A missing woman leads the alpha heroes on their boldest mission yet in New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s searing Mountain Mercenaries novel.It’s been ten years since Rex’s wife, Raven, disappeared from a Vegas casino. Never losing hope, he even formed the Mountain Mercenaries to help find her—and other missing wives, sisters, and children. Now Rex and his fearless team are … fearless team are following a lead to Lima, Peru, where the rescue operation is greater than they imagined.
A day at a time. That’s been Raven’s motto for a decade. Once held captive by an elusive sex trafficker, she has an indomitable will to survive. But Raven’s not ready to leave Peru. She can’t. Not yet. Because her liberation from the barrios comes with devastating consequences. One wrong move and all hope will be lost to an unimaginable hell.
For the Mountain Mercenaries, the stakes have been raised. The threats are escalating. But Rex hasn’t searched this long, risked so much, and come this far to lose Raven all over again.
more
4 stars Good book. I thought the epilogue was a little long and drawn out but I’ll be reading this book again at some point.
I can’t believe it’s over – no more Mountain Mercenaries. Dave and raven led quite a painful life that only got turned around, when fate brought Zara to The Pit die the first time. Every now and then the dialogues are a little lovey-dovey and just a bit over the top, but nevertheless a very wonderful conclusion about Dave finally finding his long lost wife.
I have been looking forward to this book since the preview at the end of ‘Zara’…and was not disappointed!! Lots of bad guys and drama but the Mountain Mercenaries came through in the end and Rex/Dave finally got his wife back! The extended epilogue put a neat bow on the series.
Susan Stoker is a masterful story teller. In this, her last book in the Mountain Mercenary series, she wraps up her series beautifully. I thoroughly enjoy the ride she took us on. There are tears and cheers and sighs of happiness at the end of Rex and Ravens story.
You will NOT make it through this book without crying. It’s EMOTIONAL, it’s real, it’s raw! Real world problems and consequences are brought to the surface. If you haven’t read the rest of the series, you’ll be okay, but reading the previous books really pulls everything today! Raven is by far the STRONGEST female character I’ve ever met! Susan Stoker did a FABULOUS job showing readers just how strong she is. Dave is SO MUCH MORE!!! He loved his wife like a true man should!!! I read the book in one setting because I couldn’t put it down. I finished the book with tears rolling down my cheeks! GREAT READ!!
Susan Stoker wraps up the Mountain Mercenaries series in spectacular fashion. Defending Raven is a roller coaster ride of action, suspense and emotions. Finally all the team members have their happy ending.
It’s all hands on deck as the Mountain Mercenaries return to Peru to rescue Dave Justice’s wife, Raven, who’s been missing for ten years. Her abduction was the reason the team was initially formed after Dave ran into road block after road block while trying to find her. Living in a Lima barrio in abject poverty with several other women, Raven AKA Mags out right refuses to leave. What she doesn’t count on is her husband’s equal determination to take her home. When her reasons are finally revealed and Dave and his team pull out all the stops in order to get everyone returned safely home.
Excellent ending to one amazing series.
I couldn’t wait for Rex and Raven’s story and Susan Stoker did not disappoint. The last in this series couldn’t have been better. This book had it all: romance, angst, good versus evil and a much deserved happily ever after. Catching up with all of the previous book characters was a bonus. Can’t give this series enough stars!
5 stars
Rex has been searching for his missing wife for ten years. He formed the Mountain Mercenaries to help find women and children that have been kidnapped. When he gets a lead, he and the guys head to Peru. Raven has been through hell for ten years. She was taken from Las Vegas and never thought to see her husband again. After being a sex slave, she was turned out. When Rex finds her, she refuses to leave. She has a responsibility and leaving would be devastating. The closer it gets for them to leave, the deadlier the threat becomes. But Rex hasn’t waited ten years to just go without his wife. He’ll do whatever it takes to get Raven out of Peru.
This book will having you bite your nails and wondering what could possibly happen next. I honestly had to stop reading because I was afraid to see what happened next. If I was a crying person, this one would have done me in. The only thing that drove me batty was where they kept referring to each other as ‘ my husband ‘ or ‘ my wife ‘.
Over the years I have read many authors who had major characters that they held off on writing about until the end of the series or close to it. When the stories have come out I was so disappointed. They did not do the character justice and did not live up to the hype.
Well Susan Stoker you have blown me away. I wanted to so long to find out who Rex was and you didn’t disappoint me. This was an amazing men who from the beginning of the series. You knew from the beginning he had a secret of his own and slowly throughout the series and in each book you learned a little more and more about him and his reasons for doing what he did and you left us guessing who he truly was and why he was doing all that he does. But of course you didn’t give too much away.
In Defending Raven, Rex was on a mission, a mission any man in his position would be on. With his men right beside him, they go find his Raven. To their enemies territory. Even when they find her she doesn’t want him there and tells him so. But is it for the right reasons? In her mind yes. Will Rex give up? I don’t think so. Will more secrets be revealed, Yes! The question is will Raven and Rex let go of the past and move forward? Well you will have to read it to find out.
As I said I was blown away. Susan Stoker from the beginning of the story you defined who Rex was as a person, man, husband, boss and friend. She through in curve ball after curve ball. She put so much and many emotions into this story that it can take your breath away. Just when you think you can relax just a little more intense emotions and feelings come to the surface. This is a story that you want to read and hope it never ends. As you read it draws you into the story as if you are there. I didn’t want to stop reading it. I am sorry to see this series end but this book was well worth the wait.
Susan all your books are great but this one I have to say was my favorite of all your stories. Thank you for this amazing story. You truly made Rex come to life and more.
Make sure before you start reading you have tissues available. They are needed.
Another great book by Susan Stoker and a fantastic end to The Mountain Mercenaries series. Rex and Raven endure many years apart when she is kidnapped. A 10 year search is ended when someone recognizes her picture. Rex and his friends journey to Peru to rescue her!
5 Stars!!!!!
Afterglow is defined as good feelings remaining after a pleasurable or successful experience. I am basking in the afterglow of reading Defending Raven, the sensational culmination to Susan Stoker’s wonderful Mountain Mercenaries series! This book delivers a powerful emotional punch and constantly demonstrates the inner core of a woman’s strength, the innocent wonder and resilience of a child, and the neverending hope and love of an unstoppable man. I wholeheartedly recommend this amazing book and awesome series.
Thank you Susan Stoker,
for Rex & Raven story!
I could not put it down!
It’s a captivating, touching,
very moving & suspenseful book.
I loved every word on every page!
Rex has searched for 10 long years
for his missing wife. After all this time
he may have found Raven. With the help of his team the Mountain Mercenaries,
they go back to Peru to bring her home.
It’s everything you want in a story & more!
great story to complete Mountain Mercenaries series
This book was everything it was hyped up to be. You had the anticipation of Dave “Rex” of finding his love Raven and thinking all he had to do was get and go home. Not so easy. There is a lot of danger, surprises, heartache and the trafficking of human beings especially children is hard to take, but it’s the realty of the world. Everyone was there in Lima to help the man they respect to find his find and find so much more. Hated to see the series end, but it was a wild ride. Loved it.
Loved this fantastic wrap up to this series. I’ ve been waiting for “Rex’s” and I wasn’t disappointed with the story we got. These characters are intriguing and the story is fast paced and action packed with an incredible love story at the core. Don’t miss this one. I highly recommend it.
Another book for the 5 star column
Wow, I’ve just finished and I’m trying to figure out exactly how to phrase what this story did to me and my poor heart and emotionsBasically, this story will have you on the edge of your seat because of its content – Rex’s wife goes missing and now a decade later, he had a potential lead that could prove to be THE ONE to find her
I think I cried most of my way through the first few chapters of this storyand then cried the last few- one was sad tears and the other happy tears – yes, if you’re a woman reading this you’ll understand the difference
This story was magnificent and I absolutely think it was the perfect way to end a fantastic series and I’m keen for the new series that’s coming our way
The Mountain Mercenaries series is one of my top favorites of Susan’s (ACE Security being the other) and the series as a whole has been an amazing, emotional adventure and I am so sad to see it end. However, I am also happy to finally find out who the elusive Rex (the boss man) is and see him finally after so long get his happy ending. But, boy oh boy the gut-wrenching turmoil and devastation he has to face along the way is a killer. To me, I think this one was the most emotional of the series…I am talking the ugly tears too! So fair warning – have lots of tissues on hand. It was great to catch up with the other guys on the team and their families and I really love the way Susan wraps up the series as a whole with this final book. The ending epilogue and the ‘look ahead’ scenes are beautiful and so emotional. It is a great HEA for this couple.
Defending Raven is an absolutely amazing book from start to finish; I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. I was so invested in the drama woven around Rex and Raven and all the hurdles they had to overcome after many years of separation. Their struggles, insecurities, motivations, strength and determination were threaded with raw emotion and wrapped up in a story full of survival, abuse, courage, desperation, redemption, and enduring love. This book carries an air of intensity from beginning to end and definitely tears through your feelings. It is heartbreaking, somber, sweet, happy, witty, and romantic and there is plenty of gripping suspense, danger, alpha males, strong women, surprises, and a diabolical bad guy who is beyond rotten to the core that will give you chills.
As with any other Susan Stoker book, this one can be read as a standalone or enjoyed in order with the rest of the series. This book does include some sensitive issues and could possibly be triggers for more sensitive readers.
DEFENDING RAVEN is the seventh and final instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult MOUNTAIN MERCENARIES romantic suspense series focusing group of former soldiers and Navy SEALS who call themselves Mountain Mercenaries, headed by the mysterious ‘Rex’. This is Dave ‘Rex’ Justice , and Raven aka Mag’s story line. The Mountain Mercenaries is a spin off from the author’s Ace Security series but you do not have to have read the previous series to understand or follow the current timeline. The Mountain Mercenaries were first introduced in CLAIMING FELICITY (Ace Security 4).
WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be some triggers for more sensitive readers.
NOTE: If you have not read the previous instalment there may be some spoilers in my review.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Raven and Dave) DEFENDING RAVEN is the culmination of seven story lines in which the mysterious Rex, takes command of a group of former military operatives in an effort to rescue and recover missing women and children around the world but to everyone’s surprise their mysterious leader and benefactor is their friend and bar owner David Justice, a man whose own wife has been missing for close to ten years. With the rescue of Zara Layne in Defending Zara #6, Dave and the Mountain Mercenaries will discover that Zara’s friend and fellow abductee Mags is none other than Dave aka Rex’s missing wife. As Dave organizes a rescue of the woman he loves, the team worry that our hero is in over his head. What ensues is the rescue and recovery of Raven Justice, and the potential fall-out as Raven refuses to leave Lima, Peru without someone she holds close to her heart.
Mags aka Raven Justice has spent ten years helping other women who have suffered as much as our storyline heroine. Abducted and sold in to sexual slavery, Raven has ‘aged’ out of the system but not out of ‘that’ world in Lima, Peru. With the appearance of her husband Dave, Raven struggles with the demons from her past, demons that refuse to let go including the possibility that her husband no longer loves the woman she has become.
Dave ‘Rex’ Justice is a man tormented by the idea that has wife has suffered at the hands of so many monsters. With Raven’s refusal to walk away from the life she now leads, Dave suspects something deeper keeping his wife from returning home.
The relationship between Dave and Raven struggles in the face of Raven’s inability to accept that her husband is still in love but Raven has a secret that goes much deeper than anything Dave could have ever imagined, a secret that keeps Raven in Lima, Peru. There are no $ex scenes but recounting of the horrors that our heroine endured.
All of the previous story line heroes play secondary and supporting roles as their friend and mentor is desperate to rescue the woman he loves. With the help of the Mountain Mercenaries, Dave Justice will bring his wife home after ten long years missing.
DEFENDING RAVEN is raw and gritty story of struggle and abuse, survival and redemption; of courage, tenderness and enduring love. The premise is heart breaking and impassioned; the characters are colorful, strong, dramatic and intense. DEFENDING RAVEN fast forwards several years so that the reader gets a glimpse into the future of the Mountain Mercenaries and their leader Dave ‘Rex’ Justice.