Shelter for Koren

Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, Book 14

By: Susan Stoker

Narrated by: Erin Mallon

Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Discovering your ex is a serial-killing religious zealot would put anyone off dating for a good long while. That’s where Hudson “Taco” Vines’ head is at when he meets Koren, a woman who looks a little too much like his ex for comfort. But he can’t deny their attraction, and the more he gets to know her, the more Taco realizes how different Koren is from his ex, in all the best ways. It’s not long before he’s feeling things for her that he’s never felt for anyone, ever. After the drama of his last relationship, maybe this is his reward…a supportive, comfortable life with a woman he’s coming to love.

Koren Garner is no fan of drama, and it certainly seems Taco and his friends have all seen more than their share. So you’d think meeting him for the second time at the scene of her own car accident would be enough to warn her away. But Koren can’t resist the sexy firefighter. A little drama might be worth the risk…even when an unknown threat starts targeting Taco’s friends. Someone’s setting fires, and the danger’s escalating with each blaze. Koren and Taco can only pray the culprit is caught before their relationship - and their lives - go up in smoke.

Shelter for Koren is the 14th book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliff-hanger endings.

©2019 Susan Stoker (P)2019 Susan Stoker

OMG!! AWESOME!

Love this book!!! Very happy Taco got a great woman! Can't wait for the next one!

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! After listening to this story,. I totally enjoyed reading this book. It’s well written and the characters were uniquely fantastic. I would suggest this book to my friends that like this sort of genera. this was a good book. The narrator was great.

When grief turns deadly

Hudson “Taco” Vines still can’t wrap his head around the fact that his ex was a serial-killing religious zealot, reason enough for him to be wary of Koren Garner, who he rescues from a horrific car accident.

Koren Garner does not like drama, and she knows that Taco and his friends are no strangers to events that can leave them and their loved ones traumatized.

Nevertheless, the two find themselves attracted to one another and try to make a go of a relationship, even when someone starts to target Taco’s friends.

In Shelter for Koren, a mother brought to the breaking point over the death of her son shows us the importance of being a strong support system for people who have experienced trauma so grievous that their heart and mind get broken to the point of no return.

Some of you may think Susan Stoker’s plot was a bit cheesy or far-fetched, but no. Post-traumatic stress disorder takes on so many characteristics that we cannot outright say what happened to Taco and Koren’s story is purely fiction. It is not.

Is it a mental illness? No.

Dr. Melanie Greenberg, a practicing psychologist and author of “The Mindful Self-Express.” does not consider PTSD to be a mental health problem. Rather, it is a “chronic, systemic problem of mind-body-spirit in which long-term stress responses deplete both mental and physical health.

Imagine someone you know experiencing a trauma so huge—in the book, Nicole’s loss of her only child to a fire—that everything ceases to exist. They withdraw from society, reality to them becomes so confusing.

So should we excuse the actions of anyone who suffers from PTSD? Should we turn a blind eye? Or should we be aware enough of our own need for a support system, and that of others we know or suspect that need the same, to be able to reach out?

Whatever the reason or the circumstances, there is but one thing I believe we can do, and that is to always be there for each other, no matter the status in life, the colour of our skin, or our belief system. Because everyone deserves a second chance.

love it

Discovering your ex is a serial-killing religious zealot would put anyone off dating for a good long while. That’s where Hudson “Taco” Vines’s head is at when he meets Koren, a woman who looks a little too much like his ex for comfort. But he can’t deny their attraction, and the more he gets to know her, the more Taco realizes how different Koren is from his ex, in all the best ways. It’s not long before he’s feeling things for her that he’s never felt for anyone, ever. After the drama of his last relationship, maybe this is his reward…a supportive, comfortable life with a woman he’s coming to love

Oh wow

Loved the story especially the end. Hearts out to Susan can’t wait for your next one.

I will never tire of Susan Stoker goodness.

Shelter for Koren is the fourteenth book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series. Taco is finally finding peace after getting over his crazy psycho ex. The thought of dating anyone ever again is not on his radar. However, when Taco meets Koren he begins to doubt his resolve. Koren resembles his crazy ex so it takes him a hot minute to recognize the passion and connection the two share.

Overall, Shelter for Koren is another Susan Stoker winning read. I always find myself entertained by Stoker’s characters and the witty dialogue they partake in. The passion between Koren and Taco is combustible and the way in which they claim each other left me on the edge of my seat the entire read. I will never tire of Susan Stoker goodness. I cannot wait for more!

Worth the wait!!!!

I have been waiting for Taco’s story and it was so worth the wait. As usual this was another great story. (All Susan’s books are fabulous). Taco is without a doubt one of my favorite characters. This book has it all from sitting on the edge of your seat to laughing. The only bad part is when it ends because you just don’t want it to be over.

Can’t wait for her next book.

Awesome

As always, Stoker delivers.
Taco and Koren's story is great. Family, friends, and the animals that keep us going in dark times. We're reminded what's important when all the material things are lost.
And we have the lead up to Penelope's story. A lot of expcetations there and that Koren understood Pen so well was refreshing. Can't wait for the grand finale!

Holy Firebugs....

Talk about an intense, emotional read. I knew going in this one was going to be amazing. I mean, it’s a Stoker story but whoa! This is a whole new level of chaos and turmoil. I loved it!

Taco and Koren are both strong minded, independent yet broken in different ways. He’s dealing with an over abundance of guilt, anger and dread thanks to the psycho ex and Koren just hasn’t found the one man to treat her right. She’s not a fan of drama.

The two start off on shaky ground. Taco is there when she has a bad accident. He’s able to get her out of her smashed vehicle and it sparks something between them. As they progress into something more than friendship and Koren is welcomed into the folds, bad things start to happen around them all.

Unexplained fires. Vandalism of the worst kind surrounds station 7. Taco and crew work diligently to stay safe and work smart. They keep the women as safe as possible and yet... just when you think it’s going to work out, bad stuff happens. The worst thing imaginable for a fire fighter.

Now it’s up to Taco to save Koren again, but the thing is... he may already be too late.

Fun addition to series

I loved Koren's personality. Taco's and her interactions are fun and real. Great addition to the series. It was fun to see the drama involving one of the guys for a change and I liked how Koren commented on that.

I thoroughly enjoy this series and the other connected series. The hardest part is waiting for the next one.

Erin Mallon does a fantastic job narrating this story. She has emotion and inflection that brings it all to life.