Freak. Witch. Ugly. Abomination.Having grown up with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, Quinn Dixon’s heard them all. Her own mother couldn’t bear to touch her, let alone strangers. Years of stares and insults from everyone from classmates to foster families have made her understandably reluctant to trust. So when John comes along, of course he couldn’t be interested in more than a brief … than a brief affair. He’ll get sick of all the gawking and whispers soon enough and leave her…just like everyone else.
John “Driftwood” Trettle was captivated by Quinn the moment they met. After months of skirting around their attraction, one pivotal evening finds John seizing the reins and refusing to be denied a chance to prove he’s worthy of Quinn’s time, her trust, and her love. To show her he’ll have her back, always, and defend her against anyone cruel or stupid enough to hurt his woman.
But he can’t protect against an unknown threat. Even if it wears a familiar face…
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A new romantic suspense from Susan Stoker!
SHELTER FOR QUINN is the thirteenth instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult BADGE OF HONOR: TEXAS HEROES romantic suspense series focusing on a group of first responders and law enforcement heroes, and the women they love. This is thirty-one year old, fire fighter John ‘Driftwood’ Trettle, and twenty-eight year old lab technician Quinn ‘Emmy’ Dixon’s story line. SHELTER FOR QUINN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Quinn and John) SHELTER FOR QUINN follows the friends to lovers relationship between thirty-one year old, fire fighter John ‘Driftwood’ Trettle, and twenty-eight year old lab technician Quinn Dixon. Quinn Dixon knows discrimination and bullying first hand. Born with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, our heroine bares the brunt of rejection and nasty comments every day of her life. Meeting fire fighter John Trettle gives our heroine the hope for a future but a future that is threatened by hatred and betrayal. What ensues is the slow building romance between John and Quinn, and the potential fall-out as Quinn is targeted by a psychotic mind.
John and Quinn met through mutual acquaintances and friends, friends who support our heroine regardless of her handicaps or looks. Quinn struggles with the public bigotry and hatred she must endure; John battles to protect the woman with whom he is falling in love.
The relationship between John and Quinn is one of mutual attraction; a friends to lovers romance that pulls John into Quinn’s world of intolerance inflicted by those who refuse to accept or acknowledge the physical differences between one another. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and familiar secondary and supporting characters including a several previous story line couples and characters. We are introduced to Hudson’s (aka Taco) new girlfriend Jennifer, as well as travel agent Koren Garner. Koren and Taco’s story line is next in Shelter for Koren.
The world building focuses on discrimination, intolerance, hatred and bigotry. Most of Susan’s heroines struggle with some sort of physical, emotional or traumatic issues that affect their every day existence; her hero’s continue to be impossibly perfect and the epitome of fearless, accepting and bold.
SHELTER FOR QUINN is an emotional and sensitive story line. The premise is intriguing; the romance is seductive; the characters are colorful, strong and energetic…..but I did struggle with (or question) the inordinate amount of discrimination and bigotry directed at our story line heroine: is the intolerance a reality for people afflicted with port-wine birthmarks, or exaggerated for the fictional bias. Other than the immediate group of friends, virtually every one she met or those with whom she came in contact with were narrow-minded and intolerant of her birthmark, to the point of distraction, hatred, bullying and life threatening- a real or abstract reflection of the world in which we live?
Freak. Witch. Ugly. Abomination.
Having grown up with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, Quinn Dixon’s heard them all…
SHELTER FOR QUINN by Susan Stoker is a story filled with love, hurt, danger, suspense and heartwarming friendships. Quinn, living her life constantly being judged and ridiculed due to a port-wine birthmark on her face, still manages to be a strong, independent woman with a heart of gold. John, a sexy firefighter, sees beyond the birthmark to the beauty within. I adored both of these characters and seeing them together makes the heart sing. John was ever so patient with Quinn as she struggled to believe he could see beyond the birthmark and watching Quinn grow and blossom was a joy. Ms. Stoker certainly knows how to write a villain and she did not disappoint in this one. It is romantic suspense at its best and keeps the reader on edge as to what will happen. Having read the previous books in the series, it was fun to “catch up” with some other characters, although certainly can be read as a stand alone with no issues. If you enjoy a tale that has edge of your seat suspense and danger as well as tug at your heartstrings love, you do not want to miss this one.
5 Stars
What a fantastic story with amazing characters. As can be found in all of Ms. Stoker’s stories, our heroine, Quinn, is strong, smart, and independent but struggling with a personal issue. For Quinn that issue isn’t able to be hidden, it is a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck. What follows is a sometimes heart wrenching, but more often admirable, sweet and sexy path to find her happily ever after. The man who will win her heart and prove to her that she is beautiful, loving and perfect just as she is, is none other than John “Driftwood” from Station 7. As always our hero is a perfect blend of alpha tendencies, smart, sweet and sexy. This story is full of laughs, love, and of course some suspense and action! A great next installment to the series!
Cara – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
My favourite book of this series by far (and I’ve most certainly enjoyed them all!) I just love how this couple have so many real encounters and challenges and battle both with themselves and each other to find a balance.
Driftwood is adorable and I love how he knew Quinn was for him and fought for her to give him a chance.
Quinn is so strong, and despite her facial birthmark making her a target for both bullying and discriminatory behaviour, this hasn’t changed her into a bitter person, in fact the opposite.
I loved how despite their relationship starting quite early in the story, SS then took the time to build on this and demonstrate relationship challenges, fall outs and forgiveness. More times than not relationships aren’t portrayed in a real manner by authors, so to write “bad days” is a great thing to read strangely enough
i have to say the bad guys in Shelter For Quinn are darn creepy. That being said, this romance is a wonderful lesson in acceptance. Quinn Dixon has never had acceptance in her life with the exception of her three best friends from work. Having John “Driftwood ” Trettle show and tell her that he sees her inner and outer beauty in ways both big and small is life changing. J9hb becomes her champion and for the first time in her life she’s loved. It takes a never death experience to finally understand how she’s let her birthmark define her and rule her existence.
“Shelter for Quinn” is the thirteenth book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series. It is the story John “Driftwood” Trettle and Quinn Dixon but as John calls her “Emmy”. Quinn has not had an easy life, she was born with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, her mother didn’t want her and she was passed from one foster home to another. She is used to the stares and ugly remarks about her face but that doesn’t mean she likes them or that they don’t affect her. John has been drawn to Quinn since he first met her, he sees her birthmark but it doesn’t define who she is to him, he sees her inner beauty and not the mark on her face. An event finally leads John to tell her that they will not be skirting around their attraction anymore but it still takes Quinn a while to believe him. Finally Quinn begins to believe in a life with John, but an unknown threat from someone that they had met threatens to destroy any happiness the two of them have found.
Once again the characters from the previous books are in this book too, they always have each others backs. Will Quinn and John get their happily ever after or will evil people take that away from them?
This is an emotional and suspenseful read. John “Driftwood” Trettle is a firefighter and has been crushing on Quinn Dixon since he met her. She is friends with a fellow firefighter’s woman and he has watched over her from afar. Quinn has a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck and has been the subject of stares and insults all her life. Driftwood has finally had enough of being rejected by Quinn and informs her they are now dating. He gradually draws her out of her shell but now she is being stalked by someone. This book had me reading through the night to finish.
He met her months ago and after he defends her at a girls night out he takes her home and says they are dating He wants her to see the beauty that he sees She is able to forget about her birthmark while around him they have sizzling romance and action at the end when Taco’s girlfriend is part of a cult and they try to burn her at the stake a happy ending is had for John and Quinn
Quinn has struggled her whole life because of her port wine birthmark on her face. Her mother gave her up for adoption, foster families never kept her around for long, men were rude and vulgar. However, she made a life for herself and has a small group of work friends. Driftwood (John) met her at a group gathering and was fascinated by her beautiful eyes and soul, for ages she refused to believe he was genuinely interested.
In this story he finally gets a chance to prove he’s there for the long haul. The story introduces how society is so interested in outward appearance and how easy it is to misunderstand the bible.
I was reluctant to hear this story. Not because I had any doubt about Susan Stoker’s talents as a writer. As someone who has been bullied and belittled, I am sensitive to those types of behaviors. I knew this story would include it. I appreciate that Ms. Stoker takes on subjects that are hard hitters in society, bringing them out into the open. Human trafficking, bullying, prejudice, entitlement, etc. This is story is another. I recommend this story but if your as sensitive as me, bring a few kleenex.
5 stars
Quinn has been laughed at and called names all her life because of the port wine birthmark on her face and neck. She likes to stay home and be by herself but then she meets John. John is a firefighter and asks Quinn out. She turns him down cause she thinks he just feels sorry for her. After months of rejections, John comes to her rescue one night and tells her she’s his girlfriend. He knows she wants him as much as he wants her but she’s been her and let down too many times to step out of her comfort zone. He promises to keep her safe and always protect her until a threat comes out of nowhere. Quinn gets kidnapped and John will use anything and everyone to get her back.
A woman who has never been loved and a guy who loves every inch of her. Suspense and some sexy scenes. I love Ms. Stoker’s books and I would recommend them to anyone who wants a great way to escape for awhile.
Absolute craziness. The sad part about this is that there are really religious zealots out their that think this is the right way to preach. Targeting individuals who have disfigurements etc. this story seems farfetched but it not obscenely so. Driftwood/John and Quinn’s relationship has been a long time coming. A lifetime of insecurities and horrible people have made Quinn feel less than everyone else and undeserving of John. When all he wanted was to love her. Their relationship goes through ups and downs. There are some twists and turns. I had inklings and suspicions about some characters and wound up being right. Just had that bad vibe. I love how the guys in these stories fight for the love of their life. And how their women all rally around one another. The guys from law enforcement and fire/rescue all rally behind each other and all the women as well and it just is so cool to see such loyal and protectiveness. Among a group of friend who are lore like family. Can’t wait for Penelope’s story.
Well, I die mit expect that way the story went, but that is how it’s supposed to be and to keep you reading. No one wants a story where you can guess at the first chapters what will happen in the last chapters. So, Quinn and Driftwood are just ment to be, Quinn just doesn’t want or cannot admit due to her very sad childhood. Therefore it’s a very good acting on Driftwoods part to leave her ni choicet. Absolutely loved this one and you already get a very good view of what might go on, when Taco finally finds his HEA in the next book of the series.
OMG this was an amazing story loved Shelter For Quinn by Susan Stoker. This Is a story with heart, it also has drama, suspense and love. A well written story with some incredible characters with a whole lot chemistry. Quinn Dixon has really had to deal with a whole lot of insults and stares during her life due to a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck so when the hot firefighter John “Driftwood “ Trettle show interest she is reluctant. Driftwood can’t get the beautiful Quinn out of his mind and wants to be the man for her. This is just the start to a great story you won’t be able to put down. I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it.
Quinn finds a safe haven with Driftwood
I’m absolutely loving these stories in the lead up to Penelope’s story Quinn has had a hard life and has had to endure the more negative side of humanity for all of it…but Driftwood is determined to ensure she is happier and sees the more positive side of life by dating him, even if he has to put a few judgemental people verbally into their places to achieve this, he will
Driftwood really won me over in this story and I’m super excited to see what Taco and Koren get up to in the next one
Such a lovely store dealing with a very delicate and uncomfortable issue. John was not only patient but persistent and never gave up to the point Quinn finally had to give in. The horrible things that happened to Quinn were horrendous but thankfully she had the support of a very loving man and an entire crew of amazing friends to surround her.
This story really makes you stop and think, do I do that without realising? Stare at someone because they have a birthmark or some other mark or lump. Not meaning to be cruel or mean but just curiosity. I know I wouldn’t say or bully but it made me think. This plot is a little unusual and different, the suspense and build up is more drawn out but boy when the climax comes it’s scary and a real humdinger. I had my heart in my mouth and it was racing. I loved the relationship between Quin and Driftwood even on the odd occasion he didn’t pick up on her feelings it wasn’t intentional. Fabulous read
Susan stoker hasnt written a?bad book
love them all