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SEAL of Protection #2
Protecting Alabama
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 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.
**Protecting Alabama is the 2nd book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.
Christopher “Abe” Powers earned his nickname 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.
**Protecting Alabama is the 2nd book in the SEAL of Protection Series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but it’s recommended you read the books in order to get maximum enjoyment out of the series.
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First published October 17, 2014
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About the author
Susan Stoker
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New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. She's married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
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http://www.stokeraces.com/contact-1.html
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee. She's married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
Follow SUSAN:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorsstoker
www.facebook.com/authorsusanstoker
Instagram: www.instagram.com/authorsusanstoker
Twitter: www.twitter.com/susan_stoker
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/susan...
Amazon: http://amzn.to/238Jw8c
For all upcoming books click here: http://www.stokeraces.com/coming-soon...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 766 reviews
December 7, 2017
To paraphrase Maya Angelou - "When some shows you who they are, believe them." Unfortunately Alabama never had the opportunity to hear Ms. Angelou's words and feel that truth. Cause surely if she had she would have dumped this slime swiller bully to the curb like the road side trash he was.
Not that any of his manipulative, bullying friends were any better. Really I haven't seen such shameless pimping out of the h to the entirely inadequate H since the last Vintage HP I read.
There is also a saying that " I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy holiday, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
We can add when the woman you supposedly love is accused of theft to that list as well. Clearly, our erstwhile idiot sewer slurper male lead blew that test of integrity and human decency to the black hole at the center of our galaxy and lost any value he had as a decent partner in the merciless crushing gravity there.
This book's ending has all the hallmarks of what will probably prove to be a most unequal and unsatisfying relationship ever seen in the vast legion of Navy Seal books out there. In fact, given this man's poor reaction to stress and dicey situations, are we sure he should even BE a Navy Seal. The odds are not looking good on that.
Overall tho, the biggest disappointment was how this particular male lead did a passive aggressive grovel at the end and essentially relied on his equally bullying, manipulative, biased buddies to get him back with the h.
Add to that a pathetic little story about how he should be forgiven cause his daddy lied to him and the plot manipulation that his little life trauma compared in any way shape or form to the abuse the h suffered for years is enough to make me vomit. Considering he knew all of the h's history and deliberately triggered this poor girl's deepest phobia anyways.
Then instead of acting suitably repentant and worm-like when he received her payback for his time and 'effort', he gets all irked and angry that she felt his rantings on how much he spent on her to be demeaning and sent him monetary redress to at least resolve that shameful behavior display he emoted at the top of his lungs.
(Tho a small smack with the skillet to the h here as well, she should have at least saved enough for her bus ticket out of town from her repayment of the H's skills in bed and money spent on her, she could have mailed him a money order for the remainder later. )
There should be no redemption or reward from such callous and cruel acts that this male lead perpetrated. Especially since his previous shag piece woman who caused all this drama lost her entire life and identity and he was the one who like her skills in bed so much he kept going on with her, even at the cost of his better judgment.
While it was nice to see a wrong doer punished, the H's manipulations for his ex's punishment were beyond extreme and in reality, the H's actions were worse, yet he manages to bully and manipulate until he gets what he wants and suffers no consequences for his arguably greater wrong.
I don't care so much that the h forgave him, she was that kind of girl, but I bitterly and fiercely resent that this h is now stuck with a sewer blob fish pustule for the remainder of this series and that even people who claimed to care about her were happy to keep her metaphorically in a dark closet and continue feeding her fertilizer.
I was NOT feeling the love on this one and that is probably a just punishment for not listening to my friends and rubbernecking this one anyway.
Not that any of his manipulative, bullying friends were any better. Really I haven't seen such shameless pimping out of the h to the entirely inadequate H since the last Vintage HP I read.
There is also a saying that " I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he handles these three things: a rainy holiday, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights."
We can add when the woman you supposedly love is accused of theft to that list as well. Clearly, our erstwhile idiot sewer slurper male lead blew that test of integrity and human decency to the black hole at the center of our galaxy and lost any value he had as a decent partner in the merciless crushing gravity there.
This book's ending has all the hallmarks of what will probably prove to be a most unequal and unsatisfying relationship ever seen in the vast legion of Navy Seal books out there. In fact, given this man's poor reaction to stress and dicey situations, are we sure he should even BE a Navy Seal. The odds are not looking good on that.
Overall tho, the biggest disappointment was how this particular male lead did a passive aggressive grovel at the end and essentially relied on his equally bullying, manipulative, biased buddies to get him back with the h.
Add to that a pathetic little story about how he should be forgiven cause his daddy lied to him and the plot manipulation that his little life trauma compared in any way shape or form to the abuse the h suffered for years is enough to make me vomit. Considering he knew all of the h's history and deliberately triggered this poor girl's deepest phobia anyways.
Then instead of acting suitably repentant and worm-like when he received her payback for his time and 'effort', he gets all irked and angry that she felt his rantings on how much he spent on her to be demeaning and sent him monetary redress to at least resolve that shameful behavior display he emoted at the top of his lungs.
(Tho a small smack with the skillet to the h here as well, she should have at least saved enough for her bus ticket out of town from her repayment of the H's skills in bed and money spent on her, she could have mailed him a money order for the remainder later. )
There should be no redemption or reward from such callous and cruel acts that this male lead perpetrated. Especially since his previous shag piece woman who caused all this drama lost her entire life and identity and he was the one who like her skills in bed so much he kept going on with her, even at the cost of his better judgment.
While it was nice to see a wrong doer punished, the H's manipulations for his ex's punishment were beyond extreme and in reality, the H's actions were worse, yet he manages to bully and manipulate until he gets what he wants and suffers no consequences for his arguably greater wrong.
I don't care so much that the h forgave him, she was that kind of girl, but I bitterly and fiercely resent that this h is now stuck with a sewer blob fish pustule for the remainder of this series and that even people who claimed to care about her were happy to keep her metaphorically in a dark closet and continue feeding her fertilizer.
I was NOT feeling the love on this one and that is probably a just punishment for not listening to my friends and rubbernecking this one anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2014
Maybe reading this one and Protecting Caroline back to back wasn't such a good idea.
Both books had the following...
1. Repetitiveness. We GET it. They're SEALs, they're great, their SEAL team is the best, they're awesome, they're dangerous, all the women in the world want them. Blah blah blah blah blah.
2. Both heroines have low self-esteem...how could any of the heroes like/love them? They're so much better than they are. *gag*
3. The heroes are constantly telling the heroines they're (the ladies) so brave, the bravest women they've ever known...and yet, both heroes were fine just leaving their bravest ladies at the most important time that they needed them.
4. This one...they exchanged I Love Yous about 50% into the book and then IMMEDIATELY, in a few scenes later, the hero was SO SURE that everything the heroine had been falsely accused of was TRUE and he left her to be booked and arrested and to spend 3 days/nights in jail....THEN after all that, it came to him that she was innocent of everything and he had to win her back because she was his his his. Are you flipping kidding me? You didn't even let her speak before you jumped down her throat with your remarks.
5. Not as many WTF moments as book 1 but probably because Abe was too busy being a dumbass for most of this book. Gah.
Both books had the following...
1. Repetitiveness. We GET it. They're SEALs, they're great, their SEAL team is the best, they're awesome, they're dangerous, all the women in the world want them. Blah blah blah blah blah.
2. Both heroines have low self-esteem...how could any of the heroes like/love them? They're so much better than they are. *gag*
3. The heroes are constantly telling the heroines they're (the ladies) so brave, the bravest women they've ever known...and yet, both heroes were fine just leaving their bravest ladies at the most important time that they needed them.
4. This one...they exchanged I Love Yous about 50% into the book and then IMMEDIATELY, in a few scenes later, the hero was SO SURE that everything the heroine had been falsely accused of was TRUE and he left her to be booked and arrested and to spend 3 days/nights in jail....THEN after all that, it came to him that she was innocent of everything and he had to win her back because she was his his his. Are you flipping kidding me? You didn't even let her speak before you jumped down her throat with your remarks.
5. Not as many WTF moments as book 1 but probably because Abe was too busy being a dumbass for most of this book. Gah.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2019
OMG!! Protecting Alabama had me emotionally involved immediately. I was crying for Alabama right away. She’s not had a good life and as a result she’s quiet and doesn’t make herself noticed. Christopher “Abe” is a hawt Seal. He meets Alabama and needs to know more about her. Christopher tracks her down using his seal team connections and ends up falling for her.
Alabama ends up going through troubles with no help from Christopher. I just wanted to kick Christopher’s butt for his actions. This book kept me on an emotional roller coaster. I did the ugly cry for Alabama and felt for her situation. Christopher’s teammates and friends rallied for Alabama and made her know they cared.
Protecting Alabama is the second book in the Protecting series but you don’t need to have read the first, Protecting Caroline, to read this. You need to plan on plenty of time to read this without putting it down, and don’t forget the tissues!
Alabama ends up going through troubles with no help from Christopher. I just wanted to kick Christopher’s butt for his actions. This book kept me on an emotional roller coaster. I did the ugly cry for Alabama and felt for her situation. Christopher’s teammates and friends rallied for Alabama and made her know they cared.
Protecting Alabama is the second book in the Protecting series but you don’t need to have read the first, Protecting Caroline, to read this. You need to plan on plenty of time to read this without putting it down, and don’t forget the tissues!
February 4, 2024
2 Alabama Stars
This has been on my TBR forever, and I honestly wish I would’ve left it there. 😊 I’m so far behind on reviews that this will be short. It looks like I’ve only read one other book by this author, and I 2⭐’ed that as well, so I’m going to say we’re not compatible. I really only read it for the OW drama, and the chick is crazy but hardly on page.
The book starts with a series of flashbacks to let us know that Alabama was abused by her mom. They’re pretty short, but the gist is that her mother hit her when she talked and screamed shut up at her a lot… so this word is a trigger for her. Then we FFW to a 30-ish (I think) Alabama at a potluck. She runs into Christopher “Abe” (cuz he’s so honest) and they both get feelings. After a brush with death, Abe dumps his current GF to pursue the meek, natural beauty Alabama.
Abe is a pushy, growly alpha type that quickly inserts himself into her life. For the sake of time let’s just say Alabama is perfect… at everything. If she was an animal, she’d be a unicorn.
My biggest issue was the writing style that drove me bonkers. This book needs pronouns stat because it reads like Alabama this… Alabama that… Christopher this… Abe that. Just to give you an idea, “Alabama” is used almost 1000 times in a book I believe was around 250 pages. (376 “Christopher’s” and 434 “Abe’s”) There’re also a few places where the transitions are jarring, and it felt like pages were missing. (You end a chapter and start the next in a different place/time skipping over stuff)
My second grump was how the big conflict was handled. To keep things vague, I’ll just say that something happened, and Abe reacted poorly where he purposely said the most hurtful thing he could’ve said to poor unicorn-perfect Alabama. BUT, rather than getting pages and pages of grovel… we get to read along as his friends manipulate and team up to wear her down until she forgives him. It was frustratingly awful. His buddy’s wife (who is supposed to be her friend) actually says “how would you feel if he dies on assignment and you never forgave him” … seriously??
This has been on my TBR forever, and I honestly wish I would’ve left it there. 😊 I’m so far behind on reviews that this will be short. It looks like I’ve only read one other book by this author, and I 2⭐’ed that as well, so I’m going to say we’re not compatible. I really only read it for the OW drama, and the chick is crazy but hardly on page.
The book starts with a series of flashbacks to let us know that Alabama was abused by her mom. They’re pretty short, but the gist is that her mother hit her when she talked and screamed shut up at her a lot… so this word is a trigger for her. Then we FFW to a 30-ish (I think) Alabama at a potluck. She runs into Christopher “Abe” (cuz he’s so honest) and they both get feelings. After a brush with death, Abe dumps his current GF to pursue the meek, natural beauty Alabama.
Abe is a pushy, growly alpha type that quickly inserts himself into her life. For the sake of time let’s just say Alabama is perfect… at everything. If she was an animal, she’d be a unicorn.
My biggest issue was the writing style that drove me bonkers. This book needs pronouns stat because it reads like Alabama this… Alabama that… Christopher this… Abe that. Just to give you an idea, “Alabama” is used almost 1000 times in a book I believe was around 250 pages. (376 “Christopher’s” and 434 “Abe’s”) There’re also a few places where the transitions are jarring, and it felt like pages were missing. (You end a chapter and start the next in a different place/time skipping over stuff)
My second grump was how the big conflict was handled. To keep things vague, I’ll just say that something happened, and Abe reacted poorly where he purposely said the most hurtful thing he could’ve said to poor unicorn-perfect Alabama. BUT, rather than getting pages and pages of grovel… we get to read along as his friends manipulate and team up to wear her down until she forgives him. It was frustratingly awful. His buddy’s wife (who is supposed to be her friend) actually says “how would you feel if he dies on assignment and you never forgave him” … seriously??
November 6, 2018
The Hero had a girlfriend for three months who was a bword but he let her stay because she was good in bed. I hated her. He broke up with her the day he met the h. Showcased him from a fire and was brutally abused as a child. It was so tragic. The Hero glass totally gaga in love upon meeting her. He took it slow and she eventually told him about her past. Her Mother would punish her for talking so really hates someone telling her to shut up. The Hero promises her he never will. The h gets set up for stealing by his ex and she is arrested. She asks for him and he shows up but guess what!??! He thinks she stole the stuff and he tells her to shut up and he leaves her there where they stick her in a cell for three days and it is just simply heartbreaking. His team members end up helping her though and I really liked that alot. He grovels but not enough to me. I still love the series but I really was angry at him for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2020
I'm a big fan of Susan Stoker's military men but this book just didn't do it for me. I didn't connect to either characters and Abe actually came off as very unlikable in the beginning. From there he just seemed very one dimensional to me. The book needed a lot more detail in my opinion and I think that was one of the reasons I had such a hard time getting into it and enjoying it. Bottom line, not the best book from this author that I've read but I'll certainly still read her.
October 13, 2014
In the second book of her SEAL of Protection series, Ms. Stoker gets darker and more emotional.
Alabama Ford Smith, the leading lady in this romantic drama has had to deal with physical abuse for most of her life. Her mother was NOT A NICE PERSON. Alabama survived, and because of the abuse, she is hesitant to let people close. No matter what, people ALWAYS let you down. While she loves the solitude her job at a local real estate firm provides, she would like to have someone to spend some time with in her otherwise lonely life.
Christopher “Abe” Powers is part of an elite SEAL team and he loves his teammates. Something is missing though; he knows it’s because of his friends Wolf and Caroline. Watching them fall in love has him thinking about how much he wants that. His past has left him with a bad taste in his mouth for anyone that lies, cheats and steals. This is one of the major reasons he hasn't been in any lasting relationships.
Fate and a fire, bring Alabama and Abe together. He likes her because she is different, shy and reserved. She likes him because he’s handsome, strong and always thinking of someone else. This is good for them both, until someone decides they really shouldn't be together…
Taking a ticket on the roller coaster that Ms. Stoker creates with her writing style, is the ultimate for any book lover. She draws you in and keeps you on your toes. There is love, suspense, action and for me, tissues and crying.
With smoking hot alpha men and leading ladies you want to be, you have to pick this read up. It will capture your heart and take you for an emotional ride over and over again.
This is my go to action, suspense, and romantic series. It’s becoming an addiction and I can’t wait for the next book!
If you haven’t read a Susan Stoker book, you need to check these out. They are well worth it.
Alabama Ford Smith, the leading lady in this romantic drama has had to deal with physical abuse for most of her life. Her mother was NOT A NICE PERSON. Alabama survived, and because of the abuse, she is hesitant to let people close. No matter what, people ALWAYS let you down. While she loves the solitude her job at a local real estate firm provides, she would like to have someone to spend some time with in her otherwise lonely life.
Christopher “Abe” Powers is part of an elite SEAL team and he loves his teammates. Something is missing though; he knows it’s because of his friends Wolf and Caroline. Watching them fall in love has him thinking about how much he wants that. His past has left him with a bad taste in his mouth for anyone that lies, cheats and steals. This is one of the major reasons he hasn't been in any lasting relationships.
Fate and a fire, bring Alabama and Abe together. He likes her because she is different, shy and reserved. She likes him because he’s handsome, strong and always thinking of someone else. This is good for them both, until someone decides they really shouldn't be together…
Taking a ticket on the roller coaster that Ms. Stoker creates with her writing style, is the ultimate for any book lover. She draws you in and keeps you on your toes. There is love, suspense, action and for me, tissues and crying.
With smoking hot alpha men and leading ladies you want to be, you have to pick this read up. It will capture your heart and take you for an emotional ride over and over again.
This is my go to action, suspense, and romantic series. It’s becoming an addiction and I can’t wait for the next book!
If you haven’t read a Susan Stoker book, you need to check these out. They are well worth it.
September 8, 2025
Cover aesthetic doesn't match the content
Omg, the writing! It's middle school level at best!
"Christopher opened the door. Alabama smiled. Alabama went in. Christopher closed the door."
I'm not even exaggerating! Here's a real sample
°•*⁀➷
Even putting that aside, I am amazed at how much nothingness this author was able to piece together to form so many sentences.
And the romance? How can you have both insta-love and the most underwhelming show of affection ever to be written?
I'm not even sure they're living together by the end. No mention of future commitments, no mention of how long he'll be a SEAL (I never knew how much I hated active military heroes until this book. I've read plenty ex-military. But active? It kills the romance when you know no matter how much hero wants to be with her, there's an exterior force that has more power him than the heroine or the heroine's safety...)
Even the heroine's current state: no job, "going back to school" but no career direction, no dreams, no plans, no nothing!
1 watching waves turn rocks to sand would be more entertaining than this ★
Omg, the writing! It's middle school level at best!
"Christopher opened the door. Alabama smiled. Alabama went in. Christopher closed the door."
I'm not even exaggerating! Here's a real sample
°•*⁀➷
The day had been awesome. Alabama didn’t think she’d ever smiled so much in her entire life. Christopher had first driven them to the beach. Riverton was a suburb of San Diego and Alabama hadn’t had a lot of time to spend at the beach. Alabama loved the water, but this was the first time she’d experienced a picnic in the sand. The beach wasn’t one of the touristy ones. In fact, she’d only seen a handful of people the entire time they’d been there.
Even putting that aside, I am amazed at how much nothingness this author was able to piece together to form so many sentences.
And the romance? How can you have both insta-love and the most underwhelming show of affection ever to be written?
I'm not even sure they're living together by the end. No mention of future commitments, no mention of how long he'll be a SEAL (I never knew how much I hated active military heroes until this book. I've read plenty ex-military. But active? It kills the romance when you know no matter how much hero wants to be with her, there's an exterior force that has more power him than the heroine or the heroine's safety...)
Even the heroine's current state: no job, "going back to school" but no career direction, no dreams, no plans, no nothing!
1 watching waves turn rocks to sand would be more entertaining than this ★
July 20, 2020
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.
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.
December 30, 2015
The h, Alabama, has a trigger from her abusive childhood ("Shut up, Alabama"). She confides in Abe about this, and how those words trigger her, when she's telling him about her past. At one point, he thinks she did something wrong. Instead of listening to her side of it, he purposely uses her trigger against her, shouting "Shut up, Alabama," when she's trying to explain her side of it.
Afterwards, she completely shuts down.
I get that he was stressed out and tired, but that's no excuse to purposely trigger someone. I would've been more understanding if he'd done it by accident, but he hadn't. He knew what he was doing in the moment, watched as she shut down when he said it.
And he did nothing. He walked away and allowed her to be jailed. FOR DAYS. He used her trigger and then left her to sit in a jail cell.
And I don't get how someone can claim to love someone, yet not trust them? I can understand having a moment of doubt (wondering if it could be true), but he had more than that. He accused her, not even trying to listen to her side of it, just talking over her and then up and telling her to shut up. He shut her down and then left her for days to sit in a damn jail cell. How do you claim to love someone and purposely trigger them? She'd put her trust in him when she told him about her abusive childhood and what her trigger was. How do you claim to love someone when you use what they trusted you with against them?
Honestly, if that's what someone who loves you does, who needs enemies?
“Christopher, I…”
“Shut up, Alabama, I don’t really want to hear your excuses right now.”
Afterwards, she completely shuts down.
Alabama hadn’t said a word since Christopher left. There was no point. She had nothing. No one. The officers tried to get her to talk, but she sat stonily in front of them staring off into space.
I get that he was stressed out and tired, but that's no excuse to purposely trigger someone. I would've been more understanding if he'd done it by accident, but he hadn't. He knew what he was doing in the moment, watched as she shut down when he said it.
He knew what he was doing when he’d said it, and that made him even more of a bastard. Abe knew he’d marked Alabama when he saw the shield fall down over her eyes. It as if one minute she was there, and the next she wasn’t.
And he did nothing. He walked away and allowed her to be jailed. FOR DAYS. He used her trigger and then left her to sit in a jail cell.
And I don't get how someone can claim to love someone, yet not trust them? I can understand having a moment of doubt (wondering if it could be true), but he had more than that. He accused her, not even trying to listen to her side of it, just talking over her and then up and telling her to shut up. He shut her down and then left her for days to sit in a damn jail cell. How do you claim to love someone and purposely trigger them? She'd put her trust in him when she told him about her abusive childhood and what her trigger was. How do you claim to love someone when you use what they trusted you with against them?
Alabama turned around and sat in the chair she’d so eagerly vacated at his entrance into the room. She calmly pulled the chair up to the table, clasped her hands in her lap and stared at the wall on the far side of the room blankly. Christopher’s voice morphed into her mama’s. Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. She cringed, remembering the feel of Mama’s fists and feet as she hit her over and over.
Honestly, if that's what someone who loves you does, who needs enemies?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2019
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.
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.
July 20, 2016
2.5 stars. Ok so I didn't really like this and I didn't hate it. It was just ok for me. Parts of it I really liked. In the beginning there's a fire that breaks out at an office party where the h works and the H is there with his current gf that also works there. The gf is a total bi$@h. Now the H is a Navy Seal right? He and the h meet at the buffet table prior to the fire breaking out and he feels a very strong connection to her. He goes back to sit with the gf that he is planning on breaking up with later that day. So when the fire breaks out what does the NAVY SEAL do? He grabs his gf and goes to a corner by the front door, covers her with his shirt and jacket and throws his body over her to protect her. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he shouldn't protect her. What I'm getting at is that while he's doing this, the h knows of a second exit and is getting as many people to safety as she can at the risk of her own life and all she can think about is getting to the H to save him as well while he's cowering in the corner protecting ONE PERSON!!! That does not scream SEAL to me, sorry. Anyways, the h lived a very terrible and abusive childhood. The H and h do get together, fall in love, yada, yada, yada. Then something happens where the h really needs the H to be there for her (which mind you, she's never had in her life), and what does he do? Throws her love in her face in one of the worst ways he could've (not cheating). Do they get their HEA? Yes. Does she make him grovel? Yes. Does he feel terrible for what he did? Yes. But from his actions during the fire to this, there was just no redemption for him in my eyes. This is just my opinion. Others may love this story but when I think of Seals, I think hero. Not someone cowering in the corner while a young woman with no training is saving people's lives. Sorry this is so ranty.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2017
This was an oke read for me. I felt it was a bit too heavy on the insta-love and a bit too cheesy.
Also the alpha is this one is a major asshole at one point and if I were the heroine, I would have never forgiven him !!
2,5 -3 stars. I'm rounding up, because the heroine was pretty sweet, eventhough she was too forgiving in my opinion. At least she did make him grovel a bit.
Also the alpha is this one is a major asshole at one point and if I were the heroine, I would have never forgiven him !!
2,5 -3 stars. I'm rounding up, because the heroine was pretty sweet, eventhough she was too forgiving in my opinion. At least she did make him grovel a bit.
April 3, 2015
I had a really hard time with a bunch of plot points in this book. The hero has been dating the heroine for months, spending almost every evening with her, and tells her he loves her. He brings her to meet his family.
Yet, the moment she is accused of stealing at her job (she's a janitor) he accuses her of being a liar and dumps her. It was unbelievable. I felt like the author threw it in there for some drama.
It was also nuts that the hero's friends take turns "protecting her" after they find her living on the streets/homeless shelter. What did she need protecting from? It didn't make any sense.
I also felt like the heroine forgave the hero way too easily.
I'm going to keep reading the series because I want to see some of the other SEALs on the team find a girl. But don't bother reading this book.
Yet, the moment she is accused of stealing at her job (she's a janitor) he accuses her of being a liar and dumps her. It was unbelievable. I felt like the author threw it in there for some drama.
It was also nuts that the hero's friends take turns "protecting her" after they find her living on the streets/homeless shelter. What did she need protecting from? It didn't make any sense.
I also felt like the heroine forgave the hero way too easily.
I'm going to keep reading the series because I want to see some of the other SEALs on the team find a girl. But don't bother reading this book.
March 8, 2023
*** Great stories !!! Christopher and Alabama, wow !!
This book is about the Seal team, but is very different than the first. We get to see the team members and how Matthew and Caroline are doing. Alabama is a sweetie with a horrible childhood. She has learned that she can only trust herself.
She meets Christopher, "Abe", and he's so wonderful.
She hopes it isn't too good to be true. When the time comes for him to stand by her, he lets her down, big time. The agony she felt was so real, and his agony of being a first class idiot, too.
Time and patience are in order. The team is there to help her, and to help Abe. Their true love is deeper than the hurt. Deeply moving, emotional characters. The couple each has their struggle to overcome.
Interesting tale of anguish, and sorrow for her childhood, and survival.
This is a truly stunning story.
ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!
=====
This book is about the Seal team, but is very different than the first. We get to see the team members and how Matthew and Caroline are doing. Alabama is a sweetie with a horrible childhood. She has learned that she can only trust herself.
She meets Christopher, "Abe", and he's so wonderful.
She hopes it isn't too good to be true. When the time comes for him to stand by her, he lets her down, big time. The agony she felt was so real, and his agony of being a first class idiot, too.
Time and patience are in order. The team is there to help her, and to help Abe. Their true love is deeper than the hurt. Deeply moving, emotional characters. The couple each has their struggle to overcome.
Interesting tale of anguish, and sorrow for her childhood, and survival.
This is a truly stunning story.
ENJOY !!!!!!!!!!!
=====
August 18, 2022
This is a very sweet slow burn romance, between a very sweet Hero and a very sweet heroine. This one has a bit of angstiness to it, and I got my "heroine wrongfully judged and mistreated by her Hero" kink with this one too, lol.
November 30, 2014
Navy Seal Christopher "Abe" Powers wants what his friend has, finding the girl who is meant to be his. Abe has had his fair share of relationships but it never just clicked until he meets Alabama Smith. Every instinct he has wants to protect Alabama, he knows she has a broken soul and he wants to help find a way to let her heal.
For the first time in Alabama's life she trusts someone, Christopher. She feels protected, adored, and finally accepted. As they begin something special together an outside influence is determined to destroy the bond they have created.
Spectacular read, I became so invested in Alabama. Alabama doesn't see how strong she really is, Abe is wonderful and so delicate with Alabama. I look forward to the next book in series.
For the first time in Alabama's life she trusts someone, Christopher. She feels protected, adored, and finally accepted. As they begin something special together an outside influence is determined to destroy the bond they have created.
Spectacular read, I became so invested in Alabama. Alabama doesn't see how strong she really is, Abe is wonderful and so delicate with Alabama. I look forward to the next book in series.
September 29, 2018
1.5 stars
Ive had this on my kindle for years and finally got around to reading it.
I wish I hadn’t.
What the hero did didn’t even make sense (it seemed to come out of nowhere) and the reason behind it was so unbelievably dumb! Never mind everything the poor heroine had to go through and then everyone is wanting them to get back together. Really??
Ive had this on my kindle for years and finally got around to reading it.
I wish I hadn’t.
What the hero did didn’t even make sense (it seemed to come out of nowhere) and the reason behind it was so unbelievably dumb! Never mind everything the poor heroine had to go through and then everyone is wanting them to get back together. Really??
December 18, 2015
A lot of telling not enough showing. This would have been good if there was depth to the characters demonstrated through interaction and dialogue. 2 stars.
May 13, 2023
This book isn’t really my typical fair. I lean towards dark romance mostly but I’m open to reading most genres and have found books I really love that aren’t my usual picks.
I did read this one for a specific reason. I saw it rec’d in a Facebook group looking for books where the heroine is accused of something she didn’t do and her H believes the accusations then has to grovel when he realizes he messed up.
This book did fit that request - sort of. I might be the most unforgiving person on the planet but his ‘grovel’ was barely a grovel. He messed up pretty bad. He said the one thing to her that would hurt the most and she’d find unforgivable.
She doesn’t forgive him right away which is about the only nice thing I can say about how they got back together. After he hurts he in the worst way he can when she’s already down, it just gets worse from there. She loses pretty much everything. She’s penniless and homeless, living on the streets. He’s real sad about it though. She’s obviously working to avoid him as best as she can but he has his friends lay some heavy guilt on her about how sad he is, what a terrible childhood he had (hers was way worse) and how he was feeling like a diaper baby for messing up in their last mission and he was also very tired.
She goes to live in his friends basement because she’s homeless now. So basically they can rotate a 24/7 guiltathon on her. Fun times.
Finally after a nice hefty dose of guilt from his buddies girl she agrees to see him even though she doesn’t trust him. She goes out with him. He’s real sorry again. He’s been sleeping in his car in the driveway of his buddies house. He will continue until she’s ready to move in with him. At this point she’s dating him on the regular but won’t move in with yet even though she’s forgiven him. One night the police come to question her about something she didn’t do and instead of believing it he defends her like he should have done the first time. So then she’s ready to move in with him. That’s it.
So yeah, if you’re here for a good grovel you can move along. You won’t find it here.
I did read this one for a specific reason. I saw it rec’d in a Facebook group looking for books where the heroine is accused of something she didn’t do and her H believes the accusations then has to grovel when he realizes he messed up.
This book did fit that request - sort of. I might be the most unforgiving person on the planet but his ‘grovel’ was barely a grovel. He messed up pretty bad. He said the one thing to her that would hurt the most and she’d find unforgivable.
She doesn’t forgive him right away which is about the only nice thing I can say about how they got back together. After he hurts he in the worst way he can when she’s already down, it just gets worse from there. She loses pretty much everything. She’s penniless and homeless, living on the streets. He’s real sad about it though. She’s obviously working to avoid him as best as she can but he has his friends lay some heavy guilt on her about how sad he is, what a terrible childhood he had (hers was way worse) and how he was feeling like a diaper baby for messing up in their last mission and he was also very tired.
She goes to live in his friends basement because she’s homeless now. So basically they can rotate a 24/7 guiltathon on her. Fun times.
Finally after a nice hefty dose of guilt from his buddies girl she agrees to see him even though she doesn’t trust him. She goes out with him. He’s real sorry again. He’s been sleeping in his car in the driveway of his buddies house. He will continue until she’s ready to move in with him. At this point she’s dating him on the regular but won’t move in with yet even though she’s forgiven him. One night the police come to question her about something she didn’t do and instead of believing it he defends her like he should have done the first time. So then she’s ready to move in with him. That’s it.
