Thanks for providing a review copy, I was not able to read this one. So I will not be leaving a review on social media at this time.

After reading the first 4 or 5 chapters I found the story to be pretty predictable. I thought the the main characters only seemed to constantly thinking about their feelings for each other. This is supposed to be historical fiction but the characters seemed to talk like they are in modern day. I also thought the characters seemed to always find themselves in a variety of unrealistic situations. I got tired of having to constantly reading how Thomas's buddies during the war were the best men who had ever lived, mentioning it once or twice would have been enough but 20 times or more is just way to much. The story didn't flow very well since the story was always going back and forth between the current story line and Thomas's war flashbacks.

Yay for another compelling read from Ms Gray! As always, she well mixes the lighter romantic undertones with more meaty topics of the worth and (right) manhood and womanhood.

Laurel Tracey is overwhelmed with responsibilities of running a ranch, while her half-siblings are hurting her self-esteem with their sneers. But is freeing a prisoner for his ranch services for a year a good solution of her troubles?
It is, when we know this soldier is one of beloved 1865 Johnson’s Island prisoner brotherhood. Yet Thomas Baker does not believe himself being worthy of anything good, come beautiful, good woman like Laurel.

Yay for these guys! Sergeant Thomas Baker, Captain Monroe, Major Ethan Kelly, Lieutenant Robert Truax, and Lieutenant Phillip Markham are very fine guys and their promise stands the test of time again and again. And they are hot, to be honest. This is one of the appeals of this series - manly men, because they are rare to be seen these days (and I well know that literary "boyfriends" are unrealistic, because they are written by a woman for women, like we dream them to be). Yet, there is this very real charm about them and I enjoy reading about these guys much.
Hot-headed Thomas using his big mouth and fast fists too much for his own good might not see his place among these dandy, educated officers, yet they recognize the man's heart under his rough facade. As does Laurel with her good instincts and kind heart.

While this book seems a bit lighter than the other ones by Ms Gray (hence the 4 stars), still it is a very catchy novel full of swoonworthy guys, lovely romance and some interesting questions laying down in hearts of people of any times. Very pleasant read indeed!

I really enjoyed Thomas and Laurel's perspective in this book. There are some flashbacks to times when Thomas was in the POW camp with the other officers that became his brothers, which I appreciated as it solidified their bond and provided insight into Thomas' past and how he has changed over time. He's pretty matter of fact about the trials of his life and how they served him well by preparing him for the war. I was impressed by the way he turned to faith for a source of comfort in his turbulent life. Laurel is so sweet and a bit naive, but she also has grit and determination. I enjoyed reading as the two of them fight to save her ranch from the vandals. The villain was predictable and two-dimensional, and the climax with the take down was rather anti-climactic. The development of the story focused more on the relationship and chemistry between Thomas and Laurel, and I was just fine with that ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

I have reviewed this book on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble and CBD but didn't realize I needed to do it here. In the future I will try to post links.

I loved reading “An Uncommon Protector” by Shelley Shepard Gray. Taking place after the Civil War, Laurel Tracey is trying to run her family’s ranch by herself, which is nearly impossible. Hearing that some men are prisoners because of unpaid debts, and are being sold on the auction block; Laurel decides that this is her salvation. One man in particular catches her eye. A former soldier, Thomas, is in trouble because he can’t come up with money to pay his fines and may end up in prison for quite a while. Against the advice of her attorney, the sheriff, and others, she decides that he is the one to help her.

Thomas is a very nice man in a bad situation. He is alone on the ranch with his boss, and the townspeople aren’t very accepting of that. He is trustworthy and honest and very solicitous of Laurel’s standing in the community. After attempts are made against her on the ranch, such as cattle missing, property damaged, he and she combine efforts to make sure that the ranch survives. What happens as a result may be inevitable, but the path to that result is attention-grabbing. I liked this story very much.

An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray is all about trust in the time of hardship. Laurel is a widow who needs help and protection on her ranch. Thomas is a prisoner who longs to be free. Desperate to save her ranch, Laurel uses the last of her money to pay Thomas’ fines and he agrees to work for her for one year. More trouble soon finds them and they must struggle against current issues as well as deal with past hurts – together.

