A great start to a new series, I really enjoyed the chemistry between the main characters and the well paced storyline. A great read.

This is a great start to a new series from a phenomenal author. New characters that fit right in with the established Stoker world. Loved it and can't wait for the next installment.

I recieved a digital uncorrected proof of the book from the publisher Montlake via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, it was fairly fast paced and the twist wad not what I was expecting at all! I was really shocked and disgusted and so scared for Sandra. I breathed one hell of a sigh of relief when she was found by the guy and his dog, although i did wonder if it was a red herring and that the guy was Jay even though it seemed unlikely.

I loved how it touched on the mc's white privilege and not juding people but the outside but whats on the inside - whoch is basically how i live my life - i can only aspire to be as kind as Skylar is.

The ending seemed a little rushed for my taste but overall it was a good book.... The only real thing i coukd say other than some grammer/spelling mistakes was the title doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me... Trusting Bull/Trusting Carson would make more sense to me 😅

I thought this was an interesting premise: hired killer. So often these ex-military operatives are specialists who kill in the line of duty rather than hired killers setting out to actually kill. But it turned out to be just an interesting career function rather than something off-putting. The opposites attract trope was also fun with said hired killer and a kindergarten teacher. An interesting kickoff to a new series.

Susan Stoker has been using the same predictable story line for the last several series. As a reader and reviewer I like to see if the author changes up their style of writing. Susan Stoker uses the same story lines just change them enough to sound like a new story or series.

Her stories are unbelievable and over the top at the best. This new series isn't anything new and it neither add to her current book list. The story is all introduction to the new characters, their past and what the future will be focused on.

The story works for those who are fans of this authors writing style.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of Susan Stoker Trusting Skyler.

Trusting Skylar kicks off a new series for Stoker called Silverstone. It is on Kindle Unlimited as well so yay! In this series, a group of ex Delta Force soldiers leave the Army and start doing black ops for the FBI all under the cover of running at towing company in Indianapolis. It sounded a bit excessive to me, but it really did work.

Carson "Bull" loves being a co-owner of Silverstone Towing, loves his Delta Force brothers who are now his business partners, and loves his work ridding the world of terrorists. He meets Skylar on a pick up for the towing company and is immediately smitten with her. Skylar is certainly an optimist and she is a bit naive. She works in an economically disadvantaged school district as a kindergarten teacher, so she experiences the struggles of her students' families, but she doesn't ever consider that someone might be nefarious or deceitful. For a 32 year old, this did seem a bit unbelievable, but as you learn more about her, I think it's not that she doesn't imagine people do bad things, its just that she won't believe that in people without proof. This is the complete opposite of Bull and, I think, the majority of the population. Bull is a cynic because he has seen the worst the world has to offer.

The suspense portion of the plot in Trusting Skylar doesn't really get going until the last bit of the story, but it is a doozy! There is certainly mortal peril. The other conflict of the plot is personal between Bull and Skylar regarding his secret ops. I understood Skylar's initial reaction; while normally I prefer the conflict to be external to the couple, this conflict was not manufactured simply for the sake of having conflict, and they have a mature discussion-with each other and with friends-to help them understand the situation.

I think this is a great start to a new series and I am really looking forward to book 2 after the brief preview at the end of Trusting Skylar!

Opposites Attract sometimes.
In this one very soon but very careful. I adored the way the talk to each other. Bull ( Carson ) , former Military is a member of Silverstone tow Company, who has a dark secret.
On the first page the book unfortunatly told me who Rex really is ( Mountain Mercenary Series ) but it’s my fault that I wasn’t able to read the last two books by now :).
Who is in contact with Susan Stokers Books gets to know that each book has a very own theme, a very own disability or problem to explore to the reader.
In this book it’s about Skylar who is a very caring kindergarten teacher. She’s adorable in her job, but fairly underpaid. She meets Bull, and they re attracted to each other very soon. Skylar was raised by rich parents and has no problems on her agenda. Only her naïveté is cute but dangerous , she is always and only seeing the good in the people who surround her. Here Mrs Stoker plays hard with clichés but that’s a good thing. I love on her books that they always show an uncanny reality about a topic. Skylar cares for her kindergarten kids beyond hours or mood. She’s always there for them.
Bull has seen his share of bad in the world, so he’s totally opposite to Skylar. That was a fine and exiting.
I always get tears to my eyes while reading Susans books. She has the talent to let her Protagonists very often say heartwarming overwhelming words of truth. Yes it may be a little over the hood ( no one would act like this in reality, or say such true words to strangers ) but one : It warms the heart of every reader , and second: I’m learning through her books. About truths to be told and how to react with respect. I loved Bull so much for the respect he gave to everyone in this book. And in every book I learn something new. Here about how kindergarten teachers work and in the next one about something I never heard of before:prosopagnosia. The absolute counterpart to Eagle. Oh gosh, I love Susan Stokers books.

I love to escape with a good alpha male romance story and often find myself disappointed, but not with this. I am new to Susan Stoker stories and I will definitely be searching out more of her titles.

Carson is an alpha male former Delta Force agent and Skylar is a sweet and innocent Kindergarten teacher, complete opposites but they are certainly attracted to each other! I enjoyed how the suspense and adrenaline built as the story developed and how it was more realistic than some romances can be. Life is never perfect and I like that the author didn’t portray it as such.

It is an intense yet highly enjoyable story and there is a perfect combination of romance, character depth and action.

The supporting characters really helped with the depth of the story and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital arc copy in return for an honest review.

So this is a new series which I always enjoy a new series. I love new characters and learning about everything. This is a spinoff series so there is a slight connection to previous series. I liked this storyline a lot, I think it was a little different than other Susan Stroker books. I think it was a little grittier than previous books. With the jobs the heros in this series have it makes sense and I liked it.
Skyler is pretty innocent, a kindergarten teacher in a lower income community. Carson "Bull" has a dangerous job and has clearly seen the worst in humanity. She is definitely light to his dark. I liked them together in an opposites attack sort of way. The suspense part of the atory was reaaly good and kept me guessing. I look forward to the reading the reat of the series. Enjoy!

4 I'm Trusting Stoker Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
I happen to love it when Susan Stocker puts together her series with all the Alpha Men who have Service experience, doing edgy things, and the women who catch them by surprise turns their life upside down. Stocker knows exactly how to make that happen and this is a new series cut from that same cloth.

We have a group of men who fought for their country, were extremely good at it, made a judgment call that was correct, yet when the powers that be decided...they cut the fellows from the Service forever.

Now these Brothers in Arms vets have come together under a different umbrella. They are still fighting the "good fight" just not with the official government outward approval...in other words, it's on the down-low.

Enter Silverstone Towing. All the guys work there and then they also do missions. Carson “Bull” Rhodes is called to tow kindergarten teacher Skylar Reid when she is stuck on the side of the road.

From the get-go, Bull is protective of this sweet, innocent woman knowing the big bad world could eat her up and spit her out. Skylar, on the other hand, understands things are not always as they seem but is more of the glass half full mindset that will make Bull even more protective.

These two are attracted to each other in spite of all the alarms going off...and we get to be right there. Thank you, Ms. Stoker.

There are sexy steamy times, heartfelt ones, too. All the other guys have their books planned and it should be a good time for the Stocker fans.

I am 100% all in for this series. I love Susan Stoker - somehow even after all the books I've read - I keep coming back for more. She has a formula that just works for me. I love the concept of this series - and starting off with Bull is a great lead off. Truthfully - I really want someone to make a TV show out of this series - like it would be PERFECT for that!

