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The Royals of Adriane #0.5
The Guard of Adriane
In the country of Adriane, Eric Sinclair is a precocious orphan who has had a rough childhood. When Princess Diana, heir to the throne, receives threats, he obtains the enviable role of being her personal bodyguard.
⠀
What starts as a friendly business relationship quickly turns into much more, a forbidden attraction neither can deny. However, Eric’s life may be in danger when their affection is discovered. With the help of her friends, Princess Diana must figure out a way to save Eric and their relationship.
Now newly edited & revised!
Second Edition: July 2025
⠀
What starts as a friendly business relationship quickly turns into much more, a forbidden attraction neither can deny. However, Eric’s life may be in danger when their affection is discovered. With the help of her friends, Princess Diana must figure out a way to save Eric and their relationship.
Now newly edited & revised!
Second Edition: July 2025
242 pages, ebook
Published November 30, 2023
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Audrey De Leon
7 books11 followersAudrey De Leon never thought she’d be an author, but after writing her first story, a sci-fi romance at 14, it was inevitable. Audrey was born in Manhattan and grew up in New Jersey and Los Angeles. Her stories are inspired by her passion and love for English and European history. In her free time when she is not writing, Audrey loves to read, sing, and act. The Jewel of Adriane is her first novel.
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Find me on:
(Author) Instagram: Audrey De Leon's Author Instagram
Facebook: Audrey De Leon's Author FB Page
Facebook Readers' Group: Audrey's Royals
Pinterest: Follow for what the characters look (somewhat) like & palace interior design!
Subscribe to my newsletter here: Audrey's Newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 30, 2023
A trip to the mall with her friend almost turned into something tragic. This is when Prince’s Diana’s parents finally realized that she needed a change in her guard someone more suitable to her age.
At Princess Diana 16 year old birthday ball , few tragedies occurred…… one being her parents was forcing her to vent Future husband Material. ……….
The 2nd being Diana realized she had deep feelings for her guard
And the last one was a fatal blow to her heart. When there was a catastrophic lost in her heart, in her kingdom and most importantly in the family
December 13, 2023
2 stars - dnf 45%, full Review on my blog!
The Guard of Adriane, is set on an alternate Earth, and the city of Adriane is said to probably be in Europe, as per the author's note at the beginning.
While the initial concept showed potential from the description, the execution didn't quite live up to the anticipated excitement. This reads like a children's book rather than YA, interactions between characters felt contrived, lacking authenticity with noticeable inconsistencies in character development and believability during key events. Also, the dialogue felt very childish and the pacing was awkward.
Anyways!
What I want to talk about is how this book begins. I don't understand why this started the way it did, surely this could have been different.
This starts... in a very strange and honestly it gave me the ick and made me feel uncomfortable.
We meet our fmc Princess Diana, yes exactly like Princess Diana - that's all I could think of the entire time I was reading this - also I want to add her mom is literally Queen Victoria - I'm sorry but no, it just feels weird to read and it makes me cringe.
Diana is a 12-year-old princess. She is having trouble sleeping and walks in on her parents reading comments about her in the Alexandria Weekly-the newspaper; these comments were of the 12-year-old Princess Diana's ‘developing breasts’ and how people would like to fuck her. Which is a very WEIRD and uncomfortable way to start a book, and is not something I want to visualize. Mind you this was within the first 4 pages and just no thank you, I was just done with this book at this point.
But I tried to give this a chance since the author sent me an ARC; thank you so much but it wasn't for me!
It soon gets ridiculous. When the Princess and her best friend go on a small shopping trip to the mall (disguised of course), someone spots her and attempts to kidnap her. All of a sudden a mysterious stranger (Rick) saves her, and when he is brought to the castle, her parents ask him "how he can be repaid" for saving their dear daughter.
His response:
AND HER PARENTS AGREED?? WHAT - but of course only with a background check.
This leads to her parents wanting to up her security, 3-4 guards are chosen to compete for the role, unsure why there had to be a weird sword fight/battle thing, especially when Diana already has her eyes set on Eric - the 16-year-old guard, and thus begins their forbidden romance.
I love a good forbidden, close-proximity romance but this just wasn't it, and I'm so sad because the description holds so much promise. 😭
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
The Guard of Adriane, is set on an alternate Earth, and the city of Adriane is said to probably be in Europe, as per the author's note at the beginning.
While the initial concept showed potential from the description, the execution didn't quite live up to the anticipated excitement. This reads like a children's book rather than YA, interactions between characters felt contrived, lacking authenticity with noticeable inconsistencies in character development and believability during key events. Also, the dialogue felt very childish and the pacing was awkward.
Anyways!
What I want to talk about is how this book begins. I don't understand why this started the way it did, surely this could have been different.
This starts... in a very strange and honestly it gave me the ick and made me feel uncomfortable.
We meet our fmc Princess Diana, yes exactly like Princess Diana - that's all I could think of the entire time I was reading this - also I want to add her mom is literally Queen Victoria - I'm sorry but no, it just feels weird to read and it makes me cringe.
Diana is a 12-year-old princess. She is having trouble sleeping and walks in on her parents reading comments about her in the Alexandria Weekly-the newspaper; these comments were of the 12-year-old Princess Diana's ‘developing breasts’ and how people would like to fuck her. Which is a very WEIRD and uncomfortable way to start a book, and is not something I want to visualize. Mind you this was within the first 4 pages and just no thank you, I was just done with this book at this point.
But I tried to give this a chance since the author sent me an ARC; thank you so much but it wasn't for me!
It soon gets ridiculous. When the Princess and her best friend go on a small shopping trip to the mall (disguised of course), someone spots her and attempts to kidnap her. All of a sudden a mysterious stranger (Rick) saves her, and when he is brought to the castle, her parents ask him "how he can be repaid" for saving their dear daughter.
His response:
"I want to live in the palace," Rick said. "My folks want me to move out of the house now that I'm twenty, but I don't have anywhere to go. And what better place to live than here? I could do odd jobs around the palace, to earn my keep."
AND HER PARENTS AGREED?? WHAT - but of course only with a background check.
This leads to her parents wanting to up her security, 3-4 guards are chosen to compete for the role, unsure why there had to be a weird sword fight/battle thing, especially when Diana already has her eyes set on Eric - the 16-year-old guard, and thus begins their forbidden romance.
I love a good forbidden, close-proximity romance but this just wasn't it, and I'm so sad because the description holds so much promise. 😭
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
November 23, 2023
I love the guard and Princess trope SO MUCH. Friend and then more and it was just such a good read from the start! I received this ARC for an honest review!
December 3, 2023
When I first read what “Guard of Adriane “ was about, I had a completely different idea. I am so glad I still decided to sign up for it! It really turned out to be a totally one of a kind story. Also with a whole new friendship. The way Audrey made sure she put so much detail into the way Eric and Dianna loved each other. They are so perfect. They had so much skills in communicating, keeping everything drama free. This story is definitely a must read!! So y’all better get on it, and get this amazing read!!— Laura xxx
March 17, 2024
I fell in love with Princess Diana and Eric from page 1. As the story progresses, you get to watch Diana and Eric become friends, develop feeling for each other, then lovers. Throughout the book, there are highs (love, babies, and family) and lows (attempted kidnapping, death, prison). I can't wait to read the next book in this series!
November 22, 2023
I liked this book! It had a lot of romance and intrigue! I enjoyed the twists and turns this book takes you on. I love Adriane and her free spirit. Eric had a tough upbringing, but that doesn't stop him from wanting to find a soul mate. I highly recommend this book!
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November 20, 2023Not my cup of tea I guess :)
July 21, 2024
The beginning wasn't the best, but then it got really good! Love Diana and Eric and how they fought for their love, especially Diana!! That mall scene is one I'd love to reenact with my guy.
It was nice to read the story of the parents, whose children the main numbering of the series is about!
It was nice to read the story of the parents, whose children the main numbering of the series is about!
March 1, 2024
Guard of Adriane
Modern forbidden lovers with a few twists. I honestly thought this would be another fantasy read where the FMC falls in love with the MMC but it was so different. Set in the modern world, Princess Diana falls for her bodyguard after she’s almost kidnapped.
I haven’t read any from Audrey De Leon and I’m so glad that this is the prequel to a series cause I need more!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
TW: 🖤🖤
Modern forbidden lovers with a few twists. I honestly thought this would be another fantasy read where the FMC falls in love with the MMC but it was so different. Set in the modern world, Princess Diana falls for her bodyguard after she’s almost kidnapped.
I haven’t read any from Audrey De Leon and I’m so glad that this is the prequel to a series cause I need more!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
TW: 🖤🖤
November 12, 2024
I really wanted to enjoy The Guard of Adriane, but unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. From the very beginning, I struggled to connect with the story, and a lot of the choices made throughout left me feeling frustrated.
The biggest issue for me was the name "Princess Diana." Every time her name came up, it completely pulled me out of the story. I couldn’t stop thinking of the real-life Princess Diana, which made it really hard to take the character seriously or stay immersed in the book. I’m not sure why the author chose that name, but it felt odd and distracting.
Beyond that, I couldn’t connect with the characters. Their relationships felt forced, and the dialogue often came across as unnatural or awkward. I wanted to root for them, but they just didn’t feel real to me.
The world-building also fell flat. In fantasy, I expect to be drawn into a rich, detailed world, but this one felt generic and underdeveloped. There wasn’t enough depth or uniqueness to make it stand out, which made it hard to care about the setting or the stakes.
The pacing didn’t help either. Some parts dragged on far too long, while other key moments felt rushed and underwhelming. It left the story feeling uneven, and it made the whole experience frustrating.
Overall, I just couldn’t get into this book. While I can see how others might enjoy it, especially if they like romance-driven fantasy, it wasn’t the right fit for me. I think with more thoughtful naming choices, deeper world-building, and stronger character development, this could have been a much better read. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.
The biggest issue for me was the name "Princess Diana." Every time her name came up, it completely pulled me out of the story. I couldn’t stop thinking of the real-life Princess Diana, which made it really hard to take the character seriously or stay immersed in the book. I’m not sure why the author chose that name, but it felt odd and distracting.
Beyond that, I couldn’t connect with the characters. Their relationships felt forced, and the dialogue often came across as unnatural or awkward. I wanted to root for them, but they just didn’t feel real to me.
The world-building also fell flat. In fantasy, I expect to be drawn into a rich, detailed world, but this one felt generic and underdeveloped. There wasn’t enough depth or uniqueness to make it stand out, which made it hard to care about the setting or the stakes.
The pacing didn’t help either. Some parts dragged on far too long, while other key moments felt rushed and underwhelming. It left the story feeling uneven, and it made the whole experience frustrating.
Overall, I just couldn’t get into this book. While I can see how others might enjoy it, especially if they like romance-driven fantasy, it wasn’t the right fit for me. I think with more thoughtful naming choices, deeper world-building, and stronger character development, this could have been a much better read. Sadly, it just wasn’t for me.
February 21, 2024
This was a cute coming of age love story between a princess and her guard. At the age of thirteen, Diana needs a guard, where Eric comes in to do the job. They are both young and spend a lot of time together which makes them develop feelings over time.
Diana's family did not want Eric and Diana to be together and caused a lot of problems between them. However, even when things were looking bad, the two stuck together and fought for what they wanted; to be together. Eric was a loyal guard and didn't want to break his word about not being with Diana, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
It was a cute read being part of the Royals of Adriane series.
Diana's family did not want Eric and Diana to be together and caused a lot of problems between them. However, even when things were looking bad, the two stuck together and fought for what they wanted; to be together. Eric was a loyal guard and didn't want to break his word about not being with Diana, but the heart wants what the heart wants.
It was a cute read being part of the Royals of Adriane series.
November 17, 2023
A princess first in line to the throne of Adriane is given a guard at the young age of 13 because of a dangerous event at the mall. She chooses a guard close to her age. What begins as a friendly relationship, through their shared experiences, becomes much more. Diana becomes an adult at age 16 and a ball is held in her honor. Thus begins the search for a 'suitable' husband. I enjoyed this book immensely and definitely recommend it.
