Lori Ryan

I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in this series. I wasn’t as engaged with the characters and the villain of the piece was telegraphed so early on that by two-thirds of the way through I found myself muttering, ‘oh, get on with it’. I’m not sure what was lacking. The plot should have generated tension and threat, but I just wasn’t feeling it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a book tour in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

The first book in Lori Ryan’s new Ever, Texas series, Ever Hopeful is an emotionally charged second chance romance with suspense elements, well developed characters, and the reminder to never lose hope. Taking both the reader and her characters on a journey beginning with a smoothly paced plot, Ms. Ryan takes us from Connecticut to Evers, Texas as show more pregnant heroine Laura Kensington attempts to flee her abusive deceased husband’s domineering, and at times frightening, mother for a new life. Taken in by May Bishop, and her family, Laura begins the process of recovering from being an abused wife to a healthy, hopeful and happy adult woman.

Tackling the subject of spousal abuse, with as much realism as an author can while writing a fictional novel, Ms. Ryan reminds us that while leaving an abusive partner behind is the first step in recovery, it’s just the first of many steps a victim has to undergo. Fortunately for Laura, Cade Bishop, May’s son who lives on the family ranch, is just the kind of man an injured woman needs to be around. A gentle man who has spent his lifetime helping rescue neglected animals, Cade slowly helps Laura get accustomed to life on a ranch, the realization that hope is something she’s entitled to and awakens a need for companionship on several levels. Growing closer as they spend time together, Laura and Cade slowly begin to fall in love.

Ms. Ryan does a very good job developing both Laura and Cade’s characters; we watch as Laura goes from being a fearful, traumatized victim to a woman who can stand on her own two feet. Learning to trust and depend on others is a difficult lesson for Laura, but Ms. Ryan handles it in a believable way. Ms. Ryan also gives us Cade’s back story and we learn that while he has grown up and lived a mostly “charmed” life (compared to Laura’s), he has some issues of hiw own. Burned by an ex, Cade has to decide on whether or not he wants to let Laura into his heart and on just how deeply he wants to commit himself to a woman expecting another man’s child. He also has to make sure that his tendency to rescue neglected animals doesn’t get in the way of Laura’s recovery – he can’t confuse his desire to help with giving her the room to learn to say no and to let her stand up for her own rights.

The secondary characters are also well developed and Ms. Ryan does a good job providing a suspenseful situation that will need to be resolved before Laura’s life is truly her own to live. I especially liked May and Shane Bishop, Cade’s mom and older brother, who accepted and helped Laura as she works to rebuild her life. I also enjoyed getting to meet the people of Evers, Texas, a small town with plenty of personality and charm. Ms. Ryan even does a good job developing the villains of the story, and resolving the issues which will get in the way of Laura being able to lead a new life.

Will Laura and Cade realize the feelings they have for each other are more than enough to build a life on? Will Laura want to stay in Evers for the rest of her life? You’ll have to read Ever, Hopeful to find out. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in this series. show less

OMG! Where have I been without knowing about this author? I was intrigued from the very first with Ex-Navy SEAL, Luke Reynolds and his selfness to step up and raise his ten year old niece lost both of her parents and his mom in a car accident. I could see the love zinging through the air when Luke fell hard for the adorable twins almost as it sizzled when he met their mom. I CAN'T WAIT to read the next book!

If readers know anything about Lori's books then they know to hold on tight for a thrilling ride and I loved Chad and Jen's story! Jennifer could never let another man into her heart as it would remain in her dead husband's memory. No one at the company knew about Kyle and she meant to keep that a secret, but when she and Chad were put together to go undercover at a resort in Florida, they never expected to discovery corruption and to douse the flame of their desire for one another! Chad show more knew could see what no one else could in Jennie, and he knew that she was still hurting over the death of her husband four years ago. Even though he tried to remain aloof, Jennie had gotten under his skin and now that their was a target on her back when she discovered a nasty part of the resort's secret he would risk his life to keep her safe even if she could never be his. show less