Protecting Her Heart

by Roxie Holland

Zoey Taylor has earned a reputation as the ‘Woman in Control.’ As the owner of a thriving business that attracts scorn from insecure men who resent her success, she’s accustomed to threats and snide remarks. She’s mastered the art of rising above it all. But when a mysterious package arrives at her office containing covertly taken photos of her and a chilling promise of pain and punishment, Zoey is shaken for the first time.

With fear clouding her judgement, Zoey turns to the one person she knows can help: Aiden Slater, a personal security expert she’s known for twelve years. However, there’s a catch. Zoey and Aiden haven’t spoken in two years, their relationship fractured by bitterness and unresolved feelings.

Aiden knows taking Zoey’s case could reopen old wounds, and passing it on would be the wiser choice for both of them. Yet when it comes to Zoey, Aiden has never been able to walk away.

But what happens when the person you trust to protect you is also the one who knows your deepest secrets and holds the power to break you?

This is a dual timeline, dual POV book, full of heartache and spice.
Trigger warnings can be found on author website.

Genres: Contemporary, Romance, Suspense, Contemporary Romance

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 26, 2026

About the author

Roxie Holland grew up in the UK. As a quiet child from a busy family, she spent a lot of time reading anything she could get her hands on, and then started writing her own stories.

Now, she lives in the Midlands with her husband, two loud children and two even louder dogs.

Roxie likes to create and write about characters who are slightly flawed, perhaps a little broken, and endeavouring to create them all a wonderful 'happily ever after'.

When she isn't writing, she's either plotting stories, imagining new story lines, or reading.

Reviews

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know you love a book when you're hooked on every page and as soon as you finish you just want to read it all over again! This is Roxie's second book, and it was an emotional and suspenseful ride, with romance, drama, spice and shocking reveals.

Zoey is a successful business woman, caring and compassionate, but hiding a haunting past and vulnerability behind her confident facade.
Aiden is a dedicated bodyguard, protective and loving, but ruined by his emotional baggage.

The plot skillfully navigates a suspenseful mystery threat on Zoey's life with multiple suspects and escalating events, estranged friends reluctantly working together in close proximity, and uncovering the secrets of the past and the causes of heartache.
The flashbacks add depth to the characters seeing their past unfold, and experiencing their ups, downs and tragedies, as the pieces come together to shape their turbulent history.
This is a love story with complex and wounded characters, passion and sacrifice, and a dangerous threat that lurks in the shadows.


💕"There's a second of silence between us. One. Two. Infinity."

💕"Sometimes you love somebody so much that you want to carry all their baggage for them. You want to pick up all the pieces and make everything okay"

💕"You're my heart, you're my soul mate, you're the love of my life"

💕"Protecting Zoey is something that has felt like instinct from the day I met her, and I don't think I'm capable of stopping that now"



*Trigger warnings-
Cheating, grief, death, suicide, animal death, death threats, stalking, drug abuse.

[Ava Milns · Rating 5 out of 5]

COURTROOM IN THE HIGH COURT OF ROMANCE
Two hours after emotional ruin and presumed death of this reader
HONORABLE JUDGE Ms. Roemanz Kritiq PRESIDING

SENTENCE: Five out of five scars. Oops—stars.

Judge: You can't plead not guilty. You may speak for exactly 15 seconds.
Aiden: But Your Honor, I have the right to—
Judge: You have no rights. Not after you and your accomplice ruined the reader's heart. She might never recover.
Aiden: Judge, I did the best I could in life. I made mistakes, but loving Zoey isn't one of them.
Judge: Before stating your punishment—
Aiden: But Judge, I—
Judge: You shall not interrupt me. You’d do anything for Zoey, wouldn’t you? Including condemning this court of romantic law? Breaking every rule for her? Who do you think you are?
Aiden: I'm sorry, Judge. I know I'm not perfect. I had nothing but love in my heart—
Judge: Which you apparently don't know how to nourish and keep safe. Your lawyer blamed everything on "life and circumstances." FYI: Life and circumstances can't be put in jail or sentenced to death. You should've dealt with everything better. Grown ass... excuse me. You're an adult. What, did Zoey make you do these deeds?
Aiden: Zoey is my only exception, Judge. You can't blame me for that—I have never broken her heart. To hell with this reader and the other readers who cried themselves to sleep—excuse me, sorry, Judge; when it comes to Zo—
Judge: I see. Your punishment—
Aiden: Your Honor, at least grant me the privilege of dying after she does. No one can take care of her like I can. If I'm gone, no one will protect her until her death.
Judge: F*** you, ***hole, you just made me cry. Now I have to get admitted to the same hospital as the other readers.
Bailiff and Correctional Officers: OMG, Judge, control yourself—the public, the whole world is watching.
Judge (still crying): I hereby sentence you to the maximum penalty—a lifetime with Zoey.
Commotion erupts in the gallery and press areas. The reader's lawyers stand and respectfully challenge the ruling asking for fair compensation for therapy expenses.
Aiden: Judge, we'll happily pay for the reader's recovery—
Judge: By making up for all the lost opportunities you failed to capitalize on. By keeping Zoey tear-free (coughs, sniffles, sobs) for the rest of her life.
Aiden: Thank you, Judge.
Judge: Get him the hell out of here before I f***ing break down again.

[Annabella Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is very cleverly layered with mystery the entire way through. The love the MCs have for each other is intense and heartbreaking and also part of the mystery being revealed throughout, I was rooting for them, constantly drawn in as the story progressed. I loved that the characters are a little more mature, that this isn’t cosy but full of heartache. The characters had a lot of depth - even the side characters - who really stood out from the page. I am terrible with names but I could probably reel off a huge list of the supporting cast so they clearly made an impression 😂
This is Roxie’s second book and I will pick up whatever she writes. Her story telling/style is unique and one I could probably pick out against a multitude of others and I really enjoy it. 👏👏

[Gem (bookscaffeinencurls) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read from Roxie Holland & also my first physical arc, for which I’m very grateful!

This book takes you on quite the rollercoaster of emotions as we follow Zoey with flashbacks over a 12 year period. These gradually reveal more of her story & what has happened to get her to where she is today. Receiving an incredibly threatening letter instinctively has her contacting the one person that’s made her feel safe over the years despite their last, somewhat uncomfortable meeting two years prior.

I enjoyed the flow of the story. The flashbacks are well placed & explain everything perfectly while linking back to present day. This a book comes with all the feels so tissues may be needed for the more emotional moments, such a good read though so I thoroughly recommend diving into this endearing story!

[Mrs LJ Chitty Odams · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Protecting her heart” is the second release by Roxie Holland with this book telling the story between Zoey and Aiden, who have history but haven’t spoken for the past 2 years. Zoey a successful business owner receives a threat and reaches out to Aiden an old friend for support. Can the threat be thwarted and can the relationship be repaired? A truly captivating story told from individual POV over the past and present with each page allowing you to discover the truth. A real page turner than you can’t put down with well developed characters and great story. Looking forward to the next book!

[Ashley Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Roxie’s 2nd book and I was sent a physical ARC.

Zoey Taylor owns and runs a very successful business that attracts a lot of scorn and vitriol from insecure men who resent the very concept of her business and her success. As a result she has been well practiced in ignoring threats against her business.

However, things take a dark turn when a package is hand delivered to her office containing photos of her and a threat of pain and death. This prompts her to call Aiden Slater, a personal security expert she has known for 12 years. Things are complicated by their very fractured and complex past which led to a 2 year estrangement.

Aiden has never been able to say no to Zoey. His logic and reasoning tells him that he should pass the case on but his heart and his instincts mean he could never walk away from her when she needs him. He would protect her with his life.

Will Zoey survive this threat to her life? And will both Zoey and Aiden survive this forced proximity with their hearts intact?

Holy crap this book was brilliant. It’s been absolute months since I did a beta read of it but reading through the pages reminded me of all the things I love about this book. Roxie has such a way with words and so many parts of it were so relatable.

“Every woman knows it’s not all guys, not even some guys, but they have had a bad experience with at least one guy.”

There’s suspense, dual POV, varying timeline POV, spice and just so much more to keep you hooked on this book. It took me 3 hours to finish across the day (adulting gets in the way of reading!) and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a contemporary romance with suspense, drama and spice. Add this to your TBR and preorder list today for the release date of 21st February now!

[Louise ᥫ᭡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

👨‍🍳💋 Chef's Kiss ✨



Woman in Control hooked me from the start with its perfect blend of suspense, angst, and second-chance romance. Zoey Taylor is everything I love in a heroine—strong, independent, and unshaken by the fragile egos of men who can’t handle her success. But when she receives a chilling package with stalker-like photos and a threat that feels too personal, her world shifts. And the only person she can turn to? Aiden Slater—the man she hasn’t spoken to in two years. The same man who once knew every part of her.

The tension between Zoey and Aiden is insane. Their history is tangled in resentment, unresolved feelings, and a chemistry that never really faded. The dual timeline does a great job of unraveling their past, making me feel every bit of their heartbreak while keeping me on edge about what’s coming next. And let me just say—the plot twists? I did not see them coming. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story threw in another twist that had me flipping pages like crazy.

The spice is there—intense, emotional, and woven seamlessly into their dynamic. It’s not just about physical attraction; it’s about years of pent-up emotions, longing, and unspoken words finally exploding. But what really stands out is the angst. The push and pull, the way Aiden still knows exactly how to get under Zoey’s skin, and the undeniable fact that despite everything, they still feel deeply for each other.

If you love suspenseful romance with a strong, complex heroine, a broody protector with a past, and just the right amount of heat and heartbreak, this book is 100% worth reading.

[Ann Isaacs · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read a contemporary romance, and I loved this one! There was so much character depth. Zoey and Aiden have a complicated past that gradually unfolds throughout the story. They've been through a lot, but still find ways to piece themselves back together. This will tug at your heartstrings before the end, but it's a good ending.

[rebecca osgerby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and I really enjoyed it, especially Roxie's writing style.
Once I started I could not out this down!
Roxie Holland is most definitely one to keep an eye on!
5 🌟

[Sophia Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this at first like fully hooked.

The ending was way too predictable I had hoped was wrong but nope.