Protecting Maggie

SEAL of Protection: Alliance #4

by Susan Stoker

A virgin, a convict, and a villain who is determined to destroy them both.

Imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit, Maggie Lionetti is doing everything she can to keep her head above water. Including using a friend’s name and her car to make money. Too bad she crosses paths with someone who actually knows her friend…and knows she isn’t who she’s pretending to be.

Shawn “Preacher” Franklin isn’t about to let someone cheat and steal from a Navy friend while she’s deployed. So he and his friends confront Maggie, and find out she’s simply a woman down on her luck. There’s something about her, and her situation, that strikes a chord in him and he begins helping her get back on her feet.

One thing leads to another and before they know it, Maggie and Preacher are dating. It’s an unusual match, the virgin and the convict, but it works. They work.

But not everyone who puts on a uniform for their country does so for the right reasons. Maggie’s keeping a secret from her new boyfriend and his friends. A secret that could put her right back in prison and be deadly for Preacher and his fellow Navy SEALs. She has to find the courage to spill all her secrets…but that still might not be enough to save her.

Genres: Military Fiction, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance

Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2025

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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

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher & Maggie

So good! This is another amazing series. I love Maggie and Preacher. This poor woman has needed a champion for the longest time. Meeting Preacher, Maggie has found her forever champion. He’s not perfect, but he is perfect for her. And oh what she and they went through! My favorite part of this series has got to be that the original seal team plays such a big role. And now I’m just excited for more!

[Holly Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

I wanted to like this one much more than I did. I think the idea wasn't bad, but the execution wasn't the best.

Maggie is finally out on parole after being falsely imprisoned. She's eager to just move on with her life, but her ex -- a very powerful man in the military world -- still wants her to suffer. Maggie is at a loss of what to do and she's desperate for help.

Shawn, AKA Preacher, is waiting for the love of his life. As a hopeless romantic, he's just not eager to sleep around, hence his nickname. So when he meets Maggie, he thinks he's found the one.

The insta-love in this was a little ridiculous given the guy is 32. I think at that age, after waiting that long, he wouldn't be quick to jump in bed and yet it happens.

I was more interested in the villain. I think he was very interesting and that's where the focus should have been.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

molto attuale
questa è una storia davvero sorprendente: inizia così per caso, e poi prende tutta un'altra piega in piena attualità di guerra in ucraina e russi, senza sbavature e senza mai cadere nell'ovvio
è dunque un vero libro di guerra dove la parte romance sì c'è ma è davvero quasi in terzo piano rispetto a tutto l'intreccio dove è citato anche l'NCIS!!!! ci sono anche temi attualissimi come lo stolker@@@, il narcisista manipolatore: insomma un libro davvero diverso e per questo sicuramente interessante
bellissima la parte di McGiver che non vedo l'ora di leggere!e sempre presentissimi la squadra dei primi SEAL ma anche il nostro amatissimo Tex e i mercenari!!!!
preso in unlimited come al solito
quattro stelle e mezzo

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trust in the one

Preacher/Shawn and Maggie. Talk about a great couple. Maggie has been through the ringer and now she is facing more hardship, but also potentially her greatest blessing when she meets Remi and then some of the SEALs. The higher up ex was a shock when it shared just how high up he was. Tex was a standout and I loved his role in pulling strings and how some of the female characters from other series got to showcase their computer skills helping this new couple out. The children were adorable and heartbreaking so I am excited for MacGyvers story and Getting an update about Bree has me ready for her and Smileys story! This is a fantastic series on its own, but I also love seeing Wolf, Caroline, Tex,and so many other original favorites in these books!

[Valeria Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 This book had different elements to it which gave it some freshness. The insta-love, knowing that this is your person practically at the first glance trope is Stoker's specialty and you just have to go with it or get off the train. I stay for the escapism.

[Kait · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preacher and Maggie❤️‍🩹

Protecting Maggie is about Maggie and Preacher aka Shawn. Maggie is released from jail, relying heavily on one friend who she met recently. Maggie and Preacher meet after him and some of his teammates find out she is impersonating a friend of theirs who is currently deployed. Realising Maggie needs a friend and some help, Preacher steps up - coming to the startling realisation that this could be the woman he’s been waiting for☺️

This story was intense and I kept thinking…poor Maggie has the worst luck - why hasn’t Tex given her a tracker yet? From CONUS to foreign countries and back again…there are some hair raising situations that they find themselves in..but a SEAL always has a plan and Maggie won’t let the person who has caused her so much grief get away with it🙃

Loved this story and super excited we don’t have to wait long for the next book in this series🙌

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting adventure, nail-biting suspense, and steamy romance!

Protecting Maggie is book four in the SEAL of Protection:Alliance by bestselling author Susan Stoker. Susan is the spouse of a former military man and demonstrates a deep empathy for the significant others of our deployed men and women in her military romances. Yet, nowhere is this talent as evident as it is in this series, especially in book four, Protecting Maggie!

The villain in this story is the worst psychopath I have ever encountered in Susan Stoker's novels. I held my breath often as he thought of new ways to screw with the SEAL team I have come to love in this series. Talk about nail-biting suspense! I despaired that Susan could find a way to resolve the situation and make sure Maggie and her SEAL team lover, Preacher (Shawn), could finally experience their HEA. This bad guy had too much clout, and so many people he controlled it was hard for the team to believe he was evil. The ending was so uncertain I refused to put the book down until I was sure that the SEAL team, Preacher, and Maggie would be safe from this madman forever!

Protecting Maggie is a book you want to read after you read the rest of the series. Many characters from previous novels re-appear in this story. In fact, the characters from other SEAL of Protection series are featured throughout this set of books. It is well worth the time it takes to read the other SEAL of Protection series. Many are available through a Kindle Unlimited subscription, so it is affordable and enjoyable to take your time catching up on these exciting novels by my favorite military suspense romance writer, Susan Stoker!

Protecting Maggie is one of those books that is so believable, especially to those who married into the world of Special Forces and Operators; you may find yourself shouting at the characters as though they can hear you. Even more surprising is realizing you fully expect these book friends to respond to your commands! This is just another way Susan Stoker demonstrates her incredible writing talent! Susan's creative imagination and impeccable wordcraft sucks you right into her world. I am convinced that once you have experienced Susan's world, you will never want to leave!

So RUN, don't WALK, and pick up your copy of Protecting Maggie. I hope you, too, will discover why I always one-click all Susan Stoker's books!

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and synchronicity

I loved this military romance with its perfect mix of love, real life issues, palpable danger, and spicy romance. This heart warming story includes two strong, intense, and passionate main characters who are real, relatable people who have flaws and make mistakes, but are really just trying to just do their best being messy humans. I have a soft spot for the people who are a bit uncomfortable in their skin because they don’t feel like they fit in, like Shawn and Maggie. So I love when they finally see their truth and they get swoon worthy HEAs. Maggie is an ex-con who was sent to prison for drug trafficking because of her high ranking Navy boyfriend. Now that she’s out of prison, she’s struggling and is doing the best she can to complete her probation and be able to eat. Shawn is a Navy Seal and determined to confront Maggie who is impersonating “Adina” a service member known by his team. When they confront Maggie and learn the truth, everything changes and Shawn only wants to help her. Thus begins the journey to their HEA. To get to there, they’ll just need to deal with danger of Maggie’s ex along with their overwhelming fast feelings. Shawn and Maggie’s love story has a little bit of everything - sweet moments, spice, dangerous heart stopping action, painful pasts, strong friendships, swoons, a very bad guy, and laughs. Expect to feel all the things - fear, love, anger, redemption, tears, joy, and so much all encompassing, nurturing, protective love. Susan Stoker is a master of balancing a story of romance, danger, and personal growth. And while most of us will never be in the dangerous situations the main characters are a part of, the author nevertheless makes who they are as people so relatable and real that it is easy to fall in love with them. I cannot wait to hear what happens next for the men in Seal of Protection: Alliance series especially with the epilogue glimpses.

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

PROTECTING MAGGIE (SEAL of Protection: Alliance Book 4) by Susan Stoker.
Military Fiction, Romantic Suspense, and apart where they end up in the middle of a war between the Russians & Ukraine! It is action-packed too!

Shawn “Preacher” Franklin is a Navy Seal and a good man. When he and his team heard that someone was driving around in the woman soldier's car, and also was using her name, while she was deployed. They decided to take action! Maggie Lionetti was about as down on her luck as she could be. She had been in prison for a crime she never committed. When she got out early it was to find felons are not a person that gets hired. She had no money either. Her one friend was Adina who's the one who picked her up when she was released and let her live in her apartment. When Adina was deployed, she let her use her car. Maggie was very grateful to her friend. When the three Navy Seals stopped her and were interrogating her and did not know if to believe her story. She told them everything she could, how her ex-boyfriend had taken the stand for the prosecution, and had planted the drugs in her car. They got a hold of her friend's leader, and Adina verified her story. Preacher was there to uncover a thief with his friends, and understood she was just down on her luck. They all decided that they would help her instead. Preacher was the one who wanted to help her the most, sometimes the exact person you need shows up and is the one who gives you hope. So many things go wrong that you would think it was never going to end well, but low and behold it does!

