Shielding Ember

Delta Team Two #6

by Susan Stoker

For as long as she can remember, Ember Maxwell’s life hasn’t been her own. A world-renowned influencer, she’s a brand unto herself, created by her parents—who also want Olympic glory for their only daughter. Years of grueling training have led to Seoul, Korea, and a spot on the modern pentathlon team. It’s a turning point for Ember in more ways than one. Chafing against her parents’ tight reins, she opts to stay in the Olympic Village, a decision that leads to a gravely harrowing event…and a man unlike any she’s ever met.

Craig “Doc” Wagner has actively avoided the spotlight since childhood, a trend that’s continued with his career as a Delta Force soldier. Falling for someone whose entire life is splashed on social media is possibly the worst idea ever, though his attraction to Ember won’t be denied. It’s not long before he discovers they have plenty in common where it really matters…but he lives in Texas, and her life is in California. So Doc will take every stolen moment they can get.

When Ember makes a few life-changing decisions, Doc is thrilled. The same can’t be said for some of her biggest fans, including one who sees Ember’s new direction as the ultimate betrayal…that should cost her the ultimate price.

** Shielding Ember is the 7th book in the Delta Team Two Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.

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

328 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2021

About the author

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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

[Susan Stoker]

An Olympic athlete and the man sent to the Games to provide security find themselves in the middle of a terrorist attack…can their attraction survive once they arrive back home?



Shielding Ember
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[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series.

Ember is an Olympian in a sport I had never heard of. Ember is an influencer too, so she's always in the spotlight which is the one place Doc never wants to be. Sweet romance and sexy times between them. There's danger lurking during the Olympics and when they get home. She follows him to Texas and starts a new business with a stalker following too. Sure didn't see that person as the stalker.

Next up Grover, and Sierra is finally going to get out of that cave she's been in forever.

[LaTonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love doesn't have a color. There are absolutely no words to express how I feel about this book..this story...Craig "Doc" and Ember's story. If you are a new reader to MS. Susan Stoker, know this. She is a writer that embraces real situations and real life. I have every book she has written and will continue to share her books with my book family and friends...to anyone who will listen.

Welcome to Doc and Ember's story. She judged him at first, thinking he had issues with Black people, but this Delta Solider wasn't what she expected. His team was at the games to protect the athletes, and she was one of many.

Ember, the Olympic swimmer, (yeah swimmer) was not what a stereotypically Black woman was. She grew up in a rich environment. She was judged by both White and Black people for different reasons. Now she met a man, a man that looked at her with just love and concern, and protectiveness.

Their story is beyond incredible. She is being threatened, but by who? This suspenseful story will have you thinking. The heat between this couple will make your mouth water. The loyalty for this Army family will make you swoon. Sit back enjoy my FAVORITE couple.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book by Susan Stoker. I loved the bad guy twist, I didn't see it coming! And the Epilogue has me so ready for Sierra it's not funny. Seriously I feel like that stories been building forever and I can't wait to read it.

I really liked how the Olympics and Embers competition in it went. Everyone that gets to the Olympics should be so proud of their achievements. There is no tarnishing or shame in not winning a medal. I am proud of everyone who gets there, from all backgrounds and I hope everyone is too.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Shielding Ember by Susan Stoker

What an excellent read and storyline. Such an important issue with social media. Love these Delta Force characters. Always written as strong and empathetic men with kickass women. Love Ember and Craig. Can't wait for the next instalment of Delta Team 2.

[Patricia Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember and Doc areno awesome. This books shows just how people should treat others

[Donna Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful plot with twists and turns. Another great read

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember and Doc😍

Doc and his team are assigned as protection for the Olympic Games being held in South Korea. A unexpected meeting in a cafeteria with Ember Maxwell, famous athlete and social media star brings Doc and Ember closer than ever and when danger comes knocking, they both stand up and fight which brings them even closer…so much so that Ember makes changes to her life that a fan just doesn’t agree with😥

A wonderful story that just goes to show that people are more than how they appear❣️I absolutely love these characters and Ember and Doc together but I’m also super excited to find out what happens next for Grover and his quest to find Sierra❤️

[Judy Lewis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not one of her best efforts

Trying too hard for social correctness. The villain was easy to spot, and I am used to better plot twists from her. It's almost like she phoned this one in. Susan Stoker is one of my favorite authors but this book was a pale copy to what her books usually are. Was this perhaps a ghost written one? It reminded me of some of the less talented fan fiction writers that write in get world. Disappointing, but I will still get the next one as I have been anticipating Grover's story for quite a while.

