While it wasn’t insta-love, the connection between Chad and Britt was fast, intense, and totally believable. Their trust in each other felt so genuine, and the found family vibes? Chef’s kiss. I’m obsessed with Chad’s family—four brothers, all in different branches of the military? Sign me up for the rest of this series.

The Maine setting almost made me want to take a winter vacation (and I hate winter). Also, now I want lobster 😆

Teddy Hamilton and Lucy Rivers absolutely nailed the narration—emotional, hot, and full of chemistry. The spice was definitely spicing 🌶️

Big thanks to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the ALC! Can’t wait for book two!

The Soldier, the first book in a new series by Author Susan Stoker, follows a family who returns home to help their mother manage the family businesses after the passing of their father. Each brother had served in a different branch of the military. This book centers around the oldest brother, Chad, as he returns home and eventually meets the woman of his dreams.

I’ve been a loyal reader of Susan Stoker’s novels for a while, and what truly sets her books apart is the depth and complexity of family/found family stories that transcend the typical protector romance. This particular book is no exception. The audiobook features the incredible Teddy Hamilton and Lucy Rivers, who deliver outstanding performances in bringing Chad and Britt to life. Chad and Britt are perfectly matched, and their connection is instantaneous, yet there’s a fun slow-burn to their romance as they get to know each other. Chad embodies the classic qualities of an older son, deeply devoted to supporting his mother and reuniting his brothers in Alpha Cove while continuing the legacy his family built. His heartwarming and swoon-worthy devotion makes him the perfect book boyfriend. While I enjoyed so much about this book, my favorite parts were Britt’s interactions with Chad’s mother. It’s evident where Chad’s strength and caring nature come from as his mother’s unwavering love and affection for all of them, including Britt, shine through. Overall, it’s a delightful read with just the right balance of spice and intrigue. Highly recommend it!

🗓️ Out Now
🎧 Dual: Teddy Hamilton & Lucy Rivers
Expect 👉🏼 Small Town Romance, A Touch of Suspense, Ex-Military, Found Family, They Fall Fast

I binged this so hard. I have a feeling I’m going to be devouring military romances for the next little while 😍

While this wasn’t insta-love. It was FAST. And hard. It made me want to visit Maine and for a girl who hates winter—it almost made me want to take a vacation up there in the cooler weather. It definitely made me hungry for lobster 😆

I’m so excited for spend more time with this family. 4 brother. All different branches of military service.

While Chad and Britt hadn’t known each other very long, the way that he trusted her speaks volumes about their maturity and compatibility.

The narrators were wonderful.
The spice was spicing 🌶️
This whole family is so special.

Thank you Brilliance Publishing for the gifted alc.

I freaking loved this! It was so good and I fell for the characters! I can't wait for more! The narrators were perfect especially at showing the characters emotions throughout the book. This story has stuck with me and im waiting for more!

This was my first audiobook by Susan Stoker and I cant wait to check out more from her! This audiobook is performed in dual narration by two of my favorites...Teddy Hamilton and Lucy Rivers. They did such an amazing job bringing this story to life! You may like this if you are fans of strangers-to-rommates-to-lovers, all the found family, military men, and some suspense. I cant wait for book two in this series! Thank you so much netgalley and Briallance audio for this ALC!

I wanted to love this book because Teddy Hamilton was the male narrator. He's one of my favorite audiobook narrators. I was not a fan of the female narrator, whose voice I found annoying. There were many moments when the inflection in her voice was confusing or didn't seem to fit with the storyline or was otherwise a bit off. There were also A LOT of time when you could hear her audibly take a breath before speaking. Perhaps these will be edited out in the final version.

The story itself was very slow until the drama with the kidnapping. All the referencing of Chad being a sniper and the brothers' military background was annoying, not because of what it was, but the way it was said, as if the reader couldn't remember this information.

I'd listen to the follow up books out of pure curiosity (and hope that they were better). Especially if Teddy narrates.

I was given a really lovely jump scare when the FMC was called Brit (my nickname) and it was almost like I was back in y/n Wattpad book.

My review might be blinded by the fact that Teddy Hamilton was narrating this audiobook, and that’s fine.

This was a cute and homey audiobook (with the addition of some well placed spice). I am incredibly thankful to the publisher for accepting my NetGalley request.

Chad was an easy to follow MMC, along with Brit, our main FMC. The setting of Lobster Cove was one that I haven’t read about before, but one that I enjoyed. Whilst we start our story with some pretty heavy topics (death, as well as a pretty nasty breakup) you’re quickly thrust into what is a warm and endearing home environment, made up of men coming home to help their mum in a time of need.

