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The Lady of Astoria Abbey
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?
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2018
About the author
Anita Stansfield
134 books479 followersAnita 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."
"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."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 29, 2023
Oh for gawd’s sake! Ok I’m about 80% in. You know how sometimes you might have a faint twinge or a tad of a possible nagging headache coming on, but you have stuff to accomplish, so you put off taking anything until uh oh it’s too late there is the migraine? Ok let me introduce you to Bess. She is a hypocrite and the longer the story goes on, the more full of herself she becomes. I’ve just finally decided I had to stop and vent. This book is one huge deux ex machinea (I can’t spell sorry!) one after the other they just keep rolling like tumbleweeds as the pages are turned, and quite frankly, the more of the story I read, the more I greatly dislike the character Bess. With the snap of fingers her life literally goes from depressive and undervalued to rich and desired in a matter of weeks. Suddenly she’s a man magnet. Seriously? Please. (I am trying sooo hard to control my potty mouth with this review, people). I have my RBF on with this entire story.
October 8, 2018
I have to say that I had a hard time getting into the book. My mind kept wandering and I wanted to give up. I also was wondering why I agreed to read the book at first. She is totally setting herself up for heartbreak! What would be happy about this kind of book?! But then at around ½ way through, I got into it because things started to fall into place and changed and I cried through most of the last 1/3rd of the book. Ugh, I had such a headache from crying!
There was a twist that I totally did not see coming. In fact, from the description on the back of the book I started trying to figure out how it would end and I was totally floored at what happened! It was not anywhere near how I imagined it would be. I must be as naive as the main character, Bess, was!
Bess works with her doctor father. Her mother died many years ago and Bess finds herself working in the capacity of many people. She is his cook, housekeeper, and his assistant. She never has any time for herself. Meanwhile, her father gets to sit down in the chair in the evenings and read. He has never hugged her, told her he appreciated all that she did or told her he loved her! He is respectful to others and to his patients but not to her. Bess is maybe a little naive on life. After all she has never been out in society as she has been by her father’s side since she was a child. All she has ever wanted was her father's love and approval. But she definitely knows her medicine!
So when this offer to be Hugh’s personal nurse comes up she takes it. She finds the situation empowering. Lady Buxtom is like a mother to her. Bess is kind and finds friends in the people who work in the home too! Bess feels free. She finds love with Hugh. His two friends from childhood are always there to help him with his personal needs and she becomes friends with them. Clive more so than the other!
There is heartbreak in the story because we do experience the death of Hugh and then there is great joy at the end. Sprinkled in with a twist and some surprises that I really really did not see coming! If I hadn’t of had a hard time getting into the book, and not originally felt the chemistry of her love I would have given it a 5 stars. But the ending, so made up for that! I want to say more but you really need to read it for yourself.
If you like stories with a twist, finding love not once but twice in a lifetime, stars, death, ugh I can’t give any more ideas away because they would be spoilers!!
There was a twist that I totally did not see coming. In fact, from the description on the back of the book I started trying to figure out how it would end and I was totally floored at what happened! It was not anywhere near how I imagined it would be. I must be as naive as the main character, Bess, was!
Bess works with her doctor father. Her mother died many years ago and Bess finds herself working in the capacity of many people. She is his cook, housekeeper, and his assistant. She never has any time for herself. Meanwhile, her father gets to sit down in the chair in the evenings and read. He has never hugged her, told her he appreciated all that she did or told her he loved her! He is respectful to others and to his patients but not to her. Bess is maybe a little naive on life. After all she has never been out in society as she has been by her father’s side since she was a child. All she has ever wanted was her father's love and approval. But she definitely knows her medicine!
So when this offer to be Hugh’s personal nurse comes up she takes it. She finds the situation empowering. Lady Buxtom is like a mother to her. Bess is kind and finds friends in the people who work in the home too! Bess feels free. She finds love with Hugh. His two friends from childhood are always there to help him with his personal needs and she becomes friends with them. Clive more so than the other!
There is heartbreak in the story because we do experience the death of Hugh and then there is great joy at the end. Sprinkled in with a twist and some surprises that I really really did not see coming! If I hadn’t of had a hard time getting into the book, and not originally felt the chemistry of her love I would have given it a 5 stars. But the ending, so made up for that! I want to say more but you really need to read it for yourself.
