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On terminal leave, Navy SEAL Sam Franklin has a job waiting for him with the Brotherhood Protectors, but he's taking a few days off to try his hand at fly fishing before he goes back to work. He needs the R&R to decompress after his final mission got some of his buddies killed. Relaxation ends when his adopted Military War Dog Grunt discovers a body washed up on the river bank. Drugged and scared, Reggie McDonald escaped through the woods and fell into a river, running from her kidnapper. By some miracle, she washes ashore at the feet of a former Navy SEAL. When he tries to take her to the hospital, she refuses to go, insisting she remain 'dead'. Sam takes Reggie to his small cabin. When he learns that there are other young women being held by the man she escaped, he promises to help her find them. Calling on the Brotherhood Protectors, Sam and Reggie race against time to free the others before the kidnapper kills them.

262 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 2019

814 people are currently reading
203 people want to read

About the author

Elle James

686 books1,207 followers
Award-winning author Elle James grew up as an air force military brat. She received her work ethic from her rock-solid father, her creative streak from her artistic mother and inspiration from her writing partner and sister, Delilah Devlin. As a former member of the army reserves and a current member of the air force reserves, she's traveled across the United States and to Germany, managed a full-time job, and raised three wonderful children. She and her husband have even tried their hands at ranching exotic birds (ostriches, emus and rheas) in the Texas hill country. Ask her, and she'll tell you what it's like to go toe-to-toe with an angry three-hundred-and-fifty-pound bird and live to tell about it!

Her adventures in the army and air force reserves, and the wild antics of her life on a small ranch in Texas give her fodder for mystery, suspense and humor in her writing. Elle writes gothic, paranormal mystery for the Harlequin Intrigue line and paranormal romantic comedy for Dorchester Publishing. A former manager of computer programming and project management professionals, Elle is happy she now has the opportunity to pursue her writing full time.

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5 stars
878 (66%)
4 stars
318 (23%)
3 stars
102 (7%)
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23 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
Profile Image for Madison Warner Fairbanks.
3,437 reviews495 followers
October 8, 2019
SEAL Justice by Elle James

Brotherhood Protectors series #13.
Suspenseful and fast. Reggie escapes the kidnapper and jumps off a cliff to escape. When Sam and Grunt find her, they care for her and use the resources of The Brotherhood Protectors to search for the remaining kidnapped women.

Reggie is willfully strong and determined to help free the other women. Admirable.
Without spoilers, I’m very glad the relationship wasn’t rushed.
Loved the epilogue! Wonderful wrap up.

4.5 stars. Why not 5? Her feet were cut up and bruised on her escape but never addressed in the two days of recovery, chicken soup, fever and pink baby doll nightgowns. Minor detail but I wondered about it.
Profile Image for Jenni.
6,446 reviews79 followers
October 22, 2025
SEAL Justice is high-stakes danger with romance, action, tension, and suspense. Along this journey, a team of former military heroes dedicate their lives to protecting others. I am loving this series, and the characters are sexy in this series. It's Insta-love, but still a good read.
SEAL Justice is the thirteenth exciting tale in The Brotherhood Protector series and a tale of loyalty and courage, and looming threats jeopardise their lives and the lives they swore to protect. This story not only highlights the fierce devotion of its alpha heroes but also emphasises the importance of connection and resilience against a backdrop of uncertainty and danger.
The camaraderie, their loyalty to each other make for more than a brotherhood it makes them family.
Profile Image for Gladys.
14k reviews162 followers
October 10, 2019
This is a complex and entertaining read. The story is intense, suspenseful, dramatic and emotional. I do feel that it is only fair that readers be aware of a couple things before buying and reading this book. First, this book could be triggers for some readers due to kidnapping, emotional and physical assault and rape. The details of these are not excessively graphic but if this is a concern for you please make an informed decision before reading. And second, this story features romance, just romance. There is no physical intimacy shared by the couple in this book due to the events referenced above. So if you are a reader that considers that a must have in your reads, you will be disappointed. I do think in this book and with the story that is being told that this not only made sense but was really important to tell the story as it should be told. I liked Sam and Reggie so much. I felt it was quite beautiful to see the emotional connection growing between these two characters. All together a very good book. I am freely posting a frank review.
Profile Image for Jennie Fortna.
2,548 reviews29 followers
October 12, 2019
ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars

Seal Justice is book 13 in the Brotherhood Protectors series by Elle James and another awesome read!

Sam Franklin, just retired from the Navy Seals and is awaiting the start of his new life with the Brotherhood, maybe to find a wife, have a family...only time will tell... so he’s taking a few day to fly fish at a remote cabin til Hank has a job for him. He and his retired military war dog, Grunt find a body washed ashore on the river bank...nothing like having your next job find you....

Reggie McDonald was kidnapped, drugged and when thrown in the dirty, damp, cell underground she found that more women where taken also. She is determined to find a way out and get help. Little did she know that the person who finds her after she escapes is someone who can help her in recovering from the trauma, rescue the other women, get help for everyone and eliminate the threat forever....but will that be enough or will she let what happen to her keeps her from finding her HEA??
Profile Image for Rachael Bromley.
1,664 reviews16 followers
November 1, 2022
Will Sam find the bad guy????

Sam, the newest member of the brotherhood protectors has an interesting week off when his dog, Grunt, finds a naked young woman. Reggie has been kidnapped and subjected to unspeakable things by "the master". Escaping from her cell she runs and jumps from the cliff into the river where she is dragged down the river. It's a race against time for Sam, Hank and the other protectors to find the other kidnapped women. A great book that has you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. Will they find the women?????? Will Reggie's nightmare be over??????
Profile Image for CarolKat.
2,280 reviews29 followers
November 21, 2020
This book opens with Reggie McDonald escaping from cell of sorts. She was abducted on her way home a couple of weeks ago. She'd fought but quickly discovered escaping from her dirt walled cell was the better option. She's finally managed to get free, and ran for her life. With two Rottweilers on her tail she jumps off the cliff into the river below, vowing to come back and rescue the other woman held there.

Sam 'Talon' Franklin is Brotherhood Protectors latest hire. On terminal leave from the Navy SEALs, he is taking a week alone in the wilderness with an eye on relaxation and fly fishing with his newly adopted war dog Grunt. The cabin Sadie found for them is small and well appointed. Perfect for now.

As Sam tries out his new gear, Grunt goes exploring. Hearing him bark, Sam chases after him to find his dog, a wolf and a woman. The woman refuses hospital or police involvement then passes out. With no other recourse he brings her to his cabin, cleans her up and treats her feet as best he can. When she starts running a fever Sam calls Hank. Hank and Sadie come and bring medicine and soup for the woman. They still don't know her name, but Hank is going to try some facial recognition software in case they need to bring her to the hospital.

Her condition improves though and Sam finally gets some answers.

When her story unfolds it just makes Sam more determined to find the guy and be sure he never sees the light of day again. Since she never saw his face, it wasn't going to be easy and they'd have to find where she was held.

Reggie is adamant that find the house and free the other women.

We see many of the other Brotherhood Protectors, and of course Hank and Sadie as the search goes into full swing. We also meet a couple of interesting characters along the way.

Full of suspense, romance and a bit of sizzle, you won't be able to put this book down. Now I have to back up one and move forward to catch up on this series. I thought I was but I've obviously missed a few.
Profile Image for Beverly McCall.
Author 2 books28 followers
July 25, 2023
SEAL Justice is the 13th installment in Ella James’ Brotherhood Protectors series. In this one, she chronicles the romantic journey of Reggie McDonald and Sam Franklin. Reggie is one of the survivors of a kidnapping, torture, and raped. She manages to get away and is rescued by Sam and his dog, Grunt. Sam a former Navy Seal, who suffers from PTSD, takes a job in Montana with Hank Patterson who owns an runs the Brotherhood Protectors. Sam helps Reggie heals and they acknowledge their feelings for each other. He, and the brotherhood, help her to fulfill her mission to return to the house she was held captive and free the remaining women. She wants to ensure that the kidnapper, The Master, suffers for what he did to her and the others. Will she be successful? Can Sam and Reggie find happiness? You must read this romantic suspense to find out what unfolds.

Like the other works written by Ms. St. James, this one was outstanding. Her mastery of literary devices such as, characterization, dialog, dual POV, and descriptive language garnered my attention from the get go. The scenes where the couple stumble on to Abe and his siblings living off the grid in the woods and what unfolds is heartwarming. Ms. St. James did not disappoint me with this book. In fact, the opposite is true. I so wanted to read more about the other members of the brotherhood.
Profile Image for Angela.
8,582 reviews122 followers
August 23, 2025
3.5 Stars

SEAL Justice is the thirteenth book in The Brotherhood Protectors Series by Elle James. This series is a great blend of romance, action, and suspense - which is all set against the rugged backdrop of Montana. These books introduce us to a team of former military heroes who dedicate their lives to protecting others, all while navigating their own personal battles.
Ms. James’ characters are definitely the heart of this series, and each protector is uniquely crafted, with a mix of strength, vulnerability, and charm. Their camaraderie and loyalty to one another also creates a sense of family that adds an extra element to the stories/series.
These plots are fast-paced and packed with twists, cleverly blending high-stakes danger with heartfelt romance. Whether it's a SEAL turned cowboy, or a sniper finding love amidst chaos, each book delivers a satisfying mix of adrenaline and emotion. Elle James also weaves in themes of redemption, trust, and healing, making the series not just entertaining, but also heartfelt.
With gripping storylines, endearing characters, and just the right amount of heat, this is a series that will leave you eagerly reaching for the next installment.
Happy Reading…
Profile Image for Suzie Weber.
1,013 reviews2 followers
September 20, 2023
Cute story

This is the thirteenth book in the Brotherhood Protector series and I’m thinking it needs to be renamed the Sisterhood Protector Series. These last couple of women plus Hank’s wife Sadie are ball busters - in a good sense of the phrase.

Sam’s been hired by Hank. He recently came out of the Navy to start life away from the military. Set up to fish for a week before starting, first day out his dog Grunt finds a naked woman, beat up, unconscious on the side of the river with a wolf eying here.

Reggie had been kidnapped two weeks ago. She and several other females are being held captive. Raped, drugged and starved Reggie decides she’s escaping or will die trying. She escaped, jumps off a cliff into a river and pretends death in the water so “The Master” thinks she died in he fall.

Hank, Sadie, Swede and others are working to find where this “Master” is holding up the other women so they can rescue them. I appreciated that there was zero sex in this book. Knowing that Reggie had been raped multiple times and some slow burning chemistry between Reggie and Sam, Sam always knew Reggie needed to heal and he would wait for however long that took.
Profile Image for Maria .
2,488 reviews23 followers
September 16, 2021
Bravo!!

Sam and Reggie's story redeemed book 12 for me! This one was so much better. The plot was masterfully executed to make this a well rounded story. The only thing it missed for me was that there was no intimate passionate scene to witness, as we did in all previous 12 books. Also the last Chapter had a number instead of "Epilogue" . The scene was there years after the ending.

Here we have a Navy SEAL who just retired. He is now going to be a new member of the Brotherhood Protectors and work for Hank Patterson. He is taking a couple of days to unwind from his final mission before he starts his first assignment with the Brotherhood. He is out at a cabin to fly fish in the river with his military dog Grunt. But Grunt finds something along the river bank and that's something is a naked woman passed out all battered and bruised.

Reggie has just lived through a horrific ordeal, literally a house of horrors. She is naked and can't stay conscious. She must get help for the others, but will the Master find her first?

Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews68 followers
February 18, 2022
Seal Justice is by Ella James. This book is a Brotherhood protection book.
Sam “Talon” Franklin was a Navy SEAL. He had decided to leave the service and start living a different life. He had accepted a job from Hank Patterson at Brotherhood protection. Hank had a cabin for him to stay in until he found something of his own. However, he had three weeks to settle in before he started his job. He and the dog he adopted. They head out for a fishing trip. He wasn’t sure about Grunt because he only had the dog for three days; but he seems to mind well. Suddenly Grunt goes off and barks. Following him, Sam finds him standing over a body and standing off with a wolf. Grunt is standing above a naked woman. Talon quickly gathers her up and takes her to his cabin. She had awakened and begged him not to take her to a hospital or to call the law.
She had escaped from a maniac and she had to find a way to help the other women held captive.
Sam can’t do this by himself so calls his boss for help.
Profile Image for Julia.
195 reviews3 followers
February 26, 2021
I hate to leave a 2-star review for a book in a series that I like overall, but this book didn’t do it for me. The romance is flat - and I argue that there is no way for there to BE realistic romance in a story centered around a woman who has just escaped from having been kidnapped, caged and repeatedly raped.

Setting aside the few annoying grammatical errors, the biggest issue for me was the lack of action. Lots of descriptive thoughts - very little descriptive action. There was some good stuff here - chances for good story development that just weren’t realized - and I was very disappointed. The B-story about the 7 abandoned kids has nearly no development and it was and excellent chance to spice things up.

This could have been so much better. It felt like this story was a case where the publisher just needed to “crank out another story in this series” and we got a half-done story for their trouble.
Profile Image for Mei.
315 reviews1 follower
November 29, 2020
This story was OK. I enjoyed it but it felt like important details were skipped, how they tried to find where Reggie was held was slow/boring and ending was rushed. I would’ve liked to know how the women settles after their rescue, did they keep in touch with Reggie? Did the master retaliate when she ran away? This was one of the main reasons behind Reggie needing to go back to recuse them as quick as possible, in case the master hurt them more or killed them altogether. Why did he do what he did? Then the ending just skips over all of this and all of a sudden we’re a few years jumped to the future and everybody is living happily ever after.

The book could’ve done with some proofreading. There were missing words too:
“Reggie slipped an around his waist”
487 reviews
December 12, 2020
This was my first book to ready by the author and my first “Brotherhood Protector” book. I throughly enjoyed the characters. I felt the only flaw was Grunt, the retired MWD did not have a bigger role. As a highly trained dog, I felt his background and training did not give more written space. Reggie has a strong character and very likable . Her protector, Sam also has a strong and very likable character. I liked the action and intrigue. You could feel the terror Reggie was going through as she tried to escape BOTH times. The ending was also a good one. I’m glad the couple decided to adopt the orphans. I highly recommend his book especially if you’re looking for a little romance too. I’m guessing this book was a stand alone book and no sequels. I could see Reggie and Sam and Grunt too working for the Brotherhood Protectors.
93 reviews
August 24, 2020
I won this in a goodreads giveaway.
It is an ok, slightly boring book.
The characters didn't capture my interest, although the plot line was excellent and there were good side characters & action. The actions & dialogue just didn't ring true and was too basic. There was too much time on thoughts and then huge action scenes were left under described and became flat.
The "sum up" at the end was good to have. Yet, since I couldn't get invested in the cardboard cut out characters, I didn't really care that the romance turned into marriage. I was glad that they "rescued the lost children" (side issue - could have been a LOT more in the story in my opinion). ...

Really, for me, the book just felt surface & blah & boring.
Profile Image for Melanie Marnell.
4,225 reviews34 followers
August 12, 2021
She'd been targeted, abducted, tortured and sexually assaulted but she refused to accept her fate. Fighting back, finding a way out and rescuing the other victims drove her. When Sam Franklin found a naked Reggie McDonald face down in the river she was barely alive. He didn't need the distraction. He was on vacation, after all, after separating from the SEALS and getting ready to start his new job with Brotherhood Protectors. Reggie refuses medical treatment, refuses to go to the Sheriff and is determined to help those she left behind. She becomes Sam's first client. Together with some of the Protectors they search for the location and the kidnapper. Somewhere along the way Sam falls for this heroic woman.
666 reviews
November 18, 2020
Courage.

Reggie gets kidnapped and held captive along with other women. She digs her way out the hell hole she was kept in and runs for her life. Followed by her masked captor and his two viscous dogs, she makes it the the edge of a cliff. It's either be caught and risk being raped and tortured more or jump into a glowing river below. She jumps, plays dead, and floats naked downstream where is is found and rescued by former Navy Seal, Sam Franklin and retired military dog, Grunt. Sam is the newest member of the Brotherhood Protectors. He and the rest of the Brotherhood will work to find and rescue the rest of the women and bring their kidnapper to justice!!
2,472 reviews32 followers
June 20, 2021
SEAL Justice

Seal Justice should be called Reggie's Justice. This book is full of angst and suspense. From the first chapter to the last James had me on the edge of my seat. Reggie is the female lead, she was abducted, she escaped but ended up jumping off a cliff it a river and than washed up on shore to be found by Sam the male lead and his dog Grunt. This story has triggers and it's a little darker than some of the other books I have by this author. I loved the story, the new characters and I loved seeing some of my favorites in this story like Sadie, Molly, Kujo, Bear, Swede just to name a few. Happy Reading!!
Profile Image for Meg.
1,377 reviews9 followers
April 15, 2024
bella storia ma affrettata
tredicesimo capitolo di questa storia e ritroviamo un ex SEAL che ha per compagno un amico a 4 zampe, qui però la storia è davvero terribile perchè si apre con una fuga drammatica dalla situazione che vive la protagonista
in questo la storia è bella, anche per la forza di lei e forse qui sta il punto debole: perchè con tematiche così sotto le duecento pagine è tutto molto affrettato...........anche l'epilogo
il loro avvicinamento è poco sviluppato e non capiamo quando e come......qui il colpo di fulmine non c'entra nulla e neanche la sindrome del salvatore.......
peccato poteva essere meglio
preso nell'unlimited
tre stelle e mezzo
1,788 reviews15 followers
November 28, 2020
I love the Brotherhood Protectors books and this one did not disappoint.

There's lots of action, suspense and romance.

The story is full of suspense, romance and a bit of sizzle.

There is no sex in this story really.

Trigger warning*** The story does deal with kidnap and rape though details are not graphic.

It is also the reason for no real sex within the rest of the story. It fit and I loved getting the bonus chapter to show where the characters end up. I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

Profile Image for Marie.
5,183 reviews52 followers
February 20, 2022
One of the best!

I love this book! Sam and Grunt are obviously heros but for me the hero of the book is Reggie, she is kickass with a spine of steel and a heart of gold. Sam and Reggie compliment each other perfectly, although they can both be stubborn they quickly find a way forward that works for them both, individually they are strong, but together they are unstoppable. There are so many amazing characters in this book because you cannot forget Abe either, who plays a perfect Mini Hero or Hero- in - training...such a sweetheart.
Profile Image for karen.
1,627 reviews
August 19, 2023
What a hero, a fighter, a fantastic women. Reggie is amazing . Sam us not bad himself. Serving his country and now a member of the Protectors. .
The brotherhood that saves others and are there fir anyone who needs them.
Also Abe and his siblings are one lucky family.
Ella has such a way of making her characters come off the page. Wish she would have explained why Thomas was such a dispicable human.
2,673 reviews2 followers
December 11, 2023
That was crazy about the kidnappings. She will try her best 2 escape and find help 4 the others. Grunt the German Sheppard found out in a little creek. He tried 2 get her healthy and was planning 2 do everything in her power 2 help her anyway possible. There was a big surprise that they found on accident but it helps with their future. There's only a couple of issues I have as a unanswered questions. it had me on my toes quite a bit.
1,142 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2024
Whew!! That was a close one!!!

Reggie and several other women have been kidnapped and held prisoner. The women are trapped in the basement of a house. Veggie escapes, leaps off a cliff and is found by Grunt and Sam. Sam is the newest member of the Brotherhood Protectors. His German Shepherd, Grunt is a retired war dog. They find Reggie and begin the search for the women. Good story
Profile Image for Gazelle.
839 reviews10 followers
December 11, 2024
Sam and Grunt are on vacation before they start a new adventure with Hank's team. Being at a remote cabin doing fly fishing the last thing they expect to find is a naked women by the river. Reggie is a survivor, a fighter and a perfect heroine for a protector. While she was abducted and escaped she refuses to leave the other women behind. Get ready for a action packed story while Reggie and Sam try to find the women and put a predator out of commission before it's too late.
168 reviews1 follower
August 21, 2020
Great read

A difficult subject matter was written well. Loved the strength and tenacity of the female lead. Great chemistry between the H/h without sex. Needed more from The Master. Who was he really? what was his motivation. A sneak peak into the inner workings of his mind would have be great. Final recapture scene very unrealistic, but it is fiction.
Profile Image for Samm Lynn.
1,326 reviews20 followers
December 1, 2020
Wow! Reggie, Sam, and Grunt! Great intriguing story. I love how Reggie refused to give up and refused to break her vow to come back and rescue her fellow captives. The race against time, all the people that helped, and the nail biting ending. Great story. Fantastic epilogue that wrapped up a page turner.
1,451 reviews12 followers
December 17, 2020
Another exciting read! SEAL justice comes to Montana where women are held captive. Having read about the Brotherhood Protectors in earlier books, I knew there would be a mission involved and action would be plentiful. I loved the dog Grunt; I admired the strength in Reggie; and, I loved a kid named Abe. This author writes amazing books and I love them.
41 reviews1 follower
March 15, 2022
A Great read!

I enjoyed this book so much. Even though the story line was heavy, the feeling was light. I loved the fact they incorporated the retired German Shepherd. The heroine was not annoying or weak. She didn't do or say anything to make her TSTL. The hero, while a great character, did not out shine her. 5 Stars!
53 reviews
April 13, 2022
I usually don't read books like this but what they hey thought I would try some clean romance and adventure. It was clean but had way too much violence and talk of past rape from a kidnapper so was not a huge fan. I did however really enjoy the men and heroes in this story as well as the heroine.
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