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Soldiers of Misfortune #2

Protected by the Green Berets

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They think they’re in charge, but I’m about to prove them wrong…

I’m living my dream life as a desk jockey for the CIA.
Yeah, that’s a lie. Technically, I’m an analyst and being stuck in an office is the last thing I wanted.
Working in the field? That’s always been my goal.
So, when I’m finally assigned a case that promises to see some action, I’m beyond excited…
Until the Army steps in and assigns a team of Green Berets to babysit me.
I don’t want their help and they sure as hell don’t want me on their team, but none of us have a choice.
In the deserts of Iraq where the sun is hot and the tension is hotter, Keller, Alden, Torque, Rush, and I are hunting a dangerous terrorist that’d do anything to find us first.
If we don’t learn to trust each other, we’re as good as dead. And if we give in to the scorching chemistry between us? Things will never be the same…

***Be Forewarned
Protected By The Green Berets is a dark, angsty, military, why choose romance. There are four overbearing military men and one bada** leading lady who won’t need to choose between her men. There is no MM. This book can be read as a standalone. It contains explicit language and situations. Some situations may not be suitable for every reader. Find a full list of tropes and content at this author’s website.

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2022

209 people are currently reading
436 people want to read

About the author

Cathleen Cole

32 books540 followers
Cathleen Cole currently lives in Utah with her husband Frank, their six dogs, four goats, and flock of chickens. Cathleen and Frank have nomadic souls, so they don’t expect to be tied down to one place indefinitely.

Animals, dog sports, traveling, scuba diving, and everything books are just a few of Cathleen’s passions in life. She measures her quality of life based off the different experiences and adventures she gets to have.

You’ll see every book written by either Cathleen Cole or Frank Jensen will always credit the other as co-authors and that is because they use each other as sounding boards during their writing processes as well as they are each other’s main beta readers. As husband and wife, they insist on sharing all successes and failures equally.

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5 stars
318 (46%)
4 stars
214 (31%)
3 stars
120 (17%)
2 stars
23 (3%)
1 star
10 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Kate V.
1,840 reviews364 followers
August 3, 2022
Cathleen Cole might be the queen of RH in my world. Admittedly, I haven't read a lot of RH but I've read enough to know when someone has the gift of writing a heroine with several love interests without losing one or more of the characters in the background. I loved the first book in this series and this one was just as good. Packed with action, suspense and steam...it held my attention to the very last word. I literally couldn't put it down.

Zinnia (Z), a CIA special agent, goes on a mission with four Green Berets to locate a missing soldier and gather intelligence on the terrorist from book one. Not one to back down from a challenge, Zinnia is determined to find her place and be a part of Keller's team which includes Torque, Alden and Rush.

Normally I would have said that four men to one woman wouldn't have worked for me - too many working pieces - but let me just say...IT WORKED HERE. Now more than four men and I don't think I could have kept up but Cole was able to give each hero a distinct personality, role and place in their tight knit group. I loved reading the POV's from each and the unique relationship that Zinnia developed with them individually and as a group.

Keller - leader, arrogant, kind of an asshole, protective and possessive ("touch and her die possessive").

Torque - sweet talker, loves offering praise, laid back and the funny one of the group.

Alden - grumpy, moody, likes it rough and obsessive. Kind of like Keller in some ways as they are cousins.

Rush - the youngest of the group, sweet, cuddly bear but will bite.

Z - Now this is a heroine I can get behind. Cole has this ability to take a heroine and make her both independent and badass while also making her vulnerable and feminine. She was extremely relatable and I loved that she worked through her many emotions with maturity and grace. Z didn't back down and advocated for herself and the relationship she wanted to have with her men (even when Keller was being a dick). I adored her spirit, intellect and wit and her willingness to bend without breaking.

I can't say enough good things about this story. I really hope Cole continues this series because it had such a wonderful plot with a heavy dose of delicious dirty talk and steam. Together or one-on-one, Zinnia and her men were panty melting.

"I heard groans coming from beside us. The guys liked hearing that. I was pretty sure it’d been Rush. He’d never joined us with women before so he didn’t know what each of us was like in bed. He didn’t know that Alden liked it rough and painful. That Torque explained to his women how much he liked what they were doing to him while they sucked his cock. That I was an ass man and needed to control the situation, even when other men were present… Okay, he could probably guess at that last one."


So if you're a fan of RH or even want to dip your toes in the RH realm, then I highly suggest gobbling this series up. You won't regret reading the world and the characters Cole has created. They are every bit sexy and fierce as they are flawed but each of them will worm your way into your heart. I could have read another 100 pages of Z and her men. I can't wait for the next!
Profile Image for Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth).
2,255 reviews1,525 followers
July 31, 2022
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.5)
Trope: military reverse harem
Angst: 😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Super hot and smexy action packed ride! Protected by the Green Berets is the second installment of Cathleen Cole's Soldiers of Misfortune series which are all RHs. It is told in first person, from multiple perspectives and can be read as a standalone. This story is about Zinnia, a CIA analyst who is embedded with 4 Green Berets on a mission to find a missing soldier as well as collect information about a terrorist in the area. The chemistry is red hot as Zinnia tries to find her place with Keller, Torque, Alden, and Rush as well as complete their mission.

I really liked this one! Cathleen definitely has her groove with the RHs. I enjoyed both the storyline as well as the super hot smexy :) I'm not really a big RH reader and I think I've figured out my max number of guys is three ... logistically speaking, lol. I still really enjoyed this and I loved all the different characters which really made the group dynamic great. Tons of action, witty banter, and another super strong heroine - which is my fave. Can't wait to see what's next!

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes contain spoilers
Profile Image for Shannon.reads.
42 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2022
I honestly loved this book!! i have been looking for a good reverse harem and let me tell you THIS WAS ONE. and then you add military???….IMMACULATE. you should definitely read this book, i read it as an ARC and finished it in just under 2 days. i have to say some parts annoyed me a little bit but that enabled you more and connected you to the characters more as well. there is redemption for characters who maybe annoyed you or angered you and i feel that it was written perfectly and gave what it needed to give to be an amazing military reverse harem
Profile Image for Cat H.
1,972 reviews218 followers
November 19, 2022
4.4 stars.
This book tied up some of the loose ends that the first book left open, so that was satisfying.
I liked this one about as much as that first one.
It was hot, I liked the action and the team.
The relationship was super fast, but I still enjoyed it.

I just wish we got a little bit more from it.
We didn’t really get any alone time with Rush or Keller, though Keller did get more time since him and Z were always bickering and challenging each other.

It was still super hot, though.
The sex was dirty and smutty, just how I like it.

That ending was just sort of abrupt.
I wish we had gotten just a little bit more.
It felt like we started out at a normal pace and then things just kept accelerating until the ending came at a dead stop.

I don’t know if I’m explaining this coherently, but 🤷🏻‍♀️.

I still really enjoyed it, and I think I’ll probably pick up the next book in the series when it comes out.
Profile Image for Marcia.
494 reviews82 followers
August 9, 2022
As short as this story was, I thought it was really well done as far as it being a 'complete' story. A solid plot was present and it wasn't just a smut-fest. Not to say this story wasn't hot; spice factor was very high. I appreciated that although things moved very quickly, it didn't feel insta-love and there was some turmoil in trying to figure out the relationships. The Hs, especially the Kings, were pretty OTT alpha possessive and of the jealous sort. I wish there was a little more development between Keller and Zinnia, but it wasn't too bad. All the other Hs were pretty great and a great match.

Overall, a nice quick military-RH read. There are some characters making cameos from the first book (which I didn't read) and details of what occurred there, so heads up if you don't want any spoilers.
Profile Image for Melissa Humble.
39 reviews
July 22, 2022
Military trope is one of my absolute favs, Military RH even better. And this is a great example of that. One of the best things about this one is Zinnia is as strong of a kick ass heroine as Colby was in Captured By the Mercenaries. She gives as good as she gets with all 4 of her men especially Keller. Keller and Alden the King cousins are major alpha men which I love in Military men. Rush and Torque are not as alpha but they are still just as great. The authors manage to write a great story full of action and spice. Zinnia is right in there with them when she needs to be but knows when to step back and do the work she is best at when the time calls for it. The combination of Zinnia and her men is hot. Time to check out more books in the authors catalog to see if they are as good as the first 2 I have read.
Profile Image for Mrs T.
383 reviews1 follower
July 18, 2022
Zinnia, or Z as she is known, is a highly respected CIA agent. Her investigative skills are so on point that she successfully closes 90% of her cases. The downside to this is that she has been stuck behind a desk for a few years.

However, the current case she is working on, aligns with a Green Beret mission and their respective higher ups have authorised a joint field mission.

But Z doesn't need taking care off, even if it’s by the four hottest men she's seen in a long time and the Green Beret team, do not need or want another team member, even if its temporary and especially if she is as attractive as Zinnia.

Keller, Alden, Torque, Rush all fit as f*#k but such different personalities, one thing they have in common though is how they feel about Z. Though some of them fight it at first (yes, I'm talking to you Keller), they all want to protect her, breed her, love her.

However their route to a happy ending is fraught with danger and tension, safe houses and fire fights in Iraq.

Well written and edited, fantastic attention to detail.

If these four Green Berets are on protective duty, sign me up now please, I'm not opposed to begging 🙏.
136 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2022
I loved this story. It’s a Grumpy x Sunshine, Military, RH FMMMM, and SPICY! The bad a** FMC was great, proving she can give as good as she got. The 4 MMC…. damn! All had their own personalities but fit in the team all together perfectly. This was the second book in the series, it is a standalone, but there is a crossover of characters from the first book. Can not wait to read more!!!
Profile Image for LJ Metzger.
335 reviews3 followers
July 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! It's a stand alone in the Soldiers of Misfortune series and I'd suggest reading the first one because there is crossover of the characters! Zinnia was such a great FMC and a bad*** in her own way. The green berets didn't know what to think of her in the beginning but she proved she could fight right beside them! I really enjoyed the back and forth between them all to get to their HEA! Cathleen writes such great stories. The plots are always good and the spice is amazing! Can't wait for Saved by the Marines 🥰
Profile Image for Allie Felske.
55 reviews
July 18, 2022
I am a sucker for a realistic alpha man/strong female story, or in this case 4 alpha men. She does a great job at building their relationship up with tension, banter and some self reflection. Add in their journey in tracking down the villain from Captured by the Mercenaries and you’ve got an amazing book that’s hard to put down!!
1 review
July 18, 2022
Loved this book. I was hooked from page one Zinnia found Four people to spend her life with. definitely spicy and action. will recommend to everyone.
Profile Image for ♡Lea♡.
442 reviews3 followers
August 1, 2022
I received an ARC for an honest review

Holy cow the 🌶 in this book 🥵🥵🥵
This follows Zinnia who works for the CIA she has been stuck with the pencil pushers for too long and finally gets to go back out in the field for the case she is on.

You follow Keller, Alden, Rush and Torque as the four men navigate adding Zinnia to their team and trying to find leads on what they've been sent to Iraq for.

This is the second book in The Soldiers of Misfortune series and it was amazing 👏 🙌 😍

If you want to know more you can get a copy when it releases on August 1st, 2022
Profile Image for Mandi Miller.
253 reviews5 followers
July 27, 2022
Military RH is quickly moving up into my top tropes! Protected is a definite 5⭐️ read!
Zinnia ‘Z’ is a CIA agent who assists the Army in certain situations and has a skills that’s diverse but make her the perfect person to help the A Group of Rangers (Keller, Alden, Torque, and Rush) as they head into Iraq to find & stop the terrorist Roj, The Lion, and also find out what happened to SSG Colby Harris.
Zinnia has many talents and a personality that makes her tons of fun to read, especially during her interactions with the guys and others they come across.
The chemistry & connections between Z & each of the guys is perfectly done with enough domineering alpha vibes & complete devotion to even out but definitely kicked up with the spice! I loved finding out more about what Colby & her guys have been up to and what they’re doing, that was an awesome surprise.
Can we please have a story with Brando & his team? After two books, my interest keeps growing!
Profile Image for Trissa.
6 reviews
September 28, 2022
First of all... WOW 👌
Leave it to Cathleen to teach me that I have breeding kink and how much I want my man to take my birth control out of me.
Never would I think that's a turn on till this series...

Absolutely loved that Colbys story intertwined with Z's. That made me happy. I wasnt expecting it. And them becoming close friends after it all was just as sweet.

I could completely feel the heartbreak with Rush when he thought he lost his chance. And the relief when Keller finally took his head up out of his butt.
I loved how I was equally invested in the plot and relationship spice.
Cathleen has done NO wrong in any of her books.

December is too far away for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
13 reviews
July 17, 2022
This book had me hooked from page 1!!! I absolutely love a strong fmc that finds an alpha male who would do anything for her, and in this book.... She FINDS 4!!!!! My one sticking point was it felt like she was pushed into having a baby and her concerns were overlooked. I felt like that one small part could have been handled just a little better. Overall this book was awesome and I would absolutely recommend it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Victoria Shelton.
1,030 reviews14 followers
August 1, 2022
Another page turner for me, It's a stand alone in the Soldiers of Misfortune series and I'd suggest reading the first one because there is crossover of the characters! Its a hot and steam military story. Z is with the CIA and is sent on a mission with 4 green berets. Shes excited to get out into the filed again and wasn't expecting to fall for the hot army guys. Overall, the book was awesome and I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for E. Molgaard.
Author 13 books53 followers
August 2, 2022
4.9⭐️

The moment Zinnia meets the Berets she can’t help her attraction to him but Keller and Alden are rude and Rush and Torque openly flirt with her which has her feeling out of control. Eventually the sexual tension between all of them over flows and the guys no longer hold back their attraction and feelings for her. And when Roj threatens Zinnia the guys forget their mission to save her.
12 reviews
September 18, 2022
Why choose?!? 👏

Once again this book has a kick ass Fmc and a a handful of broody men. Each bringing your on a journey with their love for their one and only. The story line pushes the momentum of the book with just the right about of romance and spice. If you read book one you'll be elated with the appearances of some other characters as well as the ending. It'll be hard waiting for book 3!
394 reviews
August 2, 2022
Steamy, sexy, and intense chemistry

Zinnia is such a bad ass woman. She is so strong and independent and doesn't need a man to take care of her. These 4 men though go and turn her world upside down. This book couldn't be put down until it was finished.
Profile Image for Jackie Brown.
279 reviews
August 3, 2022
Protected by the Green Berets

Great book. Great characters. I loved the development of the bond between her and each man. What a foursome of hunky testosterone! Whew! A man in a uniform? Four? Yum. Four GBs out of uniform? Yum. Enjoy.
134 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2022
Protected by the Green Barets

Love these books that connect. They actually tell a good story around developing relationships of the soldiers and their strong women. Want more of these. The sex doesn't overpower what is happening and keeps you interested.☺️
Profile Image for Emily Franzen.
307 reviews5 followers
August 1, 2022
A sexy, steamy, action packed military RH. The second in the series, it did not disappoint! The FMC is strong and doesn't take any sh*t, and her men are the perfect fit! Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Victoria.
77 reviews25 followers
June 17, 2024
Once again, the cover is awful. But the book is quite good. All the MMC are quite different, the spice is about a 🌶️🌶️ but well written.
Profile Image for lived_athousandlives.
199 reviews13 followers
August 3, 2022
The first book was good but this one knocked it out of the park for me.
I loved Zinnia’s personality. She was stubborn and witty. She also wasn’t putting up with any BS.
The guys were a mixture of funny and alphahole.
The tension, banter, and steam were all great.
I don’t typically go for military themed books but this was a great “why choose” story. Read it in one sitting.
Profile Image for Watts of Reading .
144 reviews3 followers
September 2, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Now this military based series is one I can get behind.

I am here for a book that has an independent, feisty female character who isn't afraid to stand her ground and give as much as she gets.
I'm also here for 4 alpha military men who bring different qualities to the table that create the perfect unit.

I'm not sure what was hotter the chemistry or the desert that the book took place in!?!

Zinnia is a CIA agent who isn't afraid to get her hands and other things dirty when assigned to a mission with the Green Berets.

Keller, Alden, Rush, and Torque aren't a fan having someone new join them on their mission. To make matters worse they all find themselves attracted to Zinnia.

"It was like being teamed with the seven dwarfs, only they were all grumpy. And not dwarves. And gorgeous."

Will their mission become more under the desert sun?

Honest ARC Review
Profile Image for Kira.
1,112 reviews33 followers
December 28, 2022
Loved this! I literally couldn't put this down! Just like captured by mercenaries it had so much steam and alphaness!! So many twists and turns!! 5 stars for sure !! Can't wait to read what's next! Love this duo!!!
193 reviews3 followers
September 9, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!

It was action-packed and filled with everything I needed to keep me glued to it until I finished. I'm obsessed with Keller but all the guys are amazing. I'm off to read the next in the series!
769 reviews
October 15, 2023
Loved reading this book! It was Hot and steamy. Full of action. Can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Jenni.
12 reviews
July 14, 2024
Loved the banter in this book! It was a quick read and I nice palette cleanser after my last couple books. Highly recommend for those who likes RH and a good military romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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