The Refuge Series by Susan Stoker

A brand new series by New York Times bestselling author, Susan Stoker.The Refuge is a place to heal. Where those who have experienced traumatic events can go to heal. It’s run by seven former military men who’ve seen more than their fair share of the ugliness in the world... moreA brand new series by New York Times bestselling author, Susan Stoker.The Refuge is a place to heal. Where those who have experienced traumatic events can go to heal. It’s run by seven former military men who’ve seen more than their fair share of the ugliness in the world.Friend-zoned since childhood by the most amazing man she’s ever known, that doesn’t stop Alaska Stein from doing whatever’s necessary—including lying to the military—to be by his side when Drake ends up in a German hospital after a mission gone wrong. The broken man in the bed is not the boy she once knew. Despite that, and despite years apart, when Drake turns his gaze to Alaska, he sees her. Looks beyond the plain-Jane exterior to his childhood friend beneath. He may never be anything more than a friend, but putting her needs aside to see him whole is a sacrifice she’s willing to make.Drake “Brick” Vandine walks away from the SEALs after his recovery, building a life around helping others struggling with PTSD. But he can’t walk away from Alaska. She was there for him in his darkest moment and her spine of steel saw him through one of the biggest challenges of his career. And now, although she lives half a world away, she’s still his anchor, his daily dose of support as he and several friends build The Refuge. A place of peace, a place of healing. But, for Drake, also a place of loneliness.When the unthinkable befalls Alaska during a trip to Russia, it’s Drake’s turn to drop everything and race to her aid. Safely back at The Refuge, he just as quickly realizes what he’s failed to see for two decades—his oldest, dearest friend is the love of his life.A revelation that may be too little, too late. Because Drake’s brought the enemy right to their door.**Deserving Alaska is the 1st book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings. less

Years of adversity have molded Henley McClure into the attentive, conscientious psychologist she is today. She lives for her daughter, Jasna, and her work at The Refuge, an exclusive retreat for victims of PTSD. Her life is fulfilling…if a little lonely. But the only man who’s captured her interest, the most standoffish of the mountain retreat’s seven owners, lives in self-imposed isolation... moreYears of adversity have molded Henley McClure into the attentive, conscientious psychologist she is today. She lives for her daughter, Jasna, and her work at The Refuge, an exclusive retreat for victims of PTSD. Her life is fulfilling…if a little lonely. But the only man who’s captured her interest, the most standoffish of the mountain retreat’s seven owners, lives in self-imposed isolation. It will take a little vulnerability on her own part, a dead car battery, and the surprising help of her daughter to break through Finn’s defenses.His Coast Guard career ended in a tragedy that ground Finn “Tonka” Matlick’s life to a halt. For years, his only solace has been the animals he tends to at The Refuge…and admiring Henley from afar. He had no plans to risk potential heartache ever again, until an incident at the retreat had him clinging to Henley like the broken man he is. The kind, patient therapist and her sweet, thoughtful daughter may be the only ones capable of putting him back together.As Finn slowly heals, and he and Henley grow ever closer, someone is watching. Waiting. Planning. Evil in the making who ultimately wants to watch the world burn, one victim at a time. And they’ll start by targeting one of the people Finn loves most.**Deserving Henley is the 2nd book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings. less

He never expected to fall for his best friend's sister, but now that he has...he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.Having a crush on one of your brother’s friends is so cliché. But Reese Woodall isn’t too worried…it’s not as if she’d ever have a chance with the former Delta Force Operative. For one thing, he lives in New Mexico, and she’s in Missouri. For another, since Woody and his team chaptered out of the Army several years ago, she hasn’t seen Gus even once... moreHe never expected to fall for his best friend's sister, but now that he has...he'll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.Having a crush on one of your brother’s friends is so cliché. But Reese Woodall isn’t too worried…it’s not as if she’d ever have a chance with the former Delta Force Operative. For one thing, he lives in New Mexico, and she’s in Missouri. For another, since Woody and his team chaptered out of the Army several years ago, she hasn’t seen Gus even once. She’s free to lust after him from afar…but with her brother currently missing, Reese has far more important things to worry about.Gus “Spike” Fowler doesn’t think twice before heading to South America when he learns his old Army buddy has disappeared—and his younger sister has gone to Colombia to find him. Though he hasn’t thought much about Reese in the last five years, he certainly remembers her. The curvy, sexy, stubborn engineer is hard to forget. He liked what he saw years ago. And now? After she surprises him in the best way during a high-stakes bid to rescue Woody from a drug cartel? He likes her even more.Safely back at The Refuge, the sparks Reese and Spike experienced in Colombia quickly ignite, and they both find everything they’ve ever wanted in a partner. But they might lose it just as quickly…when the trouble they escaped in South America crosses the border. less

She needs to win him at the bachelor auction to save her friend...but didn't plan on falling in love.Cora needs to win the representative from The Refuge in the bachelor auction…it’s literally a matter of life and death. But nothing goes according to her plan, and yet, she still manages to find herself in a diner with Pipe, telling him about her best friend who she is convinced has been kidnapped and is being held against her will... moreShe needs to win him at the bachelor auction to save her friend...but didn't plan on falling in love.Cora needs to win the representative from The Refuge in the bachelor auction…it’s literally a matter of life and death. But nothing goes according to her plan, and yet, she still manages to find herself in a diner with Pipe, telling him about her best friend who she is convinced has been kidnapped and is being held against her will. She needs Pipe and his former military friends from The Refuge to go to Arizona with her and find her friend, and break her out if necessary.Pipe has no desire to participate in a bachelor auction, but to raise money for Veterans, he lets himself be talked into it. But the auction is the start of a mystery, one he’s determined to figure out. Mostly because of the woman he's attracted to from the moment he sees her from the stage.But finding her friend is the easy part. Determining if she’s with her boyfriend of her own free will and breaking her out of the house if she’s not…isn’t quite so cut and dried. Along the way Pipe finds there’s much more to Cora than she shows the world…kind of like him.Falling in love wasn’t in Pipe’s plan, but he’s not going to let anything, or anyone, get in his way of making Cora his…not even a serial killer hiding in the wings waiting to strike.**Deserving Cora is the 4th book in the The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings. less

Callen “Owl” Kaufman thought dangerous missions were a thing of his past. As a former Night Stalker Army pilot he’d been in his share of dicey situations. But rescuing Lara Osler from a serial killer who’d become obsessed with her was definitely one of the most memorable. But now that she’s safe at The Refuge, and healing, Owl is having trouble hiding his feelings for her. But he’d never do anything that might make the strong yet vulnerable woman uncomfortable.Kidnapped by a boyfriend? Check... moreCallen “Owl” Kaufman thought dangerous missions were a thing of his past. As a former Night Stalker Army pilot he’d been in his share of dicey situations. But rescuing Lara Osler from a serial killer who’d become obsessed with her was definitely one of the most memorable. But now that she’s safe at The Refuge, and healing, Owl is having trouble hiding his feelings for her. But he’d never do anything that might make the strong yet vulnerable woman uncomfortable.Kidnapped by a boyfriend? Check. Held against her will by a serial killer? Check. Falling in love with her rescuer? Triple check. Lara thought her life was over, but then her best friend showed up to save her with one of the most intriguing men she’d ever met. Owl is funny, considerate, and makes her feel safe. As time passes after her rescue, she becomes stronger…because of the man who opens his home to her, comforts her when she gets scared, and who encourages her to be exactly who she is.But the serial killer is still out there, watching and waiting for his chance to steal back what he feels is his…Lara.** Deserving Lara is the 5th book in the The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings. less