Family Guardian

by Laurie Alice Eakes

Surrounded by the most beautiful scents and potions in the world, The Honorable Miss Clarissant Behn toils away, unconcerned with romance. She doesn't spend her days planning a wardrobe for the Season or wonder who she will marry. Against all conventions and Society's rules, Miss Behn spends her days engaged in trade. If anyone learns that her perfume business is the source of her family's prosperity, the scandal will ruin both her business and her chances of marriage. Years ago she loved her sister's forbidden betrothed, Tristan Apking. But he disappeared five years ago and is presumed dead. But when Tristan returns to England, alive and mysteriously prosperous, keeping secrets could cost Clarissant his love and possibly their lives. Overcoming his deep sense of loss at her sister's heart seems to be an impossible feat. Juggling everything for everyone else, Clarissant tries to keep the balance while finding love and happiness for herself.

Genres: Regency, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction

214 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2006

About the author

Laurie Alice Eakes used to lie in bed as a child telling herself stories so she didn’t wake anyone else up. Sometimes she shared her stories withothers; thus, when she decided to be a writer, she surprised no one. Family Guardian, her first book, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency in 2007. In the past three years, she has sold six books to Baker/Revell, five of which are set during the Regency time period, four books to Barbour Publishing, as well as two novellas to Barbour Publishing and one to Baker/Revell. Seven of her books have been picked up by Thorndike Press for large print publication, and Lady in the Mist, her first book with Revell, was chosen for hardcover publication with Crossings Bookclub. She also teaches on-line writing courses and enjoys a speaking ministry that has taken her from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast.
Laurie Alice lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs and two cats, and is learning how to make tamales.

You can learn more about her and her work at http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

Reviews

[Tamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie Alice Eakes once wrote for secular houses but is now writing for the Christian market and she really is a blessing to the Kingdom. I am so sorry that for some reason her book cover is absolutely wrong on the illustration. Avalon did a stellar job with a soft pink cover portraying perfume bottles on the front. Don't let the mistaken image fool you -- you will love the story of a woman conflicted by the expectations of her time and place. Definitely recommended!

[Margo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Modestly entertaining Regency tale. The heroine had some spunk, but it was a bit of a stretch to believe that she could have kept her family in the dark quite that much as to her business affairs.

[shirleydurrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfume

Why were the old rules followed so strictly? You had to have a dowry to marry The ton did not work, only took advantage of their parents wealth. Every one else who worked so hard were looked upon as nobody's. The lead character was bright, creative and managed her families affairs, yet she would have been looked down upon according to the morals of the times.

[Susan J · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Brilliant First Novel

What a gifted author. I believe I have read all but two of her books. This was her first and what a delightful tale. A page turner. All the makings with love thwarted then a better love to follow. Believable characters set in period accurate detail. Great dialog, charming hero and heroin. Original and interesting plot, family loyalty and a great resolution. You will want to read this one again.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice, clean, well-crafted Regency novel.

Probably the only thing that keeps it from 5 stars is that I have read a string of stories dealing with acute lack of communication and miscommunication until I am tired of that device.

I was also somewhat annoyed by Clarissant. She could really be ornery and high and mighty sometimes.

[Carolyn Lockwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family Guardian, Laurie Alice Eakes' first published novel, was a pleasant surprise. It was right up my alley: a clean Regency with a childhood friend as a romantic interest. I assumed it was going to be a Christian romance like the other books I've read by Eakes. I was mistaken, but was satisfied since it was still clean.

What I liked:

-The characters were well-crafted, including the unlikable ones.
-Even though I've read many Regency romances, there were details that were new to me. That's impressive!
-The heroine, who is part of the gentry, was secretly involved in trade - a new plot device for me

What I didn't like:

-There were a couple of inaccuracies in the Regency setting.
-I had the impression that the last couple of chapters weren't as well thought out, or as thoroughly edited.

I'd recommend this to any fan of clean Regency romances, perhaps middle school and up. There is some discussion of elopement, but still very clean.

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Delightful Romance

Laurie Alice Eakes knows how to weave a tale to capture the reader. Family Guardian truly kept this reader's attention for an entire day. What a good book! Loved it.