A single mom meets silver fox small town romanceMy life was perfect . . .Until fate took it all away.Heartache and broken bones left me searching for solace in the darkest of places.It wasn't pretty, but with the support of my family, I persevered and I'm stronger for it. My daughters deserve nothing less.Things were finally back on track, until I met Grant Ellison. Tall, dark, and handsome he sets my heart racing. If only the fear of loving again didn't paralyze me.*Nobody was as surprised as me when I left a long military career for a slower pace in life. After all, I've never been one to make decisions lightly or without a plan.A new town means a fresh start. Although it's a lonely existence, I don't regret my decision. Especially when a beautiful woman catches my eye.Dakota Jennings' strength and ambition are for all to see but her heart is protected by the strongest of walls. My new mission is to show her how precious she is and how great we can be together.
A romantic at heart, Andrea has always been a storyteller. An avid reader since a young age, she never planned to pen her own romance novel but, on a whim, and with no plan, she discovered her passion. Known for her slow burn small town romances, Andrea prides herself on writing relatable characters that the reader cheers for and secondary characters who bring the sass and laughs to each story.
Settled in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dog, she counts down the days when her adult children come home for a visit. Even if it means more laundry!
5 star review of Cherish Her (Military Men of Lexington #2) by Andrea Johnston
Andrea Johnston is a new author tome and I have no idea why I have not come across her before. From start to finish she wove a story that captivated me and I was invested from the first to the last page.
I fell hard and fast for Grant Ellison and Dakota Jennings was the perfect woman for him. This is a small town romance with a strong single mum and a swoon worthy ex military hero which are all tropes I adore. Cherish her was a beautifully and well written romance with some suspense which only added to my overall enjoyment of this story. There was humour and the secondary characters were just as engaging as Grant and Dakota. I loved the relationship that Dakota and her daughters Ari and Cali have and it was heartwarming to see how Grant slotted in to the family. This book is a little gem and I will be looking into more books from Andrea Johnston as soon as time permits.
First things first - Grant is definitely book boyfriend worthy! Silver fox? Check. Beard? Check. Abs? Check. HOOKS HIS GIRL UP WITH TACOS? WITHOUT BEING ASKED? CHECK!!!
It’s always fun to check in with characters from Andrea’s previous books, and Cherish Her gives us a little bit of our old favorites while telling us the story of a new couple. This story had everything you could possibly want in it - sweet, funny, independent heroine, amazing secondary characters, and a swoony hero.
Emotional and heartfelt, Cherish Her is a beautiful romance about second chances and finding love after loss. Grant is the perfect hero—patient, sexy, and protective. Dakota is a strong single mom trying to navigate life. These two make the perfect pair, and I loved watching their relationship evolve.
This story will tug at your heartstrings and keep you flipping the pages until the very end. A definite must read!
I never have to worry about whether or not I'll like a book that Andrea Johnston has written.
Cherish Her is Dakota and Grant's story. From the very start of this book, I loved both characters. Why? Because they felt like people that I could know. Dakota is a woman who has been through a lot and I do mean a lot.
Grant is retired military and a bachelor of 43.
These two are simply perfect just like the book. I read this one slowly, not because the book was a slow read, but because I wanted to savor every word.
Dakota is still trying to make her way in the world after losing her husband and then battling addiction from pain killers from injuries from the same accident that claimed her husband. She's doing this while doing a pretty good job raising two little girls.
Grant is the kind of guy anyone would want to know and love. He volunteered at an assisted living facility for retired military, he's good with kids and he puts up with his friends and their shenanigans. Oh and even when he screws up, you can't stay mad at him.
I love the slow burn that Ms. Johnston creates with her stories. It makes when they finally get together so much more satisfying.
Oh and there's a mystery too. Its not a thing that you think about a lot as you read. Its kind of in the background, until it isn't and it blows up in their faces. That makes things even more fantastic.
I kept putting off this book because I just knew it would ruin me, and it Lord, did it ever. Andrea is a magnificent author, and she only grows and betters herself with each book she releases, and this is no exception.
Grant -- who is a silver fox!!-- is pretty damn perfect in every way. Seriously, he has to be one of the best book boyfriends I have ever read. He's thoughtful, considerate, honest, open, sexy, respectful, LOVEABLE ,and he hooks up his girls with tacos. Seriously, what's not to love?
Then there's Dakota, who has been through the worst imaginable pain and is still trying to be strong and hold it together for her two young daughters. When she meets Grant she's conflicted about her feelings, along with the crushing guilt that never seems to be far away.. But who can resist a love like Grants?
One thing I really love about Andrea's writing is how realistic it is. I felt Dakota's emotions as if they were my own, and I connected with Grant on a soul level. I can't brag about this book enough, and the added suspense was perfect!
This is definitely a book that you don't want to miss out on!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
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What a rollercoaster of emotions. Loved Grant. Grant was the perfect silver fox. Loved the little sneaks of other characters from the other books as well.
Army veteran, Grant Ellison is living his life in limbo and in need of a change. While visiting his friends and godson in Lexington, he decides maybe the change he needs is a change of scenery, so he decides to look into buying a house there. That’s when he meets the town’s realtor, Dakota Jennings. She’s a young widow with two young daughters. Dakota has a lot of pain and heartache in her rearview mirror and is trying to be both a mother & father to her daughters.
When Dakota meets Grant, she’s wildly attracted to him, even though she isn’t sure about jumping into the dating scene. And Grant wants nothing more than to take Dakota out on a date. Grant never saw himself as a family man and already accepted that settling down wasn’t for him, but meeting Dakota has him questioning his decision.
And before long, both Dakota & Grant start letting down the walls they’ve built and they learn love can be found in the most unexpected places.
Cherish Her by Andrea Johnston is book 2 in the Military Men of Lexington series. If I were to describe this book in two words it would be: wholesome & sweet! This isn’t some dramatic, passionate love story but it’s full of charm and a slow-burn romantic buildup. Grant is such a gentleman and Dakota is a strong woman just trying to provide a great life for her daughters. The two of them are so well-matched. And if you like a little bit of suspense in your romance, this is definitely for you! 4/5 stars.
Give this ARC for an honest review. Grant is everything you want in a Book boyfriend or real boyfriend for that matter....he is cute, sexy, whispers sweet nothing in your ear just when you need to hear them and brings you food. Dakota is a strong independent single mum of 2 beautiful girls who has suffered a loss in her life and it took everything to come back from. Andrea’s writing is easy to read and the story flows so well I could not put it down as I want to see where it was going. This novel was romantic and sweet was not overly sexy but just very cute. I liked it but I did not love it..I loved to see how the series will play out and to see the other characters coming back from previous novels but this one was just that a continuing novel in the series...don’t get me wrong I did not hate it but it was a very good read for being stuck in isolation. 4 stars
This was another solid offering from this author! Dakota has been trying to heal physically and emotionally from a horrific event. Grant is retired from the military and is trying to adjust to civilian life. Grant meets Dakota when he decides to move and she is a newly licensed real estate agent. Grant wants more than friendship with Dakota and really has to work for any kind of relationship with her. I really enjoyed the fact that they were friends first and really got to know each other. I really enjoyed reading this emotional story.
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book! Well done ❤️
This book was absolutely magical. I loved it so much. Small town. Familiar characters. Swoony hero. Single Mom. Grant took the time to get to know Dakotas daughters. It was adorable. He was also very helpful with the little things. This book also had some mystery and suspense. It kept me turning the pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Lovely characters, good writing that kept me interested.
I liked the relationship between Dakota and Grant. I could feel their connection and the build up of their relationship was believable especially with Dakota’s past. The bad guy felt a bit random as there was no history. But then again we don’t always know the people who wish us harm.
Grant Ellison is a former member of the military and has decided yhat it is time to move closer to his “family”, Taylor Cain, Scarlett Gilbert and Connor. He decides it’s time to finally put down some roots and Scarlett has just the realtor for him. Dakota Jennings is a single mom to Arizona and Cali and is finally content with where her life is after the death of her husband, Jeff, and her difficult recovery. She has just got her realtor’s license and is excited that Grant is going to be her first client. There is immediate chemistry between Dakota and Grant but is she ready to finally move on? This was a great book with some wonderful twists and surprises to keep me hooked. Grant was an awesome character and I was excited for his book after meeting him in the first book. He was such a loyal friend to both Taylor and Scarlett in the first book and I really wanted him to find his person! Dakota was someone who went through so much after losing Jeff and trying to recuperate after her accident. Being a single mom is so much work and with everything that she went through I gave her so much credit to finally getting everything back on track and having the strength to better herself. She was dedicated to being the best mom that she could to her girls and I loved that! I loved the chemistry right from the beginning between Dakota and Grant but I also understood why Dakota really needed to take it slow after everything she had been through and why she was so afraid to love again. There was some mystery in the book with a secret admirer and at the beginning you believe it is one character but then another one gets introduced and you really aren’t sure who it is. I was so mad when the police didn’t take Grant and Dakota serious enough but I was glad that Connor and Taylor were there to help them. I was so mad at Grant for inviting a person in when I knew he shouldn’t!! I was so proud of Dakota for what she was able to do and how Grant finished it off. The end was great and I love that they want to expand their family! Looking forward to a story on Connor next! By Rebecca
Cherish Her by Andrea Johnston is book two in her Military Men of Lexington series. It is also connected to her Country Roads series. It can be read as a stand-alone but my bet is that you’ll want to devour all of Andrea’s books by the time you finish reading Cherish Her.
I adore Grant and Dakota. Maybe because there of the previous roles they’ve played but I was more than a little excited to read their story. Grant is a former Army captain, a silver fox with a heart of gold, and just about as perfect as you can get. The things he says and does for Dakota are 100% the right thing. Dakota is a single mom to two adorable little girls. She’s been through a lot of struggle but she’s come through it stronger. Her strength and how she overcame her struggles is probably my favorite thing about her. Individually, Grant and Dakota have had to experience a lot but together they are pure perfection, they help balance each other out.
Cherish Her is one of my favorite books so far this year. Not only because of Grant and Dakota but because of the opportunity to catch up with other well loved characters! Ashton sure hasn’t changed much! I also love that it’s set in a small town.
The way Andrea Johnston uses words to create stories is absolute magic. She has the ability to connect you to her characters and make you feel what they feel. If you are new to Andrea’s books, be prepared to be completely sucked into the world she created.
A little suspense, a whole lotta butterflies and one incredible silver fox Hero! Cherish Her is sweet and swoony but still full of surprises. Andrea Johnston writes wonderful small town romance, it is really her sweet spot and Cherish Her is the perfect example of her craft.
I have been waiting years for Dakota to get her Happily Ever After! She was such a significant part of the storyline in Martini's and Moonlight though she hardly appeared in the book. But, her story was intriguing and I've been waiting for her to meet someone who was worthy. And is he ever worthy, Grant Ellison is absolutely fantastic!
There's a suspenseful storyline that keeps you turning the pages to solve the mystery while you're waiting for this slow burn to ignite. This is a really enjoyable, quick read that you should definitely add to your TBR!
An advance copy of this book was received from the author. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received a 4.5 rating on BFF Book Blog. This book received additional icons for: character development, romance, hero, heroine, suspense, world creation, butterflies, sweet, and happily ever after
I love a book that gives me feels & this one had it all. I laughed. I swooned. I cried a little (& I’m not a normally a book crier!). There was even a little suspense & a twist that took me by surprise.
Grant - *sigh* love that he has lived some life & has a little gray in his hair and beard. He rose above my expectations in this book & was even more than I thought he’d be!
Dakota - life has dealt her a hand no woman wants, but she is strong & determined and has pulled herself above it all to make a new life for herself and her babies!
I also love kids in books and Ari & Cali were a sassy & sweet added bonus to this book.
We meet some new characters (Gene anybody?) & revisit some we already know and all the while we feel like we belong in this small town right along with them! Andrea always does a great job not just telling them story, but making you feel like you’re right there in the middle of it!
You can’t help but cheer for Dakota & Grant to come together and live their love story - just like all of Lexington is doing (or are they?? *wiggles eyebrows*). Now you’ll have to read it & see for yourself!
This was my most anticipated book by Andrea so far. I fell in love with Grant in Promise Her and have been begging Andrea for his story since then. She did not disappoint me.
Do I talk about Grant first? There really isn't much to say except that he's pretty damn perfect in every way. The way he handles his relationship with Dakota and her girls had me loving him even more than I thought possible. Was there anytime I didn't love him? Maybe but trust me it didn't last long.
And Dakota. My girl. I have felt and still feel everything she has gone through. Andrea hit every emotion perfectly. The sadness and guilt topped with hope and love. They were all on point. I loved how strong she made Dakota. She's definitely one of my favorite heroines written to date.
It's also fun to see other characters from Andrea's story. This makes small town living really hit home for those of us who live it. Oh and Gene, that old man has my heart. I'm gonna miss him in the future.
My favorite story to date by Andrea. I can't wait to read the next one although let's be honest, Grant has stolen the show for me in this series.
"The soul is like the air of our heart. I like to think it’s our souls’ job to keep our hearts beating so we can live and love." - Cherish Her, Andrea Johnston
Single parents are hard to write in my opinion, especially those with kids already. We meet Dakota in Andrea's book Martinis and Moonlight, she is Minnesota's sister and she has had a tough time as of late. Her girls are young, and their Dad is gone. She isn't really ready to move on and start dating - that is until a rugged military veteran shows up in town and catches her eye. Grant is a man of not very many words; but he has a heart of gold. He is the literal beating heart of this story. He is the one that pursues her in a way that slowly brings her heart to a place of being ready for love, and that in and of itself is beautiful.
You DO NOT have to read Martinis, or Promise Her (book 1 in the Military Men of Lexington series) to read this book. It is a total standalone, but once you latch on to these characters, you will want to go back and read ALL THE THINGS. I love this town so much, and I am sad but excited to see the series end this summer with Love Her.
This book is EVERYTHING!!!! Grant and Dakota's story is full of heart and soul. The writing in this book is top notch and the characters are so relatable and enjoyable to read about. I loved how past characters from Andrea's books made appearances in this book. It's always fun being able to catch up with some of your favourite characters.
This book is a single parent/small town romance and Grant and Dakota will draw you into their story and keep you captivated from start to finish. I loved the gradual progression of their relationship. It wasn't rushed and both of them were very cautious. Their romance was sweet and had some beautiful and tender moments in it. I loved seeing Grant interact with Dakota's little girls and I loved watching their walls come down as they both fell in love with one another.
I honestly don't cry much when reading books but I literally sobbed at the ending of this book. It was so beautiful and perfect.
Trust me you need this book in your life. It is a complete standalone and one book that you won't forget. I'm still thinking about Grant and it's been a few weeks since I read the book!!!!
Cherish Her is the first book by Andrea Johnston that I have read and I can definitely say I would check out some of her other books. A big plus for me in this story is that the characters are over 30. They bring some life experiences and maturity to the story which for me makes them and the story more interesting. Another added bonus is that even though this is a sweet love story, there is the underlying thread of danger when Dakota is being stalked.
I love those alpha military men with big hearts and Grant is all that and more. He is loyal, thoughtful and sweet and is doing everything right with Dakota. He is her friend when she needs one but when she is ready to take the next step he is patient and caring. Dakota has been through so much and Grant is the perfect man to show her that it is okay to love again.
If you enjoy a slow burn romance that takes the route into a steamy relationship then this is a book you really need to read!
I love Andrea Johnston's writing style, and this her latest book is why. The ease in which the main characters evolve and grow with each other is beautiful in a slow-burn way. I love that the main bloke is classed as a "silver fox" - seriously they need more of a profile in books!! The interweaving of previous characters sprinkled throughout the book was delightful - you're able to read this as a stand-alone though. The meaning of "family" for Grant isn't the typical - he draws strength from his old military mates, to his new old, cranky bastard mate - Gene (He's my type of old fart!!). Dakota's girls are sweet - not over the top sickly cute kid like - they come across very real. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to reading Connor's story next - I'm so bloody invested in this town Lexington, Texas!!
Cherish Her is the second title in the Military Men of Lexington, and features Dakota and Grant. I’ve been eager for Dakota’s story ever since she first appeared in the Country Road series, and Grant was perfect for her.
Dakota is a strong and resilient woman, a widower and single mother to two little girls Cali and Ari. Meanwhile Grant a former military man, is a sexy, silver fox with a big heart.
Dakota and Grant’s story is an emotional small town romance with a touch of suspense.
Several characters from the Country Road series, and the characters from the first title in the Military Men of Lexington, Promise Her feature throughout which I loved as it was like reconnecting with old friends.
I highly recommend this title if you enjoy a heartwarming, small town romance.
I was eagerly awaiting the story of Dakota and Grant and I was NOT disappointed. This story had all the feels.. I won't bother giving you the synopsis that you can get from the back of the book. I will say you need to ready the country road series and then dive into the military men of Lexington series. All the characters are connected but the stories are stand alone. You feel like you are catching up with old friends while reading the books. I highly recommend any book written by Andrea.... I may be biased I don't know....but I love her words. You won't be disappointed. I highly recommend.
Let me collect my thoughts and dry my eyes....This book was absolutely amazing, dare I say the best yet from Andrea. I felt so much of this book and am really thankful to be reading it after a heart break. Dakota helped open my eyes and know that you can find love again, open up and stay true to who you are. This was a very powerful book. I was a little mad for the trick in the beginning with Gene, I think it made me like him that much more. Grant is an amazing guy, I was definitely rooting for him and the ending made me break down, truly an heartfelt story. Thank you Andrea Johnston for this story, for me it was the perfect timing,