Falling for the Delta

by Susan Stoker, Riley Edwards

When Delta operatives Dash and Magic officially meet Holly and Stella—the women they’ve had their eyes on—it’s hardly a conventional moment, but the fireworks are undeniable. Both men fall hard, fast, and deep, each planning a Valentine’s Day their women will never forget. And they don’t…but for reasons no one saw coming.

**These interconnected but separate stories were originally published in a Valentine's Day Anthology. They have been expanded and now include an epilogue for each story as well as extra content!

Genres: Military Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Anthologies, Romantic Suspense, Short Stories, Novella

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2021

About the author

Sign up for my newsletter here:
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...

Reviews

[Susan Stoker]

2 best friends, 2 Delta Force Operatives, 1 dangerous situation.

Falling for the Delta
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3qO0Ccj
Amazon UK: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Z2NDJJX
Amazon AU: www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08Z2NDJJX
Amazon CA: www.amazon.ca/dp/B08Z2NDJJX
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/en/ebook/falling...
B&N: http://bit.ly/3tokLHP
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/falli...
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/d...

[The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical but cute

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not normally a novella girl but I really enjoyed these!

~Two best friends fall for two best friends.~

Holly & Dash - 3.5⭐️
I did like this but I felt it was missing something..

Stella & Magic - 5⭐️
I loved their story so much! Their chemistry is so undeniable. I didn’t want their story to end.

[LaTonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing collaboration from two brilliant writers. Two Delta best friends who fall for two best friend civilian linguists.

Here is the stories of Holly and Dash and also Stella and Magic. Before the day that both couples really began their love stories, they knew they wanted the other. Such a great read. This book is full of humor, suspense, love, and lust. Enjoy.

[Chandra Woolson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two novellas from two of my favorite authors. I love how their writing styles compliment each other in these connected stories.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoker and Edwards wrote these stories of male best friends each falling in love with female best friends around Valentine’s Day. Dash and Holly’s story was written by Stoker. It had a mostly familiar style but without the intense friendship circle she normally forms. That friendship was mostly between the men themselves and the women themselves, but we didn’t see much of it. This is probably because of the limitations of writing two separate stories by separate authors that happen at the same time, without collaborating on every interaction. Overall, their story felt very romantic with plenty of spice, with a leading man who knows what he’s doing in a good way. Magic and Stella’s story is written by Riley Edwards. I’ve not read any of her books before. While their story felt romantic, reading it next to Stoker’s, I was struck by how Magic was portrayed as knowing what he was doing and Stella seemed pleased, but the actual mechanics of what was going on seemed noob, basic. Also, when anything got intense (romance, feelings, sex), the author’s style became minimalistic as part of expressing how intense it was, but as a writing style that fell flat for me. Finally, the suspenseful military part of Edwards’ story could have used more detail and twists. In the end, I liked both stories but didn’t feel moved to seek out more Edwards novels right away after trying out her short story. I read the ebook. 4/5

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked how these 2 stories were connected, the first scene set up things in a great way. At times it seemed like we knew what was going on in the second store more than the first, because it was from the other couple's perspective and we knew how somethings turned out.

Both of the couples ended up in danger in the middle of things, hated how that happened, but both women did what needed to be done, while their men weren't there yet.

Both of these stories ended in a great way for each couple, very different, but it fit them both.

[Shelley C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falling Perfection❣️

Loved these two short stories by Susan and Riley about two best friends that fall for two best friends that also happen to be Delta’s😍

Holly and Dash and Stella and Magic❤️

[Rachel Hogya · Rating 2 out of 5]

A MIXED BAG (**SPOLIER ALERT**)

This is hard for me to rate simply because Riley Edwards made the serious mistake of joining her work with Susan Stokers on this!! In her own right, Riley deserves five stars, but she chose to couple her story with the abysmal failure that was Susan's contribution! In light of that glaring mistake, she gets unfairly lumped into my two star review.

All I can say for the first half of this collaboration is that I want the last hour and of my life and my $3.99 back! I don't know what I just read, but it wasn't a story. It was essentially 90% paraphrasing of events, "telling" instead of "showing" which is a cardinal sin in writing! I don't want you to tell me "Dash and Holly ate dinner, watched a movie, made love and then went to bed". That's not storytelling! Let me see it unfold as it's happening, let me live it with the character. I don't want a summation of events in successive paragraphs; I want to read a damn story! If you also want to read a story instead of a series of paragraphs rattling off a list of stuff the characters did in hindsight, then you should pick another book. Honestly, if Riley James' story of Stella and Magic hadn't been included as part of my purchase price, I'd probably have sought a refund from Amazon because that's how amazingly awful Susan Stoker's telling, and yes, I said telling, of Holly and Dash's romance was!

There literally was no story. I don't just mean no storytelling, which as I've already explained was nonexistent.  I mean there was literally no story! No plot. No framework of an actual story. It literally served no purpose. It was essentially a quick telling of this couple's meet cute, then you fast forward a year and there's a quick telling of how things end for them. That's it! Nothing else! That MIGHT be acceptable if there was imaginative storytelling, vividly set scenes, intriguing dialog, and scintillating sex, but no. It's literally a paraphrasing of events that's already happened like it was a grocery list! And it was made even more glaringly deficient because it was followed up by Riley James' evocative work! I truly feel sorry for Susan, but she did it to herself!

Here's an example from the book of what you'll be reading if you chose to waste your time and money, and honestly, folks, this was the best excerpt I could find from Susan's portion, so just know it's all downhill beyond this!
"Hours later, after a delicious meal of steak and lobster: after they drank the entire bottle of champagne; after Holly had texted a picture of her ring to Stella, and gotten a return picture of Stella's own ring that Magic gave her when he proposed; after they'd changed into more comfortable clothes and watched the movie; and after Dash had shown her without words how much she meant to him, Holly lay naked and replete in his arms on the love seat."

If you enjoy reading your "stories" that way instead of living what the character is living as it happens, then you'll like Susan's contribution. But I don't know anyone who enjoys having a story paraphrased! I recommend, if you do buy this book, to just skip ahead to Riley Edwards' portion of it; it's the only redeeming thing about it! Riley actually shows the story happening. She does some telling, as is absolutley necessary in short stories such as these, but she does it properly. It's not a paraphrased list of events, it's colorful, descriptive, engaging, and entertaining, leaving you wanting more!

I don't know if Susan's just burnt out and doesn't care anymore, but she didn't even bother phoning this in! That would have been a step up from whatever this was! It genuinely seemed like she took an hour out of a busy afternoon one day to scribble some crap on a few sheets of paper and sent it - one draft with no edits - straight to publishing! If I were her, I'd be mortified to put my name on this! I'd be even more embarrassed because Riley's beautiful, descriptive storytelling absolutely eclipses hers without comparison! It's a professional embarrassment for Susan, to be sure, and that hurts me to say because I've always been a fan of Susan's work. This was just totally unacceptable and if it's indicative of what I can expect from her from now on, it'll be the last of her work I'll ever read! Pull it together, Susan!

Honestly, if I wasn't familiar with commonly used phrases that EVERY character in EVERY Susan Stoker book says (again, lazy writing) and someone handed me this, I'd have thought some teenager wrote it and posted it on an online storytelling forum. It's THAT bad! I cannot state emphatically enough how much I LOVED Riley James' work, though! She gets 5 stars. I just have no idea why she's publicly pair her work with the laziest, most rudimentary writing I've ever seen from a professional author such as Susan Stoker.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun interconnected stories about two best friends who fall for two best friends. Each Author takes a couple and it was great to see both couple's stories during an intense first few of weeks of dating.

Quick and easy reads.

[Denise H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two great authors, two fantastic novellas.

Susan Stoker and Riley Edwards team up to write complementary novellas based on best friends finding their forever’s with best friends. It’s engaging, fresh, funny, exciting, sweet, sexy, and romantic with a dash of danger and HEAs.

Holly and Stella are best friends who work together as linguists at the Fort Hood Army base. They clicked the first day they met at orientation and have been friends ever since. Both speak several languages and it’s through their jobs that they are aware of the Delta teams.

Susan's story -
Holly and Dash see each other all the time but have never had the opportunity to actually meet; the timing has always been off. However, after one fateful day with Holly and Stella being caught in an interesting predicament, introductions are made and they never look back. The interest was immediate but the attraction was undeniable. They become fast friends which quickly leads to more and though the relationship moves at a fast pace it fits with these characters. The danger and drama blend seamlessly into their romance (kind of a ‘day in the life’ type of thing) and their HEA was sweet and beautiful.

Riley's story -
Stella and Magic have a bit of a different introduction. They are actually next-door neighbors who have been interested in each other from first sight, but yet again, their schedules have never meshed well for an introduction let alone anything else. So the situation Magic and Dash find Stella and Holly in at the beginning of the story sets up the perfect introduction for the couple which quickly moves to more. Their relationship is also fast-paced but it fits the characters and story perfectly. Since all four of them work at the base, Stella and Magic share in the same drama and danger as Holly and Dash. I loved seeing the situation play out for each couple; their reactions and conversations added greatly to the scenes. Stella and Magic’s whirlwind romance is just as sweet and intense as Dash and Holly’s and their HEA just as perfect.

Susan and Riley do a fabulous job mirroring each other with these characters and giving the readers all four viewpoints of situations that play out simultaneously between the two couples. Wonderful stories you don't want to miss!

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

In both books is the scene that triggers both books. In it Stella has locked herself out of her apartment, and has climbed a tree to get to her neighbor's balcony so she can get to her own. Much to the amusement of Magic and Dash.

Dash & Holly
by
Susan Stoker

Instead Dash leads Holly off, and assures her Stella is in good hands and safe. Then proceeds to inform her she's safe as well and she could a text of his license plate to Stella for good measure.

As these two start getting to know each other, they stay in the car in the parking lot of her apartment complex. This leads to an interesting encounter with law enforcement.

However, they find they have much in common. Holly is not only beautiful, she's intelligent and has almost as high a security clearance as he has, maybe even higher.

Meeting for lunch at the PX becomes a staple as these two get closer. Then one of these lunches isn't calm and fun at all.

Plenty of romance, a bit of action and a touch of heat.

5 Contented Purrs for Susan!

Magic & Stella
by
Riley Edwards

Magic was more than a little amused at Stella's antics in the tree outside his apartment. He takes Stella to his apartment, more than a little curious as to how she was planning on getting into her locked apartment from his balcony. He has a lot to say on the subject as he's cleaning her scrapes.

He wasn't quite prepared for her to identify him as Delta, and even more surprised to learn she'd been in on OPSEC briefings. He's also very relieved to find she's a civilian contractor and not military. It makes life easier.

They too enjoy the ritual of lunch at the PX together, until that one fateful day.

Lot's of laughter, romance, some action and a touch of sizzle.

[Kendall {Book Crazy} · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books from Susan Stoker, but this was my first taste of Riley Edwards' writing! I started this book as soon as it released and it only took me a few sittings to read! I loved that both short stories had the same plot line, but followed different characters! All four characters appeared in both stories, but it was a lot of fun to see it through all four of their eyes! The plot was full of romance, which allowed for quite a few seriously hot scenes! There was some action and suspense as well, which added a lot to the plot and made me enjoy it more! This book focused on two separate couples! Susan Stoker wrote Holly and Dash's story and Riley Edwards short story followed Stella and Magic! I loved all four of the characters and it was easy to see how Holly and Dash and Stella and Magic felt about each other! Both ladies were very good friends and Dash and Magic were very supportive and also close friends! The guys were also protective of Holly and Stella and wanted to keep them safe! I now can't wait to read more books from Susan and also check out some of Riley's books! This book wrapped up both couples stories and I would have actually loved them to have been longer because I could have kept reading lol! I completely understand why they were short stories though and the endings were left at the perfect place! I also love the cover for this book! It suits it perfectly and the covers models could represent either one of the couples! It drew me to the book as well and made me want to check out the synopsis!

[Inked Orca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two short stories about love and friendship. 
When they first saw each other, their fate was sealed.



Holly & Dash: by Susan Stoker

Holly had a crush on Dash for a while, but she never got close to him. All she did was smile a few times at him when they saw each other at post. Dash noticed Holly, too. He was trying to figure out a way to approach her. So when he and Magic walked in on the two best friends, trying to climb a tree, it felt like the perfect time. 



Stella & Magic: by Riley Edwards

When Stella locked herself out of her apartment, climbing a tree to her neighbor’s balcony to make her way to hers seemed better than admitting that she locked herself out again to the building maintenance guy. Magic never thought his neighbor will fall into his arms. He was making plans to knock on her door and ask if she had any sugar, some other plan like that, but what happened was way better. 

I don’t know if I liked the way Stella would go “Magic!” when they are in bed… lol it was kinda funny.

It was a sweet and quick read.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly is aware of Dash, she has seen him at the PX. Dash noticed Holly right away as well. Stella saw Magic the day he moved in the apartment next door to her, Magic saw Stella and was interested. The men have not taken the first step to introduce themselves to the women they are interested in. Stella locked herself out of her apartment and the spare key Holly had is in the apartment as well. Stella decides to climb a tree, jump from the tree to her neighbors balcony then cross over to her balcony and walk in the slider she didn't lock. Stella is hanging in the tree when Dash and Magic walk up. When Stella falls out of the tree Dash catchers her and the introductions begin. This is a whirlwind of romance, with some terror. This is an amazing story with wonderful characters. I love this book.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omggg absolutely loved!!

Holly and dash, and magic and Stella. Wow. Loved them both. Each guy is absolutely dreamy and total book boyfriend material. Haha their meet-cute was hilarious. The guys coming up on their cockamamie plan with Stella in a tree and hilly yelling ‘abort’. Omg too funny. Their each gave their own adorable-ness. Holly and dash wow. So cute and loved his fort idea and then how he made it a bigger fort at the end. Loved how Stella and holly texted all the time and had such a close relationship like the guys did. And their jobs made it easier for them to get how hard it would be to be with a delta. Plus they understood clearance and being of aid to others. Loved how we got four sides to a horrible even. Which really shows how perspectives play a part in things like that. Great stories!!

[PepperP0t · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each author contributed a previously published Valentines Day themed one sitting short to this duology.
Dash and Holly Susan Stoker 85 pgs – 2.75stars
Magic and Stella Riley Edwards 81 pgs – 2.75stars
A slapstick escapade sets up a cute-ish meet for two BFF Delta’s and two BFFs linguists assigned to the same base. As it happens all four have been eyeing each other for weeks but hadn’t yet gotten to the all-important intros part to get the parties started. The guys and gals get a chance to show their skill but to this reader’s taste, the story feels light and the outlines are so close its one outing with two sets of POV’s.
Overall Rating: 2.75stars

[AYA Alminiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment Susan Stoker and Riley Edwards announced that they were collaborating on a book, I immediately knew that I would be stalking their pages waiting for that pre-order button. And once the pre-order went live, without reading the blurb, I one-clicked, because I knew that I will not be disappointed at all.

Well. I was right. Although, to be honest, I was thinking at first that Dash and Magic’s story would be heavy, as I know Susan Stoker and Riley Edwards never pull their punches when leading their readers into the lives of their characters, I was pleasantly surprised that Falling for the Delta was in fact an easy and lighthearted read.

With that said, I think 5 stars won’t be enough, ‘coz two brilliant authors definitely deserve a 10!

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two great novellas

Two interconnected, intertwined and parallel stories - best friends falling for best friends. Stoker and Edwards writing styles complement each other beautifully in these two stories. Despite the small length of the stories, they have a little bit of everything just like you would expect from a good military romance story - sweet moments, strong friendships, fan your face sexy times, dangerous situations, funny moments, and over the top alpha protectiveness. Plus both couples get their sweet HEAs.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when two amazing authors team up and write a book for their readers. You get two couples that once you are done, want more more more.
Two novellas with two great couples, Dash and Holly and Magic and Stella, Holly and Stella best friends who find their alpha heroes in Dash and Magic.
Short reads that pack a punch, steam, romance, some suspense and amazing characters, starting with Dash and Holly’s story and then Magic and Stella each with their own HEA and epilogues that will make you sigh swoon and sigh TWICE !!!

[Ginny Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two best friends falling for best friends!!!
Holly and Stella work at the base as civilian linguistics. Dash and Magic are on a Delta team.
Neither set of couples realized that they had wanted to meet each other. Now Dash and Holly and Magic and Stella are together as much as possible. The men get a Crack up out of the women texting each other.
They are all looking forward to spending their first Valentine's Day together but unfortunately someone has different ideas.
Read on to find out how the situation is handled and how the men make up for it.

[Iris Hehe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Holly, Dash , and Magic were watching Stella try to climb a tree so that she could get into her apartment. Unfortunately she slipped and Magic was able to catch her. Meanwhile Dash asked Holly if she wanted him to take her home. They agreed and they were having such a good talk that someone called the cops. Magic and Stella were having a good time too. Best friends dating best friends was really good. Holly sent a text saying he was a 12 out of 10.

[Maru Rusiach · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ☆
This is going to be short and sweet just like these two amazing stories written by Susan Stoker and Riley Edwards. Both stories tell us about two Delta Operatives that find their other half in the most unique way and,no matter what life throws at them, they'll do everything in their power to keep their loved ones safe. This was a short, fun, sweet and entertaining read that I fully recommend.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best friends

Two stories of best friends meeting best friends. The Delta men have fun names and bring their strong fun antics to the relationship in each of these books. The women are fantastic as well with top security clearance and intelligence. The valentines events for year one was not expected but told well in both stories. The scenes are hot and the blend of action and romance is great. Two great reads from two wonderful authors.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

2 Fav Authors

WOW - all I can say is Susan and Riley are my go to books and then you go and write one together - OMG heaven. Loved these short stories and how you combined friend/lovers and of course a little drama. Loved these two women both so very funny but the men that loved them were also funny but sweet. You can’t go wrong with either author but man together they are great.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story and an easy read. I loved that Holly and Stella were besties and they had silent conversations through their eyes. This is a real thing that I do with my close friends! The jokes Stella made about Magic's name made me chuckle. We could all use a little magic our lives right?

Anyone looking for a fast, engaging romance is going to love this book.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

12 on a scale of 1 to 10!

* Double the fun
* Double the laughter
* Double the trouble
And definitely....
* Double the steamy, dirty talking, lovin'.

Two couples and two love a first sight love stories where sexy Delta's sweep their women off their feet, written by two awesome authors...what more could you ask for!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Dash & Holly and Magic & Stella

I already knew I loved both Susan Stoker and Riley Edwards, and these stories in this book just made me love them more. Dash & Holly’s story told by Susan Stoker and Magic & Stella’s story told by Riley Edwards, they are sweet and funny, yet there is still danger and excitement, and some good old fashioned romance. Loved it!

[Julia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

Two beautiful,short, sweet and sexy stories from two of my favourite authors. Brilliant to have two male best friends falling for two female best friends. They wouldn’t be Susan and Riley’s stories without some drama to keep us entertained. Plenty of humour too. Sadly there is never a delta around to catch me when I fall out of a tree physically or metaphorically.

[Corjohn118 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this collaboration

Susan has been a favorite of mine since I got my first kindle. Riley is relatively new to me after I discovered Nixon. I love that these two took two sets of best friends who all found their HEA. There was heat and even in the short novellas the usual tension and fear of loss. I hope they continue this wonderful collaboration