"But remember, darling, surrounding a child with love and even providing them with luxuries does not a spoiled child make."
"I don't understand."
"No matter how rich or poor a child may be; no matter how few or many people they have in their lives who love and care for them-it is the love and discipline with which they are guided that makes their character. In my view, being spoiled means being raised with an attidtude of arrogance or entitlement, as opposed to understanding humility and equality and knowing that they need to have respect for all people and gratitude for all things. ..."
If you like stories with a twist, finding love not once but twice in a lifetime, stars, death, ugh I can’t give any more ideas away because they would be spoilers!!
January 19, 2019
The Lady of Astoria Abbey is the story of a nurse and her dying patient. Would you start a romantic relationship with a dying man? This story approaches difficult topics with compassion. It's a clean romance with heart and some unexpected events. Overall a good read. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 27, 2019
I have very mixed feelings about this writer. There were times when I wanted to throw the book across the room because I was literally cringing at her corny dialogue. Her writing is also often stiff, stilted, repeticious and very long-winded. I found myself skimming just to get to the point. So, why did I give the book 2 stars? Even with all it's weak points, the book compelled me to find out what would happen next and how the character's conflicts would be resolved. The ending was very satisfying. I might try one of her other books (she has written many). Even though she writes about romance, her books are very wholesome--no sex scenes or bad language, and she writes about uplifting ideals.
November 25, 2018
The Lady of Astoria Abbey was by an unfamiliar author and an unfamiliar publishing house, but the book blurb sounded most interesting and like something I would enjoy. Historical romances is a favorite genre of mine and I rarely read a book I don't like.
As I read The Lady of Astoria Abbey, I did enjoy it for the most part. I found the book a little tedious at the beginning while author, Anita Stansfield, set the stage for the story. After the setting and characters were established, the pace of the plot picked up some. Due to the book blurb, I anticipated a great deal of the plot. There is a significant twist that occurs toward the end of the book, but astute readers will not be surprised by the direction it takes. The main character, Bess, is likeable to both readers and the fellow characters but is almost too good to be true. Readers are drawn to her character due to the hardships she has experienced. I found myself glad when she allowed her true feelings to show and stood up for herself on several occasions. None of the other characters are as well-developed.
While I enjoyed Anita Stansfield as a writer and would read other books by her, I do not see myself running out to read every book she has written. After receiving the book, I looked up Covenant Communications to learn more about this publisher. I found that this publisher is a leading LDS publisher. As such, the book was very wholesome in terms of romance and language. The characters attended church and prayed as appropriate to the time period, but there was not any discussion of faith. As such, I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Readers who enjoy a clean read but do not a book that is preachy would enjoy this title.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, The Lady of Astoria Abbey, free from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
As I read The Lady of Astoria Abbey, I did enjoy it for the most part. I found the book a little tedious at the beginning while author, Anita Stansfield, set the stage for the story. After the setting and characters were established, the pace of the plot picked up some. Due to the book blurb, I anticipated a great deal of the plot. There is a significant twist that occurs toward the end of the book, but astute readers will not be surprised by the direction it takes. The main character, Bess, is likeable to both readers and the fellow characters but is almost too good to be true. Readers are drawn to her character due to the hardships she has experienced. I found myself glad when she allowed her true feelings to show and stood up for herself on several occasions. None of the other characters are as well-developed.
While I enjoyed Anita Stansfield as a writer and would read other books by her, I do not see myself running out to read every book she has written. After receiving the book, I looked up Covenant Communications to learn more about this publisher. I found that this publisher is a leading LDS publisher. As such, the book was very wholesome in terms of romance and language. The characters attended church and prayed as appropriate to the time period, but there was not any discussion of faith. As such, I do not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre. Readers who enjoy a clean read but do not a book that is preachy would enjoy this title.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the book, The Lady of Astoria Abbey, free from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
October 8, 2018
I love historical romance books! The old fashioned feel of everything is my favorite thing. This one is really well written. I loved the timeless feel of the characters and the abbey. The escape from our crazy busy time to a much simpler time period is also great!
Bess at the beginning made me a bit sad. She’s a young woman who helps her father in his practice as a doctor. But her dad has gotten to where he takes her and all of her work for granted. He just expects that his food will be made and cleaned up after while he reads a novel or goes to bed. Bess was not happy at the beginning and that was a bit hard to see. But she gets a job offer from the lady of Astoria Abbey to be kind of a companion to her terminally ill son. And that’s where we see Bess’ outlook change.
When Bess’ outlook changes she blossoms into the most amazing young woman. She is kind and compassionate, caring for everyone around her in the most amazing way. I loved the way she falls in love with Hugh. But she doesn’t tell him, because she’s never been in love before and she has an idea that it might just be because of her daily task of caring for him in his illness. But Hugh feels the same way.
I loved Hugh. He got a bit of a bad lot in life. He was supposed to die as an infant, but he hung on far longer than anyone could have ever guessed. I would have liked to have seen in his head, but this novel works from just Bess’ perspective. Hugh is never one to feel sorry for his lot in life. He is one to grab any small happiness he can find in his world that consists of really just his own bedroom and sitting room.
I loved the love story in this one. There are plenty of other things going on in the plot as well. Things like Bess’ father pretty much disowning her. And plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and entertained.
This is such a great historical romance. Make sure to take some time to read it!
Bess at the beginning made me a bit sad. She’s a young woman who helps her father in his practice as a doctor. But her dad has gotten to where he takes her and all of her work for granted. He just expects that his food will be made and cleaned up after while he reads a novel or goes to bed. Bess was not happy at the beginning and that was a bit hard to see. But she gets a job offer from the lady of Astoria Abbey to be kind of a companion to her terminally ill son. And that’s where we see Bess’ outlook change.
When Bess’ outlook changes she blossoms into the most amazing young woman. She is kind and compassionate, caring for everyone around her in the most amazing way. I loved the way she falls in love with Hugh. But she doesn’t tell him, because she’s never been in love before and she has an idea that it might just be because of her daily task of caring for him in his illness. But Hugh feels the same way.
I loved Hugh. He got a bit of a bad lot in life. He was supposed to die as an infant, but he hung on far longer than anyone could have ever guessed. I would have liked to have seen in his head, but this novel works from just Bess’ perspective. Hugh is never one to feel sorry for his lot in life. He is one to grab any small happiness he can find in his world that consists of really just his own bedroom and sitting room.
I loved the love story in this one. There are plenty of other things going on in the plot as well. Things like Bess’ father pretty much disowning her. And plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested and entertained.
This is such a great historical romance. Make sure to take some time to read it!
April 25, 2019
This was such a beautiful story, but make sure you have your tissues ready. This one is a tear jerker!
January 4, 2019
4.5 stars
Would you marry someone you know is dying and may have only weeks or months to live?
Elizabeth White or Bess as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of a doctor, Jonas White. She's been assisting him the past eight years since her mother's death when she was only twelve years old. She's also responsible for doing all the cooking, cleaning and other things required to maintain their household, even though there's money to pay someone to come in to cook and clean. She has no time for herself to spend with friends other than when she has choir practice at the church. Lately she's become more irritated with her father--the tone in which he speaks to her, his lack of acknowledging all that she does, let alone showing appreciation for it, and his lack of even having conversations with her even while they have dinner.
Lady Agatha Buxton lives at Astoria Abbey with her only son Hugh, who was born with a heart defect and was not supposed to have lived to adulthood. They've been in London for several years, but are back at Astoria Abbey because he's nearing the end of his life. Lady Agatha hires Jonas White to be his physician and offers Bess a position as Hugh's nurse. She would live at the Abbey and monitor his condition in between her father's visits. To Bess, this is the lifeline she's been praying for, as she's felt as if she's been drowning.
Bess moves to the Abbey (against her father's wishes) and begins to take care of Hugh. She finds ways of easing his headaches so he can rest better and his condition does not deteriorate as quickly as the doctors in London predicted. Spending so much time together each day Bess and Hugh develop feelings for each other and decide to marry. They aren't married very long when his condition starts to worsen and he dies. I won't say any more about the story because there are a couple of surprises.
Bess is a lovely young woman who's missed out on so much because her father made her assume all the duties of his wife, when the wife died. She played a mental game of "imagining herself surrounded by an impenetrable shield of light, as if she were standing in the center of a bright sunbeam, and nothing and no one could penetrate her barrier of protection. When hurtful words came out of her father's mouth Bess simply imagined them bouncing off the light that surrounded her." When the story begins it seems as if Bess' mental game isn't working as well as it used it. When she goes to Astoria Abbey she's surrounded by people who notice her and speak to her kindly and she becomes the person she was meant to be. There are a few times when she remembers her mother's words to her and she stands up for herself.
Jonas White may have been a very good doctor but he was an awful father to Bess after her mother died. He stopped being a father to her and made a child take on the responsibilities of an adult. It seems the only time he ever spoke kindly to her or acknowledged anything she did was when they were in the company of others. Even when Bess hires two people to take her place--one to cook and clean the house and the other as an assistant to her father--he remains angry at her for leaving to take the position at the Abbey. He ignores her when he makes his visits to Hugh, and it only gets worse when Bess and Hugh decide to marry. Her father basically disowns her. He may have been grieving his wife but poor Bess was never allowed to fully grieve the loss of her mother.
Lady Agatha is a lovely woman and I thought of her as a surrogate mother to Bess, since her mother died when she was only twelve. She listened to Bess and gave her counsel when asked for it, but never told her what to do. Her character is not as fleshed out as much as Bess or Hugh's since she's a supporting character.
I really enjoyed this clean romance. I've been a fan of Anita Stansfield's books since the 1990's when she wrote LDS romances. Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for allowing me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Would you marry someone you know is dying and may have only weeks or months to live?
Elizabeth White or Bess as she prefers to be called, is the daughter of a doctor, Jonas White. She's been assisting him the past eight years since her mother's death when she was only twelve years old. She's also responsible for doing all the cooking, cleaning and other things required to maintain their household, even though there's money to pay someone to come in to cook and clean. She has no time for herself to spend with friends other than when she has choir practice at the church. Lately she's become more irritated with her father--the tone in which he speaks to her, his lack of acknowledging all that she does, let alone showing appreciation for it, and his lack of even having conversations with her even while they have dinner.
Lady Agatha Buxton lives at Astoria Abbey with her only son Hugh, who was born with a heart defect and was not supposed to have lived to adulthood. They've been in London for several years, but are back at Astoria Abbey because he's nearing the end of his life. Lady Agatha hires Jonas White to be his physician and offers Bess a position as Hugh's nurse. She would live at the Abbey and monitor his condition in between her father's visits. To Bess, this is the lifeline she's been praying for, as she's felt as if she's been drowning.
Bess moves to the Abbey (against her father's wishes) and begins to take care of Hugh. She finds ways of easing his headaches so he can rest better and his condition does not deteriorate as quickly as the doctors in London predicted. Spending so much time together each day Bess and Hugh develop feelings for each other and decide to marry. They aren't married very long when his condition starts to worsen and he dies. I won't say any more about the story because there are a couple of surprises.
Bess is a lovely young woman who's missed out on so much because her father made her assume all the duties of his wife, when the wife died. She played a mental game of "imagining herself surrounded by an impenetrable shield of light, as if she were standing in the center of a bright sunbeam, and nothing and no one could penetrate her barrier of protection. When hurtful words came out of her father's mouth Bess simply imagined them bouncing off the light that surrounded her." When the story begins it seems as if Bess' mental game isn't working as well as it used it. When she goes to Astoria Abbey she's surrounded by people who notice her and speak to her kindly and she becomes the person she was meant to be. There are a few times when she remembers her mother's words to her and she stands up for herself.
Jonas White may have been a very good doctor but he was an awful father to Bess after her mother died. He stopped being a father to her and made a child take on the responsibilities of an adult. It seems the only time he ever spoke kindly to her or acknowledged anything she did was when they were in the company of others. Even when Bess hires two people to take her place--one to cook and clean the house and the other as an assistant to her father--he remains angry at her for leaving to take the position at the Abbey. He ignores her when he makes his visits to Hugh, and it only gets worse when Bess and Hugh decide to marry. Her father basically disowns her. He may have been grieving his wife but poor Bess was never allowed to fully grieve the loss of her mother.
Lady Agatha is a lovely woman and I thought of her as a surrogate mother to Bess, since her mother died when she was only twelve. She listened to Bess and gave her counsel when asked for it, but never told her what to do. Her character is not as fleshed out as much as Bess or Hugh's since she's a supporting character.
I really enjoyed this clean romance. I've been a fan of Anita Stansfield's books since the 1990's when she wrote LDS romances. Thanks to NetGalley and Covenant Communications for allowing me read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 18, 2018
Cornwall England - 1840
Elizabeth (Bess) White has been doing her best to care for her father, Jonas, since her mother’s death eight years earlier. Jonas is the village doctor but nothing she does seems to please him. His inability to save his wife seems to have made him a bitter man. Bess goes with her father on his calls on patients and assists him with many procedures. Yet he is oblivious to the work to help him, clean his instruments, cook, and clean the house.
When Jonas is called to attend Hugh Buxton at Astoria Abbey. he and Bess are intrigued. Hugh was born with a heart problem and he has lived longer than the doctors predicted. Hugh has chosen to return to the Abbey from his London home to spend his last days there. Lady Buxton wants Jonas to be Hugh’s doctor now.
Since Lady Buxton knows Bess’s talents, she proposes that Bess live at the Abbey to watch over Hugh medically, as well as be a companion to him since she and Hugh are close in age. Bess is agreeable to do so even though her father is not happy about it. But Bess arranges for someone to assist her father and someone to take over the household chores and she moves into the Abbey.
Bess settles in well at the Abbey. She is thorough in her exams of Hugh and she finds she is able to massage his neck muscles which enables him to sleep well. They share reading and discussion of his passion for outer space. Hugh’s mother, Agatha, and Bess become very close and share their private thoughts with one another. Before long, Bess and Hugh realize they are falling in love. They decide to marry right away to share as much time together as they can.
I don’t want to reveal anymore about the story than I already have. Suffice to say that this is a sweet, clean, insightful, beautiful novel that will tugs at your heartstrings. Hugh is a courageous character with a huge heart, damaged though it may be. Readers will witness deep, true love. I was so impressed with the author’s ability to convey so many emotions into words. Fabulous writing! I loved this book and hope many others will read and savor it as well.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Elizabeth (Bess) White has been doing her best to care for her father, Jonas, since her mother’s death eight years earlier. Jonas is the village doctor but nothing she does seems to please him. His inability to save his wife seems to have made him a bitter man. Bess goes with her father on his calls on patients and assists him with many procedures. Yet he is oblivious to the work to help him, clean his instruments, cook, and clean the house.
When Jonas is called to attend Hugh Buxton at Astoria Abbey. he and Bess are intrigued. Hugh was born with a heart problem and he has lived longer than the doctors predicted. Hugh has chosen to return to the Abbey from his London home to spend his last days there. Lady Buxton wants Jonas to be Hugh’s doctor now.
Since Lady Buxton knows Bess’s talents, she proposes that Bess live at the Abbey to watch over Hugh medically, as well as be a companion to him since she and Hugh are close in age. Bess is agreeable to do so even though her father is not happy about it. But Bess arranges for someone to assist her father and someone to take over the household chores and she moves into the Abbey.
Bess settles in well at the Abbey. She is thorough in her exams of Hugh and she finds she is able to massage his neck muscles which enables him to sleep well. They share reading and discussion of his passion for outer space. Hugh’s mother, Agatha, and Bess become very close and share their private thoughts with one another. Before long, Bess and Hugh realize they are falling in love. They decide to marry right away to share as much time together as they can.
I don’t want to reveal anymore about the story than I already have. Suffice to say that this is a sweet, clean, insightful, beautiful novel that will tugs at your heartstrings. Hugh is a courageous character with a huge heart, damaged though it may be. Readers will witness deep, true love. I was so impressed with the author’s ability to convey so many emotions into words. Fabulous writing! I loved this book and hope many others will read and savor it as well.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
November 19, 2018
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ever since her mother died, Elizabeth "Bess" White has taken the role of maid, cook, and assistant to her apathetic physician father. Despite her many years of hard work, her father has always seemed to take for granted Bess' role in his life, leaving her dissatisfied with her life. When Lady Agatha Buxton offers Bess the job of nursemaid to her dying son, Hugh, things for Bess being to look up. She never expected Astoria Abbey to become such a safe haven for her, nor could she have anticipated falling in love with her patient, Hugh. Regardless of the fact he is dying, the two decide to marry, realising they don't want to spend what little time he has left apart. Soon the two must truly face the fact that Hugh is dying, and Bess must find a way to move on with her life.
The Lady of Astoria Abbey was the first book I have read by Stansfield, and I can definitely see the appeal. I really admired Bess as a character, and she easily became my favorite part of this book. I loved her journey from unappreciated physicians assistant to independent nursemaid, and later wife. I loved the secondary characters in this story as well, especially Agatha, and loved the relationship between Bess and Hugh. My one complaint, unfortunately, is that the writing style just was not for me. The third person point of view added a sort of disconnect between the story and readers. It often felt as if I were hearing a story secondhand, as opposed to being immersed into the story. In addition, the fact that this whole story encompasses about three or so years of Bess' life, I felt as though the relationship between Bess and some other key characters never had the time to develop naturally. The pacing was too fast to really connect with the secondary characters and romantic interest. So, while I loved Bess' story, I just didn't really connect with the way it was told.
Overall, I truly believe anyone looking for a quick and clean historical romance will really enjoy this novel, but it wasn't the book for me. Despite my incompatibility with this novel, I would definitely recommend it to any fans of the genre!
3/5
Ever since her mother died, Elizabeth "Bess" White has taken the role of maid, cook, and assistant to her apathetic physician father. Despite her many years of hard work, her father has always seemed to take for granted Bess' role in his life, leaving her dissatisfied with her life. When Lady Agatha Buxton offers Bess the job of nursemaid to her dying son, Hugh, things for Bess being to look up. She never expected Astoria Abbey to become such a safe haven for her, nor could she have anticipated falling in love with her patient, Hugh. Regardless of the fact he is dying, the two decide to marry, realising they don't want to spend what little time he has left apart. Soon the two must truly face the fact that Hugh is dying, and Bess must find a way to move on with her life.
The Lady of Astoria Abbey was the first book I have read by Stansfield, and I can definitely see the appeal. I really admired Bess as a character, and she easily became my favorite part of this book. I loved her journey from unappreciated physicians assistant to independent nursemaid, and later wife. I loved the secondary characters in this story as well, especially Agatha, and loved the relationship between Bess and Hugh. My one complaint, unfortunately, is that the writing style just was not for me. The third person point of view added a sort of disconnect between the story and readers. It often felt as if I were hearing a story secondhand, as opposed to being immersed into the story. In addition, the fact that this whole story encompasses about three or so years of Bess' life, I felt as though the relationship between Bess and some other key characters never had the time to develop naturally. The pacing was too fast to really connect with the secondary characters and romantic interest. So, while I loved Bess' story, I just didn't really connect with the way it was told.
Overall, I truly believe anyone looking for a quick and clean historical romance will really enjoy this novel, but it wasn't the book for me. Despite my incompatibility with this novel, I would definitely recommend it to any fans of the genre!
3/5
November 26, 2018
Not my favorite of Stansfield's books, but it did have many plot twists throughout the book that were interesting, although some just didn't fit right to me. There were many editing errors in the book and it just seemed to be put together too quickly and not looked over enough.
Also, on the cover it said historical romance, but it didn't say any particular person anywhere in the book. The only historical part seemed to be that the year was stated and there were chaperones sometimes (but not often enough because there was WAY more kissing than there would have been in most instances before marriage during this time period-actually a complaint I hear often from people who shop at the bookstore I work at as well.)
Also, on the cover it said historical romance, but it didn't say any particular person anywhere in the book. The only historical part seemed to be that the year was stated and there were chaperones sometimes (but not often enough because there was WAY more kissing than there would have been in most instances before marriage during this time period-actually a complaint I hear often from people who shop at the bookstore I work at as well.)
September 26, 2019
I love Anita Stansfields books!!! Elizabeth White or Bess what she is known by. Lives and works as a nurse for her father Jonas White who is a Doctor. Ever since her mother’s death he has treated her more like a servant than his daughter. So when Agatha Buxton gives her an offer to Live and Work at Astoria Abbey she cant refuse. This will give her a chance to leave her father and have new experiences. She will be able to live. Her life goes from being lonely to full of love.
January 29, 2019
The Lady of Astoria Abbey was just a good read and enjoyed it. I am giving it three and a half stars.
January 16, 2019
2.5 stars Cute story. Very predictable, but still a fun read. My biggest complaint is that there was too much reiteration of the same issues over and over again. Not my favorite of hers, but far from her worst!
September 26, 2020
Two stars for the story. Now, I love a good cheesey period romance. But the sap in the dialogue in this book is so over-the-top, that it was just not believable at all, and the sappy drawn-out conversations are just flat-out boring. But the story was good enough to keep me reading to the end.
December 27, 2018
The book was very predictable. I got tired of always reminding me that the man was dying.
January 2, 2019
3.5 stars :) A little repetitive, but still a nice read.
January 19, 2019
Bess is weary from the work she does for her father, who is a doctor. When she is offered the opportunity to be a nurse to a young man who has months to live, she takes it, if only to save herself from her father's indifference. What she finds is a real family and love she never expected.
There is one thing that kept this from being a five star read for me: lack of a build up to emotion. We do not get to see the progression of Bess falling in love or why she does so. It's difficult to explain but it felt like the author jumped from one emotional scene to the next with everything else reduced to a paragraph or two. This kept me from feeling the emotions I was supposed to feel.
Bess is a likable character, although at times she comes across as too good. Perhaps her naivete is her biggest flaw. I think she would have been more memorable if she had made mistakes or if we were allowed to see what changes her feelings.
It was difficult to stay in the story. I found it all too easy to put it down for something more engaging. Still, the story is clean and sweet.
I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a calm story with only a few plot twists. I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
There is one thing that kept this from being a five star read for me: lack of a build up to emotion. We do not get to see the progression of Bess falling in love or why she does so. It's difficult to explain but it felt like the author jumped from one emotional scene to the next with everything else reduced to a paragraph or two. This kept me from feeling the emotions I was supposed to feel.
Bess is a likable character, although at times she comes across as too good. Perhaps her naivete is her biggest flaw. I think she would have been more memorable if she had made mistakes or if we were allowed to see what changes her feelings.
It was difficult to stay in the story. I found it all too easy to put it down for something more engaging. Still, the story is clean and sweet.
I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a calm story with only a few plot twists. I received a free copy from NetGalley for reviewing purposes.
August 18, 2023
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 announce and doesn’t appear to have returned until after the baby is born.
Possible objectionable material:
Terminal illness, emotionally neglectful parent.
This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...
Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for providing advanced reader copies in exchange for my honest opinion.
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 announce and doesn’t appear to have returned until after the baby is born.
Possible objectionable material:
Terminal illness, emotionally neglectful parent.
This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...
Thank you to Covenant Communications and NetGalley for providing advanced reader copies in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 8, 2019
I enjoy historical fiction romances. Anita Stansfield is not my favorite author for this genre, but her stories tend to have some interesting situations and characters that keep me reading. As with some of her past books I have read and reviewed, there is a lot of repetition in this book where the thoughts of the character seems to be rehashed over and over again. There's also not a whole lot of content leading up to declarations of romantic feelings where it matters, at least to me. I didn't quite get the father and why he was the way he was, or how certain things were not discussed between two people (husband and wife) who apparently spent a lot of time doing little more than talking. I did find many of the characters endearing and worthy of cheering on.
November 7, 2018
A clean, romance drama. Regency time which I love!
Bess, the daughter of a doctor lost her mother unexpectedly at a young age. Despite her own heartache and loss, her father put unfair expectations on her to fill her mothers absence in not only caring for him and the household, but in being his assistant for his work and accompanying him on his calls.
She feels trapped and unappreciated. Then a job offer comes that changes her whole world. A companion/ onsite nurse to a terminally ill son of the lady of Astoria abbey. It just gets better and better with each turn of the page and not as predictable as you’d think which is a bonus!
Bess, the daughter of a doctor lost her mother unexpectedly at a young age. Despite her own heartache and loss, her father put unfair expectations on her to fill her mothers absence in not only caring for him and the household, but in being his assistant for his work and accompanying him on his calls.
She feels trapped and unappreciated. Then a job offer comes that changes her whole world. A companion/ onsite nurse to a terminally ill son of the lady of Astoria abbey. It just gets better and better with each turn of the page and not as predictable as you’d think which is a bonus!
December 5, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. It was different, and I loved the twist at the end. It was a well written book with only a few grammatical errors, and I really enjoyed getting to know the characters. Bess had a hard life, but in the end was happy and blessed. I was saddened with how things ended with her father, but can unfortunately be very realistic as well. I cried and cried when Hugh died, it's amazing how quickly that relationship touched my heart. I loved the ending (where I cried as well, of course), loved how Anita neatly tied the story up.
I don't think this is my favorite Anita novel, but I truly enjoyed it.
I don't think this is my favorite Anita novel, but I truly enjoyed it.
February 7, 2021
I wanted to love this story. While there are moments that wrench at your heart, it is all too perfect. Every moment coordinates to make Bess out to be the perfect person, and everything in the story works to accommodate her as that person. The small bits and even bigger bits of struggle aren’t enough to bring out the true despair that someone would truly feel. No person can be completely whole and caring without being selfish at times. It just reads corny- when it’s so close to being exactly the type of corny I’d want.
January 6, 2024
Not my favorite. I'm just not a fan of Stansfield's writing in general. I find that her books are a lot of telling, which goes against the advice I've always heard when writing of "show, don't tell." I also was disappointed that there was no resolution between Bess and her father, other than her not letting him have power over her. I didn't expect a complete change of heart from him, but even just him acknowledging her at church or something would have hinted that there was hope that he would eventually come around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2026
This is an historical fiction set in the 1800’s(?), but the author input some attitudes and beliefs that are more late 20th century. Bess is given the advice that her father is depending too much upon her, that a woman needs to find her own way, her own life. After doing a bit of research, I discovered this is an intentional feature of Stansfield’s books. Perhaps it is a soft way of making a social statement? I enjoyed this book with the family drama, the medical issue and the strong characters of Bess and Agatha. This is a lovely romance.
January 14, 2019
What a beautiful love story. I love that it encompasses not only romantic love, but parental love, familial love, and even Godly love. It’s not an entirely original story so I did find it somewhat predictable, but I did enjoy the slight twist near the end.
I do, however, wish that more action could have taken place in dialogue, and not just in Bess’s thoughts. Lots of repetitive thoughts.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I do, however, wish that more action could have taken place in dialogue, and not just in Bess’s thoughts. Lots of repetitive thoughts.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2019
I was slowly plodding through this book and wondering why it was so hard for me to get into. When I realized my main complaint about this book is that it was 90% being told to me. And only 10% of the book was action (describing something as it happened, conversations between characters, etc.). This style of writing is really boring. It felt like someone was telling me a bedtime story and it was putting me to sleep. It's really too bad, because I loved the characters and plot.
December 3, 2018
#TheLadyOfAstoriaAbbey #NetGalley. My first Anita Stansfield novel which I found it a bit different than my usual reads. I liked it, the ending was pleasant, but the mid section of the book needed to be more lively.
The first third of the book was quite entertaining and I enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and I will try another from this author.
The first third of the book was quite entertaining and I enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and I will try another from this author.
January 14, 2019
3.5 stars
This book was filled with love, laughter, sorrow, and love again and again! Bess deserved to finally experience life out of the shadow of her father and his bidding. When she meets Hugh everything changes in the best possible way! Adorable book that made me smile and feel sadness all at the same time!
This book was filled with love, laughter, sorrow, and love again and again! Bess deserved to finally experience life out of the shadow of her father and his bidding. When she meets Hugh everything changes in the best possible way! Adorable book that made me smile and feel sadness all at the same time!
June 9, 2019
Audio version
I am not really an Anita Stansfield fan but I do like to listen to them occasionally. This is a sweet love story . . . that really tore at my heart. Sometimes people cannot help who they fall in love with and the choice and results that follow . . . twists and turns keep this book from becoming boring.
I am not really an Anita Stansfield fan but I do like to listen to them occasionally. This is a sweet love story . . . that really tore at my heart. Sometimes people cannot help who they fall in love with and the choice and results that follow . . . twists and turns keep this book from becoming boring.
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