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Rebecca Stubbs #1
Rebecca
Rebecca Stubbs, the beloved daughter of a conscientious village vicar in Victorian England, has always enjoyed a sheltered, idyllic childhood. Her parents work tirelessly for their small farm community, aiding both the church and the poor. When an unexpected outbreak of fever rages through the town, Rebecca must face growing up alone. As she matures into womanhood, Rebecca finds that she is ill-prepared for her new world. With no home, no family, and few prospects, she is determined to make her own way in life. As a housemaid at Barton Manor, she struggles to find her place in a world of double standards and man-made rules. Can she keep her faith strong amidst a lonely life of domestic service? Must she always be a bystander, watching other people’s lives unfold and flourish? Or is there something else in store for her servant heart?
- GenresRomanceChristian Fiction
316 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
10 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Buckland
4 books9 followersHannah Buckland lives on her family's farm in the beautiful county of Kent, England, with her husband and their two lively and delightful sons. They keep ducks and hens, and now have a small flock of Greyface Dartmoor sheep, who are adorably cute. She enjoys home life, meeting up with friends, and helping on the farm, especially during the busy lambing season. She works part-time as a nurse and is a member of a Baptist church.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 17, 2019
This is a captivating novel that stands out from most Christian historical novels in three major ways. First, written in the first person, it reads like a diary or a memoir and thus easily transports the reader to rural England of the 1860s; Second, although events are few and relatively ordinary, one cannot put the book down because the character development rings true and we want to see what happens next not only for Rebecca but for other characters in the story; third, and maybe the most important aspect of the novel, Rebecca takes the reader on a spiritual journey that concerns us all, in any century.
Rebecca, the only child of a village vicar and his wife, finds herself orphaned at the age of seventeen. Two older neighbor ladies help her come to grip with the brutality of her loss and the decisions to be made. Distrusting her only relative, her paternal uncle, she decides to take work as a domestic. The work load is heavy, the discipline rigorous, yet she is aware of learning much. The friendship of fellow servants as well as of the villagers and the minister in her new surroundings help her cope with her new life and keep a sense of identity in a world where she is expected to do without speaking, questioning, or thinking.
Despite the strict separation between the Davenport family and the servants, her employers allow their employees to borrow books from the library and, in her very scarce hours of freedom, Rebecca becomes a voracious reader. This love of books introduces her to Edward Thorpe, also an orphan, but nephew to the Davenports. Edward and Rebecca find they share the same religious convictions as well, but the demarcation between servants and gentry, as Rebecca discovers, is a hard one to breach.
Having become a housekeeper herself by the time she turns twenty, Rebecca has had to endure new disappointments and been forced to make new decisions, wondering what God had in mind for her life. By the time she finds true love, she realizes that God has trained her for her the life she has longed and prayed for.
Through Rebecca's story, Hannah Buckland raises important spiritual points, such as, the difference among preachers with those who live out their faith in service of their fellow men; those who seek popularity among their parishioners first and foremost and thus preach "feel good" sermons that challenge no one, and those who view their position as a form of spiritual aristocracy, displaying their knowledge and superiority toward their parishioners, always ready to point at the punishment for sins, but never at God's grace offered to all. There are also the questions of unanswered prayers, especially when contrasted with an ardent desire of the heart, of talents and calling, and of the danger of becoming too conformed to the world by allowing subtle but nefarious changes to enter one's life little by little. Something that is sadly too easily achieved when one does not keep a vigilant watch on his beliefs and values. It would be too long to list more of the many qualities of this novel, so I will simply add that it is a truly profound Christian work of fiction, well worth reading and discussing. Definitely 5 stars.
Rebecca, the only child of a village vicar and his wife, finds herself orphaned at the age of seventeen. Two older neighbor ladies help her come to grip with the brutality of her loss and the decisions to be made. Distrusting her only relative, her paternal uncle, she decides to take work as a domestic. The work load is heavy, the discipline rigorous, yet she is aware of learning much. The friendship of fellow servants as well as of the villagers and the minister in her new surroundings help her cope with her new life and keep a sense of identity in a world where she is expected to do without speaking, questioning, or thinking.
Despite the strict separation between the Davenport family and the servants, her employers allow their employees to borrow books from the library and, in her very scarce hours of freedom, Rebecca becomes a voracious reader. This love of books introduces her to Edward Thorpe, also an orphan, but nephew to the Davenports. Edward and Rebecca find they share the same religious convictions as well, but the demarcation between servants and gentry, as Rebecca discovers, is a hard one to breach.
Having become a housekeeper herself by the time she turns twenty, Rebecca has had to endure new disappointments and been forced to make new decisions, wondering what God had in mind for her life. By the time she finds true love, she realizes that God has trained her for her the life she has longed and prayed for.
Through Rebecca's story, Hannah Buckland raises important spiritual points, such as, the difference among preachers with those who live out their faith in service of their fellow men; those who seek popularity among their parishioners first and foremost and thus preach "feel good" sermons that challenge no one, and those who view their position as a form of spiritual aristocracy, displaying their knowledge and superiority toward their parishioners, always ready to point at the punishment for sins, but never at God's grace offered to all. There are also the questions of unanswered prayers, especially when contrasted with an ardent desire of the heart, of talents and calling, and of the danger of becoming too conformed to the world by allowing subtle but nefarious changes to enter one's life little by little. Something that is sadly too easily achieved when one does not keep a vigilant watch on his beliefs and values. It would be too long to list more of the many qualities of this novel, so I will simply add that it is a truly profound Christian work of fiction, well worth reading and discussing. Definitely 5 stars.
June 28, 2019
Written in somewhat of a diary style--to be more general, in first person--this book reads like an autobiography or one long prologue. There is very little dialogue, at least in the beginning, which combines an interesting mix of distant and unemotional writing with first-person perspective of Rebecca Stubbs. As I said, it read like an autobiography or some other nonfiction, but in a fiction, it just makes for a different style. It did take me a while to get used to, but there's nothing objectively bad about it.
I really liked the way the romance was done, and how Rebecca saw it from her perspective. She was prone to romantic whims, it's true, but she was smart enough to realize it was ridiculous. I was thoroughly satisfied with how the plot played out. (Minor complaint though: so much was made of Nancy that I hoped Rebecca could come back and help her) I thought it was possible that Edward Thorpe talked to Rebecca a little more than was realistic, but hardly, and it did add to the plot. As much as I wanted Edward to marry Rebecca, I worried that they would get together with nary an issue about the gap between social classes. Avoiding any spoilers, I will say that I appreciated the evolution of their relationship and Rebecca's character development. I also thought Edward's high-class societal portrayal was also well done.
Some of the minor characters ran together in my mind--mainly the older women--but I thought Uncle Hector was a delight: he was unique, neither a "good" person or "bad" person in particular, but certainly realistic. I also liked how the new vicar was described in the beginning, leading to somewhat unclear direction for the reader. (Gotta love not-obvious plot additions!)
Some of Rebecca's flashbacks of her parents were confusing, as it wasn't always clear when the flashbacks began and continued. They seemed a little necessary, as well, but it was nice that she didn't completely ignore her former life.
If you can easily read a biographical-style fiction book, and enjoy 19th-century England with all its servitude and class society, I do highly recommend this book.
I really liked the way the romance was done, and how Rebecca saw it from her perspective. She was prone to romantic whims, it's true, but she was smart enough to realize it was ridiculous. I was thoroughly satisfied with how the plot played out. (Minor complaint though: so much was made of Nancy that I hoped Rebecca could come back and help her) I thought it was possible that Edward Thorpe talked to Rebecca a little more than was realistic, but hardly, and it did add to the plot. As much as I wanted Edward to marry Rebecca, I worried that they would get together with nary an issue about the gap between social classes. Avoiding any spoilers, I will say that I appreciated the evolution of their relationship and Rebecca's character development. I also thought Edward's high-class societal portrayal was also well done.
Some of the minor characters ran together in my mind--mainly the older women--but I thought Uncle Hector was a delight: he was unique, neither a "good" person or "bad" person in particular, but certainly realistic. I also liked how the new vicar was described in the beginning, leading to somewhat unclear direction for the reader. (Gotta love not-obvious plot additions!)
Some of Rebecca's flashbacks of her parents were confusing, as it wasn't always clear when the flashbacks began and continued. They seemed a little necessary, as well, but it was nice that she didn't completely ignore her former life.
If you can easily read a biographical-style fiction book, and enjoy 19th-century England with all its servitude and class society, I do highly recommend this book.
September 10, 2020
De schrijfstijl van Hannah Buckland is erg beschrijvend. Omdat het boek in de ik-vorm is geschreven, krijgen we ook steeds mee hoe Rebecca alles ziet en ervaart, wat zij verwacht en wat er werkelijk gebeurt. Het leest als een dagboek, en met de verschillende locaties moest ik ook een beetje aan Jane Eyre denken.
Het intrigerende van dit boek vind ik, dat ondanks de schrijfstijl, ik toch het boek niet weg kon leggen. Er gebeurt eigenlijk vrij weinig, en wat er gebeurt wordt helemaal niet spannend beschreven (want: beschrijvend). Maar Rebecca en de andere personages zijn zo interessant, dat ik toch mee wilde leven en wilde weten hoe het verder gaat.
Een deel van de spanning ontstond doordat ik, dankzij de ik-vorm, niet in het hoofd van de anderen kond kijken. Doordat ik bijvoorbeeld niet wist wat Edward nou dacht en vond, alleen wat Rebecca daar allemaal bij dacht en voelde, had ik geen idee hoe hun relatie zich verder zou gaan ontwikkelen.
Over all vond ik het een wat kneuterig boek over het platteland met een degelijke christelijke vrouw in de hoofdrol. Voor haar was gebed en het zoeken van God een natuurlijk onderdeel van haar leven. Ook de worsteling van ogenschijnlijke stilte of niet weten wat God vraagt, en op andere momenten de zekerheid dat dit is waar God Rebecca wilde hebben. Het was heel erg aanwezig in het boek, maar op een natuurlijke manier die ik niet vond storen.
Het intrigerende van dit boek vind ik, dat ondanks de schrijfstijl, ik toch het boek niet weg kon leggen. Er gebeurt eigenlijk vrij weinig, en wat er gebeurt wordt helemaal niet spannend beschreven (want: beschrijvend). Maar Rebecca en de andere personages zijn zo interessant, dat ik toch mee wilde leven en wilde weten hoe het verder gaat.
Een deel van de spanning ontstond doordat ik, dankzij de ik-vorm, niet in het hoofd van de anderen kond kijken. Doordat ik bijvoorbeeld niet wist wat Edward nou dacht en vond, alleen wat Rebecca daar allemaal bij dacht en voelde, had ik geen idee hoe hun relatie zich verder zou gaan ontwikkelen.
Over all vond ik het een wat kneuterig boek over het platteland met een degelijke christelijke vrouw in de hoofdrol. Voor haar was gebed en het zoeken van God een natuurlijk onderdeel van haar leven. Ook de worsteling van ogenschijnlijke stilte of niet weten wat God vraagt, en op andere momenten de zekerheid dat dit is waar God Rebecca wilde hebben. Het was heel erg aanwezig in het boek, maar op een natuurlijke manier die ik niet vond storen.
February 15, 2023
Rebecca Stubbs, the beloved daughter of a conscientious village vicar in Victorian England, has always enjoyed a sheltered, idyllic childhood. Her parents work tirelessly for their small farm community, aiding both the church and the poor. When an unexpected outbreak of fever rages through the town, Rebecca must face growing up alone. As she matures into womanhood, Rebecca finds that she is ill-prepared for her new world. With no home, no family, and few prospects, she is determined to make her own way in life. As a housemaid at Barton Manor, she struggles to find her place in a world of double standards and man-made rules. Can she keep her faith strong amidst a lonely life of domestic service? Must she always be a bystander, watching other people’s lives unfold and flourish? Or is there something else in store for her servant heart?
This is the first book by this Author I have read. I felt some parts of it was a bit like upstairs downstairs/downton abbey type thing. Whilst I enjoyed the book, I felt it was quite a gentle story and thought it dragged a bit in the middle. It did pick up pace towards the end. There were some funny parts in it, such as Rebecca falling into the mud etc. It did have some twists and turns in it, but not a very exciting read. I liked the setting of being in a village, I will buy the sequal, as I'd like to read more about Rebecca and hopefully the other characters from this book.
I own this on kindle.
This is the first book by this Author I have read. I felt some parts of it was a bit like upstairs downstairs/downton abbey type thing. Whilst I enjoyed the book, I felt it was quite a gentle story and thought it dragged a bit in the middle. It did pick up pace towards the end. There were some funny parts in it, such as Rebecca falling into the mud etc. It did have some twists and turns in it, but not a very exciting read. I liked the setting of being in a village, I will buy the sequal, as I'd like to read more about Rebecca and hopefully the other characters from this book.
I own this on kindle.
August 6, 2019
I usually never read romance, except for classics like Jane Eyre and Little women. But this book had a low-key, light-hearted Jane Austin feel to it, which is something I personally loved.
Another thing I liked was the real books and scripture verses quoted/mentioned in this book.
The main character was likable and easy to see as a real person, especially for me because I could relate to her on some points of her situation and ways of thinking.
The pacing its self wasn't necessarily slow, But I felt there were a few points where it plateaued. However, I always felt engaged and wanted to keep reading.
As for the plot, while it wasn't necessarily unique, it didn't end how I thought it would, and kept with a clear message and didn't weigh it'self down with unnecessary subplots and multiple themes. That being said I did feel like the book was missing something, it needed something to give it an extra boost from good to great.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people who like light-hearted Christian romance.
Another thing I liked was the real books and scripture verses quoted/mentioned in this book.
The main character was likable and easy to see as a real person, especially for me because I could relate to her on some points of her situation and ways of thinking.
The pacing its self wasn't necessarily slow, But I felt there were a few points where it plateaued. However, I always felt engaged and wanted to keep reading.
As for the plot, while it wasn't necessarily unique, it didn't end how I thought it would, and kept with a clear message and didn't weigh it'self down with unnecessary subplots and multiple themes. That being said I did feel like the book was missing something, it needed something to give it an extra boost from good to great.
Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to people who like light-hearted Christian romance.
August 16, 2018
Loved this! Great storyline with convicting truth woven in. Looking forward to the sequel.
January 3, 2016
Rebecca Stubbs has grown up in a comfortable, somewhat privileged home as a vicar's daughter. At the age of seventeen, she tragically loses both parents just months apart. Wanting to maintain some sense of independence, Rebecca applies for a housemaid position at nearby Barton Manor. It's a definite lifestyle adjustment, to say the least! Rebecca struggles to keep up with all the little rules of the house. She's also sometimes befuddled by her boss's line of thinking. Rebecca finds herself being reprimanded one day for helping a co-worker with some household duties, being told that helping others with their work "undermines the structure of the household." Whaaa?! No good deed, right?!
What helps break the stress for Rebecca is her friendship with the manor's other housemaid, Emma. Their friendship was pretty cute, especially with Emma's sass and wit! Rebecca also fully utilizes the manor's library, which is where she meets and befriends Edward, the orphaned nephew of Master Davenport (owner of Barton Manor). Rebecca & Edward bond over not only both being orphaned, but also over their love of theology, philosophy and people watching. As the years progress though, Rebecca struggles with this friendship as she starts to feel more and more that Edward takes advantage of her loyalty to him.
As Rebecca progresses from her teens into her twenties, the reader observes her learning tough life lessons, one being why people like to say "you can't go back home." When she tries to return to her hometown, she finds the feel of the old 'hood disturbingly different -- a new vicar in her father's place, neighbors significantly aged / ill, the village itself changing. She also learns important lessons in love. Regarding things like unrequited love / unreturned affections, she comes to see that there's typically good reason that those affections are not reciprocated and that if you hold out and have faith, you usually have things work out in your favor, in time. On the topic of friendships and relationships, I wish her friendship with Rev. Hayworth had been introduced earlier in the story, so it had more time to progress. He was brought in so close to the end, his character felt a bit like an afterthought to me -- which is a shame because I found him to be one of the best in the story!
The story is enjoyable, but also pretty predictable. There is one very brief burst of violence in one scene that caught me by surprise but otherwise it unfolded just as I figured it would. Predictability aside, it had a fair bit of humor which I really enjoyed, one of the best being the description of a male guest to Edward's house (later on in the story) who seemed to get a little too grab-happy with the female staff so they started referring to him as "the octopus" X-D. My very favorite bit of the novel was Rebecca's time in a seaside village while she tries to recuperate from a severe cold.
I could see a good bit of Austen and Bronte inspiration within this plot. In fact, the Bronte sisters are even referenced at one point in the story. I could see many likenesses to this novel and Jane Eyre especially. So I would say if you are a fan of Jane Austen, the work of the Bronte sisters, the tv show Downton Abbey and faith-based historical fiction, this book might be a perfect fit for you!
POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: There is a brief mention of one character struggling with depression and later choosing to commit suicide.
FTC DISCLAIMER: Ambassador International Publishers kindly provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.
What helps break the stress for Rebecca is her friendship with the manor's other housemaid, Emma. Their friendship was pretty cute, especially with Emma's sass and wit! Rebecca also fully utilizes the manor's library, which is where she meets and befriends Edward, the orphaned nephew of Master Davenport (owner of Barton Manor). Rebecca & Edward bond over not only both being orphaned, but also over their love of theology, philosophy and people watching. As the years progress though, Rebecca struggles with this friendship as she starts to feel more and more that Edward takes advantage of her loyalty to him.
As Rebecca progresses from her teens into her twenties, the reader observes her learning tough life lessons, one being why people like to say "you can't go back home." When she tries to return to her hometown, she finds the feel of the old 'hood disturbingly different -- a new vicar in her father's place, neighbors significantly aged / ill, the village itself changing. She also learns important lessons in love. Regarding things like unrequited love / unreturned affections, she comes to see that there's typically good reason that those affections are not reciprocated and that if you hold out and have faith, you usually have things work out in your favor, in time. On the topic of friendships and relationships, I wish her friendship with Rev. Hayworth had been introduced earlier in the story, so it had more time to progress. He was brought in so close to the end, his character felt a bit like an afterthought to me -- which is a shame because I found him to be one of the best in the story!
The story is enjoyable, but also pretty predictable. There is one very brief burst of violence in one scene that caught me by surprise but otherwise it unfolded just as I figured it would. Predictability aside, it had a fair bit of humor which I really enjoyed, one of the best being the description of a male guest to Edward's house (later on in the story) who seemed to get a little too grab-happy with the female staff so they started referring to him as "the octopus" X-D. My very favorite bit of the novel was Rebecca's time in a seaside village while she tries to recuperate from a severe cold.
I could see a good bit of Austen and Bronte inspiration within this plot. In fact, the Bronte sisters are even referenced at one point in the story. I could see many likenesses to this novel and Jane Eyre especially. So I would say if you are a fan of Jane Austen, the work of the Bronte sisters, the tv show Downton Abbey and faith-based historical fiction, this book might be a perfect fit for you!
POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: There is a brief mention of one character struggling with depression and later choosing to commit suicide.
FTC DISCLAIMER: Ambassador International Publishers kindly provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions above are entirely my own.
January 15, 2016
Well, Rebecca, wave good-bye to your name, your own will and desires; you are now a nobody, paid to work but not to think.
Such are one young woman's thoughts as she enters a new life as a housemaid at Barton Manor in Rebecca Stubbs: The Vicar's Daughter by author Hannah Buckland.
As I've encountered a number of stories set in historical England and told from the point of view of the rather privileged, with servants only in the background, it was a pleasure to read a novel from the view of a servant herself during the Victorian period. The author illustrates interesting points regarding the contempt held between different classes of people who actually depend on each other, and the heroine ponders whether it's right for her to question her place in society, in light of her faith. Faith, theology, and salvation are indeed major themes throughout the novel.
Though I found Rebecca's journey to be relatable and interesting on the whole, I would've liked to see more dialogue in the story. Since Rebecca rarely draws the reader directly in to hear the interaction unfold in her relationships, those relationships tend to feel more summarized than realized. The use of dialogue does pick up at almost the very end of the book, but more key conversations between Rebecca and the important people in her life would've added greater dimension to the characters and variety to the flow of Rebecca's steady narration, helping more scenes to stand out.
Also, it seems that a few significant trials of Rebecca's faith are summarized and quickly resolved in a couple paragraphs before they're fully developed or believable. The overall resolution to the story begins and finishes rather quickly as well, before some new characters have much chance to round out into anything less than perfect people.
Still, the novel brings to light the tension between contentment and the desire for more in life, and the message of God's care shines through.
The Lord has many ways of being kind to us; some are strange, but all are effective.
_________
Ambassador International provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
Such are one young woman's thoughts as she enters a new life as a housemaid at Barton Manor in Rebecca Stubbs: The Vicar's Daughter by author Hannah Buckland.
As I've encountered a number of stories set in historical England and told from the point of view of the rather privileged, with servants only in the background, it was a pleasure to read a novel from the view of a servant herself during the Victorian period. The author illustrates interesting points regarding the contempt held between different classes of people who actually depend on each other, and the heroine ponders whether it's right for her to question her place in society, in light of her faith. Faith, theology, and salvation are indeed major themes throughout the novel.
Though I found Rebecca's journey to be relatable and interesting on the whole, I would've liked to see more dialogue in the story. Since Rebecca rarely draws the reader directly in to hear the interaction unfold in her relationships, those relationships tend to feel more summarized than realized. The use of dialogue does pick up at almost the very end of the book, but more key conversations between Rebecca and the important people in her life would've added greater dimension to the characters and variety to the flow of Rebecca's steady narration, helping more scenes to stand out.
Also, it seems that a few significant trials of Rebecca's faith are summarized and quickly resolved in a couple paragraphs before they're fully developed or believable. The overall resolution to the story begins and finishes rather quickly as well, before some new characters have much chance to round out into anything less than perfect people.
Still, the novel brings to light the tension between contentment and the desire for more in life, and the message of God's care shines through.
The Lord has many ways of being kind to us; some are strange, but all are effective.
_________
Ambassador International provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.
May 1, 2017
Sweet describes this book very well. It is the first person telling of a young woman who suddenly finds herself orphaned. Often, books written in first person are jarring to me, and I have to work hard for a chapter or two to really get into the story. Ms. Buckland, however, did an excellent job with it, making it seem more like a close friend writing a letter to update me on her life.
The writing style was consistent throughout in this manner, which removed much of the dialogue between characters. At times this bothered me as I wanted to hear for myself what the person said rather than the protagonist's view of what was said. While it gave me insight into the main character, for me it downplayed some of the emotion I thought should be present.
Overall, it was a sweet story perfect for a rainy day and a relaxing read.
The writing style was consistent throughout in this manner, which removed much of the dialogue between characters. At times this bothered me as I wanted to hear for myself what the person said rather than the protagonist's view of what was said. While it gave me insight into the main character, for me it downplayed some of the emotion I thought should be present.
Overall, it was a sweet story perfect for a rainy day and a relaxing read.
November 29, 2016
Wonderful Story
I am so excited that I came upon this book. It was a wonderful read. I felt as if I was reading an Austen or Bronte book. This is a telling of a young woman's life as a vicar's daughter and as a servant in a high society home. It was a beautiful Christian inspirational romance. I highlighted so many amazing passages. I hope this author has more books. I absolutely enjoyed it and highly recommend this book.
I am so excited that I came upon this book. It was a wonderful read. I felt as if I was reading an Austen or Bronte book. This is a telling of a young woman's life as a vicar's daughter and as a servant in a high society home. It was a beautiful Christian inspirational romance. I highlighted so many amazing passages. I hope this author has more books. I absolutely enjoyed it and highly recommend this book.
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