Shelter for Quinn (Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Book 13)
Having grown up with a port-wine birthmark on her face and neck, Quinn Dixon’s heard them all. Her own mother couldn’t bear to touch her, let alone strangers. Years of stares and insults from everyone from classmates to foster families have made her understandably reluctant to trust. So when John comes along, of course he couldn’t be interested in more than a brief affair. He’ll get sick of all the gawking and whispers soon enough and leave her…just like everyone else.
John “Driftwood” Trettle was captivated by Quinn the moment they met. After months of skirting around their attraction, one pivotal evening finds John seizing the reins and refusing to be denied a chance to prove he’s worthy of Quinn’s time, her trust, and her love. To show her he’ll have her back, always, and defend her against anyone cruel or stupid enough to hurt his woman.
But he can’t protect against an unknown threat. Even if it wears a familiar face…
** Shelter for Quinn is the 13th book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.
Reviews (196)
A wonderful story about love and self acceptance
Quinn Dixon is an amazing woman who few people ever really see. All they see is the port wine birthmark on her check and neck. They never take time to see the real person. Oh sure they call her names like witch and freak or they steer clear of her saying she has the "mark of the devil". Her life hasn't been easy but she has learned to ignore most of the taunts and ignorant people who she comes in contact with. Driftwood as he is know to he fellow firefighters, his real name is John Trettle met Quinn through Chief a fellow firefighter. From the first meeting he as only seen the real beauty in Quinn. He stands up for her when he hears others put her down. He is kind, caring, compassionate, and protective. Everything a woman could want but Quinn has been avoiding him. He has to work hard to let her know that she can trust him, that he sees her for who she is. This is a great addition to a series of alpha males and woman with flaws. In Quinn's case her birthmark has been the bane of her existence and she hides from the world preferring to be by herself. She faces ridicule on a daily basis but lately is gotten worse. There is an unknown enemy that is a threat to her and Driftwood will do everything he can to keep her safe with the help of his law enforcement friends. There are some twists and turns in here and some misconceptions about a certain character who is not what he appears. Quinn is strong and brave just like the women who have come before her in this series. She finds her own strength and finally see herself the way Driftwood does. Ms. Stroker writes these stories in such a way that the reader is drawn in and I find myself caring about these characters as if they are real people. She sheds light on port wine birthmarks in this story and I admire that she draws attention to the fact that society places a huge emphasis on what it thinks a beautiful woman should look like. A woman is more that her flaws, they just makes these characters stronger. Driftwood isn't perfect either but they are perfect for each other in so many ways. This is a sweet story of loving someone and learning to love yourself, port wine birthmark and all. I absolutely loved it and had to finish it all in one day.
This series just keeps getting better and better!
This book is about Quinn Dixon and John “Driftwood” Trettle. Quinn is such an amazing person, however due to her port wine birthmark, people don’t get to know the real her, they just stare and make rude comments about her. To say that her life has been hard growing up is an understatement. Then there is John. He has been attracted to Quinn since they first met, but of course Quinn can’t believe that someone like him would want to be with someone like her, but John sets out to prove her wrong. John is always quick to defend her when others make fun of her and he is such a caring and compassionate person. He lets Quinn know right away that she can always be herself with him and that she can always trust him. To watch these two grow in their relationship was heartwarming. This books has everything you could want, love friendship, humor, romance and of course an unknown threat to them. This book made me laugh at times and cry at others. The story is very well written and you won’t be able to put it down. Another great book in this series.
Amazing story
Susan did it again and again writing her amazing love stories. Quinn is and has always been self-conscious about her port wine birthmark along her face and neck, but it still didn't take away from her beauty on the inside and out, and John Driftwood Tettle was intrigued by her from the beginning and wanted to get to know her so much better, so he didn't give up on his pursuits. It's mind boggling to know that our crazy world has really horrible so-called humans that live among us and think they know what God has in store for someone's future, not too mention their crazy misconceptions of their religious or cult beliefs. Susan wrote another fantastic story as usual.
Meh . . .
Was way too much repetition, cliche'd characters, and forced plotline. The heroine was incredibly naive or just plain stupid - so annoying! And I love a swoon-worthy hero just as much as the next gal, but John/Driftwood was too good to be believed. And the evil whack-job villain Jen was a cartoon. How did so many people not see that she was clearly off the rails and call her out on her sh*t? Story had a great premise but was poorly executed. Sorry . . .
A Winner!!!
Driftwood and Quinn's story was really good. The plot was very intense. I felt I was at the edge of my seat. Driftwood had been attracted to Quinn for a very long time and one night at their local hangout, he decides it's time for Quinn to be his girlfriend. Quinn has always been self-conscious about her port wine birthmark. She deals with states and ride comments almost every single day. It takes its toll on her. She is attracted to the gorgeous firefighter, but he would never want anything to do with her. He could have any woman. There is intrigue, romance and humor in this story that will keep you entertained. I love the fact that the other characters from this author's series are always present. It helps keep all of her heroes and heroines present so that we can witness what is going on in their lives as well as the new hero and heroine. I can't wait for Taco's story and for Penelope and Moose to final have their own happily ever after.
Another great love story
Once more the Author left me speechless, the story hit home, not because I have a birthmark but because I know I would do the same, I would stare, not because I really want to, but because it is something that to me would be a normal reaction, be it both mark or a blemish, be it a cut or even the loss of a limb, and I know have done, and even that is not right, but I have never degraded or bullied someone with any affliction. Susan describes what Quinn has gone through as a child and as an adult, made my heart ache for all she has gone through. Driftwood(John) meets her and is instantly attracted to her. And like every couple they have their ups and downs, and several curves thrown in the story, I wish I could say more but I have no wish to ruin the plot to those who have not read it yet. But if you like Susan Stoker rest assured you will love John and Quinn....
Wow. Just wow.
Absolute craziness. The sad part about this is that there are really religious zealots out their that think this is the right way to preach. Targeting individuals who have disfigurements etc. this story seems farfetched but it not obscenely so. Driftwood/John and Quinn’s relationship has been a long time coming. A lifetime of insecurities and horrible people have made Quinn feel less than everyone else and undeserving of John. When all he wanted was to love her. Their relationship goes through ups and downs. There are some twists and turns. I had inklings and suspicions about some characters and wound up being right. Just had that bad vibe. I love how the guys in these stories fight for the love of their life. And how their women all rally around one another. The guys from law enforcement and fire/rescue all rally behind each other and all the women as well and it just is so cool to see such loyal and protectiveness. Among a group of friend who are lore like family. Can’t wait for Penelope’s story.
Twists, Turns, Emotional and Loving
Once again Susan Stoker takes on a topic that some may find difficult. This book is about lifelong bullying, how it has affected Quinn, and also about the people that perpetrate this sort of thing. I've loved Quinn since we met her in Sophie's book, the fact that she hides her port wine birthmark has tugged at my heartstrings from that moment. John aka Driftwood has been trying to get Quinn to go out with him since he first met her. He sees her for who she is, a beautiful person inside and out. Her green eyes remind him of emeralds so he calls her Emmy. As this book opens, John has declared them dating and has taken Quinn to his place to recuperate from the girl's night out. While Quinn has agreed to this, she is surprised to find herself in John's home in bed alone with him on the floor next to the bed. I love John. From a creepy neighbor to adjusting to a man who defends her at every turn is quite a challenge for Quinn. All the women are so very happy for the two of them, even as they aren't as sure about Taco's new girlfriend. I wanted to smack her more than once. There are a lot of twists and turns in this story and I was sniffling more than once. This is a page turning read you won't want to miss.
Imperfections are badges of honor
Quinn had a port-wine stain birthmark, and she suffered for it. My weight has been an issue for so long, and even when I do my best to stay healthy, I still feel self-conscious. Quinn had to live through people’s ignorance when they talk about her birthmark within her hearing. I heard the same. I also remember when, even when I was active with a mountaineering group. Some of my colleagues talked about someone with the same name as mine, and when someone asked who that person was talking about, he said “the pretty one, not the fat one.” I was within hearing distance. It hurt. It hurt that even when I was killing myself going through the rigorous training we had, just so I keep myself fit enough to climb, I still heard grown men and women talk that way. It hurt, knowing that even as these people talked about me in a negative way, they enjoyed the food I prepared. I was the camp cook at that time, and I made sure that the climb team had the best food to sustain them during our trek. “While it is often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this is not the whole story -- it partly depends on what was recently seen.” –David Alais, Professor of Psychology from the University of Sydney Like Quinn, I learned to ignore those who sought to pull me down. It is my body, after all. As long as I kept myself as healthy as I can, I have long accepted the fact that my weight will forever stay with me. I learned to make good food choices, I learned to set aside a “me time” to keep in shape. I learned to not let people like Jen, Taco's ex, get to me. With Shelter for Quinn, Susan Stoker reminds us to not let our imperfections be the source for people to let us down. Imperfections—birthmarks, physical and mental disabilities, all of them should be celebrated, for each of these make us unique individuals. With or without a support system, these imperfections are tools we can use to become a force of good to our families, our friends, to society. Me, for example—despite the fact that people made fun of my weight when I used to climb mountains, people saw that I could out-climb them that I could lead a climb team. I could also, even when all my bones were aching after a hard trek, ensure that my teammates were well fed, comfortable, and warm. That experience—being alluded to as the “ugly one” and getting hurt by it then—does not define me today. In fact, it has made me who I am today, more confident, more decisive. I am more understanding of people and their need to lift themselves up to the detriment of others. The experience has also strengthened me as I go about my work in politics, and in the field of public relations. Yes, beauty, I believe, is in the eye of the beholder, but are we to consider only beauty that is skin deep, or the beauty within our hearts? In this day and age the choice should be obvious.
So good
Quinn has been laughed at and called names all her life because of the port wine birthmark on her face and neck. She likes to stay home and be by herself but then she meets John. John is a firefighter and asks Quinn out. She turns him down cause she thinks he just feels sorry for her. After months of rejections, John comes to her rescue one night and tells her she’s his girlfriend. He knows she wants him as much as he wants her but she’s been her and let down too many times to step out of her comfort zone. He promises to keep her safe and always protect her until a threat comes out of nowhere. Quinn gets kidnapped and John will use anything and everyone to get her back. A woman who has never been loved and a guy who loves every inch of her. Suspense and some sexy scenes. I love Ms. Stoker’s books and I would recommend them to anyone who wants a great way to escape for awhile.
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