I had the pleasure of reviewing book #1 in the “A Lone Star Hero’s Love Story” series as well and this just continues the wonderful story of a group of soldiers imprisoned together during the Civil War. I do love a good underdog story and Laurel and Thomas both qualify. Thomas is thrown into jail for fines he can’t pay but he is a good-hearted man who suffered greatly during the war. Laurel is fighting to save what she has left of her life and stop squatters determined to live on her land. This story is full of emotion and life-like characters, which made me feel invested in the story from start to finish.

I would recommend An Uncommon Protector to anyone who loves the post-war Reconstruction Era and a good love story! I received a copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of giving an honest review.

Set in the time period following the Civil War, An Uncommon Protector is an imaginative and interesting story of a young woman trying to hold her ranch together. Laurel Tracey hires Thomas Baker, who has been in jail, to help her with the farm and protect her from squatters and others who are threatening her safety. The characters are interesting and engaging, and the story kept my interest throughout. Themes of trust and faith are woven into the story and add depth and inspiration to it. I will definitely be reading more of Shelley Shepard Gray’s books.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray is a marvellous Christian historical romance, set in the aftermath of the American Civil war. I absolutely loved it.
War changes people - for better or for worse. Bonds of brothers formed in hardship, persist in peacetime, united by shared memories and promises. Women and children suffered. Men did unthinkable things. Some people still believed in goodness. "She still believed in goodness in the world, even though she had survived a war."
War can make or break people, freeing them from their past. In times of crisis, men turned to God. "I realise how much they have to be thankful for and they count their blessings.
Conflicts continue to rage even though war has ended. Greed drives men forwards, when really they should be thankful for all they have.
There is the theme of loss. Characters who have lost their whole families still have a drive to survive. God promises to repay the years the locusts have taken.
War leaves scars. Some are visible, others are hidden deep inside.
There is a wonderful air of love and care that pervades the novel. Whilst some will let us down, others will always have our backs.
Kindness is over the whole novel. The leading lady is kindness personified. If she can alleviate suffering with a kind word or action, she will. Shelley Shepard Gray has drawn wonderful characters once again. Her heroine is a mixture of strong yet vulnerable. In her kindness, she will not suffer fools gladly. Likewise, the leading man is a mixture too. His past has made him self reliant and reluctant to let others in. His past has also made him the caring man, the reader sees. The pair have a wonderful volley of dialogue backwards and forwards.
I always adore Shelley Shepard Gray's novels and An Uncommon Protector is one of her finest. For a real treat - buy it and read it today.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Laurel Tracey is concerned. Trying to run a two hundred acre ranch by herself is more than she can handle. Her step siblings are no help at all and treat her really bad. And now she's having problems with squatters. Laurel's neighbor (whom she's known along time) would be more than happy to marry her and add her land to his, but she's not comfortable with that idea. The Sheriff, wanting to help Laurel, sends some of the prisoners out to work on her fence. She's finds herself intrigued with Thomas Baker. A prisoner that's a bit scary yet also a gentleman. She overhears that he could be free the next day if there's a buyer when they auctioned him off. Feeling like she's willing to take a chance, she gathers the last of her money and buys Thomas Baker's freedom. In exchange, he agrees to work for Laurel for one year. Thomas is totally taken with this woman who is so strong yet so tender-hearted. He knows there could never be anything between them, but he's vowed to protect her with his life, if necessary. The attraction between Laurel and Thomas is strong but Thomas knows it's in both their best interest if he keeps his distance. That becomes next to impossible when their lives are on the line. When things begin happening that Thomas feels he just can't safely handle on his own, he calls on his former soldier friends for help. And they always abide by the promise they made years ago.

Another great story! Loved getting to know Thomas and Laurel. They were really good characters. The story's opening was a little slow for me but it did lay the ground work for what was to come. Throughout the story you get glimpses (with flashbacks) of the relationship Thomas had with his fellow POWs and the reason they are always there for each other. I loved their comradery and how they interacted together. I also appreciated how Thomas was with Laurel. Kind, sweet and gentle. The idea of maintaining your faith in the Lord even in difficult circumstances shined through and was encouraging to the reader. Overall this was a good story and a good addition to the series. You could read it as a stand alone but there is the thread of friendship running through each story which is why I would recommend reading them in order. Now, I look forward to Love Held Captive!

*This complimentary copy was provided by Zondervan through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Some favorite moments:

Men didn't go around saying such things to gently bred women. They most certainly did not speak of the female form and attributes in mixed company....Of course, if he was being completely truthful, he didn't deserve all the blame. The problem was partly Miss Laurel's doing. The Lord had been generous with his gifts to her. Actually, she had a whole plethora of attributes that most of the male population would find difficult to ignore.

Most of the time he'd been given only the leftovers, what no one else wanted. His only exception had been his relationships with the other men in Captain Monroe's unit. Those were the best men he'd ever met, and he'd felt as if the Lord had given him those men's regard as a gift for all that he'd endured in his lifetime.

Johnson's Island had one thing Thomas was fond of, and that was lightning bugs. He spent a great many hours watching their flickering lights dance across the camp and light up over the calm waters as though they were stars falling from the sky. Their dancing and darting had become a source of hope for him. Thomas liked to think their appearance in his life was a sign from God, a reminder that good could be found anywhere and at any time. One just needed to have his eyes open and be watchful.

If your interested in more information about this book or other books by this author I recommend you visit her website at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com

What an intriguing story. The tension between the two characters is tight. There is an initial attraction that they both try to fight but you know they will give in eventually. The question is when and how will it happen?

This is the second book in this series but you will be able to read this as a stand-alone if you choose and not feel lost at all.

It was great to meet with Thomas and be reminded of characters from the previous book. I couldn't help but wonder whose story we would get to hear next.

I loved the romance, the post-war ear and the mystery surrounding this book. There is something on every page that will keep you turning until the end.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own.

Another great book by Shelley. Her writing will keep you wanting to read more.

This book is a second in a series, but can be read as a stand alone. I have not read the first, and completely enjoyed and understood this one. Now that I know some of the backstory and characters, I really want to read the first book.
This book takes place in Texas after the Civil War. Many women are widows and fatherless, Laurel falls into this category. She is trying to keep her family ranch up and running while finding a lot of opposition. Her step-siblings are leeches and want her to sell so they can have fund, there are other ranchers trying to get hold of the property. She is a strong and determined young lady who sees an opportunity to hire and ex-convict to help her run off the unsavory characters around her.

Fortunately for her, the ex-convict is a man of integrity. He hasn't lived a perfect life and has emotional as well as physical scars. From the moment they meet, there is a spark that neither is willing to act upon. Both care more about the other than they do themselves.

This book has some violence, and kissing.

Love the writings of Shelley Shepard Gray...this novel does not disappoint. A beautiful story.

When Laurel Tracey inherits her father's ranch, she also inherits her step sister and step brother. Having lost their own inheritance, they now set their sites on Laurel's. Instead of helping her, they are leeches and are pushing her to sell. But Lauren is determined to hold on to her legacy. Even worse, squatters have set up their shacks, threatening to claim the land for themselves.

She soon learns that she can acquire a convict to work on her land for one year. Although wary, she knows this is her only choice to run her ranch profitably. The convict she chooses Sergeant Thomas Baker.

Thomas had a rough life, but had a penchant for doing the right thing. One mistake, a gambling debt, landed him in jail. When he learned he could work off his jail sentence by helping Laurel, he jumped at the chance. Soon after he takes on his duties, Laurel's cattle begins to mysteriously turn up dead - a definite threat. He calls on the aid of a group of long lost military friends who come from various distances to aid him in helping save Laurel's ranch.

I loved this story because of the strong upstanding hero and the good men who are loyal to him. Laurel is a strong, determined heroine who did not hesitate to take a risk to save her legacy. An excellent romance that is not to sweet, but inspirational and filled with real creative characters! This book kept me reading at a furious pace. A true secret pleasure.

“An Uncommon Protector” is the second book in Gray’s Lone Star Hero’s Love Story series. During their imprisonment in a Yankee camp on an island in Lake Erie, several Southern officers promised to always be there for each other. Since this volume features Thomas Baker, the second of those officers, I assume (and hope) that future installments will feature each of the other men.

Thus far, life has not been overly kind to Thomas Baker. In fact it has been a huge struggle. Poor choices after the war left him without money and even in jail. His only hope was for a local rancher to hire him for a year but he sure wasn’t expecting to be hired by the lovely Laurel Tracey who was attempting to run her family’s ranch on her own. Laurel’s kindness and determination quickly brings Thomas to the realization that he will do anything it takes to protect and help Laurel.

I absolutely loved this book, especially the way Thomas’ character was portrayed. His humility was endearing but also a bit sad. It was so difficult for him to believe what others saw in him – his integrity, his skill with horses, and the way he cared for others. It was wonderful to read about the emotional healing that he received through his relationships with Laurel and his officer friends. I liked Laurel also and admired her caring and forgiving spirit. I also enjoyed spending a little time with the men I met in “The Loyal Heart”. Flashbacks to Thomas’ time in the prison camp helped to add some insight into his character and the strong bond between the officers.

“An Uncommon Protector” can easily stand alone but I believe it was so much better after reading “The Loyal Heart”. Either way, if you enjoy historical fiction with a Texas setting, you cannot go wrong with this series.

Right off the bat I do want to admit that I haven’t read the first book in this series, but I wasn’t lost at all with this book.

But onto this book – I loved it. When I started reading it, I was worried that it would be a slow read for me, but I was so drawn into the story that I couldn’t put it down. I just had to find out what was going on at Laurel’s ranch, and how Thomas was going to help her solve those problems. Not only that but following along as the romance between Laurel and Thomas grew from a simple friendly gesture into something more was just amazing.

Shepard Gray did a great job at balancing the romance aspect and the drama/suspense aspects of the story throughout the whole book. I didn’t feel at all like the story was being moved by only one of those aspects, it was all of them together that made the story so great.

I would completely recommend this book to anyone who loves this genre and is looking for their next great read.

I am not a fan of historical fiction But this book was excellent. I loved how laurel stood up to her greedy step siblings and how she gave Thomas a chance.
This is a book you will not want to miss.

Sometimes a girl needs a sweet little love story that has no major drama but a little mystery.  An Uncommon Protector by Shelley Shepard Gray is that sweet little love story.

It has been a few years since the Civil War has ended and Laurel Tracey finds herself running her families ranch in Sweetwater, Texas on her own.  She is dealing with the loss of both her father and her brother, who died in battle, and squatters, who have started to take over part of her 200-acre property.

Thomas Baker is a former solder who has had a run of bad luck since the war and finds himself in Sweetwater's prison with no hope for the future.  Both Thomas and Laurel feel like their situations are hopeless until their paths cross and hope springs anew.  Laurel spends her entire savings to free Thomas and hire him for one year to help out at her ranch.  His main focus is to get rid of the squatters but they soon both realize that theirs is more than an employer/employee relationship.

An Uncommon Protector is a clean romance with a bit of mystery and drama.  The pace of the entire story is a little slow for my taste but I fell in love with both Thomas and Laurel and wanted to see how their story played out.  The story also being set just outside of Fort Worth, Texas (which is the area where I am from) also made the story a little sweeter for me.

All in all, I say it's a pretty good book.  If you're looking for something that is not too fast paced and has a clean story line with a little romance mixed in then An Uncommon Protector would be a good choice.

Isn't good always pitted against evil? Doesn't the good guy win, at least in the stories we all love? Isn't it easier to see the good in other before you can see it in yourself? Yes, in this novel, good battles evil, though the good guys aren't necessarily those seen by society as "good". Also, the good within a character must battle against that which is not good. In this novel, of course the good guys win in the end... and yes, in this novel, the characters can see the good in others more easily than they can see it in themselves.

What drew me in most was the camaraderie between Thomas Baker and the soldiers that he served with in the war. His band of brothers, as some might call it, respected him and saw the good in him when he couldn't see it in himself. They helped him to see the gentleman that he has become. This band of brothers also promised to be there for each other no matter what - this kind of commitment speaks volumes about the depth of their character and their care for one another. Their desire to serve and protect each other and those in need of help made my heart smile.

Though I believe in "like" at first sight, I thought the two main characters were drawn together way too quickly to be believable. In my opinion, their feelings for each other sped along at an incredibly quick pace, which made the book feel a little shallow.

Thank you to Net Galley and to Zondervan for an e-copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.