No matter how far she runs her past will find her, but hopefully so will he. Dakota James’s life has become the stuff of nightmares. The leader of the Ansar al-Shari’a terrorist group has become obsessed with her, determined to take her as his wife. On the run, she’ll have to pin her hopes on the retired SEAL charged with finding and stopping Aziz Fourati before he can carry out plans to bomb … he can carry out plans to bomb more US airports.
Recently recruited to join a sleeper team tasked with fighting terrorism on US soil, Slade “Cutter” Cutsinger, with the help of some Special Forces friends, has located the one woman who can identify the deadly Ansar al-Shari’a leader. That was the easy part.
Keeping her safe proves more difficult than anyone ever imagined. When she and her new friend, Caroline, are kidnapped by the terrorist group, Dakota can only pray Cutter and the SEALs will reach them before they’re taken out of the country–and away from Cutter forever.
**Protecting Dakota is a part of the SEAL of Protection Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings. Each book in this series is a standalone novel, and the series does not have to be read in order.
more
This is an amazing story of a retired Seal who is to protect a woman. From the time Cutter sees her picture, he knows. Now he just has to keep her alive!!
Great creative story – different angle on knight in shining armor rescues the girl.
This is the first book of a new series that I have all ready hooked on. Each book is written by a new author following a theme.
This was such a great read!! Susan Stoker did such an awesome job on this story!!
This is a novella in a series with all kinds of different authors.
In this story Dakota James is hiding out from a terrorist who she got away from. She has no clue he is hot on her trail though. Slade “Cutter” Cutsinger is sent to go get her and keep her safe, but also find the terrorist and end this madman’s game. Noone knows what this terrorist looks like. Noone except Dakota.
Can Cutter save her? Can Cutter end this terrorists game? You HAVE TO read this story!!
As the final official installment of the SEAL of Protection series and the start of Sleeper SEALS series, Protecting Dakota is fitting closer and a wonderful beginning. The Sleeper SEALS series is a little different in that it centers around retired SEALS who work unofficially to protect the country, and is being written by a number of different authors of the genre including Sharon Hamilton, Elle James, Becky McGraw among others.
This book revolves around Cutter and his mission to find a terrorist while falling for the only survivor of a bombing. Protecting Dakota is a fast paced story that’s steady for the first half and picks up the paced to rollercoaster speed that made my heart pound (Ms. Stoker does like to torture her leading ladies). Fans of SOP will loved seeing Wolf’s team from the Protection series in action.
And while it is the last in the SOP series it also introduces fans to another SEAL team to be featured in an upcoming series.
Flowed well, H/h were great and the storyline was engaging. Loved the glimpses of “the guys” and having Ice was icing on the cake.
Worth the read add to the top of your TBR list.
3.75 stars–PROTECTING DAKOTA is the ninth installment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult SEAL of PROTECTION romantic, military suspense series focusing on a group of current and former Navy SEALS. This is forty eight year old, retired SEAL Slade ‘Cutter’ Cutsinger, and forty three year old, primary school principal Dakota James’s story line. PROTECTING DAKOTA is also the first installment in the multi-authored SLEEPER SEALs anthology series. Each book in the Sleeper SEAL series can be read as a stand alone, and the series does not have to be read in order.
NOTE: PROTECTING DAKOTA contains scenes of graphic violence and sexual assault that may not be suitable for all readers.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Dakota and Slade) PROTECTING DAKOTA focuses on the protection of Dakota James. Dakota is on the run; in hiding; and the only surviving witness to a terrorist bombing at LAX. The leader of the terrorist organization known as Ansar al-Shari’a, Aziz Fourati, has declared war on the US targeting airports around the country, and has made it known that he is determined to take Dakota as his wife. Enter Slade ‘Cutter’ Cutsinger, a retired Navy SEAL who has been recruited by a Sleeper SEALs unit whose missions are dark, off the records, and in no way connected to any other government agency. What ensues is the search for Dakota James, the building relationship between Dakota and Slade, and the fall out when the mission and Dakota’s whereabouts have been compromised by an unknown source.
Dakota James loves her job as a primary school principal but threats against the people and children she loved forced our heroine on the run, trying to stay one step ahead of a mad man determined to make Dakota his wife. Slade Cutsinger’s call back to ‘active duty’ brings our hero up close and personal with the military’s new Sleeper SEAL unit of retired SEALs-a unit where each mission requires a single SEAL to extract or protect on his own. Seeing Dakota’s images immediately sparks interest in our retired Navy SEAL-a longing to be part of a relationship with a woman to love.
The relationship between Dakota and Slade is one of immediate attraction; a story of insta-love, and I mean INSTANT love between two people pulled together by circumstance and threats. The $ex scenes are sensual but limited; mostly implied with the exception of the final erotic scene between our leading couple.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Dakota’s father Finnegan James; Slade’s Retired Navy Commander Greg Lambert; Navy SEAL Matthew ‘Wolf’ Steel and his wife Caroline, Kason “Benny” Sawyer , and Wolf’s commander Patrick Hurt.
PROTECTING DAKOTA is a fast paced, story of suspense and romance. The premise is energetic; the characters are spirited; the romance is passionate and engaging.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest review.
Protecting Dakota was a nice change of pace with the hero and heroine of the story both being in their mid to late forties, established and with life experiences behind them. They are both grounded with a good sense of self and tackle things head on like the adults they are versus the immaturity of younger couples trying to find their way. It was refreshing, to say the least. I also loved the fact that the bad guy was not stereotypical but a shocking surprise when his identity was revealed. I never saw it coming.
The book starts off at a steady pace, providing needed background and general information, before exploding into action….then get ready and hang on for the ride. There is a great deal of mystery surrounding Dakota’s connection to the terrorist and it is revealed at a nerve-wracking pace. The connection between Slade and Dakota was charming and it was nice to see them taking the time to develop the basics of a foundation for a relationship instead of just jumping right into bed. There are also appearances from Wolf and his team from the SEAL of Protection series, when they come to Slade’s aid to rescue Dakota.
Overall this was a fantastic read. It contains everything you could want in a great suspense including action, intrigue, romance, head-strong females and overprotective, dominate males. The snarky banter between the characters provides good entertainment and a few laugh-out-loud moments. You will not be disappointed if you give this book a try.