She’s living life on her own terms for the first time. He’s been handed a second chance at life he’s not sure he has the guts to take. But there are forces that might take away their shot at life and love. Presley Royale’s life has been mapped out for her from the day she took her first jump on a horse. The Grand Prix circuit was once everything she always wanted. Today, she’s not so sure. But … sure. But she does know one thing. She’ll be the one making the decisions in her world from here on out. One of those decisions is to let James Lawless in.
He wasn’t ever supposed to come back alive. Not while so many others suffered because of his failures. His teammates, his sister, the woman who saved him when no one else could. When pieces from his past begin to come back to him, he knows he’ll fail again. And this time, the woman he’s falling in love with will pay the price for his shortcomings.
Cherish and Protect is a standalone book that can be read in any order within the series.
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One of the best books I have read. I couldn’t let the book down until is already finished. I just loved both characters, the strugglings with their owns demons of the past and not giving up their love. Reallyyyy reallyyyy good. I loved it
Lori Ryan’s stories keep getting better and better with each one she writes. Her latest one, Cherish and Protect, will be at the top of the list of my favorites by this author. The story hooked me from page one and I didn’t stop until I got to The End. I loved taking a trip back to Evers, Texas and catch up with old friends from previous books, finding out what all the favorite characters are up to these days. In this story we get to meet James Lawless and his story will break you heart. Some really bad men held him captive for years and he is so broken that he doesn’t think he will ever be whole again. He is living in a barn loft on his sister and brother-in-law’s property, keeping to himself only with the company of his service dog, Lulu.
Presley Royale has had her entire life mapped out for her by her parents and she is definitely ready for a change but isn’t quite sure how to go about making that happen without causing a major upset with her parents. After being injured on her horse, James’ brother-in-law, Cade, asked if James would exercise Presley’s horse until she is better. This begins a hesitant friendship between Presley and James. Once they become closer, Presley is able to touch just a part of James that needs her so very much. When the bad guys from James’ past comes after them, things get pretty scary.
I connected with James and Presley very quickly, loved their strength, how they bonded, how Presley seemed to know exactly what James needed from her to help him when he needed it. She was perfect for him. He also got her, understood her and supported her beautifully. The plot line was fantastic! As I read this story my emotions were all over the place, my heart hurt for what James had gone through and the after effects from all that he was suffering, the excitement for the growing relationship between the H&H and the nail biting as the bad guys showed up! Absolutely a top of the list favorite book! Loved it!
4 stars
I purchased a copy of the full length steamy romantic suspense novel Cherish and Protect: A Small Town, High Stakes Romance (Heroes of Evers, TX Book 6) James and Presley by Lori Ryan and this review was given freely.
Just as James and Presley find hope in their personal and professional lives, James’s past returns in the form of attempted murder. Dark but hopeful with an action packed ending. This poignant story has some suspense but is mainly the story of James and Presley’s struggles to rebuild their lives and find love after leaving controlling situations. Contains the dark themes of post military PTSD and depression, military corruption, and the sinister side behind competitive equestrian competition but also offers hope in the form of family, good friends, service dog Lulu, his former team member Hunt, and in General Brophy.
Rescued after years held in the jungles of South America, former Army black ops soldier, “The Illusion”, James Lawless returns to the US and his sister Laura Bishop’s family ranch where he finds refuge in the isolation of his barn apartment/ woodshop and, his emotions challenged by the introverted 3 time Olympian Equestrian medalist Presley Royale who is tired of her sterile life of competitive show jumping, her cold controlling parents, and is ready to embark on her florist shop dream.
18+ for steamy scenes and violence.
Excellent story-line. I’ve loved every book in this series. There’s intensity; there are hero’s we can love; and, there is romance in Evers, Texas. A soldier held captive for years, comes home with serious PTSD, healing wounds and to a sister who provides a place for healing. Then we have Presley Royale of the Royale Stables who competes in jumping with her father as her coach. I love the writing by this author and plan to read the next book.
James Lawless lived through hell but now he’s in Evers with his sister Laura and her family. But he’s damaged, broken probably not repairable. Presley Royale has spent her whole life becoming an elite equestrian but she’s ready for more. Ready to live life on her terms and no one else’s. She and James start with bonding over a horse. Slowly, ever so slowly, he allows her in and reveals bits of his pain. She, in turn, share her dreams with him. When his past catches up with them and puts Presley in peril. James will do whatever is necessary to keep her safe. With deadly force if need be.
This was a good read and I enjoyed it from the characters to the excitement. Before you really get into the danger, adventure and thrills you are about three fourths the ways through it. From this author I am used to it starting from the first page grabbing your attention. This is not to say it was a bad read at all because it was a good. The author brings back characters from the past, it was great to meet Laura brother who we know from the past book he was in the military and kept as a prisoner for many years leaving her to believe by her dead husband that her brother was dead. This is a standalone read the author does fill in the information that you do not have to read the past books but really you should to get the full impact. It is a story of a lot of pain not only for Presley but for James as well. Presley’s parents expect so much from her, making lots of demands. She really hasn’t had much of a childhood or adulthood. Her life has been wrapped around Grand Prix circuit with her parents controlling her life. She is at the age she has missed so much and doesn’t want to miss anymore. James is having flash backs of when he was held prisoner. He knows he is missing something important and needs to remember, as he does he finds out his life is in danger along with Presley.
As always with Ms. Ryan her plots are good, her characters are great with a story that is very believable. She gives true emotions that really pulls you in. You can feel every painful step James takes along with his anger, needs and wants. He is afraid to love again he lost so much the last time plus who would want half a man who goes nuts from time to time. I loved his dog he really stole my heart in so many ways. I had no trouble feeling and picturing as he helps James get through the good and bad times. Presley’s mother is something else and gets into a mess. We know how that affects Presley but do not learn of the outcome. The passion is hot, the love scenes steam along with some very close calls with danger that could lead to death. I would have like for the story to have a little more excitement of danger before it does but the rest of the story was outstanding. 3.5 taking it up to a 4.
I absolutely loved reading James
& Presley’s story! It is a awesome romance suspense book.
In South America, something went terribly wrong with the mission. Jamed had been MIA for 5 years. He is having a difficult time adjusting to his new life. He has been having flashbacks & nightmares about what happened to him, but feels like there is something important he’s not remembering.
Presley is the daughter, of the owners of Royale Farms. She has been a champion jumper, since she was a child. Presley has never been able to think for herself. But Presley decides it’s time to do what she wants in life.
Her horse Tess, is boarded at the Bishop Ranch, where James’ lives. James & Presley are cautious, as they get to know each other. The attraction is there, but they are both not looking for a relationship.
I could not put it down till the very end!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE!!
This is the second book of this series I have read and as much as I liked book 5 , I LOVED this one.
This is the story of James Lawless and Presley Royale. He is a former Special Forces Army man who was captured and tortured for 4 years and is now a shell of the man he was , living in isolation and with PTSD. Presley, is an accomplished equestrian who wants to live her life on her own terms and not that of her parents.
The relationship of these two is heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. At times, I wanted to walk into the pages of the book so I could give James a hug , even though he probably would not have been to happy with me !
The story is filled with action, suspense, bad guys and of course , romance.
But it’s more than that. It’s a reminder that the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, deserve our support, assistance and thanks . As a nation we need to make available more options to assist those that return not only with physical but also with emotional and psychological scars.
Kudos to Ms Ryan for a great story.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
What went wrong? Something was screwed up. James was injured in a failed mission & was taken prisoner by a drug cartel. He’s lost years of his life while no one in the States knew he was alive. Now that he’s been rescued, he’s most comfortable in the dark away from the public at his sister Laura’s ranch. He has a service dog that is helping him but he wants to make sure he doesn’t hurt anyone so he holds himself aloof. Why can’t he keep Presley out?
Presley is a champion show jumper that no longer loves what she does. She boards one of her retired horses at Laura’s. While she’s spending time with Tess, her horse, feelings begin to develop towards James. Somehow Presley seems to know what James needs or wants better than he does. When James’ past comes to haunt them, can she handle it?
Ms. Ryan knows how to grab your attention from the first page & keep it until the very end. Her characters are complicated, intense, multi-faceted individuals. They are realistic & engage your emotions. At times, I teared up & felt so much sympathy for James & his experiences. The plot has twists & turns that are unexpected. This is a great addition to the Evers Texas series but can be read as a stand alone.