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chelseaj91's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was...meh. I can honestly say that if this had been my intro to Susan Stoker's books, I don't know that I would have continued. At least not as quickly as I have.
I did wish we'd gotten more on the hijacking and the whys and the villains. There was a lot of "well it was one guy so there's no group waiting" and they all admitted they knew the traitor. But nothing was ever actually explained. We never figured out why/how anything happened.
Wolf was actually great. I loved how much he trusted his team and was able to communicate, frequently without words, and know they'd have his back. He was also great with Caroline, except for his stupidity at the end. That attitude seemed like a total 180 on all his character development throughout the book. It definitely came out of nowhere. It would have been one thing if some kind of "I have to let her go" thought had been running through things from the beginning but since it literally only showed up after they rescued her, it didn't make any sense. Especially since the issue wasn't because of him at all and was actually because she'd figured out the problem on the plane. So if we're going by that logic, technically, she should have walked away because it was all her fault (and yes, she tried but we'll talk about that brand of stupidity in a minute).
Caroline pissed me off. She had the common sense of a box of rocks and I kept waiting for her to grow a second brain cell. I will admit that she sort of grew at the end, between getting Wolf out of the fire and holding up under the interrogation but it was a case of too little too late. I mean, girl spends the entire book going "I have such a high self-esteem but I'm so plain and no one will ever understand or choose me! *whine*". For a chemist, someone who's usually supposed to be pretty smart, she was an idiot. I mean, the whole thing with the EMT and Brandy after getting off the plane, was stupid of the highest order. For one thing, if an EMT ever decides they don't want to treat you because a "beautiful" person walks up, then you stop that shit in its tracks and at the bare minimum ask for another EMT, if not raising all kinds of hell to get a supervisor. Then her choices to stay at the airport and ignoring her side and just...SCREAMS. Plus, you have her whole thing with "oh I'll open the window to the fire escape and then go hide in the bathroom and hope the bad guys think I actually used the fire escape! WHAT(and I mean this with all due disrespect)THE ACTUAL EVERLOVING FUCK?! who uses that logic? How dumb do you have to be to think that hiding behind a freaking shower curtain will offer more security than using the freaking FIRE ESCAPE?! I also didn't her refusal to use the team's nicknames "that had probably been given for asinine reasons." But she had no problems calling Tex, Tex. I mean, who cares if she likes/gets why the nicknames were given.
Overall, I'm still going to read the rest of this series and hope the rest of the heroines have at least 2 brain cells to start. But again, I can honestly say that if this was my first Susan Stoker, I wouldn't be continuing immediately and definitely not as fast as I went through Delta Force Heroes. I will admit that getting to see Wolf and his team find their HEAs is fun, especially with their interactions in DFH (no, they weren't there all the time but they played a part in Rescuing Rayne and they were mentioned on/off in passing).
I did wish we'd gotten more on the hijacking and the whys and the villains. There was a lot of "well it was one guy so there's no group waiting" and they all admitted they knew the traitor. But nothing was ever actually explained. We never figured out why/how anything happened.
Wolf was actually great. I loved how much he trusted his team and was able to communicate, frequently without words, and know they'd have his back. He was also great with Caroline, except for his stupidity at the end. That attitude seemed like a total 180 on all his character development throughout the book. It definitely came out of nowhere. It would have been one thing if some kind of "I have to let her go" thought had been running through things from the beginning but since it literally only showed up after they rescued her, it didn't make any sense. Especially since the issue wasn't because of him at all and was actually because she'd figured out the problem on the plane. So if we're going by that logic, technically, she should have walked away because it was all her fault (and yes, she tried but we'll talk about that brand of stupidity in a minute).
Caroline pissed me off. She had the common sense of a box of rocks and I kept waiting for her to grow a second brain cell. I will admit that she sort of grew at the end, between getting Wolf out of the fire and holding up under the interrogation but it was a case of too little too late. I mean, girl spends the entire book going "I have such a high self-esteem but I'm so plain and no one will ever understand or choose me! *whine*". For a chemist, someone who's usually supposed to be pretty smart, she was an idiot. I mean, the whole thing with the EMT and Brandy after getting off the plane, was stupid of the highest order. For one thing, if an EMT ever decides they don't want to treat you because a "beautiful" person walks up, then you stop that shit in its tracks and at the bare minimum ask for another EMT, if not raising all kinds of hell to get a supervisor. Then her choices to stay at the airport and ignoring her side and just...SCREAMS. Plus, you have her whole thing with "oh I'll open the window to the fire escape and then go hide in the bathroom and hope the bad guys think I actually used the fire escape! WHAT(and I mean this with all due disrespect)THE ACTUAL EVERLOVING FUCK?! who uses that logic? How dumb do you have to be to think that hiding behind a freaking shower curtain will offer more security than using the freaking FIRE ESCAPE?! I also didn't her refusal to use the team's nicknames "that had probably been given for asinine reasons." But she had no problems calling Tex, Tex. I mean, who cares if she likes/gets why the nicknames were given.
Overall, I'm still going to read the rest of this series and hope the rest of the heroines have at least 2 brain cells to start. But again, I can honestly say that if this was my first Susan Stoker, I wouldn't be continuing immediately and definitely not as fast as I went through Delta Force Heroes. I will admit that getting to see Wolf and his team find their HEAs is fun, especially with their interactions in DFH (no, they weren't there all the time but they played a part in Rescuing Rayne and they were mentioned on/off in passing).
romancingthereader's review against another edition
4.0
These books seem funny and kind of like romance novel pandering, so I was hesitant to pick them up. But I read the Legacy series and was hooked. This series is no different. Stoker weaves interesting narratives with a TON of unique character development. I loved how the action in this story started from the beginning. It felt like there were some avenues left unexplored so I was happy for the Marrying Caroline novella to complete the story.
nelljustice's review against another edition
5.0
I got this book when it was on sale for free. I thought it would be a nice "in between" book that I could pick and put down at will. No. Not at all. I picked it up and I HAD to finish it the same day. The heroine was normal. She had common sense and she was smart. She wasn't gorgeous, thin and tall. She was not a flirt and she was more brave than most any other heroine I've ever read. She was an inspiration. The boys were typical SEALs: big, brawny and full of testosterone. None of them really noticed women as an individual thinking, loving person until Caroline came along. This is one of the best put together military romances I've ever read. Be assured I'm now hooked on the series.
nicnowicki's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
diloretobeth89's review against another edition
5.0
Protecting Caroline
Best Military Romance ever. It was a well written plot, with just the right amount of action. The wording made me feel as if I was in the book.
Best Military Romance ever. It was a well written plot, with just the right amount of action. The wording made me feel as if I was in the book.
wattle72's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Loved it, reading the next one
jazzie17's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Torture, Emotional abuse, and Confinement
honey1382's review against another edition
5.0
I started reading this one after I finished Delta Force series. I love how the men of DF were and since that is when Wolf was introduced I had to keep going. I love Caroline is totally transparent and how all the men react to that. I think the opinion Caroline has of herself is how a lot of women feel and it's nice when she lays it out to the men in the airport. This makes all of the characters believable and enjoyable to read.