A Far, Far Better Place

The Dickens Inn #2

by Anita Stansfield

Their lives have all the ingredients for happily-ever-after, until a traumatic and life-changing event in Jackson's life plunges his family into chaos and sorrow. His mother's unexpected death hurles him toward a painful pilgrimage into a past that collides with the anguish of the present and threatens to destroy his family's future. Bestselling LDS author Anita Stansfield is a gifted writer with an unerring knack for storytelling. This compelling sequel to The Best of Times is a story of one family's secrets, the sorrow of regret, and the miracle of forgiveness. An intense look at marriage, families, pain, breavement, and redemption. Step into the Dickensian atmosphere of the bed and breakfast that brought Chas and Jackson together, and journey with them toward a new beginning filled with faith in the healing power of the Savior's love and Atonement.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Religion, Lds, Church

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

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

[AnnaMay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A regular Stansfield novel. Enjoyable, nothing surprising, like indulging in a favorite candybar [including the guilt afterward :)...I should have spent more time doing other things and not indulging in one of her books. It's not like it's whole grain, fruit and veggies either.]

I appreciated the inside look at PTSD and the counseling sessions involved in treating it.

It made me want to become a well-read 'Dickensonian.'

This novel has the regular Stansfield 'cop-outs' : plenty of money [for all the characters in this one--usually she has a character step in and save the day with their moneybags, but this time they're all set up:], Polly saves the day whenever they have to get away [covering everything with their business at the inn AND being a built-in babysitter.:] I guess her reason for doing this is to focus on the 'real' drama of the story: the PTSD, the abusive childhood, the alcoholism, the marriage struggles. Still, though, many of us face some of those or all of those things and have money struggles on top of it all. I think Stansfield's books would be stronger if she would be a little more realistic in that regard.

Candybars are fun to have in life once in a while, though. A Stansfield novel is a nice indulgence here and there. Still, her candybars are getting pushed down my 'wish list' by other, more enticing chocolate confections.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to be a HUGE fan of Anita stansfield.....
This book drove me crazy! If i had to read one more time "How are you doing?" I was going to throw the book out the window! Can a book talk too much about "feelings"? Ugh! Apparently I am the only one who feels this way as this book has been givin some high ratings. Sorry Anita! Maybe I should have tried harder to like it. I just couldnt get into it.

[Angieluila Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not remembered that I head read this before but when I started reading it pieces started coming to memory. I enjoyed it but there were a few spots that didn't mesh with the previous book, almost plain contradictory to it actually. I looked past those things and just ready the book for what it was.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

thae first book was such a sweet story, this one was more emotional but just as wonderful.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

another fantastic story by anita stansfield! Great book on patience, love, PTSD, forgiveness and understanding. This is a continuing story about Jackson Leeds and Chas the innkeepers in Montana. Now they are married and have a son, Charles, but heartache comes in the form of Jackson's mom's passing. The event of going back to his hometown causes Jackson's PTSD to resurface and grow in intensity until therapy is needed again. After many failed attempts to find the right help, Jackson checks himself into the hospital psych ward. His psychiatrist, Dr. Callhoun helps Jackson face his fears of darkness and closed in spaces that haunt his dreams because of his kidnapping and he finds that his father's abuse of his in childhood also plays into the trauma of PTSD because of his similar treatment as the kidnapping. He tells of his struggle to forgive his father. The doctor explains that holding on to resentment is like a backpack with rocks, it only hurt you. "forgiveness does not mean that you aren't holding them accountable for their wrongdoing. It doesn't override justice. It allows you to be free of the responsibility of holding them accountable." His father is dead and the drug lords he would never encounter again, they aren't affected by his resentment. "But you..and the people you love are affected by it every day." Strong, true statement. Jackson works through this and finds that through patience and reading the scriptures that he finds the peace he has been seeking. He also discovers through taking with Wendell about the book "a Tale of two cities," that he is like Sydney Carton who was willing to lay down his life on a guillitine for love of another. He was a marine, FBI agent and a hero in being the person who was kidnapped and torchured so that others would be safe and live. He had some spiritual enlightenment then about the scripture "greater love hath no man..than he lay down his life for his friends. That led to "what you did to prevent your friend from suffering only gives you a tiny understanding of what I did for you. And I did it for your father too.(atonement)" The breakthrough happens, he understands and can let the backpack go. He also reallizes that the abuse was passed down from generation to generation and he was chosen to break the cycle. He joins the Church and waits for the day to be joined to his family for eternity.

[Apzmarshl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 star

Well you already know my opinion about having a police type in the book. Anita couldn't have chosen a better character. She did not however take my advice and make him normal.....meaning, living on the wages the state feels inclined to drizzle his way. Ah, but he is so manly no matter his independent wealth.

Former Agent Jackson Leeds and his wife Chas run a little B&B. Jackson and Chas are hap, hap, happy with their little inn and their little baby Charles. Ah, but Stansfield can't let a good thing carry on for long. Jackson's semi estranged mother dies. Jackson promises her as she lay dying, to forgive his abusive father (who is also dead). The anger and hurt that Jackson has always felt for his father bubbles to the surface as his mind and heart refuse to forgive the evil doings. His intense feelings merge with the PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) that he suffers from due to being kidnapped and tortured as an FBI agent. Jackson must find away to forgive his father so that his humble life with Chas can continue.

Sometimes I feel like Stansfield uses the same situations with new faces. I would have to admit that this book is a type of many of her other books. I did enjoy that she carefully illustrated being a strong, tolerant, loving and supportive spouse. Chas never even seemed like she wanted to bust a cap in Jackson even though I am sure he was hard to deal with. She also does a good job of weaving in gospel principles in a way that you can see how they would work in a regular person's life (regular except for the fact that Jackson is always at home to help with the baby and dishes......er getting way from myself). Besides PTSD, which I found interesting, Stansfield's story centered on forgiveness. How we all like to hold those grudges close to our hearts and cling on to them by digging in our fingernails! She was able to show more than one side of the damage, and by doing so, how forgiveness is really for the forgiver. Letting go of that rubble we pack around can be for us, not just the one we forgive.

[Lisa the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Next book in the Dickens Inn series. Chas and Jackson are back. This time Jackson has a mental breakdown (doesn't that happen to ALL Anita Stansfield husbands in one form or another?) and has to deal with his post traumatic stress disorder. There was some good info on this disorder and some of the treatment options. Anita does good research on things like this for her books.

In the first book Jackson talks about his father being drunk and abusive, gets into more detail with that issue. In this book Jackson mentions something, in passing, about being a former alcoholic. I found this to be a bit annoying on a couple of fronts.

1 - It seems that someone with the total aversion to the choices made by his alcoholic father that Jackson has, as well as the determination he has to avoid being anything like his father that Jackson would have spent his life a avoiding alcohol rather than turning to it.

2 - A true alcoholic doesn't just stop being an alcoholic or even go into recovery just because they decided to dump one bottle of booze down the drain. It truly is a disease that requires intervention and usually long term treatment. Yes the addict has to decide to change (as Jackson did) but it is never just that simple. Only through a true desire to change and really turning their life over 100% to the Savior and his Atonement can an addict find true peace and recovery. He needed to be in at least six months of LDS 12 Step to overcome this if he really was an alcoholic.


I am an Anita Stansfield fan so I am not trying to pick this book apart, it is just that as a former employee at a drug and alcohol treatment center I would have liked to see this issue handled with more depth and accuracy.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Dickensville series. I have been keeping away from Anita Stansfield books because I got tired of something terrible happening, usually in the first chapter! Of course that's what happened here with Jackson's mother passing away unexpectedly in the first part of the book. Her death sets things in motion in Jackson's life as he has issues to deal with stemming from his childhood with his abusive/alchohic father. His childhood repressed memories put together with dealing with PTSD from being held hostage while in the FBI leaves him with a lot to deal with. Having worked with the mentally ill for over 19 years and having a degree in Psychology made his struggles interesting to me. I liked the references to Dickens and books he has written that go along with the storyline and with the Dickensivlle theme.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the first book of the Dickens Inn series, so I was expecting to love this one too. I was a little disappointed when that didn't happen at first. I had a hard time getting into the book during the first few chapters. There seemed to be a lot of sadness and it seemed like someone was crying about something on every page. Now that I'm finished with the book and remembering those first few chapters, it just made me realize that that's how real life is--we all experience times of sadness. The more I read the book, though, the more I wanted to keep reading! I couldn't put the book down. I ended up reading more than half of the book in just one day, and I LOVED the ending of the book! Sadness turned into happiness and everything was good!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love readng Aita Stansfield books. They are easy readng, yet thought provoking. I fell in love with Chas & Jackson in "The Best of Times". I really enjoyed seeing their story continue on. I loved learning more about PTSD and reinforcing how important forgiveness is in our lives and in our families. There are not "perfect parents" on this earth, and I was grateful to see how this was dealt with. Ultimately forgiveness frees US of the burden - more important than what it brings to the "forgiven".

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in a series. The first book was pretty good. This one started out a bit slow--I finally just started skimming over the recaps from the previous novel (which are great if you haven't read it yet--but tedious if you have). The main focus of the book is on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I learned a lot about PTSD and found it interesting to think about--especially since our lives are surrounded by people that have served in the military--or how it effects people in any life changing traumatic situation.

[Miranda Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel about the same about this book as I did the first in the series. I felt like the story line had a few unexpected twists, but that the story in itself was so emotionally heavy. It almost feels like you're carrying Jackson's burdens. I did also think that Ms Stansfield worked through the character's challenges well and didn't really have any "magic fixes." It is also clear that she has done a lot of research in the topics she addresses. A good easy read, but very emotional.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over all I enjoyed this book BUT.... Anita uses ALOT of the same situations or solutions in this book as she did in the Jayson Wolf series,(ie. rehab, bad father/childhood, reuniting lost family, ect...) although it has different trials and circumstances it seems to follow the outline... I think it kind of took away from the story a little bit because I started compareing the two...

[Angee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. It was a little slow for me at the beginning and predictable, but I love the source of healing Jackson finally finds at the end. Having found my own source of healing through the same source within the last couple of months, I really related. It strengthened me to reflect on my own experiences as I read. And that for me, was what made the book so good.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think PTSD is interesting, but this book was a bit much for me. The book felt long and stagnant to me, because I knew it was going to be a couple hundred pages of him dealing with his issues with him resolving them through a "conversion" in the end. I've read too many of her books not to know how it would be and for some reason it really bothered me this time around.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stansfield is getting blaze. She continues to tell instead of show and I really hate that. She doesn't go into depth on certain items that she has based a character or plot on but will go into more depth on something simplistic and not as important to the book. It leaves the reader wanting more. I guess what do you expect from an LDS novel.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I enjoyed yet another of Anita Stansfield books. It was a good story line, but it also made me look inside myself & my own life. I learned lessons that I needed to hear at this time in my life. Good read!

[Terrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good. easy read typical of Anite Stansfield. I could relate to the emotions of losing a parent in death and even more to having to forgive a parent for things said or done that affected their child into their adult life.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love all of Anita. This one was very thought provoking for me in regards to how we treat our spouses and their weaknesses and strengths. How we support them and stand behind them. It was really good. I love this new Dickens series.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book. It didn't grab me like others of Stansfield's. Also, it is wishful thinking that a counselor/psychologist would spend that amount of time with ANY patient, and also that the recovery from PTSD is as quick as portrayed in the book.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a great flavor when I read Stansfield books...message about forgiveness and the power of the Savior to heal and give hope in really challenging situations with others who hurt us.

Great story--one I learned a lot from...and enjoyed reading.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps I am just getting tired of Anita Stansfield. It just seems like her writing style has changed and she passes off to much info in a couple paragraphs.

I still enjoy the characters. And learning about PTSD. Stansfield has a good grasp on so many different subjects.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sequel, when I first started it I wasn't sure I would like it, but her characters are so believable, it makes it easy to get involved in their lives. I cried and laughed right along with them.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Anita Stansfield books, and I have read several of them. This book was a sequel to "The Best of Times", which I enjoyed even more. I would recommend this series, and I look forward to book #3. This book's main theme was forgiveness, which is always good to reflect on.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Anita Stansfield - interesting insights that make you think about real-life issues. This one deals with PTSD & forgiving those who have seriously wronged us. I like the characters and the setting.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting additions and happenings in the story about Chas and her family. Much of it seems to be repetitious--regressions again and again. Both main characters have a lot of humility and willingness to face problems head-on, and I like that about them.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again this made me think about the happenings in my life. Having a son with PTSD, I could see the suffering that this has on others. It is a tough thing to go through not only for the person but others around them.

[Cheli Barfus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! If you are looking for a book about forgiveness this is a good one. I love the struggles they have in there relationship, and how they are able to work through them. The power of LOVE and FORGIVENESS. It does a lot for the soul.

[Berdean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chas & Jackson are running the Bed and Breakfast, and they have a son Chas. Lots of trama, deaths in Jacksons family. His resenment of his father. Its full of a lot of sadness! But ends well in the end.

[Cheryl Mclaws · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a psych major, myself, with desires to get into counseling, I loved this book. It was really interesting to see a representation of PTSD, some of its symptoms, and how it affects the individual and those around him/her. Jackson and Chas make me happy :)