Nothing against Susan Stoker, I read pretty much everything she puts out, but The Soldier is more standard Stoker fare - a bad guy that's pretty obvious from the get-go, a few bumps in the road for the H and h (but nothing too crazy), some very early ILYs, and an accidental bout of unprotected sex that makes both the H and h immediately ready for kids. Not terrible, not great, but safe and predictable, which is sometimes just what you're looking for.

I've had a few books by Susan Stoker on my TBR list for a while and figured The Soldier would be a good starting point since it's the first book in a new series. Chad has returned to his childhood home to help his family and Britt recently moved to the area and is in need of a job and a place to stay. After getting hired to help out with Chad's family business, Britt realizes something is going on that impacts her building relationship with Chad and the future of his family's businesses.

This book is the start of a series, but the story is fully resolved and as there is the standard HEA ending since it is a romance novel. It was pretty much instant love/lust which I prefer over a slow-burn with lots of angst and there was no third act breakup. The MMC was protective and caring, the FMC was resilient, kind, and didn't seem TSTL even though she put herself in danger at one point, and I enjoyed the found family aspect of the story.

I'll probably read this again when the next book in the series comes out so that puts it at 4/5 stars for me. The book seemed a good mix of plot to spice with open door scenes that didn't seem overly graphic, so I'd put it at 3/5 on the spicy scale.

Thank you, Montlake, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All thoughts and options are my own.

Date Finished
07/03/2025

The Soldier by Susan Stoker sweeps you away to coastal Maine, where ranch life meets small-town charm, It honestly made me want to book a flight to Lobster Cove immediately.

There’s instant attraction, acts of service, and strong found family elements that give it heart. I especially appreciated that there’s no third-act breakup and the action towards the end really pulled me in.

That said, this one just wasn’t quite my cup of tea. I found the pacing a bit slow, and I struggled with the “telling” over “showing” when it came to the emotional development. The romance, while sweet, felt rushed at times and the ending was too insta-love for my liking. I would have also loved to have more background on Chad and his experience in the military!

Still, if you’re in the mood for a heartfelt, small-town romance with a protective hero and zero breakup drama, this is just the book for you!

The Soldier🙌

What a fantastic start to a new series by Ms Stoker. I am already in love with all these new characters and I can’t wait to delve into the next few books when they release❣️

When the Young brothers return home to bury their father, they realise that life is short and decide to return home to Lobster Cove to help their mom run all the businesses, while also being closer to her now as she gets older. There is some drama after all the Young brothers return but the story itself focuses on Chad and Britt and around Lobster Cove🦞

Britt by comparison has had a much tougher upbringing than Chad and his brothers but is no less resilient..I enjoyed her bravery and tenacity and think she makes an ideal partner for Chad☺️

I received an advanced copy via Netgalley and willingly leave my honest review❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Real rating: 2.75

The premise of this story piqued my interest and it started off really well. However, it took a nosedive soon after.

I think, as a reader, I was spoon-fed the big mystery from the very beginning. There was no breadcrumbs to follow as the story went along. It was just instantaneous; I immediately knew what was amiss and who to point the finger at the moment they were first /mentioned/ — not even formally introduced, which left a lot to be desired. Less than a quarter into the story, I felt like a spectator waiting for everyone else to catch up to what I already knew.

I genuinely believe the inclusion of a third person’s POV well into the story actually takes away from it. It was an unnecessary addition that completely stripped away the remaining sliver of an element of surprise and erased any sense of foreboding that was supposed to be there. Everything that was shown through that third person’s POV could’ve easily been hinted at through the initial dual POVs and would’ve strengthened the bones of the story much more.

The relationship between the two main characters, Britt and Chad, felt like insta-love. There was a lot of the two MCs /telling/ the reader how they felt about the other, but very little time was spent /showing/ the reader how the MCs felt about the other.

Also, the story constantly paired serious conversations/events or just plain mundane conversation with sexual moments, almost immediately after. I would’ve been able to let it go if it only happened once, maybe even twice. But this happened /every single time/. Without fail. Each more ridiculous than the last. There was no tension, no build-up. It felt like writing smut for smut-sake because there was no desire to even bother to lay the groundwork for said smut to even make sense.

And I didn’t love using the epilogue to entirely focus on the next brother in the series. I would’ve much preferred a time jump of some sort showcasing the two MCs lives down the road.

The main strength of this book is the family and friendship dynamic between everybody, which, for me, was much more enjoyable than the actual romance.

I really enjoyed this book. Loved how Chad comes to Britt’s rescue after she was left homeless when her ex left her broke. He and his brother’s moved back to their hometown to help their Mom. Britt gets hired and is made part of their family. Loved how good Chad and Britt are for each other. There’s some suspense and danger but thankfully there’s a very happy ever after. I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy and I recommend this book.

It has been quite a few years since I last picked up a Susan Stoker book - and I forgot how much I missed her books.

In this new series by Susan, four brothers return home after their father's passing to help their mother with the house and family businesses. We're introduced to Chad first- a former military sniper that's ready for a quieter life. While out running errands for his mom, he meets Britt, who just relocated to Maine with her now ex-boyfriend. With no job and no new promises on the horizon, Britt's in urgent need of work. Chad offers her a job with the family, and the rest is history.

Their connection builds quickly, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. I appreciated that Susan didn’t stretch things out with a slow burn; instead, she let the relationship unfold early, which felt refreshing. The story has it all—action, drama, spice—and with three more brothers to follow, this series is packed with promise.

Pick it up—you won’t be disappointed!

As the first book in Susan Stoker’s new series, Alpha Cove, The Soldier hits a bit different. Chad and his brothers grew up in Maine on their family’s property, Lobster Cove. Each of them went into different branches of the military and decided to return home to help their mom after their dad’s passing. Chad is the first one to return and soon after, he comes across Britt who is living in her car after her boyfriend left her high and dry. Chad convinces Britt to follow him home and his mother offers her a job working at Lobster Cove helping to manage the family’s businesses. While most of the author’s books have focused largely on a military connection with one or more characters, instead of the intense pace of danger and missions, this series starts out with more of a sweet love story. There are moments of danger and action, but the reader is immersed in the chemistry and instant connection of Chad and Britt. The family’s closeness and bond makes you wish they were real people you could hang out with. The author is brilliant at setting a scene and this story is no different with a town/place that I wish I could move to tomorrow. I loved the vulnerability shown with the FMC and MMC. The story seemed so real and sucks you in from page one! This book was a delightful change of pace while still keeping with all of the elements of Susan’s books that I’ve come to love! I can’t wait for the remaining brothers’ stories!

If you’re looking for an insta-love, relatively low angst romance with a touch of suspense, you’ll enjoy this book.

With a title like The Soldier, I expected a little more backstory on Chad’s military career. Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres. There isn’t a lot of it in this book, and what there is, is fairly predictable, but it is a well-written love story.

I did love the Young family and how much they all rallied around each other and how they took Britt in and welcomed her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC.

🦞 The Soldier by Susan Stoker 🦞
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ | Romantic Suspense | Small Town | Found Family | Slow Burn with Heat

Susan Stoker is back, and this time she’s swapped black ops for buttered lobster rolls, and I am so here for it!

The Soldier kicks off a brand new series set in the charmingly fictional Lobster Cove, Maine, where the air smells like saltwater and cinnamon buns, and everyone has a tragic backstory and a heart of gold. This was such a refreshing shift from Stoker’s usual world of military action to a more small town, heartfelt romantic suspense vibe. It's less bullets and body armor, more bear hugs and baked goods.

Chad is an ex Army sniper and fulltime cinnamon roll, who returns home to help his family after his father’s death. Britt is spunky, stubborn, and recently abandoned, and literally living out of her car when Chad finds her. Their connection is instant, electric, and wonderfully tender as it slowly builds into something swoonworthy. Chad is patient, protective, and really sweet, and Britt is strong despite everything life has thrown at her. They’re both easy to root for, and the chemistry? 🔥 Slow burn, but totally worth the wait.

There’s just enough suspense woven through to keep things interesting, though I’ll admit, I saw the twist coming a mile away (read enough of these and you start playing psychic). The final confrontation wrapped a little too neatly for my taste, and there were a couple of lingering plot threads that I’m hoping are breadcrumbs for future books (I’m looking at you, Kash 👀).

The small town vibes are strong here. The Young family is instantly loveable and full of personality, and Lobster Cove is the kind of place that practically begs for a cozy Netflix adaptation. The found family trope is done really well, and watching Britt get folded into this big, boisterous group warmed my cold little heart.

Was it a bit too sweet at times? Sure. Did a few scenes tiptoe into Hallmark territory? Yep. But when you’re in the mood for a wholesome romance with some spice, an MMC with sniper level loyalty, and an FMC who won’t quit, The Soldier hits the mark.

💫 Bonus points for:
The lobster swing scene 🥹
Evelyn’s cooking (someone get me a plate)
Perfect foreshadowing for future brothers’ books (Zach and Marit, I see you!)
That classic but comforting shirtless guy on cover look

My only real complaint was that I want more military background and a little more grit. But maybe that’s coming later in the series, and I’ll definitely be sticking around to find out.

This book is cozy, sweet, with just enough suspense to keep your heart thumping (from more than just the romance). The Soldier is a strong series opener full of feels, family, and fresh starts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Stoker, and Montlake for the eARC of this book.

THE SOLDIER by SUSAN STOKER ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Soldier is the first (#1) book in Susan Stoker’s ‘Alpha Cove’ series

Coming home to Rockville, Maine after his father’s death, Chad Young decides he will move home for good to help his mum run the family business at Lobster Cove.
One day whilst at the store he comes across Britt Starkweather, a down on her luck tourist. Feeling an instant connection he can’t understand he impulsively invites her home for a hot meal….


-+-+-+-+-+-+-


This first book in Susan Stoker’s new series is a refreshing change from her usual work.
Set in Lobster Cove, Rockville, Maine, this book introduces us to the Young family and their business. We meet all Chad’s brothers who I am sure will have their own stories in the future.

This is a very pleasant if a little saccharine contemporary romance. The MMC and MFC are likeable as are all the Young family and related characters . The book has great description which means you can absolutely picture the scenes. I will admit that the second we met the protagonist I guessed who they were and what they’d done but with the amount of books I read, I’ve seen (or read) it all and am rarely surprised. I did think the end confrontation could have been a bit more meaty. There were a couple of threads that weren’t concluded to my mind ( Which I can’t mention here for fear of spoilers) but they will presumably be covered in future books. The cover is good if predictable (I’m so over the male model covers - no imagination IMO) and the book is a great length. Overall I recommend this book and am looking forward to more in the series.

🦞 Ex military MMC
🦞 Spunky, down on her luck MFC
🦞 Sweet meet cute
🦞 Spicy 🔥🔥🔥
🦞 Close proximity
🦞 Small town romance

In true Susan Stoker fashion, we are gifted a story that is filled with love in romantic suspense. This is the first novel in a new series where the main male character chad returns home after getting out of the military, and having learned that his father has died. Chad convinces his brother to return home to Maine and that is where he meets Britt. The adventure begins quickly following that when Britt runs into some trouble. This is addicting from start to finish and I cannot wait to see where the series goes!

Thank you Montake and NetGalley for the ARC!

This first book in a new series by Susan Stoker introduced us to the Young brothers from Maine. Chad has returned to his family's home where he runs into Britt, who's run into some bad luck. What follows is a story of their love. No Stoker book is without some suspense and the protective nature of her alpha men and the resourcefulness and strength of the woman he loves.

I enjoy reading books by this author, and this was no different. Ms. Stoker has presented us with a slightly different take on the military. In this case, we have a former army soldier who has come home after the death of his father and stays to support his mother. After convincing his brothers to join him, he meets Britt. And from there, the adventure begins. We see a down on her luck heroine, the jealous neighbor, and the criminal element. The formula is there but it works for a reason, and this is no exception. Looking forward to the other brothers’ stories.

A new Susan Stoker book series? Immediately yes and moved right to the top of my TBR.

This was such a fantastic first book in a new series that really introduced us to everything that is happening in Lobster Cove.

Our MMC Chad & and FMC Britt have some of the best chemistry that had me so excited while reading. They meet when Chad helps Britt when she is stranded and living in her car and helps to get her a job and a place to stay at his families business. Right when they first meet you can see the connection they have and it just continues to grow and grow as the story progresses. Their chemistry and the way they both understand one another was so much fun to read. Plus seeing how patient Chad is with Britt, especially with all that she is going through and being newer to the town he always made sure to go above and beyond to make sure she felt comfortable and protected.

If you're looking for a small town romance full of suspense, a protective MMC (and his brothers), slow burn and instant chemistry as well as good spice this is the perfect book for you!

This will definitely be a re-read when the audiobook drops. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

Third Person Dual POV DNF at 35% 3/5 stars
This book is perfect for lovers of small-towns, close -knit and found families, and chaotic side characters.
We first meet ex-military Chad after he returns home to his small town for his fathers funeral. It's then, after seeing his mother and brothers for the first time in a while, that he decides to stay permanently. It's a few months later that, while helping to run the many small businesses that his family is known for, he meets our FMC Britt. She is staight up not having a good time at the beginning yet she doesn't let it deter her from having a positive attitude. Stranded and robbed by her sucky ex in a new town, she finds herself homeless when she meets Chad and that found family trope really kicks in.
I enjoyed what I read and the plot showed some awesome potential, however due to this being written in the third person I really struggled to engage with the story. This is why I DNF'd.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this free arc. All opinions are my own.

~ARC Review, thank you NetGalley & Montlake~

3.75 stars; rounding up to 4.

Within the first 50 pages, I was enamoured with Lobster Cove just like Britt.

‘The Soldier’ follows Chad (an ex Army Sniper) and his brothers (also ex military/coastguard) as they all come home to support their mother in the running of Lobster Cove following the death of their father.

Chad comes across Britt while running errands for his mother, who had moved to Maine with her (now) ex boyfriend and is living out of her car. Chad helps Britt with her car, and we go from here.

This is a cute small town romance, set in a picturesque seaside town which was easy to visualise.

Some parts of the story felt a little bit predictable, and I would have loved to have seen the military aspect of these characters explored a little more.

The lobster swing scene has my heart, seeing this family come together even after trauma and just have FUN, even Evelyn, warms my heart. I love that they initiated Britt here, and they treat her as one of their own.

I would have loved to have seen more from Kash and seen his story wrapped up after this. I’m very curious about his Mom and the past history with Lincoln and wish this was explored more, however appreciate this may come in further books- perhaps Lincoln’s book? Second chance love/old friends to lovers perhaps?

This is the first in a series, and it looks as though the next book will follow Zach and Marit, excited to see where this series goes!

Side note: I would like to experience Evelyn’s cooking.

Tropes:
~ Small town romance
~ Return to hometown
~ Slow burn
~ Found family

eArc Review for NetGalley

If you're looking for small-town charm, brotherly chaos, and a cinnamon roll hero with sniper skills, this book delivers with a slow burn spice but slap in the face sweetness that practically smells like pie cooling on a windowsill.

We meet Chad (yes, that's really his name, don't let it fool you), an ex-military sniper who returns to Lobster Cove after his father's death, bringing along his three brothers and a protective streak so wide it might qualify as a full-time job. Britt: resourceful, stubborn, and recently scammed by her ex, now living out of her car but refusing to give up on her dream of settling in this cosy coastal town.

This is where the 'family' vibes kick in hard. The story is heartfelt and full of warmth with the town, the brothers, and their shared grief slowly pulling Britt in like a cozy quilt. The writing is clean, the characters are well developed, and the world building had me googling if Lobster Cove was real (it's not, but l'd still move there tomorrow).

That said, I did find myself wishing for a little more suspense and a little less fluff. There are a couple of moments around 65% and 85% where the plot tightens and you get a glimpse of something darker or more intense, but it's fleeting then resolved.

Britt's backstory is explored thoroughly and with care, while Chad's military past felt more like background seasoning mentioned in passing but not deeply unpacked.

And while I love a feel-good romance, a few scenes leaned a bit too far into the Hallmark zone and left me craving just a touch more grit. Still, I found myself enjoying the journey and rooting for both Britt's healing and Chad's soft but strong hero arc.

The best part? The foreshadowing of the brothers' stories to come. I have opinions about Kash and a very strong feeling we're only scratching the surface of his family dynamic with the brothers and Evelyn.

Final verdict:
A warm, feel good romance with great character growth and small town charm. A little heavy on the fluff, a little light on the suspense but if you're in the mood for protective men, found family, and a heroine who refuses to fold? This one will hit the spot.

Tropes I'd say it falls under
✨Found family
✨Close proximity
✨Small Town
✨Slow Spice
✨Insta Love

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a cute small town romance with some mystery thrown in. Things I liked:

- Banter between the brothers
- How close knit the family was
- How protective the MMC is
- Very strong and independent FMC
- The coastal Maine setting

I read this book pretty fast which means it definitely held my attention right from the beginning. A critique I have is during the spicy scenes (there were a few) some of the language used was cringy and personally it made me want to skip over them.

I think this is a decent start to what is clearly going to be an interconnected standalone series.

Susan Stoker returns to Maine in this new series, moving from the interior of the state in her last series to a rural coastal community. The Soldier begins with four brothers reuniting at their father’s funeral, having all served in various parts of the country with different military branches. At this time all brothers make the decision to return to their hometown to help their mother out with the various businesses that the family runs on their homestead of Lobster Cove. It is at this point that the story takes off, following second oldest son, Chad, as he settles into life in Rockville (a fictional version of Rockland) and meets Britt a woman down on her luck (having been recently abandoned by her boyfriend after moving across country with him).

This book differed from other Stoker stories in that is centered around a family, the matriarch at that, and the close bonds that families have - whether they are by blood or found. With this focus the story is more of contemporary romance than a romantic suspense as readers have come to expect with Susan Stoker’s books (fear not there is a suspense subplot!). This set a different tone for the story, but made it no less enjoyable.

The book was fast paced and teased other storylines for the continuing series. I particularly enjoyed the subtle references to the real-life town that this fictional community was based off of (Ruckus Donuts and the Lobster Festival!). I can’t wait to continue the series and see where the author takes the rest of the brothers on their journeys.