Bull and his three best friends are the co-owners of Silverstone Towing in Indianapolis. They are former Delta Force who left the military after a mission went a little too well. Now they use the towing company as a cover for a high level black ops group that takes on assassinating the worlds worst villains. The only people that know about their side hustle are a few folks in the government and other black ops types of groups. You'll be familiar with them from hearing about them in the Mountain Mercenaries series and from Tex a time or two. They've promised that the only other people in their lives they'd tell about the work they do would be any woman they'd bring in to their life.

Bull meets Skylar at a point where the wear and tear of the job is really beginning to take a toll on him. Skylar is pretty much innocence and goodness personified. She is everything you would imagine the ideal kindergarten teacher would be. Everyone who meets her is very protective of her and her overall goodness. She is pretty much exactly the person Bull needs in his life.

I think this story was a great balance to introducing a new series, action, romance, and sexy times. I am very much looking forward to reading more!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own!

The story of Skylar and “Bull” is a ying and yang love. They are opposites in the way they see the world, but that doesn’t stop them from coming together.
Some of the story seems a bit “on the nose” for me, as a former teacher. It’s as if we’re force fed that teachers are great. There’s too much “explaining” of things which makes the storyline stiff at times. However, I recommend this book for a “feel good” story.

This is the first in a new series for this author, and I was very excited by the concept of former military heroes turned private assassins of the world's worst bad guys!

Carson "Bull" Rhodes left the army after his team took the fall for a mission that was deemed "unsuccessful" by some higher ups. The Army was going to separate his team, and they didn't want that, so when an unexpected job offer came their way, they grabbed on to it with both hands. They moved to Indianapolis to open Silverstone Towing, and they use it as a front for their less savory secret job, as hired killers.

Skylar Reid is exactly the stereotypical kindergarten teacher: she's sweet, and innocent, and kind, but naïve. She thinks the best of people, even when she shouldn't. She's cautious with her heart romantically, because of prior bad experiences, but she gives her heart and energy fully to her job and her beloved students. When her car breaks down on the side of the road, and she calls for a tow, she never expects to find herself drawn to the tow truck driver who comes to her rescue.

Bull and Skylar had instant chemistry but both of them were quite wary for different reasons. Bull doesn't want to bring the darkness of his job into sweet Skylar's life. Skylar knows that she's a bit naïve, but she tries to protect herself as best she can, especially emotionally, after a couple of relationships went bad. They both proceed with caution, but they each knew pretty quickly that it was pointless. They were meant to be together. But, Bull was so worried that Skylar wouldn't be able to handle his real job, though he knows he must tell her as things get more serious between them.

I loved Bull's team so much, and I can't wait for each of their stories!! They each brought their own unique and awesome personalities to the group, and I'm excited to get to know them better. Each of their skills complemented each other so well, and they really loved each other like brothers. I also loved the camaraderie that Skylar had with her neighbor ladies in her apartment building. They looked out for each other, and it was so lovely.

The suspense plot was scary, and nerve-wracking, especially when we got some glimpses into the bad guy's messed-up head while he was planning his crime Though the crime wasn't always what I thought it would be. This plot was super uncomfortable to read in some parts, and I was pretty rattled by some unexpected twists that it took.

Overall I really enjoyed this story of good guys determined to win, by any means necessary, and how their secrets might affect their real lives, and relationships. I loved getting to know this group of heroes! Eagle's book is next, and his heroine has prosopagnosia (face blindness), which I'm so intrigued by, so I'm very much looking forward to the next story!

Content Warning for a child predator villain.

Although I hadn't read anything of Susan Stoker yet, I'm always very happy to read something from Montlake Romance. So, when I saw the hot cover and the cute blurb, I had to request it. And it didn't disappoint! Bull is just the cutest guy (for a hitman) and his friends from the army are hilarious. Skylar is a wonderful teacher, who is wonderful with her students. When Bull gives her a tow, they feel an instant attraction. But how to keep a secret that you are actually a hired assassin. Cute, funny and suspense. With sparks flying and a slow burn romance. Awesome. Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

rusting Skylar by Susan Stoker is a 5 star read.
This is the first book in the new Mountain Mercenaries series and like all her other books it starts out great and just gets better.
When the military threatened to separate his delta force team and an FBI guy makes them an offer they can’t refuse, Carson “Bull” Rhodes and his friends start up Silverstone Towing, a towing company that is a front for the real job they do, hired killers, they go after the real bad guys that no one else has been able to get, 5 years in and Bull is starting to feel a little jaded but when a call for a tow truck puts him in front of Skylar, Bull knows she could be someone special but he’s reluctant to change the innocent woman in front of him.
Skylar Reid is a kindergarten teacher and she loves her job, one night on her way home her car breaks down and the tow truck driver seems a little rude while he’s telling her how to be safe. Falling in love with Bull was unexpected but when she finds out what he really does for living she’s not sure she can handle it but when danger comes calling can she start to see things differently?
I really loved this new group of men, I can wait to read the next books.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

Loved this book and so pleased it is the beginning of a series! At first I thought it would just be all military and violance but this offers so much more and is rather erotic in places too.

I have read a lot of Susan Stoker's books and I really enjoyed them but for some reason Trusting Skylar fell flat for me. I found myself skimming the pages because I just couldn't get engaged enough. I wanted to, just couldn't. I think the story has solid bones but was too rushed? Skylar was definitely a "silver side" kinda girl and that's ok. Sometimes we need a female that isn't always so jaded by the world. Bull was...I don't. I just couldn't get a read on him.

I think if there was more to the story and it wasn't so rushed, there was more flesh and filler this could be a five star read. For me, it was a 3.5, but that won't stop me from checking out the rest of the series as it comes out. I've never read a series where I loved every book so there's always a chance.

Holy Freaking Smoke! What a start to a new series!! We had a glimpse of these new characters at the end of the Mountain Mercenary series and we knew that a fab new offering was on our way.

Bull and the Silverstone Towing guys got a bit of a rough deal. They did the right thing, with an added bonus, but the head honchos were not amused and wanted to punish them. But before they made a decision they were offered a more suitable offer. With a quiet inheritance used as seed money, they started up a Towing company. They've grown their reputation and they look after their staff well. But all is not as it seems - there is a little known part of the complex only the owners enter - with good reason!

Skylar should be annoying but as usual, she is written with soul. Her naivety can be refreshing but also a bit of a pain, LOL. Her career as a teacher of small kids means she is all about helping others but her gift for seeing the good in people and helping anyone in need may just get her into hot water!

Bull has seen the bad side of the world more times than he cares to admit. But when he fills in on a simple towing job, he meets the wonderously sweet but sexy Skylar. He teaches her a few tricks to keep safe but soon enough the sparks between them take off!

Enter the more serious and darker storyline. I was truly on the edge of my seat and I was rooting for the good guys! I kind of knew the way the story was going to go, there were no punches pulled I'll say!

A superb storyline, great characters, and I really enjoyed the crew's banter and how they treated their staff - I'd work for them in a heartbeat.

I cannot wait for the next book!

Trust Susan Stoker to always bring the heat and action with her sexy Alphas and the bad-ass chicks that love them. This book is the first in a new series and I cannot wait to see where Susan takes this series. If you're a lover of some action with your romance you cannot go wrong with any of Susan's books.

This was my first Susan Stoker book and I have to say it was amazing. I loved the dangle of danger in the first half of the book while Bull and Skylar as getting to know each other, the tense anticipation of what her reaction is going to be when she learns Bulls undercover job. Then I was on the edge of my seat trying to mentally signal Bull and the others to let him know he shouldn’t go away and Skylar needs him. It was beautifully written.
The love story was beautiful and loved how Skylars innocence perfectly pairs to the darkness around Bull.

I think I need to go explore the back catalogue of this amazing sexy alpha men.