• Protecting Dakota

  • SEAL of Protection, Book 11
  • By: Susan Stoker
  • Narrated by: Stella Bloom
  • Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (649 ratings)

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Protecting Dakota  By  cover art

Protecting Dakota

By: Susan Stoker
Narrated by: Stella Bloom
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Publisher's summary

The Sleeper SEALs, are former US Navy SEALs recruited by a new CIA counter-terror division to handle solo dark ops missions to combat terrorism on US soil.

Protecting Dakota

Dakota James's life has become the stuff of nightmares. The leader of the Ansar al-Shari'a terrorist group has become obsessed with her, determined to take her as his wife. On the run, she'll have to pin her hopes on the retired SEAL charged with finding and stopping Aziz Fourati before he can carry out plans to bomb more US airports.

Recently recruited to join a sleeper SEAL team tasked with fighting terrorism on US soil, Slade "Cutter" Cutsinger, with the help of some Special Forces friends, has located the one woman who can identify the deadly Ansar al-Shari'a leader. That was the easy part. Keeping her safe proves more difficult than anyone ever imagined.

When she and her new friend, Caroline, are kidnapped by the terrorist group, Dakota can only pray Cutter and the SEALs will reach them before they're taken out of the country - and away from Cutter forever.

Protecting Dakota is a part of the SEAL of Protection Series. It is also in the Sleeper SEAL connected series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.

Each book in this multi-author branded series is a standalone novel, and the series does not have to be heard in order.

©2017 Susan Stoker (P)2017 Susan Stoker

What listeners say about Protecting Dakota

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

silver fox... I mean, SEAL <3

What attracted me first is the cover OH MY
Love military romance and this one was pretty good. What I liked the most is that the main characters are not 20 something, the idea that there is always a chance later in life for a HEA. Although I do believe in love at first sight, I didn't really feel like it was between them, maybe because they recognized each other from a previous life? It felt a bit too easy. But loved their interaction and it was easy to fall in love with Cutter.

Overall the story was pretty intense, when Dakota and Caroline were captured and how they were treated, and again when they finally found Dakota. What a twist when the terrorist's identity was revealed!!! But all ends well and those are my fave endings.

My first listen from Ms. Bloom, loved the voices she gave the characters, especially the male voice. But when she was voicing Dakota, the pitch was a bit on the high and made me cringe a few times, not a good feeling. If that could be toned down a bit, it would earn the 5 stars.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Coming of age...

This was one of my Stoker favs. Her books always draw you into the adventure, the love & friendships. I usually wait until at least 3 of a series are available on Audible before I listen. I usually want the next one right after and am too impatient to wait. I have now listened to EVERY Susan Stoker book available on Audible and am dying for the next.

My favorite part of Protecting Dakota was that Dakota & Slade are my age!!! Often times the parents of the love interest are my age. Us forty something like a good love & sexy story too.
Cannot wait until book 2 in the sleeper series.

Stella Bloom amazes me. I'm not sure how she makes her voice into so many believable characters. Bravo!@!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A Plot with too many holes

Romances with hot older dudes are few and far between, especially in military romance. I couldn't wait to dig into this one. While the plot sounded intriguing, you had to decide early on whether to continue in view of the sheer implausibility (such as she sneaks out after bombing and no one notices except some unknown gov agency that taps a retired SEAL but NOT the FBI?). I stuck it out. It is unique to have older protagonists.

It was disappointing when it became a "love at first sight" thing for him falling for her pic and her falling for first sight and confessing it all immediately and then this serial bachelor is suddenly all in, and beginning and ending each sentence calling her "luv".

The writer may not have any experience with these kind of guys, which would explain how she portrays some of them. The mens' dialogue is what a woman would WANT a man to sound like. But in reality they Don't sound like that. Especially these kind of guys. There are the usual problems with strategy, tactics and practices that plague this genre sometimes, but they were minor compared to the overarching weakness in the story and the romance.

The one thing Stoker has going for her is she can tell a story, has a good sense of place, and the pacing kept it moving briskly. More research or draft readers who get the spec ops community would be beneficial.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Cutter is the man!!

Holy Smokes! I loved Susan's SEAL of Protection Series. I have missed them boys dearly and boy howdy, this one may be a new start to something new but it has the old boys in it. It was awesomesauce! And Hot! Haha

The narator on the sudio edition did a fantastic job, as always!!

Never say a man who is a little gray has been used up. Slade "Cutter" Cutsinger is just as badarsed today as he was in his younger SEAL days. When he is given a secret, off the books mission, he agrees. There is so much that could go wrong. There were things that could good. When he finds his target, a girl on the run from a terrorist, things get real.

Dakota James is a sweet, good ole girl, who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Who knew being in the airport as a psycho sets off a bomb could lead to so much trouble. Trouble that she can not get away from alone. But she tries. This is how and where she meets Cutter.

When things get hairy and they have to bug out... that leads them back to San Diego.. and into the hands of SEALs and trouble. When the crap hits the fan the men all jump into action. Control is not something Cutter is used to balancing anymore. However, when the man in charge of the trouble gets found... oh it gets good. LIKE REALLY GOOD!!!!!

Your mission now is to read it so you can see what happens!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

You can't go wrong with this author

Susan Stoker is a great writer- suspenseful stories, real people with believable dialogue, sexy brave women that do not act like doormats or idiots and - of course- hot honorable heroes. I could not stop listening and landed up getting though this book in one day and a who-needs-sleep night. : ) I have loved all of her series and enjoy the overlap so you get glimpses into the other characters. Already waiting for the next one!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Never too old

This is one of my favorites. Susan Stocker creates magic using words to weave your emotions and passions into the perfect story. This is one you can read or listen to over and over again. Spade and Dakota are indeed timeless.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love it

I love all of Susan Stoker’s book. I think she is a great writer. And I hope she continues to wow us with her talent

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

So wrong, so bad

Written to script, right out of a can. Stoker has written a small number of fun stories but there are just too many of these clinkers in her collections. She’s like Danielle Steel but without an editor or publisher.
And Stella Bloom would make a great reader for children’s books. Her voice is high pitched and wispy. Imagine a Disney character’s voice. Now imagine it saying filthy street words. It’s jarring, really, and kind of funny at first. Sorry, Stella. This just doesn’t work for me. I hope you don’t cuss much at home cause if you do, people are lol.
I had this unread in my library too long to return it to Audible, sadly.
It will be my last Stoker book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

very good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • MD
  • 05-03-22

Great plot

I read a lot of this author. This story was the same but different. The narrator is excellent.

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