Gunnar

The Four X's Group: La Spezia, Book 1

By: Bella Stone, Annabella Stone

Narrated by: Marcio Catalano, June deBorahae

War doesn’t forge heroes, it reveals them.

Former SEAL Gunnar McKinley knows better than most that war also reveals the flaws in marriages—leading to divorce. Running a multi-billion-dollar government contracting agency doesn’t exactly lend itself to happily ever after, either. He has his brothers, his business, his teams… more than any man could ask for. He has everything except for someone to love. He also has a target on his back.

Jorja Buchanan loves her life. Searching for antiques and attending rare painting auctions is her jam, and she’s good at it. Especially when it involves hacking into places she shouldn’t be. Auction houses, websites, listings… just give her a name and she’ll get you on the bidder’s list. Her life is going as she wants until she has to dig deeper and finds a list of names that will lead her back to a man from her past—if she can reach him in time.

Gunnar’s been burned before, and Jorja’s not looking for love… but finding each other is exactly what their hearts need. As desire turns to passionate love, the danger grows. Can they survive the fallout from the list that brought them together?

One click to listen to this high-octane military romantic suspense filled with an alpha hero, a strong heroine, twists, danger, banter, and love! Happy Ever After guaranteed!

©2023 Embers Romance LLC (P)2025 Embers Romance LLC

Great start to the series

Former Navy SEAL and his brothers opened started Four X's Group, on a secret base in Italy. The family has plenty of financial resources to get anywhere in the world. Gunnar is grumpy on a good day, but being taken out of the field due to an injury has made him more so.

Jorja Buchanan lives Germany but grew up in the same town as the McKinleys. She is good at finding information and on the dark web comes across Gunnar's name on a hit list. She tries to call but there is no information on the company. She decides to drive to Italy to see him in person.

The pair have chemistry from the beginning but being burned by his ex, it takes him a bit to trust her. Jorja manages to fit right with the McKinley boys. The narrators really brought the story to life.

Suspense and love

This story gives you romantic suspense with teeth, and I was hooked from the first chaotic reunion. Georgia and Gunnar were childhood friends who went their separate ways, only to crash back into each other’s lives years later under the wildest circumstances. He’s newly divorced and trying to rebuild, she’s a hacker with a sharp mind and a soft spot she refuses to admit and when she spots his name on a dangerous list, she doesn’t hesitate. She goes to warn him.

Their first encounter? Absolutely unhinged in the best way. Tense, messy, a little dangerous… and yes, Gunnar kidnaps her. Accidentally. Mostly. But watching that suspicion melt into trust, then spark into something deeper, is exactly the kind of slow-burn chaos I love.

Gunnar’s brothers add so much texture protective, loud, loyal, and fully ready to square up because his ex is, frankly, a complete disaster of a human being. Their dynamic brings humor and warmth that balances the darker suspense threads beautifully.

🎧 On the narration
The narrators delivered. The voices fit the characters, the pacing kept the tension tight, and the emotional beats landed cleanly. It’s one of those audiobooks where the performance elevates the entire experience.

💭 Overall
- Strong romantic suspense
- Childhood‑friends‑to‑lovers energy
- A wild, unforgettable first encounter
- Protective brothers who stay ready
- A balanced mix of spice, danger, and heart
- Excellent narration that pulls you in

I liked it, the suspense, the chemistry, the pacing, all of it worked together. A fun, fast, slightly chaotic ride in the best way.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Gunnar and Jorja!

This is the first in what appears to be a promising new series called the "Four X's Group". It is a thrilling read/listen that is nicely developed and well written. The author does a good job bringing the characters to life. The story is captivating and addicting read, or in my case listen to. The story is about former Navy SEAL, Gunnar and Jorja, an unique antiquities dealer. I was hooked from the very beginning with the mystery, suspense, action, danger and great twists and turns. The chemistry between the characters is off the charts. I love the banter and play between the brothers and team.

Good Plot, Needed More Slow Burn

This was a fast-paced military romantic suspense with plenty of action, twists, and danger. I thought it was a good story overall, but I do wish the chemistry between Gunnar and Jorja had more of a build-up—it felt a little too quick to fully ring true for me. That said, the suspense kept things moving and it was still an entertaining listen. The narration by Marcio Catalano and June deBorahae was well done and added a lot to the experience.

Gunnar

Jorja is startled when she sees a name from her childhood while she was working on a list that is a hit list. As she works to reach out to Gunnar, she does not realize exactly how her life is about to change. Gunnar is grumpy on a good day and after two injuries in a row, that grumpiness is at a new high. So when he hears about someone asking about him in town, he is determined to find out why. What happens next is a fast paced thrill ride that keeps you on your toes as well as fanning yourself. The narration is top tier and can’t wait to listen to the next one.