[Jara Beaubien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly smokes what a story, Susan Stoker has a mechavelian mind, but what was there not to like.
Ember Maxwell is living someone else's dream, her parents have till now controlled her life pushing her to be part of the Olympics, Seoul, Korea, and a spot on the modern pentathlon team managing her entire live.
Now after years of hard training she is there, to be part of the Team and hope for a medal. Not only has her life been busy but Ember has also run into discrimination, you see Ember if black, raised in a privileged world of money and Beverly Hills.
That however does not give any one the right to treat her and talk like she is nothing, every human being should be treated with respect regardless of their color or religion or nationality, but Susan Stoker managed to bring it all together, the olympic games and the discrimination Ember is going through.
Arriving there she opts to stay at the Olympic Village and here is where her adventure and possibly new live begins. Delta Force is there to provide more security to the Olympians and this is how Craig “Doc” Wagner meets her.
Their adventure begins as he tries to avoid her as he knows she is something bed, but nevertheless the start to get to know one another, and then when things start to go sideways she has his six and man can she kick some ass, the girl is spectacular, magnificent and gorgeous. We all have our favorite characters that Susan has writen about, well Ember is my new favorite character.
Ember makes a big life change after the Olympics and moves to Texas to see if what they have is real and if it would work, now being the machiavellian author she there is one more obstacle for Doc and Ember, and heck I could not figure it out till the end, wow. I was left speechless and looking forward to the next book.

[Phuong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Doc and Ember from the moment they met and really enjoyed seeing these two together; they showed that one’s color was not a factor when it comes to love. They had amazing chemistry and I loved that they got to know each other in such a short period of time. I liked that Ember was an intelligent, strong heroine who proved she fit in perfectly with Doc, the Delta team and their wives. I loved her interactions with everyone throughout this book and the bit of suspense in this story. Another great book in this series and I cannot wait to read Grover and Sierra’s story next.

[Sandra Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!

Great book. Loved it! You can always, always count on a book by Susan Stoker to be a great read.

[Nicole Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Susan story has such amazing characters, this one definitely does not disappoint. You have a social media Olympic star and the sexy Delta Forces together you have one heck of a story. I loved everything about this story and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Chandra Woolson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It well written and suspensefuluu. My only quibble with it was that we have to wait for the next book!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story I loved Doc and Ember's story I can't believe the series comes to an end soon

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap Shielding Ember was totally amazing another awesome book by Susan Stoker

[Lisa Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Stoker brings together two characters together that are complete opposites. Not in personality but in occupations. Ember Maxwell is headed to the Olympics and is a social media darling. She has been groomed all her life by her parents. It was their dream that she goes to the Olympics and not hers. She is in the spotlight an awful lot and is an influencer in the world of social media. But social media only allows her to be seen the way her parents and others have dictated.

Craig "Doc" Wagner is a Delta Force soldier and he can't be in the spotlight. He has to remain anonymous and off social media to protect himself and his team. Their work is confidential and important. He first meets Ember when he comes to her defense and asks her to sit at his table with his team. He then abruptly leaves her at the table with his team. Not a good start but all is explained by his teammates and Ember learns that they have things in common.

Things get intense at the Olympics and Doc is quite impressed by how Ember handles things. He also encourages her to give life to her dreams. She is well on her way but someone wants to cancel those dreams and end her life.

This was a great story and dealt with social issues that are relevant today. Ms. Stoker does a good job with the material and as always spins a wonderful love story filled with excitement and characters that have great chemistry. Ember is a strong woman who can outshoot most of Doc's team but she is sweet and generous and amazing under pressure. Doc is a total Alpha male but he supports her 110% and that's what I love about the characters. Her heroines are always strong and not whiney. Her heroes are alpha males but they aren't over the top.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doc

Hands down, Doc is the man. From the start he showed compassion, empathy and devotion to Ember. Great story of emphasizing that LOVE IS LOVE. Sad that the end is near, but nervously excited that Sierra has been found.

[Erica Tyre · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

After the Olympics scenes were over, I actually found myself getting bored with this story. It just sort of plodded along, and the lecturing was pretty obvious. This author does that fairly often,though. Sometimes, she is able to strike a balance and let the story tell itself (those are brilliant), but other times she beats you in the head with whatever moral lesson she’s trying to convey. This one was the latter type. I keep coming back to her books hoping for the former, though, because those are always great. I just wound up skimming through a fair bit of the end of this story because I was bored with it. There was lots of “telling” and almost pointless inner monologues.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

Once again Susan Stokers grabs your attention from the get go. Excited and sad for the final installation of the Delta Team Two series.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved Doc and Ember's story. Finally getting to know more of Doc and I loved Ember. A great addition to this series.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved

Another great book by Susan Stoker. I love the characters in this book and series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I would recommend this book and all of Susan’s books.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

This book was fantastic, Ember was a great character. Loved how strong she was and the love between her and Doc. I can’t wait for the next instalment.

[Julie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance A+--Doc and Ember were so good for each other. I love it when a stoic, almost shy, hero finds the woman who brings him out of his shell and spurs him to action.
Suspense elements B--The first half of the book at the Olympics was terrific; but once they got to Texas, I figured it out and wanted some surprises.

Can't wait for Grover & Sierra's book in January!

[Inked Orca · Rating 5 out of 5]

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When light and shadow met things change.

Ember is at the Olympics but she’s not feeling the excitement she would’ve if she was doing it for herself and with no finish line in sight, it feels even more depressing. She’s in the center of the light, the social media influencer whose millions are looking into her every move. The light she’s stuck under is weighing down on her.

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Craig “Doc” always stayed away from attention, hiding in the shadows was in his DNA and his job demands secrecy. Any attention makes the Delta super soldier uncomfortable. The shadows have kept him safe and now Ember appearing in his life makes it hard to stay hidden.

Doc recognized the discomfort in Ember’s body language and did something he would’ve never done if he had the time to analyze his actions. Ember would give anything to step about of the light into Doc’s shadows if only for a few seconds. So when the handsome soldier offers to let her use his window to gaze up at the stars, she accepts it.

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Light and shadow can’t go without each other. The same thing goes for the two souls who found each other in the most unexpected places. Even with their differences, they have a lot in common. But when Ember gets threats on her social media accounts, the team takes action to stop the threat before it’s too late.

This book has a lot of things to shine the light on. First, we see racism and how some people can’t see beyond someone's appearance or the color of their skin. Ember’s life was hard, but she didn’t let that stop her. She’s a hardworking character that deserves to be admired. Doc had a past that made him closed off and not easily gives his trust to anyone. I’ve always wondered who he would end up with and Ember was not what I expected. They complete each other.

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I loved everything about this book. It’s characters, story, and every line. Susan Stokers’ books are always enjoyable, but it’s also the powerful message each one has to tell makes them even more interesting. With each book holding a message, it’s totally worth the money and time you put in to read her books. I wouldn’t miss one of hers. And I can’t wait to see what happens next with Sierra and Grover. Or any other book Stoker writes.

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[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man, I really like Ember! Wasn't sure when the guys first started talking about her, thought she might be stuck up. Instead she's stuck in a situation she doesn't want to be. I liked that with Doc and the guys Ember can be herself and enjoy her experience at the Olympics. The connection she had to Doc you could see right away and I liked that both of them valued that and did what they could to build on it.

When life when back to normal for them both it was great to see that both of them kept communicating, still wanting that connection. When Ember made the bold moves she did, I loved it for so many reasons. The first being she finally became her own person and second that it brought her closer to Doc.

I hated the drama at the end, where it came from and how Ember was endangered. Glad when everything was settled and we could see Doc and Ember living their best lives.

On a side note, I really wanted Doc and Ember's 007 secret moves to come out so that the world could see what she was dealing with on the second half of her event at the Olympics. She deserved more praise for how she finished things in her condition.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember & Doc

Perfect timing for this book, right after the Olympics, with Ember being an Olympic competitor in the Modern Pentathlon. She’s also a social media influencer, her brand built by her parents. Doc, on the other hand, is more of an in the shadows kinda guy, especially as a Delta Force Soldier. But, as it’s been said, opposites attract, or is she really so different deep down. Susan Stoker wrote another amazing book with Shielding Ember. Absolutely loved it.

[Julia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

another Susan Stoker epic!

Extremely appropriate to have a story set during the Olympics in an unexpected Olympic year! Also wonderful to read a well written anti racist story. At first glance Doc and Ember would appear to be opposites in almost every way but the more we get to know them the more they have in common. I loved this story and how it has also set up the final book in this series, cannot wait for poor Sierra!

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fast read... felt much shorter than other ones in the series... but maybe that is just me!!

Nice pace, good build up of the story... although, I knew who it was from the start ( one thing that I love about Susan Stoker is that she rarely pulls a rabbit from the hat... everything that you need to know is usually in the plot! ).

Now... I really really really need Sierra's story... like... now!!

[Pooja Pathak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book to fall in love with and another great work by the author
Loved Ember's character she is a true sport
As always great appreciation for Doc too,for always standing beside his woman no matter what the circumstance is
❤❤❤