January 29, 2024
This was such a sweet and beautiful read. Eric becomes the guard for Princess Diana (no, not THAT one) and over time they begin developing feelings for each other.
I liked that it wasn't instalove. Their relationship grew from guard/princess to much more over several years. It made it more believable, though there was attraction from the very beginning.
This book is full of mystery, intrigue, and lots of emotions. Great job to this author!
I liked that it wasn't instalove. Their relationship grew from guard/princess to much more over several years. It made it more believable, though there was attraction from the very beginning.
This book is full of mystery, intrigue, and lots of emotions. Great job to this author!
November 18, 2024
I liked it. Friends to lovers is usually not my cup of tea, but I liked how the author wrote about the main characters' development as friends and lovers. The story was also very unique. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book.
I received a free copy of this book prior to its release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book prior to its release and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 3, 2024
The Guard of Adriane is a prequel to The Royals of Adriane. It’s the first book I have read by Audrey De Leon, and I don’t think it will be the last. I loved the chemistry between Eric and Diana. Forbidden love is always a good read for me. Loved this book and cannot wait to read the rest of the series!
As always be mindful of trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading!
As always be mindful of trigger warnings, what I like you may not.
Happy Reading!
December 3, 2023
That was a really awesome book 🩷🩷🩷
What happens when the princess falls in love with her Guard?
I really enjoyed this story. It sets the tone for the rest of the series I believe and we are introduced to alot of what I think will be somewhat influential characters in future books.
Diana is beautiful, young and brilliant. Her character growth, whilst only small (due to the age) was impressive. I liked that she didn't care about Eric's background, she loved him for him and that is really commendable for a person as young as Diana. It sucks that certain people in her life caused issues...
Eric, the beautiful Guard to the Princess. I loved that he was Diana's pillar through everything. It was obvious from the beginning that Eric and Diana had chemistry and that they were perfect for each other. He fought his attraction for her for a long time.
I can't wait to see what the future holds for this family. Read this book. It's worth it. It was just a really sweet read and kind of spicy too. The only thing I really wish is if I was able to read Eric's POV, I always love knowing what is going on in the minds of our main characters.
Thank you so much to Audrey and the amazing team at Unalive Promotions for giving me the chance to ARC read this book. I really appreciate it. All opinions are honest and my own 🩷
🌷 Bodyguard
🌷 Forbidden romance
🌷 Royalty
🌷 Virgin hero & heroine
🌷 Forced Proximity
What happens when the princess falls in love with her Guard?
I really enjoyed this story. It sets the tone for the rest of the series I believe and we are introduced to alot of what I think will be somewhat influential characters in future books.
Diana is beautiful, young and brilliant. Her character growth, whilst only small (due to the age) was impressive. I liked that she didn't care about Eric's background, she loved him for him and that is really commendable for a person as young as Diana. It sucks that certain people in her life caused issues...
Eric, the beautiful Guard to the Princess. I loved that he was Diana's pillar through everything. It was obvious from the beginning that Eric and Diana had chemistry and that they were perfect for each other. He fought his attraction for her for a long time.
I can't wait to see what the future holds for this family. Read this book. It's worth it. It was just a really sweet read and kind of spicy too. The only thing I really wish is if I was able to read Eric's POV, I always love knowing what is going on in the minds of our main characters.
Thank you so much to Audrey and the amazing team at Unalive Promotions for giving me the chance to ARC read this book. I really appreciate it. All opinions are honest and my own 🩷
🌷 Bodyguard
🌷 Forbidden romance
🌷 Royalty
🌷 Virgin hero & heroine
🌷 Forced Proximity
February 29, 2024
This was a cute coming of age love story. The only problem was that Diana was a Princess and Eric was her bodyguard. They made a vow to each other to stick together through everything. Little did they know it would be her family and pretty much most of the kingdom.
It was a great read.
It was a great read.
November 28, 2024
Enjoyed reading this book, however I wish her name wasn’t princess diana because it made me think of the real princess diana when I would read her name. All and all it was a nice story. Very slow burned. It kept me entertained and I liked the love story.
December 11, 2024
I enjoyed the book. Eric and Diana's relationship was so cute and sweet with spice towards the end. It kind of gave me a fairy tale kind of vibe. Good amount of action and drama to keep the book going. It also had some sad, heart hitting moments. It had a little bit of everything!
December 1, 2023
I liked this book! I love the best friend/bodyguard trope. This had it all! Romance, intrigue, & some spice! I really liked to it & recommend this author & book!
Read
December 5, 2023The story line was there, but it wasn’t for me personally. I liked the idea of finding a soulmate after a difficult upbringing, and the gaurdxprincess trope. Other than that, fell a bit flat for me.
September 12, 2024
Beautiful story of a forbidden romance! Loved the slow burn feel and all the ups and downs of this story! Great read!
May 9, 2025
I enjoyed 😉 this book. First time reading 📚 this author and I'll be reading 📚 more of her books 📚. The world-building was good along with the characters with some spice.
November 30, 2023
Excited for everyone to read Diana and Eric's story! Diana's a princess, and Eric's just her guard... Except he's not.
If you enjoy the book, please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you :)
Update: For those asking, the paperback will be out on December 2nd. Sorry for the delay 🖤
If you enjoy the book, please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you :)
Update: For those asking, the paperback will be out on December 2nd. Sorry for the delay 🖤
August 26, 2024
I hardly think of it as a betrayal. It's a stupid rule. After all, you can't help but fall in love with your guard - forced proximity and all.
The prequel to Audrey De Leon’s The Royals of Adriane series, The Guard of Adriane, takes us into the world of Adriane, where Eric Sinclair, an orphan with a troubled past, becomes the bodyguard of Princess Diana amid looming threats. Sounds intriguing, right? Unfortunately, while the premise held promise, the execution wasn’t quite as thrilling as I thought it would be. The story introduces a forbidden romance between Eric and Diana, but things get a bit awkward and unrealistic. The characters’ interactions feel forced and almost lack authenticity, and there are some inconsistencies in character development and believability during certain events, leading to moments that feel contrived or unrealistic. Descriptions, at times, verge on excessive, going into unnecessary details that do not significantly contribute to the narrative progression, and the drama occasionally goes overboard. For example, some behaviors and reactions, particularly those of Diana, sometimes seem exaggerated or implausible, impacting the story’s credibility. The pacing? Kind of like a rollercoaster — slow in some parts and then racing to wrap up toward the end. And let’s talk about those intimate scenes … as much as I tried to like them, they just weren’t my cup of tea or fit the flow of the novel. Overall, The Guard of Adriane is a good idea with a bit of a shaky delivery, though may be a fun read for those interested in books about royalty, downstairs/upstairs-esque storylines, and forbidden romance.
Content warnings include disordered eating, body dismorphia, , and .
Website | Bookstagram | BookTok
The prequel to Audrey De Leon’s The Royals of Adriane series, The Guard of Adriane, takes us into the world of Adriane, where Eric Sinclair, an orphan with a troubled past, becomes the bodyguard of Princess Diana amid looming threats. Sounds intriguing, right? Unfortunately, while the premise held promise, the execution wasn’t quite as thrilling as I thought it would be. The story introduces a forbidden romance between Eric and Diana, but things get a bit awkward and unrealistic. The characters’ interactions feel forced and almost lack authenticity, and there are some inconsistencies in character development and believability during certain events, leading to moments that feel contrived or unrealistic. Descriptions, at times, verge on excessive, going into unnecessary details that do not significantly contribute to the narrative progression, and the drama occasionally goes overboard. For example, some behaviors and reactions, particularly those of Diana, sometimes seem exaggerated or implausible, impacting the story’s credibility. The pacing? Kind of like a rollercoaster — slow in some parts and then racing to wrap up toward the end. And let’s talk about those intimate scenes … as much as I tried to like them, they just weren’t my cup of tea or fit the flow of the novel. Overall, The Guard of Adriane is a good idea with a bit of a shaky delivery, though may be a fun read for those interested in books about royalty, downstairs/upstairs-esque storylines, and forbidden romance.
Content warnings include disordered eating, body dismorphia, , and .
Website | Bookstagram | BookTok
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews