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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Have read all these books in this series. Loved them all. . Lots of love and excitement.
Wow, Christopher & Alabama had a very powerful story! Alabama has had a very hard life, with no one she could trust. She finds it with Christopher. He has a few demons himself, and lack of sleep & poor judgment make him say the unthinkable to her. With two small words, he destroyed her trust in him. This story made me “ugly cry”! It is a strong, well written story about love & trust between two people. Oh and Susan doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the sexual chemistry between these two, it was scorching!! I can’t wait to check out “Cookie’s” story next!
I struggled with how I wanted to rate this one. The hero isn’t there for the heroine when she needs him the most and I struggled with that. However, the hero immediately realized he screwed up and you could see that he genuinely loved her. Because of this, I focused on that when I rated this book.
Both the hero and heroine have some heavy baggage that played into who they were. The heroine suffers from being abused as a child by her mother and the poor girl never really got past that abuse. Abe saw past all her shy awkwardness and was able to draw her out of herself.
Now this may be a reason why some people will hate why he wasn’t there for her in her time of need. Of all people, she deserved to have someone stand by her side. It was Abe’s past that interfered with his ability to deal with what happened and kept him from thinking rationally. The author did a good job of showing Abe’s anguish over what he did and I just couldn’t hate him when it was all said and done.
Overall I liked seeing the big, bad, navy seal fall for that shy, awkward girl. I’m looking forward to reading about the other guys on the seal team.
Protecting Alabama is not the usual SEAL of Protection romance in that there’s no hard hitting, fast paced action filled danger and intrigue. Instead child abuse with resulting PTSD issues and mental cruelty in the form of snobbery along with a few other emotions are explored as Christopher “Abe” Powers find his woman. When Alabama Smith performs an act of bravery she sets in motion something that will finally bring love into her life for the ffirst time. It’s not all sunshine and roses but ine the end these two get their HEA.
Another Great
Christopher “Abe” was at a Christmas party for Wolfe Realty when his so to be ex girlfriend Adeline worked. Alabama was the janitor for the business and the Wolfe’s insisted she be there. That is where they met, but a fire started and she pretty much saved everyone’s lives even Abe. He was impressed by her earlier but he was more after. He show up and made her feel things that she never felt before, he felt things he hadn’t either. But they had hurdles to overcome to find HEA.
I love the characters. Didn’t read about Seals or any military before I discovered this author. Now I am hooked.
Loved Alabama’s strong character and her ability to still care for others
Emotionally and physically abused by her mom, Alabama spent early years in foster care. Knowing only the pain of being let down time after time, she learned to rely on only herself.
Christopher “Abe” Powers earned his nickname because he tolerated nothing less than absolute honesty from the people around him. Their paths cross, and for Alabama, spe blossomed in her heart that finally, she has found her champion. Abe has found the woman he could call his own.
Life, of course, happens, and what Alabama feared–rejection from Abe, albeit at no fault of her own–brings her in a downward spiral that nearly tear their love apart.
Protecting Alabama was one of the first few books I read from Susan Stoker’s vast array of military romance stories. Countless books later, Alabama’s story is one I keep going back to, time and again, and every time, I find myself tearing up, both for Alabama and Abe.
The parental abuse that Susan Stoker dared to tackle in this story is something a lot of us try to hide from. It did not happen to us, so therefore if it happened to you, you must be exaggerating. It happened, and we are scared to give voice to it, ashamed of ourselves because we did nothing about it. We believe that we deserve it. We become indifferent, and in some cases, we become the abuser, because abuse is what we learned.
We can fight against it. Instead of turning a blind eye, we can say enough is enough, and face the stigma which is abuse head on. Susan Stoker showed us how, through Abe, if we but open our eyes to the signs of abuse and reach out, maybe, just maybe, we can pull someone back from the edge.
That, dear reader, is why I keep on going back to Alabama’s story. If you find yourself reading this wonderful story, all I would ask is for you to read its message, and if you agree, dare to make a difference in someone else’s life.
Sweet Home Alabama
Alabama has had a rough childhood and never had someone take the time to get to know her or to protect her. When she and Christopher meet at a work function, there is an instant attraction and when she protects him and puts him before her….he knows he wants to get to know her better
Alabama thinks Christopher is too good to be true, but as the weeks pass, she learns to open up more and is no longer just the shell of a woman she always has been. But when an incident tears them apart, will they be able to forgive each other and fight for their HEA or will it drown them both in grief?
Another great story by Susan and eager to read more in this series
***3.5 – 4.0 Stars***
In this book you find one of the sweetest heroines I have read about in a very long time. And once she meets the hero they are both hit by cupid’s arrow.
This young woman, Alabama, has been through a lifetime of abuse from her mother. In fact she was trained not to speak and if she accidentally spoke, as a young child and adult, her mother would beat her with her fists and kick her all over her body with her feet. Then she would be locked in a closet sometimes until the next morning. Through the years there were two words her mother used and it became a trigger that would send her into an almost catatonic state.
There is a major instance in which our heroine was set up and made to look guilty of theft where she worked but she was innocent. Abe, the hero, was called to come to the jail for her. She knew he would help her because they loved each other but instead he betrayed her in the worse way possible (no not cheating or another woman.) They are then separated for a good while.
What I really like about this book. Abe, aka Christopher, was dating a real witch of a woman. He only continued to date her because she was good in bed. Everyone else hated her! One evening she took him to an event where this employee/custodian also was at. Abe spoke with her briefly and wham bam he was a goner. The witch began talking horribly about the young woman who worked as a custodian and kept putting her down. Abe dumps her right there. Doesn’t wait for the evening to end or to bed her one last time. He tells her its over and he walks away. The next morning he’s at Alabama’s door wanting to get to know her. From there it was all about Alabama.
I felt this book was heading to a good 4.5 Stars but then Abe/Christopher betrays her in a most soul searing, heart shattering way.
Whew! When Christopher (Abe) screws up, he really SCREWS UP! I love Alabama and Christopher’s story, I cry every single time I read it. Alabama has issues from her upbringing and so does Christopher, not the same trauma but they each have trauma nonetheless. The story line is engaging, the characters are fantastic and the writing is top notch. This is another fabulous story by Susan Stoker!
I made a big mistake, I looked at the one star reviews and prepared to cringe. For all those readers who gave scathing reviews without even finishing the book, doesn’t that make you as judgemental as the character?
Both of these characters had less that favourable upbringings, she way more than him. I can’t imagine reaching 30 years of age without being loved, friended or cared about. I had many teary moments throughout this story, both happy and sad. Abe disappointed me at one stage, the explanations were plausible though. I felt he could redeem himself. The story captivated me and I look forward to reading about the rest of these SEALs.
EDIT: felt like a re-read 3 years later , still loved it. Characters came with flaws making them real, and I still cried.
Even though this book is number two in a series you can totally read them all as a stand alone book. This book is about trusts, perseverance and believe in yourself, I am going to read all the books in this series. It’s a great story line very pleased with it.
Love her books! I know it says you don’t have to – but read them in order – this book was amazing. Love the SEAL brotherhood and how the women are so strong! You will love her books – start with the first one and you won’t be able stop reading!
Love this author! Her books are all amazing.
Love this book. Love all of Susan Stoker’s Alpha Heroes and kickass heroines.
Protecting Alabama is a must read!! This series just keeps getting better and better!
In this book we meet Christopher “Abe” Powers. He is a Navy Seal who’s biggest pet peeve it someone who lies or cheats. Having seen his teammate fall in love he decides that is what he wants.
Alabama is a woman who was raised by an abusive mother and then put into foster care. She doesn’t speak often and is very shy which people have confused with being weird. She longs to love and be taken care of but has come to the conclusion that it won’t happen for her.
A chance meeting and a fire introduces our two characters. I love from the very first meeting that Abe knows that Alabama is shy and doesn’t push it. He also doesn’t let her go but is very cautious with her and her feelings. As the story goes along, words are said and feelings are hurt but a SEAL will get his woman!
I loved this book.
So love the lead female. Makes me want to be a better person.
What can I say? I didn’t see how this book could be all that, buuuuuut, it was all that with 2 hoe-hoes (that get theirs). I was so surprised throughout the book with all of the twists and turns that Susan threw in there. Just as I would see where it was going, the woman just zagged (when I thought she was zigging). Clear through to the end, this book is like that. I was hooked early on in Chapter 2. This is a wonderful book and a stellar read!!