The Guardian’s Trust
Marta Tanrikulu
Type: Beta project
Genre: Historical fiction, romance
Word count: 109,000
Warnings: Swearing
In 1760s Ireland, laws limiting the rights of Catholics are still in force. Mairead and Rowan both walk a narrow path between the law and conscience. Their careful deceptions to prevent harm are at risk of exposure when they’re brought together. Will building trust endanger what they hold most dear, or allow them to truly see one other?
Ireland, 1764. Under the Penal Laws, marriage between Protestants and Catholics is forbidden. In a society where the wealth, class, and religion of its members rigidly shape their prospects and loyalties, Mairead and Rowan are both protecting secrets.
Mairead, raised Catholic, has been uprooted to a small town. While she longs to find her own way, her new guardian is determined to find her a husband. Rowan, the stigmatized son of a Protestant landowner, is still dealing with the consequences of earlier actions. He is drawn to Mairead, admiring her resourcefulness. Unaware of his reputation, she notices only his kindness. Will their careful deceptions also keep them from knowing the other’s heart?
The Guardian’s Trust is a tale of unexpected alliances, of the slow building of trust after anguish, and of finding a path between faith and pragmatism, conscience and the law.
Marta Tanrikulu, the daughter of two journalists, is a former scientist and a retired editor. She has published short fiction in both prose and comics form. The Guardian’s Trust is her first novel. A Colorado native, she has travelled extensively. She currently resides in a virtual garret crammed with imaginary people and places.
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