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Ashford
Seventeen year old Anna is a naive American orphan who finds herself stranded in England during WWII. In the midst of all that threatens to tear her world apart, will she find a place to truly belong?
ebook
First published October 11, 2011
About the author
Melanie Rose Huff
6 books31 followersOne day in her childhood, Melanie Rose Huff told herself a story about the apple she was eating. It was a planet, inhabited by one tiny man-like creature who kept having to move house as his various residences were devoured by a giant alien. It was a tragedy, of course, ending in the planet's destruction, but the author has been telling herself stories ever since.
Melanie is the award-winning author of "Ashford" (BRAG Medallion, 2012) "Violet Shadows" (Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Novella Category Winner, 2013) "By Water and Blood" (Writers' Digest Self-Published Book Awards Honorable Mention, 2015) "A Phantasmagoria" and "An Amazing Alphabetic Anthology." She lives in Chewelah, Washington.
Melanie is the award-winning author of "Ashford" (BRAG Medallion, 2012) "Violet Shadows" (Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Novella Category Winner, 2013) "By Water and Blood" (Writers' Digest Self-Published Book Awards Honorable Mention, 2015) "A Phantasmagoria" and "An Amazing Alphabetic Anthology." She lives in Chewelah, Washington.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 17, 2012
So often our books are about strong men and what they did, where they traveled, and how they shaped the world, but once and a while we come upon an author who knows that the women too can be strong, play a part in war-time, and ultimately shape their own destiny. Rose articulates the story of Anna, only seventeen, touring Italy and France, just before WWII. Unlike so many stories of Europeans heading for the new world, Anna finds friendship, love, and a home in the English countryside, but along the way she is thrown in to the hardships of Hitler’s war, as it was felt in London before the Americans entered the fight.
Rose brings to life strong characters and unusual situations, surrounded by the historical events 1939-1941, with an American girl living in England. It is a well-written and engaging story told with energy and tenderness using my three favorite subjects, strong women, historical events, and foreign travel.
The Beauforts are the elderly couple chaperoning Anna on a European tour for her grandmother back in North Carolina. Anna’s parents died when she was little. She meets Gloria in Italy and they become best friends. Before meeting Gloria, Anna meets Perry Bertram of England on the train and then finds him again in England, a relative of her grandmother’s friend. The Bertram estate is called “Ashford” and love finds a way, like the twisty, strong English ivy to secure Anna to the English countryside, and forever to “Ashford” and the family that owns it.
Rose brings to life strong characters and unusual situations, surrounded by the historical events 1939-1941, with an American girl living in England. It is a well-written and engaging story told with energy and tenderness using my three favorite subjects, strong women, historical events, and foreign travel.
The Beauforts are the elderly couple chaperoning Anna on a European tour for her grandmother back in North Carolina. Anna’s parents died when she was little. She meets Gloria in Italy and they become best friends. Before meeting Gloria, Anna meets Perry Bertram of England on the train and then finds him again in England, a relative of her grandmother’s friend. The Bertram estate is called “Ashford” and love finds a way, like the twisty, strong English ivy to secure Anna to the English countryside, and forever to “Ashford” and the family that owns it.
February 18, 2015
I so loved this book! I love quite a few it's true, but this is one of the best historical fiction/romance that I have read in a while. It is based before and during WWII. A young American girl is stranded in Europe. You will smile, laugh, and cry in this one. No swearing and no sexual content. It does talk about war and dying. I give it five stars and can recommend for teens and up. A great Indie author! Will definitely read more from Melanie Rose.
November 26, 2012
After a slow start, I found this to be a good story and an enjoyable read. The 17-year old heroine, Anna, is a naive American orphan who has been sent to Europe on the eve of WWII with a couple as chaperone, courtesy of the grandmother who raised her after her parents died. On the train, she met Perry Bertram, a charming Englishman, several years older.
When WWII broke out while they were in France, they fled to England with another family they met and found refuge in the home of an old friend of Anna's grandmother. To her delight, the young man Anna met on the train is a great nephew of her hostess. Their fellow travelers successfully traveled home to America, but Anna's chaperones are afraid the trip will be too dangerous, so they remain as guests of their reluctant hostess.
As the war escalated and the London home they were in was bombed, they fled again to Ashford, the country home of Perry's grandmother and parents. There the fortunes of various characters separate and intertwine in interesting ways, some dramatic and tragic. Anna makes the most of being stranded in England by first helping on the family estate, then going to work in the war effort. Perry, unable to fight because of his narcolepsy, works for the war effort in London and is often gone, but Anna's fondness for him gradually turns to love.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the book is the compelling portrayal of the effect of five long years of war, loss, and deprivation on the citizens of England. Boredom and menial work was punctuated with terrifying moments of danger and death. Virtually every family lost young men to the war effort. Most were touched by the war in profound ways, and the depiction of Anna's work in the hospital among the wounded was especially poignant.
I was sorry the book was over, and while it ends with the anticipation of Anna and Perry making a future together, it is only hinted. I hope the author will consider a sequal so we'll know what becomes of Anna and Perry and their beloved Ashford.
When WWII broke out while they were in France, they fled to England with another family they met and found refuge in the home of an old friend of Anna's grandmother. To her delight, the young man Anna met on the train is a great nephew of her hostess. Their fellow travelers successfully traveled home to America, but Anna's chaperones are afraid the trip will be too dangerous, so they remain as guests of their reluctant hostess.
As the war escalated and the London home they were in was bombed, they fled again to Ashford, the country home of Perry's grandmother and parents. There the fortunes of various characters separate and intertwine in interesting ways, some dramatic and tragic. Anna makes the most of being stranded in England by first helping on the family estate, then going to work in the war effort. Perry, unable to fight because of his narcolepsy, works for the war effort in London and is often gone, but Anna's fondness for him gradually turns to love.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the book is the compelling portrayal of the effect of five long years of war, loss, and deprivation on the citizens of England. Boredom and menial work was punctuated with terrifying moments of danger and death. Virtually every family lost young men to the war effort. Most were touched by the war in profound ways, and the depiction of Anna's work in the hospital among the wounded was especially poignant.
I was sorry the book was over, and while it ends with the anticipation of Anna and Perry making a future together, it is only hinted. I hope the author will consider a sequal so we'll know what becomes of Anna and Perry and their beloved Ashford.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2011
Ashford by Melanie Rose is an exquisite read that draws readers in from the very first page. The story is revealed in first person by the lovely, innocent heroine, Anna. At 17, Anna experiences her first introduction to young adult freedom while in the care of her absentminded caretakers, the Beauforts, who are tasked with accompanying Anna to Europe just prior to the start of World War II.
The author does an exceptional job at evoking the setting and tone for this period piece of historical fiction. Readers are engaged into the dalliance and innocence of a young girl meeting her first love, Perry Bertram. Perry serves as the unsung hero, unable to serve in the war because of narcolepsy; Perry is loyal, selfless, and honest. His love for Anna is apparent early on, but circumstances keep them apart as both Anna and Perry are tested in different ways by the tragedy of war and separation.
Rose does a brilliant job of creating characters that readers will love and portrays both the eloquence and tragedy of wartime with exceptional narrative, poignant dialog, and well-drawn characters. Ashford is both a tender story of a girl growing up as well as a poignant story of epic love that will stay with readers for a long time to come. Ashford is a superb novel of literary quality and is appropriate for both young adult and adult fiction readers of historical fiction, alike.
I look forward to reading more of Melanie Rose’s novels.
Katherine Owen
Author of Not To Us & Seeing Julia
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to Read
April 13, 2012Free today on Kindle 4.13.12!
March 13, 2013
Loved the story, characters, history and travel all wrapped up together. I started reading and couldn't put it down until I finished. history with a touch of romance. fantastic!
December 24, 2025
I waffled between a 4 star or a 3 star review.
The book just started without much of a back story. The story was confusing at first. As it went on, I figured out that it was during the time of WW2 and it became interesting. The perspective was well written and made the reader feel like they were in the UK during the war.
The 3 stars won out because the ending was super abrupt. Like reading and then feeling like you were missing pages.
Still this book is a great one to read if you are interested in World War 2 books - and for those who know that I read romance, this would not be what I would call a romance book. Definitely historical fiction.
The book just started without much of a back story. The story was confusing at first. As it went on, I figured out that it was during the time of WW2 and it became interesting. The perspective was well written and made the reader feel like they were in the UK during the war.
The 3 stars won out because the ending was super abrupt. Like reading and then feeling like you were missing pages.
Still this book is a great one to read if you are interested in World War 2 books - and for those who know that I read romance, this would not be what I would call a romance book. Definitely historical fiction.
June 21, 2012
I took my time reading this book. It is in first person and for the most part very well written. My biggest complaint was it seemed to rush the last 1/4 of the book. After the care, and almost plodding movement for it to end so suddenly seemed out of place. I really wanted more characterization, more description, I think this book had the makings of a classic novel if I could have felt more attached to the characters. Maybe that was a draw back of if being in first person? I wanted more for each character and I wanted to know what happened to them all at the end. It needed some kind of prologue, what happened to Gloria?
I think it would be a good book for a book club to read and explore the issues of World War II and what it would have been like to have been in Euorpe/England at the time. I think there maybe some stereotypical moments in the book and perhaps some errors. I don't remember them now, but I remember at times thinking the author injected some ideas/concepts/knowledge that was not available at that time. It seemed the research needed a bit more tweaking. That is why I gave it 3 stars, the quick end to the uncertainty that the author was injecting her own opinion into the story.
I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good basic novel that makes you think about humanity, not just of society but what would you do in certain scenarios.
I think it would be a good book for a book club to read and explore the issues of World War II and what it would have been like to have been in Euorpe/England at the time. I think there maybe some stereotypical moments in the book and perhaps some errors. I don't remember them now, but I remember at times thinking the author injected some ideas/concepts/knowledge that was not available at that time. It seemed the research needed a bit more tweaking. That is why I gave it 3 stars, the quick end to the uncertainty that the author was injecting her own opinion into the story.
I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a good basic novel that makes you think about humanity, not just of society but what would you do in certain scenarios.
March 26, 2012
3.5 stars.
Unusual story. The war years as lived by a young American girl.
Anna, travelling through Europe with an older couple is in Italy when it becomes obvious that war is imminent. They move hastily to France, then to England as Mrs Bertram fears crossing the Atlantic would be too dangerous. First they contact an old friend of Anna's grandmother, then when her house is badly damaged, they move to the family home. Ashford is home to all the family, refugees and now to Anna and the Bertrams.
Anna joins the Land Army but remains in close contact with her new family, sharing their war experiences as well as her own.
Unusual story. The war years as lived by a young American girl.
Anna, travelling through Europe with an older couple is in Italy when it becomes obvious that war is imminent. They move hastily to France, then to England as Mrs Bertram fears crossing the Atlantic would be too dangerous. First they contact an old friend of Anna's grandmother, then when her house is badly damaged, they move to the family home. Ashford is home to all the family, refugees and now to Anna and the Bertrams.
Anna joins the Land Army but remains in close contact with her new family, sharing their war experiences as well as her own.
May 10, 2012
A pretty good story about a young lady growing up into a woman during World War II. She volunteers for war service, falls in love, and gets to know a family of folks with whom she's staying.
All the characters are interesting and it's a quick, fun read. Nothing life changing here, but certainly a good story.
Read on my kindle.
All the characters are interesting and it's a quick, fun read. Nothing life changing here, but certainly a good story.
Read on my kindle.
March 31, 2026
Very interesting book!
The author is exceptional at making her characters come to life!
Would recommend it!
The author is exceptional at making her characters come to life!
Would recommend it!
Want to Read
April 13, 2012$0.0
April 23, 2012
It was good. I wished the last names of two of the families were different, got a little confusing.
August 13, 2012
We are proud to announce that Ashford has been honored with a 2012 B.R.A.G.Medallion!
August 30, 2012
Mediocre.
Not enough movement for me in the storyline.
Too much about the sunshine making everything shiny (golden, silver, etc.).
Not enough movement for me in the storyline.
Too much about the sunshine making everything shiny (golden, silver, etc.).
April 12, 2014
A coming of age story that takes place in England during World War II.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews