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Protect My Heart
Emma Howard has sworn off hot guys, but Arie Blackwell has sworn to protect her.
After a series of cheating ex-boyfriends, Emma goes on a self-prescribed boy cleanse and plans to spend her senior year focused on the important things in life, like deciding which college to attend. She has no idea she’s an heiress with a target on her back and boys are the least of her worries.
Arie thinks his college internship will be easy: pose as a high school senior and protect Emma. He never expected to fall for her.
Sparks ignite, but danger is near. If Arie can’t keep Emma hidden, her fate will be infinitely worse than falling for the guy she shouldn’t want.
“Protect My Heart is a fabulous book, with sigh-worthy kisses and a hero you can't help but fall in love with. You don't want to miss this sweet romance.”
- Victorine E. Lieske, NYT's bestselling author.
After a series of cheating ex-boyfriends, Emma goes on a self-prescribed boy cleanse and plans to spend her senior year focused on the important things in life, like deciding which college to attend. She has no idea she’s an heiress with a target on her back and boys are the least of her worries.
Arie thinks his college internship will be easy: pose as a high school senior and protect Emma. He never expected to fall for her.
Sparks ignite, but danger is near. If Arie can’t keep Emma hidden, her fate will be infinitely worse than falling for the guy she shouldn’t want.
“Protect My Heart is a fabulous book, with sigh-worthy kisses and a hero you can't help but fall in love with. You don't want to miss this sweet romance.”
- Victorine E. Lieske, NYT's bestselling author.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2017
719 people are currently reading
1225 people want to read
About the author
Judy Corry
33 books1,391 followersJudy Corry is the USA Today Bestselling Author of YA and Contemporary Romance. She writes romance because she can't get enough of the feeling of falling in love. She's known for writing heart-pounding kisses, endearing characters, and hard-won happily ever afters.
She lives in Southern Utah with the boy who took her to Prom, their four amazing kids, and two dogs. She's addicted to love stories, chai latte's and dark chocolate.
She is represented by Lane Heymont at The Tobias Agency.
Keep updated with Judy and her books here ➜ https://subscribepage.com/judycorry
Find her on Instagram and TikTok: @authorjudycorry
She lives in Southern Utah with the boy who took her to Prom, their four amazing kids, and two dogs. She's addicted to love stories, chai latte's and dark chocolate.
She is represented by Lane Heymont at The Tobias Agency.
Keep updated with Judy and her books here ➜ https://subscribepage.com/judycorry
Find her on Instagram and TikTok: @authorjudycorry
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
September 4, 2017
What can I say, I wrote this book. It has my heart! :)
October 4, 2017
Cute YA Romance
Cute YA romance with some elements of light suspense. Perfect for high school age. Clean (no swearing or sexual content). Mild violence.
Cute YA romance with some elements of light suspense. Perfect for high school age. Clean (no swearing or sexual content). Mild violence.
Want to read
October 7, 2017Status: On my to be read pile.
Language: No profanity.
Sensuality content: Clean young adult romantic suspense. Kisses only.
Source: Kindle Scout title I voted for and received a free copy of since it won and was published.
Language: No profanity.
Sensuality content: Clean young adult romantic suspense. Kisses only.
Source: Kindle Scout title I voted for and received a free copy of since it won and was published.
September 28, 2018
4.5 stars
I really liked this book and I was so in the mood for it .. it is a very light YA romance about finding your love in the most unexpected places
we follow Emma and Arie where they meet because Emma is in danger and Arie has to protect her but things get complicated when they start having feelings for each other
I enjoyed this book and I laughed at some scenes .. most recommended if you want something light to pass the time :)
I really liked this book and I was so in the mood for it .. it is a very light YA romance about finding your love in the most unexpected places
we follow Emma and Arie where they meet because Emma is in danger and Arie has to protect her but things get complicated when they start having feelings for each other
I enjoyed this book and I laughed at some scenes .. most recommended if you want something light to pass the time :)
October 11, 2017
Such a cute YA romance! I loved the different character perspectives that the reader got, and the storyline was great with both action and a sweet romance. I hated the very end though- how can you leave a reader hanging like that?!!! Lol still very cute and satisfying read.
July 10, 2018
Great Bodyguard Story
From the blurb I didn't think I would like this story because of the whole bodyguard and high school student relationship but since I was intrigued I gave it a chance. I was glad i did because it totally worked!
And how could I not love Arie: He's so thoughtful and such a gentleman torn between duty and his attraction to Emma.
The story appears to be a typical YA Romance story but it's so much more. A great, clean romance to be enjoyed in one sitting.
From the blurb I didn't think I would like this story because of the whole bodyguard and high school student relationship but since I was intrigued I gave it a chance. I was glad i did because it totally worked!
And how could I not love Arie: He's so thoughtful and such a gentleman torn between duty and his attraction to Emma.
The story appears to be a typical YA Romance story but it's so much more. A great, clean romance to be enjoyed in one sitting.
April 10, 2025
Plot- Interesting bodyguard romance, with a little danger besides the romance. Honestly, I think a teen just getting into the genre would probably love it!
Writing - Fine. Nothing to complain of, but it didn’t have any witty banter or humor.
Characters- I liked them both.
Romance- It was cute. Average chemistry.
Content-
Language- no swearing.
Spice- some kissing. Clean. High morals.
Substance abuse- none
Violence- mild (gunshots)
Cover- ok
POV- dual POV
Cliffhanger- no, not with the romance.
Format- audiobook via Hoopla
Narration- Both male & female performers were great.
Writing - Fine. Nothing to complain of, but it didn’t have any witty banter or humor.
Characters- I liked them both.
Romance- It was cute. Average chemistry.
Content-
Language- no swearing.
Spice- some kissing. Clean. High morals.
Substance abuse- none
Violence- mild (gunshots)
Cover- ok
POV- dual POV
Cliffhanger- no, not with the romance.
Format- audiobook via Hoopla
Narration- Both male & female performers were great.
April 13, 2021
Come check out more of my reviews of clean wholesome books at:
https://gdonahue23.wixsite.com/books/...
I thought Protect My Heart was a great contemporary romance. Unlike most of the romance books out there today, this book was relatively clean. There were some kisses in it, but that was it. I liked both of the main characters in Protect My Heart; neither one was mean or full of themselves. Arie was strong and protective over Emma. And Emma, once she got to know Arie, became nice and friendly. When I was reading, I kept seeing the similarity to the book Jane Eyre. I don't know if Protect My Heart was based on Jane Eyre or not, but if it was, I think Judy Corry did an excellent job of making a classic more contemporary. There looks like a lot in my things to mention, but I thought it was pretty good and clean when I read the book compared to others. I try to have only clean and good books on my blog, so there's nothing on here that I thought was bad enough not to read. Protect My Heart might be too much for some people, but most 14-year-olds can handle it.
Things to mention: There is some violence including a kidnapping, and killing with not a lot of details. Aries dad was abusive and then he died in a car accident, his family thinks that it might have been suicide They are a few quick intense kisses with some details including hands in hair and back and being smushed against the wall. There is also a brief conversation about how both Arie and Emma will stay virgins until they get married. In there town they have a place that is known to most people as a makout spot, but no body in this book has actally been there to make out. And Emma's friend has a date auction to help raise money for her nephew who needs open heart surgery.
https://gdonahue23.wixsite.com/books/...
I thought Protect My Heart was a great contemporary romance. Unlike most of the romance books out there today, this book was relatively clean. There were some kisses in it, but that was it. I liked both of the main characters in Protect My Heart; neither one was mean or full of themselves. Arie was strong and protective over Emma. And Emma, once she got to know Arie, became nice and friendly. When I was reading, I kept seeing the similarity to the book Jane Eyre. I don't know if Protect My Heart was based on Jane Eyre or not, but if it was, I think Judy Corry did an excellent job of making a classic more contemporary. There looks like a lot in my things to mention, but I thought it was pretty good and clean when I read the book compared to others. I try to have only clean and good books on my blog, so there's nothing on here that I thought was bad enough not to read. Protect My Heart might be too much for some people, but most 14-year-olds can handle it.
Things to mention: There is some violence including a kidnapping, and killing with not a lot of details. Aries dad was abusive and then he died in a car accident, his family thinks that it might have been suicide They are a few quick intense kisses with some details including hands in hair and back and being smushed against the wall. There is also a brief conversation about how both Arie and Emma will stay virgins until they get married. In there town they have a place that is known to most people as a makout spot, but no body in this book has actally been there to make out. And Emma's friend has a date auction to help raise money for her nephew who needs open heart surgery.
September 13, 2017
Loved this book. Emma and Arie are the cutest couple. A sweet clean romance (which I so appreciate) and a mystery/suspense storyline. There was definite chemistry, not instant love (get tired of those) but a friendship that becomes more. The mystery is also slowly revealed, watch for the ending. It is a ya book but one I really enjoyed, would recommend to my daughters. Looking forward to more by this author.
October 28, 2023
Although the age gap was a bit much between the two considering how young they were (17 & 21), I enjoyed the suspense aspects of the story.
Tropes: heiress, forbidden romance, age-gap
Content: death, gunshot wounds, kidnapping, kissing
4 Stars
Tropes: heiress, forbidden romance, age-gap
Content: death, gunshot wounds, kidnapping, kissing
4 Stars
October 26, 2017
This was a really great book! Such a sweet and fun romance between the characters. It was really hard to put down. I can't wait to read more from this awesome author ;)
Read
December 12, 2019G-rated, YA version of a classic, adult-romance trope, the bodyguard romance.
January 1, 2018
Love this book soooo much!!! It's pretty much my favorite! ;)
September 12, 2018
CUTE CUTE CUTE to the MAx i really loved it and liked it and enjoy it sooo muuuuchhhh i couldnt stop reading it 4.5 out of 5
November 1, 2019
Fun, quick read.
Kind of predictable but fun, YA read. It was perfect by the pool while enjoying my drinks and the sun
Kind of predictable but fun, YA read. It was perfect by the pool while enjoying my drinks and the sun
August 7, 2025
Goodreads please update the cover...
May 24, 2018
Action packed
Let’s just say that when you get this book, you really do get why she needs a bodyguard. Loved this book and I need to hear Maya and Kathryn’s stories too.
Let’s just say that when you get this book, you really do get why she needs a bodyguard. Loved this book and I need to hear Maya and Kathryn’s stories too.
May 3, 2018
Wow. Just wow. This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I loved every bit of it. The meet cute, to the inside jokes. Arie and Emma are two wonderful characters that have so much chemistry. This was a great read. And I suggest everyone read it. NOW!
April 29, 2018
What a sweet and fun book. Finding out your not who you have believed you are your whole life. Falling for your protector. Okay, predictable and may a bit cliché but I loved it. I really enjoyed it.
January 6, 2018
On one hand, I really liked Protect My Heart by Judy Corry. The characters were likable, the romance was cute, and there was an underlying mystery to the plotline that kept me intrigued as the story went on. The book was well written, with clean and easy to read narrative, and a narrative voice that made it easy to sink into the story.
On the other hand, there were also some rather questionable aspects of the story as well. The main male lead is 22 and falls in love (on the job no less) with the minor he’s meant to be protecting. It’s unprofessional and morally questionable. Also, the evil mob-boss-like uncle was a bit of a letdown. He came off as a terrible cliché. I was expecting something more after the lead-up of the mysterious things going on up until that point with the bodyguards and surveillance of Emma.
Overall I wouldn’t say that it was a bad book – because I liked it. I liked the characters, I liked their romance, and I enjoyed the writing. The few aspects of the plot that I didn’t appreciate as much weren't enough to make me dislike the rest of the book. If you’re looking for a sweet romance with a tiny bit of the inappropriate mixed in, you might really enjoy this story, and I do recommend it—but if the negative aspects of the plot are going to bother you, you might want to give it a pass.
On the other hand, there were also some rather questionable aspects of the story as well. The main male lead is 22 and falls in love (on the job no less) with the minor he’s meant to be protecting. It’s unprofessional and morally questionable. Also, the evil mob-boss-like uncle was a bit of a letdown. He came off as a terrible cliché. I was expecting something more after the lead-up of the mysterious things going on up until that point with the bodyguards and surveillance of Emma.
Overall I wouldn’t say that it was a bad book – because I liked it. I liked the characters, I liked their romance, and I enjoyed the writing. The few aspects of the plot that I didn’t appreciate as much weren't enough to make me dislike the rest of the book. If you’re looking for a sweet romance with a tiny bit of the inappropriate mixed in, you might really enjoy this story, and I do recommend it—but if the negative aspects of the plot are going to bother you, you might want to give it a pass.
October 21, 2017
This is a sweet, clean (only mild kissing) romance. I found myself laughing at some of the things the characters said at times. The character development was good. It wasn't all instant love/lust; the characters had to work at their relationship. There's a bit of suspense and mystery to the story. Why does Arie have to protect Emma? The pacing is good, and the ending was a nice surprise.
I received a copy of this book through the Kindle Scout program.
I received a copy of this book through the Kindle Scout program.
October 6, 2017
Good, clean fun
I smiled a lot while reading the book, and the author sure knows how to write swoony kisses! I liked both main characters, and felt she handled the alternating perspectives very well.
Clean, with kissing but nothing beyond what I’d let my 13 year old read.
I smiled a lot while reading the book, and the author sure knows how to write swoony kisses! I liked both main characters, and felt she handled the alternating perspectives very well.
Clean, with kissing but nothing beyond what I’d let my 13 year old read.
October 13, 2017
I was lucky enough to win a signed copy of this book! <3
I loved reading it. There was a twist of intrigue in this sweet young adult romance, which added to the story. The descriptions of the kisses were beautiful. I would love to read more by this author!
I loved reading it. There was a twist of intrigue in this sweet young adult romance, which added to the story. The descriptions of the kisses were beautiful. I would love to read more by this author!
December 19, 2017
Really cute YA, clean romance with a bit of suspense and action throughout. I was fortunate enough to get a copy free through KindleScout and, while it took me a while to get around to reading it, it was well worthwhile. It was a fun read and I recommend it.
September 11, 2017
Loved it
Definitely not where I thought it was going from the excerpt, but much better! Great storyline and intriguing characters. It was a lot of fun!
Definitely not where I thought it was going from the excerpt, but much better! Great storyline and intriguing characters. It was a lot of fun!
September 27, 2017
Awesome
Awesome. Corry has a wonderful way of storytelling that captivated me throughout. I received this book as a kindle scout winner
Awesome. Corry has a wonderful way of storytelling that captivated me throughout. I received this book as a kindle scout winner
October 1, 2017
Refreshing clean romance with some mystery and suspense. Loved the chemistry between the hero and heroine. Fun read!
October 4, 2017
Such a fun, clean read. Sweet romance with doses of thrilling action.
October 25, 2017
I loved it!
December 30, 2017
I loved this book so much. I had thought that it would be one of those typical ya romance books, but it had a twist that I was not expecting. I would definitely recommend reading it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews