The Fiction Enthusiast: Review & Giveaway: The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

Title: The Guardian
Series: Return of the Highlanders #1
Author: Margaret Mallory
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction

Description via Goodreads:

Four young Highlanders - Connor, Ian, Alex and Duncan - hurry home from France after hearing news of the disastrous Battle of Flodden against Henry VIII's forces. With his father among the dead, Connor must take his place as chieftain. Before he can lead his clan through the perilous times ahead, however, he must first dislodge the usurper who has taken his family's castle and claimed leadership of the clan.

Connor's cousins and best friend, Ian, Alex and Duncan, will stand shoulder to shoulder with him in every fight. They are willing to give their lives for their clan and their new chieftain. But taking wives to serve the clan's interests is a different matter altogether...

My thoughts:

The Guardian begins a fascinating new series from the very talented Margaret Mallory. The story primarily focuses on the story of Ian and Sileas. They were forced to marry before he left Scotland for five long years. He planned to return and encourage Sileas to find a new husband, but when he discovers what a beauty she has become he begins to change his mind. Sileas finds it difficult to trust Ian after the hurt and humiliation he caused her, but after loving him her entire life she hopes the man she once knew is still inside him. She doesn’t want to spend her life in a loveless marriage and has concocted a plan to end their union if Ian can’t love her the way she deserves, even if it will break her heart to see it end.

I was completely drawn in by the story of Ian and Sileas. Sileas is a character with so much heart. After being dealt so much pain in her life I wanted to see her find her HEA. Ian is a character who managed to be both frustrating and endearing. As the circumstances that set their forced union into motion came to light, it was so much easier to understand Ian’s frustrations and Sileas’s fears. Sileas was just a child when the marriage took place, and Ian was a young Highlander ready for a life on the battlefield. I was wholeheartedly rooting for them even when Ian’s actions were less than noble.

I also fell in love with Ian’s family. There was so much development of not only the key players, but also the secondary ones. This story left me longing for more time with the fascinating characters the author created. If you like strong and sassy heroines you’ll love this book. There is a scene involving an angry Sileas and a frying pan that is not to be missed ;) The Guardian is a stellar series debut, and I can’t wait to get to know the other Highlanders as it progresses. The romantic elements paired with a bit of political intrigue and laugh out loud moments, created a thoroughly engaging look into the Highlander life.

Margaret Mallory takes a mix of fact and fiction, and weaves a magnificently romantic tale. Her love of Scotland and history is apparent when reading her stories. She was one of my first experiences with historical romance, and one of the reasons I’m hooked today. If you are a fan of historical romance this is an author you do not want to miss!

My Rating: