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A Promise to Protect
(Men of Valor #1)
by
Navy SEAL Matt Waterstone knows about keeping people safe. When his best friend's sister is attacked, Matt promises no harm will come to Ashley Sawyer—not on his watch. But Matt's not the only protective one. Ashley will do anything to safeguard the residents of the battered women's shelter she runs. She's sure she can handle the threats she gets in return. What she can't
...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
November 27th 2012
by Love Inspired
(first published January 1st 2012)
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3.5 stars
An easy read, though several times I felt like I didn't quite believe what was going on. I definitely feel like her more recent writing is more polished, but I enjoyed it anyway. ...more
An easy read, though several times I felt like I didn't quite believe what was going on. I definitely feel like her more recent writing is more polished, but I enjoyed it anyway. ...more

I always enjoy a story when it features SEALs, so I was pretty sure I'd like this...as long as it wasn't corny, as some can be. I thought the author did a great job of showing the toughness of SEALs and also their kind caring side. Tristan, Ashley's brother, was a great character and I'm looking forward to reading his story in
SEAL Under Siege
. If you like suspense stories featuring SEALs you should enjoy this story too.
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This book started off with Ashley talking to her brother Tristan on her cell phone before he left on a Seal mission. During the conversation someone almost ran Ashley over. Over protective brother called his best friend Matt to visit Ashley and find out who was behind Ashley’s near miss. The threats continued, and Matt was there to help Ashley. There was more friendship in this book than romance. Both Ashley and Matt both had things they had to work out before they could get together. Matt grew
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Another wonderful book by Liz Johnson! This author really knows how to write books that I love to read! I first met these two main characters when I read SEAL Under Siege (which actually comes after A Promise to Protect). I enjoyed that book so much that I knew I needed to read this one, too, and see how they got together!
The hero of A Promise to Protect is Matt Waterstone, a Navy SEAL. He is obviously a strong male lead, but the author is also able to write him as a strong character who has vul ...more
The hero of A Promise to Protect is Matt Waterstone, a Navy SEAL. He is obviously a strong male lead, but the author is also able to write him as a strong character who has vul ...more

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/RNA5E5VH...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
A Promise to Protect was a great read! I liked it from the beginning and the book just kept continuing to get better as I read! I loved the characters - especially Matt, although Ashley and her brother Tristan were also favorites. I particularly liked how protective Tristan was and found myself chuckling a few times from things he did. ;)
The mystery was very good. I actually didn' ...more
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...
A Promise to Protect was a great read! I liked it from the beginning and the book just kept continuing to get better as I read! I loved the characters - especially Matt, although Ashley and her brother Tristan were also favorites. I particularly liked how protective Tristan was and found myself chuckling a few times from things he did. ;)
The mystery was very good. I actually didn' ...more

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson is a story about a who woman is attacked and stalked by an unknown assailant. Ashley Sawyer runs a shelter for abused women and she is devoted to what she does. When someone attacks her, her brother's friend Matt, takes it upon himself to protect her and try to find out who is after her. In the process he starts to fall for her but thinks that her brother will not find him good enough for Ashley so he keeps his growing feelings to himself. He made a promise to
...more

Perfect! Liz Johnson sure knows how to keep me on the edge of my seat while developing a sizzling romance. Matt is my kind of hero--kind, protective, and not over-bearing. I found Ashley very relatable and sympathetic. I wanted her to fall for Matt and keep her "girls" safe.
The twists and turns kept the pace lively, and I got teary-eyed a few times toward the end. When I did read the final words, I sighed and smiled, satisfied with the way everything turned out. I'll be reading more by this tal ...more
The twists and turns kept the pace lively, and I got teary-eyed a few times toward the end. When I did read the final words, I sighed and smiled, satisfied with the way everything turned out. I'll be reading more by this tal ...more

This is not something, I would normally read, as it is from the Love Inspired Suspense line, and I am not religious. But for some reason, Mills & Boon (who publish Harlequin's catalogue here in Austalia) like to throw a couple of Love Inspired book into the Intrigue line every now and then, meaning those of us who subscribe to it don't actually get the Intrigue books we think we're paying for. But anyway....
Matt Waterstone is a SEAL recovering from a minor leg injury and he's asked by best buddy ...more
Matt Waterstone is a SEAL recovering from a minor leg injury and he's asked by best buddy ...more

"Tristan is the closest thing I have to a brother. He's worried about you, and so am I. Let me help."
Fear flicked through Ashley's eyes as she whispered, "Someone almost ran me over."
"Tristan said something about a letter," Matt pressed.
Ashley nodded. "When I got home that day, there was an anonymous note saying that someone wanted hsi property back."
His gut clenched. What kind of jerk threatened a bettered women's shelter? "Listen, I'm in town for a few days. Let me look into things."
She smile ...more
Fear flicked through Ashley's eyes as she whispered, "Someone almost ran me over."
"Tristan said something about a letter," Matt pressed.
Ashley nodded. "When I got home that day, there was an anonymous note saying that someone wanted hsi property back."
His gut clenched. What kind of jerk threatened a bettered women's shelter? "Listen, I'm in town for a few days. Let me look into things."
She smile ...more

I've read two of Liz Johnson's other novels before, and I have to say that each new one I read is so much better than the last. Given how good the first one was this last one was excellent. The story was exciting and emotional. Trying to protect women in a shelter has to be a difficult enough job, but add in the fact that one of the women was saved from something much darker than an abusive partner and it makes the job of protecting these women and their children that much more difficult - and d
...more

Title: A PROMISE TO PROTECT
Author: Liz Johnson
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
December 2012
ISBN: 978-0-373-44518-9
Genre: Romantic suspense
Ashley Sawyer manages a battered women’s shelter, and she’s used to threatening notes from the ex-husbands, ex-boyfriends, or soon-to-be exes. But she is not used to someone trying to run her over, bashing her windshield on her car in, and demanding his property be put back where she found it. The local police are no help. The threats are too vague, and it mi ...more
Author: Liz Johnson
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
December 2012
ISBN: 978-0-373-44518-9
Genre: Romantic suspense
Ashley Sawyer manages a battered women’s shelter, and she’s used to threatening notes from the ex-husbands, ex-boyfriends, or soon-to-be exes. But she is not used to someone trying to run her over, bashing her windshield on her car in, and demanding his property be put back where she found it. The local police are no help. The threats are too vague, and it mi ...more

I enjoy Liz Johnson's books a lot. She tells well-crafted tales that keep you guessing with a perfect amount of faith and God included. The storyline and characters seem real and relatable. The story moves quickly making the book hard to put down. Very real story of battered women and human trafficking which apparently happens more than people realize. Loved the protectiveness of both Matt and Tristian. I can relate to the desire of Ashley to be strong on her own and her understanding that the b
...more

If there is one author that comes to mind when someone needs a recommendation for Inspirational Romance, Liz Johnson is usually the one I mention.
Each character in this story compliments the other in such a good way that it pushes this story into great. I loved Matt in this story. He was the perfect hero for Ashley. Each book that this author writes, gets better in the character department each time. Her writing is growing and the story proves it.
Suspense is also great in this book. It flowed a ...more
Each character in this story compliments the other in such a good way that it pushes this story into great. I loved Matt in this story. He was the perfect hero for Ashley. Each book that this author writes, gets better in the character department each time. Her writing is growing and the story proves it.
Suspense is also great in this book. It flowed a ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Loved this story. Human trafficking stories are always tragic. I enjoyed watching the development of a relationship between Matthew and Ashley. Though they have known and loved each other for years, they don't know they love each other and that there is any chance of a relationship between them. Ashley trusts no man and wants to keep it that way. But Matt just stays under her skin and she can't shake what is there.
...more
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When I first opened the envelope, I was uncertain about this book as it's published by Harlequin but since the book was also promoted as Inspirational I decided to give it a chance and I'm glad I did. A Promise to Protect is part of the Love Inspired Suspense line and it's truly both. The love story was clean cut but touching and the suspense kept me wanting to read more. This is not the same Harlequin of the 80s.
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i won this book on goodreads and i did enjoy it very much. i thought the plot kept my intrest and i realy did care about the charecters and rooted for the best outcome. it was a quick read, it only took me a few hours. which was good as i like that kind of book when i am between larger novels. if you pick this book up you will not be dissapointed.

So sweet
This book is good. It's a good story with a little bit of a social message but done very well. Loved Ashley and Matt. Both are wonderful compelling characters. I couldn't but the book down. ...more
This book is good. It's a good story with a little bit of a social message but done very well. Loved Ashley and Matt. Both are wonderful compelling characters. I couldn't but the book down. ...more

I love these Christian romance novels. They're not amazing literature and they're not supposed to be. They're great stories that include faith, which is a big deal to me.
...more

Another great mystery romance with the navy seals by Liz Johnson. This time with Matt as the designated protector of Tristan's sister Ashley as they try to stay one step ahead of human traffickers.
...more

A Promise to Protect by Liz Johnson #1 Men of Valor series
Genre: Suspense, Christian Romance,
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: More or less current day
Location: Charity Way, northern California
Characters:
Ashley Sawyer: Single woman in charge of battered women’s shelter
Matt Waterstone: Navy Seal, best friend of Ashley’s brother, Tristan
Tristan Sawyer: Navy Seal, on a mission in the Middle East
Because of an injury he sustained saving his best friend Tristan's life, Matt Waterstone is in physical therapy ...more
Genre: Suspense, Christian Romance,
Format: Kindle
Timeframe: More or less current day
Location: Charity Way, northern California
Characters:
Ashley Sawyer: Single woman in charge of battered women’s shelter
Matt Waterstone: Navy Seal, best friend of Ashley’s brother, Tristan
Tristan Sawyer: Navy Seal, on a mission in the Middle East
Because of an injury he sustained saving his best friend Tristan's life, Matt Waterstone is in physical therapy ...more
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