Protecting Her Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen is a wonderfully written Victorian mystery novel that was a joy to read with likable primary and secondary characters and captured my attention. The author's description of the scene and the characters were wonderful and drew you into the story and held your interest.

The MC, Charlotte Duvall is a recently trained doctor, living and working in America following her graduation from medical school and is thoroughly enjoying the demanding work and long hours. She receives a letter from her father that her beautiful mother's passing many years ago, while Charlotte was still a little girl, was under suspicious circumstances. While making her way home, she receives news that her father has passed away so is unable to ask him questions relating to his letter. Upon arrival in London, she meets up with family and friends, old and new at her father's funeral and among the old friends is John Ellis, the Director of the Metropolitan Police's Criminal Investigation Department and someone who has always had a soft spot for Charlotte.

During Charlotte's investigation into her mother's death, she is threatened several times but verbally and later, physically but this makes her even more determined to see this through. John helps her along the way with her investigation and this throws the pair together in many situations where they grow to love and care very much for each other. I loved that this kept my interest piqued throughout the novel and glued to the very end.

Wonderfully written characters well fleshed out plot with interesting twists and turns to keep you satisfied from start to finish. Never a dull moment, which is a definite plus for me!

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

Protecting Her Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen is a glorious Victorian romantic mystery. Enjoy as a standalone, but a delightful continuation if you’ve read the other two books in this series.
I adored the large cast of characters, between family and friends. I think there’s even a few more stories that could come from them.
In this story, Charlotte and John become my favorite. They are so well matched and have a beautiful friendship that naturally morphed into more. Both are charismatic, highly intelligent, and willing to be the person they desire, not the one society states they must be.
I loved Charlotte’s occupation as a doctor, especially because it was during a time that female doctors were still seen as scandalous. The entire Hampton family has just been joyful to read as they all buck against societal constraints. John has also chosen his own way and respects that quality in Charlotte. Their match was pure joy to watch unravel and worth the wait!
The mystery was very well done. The key players were never the question in my mind, but how all the specifics came to light was brilliant.
I truly hope there’s more to this series! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

A, risk it all, desperate bid to solve a deadly crime, unpick old grudges or die trying!

PROTECTING HER HEART is a fun and engaging tale that focuses around the dangerous revelation of a decades old possible murder.
Allen is a promising new author for me, with an exciting, engaging writing style, about unconventional and fascinatingly interesting characters...that delightfully don't kowtow to society's conventions and dictates with this inner strength and boldness to follow their own hard won paths...which adds a different perspective and fun spin to the in the moment, suspenseful, intrigue.
I particularly liked the sweetness of the romance, the 'will they, won't they' element to their intimacy and the undercurrent of dealing with their confusing new feelings and outlook after a long four years apart as Charlotte sort to advance her medical career in America. Where that initial spark of realisation they wanted so much more than friendship, made for some fun - I really wish there were more - clinches and encounters that entangled throughout the tale's core mystery. Developing a slow burn romance that heightens the sense of drama, jeopardy and the highstakes consequences of the threat that doggedly lurks, with sinister intent, at Charlotte's heels, thanks to her father digging up the past and involving her in the exposing and unearthing of some very dangerous secrets someone is deviously willing to kill to remain forever buried.
Unravelling an absorbing mystery where the action and threat heats up a notch on the thrill-o-meter as each piece of evidence comes with a dangerous warning to life as suspects become more desperate, suspicions fly and the mysteries surrounding Charlotte's mother's death and her late father's belief it was anything but an accident, come to a precarious head...very statisfyingly...in the second half of the book.
Overall, a well put together tale that works perfectly as a standalone from the point of view of a good, race against time, murder mystery. However, with the main trio of romantic couples having such close friendships that link over the course of three books - bringing together Metropolitan police detectives with one of the notorious Hampton ladies - I recommend you read in order, as I can only imagine what I have missed in the connections and deep bonds between Charlotte and John, in terms of the chance to appreciate the build of charged tension and understand the relationship dynamics between their interactions and crimes they have previously helped to solve. As a result, I'm keen to see where it all began for each friend to lover romance as their feelings shifted into passion sparking want as clues revealed led to close calls and inevitably intensified their drive to protect and find the courage to admit their true feelings.
A great read to escape into from a series I am eager to read in its entirety!

Protecting Her Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen was a long-awaited read for me. I loved the first two books in this series, and this one did not disappoint.

After Charlotte's father wrote an odd letter regarding her late mother's death, Charlotte returns home to help solve the mystery. Unfortunately, her father dies before she can make it back to England from America. With help from her cousins and the police director, John, Charlotte searches for answers long hidden.

Filled with action, murder, and romance, this was a fabulous read that I devoured quickly! I loved John and Charlotte's relationship, and especially enjoyed Charlotte as a strong female lead. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes historical mysteries with a heavy dose of clean romance.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks for NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book doesn't come out until next year but I couldn't wait to start reading it. I've loved the other books in this series, and was excited for Charlotte and John's story.

When newly graduated medical doctor Charlotte Duvall receives word that her father has died, she immediately leaves America and returns home to see to her family’s estate. Among her father’s possessions is a box of her late mother’s letters, which feels like a balm to Charlotte’s grief-stricken heart. But the letters contain some inconsistencies that suggest there was more to her mother’s death than Charlotte had been told. She turns to the one man she trusts more than anyone—her treasured friend and director of London’s police force, John Ellis.
John Ellis has harbored feelings for Charlotte ever since he first met her. Tucked into his heart are thoughts of her sharp mind, quick wit, and remarkable beauty. Though he has not yet found the courage to share his feelings with the young doctor, he is eager to help her in her hour of need.
Investigating the details of a death was not how Charlotte imagined she would find love, but as she and John work to unravel a dark web of secrets and lies, she finds herself relying on him more and more—and opening her heart to him in the process.
As the danger draws ever closer, John vows to do everything in his power to protect Charlotte from harm. But he fears protecting her heart might come at the cost of breaking his own.

The characters in this book feel realistics, especially for the time period and as much as these cousins are similar they very much feel like their own people with differences and their own motivations. I loved reading about Charlotte choosing to be a doctor and doing whatever it took to make that dream come true. John's willingness to put his feelings aside to watch her career suceed was so amazing.
The romance in this story was very well balanced with the mystery aspects without it being all in so quickly. The friendship prior to this story was built so well that their relationship changing felt natural and earned.

This was a murder mystery romance set in the Victorian era, and was just so engaging! Charlotte is a strong woman, seeking a life as a doctor, while trying to solve the mystery that plagued her father on his death bed. John is there, cheering her on and fighting WITH her through all of it. That sweet thread of romance interwoven with mystery made this such a fast paced and enjoyable read!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley, all enthusiastic opinions are my own!

This series just keeps getting better. Each book is progressively getting better and better.

I enjoyed the first book; it was a great mix of mystery with an exciting ending. Easily cover stars. Book two was even better. I had just reread "Death on the Nile" and book two felt exactly same. It was like reading two Agatha Christie novels in a row.

I wasn't sure how book three was going to live up to the first two, but I was wrong. It somehow exceeded both.

I absolutely loved Charlotte as the heroine. Her independence and determination were my favorite. Her and John were a perfect match, since they both aren't afraid to go off the beaten path and they both work tirelessly to achieve what's they want.

If you love mystery, suspense, action, romance, and friends-to-lovers, this book is for you. And if you don't love one of those things, read it anyways since it has almost everything you could want in a book. I can't recommend it enough.

This book was heartwarming and captivating and I loved every minute of it. I have head the other books in the series and I believe this is my favorite. All the stars for 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.

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.

"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*

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

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.

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.