Deserving Maisy

The Refuge #6

by Susan Stoker

This is Stone and Maisy's story. Stone has found himself in an interesting situation, and only Maisy can help him...if he'll let her. Trust is given, then broken, then found again. But the two will have to rely on each other, and their Refuge friends if they're going to sort things out once and for all. Official Blurb to come soon.

**Deserving Maisy is the 6th book in the The Refuge Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Military Fiction, Suspense, Forced Proximity, Military Romance, Audiobook

376 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

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New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. She's married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.

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Reviews

[Kait · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I stayed up til 1am to finish this 😍

~Jack (Stone) doesn't remember anything. Certainly not the woman he's being told is his wife, as much as he wishes he could. Maisy has no idea when her life turned out the way it did but she knows it needs to change. If not for her but for the handsome man who looks at her like she's the only person on the planet.~

Stone and Maisy.. these two were perfection. Don't get me wrong, there were a few times I wanted smack them both but their story is so special and insanely unique. Maisy goes through so much in her life, I just wanted to give her a big hug. She's so much stronger than anyone gives her credit for though. I loved watching her blossom with Stone. He has such a strong presence even when he has no idea who he is. The way he treats her is so beautiful, sign me up. 😏

[Lottie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would have rated this much higher because I found the story itself interesting and a fun read but them sleeping together before her got his memory back just felt like it toed the line with consent too much for my taste.

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Stoker once again delivers a thrilling, emotional, and satisfying romance with "Deserving Maisy", the sixth installment in The Refuge series. Each book in this series feels stronger than the last, and Maisy’s story is no exception. The premise of a fake marriage, suspenseful twists, and the danger of a murderous brother creates an intense backdrop for the romance to unfold.

Maisy is a deeply sympathetic heroine, trapped by circumstances beyond her control yet determined to find love and freedom. Jack “Stone” Wickett’s struggle with amnesia and his growing feelings for Maisy add layers of tension and tenderness to the plot. Stoker masterfully weaves a narrative where trust is hard-earned, and love must overcome betrayal and danger.

Fast-paced, romantic, and suspenseful, "Deserving Maisy" captivates from start to finish. Fans of romantic suspense will be hooked, and readers already invested in The Refuge series will find this entry especially rewarding. Highly recommended!

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I was waiting to get Stones' story ever since I finished Deserving Lara, and it was so worth the wait. I absolutely loved this story. Maisy and Stone are so adorable together, and yes their were moments I wanted to shake Stone, but he got his head out of his butt and proved to Maisy that she was loved and supported. Maisy loves and supports Stone through everything, and she does everything she can to protect him.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Stone and Maisy's story, Maisy's brother kidnapped Stone to marry Maisy so he could get her money. Stone lost his memory so he thought they were already married. Fun story

[Bernedine Nel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the first page. Loved every minute!

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Susan Stoker, this is the first book (and I've read them ALL) that fell flat for me. The storyline felt "done before." That said it was like catching up with old friends when the gang was reunited. I'm looking forward to Ry and Tiny - absolutely not missing the ending of this series!!! It felt "unfair" to give it a higher rating just because I typically love the author.... So this is honest.

[Kendall {Book Crazy} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this book as soon as I had finished the last book! I was really excited to read this book because of what happened near the end of the last book! After reading, I can say that I enjoyed this book! The plot was different to what was I was expecting, but I liked the direction the author took it in and it kept me interested and wanting to read on and find out what was going to happen next! There was romance in the plot and it did develop quite quickly and not under the best circumstances! The romance did allow for some very steamy scenes though! There was also some action and suspense, which added to the plot and made me enjoy it more! It also played a big part of the plot! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Maisy was the main female character, and she was a new character to this series! Now, I didn’t agree with Maisy’s involvement in what happened to her love interest, but I did feel for her because she was treated horribly by her brother and she felt she didn’t have a choice! Maisy deserved to be free and she found herself surrounded by people that genuinely loved her at The Refuge! Jack ‘Stone’ was the main male character and love interest of Maisy! I really wanted to find out what happened to Jack after what happened to him at the end of the last book! It’s fair to say that Jack got more than he bargained for in this book and I did feel for him! Jack did find Maisy though and he was protective of her and really loved her! I loved Jack and he was a strong guy! This book was written from both Maisy and Jack’s point of views! I was obviously expecting it to be because the other books were written this way and the synopsis gives the impression that it’s going to be written this way! I loved that it was because it helped me connect more with both characters and see how much they meant to each other! It allowed for more things to happen in the plot as well, which helped as Maisy and Jack did go through their own situations and they didn’t spend every second to the plot together! I now can’t wait to read the next book in this series! I know that it’s going to be the final book, but I’m excited to read it and find out how the series is going to end for all the characters! I’m excited about who the main characters are going to be as well, because they’ve been secondary characters in other books, so I can’t wait to read their story! I’ll definitely be making the final book my next read! The cover for this book is also absolutely perfect for it! I love how well it suits the other covers in the series and it would again draw me to the book! The cover model is also the perfect Jack!

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heroines,who are not damsels in distress and heroes who are not knights -Susan Stoker - at her best!

Deserving Maisy continues Susan Stoker's saga about The Refuge, a place in New Mexico where wounded warriors and those who love them can reflect and heal. Prior to the release of Deserving Maisy, Susan Stoker had left us devoted fans with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Now, I abhor cliffhangers as a rule, mainly because the wait between books is hard to take. By the time Deserving Maisy hit my Kindle, I had forgotten I had pre-ordered it! So, I re-read the seres thus far! AND I was reminded why I enjoy Susan Stoker's talented storytelling so much. Susan has mastered the "flawed hero" character, creating a book boyfriend women dream about. Also, her heroines are far from being damsels in distress. Instead, her female protagonists are women most of us would be pleased to call friends. It is very much in line with that "Pretty Woman"quote when asked, "What happened after he climbed the tower and rescued the princess?" Julia Robert's then answers, " She rescues him right back." The Refuge is all about men and women who love enough to rescue each other.

Deserving Maisy not only further develops the character of "Stone," Jack Wicket, former
Night Stalker pilot, and owner/member of The Refuge, it is a vital part of the story behind The Refuge and why it exists. Maisy becomes more than the latest love interest in a long line of female main characters. She is a perfect match to Susan's other women of the Refuge. Maisy, through Susan's creative characterization, transforms with Jack's love into a princess able to rescue the prince "right back." It is a love story that brought me to tears. This story , as with every one of Susan Stoker's novels in this series, mesmerized me. I never wanted this story to end.

There is one more story left to tell in this series. I again can't wait for Deserving Rayleigh to be released. At the same time, I wish the series would never end!

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding love and freedom

I loved, loved Maisy and Jack’s fake marriage romantic suspense story with a side of amnesia. It was such a rollercoaster ride of suspense and big feelings that it was hard to put down. Maisy and Jack are portrayed as real, relatable people who have scars and flaws, but are really just trying to do their best as messy humans. Maisy lives with her abusive and controlling brother, Jason. Since Maisy is unable to access her trust fund unless she’s married, Jason kidnaps a husband for her. Jack is former Army Night Stalker pilot and was abused as a POW. He is also a coowner of the Refuge, a resort that caters to veterans and other people suffering from PTSD. But Jack wakes up with a head injury in Maisy’s bedroom and he cannot remember anything but his name. After being told that they’re married, he agrees to a previously planned vow renewal ceremony. In the course of pretending, Maisy and Jack develop real feelings. Unfortunately, Maisy knows Jack will leave once his memory returns and he will want to get back to his life and friends. To get to their HEA, there will need to be baggage unpacking, inner voice finding, forgiveness, grace, and leaps of faith. This book has a little bit of everything just like you would expect from this genre - sweet moments, strong friendships, spice, real life issues, imperfect characters, dangerous high stress situations, evil actors, and so much love. I am really looking forward to reading the final book in this series and the alpha sexy guys who are so kind, considerate and loving to these strong women.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"She's both stronger than you could ever imagine...

....and far more vulnerable than you realize"

Your heart dropped at the end of book 5 when Stone was kidnapped again. As a POW he had suffered enough, been through enough torture and terror, but as a POW he had the hope of a rescue, or if not he knew death wasn't far away. When you are a prisoner within family, there is no hope. The torture, the pain, the punishments, the agony - there is no escape, no rescue coming and no end in sight either....because they need you alive. Alive but obedient, crushed, broken, a puppet whose strings they can pull, and so it lasts for years...decades, hidden behind the beautiful walls where nobody can see.
Maisy may seem weak as she goes along with her brothers scheme, but I agree with Ry, she is far stronger than we could ever imagine because what would have broken most people, has not broken her. She is still there, under the drugs, the bruises, the threats and the fog - she has survived. When there was no light, no end in sight, no hope....she is amazing. I am a little sad at just how long it takes Stone to realise just how much she has suffered and how strong she has had to be, and yes I get the broken trust, but together they are so good for each other that you don't want them to suffer any more, celebrate the good stuff and when your demons catch you, fight them together, you are always stronger together.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one opened with a bang...we discover what happened to Stone. He wasn't in a good place, but it could have been so much worse! I felt for Maisy right from the start, you could tell that she was as much of a prisoner as Stone. Maybe worse because she was aware of what was going on and what her future would be if her brother succeeded. And sure there was some lying going on, but I feel like Maisy was true with her feelings and as true as she could be with her words and still have both her and Stone be safe. Yet I knew when Stone got his memory back he would be angry with the lying. So when that happened, not a surprise. What was a bit surprising was it wasn't much longer and his crew was looking at him with disgust for how he was treating Maisy because they were far enough away from the situation to see things as they were and how Maisy was manipulated and treated by her brother. It took a bit before Stone could see that, but once he did, he and Maisy had a frank talk, one they needed to and both realized that while the start was iffy, the feelings weren't and they both wanted to be with the other, they just needed to clear the threat that was over their heads.

I thought they dealt with things in a good way, kinda gave the brother a bit of his own medicine. While things were slightly drama filled at the end, the brother was dealt with in a way that he will never be a threat to them again, leaving the couple to just live a happy life. The best revenge!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story in this series. This one doesn't leave as big of a cliffhanger as the previous 2, so I like that, and while it can be read as a standalone, I think readers might be confused if they started with this one and didn't have any of the background from the previous book. That being said, I've been reading them in order and I loved Stone's story. It was so unique and different from the other guys. Suffering from a type of amnesia, he spends the first half of the book just trying to figure out who he is and how his life led him to where he is now. But on a much more basic level, his heart and soul recognized Maisy as his One--which actually made him more willing to accept the lies he was told and not question further, which in turn made it much harder for him to regain his memories. Maisy is another interesting and unique character. She proclaims herself as a coward and yet she recognizes that same connection with Stone from the moment she meets him and is determined to do what she can to save him in spite of adding to his confusion. I thought Stoker did a good job of developing their relationship--both before and after Stone regained his memories. Of course, that was partly due to The Refuge working its magic. I'm both looking forward to the next book but also a little hesitant to read it because I'm pretty sure it's the last in the series and I know I'm going to miss this place and these guys (and their gals!).

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better.

We obviously saw what happened to Stone in Deserving Lara. I was 100% not expecting THIS to happen though. Wowzers.

Loved the fake relationship/marriage of convenience. Also really liked the amnesia trope. Absolutely did not love, nor like, Jason.

While the relationship between Maisy and Stone obviously started out fake, things began to shift early on. You could see them getting closer, and while Maisy knew the truth she wasn't letting that stop her from pursuing that happily ever after. There was just something about Stone that felt like forever for her, and that is understandable. Stone's memory returning the way it did had me shocked, but cheering. I was so glad that he was able to have everything return, and contact his "family" back at The Refuge.

As with Cora and Lara, I really loved the relationship that was being built. The lies/omission of truth was not my favorite, but it was also a key element to the story. So I just accepted it for what it was.

The suspense had me going, and I could not wait to see how it all worked out in the end. Of course if I'm behind honest I also loved getting to see Ryleigh continue to work her magic, and gain just a little more insight into who she is. I just know that the last book in this series is going to be amazing. Cannot wait to return to The Refuge and see what happens in the finale.

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amnesia, a fake marriage, suspenseful twists, and the looming threat of a murderous brother—Deserving Maisy has it all! This might just be my favorite of the series (though it’s hard to choose with Stoker’s storytelling).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
🔥 🔥 (2/5)

Maisy is a heroine you can’t help but root for—trapped by circumstances beyond her control, yet fiercely determined to find love and freedom. Stone’s struggle with amnesia and his undeniable pull toward Maisy adds layers of tension and tenderness, making their journey both gripping and emotional. The deep friendship between Owl and Stone was another highlight, showing the unbreakable bonds forged through hardship.

Stoker crafts a story where trust is earned, and love must fight through betrayal and danger.

“This woman was his wife. He might not remember anything about his life, but he knew without a doubt this woman was his... ‘I don't remember you, or the life we had, but deep down I know you're mine. My soul recognizes you.’”

An unforgettable, suspenseful, and swoon-worthy romance—couldn’t stop reading, kept me rooting for Maisy and Stone!

[J.A. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t Wait!

I absolutely couldn’t wait to dive into this book as soon as it came out. Reading a little here and there while trying to get my work done for the day. Staying up way too late to find out what happens with Stone and Maisy. Wow, was it worth the wait.

We left Stone in the trunk of a car after Lara and Owl’s story. Of course we knew his story wasn’t going to stop there. Even something as small as a little amnesia isn’t enough from keeping him from being the man that Maisy needs. And boy does she need a champion.

This story had its ups and downs. Turns out, even the strongest of men need to be reminded to take their heads out of their butts every now and then. And Stone is no exception. But these two are absolutely HOT together.

Now I’m on pins and needles waiting to find out what happens with Ryleigh and her father. Do her and Tiny end up together? Does Tiny realize that he doesn’t hate her? Will she be able to save the Refuge from her father? I’m so invested in this series right now I won’t be able to sleep well for the next 4 months. UGH!

[Olga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Absolutely loving the series The Refuge books.
Meet Maisy Feldman a young woman that her younger years have been taken away from her loving Parents accidently killed and grieving for them. Her brother Jason Feldman steps in running the house and controlling the money from their parents as they were well off and of course it came with lots of stipulation to gain access and control. And Maisy was heavily sedated throughout her life by her abusive brother. Until one day Jason goes a step to far and finds a husband for her sister.
Meet Jack stone wickett co owner the The Refuge a place where people with PTSD and other problems have a safe haven a place recuperate in an environment away from city life . As a POW and been rescued with his best friend Owl who was with him POW found that they missed flying former Night Stalkers has commission a helicopter and were on the way to pick it up. When Jack is kidnapped again and wakes up with no memory.
Absolute loved the characters and story and series can't wait for the next one

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack is captured and wakes up with no memory of who is is. Unbeknownst to him, this is just a con put together by Maisy's brother Jason in order to get her married off so he can take all of her inheritance.

Jason is so abusive that Maisy has no choice but to go along with the ruse and after a short time falls for Jack.

Time goes on and although Jack does not like the way Jason speaks to Maisy, he tries to get along. Their sex life is amazing and Jack can't figure out how he could have forgotten Maisy.

One day, they decide to go for a picnic and Jack is also looking to get a job so they can leave the house and be on their own. A helicopter is overhead and all of a sudden all his memories come back. He can't believe this is just a con and needs to get away.

He ends up taking Maisy with him in order to get answers as to why she would lie to him and brings her back to the Refuge.

This book has lots of action, compassion and in the end love.

[Elinda Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stone and Maisy

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed reading this story. Susan Stoker is a master storyteller. She weaves the story so that you feel like you're in the story. This book is no longer. Maisy and Stone meet under terrible circumstances. Maisy is virtually a prisoner in her own house, with her brother being the warden. Stone is unwittingly drawn into the middle of everything. He has no memory of anything and believes what he is being told without question. It doesn't take long for Maisy to fall in love with him. Stone has feelings for her, but he no longer trusts her after the truth behind everything comes out. Stone comes up with a plan to get himself and Maisy out of that house. Her brother is furious they managed to escape. When Maisy gets taken, will Stone be able to save her so they can have the HEA they deserve? Get this book and find out. You won't regret it. Sorry, no spoilers.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

tante tematiche
questa storia era iniziata alla fine del volume precedente, dove con un colpo di scena avevamo intuito la perdita di memoria di stone
da qui si riparte, lui è letteralmente rapito e scopriamo poco alla volta la vita di abusi mentali di maisy (ma davvero in USA succedono stè cose...........), che per più di metà del libro è una figura completamente plagiata e distrutta dal fratello
come sempre e purtroppo la motivazione saranno i soldi ma la stoker riesce a inserire bene le tante tematiche presenti, anche il PDST di cui stone soffre
sempre presenti i componenti del rifugio che qui sono determinanti, i PLOT action sono quasi alla fine
la parte "hot" è molta anche perchè nelle prima parte c'è un finto matrimonio......
insomma un volume che non delude, accompagnato da traduzione ed editing perfetti
cinque stelle

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memories old and new

Jack/Stone and Maisy. Talk about the in laws from hell. Maisy’s brother is evil incarnate with his kidnapping of Stone and forcing a marriage to get the inheritance. Maisy is sweet and naive, but really comes into her own. The Refuge is all there, but on the outskirts as most of this story happens in another city/town. We get to touch base with all the couples and see how Ry is doing after everyone got knowledge of her computer skills. Tex’s trackers made another appearance and the guys banded together to help one of their own out. It definitely was not a conventional meeting, but the story showed love and commitment as they got their HEA. Ry’s ending has me excited for her book and to see what all happens with her background and it’s meeting with the Refuge.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maisy & Jack

What a ride!! Jack captured my heart along with Maisy's. His heart & dedication to keeping her safe were matched by her desire to protect him, as well. She'd just been floating along, partly due to her brother's machinations, but also because she didn't feel like she had anything to fight for.

Enter Jack.

His steadfastness burrowed into her heart & she really started to live. I love these two together!

There story is steamy 🔥🔥🔥 & sweet, exciting when crap hits the fan, and emotional as they navigate through everything. Loved seeing Jack's Refuge family come together to help, too!

And of course we get to know Tiny & Ry more & the next story will be INTENSE!

😍😍😍

[Melanie Milburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maisy has had a lot of tragedy in her life, but her brother Jason has always been there. After years of medication for her depression and anxiety, she weans herself off them—and gradually realizes that her brother is actually more of a jailer than savior. Especially when he has a man kidnapped to be her “husband” in order to fulfill the requirements for her inheritance. Jack “Smith” has no memory of his life, but the connection he feels with his “wife” has him easily believing that he and Maisy have been married for a while and willingly participating in their vow renewal. Can Maisy save them? Save Jack? Will Jack ever remember who he truly is? What would that mean for their relationship? Read to know all.

[Melanie Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maisy is caught between her new husband, a man with no memory and her abusive, greedy brother. I loved both Stone and Maisy. He may not have memories but his heart and body recognize his woman immediately. His gentleness, protectiveness and ardor are something she's never experienced. Her life has been a years long nightmare that she's been unable to get away from, until now. There's wonderful chemistry between these two even after the truth comes to light. Thwarting Maisy's brother becomes the Refuge team's mission with a big assist courtesy of Ryleigh. Stone goes some sage advice from his closest friend. He finally pulls his head out and gets on board for his happy ever after. But first he must protect Maisy from a madman.

[Avidchic reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

just loved stones journey.
at first it sounded a bit too easy, especially because of his history with the other men and the refuge. but Susan depicted a pov as the alpha suffered his ptsd.
it was enough to cover the plausibility of the hero and heroines story.
the antagonist wasn't as sinister others in Susan's stories but enough to cause angst and suspense.
it was a pleasure to see maisy come into her own as the book progressed and all the favourite characters popped in to update me on the refuge. And sexy glasses to boot.
awesome novel and just loved stones character and the way he reacted to maisy.
these 2 narrator's are the best. their craft breathes life into the people on the page.

[Catia Santiago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! From the refuge, this is by far my favorite. Maybe because it's so different, maybe because it had a different approach. We all knew Stone from previous books, and what he went through, but we didn't know Maisy and what she went through. Although I felt the staff could have done more to help - and really? No investigation into poor Martha's disappearance? - Maisy was trying to be on her feet, albeit drugged out of her skull by her brother. And despite she did try to warn Jack, let's face it - she didn't try that hard, did she? He was the first person to love her since her parents deaths...

[Debbie Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deserving Maisy is book six in "The Refuge series" and really deserves more than five stars! Jack "Stone" Wickett has been kidnapped, he has lost his memory so when he is told that the beautiful woman named Maisy is his wife, he has no reason not to believe it.
Maisy feels like her brain has finally started coming out of a fog, and suddenly realizes the problems that she has been facing are all the fault of her brother Jason.
Jason is a bad boy who will do whatever it takes to get his hands on Maisy's inheritance. The only question is will Maisy help Stone and will he get his memory back before it is too late?
This is romantic suspense at its best!!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and Maisy

Jack wakes up in Maisy bedroom with no memory of his past or how he even ended up there. Maisy’s brother Jason was behind the kidnapping as part of his plan to acquire Maisy inheritance. Their attraction to each is real even though the forced or fake marriage wasn’t. Jason had know idea who Jack was or he would have known it was a mistake. Jack gets his memory back and the action begins. His buddies from the Refuge gets him and Maisy out the house to safety. They then work towards stopping Jason from succeeding with his plans to inherit millions and kill them. Great read.

[Siobhan D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the narration from Maxine Mitchell, and Aaron Shedlock

Jack memory has gone, he doesn't remember anything. He has no memory of the woman who is calling herself his wife. At times I so wanted to shake these two. Maisy goes through so much in her life, and this has made her strong. Her brother Jason is very abuse and controlling.
Jack wakes up with a head injury in Maisy’s bedroom and he cannot remember anything but his name. After being told that they’re married. He may not remember this woman, but he knows that she could be some one special.
This book has angst, drama, romance and spice.

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deserving Maisy🥰

Deserving Maisy is the next book in the Refuge series and is an emotional and turbulent ride❣️Stone aka Jack finds himself kidnapped at the end of the last book, stuffed in a trunk only to wake up with a headache and a man saying he’s his brother-in-law and Maisy is his wife😳

This book was outstanding and so well done🙌 I had an intense dislike of Maisy’s brother the more I read and Jack really managed to exhibit his personality and character very early on. I did not want to put this book down and I’m eager for January to find out more about Ry❤️‍🩹