Dubbed the “American Princess” after her rescue from months in the hands of ISIS, soldier and firefighter Penelope Turner has struggled silently since her return to Texas. The media, the danger of her job, the pressure of knowing lives are in her hands…all of it and more has combined to slowly fill Penelope with seething guilt and doubt. Missing memories from her moment of capture cause even more … more angst. Is she responsible for the deaths of her Army patrol unit? And without knowing what happened, how can she be trusted by her fellow firefighters—or trust them in return?
Worse…how can she ever be worthy of the man who believes in her most?
It took seeing Penelope in the hands of terrorists—in viral videos seen around the world—for Tucker “Moose” Jacobs to realize just how much he loved his fellow firefighter. He died waiting for her rescue, then died all over again when Penelope abruptly left Texas, trying to outrun her past. Now that she’s returned, the kid gloves are off. Moose is a patient man, but even he has his limits. He loves Penelope, and he knows it’s past time for her to face her fears, and remember she has an entire tribe of friends who not only have her back, but need Pen to have theirs, as well.
In the end, Penelope will have to trust Moose, her friends, and most of all herself, if she’s going to make peace with her past…and have any kind of future.
** Shelter for Penelope is the 15th and final book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliffhanger endings. Penelope’s story started in Protecting the Future, and over the years, she’s struggled with her inner demons. Read on to see her finally get her HEA.
more
“Shelter for Penelope” is the fifteenth and final book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series, a bittersweet ending because I will miss all of these characters whom I have grown to love. I must say that this series is going out with a bang, a phenomenal ending to a fantastic series. This is the long awaited story of The American Princess, the name given to Penelope Turner after months of being in the hands of ISIS. She is a soldier and a firefighter that is having a tough time figuring out who she is now, and where she belongs. Tucker “Moose” Jacobs has known he loved Penelope every since he saw the videos of her being held hostage and he will do whatever it takes to help her fight the PTSD and get back to the person she needs to be. Moose is patient, loving and has shoulders broad enough to help Penelope carry the load. Not only Moose but all the gang is here helping her fight her demons.
So get your tissues ready because there will be tears, but also smiles. Five “fight like a girl” stars for this one only because it won’t let me give more and it definitely deserves more!!
Shelter for Penelope is an outstanding series finale to the Badge of Honor series!
Having met Penelope Turner in Protecting The Future from Susan Stoker’s Seal of Protection series, she was the scrappy survivor of an ISIS kidnapping. She then was woven into the fabric of the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series. Now we finally get her story. It’s one of finally coming to grips with her traumatic experience and to quit trying to go it alone. Leaning on others is not a weakness. Tucker “Moose” Jacobs was in love with Pen long before she was kidnapped. They always had an easygoing relationship before she was taken, although not a romantic one. Now, after she’s kept him at arm’s length for so long he aims to change that. He declares his love and shows her in every way possible that he, along with her firefighter crew and their women, law enforcement friends and their women, will be standing beside her as she finally deals with the aftermath of her ordeal.
This was one emotional roller coaster ride. You never know what vets/soldiers go thru when they are captured, tortured, witness their comrads murdered before your eyes and think why not me, especailly a female who is taken prisoner. The part that brought tears to my eyes was when Henry’s mother let her read the last letter she got from her son where he talks about his “sarge” her. My heart goes out to all veterans and active military that have to live and suffer alone, although they don’t have to. HEA for her and Moose, and of course Smokey the mini donkey.
This book is fantastic. I know it’s been out well over a year but I put off reading it because I knew it would be emotional. And boy was it? I cried and ugly cried (there is definitely a difference) and had put it away to finish tomorrow but I had to pick it back up and finish it. And then I cried some more. Moose and Penelope have been dancing around each other for a long time and to finally read there story was amazing. I’ve just got one more thing to add “Fight Like A Girl”.
Tucker Jacobs has loved Penelope for months but she doesn’t think she is good for him he was so worried for her when she left that his health suffered but he plugs along tells her when she says she loves him they are getting married and have a happy ever after
Penelope can’t seem to get out of her PTSD he suggests hypnotis to help her and it does he then takes her on a trip to meet one of her teammates mom but what helps her the most is when she is at the softball field and sounds around her put her in a flashback all of the firefighters and their woman put their hands on her shoulder or back and tell her they are there she no longer feels alone they everyone left her the firefighters all get tatoos FIGHT LIKE A GIRL it was an awesome series
Great series highlighting the hard work done by the police and fire services.
First, While all the stories in TX Heroes are stand-alone. I highly recommend reading/hearing all of them as well as ‘Protecting The Future’ in the SEAL of Protection series and ‘Emily’s Wedding’ in the Delta Forces 1 series, first. All of these stories build up to ‘Shelter for Penelope’. I know it’s a lot but very worth it.
I loved this story. It is different from any of the other Susan Stoker stories I’ve read/heard. This story is about Penelope and her story from the ‘Army Princess’ to current day. I liked how it shows her struggles with PTSD and survivors guilt. It features many characters from previous stories. It is also a story about how important having personal support is to those who hurt.
My only criticism is that this story shows a level of suffering the other stories hint of but don’t always exhibit.
Erin Mallon did another fabulous job.
You just have to love this author as all the books are extremely good. Good story, good writing style and of course every now and then there’s a character from another series popping up. Penelope’s story has been a long time coming – and I didn’t expect it to turn out as it is. Fabulous and wonderful and finally Moose has what he wants most. To bad, it’s been the last one in the Badge of Honor Series.
Def one of my favorites. It’s been awhile when since I have been literally brought to tears over reading a book. I’m sure most will agree it’s much easier while watching a show or movie because you are visibly emerged in the story but this author does such a great job of painting a vivid picture that you can’t help but feel like your right there watching it all unfold. I’ve been waiting for Moose/Tucker and Penelope/Tigers story from almost the beginning. Through all the stories you were increasingly worried about Pens mental health as it seems her PTSD has finally hit the fan and she has begun to crumble under the weight of trying to heal on her own. Moose has been in love with her for what seems like forever. And you see it throughout multiple books in the series. But I was proud when he finally hit his breaking point and let her have it and make her realize that slurs she has suffered and probably more than most but that she wasn’t the only one going though a hard time and In pain. Sometimes people need the reality check to bring it back to central. I loved all the full circle moments. You see guys from multiple series. The deltas who rescued her after her original rescue mission by the SEALS chopper was brought down. And you also see the SEAL team and they try to help her cope and heal. I love Moose and Pens relationship it is a true friendship built on love trust and loyalty. And that is what ultimately helped bring Pen back to life.
What a heavy book this was.
Penelope story has been interwoven in a lot of the stories and now we get to see how the rest of her story plays out. This book was tough, not going to lie. I had a hard time with Penelope during some parts but I had to remind myself that this was typical PTSD behavior. She had a lot of stuff going on and wasn’t dealing with it very well. It always seemed like two steps forward, one step back.
Moose was amazing in this book. He took so much from Penelope but his love for her was so strong. It takes a special person to stand by and at times be their proverbial punching bag and still want to stay and support them. Moose was a caring and compassionate man. He was the perfect book boyfriend. I also liked the parts that showed a more dominate personality.
I loved that this book sort of wraps everything up. You got to see or hear about everyone in this series and how they were doing. It was a nice way to say good bye to this amazing series.
Tears and laughter
Wow. Definitely worth the wait. You did it again and I loved every chapter. Thank you for letting me be a part of Penelope, and all the others in the Badge of Honor series’s world.
You all this is a must read. A wonderful emotional story, especially if you have read the other books and know all the other characters in the other series as well.
Just love Susan’s books.
I finally made it to the end of this series
Penelope’s story is the one I’ve been waiting a year for, but I wanted to do it justice by reading everyone else’s stories first which I finally accomplished a few days ago and could start on this one
All I can say is it was well worth the wait and I’m so happy with how it all turned out and how Susan included both the SEALS and Delta Force soldiers that rescued Penelope in this story
Even though I’m sad to see the end of the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes series end Shelter for Penelope was well worth the wait. Finally Moose will convince her that he’s willing to be her life long partner forever.
Penelope Turner hates that the notoriety from her kidnap and hostage in the middle east what she hasn’t done is grieve for the loss of her teammates and deal with her growing PTSD. Tex helped her visit everyone (From all of Ms. Stoker’s series) who helped her feel less broken on her trek across the US. But it will be Wolf that will help her realize that Texas is home and Moose and her firefighters are the best medicine she can have. Oh yes and of course Smoky her therapy mini donkey as he loves her with unconditional love. After hypnosis a session she understands that her guilt for White and Black’s death wasn’t hers to shoulder. But she begins to spiral down again and it will be Moose that will arrange a visit with Makayla White in Biloxi, MS that will give her the peace she needs.
After Moose slips a ring on her finger and she rescues a mom, children and dog from their burning home she realizes that love and her friends were what she needs to live again.
Hope Mackayla “Mama” White will pop up in another few books with all of her vets that she helps find their way home again. (Hint, Hint 🙂 )
Shelter for Penelope is the 15th and final book in the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series. And even though I feel sad that this particular series has ended, I am glad that Susan Stoker, blew shed heart, has given Penelope the closure she dearly deserves.
Throughout the Badge of Honor Series, readers came across Penelope—the spitfire firefighter who stood equal to the men in her unit, the soldier who never backed down from a fight. Until she was kidnapped.
Her story is both haunting and sad. It is heart-wrenching, for both her and Moose, the firefighter who fought to stay by her side teen when Penelope thought she would never get over the traumatic events of her kidnapping.
Most of all, Penelope’s story gives us an insight into how we can overcome even the worst of situations—if we but reach out and accept the fact that we need help.
“True bravery is being scared out of your mind, but doing what needs to be done anyway.”
I love Susan Stoker for reminding us, through Penelope’s eyes that being scared is not a sign of weakness—that it, in fact, allows us to assess ourselves enough to know how we should approach whatever life throws our way.
“It’s not what happens to you that shapes your life—it’s how you deal with it.”
It is knowing when to quit and letting others fight our battles for us.
Penelope took a step forward and rested her forehead in the middle of Ghost’s chest. “I’m tired, Ghost, so damn tired.” “Then stop trying to do everything by your damn self,” he retorted.
And it is knowing that, no matter what happens, it is okay to fight like a girl in a world filled with giants.
“Ass****,” White muttered. “If anyone dares to look at you cross-eyed, Black, you let me or Sarg know and we’ll kick their asses for you.” He turned to Penelope. “Fight like a girl, right, Sarg? You kicked that first-sergeant’s ass and showed him exactly how girls fight.”
Erin Mallon did a fantastic job narrating not just Shelter for Penelope but the whole series, and I am looking forward to hearing her again in other books penned by Susan Stoker!
So heart breaking, Penelope had already been through so much trauma it’s no wonder she struggled. Moose is steadfast in his love and doing everything he possibly can to help her even if at the end it means letting her go, he is amazing and patient far beyond what many men would be even for the women they love more than life itself. The support they both have from the team, partners and all their friends is amazing and no limited. This story is about fighting the deep pull of PTSD and depression, about having the support no matter what and the understanding of something you don’t understand yourself. It’s finding a strength deep within yourself to grab any little spark of light to get out of the darkness that’s strangling you., it is inspirational and emotional and it had me in tears more than once for the pain both these characters and their friends were suffering for her. Smokey is awesome and just as good as any support dog, always knowing when he is needed the most by his human. If this were real life I’d want these characters at my back to help me Fight Like A Girl. I think of all Susan Stoker’s books, and I’ve read and loved each and every single one, this is the most powerful impacting read of them all and deserving of being a best seller which I hope it achieves. Astounding and moving beyond words
The first thing you need to do before you start reading, is grab a full box of tissues, you will need them.
At the end of Shelter for Koren, Penelope has left her resignation on the Chief’s desk and left, not only the station but San Antonio. Fortunately she has on the tracker Tex sent her when she returned home. He’s sort of guiding her in her travels with her donkey Smokey keeping them safe and directing her to some pretty awesome veterans and active service friends.
She’s called Moose giving him updates on her travels, but hasn’t said anything about coming home, at least not until her latest phone call.
I started crying when Pen says she doesn’t know if she’s going back to Texas and sniffled most of the way through this book.
It’s not until she’s with Wolf, Caroline and the team that brought her home, that she starts to realize she’s running away and not dealing with anything.
Her return to Texas is fraught with emotion and new experiences with Moose beside her the whole time. He is unfailing in his love and support.
I loved the way everyone stands with her whether or not she wants them there. My heart broke with her painful memories as she deals with her PTSD and trust issues.
A very emotional and beautiful end to this wonderful series. Thank you for the journey Susan.
Finally getting to Moose and Penelope’s story is a little bittersweet. I loved that they finally got their happy ending together and that we finally get the details of Penelope’s trials. What was less lovable was the repetition. Every grand statement was a reiteration of every one that came before. It also felt like every reassurance had to be a grand statement instead of finding a simpler, more concise way to say things, it was like I was reading the “big confession” each and every time so probably the last half of the book lost its potency. Overall it was a powerful story full of healing and love and a healthy dose of well-earned steam, I just think the pacing and intent could have been better balanced.
Sometimes the enemy isn’t out there waiting to snatch us, hurt us, or even kill us. Sometimes it’s the fallout, the insidious voice inside that can do the most damage. Penelope faced both foes and was almost destroyed, not by the ones that took her, but by the one she brought home. PTSD is an intense issue that many people suffer from. Penelope has avoided and run from her condition for longer than necessary and only when Moose gives her a perspective check does she see beyond herself so she can take her situation in her hand and do something productive with it. Her healing is a long journey, but one that is absolutely necessary for a happy life.
Thankfully Moose can see the bigger picture despite his heart revolving around one stubborn, hurting woman. I did love Moose despite all his earnest platitudes and promises. I kind of wish he had been more of a reality check all the time instead of just loving support. He needed to be the loving support, but I wished for more directness than we got.
These two people were made for one another and I’m glad to have had a chance to read their story. The summary of all the couples in the series was nice, but felt a little too simplistic. Granted, how do you sum up a long series like this with about 40 trillion other couples and families? You pretty much just do what this author did. It was well-done even if I had a tiny issue with it. Overall this was a fantastic way to finish the series and I definitely can’t wait for whatever the author has in mind to bring to life.
Wow! I loved reading this book!
It’s an intense, captivating, & moving story. Penelope Moose, steal your heart from
the very first pages to the last.
It was so worth the wait!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Absolutely amazing end to a fantastic series.
Emotional, heartbreaking and heartwarming; a love story like no other. We waited a long time for this one and it didn’t disappoint.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and this series. Want to read the whole series again from start to finish.