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The Heiress of All Things Beautiful
Florence Prescott and her family live in fear of her father’s vicious outbursts. Lord Prescott rules his household with a cruel and violent hand, and when one of his drunken rages leads to the abuse of Florence’s beloved younger brother, Florence boldly confronts her father—and pays the price for her insolence. Broken and hopeless, Florence feels like a prisoner in her own life.
As a former stablehand for the Prescotts, Evan Avery is all too familiar with the vicious nature of his old master . . . and the gentle kindness of Florence and her younger brother. Desperate to save his friends, Evan boldly returns to the estate to help them escape. Though Lady Prescott refuses rescue, Evan successfully spirits Florence and her brother away to his family’s farm. There, they quite naturally adjust to the rigors and rhythms of farm life as the bond of friendship between Florence and Evan flourishes and soon deepens into romance. But the couple’s happiness is overshadowed when they receive a shocking correspondence that changes everything.
As a former stablehand for the Prescotts, Evan Avery is all too familiar with the vicious nature of his old master . . . and the gentle kindness of Florence and her younger brother. Desperate to save his friends, Evan boldly returns to the estate to help them escape. Though Lady Prescott refuses rescue, Evan successfully spirits Florence and her brother away to his family’s farm. There, they quite naturally adjust to the rigors and rhythms of farm life as the bond of friendship between Florence and Evan flourishes and soon deepens into romance. But the couple’s happiness is overshadowed when they receive a shocking correspondence that changes everything.
200 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2020
3 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Anita Stansfield
133 books471 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
August 16, 2020
Lately I have been having a hard time getting into books by Anita Stansfield, but I honestly really liked the cover of this book and it intrigued me enough to give this one a try. I ended up actually listening to the audio, which I will say the narrator did well with the story. The plot was a bit slow and the story kind of sad. I feel like a lot of this author's books lately are sounding the same even if the characters are different and what is happening is different, maybe it's the tone or the use of too much description??? I did rate this one slightly higher because I like the way it addressed persons with disabilities and the kindness and compassion people may have. The ending wasn't exactly predicable either which was nice.
September 3, 2020
I wanted to love it, but it was just so slow. Too much detail, and overly repetitive.
I am a huge fan of Anita Stansfield. No one does character development like she does. And that is still the case in this book. I want to give it a two-star rating, except for I love the characters so much. Honesty character development is all there is in this book. It was just so repetitive, so much detail about minutiae. "An overabundance of non-essential details" is how another reviewer put it. As I write this review, thinking about it, it was almost as if she was trying to make a short story into a longer book.
I think writing books must be very difficult, especially with the fan base Anita Stansfield has. And so I hate to be critical. But man I struggled to get through this book. I paid for it so I made myself finish it.
I didn't love the way it ended. It was a helplessly sad feeling. I did love the characters enough to keep reading, but because of the way it started, I was in constant anxiety throughout the whole book waiting for something to happen. And nothing really did, it was just confusing. I mean something small did happen, I just wasn't sure where she was going with it. If I wanted to read a story about the minut details and character building merits of hard work, I would buy a self-help book. I read romantic fiction to escape the hard work of life. Anyway, I'll never forget the characters, or the story itself. I'm just not sure what happened here. Hopefully you enjoy it more than I did.
I am a huge fan of Anita Stansfield. No one does character development like she does. And that is still the case in this book. I want to give it a two-star rating, except for I love the characters so much. Honesty character development is all there is in this book. It was just so repetitive, so much detail about minutiae. "An overabundance of non-essential details" is how another reviewer put it. As I write this review, thinking about it, it was almost as if she was trying to make a short story into a longer book.
I think writing books must be very difficult, especially with the fan base Anita Stansfield has. And so I hate to be critical. But man I struggled to get through this book. I paid for it so I made myself finish it.
I didn't love the way it ended. It was a helplessly sad feeling. I did love the characters enough to keep reading, but because of the way it started, I was in constant anxiety throughout the whole book waiting for something to happen. And nothing really did, it was just confusing. I mean something small did happen, I just wasn't sure where she was going with it. If I wanted to read a story about the minut details and character building merits of hard work, I would buy a self-help book. I read romantic fiction to escape the hard work of life. Anyway, I'll never forget the characters, or the story itself. I'm just not sure what happened here. Hopefully you enjoy it more than I did.
June 28, 2020
Poignant and emotional! Not your typical regency romance and important to give a trigger warning for anyone who has experienced physical abuse or domestic abuse of any kind.
I really enjoyed some of the characters. I loved the inclusion of Anson - you don't hear a lot about people with disabilities during this time period. Myrtle was very sweet and such a force for good in Florence's life.
The book did not end how I expected it to, but probably the way it needed to. I did have a bit of a hard time staying interested in the book, not because of the plot or characters, but because of the overabundance of nonessential detail. This was 3.5 stars for me because of that but overall, a sweet story about love and healing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but my opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed some of the characters. I loved the inclusion of Anson - you don't hear a lot about people with disabilities during this time period. Myrtle was very sweet and such a force for good in Florence's life.
The book did not end how I expected it to, but probably the way it needed to. I did have a bit of a hard time staying interested in the book, not because of the plot or characters, but because of the overabundance of nonessential detail. This was 3.5 stars for me because of that but overall, a sweet story about love and healing.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but my opinions are my own.
January 9, 2021
trigger warning: this book covers subjects of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse.
I'm not a fan of Anita Stansfield (I only picked this up because I was in need of new material and I found it on my daughter's bookshelf), and this book proved to be fairly in line with what the author usually produces.
I was not able to finish it, it was just too cheesy, predictable, and uninteresting. If a book doesn't hook me within 100 pages, I've learned to let it go.
I'm not a fan of Anita Stansfield (I only picked this up because I was in need of new material and I found it on my daughter's bookshelf), and this book proved to be fairly in line with what the author usually produces.
I was not able to finish it, it was just too cheesy, predictable, and uninteresting. If a book doesn't hook me within 100 pages, I've learned to let it go.
June 23, 2020
This was a heartwarming story. Florence and her brother, Anson, need to escape from their abusive father. Their saving grace comes in the form of a former stable hand who worked for their father, Evan. He takes them, along with Florence’s lady’s maid, Judy, to his family farm far away. When they finally are free of their traumatizing past, they are able to come to see their value and worth. The story follows their flee to safety and the life they build for themselves. I enjoyed seeing the characters face adversity and work to turn their unfortunate circumstances into a beautiful new life. The ending was bittersweet, and it was nice to see the characters fighting for their successful futures. Thank you to Covenant Communications for the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 25, 2020
I received an ARC of this book and having only read a few Anita Stansfield books I started it not expected anything. The Harsh circumstances of the beginning although difficult sucked me in to find out how it could be resolved. I was surprised and delighted with the conclusion and the progression of the story. At times I kept wondering if the situation was going to come back around like most books do but I was again surprised by the outcome events. I very heart warming read.
February 17, 2024
This is a very sweet story, but does contain physical abuse elements. I enjoyed the characters development and the included romance. And although I enjoyed the people, the story moved a bit too slow for my taste and a very disturbing ending for the mom. So sad.
But as usual, I love the authors writing and the narrator was great!
But as usual, I love the authors writing and the narrator was great!
June 23, 2020
Although this book dealt with some challenging topics, it was a good read. The fact that during that time era it was not illegal for a father or husband to abuse his family members, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Ms. Stanfield did a great job of weaving this difficult story to make you not bitter and angry, but resolved to be strong and fight for what’s right. The other topic was children that have disabilities and how important they are and how strong they can be when given wings to fly. A beautiful story of love, compassion and the strength to endure.
June 23, 2020
I received a ARC of this book. This is the first time I have ever read one of Anita Stansfield's books. I really enjoyed the story of this book and the courage that this young lady has and the love she has for her brother. The story is what kept me engaged, had it not been for that I probably would of put the book down. Don't get me wrong, I am a very religious person but I don't care to be preached too. I'm sorry if that offends some but other than that the book was pretty good. Like I said, I loved the characters and the storyline.
June 19, 2020
I was immediately drawn into this character-driven novel. The focus is on Florence as she begins to recover from a lifetime of abuse. The romance takes a back seat to Florence's growth and development. I also really enjoyed the care and empathy shown to Anson, her disabled younger brother, by the other characters in the book. Through their encouragement and assistance, he was able to grow and develop along with Florence. Evan, the main male character, is a noble, hardworking young man who I came to admire. I highly recommend this book
July 8, 2020
Anita Stansfield never fails to amaze me with the stories that come from her heart. This story starts harshly with a situation that no one should have to endure, but what follows is nothing short of miraculous in it’s beauty and healing.
There was a twist at the end that surprised me and was quite unexpected. I won’t say any more about that.
I will say that this book touched me more deeply than many stories in that it is real and addressed some rather sensitive issues in a time when those issues would be swept under the rug. It dealt with both abuse and disability in a way that only Anita Stansfield could.
I received an eARC from the publisher and this is my review.
There was a twist at the end that surprised me and was quite unexpected. I won’t say any more about that.
I will say that this book touched me more deeply than many stories in that it is real and addressed some rather sensitive issues in a time when those issues would be swept under the rug. It dealt with both abuse and disability in a way that only Anita Stansfield could.
I received an eARC from the publisher and this is my review.
September 2, 2020
The daughter of a nobleman, Florence’s life may appear a dream to the outside observer. However, in a world haunted by an abusive father, Florence must confront her living nightmare to find a joyful life of her own.
This book logs the journey of Florence as she overcomes abuse and seeks to make her own life of joy. It was different than anything else I’ve read, more a historical fiction novel than a historical romance, though it does have some romance in it. I appreciate that Stansfield worked to include a character with developmental diversity. On top of everything else, I loved the cover.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book logs the journey of Florence as she overcomes abuse and seeks to make her own life of joy. It was different than anything else I’ve read, more a historical fiction novel than a historical romance, though it does have some romance in it. I appreciate that Stansfield worked to include a character with developmental diversity. On top of everything else, I loved the cover.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 2, 2020
I became drawn into Florence's story pretty quickly and I was horrified at her father's abusive behavior. It was so realistically portrayed that I felt the fear coming off of the pages and I wanted some one to stand up to Lord Prescott. I really wanted justice for how he treated his family members. I loved the relationship between Florence and her brother Evan and the loyalty they had for each other. Their sibling relationship was beautiful. I was caught up in the story until about halfway through and then I felt like there was a lot of telling what was happening instead of showing the reader what was happening. Although the storytelling fell flat partway in, I enjoyed the overall story. I received a copy of this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 6, 2020
A little on the slower side for reading until your halfway in. I loved the characters and their journey to find happiness despite the abuse and hardships they experienced. A son pulled at my heartstrings.
July 6, 2020
This is not your usual regency tale of falling in love. This story starts Florence recuperating from a severe beating at the hand of her father, Lord Prescott. While recuperating, we get glimpses of what life is like in the Prescott home through Florence's flashbacks. Life is a nightmare for Florence and Anson, her younger brother who is disabled, and their mother, as Lord Prescott's demands and cruelty increase when he drinks. Help comes from Evan, a former stablehand, who plans a daring escape for Florence, Anson, and Judy, Florence's lady's maid.
It was hard to read about the abuse Lord Prescott heaped upon his wife, daughter and disabled son, and how awful that no one outside of the manor even knew he had a son! And poor Anson was expected to spend every waking hour of every day inside his room!! To those outside of their residence, the façade of all being well and good was a well rehearsed act. I enjoyed reading how Florence and especially Anson blossomed once they were away from their cruel father. I loved how Evan and his mother were able to find ways that Anson could help and how it made Anson feel.
I knew that Florence and Evan would fall in love, but I thought it funny how Florence was the last one to figure it out. I liked the new village doctor and that Judy also found love. The ending was a complete surprise to me and I felt that it was kind of abrupt. I'm not sure I liked the way it ended, as I was expecting something different, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I received a copy from Covenant Communications. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
It was hard to read about the abuse Lord Prescott heaped upon his wife, daughter and disabled son, and how awful that no one outside of the manor even knew he had a son! And poor Anson was expected to spend every waking hour of every day inside his room!! To those outside of their residence, the façade of all being well and good was a well rehearsed act. I enjoyed reading how Florence and especially Anson blossomed once they were away from their cruel father. I loved how Evan and his mother were able to find ways that Anson could help and how it made Anson feel.
I knew that Florence and Evan would fall in love, but I thought it funny how Florence was the last one to figure it out. I liked the new village doctor and that Judy also found love. The ending was a complete surprise to me and I felt that it was kind of abrupt. I'm not sure I liked the way it ended, as I was expecting something different, but it was still an enjoyable read.
I received a copy from Covenant Communications. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 7, 2020
Another great book by Anita Stansfield. This book covers topics like abuse and children with disabilities. I thought she handled these topics very tastefully while still showing the emotion involved in them. It was hard reading about the abuse that Florence and her brother and mother went through at the hand of her father. I loved how she had such good friends that did what they could to get her out of that situation. I also loved that she was able to find love with a good man and that that love helped her to heal. I liked how Anita was able to show that although scars will remain from abuse, they don’t have to define you and that you can heal and be happy. I really like her books even though they talk about difficult topics but I think she always does a good job of treating them tastefully.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
July 3, 2020
This is not your typical regency romance. I liked the unique storyline for this time period.
Florence and her brother escape an abusive father, leave behind their aristocratic life, and find freedom on a farm with the family of one of their stable hands.
I loved Florence’s strength and courage.
I also enjoyed the sweet sibling relationship between her as Anson. The romance was a little slow moving but I thought Evan was paired well with Florence.
I struggled with the abundance of details of the day to day activities. It made me put it down a few times before moving on.
Overall I did enjoy it and it was a sweet and clean regency romance.
Florence and her brother escape an abusive father, leave behind their aristocratic life, and find freedom on a farm with the family of one of their stable hands.
I loved Florence’s strength and courage.
I also enjoyed the sweet sibling relationship between her as Anson. The romance was a little slow moving but I thought Evan was paired well with Florence.
I struggled with the abundance of details of the day to day activities. It made me put it down a few times before moving on.
Overall I did enjoy it and it was a sweet and clean regency romance.
July 22, 2020
Talk about a hauntingly beautiful and yet very sad book! This book was able to turn me into one big mess of emotions with her writing and character development and I had such a hard putting it down.
I loved how vividly the author writes and how memorable her characters are,even the villain who is very awful indeed!
The romance was sweet and just perfect but I loved how this book had so much more than just a romance going on,so enjoyable!
I also loved the side characters and how she did something with them, I was hoping romance was in the air for Judy as well!
I received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications in exchange for my honest opinion.
Posted by Bethany at 9:20 AM
I loved how vividly the author writes and how memorable her characters are,even the villain who is very awful indeed!
The romance was sweet and just perfect but I loved how this book had so much more than just a romance going on,so enjoyable!
I also loved the side characters and how she did something with them, I was hoping romance was in the air for Judy as well!
I received a copy of this book from Covenant Communications in exchange for my honest opinion.
Posted by Bethany at 9:20 AM
July 22, 2020
I received this book as an ARC. Anita Stansfield is a gifted writer and this is another novel to add to the list of her books I absolutely love!
While on the outside Florence's "privileged" life as a noble may have looked wonderful, behind closed doors, she and her disabled and hidden brother, Anson live in terror of their horrible, abusive father. Desparate to escape, longtime friend and previous stablehand, Evan, helps them find their freedom and joy. I loved the relationship between Florence and Anson. I loved how protective she was of him and how she included him and saw his potential in all she did in a time when most would have hidden their family member with disabilities away.
While on the outside Florence's "privileged" life as a noble may have looked wonderful, behind closed doors, she and her disabled and hidden brother, Anson live in terror of their horrible, abusive father. Desparate to escape, longtime friend and previous stablehand, Evan, helps them find their freedom and joy. I loved the relationship between Florence and Anson. I loved how protective she was of him and how she included him and saw his potential in all she did in a time when most would have hidden their family member with disabilities away.
September 28, 2020
While it does feel like I’m reading almost the same story repeatedly, I still love an Anita Stansfield book. The ending was heartbreaking and caught me off guard. I thought Florence was going to inherit the estate, sell it because of too many bad memories there and live happily ever after in the country with her mother by her side. Or at least they would have been able to be witnesses for Lucille in court and have the murder charges dropped. So while I know not every story has a happy ending ( especially when it comes to abusive relationships) I really didn’t want this to end the way it did!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2022
The concept of the book was there. I liked how they managed to escape their father and find a life without him....but the ending? Really! The mom deserved a better ending then that. I know that we don't get to always have a happy ending but the mom deserved more justice then that. To die because she finally did what should've been done in the beginning. I'm sorry but the mom deserved better. I also disliked the fact that they tried to play it off as a good thing by having her buried near their new home but come on. The mom deserved to also have a family. To be with her grandkids and finally be loved. Wasn't my favorite ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2023
Initially the story's real topics drew me in. Florence and her brother born with disabilities need to escape their abusive father, and a former stable hand helps. But the writing bored me quickly. Most of the story was the author repeating to me how Florence felt at every waking moment. It was a very much "telling instead of showing." issue
There were heavy religious themes in the book but they never felt too preachy. But then, maybe that's because I was told over and over what Florence's thoughts were and didnt care to internalize her thoughts on God or anything else. This author has the potential to be a good writer if she could learn that one skill.
There were heavy religious themes in the book but they never felt too preachy. But then, maybe that's because I was told over and over what Florence's thoughts were and didnt care to internalize her thoughts on God or anything else. This author has the potential to be a good writer if she could learn that one skill.
June 3, 2021
I usually enjoy this author’s books, but this was hard to get through. Not awful, but... I only finished because I have a complex with not finishing books I start. It definitely wasn’t one of those books that I was excited to read, staying up late for “just one more chapter”. I just wanted to finish it so I could move onto another book. It’s very repetitive and seems very drawn out, almost as if she was trying to turn an idea that should have been a short novella into a full length novel. The characters also weren’t that interesting to me, except for Anson. But that’s just my two cents.
August 1, 2021
This book was a very interesting read. It dealt with the sad circumstances of an alcoholic father and his severe abuse of his family and servants. It was wonderful to see how a disabled boy was able to find joy when he got out of his abusive situation. His sister was able to marry and have the life of her dreams. It was sad to see their mother hanged for the murder of her abusive husband, but nice to see the children's ability to take her body home to their homestead and bury her in a beautiful place of peace. Many of life's difficult challenges were faced and resolved.
December 13, 2022
This book was an average sort of book. It was a sweet romance, but that was all there was to it. There was no real mystery, nothing that really needed to be resolved. It was just how two people came to love each other, got married, and had a baby. The abuse mentioned at the beginning is the excuse to make everything else kind of fall in place. I don't mean this in any negative way, it was simply what the book was. I enjoyed reading it but it wasn't the most amazing book on the planet. It was cute and sweet and simple. A nice easy read for when you are in between books.
May 6, 2024
Language: G (0 swears, 0 "f"); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
The story gets really slow about a third of the way in because all the characters are too happy/they go too long without a conflict. On the one hand, it can be nice to read about a happy family being happy, but, on the other hand, I wondered what the point of reading was.
The mature content rating is for alcohol use and mild innuendo. The violence rating is for mentions of domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide; assault; gun use; and murder.
The story gets really slow about a third of the way in because all the characters are too happy/they go too long without a conflict. On the one hand, it can be nice to read about a happy family being happy, but, on the other hand, I wondered what the point of reading was.
The mature content rating is for alcohol use and mild innuendo. The violence rating is for mentions of domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide; assault; gun use; and murder.
October 3, 2020
2.5 stars
This book was strange. For a Covenant published book it took me by surprise. With an unhealthy home/family life, Florence gets the chance to leave all of that behind. There was never really any conflict in this book or something the characters had to overcome. Small things yes but not like a bad guy appearing or something. Honestly I wasn’t really a fan of this book. That ending was so odd, but then so was most of the story. It was just an ongoing saga of their life...
This book was strange. For a Covenant published book it took me by surprise. With an unhealthy home/family life, Florence gets the chance to leave all of that behind. There was never really any conflict in this book or something the characters had to overcome. Small things yes but not like a bad guy appearing or something. Honestly I wasn’t really a fan of this book. That ending was so odd, but then so was most of the story. It was just an ongoing saga of their life...
February 27, 2021
Warning: storyline contains physical and verbal abuse.
Although the story contained some very harsh situations there was a message of hope and love to be found through life’s journey.
I have to admit that this author’s books are usually well written and the characters are well developed I am finding the last two books to be on the emotionally sad side of life with a steady dose of hope and faith...both they leave me struggling to finish on the high note.
Although the story contained some very harsh situations there was a message of hope and love to be found through life’s journey.
I have to admit that this author’s books are usually well written and the characters are well developed I am finding the last two books to be on the emotionally sad side of life with a steady dose of hope and faith...both they leave me struggling to finish on the high note.
September 7, 2021
A little repetitive and slow, but a nice read as a break from heavier books.
Florence and her brother Anson are the heirs of a brutal lord and a weak victimized mother. Unable to save her children from the ravages of abuse, their mother seems to fade into the background. Enter Evan, the stable boy that has become friends with Florence and Anson. He doesn't turn blindly away as everyone else does. Finally, he plans their escape.
Florence and her brother Anson are the heirs of a brutal lord and a weak victimized mother. Unable to save her children from the ravages of abuse, their mother seems to fade into the background. Enter Evan, the stable boy that has become friends with Florence and Anson. He doesn't turn blindly away as everyone else does. Finally, he plans their escape.
January 16, 2024
Worst book I’ve read in a while long time! The first chapter draws you in and then the rest of the book is a bunch of boring fluff. You make no connections at all and the book is so wordy, yet saying absolutely nothing important. I used to read Anita Stansfields books 30 years ago and loved them. But they gradually got worse as time went on. It makes me sad. Read the first chapter and the last and you will have not missed a thing in the entire book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews