Under Their Guard: A Sapphic Why Choose Dark Bodyguard Romance

by Stella Rowe

Four women guard my life. They've sworn to protect me at all costs.

I exposed the Bellante crime family, and they sent a car bomb as their reply.

The security team arrived before the smoke cleared—women who moved like soldiers and made my safety their only priority. They swept me to a safehouse mansion in the middle of nowhere, secured behind iron gates and surveillance cameras.

Kara: the unshakable leader who commands with a touch.
Ellie: the medic whose gentle hands make me forget what boundaries are.
Cam: the silent bruiser who speaks in looks that burn.
Alex: the strategist who watches me like she's solving an equation.Protection felt like seduction. Safety felt like surrender.
But surveillance cameras don't just keep threats out—they watch everything inside too.
And the four women guarding my life are keeping secrets of their own.

Under Their Guard is a dark sapphic bodyguard why-choose romance with morally grey protectors, forced proximity, high heat (without cheating), hurt/comfort, found-family vibes, and a journalist who chooses them all. HFN ending with no cliffhanger—their story continues in book two.

Genres: LGBT, Contemporary, Why Choose, Lesbian, Queer, Polyamory

302 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Stella Rowe writes emotionally charged sapphic dark romance and erotica with a focus on desire, dominance, and the ache to be seen.

Her stories blend heat with heart, whether it's a slow burn with bite or a hypnotic spiral into surrender.

She lives in the Arizona desert and writes with equal parts tenderness and fire.

As an aside, a few of the books listed here on Goodreads are from 2015 and long unpublished, but I cannot remove them. Also, I have begun to move older erotica to the pen name "SJ Rowe" -- it's still me!

Reviews

[Christine ARGYROPOULOU · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
I literally had no idea what i was going to read going into this because i have never read something similar in the past, but OMG I LOVED THIS😍
4 bodyguard just for her? YEESSSSS
I loved that every single woman in this book was different, they had qualities that helped the story so much and i found every single one of them so important for the continuation of the story.
I think i have a favourite though so far🥹but the story is not over yet so we will get to know my girls better in the next book that i am so excited 😍
I really liked the protagonist, how strong she was and how much she fought for the truth.
The story with the family she published about was so interesting and i loved how they were all connected 🥰
I think Cam is my favourite but we will see what the future holds 💌
The spice scenes was so good but i think that they happened a little too soon in the story to be honest 🩷

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25🌟 3🌶

This is a new author to me.  A why choose sapphic novel premise isn't very common. This tale of squarely centered in a journalist Sabine, who is dead set on exposing a mafia crime family.  She gets insider information through a confidential source.  Her expose puts her in mortal jeopardy. 
The team sent in to protect her becomes her only connection to that outside world. Each bodyguard has their set of strengths and are as different in personality as well as physicality.

I did find Sabine at times to be a bit petulant and childish in her thoughts and behavior.  If you're going to try to take down the mafia you should know that your life will be at risk.  I also wish the characters had more depth and development, sometimes it felt a bit stiff and detached, which pulled me from the story. 

Overall, I did enjoy this book and will probabl  readthe sequel as this does end in a semi cliffhanger. 

Tropes and triggers: why choose,  body guard,  mafia,  touch her and die,  found family

I was given an advanced copy for and honest review. 

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed a couple of Stella’s books previously and when this book was coming out, I was excited to read a full length novel. Well I wasn’t disappointed. As this is the first book in the duology/series some parts of the characters aren’t fully developed, expected in the time frame and novel size. I appreciated the parts we got and enjoyed how each developed throughout the story. The steam was steaming throughout. The story flowed pretty well and the intrigue continued right through the end, book 2 are you here yet? Recommend!

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about Under Their Guard initially as this was my first Mafia/Bodyguard Romance, but the story absolutely pulled me in! It was a thrilling read that had me on the edge the whole way through. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved all the characters and that it was multi-pov. Everyone had a different voice and came through as unique. I do feel like Sabine was a bit whiney given the circumstances, (and Alex was being quite a bit stupid) BUT they both did come around eventually. Alex's POV really got to me and had me tear up.

The open-door scenes were fun and passionate, even if the last one didn't make sense with the circumstances. It was wonderful to read but stretched the believability a bit too far.

I think I would have liked to see more of the characters getting to know Sabine and her getting to know them. There was less conversation and emotional intimacy then I typically prefer. I really liked the scenes with Cam because despite being quiet, she was more personable. I wish we had gotten her POV.

Overall this was an enjoyable entry into Mafia/Bodyguard Romance for me and I am eagerly looking forward to the next installment!

[liatheloser · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 RTC

[Celina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sex scenes timed wrongly ruin things. This over-occurred here.

[Eric John · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Protect And Own

Reporter Sabine Barrett has exposed the powerful Bellante Family as the murderous criminals that they are. Now the Bellantes want her dead. Four bodyguards—all women—are the only thing standing between Sabine and the Bellante Family. They protect Sabine. They serve Sabine. They crave Sabine. They OWN Sabine.

Under Their Guard : A Sapphic Why Choose Dark Bodyguard Romance (House of Bellante Book 1) delivers hot team action interspersed with episodes of tenderness.

"You're safe," Kara whispered against my hair. Her arms encircled me, strong and steady while I fell apart. She held me together as I cried, her lips pressing gentle kisses to my temple, my cheek, catching my tears.
When I could breathe again, she helped me stand. My legs felt like water as she guided me to the en-suite bathroom.
"Let me take care of you," she said, and I nodded, unable to form words. (page 164)

Stella Rowe has written dozens of high heat, spicy novellas. (I have read a number of them, and enjoyed them all.) As far as I can tell, Under Their Guard is her first full length novel, and if this is truly indicative of what Rowe can produce with more pages at her disposal, I hope she writes may more. (On that note, I am already looking forward to Secure Their Fates, House of Bellante Book 2, planned for April 2026.)
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robert Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is filled with potential but needs to amp up the characters of the story. Sabine and Alex have the most depth but could use more history both with each other and about themselves to make us invest in them. The other members of the team share a strong history but it is not fleshed out enough. The chemistry between the characters also needs to be bumped up. The dangerous situation they find themselves in is not given enough weight by the team. It all feels too technical ( which they are very good at) but the severity of the threat needs to be pumped up in the sequel. The author has labeled this as a Dark Romance and this leads me to hope they will survive but I am reminded of the film noir genre that does not end well for leads in similar situations. Still I will be back for the sequel to see how the story goes. This author is to be commended for trying out a longer and darker formula for her stories.

[Vidisha Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled into the story. The tension, the emotional depth, and the chemistry between the characters were so well written that I found myself thinking about them even when I wasn’t reading. Stella Rowe has a way of building relationships that feel intense but still meaningful, and I loved how the emotional stakes kept rising throughout the book.

What stood out to me most was the balance between vulnerability and strength in the main character. Watching her navigate trust, fear, and growing feelings felt authentic and layered. The protective dynamic added so much depth to the story without overshadowing the emotional development. Every scene felt purposeful, and the pacing kept me hooked the entire time.

I also really appreciated the character development. By the end, I felt genuinely attached to them, which always makes a book memorable for me.

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

[Kaidee McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first full-length novel from erotica writer Stella Rowe is wonderful! Full of tension, intrigue, and oh, so much spicy action! I loved all of the leading ladies and the unique skills and personalities they each brought to the story.

The tension brought on by this specific kind of forced proximity, along with the necessary secrecy made for some truly powerful scenes that really brings you deeper into the world and makes you really connect with each of them.

I can't wait for the next book, Secure Their Fates, to see what happens next to our intrepid reporter and her team of protectors. If this first novel is any indication of what is to come from future novels from Stella, then we are all in for several treats.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something rather different and interesting in "why choose", I haven't read an ff/sapphic book with that type of story before and this is an excellent read. Four women are guarding reporter Sabine as she's gotten on the wrong side of the powerful Bellante crime family by exposing them. One thing I really loved was the development of all four women watching Sabine, each having her own story and their relationships with her being developed so well. I really love this, it's a dark story but not so much - so far at least - between these lovely ladies. Excellent series beginning.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a great premise, which drew me to read this ARC. But throughout the book, I started missing depth. And especially character depth and growth, the relationships between the MC’s doesn’t feels forced but shallow.

I don’t understand why those 5 women chose to be in a relationship together. Nothing is explained or described.

It was an okay read, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up the sequel.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time Sapphic why choose read for me and honestly now I’m hooked. From now on I’m going to read this genre books. I don’t have words to describe how good this book is. The tension, plot, twists, and the spice it’s everything. I devoured this book in one sitting. Can’t wait for the next one 😍

[S · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story feels repetitive and lacks substance. The characters claim to have become everything to each other, yet this is never earned through meaningful conversation or genuine connection — it's asserted solely on the basis of them sleeping together, which makes the relationship feel hollow and unconvincing

[SunshineReads23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely got lost in this story. The ups and downs, the twists and reveals. The characters all forced in close proximity- then the heat! Whoa. I’m excited to see what book 2 brings.

A few spots where it was slightly repetitive but not necessarily a bad thing to keep the plot moving fwd. didn’t distract from the storyline at all.

[Petra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea why any of these people like each other, the main character may as well be a child.

There's no way a journalist wouldn't understand the ramifications of what they published like that.

Also you can't just pop the battery out of modern phones like it's 2003, they're soldered in and everything is jam packed super tight.

This book just irritated me a lot

[Ariel Dalziel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, it's all female poly with decent sex scenes...

So...this was a nice bit of fluff. It was a little more tell than show and the main character was painfully naive. The insta-lust and lack of character development keep it from getting more stars from me. But there's so little all female poly, if you collect it, it's worth buying.

[Sue]

When does the sequel come out? Under Their Guard is an excellent story. If I was ever to go into hiding, this is what I would want. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I hope all who read this enjoy it as much as I did.

[Yinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for a forced proximity why choose sapphic romance, then this is for you: a strong-willed heroine being protected by 4 professional guards that can't seem to keep themselves away from her.

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

[Elizabeth Pritchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

I was hooked from page 1! The twists are *chefs kiss*. There are so many layers to this book, it was hard to put down!

[Johnni Allyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was fun and very spicy. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading the next book in the series which should come out in April 2026.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was great and kept me on edge but I would have loved more development with the characters. Overall I really enjoyed it and will definitely read the next in the series.

[Kathleen Bender · Rating 5 out of 5]

a high-tension read!

This story was more interesting and engaging than I expected. Characters were well-defined, lots of action and steamy scenes. Wow!

[Gabriela Pinter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eu tenho muitas questões.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such high hopes for this book, given how it's nearly impossible to find a why choose with only women, and an added bonus of the plot sounding unique original.
Surprise: I got my hopes up.
The writing itself is clunky. I don't think there was a single page I found that flowed well. Granted, the grammar and descriptions and all that jazz made sense given the plot, but it all felt impersonal and robotic. Nothing was more impersonal than the characters themselves, which was the ultimate disappointment. Though these women may be bodyguards, they were written as if they were robots. (are you seeing the theme yet??) The spice was beyond awkward and, in my opinion, made very little sense given how little of an emotional connection there was between these women.