If you are looking for historical Christian fiction brimming with the characterization of a taciturn, valiant hero and a lively, generous heroine, while courting danger around every bend and the demonstration of courage in the face of disappointments, Michelle Griep's The Noble Guardian has it all! Adventure. History. Romance. The third in The Bow Street Runners series, it's easy to read as a standalone.

Two bruised individuals, an adorable cherub of a child, and well-shaped secondary characters shine. At 32o pages in the paperback format, it's not a short book, but it's quite the tale of longing, revenge, and as mentioned previously, danger (almost ridiculous amounts of danger, to be honest. I mean it's fiction, but life just kept throwing one curveball after another - which of course they handled with fortitude and style.) They faced seemingly insurmountable hurdles while trying to navigate their futures and escape the wounds of their pasts while racing cross-country through Regency England.

The story was liberally sprinkled with references to faith and the characters' development of conviction and hope. As they lean on each other, they each find safety - both physically and emotionally - as they become the family they've always needed.

I truly enjoyed this spin on my go-to genre and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a heartwarming historical tale of hope and redemption.

I was provided with a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy of this title through NetGalley with thanks to the publisher and author. All opinions expressed are my own.

•°o•:*:•. Highwaymen, Coaching Inns, Peril & Romance .•:*:• o°•

Southampton, England, 1815
Abigail Gilbert is an outsider in her own home. Her family has managed to marry her off to a prestigious baronet she met once at a dance, which will boost their own names in society, practically shoving her out the door into a carriage headed for Penrith with only a ladies maid to aid her on the difficult journey. They make plans to go abroad before she is actually even wed. But not without one final slap from her always angry stepmother.

But, she looks to the future with Sir Jonathan Aberley and her chance for love and belonging at long last, despite the arduous journey ahead of her.

31-year-old Captain Samuel Thatcher patrols the highways of the rugged heath. “Shankhart Robbins was out there, all right. Somewhere. And worse –he’d be back. Evil always had a way of returning bigger and blacker than before, singeing any soul it touched.”
May I just say, Shankhart- what a villainous name!

Samuel is forced to help Abagail when her carriage is accosted and see her safely to Sir Jonathan, who is not at all what was expected. The dangers and surprises abound which make for a most enjoyable read for lovers of mystery and historical romance.

Spiritual Moment: “She pushed the last hairpin into place then bowed her head. She’d learned long ago while enduring the hurts of her stepmother that only through prayer would she find peace.”

Tea Moment(s): “The servant appeared with a thick slice of pastry and a steaming pot of bohea.”
That was a new one for me, so in looking it up I found “a black China tea that comes from the last crop of the season and is typically regarded as of low quality. Early 18th century named after the Bu-yi (Wuyi) hills in China, from where black tea first came to Britain”.
“The woman wasn’t old, but neither was she young. Rather, she was timeless, her apron holding in an eternity of love and life and laughter. She was the kind of woman with whom you could share a pot of tea and your deepest secrets.”

I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review. My opinion is entirely my own.
Connect with the author at Michelle Griep dot com.

© June 1, 2019, Shiloh Run Press/Barbour Publishing

Abigail Gilbert leaves her childhood home anxious to find a new life that she hopes will be full of love with Sir Jonathan, her betrothed. Since her father remarried, she has felt like a stranger in her own home, and she is anxious to become queen of her home and be married to Sir Jonathan.

Abigail and her maid leave on the cross-country journey to travel to her betrothed with only a driver, and no footman, coachman, or a hired guard traveling on a stretch of country where highwaymen frequent. It is there that she meets up with Captain Samuel Thatcher, a Bow Street Runner. She needs protection and Captain Thatcher needs cash. Captain Thatcher is nearing retirement, and all he wants is to be able to buy a piece of land and retire, but he is short of cash.

Michelle Griep is a new author to me, and this story captivated my heart – so did little Emma. She wrote a lovely tale of love, and I enjoyed the slow dance of two wounded souls coming together. The Noble Gentleman is filled with adventure, and I felt like I was in a Western novel, but it was in Regency England, and I loved it! I want to add that I just loved Captain Thatcher – he was a true nobleman!

I am looking forward to reading other novels of Michelle Griep.

#Netgalley

I really enjoyed this book. I have read only one of the previous books in this series, so in the beginning I felt a bit lost, but I was able to pick up quickly. I did enjoy the book, though I will say it took some work for me to get into it. Probably since I was lost a bit. I enjoyed the characters and the book seemed well researched, which I have come to expect from this author. I loved the suspense that this author is able to build in the novel. I had a hard time not peaking to make sure things ended up "right"!

I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate my review. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

'Staring at death was nothing new. It was a way of life. A companion Samuel frequently clasped hands with.'

At last! Michelle Griep gives us Samuel Thatcher's story in her Bow Street Runners trilogy. When I first met this man in previous books, I knew he had a story to tell and knew it would be a good one. I was wrong. It was a great one. When I saw the cover some time back, that feeling was simply reinforced.

Abigail Gilbert has been betrothed to a baronet, but must travel a long journey to his ancestral home to marry him. She is more than ready to leave a family who has no use for her. A family that can't even be bothered to give her a manservant to travel with her on a dangerous journey. And danger does indeed come, in the form of highwaymen.

Captain Samuel Thatcher arrives just in time to save Abby from said highwaymen. He despises his job and is hoping to retire and buy land and become a farmer, far away from crime and death. Abby asks him to escort her on her journey and he agrees only when she offers him a great deal of money. He can buy his property and retire from pursuing criminals. However, one of those criminals, the most vicious sort, is after him and nothing will stop this man from seeing Thatcher die. But Samuel has promised to keep Abby safe and he intends to keep that promise. He will be tested down to his last nerve in doing so, though.

Michelle Griep is a huge favorite of mine. Her books just get devoured here. When I open one and begin to read, I lose track of time and everything around me until I finish it. But … I want to race toward the end and I also want to slow down and savor every moment. So....I end up rereading many passages again and again, highlighting and writing in the margins. Griep manages somehow to capture each character in so much detail that they feel as if you're riding along in the coach with them in the storms, battling the highwaymen and feeling every emotion in their hearts. And her spiritual themes are what some might call simple and direct, but they are very, very profound. I loved every moment of it and now I wish I could read it all over again. Samuel Thatcher is the epitome of a noble guardian and a mighty fine hero! Highly recommended.

My thanks to Barbour Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. No positive review was expected and no compensation received.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me review this book. I loved this book. It was an Exciting story from beginning to end! On a journey that should have taken a couple of weeks, it takes about a month due to sickness, storms, and rogue highwaymen. I had a hard time putting it down. Clean but thrilling! Very exciting tale! Loved it!

The Noble Guardian by Michelle Griep is the third book in her Bow Street Runners series. Abby Gilbert must journey across England to marry the wealthy gentleman of her dreams. After highwaymen upset her plans, she hires Captain Samuel Thatcher of the Bow Street Runners, to escort her the rest of the way. With the money Abby promises him once the journey is complete, Samuel will be able to purchase some land and retire. This story has it all, romance, danger, thieves, and scoundrels. At times the romance was a little too graphic for my taste, but other than that I really enjoyed the story. I liked how the author reminded us that God is always there. All we have to do is rest in Him.



I received this book from the Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent book! Exciting story from beginning to end! On a journey that should have taken a couple of weeks, it takes a round a month due to sickness, storms, and renegade highwaymen! I couldn't put it down! Clean but exciting! Very thrilling tale! Loved it!

What a lovely book! The sort of book where everything is squeaky clean is not my sort of thing. I am not big on religious books either and this one is churched up. However, there is action, a smidge of romance and some divine intervention involved.

What does happen is two people find each other under extraordinary circumstances. It's best that way.

I received an advance copy of this book. The opinion expressed here is solely my own.

The Noble Guardian is one of the best books I have read by this author. I have enjoyed all of her books but this one just stood out to me. I loved this romantic story. It had lots of action, and awesome characters. Especially little Emma. The hero is a bow street runner and is a brooding captain who has lived a hard life. The heroine is a lovely, naive, yet spunky young woman looking for an ever lasting love. The chemistry between them is evident from the first time they meet. I loved it!!
*I was given a copy of this book by Barbour publishing and this is my honest opinion.

I have read many of Michelle Griep's books and they are all well written and very enjoyable. The Noble Guardian was definitely both of those things. I enjoyed it from page one, right up to the very satisfying ending.

Abby Gilbert sets off from her home on her way to marry a man she has only briefly met but who is a Baron and will be able to give her a good life. She dreams of love and acceptance from this man. She has not had a loving home but she hopes this marriage will fulfill all of her dreams. But getting there is not easy. Her family's male servant is not sent with them so Abby is relying on people she meets at inns to escort her and her maid. When Abby hires the wrong man and is involved in a terrible shooting, her maid leaves her and heads back home. Abby cannot return to a cold, unloving home so she tries to find another male that can take her to her destination.

Captain Samuel Thatcher longs to be out of the bow street running business. He has seen too much violence but when he hears the danger Abby is involved in he comes to the rescue. He ends up setting himself up to be a target of a dangerous man. When Abby asks him to escort her, he reluctantly accepts. As Abby and Samuel journey to meet her intended, they pick up a baby along the way that needs to be delivered to a family member. On the journey, Samuel barely escapes the danger that is lurking for him everywhere. He also find Abby to be unlike anyone he has ever met and he feels something for her he never thought he could feel. Abby also finds herself drawn to Samuel but she has been promised to another. Things go terribly wrong along the way and Abby reaches he destination but things are not what they appear to be there either. Can Abby and Samuel have a future together? Reading the book is well worth it to find the answer to that question.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest feedback.

Abby Gilbert is finally leaving her hateful stepmother, cruel stepsisters, and henpecked father to marry the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, she must travel across England to get to his manor house, and with bad weather, bad luck, and highwaymen on the horizon, it's anyone's guess if she'll make it to her own wedding in one piece.

Samuel Thatcher is  looking forward to retiring from the Bow Street Runners, buying a piece of land, and living out his days as a quiet farmer. He needs a few more pounds to feather his nest egg, however, and when Miss Gilbert asks to retain his services as a guardian for the journey, he can't refuse. Thrown together by the intimacy of the road, Abby and Thatcher begin to develop feelings for each other. But when Thatcher becomes the object of pursuit by a relentless killer, he wonders if he should get as far away from Abby as possible before she is hurt too.

This book was a charming romance that takes place in the gritty taprooms of wayside inns and includes every kind of travel misfortune known to man. Abby's ebullient spirits and positive attitude in the midst of hardship amaze the cynical Thatcher. As a soldier and a lawman, he has grappled with the worst kinds of evil, and Abby's trust in his own goodness surprises him. Thrown together by circumstances, they grow closer by learning about each other's past hardships and learn to cast their cares upon Christ. But how can anything honorable come of their feelings when Abby is already promised to another?

If you dislike books with a highly contrived plot that are heavy on romantic tropes, this one will not be for you. But if you enjoy a clean romance with lots of adventure and derring-do, you'll adore this conclusion to The Bow Street Runners trilogy. 

Disclosure: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really liked the cover.. Samuel was a bow street runner . I did not realize the history of the bow street runners but the author does delve into it some. I think i will try to read about the history of that group. It is a fascinating group. The heroine was surprisingly strong and intelligent. She could be stubborn but wasn't overbearing. The hero was perfect. He believed in God, lived up to his word and was strong and capable of defending himself and the heroine and child in their care.. yet he was loving and tender to the heroine and child. This was just a unique story and i wan'ted to read straight through as it never got boring. I hope to be able to read the other books in the series. I have read historical romance books for years and only started to read this author's work since joining netgalley. Now she is a must read. I have never read a bad book from her. I recommend this to everyone as well as her other stories. This is well written and stays on point without a lot of filler to meet a page count. I enjoyed this book and highly recommend this along with her other stories as well. The author supplies good information on history at the back of the book. Thanks for that.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher though netgalley and am so glad i did. The opinions are true and mine own. Thanks netgalley and the publisher.Barbour.

This book is absolutely wonderful!! It is beautifully written and the author makes the people and scenery come to life. This is the shining example that all things are possible with God. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this awesome book. All opinions expressed are my own, I was not required to write a review.

#TheNobleGuardian #NetGalley

This isn't really a story, it is more like an experience. You feel as though you are watching a movie or living within the pages of this book. What a lovely experience!! Each scene is painted with the utmost love and attention to detail. This is my first Griep novel, but it will not be my last!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, Inc.
through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.s

If you have never read a book by Michelle Griep, you are depriving yourself of a real treat. The Noble Guardian, the last book in the Bow Street Runners Trilogy was hard to put down. I was so invested in this story that I put everything on hold just so I could finish this book - it was that good!

Where do I start? First, I did not know this was part of a series, so for those wondering, yes, it can be read as a standalone book. That said, now that I've read it, I'm off to buy the first two books because if they are anything like this one, I won't be disappointed.

I loved the integrity of Samuel Thatcher. Even though his perspective on life had become jaded, he does his best to keep Abigail safe as she travels to meet her betrothed. I loved how he grew throughout the story to not only become a better man but to find a more profound faith in God.

I loved how the author started this story with an almost Cinderella-like feel with the relationship between Abigail and her stepmother and two step-sisters. The author managed to get me on Abigail's side immediately, making me root for her throughout the story. Abigail also grows in her faith and discovers what it means to know God. The lessons learned by both characters in regards to trusting God were excellent.

I have nothing at all negative to say about this book. It was just perfect! I highly recommend it. It releases June 1st, so pre-order your copy now!

I received this book courtesy of Barbour Publishing through Net-Galley.

Reasons to read this book:
#1- it's a Michelle Griep book.
#2- it's the conclusion to The Bow Street Runners.
#3- it has scoundrels, adventure, and lots of romance.
#4- did I mention it's by Michelle Griep?

These Bow Street Runner guys are just heroes in disguise, and that is Samuel as well. Though he didn't have to travel with Abigail all the way to her destination, his integrity didn't let him part with her, and he took his role of guardian seriously.

I really liked Abby and Samuel's interactions, especially with the baby, and the way they behaved as a family.
It was also fun to see Samuel with the other two Bow Street Runners, and get an update on them.

The ending was so sweet! Loved it!

I got a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover, loved it.
After reading the book I found that the character on the front of the book certainly lived up to the character in the book, Captian Samuel. The book is definitely a God can do all things when you rely on Him type of book that I love. We always need that reminder. I will definitely be reading more books by Michelle Griep.

I volunteered to read this book from Barbour Publishing, the opinions expressed within are my own.

This well-researched romance is set in England during the heydey of the Bow Street Runners in the 1800's, when London and its outskirts were dangerous and travelers often targeted by highwaymen. It made me think just a bit of the American Wild West era, a few years later. The story follows a young woman on her way to be married to a man she barely knows, and the Bow Street Runner who saves her life and captures her heart, something neither intended. The Runners were the first professional police force of London and while they did a good job, their lives were often foreshortened by the danger of the job, and they were not always well-respected nor well-paid, creating difficulty for a Runner to provide a stable home for a wife and family. The themes of the book include integrity, faith, love of family, and responsibility. The action is credible, the dialogue is natural, and the characters are skillfully revealed through the course of the book. I found this book entertaining, wholesome, and uplifting, despite the realistic portrayals of dangerous situations which befell the characters. Five stars from me.

THE NOBLE GUARDIAN by MICHELLE GRIEP is a delightful love story which takes place in England in 1815. The characters are unforgettable: from the feisty Abigail Gilbert, to Samuel Thatcher, the strong and dependable Bow Street runner, Sir Jonathan Waverley, the pompous nobleman, and Emma, the lovable baby girl.
You cannot have a lawman without there being some crime in the story, and this brings with it an element of nail biting suspense! You will find it hard to put this book down.
The story has obviously been well researched, with the author giving us a good idea of what life was like in that time of history.
I am not going to tell you anything more as I do not want to spoil the read for you, excepting to say that there is a good Christian message running through the story. It is enjoyable and well written.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.