So yeah, if you’re here for a good grovel you can move along. You won’t find it here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2015
I did finish this book but wanted to freaking punch the "hero" in every chapter. His behavior throughout the entire story was stalker-scary. I get that he was hot, but even a magic dick wouldn't be enough for me to stay with him.
examples: He keeps a key to her house without permission. He leaves her in freaking jail. He tells her he doesn't need a condom even though he's sexually active with multiple partners. He sleeps outside in the driveway of the friend's house he's staying at multiple nights. He gets dangerously angry when a person accidentally drops a cup and some liquid spills on her shoe.
I also think that Alabama's personal issues were such that they weren't appropriate to be resolved in a novella length novel.
examples: He keeps a key to her house without permission. He leaves her in freaking jail. He tells her he doesn't need a condom even though he's sexually active with multiple partners. He sleeps outside in the driveway of the friend's house he's staying at multiple nights. He gets dangerously angry when a person accidentally drops a cup and some liquid spills on her shoe.
I also think that Alabama's personal issues were such that they weren't appropriate to be resolved in a novella length novel.
September 21, 2024
Fuck Caroline for gaslighting Alabama into forgiving Abe
March 9, 2016
Wow, what an amazing book. I am so glad that I discovered this series. This is the second book, and even though it wasn't as action packed as the first, it was still a great read. I adored Abe/Christopher as well as the rest of the team. I was thrilled to see Matthew was a pretty main character as well. I really can't wait to start the third book!!
February 10, 2019
“I don’t like that you look around the room to see who’s there before you speak. And I hope you’ll tell me about it someday. But rest assured, I won’t hold it against you. Okay?”
Protecting Alabama? More like Manipulating Alabama. I confess I knew what was going to happen before I even picked up this book but I needed something angsty and I thought I would do all the judging myself. God, I wish I hadn’t.
The prologue tore my heart to pieces. To hear in graphic how Alabama was abused since she was four was painful. The prologue makes you want to root for this woman, makes you want to protect her and make sure she’s safe. At least, that’s what I felt. And I’m so disappointed that none of the characters in this book cared about her. None. Oh, they pretended to care alright. But ultimately, everyone had Abe’s back but not hers.
After they were together for long enough, Alabama felt comfortable to share her baggage with Abe—she told him that she couldn’t stand it when people tell her to shut up because it brought back awful memories of being abused by her momma. And Abe, high on his protective instincts, promised her that he would never use it against her—that he would never use her trigger against her. He promised twice. I counted.
”I won’t let you down. I won’t tell you to shut up now that I know it’s a trigger for you. I’ve told this before, but you’re safe with me. I promise.”
But of course, he broke that promise. So here’s what I don’t understand. I get that the author wanted something huge enough to happen—a conflict—so that the couple would separate but honestly it came out of nowhere. I found it hard to believe that Abe, someone who was notorious for being the protector of women, to do something so, atrocious. The author justified it by giving us with his backstory but it just didn’t make any sense.
Maybe I would have forgiven him if he at least grovel or if he used her trigger by accident but he didn’t. He did it on purpose and that’s what made it worse. Again. He never grovelled.
”He’d never forget the look in her eyes when he told her to shut up!” if he lived to be a hundred. He knew what he was doing when he’d said it and that made him even more of a bastard.”
And after Abe got his head out of his ass, it had already been days. That’s one thing. Don’t get me started on the whole crew backing Abe up and pressuring Alabama to take him back. As if she owed him shit after what he did. Sure, they gave him a good old-natured scolding for what he did but that was it.
It was hard to listen to the crew manipulating Alabama to take him back. And it was easy too because Alabama had a horrible childhood and Abe was the first guy she’s ever loved. She was pliable to suggestions. It was enraging to hear, Caroline (of all people!) practically dismissing what Abe did and told Alabama that she owed it to “true love” to give him a second chance. In fact every member of the crew bullied her.
Like maybe don’t say “I know what he did is terrible, but you need to take him back!” to someone who was done so wrong. He’s a fucking adult so let him be accountable for his actions? The crew was also doing the most by taking turns “protecting her” when they were just doing surveillance to make sure that she didn’t leave Abe. They left her alone after that but they knew what they were doing. Fucking disgusting.
It’s fucking annoying how they made her feel bad for Abe. He didn’t even have to grovel to get her back! He didn’t even have to lift a single fucking finger. He left her alone to be “protected” by his friends and by that time she was already buying all the bullshit the crew had told her. They started hanging out as if nothing had happened and so that’s how they reunited. He did the bare minimum in the end by not letting the police take her for interrogation but that’s it. The biggest joke of the century. And then they fucked. The end.
Words cannot describe just how angry and disappointed I am. Alabama deserved so much better. I’m so angry that I’m about to write an actual fan fiction where Alabama ended up with a Hero she deserves, a support system that isn’t toxic and who truly cares about her.
June 2, 2021
*** Book Q & A***
* How did the book make you feel?: I wanted to love this book, because the plot was great, but it lacked for me in some areas.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I loved the angst that poor Alabama felt. I didn’t like the choppiness of the writing. The author uses short sentences. Another reviewer said there was a lot of telling instead of showing, and I agree. There were little to no literary devices employed. The writing didn’t really flow.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I really liked Alabama’s character. She had a lot of fortitude and was a good person. Abe, not so much. What he did to Alabama in jail was heinous, knowing that saying “shut up” would make her shut down. Though he realized his mistake on his own, he left her in jail for days and then she had to live on the streets! Instead of making things right himself, Abe relies completely on his friends. He didn’t even bail her out of jail, his comrade did. He didn’t give her a place to live, his comrade did. All he did was feel sorry for himself and wait for Alabama to come around.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: Alabama’s suffering and humiliation were truly heartbreaking.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Child abuse, wrongly accused h, Navy SEALs
* What did you think about the ending?: I wanted to see their reconciliation and it was glossed over. They never had their makeup nookie on page. The epilogue was meh because I would’ve liked to have seen them married or something, but they were pretty much in the same place.
* What is your impression of the author?: I’m not sure I’ll read more. I prefer a more descriptive writing style.
Triggers: child abuse on page
* How did the book make you feel?: I wanted to love this book, because the plot was great, but it lacked for me in some areas.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: I loved the angst that poor Alabama felt. I didn’t like the choppiness of the writing. The author uses short sentences. Another reviewer said there was a lot of telling instead of showing, and I agree. There were little to no literary devices employed. The writing didn’t really flow.
* What did you think about the main characters?: I really liked Alabama’s character. She had a lot of fortitude and was a good person. Abe, not so much. What he did to Alabama in jail was heinous, knowing that saying “shut up” would make her shut down. Though he realized his mistake on his own, he left her in jail for days and then she had to live on the streets! Instead of making things right himself, Abe relies completely on his friends. He didn’t even bail her out of jail, his comrade did. He didn’t give her a place to live, his comrade did. All he did was feel sorry for himself and wait for Alabama to come around.
* Which parts of the book stood out to you?: Alabama’s suffering and humiliation were truly heartbreaking.
* What themes/tropes did you detect in the story?: Child abuse, wrongly accused h, Navy SEALs
* What did you think about the ending?: I wanted to see their reconciliation and it was glossed over. They never had their makeup nookie on page. The epilogue was meh because I would’ve liked to have seen them married or something, but they were pretty much in the same place.
* What is your impression of the author?: I’m not sure I’ll read more. I prefer a more descriptive writing style.
Triggers: child abuse on page
September 4, 2019
2nd book in seals of protection series, loved it as a whole.
I loved how in this book, Alabama's personality grows from a shy, quiet girl to a say-straight-to-the-face girl.
Alabama has an abusive childhood on the hands of her mother but was very kind- in her doings & the little she spoke.
Abe noticed her when she saved him & his nasty-villain-of-the-book date ( Glad he dumped her 😒) , & many people from fire catastrophe in her job place.
Abe found her with the help from Tex & they were happy, until of course problem came.
Alabama was accused of theft & was scared but.. Abe didn't believe in her ( I know he just came home from mission & have little-to-no-sleep, but still..)
I was so angry on him & was crying at this scene, he did the one thing he knew will hurt her the most..
When he realized he did wrong, he did everything in his power to atone..but, Can Alabama trust him back?
‘Love was one thing, but trust is what makes a relationship solid.’
I loved how in this book, Alabama's personality grows from a shy, quiet girl to a say-straight-to-the-face girl.
Alabama has an abusive childhood on the hands of her mother but was very kind- in her doings & the little she spoke.
Abe noticed her when she saved him & his nasty-villain-of-the-book date ( Glad he dumped her 😒) , & many people from fire catastrophe in her job place.
Abe found her with the help from Tex & they were happy, until of course problem came.
Alabama was accused of theft & was scared but.. Abe didn't believe in her ( I know he just came home from mission & have little-to-no-sleep, but still..)
I was so angry on him & was crying at this scene, he did the one thing he knew will hurt her the most..
When he realized he did wrong, he did everything in his power to atone..but, Can Alabama trust him back?
‘Love was one thing, but trust is what makes a relationship solid.’
October 6, 2017
Alabama (h) just totally shutdown after the hero was really mean to her. It was really annoying when Abe (H) just believed that she was a thief and he said something really mean that triggered her trauma after swearing she is it for him. Yes, he showed remorse but only after a few days of clearing his head, definitely longer than 3 days that the heroine was in jail. And he left her in jail!! Am not sure I would forgive him or trust him again though.
But Alabama (h) is so freaking poor she had no choice but take a chance on the hero again.. I think if she had other choices like say, living on her own instead of staying with Abe’s friends and if she had the means to get out of town, she would have done so.
But Alabama (h) is so freaking poor she had no choice but take a chance on the hero again.. I think if she had other choices like say, living on her own instead of staying with Abe’s friends and if she had the means to get out of town, she would have done so.
October 18, 2014
This is an absolute must read! Alabama is a shy woman with a beautiful soul and Abe (Christopher) is definitely an alpha male with an amazing personality most of the time. You cannot help but love these characters, Alabama goes through so much when she was younger that most people would be so effected by yet she has a heart of gold and she loves her job as a janitor. Thus her meeting with Abe, through a work function, things are a turmoil between the two. You are so captivated that you won't want to put the book down, it has everything, action, suspense and romance!
April 2, 2015
This is quickly turning into one of my favorite series. Totally 5 stars!
August 20, 2015
What a jerk!!!! I could not get past it. However, Alabama showed more backbone than most romance heroines who are treated badly.
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