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Alpha Cove #3
The Pilot
Not yet published
Expected 4 Aug 26Sparks fly when a former bully moves in with her former victim in New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker’s tantalizing third foray into Alpha Cove, a spicy military romance steeped in emotion.
Ex-fighter pilot Lincoln “Linc” Young is a survivor, masking his PTSD and nightmares behind a calm exterior. When his father’s death brings him back to Maine to help his mom, he never expects to cross paths with his former high school tormentor. But the woman who once made his life hell now stirs completely different emotions in Linc, and when he finds Harper in need, he impulsively offers her and her young son a place to stay.
Harper Bates thought she’d hit rock bottom after returning to her childhood home in Rockville, Maine. Then her father begins judging her every move—and worse, her son Kash, when they discover he’s being bullied at school. The last person she expects help from is Linc, the boy Harper herself had bullied years ago. Now a commanding presence who makes her and Kash feel safe, Linc inspires both a growing attraction…and lingering shame over her past actions.
Temporary cohabitation quickly turns into something more as Harper and Linc reveal intimate secrets that put them both on a path to healing. But they’re unaware someone else has a secret. And it’s about to impact the one person the couple can’t live without—Kash.
Ex-fighter pilot Lincoln “Linc” Young is a survivor, masking his PTSD and nightmares behind a calm exterior. When his father’s death brings him back to Maine to help his mom, he never expects to cross paths with his former high school tormentor. But the woman who once made his life hell now stirs completely different emotions in Linc, and when he finds Harper in need, he impulsively offers her and her young son a place to stay.
Harper Bates thought she’d hit rock bottom after returning to her childhood home in Rockville, Maine. Then her father begins judging her every move—and worse, her son Kash, when they discover he’s being bullied at school. The last person she expects help from is Linc, the boy Harper herself had bullied years ago. Now a commanding presence who makes her and Kash feel safe, Linc inspires both a growing attraction…and lingering shame over her past actions.
Temporary cohabitation quickly turns into something more as Harper and Linc reveal intimate secrets that put them both on a path to healing. But they’re unaware someone else has a secret. And it’s about to impact the one person the couple can’t live without—Kash.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 4, 2026
267 people want to read
About the author
Susan Stoker
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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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For all upcoming books click here: http://www.stokeraces.com/coming-soon...
http://www.stokeraces.com/contact-1.html
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.
Follow SUSAN:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsstoker
www.facebook.com/authorsusanstoker
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsusanstoker
Twitter: www.twitter.com/susan_stoker
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan...
Amazon: http://amzn.to/238Jw8c
For all upcoming books click here: http://www.stokeraces.com/coming-soon...
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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March 13, 2026Got the ARC!
SHE was his bully? Sign me in.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the ARC of The Pilot by Susan Stoker in exchange for an honest review.
The Pilot blends small-town romance with a touch of suspense and follows Harper Bates, a single mom returning to her hometown after years of trying to build a life for herself and her young son, Kash. Coming home also means facing someone from her past: Linc Young, a medically retired Air Force pilot and the man she bullied mercilessly in high school. When circumstances lead Harper and Kash to temporarily move in with Linc, the forced proximity makes it impossible to avoid the past. Old wounds, guilt, and complicated feelings quickly rise to the surface.
What stood out most to me in this book was the character work. Harper isn’t written as a perfect heroine, and I appreciated that honesty. She knows she treated Linc terribly in the past, and much of her emotional journey centers around confronting that guilt and trying to become a better person for both herself and her son.
Linc is also a compelling character. As a medically retired Air Force pilot dealing with PTSD and insomnia, he carries his own trauma while still showing patience, kindness, and quiet strength. Watching him slowly let Harper back into his life was one of the more emotional aspects of the story.
Kash, Harper’s son, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book. His growing relationship with Linc adds a lot of warmth to the story, and some of their interactions were genuinely sweet. The small-town setting and the found-family dynamic also help create a comforting sense of community around the characters.
The writing style is easy to get into and keeps the story moving. The dialogue feels natural, and the chemistry between Harper and Linc develops throughout the book. The open-door scenes are well written and fit naturally within the emotional tone of the story.
My main critique would be the pacing of the romance. Because Harper and Linc have such a complicated history, I would have loved to see a slightly slower build to their relationship. A little more time spent developing their emotional connection early on would have made some of the bigger emotional moments land even stronger.
Overall, this was an enjoyable small-town romance with suspense elements and strong emotional themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances.
Readers who enjoy the following tropes will likely enjoy this book:
small-town romance
forced proximity
single parent
found family
second chance / redemption arc
protective hero
military hero
This book would be especially enjoyable for readers who like emotional contemporary romance with strong character growth, small-town settings, and a mix of heartfelt family moments and romantic tension.
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 2.5/5 (open-door scenes)
The Pilot blends small-town romance with a touch of suspense and follows Harper Bates, a single mom returning to her hometown after years of trying to build a life for herself and her young son, Kash. Coming home also means facing someone from her past: Linc Young, a medically retired Air Force pilot and the man she bullied mercilessly in high school. When circumstances lead Harper and Kash to temporarily move in with Linc, the forced proximity makes it impossible to avoid the past. Old wounds, guilt, and complicated feelings quickly rise to the surface.
