The Gable Faces East

Byrnehouse-Davies & Hamilton Saga #1

by Anita Stansfield

A Sweeping Historical Drama of Love, Hate, Revenge, and Destiny

For readers who have enjoyed Anita Stansfield’s best-selling First Love and Forever series, this extraordinary novel tells the story of Michael Hamilton’s great-grandparents, whose journey toward love was larger than life and ruled by a destiny that was both kind and cruel. It is the unforgettable saga of two lives brought together by fate, then driven apart by the deceptions of a previous generation - a time when vengence ruled passion, and passion ruined lives.

Jess Davies is the victim of a raging feud he doesn't understand. He must fight to survive as he struggles to accept the twisted circumstances of his birth. Meanwhile, Alexandra Byrnehouse, shattered by the events surrounding her father's death, is forced to turn to her family's oldest enemy in order to keep body and soul together.

When Jess Davies and Alexandra Byrnehouse meet, they unwittingly take on decades of mistrust, deception, and deep betrayals of the heart. Together they are confronted with arson and murder as they discover unbelievable secrets that first bind them to each other, then tear them apart. If they are to survive, they must learn that passions cannot be chosen-and only the most perfect love can heal the deepest scars.

The Gable Faces East is a true masterpiece of historical romance fiction-one of Anita Stansfield’s finest!

Genres: Romance, Lds Fiction, Historical Fiction, Lds, Fiction, Clean Romance, Historical Romance

499 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite possibly the WORST book I've ever read, and that's saying a lot because I've read a lot of crap lately. I think I am scarred permanently, and will not be able to pick up another book for fear being subjected to one more simpering woman and her trite phrases, ridiculous plot lines, or any more men "taking her face into his hands."

If it's a Pulitzer prize winner, then the book has to be all about incest, rape, drug use, explicit sex, foul language, and unlikable people. The only thing worse is an LDS author who wants to write adult novels in church-speak. There's no difference, except that the love scenes last twice as long and there are no naughty words.

Enough with love triangles, selfish rich victimized heroines--I don't care if they have shimmering red hair or piercing blue eyes, abusive fathers, weak husbands, insane mothers, racial or any other stereotype, good vampires, the holocaust, death, dying, hypothermia, pretentious name-dropping rubbish.

Synopsis (here be spoilers):

Alexa, spoiled rich girl goes to work for Big Boss Man alongside Scarface and the seven dwarfs.

BigBossMan: I love you
Scarface: I love you
7 dwarfs: I love you
Alexa: I love you, and you, and you, and you and you! I choose Big Boss Man!
Big Boss Man: Let's have sex.
Alexa: Not until you put a ring on my little finger!
Big Boss Man: I can't
Alexa: You don't love me
Big Boss Man: Yes I do
Alexa: No you don't
Big Boss Man: Yes I do
Alexa: My biological clock is ticking, and I'm horny and we're not married. I'm marrying Scarface.
Scarface: Cha-ching!

Scarface and Alexa get married and have sex
Alexa: Oh my, you're good!
Scarface: Let's get back to work
Big Boss Man: How could you marry my best friend. I'm tortured
Alexa: Serves you right. But we can all still be friends.
Big Boss Man: OK
7 Dwarfs sing: I love you, you love me, we are one big family...

Time passes:

Big Boss Man: Oh no. Scarface is dead.
Alexa: Oh no
7 dwarfs: Oh no.
Big Boss Man: Let's get married
Alexa: Yay, more sex!
Big Boss Man: I'm still tortured
Alexa: That's because your dad was my dad, and my dad was really your dad. The lady at the supermarket just told me!
Big Boss Man: Boy do I feel better now.
Alexa: Let's go make babies!
Big Boss Man: Cha-ching!

The End.

[The Sweet Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this book was amazing! I'd read the subsequent books about 8 yrs ago, but I hadn't read this prequel yet. It was everything I was hoping for. Australian men in the outback on a horse ranch?! Say no more! I've always been intrigued by Australia and I love a good romance.

This book is so full of drama, mystery, hurt, and an undying love. I was gripped at every page. I wanted more and the author gave it to me. I love period drama's and this delivered on so many levels. The characters are very well developed. It is like you know them on every level possible. They are so well rounded. I've also fallen in love with Jess. He is a man among men! Swoon!

I always think proper romance novels are too short, this series proves to be THE best I've ever read! You MUST read it!

Quote:
"You can't possibly train a horse in skirts," he stated with a demeaning tone, as if it fully represented a problem."
"I don't intend to," she retorted, and again his left eyebrow went up. "f you had any sense, Mr. Davies, you would concentrate more on my abilities than my apparel."

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my favorite book for years. I like all of Anita Stansfield's work to varying degrees. I have read ALL of her books, and in my opinion, this is her best. (The Sequel, Gables against the Sky, is her second best!) This is a great recommend for friends that are not LDS, because it is 1 of her 3 books that do not include LDS doctrine or LDS scenarios, but fabulous faith and character. It has so much more that just the endearing love story! Twists and anticipation that led me to reading all through the night and it made me want to go horseback riding. ;-)

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Alexa turns up on Jess's doorstep, looking for a job as a horse trainer, he is quick to dismiss her, until she convinces him to give her a chance. What they didn't count on was falling in love.

Full of romance, revenge, and crazy twists and turns, The Gable Faces East is a great story that takes place in Australia.

*Possible Spoiler Alert*

I really liked Alexa. She was a strong woman who knew her mind. However, I struggled with her ability to turn her love so quickly from one man to another. It was mentioned that she had a hard time with it all a few times, but she never acted like it was hard.

I also really liked Jess. But it was so frustrating to me to see him throw everything away like that. He acted like a child throwing a major tantrum at times, yet the story wouldn't have worked if he had been "perfect." I wanted to tell him to just get over it, yet there were serious demons eating at him that he had to work out for himself.

Richard is the one I felt the most sorry for. On one hand, I couldn't believe he would betray his best friend like that and yet, he was so compassionate. He knew exactly what he was doing and in for going into all of it and he was a good man.

All in all, I really did love the story.

[Deana Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is christian but not LDS. It is set in Australia during the horse and buggy days. The love story is unique. There is a time where you get so mad you want to throw the book out the window. The first time through I wasn't sure if I liked the angle of the story; however, after having read it 5-6 times, I see a softness to the plot that originally bothered me. I suppose I could see that what happened really had to happen for the well being of the characters.

Definitely my favorite Anita book! While I was waiting for my bad feet to heal up enough to go to New York, I read it three times in the same week. That is bad!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

the Gable series is my faovorite books of anita stansfield

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these books!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my all-time favorite book on the planet.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I made the mistake of reading the sequel first, I still loved this book. I think this one and the one right after it (Gables Against the Sky) are my favorite Anita Stansfield novels. They are intense stories with likable characters. This one has quite a mystery as well (although, as I already said, I ruined that part of it by reading the second book first). I also like the historical setting.

An added bonus is that you get the complete stories that are only hinted at in the original modern-time Michael and Emily trilogy.

[Charissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author. Her stories, especially the ones in historical settings, grab onto my heart and don’t let go. I read this way too fast because I lost sleep one night trying to figure out what would happen to the characters when I was in the middle of the book. Suffice it to say, to rest well tonight, I pushed through and finished today. The characters…Jesse Davies and Alex…are strong-willed, stubborn, and perfect for each other. But Stansfield doesn’t make it easy for them to get together. In fact you will believe it is impossible and lose sleep over it like I did (and if you don’t, I want to know your secret.

[Kandice · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I am rating this 5 stars, I would NOT recommend it! This book is terrible, but I loved it when I was a 15 year-old Mormon, and the nostalgia of it made me love it still. Lots of SA handled terribly, patriarchic bullshit abounds, and the glorification of a rapist who destroyed multiple lives is absolutely ridiculous. I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone except ex-Mormons who read and loved it before.

[Megan Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im about half way through this book right now, I haven’t decided if I like it yet. So far I just don’t like Jess and I know Richard (whispering) dies. And I want to kill her brother. Anyway I will let you know how it goes. Let me just say, their was a lot of weeping in this book. I wanted to slap her. It was pretty good though I like the sequel better.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, Anita Stansfield. I need to read one of her books every other year. Just to keep my good Mormon girl/lover of book status solid. I thought Alexa's behavior was absolutely reprehensible, but both of the men who loved her just seemed to lap it up, so I guess they got what they deserve.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book in the past, but just re-read it. I thought it was well written and stirring. I'm a fan of Anita Stansfield!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my most favorite books!! I love the decriptions of Australia, it makes me want to go there.

[Linz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next to Pride&Prejudice, this is one of my favorite books ever! I love this story and the books that follow it with other generations.

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books. I know I'm pathetic I love the LDS Romances.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far my favorite Anita Stansfield book! I LOVED it!

[Shawn Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

My all-time FAVORITE Anita Stansfield book. I've re-read it a million times. Love it!!!

[Joelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anita Stansfield is my new favorite author.

[M&M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing book! The plot was great and full of twist and turns. It’ll make you laugh out loud and even cry a little. I 100% recommend this book. :)

DISCLAIMER
This book did have quite a few kissing scenes and insinuated that sometimes things went further. There was no vivid details of it though.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the whole Byrnehouse-Davies & Hamilton series in my late teens and early 20s and happened upon a couple of older books from the series in a Clearance section for $2 at the bookstore. I must say, I still enjoy the books almost as much as when I first read them while I was still single and dreaming that, "Someday my prince [would] come"--nothing beats being married, having a family and creating a real-life romance all your own, with all the inherent twists and turns that come with life. I do begin to get slightly bored when I read so many books from the same author, as the author's plot formulas become more evident, but that is to be expected. There are only so many ways to reinvent the novel: introduce plot/characters, introduce conflict/crisis and then a resolution of some kind. It is nice to be able to "get away" by reading a romance novel, knowing it is clean, but also has enough elements of realism included to make it believable and interesting. Some may tire of the consistently happy endings of most of Stansfield's books, I know I do, but then I have to ask myself how much I really enjoy reading a book and having it end on a sour/unresolved note. . . Not so much. The so-called Classics are riddled with these types of endings, which so often leave me feeling unfulfilled and disappointed that I am quite pleased with the resolution and satisfaction that a "happily ever after" provides. There are enough "sour notes" in life that make reading about "happily ever afters" in a novel refreshing and delightful.

[Loni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, usually I am not a fan of romance fiction or fluffy novels by LDS authors, but when I came to visit my mom she said I had to read it. I was surprised to discover that this book has a well developed plot and gripping story. It's not LDS, but definitely could be considered Christian. If you read it, don't expect anything grand or glorious, but if you get your hands on it, don't expect to have any free time as you can't put it down! As for the story, it's kind of a Romeo and Juliet type of story with the children of two families that are feuding. As the story progresses, you learn the secrets of the families and see the development of a volatile and romantic relationship between two people. There are several great themes such as forgiveness and what is necessary in a successful relationship. Something that I appreciated about this book is that it didn't mince words in discussing intimacy and sex, but did it in tactful and appropriate way. Some dumb little thing that bugged me is the author seriously misused two of my favorite words, flippant and terse (I like them because they sound like what they mean). Anyway, if you're into romantic books with twists and turns, this is a fun read.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow I remember loving this book in high school but now I had to stop reading it cause I got so sick and tired of the characters talking about the urning for each other. the main guy keeps trying to convince the girl he loves to sleep with him over and over again. he tells at her a bit in the book, grabs her, pushes her around a bit....I don't like it. it isn't love when a guy pursues you and bosses you around. I don't care if he is really sweet sometimes any form can be sweet some times. I like the story about the ranch and the rival between the two ranches. But I'm really disappointed that this LDS writer would spend so much time talking about sex, though to give credit she doesn't get gross or make it R rated just inappropriateand a lot of it!!!! Seriously I don't know how I ever liked this book, it must have been because I want married yet and didn't understand love and real relationships.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was ok for me. Perhaps I’d have a better review if I had not just read a brain-candy romance prior to this. This book was long and overly predictable. One character in particular was doomed from the first moment he walked onto the page. Yet, being predictable is not always a blemish for a novel—don’t we want the guy to always get the girl? It’s the journey of the novel that should be worth the read—not the destination. I found myself a third of the way through the novel ticked off—the author was trying too hard to make me swoon. Plus, the inner conflict of these characters is so formulaic. This is empty calorie reading here—think candy corn—I’m not even sure I like candy corn. :-)

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the Anita Stansfield books this book and Gables against the sky are my favorites. I love the setting of old times. I love the way the family is so close, so loving, so open to accept anyone. I love to see how they act with such character. It is written in a way that is a life I would dream of having. Having so much money that you could do whatever you wanted with your life and then choose to spend it helping people. To have such strong family values and really have deep bonds with all those you love. This isn't one of those deep meaning books but it is one that my flighty fantasies get carried away in and those have a special place in my heart too.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was recommended by a good friend of mine as a "clean, historical romance" and I think that is a good descriptor but not at all what I expected. I wouldn't recommend it to an unmarried girl because of all the "heavy" romance descriptors and inappropriate scenes. The main girl is strong and well created but also flaky and really cheesy. She "can't help herself" kissing her soul mate when she has willingly chosen to marry another man. That alone puts the book at 1 star for me. The history part of the book was not quite accurate and the story was very jumpy (skipping days and years rapidly with a sentence, smashed between dialog).

[aubrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

alright. i know i am not a fan of anita stansfield since all of her books are formulaic and beyond cheesy. but, this was the first of her books that i read a long time ago and have lately been thinking about it. so, i asked my mom to bring it with her when she came for a visit. there definitely are some eye-rolling moments and the plot is a tad far fetched but it was nice to lose myself in a romantic story that didn't take any analyzing or thought whatsoever. {plus, who wouldn't want two handsome men to fall madly in love with you? sometimes a girl has to dream.}

[Marci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I know. Anita Stansfield love stories.

But I read this series in Jr. High School and loved them - the Australian Outback, handsome cowboys - what isn't there to love? I wanted to re-read it since I remember loving it, and yes at times it is definitely a cheesy love story but it was also a fun read and a CLEAN romance which can be hard to come by. So there. I admitted it. I liked an Anita Stansfield book. And there's probably more coming since the rest of the series is calling my name....

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, because it was recommended by a friend who loved it. But I just couldn't get into it. It was nearly 500 pages and at the end I couldn't believe that I had wasted so much time on a book that was nothing more than a predictable romance novel. Seriously - I lost track of how many times the characters (who I really did like) yelled and then kissed and then yelled and then kissed... Ugh! So now how do I tell my friend that I don't have the energy to read the rest of the series?