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Hope Eternal Ranch Romance #2

Overprotective Cowboy

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Cowboys looking for a second chance at life, love, and happiness.

Ted Burrows is ready to start his life over again, even if he has to go to a work-parole ranch to get out from behind the walls that have caged him for the past thirty months. He's got a contact at Hope Eternal Ranch, and the day he gets word that he'll be released into the Residential Reentry Program and serve out the rest of his sentence under the open sky of the ranch is the best day of his life so far.

But when he meets Emma Clemson, he's completely thrown off his game. He knows her...from somewhere. She doesn't seem to recognize him, though, and as they work together on the organization of the programs and tourism of the ranch, their newfound flame flickers and brightens.

Emma has managed to isolate herself on the ranch and keep her ex out of her life, and she's finally achieved some level of peace and happiness. Ted's name does tickle a memory, but she pushes against it as she wants to leave the past where it belongs—in the past.

When Emma's ex-boyfriend comes back into her life and reminds her of who Ted is, her carefully constructed existence unravels. She and Ted have met before, and not under pleasant circumstances. She's not that woman anymore, and she doesn't want Ted to even think of her as the woman she'd once been. She knows he's not the same man he was a decade ago either.

When he sees Emma's unrest, Ted's overprotective side kicks in—a side that has gotten him in trouble before...

Can Ted and Emma face their pasts so they can truly be ready to step into the future together? Or will everything between them fall apart once the truth comes out?

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2020

995 people are currently reading
263 people want to read

About the author

Elana Johnson

178 books2,083 followers
3-time USA Today bestselling author Elana Johnson writes adult contemporary beach romance. She is the author of over 130 books across two names, and there's nothing better than sun, sand, and swoon-worthy kisses! Unless it's a sweet-and-sexy cowboy - read those under her pen name of Liz Isaacson. Or an emotional, heartfelt women's fiction novel - read those under her pen name of Jessie Newton.

Learn more at:
www.elanajohnson.com
www.lizisaacson.com
www.authorjessienewton.com

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5 stars
927 (64%)
4 stars
358 (24%)
3 stars
116 (8%)
2 stars
25 (1%)
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12 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
4,179 reviews22 followers
July 26, 2020
This is my first time reading something by Ms. Johnson and I very much enjoyed it. This is the second book in the Hope Eternal Ranch series. It is a heartwarming book about second chances, both with life and love. Ted has been in prison and is now getting a chance to have a fresh start at Hope Eternal Ranch. At the ranch he meets Emma and is instantly attracted to her. As he gets to know her more, he can't shake the feeling that he knows her from before. Emma has her secrets and is not willing to divulge them. Both need to learn to trust each other and their newfound love and be able to start a new life together. This was a heartfelt romance about two people getting past the mistakes they have made and learning to trust again. A beautifully written story and I really enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Zane Alksne.
367 reviews48 followers
January 27, 2022
Fast paced read, but bleak characters

Well once in a while we do like to read about some big and strong cowboys, cuz you know they sexy. But this didn't sit quite well with me. The characters were too simple and annoying most of the time. Not acting their age at all. And the big bad guy was not that big nor that bad... All of that breaking point was just... Meh. Book to entertain you for an eveing, but not the series type of read.
Profile Image for Jennie Fortna.
2,544 reviews29 followers
June 23, 2020
ARC for honest review with no compensation 4.5 stars

Overprotective Cowboy is book 2 in the Hope Eternal Ranch series by Elana Johnson about second chances.

Ted Burrows is getting the opportunity to start life over after years at a low security prison and now being able to go to a residential reentry program at the Hope Eternal Ranch. What he doesn’t expect to find at the ranch is someone from his past life as an attorney....Emma Clemson. She has secrets no one at the ranch knows and is determined to keep it that way. When someone from her past finds her after years in hiding, Ted is determined to protect her even if it means going back to prison…
2,453 reviews12 followers
June 18, 2020
A novel of accepting your life when you have broken the law, gone to prison, and making a new life for yourself. Ted Burrows was in a low security facility and being released to a reentry program at the Hope Eternal Ranch, where his best friend, Nate Mulbury works. Ted will finish the last three and half months of his time at the ranch. When he gets to the ranch he meets Emma Clemson the ranch office manager, and they have and instant attraction to each other. There was one thing though, Ted thought he knew her from somewhere else, but he could not remember. He knew Emma was hiding something, but she would not trust him enough to tell him her story. They would admit that they liked each other, but then due to Emma's secrets the relationship was rather volatile. There were many twist and turns as this couple navigated their way to a HEA. It was a heart felt romance of two people just wanting to put their past mistakes behind them and start new lives. This is one book I am sure you will not want to miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews63 followers
June 18, 2020
I wasn’t very far into the first book when I realized I was already invested in finding out more about these “Mulbury Boys”. They have such a strong connection together that make it really easy to want to keep reading their stories. Ted was the proverbial wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it sent him to jail for a crime he never should have been convicted of. A streak of bad luck that seems pretty similar to Nate’s. But, like Nate, Ted has a chance at a brand-new start at Hope Eternal Ranch. However, there’s a face from his past that just might push him off the straight and narrow. I liked all the dramatic tension in this story and loved that we got to check back in with Nate and Ginger. It made me sad every time Ted reached out to her, but Emma drew back behind her defenses. Now, I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
Profile Image for Marie.
5,169 reviews52 followers
October 15, 2020
Second chance for all?

Ted is grateful he is getting his second chance at Hope Eternal Ranch...but it is not just inmates on re-entry programmes that need a second chance. A series of unfortunate circumstances and a large dose of back luck mean that both Ted and Emma are reeling and unsure of their future when they meet. Before they can look forward to a future they both must accept their pasts and be honest with themselves and those important to them. Ted's past is known to everyone on the Ranch but Emma has secrets, big, dark, dangerous secrets that can come back to haunt you at any time...she also has one not so little, very cute and gorgeous secret. She has protected her secrets for so long, can she trust Ted and Ginger enough to open up about her secrets, her past and her fears? Or will her secrecy cost them everything and put them all in danger?
An emotional journey of self discovery, forgiveness and hope which I read on Kindle Unlimited.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
June 18, 2020
The second book in the Hope Eternal Ranch Romance series a well written story that kept me turning pages. Ted Burrows is ready to start his life over again, he is sent to Hope Eternal Ranch. His best friend from jail is there, these are not harden criminals but men who made a small mistake. Ted mistake was getting into a fight. When he gets to the ranch he meets Emma Clemson she is hiding one big secret. This story has a second chance at life, suspense, drama, danger, a villain, secrets, and romance. I want to read the first book in this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,264 reviews6 followers
June 18, 2020
Emma has been keeping secrets from everyone for the past decade. No one knows that she has a daughter and that is who she visits every other weekend. Ted has been in prison for the past six years and is now in the re-entry program at the ranch where Emma works and lives. They become close but Ted knows that she is hiding something important and pushes her to tell him. He used to be a lawyer and recognizes her as an acquaintance of a really bad guy. He asks her about it and she runs. But as she has no where to really go she goes back to the ranch and just avoid him for a bit. Will she ever be able to tell everyone, especially Ted, the truth or will she let him walk out of her life. Will Ted help her when she call him and is in trouble? Can they finally work things out if she tells the truth or is it too late?
350 reviews4 followers
June 18, 2020
Great addition to the Hope Eternal Ranch Series! These books are about second chances with a little suspense. Ted comes to Hope Eternal Ranch to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in a reentry program. He meets Emma when he arrives. She has worked at the Ranch for ten years but has a secret she has never shared. When Ted meets her he tries to remember how he knows her from his earlier life. There is a mutual attraction but he knows she is hiding something and only wants a relationship based on truth and trust. I really like these books because the characters are all more mature and they are all flawed but working through their problems to become better people while seeking God’s will and help. You will love this new romance by Elana Johnson.
Profile Image for Victoria.
4,680 reviews
June 18, 2020
This for me is a good book in a good series. The characters are developed, the writing is good and the story flows well. Oh Emma, I did not see your story coming at all! She has amazed me with what she have been through, how courageous she has been and how she has shown such strength. Ted, oh I loved Teddy, he was such a good character and I really liked his relationship with Nate and how he was with children and animals. I liked that he showed that just because he had been to prison, didn't mean that he didn't have values and standards and that he couldn't turned his life around. I am looking forward to book 3 now.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
945 reviews9 followers
June 1, 2020
I enjoyed Overprotective Cowboy as the second in this series. We learn more of Emma's story as well as Ted's as they overcome past mistakes and fears so that they can face the future. I enjoyed the words from the book, "It was easier to live inside the lies one told themselves. They made their own reality, and they would not deviate from it, even when presented with facts and direct evidence to the contrary." WOW! Those words can be applied to many circumstances and situations today! I'm looking forward to the next book in this series! I received a complimentary ARC of this book and have voluntarily given my honest opinion in this review.
Profile Image for Amanda Marlowe.
2,430 reviews25 followers
June 15, 2020
Ted is being released to Hope Ranch for his last three and a half months of his six year prison term, seemed very steep to me in comparison to his crime.
Nate takes him back and he meets Emma, he recognises her and also feels a connection. They start to grow close but she has secrets which start to come to light.
One of the main rules of the ranch, as a parolee, is that you can't leave alone or you have to go back to prison.
Emma gets into trouble and rings Yes, can he help or will it make it worse?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Another great read in the series.
994 reviews
June 18, 2020
Ted Burrows gets a new start, after serving time for a crime he didn’t do and took away his career as a lawyer, as a ranch hand with his best friend, Nate, at the Eternal Hope Ranch, the residential re-entry center. Emma Clemson is in hiding from her ex-boyfriend, who has mafia connections, she’s also hiding his daughter he’s doesn’t know about and she doesn’t want him to know about, but someone is watching the ranch and Ted is helping anyway he can. Can he keep her safe?
I really enjoyed this story it’s beautifully written with well-developed characters and look forward to more in the series.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews361 followers
June 18, 2020
Ted Burrows is doing all that he can to get his life back on track as he nears the end of his prison sentence. He goes to Hope Eternal Ranch through the Residential Reentry Program, working as a ranch hand with his friend, Nate, to ultimately transition him to freedom.

Ted meets Emma Clemson and thinks he recognizes her but can’t remember for sure. Emma has some big secrets of her own to deal with that can cause problems as she is hiding from an ex-boyfriend. When secrets start to unravel, can she learn to trust Ted? Can he provide the safety she needs? Or will this situation damage his own chance of freedom?
4,589 reviews31 followers
August 21, 2020
Hope Eternal Ranch reaches people on many levels and one of be best ways is the second chance for white collar crime felons being released from prison. I have to admit that I have to wonder if Ted’s crime really warranted his sentence but that is not the question here. The question is can he be patient enough to learn Emma’s secrets in her time. Elana Johnson not only tests Ted’s patience but also mine. I found myself yelling at Emma to tell him. I totally enjoyed this book and look forward to Dallas’s story.
Profile Image for DJ.
779 reviews
June 18, 2025
A perfect second-chance romance book!

The Hope Eternal Ranch Romance series by Elana Johnson continues with book two, Overprotective Cowboy, and the story of the second of the Mulbury Boys, Ted Burrows, to find a new life at the ranch.

Elana Johnson has created a wonderful world with Hope Eternal Ranch. The name, Hope Eternal, screams second chance, forgiveness, and everlasting love. It's perfect for a series that features five broken men, whose mistakes have landed them in a low-security prison, and require love and understanding to transition to life after prison. It amazes me how Elana Johnson has imagined characters so relatable that, but for the Grace of God, they could be any one of us. I challenge anyone to read Overprotective Cowboy and not empathize with Ted and Emma.

I found Overprotective Cowboy as captivating as Nate and Ginger's story in Hopeful Cowboy. Elana's storytelling skills provide the right touch of budding romance, mystery, and plot twists to draw the reader in and keep them involved until the last page. Heartwarming, sweet, and clean, like a Hallmark movie, Overprotective Cowboy brings all the feel-good emotions to the surface. I recommend keeping plenty of tissues handy. Speaking of Hallmark, I wouldn't be surprised to find this series on the Hallmark Channel someday!

I recommend reading these books in order, to follow the characters and past events in the previous books. If you want to feel the peace of finding a second chance at life and love, read Overprotective Cowboy and the Hope Eternal Ranch romance series!
349 reviews11 followers
March 25, 2021
Ginger owns a large ranch that has many activities & is very busy. She agreed to take Ted in as a parolee until his time has been served. Ted’s assignment has been to work with the horses on the ranch. He met Emma who also works with the foals & does accounting for the ranch. Emma is hiding secrets & no one seems to get answers. Before being incarcerated, Ted was an attorney. He remembers Emma’s picture being in a file on a crime boss. When he asks Emma about it, he gets some answers, but she is still keeping secrets.she has been hiding a daughter that was fathered by the crime boss. The daughter is not with her but with a couple that Emma trusts. A dangerous situation comes up where Emma is taken in a kidnapping. Read the book to find out how she manages to become free & if she & Ted can get past all the secrets.
581 reviews
March 12, 2021
The Overprotective Cowboy is the story of Ted and Emma. Ted was in the unit with Nate so when his time was up Ginger asked that Ted be released to her ranch. Hope Eternal is a tourist ranch that had their own cowboys and cowgirls that run the ranch but, Ginger has taken a inmate that was close to being out to come and work on the ranch. Ted sees Emma and recognized her from when he was a lawyer. It takes a while for him to figure out who she is and that she is not safe. He cannot get her to tell him her secret until she was in over her head. Ted is the type of Cowboy that will do his work and in the off time he helps around the ranch or helps with Connor. He has fell for Emma in only the 8 weeks he has been there, but, Emma is not sure she wants Ted in her secretive life.
Profile Image for Sonya Wasden.
1,075 reviews12 followers
June 9, 2022
Ted had gone to prison and lost his license to practice to law. Now he was transitioning from prison life to freedom on Hope Eternal Ranch. There he met Emma who had secrets of her own. Ted wanted to know all about her, including all her secrets. He sensed she was in trouble and he wanted to do everything in his power to protect her and keep her safe. If only she could trust him enough to talk to him and tell him her fears and concerns?

When danger found Emma, could Ted come to her rescue or would his desire to save her land him back in prison?

This was a sweet, clean, wholesome ranch about forgiveness and baring your soul. I listened to the audiobook version of this story and enjoyed both the story and the narration very much.
1,288 reviews3 followers
April 1, 2021
It was a nice story about getting a fresh start in life. Ted comes out of the detention center to work at the ranch for his last three months of parole. Emma has a past life she is running from. She had a daughter with a drug lord and is hiding her in San Antonio. Ted puts together who Emma is because he was one of the lawyers that worked on the case and it had a picture of Emma in the file. Ted and Emma start to fall in love but can she let her guard down to let Ted in to help her be free from her former life. Great Christian romance about faith and getting a fresh start in life when things from you past have gone awry.
193 reviews
June 3, 2024
Ted was in the same low security facility that Nate was. Nate got Ginger (who owns Hope Eternal Ranch) to have Ted finish his sentence on the farm. When Ted meet Emma he knows that he has seen her, but cannot recall at first. After thinking about it, he realizes that Emma was an associate of a know criminal. But Emma had a really big secret that she would not share. She finally tells Ginger her secret and Ginger told Emma we will work it out. Meanwhile, Ted and Emma are slowly falling in love with each and neither one of them announces it. The story is about how Emma's past comes back to haunt her and how Ted saves her. It was a good book.
Profile Image for Carol.
838 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2020
Overprotective Cowboy

Nate's best friend Ted, has been assigned to the Hope Eternal Ranch through the reentry program. When Ted meets Emma he is sure he has seen her before but can't remember where. Emma finds Ted very handsome however feels she must not get involved so he doesn't remember where he has seen her. When sparks fly between Ted and Emma will they be able to move forward together or will the past that Emma is hiding prevent that?
Loving the series. So far all stories have an HEA but the trip to the end is quite different.
Profile Image for TLynn.
1,467 reviews17 followers
September 30, 2020
Overprotective Cowboy is the second book in the Hope Eternal Ranch but was great as a stand-alone. This is the first book I have read by the author and I really enjoyed the book. It was interesting and I liked meeting some of the characters in the series. The book was a clean romance and was well written and kept my attention. The author did a great job keeping the story realistic and getting the reader to connect with the emotions of the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,925 reviews5 followers
January 27, 2021
Overprotective Cowboy

Emma was a young woman who worked on Hope Eternal Ranch as a bookkeeper as well as taking care of the baby foals.Ted was a young man who just got out of prison and moved to Hope Eternal Ranch to complete his last three months of confinement. When these two meet they develop feelings for each other. This is another book in the Hope Eternal series and Elena has done a fantastic job with all of these books so far. This is my review and mine alone Norma Gorrill
97 reviews
February 20, 2022
A MUST READ

Both Ted and Emma have made mistakes in their lives. Ted was an attorney who ended up in prison and Emma is using Hope Eternal Ranch as her hideout. They both have made mistakes, is one unforgivable more than the other? Emma has secrets she can't tell anyone, not even to the man she's falling for. Does Ted wait for Emma to trust him enough to tell him her secret? So many secrets, so many questions. Can love flourish between these two? I loved reading all the twists in this story. Something different for a romance story.
Profile Image for Lynette.
510 reviews
June 6, 2020
As with all of Elana Johnson’s books, it didn’t take long to get invested in the characters in Overprotective Cowboy. I haven’t read book 1 (this is book 2) and it reads as a stand-alone just fine, although I’m anxious to get caught up and read book 1. I really enjoyed Overprotective Cowboy, and I stayed up late to finish it because I had to know how it ended. A very enjoyable read!


I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
134 reviews1 follower
June 18, 2020
Ted and Emma have major baggage but this new series is about second chances and flawed characters. I really loved this story, how it all came together and the length Ted was willing to go to for Emma. I'm not going to give away any of the story but it was wonderful and well worth the time to read it. This is a great new series, I like the strong women and the men who need a second chance to overcome their past choices.
Profile Image for Michaela | Reading in the Heartland.
3,690 reviews69 followers
June 18, 2020
This was an amazing book. I loved how much we saw the characters from the first book. I enjoyed reading this book as Emma housed her secret and the suspense that went along with it. I liked watching Ted figure out a return to life and wade through new feelings. I’m super pumped and waiting with bated breath for the next book!

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
1,992 reviews16 followers
June 19, 2020
Ted, released from prison, is sent to a farm, to smooth his re-entry into society. The farm is run by the fiancée of his best friend. There he meets Emma, a young woman with her own secrets. Finding their happy ending is a long and difficult road, touched by danger.
An interesting, slightly twisted story, entertaining and enjoyable to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
227 reviews1 follower
June 19, 2020
Ted is looking for a fresh start after some poor life choices landed him in the slammer. He finds himself at the Hope Eternal Ranch and face to face with Emma. At times I wondered if the characters would make it to their happily ever after, but they finally did. The author did a great job writing the characters and the plot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews

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