The Guardian by Margaret Mallory

By: Unknown on Sunday, March 02, 2014

Title:  The Guardian

Series:  Return of the HIghlanders #1

Author:  Margaret Mallory

Narrator: Derek Perkins

Published:  June 24th 2013 by Tantor Media (first published April 13th 2011)

Length:  9hrs4min/400pgs

Format:  audio book

Genre:  historical romance

Shelf:  bought

Rating:  ★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

After years of fighting abroad, Ian MacDonald comes home to find his clan in peril. To save his kin, he must right the wrongs from his past…and claim the bride he's long resisted.

As a young lass, Sìleas depended on Ian to play her knight in shining armor. But when his rescue attempt compromised her virtue, Ian was forced to marry against his wishes. Five years later, Sìleas has grown from an awkward girl into an independent beauty who knows she deserves better than the reluctant husband who preferred war to his wife. Now this devilishly handsome Highlander is finally falling in love. He wants a second chance with Sìleas—and he won't take no for an answer.

Adult-content rating: This book contains content considered unsuitable for young readers 17 and under, and which may be offensive to some readers of all ages.

My Review:

I very much enjoyed the intriguing and unique premise behind this story. Everything happens upside-down and backwards for the characters leaving them with a long and winding road to get back to where they should have started. Mallory paints a brilliant picture of the action and scenery in this tale, taking her audience on a brilliantly captivating, winding journey that had me smiling and guessing in turn.

The characters in this novel definitely had me alternating between laughing and beating my head off a couch cushion. The female lead was absolutely priceless. The male lead had me exclaiming “Ian you idoit!” More than once. Together they made an amazing pair that carried this story forward. I also quite enjoyed the supporting cast. Everyone was very well developed and approachable. This was a community that you wanted to immerse yourself in.

As a whole this was an intriguing introduction to this author and her take of historical Scots. I’ll definitely be continuing on with this series in the future.