Through Castle Windows

by Elizabeth D. Michaels, Anita Stansfield

When Duty To Your Country Is All You Have To Live For, How Do You Go On Living?

Ericha is a woman with nothing—not even her father’s name. Following her mother’s death she is guided to Horstberg in search of answers and contentment. When her path repeatedly crosses with the brooding Stefan Heinrich, she is drawn to him by feelings too profound to ignore. The love they share is intense and undeniable, but Ericha’s ignorance of Stefan’s circumstances puts her on a scale in his life opposite to the country he rules, and the wife he loathes.

While Stefan questions daily what kind of madness drove him to marry the deceptive and tawdry Johanna Von Bindorf, a princess from the neighboring country of Kohenswald, he is torn between his commitment to do what is right, and his love for a woman that he cannot have; a woman who fills his aching soul. Years of spiraling downward in hopelessness finally drive him to make Ericha a part of his life as far as it is possible, while deep inside he knows that eventually a price for his happiness will have to be paid.

As Ericha develops a deep bond with the legendary Abbi du Woernig, she unknowingly breathes life back into the heart and soul of Horstberg. But happiness and peace for the entire family are fleeting and fragile. Both Stefan and Ericha quickly realize the price for their choices is higher than either of them ever could have imagined. When Horstberg’s freedom is bargained for with the life of its ruler, Stefan knows that he must sacrifice everything to once again prove himself worthy to serve the people of his country with dignity and to live his life with the woman he loves.

Genres: Romance

736 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2015

Reviews

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super good one. So much intrigue, treachery, betrayal, love, impossible choices to make and so much more. This continues the Horstberg saga, where Abbi’s grandchild, Stefan, is the duke. He is stuck in a loveless marriage to a woman he despises. When he meets a woman who makes his heart pound and seems to bring him back from the brink of self-destruction, he wants nothing more than to make her his wife. But if he divorces the duchess, relations could be strained between countries and even war could happen. I loved the characters in this one. I loved Stefan in Book 4 as a little child. Now you see that boy grown into a man with a horrendous load on his shoulders and heart-wrenching decisions to make. I couldn’t stop reading once I started this. The writing was flawless and carried me along on a riveting ride. Bravo.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite bothered by part of the main story line being an adulterous relationship. Since I had invested lots of time in the series so far, I continued. I did enjoy how the story line of all the books goes full circle and there was a price to pay for redemption.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I avoided reading this book for a long time because of what I knew would happen in the beginning of the book, and I did not want to read it. I just wanted everything to remain the same. Even after I started it I stopped reading for a period of time, I just couldn't do it. When I finally did finish it, I loved it. This whole series has become a favorite of mine. This book was very hard to read, and I can't even tell you how many tears I shed over the course of reading it, but it is an amazing novel that I will definitely read again. After I recover. :) Elizabeth Michaels (aka Anita Stansfield) is an amazing author, I love all of her other books, but I have my favorites, and this series is one of them. The book is very well written, I love how the characters become a part of your family. You grow with them, you cry with them, you love with them, etc. She is very adept at personalizing her characters so you can connect with them on a realistic level. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who likes romance-fiction. Go. Read it. It is a must.

[Kassie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really did love this series! But it was a little drawn out/long. She could have made it shorter, and a lot of the descriptions and conversations are a bit repetitive. Especially the mushy descriptions of the romances/relationships. Again, love the series, but I was ready to wrap it up.

[Karen Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stefan and Ericha

Every book in this series was amazing. I hated for it to end. This is really the book that had me crying the most even though I did cry some with the others too. Great writing.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite book of the series! I'm hoping she does a follow-up series like she says. I just loved the Horstberg Saga!

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Horstberg Saga. As the other books, it keeps you wondering if tragedy will strike and if the royal family can get out of different situations that come up.

[Sharyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not like the beginning of the book. As I continued to read, the plot developed into a story more like the previous Hordtberg books.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like it quite as much as earlier books in the series, but it's still worth reading.

I continually felt like something was missing - like there should have been another book between this and #4. There are characters in this book that we hardly know, but it felt like we should be familiar with their story. Two specific examples that come to mind are Dulsie and Rusty. There were a few things that felt like the author was trying to remind us of something important that happened in the previous book, but we didn't get the original story. I'm wondering if she had intended for this to be book #6, but the original book #5 didn't come together like she had hoped, so she skipped it.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book, it was too repetitive and the storyline didn't move fast enough. Also, I didn't like the fact that it was okay to commit adultery because you are a royal and you are in a bad marriage. Through this whole series, the author painted the picture that it is okay to fornicate or be an adulterer if you are truly in love. I understand that sometimes people let their values go but usually there are consequences for their actions and I feel that through this series the consequences weren't dealt with. I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but each one after has slowly gotten worse.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stefan had a lot of weight on his shoulders, being thrust into the role of duke due to circumstances beyond his control. Not unlike his grandfather, he decides to bend the rules of right and wrong when he meets Ericha. That rubbed me the wrong way, but at least these two were more upfront about their situation with others. As horrible as the beginning of the book was, I did feel that it turned around by the end.

*SPOILER*

The relationship between Abbi and Georg made me want to throw up. It was beyond inappropriate and was completely appalling. Yuck.

[Jennefer Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved this saga from the beginning "spoilers" When the read the first two chapters I was in tears... But it's a saga and Anita does what Anita does she gets to your heart makes you think. Life's not sunshine and roses there are dark storms and yes we make mistakes but we also grow from them and become better people. I loved this Saga was glued to every page of every book. ❤️

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's done it again! This series has become my favorite of Anita's and I would recommend the Hortsberg saga to anyone. I love the intensity of the story. Captivating characters and storyline. Well worth the read!

[Barbara Zenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sad because this is the last book of the series. I have loved the characters, the story line and the excitement of the series. It was nice to read a clean and motivational book. I would highly recommend this series. Thanks for giving us the series you are such a talented writer.

[Judy Bullard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ending to a great saga! Exciting, sweet story

[Amber Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I've been on an emotional roller coaster reading this series, and more to the point, this book! My head has been in Horstberg since I picked up this first book.

This is hands down, the BEST book she has EVER written! Some of her other books that she's written before have felt VERY preachy and this one isn't AT ALL! It talks of faith and putting your trust in God, but it doesn't over do it.

The real thing for me was the fact that she wrote so openly about having an affair and the things that go along with that. This is far beyond anything that she's ever written so openly (and non-preachy!) about in the past! The emotions that drive the charactors are so real I could reach out and touch them.

This book is so emotional because it goes into detail about losing two family members and the circumstances that surrounded it.It had me sobbing at the beginning of the book and I was downright depressed during most of it, because of the events at the beginning! Losing Cameron and Erich at the SAME TIME destroyed me! As I'm sure it did the people in this book.

Emotional roller coaster from the first page to the last. I'm so glad I read these books. My heart and mind will forever be in Horstberg! I hope she writes another one, because I don't feel like the stories are done yet!