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Hightower Honors #1
Protect and Serve
Police detective Jason Hightower is flooded with memories when Penny Keys comes home to New Jersey. After fifteen years, he still wants to understand why she loved, lied to and left him. And he needs to know before she disappears from his life again.…
Penny came home for family reasons, not to face her difficult past…or the man she still loves. But Jason is determined to have answers—answers that it breaks her heart to give. And it seems nothing will keep Jason from the truth this time. Or hold him back from what he wants to protect and serve the most—their chance for a future together.
Penny came home for family reasons, not to face her difficult past…or the man she still loves. But Jason is determined to have answers—answers that it breaks her heart to give. And it seems nothing will keep Jason from the truth this time. Or hold him back from what he wants to protect and serve the most—their chance for a future together.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 28, 2013
About the author
Gwyneth Bolton
13 books66 followersGwyneth Bolton was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey. She currently lives in Syracuse, New York with her husband Cedric.
When she was 12-years-old, she became an avid reader of romance by sneaking her mother's stash of Harlequin and Silhouette novels. In the 90s, she was introduced to African American and multicultural romance novels and her life hasn't been the same since.
While she had always been a reader of romance, she didn't feel inspired to write them until the genre opened up to include other voices. And even then, it took finishing graduate school, several non-fiction publications, and a six-week course at the Loft Literary Center titled Writing the Romance Novel; before she gathered the courage to start writing her first romance novel.
Gwyneth has a BA and an MA in English/Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English/Composition and Rhetoric. She teaches classes in writing and women's studies at the college level.
She has won several awards for her romance novels, including four Emma Awards and the Romance In Color Reviewer's Choice award for new author of the year. When she is not teaching or working on her own African American romance novels, she is curled up with a cup of herbal tea, a warm quilt, and a good book.
When she was 12-years-old, she became an avid reader of romance by sneaking her mother's stash of Harlequin and Silhouette novels. In the 90s, she was introduced to African American and multicultural romance novels and her life hasn't been the same since.
While she had always been a reader of romance, she didn't feel inspired to write them until the genre opened up to include other voices. And even then, it took finishing graduate school, several non-fiction publications, and a six-week course at the Loft Literary Center titled Writing the Romance Novel; before she gathered the courage to start writing her first romance novel.
Gwyneth has a BA and an MA in English/Creative Writing and a Ph.D. in English/Composition and Rhetoric. She teaches classes in writing and women's studies at the college level.
She has won several awards for her romance novels, including four Emma Awards and the Romance In Color Reviewer's Choice award for new author of the year. When she is not teaching or working on her own African American romance novels, she is curled up with a cup of herbal tea, a warm quilt, and a good book.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 12, 2018
Great story with so many layers: suspense, unforgiveness and overwhelming regret. Jason and Penny's relationship was destroyed by dishonesty, jealousy and malicious meddling by Jason's busy-body Aunt Sophie. Now 15 years later, Penny is back home and being stalked by her irresponsible mother's ex-pimp. But if Jason puts his life and career on the line to protect Penny, will she finally come clean and tell him what really happened 15 years ago?
February 6, 2018
Finished in 4hrs!
Wow! This book held my attention from beginning to end! I finished the book all in one night, and it was joy-able to read. Penny and Jason lost out on fifteen years of their love life, and I’m happy they got it back. As much as I want to tell the story, I won’t. Lol. Carla was a mess and a half, she was Penny’s mother. She kept me laughing with her crazy self. I’m happy her and Gerald, Penny’s father got their happily ever after as well, after losing so much time together. I couldn’t stand Sophia and I’m glad Carla put her in her place. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Great job!
Wow! This book held my attention from beginning to end! I finished the book all in one night, and it was joy-able to read. Penny and Jason lost out on fifteen years of their love life, and I’m happy they got it back. As much as I want to tell the story, I won’t. Lol. Carla was a mess and a half, she was Penny’s mother. She kept me laughing with her crazy self. I’m happy her and Gerald, Penny’s father got their happily ever after as well, after losing so much time together. I couldn’t stand Sophia and I’m glad Carla put her in her place. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Great job!
May 6, 2018
So nobody gone put aunt Sophie in her place?!?
November 22, 2020
Excellent story...Excellent writing
This was such a good story. Each character was so well developed. The love, and hate, that Jason had for Penny was palpable. His feelings were so strong that I felt them as I read. To have a man love you like that...oh my. Penny's love for him was also palpable. I kept hoping that she would just hurry up and tell her truths. Carla, Penny's mom, was a bit much at first, but as the story progressed and her truths began to unfold, I found that she had made it into my heart as much as Jason and Penny. I really enjoyed Gerald and Mrs. Hightower as well.
The story of Jason and Penny's past and possible new romance was very compelling. The danger that hung above their heads throughout the book made it a true page turner. I'm excited to read the second Hightower book *Yay* I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
This was such a good story. Each character was so well developed. The love, and hate, that Jason had for Penny was palpable. His feelings were so strong that I felt them as I read. To have a man love you like that...oh my. Penny's love for him was also palpable. I kept hoping that she would just hurry up and tell her truths. Carla, Penny's mom, was a bit much at first, but as the story progressed and her truths began to unfold, I found that she had made it into my heart as much as Jason and Penny. I really enjoyed Gerald and Mrs. Hightower as well.
The story of Jason and Penny's past and possible new romance was very compelling. The danger that hung above their heads throughout the book made it a true page turner. I'm excited to read the second Hightower book *Yay* I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
June 20, 2008
Finally Coming Home
“Protect and Serve” is quite an intriguing read. Talk about a feel good book. I thoroughly enjoyed Jason Hightower and Penny Keys. And who wouldn't fall for Jason’s character! All I can say is I don't know how Penny could leave Jason for all those years, he was TOTALLY irresistible! He is EVERY woman's dream man, especially with a smile that could STOP YOUR HEART or TAKE YOU TO ECSTASY. This is a heart-warming and suspenseful tale. The characters are well developed and quite believable. Mrs. Bolton writes their story in a way that makes it easy to get totally caught up in their lives. The dialogue is witty, and very entertaining. And the secondary characters are UNFORGETTABLE. Carla, Penny’s mother, with all her antics definitely added some humor to this little tale. And with the secondary characters development, Mrs. Bolton has set the stage, so that I will be anxiously anticipating more from the Hightower men and their circle of family and friends. I can hardly wait to find out what she has in store for Joel. This looks to be a GREAT start to an engaging miniseries.
“Protect and Serve” is quite an intriguing read. Talk about a feel good book. I thoroughly enjoyed Jason Hightower and Penny Keys. And who wouldn't fall for Jason’s character! All I can say is I don't know how Penny could leave Jason for all those years, he was TOTALLY irresistible! He is EVERY woman's dream man, especially with a smile that could STOP YOUR HEART or TAKE YOU TO ECSTASY. This is a heart-warming and suspenseful tale. The characters are well developed and quite believable. Mrs. Bolton writes their story in a way that makes it easy to get totally caught up in their lives. The dialogue is witty, and very entertaining. And the secondary characters are UNFORGETTABLE. Carla, Penny’s mother, with all her antics definitely added some humor to this little tale. And with the secondary characters development, Mrs. Bolton has set the stage, so that I will be anxiously anticipating more from the Hightower men and their circle of family and friends. I can hardly wait to find out what she has in store for Joel. This looks to be a GREAT start to an engaging miniseries.
April 16, 2014
This was my second time reading this book and it was just as good as the first time . This book is just right, it has just the right amount on love, the right amount of sexy , the right amount of comedy , the right amount of drama and when I finished this book I felt satisfied and I smiled because the ending was just right!
February 11, 2009
I LIKED THIS BOOK ALOT I CANT WAIT 4 THE NEXT 1 IM REALLY CURIOUSE ABOUT WHATS TO HAPPEN WITH JASON & PENNY
November 9, 2009
so far this is a good book..when i finish the book i will be sure to give details.. this book was good as hell! i love anyone that love romantic books u should read this!!
January 9, 2012
i think this one is my favorite one in the whole series
October 17, 2015
Anytime I can read a good story line and its set in New Jersey I'm all for it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews