Reviews
Better than Gold
Available April 2008
This is too new for me to have any reviews, so check my blog for upcoming reviews on this title.
In 2007, two of my essays found publication in collections.
Scripture
to Live By
Essay included - "Begonia Roots"
edited by Arron Chambers
March 2007
Cup
of Comfort for Dog Lovers
Essay included - "Blind Trust"
edited by Colleen Sell
September 2007
Once upon a time, I wrote a novel called The Widow's Secret. It was my firstborn and Awe-Struck E-Books published it in 1999 when I wasn't really writing any more. This book received such great reception from reviewers and readers in e-book form and, later, when it appeared in trade paperback "print on demand" format that I started writing again for a couple of years until I started grad school.
Because of some of the content of this and my subsequent small press books, I am thankful that the Lord never saw fit to see them published in a mass market way, and I am still thrilled that the reviews and letters of appreciation I received for these stories encouraged me to not give up on writing.
Although only a handful of copies of this book remain, and I find the writing immature, I decided to put the cover from The Widow's Secret here because I like it, and who can totally reject her firstborn?
Books and Reviews
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Family
Guardian
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In July, 2007, Family Guardian, won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency of 2006.
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~ ~ ~ Reviews ~ ~ ~
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, reviewer for RIO (Reviewers International Organization)
Like Laurie Alice Eakes, I fell in love with Georgette Heyers Regency novels so Family Guardian is a welcome treat. Her heroine is spunky, her hero is the kind of man every woman dreams of, and the problems are real and convoluted. She does a great job of capturing the spirit of the era, and of getting the reader involved with the story. Theres suspense too, and humor. For the historical reader, Family Guardian is Regency romance at its best.
~Barbara Warren
As a historical author, Laurie Alice Eakes knows the world of the Regency lady inside and out and has the ability to take you into that world where you will get lost between the pages of a heartfelt story of romance and adventure. Family Guardian is no different. Clarissant Behn, with her humorous antics and secret family business, will leave you wishing there was more once you turn the final page.
~Lisa Harris
My favorite books combine feisty heroines with snappy dialogue, romance, and great plots. Family Guardian, by Laurie Alice Eakes, is all that and more. A delightfully witty Regency with quirky characters and lots of humor. I dont often read a book more than once, but Family Guardian is one I'll keep on my shelf for a pleasant escape whenever I need a dose of fun. I give it two thumbs up.
~Candice Miller Speare
Laurie Alice Eakes has masterfully created impossible situations and delights the reader as she works to extract her characters from impending ruin. Family Guardian is a engaging love story that will please Regency fans and will reveal to newcomers why that era has endured in romantic fiction.
~Louise M. Gouge, author of the trilogy, Ahab's Legacy, and Then Came Faith
Lily had to push with all her strength to open the door so she could fetch more firewood. Wind caught her hat and sent it sailing into the darkness then tore her hair from its pins and flung it across her face in heavy, wet strands.
"I hate this place!" She cried the words into the night, where she knew no one could hear her. "I want to run away."
The kitchen door slammed behind her. She staggered to the woodpile and grabbed up as many logs as she could hold. Fighting the wind like a beast caught in a locomotive's cowcatcher, she stumbled back to the door and reached for the handle with near-frozen fingers.
Another hand reached it first.
"Let me help you," Ben Purcell shouted over the blizzard's roar.
He opened the door. She toppled inside, dropping logs and gasping for breath. A moment later, he entered with more logs and his own bare head white with snow.
She wanted to hug him. She hadn't felt like hugging a man ever in her life. But the sight of Ben, tall and broad shouldered, sturdy and full of life, sent such a wave of joy through her that she knew she should run as fast and as far away from him as she could.
Except she couldn't run anywhere. The weather held her captive.
Ben's gaze held her captive.
"You—you shouldn't have come out in this," she said through a dry throat.
"I couldn't leave you ladies on your own once the storm grew worse." He set his load of logs in the wood box and stooped to gather up the ones she had dropped. "I think if I hadn't come along, you'd be in Kansas by now."
"Missouri."
"Hmm?"
"The wind is from the north. It would send me to Missouri."
"Right." He laughed up at her.
Lily wrapped her arms around herself. She fell the rest of the way in love with Ben Purcell.
Content
Copyright © Laurie Alice Eakes
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