The Refuge Books
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. 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.
She never expected to fall for a client, but now that she has, she needs him more than ever. 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. 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.
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. 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. ** Deserving Reese is the 3rd book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
She needed to win him at the bachelor auction to save her friend...but she didn't plan on falling in love. Cora Rooney desperately needs to win the representative from The Refuge at the veterans’ charity auction…it’s literally a matter of life or death. Of course, as is so often the case for the ex-orphan, nothing goes according to plan, and Cora loses her bid. Yet, she still finds herself in a diner with Bryson Clark, telling him about her best friend, who she suspects has been kidnapped and held against her will. After exhausting all other options, Cora’s convinced Pipe and his former military friends are her last chance to rescue Lara. Bryson “Pipe” Clark had no desire to participate in a bachelor auction. Hell, most women run in the other direction when they see him coming. Why in the world would anyone spend good money for a night in his company? Still, he lets himself be talked into supporting a good cause, and as it turns out, the auction is the start of a mystery he’s now determined to unravel. Mostly because of the woman he’s strangely attracted to from her very first bid. Finding Lara Osler is the easy part. Determining if she fled DC with her boyfriend of her own free will—and breaking her out of his estate if she didn’t—isn’t quite so cut and dried. Along the way, Pipe finds there’s much more to Cora than meets the eye…kind of like him. Falling in love wasn’t part of the plan, but Pipe’s not going to let anyone or anything get in his way of making Cora his own and rescuing her friend…not even a serial killer hiding in the wings, waiting to strike. ** Deserving Cora is the 4th book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
She’s a survivor, but it will take someone truly special to make her see how strong she can be. As a former Night Stalker Army pilot, Callen “Owl” Kaufman has been in his share of dicey situations. Long-since retired from the military, he thought dangerous missions were a thing of his past, but rescuing Lara Osler from a serial killer was definitely one of the most harrowing yet. Now safe at The Refuge, Lara is struggling to heal months later…and Owl is struggling just as hard to hide his growing feelings. But he’ll do anything to help the vulnerable woman recover—even if that means letting her go. 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, until her best friend showed up to save her with one of the most intriguing men she’d ever met. Owl is gentle, considerate, and he makes her feel safe. As time passes, Lara slowly begins to reclaim her life, thanks to the man who opened his heart and his home to a broken woman. But Owl doesn’t see her as damaged. He sees someone who’s gone through hell…and come out stronger on the other side. But strong enough to face a serial killer? Owl and Lara both know the man who terrorized her is still out there, biding his time. Waiting for his chance to steal back what he views as his… ** Deserving Lara is the 5th book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
A fake-marriage, a lie, and a murderous brother somehow combine to give her the life she always wanted…if only she can live long enough. Maisy Feldman has lived in a haze for years, coming out of it only recently to learn the brother she thought she knew was a man she no longer recognizes. Evil. A monster. And he’s about to prove it again—by forcing her to marry a stranger. It’s the only way she can gain access to her inheritance, and Jason wants that money. Badly. Badly enough to kidnap a man and force him to marry Maisy long enough to fulfill the stipulations attached to her parents’ will. But Jason has no idea who he’s kidnapped…and he certainly didn’t count on Maisy falling in love with her handsome fake husband. Jack “Stone” Wickett has woken up in a haze, utterly unable to recall anything about his life apart from his first name. Not even the pretty, timid woman he’s told is his wife, or the shady, nasty man who calls himself his brother-in-law. Jack doesn’t understand the dangerous undercurrents ever present in the house, the palpable tension between Maisy and Jason, the vague details they share about his life that don’t seem right. In fact, the only thing that makes sense is Maisy herself. He may not remember his wife, but being in her arms is like coming home. Until his memory returns… With the help of his friends at The Refuge, Jack and Maisy flip the script on her dastardly brother, but it’s by no means a happily ever after. Jack can’t just forget Maisy’s part in his kidnapping. And while he struggles to forgive her betrayal, Jason is still out there…willing to do whatever it takes to get his hands on Maisy’s millions. ** Deserving Maisy is the 6th book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
Leaving wasn’t an option. She had to stay to protect everything, and everyone, she’d grown to love. Especially him. Ryleigh Lodge has secrets. Her new friends, the men and women at The Refuge, already know that for months she lied about her name, her hacking skills, and how she got the job in the first place. But there’s one last secret. One so explosive, it could cost her everything…her friends, her new home…the man she’s been falling for since the day she arrived at The Refuge. Not that she hasn’t already ruined any chance with Tiny. Fact is, she should have left a long time ago. Now Ry’s brought evil to their door—and she’s the only one who can stop it. Leaving is no longer an option. Spencer “Tiny” Denny has trust issues. And no one can blame him; even if he hadn’t seen his fair share of hell as a former Navy SEAL, the last time he loved a woman, he barely escaped the relationship with his heart intact—figuratively and literally. He should’ve known the pull he felt toward Ryleigh was too good to be true. So the second he heard about her lies, he put her on lockdown, watching her like a hawk and treating her like the enemy…until he discovered her actions were borne of deep fear. Now Tiny’s keeping her close for different reasons. Partly to keep her safe…and partly because his feelings for her have only grown stronger. When the threat that’s been hunting Ryleigh for ten long years finally makes a move, for the first time in her life, she’s not fighting alone. Tiny’s got her back, and with his love and support, she’s ready to do battle…for their friends, their found family, and for The Refuge. ** Deserving Ryleigh is the 7th and final book in The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.