[Stephanie Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie and Preacher is a bit of a different love story.

Maggie is released from prison where she spent 2 years for a crime she was set up for. While staying at a friend’s apartment and using her Uber license she meets Remi, from book one of Seal of Protection, Alliance. Since Remi does the smart thing and takes a picture of the Uber license, when her husband sees it he knows something is kinky. He knows the friend, she is Navy and he knows she is currently deployed. So he grabs 2 teammates and heads to find out what is going on.

Preacher has been waiting to find his one. He is called Preacher for a reason. He has been waiting. Not interested in the Frog Hogs or any short term relationships. When he meets Maggie, he immediately feels THE connection! When she is confronted with 3 angry SEALs, her story spills out. Thankfully, Preacher, Kevlar and Smiley all believe her story! But then chaos descends…..

With all the twists and turns, including who ACTUALLY set Maggie up, which I won’t say BC of spoilers, this is such an amazing original story! I couldn’t stop reading it! Dang it Susan! Who needs sleep?

Seriously. This one is an amazing story and the trip to their HEA is such a wild ride from California to the Ukraine! 15/10 reccommend!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Maggie needs a hero, Preacher is the man for her. After spending 2 years in prison due to an ex boyfriend, Maggie is running out of options. Living in a friend's apartment while she's been deployed. She takes over Adina"s Uber driving as she's unable to find a job do to her criminal history. She ends up giving a ride to Remi, the taco cartoonist, she gives Remi her number in case she needs another Uber. Turns out Remi's boyfriend is one of the seals of this series of books. Preacher and two other seals confront Maggie with the knowledge that they know Adina and know she is deployed. So starts the story of Preacher and Maggie. Maggie's ex, a high ranking military officer, keeps popping up threatening her and eventually adds Preacher and his team to the threats. From there starts the exes interference with the team. Maggie gets kidnapped, the team gets sent on an odd mission. Their mission, to drop off weapons, one of the crates opens when dropped from the plane and Preacher realizes it's Maggie. Preacher and MacGyver exit the plane and here the chaos begins.......
Great read, recommend the previous books in this series. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series; MacGyver and Addison*s story.

[Anika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the first page. Susan Stoker delivers yet another emotionally gripping and heart-pounding romance in "Protecting Maggie", and I absolutely loved it.

Maggie is a heroine who breaks the mold—she's strong despite everything life has thrown at her, and her vulnerability makes her feel incredibly real. The fact that she’s been wronged by the system and is doing whatever it takes to survive made me root for her from the beginning. And Preacher? Total swoon. He’s tough, loyal, and exactly the kind of protective hero you want in a SEAL romance. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but what really got me was how gently and patiently their relationship unfolds, especially given Maggie’s history.

This story is a perfect blend of heart, heat, and action. I laughed, I held my breath, and I definitely teared up a time or two. Maggie and Preacher’s journey is messy, beautiful, and ultimately so rewarding. If you love protective heroes, strong heroines, and second chances, "Protecting Maggie" will not disappoint.

A standout in the series—and one of my new favorites.

[Marian Chawner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally must read binge. Shawn a navy seal, meets Maggie when checking her out as a driver who has taken Remi home. We have in this storyline many previous named characters that have had their day in print, but need to be involved in this incredible absorbing story. Maggie is a felin, released from prison early , due to good behaviour, but in probation. As a felon it’s almost impossible to get a job, and her previous career is a none starter due to the reason she was incarcerated. Innocent , set up by her ex boyfriend, who is a dispicable character. Warped and very capable of doing heinousl things, which become appears throughout the story. Shawn a navy seal, and virgin, falls in a big way for Maggie, and a beautiful story unfolds. Drama as well as e romance abounds, plus intriguing situations and comodardary between fellow seals. The juvenile characterss are so very believable and the hostility of war also highlights deep research. A fabulous story , with a great HEA, leading very nicely onto the next characters to have their say, Addison and Riley.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corruption at the highest level....

...just because he can.

There Is evil in every walk of life, but somehow a decorated officer being evil and corrupt seems even worse.
Maggie was his victim once but she is far stronger than he ever thought, harder to silence, harder to kill and when she crosses paths with Remi an instant friendship is formed. That friendship has brought her into the Alliance family, giving her not only friends and allies but also Preacher, Shawn.
Maggie could have been hardened by her experiences and whilst she does struggle with trust, she also has the biggest heart and her concerns for others is very sweet and heartwarming.
You cannot help but love all of the Alliance team and it is obviously lovely to catch up with Wolf and his team and obviously everyone's favourite hero Tex.
A great addition to the series with lots of crossover references to Ms Stoker's other series: The Refuge, Mountain Mercenaries, Silverstone and more.... fantastic!

[Jara Beaubien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I was surprised by Susan Stokers work and how she manages to keep me on the edge, how I can hate a character she used, and boy Roman took the cake so far, he should have seen death by lava, but I guess no active volcanos in Southern California. Maggie and Shawn were amazing, surprising how resilient one can be, she was hit and hit and hit and still managed to win.
And Shawn well let's say that he is amazing too, stuck to his believes no matter what and when he found his soul mate, he was in a thousand precent,
Now the, the jerk Roman, how could someone be that way, must have lost his brains, he had a great career, yet he managed to ruin that, I hope that there are no others like him in our military.
So, I promise to never get on Susan's nerves, for the way she get rid of the enemy, wow

[Melanie Milburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie Leonetti has had a really rough time of it. Betrayed by her ex, she’s spent two years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, and lost everything. Thankful for the one friend, Adina, who didn’t abandon her, she’s staying at her apartment while she’s on deployment and using her Uber license to earn a little money for food gas, and to get Adina’s car fixed. When she picks up a kind and generous lady. named Remi, little does she know how much more her life is going to change.
Shawn “Preacher” Franklin is protective of his team and their ladies. When one of his team becomes suspicious of the Uber driver who gave his Remi a ride, he helps to confront her. He comes to believe she’s on the up and up, and finds that there’s something about her that draws him in.
This was a wonderful, suspenseful and steamy romance!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As this one started all I could think was poor Maggie, she totally got screwed over! She was trying so hard to find her new normal and hanging on by her fingernails. Then when the guys showed up, that could have gone very wrong, instead it was the best thing to happen to her. She finally had someone at her back and there to help. Even if all they did was help her find her new job, that would have been great. Instead Maggie was quickly brought into the fold, lots of new friends and a new guy. Then as they started to look into the charges against Maggie, just the hope there was great, even as things spun out of control. It was only by luck that things didn't end up worse and Maggie had a couple of the guys by her side as they worked to get safe. Once back home things really ramped up as finally Maggie's POS ex got his, leaving Maggie to her HEA with Preacher.

[Jackie Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Maggie sure got a bad deal. I felt for her having been driving a car with drugs planted by her ex and getting pulled over was just bad luck for her.

After she gets out of jail, using her friend's id and uber car, she encounters more bad luck when she gives a ride to someone who in turn tells their husband and he realizes that the person is not who she says she is.

As Precher stars to fall for Maggie, things get crazy. The ex figuring out things and sending the team on missions to keep them out of the way was nuts. Even more so was having the team push Maggie out of a helicopter in a foreign country only to have it split open. Who is that derranged?

I loved that in the end things worked out for everyone and that Maggie and Preacher got their HEA.

Looking forward to seeing what is going to happen with the children that were rescued during this mission.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great narration!
Maggie is out of prison after being wrongly convicted of a crime she didn’t commit. She’s barely making ends meet by using her military friend’s ride share account, but as luck would have it, one of her fares knows her friend. After SEAL Shawn shows up with his teammates to question her, she tells him her sad sordid story.
After Shawn and Maggie start dating she tells him about her ex-boyfriend, who made her his unwitting drug mule. When Maggie tells Shawn who the ex is, he doesn’t believe her, and holy plot hole, instead of just looking up a picture of the the ex to ask her if they’re talking about the same guy, they part ways. Maggie ends up being kidnapped, Shawn is deployed, and it’s a whole big mess in Ukraine before coming back together.
Emma Wilder and Ryan West give amazing performances in this audiobook! I loved their narration!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie & Shawn

I very much enjoyed Maggie & Shawn, aka Preacher! Their story is definitely unique, from the way they meet to the situations they find themselves thrown into. I love the pacing of their relationship, too - Shawn takes his time but also moves very quickly. 😄

One of the ways he moves quickly is by making sure Maggie is pulled into the fold with Remi, Wren, & Josie. They form a fast friendship that helps Maggie heal from the loneliness of her incarceration. And when the girls are all together, they're hilarious!

We get steam & sweetness, intrigue & a kidnapping or two. We get a VERY interesting adventure & I loved it!! And the ending teasers for the next stories... oooh yeah!

😍😍😍

[Melanie Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Stoker throws in some surprising twists and turns in Protecting Maggie. You'll love both Maggie and Shawn AKA Preacher. Although their meeting put them on somewhat of an awkward footing, Shawn know that Maggie is honest and in a bad spot. He goes out of his way to help her and in doing so starts getting attached. Maggie's life really got screwed up because of one man and now he's threatening her again. The evil this represents know no bounds and not only does he put her in peril he also ensnares Preacher's SEAL team in his machinations. The ever present Tex and his haker friends icluding; Ryleigh at the Refuge and Rex from Mountain Mercenaries are on the case making sure jystice prevails. Falling in love was easy because they were meant to be together.

[Dee Her · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another win!

After she finds that getting a job as a felon is difficult, Maggie uses her best friend's ID to be a ride share driver while her friend is deployed overseas. Unfortunately, one of her rides ends up being a person who knows the best friend. A SEAL in fact.

I gotta admit: Stoker has a knack for writing some messed up and super hated villains. This book is the worst of the worst in villains!!! Ugh!!! A guy who purposely uses his power to make people fall or belittle them is just despicable! That makes taking him down feel even better!!! Enjoyed this one and waiting for the next!!!

[julie satterlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

They keep getting better!

I have read every single book written by Susan Stoker and have loved every single one! I love her characters and how they interact and show up in later books. It's like getting to see old friends again. I didn't think it was possible to get better than some of my favorite books from her, but this one truly blew me away! So much danger, surprises, loyalty, faith, and love that I couldn't put this one down. I've already pre-ordered every book she has available coming in the next year, and it's like a wonderful gift as each one is released. I highly recommend reading any of Susan's books 📚 😀

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!

I loved this story of Maggie and Shawn (Preacher)!! She's an ex con thanks to her ex boyfriend that railroaded her into jail on a drug conviction. Remi meets her first. Shawn has an instant connection to her. He's there to help her out, find her a job and help her with the car she's using. The attraction is growing. The ex boyfriend keeps calling and threatening Maggie. He is also in the Navy. Some absolutely crazy things happen, you have to read to find out! I love these two together. I loved this book and series! I couldn't put it down! I highly recommend! I can't wait for both Addison and Bree's stories!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protecting Maggie by Susan Stoker

This is the fourth book in the series. This is Preacher and Maggie’s story. Maggie had been arrested for having drugs in her car. Her ex had placed them there but no one believed her as he was a high ranking naval officer. She did 2 years of her 3 year sentence. Maggie was impersonating her friend so that she could work and feed herself. Her friend was deployed so she said use her car and her ID to be an urBeats driver. She met Preacher and his friends when they knew the deployed friend and thought Maggie might be stealing from her. That was only the first of many dramas to occur in this book. But HEA was achieved.

[Bernedine Nel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a rollercoaster! Enjoyed this story so much.
The part of this story that I most enjoyed is that the MMC was not always perfect and made mistakes. The FMC was guarded, which is what you would expect with her history, but she was 'women-enough' to admit when it made her react in a way she should not have.

I liked how this book touched on some current news happening in the world today. I think this was probably my favorite part and getting 'n big insight into the next book in the series.

[Sue MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie's put through years of hell just because her ex has a twisted sense of power out of hurting others.
He sees her as an easy mark to torture until she meets her future in Preacher and his team.
But her ex is not ready to give up his plans for her easy, but now she's got a reason to fight.
But the things he puts her through are mind-boggling, and it's amazing when his full depravity comes to light exactly how far he's willing to go.
She's finally got something to look forward to, and her justice comes swiftly.

[Avidchic reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's so awesome how susan can come up with different plots on themes that I love and create all the feels.
I particularly love when she takes me international and includes a parallel with problems and crisis points of the world today.
a lot of novels with romance in it have the push/pull between H and h.
With susan, there is a bit of internal self doubt but the suspense around the plotline keeps the story flowing and not getting bogged down.
narrators. Ryan and Emma, brilliant as usual.
fabulous work
thank you to all of you