By Honor Bound

Guardians of the North #1

by Alan Morris

When an Indian attack robs Hunter Stone of his wife and his ranch, he is brought back from despair by the comfort of a young woman missionary and the pride he gains from his service to the North-West Mounted Police

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Romance

287 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

son of Gilbert Morris
brother to Lynn Morris

Reviews

[Shannon Roossinck · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Brenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Lizzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't put this series down!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Mae_chann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. it is thought provoking and has a good story. the writing was good and fast paced.