Defending Harlow

Mountain Mercenaries, Book 4

By: Susan Stoker

Narrated by: Stella Bloom

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

A Wall Street Journal bestseller.

Danger rises and love is threatened in New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s fourth book of the Mountain Mercenaries series.

Lowell “Black” Lockard, former Navy SEAL, has watched his fellow Mountain Mercenaries settle down with the women of their dreams, but he’s convinced he doesn’t need love. Then he gets a call from Harlow Reese - a chef at a local women’s shelter - and begins to reconsider his decision.

After being continually harassed by a local band of punks, Harlow asks Lowell to give the women of the shelter lessons in self-defense. She doesn’t expect him to take such a special interest in her safety, but he insists on escorting her to and from work, never taking no for an answer. Not that Harlow minds the personal touch...especially when it’s coming from her former teenage crush.

Despite her long history of bad dating luck, seeing Black again makes Harlow rethink her self-imposed celibacy. Easy on the eyes and hard to forget, the man has morphed into an alpha stud. And Harlow may be exactly the type of woman Black is looking for. Making her feel safe isn’t only a duty; it’s a pleasure. But the threats are escalating. The motives are a mystery. And as the danger burns almost as hot as their passion, there’s much more at risk than their hearts.

©2019 by Susan Stoker. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Love Susan Stoker

Susan Stoker is a skilled storyteller of romantic suspense. She knows how to increase the reader’s heartbeats and gut tension while reading. Her men are super alphas who want to protect, but they do it lovingly and respectfully. For example, Black is a little snippy with Harlow because he’s worried about her safety. As soon as he realizes his tone isn’t appropriate, he apologizes and explains his concerns.

Stoker’s female characters might find themselves in difficult situations, but they know how to stand firm and strong. Harlow helps others by not only cooking but teaching the women and children how to cook good affordable, healthy meals. She is a nurturing person. She is protective of the residents of the shelter. Her goal is to find ways to help them succeed.

Susan Stoker is a prolific writer. She releases new books in her series regularly, which gives me a regular fix of her military/ex-military men with a good dose of romance and suspense. The characters in all of the books are unforgettable and realistic. The stories grab the reader out of the gate, well, actually at the end of the previous book, and hold on tight until the end. Defending Harlow checks all my boxes for a good military theme books. This is an excellent time to start the Mountain Mercenary series if you haven’t yet. There are only four books out so far and the mystery of their leader, Rex is starting to unfold. I can’t wait to get to his book.

Stella Bloom is pretty good as a narrator. I enjoy her female voice better than the male. That said, her narration is well done. I don't get lost in her storytelling, per se, but she does add to my enjoyment. I'm grateful for the whispersync function, as I can continue reading when I travel to and from work.

One of the best series I've listened to!

Susan Stoker is one of my favorite authors and Stella Bloom does an amazing narration! I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series and then listen again.

Defending Harlow

I love that Black didn’t meet Harlow on mission like two of the previous books in the series. Not that I had a problem with them meeting in the middle of a mission but I enjoyed the shake up. I also really liked that this book was centered on the woman’s shelter and was more involved with the break down of being in that situation. Great series can’t wait for the next book.

Mountain Mercenaries are at it again

I just love how they fall for the girl that is not a size 2!!!

Another Wonderful Mountain Mercenaries

Harlow is not superhuman and she seems very real which is wonderful. She has a few extra pounds, hates exercise and is a caring, kind chef. She has been on spectacularly horrible dates, so she has sworn off dating.

The residence of a women’s shelter are being harassed and Lowell “Black” Lockard offers to help. Like Harlow he does not see any serious relationship in his future. Their story as well as the mystery of who is harassing the shelter unfolds.

You seriously can not go wrong with Stoker. All of her works are a great listen with “full of life” narration.

Love that we’ve been teased with Rex and Raven’s story even if we have to wait. Oh well Ball and Everly will keep us entertained in the meantime. : )

Fun story

Was so interesting that this one took place in a womens shelter. Happy that Harlow was not athletic as it's nice for a change for the heroine to not be "perfect". Black has his work cut out for him in getting her to date him. Always nice to hear about previous characters.

You just have to love the guys of Mountain Mercenaries!

Black is contacted by a former hs classmate...Harlow. The women’s shelter, where she’s a chef, could benefit from some self defense classes. The women are being harassed by men from the neighboring tattoo shop. Of course, the guys from Mountain Mercenaries will help...they’re the good guys! Meanwhile, Black and Harlow, neither interested in long term relationships, begin going on ‘non-dates’ and getting to know each other better. Can the guys get to the bottom of who’s really behind the harassment before someone gets hurt? Will Black and Harlow go beyond the friend zone?
We also catch up with the girlfriends of the rest of the team...someone’s having a baby...and someone’s getting married!!
Another great story in the series. I’m looking forward to seeing Ball brought to his knees next.

Excellent again!

Love the Mountain Mercenaries! Great stories great characters great narrator. You can’t go wrong with any Susan Stoker book and Stella Bloom does a great job bringing it to life

Another great story by Susan Stoker!

Just like all of Susan’s series, I LOVE the Mountain Mercenaries. Defending Harlow was no different. Even when you know deep down that things will work out in the end, to me it defines a great writer and storyteller who can still make your heart race in anticipation when tragedy strikes. The fire scene did that! I especially LOVE how she gives you that first taste into the next book’s characters. Hate waiting though!!
I also have to compliment Stella Bloom. I have loved her narration since the first one I listened to. She is one of my favorites!

Do yourself a favor and checkout ALL of Susan’s series! My best-friend introduced me to Susan’s world, and I quickly devoured all of her audiobooks. She has definitely become one of my favorite authors!

Love that sneaky Black!

Another great story in this series! I loved how sneaky Black was with his non-dating dates. These two have a slow romance with the chance of danger but dont know from where. It was wonderful watching these two cone together. I listened to this on audio. Stella Bloom does a nice job on the narration.

Defending Harlow

So love listening to Stella Bloom, always makes the journey of listening even more fun.

I so love this book. I do not know if its because Harlow's and Blacks relationship starts off in a nearly normal way :)

Harlow and Lowell (Black) used to know each other from High School and years later meet again. Black now a Mountain Mercenary, who owns a shooting range and Harlow a chief at a women's shelter. That the mercenaries help out at

Harlow does not date, after having lets say many disasters in the area . I loved how Black was taking her out on dates and she had no idea.... so well done.

The two are very well suited, and when danger happens the two work as a team to save others.

Great story

I really loved this story. Harlow's terrible dating history was improbable but often funny and sometimes deeply disturbing. Black's 'stealth dating' her because she's given up on dating was great and the fact that he owned up to his mistakes just made me love him more. The fact that he let Harlow soothe his demons melted my heart. They had a real give and take relationship that I absolutely believed in.

🎧 Harlow and Lowell (Black) 🎧

A much milder suspense than the other books in the series. Easy listening, slow burn romance.

Excellent listen

Susan Stoker has another hit with this book. The characters are totally relateble, so the listener is drawn into their world. This, in turn means you just can't stop listening (to the annoyance of your SO!).