The Reluctant Guardian

Regency Duo #1

by Jo Manning

Colonel Sir Isaac Rebow, traumatized by his parents' unhappy marriage, vowed never to be legshackled; he's successfully avoided the parson's mousetrap. Enter his errant uncle, caperwitted squire Matthew Martin, who disappears from his Chelsea townhouse late one night, abandoning his two daughters. Isaac must step in as guardian until Matthew reappears, a situation not at all to his liking. Mary Martin, the elder sister, is stubborn, independent, and strong-willed. She's also been in love with her handsome cousin forever, but he's never deigned to notice her. Chafing under his reluctant guardianship, they cross swords immediately and often. Lady Sophia Rowley, one of the ton's most beautiful and ruthless women, determined to lead Isaac to the altar when her ailing husband dies, further complicates matters. A situation in Isaac's library leads to an offer of marriage, an offer Mary refuses. She adores him, but how can she enter into a loveless union, thinking his affections are otherwise engaged? She has no idea he's mad for her-he's hidden his feelings so well. Meanwhile, her father turns up, plunging them into a dangerous series of events that reach their climax at bucolic Alresford Hall, where Mary has retired to reconsider what she believes is Isaac's reluctant proposal.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Jo Manning was born in New York City and received all her schooling through undergraduate level there. In 1961, she applied to the Peace Corps where she met her husband who makes documentaries and independent feature films. Manning has degrees in English and Library Science, and was the founder and Director of the Reader�s Digest General Books Library for over twenty years.

Reviews

[Deborah KV]

Confusing and rambling

This novel was chaotic and senseless. Stories, heroes and heroines, protagonists and antagonists , everything and everyone flitted back and forth. It was simply too chaotic a presentation for me to ever get attached to a storyline or to characters.

[Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might have given this three stars, except the cover is so terrible it's distracting.