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The Guardian
Annabelle and Stephen have loved each other since first they met as children. When Stephen gets into trouble with the law and is sent to Jamaica by his family, Annabelle marries his elder brother, the Earl of Weston. The book opens with the death of Gerald and the naming of Stephen as guardian to Annabelle’s son, Giles. Annabelle has vowed never to forgive Stephen for leaving her, but his return rekindles all the old feelings. As the plot develops, attacks are made on Stephen’s life and Annabelle determines to find out who among the family members living in her house is responsible.
Some Reviews of The Guardian ...
Publisher’s Weekly. Starred review
Gripping, suspenseful first-person narrative from top-ranked Regency historical author Joan Wolf will remind readers why they love the genre.. Cool, self-possessed beauty Annabelle Grandville’s privileged world is shaken when her first love, Stephen Grandville, returns to Weston, the family estate on the Sussex Downs, as guardian to new earl Giles, his nephew …and her young son. Stephen’s five-year Jamaica exile had sent Annabelle into his now-deceased brother’s arms. Can their once-passionate love affair be rekindled? Annabelle barely has time to ponder the possibilities before murder attempts are mind on Stephen’s and Giles’s lives. Suddenly, every Grandville family member stands suspect, and Annabelle’s no longer sure whom she can trust. Smartly plotted, with funny, believable dialogue and a large, consistently well-drawn cast of characters, this is romance writing at its best.
Romantic Times
Ms. Wolf writes a spellbinding tale of a couple thrown together and protective of one another since childhood as their love grows to an all-encompassing passion, a love that overcomes all adversity….a luscious treat.
4 stars
The Belles and Beaux of Romance
“Joan Wolf always delivers a stellar reading experience. … The latest treasure by Joan Wolf is The Guardian. Set in Regency England it is a tale about an extraordinary woman and how she deals with family secrets, deceit, and the great love of her life.
Some reviews on other of Joan Wolf''s Regency novels ...
The Arrangement ,,,
Another winner…wonderfully written….Whether your favorite Joan Wolf story features Regency heroes, strong heroines, or marvelous Regency era settings, you'll find it all here in The Arrangement.
Sherry Crane – Compu-Serve Romance Reviews
The Deception …
What with the resurgence of interest in Jane Austen, Regency romances are enjoying a renewed popularity. Veteran novelist Wolf (best known for her prehistoric The Reindeer Hunters), turns in her own delightful addition, one that combines sensuality and passion with a spirited first-person narrative. When Kate Fitzgerald's horse-trader father is killed, she's placed with her malicious uncle, who spitefully maneuvers her into marriage with Adrian, Earl of Greystone. Waterloo hero Greystone accepts the unfortunate situation, but Kate falls deeply in love. Against the colorful racetrack background of the running of the Guineas at Newmarket, she schemes to entrap the aristocrat who murdered her father.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling author, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike. Publisher's Weekly reviewed one of her novels as "historical fiction at its finest." Joan was born in New York City but has lived most of her life in Connecticut with her husband, two children and numerous pets. An avid rider and horse owner, she enjoys featuring horses in her novels.
Some Reviews of The Guardian ...
Publisher’s Weekly. Starred review
Gripping, suspenseful first-person narrative from top-ranked Regency historical author Joan Wolf will remind readers why they love the genre.. Cool, self-possessed beauty Annabelle Grandville’s privileged world is shaken when her first love, Stephen Grandville, returns to Weston, the family estate on the Sussex Downs, as guardian to new earl Giles, his nephew …and her young son. Stephen’s five-year Jamaica exile had sent Annabelle into his now-deceased brother’s arms. Can their once-passionate love affair be rekindled? Annabelle barely has time to ponder the possibilities before murder attempts are mind on Stephen’s and Giles’s lives. Suddenly, every Grandville family member stands suspect, and Annabelle’s no longer sure whom she can trust. Smartly plotted, with funny, believable dialogue and a large, consistently well-drawn cast of characters, this is romance writing at its best.
Romantic Times
Ms. Wolf writes a spellbinding tale of a couple thrown together and protective of one another since childhood as their love grows to an all-encompassing passion, a love that overcomes all adversity….a luscious treat.
4 stars
The Belles and Beaux of Romance
“Joan Wolf always delivers a stellar reading experience. … The latest treasure by Joan Wolf is The Guardian. Set in Regency England it is a tale about an extraordinary woman and how she deals with family secrets, deceit, and the great love of her life.
Some reviews on other of Joan Wolf''s Regency novels ...
