The Wanderer

Shadows of Brierley #1

by Anita Stansfield

As he neared the edge of the crowd, Ian could hear a loud voice preaching some kind of sermon. He bristled from the inside out. The very thought of God encouraged his guilt and tempted him to turn back to the pub, where he could purchase the means to drown out the taunting voices of shame that had taken up comfortable residence in his tortured mind. Nevertheless, with a few of his remaining coins, Ian purchases a copy of the book from which the "preacher" is quoting, an act that somehow gives this troubled prodigal the courage to leave the dark alleyways of London and begin the long journey home—home to his beloved Brierley and to the woman whose heart he hopes to win. Little does he realize the impact this book will have on him and his family as they struggle with the grim consequences of unrestrained compulsions and passions, and the seemingly insurmountable challenges of mental illness. As the threads that hold the tapestry of the MacBrier family together threaten to unravel, Ian realizes that . . . The Book of Mormon had been destined to come into his hands, and he was destined to follow where it led him. In The Wanderer, set in the lush highlands of nineteenth-century Scotland, Anita Stansfield is at her storytelling best. Filled with past regrets and new beginnings, this volume is an extraordinary journey toward faith and peace—a sweeping emotional experience from start to finish.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Lds, Fiction, Church, Christian Fiction

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2011

About the author

Anita Stansfield, the LDS market's #1 best-selling romance novelist, is an imaginative and prolific writer whose romantic stories have captivated her readers.

"With sales approaching a half million, Anita Stansfield has clearly found a niche in this market," said Nicole Martin, Publicist for Covenant Communications. "Her popularity stems from her ability to empathize with and write about the issues that LDS women deal with on a daily basis."

"I always write for women like me. It's through my interaction with other women that I've found there are some personal and emotional struggles that are typical," said Anita Stansfield. "I hope my writing makes women feel better about themselves and shows them these real problems can be solved through gospel principles."

Reviews

[Michelle Llewellyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The year 2000 was a very important year: the start of a brand new millennium, the last year Americans would enjoy complete security before terrorists shattered it, and for Mormon readers, the end of Anita Stansfield's truly great "Golden Decade of the 90's" The inspiring novels she published before her writing took a turn for the worst, spiraling downhill as the 2000s marched onward.
Towers of Brierley was published in 2000. I've re-read it many times, that's how good Anita Stansfield's writing was back in the day. Returning to this older storyline in an attempt to create a new series and sell more books is a wise decision, yet, I've learned not to judge her new books so quickly as too often I'm dissapointed.
When we last saw Anya Ross and Gavin MacBrier they were celebrating the birth of their first, yet unnamed, child. I was looking forward to reading this new spinoff-Shadows of Brierley-and seeing what had become of these characters who were like old friends and the family they'd created.
Congrats, Anita, for finally writing a book that I don't start skimming after the first ten pages as it quickly becomes apparent where the story is going. I was immediately intrigued by Ian. What prompted him to leave? What would bring him back? How long would it take for his parents to accept the gospel and for him to get together with his old girlfriend? What was the true underlying problem with Bethia and her mental state? Perhaps it was rooted in years of childhood family sexual abuse reflecting on today's many underlying social problems. Here's an idea. What if Ian's rogue brother, James, turned out to be Bethia's abuser? WOW, what a scandle THAT would've been!
Too bad Ian forgot about that book he purchased from the missionaries until the very end. Too bad Bethia's storyline went in the same direction Anita's plot complications often do, except this one was just weird and made no sense. James was the lucky one. He got to die without ever facing the consequences of his actions. I wanted to like this new book, I really did. But the ending was very dissapointing leaving me with no desire to get the next volume and find out what happens next. Sorry, but I just don't care.
I recommend Towers of Brierley to everyone. Read that along with Anita's other early works from First Love and Forever to Towers of Brierley. Forget all the rest.
Like U2 and their latest album, Anita Stansfield may never again put out another truly great work of art that is worth your time reading. We've witnessed the end of a golden era and that is something to mourn about.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. This book was a slog! Uneven pacing, 2 dimensional characters. The story about the birthmark? Come on! What about James' other, older illegitimate children? Hard pass on the rest of the series.

[Apzmarshl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here's the down low. It's something I have been holding back throughout the last few Stansfield books. I like them, but I am past loving them. Reading these books is like eating spaghetti. I like it. It does what I wanted it to do. It was tasty enough and I am full. It wasn't my favorite meal though. I am ready for something with bold flavor that I want to keep eating.
Dead honest here...I am a little tired of the rich man scenario. He is always there to help in every situation so his pregnant wife can relax. I beg.......I BEG, at some point I want to read one of these books that is a little more realistic. Can the man have a real job? Nay, even a job that is extreme enough to take him away from home to the point that his dead hot, gracious, funny, sweet wife wants to run screaming into the night? (Did I just reveal too much?) I appreciate the trying situations that are dealt with during these books but they are really beginning to seem like the same book over and over and over again with a different setting. There. I said it. I have no shame. These are good uplifting books. I would like to see Stansfield stretch her abilities though.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

What are the last half of Anita Stansfield books made up of? Depthless characters who live their lives according to platitudes and complete emotional health, storylines that aren't so much stories as they are a list of events, narrative that takes up 75% of the pages, leaving only 25% for actual dialogue... oh, and people dying - seriously, they're dropping like flies. Which, I'm telling you, really surprised me here - because two of the three people who died in this book - WERE THE MOST INTERESTING CHARACTERS IN IT! And just as we get a little taste of them, a small inkling that this story could really go somewhere, BAM! They're dead. Oh, and the only reason, I think, people get married in these books anymore is for the express purpose of enduring trial after trial together. Yay.

I think I'll go tearfully confess to my own husband the trial I've just endured by reading this book. He won't say exactly the right thing. He'll probably ask what we're having for dinner. Thank goodness.

[SmilieKylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading it, all my thoughts were that the book seemed to be starting to fast, and the writing was not being the best it could be. But soon, I forgot all about that🩷 The story is beautiful, the characters have their flaws and their strengths, and so much gratitude for each other☺️
This book inspired me so much!! Even if your not part of the church, its still a great story about destiny and hardship💕
Thank you Anita Stansfield!! I’ll definitely be checking out more of your books😉

Edit: I feel like this book wasn’t really written as well as it could’ve been, but I heard that this author’s earlier work is better!! I forgot about how the writing and story telling wasn’t the best while reading because the actual story Anita is trying to tell is AMAZING!!!
Love ya gorlypop😘

[Abbie Butcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is crazy! Like crazy in a bad way, over the top preachy with way too many unreal twists and turns. It is the first book in it's series, so I'm hoping it's just a sadly-written start and the next book will be better. I cannot believe I got through this, it really is in poor taste.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start, but good story.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, anxious to read the next volume.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall there is a great story that is revealed with immense compassion and love that would be nice to see more often in families. The Macbrier family is very strong and goes through many trials that bring the main character Ian to find the gospel. Through his curiosity he finds what lays ahead for him and his families’ future.

I haven't read Anita Stansfield in forever because after a while the writing style is so redundant it becomes annoying. However I felt I'd give it another try because she always has such great story lines but I just can't get past everything just being so happy go lucky, and everyone knowing exactly what to say or think when they are suppose to, or the fact that everyone goes around saying "Amen" to everything. I really wanted to like this book I felt there was so much substance but, the writing style does me in. Anita is a very talented author obviously and so I feel it not my place to give such criticism but I'm a reader that needs more.

[Diane Holm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chances

When Ian awakes from a drunken stupor in a deserted London alley, he is thankful to be alive. “Dear God,” he says aloud. “Help me.” Ian wanders near a crowd and hears words of hope that draw him forward. Ian lingers after the crowd disperses and talks with the preachers. “Might I purchase a copy of your book?” he enquires. His purchase is made quickly and Ian stuffs the book with his other few belongings. Filled with a longing to return home, to make right the wrongs of the past, he spends the last of his funds for the passage by coach.

This is a story of forgiveness, love, redemption and starting over. When Ian is making positive steps, more challenges surface and the struggles increase.

The Wanderer is the first book in the Shadows of Brierley Series. I can’t wait to read the rest!

[Wendy Woehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to hear Anita Stansfield speak once and she stated that although her books are often thought of as part of the "romance" genre, they are more about family relationships. From her books that I've read, I have to agree with that assessment. I loved the Towers of Brierley which she wrote earlier. I loved the setting and characters. This book is the beginning of a new series about the next generation of the family from that book. The characters in her books have many challenges to overcome. Sometimes the obstacles are of a sensitve and controversal nature, such as mental illness. However, she deals with these situations in a tactful way. What I like most about her books is that they leave the reader with a feeling of hope.

[Katrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I still haven't brought myself to finish this and don't know if I will. It was definitely not Stansfield's best (which is saying something, since she's not the greatest writer anyway). I didn't feel like there was any sense of flow, that it was all kind of contrived, and my, does it drag! It's a series and I get the feeling that's the reason for the dragging--so she could spread everything out in three books. Ugh. Not impressive. I was trying to push myself through it when I started Lynn Austin's book Hidden Places, and the contrast couldn't have been greater. As I told my husband, it was like trying to wade through mud, versus cool, clear water.

[Angee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not her best, in my opinion, but I still enjoyed it. As is typical in Anita Stansfield's books, there was lots of drama and trials to overcome; some of them were hard for me to read as they are very personal to my own family. It also took me a bit to realize how the whole Book of Mormon/religion thing tied in. This one had some crazy surprises though, which made it fun and exciting! It was a fairly quick read for me, and I really enjoyed it! I'm excited for the next in the series because she definitely left you hanging.

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in less than 12 hours! I started it this morning and read throughout the day every spare second I had! I love reading conversion stories and history and about the spreading of the gospel, and I love Anita Stansfields books( I own almost all of them!) So there was NOTHING I didn't like about this book! I Love ALL things Scottland.
I loved how open and free of prejudice the main characters are during a time that status was everything!
Can't wait to get the next one and keep going!

[Lynnae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this series but note to self... Read it in order next time!!! I started with the last one and was like, "what is this crazy cheese stuff?" But after going back and reading them in order I was all for it. Recommend reading them months apart. If I tried to read each book consecutively I pretty much would have drained myself with this style. But they were very refreshing when I spread them out picking a new one up over time. Faith promoting, inspiring, and packed with love.

[Evelyn Sheehan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was swept away in this book, and could not put it down. You can truly relate to Ian and his desire to reconnect with his family and make amends for the hurt that he has caused them. It is also very powerful in the way he feels and recognizes the spirit connecting with him and guiding him to both forgive himself, but reach for something more. I absolutely loved it, and cannot wait to read the next one in the series!!

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the book this series is a sequel to - Towers of Brierley. This one doesn't really delve into the thought-provoking topics that the author's earlier books did, but it's still enjoyable enough that I'll read the rest of the series.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Anita Stansfied book, and I didn't love it. It was slow to start and then felt a little jumbled as TONS of issues happened almost all at once. It seemed like the link to the Book of Mormon got shoved in at the end and that felt a bit awkward. I did like that her characters seemed like ordinary, moral people so they were relatable but not perfect. Overall, it was ok.

[Joy Spraycar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book. It starts out a little slow, but then picks up steam. There are places where it's gutwrenching and makes me cry, but there are so many twists and turns that it kept my interest once I got into it. That said it is a typical Stansfield book, but anything that has to do with Scotland gets a chance with me.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because I read Towers of Brierly years ago. It started off a little slow, but definitely picked up. There was a new surprise on every other page. I'm interested enough to read the next book.

Is it just me or does it seem like the characters in her books are always perfect with only one huge flaw?

[Kc7nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Anita Stansfield then you will like this book. The Wanderer is the beginning of a new series that starts off with Ian being lead to the Book of Mormon. There are plenty of plot twists to keep you guessing as to what will happen next but each twist is slowly pushing Ian to his destiny.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was just going to give this book two stars, but there ended up being a twist towards the end that made it more exciting. I think that Anita Stansfield books are kind of hit and miss for me. I keep reading her books, though, because I have absolutely loved some of her series. Others, though, I haven't loved so much.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought there were too many stories in one book, but I guess it is the first in the series. I also thought the story didn't flow well. However, I am looking forward to learning more about these characters.

[Jaime Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun historical fiction story. I enjoyed it more than several of her more recent books. It was not as predictable as many of her stories, and I enjoyed the characters. I will definitely read the sequel.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part was a bit slow, but that quickly changed. This book threw in some more twists that I wasn't expecting. I read it in about a day because it was good. I look forward to the rest of the series.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find much to love about this book...the main character was bland and I didn't much care what happened to him. I'll probably read the next one...but only because my mom will bring it up for me to read.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. There were unexpected twists that kept it from feeling predictable, but not so many that it felt forced. I grew to care about the characters and their lives. I'm glad that this is part of a series so I don't have to stop reading about them!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anita is hit and miss with me, but I loved the first book that this series spins off of, so I thought I would give it a try. I actually enjoyed this book - it had enough twists and turns in the plot that it kept me interested. It wasn't quite so formulaic as many of her books.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book on CD. I really liked this book. It was a different story and I found I was interested in the characters and how they changed. It was also a clean read and the writing was good. I will probably listen to the next one, since I can find it on CD.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical A.S. book. I enjoy the story line of this series but her writing has not improved with time. She is predictable and repeats herself almost to distraction. Will keep Redfin the series to be entertained by Ian and Wren.