Evers, Texas is Phoebe’s shot at leaving behind the fun-loving woman no one takes seriously, and she’s determined to make it work. Unfortunately, he’s determined to give up his steady, staid ways and he wants her help. Can they meet in the middle and make love work? It might have taken Phoebe Joy a little while to realize there’s more to life than having fun, but she’s got the message now. She … now. She knows if she doesn’t make changes, she’s going to lose out on her chance at love and a family of her own. It isn’t easy to erase the mistakes of her past and remake herself, and the oh-so-sexy Shane Bishop is tempting her like no man has before. To top it all off, when she stumbles on a mysterious death in her new town, the dream she’s trying to hold onto is in more danger than she realizes.
Shane Bishop knows how everyone sees him. He’s the boring brother. The one you can count on to solve your problems, to consistently be exactly the way he’s always been. Day, after day, after dreary day. When Phoebe shows up in his office, he’d be an idiot to try to deny the way her beauty and excitement tempt him. And if there’s one thing Shane has never been, it’s stupid. But when she uncovers a murder the town never even realized had happened, her life is in danger and he’ll have to race to save the woman who’s stolen his heart.
Desire and Protect is a standalone book that can be read in any order within the series.
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I purchased a copy of the full length steamy romantic suspense novel Desire and Protect: A Small Town, High Stakes Romance (Heroes of Evers, TX Book 5) Shane and Phoebe by Lori Ryan and this review was given freely.
This story starts out a little slow has a touch of humor but, overall is poignant.
I laughed so hard at Isabel’s garden! Just like the characters it contains, this instant attraction story of seemingly opposite personalities is a complex and eclectic mix of humor, Phoebe’s wandering and rambling thoughts as well as Irish proverbs and excerpts from the deceased Fiona O’Malley’s journal blended with brief recaps of prior books, Laura’s search for her brother, everyday life, and the suspicious suicide of Shane’s neighbor Fiona O’Malley.
Despairing his eclectic choices for a paralegal but desperately needing help, Evers, Texas Attorney Shane Bishop decides to hire the least bad candidate, the newly arrived free spirited Phoebe Joy who despite never having worked as a paralegal soon has his office running smoothly but his emotions in upheaval.
18+ for steamy scenes and violence.
Excellent! This book is intense, loving and wonderfully written. I wanted to laugh; I did get tearful; and, I loved the interaction of Phoebe and Shane. The temptation of the easy-to-love Phoebe was too much for the up-tight lawyer Shane so the story-line is not only humorous but one filled with intrigue. Having read the previous books in this series, I might lean toward Phoebe as a favorite. Don’t get mad at me if I have a new hero/heroine in the next book. I can’t seem to stay away from Evers, Texas.
Shane Bishop is as staid and responsible as they come. Taking on too much work and never turning down anyone who asks him for something. What he needs is a new paralegal and Phoebe Joy fills the bill. She becomes a breath of sunshine in his life. Phoebe thinks she isn’t ready for any type of relationship. She needs to work on herself for a while. Unfortunately getting her heart in line with her head is another matter because she’s insanely attracted to Shane. When what was suspected to be a suicide turns into a murder investigation, Phoebe’s life is endangered. Shane needs her in his life for a long time to come and will take whatever steps necessary to make that happen.
It starts out a little slow but doesn’t take long before you are pulled in as Shane finds out the type of women he thought he wanted isn’t his type at all once Phoebe walks into his office. He needs one now and Phoebe is the one in front of him when he needs one the most. Phoebe grabs his attention from the start with her entertaining interview from her resume that kept me laughing to those old boyfriends who doesn’t know what NO means. It is touch and goes if Shane will hire her but once he did he was so very glad. Phoebe takes not only his office but Shane by storm as she puts her outstanding brain to use turning his office into a well oiled machine. These two are total opposites of each other, but they seem to be able to balance each other out, where she needs a little more serious he adds to that, where he needs to learn to let his hair down she is able to pull the fun man underneath, all the starch out. Oh things get pretty serious with their relationship and the murders in the town. I liked the mystery was it murder or was it suicide? It seems Phoebe is getting a little to close to something and that something would love to have her dead. The author gives you a well mixture of suspense, humor, mystery, murder, drama, romance, surprises all mixed around a death along with sorrow, pain, lost of one person death.
Ryan gives you wonderful characters you can relate to. Phoebe father is something else I just loved him as he pulls a few words tricks on Shane. She finds out a few things about her past and why her father did what he did. I loved the humor, uneasiness, as well as the baiting between Phoebe and Shane. Their relationship is fun, but they do mean business when it comes to murder. Phoebe is smart and very intelligent even though she doesn’t seem very smart at first. She is a shaker and really shakes things up for this small town and its people. I really enjoyed all the twists and turns. Phoebe wants stability she has grown up with an over powering father who is bigger than life and always there for her but with him being in the military they moved around a lot and her name hasn’t help her find her place in life. Ryan wants a family and seems kind of a player at first. He has gone through every woman in town looking in all the wrong place and finding the most boring women. With Phoebe, he finds what he is missing and works to making up for lost time. When her father comes in the picture he finds he might need to put up a bigger fight lord that man is scary.
This is a great addition to the series filled with all the things that makes an outstanding read from the humor, mystery, suspense along with the thrills, a few breath stopping moments along with the adventure and the delightful fun romance. It was a book I couldn’t put down, a fun read with a very serious side that holds you spellbound with wonderful twists and turns and a few surprises.
ori Ryan brings us back to Evers Texas with another amazing small town novel with a murder mystery mixed into the story. Shane Bishop is the town lawyer, but he is more than that, is is a friend and confidant to many of the locals. Phoebe, is a new resident of Evers, she recently moved here and is now looking for a job. Since getting a paralegal degree was a back-up plan for a career, Phoebe responds to a job opening at Shane Bishops Law firm.
Phoebe does not have the best track record for dating, she has dated a few of her bosses and had to leave her job when the relationship ended and some of the other guys, she knew deep down they were not the settle down with a wife kind of guy. Shane is a bachelor that no local girl has been able to tie down, even though many have tried. When these two meet there is a powerful connection but….this is her boss/his employee.
This is a well written story with interesting well developed characters. Once you start reading one book from this series, you will want to read them all. None of Lori’s books will disappoint you.
I received a free copy of this book and am volunteering to post a review.
I love all of Lori Ryan’s books. It’s nice to meet old friends from previous books and yet, each book is a stand alone book.
I am a fairly new reader of this author, and decided to try this series. I am glad I did. That said, though it’s a stand alone, I think I would have benefited if I had read the previous books. Characters of previous stories make an appearance and at times I felt I was missing out because I did not know their history.
This story centers around Shane Bishop and Phoebe Joy. He is the one and only lawyer in the town of Evers . Someone everyone respects and looks for advice. He is also a very serious and structured man until he hires Phoebe Joy to be his paralegal. A girl that has been testing different jobs until she decides to settle in Evers and work for Shane.
It’s a sweet romance with a mysterious death of a member of the community thrown in. You will laugh at times and will fall in love with both Shane and Phoebe . But most importantly, it’s a story about the love of family and finding that person that “sees” you.
I was gifted this copy. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Lori Ryan has created a wonderful series in Evers, Texas. Ever’s is a typical small town where everyone seems to know what others are doing & gossip runs rampant. Shane is the only lawyer in town. He’s always been steady & practical & is ready to settle down. He thought he knew what type of woman he wanted but the “sweater sets” are boring him. Then she walked in the door & shook him up. Suddenly things weren’t as steady & predictable as he liked.
Phoebe has been looking for a town to settle down in. She’s felt like she was missing out all her life. Her family consisted of her grandmother, her father & her. She wants a town where everyone looks out for others like a family. She thinks she’s found it in Evers. She’s drawn into the town & its citizens right from the beginning. Why does she have to be attracted to her boss? It’ll jeopardize everything!
This story is a perfect example of a romantic suspense! While Shane & Phoebe are fighting their attraction & trying to navigate their relationship, there has been a death in town. The plot twists & turns & just when you thought it was at its conclusion, it takes off in another direction. I was hooked from the beginning & couldn’t put it down.
Desire and Protect is a wonderful
romance suspense book. It’s part of
the Hero of Evers,Texas series.
The story pulled me in, & kept me reading, wanting to find out what happens next.
Shane & Phoebe’s connection is undeniable. He’s lived a life, he thought he was suppose to. Marry the woman, that
fit that life. That is, till he met Phoebe. Shane realized his life is boring.
Phoebe, has lived her life, the way she wanted to. But, what she wants more than anything, is a husband & family. I loved this book, & thoroughly enjoyed reading it!!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR EVERYONE!!
Shane Bishop wanted a wife, home and family but the women he had dated just didn’t do it for him. Phoebe Joy wanted stability in her life so when she applied for a job at Shane’s law office all kinds of sexy fun started. Also there has been a questionable death in town, which adds a bit of a mystery to this sexy, love story.
Very well written plot with lots of humor, sexiness, and a strong hero and heroine. I felt like I knew them very well right from the beginning of the story. This author has put together a great story with characters that pull you in right from the start. I love getting to visit the Bishop family again and find out what they’ve all been up to. Cade and Bishop’s loyalty to their mother was so moving and the humor between the entire family made this a fun read as well. Some of the best stories are the ones that center on a strong family as well as their strength through hard times in life. I always enjoy catching up with characters from previous books and the connections they have in the newer stories. It is always fun to see what everybody has been up to. I absolutely loved Phoebe’s dad and his interaction with Shane. It made me laugh out loud! Lori Ryan did a great job with this addition to the Evers, Texas Series. I can’t wait for the next one.