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.
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I enjoyed it. Sorry to see this series end, but enjoyed seeing Rex/Dave finally find his wife!
Hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful series. This book has all the components that a traditional Susan Stoker book does, and she tied it all together with a big red bow, and also tweaked you for her next spin off series. Brilliantly done. All her readers have been waiting for over a year to get this story and it was well worth the wait. Dave has been looking for over 10 years for his wife that was kidnapped in Vegas. The Mountain Mercenaries have his back to travel back to Peru to find Raven, where Zara last saw her. It’s not the in and out two day scenario that he was hoping for. I loved how it all came together in the end and I absolutely loved the graduation speech. Totally worth the wait. Susan Stoker books are a one-click option for me.
Blown-Away!! This is one of the best romantic suspense stories I have read. It’s twists and turns will keep you on your toes. You will also lose your heart to Dave (Rex) and Raven’s story! Be ready to ride the roller coaster of emotions throughout the book. I could not put this story down!!
Excellent finish to this series.
new release, romantic suspense, military romance
a new romantic suspense from Susan Stoker!
What a wonderful ending to an amazing series!!
I loved that we got to finally find out who “Rex” was. I also liked seeing what he was capable of. He is integral member of the team in this series but yet very mysterious so it was nice to see him in action. Mrs. Stoker did an amazing job at describing the feelings that “Rex” was feeling and what he was going through. There were times he had to be patient when you knew he didn’t want to be. You saw and literately felt the hurt when Raven told him to go. My heart hurt for “Rex” many times in this book.
However hearing and reading about what Raven had gone through and what she continued to go through was also just as heartbreaking. She had a reason to tell “Rex” to go even though it hurt her to do so.
Watching this couple circle each other and try to find their new normal was amazing to read. I loved that there love shown through and also the love they have for others.
This was a perfect ending to this series!
WOW!!! I’m blown away by the intensity and gripping account of a man who loves his wife, even when it seems hopeless…Dave takes love a new level. His determination and actions are so heartfelt. He has a great “team” of mercenaries. Their cause is a very sensitive topic so this isn’t for the faint at heart which I usually proclaim to be but once I started reading this I was too in awe and intrigued to not finish it. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but this author does an excellent job making this one thorough, informative and a stand-alone. It is very emotional, for so many reasons and it deserves more than 5 stars. Raven has given up on hope but she has the strength of an ox, is so brave and compassionate.
A good ending to the series.
I can’t recommend this book or this series enough! It’s a favorite I will read again and again! Perfectly flawed characters who find the strength to overcome the worst of circumstances. A group of people who create their own family, sometimes against all odds. Action, suspense, drama, love, brotherhood, loyalty, family…all very well written and conveyed.
Beautiful and emotional end to the Mountain Mercenaries Series. Susan Stoker did an amazing job with Dave and Raven’s story. I loved it!
Love, perseverance, preservation, acceptance, and dedication. Don’t forget about loyalty, kindness, and trust. All things that define Raven and Dave. Their life together before, their lives while apart, their life when back together. This story, this series, ran a gambit of emotions, all starkly and beautifully told by the authour, of survival, of not being victimized, of never backing down. The pinnacle of it is this book, it brings it all together and shows the strength and the vulnerability of the human soul, heart, and spirit. It was scary and brave all at once and I love, loved, loved it for the life and lives it allowed us to see into. Thank you Susan, for it all!
Once again Susan Stoker had me up all night reading although I can probably put some of the blame on Amazon for the book showing up on my kindle just as I was heading to bed.
The entire team and Zara are headed back to Peru. Zara is going to help Daniela set up a real clinic and also act as a translator for the team. She also knows the Barrio like the back of her hand so navigating it will be much easier.
One of the most poignant moments in this book is when Dave first lays eyes on Mags, his Raven.
Like everything else in life this gets far more complicated than just talking to Mags and bringing her home.
The bullies in the Barrio learn a few lessons from this dedicated team, lessons that start making life for the residents a bit better. The horror of del Rio’s mindset had me both cringing and crying as Susan takes a horrific part of human trafficking and intertwines it with a love story for the ages.
So much suspense as Dave breaks down the walls Raven has erected to maintain her sanity. Her reason for needing to stay in Lima, while shocking to Dave only cements his determination to bring her home.
Some laughter, lots of tears, and an ending you won’t soon forget.
This is the last book in this series and I will miss these characters. Thank you, Susan it’s been a wild ride.
If you are a fan of this author or special ops books, this is a book you won’t want to put down and a must read. Rex looked for his wife for ten years and when he saw someone who recognized her picture of missing women, he didn’t hesitate to use all resources to find his Raven. This is the story-line of the search, rescue and recap of years looking and waiting. There were times the intrigue and tension was so great, I wanted the author to move on quickly so I could see resolution. Funny how that happens sometimes when you are reading a good book. There are sensual scenes and the book regards human trafficking so I wanted to put that fact out there for readers. The Epilogue wraps of years of past trials and years they have lived since the many events of their lives. As they lay looking at the stars, I cried as the end was there for the series and adventures.
Loved this whole series. If you had read the series from the first book, Defending Raven was what you waited for. The best ending to a series that Susan Stoker has written in my opinion.
I have to say Defending Raven has to be my favorite book of all of this author’s books I’ve read (so much so that I just ordered a signed paperback copy!). I have been waiting for Rex/Dave’s story for a while and his and Raven’s story exceeded my expectations. Rex never gave up on finding Raven, he created the Mountain Mercenaries because of her and saved so many women and children’s lives. The unconditional and all consuming love he has for her just tore through the pages. But even when he was finally face to face with her, he still had a battle on his hands to get his wife back.
The emotions I felt reading this book was almost overwhelming. To think that human trafficking is still happening today is just too much to think about. But this is what Raven “Mags” had gone through. To say she had been in hell for the past 10 years is an understatement, but her strength was awe inspiring. The genuine fear of what Dave would think of all she had done and gone through was so heartbreaking, but then when she finally realizes how much he loves her and her believing it made my heart soar.
Defending Raven was a beautiful ending to an amazing series. A definite 5-star read.
So this is my review for Defending Raven by Susan Stoker. If you’ve followed my other reviews, you’re aware that I am a HUGE Susan Stoker fan. So excited doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings for this book. Especially because it’s the last book in the Mountain Mercenaries series. AKA Rex’s story. But I have to be honest after I finished the book I needed a few days to ruminate before writing this review. Rumination done. Now for my review.
As I said, this is the final book in the Mountain Mercenaries series. Rex’s story. And if you’ve read this series, you know that Susan has teased us A LOT about Rex. He was the mysterious leader of this motley band of heroes. We all speculated on who he was and felt for his plight. Knowing that he had been searching for his missing wife for a decade…*sigh*…was just heartbreaking. So anticipation for this book and the conclusion to his story was HIGH.
Defending Raven was exquisite. The depth of feels for this book is ginormous. Tissues were used. Heartstrings are tugged. And anger is felt. Anger on Rex’s behalf for the anguish he has gone through searching for his wife. Anger on Raven’s behalf for the horror and pain she has suffered. As a reader (even knowing that these are just characters in a book) I want justice. Retribution. For them to dole out punishment to those who have done them wrong. And although you do get some of this, I felt that it wasn’t enough.
Hence my rumination. And it was enlightening. This book is about so much more than revenge. It’s about reconnecting. It’s about unconditional love. It’s about friendship and family.
Ms. Stoker takes the reader on an incredible journey and shows us that with unspeakable injustice comes compassion and integrity. Rex WANTS to burn the world and avenge the atrocities that his wife has endured. He wants to make the enemy pay but instead, he realizes that he needs to put aside these feelings and support his wife. To help her move forward and make each day better. To show her that 10 years is a drop in the bucket and his love is still as strong and deep as the day he met her.
Raven has lived with unspeakable horrors for 10 years. But she is more than the horrors that were forced upon her. She has picked herself up and made herself stronger. With the appearance of her husband, her very world has been rocked. Although she doubts that he will be able to handle what she has been through she can’t change her past or who she has become.
Defending Raven is love. Honor. Commitment. In a world where chaos reigns it’s a beacon to show us that doing what’s RIGHT, though harder, is what each of us needs to do.
Take the time to read this book. It’s so much more than a “romance read”. You won’t be disappointed. You will be enlightened.
I bawled my eyes out with this one. I cried, knowing that this is the final installment to a series that I have fallen in love with. I cried, knowing that Rex would finally find his Raven.
Defending Raven, for me, was bittersweet, evoking a lot of emotions that Susan Stoker seem to have snatched from my very soul. The author, bless her heart, has outdone herself this time, giving justice to the Mountain Mercenaries’ fight against human trafficking.
Defending Raven can be read as a standalone, but I would implore you, dear reader, to start with Defending Allye so that you may see and understand why Rex—Dave Justice—decided to set his sights against one of the world’s vilest problems, the trafficking of women, children, and yes, sometimes even men.
My hope is that, as you turn the last page of the series, your eyes will have been opened to the plight of those victimized by sex traffickers. Maybe, just maybe, you will be encouraged to do your part in eradicating this scourge.
Remember, Raven could be your mom, your daughter, sister, cousin, or friend. Or Raven could just as easily … be you.
The wait for the head of the Mountain Mercenaries to find he happy ending was long but well worth the wait. Rex search for his Raven for 10 years and he never lost hope. Their reunion was painful and beautiful. A fantastic ending to an amazing series.
I almost don’t have the words….. reading the story of what Raven had endured and why she didn’t want to leave Peru, and what Rex went through for 10 years trying to find his wife…. heartbreaking. I can’t begin to tell you how many time I cried due if this place book both sad and happy tears. Susan Stoker absolutely wrote the most amazing book that evoked so many emotions.