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.
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Pick up a box of tissues. Susan Stoker’s Badge of Honor series ends on a high note and with impactful emotion!
Penelope Turner is one brave, tough woman. But sometimes events can bend even the toughest. Notice I said “bend” and not “break.” Penelope is on the verge of breaking due to her PTSD. (She was a member of the National Guard sent to Turkey on a Peacekeeping mission when her patrol was attacked by terrorists in the refugee camp they were patrolling. Her fellow soldiers were brutally murdered and Penelope was held captive in horrible conditions for months before being rescued.) Penelope is a firefighter but her PTSD has started to hamper her ability to do her job so she takes off with her support donkey, Smokey to “find herself.” She leaves behind the man who loves her and has always had her back fellow firefighter, Tucker “Moose” Jackson and all her loving, supportive coworkers, friends and family. She finds her way back home but has she “found herself” or is she still lost?
Shelter for Penelope by Susan Stoker is the fifteenth and last book in her Badge of Honor series. I am very sad to see this series end. It has been filled with poignant subjects, great triumphs, brave, independent heroines and heroes and the First Responders who fall in love with them. Each story has been an emotional journey through tough times to a happily ever after that was touching and very satisfying. This has been exemplified in Penelope and Moose’s book. Moose is the epitome of a loving, supportive man who would do anything for Penelope. Penelope bravely fights through her PTSD issues and comes to a place where she more can easily deal with her PTSD thanks to some therapy and most especially Moose and all her other “always there for her” friends and family. This story made me cry, but it made me laugh and feel good too. Thankfully Susan Stoker has assured her readers that we will see glimpses of our favorite Badge of Honors characters in the future. Thank you, Susan Stoker, for that. I highly recommend this book!
This is the 15th (and last) book in the Badge of Honor series.
This is Penelope and Moose’s book.
Susan Stoker does an amazing job of not only showing us about the everyday hardships of PTSD but also of PostPartum Depression. Susan Stoker shows how hard each of these are and how a support system is so important.
This book also has the Seals from the Seals of Protection series and the Deltas from the Delta Force Heroes as well as a few cameos of the other characters she has written about.
This story, which we have waited forever for, will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page until the last page.
This is an awesome read!!!
She totally outdid herself!!!
Can Penelope get her mind straight?
Will she figure out/remember what happened back there with the terrorists?
Will they survive until the end of the book?
Who gets married and who’s preganant?
And the most important question…
why oh why is this the end of the series?? I need more!
Go one click on this book!!
You WILL NOT be sorry you did!!
The narrator, Erin Mallon, did an awesome job!!
I loved everything about this story! This was the best ending ever that could have been written for the badge of honor series! Watching Penelope deal with her PTSD was an eye opener to this disorder and seeing how her friends rallied around her was so amazing. I want to remember to always fight like a girl! Also, I now want a pet donkey. Thanks Susan.
Fight Like A Girl! Wow. Penelope’s story has been a long time in the making. I was a little concerned how Susan would handle the story given the emotional build up since Penelope was rescued and how she has dealt with the fallout from her captivity. What I can say – Susan never fails to deliver. This story really did justice to the journey it took for Penelope to find her happily ever after. I loved how she discovers herself through by learning to see herself as others see her and accept just how much she has to offer those that are in her life and that love her. Also I just want to point out how amazingly Susan handles these real life issues like PTSD with care and respect. 5 stars for Penelope and home run for Susan. I’m inspired to fight like a girl and never give up!
Penelope Turner, who the press call the American Princess and others call Tiger, is struggling. She has been struggling since she was POW in Turkey. She struggles to remember, with guilt, whether she should continue to be a firefighter, who to trust and whether she can trust herself. It seems to be getting worse and not better. Tucker ”Moose” Jacobs is also struggling with his emotions, on letting Penelope deal with her demons independently, when to administer a push, when to tell her what he feels for her, or when to take hold of her in his arms and not let her go. In this wonderfully rich and compelling book, we see Penelope struggle with her demons and the feelings Moose stirs in her. We see an alpha, Moose, struggle of when to let go and when to push.
In this stand-alone conclusion to the Badge of Honor Texas Heroes Series, Susan Stoker weaves a wonderful romance with two people who have taken a long road to be together. The story is compelling, emotional and rich. Even though you can read it stand alone, it would be my advice to read the Badge of Honor series and Protecting the Future to see this entire story unfold.
On one last note, in this book Susan Stoker takes the insult “Fight Like a Girl” and turns it into a battle cry used by both men and women alike. It is a clever addition to the story. I definitely give this one 5+ stars.