Protecting Her Heart

PROTECTING HER HEART by NANCY CAMPBELL ALLEN is a most enjoyable romantic thriller that takes place in London in 1889. It is the third novel in a series but it can easily stand alone.
I love the way this author writes, bringing us right into the Victorian age, wtth its snobbery and class consiousness and vibrant social scene.We see how women are ar last coming into their own, some of them taking up professions that were formerly seen as only suitable for men.
Charlotte Duvall comes back to her family’s home in England after four years in America where she qualified as a doctor, to help her father find out the truth about the death of her mother, Katherine. She gets there too late.
Her best friend, John Ellis, director of the Metropolitan Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, and her two cousins, Amelie and Eva, and their detecive husbands, band together to solve the mystery, and to keep her safe. There are other delightful chaacters such as Charlotte’s bodyguard, Dirk, her Aunt Sally and the late Katherine with the three James’s who it seems were in love with her, to name a few, and some of course who are not so delightful!
There is murder, mysyery, danger, familial rivalry, snobbery and a fast moving romance…….
I cannot recommend this entertaining novel highly enough to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Shadow Mountain Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

More a Suspense than A Romance!!!!

this was one of my most anticipated read and it didn’t disappoint at all. honestly it was really really good especially the second half of the novel. the plot focus was on the mystery rather than the romance and i liked that better because of how intriguing and nail-biting it was!!!

loved the main characters and their sweet romance and how they were there for each other!!! and also loved meeting all the other characters and their children 🥺

as for the ending, loved how it took us back to the first book in the series. the tension was high. and i am glad Charlotte avenged her parents!!!!

would like to see more novels in this series 🫶🏼

many thanks to publisher and netgalley for an early copy.

Protecting Her Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen is a wonderful historical fiction and romance that is the third book in the delightful Matchmakers series.

I have read this series from the beginning, and I think this one is my favorite. Of course there is the slow burn romance from long-time friends to something more between Charlotte and John, but there is so much more.

There is mystery, history, suspense, surprises, and a bit of action to boot. Charlotte and John make for great MCs with real personalities and professional lives. They are multifaceted and are great as individuals as well as together. Working together on this mystery was quite excellent.

Such a cute book that kept my interest throughout.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 1/2/24.

With her father’s death secrets are revealed
This book will keep you reading as you try to figure out who people really were and what really happened. Shortly before her father’s death Charlotte receives a letter from him hinting that her mother’s death was not as accidental as she has been led to believe, and asking her to return to England. Arriving in time for the funeral, Charlotte decides to search for the truth with information left by her father. As she sets off on this pursuit, she is joined by two of her friends and their spouses, who are policemen, as well as her friend John who she had been close to in the past and was now director of the Metropolitan Police Investigation Department. As they search for clues questions arise about the true personalities of the people surrounding her mother, and the roles they played in her mother’s life. Soon they realize it will take all of their efforts, as well as bravery, to bring the truth out and stop those wanting to keep the past a secret. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the copy. This is my review and all thoughts are my own.

I really liked this one! Well written, a swoony romance, and and enticing mystery with lots of intrigue.

I've read the other two books in the series and this one fits right in. Of course, it was great to catch up with former characters and to see how they all take care of each other, and how their families have grown.

Charlotte and John have a shared past and friendship, and their feelings make for a slow-burn romance, that's all the more great to read.

A great ending as well!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I love this series! I love the intrigue, the romance, the banter, the family relationships, and the women forging forward!

Charlotte has gone to America to become a doctor, but comes home after a cryptic letter from her father. He has passed away before she arrives home, but she wants to solve the mystery behind her mother's death. The 20 year old death has some strange bedfellows, and the danger keeps on mounting.

John Ellis has been part of the cousins group for the past few years, and he has missed Charlotte. As the investigation grows dangerous, can he keep his feelings quiet?

This is the 3rd installment of the Hampton cousins, and they just keep on getting better. I am so afraid this will be the last. Maybe one on Aunt Sally? Hint hint

The writing is great, the characters are good, the villains are bad, the romance is sweet. What a great combination!

This was one of the most delightful books I’ve read this year! I adored it! I really liked Charlotte and John, as well as the other Notorious Hamptons and their families. The story was fantastic, exciting, and had me on the edge of my seat at times. 10/10 would recommend.

*I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgalley. Many thanks to Shadow Mountain. All thoughts are my own.*

What a perfect addition to this series! I absolutely LOVED the previous two stories and this one proved no different. Nancy Campbell Allen is able to draw the reader in, making them believe that they are part of the story. The reader becomes invested in the action and love story. I was so invested that I could not put it down! he action, adventure, and love story are everything you could want in a story.

Charlotte was finally realizing her goals to become a doctor and surgeon, when she receives a cryptic letter from her father regarding his illness and the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of her mother decades ago. Wanting to see her ailing father, she travels from America to England, however, she receives news of his death during her voyage. Trying to make sense of her father's cryptic note, she b begins to investigate her mother's death with the help of her long time friend, Detective John Ellis. Someone is onto her and is doing everything possible, including injuring her and threatening her family, to get her to leave it alone and return to America. However, Charlotte is not so easily swayed and in the process of discovering what exactly happened to her mother, she discovers love also.

Nancy weaves a story I couldn't put down! I have been waiting for this book since the first one released. Just like the other two, this one pulls you in with the romance, intrigue, past secrets, and danger. Plus who doesn't love a good friends to lovers trope where he falls first?

London, 1889
A mystery 20 years in the making. Danger around every turn.
A slow-building romance between long-time friends, Scotland Yard's Director Johnathan Ellis, and Dr. Charlotte Duvall part of the "Notorious Branch of the Hampton family". Plus a well-balanced list of players including several reuturns from the series, make for an exciting read in this well-written tale set in Victorian England.

A background character who has a large presence is Dirk, and I truly hope he sparks a spin-off series.
"Dirk was as quiet as ever, but she knew he absorbed everything around him. Charlotte suspected his unwillingness to babble—or engage in long conversation, even—might have contributed to his legendary mystique. She’d gotten one thing out of him, however; he had a sister and a seven-year-old niece."

Highly recommend this series. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

(Clean content but, zero faith elements-noted for my Christian friends)

Series: Hampton House:
1. The Matchmaker’s Lonely Heart
2. To Capture His Heart
3. Protecting Her Heart
By Nancy Campbell Allen

I was gifted this eBook by NetGalley.
All opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

My ⭐ Rating
1 star = bad!
2 stars = did not like
3 stars = good
4 stars = very good
5 stars = excellent

𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 52 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮 📚 2023

In addition to GoodReads & NetGalley, reviews will be posted to my blog: BlueJeansAndTeacups, Amzn, B&N, BAM, & Kobo

This book is a heartwarming and captivating story that is told with sincerity. I highly recommend picking up this book! The author's writing style is smooth and descriptive, catering to visual readers like myself. This is the third book in the series. While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading the previous book to become familiar with the recurring characters.

Upon receiving news of her father's passing, Charlotte Duvall promptly returns home to tend to her family's estate. While sorting through her father's belongings, she comes across a box of her late mother's letters, which bring some comfort to her mourning heart. However, upon reading them, she discovers discrepancies that imply her mother's death may have been shrouded in secrecy. Seeking clarity, Charlotte turns to John Ellis, her most trusted confidant, and director of London's police force.

Charlotte was a great heroine, in my opinion. She’s clever, witty, bold, and compassionate. I loved her unwavering devotion to both her profession as a doctor and her loved ones. John is definitely a hero, kind, strong, and fearless, this is definitely an emotional romance, friends to lovers, and swooningly romantic, with a slower burn romance that I loved every second of it.

This was such a delight to read! All the stars from me. A historical mystery, with suspense, and a bit of action with enough romance. ...Content: clean romance, kissing only...

A special thanks to Shadow Mountain and NetGalley for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE THIS SERIES! I was so excited to get an ARC for this book, thank you NetGalley so much.

John, a detective, and Charlotte, a doctor team up after she returns home after a mysterious letter from her father suggesting Charlotte’s mother’s death long ago was not an accident, but a murder.

I love when two people fall in love while solving a murder and John and Charlotte do just that. They’ve been friends, both having stronger feelings for one another, but when their defenses get lowered while solving the case things start to charge.

This is a clean romance with a murder mystery. I thought the plot was engaging and loved the characters. 5 stars!

I was really looking forward to this book that had all the elements of my favorite plots. What could be better than a story about a female doctor in Victorian England solving a murder, including a romance with a detective? But there's very little in the story about Charlotte's activities as a doctor and the murder mystery is slow going. The romance wasn't very exciting either, as Charlotte and her romantic interest John, had known each other for years as friends and now have warmed up to each other to the point of a serious relationship. It somehow got bogged down with underdeveloped characters and a solution to the mystery that was hard to buy into. It was OK but disappointing.

Nancy Cambell Allen does not disappoint with her latest Victorian Romance/Suspense novel! I enjoyed getting to see all the Hampton couples interact with each other as a family, as well as experience Charlotte's growth within the past years since book #2. I liked the first two in the series more, but that may just be personal preference.

I recieved a free copy of this novel from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

the swooniest friends to lovers to EVER

i already adore the victorian era and this heartwarming romance was the cherry on top. the writing was beautiful and the mystery side plot just added that extra enticement to an already compelling story!

highly recommend checking this one out

"Protecting Her Heart" was a very enjoyable book. After reading many historical romances over the past few years, I was finding that genre a little repetitive and flat, but this great Victorian romance definitely showed me why I used to enjoy reading clean romances so much - it's sweet, it's touching, it's fun, and it makes a great comfort read!

The third and last book in "The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart" series, this novels follows Charlotte and John, the remaining spinster/bachelor of the group of six friends whose adventures we've been following in this series. This novel took place about 4 years after the previous book, with the return of Charlotte who spent the past few years in America, studying to become a physician. Her return to England to attend her father's funeral is the occasion for her to investigate her mother's death, an event that was not as it seemed, according to the last letter Charlotte's departed father sent her. With the help of her best friend John, Charlotte will soon realise that she kicked a hornet's nests and that the consequences are worse than she could have expected.

I enjoyed Charlotte and Nathan's relationship - it's sweet, witty, honest and believable. Both protagonists spend a lot of time together and have many conversations, which strongly shows the connection they share, and make their growing feelings for each other believable. I appreciated the balance between the romance and the intrigue, both alternating regularly or taking place simultaneously. Secondary characters, including those from previous book, were well developed, although we could have seen a little bit more of them. And some more information about the advancements of medicine, life in a hospital, the role of nurses, the difference between surgeons and physicians, etc. would have been interesting as it is a relatively important theme of the book.

But the setting, the pace, the intrigue, the writing... I liked it all, and would therefore highly recommend this book!

*I received a free eARC and this is my honest opinion*

This story keeps the reader enthralled from the first page. This story has a compelling mystery, lots of emotion and plenty of heart. I loved the friendship between the cousins and their families. I highly recommend this book.

I love a love story between long-time friends. That's what this is. It's a mystery/romance combined (so yes, there will be those damsel in distress moments). The characters are enjoyable and the storyline is fun. Definitely a good read!

Campbell always weaves such a great love story into every book. She is also an author that knows how to tell a good story! Her mystery's are always well done.

tl;dr
A mystery with a side of romance, featuring a sweet lead couple and a surprising amount of danger.

Thoughts
Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the series, I have been looking forward to the third book and the third couple, and this book absolutely delivers. Charlotte and John were already likable in the previous installments, and it's great to see them get their moment. This book definitely centers the mystery, and the leads' relationships with their social standings. It's not a bad choice, as Charlotte and John have already developed enough that we the don't need to be convinced they love each other, but we do get a good deal of requisite pining before either of them manages to say it out loud. The stakes have also been raised a good deal! The mystery is incredibly personal, and the danger has ramped up, and I found myself genuinely worried for our heroes in several places. Like the previous books, the mystery is more read-along than solve-along, with a fitting conclusion. There's more thrill and action than one might expect from a book marketed as "Proper Victorian Romance."

The structure of this series is such that the two previous books are not required reading, but if you like this one, you'll probably like those too.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an advance copy! All thoughts in this review are my own.

I didn’t realize when I requested this that it wasn’t the first in a series, and it did feel like I was behind on quite a few things (which I realize was my fault for not checking first.) I liked the relationship between John and Charlotte, I just didn’t really care for the murder/forensic aspects of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Another wonderful installment in this enjoyable series.
Nancy Campbell Allen balances the perfect amount of mystery and romance.

When Charlotte gets a cryptic message from her dying father that her mother’s death wasn’t an accident, she turns to her cousins and their detective husbands to solve the case. She also seeks help from her longtime friend John Ellis, who is bound to become more.
There are real consequences when Charlotte dredges up old memories from her mother’s past, as all the parties involved have become powerful MPs and have much to lose.

Amelie and Eva are back along with their husbands so we see the evolution of this cousin/friend group. Even if you haven’t read the other books in this series, Protecting Her Heart can stand alone.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.