The Guardian

Margaret Mallory

When he was 20 and in love with a lady from the queen's court, Ian MacDonald was forced to marry his childhood friend who is only 13 and a child. The next day, he left with his three closest friends to fight in France. Five years later he returns planning to release Sileas from their marriage. But the scrawny 13-year-old is now a beauty who is important to his family.

Sileas has spent her life in love with Ian. She knows what he thought of her before he left for France. It has been difficult for her to hold her head up with pride the longer he is gone. The women in their Highland clan tease her about the absence of her husband. Now that he is home he still seems to be ignoring her. He certainly doesn't seem to want or need her as his wife.

The clan is in an uproar. The clan leader and his oldest son were killed in battle. The next son, Connor, is one of Ian's friends and was with him in France. They have finally returned from France so Connor can claim leadership. But one of his step-uncles, Hugh, has stepped in and made himself leader. He is evil and trying to split the clan for his own purposes. Connor returns to his Scotland home but has to hide while Ian and another friend prepare the plan for his return. Ian is involved in preparing the clan for Connor's return. He also keeps getting distracted by his unexpected wife. Perhaps he wants to stay married to Sileas after all.

Margaret Mallory has a good grasp of her characters in The Guardian. Sileas is the ugly duckling grown into a beauty who doesn't realize it. She has a secret history with her step father that she can't reveal. While he was gone she has become a backbone in Ian's family. His mother counts on her for help. She's the only one who can calm his father since his battle injury. His younger brother has taken her as a sister. Despite her personal demons, she has become part of Ian's family. Ian is well portrayed as the young man who is guilty for being away so long, strong from being a warrior for the past five years, drawn to his beautiful wife, and involved with saving his clan from being torn apart.

Of course this is a hot romance. Ian is the dream man physically and in his attraction for Sileas. He certainly wouldn't be resisted by any normal romantic woman. The bedroom scenes are steamy and the romance captivating. Yes, it's over the top, which is what Mallory intends.

The ongoing story started in The Guardian will follow with Ian's three friends. Mallory has based this series in true historic events and pulled in people both real and combined into her story. Since I don't know that portion of history, it will be interesting to read the rest of these stories.

Notice:  Explicit sexual content, Graphic violence

Publicist provided for review

The Guardian
The Sinner