Bio:
Anita
Stansfield has been the reigning queen of LDS romantic fiction for more than
two decades, although her general market releases have been among her readers
favorites. Her work has shattered the stereotypes of romance novels with her
trademark ability to combine great storytelling with intense psychological
depth as she focuses on the emotional struggles of the human experience. Her
novels cover a huge spectrum, from the eighteenth century to the present, from
heart warming to heart stopping. Hundreds of thousands of readers agree: Anita
Stansfield's characters and the lives they lead are not easy to forget.
Anita is now also writing
under the pseudonym Elizabeth D. Michaels. (anitastansfield.com)
Anita
Stansfield is one of the OGs of LDS romantic fiction. When there was not much
out there for people who wanted romance without too much intimacy, Stansfield
was there to fill the gap.
Sadly,
she doesn’t seem to have grown much over those two decades of writing. The
books I review below span a period from 2016 to 2019. They are all alike in
their flaws. This points to some fundamental writing issues, but also some
really problematic editing issues. I don’t know if, because of her success,
editors went easy on her, but it’s pretty bad.
The
biggest problem is sheer wordiness. Back in my editing class in college, we
talked about “lard factor” in writing, and the need to cut out wordiness
without cutting out meaning or effect. Stansfield has a HIGH lard factor. I don’t
know if she was allowed to be so wordy in order to pad her word count and make
the novels long enough to hit a certain page count/price point, but easily
25-35 percent of each book could be cut, whether that is wordy sentences,
repetition, or just plain over-explaining. There is far too much tell and not
enough show in the narrative. In size 4 text on my base model Kindle, three
pages would go by in a single descriptive paragraph, with no dialogue.
Likewise, one person would speak for two pages without a break. This is perhaps
the biggest problem I had, since it actually slowed down my reading considerably.
These books took me half again as long to read as books of similar page length.
I started skimming the descriptive passages rather than actually reading them.
The
passage of time is frequently an issue. The author frequently refers to how “days
went by” and she seems to mean two or three days. I keep thinking it’s been
months, but it’s only been a couple of weeks.
Characters
are either very good, lovely, kind people, or cartoonishly evil. There seems to
be no in-between. There’s not much character growth taking place other than
falling in love.
Another
issue is with word usage. For example, in EVERY one of the books I review
below, Stansfield refers to the employee who manages an estate as an “overseer”.
This is NOT the term that was used in England. The proper term is “steward”. In
two of the books, she refers to an indoor room that we would refer to as a
bathroom as a “privy”—which is actually another word for an outhouse.
Because
I read several books in a short period of time, I also found some phrases that
Stansfield relies on quite heavily. People constantly “freshen up”. Men always “lean
their forearms on their thighs”. Women “toss smiles”. When people drag out a
word in conversation, they “drawl.”
In a
couple of the books, the hero and heroine ride double on horseback, and gallop
along for long distances. This is not okay for the horse. And in one of those
books, the heroine is also fairly heavily pregnant. Don’t get me wrong—my mother
rode well into her pregnancy with me, but galloping—especially bareback—while quite
pregnant is just not a good idea.
My
final major critique occurs twice in the six books I read. The only heir to a
family’s estate and/or title enlists in the military and goes off to serve in a
war. This is absolutely not done. The heir’s only job is to stay alive and
beget another heir, keeping the property in the family so no distant cousins get
it. Second or third sons bought a commission as officers in military service.
All
of these are things that good editing should clear up. Whether the author is
indulged because of her success, refuses to take guidance, or the editors are just
plain bad is anyone’s guess.
The
stories themselves were good. Stansfield is definitely not afraid to take on
some tough issues, and I fully applaud her for that. However, the relationships
between the heroes and heroines, once they got together (which was usually
fairly early in the book) seemed far too calm and smooth. There was very little
conflict between the two. Conflict came from outside the relationship, which
made the love story a little bit boring.
I was
excited to read these books, knowing of Stansfield’s great success in the LDS
fiction market. I had been given several of her books by a friend. After
reading these six, I have added them to the donation box. Reading was less a
pleasure than a chore.
Let’s
get into the books:
The Heir of Brownlie Manor
Publisher:
Covenant Communications, Inc. (July 1, 2016)
Paperback:
288 pages
ISBN-10:
1524400130
ISBN-13:
978-1524400132
Publisher’s
Blurb:
After a medical
discharge from his duties in the Napoleonic War, Thomas Quincy Fitzbatten has
returned home. Disoriented, burdened by guilt for his wealth, and disillusioned
with life's injustices, Thomas longs for a chance to make a difference in the
world. But he keeps himself a mystery to those around him, and another motive
for his charity gnaws at the back of his mind: to seek redemption from the
traumatic demons of war.
Then everything changes
at the arrival of Ruth—Dawson the niece of Thomas's butler—a stunning woman
with a secret of her own. Thomas graciously offers to assist Ruth in her
predicament, but a surprise instinct prompts Thomas to handle the case a little
more personally.
As their love blossoms,
it appears that all will be well until Thomas receives a mysterious letter from
an old friend in trouble, compelling him to the rescue. But what will Thomas do
when nothing is as it seems? And why can't Ruth shake the feeling that her
destiny is intertwined with Thomas's in a way they could never have imagined?
My
thoughts:
An
interesting premise. I really appreciated about how the effects of fighting in
a war (although the heir should never have been in the military in the first
place) are portrayed. Thomas is desperate to find meaning in his life after the
things he had to do as a soldier. He doesn’t sleep, he drinks too much. Suddenly,
he finds a way to do good in the world, and, despite how unorthodox it is, he seizes
it.
As
with other previously mentioned issues, one that I had with this book is that
Thomas is constantly referred to as “Mr. Fitzbatten”. Later in the book, it is
indicated that there is a family title, so he should have been referred to as “Lord
Fitzbatten” and “your lordship.”
I
like how the relationship between Thomas and Ruth develops. It’s such a crazy
predicament to be in, but it works.
The
plot twist is, honestly, a bit farfetched. There was no real motivation for
what happened to create the twist. However, it is effectively carried off,
although I guessed it far ahead of time because it was heavily telegraphed.
Possible
objectionable material:
Unwed
pregnancy, drinking, perilous situations.
Color of Love
Publisher:
Covenant Communications, Inc. (January 3, 2017)
Paperback:
288 pages
ISBN-10:
1524401323
ISBN-13:
978-1524401320
Publisher’s
Blurb:
England,
1857
The British aristocracy
is an inflexible judge. And for Amala, a lovely young Indian woman, that
judgment is most keenly felt. Raised from a child by the wealthy Hepworth
family following the murder of her parents, Amala grew up alongside the
Hepworth's own daughter, Katarina, and was loved as both sister and daughter.
The family is part of the charmed circle of the upper class, but Amala's place
in society is tenuous. As an Indian woman, her life is marked by a sense of
otherness and voices of prejudice. So when she embarks upon a sweet
acquaintance with Henry Breckenridge, a white Englishman, Amala is both elated
and terrified. She knows first-hand the opposition that an interracial couple
would face, and courtship with Henry could destroy his standing in society.
Determined to spare the
reputations of both Henry and her sister Katarina, Amala flees England with the
hope that an extended trip will allow her time to heal her broken heart. But
she never imagined the repercussions of that decision, and the heartbreak
awaiting her. For when she returns to England, she finds those she holds dear
facing unparalleled devastation. And now it is her love that holds the key to
healing a broken family . . .
My
thoughts:
This
was my favorite of the six books I read from this author. Stansfield tackles
the issues of colorism and prejudice head-on. I particularly appreciated how Henry
thought Amala’s protests about how they could never be together were overblown
until he witnessed that prejudice first-hand.
Of the
six books, this is the one that had some real tension between the hero and
heroine. Things do not go smoothly between them, and Amala turns him down
completely when he wants to marry her, fleeing with her aunt to spend a few years
touring Europe.
When
Amala and the aunt have to return to England quickly, they spend days and days
traveling across France in a carriage. Why on earth didn’t they take a train?
Trains were available in France in this time period.
This
book has no particular plot twists or surprises, and the overall ending is
satisfying. I do question why and how Henry fell in love with Amala so quickly.
They meet at a ball and he talks to her because he is recently returned from
India and wants to talk about his experiences there. The next day, he wants to
court her. Too fast, buddy, too fast.
Possible
objectionable material:
Prejudice,
interracial relationship.
Lily
of the Manor
Publisher:
Covenant Communications Inc (July 1, 2017)
Paperback:
272 pages
ISBN-10:
9781524402945
ISBN-13:
978-1524402945
Publisher’s
Blurb:
Broadbent Manor is a
home brimming with life and love. With eleven adopted children in her care,
young widow Lily Broadbent is in search of the right tutor to instruct and
nurture her young charges. So when Frederick Woodstone arrives on her doorstep
seeking the position, Lily is quickly impressed by his qualifications—but even
more pleased with his gentle manner and immediate rapport with the children
that society cast aside. It is clear: Mr. Woodstone is a perfect fit for the
family.
From the moment he
arrives at the manor, Frederick is enchanted by the lady of the house. Lily is
a pillar of strength and compassion, and her striking beauty is undeniable. As
the pair works side by side to teach the children, their professional
association evolves into something far deeper. But when they stumble upon a
young boy in dire circumstances, their relationship is put to the test as Lily
makes the impetuous decision to rescue the child—no matter the consequences.
What follows is a chain of events that will threaten all that Lily has built
for her young family, as the fight for the safety of one small boy becomes a
battle between life and death.
My
thoughts:
This
one was interesting. I love how
Frederick takes on this gaggle of adopted children and their various issues.
Naturally, this being an Anita Stansfield book, he easily tames them and all is
sunshine and lollipops.
I
liked that Lily is actually a few years older than Frederick. It’s a nice change
from the usual 17- to 21-year-old heroines.
There
is a little bit of a mystery here that is also a nice twist. This one I didn’t
really guess ahead of time.
I do
wonder how Lily was able to inherit all her first husband’s assets. Clearly he
wasn’t nobility, just a wealthy man, or it would have gone to some male heir.
Possible
objectionable material:
Child
abuse, orphans, children with traumatic pasts.
Love and Loss at Whitmore Manor
Publisher:
Covenant Communications, Inc. (November 1, 2017)
Paperback:
240 pages
ISBN-10:
1524403709
ISBN-13:
978-1524403706
Publisher’s
Blurb:
For nearly three
years, British Officer Tristan Whitmore fought bravely for King and Crown in
America. But his loyalty came at a price, and after slowly recovering from
battlefield injuries, it is finally time to return to his beloved England and
his wife, Muriel. But there is to be no tender reunion at Whitmore Manor
instead, Tristan is stunned to learn of his wife's deceit in his absence and
her unexpected death. And to add to the shocking blow, this devastating news is
delivered by the last woman Tristan ever hoped to see again.
Olivia Halstead lost
everything after the death of her father but found refuge with her cousin
Muriel while Muriel's husband was at war. Now, with the loss of her cousin,
Olivia feels she has trespassed too long on the hospitality of the family. But
before she can depart, Muriel's husband returns, and Olivia's own thorny
history with the man comes rushing in: years ago, theirs was a tender
courtship—followed too soon by a bitter parting of ways. Now two people divided
by past betrayal find an unforeseen chance for reconciliation. But when Tristan
and Olivia find themselves on opposite sides of a revolution, will their
clashing allegiances tear them apart forever?
My
thoughts:
::sigh::
Another one where the heir to the family estates went off to war. That aside,
his reluctance to go home to his unpleasant wife is a nice twist, as is the
guilt he experiences over being relieved at her death. He and Olivia have real
issues to sort out. I think they sort them out too easily, but it’s nice to see
a little conflict and growth there.
There
is some involvement with smuggling, but that problem is resolved pretty easily
in the end. The people just…stopped smuggling.
And
that’s really all there is to this story. I can’t remember much else happening.
It just didn’t make an impact on me.
Possible
Objectionable Material:
Infidelity,
an unwed pregnancy, smuggling.
The Stars Above Northumberland
Publisher:
Covenant Communications (February 1, 2017)
Paperback:
240 pages
ISBN-10:
1524404977
ISBN-13:
978-1524404970
Publisher’s
Blurb:
Her husband is dead. But far from grieving, young widow Lady
Meriwether Sturgess feels nothing but relief and release. After enduring years
of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her cruel husband, Meri is
drawn to the comfort of the one place sure to offer healing both for her and
her children: Rosewell Manor. The home of her beloved Aunt Annibel is the site
of her happiest childhood memories, and it promises the new beginning for which
she longs. Just as she settles into life at the manor, Meri is granted a
delightful surprise. Elliott Rosewell has come to stay, as he often has since
childhood. Meri and Elliott had once been close friends, and each concealed
long-harbored feelings for one another. Their warm relationship is quickly
rekindled, and despite the sorrows and secrets they each conceal, they discover
that their friendship has blossomed into love. But a relationship that seems to
promise happily ever after quickly begins to unravel as devastating truths from
both Meri s and Elliott s past surface, and their chance at happiness together
may be lost forever. . . .
My thoughts:
This one was probably my least favorite of the six I read. The
underlying story of Meri and her children escaping her cold in-law family is
good. Of course, the in-law family is over-the-top bad. One of the things that
bothers me here is that, since Meri’s four-year-old son is the heir to his
father’s estate and title, she is made the custodian of all of that. That role
would definitely have gone to her husband’s (evil) younger brother. Instead,
Meri just takes her kids and leaves to her aunt and uncle’s home far away. And
the in-laws never seem to follow-up or communicate with her or demand that she
return in any way until the climax of the story. And her son is never referred
to by anyone by his title.
As Meri is traveling to her aunt and uncle’s home, we’re told
that she never felt especially close to any of her cousins. Later, we hear multiple
times that she loves them all as sisters.
And oh my goodness, this book has more sobbing than all the
other ones combined. That woman sobs multiple times a day.
In the end, when Meri marries again, it is a full church
wedding, with a veil (rare in that time period), walking up the aisle, flower
girl, etc. A woman’s second marriage was not treated like a first marriage in
that time period.
On the good side: I like how Stansfield takes on both physical
and emotional abuse and the terrible effects both of those have.
There’s a big plot twist in this one as well, but the reason behind
it is much more purposeful and believable.
Possible objectionable material:
Physical and emotional abuse, unwed pregnancy, suicide,
eating disorder, perilous situations.
The Lady of Astoria Abbey
Publisher:
Covenant Communications, Inc. (October 1, 2018)
Paperback:
264 pages
ISBN-10:
1524407046
ISBN-13:
978-1524407049
Publisher’s Blurb:
Bess leads a quiet
life, intent on easing the burdens of her widowed father. She acts as maid,
cook, and assistant in his medical practice—but she is wearied by the thankless
work and her father's lack of kindness. And then a miracle happens. Lady Agatha
Buxton of Astoria Abbey is seeking a physician for her ailing son, Hugh, and,
sensing that Bess is trapped in her situation, offers the young woman a
position as nurse. Despite Bess's father's objections, she accepts—and her life
is forever changed.
Bess and Hugh enjoy an
immediate bond of friendship, which quickly blossoms into love. Despite his
dire prognosis, the couple makes the bittersweet decision to wed, embracing
what little time they have. Their tender union ushers in a season of both joy
and heartbreak, and Bess discovers greater meaning in life than she'd ever
imagined. As she's confronted with the sorrow of living without Hugh, Bess
finds herself at a crossroads—will she have the courage to trust her heart and
allow herself to love again?
My
thoughts:
I like the underlying
premise here. Again, Bess is too good to be true and her father is completely
selfish, to the point of completely removing himself from her life, even though
they live in the same town. I guess I like my villains to be a little more
well-rounded.
I like Hugh’s realistic
acceptance that his life is limited, and the progression of their relationship.
A drawback is a page-long monologue when he is near to death and barely able to
breathe.
There are some minor
plot twists here, and they exist simply because people haven’t really
communicated with each other.
Spoilers here:
Spoilers! Beware!
When Graham is talking
about when he fell in love with Bess, he says it was when she was hugely
pregnant. But he left Astoria Abbey before her pregnancy was announced and doesn’t
appear to have returned until after the baby is born.
Possible
objectionable material:
Terminal illness, emotionally
neglectful parent.
The House of Stone and Ivy
Publisher:
Covenant Communications, Inc. (January 1, 2019)
Paperback:
280 pages
ISBN-10:
1524408565
ISBN-13:
978-1524408565
Publisher’s Blurb:
Orphaned as children, Hennie and Lottie share an
unbreakable friendship. Together, they suffered the horrors of orphanages and
the workhouse, and now grown, they continue to rely on each other. When Lottie
approaches Hennie about a possible position at a manor house, Hennie is eager
to work alongside her dear friend. However, to secure their positions as stable
hands, they will have to undergo a bold act of deception: the women must
disguise themselves as men.
Upon arriving at the manor, Hennie is stunned. Her new position is at Ivy Manor—the beautiful estate where her mother was employed long ago and where Hennie was raised until her mother's death. Hennie has wonderful memories of her friendship with the son of the house, Jack, and is shocked and dismayed to learn he has vanished. Living in disguise at the manor allows her to gradually uncover the truth of Jack's disappearance and eventually find him. Both Hennie and Jack are thrilled to be reunited, and their friendship is renewed. Soon, their relationship blossoms . . . and threatens their determination to remain concealed. With so much at stake, will they be prepared to risk everything for love?
My Thoughts:
The women pretending to be men premise is
justified here. It’s not just for fun; it’s a matter of survival. Jack’s reason
to disappear is a little more far-fetched and once again, the antagonist is
cartoonishly bad.
I enjoyed the way Jack accidentally
revealed his true identity to Hennie, and his reunion with his brother. The
resolution of the problem was a little less believable, but definitely
effective. I enjoyed side characters like Lottie and Zeke in this one;
generally Stansfield’s side characters are a bit less well-developed.
There is a little bit of a time kerfluffle
here, as Lottie becomes pregnant before Hennie, but Hennie’s baby is born
first.
Possible Objectionable Material:
Lottie turned to prostitution to survive
before she returns to Hennie’s life. Deception. Hardship. Men make passes at
Hennie as she works in a tavern.
Thank you to Covenant
Communications and NetGalley for providing advanced reader copies in exchange
for my honest opinion.