What stood out most to me in this book was the character work. Harper isn’t written as a perfect heroine, and I appreciated that honesty. She knows she treated Linc terribly in the past, and much of her emotional journey centers around confronting that guilt and trying to become a better person for both herself and her son.
Linc is also a compelling character. As a medically retired Air Force pilot dealing with PTSD and insomnia, he carries his own trauma while still showing patience, kindness, and quiet strength. Watching him slowly let Harper back into his life was one of the more emotional aspects of the story.
Kash, Harper’s son, ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book. His growing relationship with Linc adds a lot of warmth to the story, and some of their interactions were genuinely sweet. The small-town setting and the found-family dynamic also help create a comforting sense of community around the characters.
The writing style is easy to get into and keeps the story moving. The dialogue feels natural, and the chemistry between Harper and Linc develops throughout the book. The open-door scenes are well written and fit naturally within the emotional tone of the story.
My main critique would be the pacing of the romance. Because Harper and Linc have such a complicated history, I would have loved to see a slightly slower build to their relationship. A little more time spent developing their emotional connection early on would have made some of the bigger emotional moments land even stronger.
Overall, this was an enjoyable small-town romance with suspense elements and strong emotional themes of forgiveness, healing, and second chances.
Readers who enjoy the following tropes will likely enjoy this book:
small-town romance
forced proximity
single parent
found family
second chance / redemption arc
protective hero
military hero
This book would be especially enjoyable for readers who like emotional contemporary romance with strong character growth, small-town settings, and a mix of heartfelt family moments and romantic tension.
Rating: 4/5
Spice level: 2.5/5 (open-door scenes)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
i believe that this is a well deserved 5 star book and just genuinely the most wholesome book ever so if any of the following sounds appealing to you or if you just enjoy cute romance books with a side of suspense then this is for you!!!
oh my gosh this book was literally the most immaculate thing i’ve ever read, it was so wholesome and just overall adorable. and lincoln like holy that man is genuinely such a gentleman and everything you could ever ask want from a guy.
honestly this book wasn’t what i thought it was going to be, i haven’t read the other books in the series (i definitely will be now) so i didnt know what i was really getting into besides from all i found out in the description but it was amazing. it’s written in third person which isnt what i usually go for but nevertheless it was spectacular, it added to the plot to be honest and aided the progression of the book making it feel more elevated.
the plot however!! couldnt have seen it coming, i was just reading in bed all cozy and that and then holy i was stressing for a hot minute. the plot twist was wholely crazy but like sort of nice at the same time, it really showed how people can change and be better which was a really nice message towards the end of the book.
and linc and harper (the main characters) were just so considerate towards eachother, i think from all the books ive read they have got to be in top ten couples. both of them put in equal effort and although they took time getting into the real relationship they just like did it for eachother which is just absolutely adorable. also the representation of trauma and hardships in life was explored in sensitive ways which made the book all the more meaningful and really pulled you in to empathise with the characters.
id also like to thank net galley and susan stoker for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this :)
oh my gosh this book was literally the most immaculate thing i’ve ever read, it was so wholesome and just overall adorable. and lincoln like holy that man is genuinely such a gentleman and everything you could ever ask want from a guy.
honestly this book wasn’t what i thought it was going to be, i haven’t read the other books in the series (i definitely will be now) so i didnt know what i was really getting into besides from all i found out in the description but it was amazing. it’s written in third person which isnt what i usually go for but nevertheless it was spectacular, it added to the plot to be honest and aided the progression of the book making it feel more elevated.
the plot however!! couldnt have seen it coming, i was just reading in bed all cozy and that and then holy i was stressing for a hot minute. the plot twist was wholely crazy but like sort of nice at the same time, it really showed how people can change and be better which was a really nice message towards the end of the book.
and linc and harper (the main characters) were just so considerate towards eachother, i think from all the books ive read they have got to be in top ten couples. both of them put in equal effort and although they took time getting into the real relationship they just like did it for eachother which is just absolutely adorable. also the representation of trauma and hardships in life was explored in sensitive ways which made the book all the more meaningful and really pulled you in to empathise with the characters.
id also like to thank net galley and susan stoker for the opportunity to read an ARC copy of this :)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another fantastic read! Lincoln is a former Air Force pilot who is haunted by his memories from the service. Harper is his former high school tormenter and a desperately struggling single parent. When they find themselves back in their home town, an unlikely friendship develops. As in all Susan Stoker books, there's far more to it then that... Before long, their circumstances have changed and they're facing a very dangerous situation.
The characters have depth and felt real as they came to life on the page. I found myself totally engrossed in their story and flipping pages just as quickly as possible. Don't start this one too late in the evening, or you'll be up all night reading.
This one is a must read for fans of the genre. The author is a master at her craft and is on my must read authors' list.
The characters have depth and felt real as they came to life on the page. I found myself totally engrossed in their story and flipping pages just as quickly as possible. Don't start this one too late in the evening, or you'll be up all night reading.
This one is a must read for fans of the genre. The author is a master at her craft and is on my must read authors' list.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews