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Guardians of the North #1
By Honor Bound
Those Who Brave the Challenges of Taming the Rugged Canadian Frontier
Hunter Stone and his wife, Betsy, dreamed of raising their family on the Canadian frontier, and that dream had brought them west. But their hope of a promising future is suddenly shattered when Red Wolf, a Crow Indian on the warpath, burns Stone's homestead and kidnaps Betsy while Stone is away at the trading post purchasing supplies.
Suspecting the perpetrator of this villainous deed is the same renegade responsible for burning his neighbor's ranch, Stone is driven by rage as he rides out to rescue his wife. His encounter with Red Wolf and his warriors ends in defeat and leaves him with a blinding wrath and an obsession for revenge.
Reena O'Donnell, a young missionary to the Canadian Assiniboine Indians, finds Hunter, who is wounded and barely alive, and nurses him back to health. Though his body has healed, the deep scars of anger and lust for vengeance nearly destroy him. Will joining the North-West Mounted Police help him leave the past behind?
Can Reena's faith and prayers make a difference in the life of Hunter, who has lost everything?
Hunter Stone and his wife, Betsy, dreamed of raising their family on the Canadian frontier, and that dream had brought them west. But their hope of a promising future is suddenly shattered when Red Wolf, a Crow Indian on the warpath, burns Stone's homestead and kidnaps Betsy while Stone is away at the trading post purchasing supplies.
Suspecting the perpetrator of this villainous deed is the same renegade responsible for burning his neighbor's ranch, Stone is driven by rage as he rides out to rescue his wife. His encounter with Red Wolf and his warriors ends in defeat and leaves him with a blinding wrath and an obsession for revenge.
Reena O'Donnell, a young missionary to the Canadian Assiniboine Indians, finds Hunter, who is wounded and barely alive, and nurses him back to health. Though his body has healed, the deep scars of anger and lust for vengeance nearly destroy him. Will joining the North-West Mounted Police help him leave the past behind?
Can Reena's faith and prayers make a difference in the life of Hunter, who has lost everything?
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1996
9 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Alan Morris
12 books13 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
son of Gilbert Morris
brother to Lynn Morris
son of Gilbert Morris
brother to Lynn Morris
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 13, 2025
This book has captured my heart since I was a teenager. I can truly say it is my favorite historical fiction story ever.
Every single time I reread this book, it just feels like home. I feel like I know each character personally. Mourning their sorrows, and celebrating their triumphs right along side them.
Along side strong Christian values, this book so greatly shows the themes of honor and disgrace, revenge and forgiveness, love and respect. “He loved chivalry, truth, and honor, freedom, and courtesy…”
This book will always be 5 ⭐️ for me, even 5.5⭐️ if I’m being honest. My comfort book through and through.
Every single time I reread this book, it just feels like home. I feel like I know each character personally. Mourning their sorrows, and celebrating their triumphs right along side them.
Along side strong Christian values, this book so greatly shows the themes of honor and disgrace, revenge and forgiveness, love and respect. “He loved chivalry, truth, and honor, freedom, and courtesy…”
This book will always be 5 ⭐️ for me, even 5.5⭐️ if I’m being honest. My comfort book through and through.
July 29, 2008
Guardians of the North is another series that I read and reread a lot when I was younger, and which I've recently decided to reread again. I haven't read too many books set in Canada (usually similar "westernesque" novels are set in the American West), but I love the glimpse into life in the Canadian Northwest Territories, and of course, the Mounties. :) By Honor Bound is a gripping first book that sets the stage for the delightful mixture of romance and danger that comprise the majority of the series.
Both of the main characters, Reena (the daughter of a Chicago banker who leaves the comfort and safety of her well-to-do home to be a missionary to the Assiniboine Indians in Canada) and Hunter (a Canadian farmer who eventually joins the Mounted Police), have tragedies in their past and in their future, tragedies which continue to affect them in both this book and in the following ones. Anyway, their paths cross in the midst of one of those tragedies, and a friendship is struck between them, which (obviously) grows and deepens into more, though at a slow enough pace that it remains respectful to their pasts (which both involve heartbreak).
I think my favorite aspect of the series--romance and adventure and renegade Indians and peaceable Indians and Mounties and murderous whiskey traders aside--is the characters, and their humor and likability and vulnerability, as well as their friendships with each other. Hunter, for all the larger-than-life-hero role that he plays, is far from perfect. Vic is a sweetheart (with a British accent, hehe), and Del cracks me up almost every time he's onstage. Reena's Assiniboine friends are dearly beloved by her, and you can see why. Reena herself is a strong, capable woman but with her own set of insecurities and struggles.
Both of the main characters, Reena (the daughter of a Chicago banker who leaves the comfort and safety of her well-to-do home to be a missionary to the Assiniboine Indians in Canada) and Hunter (a Canadian farmer who eventually joins the Mounted Police), have tragedies in their past and in their future, tragedies which continue to affect them in both this book and in the following ones. Anyway, their paths cross in the midst of one of those tragedies, and a friendship is struck between them, which (obviously) grows and deepens into more, though at a slow enough pace that it remains respectful to their pasts (which both involve heartbreak).
I think my favorite aspect of the series--romance and adventure and renegade Indians and peaceable Indians and Mounties and murderous whiskey traders aside--is the characters, and their humor and likability and vulnerability, as well as their friendships with each other. Hunter, for all the larger-than-life-hero role that he plays, is far from perfect. Vic is a sweetheart (with a British accent, hehe), and Del cracks me up almost every time he's onstage. Reena's Assiniboine friends are dearly beloved by her, and you can see why. Reena herself is a strong, capable woman but with her own set of insecurities and struggles.
February 21, 2009
I couldn't put this series down!
July 10, 2013
It was good - I don't think it was anything to rave about, but i am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
August 8, 2014
I enjoyed reading this book. it is thought provoking and has a good story. the writing was good and fast paced.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews