What do you think?
Rate this book
The Magic of Starlight
The position of nanny at an estate in Southern England seems too good to be true, offering Elsie Hartford the chance of escape she so desperately seeks. With only her few possessions, she flees her former life with no thought of returning. What she discovers upon her arrival at Rookhaven Hall, however, is quite different from what she anticipated.
When the enigmatic Lord Edmond Rookburne returns from his long travels in India, the handsome widower shocks the household with the addition of three young children. They are not his lordship’s own blood but are Indian orphans left in his care. As their nanny, all Elsie sees is the desperate need of the traumatized little ones. She sets to work enveloping them in love and concern, and Edmond is immediately drawn in by Elsie’s exceptional warmth. Working together as unlikely caretakers, they forge a genuine friendship. But when they find themselves spiraling toward a forbidden romance, both Edmond and Elsie know that a life together would be impossible. For Edmund, the constraints of Society are absolute. But for Elsie, it is the secret of her past that ensures their love can never be.
When the enigmatic Lord Edmond Rookburne returns from his long travels in India, the handsome widower shocks the household with the addition of three young children. They are not his lordship’s own blood but are Indian orphans left in his care. As their nanny, all Elsie sees is the desperate need of the traumatized little ones. She sets to work enveloping them in love and concern, and Edmond is immediately drawn in by Elsie’s exceptional warmth. Working together as unlikely caretakers, they forge a genuine friendship. But when they find themselves spiraling toward a forbidden romance, both Edmond and Elsie know that a life together would be impossible. For Edmund, the constraints of Society are absolute. But for Elsie, it is the secret of her past that ensures their love can never be.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2021
16 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Anita Stansfield
133 books470 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."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
November 24, 2021
I’ll be honest- I decided to read this book purely because the cover is so beautiful. Three cheers to whoever designed it!
As for the story, it was sweet, but maybe a little too sweet for me.
As for the story, it was sweet, but maybe a little too sweet for me.
January 30, 2022
I am so glad I listened to this one because I was really able to speed it up. I felt like there was a lot of redundancy and it would have been too long otherwise. The male character was unfortunately not very believable. He loved his children which was an awesome piece but his inner thinking sounded too much like that of a woman to me, which made his character development not very good. Elsie, the main female character, was really sweet and likable. With all of that said, I really enjoyed the overall story and I liked that it brought factors in that were different from your usual regency romance. I just wish it would have been slightly less cheesy.
February 22, 2022
I surprisingly ended up really liking this book. In the beginning I was not sure. It was a little repetitive on some points, but in the end the story got me.
September 13, 2023
Oh, this book could have been so much better than it was 😩 the storyline had so much promise! I loved the idea of the book, which is why I picked it up after reading the synopsis. I was just disappointed when there really wasn't a lot of action and the romance was sparse. If you decide to read this book, be aware that the love interests don't even meet until 25% into the book, and actual romantic action just barely begins 70% through the book! At first I was intrigued that the author spent so much time building the characters' personalities before they met, and I actually quite liked it. But I soon discovered that the middle 60% of the book is redundant and mostly takes place in the children's playroom with hardly any dialogue between the two love interests. The story arc just wasn't constructed quite right and left me wishing we could see more rising action in the characters.
Usually I tear through regency romance novels, but this one actually bored me at some points. I'm just really bummed because it could have been so much more exciting. Unfortunately, at times, I felt like I was reading a high school creative writing project instead of a published novel.
The book was a great idea, but mostly executed poorly. Giving one star. The characters themselves were okay, but the writing didn't do them the justice they deserved.
Usually I tear through regency romance novels, but this one actually bored me at some points. I'm just really bummed because it could have been so much more exciting. Unfortunately, at times, I felt like I was reading a high school creative writing project instead of a published novel.
The book was a great idea, but mostly executed poorly. Giving one star. The characters themselves were okay, but the writing didn't do them the justice they deserved.
November 18, 2021
This book was ok.
It was a bit cheesy. It was quite predictable. It is clean romance. I found I had to somewhat make myself finish it, just because I hate not finishing what I start; yet it was not unpleasant in any way. it was just slow, predictable and a little boring because of that.
That said, it is a good book to read quickly just to "veg."
I read it once, I likely won't read it again. Take that as you wish.
It was a bit cheesy. It was quite predictable. It is clean romance. I found I had to somewhat make myself finish it, just because I hate not finishing what I start; yet it was not unpleasant in any way. it was just slow, predictable and a little boring because of that.
That said, it is a good book to read quickly just to "veg."
I read it once, I likely won't read it again. Take that as you wish.
November 9, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The story was intriguing with a romance and a little bit of mystery regarding Elsie’s past. A wonderful happy ending always makes me so happy!
January 10, 2022
The position of nanny at an estate in Southern England seems too good to be true, offering Elsie Hartford the chance of escape she so desperately seeks. With only her few possessions, she flees her former life with no thought of returning. What she discovers upon her arrival at Rookhaven Hall, however, is quite different from what she anticipated.
When the enigmatic Lord Edmond Rookburne returns from his long travels in India, the handsome widower shocks the household with the addition of three young children. They are not his lordship’s own blood but are Indian orphans left in his care. As their nanny, all Elsie sees is the desperate need of the traumatized little ones. She sets to work enveloping them in love and concern, and Edmond is immediately drawn in by Elsie’s exceptional warmth. Working together as unlikely caretakers, they forge a genuine friendship. But when they find themselves spiraling toward a forbidden romance, both Edmond and Elsie know that a life together would be impossible. For Edmund, the constraints of Society are absolute. But for Elsie, it is the secret of her past that ensures their love can never be.
I got stuck to the running trail because of all the sappiness that was dripping off me while listening to this. Too much sap for even me.
When the enigmatic Lord Edmond Rookburne returns from his long travels in India, the handsome widower shocks the household with the addition of three young children. They are not his lordship’s own blood but are Indian orphans left in his care. As their nanny, all Elsie sees is the desperate need of the traumatized little ones. She sets to work enveloping them in love and concern, and Edmond is immediately drawn in by Elsie’s exceptional warmth. Working together as unlikely caretakers, they forge a genuine friendship. But when they find themselves spiraling toward a forbidden romance, both Edmond and Elsie know that a life together would be impossible. For Edmund, the constraints of Society are absolute. But for Elsie, it is the secret of her past that ensures their love can never be.
I got stuck to the running trail because of all the sappiness that was dripping off me while listening to this. Too much sap for even me.
March 2, 2022
It’s been a while since I read a book by Anita Stansfield. It’s a light read with a good storyline reminiscent of Jane Eyre.
The conflicts in the book were all a bit shallow and easily resolved, and the characters were just too perfect and wise to really endear them to the reader as they never had to struggle through anything of real substance. Their response to every obstacle was a little too super human and it’s hard to believe that they truly gained the lessons from the difficult experiences they had without a true struggle.
Though I appreciated both Elsie and Edmund’s forward thinking ways regarding social inequality, dealing with trauma, etc., for them to have such modern ideas in every aspect seemed unrealistic for the time period and came off as inauthentic. It’s believable for a character to approach one or two causes with progressive ideas, but it seems impossible for any human to be so unaffected by their society that they would come up with ideas that were so advanced for every single aspect of their social interaction.
I liked the story, but I prefer when historical fiction feels authentic to the time period.
The conflicts in the book were all a bit shallow and easily resolved, and the characters were just too perfect and wise to really endear them to the reader as they never had to struggle through anything of real substance. Their response to every obstacle was a little too super human and it’s hard to believe that they truly gained the lessons from the difficult experiences they had without a true struggle.
Though I appreciated both Elsie and Edmund’s forward thinking ways regarding social inequality, dealing with trauma, etc., for them to have such modern ideas in every aspect seemed unrealistic for the time period and came off as inauthentic. It’s believable for a character to approach one or two causes with progressive ideas, but it seems impossible for any human to be so unaffected by their society that they would come up with ideas that were so advanced for every single aspect of their social interaction.
I liked the story, but I prefer when historical fiction feels authentic to the time period.
March 2, 2022
Anita books are either hit or miss for me nothing in between. This was obviously a miss for me. This book was way to slow. The main characters didn’t even meet until almost 70 pages in. The romance if you can call it that wasn’t until the last 50 pages of the book. In this book we were told everything and not shown. Hopefully other readers will enjoy it more than I did.
July 18, 2024
I really liked the premise of this story, and enjoyed the beginning as the author set up the main characters and brought them together. But I was quickly put off by how sugary sweet everything was. The MCs are both much too perfect, with flawless traits, behavior and philosophies. They always do and say just the right things.
The story itself is far too play by play for me. I don't need to know every tiny detail of moving from one room to another. So little happened but it took so many pretty pretty descriptions to get there. I found myself zoning out for long periods and coming to not having missed any plot points.
I wish this had been executed differently. More conflict, more action, more character transformation, more meaningful dialouge, and less telling the reader about every thought and action.
That all being said, the end added a whole star. All the conflict and drawn out mystery came out in the last few pages.
The story itself is far too play by play for me. I don't need to know every tiny detail of moving from one room to another. So little happened but it took so many pretty pretty descriptions to get there. I found myself zoning out for long periods and coming to not having missed any plot points.
I wish this had been executed differently. More conflict, more action, more character transformation, more meaningful dialouge, and less telling the reader about every thought and action.
That all being said, the end added a whole star. All the conflict and drawn out mystery came out in the last few pages.
August 28, 2023
The cover of this book is absolutely stunning! I've never read Anita Stansfield before, so I figured I'd give the book a try. Sadly, I didn't like it as much as I hoped. The writing was slow, with too much description. Every time someone was mentioned, it was their entire name. Every time the home was referred to, it was the entire name of the estate. It was like every sentence went one step too far in its descriptions. This made the story drag. And the descriptions of our main character's thoughts were repeated over and over constantly. There was very little to the actual story and everything else just felt like filler. I liked the idea of the story though. I just wish more had been done with it.
December 24, 2023
The cover art is beautiful. The premise was interesting, but the pacing was slow and I had difficulty connecting to any of the characters.
The author seemed to be working to educate readers on some important aspects of helping preserve connections to culture, family, and heritage, which I really appreciated. There was a defiance of social norms by the main characters in the book, but no societal repercussions, which seemed unlikely. One last nit-picky comment is that the use of the term "real parents" in this story was annoying, both because, as an adoption researcher, I have yet to meet an adoptee who likes that term, and, during the period the book is set in, people would likely to say "natural parents" instead.
The author seemed to be working to educate readers on some important aspects of helping preserve connections to culture, family, and heritage, which I really appreciated. There was a defiance of social norms by the main characters in the book, but no societal repercussions, which seemed unlikely. One last nit-picky comment is that the use of the term "real parents" in this story was annoying, both because, as an adoption researcher, I have yet to meet an adoptee who likes that term, and, during the period the book is set in, people would likely to say "natural parents" instead.
February 15, 2022
Elsie flees as far as she can from an oppressive, abusive man who was trying to force her to marry someone cut from the same cloth. Instead, she chose to live as a nanny and love three children who lost everything in a plague that claimed so many. Lord Rookburne's wife was claimed by the same illness, and he fulfilled her dying wish to care for the children as if they were his own. This unlikely group of people become more fearless in their own struggles as their bonds are strengthened. Is this Lord Rookburne's second chance for a happy marriage? Will Elsie be able to overcome the man who tries to thwart her happiness?
December 4, 2021
I really enjoyed this Anita Stansfield story. I listened to the audiobook and was pulled into the story without any distraction from the narrator. The storyline was solid. The characters were so fun and enjoyable. I loved the level of conflict mixed with the adorable romance. Beautiful story!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
February 21, 2022
The story is sweet, the majority of the characters are kind and loving, and the resolution to all their concerns is quick and easy once it comes. I love the cover and that definitely pulled me in. But the repetition of thoughts (even if that's how ours minds actually work) became irritating to me. I appreciate it when authors expect some effort from their readers in keeping track and figuring things out.
March 6, 2022
Sweet book, but didn’t have a lot of action or adventure. No real issue that needed to be solved and then it was only in the last 15ish pages. While the characters were sweet, you didn’t see them interact much other than around the children. And sometimes it seemed like Edmond acted like a child too, Elsie was the one who was strong and had to act like everything was ok. I liked the story but it could have been better
November 12, 2021
Wonderful
I was so engrossed in the story of love and romance that I again could not put it down. Anita is such a great writer that I would not expect less. This felt so real that I was taken back in time and traveled through this budding romance. Thank you for sharing your talents once again.
I was so engrossed in the story of love and romance that I again could not put it down. Anita is such a great writer that I would not expect less. This felt so real that I was taken back in time and traveled through this budding romance. Thank you for sharing your talents once again.
December 11, 2021
We listened to this book on the way home from Thanksgiving in Idaho. It was slow moving. A man loses his wife and then takes on her 3 kids (who are half English/half Indian) as his own. He moves back to his home estate and falls in love with the nanny who actually came from a well bred family but was hiding it because she was trying to escape from her controlling father.
September 3, 2022
This is a cute story that is clean and has a happy ever after. Elsie becomes a nanny to escape the life she has with her unkind father. Edmond has just lost his wife and has adopted three children whose parents are both deceased. They are both in a transition period and they find an unexpected friendship and support in each other. Falling for each other was inevitable.
August 17, 2025
Not much of story. The climax could barely be called that. Elsie and Edmund and the other characters were good, but you didn’t really see any growth. I loved that she brought in the half-Indian children, and the narrator did a great job with them…but there wasn’t much to keep me interested. When it ended I was surprised because surely the action was just starting…? Nope.
November 20, 2021
The basic story was good, just dragged a lot. I was bored, the conversations the characters have are often repeated in their thoughts again and again and it got annoying. Would have liked it more if things moved at a faster pace. Listened to the audio book.
December 8, 2021
Like most books in this genre, it was predictable, a bit cheesy, and somewhat redundant. But it had a couple of factors that made it unique in comparison to other timepiece proper romances, which I enjoyed.
March 6, 2022
3.5
Fun regency-era romance. The story of 2 people who have both been through hard things that come together as they help 3 orphaned Indian children.
Content: clean
Critique: sometimes it got redundant/circular. Too much foreshadowing in parts.
Fun regency-era romance. The story of 2 people who have both been through hard things that come together as they help 3 orphaned Indian children.
Content: clean
Critique: sometimes it got redundant/circular. Too much foreshadowing in parts.
June 6, 2022
I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I did like it, but somehow it just wasn't reeling me in enough. It was very repetitive and maybe too sweet, to the point of being boring? I don't know. Maybe I'll finish it one day.
November 15, 2021
I listened to audio book. This is a clean romance but it is slow with a weak plot and boring, unbelievable characters. I cannot recommend it to anyone older than 12.
November 27, 2021
Anita Stansfield continues to write books that weave a story, filled with relationships that are hurting and need healing.
November 30, 2021
Cute story but very repetitive. I feel the author does this to get a higher word count. This book could have been much shorter and a whole lot better otherwise.
November 30, 2021
Lovely story!
December 14, 2021
Nice story.
December 27, 2021
If you love Anita Stansfield books, then you’ll love this book. This book is written in typical Anita fashion. I did enjoy this one better than previous ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews