Defending Elena

A True North Ranch Story

De: Tessa Leigh

Narrado por: Randy Boyum

He saved her life once. Now she’s back—and she’s bringing danger with her.

Jack Harrison likes things quiet. After years in the military and a betrayal that shattered his closest friendship, he’s built a life of solitude on a rugged Colorado ranch. But when Elena Dawson—his late best friend’s widow and the woman he swore he’d never see again—shows up in the middle of a cattle auction, chaos follows.

She’s running from something. Something deadly.

Elena never planned to come back. But cryptic threats, buried secrets, and a list of names her husband left behind have pushed her into the one place she hoped to avoid: Jack’s doorstep. She needs protection, even if he’s the last man she wants to ask. Especially after everything that tore them apart.

Forced to share close quarters while a storm rages and danger circles, their uneasy alliance begins to crack open old wounds—and unearth sparks neither of them are ready for. But trust is a luxury Jack can’t afford. And Elena may be hiding more than just fear behind those tired eyes and clipped sarcasm.

When past betrayals collide with present threats, Jack and Elena must decide: Will they fight together for the future Declan once dreamed of—or be torn apart by the secrets he left behind?

A slow-burn, emotionally gripping contemporary romance packed with heart, danger, and redemption. Perfect for fans of small-town tension, broken heroes, and second chances that feel earned.

©2025 Tessa Leigh (P)2026 Tessa Leigh

Romance

Defending Elena by Tessa Leigh is a great small town/ rural western/ military romance. Randy Boyum did a great job with the narration. The story is entertaining, exciting, interesting, romantic, funny and more. Defending Elena is the first book in A True North Ranch series.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.would recommend

will keep you on your toes

This book was so good!! I listened to the audiobook, and man, was it a good listen. Tessa Leigh built such a good plot for Defending Elena: A True North Ranch Story. Mixing a cowboy with a military background, Chiefs kiss, Tessa! I promise this book will suck you in and keep you on your toes. If you like suspense, romance, and great banter, this is the audiobook for you! Highly recommend this!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Suspenseful!

I found this to be more of an action story than romance but it was still entertaining. I wasn’t expecting the focus on the actual physical defending of Elena. I was on the edge of my seat with the suspense though so it was well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

When the Past Rides Back Into Town

When the Past Rides Back Into Town

If you love a story where danger storms in on horseback and healing has to be earned the hard way, Defending Elena by Tessa Leigh will absolutely sweep you off your feet.

From the very first chapter, this novella grips you tight—and it doesn’t let go.

It opens with chaos: a runaway steer, pounding hooves, and Jack Harrison riding straight into danger to save Elena Dawson. That dramatic rescue sets the tone for everything that follows—tense, emotional, and deeply satisfying.

Jack is the kind of hero I can’t resist. Former military. Rancher. Quiet. Guarded. Still carrying the weight of betrayal and the loss of his best friend, Declan. He’s carved out a solitary life on his Colorado ranch because it’s easier not to feel.

And then Elena comes back.

Elena—the widow of his late best friend. The woman he never expected to see again. The woman who brings danger straight to his doorstep.

She’s running from cryptic threats and secrets her husband left behind—secrets that have now put both her and Jack squarely in the crosshairs. The tension between them? Chef’s kiss. It’s slow-burn, layered, and full of unresolved grief. They are both hurting. Both wary. Both holding pieces of the past that don’t quite fit.

What I loved most is that this romance feels earned. Trust doesn’t come easily. Forgiveness doesn’t happen overnight. But when danger strikes, they move as a team—strong, capable, and fiercely protective of one another. The fight scenes are realistic and full of adrenaline, and when the first wave of bad guys comes after them, Jack and Elena don’t crumble—they strategize. And when things escalate, they call in friends and neighbors, giving us those small-town, found-family vibes that make stories like this so rich and satisfying.

It’s a clean romance, but don’t mistake that for low intensity. The chemistry is undeniable. The push and pull between them kept me flipping pages long past bedtime. There’s heart. There’s suspense. There’s redemption.

And at its core, this is a story about second chances—not just in love, but in life. About stepping back into community when isolation feels safer. About fighting for the future someone else dreamed of when it would be easier to walk away.

As the introductory novella to the True North Ranch series, it’s the perfect hook. Fast-paced, emotionally gripping, and filled with promise for what’s to come.

If you love:

Broken heroes who protect first and love later

Widow + best friend’s bond tension

Small-town ranch settings

Clean romance with real suspense

Action balanced with heart

Then saddle up.

Because sometimes the past doesn’t just knock—it rides back into town.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Will listen to it again! 🤠🎧

Defending Elena pulled me in from the very first chapter! The mix of romance, danger, and faith kept me listening late into the night. Elena’s courage and Jack’s quiet strength made this story feel so real. The tension, emotion, and obvious history between them makes me ready for book 2.

Randy Boyum’s narration is absolutely perfect. He captures Jack’s calm, rugged, stoic confidence and brings the Colorado ranch setting to life in such a vivid, cinematic way. You can hear the heart in his voice.

If you love clean romantic suspense with a strong message of redemption and second chances, this one’s a must-listen. I’ll definitely be diving into the next book in the True North Ranch series!