Protecting Alabama is a stand-alone love story. It’s Book 2 in the SEAL of Protection Series.
Alabama didn’t have a good start to life. Emotionally and physically abused by her mama, Alabama spent her high school years in foster care. People let her down, time after time, and she’d learned to rely on only herself.
Christopher “Abe” Powers earned his nickname because he tolerated nothing less … because he tolerated nothing less than absolute honesty from the people around him. Finding the bar scene stale and having watched his friend and teammate, Wolf, find the woman of his dreams, Abe was determined to find someone to share his life with too.
Alabama and Abe had no idea their paths would cross and their prayers would be answered, but like most things in life, nothing is ever as easy as it seems at first. Two words would change both their lives and they’d have to fight hard for their happy ever after.
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Really liked this book. Sad about the abuse, which we all know happens all to often. Really glad for the happy ending. Must read. Abe got his name, because honesty is what he relies on. Alabama didn’t have a great upbringing with her mama and was in and out of foster care.
Lovers unite and mean girls get their due.
LOVED it! This is the 2nd book in this series and it just seem to get better with each book! This book had me swooning, on the edge of my seat and then out of the blue I was cracking up! I love a Susan Stokers books because she know how to make you feel like you are a part of the community she’s created! Christopher & Alabama love story will have you wanting to scream, strangle someone and then craving to find your own SEAL!
I liked it
Alabama had a rough childhood. She learned from a young age that she needs to keep her mouth shut and to never trust anyone to save her. She’s all she’s got.
Abe doesn’t tolerate lying and stealing. He gained his name because of that.
Abe was going to break up with his girlfriend because it wasn’t working out between them anymore. She invites him to a party from her work when the place catches fire.
He meets Alabama there, she crawled towards him, drenched him with water, and made sure he doesn’t get burned. Alabama left after she made sure he was being taking care of and fine. The next day Abe knocks on her door and asks if she’s doing okay then asks her if she wants to get some coffee with him.
They get to know each other, quickly becoming close and developing feelings towards one another. Abe takes her out to meet his friends and his family.
I hated how Abe was testing Alabama to see if she really was the one for him. Even more how he kept saying that he hated being lied to and stealing. How he promised Alabama to take care of her and to never tell her to shut up only to break his promise the first time she made a mistake. It wasn’t even a mistake she made someone wanted her to take the fall and Abe didn’t take the time to sit down and talk to her. To figure out what was happening. I don’t know how Alabama forgave him after that. He sure owned his mistake and apologized. So yeah maybe I do understand why she would.
Love and trust made them stronger. Their story was beautiful and heartwarming.
I am loving this series by Susan Stoker! In SEAL of Protection series, Susan creates a world around a team of hot Navy SEALs and the women they love. Susan’s characters make us long for a man like these guys who would put us before all else in life and literally sacrifice everything to make us happy! YUM!
Book 2 in this series, Protecting Alabama, is the story of another team member “Abe” and his forever love Alabama. Ms. Stokes again demonstrates her deft storytelling, weaving a tale of two souls who have been broken by their pasts learning to trust in one another. As usual, Susan’s characters are complex and their path to happily ever after is not as smooth and straight as it first appears. Of course, this mirrors true life and is what makes Susan Stokes characters so relatable. Creating relatable characters, that make you feel like you are part of their group of friends, is one of the many reasons, I eagerly gobble up every Susan Stokes novel I can.
What is unusual for Susan, is in this novel, “Abe” is not as loveable as most of her heroes. His one personality trait, an inability to tolerate less than absolute honesty, thus earning his nickname, causes a major misunderstanding between him and Alabama. Not only does this alienate him from his girlfriend, and his team, this reader wanted to throat punch him! It appears from other critiques I have read, my opinion is shared by many other readers! Luckily, all of Susan Stoker’s romances end in happily ever after, and therefore after much groveling, Abe redeems himself. The action in Protecting Alabama is more an emotional, spiritual nature than a mystery suspense plot. However, It is no less compelling than her other novels. I again lost sleep reading late into the night!
I have already purchased two more novels in this series. I am looking forward to reading every novel in this series. Each novel could be read as a stand alone but it is more enjoyable to read Susan Stoker’s series in order. It is well worth your time and effort.
The abuse of a child is heartbreaking. What Alabama went through and how it affected her as an adult is painful. Abe broke her emotionally and broke her trust when he reacted in a verbally violent manner when she was accused of being a thief. This is a difficult story to read because of the emotional depth but worth it. It adds to the rest of the series.