The Arrangement ,,,
Another winner…wonderfully written….Whether your favorite Joan Wolf story features Regency heroes, strong heroines, or marvelous Regency era settings, you'll find it all here in The Arrangement.
Sherry Crane – Compu-Serve Romance Reviews
The Deception …
What with the resurgence of interest in Jane Austen, Regency romances are enjoying a renewed popularity. Veteran novelist Wolf (best known for her prehistoric The Reindeer Hunters), turns in her own delightful addition, one that combines sensuality and passion with a spirited first-person narrative. When Kate Fitzgerald's horse-trader father is killed, she's placed with her malicious uncle, who spitefully maneuvers her into marriage with Adrian, Earl of Greystone. Waterloo hero Greystone accepts the unfortunate situation, but Kate falls deeply in love. Against the colorful racetrack background of the running of the Guineas at Newmarket, she schemes to entrap the aristocrat who murdered her father.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Joan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling author, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike. Publisher's Weekly reviewed one of her novels as "historical fiction at its finest." Joan was born in New York City but has lived most of her life in Connecticut with her husband, two children and numerous pets. An avid rider and horse owner, she enjoys featuring horses in her novels.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1997
13 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Joan Wolf
106 books370 followersJoan Wolf is a USA TODAY bestselling American writer, whose acclaimed Regency romances have earned her national recognition as a master of the genre. Her many historical and contemporary romances, some of which have been chosen as Literary Guild selections, have been highly praised by reviewers and authors alike.
Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mercy College and Master in English and Comparative Literature at Hunter College. An avid rider and horse owner, Joan lives in Connecticut with her husband Joe and two grown children, Jay and Pam.
Joan was born in 1951 and she grew up in the Bronx, New York. A former English teacher, she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Mercy College and Master in English and Comparative Literature at Hunter College. An avid rider and horse owner, Joan lives in Connecticut with her husband Joe and two grown children, Jay and Pam.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 25, 2021
Chapter one, first sentence, “My God, my God, my God, he’s reading Gerald’s will.” What an amazing start! I know my eyes bugged out and I was immediately engaged into further reading the story. I was already intrigued after reading the synopsis. I’m officially a fan of Joan Wolf so I knew I wasn’t going to be able to put the book down with a start like that.
This is a historical romance which is one of my favorite genres. I am however a reviewer that doesn’t get stuck on how accurate an author is or not in the time period that she is writing. I read for pure entertainment purposes so if you are a reader that enjoys historical accuracy then I can’t testify to that. However, I can testify that this book was very entertaining.
The romance between the hero, Stephen and the heroine, Annabelle, was sensual and dangerous. There is a plot thread wrapped around their relationship that was suspenseful and mysterious. I didn’t feel this story was predictable. I felt like there were many moving parts that kept the story flowing at a steady pace.
The synopsis says “There are some things that are unforgivable, as Stephen will find out if he thinks he can take up where he left off with me.” I don’t usually quote a synopsis very often but in this case, it was called for. I enjoyed reading the love relationship between Stephen and Annabelle. It was fun to see how perceptions can be misleading. It’s interesting how lies and secrets can be manipulated in certain circumstances.
There are many layers in this story among the cast of characters. I felt the characters were well developed and relatable. I was given the sense of a strong loyal family with a few dysfunctional relatives. They all lived in a community where everyone knew each other. I didn’t have any trouble following along with the story line.
I appreciated that the book ended with an epilogue. Every detail was wrapped up in a pretty bow. I was sad to see the story come to an end.
I definitely would read this book again. I encourage others to give it a try. Happy Reading!
This is a historical romance which is one of my favorite genres. I am however a reviewer that doesn’t get stuck on how accurate an author is or not in the time period that she is writing. I read for pure entertainment purposes so if you are a reader that enjoys historical accuracy then I can’t testify to that. However, I can testify that this book was very entertaining.
The romance between the hero, Stephen and the heroine, Annabelle, was sensual and dangerous. There is a plot thread wrapped around their relationship that was suspenseful and mysterious. I didn’t feel this story was predictable. I felt like there were many moving parts that kept the story flowing at a steady pace.
The synopsis says “There are some things that are unforgivable, as Stephen will find out if he thinks he can take up where he left off with me.” I don’t usually quote a synopsis very often but in this case, it was called for. I enjoyed reading the love relationship between Stephen and Annabelle. It was fun to see how perceptions can be misleading. It’s interesting how lies and secrets can be manipulated in certain circumstances.
There are many layers in this story among the cast of characters. I felt the characters were well developed and relatable. I was given the sense of a strong loyal family with a few dysfunctional relatives. They all lived in a community where everyone knew each other. I didn’t have any trouble following along with the story line.
I appreciated that the book ended with an epilogue. Every detail was wrapped up in a pretty bow. I was sad to see the story come to an end.
I definitely would read this book again. I encourage others to give it a try. Happy Reading!
July 30, 2010
I usually enjoy Joan Wolf's stories, especially the regency historicals she wrote in the first person, they always have some drama, some angst and agony and some of favourite stories have those ingredients so I am always ready to try new ones. This one was not an exception and added another particular favourite of mine - the second chance at love story.
Annabelle and Stephen were childhood sweethearts; they grew up together because her mother was married to his father and thy fell in love. However, five years before the start of the story, Stephen is accused of being a smuggler and, to keep a friend safe, he admits to the charge. He was sent to live in Jamaica and didn't even have time to say goodbye to Annabelle. When she found out that she was pregnant (I don't think this constitutes a spoiler as it is revealed early in the story) her mother made her marry Stephen's brother Gerald and make him believe the son was his. While Annabelle has resented not hearing for Stephen at the time, the discovery that she had married his brother has kept him away. But now, Gerald is dead, and has made Stephen his son's guardian.
When Stephen arrives there's a natural awkwardness between them and they both resent the other. Part of his responsibility to the boy is to take care of the estate business and Stephen is looking forward to it after his similar work in Jamaica. However, Stephen soon becomes suspicious that money is being embezzled and starts suffering mysterious accidents.
I did like the sparks flying between Annabelle and Stephen while they don't sort the past. The mystery of who is stealing money and Stephen's accidents also takes up a big part of the action and I quite liked that too. Both of the characters were interesting and believable and the tension between them was really good. I did think, at times, that Annabelle protected her relatives a bit too much but I guess it was also her anger toward Stephen that ruled her at the time.
However, despite my enjoyment of their story, I had two problems. First the plot reminded me too much of another Wolf book called The Arrangement and I don't like to read and being reminded that I've read the same before. It's not the same but it also involves a guardian and his ward's mother. Secondly since Annabelle and Stephen are now in laws they wouldn't have been able to marry because it would be illegal in England at the time.
Still, I'm giving it a good grade because when I could ignore that, this was one good story and I'm looking forward to read more of these books!
Grade: 4/5
Annabelle and Stephen were childhood sweethearts; they grew up together because her mother was married to his father and thy fell in love. However, five years before the start of the story, Stephen is accused of being a smuggler and, to keep a friend safe, he admits to the charge. He was sent to live in Jamaica and didn't even have time to say goodbye to Annabelle. When she found out that she was pregnant (I don't think this constitutes a spoiler as it is revealed early in the story) her mother made her marry Stephen's brother Gerald and make him believe the son was his. While Annabelle has resented not hearing for Stephen at the time, the discovery that she had married his brother has kept him away. But now, Gerald is dead, and has made Stephen his son's guardian.
When Stephen arrives there's a natural awkwardness between them and they both resent the other. Part of his responsibility to the boy is to take care of the estate business and Stephen is looking forward to it after his similar work in Jamaica. However, Stephen soon becomes suspicious that money is being embezzled and starts suffering mysterious accidents.
I did like the sparks flying between Annabelle and Stephen while they don't sort the past. The mystery of who is stealing money and Stephen's accidents also takes up a big part of the action and I quite liked that too. Both of the characters were interesting and believable and the tension between them was really good. I did think, at times, that Annabelle protected her relatives a bit too much but I guess it was also her anger toward Stephen that ruled her at the time.
However, despite my enjoyment of their story, I had two problems. First the plot reminded me too much of another Wolf book called The Arrangement and I don't like to read and being reminded that I've read the same before. It's not the same but it also involves a guardian and his ward's mother. Secondly since Annabelle and Stephen are now in laws they wouldn't have been able to marry because it would be illegal in England at the time.
Still, I'm giving it a good grade because when I could ignore that, this was one good story and I'm looking forward to read more of these books!
Grade: 4/5
July 25, 2019
Liked the story and the bit of mystery involved, but isn't there some rule in Britain where Sister-in-laws can't marry their dear departed husband's brother? Just saying. always found that weird when they are allowed to marry cousins! Anyhow, nice bit of historical romance.
November 9, 2016
A depressing tragedy of misunderstandings.
January 7, 2023
Strangely disorganized, wandering plot. The heroine is [and there is no adjective significant enough] gorgeous to the nth. Every man who sees her is instantly obsessed with her. The plot kicks off when the heroine and the hero [obsessed] are separated when he is caught smuggling, although he's just taking the place of a friend, but while everyone else manages to escape he is caught. He may be stupid but he is noble. He is exiled so his true love - our heroine promptly marries his brother [also obsessed with her]. Who dies. The hero returns and someone [obsessed] tries to kill him several times!!! There's also embezzlement, lots of horses, a nasty mother, a ditzy aunt, an obsessed [with the hero] cousin. It's a kitchen sink kind of plot, where you might be surprised to learn, even attempted murder can be forgiven and what's a little embezzlement as long as it's kept in the family??
June 7, 2018
I like Joan Wolf's novels, but 18 years after the first read, I am reminded of why I haven't made THE GUARDIAN a habit. The heroine has had a relatively charmed life because of her beauty and kind personality. Once her dead husband's brother comes home, she refuses to see many things because she is in a blissful haze and wants to remain so.
Read 2 times
Read 2 times
August 29, 2012
The heroine seemed quite dense to me. Apparently, she had great beauty but there weren't many brains behind te pretty face. At least not enough to warrant the undying devotion from the young men of the book. It's not a bad story, just one that's not quite strong enough to please me.
November 7, 2024
My main issues with this one are the completely glaring issues with the marriages in this book.
The heroine's mother was married to her father-in-law, it seems years before heroine married her late husband. That would have made them stepsiblings which would have prevented them marrying, PLUS it would have made her first love also her stepbrother. THEN after first hubby died, she would have been unable to marry her brother-in-law either.
And that's just the tip of the spear because she's huge into fox hunting and just feels very horsey and huntey which is so not my thing at all.
DNF
The heroine's mother was married to her father-in-law, it seems years before heroine married her late husband. That would have made them stepsiblings which would have prevented them marrying, PLUS it would have made her first love also her stepbrother. THEN after first hubby died, she would have been unable to marry her brother-in-law either.
And that's just the tip of the spear because she's huge into fox hunting and just feels very horsey and huntey which is so not my thing at all.
DNF
May 11, 2023
I enjoyed this traditional regency romance/mystery. Annabelle the widow of the Earl of Weston finds out that his estranged brother Stephen has been named the guardian of her four year old son. The story revolves around the mystery of someone trying to kill Stephen. Annabelle and Stephen were in love when he was sent away to Jamaica for smuggling. It was a great read though the basic plot was a bit dodgy. All the characters were well written.
June 8, 2018
The best of Wolf's sexier Regencies, and I believe I've read them all. I loved the extended family all living together and the relationships among them, and how they developed and changed.
February 10, 2023
Fand das Buch nicht wirklich spannend. Es war recht vorhersehbar und die Liebesgeschichte hat mich nicht mitreisen können. Auch die Zeitsprünge haben mich des öfteren aus dem Lesefluss gerissen. Einzig die Charaktere fand ich recht ansprechend.
April 16, 2023
excellent read
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, interesting storyline. However, I was very disappointed by the number of grammatical as well as typo errors.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, interesting storyline. However, I was very disappointed by the number of grammatical as well as typo errors.
September 17, 2025
Good story but for me, it was too much mystery and not enough romance….
May 27, 2012
the main character was frankly boring.and i dont think there was any humor in here at all.in fact, the whole book was kind of boring. idk how authors can write so boring.i mean like,zero humor.
during the scene with the faulty boat, she was overreacting with the take my son first. werent they in a pond? they all could have swam to the edge with no problem.
i dont remember her age,but she came off as all old and motherly. just because you have a kid doesnt mean you have to be so stuffy and boring.
i liked the history between her and stephen,though.
during the scene with the faulty boat, she was overreacting with the take my son first. werent they in a pond? they all could have swam to the edge with no problem.
i dont remember her age,but she came off as all old and motherly. just because you have a kid doesnt mean you have to be so stuffy and boring.
i liked the history between her and stephen,though.
November 2, 2011
Annabele and Steven from the time they were children were inseparable. Stephens older brother is attracted to Annabella and when Stephen is exiled a forced marriage takes place. Great chemistry between Stephen and Annabelle. This book is on my keeper shelf.
special-unread-plot
March 12, 2020It was such a good plot but why did it have to be so boring?! It was the second time I tried to read it, I give up.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews