Riggs and three buddies were held captive while in the army. As soon as they were rescued, they left the army, moved to Maine, and started a tree cutting business. Three years later he has a little cabin in the middle of nowhere where he goes to get away and be alone. A big snow storm is coming and as he is getting everything in, he starts to feel sick. He lies down on the couch when he hears a noise. He goes out to see what it is and its a skinny dog. He follows the dog and finds someone walking towards him. He sees its a woman and takes her back to his cabin with him where he promptly passes out.
Carlise left Cleveland to get away from a stalker.Carlise is weary of men because her father was abusive and her ex pushed her down and she hits her head. She left the same day but started getting emails, texts, and her tires were slashed. She's been driving and the snow storm gets worse and she hits a tree. She starts walking hoping to come across a house or something she can stay in until the storm passes. She finds a dog who stays with her and leads her to Riggs cabin. After he passes out she cares for him for three days. He runs a high fever and is delirious but she manages to get him to drink and take meds.
Riggs fever finally breaks and he can't believe his luck. This gorgeous woman has been taking care of him. They get to know each other and Carlise is still afraid to believe he is as good as he seems. But he is and they fall in love. Somehow her stalker finds her and its a race for her life.

Great story. Action. Stalker. Sex. A scared, skinny dog. Two people who's past has made them not very trusting. I knew who the stalker was from almost the beginning. Riggs is sexy and so very protective. While Carlise is stronger than she knows.

* Received a copy from Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed *

3 ⭑
Every time i start a romance book with a mystery plot i think i definitely need to read more because they’re so fun to read and this is a great example i liked the romance and really enjoyed the mystery plot but i need to say they fell in love way to quickly for me and i wish there would’ve been more sexual tension between the mc’s.

Snowbound romance with a bit of mystery and yes, a dog that gets saved and saves the day. A quick and entertaining read with more plot than the typical romance, which keeps things interesting.

This is a very classic Susan Stoker book. Insta-love. Alpha male. A female with a stalker.

I really liked Carlise. She was kind and giving and relatable. Riggs was also a good lead character. Protective (obviously) and very sweet.

I wish there was a lot more sexual tension in this book. I just didn't feel that much chemistry between these leads.

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Protector (Game of Chance) by Susan Stoker from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novel. The main characters, Carlise and Riggs, were sweet together. I liked their banter, chemistry, and story arc. Plus, a dog was an integral part of the story so another point in its favor. The novel was well written and the plot was engaging, if predictable.

This was a great balance of intrigue and emotions! This is the start of the series, and it starts by us meeting the characters at their worst and in trouble. We fast forward and meet them as they are now, still dealing with their past trauma, but living their best planned lives now.

Our hero has an isolated cabin he escapes to, and this is where we have our story. From a dog showing up, to a woman on the run stranded, and an untimely illness, sets everything up. These two connect before they even really know each other, but the more they get to know, the more they bond. They just know where things are right, and this is what feels right for them. This is two people, in forced proximity, both with their own problems, finding out about each other, and falling in love. I loved the characters, their story, and cannot wait for more!

LOVED this book! This is a fantastic start to a new series by one of my favorite authors. Carlise is a woman who's being stalked. In fear, she leaves home and starts driving without a destination in mind. She finds herself in the middle of a Maine blizzard on a rural road. When she is rescued by a dog, she is led to Riggs, a man who values his time alone in the woods. What follows is a tightly woven story that had me turning pages just as quickly as possible.

I couldn't put this book down. The author is a master at her craft and at the top of my must read authors ' list. This novel is a must read.

This looks so good! Can’t wait to read, acquire, and share this with other readers. Will be sharing thoughts and a full review soon, but this would make a great movie! Riggs and Carlisle seems to have great chemistry so far and I am in total suspense to see how it all works out!


From New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker comes a sizzling suspense about the romance that blossoms between two strangers during a snowstorm and the stalker who threatens them both.

Riggs “Chappy” Chapman didn’t expect to be disrupted at his remote cabin in the woods. But when a stray dog arrives on his porch, he winds up finding a stray woman, too, trudging through the snowstorm in search of shelter. His military days may be behind him, but Chappy is hardwired to protect her from the storm and whatever it is she’s running from.

Carlise Edwards didn’t expect her car to break down in the Maine wilderness. All she wants is to escape whoever is stalking her back home. There’s no way anyone’s going to find her and Chappy deep in the forest, especially not in dangerous weather. But she finds it hard to mind the circumstances when the company is this stimulating.

As the snowstorm rages, Chappy and Carlise find that, despite the cold, they can generate plenty of heat of their own…but there’s more than just natural dangers lurking in the woods.