Title: Lily of the
Manor
Author: Anita Stansfield
Pages: 272
Year: 2017
Publisher: Covenant Communications
My rating is 4 stars out of 5.
Lily Broadbent is a wealthy widow who has adopted 11 orphan
children. She would pray before entering
an orphanage as to whom she should adopt and leave the rest to God. She needs of a tutor for her brood and
Frederick Woodstone needs a tutoring position.
He journeys to Broadbent Manor, hoping to get the job and to start
immediately so he doesn’t have to pay another night’s rent at the local inn as
his funds are rapidly dwindling. He
meets Lily and is struck by her very different appearance. She puts him at ease and lets him know she is
used to getting looked at. He and she
strike up an instant rapport and he is hired on the spot. He begins the next day with Lily observing
his methods of teaching as well as discipline for her children. She is most impressed with how Frederick
interacts with and encourages her children.
As the story progresses, Lily and Frederick spend time
together talking foremost about each of the children and their progress in the
classroom, but eventually they begin talking about other things. Frederick is surprised at how quickly he has
grown to love the children almost as if they were his own. He looks forward to teaching them each day
and misses them when he is apart from them.
He is also surprised to discover that his feelings for his employer go
beyond friendship. When they discover an
abused boy, Lily is determined to save him.
She takes risks that worry Frederick.
The only negative I have with this story is that the pace
was too slow. I did, however, truly
enjoy the two main characters who were so selfless, compassionate, gracious and
God-fearing. God was the center of their
lives and living out their beliefs was evident.
Forgiveness was another theme evident in the story. Their ability to be so comfortable with each
other from the beginning was another thing I liked. I wish I could visit Broadbent Manor as it
sounded so appealing. The setting for
the story was described so well that I felt I was in the story. It is always nice to read a good, clean
romance with God at the center.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my
blog. Regardless, I only recommend
products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my
readers. 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.”