Love is a risk… and might not be worth the heartache.Sophie Bayles ran from Baytown and the boy she loved when her brother’s death devasted her world.Callan Ward was back in Baytown, stationed to the Coast Guard unit, but there was only one thing missing…Sophie.Sophie jumps at the chance to return to Baytown for a temporary job, but discovered that in trying to guard her heart, she had only cut … her heart, she had only cut herself off from true love.
As she and Callan grow closer, discovering their feelings had not changed, she stumbles into suspicious activity near her work.
Promising to guard her heart, Callan and his friends work to make sure Sophie is safe before someone decides to quiet her permanently.
Baytown Boys…
Military duty called them away to war zones, but after tours overseas, the group of friends found their way back home as men, seeking the peaceful little seaside town. Now, the band of brothers, together once more, work to provide a place for less fortunate veterans to call home.
Language and scenes are similar to what you would find in an R-rated movie. 18+ readers only.
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Sophie Bayles had her whole life changed when her brother was killed. And in order to guard her heart from any future pain, she made the choice to not only cut Callan Ward out of her life but to leave their hometown behind. 10 years later, she makes the decision to come home for a job. And to try to figure out how to move on with her life while finally dealing with her brother’s death. Callan is stationed with the Coast Guard in Baytown. And he has a decision to make on whether to reenlist or to leave and follow a different career path in order to stay closer to home. And when Sophie comes home, he wants to reconnect with the one woman he truly thought could hold his heart. And now he has that chance.
This book has some very emotional moments. Sophie, Callan, and their friends and families went through something completely heart breaking and emotionally trying. And it definitely changed them in ways that no one would be expecting in their lives. But I absolutely loved it. Sophie is this woman who has so many things that she has never dealt with. And reading about her finally doing so? It was heart breaking. Callan is this beyond strong man who will always stand by the people he loves, even to the point where you wonder how much he will get hurt in the process. But reading about them finding their way back to each other is a beautiful thing. Especially with some of the things that are alluded to towards the end. It definitely made me cry in spots and I wouldn’t change a thing with it! Another win by this great author!
Guarding Your Heart is a second chance romance that is a little lighter on the suspense than many of this author’s stories. It is a more emotional story that highlights everything having a time and place. And there is always hope that there will be a time for love for Sophie and Callan.
“She was no longer a grief-ridden, scared eighteen-year-old. Ten years was a long time for both of them to mature. So maybe where we are now gives us a new chance.”
I got teary reading the growing up scenes especially knowing some things that happen from reading the other books in this series. This book was definitely high on the emotional scale for me and I loved that about it.
“Everything you have and everything you are, I like, Callan. In fact, I’ve liked you for as long as I can remember.”
I love reading these Baytown stories and getting little catch up tidbits about all the characters who have been featured in previous Baytown books and maybe some hints of who we might meet in future stories.
-5 Stars!-
Returning home is never easy especially when she left because the memories were too much to bare yet Sophie finds herself doing just that. Older, wiser and ready to return home Sophie runs into the one person she regrets leaving behind, Callan. Callan is back and ready to put down roots but the only thing missing is Sophie, lucky for him she is returning but as their feeling grow a danger lurks that forces Callan to keep Sophie safe and his forever. Another great Baytown Boy H to love, thank you MJ.
Another five star read from Maryann Jordan.
You never ever forget your first love. You never forget the boy who your heart was attached to. You never forget the way he looked at you. But when tragedy happens sometimes love doesn’t help mend the heart.
For Sophie losing her big brother was absolutely heartbreaking so she guarded her heart and left Baytown. Not wanting to get her heart broken again she left and stayed away for 10 years. Never forgetting the boy she had left behind.
Callan has never forgotten his first love, Sophie. There isn’t a day that goes by the he didn’t think of her. As chance would have it Sophie is now back in Baytown and this is the chance that Callan has waited for. He only wants to guard her heart.
As a mystery unfolds and their relationship blooms Callan and Sophie reunite. We follow as these two learn about each other as adults, as they make their way to their happily ever after.
Highly recommended.
*I was give this advanced copy by the author/publisher in exchange for my honest and voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
I am in love with this series and the Baytown Boys. I feel like I know the characters, you feel the joy and the pain. You get to catch up with past characters with each new book. Even though they all grew up and moved on with their lives eventually, one by one, they came back home to Baytown, started families and that closeness from their childhood still exists. Makes you wish for this kind of community for yourself and a hot alpha male too. This is just a great series and highly recommend losing yourself in it.
Be warned, don’t read this in public as you never know when a tear will appear. This story started in the characters’ childhood until the main story kicked in during adulthood. Childhood crush…can it become love? Will life and death stand in their way?
Sophie and Callan were wonderful characters, I was waiting for them to come full circle. Both needed to grief, move on and experience life.
I was hooked from the beginning to the end. Absolutely loved it.
I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy of Guarding Your Heart . This is a fantastic story . It’s just a beautiful and emotional story . This is Sophie and Callen’s story . Sophie’s brother Philip is the Baytown boy that was killed serving his country . His death shook the very foundation and Sophie left Baytown and Callen behind . Years later both back in Baytown their feelings still there and their relationship reignites . Danger lays around the corner for Sophie who has stumbled across a crime . This my be my new favorite Baytown story all though I love the entire series . The characters are fabulous . This is a wonderfully beautiful and outstanding story . I highly recommend taking the time to read and enjoy .
Another great story in the Baytown Boys series! I loved reading about Sophie and Callan. This book was an absolute tear jerker from beginning to end. This is my favorite so far. There is the intrigue i have grown to expect from this series, but it is more of an emotional journey through love and grief, then finding that love once again. I highly recommend this book!
Whenever I read a book by this talented author, I know that I am in for a treat. This one exceeded my expectations and I truly believe it’s one of the best in the series. A series that centers around a group of honorable men, who left town to serve their country and discover the world, a returning home realizing there was no place like Baytown.
The story of Sophie Bayles and Callan Ward began when they were children. Kids that were close friends and Sophie, being the youngest, was usually trailing far behind. But her older brother’s best friend, a young boy by the name of Callan, was always kind to her. As they got older they were sweethearts but when a devastation turns their lives upside down, Sophie leaves only to return 10 years later.
The story is at times heartbreaking , so have your tissues ready. It’s filled not only with the possibility of second chances, but also with suspense , whodunit, as well as an interesting view of fishing and the black market.
Will Callan and Sophie get their HEA, or will fear as well as outside forces keep them apart?
in addition to a wonderful story, we get a chance to see how characters from previous stories are doing.
Hoping that Jason gets his story as well.
I was entrusted a copy of this book. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Baytown is the place you want to live with friends you want to have. Ms Jordan makes you really feel like you know all the characters in the book.
This story is an emotional, second chance romance with a touch of suspense
A terrific read
This is part of a series, however, each book can definitely be read as a stand-alone
I received an author’s copy and have left an honest review
Guarding Your Heart
Maryann Jordan
You need to have a box of Kleenex handy when you read it. It pulls at your heartstrings and won’t let you put it down. After such a tragic loss will Callan and Sophie ever be able to get in a happy place? One of the best Baytown Boys yet. Add a touch of suspense and and it’s definitely a winner.
An honest to goodness 2nd chance love story centered around a grief stricken young lady who returns home to find that her 1st love is what brings the light back into her life but with it comes hazards that he truly hopes he can protect her from. Loved it!!