I always enjoy reading a new Michelle Griep novel, and this one is no exception. It's the final book in her Bow Street Runners Trilogy, but the connection to the other two books is loose, and each book functions as a stand alone novel. (That said, Nicholas Brentwood [Brentwood's Ward] and Alexander Moore [The Innkeeper's Daughter] do make appearances, and fans will enjoy checking in on them.)

Abby and Samuel are a reluctant pair in the beginning—she hires him to escort her to her fiance's estate, and they end up the reluctant guardians of his friend's baby Emma on the journey. Their relationship slowly develops as they get to know one another on the journey, which keeps getting extended due to all manner of road troubles.

The aspect that kept me most curious and anxious to read was the unknown of Abby's fiance Jonathan. What would happen once they got to him? How would she get out of the engagement? Or would they even get to him? Griep's answer was not at all what I expected—but it fit the novel perfectly and gave Abby an opportunity to exhibit her spunk and determination.

While this novel didn't captivate me in the way that some other Griep novels have (I didn't reach the "can't put it down" point until about 3/4 of the way through), I couldn't read the final chapters fast enough!

Fans of regency romance will find much to enjoy in this novel—as well as in the others in the trilogy!

Abby is escaping her Stepmothers wrath and going to her new love. She is traveling with one of her ladies across the country. She had no real escort and soon found out she really needed one. Captain Samuel can’t let her go into the wild alone he offers to escort her.
Sir Jonathan is not what Abby was led to believe. How can she live with someone who loves someone else.
This was a very entertaining book. I really liked the characters.

It's usually bittersweet when a series ends, but oh, what an ending to this series! London - check. Robbers aka outlaws - check. Samuel Thatcher - that's a big check! It was cool to get to read the rest of his story. Samuel and Abby were fantastic in this book. It has little "cameos" from the prior books woven into it as well. It has tons of action, adventures and some suspense. A regency series with extras, it has history, and the underlying foundations we are always looking for in Griep's books; that Christ-centered lesson or theme. God is in control, are we listening? This excellent read stands alone but is even richer as the ending of this trilogy.

My copy came from Celebrate Lit. My review contains my thoughts and opinions of this book. It's left of my own free will.

I love Michelle's stories, since they are rich with history and she does a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life. I enjoyed the chance to take a trip with old fashioned coach travel in this story!

Barbour Publishing recommended the ARC of Michelle Griep’s The Noble Guardian to me. It’s the compelling conclusion to her Bow Street Runners Trilogy. They know I love historical fiction and historical romance. Now I need to read the first two. Almost a Cinderella story, but not quite: the heroine has a mind of her own; some of her ideas are very modern for her time — others, not so much.

What do you get when you pair a stubborn and very proper English lady with an equally stubborn English lawman? Sparks, of course! Abigail Gilbert is on her way to meet her fiancé – alone, thanks to her very evil stepmother’s machinations. Captain Samuel Thatcher, in pursuit of roving gangs of thieves, finally agrees to escort her through dangerous lands. Will they survive? Will they strangle each other? Or, will they admit their feelings to each other?

The Noble Guardian is a wonderful story for those of us who love historical romance and historical fiction. I know you will love it, too.

What makes The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy? Again, because this was an advanced reader’s copy that that was sent to me before its final editing, I will let the verb tense disagreement and typos slide. Still, it had more than its share of split infinitives, and the use of “bring” in place of “take” – which most editors these days seem to ignore.

Look for me online as The Grumpy Book Reviewer.

The Noble Guardian is a Regency Era novel set while traveling across England. Michelle Griep, the author has written an adventurous tale of traveling across the Heaths while portraying the true nature of Highwaymen and the coaching inns and not romanticizing either of them. I enjoyed watching Abigail, the lead female from the story grow from a timid young woman whose Stepmother sent her out without an escort to a woman confident in herself. However, I was confused about how a lady of privilege would know how to care for a baby as easily as she took to Emma. Captain Samuel Thatcher was a very intriguing character. I wish he would have chosen to see Abby safely to her destination on his own, but understand that he thought it would have been better for her to turn back. The story has a sweet romance that accelerates at an advanced speed due to circumstances. The host of supporting characters, good and bad, came together to create a journey that will not soon be forgotten, even if you are just the reader and not in the middle of the story like the author makes it feel.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my opinion. All opinions shared are my own.

This is one of my favorites in a while. It is the last in a series about the Bowstreet Runners but can stand alone. I definitely recommend it for your keeper shelf. From the opening scenes you are thrust into a world of adventure, action, and simmering romance.

Abigail Gilbert has been thrust out to travel alone and unguarded, except for a ladie's maid, across a dangerous expanse of country to get to her intended. Although, it does seem strange that a man who is claiming her for his bride is not concerned that she safely get to him. She is rescued by Samuel Thatcher, a horse patrol captain, who is a dark brooding man and extremely miffed with her for traveling unguarded.

She attempts to purchase Samuel's services but he has a job to do and his life is in danger from the biggest thug in the area since he killed the man's brother in saving Abigail and her ladie's maid.

In the end, Samuel ends up escorting Abigail the rest of the way along with a child that an old friend has gotten him to promise to deliver to her aunt. Things go from bad to worse along the way and Samuel is forced to use his expertise to rescue Abigail several more times. Abigail, finds herself falling in love with the enigmatic Captain and with the motherless child.

Abigail arrives at her intended's home with a severely wounded Captain and child in tow to find all is not as she expects. You definitely will want to read this one. Thanks to Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read this ebook through Netgalley. The views and opinions expressed are my own.

Author, Michelle Griep has written a compelling book with "The Noble Guardian"; it was hard to put down.

This is my introduction to The Bowstreet Runners and the character traits of this particular one were admirable to a fault. The relationship between Abigail and Samuel is entertaining to the point of a chuckle.
I enjoyed this book so much and would read again!

Thank you Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for my thoughts.

Miss Abigail Gilbert is engaged to be married to Sir Jonathan Aberley, but first she has to travel alone from her childhood home in Southampton to his estate in the north of England.

Captain Samuel Thatcher is a Bow Street runner patrolling Hounslow Heath to locate and arrest notorious highwayman Shankhart Robbins, to keep the road safe for travellers. The two are thrown together when Abby engages Captain Thatcher as her guardian, to accompany her safely on her journey north.

There were a few logical leaps at the beginning of the novel. Yes, we get that Abby’s stepmother makes Cinderella’s stepmother look angelic. But there is no logic in Abby’s father sending her halfway across the country on her own to her fiance’s home. The fact that her father wasn’t willing to escort her and her fiance wasn’t willing to allow her to be married from home didn’t speak well to either of their characters—or to Abby’s, given her professed expectations of marital bliss.

The story also seemed to take a long time. Even allowing for the horrible weather and the delays in crossing Hounslow Heath, a journey which should have taken days took weeks. All in all, the setup felt contrived rather than realistic, and that did affect my overall enjoyment.

However, these faults were partly made up for by Captain Thatcher, the titular noble guardian. His sense of honour highlighted the weakness of most of the other male characters, and it was obvious Abby would fall for him.

The writing was solid, and the novel was firmly placed in Regency England with no noticeable Americanisms or anachronisms—always a good sign. But I found the story all too easy to set aside, which is less good. As a result, it didn't engage me as much as I would have liked.

Thanks to Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep is a historical romance page-turner! The book itself is packed with excitement, romance, and suspense! Abigail and Samuel have such great chemistry together that it makes the book that much more enjoyable to read. Whenever you try to put the book down for a break, something exciting happens! I highly recommended this book if you are looking for a historical romance with some exciting twist and turns!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved the cover of this book. It was what first pulled me to it unlike other romance novels where the female is half naked, this was intriguing. You can tell the author did a lot of research about the time period and the jobs and lives if the Bow Street Runners. From the start this novel was gripping. So much action! I have never previously read anything by Michelle Griep however I saw in the numerous reviews that people loved her writing and now I can see why. She writes very vividly, you can truly visualize the places and experiences she writes. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I really liked Captain Thatcher’s character and oddly enough at first I didn’t but he grew on me. Abby and Samuel’s romance is obvious (not graphic) but the author lets you imagine more rather than writes it for you. The religious inferences are subtle but have a way of leaving a lasting impression. Overall I would highly recommend this novel and I look forwards to exploring more Michelle Griep novels. I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

The noblest heart birthed from a wounded heart.

I will admit, I choose this book to share with you without even reading the synopsis. All I saw was Michelle Griep’s name and I signed up to review the book. I am glad I did.

The Noble Guardian is a tantalizing mix of romance, adventure, suspense, and just the right amount of Biblical inflection to make this a gripping tale. (Another confession – I read it in less than 24 hours , staying up much later than I should have in a Sunday night.)

Who wouldn’t want a man like the Captain in your corner, even if trouble followed him rather closely? His brooding behavior only brought on by his constant watchfulness and only alleviated by the sweet Abby and tiny Emma. His dream for something better in life was understandable after witnessing so much torment and death.

All Abby wanted was someone to love her and cherish her. Your heart will ache for her situation as she puts on a brave face but inside she just cries to be loved. Abby is the poster child for so many young ladies in today’s world.

With all the sadness, the glimmer of light was sweet little Emma. She was such a joy to read and clearly she brought joy to the uncertain journey.

If you can’t already tell, I loved this story and found myself gripped and focused, ignoring my family on a rain Sunday afternoon. (Thank God for an understanding husband.)

**I was gifted a copy of The Noble Guardian by the publisher through CelebrateLit so that I could give an honest review of this story.

This is the third in the Bow Street runner series. I read the second book and really enjoyed it so was excited to read this third and final book of the trilogy.
The story is about Abby, a woman engaged to a man who lives cross-country. Because of some family drama, she sets out on the journey without a guardian and runs into trouble, which is where she meets, Samuel, a Bow Street runner.
The story was a little slow to start but picked up towards the end. I felt like I really knew the main characters well and I enjoyed the author’s writing style. I felt that the voyage dragged on at some points but I really enjoyed the story when they arrived at their destination. I preferred the second book in the series a little more but this story was still enjoyable and I liked the little references here and there to the other books. You could definitely read this as a stand-alone book but I recommend the series.
I received a copy from Netgalley but opinions are my own.

From a color scheme standpoint, I think Michelle Griep’s The Noble Guardian has one of the most appealing covers of the year.

This is the third and final book in the Bow Street Runners series. Set in 1815, it involves Captain Samuel Thatcher and Abigail Gilbert, the soon-to-be bride of an earl, as they travel across England for her wedding.

Abby is essentially driven from the home she grew up in by her stepmother (giving the reader a Cinderella-like comparison) and pledged by her father to wed Sir Jonathan. She’s launched on her journey to the man’s estate with nothing but a personal maid as her companion.

Samuel is tired of the seedier side of humanity and looks forward to retiring from his life as a runner to become a farmer on his own land. However, he needs a little more money for the venture, along with the competence to survive the vengeance of the criminal he’s tracking. Then he comes upon a damsel in distress – a damsel in need of feeling loved.

I enjoyed Samuel’s complex character – world-weary and tactiturn, yet with a moral compass that won’t let him pass anyone needing his help.

Abigail was a harder character to get behind. Not at all unlikeable, she was fine in the beginning and I could sympathize with her need to feel as though someone loved her. As the story went on, however, I felt her personality and actions were not always consistent, even allowing for character growth. Also, she had an attitude toward her upcoming marriage that came across as immature and naive. Seriously, did she not once wonder why her beloved hadn’t come to get her himself? And I would have liked a scene with the father (and, maybe, the stepmother) in the end – a portion of her life that went over a plot cliff, never to be heard from again.

The Noble Guardian is chock-full of danger, action, and adventure on the English moors. Did I mention the one-year-old girl? So sweet.

I’m giving the book 4 stars due to the things that bothered me. For the rest of the story, it’s well worth the read for those who like their Regency romances a little wilder than a plot filled with balls, debutantes, and pursuing the approval of the ton.

At first it took me a while to get into this story, but the Cinderella story with a twist quickly grabbed my attention.

On top of the historical rich story, filled with interesting characters and a Noble hero, and a bit naive still feisty young lady, I was taken on an adventurous ride where the action had no ending, with the highwaymen out for revenge.

Michelle Griep's books was only a recent find, but I enjoy her writing style. She has a unique way of describing things which I find quite entertaining.

If you enjoy historical fiction with a bit of suspense and romance, be sure to try this author's books, especially this series.

This book by this author as usual was fantastic. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend you read it too. As always it was well written and the story was intriguing. I am looking forward to the next one! Loved it! What else can I say?

I am a reader of MIchelle Griep. I even selected one of her previous books as our Christmas book club selection. Her books have a bit of a dark side to them but also they have happy endings which I expect when I am reading a Christian book. And this was no exception. I don't know what I would do if I fell in love with someone when I was promised to another person. On the other hand, I would be the kind of person who took off on a journey without giving the best of thought as to what could be encountered if I thought there was to be a good outcome at the end. While others may be disconcerted by people being injured, it does not effect my reading pleasure.

This is the conclusion to the Bow Street Runners series by this author and not having read the first two did not create a sense of confusion on my part. But now I must go back and read the first two in the series to see what I may have missed and if any of the characters in this book are carryovers. But the story itself is clearly stand alone.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. The review is my own.

“Life is more than good ideas. It’s the risks that return greater results.”
England, 1815. Abbey is a combination of an extreme optimist and pure ignorance. She's very unhappy at home, and after her father arranges a marriage with a man that she met once, she's off to meet her groom to be. Unescorted except for a maid, because her family couldn't be bothered to spare anyone to go with her. The maid isn't up for as much adventure as what they're put through and goes back shortly after leaving. Even this didn't prompt her family to send someone to help Abbey. She is so frustratingly ignorant, but it adds to the constant tension of the story, mixed with the dangerous, life threatening storyline. She's also a sweet girl who has been mistreated, and you want to root for her.
Samuel is a Bow Street Runner Horse Patrol Captain who runs into Abby's carriage after a massacre. Their situations bring the two of them together, an unlikely combination, and it brings out lots of feelings in both of them, especially to the surprised Samuel. Quite a cynic, he struggles with not having enough money, she with not being loved by her family after her mother died. Both have lived a hard life. It's quite an adventure, leaving you holding your breath, wondering what will happen next. But you have to know what will happen to this girl. Knowing that most of her optimism comes from her deep faith helps to explain a lot. A good read! Don't you just love the cover? It's nice to see men on the cover - shows how appealing it can be, even with their shirt on!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
#NetGalley #TheNobleGuardian #MichelleGriep #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #5Stars

The Why:
Samuel Thatcher's character seized my curiosity when he was first introduced in this series about the "Bow Street Runners," a group of men who have been called London's first professional police force. Thatcher is a quiet one, and the quiet ones intrigue me. His story reveals much simmering beneath the surface.

The Main Characters:
Samuel and Abby are a well-matched leading lady and man. Their strengths bring the other's weaknesses to light, while they challenge one another to become stronger. Abby is a sweet, Cinderella-type character with underlying mettle. She is highly naive to the world and quite the optimist, while Samuel is jaded, world-weary from his wartime in India, and a pessimist without much hope. Baby Emma, the young ward they are charged with delivering to a relative, is simply precious. She charms the reader on every page she graces.

The Faith Element:
Both characters learn to look to God for hope when all seems lost. And the story gives them plenty of occasions to lean on this hope. The hero's unwavering faith in God is refreshing and gives his character a multifaceted depth that shows all Christians need encouragement and reminders of hope. We're all susceptible to the weight of this life, no matter how strong our faith. The heroine goes from a knowledge of God to a dependent love for God and multiple times shares the message of Christ's sacrifice, even though characters sometimes mock her beliefs.

The Romance:
I like the way these characters come to care for each other by recognizing dearly held values played out in the other's actions, whether wielding courage in the face of death, caring for the helpless, or showing generosity. Besides mutual love for baby Emma, Samuel's quiet integrity and Abby's courageous and candid ways draw them to one another. A word to sensitive readers: one kiss between the hero and heroine, when she is days from marrying another man, grows a bit fierce.

The Stakes:
Life and death stakes carry the reader all the way up until around the 3/4 mark, when the focus turns to matters of the heart. I wondered if the fiance might be revealed as the true mastermind behind the earlier villains, which would have carried the stakes even higher until the ending. At this point, the story and characters I'd loved so far grew rather stagey for me, the heroine's motives cloudy. And although the story resolution didn't fully result from the character journey-struggles, I was happy to see Samuel receive a good ending after all he'd been through.

Overall Impression:
Love the characters, the setting, description, beautiful language, and the theme of hope. This is a satisfying glimpse into the character of Samuel Thatcher, whom we meet earlier in the series. I recommend reading the series in order, though it's not necessary. This story transports the reader to a living, breathing 1700s England full of intrigue and danger and love while giving us a deeper look into the lives of men who paved the way for the modern police force.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

After listening to the first two books on audio, I decided to actually read this one with my own eyes and I am so glad I did. I've enjoyed the series - but I have most enjoyed this last one. Michelle Griep is a new (to me) author and I look forward to reading more of her books. Great narrative and character development. Plot may be somewhat predictable but there are enough twists and turns and unpredictable moments to be interesting and made me think twice before just skimming along. I laughed outloud, got angry (along with the character) and experienced sorrow.
I will say - it isn't entirely necessary to have read the previous two books in this series. There are some characters mentioned from the previous two books but there is little interaction between them (if any at all) and you won't feel lost if you begin with this one.
I was given a free digital copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.