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.”
