Searching for Lilly by Susan Stoker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ethan “Chaos” Watson is the unofficial leader of Fallport, Virginia’s Search and Rescue team. The former Navy SEAL has found a lot of different people in the forest in the last five years since he arrived in the small town—escaped convicts, lost kids, hikers who went missing, runaway teenagers, and even a lost pet or two. But this is the first time he’s been asked to look for Bigfoot.

Get ready to fall in love with the quirky residents of Fallport, Virginia and the seven men on the Eagle Point Search and Rescue Team. They’ve sworn to risk their lives to keep the town safe but losing their hearts during the process was never the plan. Start this new series with Searching for Lilly.

Note: Searching for Lilly is the first book in the Eagle Point Search & Rescue series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings.

Bigfoot, Bloodhounds, and a Hero Named Chaos

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🤎
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏
Character development: 😋😀😍🤓
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration

🎧 Audiobook Review: Searching for Lilly (Eagle Point Search and Rescue, #1)

Author: Susan Stoker
Genre: Military romance / Romantic Suspense
Narrators: Grace Grant, Ryan West and Tim Paige

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Lilly Ray

Lilly Ray is a woman who knows how to survive in a world that often underestimates her. After walking away from Hollywood—and the toxic harassment that drove her out—she returns home to West Virginia, only to find herself swept into a new gig she barely understands. As a camera operator for a paranormal investigation show, Lilly spends her days filming staged hauntings and interviewing eccentric locals who spin tall tales of ghosts and monsters. She’s the youngest in a family of four protective brothers, but Lilly’s resilience and independence shine through. Beneath her quiet professionalism lies a heroine who’s tougher than she looks, and far more perceptive than the producers give her credit for.

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Ethan “Chaos” Watson

Ethan Watson, nicknamed “Chaos,” is the kind of hero who commands attention without saying a word. A former Navy SEAL turned leader of Eagle Point Search and Rescue, Ethan thrives in the rugged Appalachian terrain, where his team of ex-military brothers-in-arms track down lost hikers and missing townsfolk. He’s disciplined, loyal, and fiercely protective of his community. Yet beneath the stoic exterior is a man capable of warmth, humor, and a surprising tenderness—especially when Lilly crosses his path.

📚 The Plot

When Lilly’s crew arrives in Fallport, Virginia to shoot a Bigfoot episode, the town’s skepticism is palpable. At a community meeting, Lilly notices a group of broad-shouldered men glaring at the proceedings with barely concealed disdain. One of them—Ethan—fixes her with a gaze that’s equal parts curiosity and challenge. Soon she learns these men are the search and rescue team, tasked with keeping the production crew safe in the vast, unforgiving forest. What begins as a clash between scripted spectacle and grounded reality evolves into a slow-burn connection between Lilly and Ethan, set against the backdrop of staged paranormal drama and very real danger.

🌟 Highlights

• Ethan and Lilly’s relationship unfolds organically: from casual texts to quiet conversations at the bed-and-breakfast, to a date that feels refreshingly genuine. Their chemistry builds in layers, making the eventual sparks feel earned.
• A standout moment comes when Ethan introduces Lilly to his friends—and one brings along a bloodhound scarred by past abuse. The dog’s instant trust in Lilly is a poignant, unexpected symbol of her quiet strength and kindness.

⤵️ Low Points

• The producer’s chapters drag the pacing. His desperation to manufacture viral Bigfoot content feels repetitive, especially given the glut of similar shows already saturating the genre. His need to make the show a hit foreshadows the fact that his later actions.
• The title Searching for Lilly is misleading. Readers expect Lilly herself to vanish, but the missing-person subplot centers on someone else entirely, which undercuts the emotional weight promised by the title. Lilly does go missing for a bit at the end, but it isn’t the main search in the story.

🎙️ Narration

The audiobook employs dual narration, with Grace Grant and Ryan West leading, plus a cameo by Tim Paige. Paige’s natural delivery and warm tone are a highlight. Grant’s voice is pleasant but her pacing occasionally feels off, while West’s gravelly timbre suits Ethan’s rugged persona but skews older than the character’s intended age. The mix of voices adds variety, though not all performances land equally.

💬 Final Thoughts

Searching for Lilly blends small-town charm, military grit, and a dash of theatrics into a romance that’s more heartfelt than its title suggests. Lilly’s journey from Hollywood escapee to Appalachian heroine is compelling, and Ethan’s steady presence grounds the story. While the producer’s subplot and misaligned title detract from the overall impact, the emotional beats—especially the tender moments between Lilly, Ethan, and even a wary bloodhound—make this audiobook worth the listen.

—

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub




View all my reviews