Part-time bartender Erin Gardner is friendly to everyone who bellies up to her bar, including the local law enforcement and firefighters who keep her city safe. That’s where she meets game warden Conor Paxton, a regular who she asks to join a canoeing trip she’s leading for her university day job. When the trip leads to something more, Erin couldn’t be happier.Conor adores Erin, more than enough … than enough to help her continue to get over lingering self-esteem issues from her childhood. He’s thrilled he’s found someone who enjoys spending time in nature as much as he does.
Just when the couple thinks they’re on their way to a happily ever after, Erin finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. But there’s no way she’ll just lay down and die. She’s woman enough to save herself—and lead her man to her when she’s done.
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I have read all of the Badge of Honor series so far and this book I related to the most. I love how strong Erin is and how hard it is struggling with weight issues. She has her insecurities (just like everyone) but she is doing her best to get through them. Conner is amazing and accepts Erin just as she is. He loves her inner beauty more than her outside beauty. It’s an emotional journey for them and I laughed, cried, and cheered for them while reading this book! This is an amazing book by Susan Stoker!
great read
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Erin Gardner is going on her annual adventure. But it’s sad that she does it around a holiday. Conor Paxton shows us he knows how to treat a lady – and it’s not based on looks. He also knows patience.
Our author shows her readers that sometimes we say things without thinking. And by saying those things you could be hurting someone else. Her story shows the sad reality of bullying. Kids and parents can be bullies. Sometimes we can do something about the mean kids but parents are a different matter. The effects can be long lasting and can affect many things. We also get good at hiding things from others.
Ms. Stoker always seems to create very relatable characters. Erin is a character that a lot of women could probably relate to – the trials and tribulations that she had to deal with growing up. What was disappointing was that Erin didn’t seem to think she was deserving. It took Conor’s perseverance to show her differently. He also shows how much he cares about her happiness. Even though there’s some suspense here, it was hard not to wipe a tear that would appear every once in a while. The ending leaves me smiling but with some nervous energy. I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen in the next book.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I loved this book!
An amazing story with real life issues. The author did a great job in writing about issue people often face in real life.
Erin is sweet, kind, friendly, sensitive, insecure and yet strong. She has struggled with issues as a result of childhood trauma all
her life.
Conner is a wonderful person who is sweet, caring, patient, kind, understanding and compassionate. Oh , and sexy! He is just what she needs.
The story line is well written with the characters well developed. It has action, mystery, suspense, romance, drama. I like the way the love and loyalty from family and friends is shown. I received this book as a gift and voluntarily give this review.
3.75s tars–JUSTICE FOR ERIN is the ninth instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult BADGE OF HONOR: TEXAS HEROES romantic suspense series. This is thirty five year old Texas game warden Conor Paxton, and university kinesiology professor/part time bar tender Erin Gardner’s story line. JUSTICE FOR ERIN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Conor and Erin) JUSTICE FOR ERIN focuses on the slow building relationship between Texas game warden Conor Paxton, and university professor Erin Gardner. Conor couldn’t believe it when the woman who has starred in all of his fantasies extends an invitation for a weekend canoe trip-a trip our heroine is leading as part of her university day job. Impressed with Erin’s knowledge of canoeing, camping and white water rafting Conor believes he has found the woman that calls to his heart but a woman who also has issues of low self esteem including those of abandonment and negative physical appearance. What ensues is the building romance and love between Conor and Erin, and the potential fall out when our heroine is targeted, on a camping trip, by an unknown source.
Erin Gardner is a thirty five year old virgin who has struggled with weight problems most of her life. Abandoned by her father, and emotionally abused by her mother, Erin’s lack of confidence and problems with body dysmorphia is the major theme running throughout the current story line. Conor Paxton is the personification of perfection and patience as it pertains to his growing love and relationship with our story line heroine- a patience that is required to break down the walls of innocence and self-deprecation that Erin uses to protect her mind and her heart from further breakdown and damage.
The relationship between Conor and Erin is very slow to build as Conor takes his time with the seduction of our story line heroine. Having met Erin at The Sloppy Cow where she works part time as a bartender, Conor’s immediate attraction is visceral and intense. Knowing the demons from her past are in a constant state of flux and revelation, Conor refuses to push Erin beyond that which he believes she is capable of doing. The $ex scenes are intimate, educational and passionate (without the use of sexually graphic language and text) as Conor ‘guides’ Erin towards their happily ever after.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including several of the previous story line couples, Conor’s parents Pauline and John Paxton, his sisters Karen and Mary, and their significant others, as well as a number of university students and bar patrons who come in and out of our couple’s lives. The requisite evil is sick and twisted but in the end gets what he so righteously deserves.
JUSTICE FOR ERIN is an emotional story of romance, friendship and love. As I have said before, all of Susan Stoker’s heroines have some issues that prevent the character from grabbing life by the horns and enjoying the ride, and Erin Gardner is no different, in fact, many readers will see themselves in our story line heroine-a woman who struggles with her weight and food, deep emotional and physical scars, and a lack of confidence in both her appearance and ability to love and be loved. The premise is captivating; the romance is sweet but I did struggled with our hero’s ‘good guy persona’ – everything was about pleasing Erin and taking his time with no regard for his own personal satisfaction-ever –the believeability factor was questionable but sweet.
I love, Love, LOVE this book! Erin and Conor are phenomenal together. Erin’s struggles with her self respect and body issues ring oh so true. As someone who has struggled with my own weight issues and self esteem this book brought powerful emotions to the forefront. I cried more than once.
The writing is spectacular, the plot is amazing and I love getting to catch up with the all the couples from the previous books in the series as well as getting teased about what’s coming up.
Susan Stoker continues to be a one-click author for me. I encourage everyone to read her books. I absolutely adored her note at the beginning of this book. “Just be nice.”, definitely words to live by.
4 Stars
Justice for Erin is the ninth title in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series. Erin and Connor’s story is engaging and entertaining.
Justice for Erin is a sweet, sexy, slow burn romance with characters that are both open and honest. It is a powerful and emotional romantic suspense with twists and turns aplenty, with some I didn’t anticipate.
The characters of Connor and Erin are well developed, realistic and most of all relate-able. Erin is a kind, friendly, compassionate character, who’s outward appearance and persona hides deep seated insecurities resulting from a traumatic childhood, and years as a young adult.
Connor is a loyal, sexy, strong, patient, kind, sweet, understanding and compassionate alpha. He sounds perfect, but he does have one flaw that he has workaholic tendencies.
I really enjoyed this addition to the Texas Heroes series, and look forward to reading future titles.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.
This book is amazing. The subject matter of this story is a tough one, one a lot of people can relate to in one way or another. It definitely struck an emotional chord in me. This is a strong, engaging read full of well-developed characters that are easily likeable and a complex storyline that is relatable and feels real. Ms. Stoker does a fabulous job of capturing the very essence of her characters in this sweet romance and respectfully deals with real struggles people face every day.
Conor is a rare breed. He is a genuine sweet soul that is caring, understanding, patient and dedicated to his relationship with Erin, his job and his friends. He is aware of his short comings and does his best to be honest and address the issues they face with their jobs and relationships head on, wanting to work through them together and help her understand her importance in his life and help her to realize how much he loves her despite her insecurities.
Erin is a sensitive, sweet woman who has deep seated issues from her childhood related to her weight and parental acceptance of her as a person, resulting in a sheltered life with few friends and severe emotional scarring. She has a difficult time forming bonds with others but has a strong spirit and resolve. She does her best to acknowledge her faults and put on a brave face and push through regardless of the outcome. She has a sheltered view of herself and struggles to see herself as the strong, confident, beautiful woman she has become.
Conor and Erin make a beautiful couple. Their story is a true love story, full of hardships, acceptance, shortcomings, understanding, friendship and love. I enjoy the way Ms. Stoker let their relationship evolve by taking short, comfortable baby steps and building their intimate connection slowly with trust and love instead of diving straight into an awkward, tense uncomfortable sexual relationship. This book is a wonderful balance of suspense, drama and romance and includes a touch of danger with some shocking twists thrown in. It is also great to see Conor’s friends, lots of guys and gals from the series, jump in to help out when needed. They always have each other’s backs and give it their all until the job is done. Justine for Erin is a gripping, poignant read that gets your heart pounding and emotions rolling from beginning to end.
Susan Stoker outdid herself with this story! The narrator did a GREAT job with this book, and she really did bring this book to life. Like usual I just couldn’t and wouldn’t wait for the actual ebook to come out…so I got the audio! Whew! Best choice ever!!
This is book 9 in the Badge of Honor series. This is Erin (a bartender) and Conor’s (a game warden) story. This has everything we love and NEED to see in a Susan Stoker story. This book has weight issues in it (Susan always gives us a great topic that the woman (usually) faces. This one is no different and she did an excellent job working us through it.
Erin had a weight issue in the past and carries around with her as a gorgeous piece of luggage. Turns out, Conor not only sees it, handles it, but loves it, because he loves her.
Buuuuut… Can Conor save the love of his life? Can he get to her in time? Can they really have that happily ever after and continue running together in the mornings?? Get the book and find out!! You’ll kick yourself for not getting it sooner!! TRUST ME!! *wink*
Please bear with me, but all know that if I could give this book more then a 5 star rating I would give it the sky. This is a story that can and will touch many a woman or men who have gone or are going through the same problems or issues that Erin does in this story. And my sincere thanks to Susan Stoker for writting this story and doing it so well.
Erin Gardner is a part time bartender who friendly to everyone who comes to her bar, including the local law enforcement and firefighters bellies up to her bar, including the local law enforcement and firefighters who keep her city safe. This is also where Conor Paxton enters her life and changes it all for her.
Her entire life has been a struggle that began when her mother told her that her Father left one night and was never coming back, to cope with all that was going on she turned to food for solace and happiness. Years later after leaving home she changed all if that, but it has not been easy.
Conor has fallen for the Erin and in more ways that she can even imagine, he has not judged her nor does he see her as she sees herself, he has come to love her for what she is inside and out.
Both love the outdoors and do spend time enjoying their outings and she does also, little by little Erin comes to realize that Conor does love her for who she is and what she has become.
Just when the couple thinks they’re on their way to a happily ever after, Erin finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time. But there’s no way she’ll just lay down and die. She’s woman enough to save herself—and lead her man to her when she’s done.
Susan Stoker thank you so much for this wonderful and warm story.