What do you think?
Rate this book
Cattle Valley #20
To Service and Protect
Book twenty in the Cattle Valley Series Ethan Drake thought he'd left danger behind when he fled to Cattle Valley, but when he starts to hear strange noises late at night, his worst fears come back to haunt him. Despite Ethan's numerous calls to the local sheriff's department, Deputies Brian Allenbrand and Pete Nash are unable to find any indication of foul play. Casual lovers since arriving in Cattle Valley, Brian and Pete draw Ethan into an erotic world he never imagined existed. Caught up in their games, the threesome lose focus on the dangers lurking in the shadows. When the past rears its ugly head the two deputies team up to make sure Ethan is protected at all costs, even if the price is their hearts and their jobs.
109 pages, ebook
First published November 29, 2010
6 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Carol Lynne
251 books1,196 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
erotic & gay romances
erotic & gay romances
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 4, 2011
I didn't really like this one. I enjoyed Ethan in previous books and I suppose I liked him in this one but I didn't like Brian at all and Pete deserved way better.
As with every menage I read, I always feel like there's more of two characters and less of the third one. In this case, while Ethan and Pete spent more time together it was because of Brian's reluctance to come completely clean to his son about his relationship with Ethan and Pete so it put a strain on the three of them resulting in Pete and Ethan spending more time together without Brian. However, while I felt Ethan spent more time with Pete than the three of them together, I felt Brian and his issues along with Ethan and his issues were more the focus of the story than Pete was, which adds to the part where I felt like Pete was left out more than the other two especially with how I felt we didn't get much of Pete's past.
In my eyes, Pete got walked all over by Brian. They had a relationship for how long and Brian only considered Pete a fuck buddy? Then Ethan comes into the picture and Brian claims Ethan deserves better than being a fuck buddy. Like, what the fuck? Pete deserves to be a fuck buddy instead of being a partner? Asshole. I hated Brian. He was a coward who couldn't own up to his responsibility or feelings. Ethan claimed he was a 'good father' but in my eyes, a father that lies to his son about the relationship he's having and sneaks out at night for a booty call is not a good father. It's easy to give a kid a place to stay and feed him, it's not easy to be a good partner unless you work for it.
Needless to say, I didn't like this book. I liked these characters in previous books but I don't like them as a couple. Nothing felt like it was resolved. Yeah, Brian came out to his son finally but what is going to happen next? Pete and Ethan living together separately from Brian just spells problems to me which left the book unfinished, in my opinion.
As with every menage I read, I always feel like there's more of two characters and less of the third one. In this case, while Ethan and Pete spent more time together it was because of Brian's reluctance to come completely clean to his son about his relationship with Ethan and Pete so it put a strain on the three of them resulting in Pete and Ethan spending more time together without Brian. However, while I felt Ethan spent more time with Pete than the three of them together, I felt Brian and his issues along with Ethan and his issues were more the focus of the story than Pete was, which adds to the part where I felt like Pete was left out more than the other two especially with how I felt we didn't get much of Pete's past.
In my eyes, Pete got walked all over by Brian. They had a relationship for how long and Brian only considered Pete a fuck buddy? Then Ethan comes into the picture and Brian claims Ethan deserves better than being a fuck buddy. Like, what the fuck? Pete deserves to be a fuck buddy instead of being a partner? Asshole. I hated Brian. He was a coward who couldn't own up to his responsibility or feelings. Ethan claimed he was a 'good father' but in my eyes, a father that lies to his son about the relationship he's having and sneaks out at night for a booty call is not a good father. It's easy to give a kid a place to stay and feed him, it's not easy to be a good partner unless you work for it.
Needless to say, I didn't like this book. I liked these characters in previous books but I don't like them as a couple. Nothing felt like it was resolved. Yeah, Brian came out to his son finally but what is going to happen next? Pete and Ethan living together separately from Brian just spells problems to me which left the book unfinished, in my opinion.
November 30, 2010
Actually 4.5
I would have liked to have seen more into Pete's life/past.
I would have liked to have seen more into Pete's life/past.
June 17, 2023
Darum geht’s:
Die zwei Polizisten Brian und Pete haben ein heimliches Verhältnis miteinander. Brian möchte seinem Teenagersohn nach dem Tod der Mutter, dem Outing des Vaters als schwul und dem Umzug nach Cattle Valley nicht gleich Papas neuen Freund präsentieren, deshalb treffen sich die beiden nur heimlich. Auf den niedlichen Kellner Ethan haben beide ein Auge geworfen und als Ethan meint, einen unbekannten Stalker zu haben, übernehmen es Pete und Brian persönlich, sich um Ethan zu kümmern.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
Die zwei Polizisten Brian und Pete haben ein heimliches Verhältnis miteinander. Brian möchte seinem Teenagersohn nach dem Tod der Mutter, dem Outing des Vaters als schwul und dem Umzug nach Cattle Valley nicht gleich Papas neuen Freund präsentieren, deshalb treffen sich die beiden nur heimlich. Auf den niedlichen Kellner Ethan haben beide ein Auge geworfen und als Ethan meint, einen unbekannten Stalker zu haben, übernehmen es Pete und Brian persönlich, sich um Ethan zu kümmern.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
August 2, 2011
the first four chapters were so boring i almost stopped reading it. Brian was so boring and his POV was slow
this was pretty much Ethan and Pete with a side of Brian when Brian could make time for them. I did not like this relationship at all. Brian was so jealous of anything Ethan and Pete did without him but he wouldn't do anything so he could be with them more but he wants them not to be together when he is not there? anytime the truth of how he acts is pointed out he gets all pissy and angry and then guilty but never does anything to fix it.
Ethan said it was ok cause Brian "is a dad first, a lover second" and I would have understood that except he was a bad parent. I wont go into too much detail but Brian just sucked.
The whole book he kept saying he would talk to Benny. He never did. Benny had to tell Brian he knew he was sneaking off to be with two guys and thought Brian didn't care about him at all since he was always ignored.
in the end it is still just Ethan and Pete living together and having dinner with Brian a couple times a week.
this was pretty much Ethan and Pete with a side of Brian when Brian could make time for them. I did not like this relationship at all. Brian was so jealous of anything Ethan and Pete did without him but he wouldn't do anything so he could be with them more but he wants them not to be together when he is not there? anytime the truth of how he acts is pointed out he gets all pissy and angry and then guilty but never does anything to fix it.
Ethan said it was ok cause Brian "is a dad first, a lover second" and I would have understood that except he was a bad parent. I wont go into too much detail but Brian just sucked.
The whole book he kept saying he would talk to Benny. He never did. Benny had to tell Brian he knew he was sneaking off to be with two guys and thought Brian didn't care about him at all since he was always ignored.
in the end it is still just Ethan and Pete living together and having dinner with Brian a couple times a week.
January 17, 2011
As lovely as all the other books in this series, this one added the dynamic of a three-way relationship into the mix. It is one of the best explorations of three very different characters coming together and finding their roles that I have read so far. The reasons for each man, what he contributes and what his role is, is made crystal-clear. The fact that there is a large dose of realism means the coming together isn't easy, nor is it purely sexual. While that is one of the driving forces that gets the men interested in the first place, the real challenge and focus is on their personalities, and the emotional baggage some of them have.
Another worthy addition to the Cattle Valley family.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review.
Another worthy addition to the Cattle Valley family.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review.
November 30, 2010
It was one of the more memorable, better Cattle Valley books. I've read them all and the one before this one, Making The Grade, was one of the ones I didn't like so much. In fact when I began to read this, I thought back to Making the Grade and couldn't remember what the story in that one was at first. That's a sign for me that the story wasn't that good for me personally.
Now I've loved many of the Cattle Valley-books, don't get me wrong. I like most of them and I do suggest them regularly to people who I know would enjoy them. They're the kind of books where you know what you're getting when you click your file open. They're short, fluffy, there's a conflict or a few but you can always be sure the said conflict will be solved in the next 50 pages or so. Easy reading. They're not out there to change the world but to provide entertainment and there's nothing wrong with that.
Now To Service and Protect is one of the menage stories in the series. It's not as good as the first book in the series which has Nate, Rio and Ryan as the main characters, but it comes close. I like the added complexity of throwing in Brian's teenaged son Benny (for one I don't think we see enough of the younger people of Cattle Valley normally) and his feelings about his dad being gay after his mom died. The issue is handled with realism, I think, and how it is resolved and Benny's feelings in general are something all parents should think about. The whole giving your child space-thing can go either way and many parents forget that.
As always, the relationship is sparked easily. Sure Brian and Pete's relationship is all but simple, but adding Ethan to it is too easy and resolves a lot of the differences way too easily as well. It's not very realistic, but on the other hand with the page limit of 100 it's difficult to dwell on details like that.
The whole threat from outside towards Ethan is also sort of brushed by. The reasons are barely touched and the way Roy is pulled in is also a bit...half-hearted. Again, this must boil down to the page count, but I still wait for more. Of course if we're nitpicking, one could argue that this book is actually ten-ish pages longer than the previous ones but still.
Anyway, I still have it 4 stars because it is what I paid for. The story is good and the guys are great. I just somehow wanted more of Ethan's back story and even Pete's story was just merely touched. If you like the other Cattle Valley-books, then you'll like this one too, despite the imperfections.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2011
'To Service and Protect' by Carol Lynne is a unique love story framed in mystery and intrigue. Brian, Jay, and Ethan are three men struggling on their own to make sense of their lives. When fate brings them together, the trio learns how to combine their strengths and together find what it takes to make them happy—true love and acceptance.
The first thing that impressed me about the story was how well it flowed. I was able to jump right in and enjoy it without first having to wade through a lot of background information. Carol Lynne's way of fashioning the facts in during the story worked quite well for me. When she described something, a clear image instantly presented itself to my mind. Although the plot was not overly complicated, it surprised me with just enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
Carol Lynne's characters are portrayed with clarity and believability. Considering the story included a menage, I was pleasantly surprised at how tender and considerate the three men were for each other in and out of bed. Their devotion was the key to their success. The physicality in the story is both ardent and explicit; the combination was definitely a turn on. Brian, Ethan and Jay put their all into everything they did, making the tale amorous without being mushy.
'To Service and Protect' would be a good book to perhaps curl up with on a snowy day when you want to relax and be swept into the passionate world of three extremely appealing men and revel with them in their successful, happy ending.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online
The first thing that impressed me about the story was how well it flowed. I was able to jump right in and enjoy it without first having to wade through a lot of background information. Carol Lynne's way of fashioning the facts in during the story worked quite well for me. When she described something, a clear image instantly presented itself to my mind. Although the plot was not overly complicated, it surprised me with just enough twists and turns to keep the story interesting.
Carol Lynne's characters are portrayed with clarity and believability. Considering the story included a menage, I was pleasantly surprised at how tender and considerate the three men were for each other in and out of bed. Their devotion was the key to their success. The physicality in the story is both ardent and explicit; the combination was definitely a turn on. Brian, Ethan and Jay put their all into everything they did, making the tale amorous without being mushy.
'To Service and Protect' would be a good book to perhaps curl up with on a snowy day when you want to relax and be swept into the passionate world of three extremely appealing men and revel with them in their successful, happy ending.
NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online
December 4, 2013
Hopefully we will see their relationship develop as future books come out.
February 21, 2021
A pleasant to read short novella about a threesome relationship that included some hot sexy times.
The angst from Ethan's mystery stalker made for some suspense that kept things interesting. I liked Ethan and Pete and their dynamic together. However, I had absolutely no use for Brian, not a likable guy and a crap father. Even though he was a widower, it was hard to even feel sympathy for him. When he finally steps up to be honest with his son and tell him about his relationship with 2 guys, he didn't even get to do that. The kid already knew and felt ignored by his father. After that, everything was quickly wrapped up for the HEA ending. Hope to see more of Ethan and Pete in future stories.
The angst from Ethan's mystery stalker made for some suspense that kept things interesting. I liked Ethan and Pete and their dynamic together. However, I had absolutely no use for Brian, not a likable guy and a crap father. Even though he was a widower, it was hard to even feel sympathy for him. When he finally steps up to be honest with his son and tell him about his relationship with 2 guys, he didn't even get to do that. The kid already knew and felt ignored by his father. After that, everything was quickly wrapped up for the HEA ending. Hope to see more of Ethan and Pete in future stories.
October 28, 2023
Auch in Band 20 wird es romantisch
Aus Rücksicht auf Brians Sohn halten die beiden Deputys Brian und Pete ihre Beziehung geheim. Und dann gibt es da noch Kellner Ethan, der den beiden ausnehmend gut gefällt.
Ethan ist unsicher und sucht Hilfe, da er befürchtet, beobachtet zu werden. Dadurch kommen sich die drei näher und es entwickelt sich eine etwas ungewöhnliche Liebesgeschichte, die nur durch Brians schwierige Situation mit seinem Sohn getrübt wird.
Aus Rücksicht auf Brians Sohn halten die beiden Deputys Brian und Pete ihre Beziehung geheim. Und dann gibt es da noch Kellner Ethan, der den beiden ausnehmend gut gefällt.
Ethan ist unsicher und sucht Hilfe, da er befürchtet, beobachtet zu werden. Dadurch kommen sich die drei näher und es entwickelt sich eine etwas ungewöhnliche Liebesgeschichte, die nur durch Brians schwierige Situation mit seinem Sohn getrübt wird.
December 11, 2020
Cattle Valley
This ménage story starts of with two of the twins deputies sneaking around but after adding Ethan to the mix it pushes them to be more open, a great addition to the series
This ménage story starts of with two of the twins deputies sneaking around but after adding Ethan to the mix it pushes them to be more open, a great addition to the series
December 14, 2010
This book, for me, settles a lot of lingering threads left over from books previous. The subject of Ethan and his stalker is closed, the uneasy feelings members of the community have over Roy as one of the police deputies is settled, two more of the police deputies, Pete and Brian, settle themselves into a serious relationship and Carol also opens the way for yet another coupling with Benny and Chase (who is leaving for college).
As well written as any of the other Cattle Valley series, again, if you haven't read the books previous, you can pick this one up and just go for it, but the book won't be as fulfilling and you will be left wondering certain things by not being up to speed. It was also nice to have Jay drop in with Erico, and although they said all the right things and made all the right moves, something, to me, felt a little off about those two...we'll have to wait and see.
Although this was definitely a story about Ethan, Pete and Brian, it also felt like a bridging novel, closing certain chapters in Cattle Valley life to open new ones as the next lot of stories unfolds. It will be interesting to see where things go in #21. Nx
As well written as any of the other Cattle Valley series, again, if you haven't read the books previous, you can pick this one up and just go for it, but the book won't be as fulfilling and you will be left wondering certain things by not being up to speed. It was also nice to have Jay drop in with Erico, and although they said all the right things and made all the right moves, something, to me, felt a little off about those two...we'll have to wait and see.
Although this was definitely a story about Ethan, Pete and Brian, it also felt like a bridging novel, closing certain chapters in Cattle Valley life to open new ones as the next lot of stories unfolds. It will be interesting to see where things go in #21. Nx
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2013
Contemporary M/M romance about a small town that is big on tolerance and acceptance. Threesome story (M/M/M) about men looking for something more then just sex. Pete and Brian are Deputies at the local police force in Cattle Valley and have secretly been seeing each other for about ten months. Brian has a 16 year old son from his previous marriage with a woman and has come out as gay to his son, but hides his relationship with Pete because his son Benny is having lots of problems so he doesn't want to add to it. Pete has just about had enough of being Brian's dirty secret when he takes a chance with Ethan Drake who works in the Mayor's office and nights at O'Brian the pub in town. Ethan is smaller and slimmer then the big tall beefy Deputies, but he fits into a threesome like missing pieces of a puzzle.
They fall in love really quick, but they have all been single for some time before so they were probably just ready for a long-term relationship. The story is pushed forward with a mystery of Ethan's stalker with some surprises if you know more of the people from Cattle Valley.
2 stars
They fall in love really quick, but they have all been single for some time before so they were probably just ready for a long-term relationship. The story is pushed forward with a mystery of Ethan's stalker with some surprises if you know more of the people from Cattle Valley.
2 stars
December 9, 2013
Brian irritated me the entire story and then when it's finally revealed why his son is acting funny, I didn't buy it. Pete doesn't really like to bottom but he's made exceptions to be with Brian. But in this threesome, he'll always be a bottom to Brian. I wished the author would have changed things up a bit. So many sexual possibilities and we only get Pete being the sandwich?? And why was the scene with Brian topping Ethan off page?
Now as for the villain. Sorry ass villain.
I wanted to see more interactions with the three guys and Benny. I don't see good things in the future for this threesome.
Now as for the villain. Sorry ass villain.
I wanted to see more interactions with the three guys and Benny. I don't see good things in the future for this threesome.
February 2, 2013
Pete and Brian have an arrangement with each other that neither one of them are really satisfied with, but because of Brian's son Benny, he feels the need to sneak around and not flaunt his sexuality. When the two of them become incredibly attracted to Ethan and start to see him also, it makes for some pretty hot threesome action but Brian is still not ready to be truthful with his son.
Pete has a hard time accepting this as he knows Brian loves him but he's not happy sitting on the backburner anymore. Ethan is a lot more understanding than Pete but Brian becomes afraid of being left behind when Ethan and Pete take their relationship to the next level.
Ethan has a stalker and both of his cops are trying to save him but neither one of them know who is causing the problems. As things come to a head with the stalker and with Brian's son, will it be enough to keep from tearing this trio apart... read and find out! I loved this book!
Pete has a hard time accepting this as he knows Brian loves him but he's not happy sitting on the backburner anymore. Ethan is a lot more understanding than Pete but Brian becomes afraid of being left behind when Ethan and Pete take their relationship to the next level.
Ethan has a stalker and both of his cops are trying to save him but neither one of them know who is causing the problems. As things come to a head with the stalker and with Brian's son, will it be enough to keep from tearing this trio apart... read and find out! I loved this book!
August 6, 2011
I'll give this 3 for Pete and Ethan, but Brian really doesn't deserve any. He is thoughtless and just didn't work for me. You move your child to cattle valley, away from everything he's ever known after his mom dies in order for it to be easier for him to accept you being gay, and then you act as if who you are is something to be ashamed of, thus making your lovers feel they are your dirty little secret. Not good. I actually wanted Pete to kick him to the curb and I was glad Pete didn't give up on Ethan.
April 13, 2016
I don't usually like MMM at all, but some how Carol Lynne got me into Ryan, Rico and Nate, so I thought I'd give these ones a chance... I really liked this whole series... I totally saw the Roy thing coming from the beginning and I didn't really like that Brian couldn't make time for Pete when it was just the two of them; even though he saw how badly it was hurting Pete but when Ethan came into the picture and he ran the risk of losing Pete, he had all the time in the world for them... that made me sad for Pete.. still loved the series though!
On to the next!
On to the next!
February 15, 2011
No surprise here about who was the bad guy. The fact that it's book 20 and that even if Roy Jenkins was there since the first one and that he didn't have his own story make it pretty obvious too. I love Ethan and Pete, have a little difficulty with Brian, but I try to understand what's it to a parents to be afraid or deceiving their child (mines only four I have time loll). I love these three together and I'm glad that they have their HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2011
2.5 stars
This was an improvement, but not by much. Since it was another short story, what began as a complicated relationship between to law enforcement officers ended in a complicated 3-way relationship. The major issue was due to a partner being a widowed father with a 16 yr. old son and the fear of exposing a relationship the father has with not 1, but 2 men. I wish the story was not so rushed and would have wanted to see how the partners handled the issue better.
This was an improvement, but not by much. Since it was another short story, what began as a complicated relationship between to law enforcement officers ended in a complicated 3-way relationship. The major issue was due to a partner being a widowed father with a 16 yr. old son and the fear of exposing a relationship the father has with not 1, but 2 men. I wish the story was not so rushed and would have wanted to see how the partners handled the issue better.
July 22, 2011
I don't normally enjoy menage stories but I have enjoyed all of the ones written by Carol Lynne. She has quickly become one of my favorite writers. This book was a wonderful read. I really enjoyed Brian's conflict, how it affected the trio, and how it was finally resolved. I also enjoyed how the external conflict was used to bring the guys together and strengthen the bond between the lovers. Love the series!
March 9, 2015
Maybe it's the fact that I've read in-depth menage love stories, but these novella length ones don't really get my chicken kickin'. There just isn't enough there. We're supposed to believe that all three of these guys suddenly feel something for the other two...instalove is hard enough to pull off between two MC's, trying to make it work with three is just asking for trouble.
Or low ratings.
Or low ratings.
January 2, 2011
I must admit to a soft spot for threesomes in this series. I really wanted to read Ethan's story and am glad this one worked out the way it did.
May 27, 2014
3.75 to 4 stars
August 7, 2013
Liked that fact that Ethan got his book. Loved Pete and Brian's relationship and the involvement of raising a son and coming out to him
November 12, 2013
I love visiting Cattle Valley, and I really enjoyed this particular visit. I've been waiting for Ethan to get a story, and the author didn't disappoint me with this one.
April 19, 2014
Lotas of drama in this one!
June 13, 2014
WOWSER!!!!!! Love this threesome, and of course Benny.
December 27, 2014
Книга чудесная
, но вот с Брайаном не доконца решилась проблема на мой взгляд. Так он и не стал полноценным третьим
, но вот с Брайаном не доконца решилась проблема на мой взгляд. Так он и не стал полноценным третьим
August 30, 2011
3,5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews