Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Stryker

SERIES: Fire Lake Series #7

AUTHOR: M. Tasia

PUBLISHER: Borough Publishing Group

LENGTH: 202 Pages

RELEASE DATE: June 13, 2024

BLURB:

WHERE DEMONS DWELL

Stryker, a career Navy SEAL working with an elite team, gets drawn into a mission with the men of Fire Lake. When he crosses paths with Gator’s friend, John, Stryker – a lone wolf all his life – is drawn to John’s light and warmth.

Stryker is torn between duty and desire, and finds himself navigating a world filled with old secrets and new dangers. As his bond with John deepens, long-buried truths surface, challenging John to confront his past and embrace a future where love may be his greatest strength or his ultimate vulnerability.

Stryker can’t fight the pull any longer and succumbs to love, where he finds loyalty, and something he can’t believe is real: family.

REVIEW:

Serving as a SEAL, Stryker was happy to be a loner where relationships were concerned because he could get killed in the field. Then he retired, found his old team, re-connected with his cousin, and found John. John is the one he can’t keep away from. Then, John’s past triggers every protective instinct in Stryker. Losing could make him a loner again; winning could give both men everything they never thought possible.

This story is an admirable additional book seven to the Fire Lake series. It includes burley men fighting a dangerous foe with military efficiency while lighting personal emotional fires. What’s not to like? And it is worthy of its 4.5 heart rating. However, it left me with questions about what is to come.

The story is told in the third person, present tense, from the viewpoints of Stryker and John. I can’t comment on technicalities because, quite frankly, I was too engrossed to take notice. Worldbuilding has accumulated over the many books in the series. It’s a case of military men with baggage in their backgrounds. Service brothers are family, dealing with their pasts while finding partners.

Seeing that the Noah Project featured more in this book was superb, and a significant step forward was made in the mystery. More people with abilities are discovered, and in true style, drama ensues. Exciting stuff. John and Stryker make a terrific couple, but I’m not going to give any details about John’s past, (other than he has survivor’s guilt) or the events that happen throughout the book because it would provide some humungous spoilers. Suffice it to say that it made good reading.

The things that went through my head, though, are: –

The stories seem to be written to a formula. On the one hand, this is great because there is anticipation over what drama is to come, and you know it’s on the way. On the flip side, the element of surprise is lessened because you know it will happen, and there can be telltale signs. Like the ensign wearing the red suit in Star Trek is for the chop. But it still makes good reading. Then, Brick and the boys are too damned good to make a mess of things, so I had my pom-poms at the ready.

The Noah Project – it is excellent that strides forward are made. However, more people with abilities are revealed, making me wonder how many more couples will pair up. Thereby, how many more books will be in the series? There’s definitely another one, as there’s a snippet at the end, making it series book eight. Then again, with the players on the board, it could be the last, one from the last, or the next installment of who knows how many, depending on the author’s inspiration. This poses another conundrum, as I love the series. I don’t want to say goodbye to the boys, but I want to see the back of the Noah Project, the mystery of Brick’s aunt solved, and the boys star in another series that doesn’t include the Noah Project.

In all, I’m in the position of elated at having read a super book, yet frustrated over having to wait even longer for the overriding arc to conclude.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

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