A Dangerous Dance of Duty and Desire: Under His Protection by Stacy Von Haegert

What happens when a powerful man sworn to duty falls for a woman he was never meant to love? Under His Protection, the first book in The White Rose Trilogy by Stacy Von Haegert, is a lush, slow-burning historical romance that doesn’t just seduce—it consumes. Set in a world where titles, loyalty, and societal roles shape every move, this story spins a tale of forbidden attraction, personal sacrifice, and the aching tension of a love that threatens to destroy everything.

A Love Worth Breaking the Rules For

Historical romance has long been a genre of sweeping gestures, brooding nobility, and the high stakes of societal expectation. But Under His Protection arrives with something darker, more intimate. This isn’t just a story of courtship—it’s a story of inner conflict, danger, and the kind of emotional vulnerability that leaves scars. In a publishing landscape where many historical romances play it safe, Von Haegert delivers a layered narrative that leans confidently into high-stakes emotional terrain.

This is the kind of book that keeps you up at night—not just because of what happens, but because of how deeply you’ll feel it.

A Captivating Journey Through 19th-Century England

Without spoiling any of the pivotal twists, Under His Protection introduces us to the stoic and duty-bound knight Alexander Blake, whose life is defined by responsibility and restraint. When he is assigned to protect the enigmatic and headstrong Lady Juliet, neither of them is prepared for the emotional battlefield ahead.

Von Haegert’s prose drips with atmosphere. Every hallway, glance, and unspoken word adds tension to their developing relationship. She crafts a world that feels both richly historical and emotionally raw. You’re not just reading about castles and corsets—you’re feeling the weight of every longing glance, every unspoken truth.

This is a romance built not on instant gratification, but on earned emotional intimacy. And when things do finally unfold—oh, do they ever—it’s deeply satisfying.

The Push and Pull of Power, Protection, and Passion

At its core, Under His Protection explores a romance dynamic that will resonate with fans of protective hero tropes and emotionally restrained men forced to confront the depth of their desire. Think “forbidden romance” meets “bodyguard romance”, wrapped in the lavish backdrop of 19th-century England.

Juliet is not your typical aristocratic damsel. She’s stubborn, spirited, and intelligent—a woman who refuses to be boxed in by the expectations of her title. Alexander, by contrast, is all rigid lines and emotional discipline—until Juliet begins to dismantle his carefully built walls.

Their dynamic is electric and complex. There’s an undeniable slow-burn tension between them, but what really makes this story stand out is the emotional depth of their inner conflicts. Von Haegert doesn’t shy away from the pain that comes with wanting what you shouldn’t, or from the slow unravelling of emotional control.

There are hints of enemies-to-lovers tension in their early interactions, but it evolves beautifully into something gentler and more vulnerable. If you love your historical romances with a side of brooding intensity and slow, painful yearning, this one delivers.

For Readers Who Crave Deep Emotion in Historical Settings

This book is ideal for adult readers who gravitate toward:

• Slow-burn romance with a payoff that feels earned
• Protective, emotionally complex male leads
• Historical settings that are immersive but character-driven
• Stories that balance emotional intensity with restraint

If you’ve loved the emotional complexity of Jane Eyre, the protection/love dynamics in The Bodyguard, or the historical weight and sensual tension of Outlander—Under His Protection may be your next obsession.

Why You’ll Want to Keep Reading This Trilogy

As the first book in The White Rose Trilogy, Under His Protection sets the stage for a larger narrative arc that promises more danger, intrigue, and romance. Von Haegert lays a strong emotional foundation, but leaves just enough unanswered questions and potential growth for both main characters to make the next instalment feel essential.

This isn’t just a romance. It’s the beginning of love, of healing, of a much bigger story still unfolding.

Final Thoughts: Let This Book Ruin You—in the Best Way

Under His Protection isn’t here to give you a fairy tale with easy answers. It’s a rich, emotionally layered story that will make your heart ache in the best possible way. Stacy Von Haegert’s writing is elegant and intense, and her characters are memorable and authentic. This book doesn’t just flirt with darkness—it embraces it, showing how even within the strictest rules, love finds a way.

If you’re ready for a romance that makes you feel everything—duty, danger, and deep desire—this is the story to dive into.

Grab your copy of Under His Protection today, and prepare to fall hard.