An agonizing love story of a young lady and the knight, her protector, who have hope for a future together, but is forbidden. Years later, danger brings them back together. Will their future be denied again? Bring out the tissues with this one. Your heart will break for this couple who never lost hope. Mild descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Get your tissues handy for this one! Fox and Gisele are so wonderful together, yet cruelly separated. I cried and almost screamed in this book and I'll happily read it again!

Kathryn le Veque always has excellently written books now this one stands out. Please, do yourself a huge favor and read this book!

I just reviewed The Protector by Kathryn Le Veque. #TheProtector #NetGalley

This was an interesting read. Still not sure I loved it but different than what I usually stick to. If you want something interesting but not too far out this is a good option.

The Protector
by Kathryn Le Veque

True love never dies. Another amazing story from Katherine Le Veque. My emotions were all over the place with this heart breaking story.
Fox de Merest was an exceptional knight that was ordered by William Marshal to protect Gisele of Hampshire. Gisele is the illegitimate daughter of very important and powerful people. As she grew older, Gisele grew into a beautiful young woman who only had eyes for Fox, and Fox for Gisele.
Unfortunately, her father demanded that Gisele had to be sent to a convent. Thus Gisele and Fox were separated, and no contact between them was allowed.
Kathryn brings the reader into the story in so many ways. Yes, you will need kleenix. I felt like I was right there with Gisele and Fox throughout the story, and I was sharing their emotions. Kathryn takes you into the Blackchurch Guild and the many characters that have established a "Family".
This is one story you do not want to miss.

I loved Fox and Gisele's story - devoted to each other from a young age, but circumstances forced them apart for many years. As always, Ms Le Veque gives us emotion & angst, intrigue and suspense. I love the cameraderie of the members of the Black Church Guild - each book feels like a family reunion, getting to see what's happening with the characters from previous books. Definitely a must-read book and series!

True Love Never Dies

He promised to protect her, but then, he fell in love with her. Gisele was no ordinary woman. There were those who would find her to kill her, and royal orders would see her married against her will. Because of who she was, she could not marry the man she loved. She must spend her days in a nunnery. Could her destiny change? This medieval romance might get you to reach for that box of tissues. It might break your heart, but what would it take to put it back together again? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to lovers of medieval romance with honorable knights and enduring love. The story stayed with me long after I finished reading it.

Kathryn Le Veque's The Protector weaves a compelling tale of love and redemption in medieval England. Sir Fox de Merest, known as The Protector, is tasked with safeguarding Gisele of Hampshire, a royal bastard, from the dangers of a tumultuous era. As Fox and Gisele's complex relationship evolves, their enduring love shines through moments of tenderness and passion.

Le Veque's meticulous attention to historical accuracy immerses readers in the intrigue of the Plantagenet royal family and the turbulent backdrop of medieval England. The novel's unique narrative structure, with Fox recounting the past to friends, adds intimacy to the story. While addressing sensitive themes, The Protector ultimately delivers a powerful message of love's resilience and redemption, making it a must-read for historical romance enthusiasts.

This medieval romance involves one of the trainers at Blackchurch, the most elite warrior training school in England. In this story we find out why and how he joined. Get the tissues out for that part.

Sir Fox de Merest is known as The Protector because that was his role for so long. Our hero is a tormented man still struggling emotionally.

Gisele is the illegitimate daughter of a very powerful man. Because of that she has been hidden away most of her life. The family who took her in have loved her like one of their own. That will not be enough soon.

A very emotional story ,written in two parts. The school is a fascinating place with lots more stories to give us, I'm sure. All the fabulous characters are so different from each other, but have a strong sense of brotherhood. You will meet characters from other books, but that just adds to the enjoyment. Someone I love to hate because he always makes life so difficult for our heroes is William Marshal. He is especially hard on this hero. He just might be human after all.

Wonderful book and I can't wait for more.

I loved it.

Riddled with guilt, Fox de Merest would have given his life for Gisele, but is forced to give her up instead by William Marshal, his mentor and the man who knighted him. When Gisele's life is put in danger, Fox has no choice but to leave her at a convent or face the lasting fury of William Marshal. This novel is well-written, interwoven into history and a thread of suspense runs all the way through it. Fox becomes a Blackchurch trainer and settles near the convent to be close to Gisele should she ever need him, with his heart remaining true to her despite the nightmares and the heartache that he continues to experience after all the years of exile. When the day finally arrives that he receives the token proving that Gisele has need of him, Fox and his friends lose no time to going to her rescue, where a further surprise awaits him. Despite the King's intent, Gisele is rescued once again, but this time Fox refuses to let go, and when faced with William Marshall, it is Gisele who makes a final stand, refusing to bow down to his dictates. The novel comes to a lovely conclusion, bringing family and friends together.

Another amazing story from Katherine Le Veque. My emotions were all over the place with this heart breaking story.
Fox de Merest was an exceptional knight that was ordered by William Marshal to protect Gisele of Hampshire. Gisele is the illegitimate daughter of very important and powerful people. As she grew older, Gisele grew into a beautiful young woman who only had eyes for Fox, and Fox for Gisele.
Unfortunately, her father demanded that Gisele had to be sent to a convent. Thus Gisele and Fox were separated, and no contact between them was allowed.
Kathryn brings the reader into the story in so many ways. Yes, you will need kleenix. I felt like I was right there with Gisele and Fox throughout the story, and I was sharing their emotions. Kathryn takes you into the Blackchurch Guild and the many characters that have established a "Family".
This is one story you do not want to miss. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
I received ARC from Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley.

This was an entertaining, well-written medieval romance. It was action packed, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and this author is a must read for me.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Back with the Blackchurch Guild, this book explores the life of Fox de Merest, and his romance with Gisele of Hampshire.
It’s fast paced, thrilling and some awesome characters of Kathryn’s take Center stage.

The Protector of course is Fox, an exceptional knight and one with lots of promise.
In his younger days he was ordered by William Marshall to protect a young child, Gisele, from many who would have killed her.
Fox performed perfectly until she grew into a beautiful woman, then his duty became much more difficult.

Gisele is stubborn, outspoken and often childish in her actions, leading to a few awkward moments and conversations.
But Fox and her are meant to be together, and neither is willing to give the other up.

A heartfelt and at times emotional story, well written and very much one you may need tissues for.
Excellent reading!
Highly recommended!

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Wow! A thoroughly engrossing story!

Where do I even start with this book? Fox and Gisele's love story is a wild roller-coaster of love, betrayal, secrets, and a heartbreaking separation. I couldn't put it down, even when parts of it didn't sit right with my 21st century ideals.

First, I should probably point out a major content warning: there is an attempted suicide detailed on-page, that might be unsettling for some readers. Also, the age gap between the two main characters would be considered highly problematic by today's standards, but this author's world-building is always an immersive experience and this particular situation was probably not as uncommon as we'd like to think during the High Middle Ages.

Fox was assigned to be Gisele's protector, to keep her hidden from those who would use her (because of her royal connections) as a pawn or who would kill her outright. Their early years together are almost idyllic, but they're kept apart by secrets and promises that neither of them is aware of. After a particularly close call, however, they're forced apart and then deliberately kept apart for far too many years.

It's not until the opportunity arises to fight for her safety, once again, that Fox and Gisele decide to take matters into their own hands and force their HEA down the throats of anyone who dares to stand against them. This was my favorite part, even if it was too long in coming. Throughout the story, we see both Fox and Gisele mature from their naïve, impressionable younger selves into their tested and more level-headed adult selves. They paid a heavy price for their youthful indiscretions, but their HEA was rock-solid and more than worth the fight.

One of the things I love best about this author's stories is the attention to detail and the exquisite weaving of her fictional characters with real-life historical figures. This story is set during a very turbulent time in England's history, which in itself provides plenty of conflict for Gisele and Fox. I absolutely adore reading about history, both true and fiction, and this book had me doing copious amounts of my own research to gather more context for the historically factual threads. That, in and of itself, makes this book one of my favorites.

If you're looking for warrior heroes, gallant chivalry, and epic love stories, you owe it to yourself to read everything this author writes. Start with this one. You won't be disappointed. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Historical fiction romance, medieval period, knights, bastard princesses, assassination attempts, forbidden love with her guard, and 10 years of pining.

The author goes at great length to add historically realistic details and scenarios of political and social dynamics. I had a tough time putting aside my modern ideology (16-year-olds should not be in relationships), so relating to the characters was tough.

The story for me is slow and I had to put in effort to keep me interested. About half-way through it sped up and things became heated as the status quo was challenged.

3.6/5 Star (rounded up to 4). Good enough for a read, but not enough pull to reread again.

Heart wrenching story of Gigi and Fox from the very first page. That said it's one of the most amazing stories ever and not one to miss. Set in two parts, past and present it takes you through a love so awesome it spans 16 years. The beauty of this book is not just the story itself but the history of the time. The immense intrigue, spying, political, power seeking, and interconnecting families bring life to both the pages and history. The amount of research is so evidently woven into the plot. There is a HEA but your tears will flow with a plethora of emotions from beginning to end.

Loyalty, Commitment, Family Made This an Extremely Enjoyable Story:
This emotionally intoxicating story is about Fox and Gisele and their love that never wavers even though it has been forbidden.
The book is actually written in 2 parts which I found enjoyable. The first part tells of the beginning relationship between Fox the guardian of Helen who is a ward of his liege and how they eventually fall in love. The second part deals with their emotional separation, and how Fox's became part of The Black Church Guild.
Will Fox and Helens relationship continue? Well, this is a love story after all, but beware the last part is jaw gripping, with many sad and sweet tears streaming down my face, terrifying danger, along with a Yahoo! laugh out loud ending for the nuns that couldn't have happened if not for the comradery of the Black Church Guild. Bravo! guys.
Some stories are just more superior than others and this one was certainly worth reading.
✔Tissue box advisory:

This author has a way with words and telling a story. She is a fantastic author and never disappoints with her words. This was a great love story with ups and downs and disappointments. There's plenty of danger, love and hope. Excellent read. HEA.

Heart wrenching tale of love and loss.
Fox is a Knight assigned to the protection of a young girl named Giselle. As the years pass, they eventually fall in love and spend their time together. But a dangerous situation leads to Fox delivering her to a place of her father’ choosing in a convent. Fox and Giselle are separated for ten years without contact but their love for each other still burns in their hearts. A confrontation at the convent leads Fox to rush to save her but can their circumstances be changed?
They need to find out if they can finally be together.
Loved the story so much that I had to read it twice just to catch every nuance.

This was a heartbreaking story of true love being denied. It has been 10 years since he had to ride away from the love of his life. Fox has stayed close to where Gigi is and has never seen her since the day that his heart was destroyed. Gigi has missed Fox every day and has some things to tell him if she ever gets to see him again. Things start to happen that will alter their lives. I absolutely loved this story! I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Protector by Katheryn Le Veque is a Blackchurch romance and quite a good one. It is told slightly differently than most of her novels, but to the same effect. The bulk of the romance had been over ten years earlier and was told by Fox de Merest, who had been an instructor at Blackchurch for years, to his friends, Tay Monro and Ming Tang, one night when none had been able to sleep. The lady in question is Lady Gisele de Salisbury whom he had been hired to protect when she was a mere ten years of age. She needed protection because she was the bastard daughter of William Marshal, and Queen Margaret, wife of young King Henry. Henry knew she was not his, but other than him it was a closely guarded secret and as an infant she had been sent to the Earl of Hampshire and his wife, at Selborne, to be raised there as a child of the house. Only three times had any attempts been made on her and the last one was violent and dangerous to others. At than point her adoptive parents sent her to Castlereigh, a convent, despite the fact that Fox had wanted to marry her. They had been lovers for years. Fox took her, promising he would come back for her. He had been threatened, as had she, so he ended up at Blackchurch, which was at least close to her. It had been ten years and it was still like it was yesterday.

What a book: full of nuance and detail. The characters, some of whom we have met before, were well-written and full-bodied. Gigi had lived at the abbey, not as a nun, but as a widow for ten long years. She was a terrific character who grew from an immature, entitled young woman into a woman of courage and beauty. She had not wasted her time while at the convent but acquired some skills. She had unlimited faith in Fox and knew he would return for her. It was an enticing story of courage and patience. Both she and Fox had grown in the intervening years and the story reflected that growth. As always, Le Veque has written a novel so full of the honor and glory of the time that it leaves one breathless.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Protector by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #KathrynLeVeque #TheProtector