Protecting Fiona (SEAL of Protection Book 3) Kindle Edition

I love Susan Stoker's books. I have purchased most of them to date, but when I reread this series (all of the other titles are awesome, BTW!) I always skip this one or regret it if I don't. The beginning of the book is fine. Our hero saves our heroine from the hell of sex trafficking. That first meeting is awesome, but during their time in the jungle, things start to get wonky. They're literally hiking through the jungle for three entire days, and while it's technically possible that Fiona doesn't start to have more serious withdrawal symptoms for those three days, it's not very probable. (Additionally, we learn later on that she actually hadn't been given the drugs for a few additional days beyond that. We also later learn her captors hadn't fed her for a few days either, so she should be literally suffering from starvation, dehydration, and malnutrition.) She should be suffering much more than some shaking hands and hunger, plus some occasional dry heaving on the third day. Let's say we ignore all that. Once our characters reach the safety of the house they stay at for that first week...really? There's a random, lushly decorated, secure house with complete medical facilities (but no doctors or nurses or security personnel even a housekeeper) just waiting for them? They don't take the sex trafficking survivor to an actual hospital? And the team splits up so some members can go home while the others stay there? None of that makes sense. Okay, let's ignore that too. Do the SEALs call a medical professional of any kind to help Fiona with her serious medical issues? No. Do we hear about any medical interventions for her? No. Come on, Ms. Stoker! Three months in the jungle being repeatedly raped by multiple men and given a cocktail of illegal drugs by injection, and she doesn't get tested for HIV or STDs? She doesn't get a gyno exam by a trained professional? What about a simple pregnancy test, does she get that? She doesn't deal with the parasites in her belly from the unclean water that she tells us had made her sick after she was captured? What about testing for any other diseases from being unwashed and eaten alive by jungle insects and other pests for three months? And three days after receiving a bullet wound to her leg she gets out of bed, walks to the bathroom, climbs out a window, crawls down a drainpipe, etc without seemingly suffering any pain from that wound, especially when Cookie has mentioned earlier that he can't give her any pain medication because they might interact with the illegal drugs she still has in her system? And two days later she's showering and walking around without even a bandage? Not to mention Cookie's bullet wound to the chest/shoulder/back, which we don't ever hear about again after they reach the house. Really? Cookie doesn't wear bandages either, especially when he's busy getting naked and crawling into bed with a recent rape victim? No physical therapy? No soreness or limited mobility while he's busy throwing his arms around his new love interest, even lifting her out of a chair and into his lap multiple times five days after receiving the GSW? Hmmm. Once Fiona wakes up after five days of hallucinating, does she ask any questions about her physical health at all? Does she ask to be seen by a medical professional? Does she consider the thought she might be carrying HIV or STDs or even be pregnant? No? Okay, let's ignore that too. And what about that scene where Cookie crawls in bed with Fiona eight days (3 days hiking in the jungle + 5 days of hallucinations) after rescuing her from repeatedly being raped by her kidnappers? Does she express any fear? Any PTSD? Even any trepidation? No siree, Bob! She calmly watches him enter her bedroom, undress next to the bed, and even scoots over so he can join her, then lets him hold and spoon her all night after they have a conversation while laying there. It's usually about this time that I'm throwing my Kindle across the room due to the overwhelming frustration.Ms. Stoker, I understand wanting to bring the topic of sex trafficking to light. All of your heroines deal with heavy circumstances and overcome them in some way through your books, and I enjoy that part of your writing. But please take the topic seriously. Treat it with the respect that it deserves, not this wholly unrealistic, laughable mockery. Oh, and for heaven's sake, please hire a new proofreader. Your use of punctuation is atrocious, especially in this series. Your other books are somewhat better, but this series needs proofing.

This is story, but its also reality. There are so many women...trafficking human slavery is horrific. Fiona Rain Storme aka Fee, unwanted by her mother and her grandparents went into the foster system..very sad but real. There's nothing wrong with going vacation by yourself, but you have to alert, aware of your surroundings. Now my mother and friends they all said you either take your drink with you or when you come back order another drink. The reason being, someone can"spike" your drink; I'm sure you've heard of the "Spanish fly," I'm probably dating myself, but it's ugly in these night clubs or even house parties..Fiona was drugged and kidnapped by these men who look for women like Fiona. She's lucky that she was rescued with the other kidnapped victim Julie..not a nice person, a spoiled brat, not liking her very much.Fiona was rescued by the Navy Seals sent to really rescue Julie, but Cookie(Hunter) took her with them..Fiona acted as a person who was grateful when someone seemed concerned about her, because no one cared. She was empty but she kept it together, making the best out of very little. Life Isn't easy, but when you face life with all its pitfalls and sometimes having to deal underbelly of society it's very difficult. The ending of "Protecting Fiona" shouldn't be the last we hear of her and Hunter; we want to read everything will be alright with psyche. She'll hopefully stop having flashbacks of the kidnapping and continue with psychiatric therapy, which will help her a great deal. It also helps that Hunter and Fiona and his fellow Seals and their wives, give their support...which hopefully Fiona will recover from the kidnapping and the rough childhood she's lived through before the kidnapping...ride easy everyone..

I have read many Susan Stoker novels and have loved everything I have read. Susan's world of hot military men and the women who they love, has always touched a special part of my soul. Like Susan I married one of those men! And I see my hunky Special Ops man in every hero, I read! Susan Stoker's word craft captures the heart and soul of these very special men, who risk life and limb to keep us safe from the evil that threatens us from all sides.Her male protagonists are so well developed they seem real. I can easily imagine them coming through the door of my ER after a mission, a little worse for wear but oh so grateful to be alive ! My heart just melts as I read of their heroics in every Susan Stoker novel. These heroes do not trust easily, but when they trust enough to fall in love they are in 100%, almost like the commitment they make to any special operation they take on. Susan captures their essence perfectly in her books! It's like falling in love with my man all over again!Protecting Fiona, Book 3 of the SEAL of Protection series, is another one of Susan's personal bests. The operation for her team of six SEALs, a hostage rescue, is typical for these kind of special operations team. Yet, the focus of the conflict, stopping a sex trafficking situation, is a bit heavier then Susan Stoker has handled before. It is however, a timely topic, a worldwide problem, that hasn't got the attention it deserves in my opinion. Hats off to Susan Stoker, for bringing it in to focus through her writing! The action she so creatively brought to life in this novel, had me on the edge of my seat, praying for the team and the two women hostages as though I could somehow save them! The mission, a total clusterf**k as many missions are, seemed so real.As is typical in a Susan Stoker novel the main female, Fiona, has an inner strength and beauty, I could not help but admire. But also not unusual for Susan's characters, Fiona is too broken to recognize her own strength. This creates a perfect backstory for the romance.I love how Susan Stoker balances the action and suspense in her novels with hot steamy love scenes. If you want to add a little spice to your love life, I can suggest reading one or two of these scenes to your lover and see what happens! (insert blushing emoji here, PLEASE!) But in this novel, Susan demonstrates her empathy and understanding of the emotional mess that sexual abuse victims experience after the trauma. Her handling of Fiona and Hunter's sexual relationship demonstrates Susan's best writing skills. Hunter is gentle and treats Fiona as though she is the finest china while letting her know with every gesture and task he performs, how much he truly loves Fiona. It brought tears to my eyes, to see this big man, be so caring. And Susan brought that love alive, with a word picture that was vivid enough to reflect real life.The topic of sex trafficking and sexual abuse is a difficult issue to deal with in real life, let alone within the 200 some pages of a fiction romance novel. I applaud Susan for even trying. As her special author note indicates, Susan has done her research on this topic and is well aware that sex trafficking and treatment of its victims is a multi-dimensional, very complex problem that doesn`t always end in happily ever after. I have read all the negative critiques for this novel. I can tell they either did not read the author's notes and dedication or chose to ignore them. I personally think that what makes Susan Stoker such a magnificent romance writer, is her determination to provide a happily ever after, in even the most distressing situations. It gives readers like myself, who have lived and treated men (and women) in some of these life-altering events, hope that the sun will shine again. I too noticed some discrepancies in Fiona's aftermath to her trauma but ignored them as I read fiction to escape the harsh realities of the world we live in. Thus I am more then willing to allow an author, especially one as talented as Susan Stoker,some room for creative , poetic, license in order to resolve a conflict in a timely manner while providing the hope a happily ever after, I, the reader,craves!Well done , Susan! be proud of this story as well as the previous novels. If you keep writing, I can assure you as your devoted fan, I will keep reading. So on to book 4 and 5!

I don’t understand how her books are so bad now!When Cookie is sent in to rescue a trafficked senators daughter, he finds Fiona. Fiona was taken over three months ago and she’s been repeatedly raped, before they sell her, they also get her addicted to drugs. Cookie can’t believe how brave Fiona is, and feels a pull towards her. Even when she’s filthy and going through a withdrawal from the drugs they gave her. Cookie has to lead the women to safety through the Mexican jungle. The first part with the rescue is good, but it goes downhill after that!!!Does she really expect me to believe that Fiona is brutally raped by several men and within days can give Hunter an orgasm? Cookie/Hunter is giving her hugs and kisses within a few days. So she isn’t traumatised by what happened???Fiona is suffering withdrawal from the drugs that her captors gave her, but doesn’t need a hospital??? She apparently just needs a few days and she’s fine.Fiona has been starved by her captors for over three months, but can eat a bowl of soup and a bread bun!!! Her stomach wouldn’t cope with that!!!Fiona was shot and there is no mention of it again! Her captors put her in a neck collar, which had got infected, but she doesn’t need antibiotics!!!!After being kept in a hut for over three months on her own, she’s fine going shopping with the other women!!!It’s not good enough!!! It’s so unrealistic that I’m fuming!!! 😡😡😡 I’m genuinely angry. I won’t ever read any more of her books.

Another great read by this author. I have seen some of the criticism with regard to this particular story about the trauma that Fiona went through and that she would not have trusted a man this quickly after what she suffered. Lets remember this is fiction and even trauma victims need people to help them. Cookie rescued Fiona, I can totally see how she would turn to him and trust him to take care of her. This is not a stretch of the imagination.What I love about this author and her stories is that, the couples meet quickly and the story is nearly 99% about the couple and their own relationship. Yes the minor characters are there but they do not take over each couple's story. I love the simplest of it being a love story around a story line that deals with the couple issues and how they deal with them. The story are faced paced and totally engross, to me at least.I am enjoying the series.

I like this writers overall style, she has a good pace and flow. However this story is just not credible, artistic licence notwithstanding.A traumatized woman, however strong doesn't physically or mentally overcome her ordeal in the space of a few days. She has been malnourished, riddled with parasites and bug bites and had cuts, sores and abrasions which all seem to have miraculously disappeared. She has been abused in other ways too but this is almost brushed aside. I wanted to like this book., but I couldn't. Fiction only works if the world in which it is set is believable and real to the reader. This book stretched belief to beyond breaking point. The concept of this story was good, but sadly it didn't work as this short novel.

Another great book in this series and another great couple. I loved Fiona as a character, she might be quiet and unassuming but like in the previous books the lady has spine of steel. I love Stoker's male characters, the fact that the know their own mind and they don't play stupid mind games with women, they show compassion and respect, nothing sexier then that! Looking forward to listening to the rest of the books in this series.

5 Stars!!!On mission in Mexico, the SEAL’S had to find the Senator’s daughter and bring her home. Cookie never expected to find another hostage, not fully prepared but determined Cookie gets the women out and leads them to safety.Fiona had lost count of how long she had been chained up; she doubted she would ever see civilization again. When Cookie showed up she knew it wasn’t for her, surprised by Cookie taking her hand, she promised she wouldn’t slow them down.The SEAL’S knew missions could be full of surprises, but this was one surprise they never expected. Love can be found in the unlikeliest of ways, but one thing Cookie knew for sure was Fiona was HIS!Cookie and Wolf right now are fighting for top spot in my SEAL’S ranking! Susan Stoker again has pulled at my heart strings and given me another hot SEAL to swoon over; I could not put this book down. Cookie and Fiona’s story was full of surprises, Susan Stoker did not disappoint! I loved how strong Fiona is even after all the trauma she had been through. Cookie was amazing, he hadn’t been sent to save Fiona but he sure as hell wasn’t leaving her behind. The SEAL team is a family, and that includes the SEAL’S women. Caroline, Alabama and Fiona become the best of friends; these strong women don’t make it easy for the SEAL men. Susan writes about strong female and male leading characters, this is just one of the things I love about the SEAL series! I look forward to not only reading the next book in this series but every book in this series!If you love romance, suspense, HOT SEAL’S and strong female leads you will absolutely love the Seal of Protection series by Susan Stoker!**Protecting Fiona is the 3rd 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.**