Desperate to ditch her ex once and for all, when Aspen Mesmer asks a complete stranger to kiss her, she never expects to feel an immediate connection. Despite already dealing with one soldier she can’t shake, Aspen would be a fool to ignore the intense chemistry she shares with the Delta Force operative. Even better, he shows her the respect few others offer in her male-dominated profession. It’s … It’s clear she’ll never have the camaraderie she craves with her own platoon, but maybe…just maybe…she’ll find it with Kane and his team.
Kane “Brain” Temple isn’t the kind of man most women look at twice, so when Aspen makes her interest clear after their impulsive, explosive kiss, he’s thrilled. As a combat medic attached to a Ranger team, Aspen is pretty impressive in her own right. She might be one of the few women who can not only handle Brain’s frequent deployments, but understand exactly how dangerous his missions can be. Bonus: she’s not turned off by his nerdy tendencies. It’s as if Aspen was made just for him.
Her ex disagrees. He’s not handling Aspen’s rejection well, or her deepening relationship with Brain. Being thrown over for a Delta is humiliating, and he’ll do anything to make her regret it.
Anything…
** Shielding Aspen is the 3rd book in the Delta Team Two Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
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Shielding Aspen by Susan Stoker
This is book three in the authors Delta Team Two series and is Aspen Mesmer and Kane “Brain” Temple and finally we get a heroine who can hold her own with the Rangers on her team but will they accept her as one of their own? This books tells all about how hard the road will be for Annie when her book comes up but we all know that everyone will be cheering for her especially Aspen.
Aspen choose to ask Kane for a kiss to prove to the guy that she’s way over him and to just move on. But he doesn’t and then proceeds to make her life a living nightmare especially when they are trapped during a firefight. When her team doesn’t stand up and help her try to save two of them soldiers but will they tell the truth when the incident is investigated?
Kane “Brain” Temple had a hard upbringing especially when he goes against his parents and instead of getting a PhD he joins the Army becomes a Delta and finds his real family with his team. When he gives Aspen the hottest kiss at her request he knows she’s the “The One” and will do everything to help her succeed and show her how a team really is when she’s trying to save the lives of her soldiers. But when the former date starts to hurt her because of his bad decision Brain and the rest of Delta Team Two will be there to rescue Aspen.
Well contrary to one review, this book was excellent to me. You usually read books about men in the military and rarely hear about the woment in combat. So reading Aspen’s story was boon. Kane (Brain) is a Delta and meets her the first time at a bar they gather at. It’s good she finally has a team at her back even if her Ranger team isn’t, like what happened in Afganistan. Derick was constantly causing trouble for her. But everything comes out as it should in the end. HEA.
This is the 3rd book I read by Susan Stoker. I liked the food in this story, it sounded yummy . I’m sorry Aspen & Kane didn’t hold my interest.
Brain meets his lady. Strong man and stronger lady. Awwwwe. Romance with a focus to building a relationship. Team Delta Two are once again in extreme conditions. A page turner and a standalone BUT I love the series so I recommend reading in order. Wonderful characters, both the major players and the support characters (male and female, all have protect their team). Bravo once again!! I am diving into the rest of the series!
I adored Brain & Aspen! two terrific main characters.
I felt a little short-changed by the ending. But I still read it twice. 😉
“Shielding Aspen” is the third book in the Delta Team Two series and it is the story of Kane “Brain” Temple and Aspen Mesmer. Aspen is a combat medic attached to a Ranger Unit and Brain is a Delta operative who happens to be a genius, thus his nickname. He also knows a bunch of other languages and I love how he uses them throughout the book. The first meeting between Aspen and Brain is an eyeopener for sure, for both of them. Somebody doesn’t like the thoughts of Aspen and Brain as a couple no more than they like the fact that she has such an important job with the military.
This was a fantastic addition to the series, not to mention that little Annie makes an appearance. Loaded with suspense, action, drama and a little fun thrown in.
This is the story of Kane “Brain” Temple, a Delta member, who finds himself in the arms of strong minded Aspen Mesmer. Aspen is a Ranger’s combat medic and she knows how hard you have to work to be able to become a team member in the army, especially being a woman in a man’s world (or so they want us to think). She’d worked hard all her career to be part of the Rangers, sadly,after one (or two) bad dates with the wrong person and her army life turns umberable. Here enters Brain, he was just coming inside a bar to hang with his teammates and their loved ones, when he finds himself kissing a stranger. Aspen just wants to get off her back, her former date and Seargent, who doesn’t take no for an answer, until he sees Aspen kissing another man. Little does she know that she’s embarking in a new relationship, one that can truly change her life in the best of ways.
Something that I’ve really loved about this story is the part where we get to see Annie Fletcher again, in her early teens and how she still wants to be a soldier like her daddy (aww moment). Furthermore, Aspen and Brain witness a moment where the archaic minds are still influencing the younger ones with thoughts that shouldn’t be there in the XXI century: Fathers telling their sons that women belong in the kitchen and raising a family, that their place is at the house not in the Army’s ranks. How Aspen talks to Annie about her experience, she doesn’t sugarcoat it, she tells her the truth on how things are harder for females but not impossible, that she’ll have to work twice as hard to earn a place but, once you make it, you know it was worth the sacrifice. From my POV, this is one of the best scenes in the book. Also, this time both MC’s have to go overseas, where they find strength in each other and in themselves to overcome danger and the stigmatism that Aspen finds herself all the time among her teammates.
Of course we’ve got romance, an amazing and strong-minded heroine, a tough,strong and very intelligent Delta soldier with the best teammates anyone could’ve asked for, and a great story that will captivate the reader from the first page.
Shielding Aspen (Delta Team Two, #3)
by Susan Stoker (Goodreads Author)
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Read in March 2021
Tense story, I actually enjoyed getting to grips with this, a female soldier on the front line. This may me fiction but I’m pretty sure the reactions and behaviour of her team were fairly realistic. A lot of men do not feel women are strong enough or capable of being part of a male orientated team on the front line or even in training. I loved just how strong and loyal this character was, she steps up and does what’s needed . I also loved Brain and his team for showing her how a team works together and that they gave her due respect. Brain had insecurities due to his upbringing and genius status, Aspen shows he is way more than that, accepts him as he is. They were well suited. The plot isn’t just the couple and romance though, it has a lot of underlying issues, excitement and deployments. This was non stop, page turning read and one I thoroughly loved. Started 78/3/21 finished 9/3/21
This book features Delta Team member Kane “Brain” Temple. He is a genius and socially inept in some regards. But when he encounters a woman in a bar who offers him $20 to kiss her he can’t resist. Aspen Mesmer is a combat medic attached to a Ranger platoon. She regretfully dated a fellow soldier who won’t go away and she used Brain to prove she had moved on. The kiss was amazing for both parties and after drinks with Brain’s teammates and their girlfriends the romance is on. She loves he calls her darling in different languages and how much of a gentleman he is. He loves she accepts his quirkiness. Of course the ex boyfriend causes major drama. This book is action packed, suspenseful and romantic. We all need a man like Brain!
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it had a “different” sort of hero.
I liked the character of Aspen. She is a strong, caring, dedicated and talented woman. She is a medic with a Rangers unit who is having a hard time dealing with a woman on their team. She is constantly feeling the need to prove herself and her place on the team. An ex isn’t making it easy either.
I adored Kane or Brain as he is known. He is a Delta who is ridiculously smart and knows a ton of languages. Because of this, he makes him different. He sees things or hears things just a little different than others with makes him invaluable however it hasn’t been the easiest time on the personal side of things.
I loved the care and dedication these two had for each other. They both had each others back especially when they needed it most. I loved that Kane saw her worth and her need for her team, even if they didn’t see it.
I also really liked their meet-cute. It was fun to read.
The third book in the Delta Team Two series, Shielding Aspen by Susan Stoker was another epic read!
From the start I was sucked into an action packed and intense story that also touched a lot on the importance of self worth and confidence as well as trust, honor, love, and friendship of all sorts.
Brain, a.k.a. Kane, and Aspen absolutely delivered and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the story and I know you will too!
As Susan is wont to do, there are moments of action, of poignant conversation, and meaningful observations that always hit right to the heart of the matter.
Absolutely recommend!
Being a “Brain” can be sexy!! This was a brilliant, engaging, page turner. Right from the first scene I was engaged. Kane “Brain” Temple is super sexy, protective and REALLY smart which makes him self conscious. Aspen is a strong, independent and know what she wants. I LOVED this story!! It kept me on my toes on the edge of my seat just the way you want a romantic suspense to be. HIGHLY recommended for romantic suspense fans!!
Another great book in the series!
It’s a moving, funny, sexy
& suspenseful romance.
Brain Aspen, are perfect together
I truly enjoyed everything about their
story! A Must Read for everyone!!
Awesome as always! Susan always writes five star books!
Great read from start to finish.
I want a man like Brain AKA Kane Temple. He’s courteous, caring, gentle, bossy at times, protective and super intelligent. What girl doesn’t want to be called darling in 30 different languages? Aspen Mesmer is quite the catch too. She’s dedicated, fearless, tough, strong, knowledgeable and lovely. Attached as a combat medic to an army ranger team, Aspen is the subject of discrimination and verbal abuse from a team leader. Brain becomes her sounding board and biggest cheerleader. He knows her value to the team even if they don’t. She proves herself over and over without any recognition or thanks. These two have something special and powerful.
I love Susan‘s books but for me this one was disappointing. I liked the story line but I felt Brain was too wishy/washy and Aspen was too weak.
5 stars
Aspen is a medic in the Rangers. She goes where they go and she does what they do. She is the first woman connected to the Rangers and it’s not been easy. She’s been in for eight years and is trying to decide whether to re-enlist or get out. An ex is bothering her at a bar and she asks a stranger to kiss her. Brain, a genius, is on the Delta team and knows twelve different languages. When a woman comes up and offers him $20 to kiss him, who is he to pass up the chance to kiss a beautiful woman. They spend the rest of the evening hanging out and talking with his teammates. They slowly start to date while getting to know each other. Between both possibly being deployed, can they keep a relationship going?
Good story but not much suspense or action. Brain is very romantic and Aspen is pretty bad assed. An ex with a grudge. I really liked it but not as good as the others, to me. Would still recommend it if you want romance and an Alpha man.
Aspen is dealing with her ex Derek when Brain walks into the bar to meet up with his teammates. She totally surprises him by throwing her arms around him and in a whisper offers him twenty bucks to kiss her. He does but in a way that surprises them both, and totally pisses off Derek. Brain brings her over to his team as Derek leaves, and then to his delight she fits right in. A combat medic she can identify with not only the women in this group but also the men. The men were considerably impressed with her, knowing the kind of training she’s gone through all while taking care of her team and herself.
Aspen and Brain continue to start a relationship as both of them have training that is ramping up for possible deployment.
Brain gets to see her at her worst when it appears her team’s lead enters a bit of competition with Derek’s team. Pushing harder and harder and ignoring basic health and safety of their teams. Only made worse when her team doesn’t have her back.
It’s quite the shift when Aspen is the one who has to leave a get together because she is being deployed. It gives Brain and his team a startling and personal example of how it is for wives and girlfriends. He also understands how Trigger and Lefty must feel when their team gets deployed.
Things don’t improve in Aspen’s deployment if anything they get worse. Derek doesn’t take the news that the Delta’s would be coming in to assist in finding the threat he’s looking for. His actions once the Delta team arrives put things in a whole new light as things go a bit FUBAR. It becomes quite the turning point for this book.
I loved the interaction with Annie and Ghost’s team at a base family event. Aspen definitely gets a look at how a team is supposed to work and it helps Annie understand some things as well.
All the things that Aspen goes through makes this book a bit different from the others in Susan’s series. Having Aspen not only in the military but attached to Rangers puts her in a unique position. One that enables Susan to put the spotlight on how misogynic the Army and Special forces can be. Mind you not everyone is that way but it is still an issue.
There’s fun, laughter and tears as well as some ups and downs for Brain and Aspen and there’s also hints at the future books in this series. I truly can’t wait for the next one!
This is book 3 in the Delta Two series – Brain/Kane and Aspen’s story. They meet when Aspen offers Kane $20 to kiss her in order to get rid of her ex, Derek. But the kiss, rather than a quick one time interaction, is the beginning of Kane and Aspen’s love story. Despite this being a military romance, there are no damsels in distress in this book, Aspen is a force to be reckoned with just as much as Kane is. Aspen is a combat medic attached to a Ranger team and Kane is Delta Force. Despite training with the Rangers and being a fantastic medic, Aspen is not accepted by her team because she is a woman. And her ex, Derek, a Ranger, cannot let Aspen her rejection go and after an incident during a mission in Afghanistan, Derek is more determined than ever to punish Aspen. This book has a little bit of everything just like you would expect from a Susan Stoker story – sweet moments, strong friendships, fan your face sexy times, real life issues, imperfect characters, dangerous high stress situations, and so much love. With Shielding Aspen, Susan Stoker once again proves she’s a fantastic storyteller.