"Lovely Traditional Regency"

Every so often if one is lucky, they will come upon a rare jewel when they least expect it. Finding FAMILY GUARDIAN by Ms. Eakes was one of those lucky finds.

The Honorable Miss Clarissant Behn is much too busy to spend her days in leisurely pursuits like most young women of her class, she's secretly and busily working in trade. Clarissant had been blessed with a 'nose' when she accidentally stumbled upon the means to save her family from poverty. For the last three years, through the efforts of her perfumery business she managed to hide from society the source of her family's sudden prosperity. Now her older sister Rowena was insisting it was time for Clarissant to marry but the only man she had ever loved was once her sister's betrothed, Tristan Apking. Unfortunately, Tristan had disappeared six years ago and was presumed dead.

Without any warning Tristan reappeared very much alive, as handsome as ever, and very prosperous. Clarissant was torn between wanting to spare Tristan the heartache of discovering the faithlessness of her sister, as well as hiding her love from the man who would only view her as his little sister.

This was a sweet story with a heroine that will positively steal your heart. Clarissant was a remarkable twenty- three year old young woman who was the family guardian in more ways than one. She was blessed with the 'nose' of a perfumer and used it to her advantage in order to save her family. Only a few family members knew of her sacrifices with most thinking that the family's prosperity was at the behest of her elder sister's advantageous marriage. It was a great subterfuge that hid Clarissant's secret and let everyone think what a marvelous person Rowena was. It was also an effective lie that worked well in easing the heartache Clarissant was determined to shield Tristan from should he ever discover that the girl he'd dreamed of as so angelic - selfishlessly marrying to save her family - was really concerned only with saving herself from poverty.

Along with the lovely romance Eakes crafts a well-plotted secondary story of a traitor desperately trying to silence Tristan from revealing him that balanced well in keeping a bit of intrigue while wrapping up the story nicely in revealing Clarissant's secret perfume factory. This was well written, lively and for those traditional Regency die- hards like myself -- one lovely jewel you won't want to miss.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted February 21, 2007