Oh man. My heart broke for Alabama and her childhood. I totally cried right from the beginning. I loved how Christopher “Abe” treated her. He was sweet to her. But then he messed up. Oh man. Did he mess up. That broke my heart. But people make mistakes sometimes and say things they don’t mean but Alabama was able to forgive him eventually. I’m not sure I would have been so forgiving. I am glad they were able to work through it and got their HEA.
Alabama had a miserable childhood. Beyond comprehension! To become the incredible, kind, thoughtful woman she is, is amazing.
Her presence of mind saved a great number of people and brought Abe into her life.
The pain she experiences at yet another who was supposed to love her is so sad. Once again, you run the gamut of emotions while reading the second in the series!
Abe and Alabama are awesome. I love the way Abe pulls Alabama out of herself. Parts of this book will make you cry but it is so true and touching how Abe screws up and works so hard to fix his mistake. Thanks Susan for a great story.
Whew. Emo-tio-nal!! Absolutely, heart wrenchingly,romantic,and charming. They were perfect for each other. Then even perfect isn’t enough. You have to keep fighting for it. I am glad these two got their happy ending.
Protecting Alabama is the second book in the SEAL of Protection series, and it is the story of Alabama and Christopher aka Abe. Alabama has had a crappy life so far, and because of this she is shy and withdrawn, trying to never bring attention to herself. She has learned to only rely on herself and no one else. Christopher is a hot SEAL and is ready to find someone to settle down with but he never thought a chance encounter would bring him that woman. Christopher/Abe is smitten from the first minute they meet but Alabama is not a trusting person and she doesn’t let people get close to her but slowly she lets Abe in. Then TWO LITTLE words destroyed everything that Abe had built with Alabama. Two words that destroyed her and he knew they would, his team was mad at him and I was mad at him too. Honest Abe wasn’t there for Alabama like he should have been and now she is the one paying the price. You will have to read it to find out if they can get past this.
Because of his actions Abe is my least favorite of the SEAL’s in this series but maybe he can redeem himself.
Kind of a Dick and Jane romance.
Hero has bad girlfriend.
Heroine had a bad mommy.
Heroine is sweet and silent.
Hero does something stupid.
Hero grovels.
Hero and heroine have HEA.
All in all the writing is a little flat, but sweet Alpha Seal falls for sweet damaged heroine for …,yep, sweet romance.
When I first started reading this book my heart was broken, but soon it got put back together again… Alabama ( my home state ) okay back to the book… Alabama Ford Smith was abused by her mother.. When Alabama turned 12 years old her mother beat her so bad with a skillet she got put in to frost care, where she never spoke another word to anyone… One Alabama meets Christopher ” Abe ” Powers.. Abe was a party for a real estate company with the girl that he was dating at the time… A fire had broken out being the great that Abe is he was protecting his date at the time, Alabama know the building well because she cleaned it and know that there was any other way out of the office.. So, Alabama was trying to find the nice guy who had stepped on her foot and kept apologizing for doing so, as she crawled on the floor to get to him and his date to she told other people about the exit.. Alabama had noticed that Abe was getting burns on his back as she got closer to him and she found a pitcher of water and poured it over his head because was getting burned on his back he took off his blazer and shirt and gave it to his date to keep her from breathing in the smoke… Alabama got several out of the burning building.. Alabama sent the paramedic to help Abe with his burns on his back.. From that day Abe broke it off with his date and set out to coming Alabama’s man… Abe was able to track down Alabama and start dating her… They where happy for a while until Adeline ( think that’s here name ) set up Alabama for steeling… Which she didn’t didn’t do.. Abe told Alabama to shut up and he know that was a trigger, and she just shut down… She had to leave her apartment… Alabama was living in a homeless shelter… All the chargers against Alabama were dropped… Alabama went to live with Ice and Wolf until she is able to get back on her feet and back with Abe… While spending time alone with Abe in Wolf and Ice’s house the cops came to ask her questions about a theft at her new job.. Abe told the police that they would meet them at the police station in the morning with her lawyer and Abe’s team mates set to work on figuring out who it was and it turned out that it is was somebody else and Abe stuck by her and they became stronger for it
5 stars
Alabama, a janitor for a realtor company, was a abused as a child. She only talks when asked a question and looks around for her mother before answering. Christopher/Abe is a SEAL and is wanting to settle down after one of his teammates find the love of his life. Alabama, at an office party, saves a bunch of people when the office she works at catches on fire. Abe is one of them she saves and he locates her to ask her out. It takes a while for her to trust him but when she does, he promises to never let her down. When she’s arrested, Abe explodes and doesn’t give her a chance to explain. Alabama is devastated and ends up fired, homeless, and friendless. Can Abe get her to forgive him?
Real sexy story with angst and sadness. No kidnappers, no terrorist just an evil ex and a team of SEALs who are closer than brothers.
* Read as part of the boxed set *
Abe is both a wonderful gentleman and a complete jerk. Thankfully Alabama found it in her heart to forgive him and he is sure to never make that mistake again. The world would be a much better place if everyone had that kind of “family” in their life.
This is my second read of this book, but I realized I never left a review. So I decided to go back and review what I missed. This is actually the second book in Susan’s Seal of Protection series. Our story is about SEAL Christopher “Abe” Powers and Alabama Ford.
This story can be a bit difficult to read as it deals with abuse and can bring up triggers for some. Alabama is abused from a very young age, so she trusts no one. She ends up meeting “Abe” at a party for the company she works for. His date is a woman that works with the company and insults her.
Abe likes Alabama. It takes her saving him to get him to ask her out. But a tragic misunderstanding and two little words may cause Christopher to lose Alabama for good. Susan Stoker writes amazing characters that get right underneath your skin and don’t quite let go. I’m just a fan of her every word.
Title: Protecting Alabama
Series: SEAL of Protection #2
Author: Susan Stoker
Publisher: Susan Stoker
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 258
Genre: Military, Romance
SPOILERS
Cliffhanger: No
HEA/HFN: HFN
Cheating: No
Triggerwarnings: Alabama was abused and beaten badly as a child by her mother. Abe uses one of her triggers against her. She ends up being framed and spends a few days on the streets.
Love Triangle: No
Insta Love/ Insta Lust: Not really.
Single Parent/Kids/Pregnancy: No
END SPOILERS
Date Read: 10-02-2020
Favorite Quote: ” I’ve told this before, but you’re safe with me. I promise.”
Review:
I was so excited about this book! I liked the first book and I liked abe in that one. I liked the summary of this book as well. I am a sucker for a character with a tortured past. I love watching them grow and overcoming their trauma.
Sadly this book didn’t deliver what I expected. I am really disappointing with how Abe acted, I honestly expected more from him. And I wish that Alabama made him grovel a bit more. He got of easy, and for everyone to push them back together. And push her to forgive him was a bit disappointing.
I was hoping for a bit more suspense in the story, like we had with the first one. And there was a little in the beginning, I remember thinking that the story got of a great start but after that nothing much happened for a while.
I felt like the author had a chance to really show growth and healing in a character with great trauma but only if she took a bit more time with it. Not have Alabama get over het trauma in no time, or so it almost seemed.
It wasn’t a terrible book but I was a bit disappointing.
What is this book about:
This book is about Alabama and Christopher or Abe as he is called by his team. They meet on a party for Christophers (then) girlfriends company. The party doesn’t go as planned when the office catches fire. Alabama helps Abe and helps save lots of people when guiding them to a different exit. After that Abe breaks up with his then girlfriend, something he was planning to do for a while, and pursues Alabama. He never had to work so hard persuading a woman to go out with him and it’s refreshing. Slowly Alabama opens up bit by bit but just when things seem to be going great, live gets in the way. This is the time for Abe to prove to Alabama that people do care about her, but can he do it.
What did I like/love:
I did like the setting and the world building. It was fun seeing Mathew (wolf) and Caroline again.
I liked the beginning of the book, it gotten of from a great start. I liked Alabama just fine, I really felt for her. I wish she had a bit more backbone and stood her ground a bit longer. I really felt angry on her behalf and I wished she was a well.
I love that the team wanted to help Alabama and took her in as their own.
What did I dislike/hate:
I am so mad at Abe. I liked him in the beginning but her really crossed a line. The way he talked in the beginning wasn’t to my liking either but he made up for it later or so I thought.
I didn’t like his crappy excuse and that people pushed Alabama to forgive him. I didn’t like that she ended up forgiving him so quickly. He really deserved to grovel a lot more.
Abe went on and on that he wanted to dump his then girlfriend but it wasn’t the time and place for it, that he would still be respectful and stuff till there was a right time to break it off. But then picked a terrible time to break it off anyway.
Rating:
2 it was decent stars
A wonderful story in the series. Abe literally blew his chance with Alabama by just speaking two words that she can’t stand as it brings her back to her abused childhood… It’ll take a lot of work and trust to rebuild their fresh relationship. A very sweet story that will leave you breathless.
Overall a solid story. I hated what Ab I’d to Alabama and felt something so cruel was unnecessary and just wrong. It actually didn’t seem to be in his character at all. I think his team’s dismissal of it and lack of true empathy for Alabama, almost bullying her, especially Caroline, into forgiving him was doing her a dis-service.
When it came right down to it, Alabama’s nature would allow her to forgive him if he showed true repentance.
I’m not sure if I will continue the series based on this particular story.