Defending Harlow (Mountain Mercenaries #4)

Stoker’s red-hot fourth Mountain Mercenaries contemporary (after Defending Morgan) is a satisfyingly high-octane military-tinged romantic thriller with snappy dialogue and strong characters. The Colorado Springs–based Mountain Mercenaries—a loyal group of former special ops military men—rescue kidnapped women and children. When shelter chef Harlow Reese, the self-proclaimed queen of bad dates, runs into high school classmate Lowell “Black” Lockard at the Mercenaries’ favorite charity, First Hope Women’s Shelter, both are trying to figure out who’s behind the harassment of the shelter’s staff and residents. Soon, Harlow and the Mercenaries learn that someone wants the shelter’s building—and doesn’t care what means are necessary to acquire it. As they work to identify that person, Black skillfully draws Harlow into a hot romance by planning fun outings he doesn’t label dates until she’s already fallen for him. But as the mystery villain draws closer, it’s evident that unless Harlow and Black solve the puzzle, they might not live to have a happily ever after. With heat and humor, this sexy and suspenseful story draws readers into a world where all the good guys are breathtakingly dominant and the villain always gets what’s coming. (June)