The setting and the side characters were a real stand out for me. They didn’t feel surface level and they all had their own personalities (with mum being my personal favourite).

I’m very excited to listen to the next books (I love an interconnected romance series!) and hope the author is proud of their work.

Thank you Netgalley and Susan Stroker for this amazing ALC 🖤

First, this book was so cute and thrilling. I want to visit Lobster Cove and meet a Chad. This romance was so angsty. The build up was so worth it and I enjoyed every page of it.

The story follows Chad and Britt. Britt is new jn town and was abandoned by her boyfriend (jerk) and is struggling to find a job so she doesn't have to sleep in her car. Chad happens to run into her and feels for her and offers to bring her to his mother's house for some help. She is then offered a job and place to stay. Britt becomes extremely close to Chad's mother and becomes part of the family. Chad and Britt begin a romance that is super sweet and hot! The build up is amazing and the family dynamics is so endearing. Of course theres some shady stuff happening at Lobster Cove and hopefully Chad and Britt can survive any obstacles that come their way.

I was lucky to get a ALC of this book with Teddy Hamilton narrating the part of Chad and Lucy Rivers narrating Britt. The way these two portrayed the main characters was so well done. I enjoyed the moments in the beginning with their inner monologue describing their growing infatuation of eachother. The spicy scenes were HOT! I really enjoyed this audiobook and I cant wait to dive into more stories from this author ❤️.

This is my first book by Susan Stoker, and I enjoyed it! It gives me quite a few moments of thriller/suspense vibes. I enjoyed the twists! Chad made me swoon with how much he was a mommy's boy and how helpful he was to Britt. I took a star off, and it wasn't a believable connection between the two MCs. I'm not sure why, but how it was written just never seemed to fully mesh into me, thinking it was a couple I'd ship together. But otherwise I loved the storyline and the characters separately especially Chad's mom!!

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and Brilliance Audio to listen/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Format: Audiobook - Dual narration by Teddy Hamilton and Lucy Rivers
Series / Standalone: Standalone (Alpha Cove Book#1)
Tropes: Veteran, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Suspense/Action

Thanks to NetGalley, Brilliance Audio and the author for this ALC - all opinions are my own

Chad and Britt

What a great start to this series. The premise, with the brothers moving home to take care of their mom after the love of her life passes away, already has them at swoon worthy level. Then we have Chad stepping in to save Britt and I was a goner. The suspense was so well managed. The story progresses in a way that had me locked in for a non stop listen.

I usually shy away from audiobooks in the third person but this one was so easy to get into. Teddy Hamilton was amazing and handled all the brothers well. Lucy Rivers is a favorite of mine in part due to her skill at both femme and masc characters. She makes the dual style narration seem so easy.

This audio/book was a breath of fresh air. It made for a good pallet cleanser for me. It was a nice and sweet story about two people finding love with a little of a mystery on the side for conflict. Teddy Hamilton as always has the voice to soothe anyone. While this audio is a dual and not a duet, it was still good!

t has been a long time since I have read anything from Ms. Stoker and I will say that was a mistake on my part. In the start of this new series Chad and Britt's story is told.

Chad Young moves home to Lobster Cove after the death of this father to help his mother. While working on their rental cottages and needing supplies he meets Britt.

Britt Starkweather is down on her luck and living in her car. She moved to the Lobster Cove area with her at the time boyfriend only to have him leave her there and take all of her money. She accepts Chad's help and comes to work and stay with him and his mother. Not only does her life start to turn around things with Chad heat up. She also discovers that the Young's longtime family friend and financial consultant has been stealing from them.

This was a good read that had a storyline that kept me invested in the story from the first page to the last. I liked that where Chad felt an instant connection to Britt he waited before pursuing her. I thought that Britt's ex or the trouble making neighbor would have brought the drama to this story not where the drama came from. I enjoyed the family dynamic to this story. The characters were well written and had chemistry between them. I

I enjoyed this story from start to finish and I look forward to seeing what is next in this series.

Audiobook Review

My first Susan Stoker book and I’m hooked.
Chad was dreamy, a good son, former military, single. Britt was down on her luck, needing a break from life and a job. Britt was also the bada$$ I was not expecting her to be after so much rescuing herself.
Teddy Hamilton and Lucy Rivers as Chad and Britt were amazing.

The Soldier is the first book in the Alpha Cove series. This book is about Chad and Britt and is told from both of their points of view. After Chad's father's passing he moves back home with his brothers to help their mom run their family business.

He meets Britt when she is having some trouble getting her car to start and she's in a rough situation. He invites her to his home to meet his mom and have a meal. His mom falls in love with her and offers her a job and some place to live.

Chad and Britt start to have feelings for each other, but some factors are trying to rip apart Chad's family's business. Can Britt and Chad figure out who is behind all the stuff that keeps happening? Can Chad and Britt come out on top? Will they get their happy ending?

This is my first book I've read by this author and I loved it, and am ready for the next book in the series!

Absolutely loved this book. It was a small town rowmance with a lot of found family aspect that warmed my heart.I devoured this audiobook in a few days, binged listened in a couple of sittings. I really liked Chad (bar his name lmao he does not live up to it thank god), he was caring and so aware of himself especially when first meeting Brit. I really liked the plot and how things progressed, their love story was actually so sweet.

This was my first book by Susan Stoker and I was not dissapointed! The writing was great, the story itself flowed really easily. The narration of Teddy Hamilton was of course fantastic. Both narrators did so well and I was really engaged with the story.

I will say the cover doesn't really match with the story, bar some of the ending stuff which was darker themed, I would say this is a small town romance vibes, while the cover makes you think its darker romance. The soldier part is in the background a lot.

This is a great book, really easy to listen to and immerse yourself into an amazing family with amazing people and the main characters.

Male narrator is top tier, of course he is its teddy! Female narrator is extremely stiff and made it hard to get into the book, especially because it was a 3rd person narrative. I appreciate that the epilogue is from the pov of the next brother. Cute story, well definitely read the next book.

The Soldier is the first book in the Alpha Cove series that follows a family of brothers who move back to their childhood town to help their mother after their father dies. I was interested in the story because Teddy Hamilton narrates 🥵. It starts slowly, but the characters are all cinnamon rolls with giant hearts. You can tell as the story unravels how each of the brothers' stories will start to shape.

Susan is a new to me author and I’d love to read more of her work

This story was narrated by Teddy Hamilton and I just loved it

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

The narration was very good! I always love Teddys audios. The female narrator did a great job.

I loved this book. It gave me Cathrine Cowles vibes. The small town feel was perfect. I loved the mother she was so sweet.

I felt cozy while listening to the audio. If you romance, rescued heroine, found family, small town and a perfect gentleman MMC then you will eat this book up.

I can see where more books will be made to add to a series. I want to read the more from this authors. The writing was very comforting to me.

Susan Stoker’s “The Soldier” is a wonderful start to her new “Alpha Cove” series, a series where each book features a different brother from the Young family, each served in a different branch of the military. Their father’s passing brings them home to Lobster Cove, and they all agree it is time for them to move back to be there for their mother and help with the property and businesses. This book is Chad’s story, ex-military, a trained sniper, and a man with a heart of gold. Britt Starkweather’s boyfriend abandoned her when he decided Maine was not for him, taking most of their funds with him, leaving her broke and without a place to stay. Her luck takes a turn for the better when Chad steps up to offer her help with her car that would not start. Hesitant to accept help from a stranger, her predicament did not leave her with much choice. Chad has a good sense of people, and knowing his mother could use help at the house and with the rentals, he invites Britt to meet her. And like Chad, his mom took an immediate liking to Britt and offered her a job to assist her and a place to stay. Britt fit right in with them, and it was great to watch her and Chad get to know each other, then see their relationship morph into something so much more. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all played out, with the perfect balance of drama, angst, twists and turns, thrilling suspense, heartfelt emotions and a romance that warms your heart. The writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Susan Stoker pens a story that will captivate your attention and tug at your heartstrings the entire time. I will also leave you wanting more, more Young brothers, and I am looking forward to Zach’s story in “The Sailor”.

🎧📚🎧 And for the amazing audiobook narration, Teddy Hamilton and Lucy Rivers, a perfect pairing and perfect cast to bring these characters to life. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Hamilton was a natural in Chad, grasping every aspect of his personality, from his caring side to his protective and concerned side. Rivers did the same in Britt’s role and was just as amazing with embodying her personality completely, from her insecurities to her fierceness and all in between. Both were fantastic at performing the roles of all the side and secondary characters too. Their tone and pacing were just right for the story, and they conveyed all the characters’ emotions, making you feel them all. These two are entertaining storytellers, and their captivating performance rivets you to the story.