Protected by my Stalker: A Short Protective Obsessive Romance

by Holly Harper

She saved his life, now he thinks hers is his to protect.

I saved a stranger in a dark alley—stabbed, bleeding, barely holding on. I didn’t think twice. I called 911, held pressure to the wound, and stayed until help arrived.

I never expected to see him again.

But then the little things started happening.
My coffee paid for.
My broken door mysteriously fixed.
The dishes I didn’t do…done.

I felt eyes on me.
Always watching.
Always near.

Until one night, he stepped out of the shadows—
And into my bedroom.

He says he’s been protecting me.
He says he owes me his life.
And now... he wants mine.

Dark, obsessive, and utterly possessive—
Max isn’t a hero.

He watches me like I belong to him.

Touches me like he’s starved.

And when he whispers what he wants to do to me...

I stop wanting to run.

If you like your men morally gray, possessive, obsessive, and hungry for one woman, then read on! Each book in this series is a short standalone story, which should be able to be read in sixty minutes or less.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Dark

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2025

Reviews

[｡.•*¨*•♬✧maeve ✧♬•*¨*•.｡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4/5 this was a fun, super quick read!!! i was laughing at the end because it’s only ava’s 2nd time meeting max and all of a sudden she loves him and is moving in with him…..but i guess that makes sense for a 50 page dark romance! i finished this in less than an hour. there wasn’t really anything wrong with this other than a few small typos:)

•∘˙⊹. ꒰ঌ ᧔ෆ᧓ ໒꒱ .⊹˙∘•

🌶️2/5 this is literally 50 pages, so it’s spicy but minimally!

•∘˙⊹. ꒰ঌ ᧔ෆ᧓ ໒꒱ .⊹˙∘•

dark romance novella
stalker romance
she saves him x he attaches to her
explicit content….18+ read!
etc.

•∘˙⊹. ꒰ঌ ᧔ෆ᧓ ໒꒱ .⊹˙∘•

i would recommend this to anyone who needs a fast paced, stalker dark romance read!🖤✨

[Sarah Sample · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little read! Enjoyed this little book. A little weird how she fell in love with him after meeting him once before. But overall good.

[Sharon McMaster]

Don’t let the fact that this is a short read take away from the power behind the punch….this book was steamy, dark with an obsessive stalker. Ava is pretty much on her own with no friends, family and I feel a little socially awkward in addition to being a homebody. But she steps up to help a man when he was stabbed with no regard to the fact that she was fleeing someone in a back alley. But suddenly she doesn’t feel alone anymore and what would bother most people like that watched feeling or things she doesn’t remember doing or being moved in her apartment actually is comforting to her as it makes her feel seen and wanted . Max knows he owes a life debt to Ava but he want to protect and help her becomes an over the top obsession. I enjoyed this quick read and the series as well

[Rebel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, let’s be real—there’s just something about a man who’s quietly unhinged in all the right ways, and Max? Oh, Max is that man. You know the type: broody, dangerous, morally gray with a capital G, and utterly, unapologetically obsessed with the woman he’s decided is his. And in this case? That woman is me. Or, okay—our heroine. But it felt like me, okay?
I was hooked from the first line. One good deed—saving a stranger bleeding out in a dark alley—and the whole damn trajectory of her life changes. She didn’t do it for attention or praise, just pure instinct and humanity. But Max? Max took that moment and carved her into his heart like a blood pact.
At first, the signs are subtle. Her coffee mysteriously paid for. A broken door suddenly fixed. Little things. Quiet things. Almost tender things, if you don’t think too hard about the fact that someone is clearly watching her every move. And then… BAM. He steps right out of the shadows and into her bedroom like he belongs there.
And here’s where it gets real: he’s not just protecting her. He’s claiming her. Max doesn’t do halfway. He doesn’t ask. He doesn’t need to. He just is, and what he is... is a walking obsession wrapped in muscle, danger, and that delicious brand of twisted devotion that hits all my dark romance buttons.
He whispers things that should terrify her—but don’t. Because deep down, she feels it too. That pull. That need to be seen so completely, so intensely, that it almost feels like worship. And the way Max touches her, talks to her, watches her—it’s possessive, it’s obsessive, and it is everything I want from this kind of story.
It’s short, it’s filthy, and it’s absolutely addictive. I read this in one breathless sitting, my brain screaming “red flag” while my heart whispered “but what if he’s hot though?” Spoiler alert: he is.
So yeah—if you’ve ever wanted to be the center of someone’s world in the most intense, unhinged, “I’ll burn it all down for you” kind of way, Protected by My Stalker will absolutely feed that fantasy. Holly Harper nails the vibe once again. Obsession has never felt so seductive.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s tempting to say “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” given the stalker element, but that’s not quite the story we’re dealing with here. If anything, this is a tale of how one brave act can flip a solitary life on its head. First off, you’ve got to admire Ava’s guts. Lost in a back alley, running from danger, she hears a man cry out for help and instead of bolting, she stops. Now, I’ve read enough thrillers to know this is usually the part where things go sideways for the woman. But Ava? She refuses to look away like everyone else and she steps in to help. Let’s be clear: Ava isn’t your typical heroine. She’s a bit of a recluse, glued to her computer screen, and living life through fiction more than fact. No friends. No social life. Just a quiet, predictable existence. Until that night. What starts as a good deed quickly twists into something far more unsettling and intriguing. A week later, Ava can’t shake the feeling that someone’s watching her. Paranoia? Maybe. But what if her instincts are right? And if she is being followed... why does her mysterious observer seem so determined to do nice things for her? Despite the creeping sense of unease, there’s an undeniable thrill in being noticed. Desired. Protected. When her stalker finally reveals himself, he’s not the monster she feared—but a living, breathing fantasy straight from her dog-eared romance novels. He’s obsessive, sure. But also intoxicating. He sees her. He wants her. He worships her. Is it love? Madness? Both? One thing’s for sure: this is not your standard love story. It’s intense and totally irresistible. Unconventional? Absolutely. Unwanted? Not for a second.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

He watched her from the shadows... then made her the center of his world

One act of kindness sets everything in motion. Ava (h), a reclusive graphic designer, saves a bleeding stranger in an alley and walks away thinking the moment is over. But soon, things in her apartment start to shift. Chores are done. Coffee brews itself. Her routines are no longer hers alone. And someone is always just out of sight.

Max (H) nearly died that night. Ava brought him back, and now she’s the only thing keeping him grounded. He moves through her life in secret, quietly undoing her loneliness with acts of care. Watching. Protecting. Needing. What begins as silent gratitude transforms into fixation, and when desire overtakes control, the quiet becomes impossible to ignore.

When he finally steps out of hiding, everything fractures. Fear meets longing. Boundaries blur. Control becomes comfort, then craving. Ava has to decide whether the man who invaded her space is the one she needs to escape, or the one she's been waiting for.

She grows from hidden and guarded to someone willing to be wanted, needed, touched. He shifts from a man bleeding out and forgotten to someone who rebuilds himself around obsession, purpose, and her. Their relationship is twisted, consuming, deeply intimate, and maybe the first thing that’s ever felt real.

Steamy, dark, intense, emotionally raw, stalker romance, exploring obsession, protection, loneliness, control, trust, and what it means to truly be seen. It's about needing connection so badly, it becomes salvation—and how love can look like danger in the wrong light.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If I tell you my name, it means I'm not leaving. It means you belong to me, and I belong to you. So, tell me Ava, do you want to know?"~Max

Well. That was certainly an interesting dark little morsel of the forbidden.🤫 It's a short story of loneliness, keeping people at bay for fear of loss or rejection, paranoia that becomes valid, and wanting darker things without knowing if wanting said things, makes you less than of a person.🙊🙈

That's what 20 something Ava was trying to figure out when she helped a man who was stabbed in an alley one afternoon.🔪🩸 The way she was written was relatable for anyone who overthinks, has low self-esteem, and wants connection, but instead ignores it. There's tension as she slowly starts to feel like she's being watched while in her apartment and doing her day to day activities. Dishes washed. Objects moving. And what happens if the person, a stranger she helped and still thinks of, slowly walks out of the darkness in her bedroom and offers her HIS complete devotion.😳 Can she accept it? Will she? Has her love for dark romances suddenly become reality?

If you like dark with your spice, then check this one out. It's written very well with plenty of intrigue. Happy reading!!❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

🧣👤👩🏻‍💻Thank you to Ms Harper and Booksprout for an early book. The opinions shared here are my own.👩🏻‍💻👤🧣

[A79senlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When walking home one day, Ava heard a man’s cry for help. He’s been stabbed and needs immediate medical care. As he’s wheeled into the ambulance, she thinks she’ll never see him again, which isn’t entirely true.

I’m not a fan of the title. I wouldn’t say Ava’s being “protected” because there’s no physical threat beyond dirty dishes and no fresh coffee, and while you could argue he’s protecting her from continued loneliness, that’s not accurate either. She feels just as lonely and out of touch while he’s stalking her as she did while he wasn’t. For a story that’s less than 50 pages, it really dragged in places. I don’t think we needed that much description to understand just how empty Ava’s life was pre-Max. Seriously, it was mind-numbing. If I’m considering skimming and it’s only chapter 2, I’m having some issues.

Max didn’t have a POV, so we didn’t know his motives until he gave a very brief explanation to Ava. He’s just a big unknown that we’re not sure if we care about. It’s lovely that they’ve made a connection, but there’s just not enough known about Max to be invested in it. I do love a good stalker romance but this one was just OK for me.

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

[Liz M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava had basically kept to herself since her mom had died a couple of years before. She has to admit she's been lonely. But when she helps a wounded man in an alley one night, she can't help but feel a connection to him. And his grey eyes gaze right into her.
Some time goes by, and Ava starts feeling like she's being watched. And she notices that some things are out of place in her apartment. Dishes she didn't remember washing. A pot of coffee she didn't remember making. But all things that made her life easier. She starts to wonder who might be doing it. Or maybe she's just so stressed that she's imagining it. But all she can think of are the haunting grey eyes of the man from the alley.
OMG This was intense. Ava was torn between being creeped out and flattered. But the thought of someone taking care of her, even from the shadows, was almost intoxicating. She knew who she wanted it to be, and she didn't even know his name. Yet.
But she got the feeling that he wanted to own her. And she found that maybe she wanted that too.
Mmm. Short but slow burn too. Two people, a little bit broken, finding each other.

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

[Mafia Wife · Rating 3 out of 5]

She is used to living life alone. She works remotely and has no family to speak of so she is used to doing things herself. One night when walking home she finds a man who has been assaulted and she calls for help while compressing his wounds to keep him alive. When the EMTs arrive and they take him to the hospital she is alone once again, until she starts feeling like she isn't alone after all and someone is watching her. Then things start happening, her dishes are done, someone pays for her coffee. The night he reveals himself she realizes it is the man she saved and he has been stalking her, but she isn't sure if she should be mad or if there is something else going on between them. This is a short and spicy little story. She saves him, and he becomes obsessed with her. Once she knows he is in her life he has no intention of leaving. A little instalove, a little spice and and happily ever after. Very quick, not dark or scary, more like sweet obsessive stalking with hearts in his eyes.

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

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

💀 One act of kindness. One obsessed stranger. A dangerously addictive bond.

Ava didn’t expect saving a bleeding man in a dark alley to change her life. She certainly didn’t expect to become the obsession of a brooding stranger with scars—and secrets.

Max never believed in angels until she found him. Saved him. Touched him. And from that moment on, she was his.
His to protect.
His to watch.
His to love—even if she doesn’t know it yet.

When mysterious favors turn into late-night visits and whispered confessions, Ava is torn between fear and fascination. Max isn’t just watching her. He’s protecting her from threats she doesn’t even see.

And when he finally steps out of the shadows, there’s no going back.

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

[Tanya Momberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Guys I need to ask this.... Am I the only one listening to a book and think wtf did the author think when writing this? I didn't expect much from it cause its only an hour and the supposed to be the prequel for the series.

She helped him the one night when he was stabbed and left for dead in a alley. He stalks her but she didn't expect anything just the weird things like a pot of coffee she couldn't remember if she did put it up to brew or not.

She was in the mood and decided to help herself with the situation and he merges from her closet and then wam bam thank you ma'am like how the hell does she just let him go down on her and stuff. Where is the suspense and the push and pull between them? just have sexy time and that is the end of the book?!

[Lyndsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book from the very beginning you get sucked in. Nothing like saving a perfect strangers life in the alley and the next thing you know things start changing around you. Your dirty dishes from the night before are clean, you wake up to a pot of coffee made. The way these two come together was fun to read. I like that even though its a short steamy story it flows very well the plot doesn't leave any holes. I am really enjoying this stalker story from this author. If you want a short, fast steamy story with a sexy stalker in it this is for you.

[LA FITCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great stalker book. Ava is a reclusive remote graphic artist living in a small apartment after her mother died. On her way home from grocery shopping she detours down an alley to get away from a man who starts following her. At the end of the alley she finds Max, who has been stabbed in the stomach and helps get an ambulance for him. Weeks later she feels someone watching her and things being different at home. Max makes himself known to her and their HEA kicks off in this page-turner.

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

[Praline 99 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stalker romance.
Ava is a lonely young woman barely making ends meet. One evening when she returns home she finds an injured man in the street. Naturally she helps him, calls for help and once help arrives she goes home. She forgets this event and returns to her normal life but some time later suspicious events occur and she feels a presence around her.
Will Ava be safe with her stalker or will she have to run away from him...

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

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I’m reviewing today is titled, Protected by my Stalker which is the fifth installment of The Sweet Obsession Series written by Holly Harper. Having read this entire series so far this one is winner. Ava saves the life of a stranger and suddenly she finds someone taking care of her in small intimate ways, so there’s a level of sweetness with the stalker vibe. Entertaining short story, steamy hot scenes, and a solid happily ever after. Looking forward to reading more from this series!.

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

[Noemi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ava is walking home one night and hears a man’s cry for help. She discovers that he’s been stabbed. Emergency services are called. As he’s wheeled into the ambulance, she believes she’ll never see him again.

She still feels lonely and out of touch while he’s stalking her as she did while he wasn’t.

We didn't get Max's POV, so we truly didn’t know his motives until he gave a very brief explanation to Ava. I wished his character had had the chance to share his thoughts.

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

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading Protected by my Stalker by Holly Harper. She did what anyone would do when finding a dying bleeding man alone, she helped him and stayed with him until help arrived. After that she went back to her life but strange things start happening. Someone is paying for her stuff and getting her things she wanted but she has no idea who it is. When he can’t stay away any longer he goes to her and she is shocked to see who it is. She knows she should be scared but she can’t deny how safe and happy she feels.

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

[bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting to fall this hard for a damn novella, but here we are. This one had the perfect mix of unsettling obsession and soft little gestures that hit like a sucker punch to the chest. I mean, who wouldn’t melt a little over a guy who stalks you and does your dishes? Max is intense in the way only morally gray men can be, and Ava? Girl’s got backbone, even if she’s been living like a hermit. The tension, the heat, the quiet desperation wrapped up in his “protection” had me hooked. It’s fast, dirty, and way too addictive. Loved every minute of it.

[Angi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your typical stalker story. The main characters meet unexpectedly in an alley. She saves him and thinks she won’t see him again after he leaves in the ambulance. Little things begin to happen and change in her apartment. She thinks someone maybe watching her but she is not sure. Although this is all about a stalker, he’s not at all a scary stalker. I enjoyed this book and especially the ending.

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

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was supposed to wait to read this book until later. Oops!

Although this stalker scenario goes beyond watching, it is still mostly in the vein of sweetness and protective obsession.

These two people find each other during a low point in their lives but their future is looking up.

This is a VERY fast read but it is enjoyable.

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

[Jordan Fiest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protected by My Stalker is part of The Sweet Obsession Series.

Ava was a selfless character who helped someone when everyone else kept walking by. Her selfless act caused her life to completely change when she starts to get a guardian angel who takes care of her.

The moments between Ava and Max were spicy and hot. He just wanted someone to love him for him and he found his match with Ava.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Ava helps a man who has been attacked, her act of kindness is not forgotten. Is it karma that brings little acts of kindness back to her, or is there something more to it? When she feels as though she is being watched, is it just her imagination?

A quick novella about a shy woman, who eventually gets the fantasy brought to reality with HEA.

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

[Elly Christmas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quick read. So don't expect tons of world-building or strong backgrounds and emotions surrounding the characters. It a straightforward stalker book. But is he really stalking her? I mean yes. But he was more or less trying to help her out and help take some stress off her. So it was kinda cute.

This like I said was a quick read someone could read in less than 30mins.

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

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava has been living the life of an almost hermit since her mom passed away two years ago. She works from home and rarely goes anywhere.
Protected by my Stalker is another instalment in the Sweet Obsession Series. Book was written well, and while I wouldn’t react the way that Ava did, once she started to understand what was happening, there is no reason to say it wasn’t a good read.

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

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quick romantic read follows Holly Harper pattern to a T. Not in the sense of repetition but rather is style and characters you'll come to care about. Lonely Ava is simply existing in her life. Safe but lonely. It isn't until she is the one person willing to help a dying man in an alley, do her fortunes change. Great quick read with a lonely heart finding Mr. Right in an unusual manner.

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

[Crystal Junebug · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am learning to enjoy these bite-sized stories and I have to say this one has been my favorite out of the Sweet Obsession series thus far. So much happens in such a short story but it had all the ingredients that make up a great read. Well written, great character definition (Not much time for a full/robust character development), and a captivating story. A great read.

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

[Michele Flannery · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this stalker romance the female lead lives a very guarded quiet life. When she decides to help a stranger she never realized how her life would change. The changes start small and then grow until she can't deny she knows she's being stalked. Love finds a way into their story.

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

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read this whole series and this was my favorite!!! Ava saves the life of a stranger and suddenly she finds someone taking care of her in small ways, so there’s a level of cuteness with the stalker vibe. Fun, quick read, spicy hot scenes, and a HEA. Can’t wait to read more from this author!.

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

[Jenia Tortora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ava is a good person and despite being scared when she sees a man hurt and bleeding she helps him. Then her life gets weird and better even if she isn’t sure if she’s a stalker or losing her mind. Her stalker is real and her secret wish come true.

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