Author Focus: Anita Stansfield

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.