The Guardian

Rating:
Summary: Self pitying hero spoils this one.
Review: Amy Conde has spent many years running her horse breeding farm Talltrees. This year she will finally reach twenty-five, the age when she will gain control of the estate. Finally she will be able to stop taking care of expenses and her employees' salaries from her allowance. She has known for years that the man who does the books for her is embezzling from her. But her guardian ignores almost all her requests.
Finally, one night, Trent Severn, her guardian, stops at Talltrees. He is drunk and tired but finally he realizes that she is no longer the child he pictures in his mind. He is horrified that she lives alone, without companion or governess. He has lived for years haunted by the death of his father, and a feeling of responsibility for his best friend. He fires the man stealing from Amy, but he does not accede to her latest request, to buy a new stallion for the farm. The man he fired has made threats against Amy, and to protect her, Trent sends her to his mother's house for safety. She runs away from there, dressed as a boy. From here the story moves to London society, and
more danger--to reputations, and to lives.
The character of Amy can be a breath of fresh air with her unaffected natural beauty and frank tongue. But Trent spends far too much time drunk and sorry for himself for this reader's comfort. And both hero and heroine have a tendency to blame themselves for others' misfortunes.

Rating:
Summary: One star for plot; zero for historical accuracy
Review: Amy Conde is due to turn 25 in three months' time. Until then, she is subject to the whims and wishes of her guardian, Trent Severn, whom she hasn't seen for fifteen years - since her father's funeral, in fact. Severn himself seems to take no interest in her or her affairs, refusing most of her requests with curt letters signed with almost insulting politesse.

However, an unexpected meeting between the two makes Amy realise that Severn isn't quite the unfeeling, harsh guardian she thought he was - and he realises that she isn't the child he, for some reason, still believed her to be. However, anguish and heartache in Trent's past make him convinced that he would be a disastrous husband for any decent young woman, and so he tries to marry Amy off to his best friend.

Thus far, not bad - the characters are reasonably sympathetic and, apart from problems to be returned to below, the story is entertaining. But the romance is more or less resolved by halfway through the book, and from then on we're treated to silly roadblock after silly roadblock. Stupid misunderstandings, incredible plot-twists, one-dimensional and overdone villains... they're all in here, and it's just too much.

And then there's the historical and cultural inaccuracies. The characters don't sound English or nineteenth-century a lot of the time. Amy in particular is far, far too modern for the era. And there are the simple but glaring errors: 'biscuits' for breakfast in the English Regency?! Quite apart from the fact that this type of 'biscuit' is an American invention which never found its way across the Atlantic, did they exist in 1816?

Trent Severn is not a credible character. He is supposedly a gentleman, and yet he has three businesses: a shipping line, a foundry and a legal practice. Gentlemen did not engage in trade. Tradesmen did not mix with the gentry. It was as simple as that. He might know members of the gentry and nobility; he might do business with them and even, in rare circumstances, enter their homes. But never would he mix with them on equal terms. And as for suggesting to Lord Marsh that Draco run his foundry... that would have been an insult.

Trent, in his legal practice, apparently represents female clients in divorce cases. What universe are we in here? Divorce in the nineteenth century was, first, extremely rare. Second, divorce cases were argued in Parliament, in the House of Lords. Only (very wealthy) husbands could sue for divorce; wives could not, and wives had no voice in the proceedings. And, while on the subject of marriage, married women could not, in law, own property, so how could Trent tell Amy that, when they married, she would own half of the businesses?

Incidentally, Trent is also considered dissolute and scandalous - because he's had five affairs in ten years. Is that all?! In the Regency period, that would have been nothing at all remarkable.

Does Miller know much about Regency life and customs? The comment is made in passing that Lord Vair's daughter, aged 17, had a few years yet before she would need to come out. Girls - young women - could come out at as young as 16! The norm was 17 or 18. Amy, at almost 25 and never 'brought out', was very definitely on the shelf. The manners and behaviour of characters generally is also wrong: Diana, Draco's sister, for example, is far too openly rude, as are other characters. Subjects which would never have been topics of conversation for women - and especially unmarried women - are openly aired in front of them. As just one example, gentlemen would never mention to a woman that a duel was to take place.

Further on the subject of manners, the lack of chaperonage isn't credible. Nor is the continual usage of first names; in an era where even married couples did not always use each other's first name, this casual familiarity from first meetings is simply wrong and, like so much else, jolted me out of the story time and again.

Finally, Miller needs the services of a good copy-editor! First, the Frenchman is not a Compte - unless Miller intended to suggest that he is an accountant! - he's a Comte. Second, there are tense switches - into present tense in narrative; there are many errors in punctuation; and also errors in grammar: for example, 'felt badly' instead of 'felt bad'. Presumably Miller did not mean that Trent has no sense of touch?

Avoid this book.

wmr-uk


Rating:
Summary: Miller: Goddess of Historical Romance
Review: From the rugged soldiers, the strong-willed heroines, and non-stop action of this novel, one can assert that Barbara Miller can write historical romance. The characters, unlike many romance novels, are three-dimensional, encompassing not only the action and romance needed for a good story, but also human aspects of self-awareness, anxiety, and desire.
The cover, depicting its graphical sex appeal, provides eye candy for the reader, yes, but it leads one down an exciting road of romantic intrigue and action--so much more lies beyond that "typical romance facade". Just look between the lines...

Rating:
Summary: Miller: Goddess of Historical Romance
Review: From the rugged soldiers, the strong-willed heroines, and non-stop action of this novel, one can assert that Barbara Miller can write historical romance. The characters, unlike many romance novels, are three-dimensional, encompassing not only the action and romance needed for a good story, but also human aspects of self-awareness, anxiety, and desire.
The cover, depicting its graphical sex appeal, provides eye candy for the reader, yes, but it leads one down an exciting road of romantic intrigue and action--so much more lies beyond that "typical romance facade". Just look between the lines...

Rating:
Summary: Happy reader
Review: He spent the last decade dedicated to his nation's efforts to defeat Napoleon. Now Trent Severn returns home to take charge of his personal responsibilities including a ward he has not seen since her father's funeral too many years ago.

Amy Conde runs a horse-breeding farm that needs a new stallion. She asks her absentee guardian for money to buy the horse that she needs now knowing that in three months she gains control of her estate. Before she can get the money, Trent arrives and is stunned to find an intelligent beautiful businesswoman who despises him instead of the grieving little girl of his memories. To make up for his neglect, he decides she needs a suitable spouse to care for her despite the fact that Amy has an inordinate amount of business acumen. He soon decides that man should be he and she wholeheartedly agrees.

THE GUARDIAN is a by the book Regency romance that fails to hook the audience even though they will admire Amy's abilities. Instead, the readers will feel turned off by the lead female character who spends too much time digging into the why behind the behavior of Trent and why she loves the person she used to hate. This causes Amy to lose the empathy of historical romance fans. Though diehard Regency aficionados will enjoy this tale, most other readers will be better off passing on this novel and trying other works by Barbara Miller such as DEAREST MAX.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: So-so
Review: He spent the last decade dedicated to his nation's efforts to defeat Napoleon. Now Trent Severn returns home to take charge of his personal responsibilities including a ward he has not seen since her father's funeral too many years ago.

Amy Conde runs a horse-breeding farm that needs a new stallion. She asks her absentee guardian for money to buy the horse that she needs now knowing that in three months she gains control of her estate. Before she can get the money, Trent arrives and is stunned to find an intelligent beautiful businesswoman who despises him instead of the grieving little girl of his memories. To make up for his neglect, he decides she needs a suitable spouse to care for her despite the fact that Amy has an inordinate amount of business acumen. He soon decides that man should be he and she wholeheartedly agrees.

THE GUARDIAN is a by the book Regency romance that fails to hook the audience even though they will admire Amy's abilities. Instead, the readers will feel turned off by the lead female character who spends too much time digging into the why behind the behavior of Trent and why she loves the person she used to hate. This causes Amy to lose the empathy of historical romance fans. Though diehard Regency aficionados will enjoy this tale, most other readers will be better off passing on this novel and trying other works by Barbara Miller such as DEAREST MAX.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Happy reader
Review: If you've seen other reviews from the dreaded "reader from Kansas City," you know I'm difficult to please. I require historical accuracy, a fairly believeable plot and a decent knowledge of punctuation from an author. The Guardian fulfills all of those functions if not admirably, then at least better than most.

A crisp pace abducts you into the story once you hit the second chapter and the focus turns to the hero. I liked being teased by the hero's story of childhood angst, which explained his behavior for the remainder of the novel.

Only a few bothersome things--the author doesn't use contractions, e.g. "didn't" or "you've". I'm quite aware that contractions weren't in printed English until the beginning of the 20th century, but they were probably used in speech long before that. A few contractions now and then would have prevented the characters from sounding like Star Trek's android Data. Another detraction was the lackluster narrative in some areas. I like to be able to smell, taste, hear, and feel with the characters. Fortunately, the author usually plunged me into the fantasy of the book with vivid wording.

Overall though, I was pleased and can recommend this book as a read. If you get this one, be sure to write a review so I know what you think. Maybe I was merely in a good mood when I read it......

Rating:
Summary: This romance isn't for dummies!
Review: Witty, amusing, sexy and historically accurate are some of the words that describe THE GUARDIAN. The harsh editorial review posted on this website surprised me since nearly all of today's romance novels have heroines with out of the ordinary lifestyles or activities, otherwise there wouldn't be a story!

Also, I was surprised to read that this novel did not contain much historical reference. Actually IT DOES, except that it is very well blended into the narrative and therefore not as noticeable.

It's a big mystery to me why novels such as SUDDENLY YOU, which is one long sex act that gets more depraved by the minute, are more popular that a well thought out story such as THE GUARDIAN. I suppose those of us with higher IQ's are not so easily entertained, and there are so fewer of us.

If your taste runs to the gutter, you should pass this one up. But my cultured and well-educated sisters won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Miller: Romance Writing Goddess
Review: _The Guardian_ is one of my favorites by Barbara Miller. I have read practically every one of her novels, and this one fascinates me. Her characters are always three-dimensional, flying off the page and into one's imagination. From the rugged soldiers and strong-willed heroines, to the constant action and "ah!-romance:-)", I couldn't put this book down. Miller instantly attracts the reader with her web of romantic intrigue and action. I recommend this book to any romance lover or even first-time romance reader.

Barbara Miller has a definite flair for historical romance, and as an unabashed, avid novel reader, I can proudly state that with confidence:-).

Rating:
Summary: Miller: Romance Writing Goddess
Review: _The Guardian_ is one of my favorites by Barbara Miller. I have read practically every one of her novels, and this one fascinates me. Her characters are always three-dimensional, flying off the page and into one's imagination. From the rugged soldiers and strong-willed heroines, to the constant action and "ah!-romance:-)", I couldn't put this book down. Miller instantly attracts the reader with her web of romantic intrigue and action. I recommend this book to any romance lover or even first-time romance reader.

Barbara Miller has a definite flair for historical romance, and as an unabashed, avid novel reader, I can proudly state that with confidence:-).