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Men of Cane River #2
These Sheltering Walls
An ex con who wears his crime on his sleeve.
A woman drowning in an ocean of secrets.
Can they find love and hope in each other?
Lorelei "Henry" Byrne was born cursed. Being able to spot a lie with perfect accuracy sounds like fun, until you have to live with it. Her whole existence has been hobbled by her hidden talent. She’s estranged from her family, has only one friend, and couldn’t get through a first date if her life depended on it. She throws herself into her work as the new head of the Cane River Creole National Heritage Park, resolving to be content in her solitude… until she meets Gideon, a man with nothing to lose and no reason to lie.
After spending most of his adult life in prison, Gideon Becket has built a quiet life around the Cane River archives. He doesn’t believe he deserves happiness after the crimes he’s committed. When Henry arrives in town, everything starts to change, and Gideon wonders if there’s hope for him after all. But just as he takes the first steps toward forgiving himself, his past comes back to haunt him. Does he hold on to his guilt, or does he take a chance on a new life? Letting Henry into his heart will mean confronting his own tragic past, and take a courage he isn't sure he has.
Set in the beautiful Cane River region around the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, this is the second book in the Cane River Romance series.
This is an inspirational, clean romance. There is no sex or swearing, but the book does address issues such as PTSD, family secrets, murder, life in prison, drug use, gangs, and there is a flashback to a child’s death. The characters experience dark, real-life struggles, and ultimately must decide whether to live a life of grace and forgiveness.
A woman drowning in an ocean of secrets.
Can they find love and hope in each other?
Lorelei "Henry" Byrne was born cursed. Being able to spot a lie with perfect accuracy sounds like fun, until you have to live with it. Her whole existence has been hobbled by her hidden talent. She’s estranged from her family, has only one friend, and couldn’t get through a first date if her life depended on it. She throws herself into her work as the new head of the Cane River Creole National Heritage Park, resolving to be content in her solitude… until she meets Gideon, a man with nothing to lose and no reason to lie.
After spending most of his adult life in prison, Gideon Becket has built a quiet life around the Cane River archives. He doesn’t believe he deserves happiness after the crimes he’s committed. When Henry arrives in town, everything starts to change, and Gideon wonders if there’s hope for him after all. But just as he takes the first steps toward forgiving himself, his past comes back to haunt him. Does he hold on to his guilt, or does he take a chance on a new life? Letting Henry into his heart will mean confronting his own tragic past, and take a courage he isn't sure he has.
Set in the beautiful Cane River region around the city of Natchitoches, Louisiana, this is the second book in the Cane River Romance series.
This is an inspirational, clean romance. There is no sex or swearing, but the book does address issues such as PTSD, family secrets, murder, life in prison, drug use, gangs, and there is a flashback to a child’s death. The characters experience dark, real-life struggles, and ultimately must decide whether to live a life of grace and forgiveness.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2015
35 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Hathaway
27 books187 followersAbout the Author: Mary Jane Hathaway is the pen name of an award-nominated writer who spends the majority of her literary energy on subjects un-related to Jane Austen. A homeschooling mother of six young children who rarely wear shoes, she’s madly in love with a man who has never read Pride and Prejudice. She holds degrees in Religious Studies and Theoretical Linguistics, and has a Jane Austen quote on the back of her van. She can be reached on facebook at 'Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits' or her regular author page of Virginia Carmichael (which is another pen name, because she’s just that cool).
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 12, 2015
This is my favorite book by this author! I adore how damaged both Henry and Gideon are and how perfect they are for each other, but keep second guessing themselves. I don't necessarily fall for the bad guys, but I do fall for the broken ones like Gideon. I'm adding him to my list of characters that I wish were real. I couldn't put the book down and couldn't stop smiling through the whole thing. I don't know any other way to describe this story except "AMAZING"! I'm still swooning! LOVE IT!
July 24, 2015
Book number two in the Cane River Chronicles. This story takes us back to Natchitoches, LA and By The Book book store, but this time we are introduced to two historians; Henry and Gideon. Henry is not pleased with her gift of being able to tell when people are lying and she has refused to get close to anyone but her best friend. Plus she is dealing with deep seated family issues but decides to return to her roots for the purpose of making her mark as a historian. She meets Gideon, who because of his trauma filled past is also living a solitary life that only involves his foster brother. The two meet and begin to work together but there is something that is drawing these two together no matter how hard they try to push each other away. There are tremendous obstacles, the least of which is their past and need for healing, but the little taste of knowing and being known by someone else, and being loved by that person is enough to keep them both jumping all those obstacles. A good, clean, romance that deals with some tough issues.
April 6, 2016
This book was okay but I don't enjoy reading on my iPad! I would rather have a book in my hand!
June 14, 2017
Loved every word
This book was as great as the first one. I loved the characters and I really love the author's style of writing. I'm a little confused as to why such a great author couldn't get a better editor. There were enough problems with the editing that I started to get irritated. But the book was so well written that now I've finished, I can ignore the errors. Highly recommend this clean series.
This book was as great as the first one. I loved the characters and I really love the author's style of writing. I'm a little confused as to why such a great author couldn't get a better editor. There were enough problems with the editing that I started to get irritated. But the book was so well written that now I've finished, I can ignore the errors. Highly recommend this clean series.
June 2, 2022
Enjoyed it.
One of my favourite lines in the novel:
“
Tom went on, “I guess what I’m trying to say is that when you were fifteen you
could have memorized that prayer and recited it to anyone, but you never would
have thought to sit here in the dark so that a person you barely knew was
safe.”
Excerpt From
Along the Cane River: Books 2 in the Inspirational Cane River Romance Series
Mary Jane Hathaway
One of my favourite lines in the novel:
“
Tom went on, “I guess what I’m trying to say is that when you were fifteen you
could have memorized that prayer and recited it to anyone, but you never would
have thought to sit here in the dark so that a person you barely knew was
safe.”
Excerpt From
Along the Cane River: Books 2 in the Inspirational Cane River Romance Series
Mary Jane Hathaway
October 13, 2017
I found this story fascinating. One of the main storylines is that of an ex-convict's attempt to adjust to life on the outside after being imprisoned at the age of 15 and released in his 30's. I really enjoyed reading it because it made me think about things I'd never considered before.
July 31, 2018
Great Series
Read these first set of the books and really enjoyed all of them. I have recommended them to my daughter who gets little chance to read books
Read these first set of the books and really enjoyed all of them. I have recommended them to my daughter who gets little chance to read books
February 25, 2020
🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂
With a intriguing plot, complex characters and good solid writing this a really good read. There's a love story along with redemption , self discovery and forgiveness.
With a intriguing plot, complex characters and good solid writing this a really good read. There's a love story along with redemption , self discovery and forgiveness.
October 23, 2020
Wow! If not for 24hrs in a day and the need to sleep, this would have been a read through.
April 30, 2021
An intriguing look at truth in relationships! Loved my return visit to Cane River, especially the appearances of By the Book!
December 29, 2015
Wow! I loved this book, and I'm so glad I bought it! I enjoyed reading about Henry, and her "party trick," and realizing right along with her that she was stronger than she had ever imagined.
Gideon had gone through a very deep and personal hell, horrors and murder, but with the help of his "younger brother," Father Tom, and his growing passion for Henry, Gideon realized that he carries Henry's heart with him... and vice versa!
I loved Tom and the rest of the priests! They were very funny! I loved Tom's homegrown and heartfelt wisdom.
It was nice to see Paul and Alice again! And I look forward to continuing this series and reading more books by Mary Jane Hathaway. She's a new favorite author, and I'm so glad I discovered her!
Gideon had gone through a very deep and personal hell, horrors and murder, but with the help of his "younger brother," Father Tom, and his growing passion for Henry, Gideon realized that he carries Henry's heart with him... and vice versa!
I loved Tom and the rest of the priests! They were very funny! I loved Tom's homegrown and heartfelt wisdom.
It was nice to see Paul and Alice again! And I look forward to continuing this series and reading more books by Mary Jane Hathaway. She's a new favorite author, and I'm so glad I discovered her!
October 20, 2015
I don't know about you but I love a redemption story! These Sheltering Walls invites the reader back to beautiful creole families of Cane River. We get the opportunity to catch up with some of our favorite characters from 'The Pepper in the Gumbo' and meet Henry (who does not particularly like to be called by her first name Lorelei) and Gideon. They are both passionate, both historians, and have both given up on the possibility of having anything but a solitary life. Lies, murder, intrigue, forgiveness, love, culture, and some amazing families. This story was a joy to read and a fantastic reminder that second chances do happen.
April 25, 2025
2025 re-read:
I love
- how Hathaway used Edna St. Vincent Millay's 'Bluebeard' poem
- Father Tom and Gideon's nights in front of 'By the Book'. Actually all their scenes together!
------------
One of my favorite re-reads. Changing rating from 4 to 5.
Loved:
1. The Natchitoches setting and all the southern charm
2. The broken, but amazing main characters
3. Father Tom and his sunny personality
4. The trip with the retired priests
5. All scenes in 'By the book'
6. The wonderful poems interspersed, though I am generally not a fan of poetry
I love
- how Hathaway used Edna St. Vincent Millay's 'Bluebeard' poem
- Father Tom and Gideon's nights in front of 'By the Book'. Actually all their scenes together!
------------
One of my favorite re-reads. Changing rating from 4 to 5.
Loved:
1. The Natchitoches setting and all the southern charm
2. The broken, but amazing main characters
3. Father Tom and his sunny personality
4. The trip with the retired priests
5. All scenes in 'By the book'
6. The wonderful poems interspersed, though I am generally not a fan of poetry
June 4, 2016
I loved this whole series - great deep characters! It is a unique and culturally rich storyline set in Louisiana. I loved the literary references and the witty banter. I hardly slept as I made my way through this series - very hard to put down! This is Henry and Gideon's story. It is a story of redemption, forgiveness, and not judging a book by its cover. I was so sad to see the last book end!! I look forward to more books from this author :).
March 5, 2016
A Book With Substance
Not just another simple love story. Complicated characters , suspense, and vivid detail come to life in this impossible to put down, on the edge of your seat experience. A great read!
Not just another simple love story. Complicated characters , suspense, and vivid detail come to life in this impossible to put down, on the edge of your seat experience. A great read!
April 23, 2016
Really well done!
These characters had a lot more depth. The innocence of the hero. The coming to terms of the heroine. The descriptions of the people, places and food. Well done!
These characters had a lot more depth. The innocence of the hero. The coming to terms of the heroine. The descriptions of the people, places and food. Well done!
July 6, 2016
I had enjoyed the first book in this series, and the premise of this second book drew me in, but it bogged down about 1/4 of the way in & never revived. Forced myself to read almost to the end, but the characters were driving me crazy, so I gave up.
September 9, 2015
A very interesting story with well developed characters. I liked how the main characters were introverts and still were able to find joy in each other.
March 3, 2016
Final feeling: Absolutely loved it
March 19, 2016
I liked it. Not as much as the first, but it was a fun read
December 13, 2016
I loved it! I will be reading the other books in this series. No doubt.
March 28, 2017
Wow, Wow, WOW! This book is one of my best reads of the year. I only wish I would have found it sooner! You have your tortured Hero and the woman that sees past all that who is looking for someone to break down her bearers as well. Its a story about love, forgiveness and really loving unconditionally.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews