I really liked reading PROTECTING MARIA by Nicole Flockton. Protecting Maria fits right into the Special Forces: Operation Alpha series so well. Riley “Ash” Ashland is indeed a very take charge, hero type of Alpha male. The fact that he’s a former SEAL just makes him all the more sexy!

Doctor Maria Moretti is in her last year of residency as a surgeon in a New York hospital. When she’s kidnapped and forced to perform surgery on her Uncle, who is second-in-command to her father, she knows she hasn’t truly escaped her father, a powerful mafia crimelord in New York. She turns to her friend, Melody and her husband, Tex, for help. Tex in turn calls his friend Riley, a former SEAL team member, to help him protect Maria.

Despite his rules, Riley is drawn to Maria in a way he s never been to a woman before. Especially one he’s been charged with protecting. Maria herself has learned to remain aloof and not get too attached to anyone. Considering who her father is, it’s not safe. But Riley’s Alpha protectiveness makes her feel safe in a way she never has before.

This story has danger, action, suspense, and most importantly, a feisty female and a sexy alpha male who fall in love despite the situation. Great story!

~Complimentary copy received. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

She threw the suture needle in the metal kidney shaped dish, the small tool joining the three bullets she’d extracted. “There it’s done.”

The removal of the gun barrel that had been held against her head for the last two hours should’ve been a relief. Only it wasn’t. Maria Moretti knew, after tonight, the life she’d spent the last ten years working hard to create was over. Her past had found her and she knew it wouldn’t let her go.

“Very good, Dr. Moretti. I’m sure Uncle Vittorio is very grateful that you saved his life.”

The sleaze ball who snatched her out of the hospital parking lot was far too smug for her liking.

“Like I had a choice,” she muttered and snapped off her latex gloves. “Now, how about you and your goons, take my Uncle and get the hell away from me. I don’t want anything to do with him or the family anymore. My father knows this. And if you happen to see my loser of a father, give him the following message.” She glared at sleaze ball, waiting until he nodded. “Stay the fuck out of my life. Like he promised he would.”

Without waiting for a response of any kind, she grabbed her bag and walked out of the dirty, drafty doctor’s surgery they’d taken her to. Having been bundled in the back of a windowless van, she had no idea where in the city she was. But this was New York; if she walked a couple of blocks she’d find a cab or a subway station. All she needed to do was get as far away from this place as possible. God, she hoped this would be the last time she’d see anyone from her mob family again. Somehow she didn’t think she was going to be so lucky.