Brawler

SEAL Team EAST #7

by Zoe Dawson

A mission to recover lost weapons. A redhead running through the jungle. And one SEAL about to face something he can’t explain.

Petty Officer Christian “Brawler” Beckett and his team are covertly deployed to the Ecuadorian jungle to locate the crash site of an unmanned aerial vehicle and the Marine chopper that went down searching for it. It’s up to them to recover the weapons and the men. But deep in the rainforest, where the air hums with something ancient and unseen, nothing goes to plan.

Before they reach the wreckage, they stumble across something a furious young redhead running from armed men. Soon-to-be-Dr. Emily Shade is a Zoology graduate student studying jaguars. She’s brilliant, stubborn, and utterly determined to finish her dissertation—even if drug runners and military “Neanderthals” keep getting in the way.

Brawler doesn’t have time for distractions. Especially not the five-foot-two firecracker with a temper, a pixie grin, and a habit of arguing with him in the middle of a tactical op. She’s not his type. She’s trouble. So why is his K9 partner, Beast, suddenly obsessed with her and, as the mission deepens, so is he?

Unable to extract her safely, the team is forced to bring her along. But as danger closes in and the jungle itself seems to come alive, survival becomes more than a mission. Because some battles aren’t fought on any map. Some are written in the space between heartbeats and some are destined long before the first shot is fired.

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2025

About the author

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Zoe Dawson, the author of 40+ books had always dreamed of becoming a full-time romance writer. Her other passions include traveling the world, owning a beach house (she believes she was a mermaid in another life), and seeing her books in movies. When she’s not writing, she’s painting or killing virtual MMORPG monsters in World of Warcraft. She lives in North Carolina with her two grown children and one small, furry gray cat.

Reviews

[Cheryl Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just Wow! You just have to read this story!! I know I find myself saying this about Zoe's books every time she releases a new one, so you won't be surprised when I say it again. This is by far the best story that Zoe has written to date!! It literally grabs you from the beginning and it still hasn't let me go. Emily is an absolute hoot!! Just coming out of relationship that she really wasn't vested in, she quite literally runs into Brawler, in the jungle, while trying to escape the men that where chasing her. Brawler is the glue that holds all the Seals on his team together. He has a sense where he can feel if something is off with his team mates, or a mission that they all depend on. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. My favorite part of this story is when Brawler first found Emily, then she decided to escape him and the keep away games begin and in front of his whole team. I laughed and laughed, that is one story that his team will be telling for years and years. He will never live it down. I loved how Brawler and his team kept coming up with new call signs for Emily. I loved how Emily turned Beast into a cuddly fur baby that had Brawler shaking his head wondering what happened to his vicious war dog. I loved how Emily managed to wrap every single team mate around her fingers where they were willing and ready to die to protect her. I especially loved how Emily fell in love with Brawler. The best love story ever told!! I loved the scene in the cave by the waterfall, HOT! HOT! HOT! I loved how Emily put herself at risk over and over again to save Brawler and his team mates. I would have loved to be at the State Department when those Seals decided they had had enough and were going to get answer!! Let's face it, I LOVED the entire book! Zoe also teases about Flash's story, it is amazing!! The imagination, the insight, it is awesome!! I've never been too drawn to the fantasy books. I have always preferred to read books that I like to think could actually be happening. After reading about Flash, I'm thinking that I just might need some fantasy in my life! This is a must read!!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed a copy "BRAWLER" I was pulled right into this interesting, intriguing, intense drama, with danger, action, humor, steam you won't be able to out down.
Dr. Emily Shade is a redheaded spitfire zoology graduate doing a study on Jaguars ends up running from armed men right into Brawler Beckett & his Seal Team on a mission in the jungle to crash site where a chopper went down to find the men & recover the weapons.
Brawler wasn't expecting to deal with the hot tempered little Emily didn't need the distraction but Beast his K9 really liked & she won over his team as well.
Emily is strong willed & managed to win Brawler over not taking any crap from him she's smart & shows it in many ways, their chemistry is filled with heat melting the pages, her winning over the team made her fit in no problem.
Will Brawler & Emily get their HEA you have to read to find out you so won't be disappointed its a fantastic journey they take you on.

[Foodiegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Zoe Dawson in her best writing form. This story is so much fun and adventurous. Emily, Brawler and Beast were made for each other. Emily's first meeting with Brawler starts the excitement and it doesn't end. Brawler has his hands full from the first meeting and proves hw bad she is... the first meeting with the team filled the pages with humor. Emily was immediately accepted into the team,
She manages to put Brawler in place with her knowledge of the area and camera details. All banter soon fires up into passion and Brawler fell hard. Never ending action,suspense and danger, keeps you up all night unable to stop reading. The ending incredibly sweet, wonderful and heartwarming. Flash's story has me curious where Zoe will take us next for the final episode of this series.

[Arlene M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian “Brawler” Beckett is a Navy Seal Tier 2 operator and his K-9 dog Beast.
Emily is a grad student finishing her thesis.

Emily and Brawler meet in the jungle where she was running away from the bad group of terriorists and
Brawler on a black ops mission to recover important military secrets weapons and personnel.
Emily has been following a female jaguar and her two cubs for her grad thesis.
She comes across what Brawler and team are looking for.
Can Emily and Brawler stay safe and have a Happily Ever After?

This book has edge of your seat suspense, danger, and intrigue.

Great Job. Zoe Dswaon.!!!!!

[Anne (Izzie) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, I don’t know how she does it, but each book this author writes is better than the one before. This one has to be my favourite so far, and whilst I cannot wait to see what happens next I don’t want the series to end. Christian, (Brawler) with the rest of his team are on a priority covert operation in the rainforest when graduate student Emily, escaping from armed men, runs into him. Sparks are immediately struck!! After they become separated from his team Brawler and his military K-9, Beast, do everything possible to keep Emily safe. The author’s descriptive powers are superb in this book, the mind pictures she paints of the rainforest, cave and waterfall are just incredible, as well as Flash’s visions whilst in an apparent coma. I don’t want to give anything away, all I can say is that I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and am really looking forward to reading what happens next.

[Ann C. · Rating 1 out of 5]

In Chapter 1, Brawler met a woman in a bar, took her to a back hall, had sex up against a wall, then walked out the back door and went home. He did not even know her name, nor did he ask. I almost stopped reading at that point. The episode did not speak well for Brawler. I found it disgusting.

I made it till Chapter 6 and finally gave up. I skipped to the last 3 chapters. I did not care for the book. In fact, I have not liked several of the last books by this author about the SEAL teams. I am definitely not going to even attempt to read the book about Flash. The book sounds too far out there for me.

[BecReadReview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brawler has you spinning from the moment the mission goes sideways. Emily is all grit, intelligence, & fierce determination, equal parts captivating & exasperating. Her & Brawler’s trek through the jungle is a pulse-pounding mix of danger, intensity, & raw emotion that keeps you on edge & utterly invested. You can’t help but fall for them & for Beast too. Flash’s unexplained twists send chills racing down your spine, while the unbreakable brotherhood forged in fire stands tall, reminding you why you love this team so much.

[Alibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this story was so much fun. Brawler, Beast, and Emily's first meeting had me laughing to myself... the trio's first meeting with the team after upped the humor. Emily was essentially immediately accepted into the team, even if it took a bit for everyone to realize it. She was a spitfire and the banter between her and Brawler was hilarious. That banter soon turned to passion and another one bit the dust as Brawler fell hard. I felt a kindred spirit with Brawler as we learned more about him and his empathy. Action, danger, and high suspense kept my attention gripped and that ending was sweet and heartwarming. All the development for Flash's story definitely has me curious where Zoe will take us next.

[Kurtins R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. The sass, banter and all around bad assery from Emily is awesome and the way the Team adopted their "Strawberry Shortcake" was pretty cool.
This story is intense, action packed and there is so much chemistry coming off the page it is wild.
Emily and Christian are great together. Brawler's intensity and intuition about those he cares about is really intense.
Can't wait for Flash's story

[JustJeri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an engaging story, with well-developed characters, great humor and bantering among all characters, and drama and intrigue dotted throughout. The author, utilizing her talent, creates an easy flowing story with drama throughout that kept my interest. The beginning ran a little slow and dragged for me, but eventually picked up. I received a complimentary ARC, but I am voluntarily offering my personal opinion.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the descriptive writing of this author. Feel like you are in the jungle and the battle.
Emily is a great match for Christian. Loved her spunk and ability to hold her own in the jungle.
In this story you also get the beginning of Flash's story.

[Robin Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brawler-Team East

I loved the connection of characters in this book. Loved the self sufficient firecracker that took over Brawler and helped him and his team! Would recommend this book!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series.

Loved this book. Couldn't put the book down,
the telling of the different characters kept me intrigued and guessing.. Can't wait for the next book!!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this man. Empathic and compassionate. See needs in others and gives freely of himself. He has a brother he takes care of and when he meets Emily...the Strawberry Shortcake works her way into Brawler's life...who hand feeds his dog and he doesn't understand that in accepting her, Beast, his dog, accepts her. She sacrifices her work to do the right thing. A MUST READ.