By Susan Stoker

Emotionally and physically abused by her mom, Alabama spent her 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, hope blossomed in her heart that finally, she has found her champion. Abe has found the woman he could call his own.

Love was one thing, but trust was what made a relationship solid.

Susan Stoker, Protecting Alabama

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 tears 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.