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Summerset Abbey #1
Les héritières
Londres, 1913. Prudence a grandi auprès de Rowena et Victoria, qu’elle considère comme ses sœurs, oubliant parfois qu’elle n’est que la fille de la préceptrice. À la mort de sir Philip, les deux orphelines sont recueillies par leur oncle au domaine de Summerset Abbey, mais pour rester avec elles, Prudence doit accepter de rejoindre le rang des domestiques.
Alors que le monde moderne frappe à la porte du manoir, la jeune femme se retrouve face à son destin.
Alors que le monde moderne frappe à la porte du manoir, la jeune femme se retrouve face à son destin.
386 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
March 12, 2013
Recently, I had someone ask me to explain the t.v. show Downton Abbey to them and the closest explanation that I could find is that it's like an older version of a soap opera, without the demon possessions and twins being born with two different fathers.
Since Summerset Abbey is sort of like a book version of Downton in print form, then I guess I'd have to use the same explanation for this review. I mean, you can't really call Summerset a historical romance because there's too much attention paid to getting all of the period details just right, yet the read is slightly too fluffy to be called a true historical fiction. When you have a book full of gossip, scandal, social politicking, and whatnot (don't ask me to explain whatnot), but it's all wrapped in this package of decadent historical detail (I loved that I could see so much of the surroundings in my mind's eye), what else could I call it?
Let me go ahead and address right off who would likely enjoy reading Summerset. I can't say that this book would be for everyone. Only the hardcore fans of shows like Downton (or possibly Upstairs, Downstairs?), as well as those who love early 20th century fluff lit (is this a real category? I don't even know.) would appreciate the book. The time period is set pre-WWI, right around the Titanic mishap.
While I did find myself entertained by some of the upper class/lower class separation and how the characters dealt with it (the upper class ignored, while the lower class/servants gossiped about the upper class), I struggled a little with attaching to all of the characters. Much like how I felt overwhelmed when I first started watching Downton because I had so many characters thrown at me, I also struggled with the same situation while reading this book. Unfortunately, it's harder to recall multiple character roles to memory as you proceed, when you're going strictly off text descriptions. This area is where television has an advantage.
Of the three main girls featured as prominent characters, the only one whose story really captured my attention was that of Prudence. I couldn't help myself from wanting to know how this young woman who was once considered a friend of the family at Summerset had been relegated to a new position of handmaiden once her mother had passed on. Her story is the reverse of a rags-to-riches, which made it that much more interesting to observe. If I were to continue reading the series, it would mainly be out of curiosity to see what happened to her.
"Wait," he said, his voice almost urgent. "I don't even know your name."
"Prudence," she said, before pulling her arm away and moving down the hall.
"But who are you?" he called after her.
She couldn't tell him, for at that moment she didn't know.
Even though I struggled somewhat with trying to recall everything, the book was charming in so many ways. This author completely nailed it with describing the surroundings to me. I could almost imagine the change in scenery between the section of the house belonging to the haves, and the section belonging to the have-nots. Every small detail was constantly debated as to who was allowed the luxury of what.
"You have to wonder what sort of duties one has to perform to get a dress such as that."
Forbidden desires - hidden dreams - secret lives... Welcome to Summerset Abbey.
This book provided from the publisher through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Quotes may be changed or omitted from the final published copy.
December 24, 2012
Originally Posted on Confessions of an Opinionated Book Geek
3.5
Where should I start with “Summerset Abbey?” I’ll start by saying that this is a very depressing book. Which is not surprising, because it is set in a very depressing time in women’s history. This book made me cry. Not because there is a traumatic event like a death. No, I cried, because 100 years ago the lives of Prudence, Victoria and Rowena was life for women all over the world. I cried, because even though it will be 2013 in two weeks, life is still like this for women and can even be ten times worse. Whatever its faults, this book is obviously well researched and flushed out. The dialogue feels authentic and the distinction between above stairs and below is very true to life. It’s honest, even in the end and it’s that honesty that makes this story so unbelievably depressing.
It begins with a funeral. Sir Phillip Buxton is dead. He raised his daughters Rowena and Victoria to see beyond class, speak their minds and above all love Prudence Tate like a sister. Unfortunately, Sir Phillip left his daughters in a world that is on the brink of change, but hasn’t made it there yet. Their cold uncle and their bitch of an aunt take in the Buxton girls. I’m sorry to use that word. I really am, but Lady Summerset is the kind of woman that makes me ashamed to call myself the same sex as her. The Earl and Lady Summerset, take the girls in and everything changes. Prudence, who has been treated as a beloved sister, is now thrown in the servant’s hall. The servants ridicule her, she is hated by the family above stairs and abandoned by the people she called sisters. Victoria wants to help, she wants to fight, but her words are left on deft ears, due to her frailty and sickness she is always seen as a child. All the while, Rowena is crippled into inactivity and silence under the weight of the “responsibilities,” left to her as the oldest.
I think that we are supposed to care about all three girls equally, but I could not bring myself to like Rowena. It is Rowena’s idea to have Prudence travel with them as their maid. Rowena’s stoicism and silence is intolerable to me. If she truly loved Prudence as a sister, the thought of making her a servant would have never cross her mind. It made every word, choice and emotion from Rowena seem insincere. She spends a lot of time complaining about how everything falls on her. She is a rich woman in 1913. Her father left her money that she will receive on her 25th birthday. Poor women in this time literally had no options. They had to become someone’s servant, raise other people’s children or become a prostitute. When you consider that, it becomes hard to take Rowena seriously. All she has to do is watch out for her sister. Not raise her, since Victoria is 18. The other thing she has to do is put her foot down and tell her relations that her adopted sister is not a maid. This is all. Instead of being an adult or just being a good person and doing the right thing, Rowena spends half this book pouting and saying it’s not fair she has so much responsibility.
Victoria, on the other hand, has such spirit and conviction it is difficult not like her. Women like Victoria are the reason I have the right to vote, why I have rights and a career. Victoria is a forward thinker who refuses to be boxed in, just because she is a woman and has asthma. She will not be babied or taken care of. Her body may be feeble, but her mind is not. She never gives up on trying to find a way to get Prudence back as her sister. She is loyal to a fault and wants more to life than being a gentleman’s wife.
Then there is Prudence. If I had to pick one word to describe Prudence Tate that would be good. Prudence is a good person. When Rowena waits until they are a few minutes from Summerset to inform Prudence that she is to become a maid, Prudence does not throw a fit. No, Prudence accepts her new lot in life and trusts Rowena to fix it. She goes to live in the servant’s quarters, takes all the crap thrown at her and is still a loyal sister to the Buxton girls. Prudence’s loyalty, her bravery and her good spirit is what helps to make this story so unbelievably sad. It becomes very clear that a secret is lurking over Prudence’s past and that she is unknowingly on a path toward heartbreak and disaster. The Lady of Summerset is determined to get rid of her from the start and without her sisters to truly have her back, there was no possible way for Prudence to win.
I knew this and I even had my suspicions on what the secret was, but I was still blown away by the ending. I was stunned and absolutely devastated. I hated the Earl and lady. I hated Rowena for not being stronger and not preventing this from happening. Then, it was just over. The book was complete and I am left feeling empty. I wouldn’t call the conclusion of this book to be a cliffhanger. In all honesty, it doesn’t even feel like a conclusion. It’s like the writer simply put down her pen and said “oh well, I guess I’ll just finish this in another book.” Even if there is more installments to a story, each book should have a beginning, middle and an end. “Summerset Abbey” doesn’t so much end, or pause, it just stops. It’s like when you’re walking in a crowd and the person before you comes to an abrupt halt. You have no time to catch yourself before you bump into them or fall all over yourself trying to avoid them. That is how the end of this book felt.
