ABOUT THE BOOK
England, 1857
The British aristocracy is an inflexible judge. And for Amala, a lovely young Indian woman, that judgment is most keenly felt. Raised from a child by the wealthy Hepworth family following the murder of her parents, Amala grew up alongside the Hepworth's own daughter, Katarina, and was loved as both sister and daughter. The family is part of the charmed circle of the upper class, but Amala's place in society is tenuous. As an Indian woman, her life is marked by a sense of otherness and voices of prejudice. So when she embarks upon a sweet acquaintance with Henry Breckenridge, a white Englishman, Amala is both elated and terrified. She knows first-hand the opposition that an interracial couple would face, and courtship with Henry could destroy his standing in society.
Determined to spare the reputations of both Henry and her sister Katarina, Amala flees England with the hope that an extended trip will allow her time to heal her broken heart. But she never imagined the repercussions of that decision, and the heartbreak awaiting her. For when she returns to England, she finds those she holds dear facing unparalleled devastation. And now it is her love that holds the key to healing a broken family ...
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anita Stansfield began writing at the age of sixteen, and her first novel was published sixteen years later. Her novels range from historical to contemporary and cover a wide gamut of social and emotional issues that explore the human experience through memorable characters and unpredictable plots. She has received many awards, including a special award for pioneering new ground in LDS fiction, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Whitney Academy for LDS Literature. Anita is the mother of five, and has two adorable grandsons. Her husband, Vince, is her greatest hero.
REVIEW
I've read a lot of Regency & Victorian era romances, but somehow Anita Stansfield has found an aspect of the time and place that I haven't read about before. As with all her other works, Stansfield presents the reader with lovable characters facing really difficult situations with grace and heart.
Amala has spent much of her life in England with her adoptive family, but English society never lets her forget that she doesn't really belong. Amala is a native Indian (India) and as such is seen as inferior by almost everyone around her, except her family. So she is shocked when she meets Henry Beckenridge, an Englishman, who promptly falls in love with her. Having accustomed herself to the idea of never marrying, Amala can't quite accept her good fortune, and when her fears get the better of her she rejects Henry and leaves England all together. But family difficulties bring her home again where she discovers that one can't really run from life's challenges.
I found myself immediately captivated by Henry and Amala, as well as Amala's adopted family. As with many of the books that Stansfield has written, I was unable to predict the way the story worked out, but found myself empathizing with the characters, even when I didn't like the choices they made. This is not only a charming romance, but also a hard look at the repercussions of interracial romance and the challenges it brings, especially at this time and place.
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