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The Stowaway

The Hillcroft Group #5 • Standalone • M/F • Forced Proximity • Age gap • Low angst • Grumpy/Sunshine

High up in the Hindu Kush mountains, in the middle of a mission, the last thing Operator Hyatt expected to find when he climbed out of his helicopter was a damn stowaway. But there she was, panicked, crying out, “Please don’t shoot! I’m an American!”

That was only the beginning. Boy, did Kiera have a story to tell.

Hyatt couldn’t very well abort his mission for this woman, but he obviously needed to bring her home. So, he had no choice. Kiera would have to stay with him for a week until they could return to safety.

Focus, Hyatt reminded himself. He had a job to do. He wasn’t going to let Kiera distract him, no matter how incredibly beautiful she was.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

All books in the Hillcroft Group series are standalone and can be read out of order, as each story follows a new dynamic with various subgenres within romance. What the characters have in common is the place they work and, of course, the HEA they will fight for. Characters do cross over in multiple titles, but they will be reintroduced, where necessary, to new readers. All books in this series are labeled romantic suspense and military romance. Please look on the copyright page for potential content warnings.

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2026

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About the author

Cara Dee

104 books4,233 followers
​
I'm often stoically silent or, if the topic interests me, a chronic rambler. In other words, I can discuss writing forever and ever. Fiction, in particular. The love story—while a huge draw and constantly present—is secondary for me, because there's so much more to writing romance fiction than just making two (or more) people fall in love and have hot sex. There's a world to build, characters to develop, interests to create, and a topic or two to research thoroughly. Every book is a challenge for me, an opportunity to learn something new, and a puzzle to piece together. I want my characters to come to life, and the only way I know to do that is to give them substance—passions, history, goals, quirks, and strong opinions—and to let them evolve. Additionally, I want my men and women to be relatable. That means allowing room for everyday problems and, for lack of a better word, flaws. My characters will never be perfect.

Wait…this was supposed to be about me, not my writing.

I'm a writey person who loves to write. Always wanderlusting, twitterpating, kinking, and geeking. There's time for hockey and cupcakes, too. But mostly, I just love to write.

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5 stars
64 (39%)
4 stars
60 (37%)
3 stars
34 (21%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
Profile Image for ML.
1,725 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2026
I’m not usually a fan of insta love but it worked here.
This book was short and sweet. These 2 had great chemistry and the dirty talk was hot.

It was nice to check in with the rest of the HillCroft crew.
Even a Tenley was in this one 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Profile Image for Savy.
325 reviews8 followers
May 26, 2026
For those who like a quick, instant lust/attratction military romance novel!

I really like the books Cara writes. It's just this one fell a bit short to me. It was a short story, meaning we don't get to read a lot about the main characters between their growing attraction to each other. I had hoped for more suspense/action. Or just more time for Kiera and Hyatt to really get to know each other.

That being said, the characters did feel well fleshed out, with their own hopes and dreams. The story felt believable, the pacing quick and I read all of it in a couple of hours. All in all, enjoyable. I just wish there had been more of it.

There are some cameo's of characters from earlier books in this series, but it's really a stand alone and you don't even have to have read other books in this series. It just might help filling in a bit of the background about Hillcroft.
Profile Image for Ashley -Goldstarreads.
1,131 reviews27 followers
May 24, 2026
These two are too cute. They made me smile so hard. Keira is an aid in Afghanistan whose convoy is hit and has been on the run for her life, when she stows away on a helicopter out of there. Except that helicopter isn’t quite headed out yet. Hyatt is an Operator at Hillcroft and for those that have read the series we’ve caught glimpses of him, he is a pilot and grumpy and set in his ways. Til a mission that has him flying a helicopter to a safe house on Afghanistan to wait a week before his mission continues. There he finds out he had a stowaway, a sexy, sweet, and funny stowaway. Their attraction and chemistry is off the charts. They are so cute together, I love all their little moments together. This story is a short one but packs a punch of sexy times and love. Lots of love, spice and humor. As always, Cara Dee never disappoints in her stories, I love seeing the characters I have come to love from multiple series. As always, I devoured this book and can’t wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Jenna.
414 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy
May 25, 2026
**I received an electronic ARC via BookSprout.**

Actual rating: 3.5

Cara Dee returns to the Hillcroft Group with The Stowaway. Readers follow Hillcroft Operator and pilot James Hyatt and aid worker/nurse Kiera as Kiera stows away on the helicopter Hyatt is piloting out of Afghanistan. While Hyatt commits to getting Kiera home, he still has a job to do in the meantime. This leads to forced proximity in a safehouse while awaiting Kiera's journey home. And perhaps, they can make something of a life together once they return.

While the Hillcroft Group series does consist of mostly standalone romances and the stories absolutely can stand alone, I did not want to miss information about recurrent characters in the series. I do not typically read MF romances, but the series, the author, and the novella length convinced me to give this one a shot.

Pregnancy is a theme in this story, much to my chagrin, given that I typically avoid pregnancy/motherhood content. That said, I still enjoyed learning about Hyatt and his relationship with Kiera. I am glad to have read their story, but acknowledge that I probably genuinely could have gotten the information I needed in context from other books in the series. Cara Dee always develops her characters well and even in this novella-type format, Hyatt and Kiera had clear character-building beyond the context of this story.

Always happy to see another Cara Dee book on the release list.
Profile Image for Deb Kel.
3,146 reviews12 followers
May 27, 2026
I love this series by Cara and though this is a shorter read they still manage a fun mix of romantic suspense, forced proximity, and sweet chemistry. From the moment Hyatt discovers Kiera hiding on his helicopter, the story immediately pulls you in. I loved the contrast between Hyatt’s grumpy, all-business attitude and Kiera’s warmth, humour, and determination to survive after everything she’s been through.

I especially liked how the connection between them develops naturally, as well as their banter and equally the quieter moments. Hyatt tries so hard to stay focused on the mission, but Kiera completely sneaks past his defences, and watching him slowly soften around her was incredibly satisfying.

The setting also added so much tension to the story. Being stranded together in such a dangerous environment kept the suspense high while still leaving room for the romance to shine. The balance of action, emotional moments, humor, and steam worked really well for me.

This series is one of the few where i will read the M/F books even though i normally on read MM and enjoy them equally
Profile Image for Mandy (MP Book Reviews).
5,458 reviews50 followers
May 30, 2026
Operator Hyatt is deep into a mission in the Hindu Kush when he discovers Kiera, a terrified American stowaway hiding in his helicopter. He can’t abandon the mission, so she’s forced to stay with him for the week until they can get to safety. Hyatt tries to stay focused, but Kiera’s story — and her sunshine‑bright presence — quickly becomes a distraction even his grumpy resolve can’t ignore.

Kiera definitely puts Wyatt in an impossible position by hiding on his helicopter, and their forced week together becomes the perfect chance for her sunshine warmth to chip away at his walls. As the days pass, that tension shifts into something far more intimate, and I liked that once they reached the US, they both had to adapt their lives — and were willing to — to make space for each other. I would’ve loved even more detail, especially a more dangerous, high‑stakes journey out of Afghanistan, but there were some emotions and feelings as they navigated their situation and the people around them. Overall, a quick, easy read with a grumpy/sunshine pairing that grows into something real. This was an MF story with mature content.
Profile Image for Mary.
59 reviews
May 26, 2026
I received an ARC copy of this book and even though Cara Dee’s MM romances will always be my favorites, I really enjoyed this change of pace from her.

Kiera and James were genuinely adorable together, and their chemistry felt effortless from the start. I loved the mix of tension, humor, sweetness, and danger woven throughout the story, and the forced proximity setup worked so well for them. James was exactly the kind of gruff, protective hero I can never resist, while Kiera brought so much heart to the story.

One thing Cara Dee always does brilliantly is character work. Even in a shorter story, every character feels distinct and memorable, and I loved seeing familiar faces pop up throughout the book. Those little cameos honestly made me so happy.

While I personally still prefer her MM books overall, this was such a fun and engaging read, and it absolutely reminded me why Cara Dee is an auto-buy author for me. I flew through this in one sitting and already can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Midnight Readers.
109 reviews12 followers
May 27, 2026
If you’re in a book slump, Cara Dee should absolutely be your go-to author. The Stowaway completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. The mix of action, suspense, forced proximity, and romance was done so well, and I ended up reading this in almost one sitting because I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

Hyatt and Kiera had incredible chemistry right from the moment he discovered her hiding in the helicopter. Their banter, tension, and growing connection felt natural and believable, especially considering the intense situation they were trapped in together. I loved how protective Hyatt was without losing focus on his mission, and Kiera was such a strong and likable heroine. They balanced each other perfectly.

This was exciting, emotional, romantic, and genuinely fun to read. Even though it’s part of the Hillcroft Group series, it works perfectly as a standalone. Highly recommend if you love military romance, forced proximity, protective heroes, and fast-paced stories with heat and heart.
Profile Image for Jonnie.
904 reviews
June 12, 2026
It was 2.5 stars for me, but I rounded up because of the message about how we (especially Americans) take so much for granted was a good message. There wasn't any suspense or action for a story that is supposed to be about private military contractors. In general, the story was too sweet and sappy for me. I get why Hyatt was attracted to Kiera, but it still was too quick.

The author always finds a way to work in other characters from different series as cameos. I like that Darius, River, and Colt showed up in this story even if it was just for a few lines. Three of my favorite characters from two different series. This is another reason I rounded up to 3 stars.

I am continually dumbfounded that this author continues to use trite phrases (like a dip of the chin - twice in just the first chapter and many more times throughout the book). She creates likeable characters but then diminishes the characters with sophomoric language. She needs to widen her idioms and quit repeating inane phrases. Plus, there should only be one epilogue. Just write the others as a chapter.
Profile Image for Erin Dore.
31 reviews1 follower
May 27, 2026
The Stowaway was just what I needed in my life.

Being a little burnt out on the angst of some stories lately, this book felt like a breath of fresh air…or a little bit of relief.

While the themes surrounding the characters were heavy and series, Kiera and James meeting/relationship had a levity to it that had me smiling the entire book.

James is approaching a time in his career where he’s not exactly sure what’s next, and Kiera wants to seize each moment (and James) to create her own version of a happy, perfect life.

Kiera was definitely the sunshine James’ grumpiness needed, and the crossovers with all the jokes and ribbing were *chef’s kiss*.

I am very excited to see both Kiera and James in upcoming Hillcroft books……..I never get enough of Cara’s characters when their book comes to an end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barb ~rede-2-read~.
3,894 reviews121 followers
May 30, 2026
I'm not much of an M/F fan anymore but I sure enjoyed this one. Why? First and foremost, Cara Dee is the author. Second, both characters were engaging and Keira was spot-on for a bright, bubbly personality that was not overdone. Hyatt was a sexy older man. If the cover model were available for an evening date (just a date!) I would be as bright and bubbly as Keira. LOL

The story didn't have any kidnappings or outrageous thriller moments, thankfully. Instead, the prologue was tense and clearly showed the danger Keira was in and it surely hooked me into reading the story. Hyatt was adorable in his grumpiness and sexy as heck. Cara Dee writes unforgettable characters. I'm thrilled that I made an exception to my M/M TBR and picked up this 4th or 5th in the Hillcroft Group series.

Definitely recommend to those who enjoy MF romance and have enjoyed this series or others from Ms. Dee.
Profile Image for nancy_booknerd_.
269 reviews1 follower
June 3, 2026
Another Cara Dee novella connected to the Hillcroft series that I really enjoyed.

This story follows the pilot, and from the very beginning, it was easy to get into. The connection between these two developed naturally, and even though things moved fast, it never felt rushed. I enjoyed watching them come together and getting to know them better. The chemistry was great, and the spice definitely delivered.

I also liked that the story gave us a few small hints about other characters who might have bigger roles in future books. There are still a few people around Hillcroft who have me curious, and I'm looking forward to seeing where their stories go.

Overall, this was a simple, enjoyable read. Good characters, A solid Romance, and enough connections to the larger Hillcroft world to leave me excited for whatever comes next
Profile Image for Malissa Hilton.
751 reviews2 followers
July 19, 2026
Let Me State This Again

I’ve said this before, probably several times, but I am not a fan of M/F books. They are boring, lack excitement and just not spicy enough. Just about every MF story I have read it’s always the same, nothing new really, that’s why I switched over to reading M/M books. So when Cara Dee put this one out, it took me a while to read it. I was like here we go again, another boring book. Truthfully, I should have known better, this is Cara Dee we are talking about. I say the same thing every time and every time she surprises me. The Stowaway, with Kiera and Hyatt, is another example of how wonderful Cara Dee writes. She has a story in her head and BAM 💥 off on paper it goes and we get an amazing story.
No question on how many stars 🌟 this book gets, 5 all the way. Excellent work Cara Dee. 💜❤️
Profile Image for Suzanne Irving.
3,033 reviews27 followers
May 29, 2026
I love how many different types of relationships Cara Dee has in her books. This one is an FM story that starts out with an exciting scene of Kiera stowing away in a helicopter in Afghanistan piloted by Hyatt. The series focuses on different characters associated with The Hillcroft group. The two spend most of the book hiding in a single room cabin in the hills and because of that they get to know each other quickly. I especially enjoyed how knowledgeable Kiera is about the type of life Hyatt lives, especially the technical aspects. I always enjoy a strong heroine. Another interesting addition to this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Pimm Cullen.
244 reviews12 followers
May 30, 2026
Aid worker Kiera Lane had me in hiding for almost six months after the convoy she was traveling in was overrun. A local had hidden her, keeping her safe. Eventually, an escape route is found, so Kiera becomes a stowaway in a helicopter flown by Operator Hyatt.
James Hyatt is a PMC on a mission. He was expecting a relatively simple mission, not to be the unwitting rescuer of a beguiling stowaway.
This is an engaging low angst story. There is discussion of mental health struggles but as always sensitively handled by Cara. Kiera & James connection is pretty much instant and intense though unexpected for both. Their chemistry is strong for the get go. The characters are well developed given this is a short story, which is a skill of Cara's.
Profile Image for Hani.
1,303 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2026
The Hillcroft books are honestly a little too repetitive in the kind of kink they like. They're all age gap. They all like it rough.

Despite that, I really enjoy the found-family and the camaraderie of Hillcroft. I was worried based on the blurb that this book would be mostly on the Hindu Kush mountains, but the events only took place in that location for about 42% of the book. Despite that, they were within the Hillcroft building only a few times in this book.

Honestly, this book is the lowest in angst and adventure of all the books in this series. It feels more like a quiet story in which we could catch up with the previous characters of Hillcroft through the Hyatt's POV before a new storm.
Profile Image for Ally.
444 reviews45 followers
May 21, 2026
Oh Cara how I love thee. I need to just say that Beckett is one of my favorite characters and I'm sure he would love me saying this about a book that isn't even his. His appearances in this were so hilarious. I just adore him.

Kiera & James were so adorable. Their meet cute was definitely something to remember. Can we even blame Kiera for immediately knowing what she wanted when it came to James?! I definitely can't because I would have been doing the exact same thing LOL.

It also just amazes me that Cara writes so many characters and each one is unique in their own way. There were some pleasant surprises in this one when it comes to cameos and I was THRILLED to see who popped up.

I am beyond ready for Kelley's book >:)
Profile Image for Johanna.
6,688 reviews121 followers
May 27, 2026
Book 5 of Hillcroft Group. Can be read as a standalone.

'Focus, Hyatt reminded himself. He had a job to do. He wasn’t going to let Kiera distract him, no matter how incredibly beautiful she was.'

The characters were very appealing and complex and complicated and absolutely perfect together. Plot was intriguing and exciting and well paced. World building was excellent and solidly drawn. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kassandra  Knight.
1,612 reviews5 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 25, 2026
If you’ve read any of her books you already know you’re gonna love it. It was the perfect story for Operator Hyatt. I don’t read MF books anymore, so I skimmed over the spicy times but it’s a Cara Dee story so I couldn’t NOT read it, plus storyline and cameos equals heck yeah, I wanna re-read the whole dang Caraverse of books.

I originally read this when it was in the anthology and had to read the expanded version because see above.

Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
81 reviews
May 26, 2026
Love this story, our first M/F for Hillcroft. The chemistry between Hyatt and Kiera starts right from when Hyatt discovered her in the helicopter.
Cara has a way of creating "world's" that you can see as you read the stories. (Or at least I can).
There is some suspense and humor in this story where you would expect to find it.
As always we get glimpses of a couple other Cara characters.
Can't wait to see more of this couple in future books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
316 reviews1 follower
June 4, 2026
Stowaway by Cara Dee is a quick, riveting and unique, breath of fresh air, type of read. The characters, Kiera and Hyatt, are intriguing and well-developed. Though they deal with some complicated, heavy themes, I found myself more often than not with a smile upon my face because they're entertaining and beautifully raw characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see their journey together. Like any other Cara Dee novel, The Stowaway was impeccably done and is a must-read for all. I'm excited to see what Ms. Dee has in-store for us next.
174 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy
May 24, 2026
Although this is part of a series, you don't have to have read the other books to enjoy this one. It's the only MF story that I've read from this author. Whilst I liked this story I must say that I've enjoyed her other books more...maybe because there wasn't a lot of tension/conflict. In any case, I would still recommend if you like a straight forward spicy romance story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Ζωή Παππά.
Author 3 books29 followers
May 26, 2026
Wonderful book, I really liked the premise. It was interesting and different and the forced proximity helped Kiera and Hyatt's relationship grow faster in a believable way. I loved their chemistry, their were fire together and at the same time cute. They melted my heart!
The book is part of a series but it can be read as a standalone. You can still expect some fun cameos.
A fun read, I finished it in a day and had a blast. Great addition to the series.
652 reviews3 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
May 26, 2026
"The Stowaway" is the fifth book in the Hillcroft Group series by Cara Dee. This was a great, quick read. Kiera is the perfect sunshine to Hyatt's grumpy. Theirs is a low angst, high heat HEA with lots of laughs. It was good to see the other Hillcroft operators. I am looking forward to more.

I received an advance copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Jessica (jpbooklife).
1,081 reviews8 followers
May 26, 2026
I enjoyed Kiera and Hyatt so much. They were adorable together. This was a very low angst, sometimes funny, forced proximity story. As usual Cara has a way of writing that gets me invested in her characters from the word go. I loved Beckett in this as well. He kind of some the show every time he was around. And there was a wonderful crossover moment with the game series too. Fun and sweet.
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,649 reviews6 followers
May 27, 2026
I just love the vibe of the Hillcroft Group! I don't read a lot of MF romance, but Cara Dee always does an excellent job. This one is feel-good, with an unexpected found love, low-angst, high-heat, and a lot of cameos of my favorite characters. Hyatt and Keira are custom-made for each other. I loved the intense build-up, the remote location, and their special bubble. I want more!
Profile Image for andrea moran.
2,100 reviews
May 28, 2026
Hillcroft 5

Love me a good Easter egg/crossover moment but I wasn’t expecting Colt! Whilst these days I’m usually about 95% MM only reader I will always make an exception for Cara as her characters are always so will written and realistic. Such an easy pleasurable story with very little conflict/drama
432 reviews3 followers
May 26, 2026
The Stowaway

I really enjoyed this book, it was a quick read that I could not put down. I enjoyed the evolving connection between James and Kiera, and I loved the little glimpses of past characters. I had a smile on my face the last couple chapters and epilogue. Great book!
Profile Image for Elodie Melody .
321 reviews18 followers
May 27, 2026
That was SO cute ! ♥️🥹
I’m so into the caraverse that it bring warmth each time I read a new story with existing characters that are finding their HEA ~
Hyatt deserves it and Kiera is perfect for him.

Huge bonus point for the twins, Dorian and Colt/Lucas on the side ~ ♥️
Profile Image for Belinda Zamora.
3,111 reviews8 followers
May 27, 2026
Great addition to the series

I really enjoyed getting to know Kiera and James.
They were such complete opposites but actually perfect for each other.
Kiera is so sweet and funny, she helped James who's so stoic and serious all the time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews