: *Possible Trigger Warnings* This book contains graphic/descriptive scenes of torture and abuse. Please read with caution if warranted.
Every time I pick up a book by Susan Stoker I know exactly what I’m gonna get: a strong heroine who can take cats of herself but sometimes needs a little help and alpha heroes who stand with (and sometimes in front of) them. Ms. Stoker is one of my go-to romantic suspense authors.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher, Montlake, via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias.
Grayson “Gray” Rogers has a boss that reminds me of Charles Townsend. He also gives me my first and second shiver moments. But with the second I have to add an “oh gawd! Plus I had to close my eyes because it was not hard to picture the scene as it played out. Allye Martin is in a very sticky situation. Their first meeting was perfect because it shows the type of man Gray is and that Allye’s not some “dumb blond” character.
From there the story got addicting and very difficult to put down. I liked where this story was going so I can’t wait to see what the author’s plans for the rest of the series are going to be. Each scene seemed to connect to the next, which made everything progress nicely. Nothing felt rushed or out of place. There’s a lot of emotion here and at times it may practically scream at you. Speaking of screams, my next shiver moment is when our “villain” lets us see him. As you get to know him you’ll realize how creepy he really is.
My shiver moments may be triggers for some of you. Especially when you see the violence and what treatment some of the characters receive. Because of the way the author treated this, I ended up having to read this in one sitting. If you do take a chance and read this you may end up with a smile on your face like me when you see how the author treats the ending. And speaking of treats, the ending will give you hints as to the next book in the Mountain Mercenaries series. I’m so ready for book two but not sure if I can wait until December though.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
This one is great start for a new series.
I started reading and couldn’t stop until I finished it in almost one sitting. I was that much hooked to it!
It is a fast paced complicated and suspenseful storyline and I have to confess that I am weak for the men in uniform and ex-military, so this book was a very enjoyable reading material. It is even more greater that is about men who are getting into action to be there for the people that needs their help.
I can’t even say how much impatient I am for the next books in this instalment.
Allye had a rough upbringing, but she’s worked hard to be able to dance professionally. Gray is a SEAL that works with Mountain Mercenaries, he’s a brother, a son and still deals with some of the horrible things that he’s seen or that happened to him. I loved this more detailed introduction to the Mountain Mercenaries, the characters are fabulous (I especially loved the little boy at the top of Pike’s Peak). The writing is engrossing and pulled me in from the first page. So the big question is…who is Rex? None of the guys have met them, and he/she uses a voice distorter when talking to them. I loved this story set not far from me in my current home state of Colorado. Absolutely fantastic story Susan Stoker!
5 Stars
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Enticing and captivating, Defending Allye is the first book in the Mountain Mercenaries series by Susan Stoker. This book pulled me in from the beginning and kept me wanting more.
Mountain Mercenary, Gary, and Allye meet by chance, Gary was not expecting to find a kidnapped victim on his latest rescue op. After spending some time with Allye, while waiting to be rescued, he realized she wasn’t like most women he had met. She kept her composure, she didn’t completely lose her mind after being kidnapped. Something about her called to him, but she was just a job, another victim he had rescued, after making sure she was safe he had to walk away. The only problem with walking away was that she was constantly on his mind, and it seemed she was now right in the middle of the human trafficking circle the mercenaries were trying to bring down.
Allye always thought karma hated her, no matter how much good she did, she always ended up with the short end of the stick. This time was no exception, she had caught the eye of a very bad man. Worried she’d be kidnapped once again Allye reached out to the Mercenaries for help. One thing led to another and she found herself in the arms of Gary. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan, neither was being kidnaped a second time but once again Allye found herself in need of a rescuer, and Gary was not about to let anything happen to the woman he was in love with. He was going to take down whoever stood in his way, no matter what it took in order to get his girl back safe and sound.
Defending Allye was phenomenal, a suspense filled love story. One that opened the gates to what is to be an amazing series. I can’t wait to see what else Ms. Stoker has in store for us.
First off, I adore Susan Stoker and her books, and Defending Allye is no different! Allye is a great heroine and already one of my favorites. She’s smart, strong, sweet and snarky. Gray is tough, rough, loyal & sexy. They are amazing together. They both have issues in their past; and then they have the guy that is after her. From the moment Gray rescued Allye in the beginning, I couldn’t put the book down because I had to see what came next. This was such a great introduction, I cannot wait for the next book in the Mountain Mercenaries series!
WOW! This first book in Susan Stoker’s new Romantic suspense series is intense, gritty, sexy and HOT!
DEFENDING ALLYE (Mountain Mercenaries #1) by Susan Stoker has everything I am looking for in a Romantic suspense. The excitement takes off from page one with the alpha hero rescuing the heroine, but she is no ordinary, shrinking violet heroine. The villain of the book is pure evil and sadistic. (WARNING for those who have problems with extreme sexual and physical violence against women, the villain’s crimes are graphic and this series is about a group of ex-military men who fight outside the law against human trafficking.)
Gray Rogers is a former Navy SEAL now working for the mysterious Rex as one of his Mountain Mercenaries in Colorado Springs. The Mountain Mercenaries are all former military with regular jobs, but one call from Rex and they are dispatched around the world to fight human trafficking and/or rescue victims.
Gray cannot stop thinking about his most recent rescue, Allye Martin. He has never had trouble separating his feelings from his job and rescued subjects before, but something about Allye will not let go. Of course she is unique with her one blue eye and one brown and her streak of white hair in her auburn curls, but it was her calmness and fortitude during the rescue that set her apart.
When Allye comes to Colorado Springs from San Francisco to deliver a USB drive that could contain the information needed to catch the head of the human trafficking ring in San Francisco, she remains with Gray in his home and in his bed. But her fellow dancers begin to disappear and turn up dead with a message for her to return to the city.
She refuses to hide as much as Gray fights her return and possible capture. The Mountain Mercenaries have their backs as Allye returns to face her possible capture. Will they be able to stop the human collector who wants to add Allye to his collection permanently?
I loved everything about this story. Allye is a great heroine that has defeated hard luck her whole life and still has an endearing personality, strength and love. Gray is alpha in all ways and is extremely caring and tender with Allye and his family. The sex scenes are smokin’ hot and I feel written perfectly for these two. The plot moves at a fast pace and ramps up the suspense throughout. The head of the traffickers is sadist and his acts are written about graphically and I feel realistically. You cannot sugarcoat the type of evil that is involved in these types of crimes. This is an amazing start to this new series and I am looking forward to the other Mountain Mercenaries’ stories!
Thanks very much to Montlake Romance and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. It is a great start to a new series!
The first book in Susan Stoker’s new “Mountain Mercenaries” series – “Defending Allye” is an exciting read from start to finish.
The characters are strong, easily connected to and have a sizzling chemistry that heats up the pages while singing readers with its intensity. Gray and Allye’s romance is one that starts off in a wrong time, wrong place kind of spot and then really begins to take off when the danger to Allye continues and they can no longer fight their attraction despite the emotional issues and other obstacles that are facing this couple.
The fast paced plot is full of thrills, danger and twists that keeps readers glued to the pages with anticipation and suspense while the Mountain Mercenaries search for and try to take down an underground slave trade that has targeted Allye. The story is quite intense, full of emotionally invoking issues and the bad guy is one that readers will love to see him get what he deserves which ensures readers keep turning the pages along with Gray and Allye’s growing romance that just may end up being over before it really gets going.
Susan Stoker has created a thrilling new action suspense world that is gritty and satisfying with vivid characters that I want to get to know better. “Defending Allye” kept me enthralled and hanging on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. I love how “real” Gray’s feelings and reactions were and I can’t wait to read the next book in this exciting new series.
Awesome start to a new series. Already hooked. If I had to complain about anything it was the chapter lengths. Some were short while others seemed long with a lot meshed in them.
Defending Allye! What a GREAT story!! Full of suspense, intrigue and sexy times! Gray is a former Navy SEAL now Mountain Mercenary on a simple assignment to gather information. What he finds instead is a kidnapped woman in need of help. Allye is a dancer who has an obsessive admirer who has paid for her to be kidnapped. From the moment Gray sets eyes. on Allye the sparks fly and the excitement begins. I could not put it down right from the beginning!
This is Book 1 in the Mountain Mercenaries series. This book starts out with a major sex trafficking ring and a kidnapping. Allye has caught the eye of the top guy who has her kidnapped. She’s saved by Grey, a member of the Mountain Mercenaries. She goes back home but the guy who wants her is still out there. There’s a lot of exciting things going on throughout the book that keeps you on your toes ready to get involved. The chemistry between Allye and Grey is hot but
Grey has a lot to work through from his past. I really enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read Ro’s story next.
Defending Allye by Susan Stoker is the first in a new series about a group of men who have all retired from the service. They all have regular jobs but have been joined together by a mysterious boss who they never see, but he named them Mountain Mercenaries. They do jobs for him, all good, but not always strictly legal. This first book has a woman being kidnapped, Allye, and being rescued by Gray, who is one of said mercenaries. Both Allye and Gray make for a great couple; she is a very strong woman from a unfortunate upbringing, and although Gray has some bad memories of his time as a Seal, they work together well. But there is the guy who is trying to kidnap Allye, and human trafficking, and torture, so this book may trigger some issues for some readers. A great first start to what i hope will be a good series. Knowing Susan Stoker’s writing, i don’t believe this will be an issue at all. Love her writing.