I have to address calling Lady Summerset a bitch. It’s not the usual way I speak, but it could not be avoided. I dislike any woman who does not have loyalty to her sex. I do not care if it’s 1911 or 1776. If a woman is brutalized or raped, we as women should sympathize and feel for that person, because it could have happened to us. In 1911, if you had a child out of wedlock, it doesn’t matter if you are the daughter of a duke or a scullery maid, you will be disgraced. Therefore, every women should be understanding of a fallen woman. Lady Summerset is someone who only cares about appearances. She is so worried about scandal or what other people think, she hurts someone that she should have championed. She is someone who doesn’t see the point in equal rights and doesn’t understand that a woman can be more than a pretty face. She misunderstands Victoria, because Victoria has a mind and actually educates herself. She looks down on Rowena, because she feels Rowena should be flaunting her pretty face in order to get a husband. I hate this woman. I hate what she represents. I hate that women like her actually existed. Women like her made life for poor, disgraced and unmarried women lives ten times harder than any man could have. And, that is why I put my politically correct self aside and call this woman a bitch.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It’s sad and had a tone of melancholy that starts on the first page and continues through on to the last. This book does not have a happy ending. I kept waiting for good things to happen to Prudence, Victoria and Rowena, but for the most part it doesn’t. In fact, what happens to Prudence in this book has left me devastated. I am only really reading the sequel in hopes for a showdown where Victoria puts Rowena in her place and hopefully for some form of happy ending for Prudence. Lets face it, women in Prudence’s circumstances barely ever had happy endings. I should probably not hold my breath.
Recommended for fans of shows like “Downton Abbey” and lovers of historical fiction.
3.5
Where should I start with “Summerset Abbey?” I’ll start by saying that this is a very depressing book. Which is not surprising, because it is set in a very depressing time in women’s history. This book made me cry. Not because there is a traumatic event like a death. No, I cried, because 100 years ago the lives of Prudence, Victoria and Rowena was life for women all over the world. I cried, because even though it will be 2013 in two weeks, life is still like this for women and can even be ten times worse. Whatever its faults, this book is obviously well researched and flushed out. The dialogue feels authentic and the distinction between above stairs and below is very true to life. It’s honest, even in the end and it’s that honesty that makes this story so unbelievably depressing.
It begins with a funeral. Sir Phillip Buxton is dead. He raised his daughters Rowena and Victoria to see beyond class, speak their minds and above all love Prudence Tate like a sister. Unfortunately, Sir Phillip left his daughters in a world that is on the brink of change, but hasn’t made it there yet. Their cold uncle and their bitch of an aunt take in the Buxton girls. I’m sorry to use that word. I really am, but Lady Summerset is the kind of woman that makes me ashamed to call myself the same sex as her. The Earl and Lady Summerset, take the girls in and everything changes. Prudence, who has been treated as a beloved sister, is now thrown in the servant’s hall. The servants ridicule her, she is hated by the family above stairs and abandoned by the people she called sisters. Victoria wants to help, she wants to fight, but her words are left on deft ears, due to her frailty and sickness she is always seen as a child. All the while, Rowena is crippled into inactivity and silence under the weight of the “responsibilities,” left to her as the oldest.
I think that we are supposed to care about all three girls equally, but I could not bring myself to like Rowena. It is Rowena’s idea to have Prudence travel with them as their maid. Rowena’s stoicism and silence is intolerable to me. If she truly loved Prudence as a sister, the thought of making her a servant would have never cross her mind. It made every word, choice and emotion from Rowena seem insincere. She spends a lot of time complaining about how everything falls on her. She is a rich woman in 1913. Her father left her money that she will receive on her 25th birthday. Poor women in this time literally had no options. They had to become someone’s servant, raise other people’s children or become a prostitute. When you consider that, it becomes hard to take Rowena seriously. All she has to do is watch out for her sister. Not raise her, since Victoria is 18. The other thing she has to do is put her foot down and tell her relations that her adopted sister is not a maid. This is all. Instead of being an adult or just being a good person and doing the right thing, Rowena spends half this book pouting and saying it’s not fair she has so much responsibility.
Victoria, on the other hand, has such spirit and conviction it is difficult not like her. Women like Victoria are the reason I have the right to vote, why I have rights and a career. Victoria is a forward thinker who refuses to be boxed in, just because she is a woman and has asthma. She will not be babied or taken care of. Her body may be feeble, but her mind is not. She never gives up on trying to find a way to get Prudence back as her sister. She is loyal to a fault and wants more to life than being a gentleman’s wife.
Then there is Prudence. If I had to pick one word to describe Prudence Tate that would be good. Prudence is a good person. When Rowena waits until they are a few minutes from Summerset to inform Prudence that she is to become a maid, Prudence does not throw a fit. No, Prudence accepts her new lot in life and trusts Rowena to fix it. She goes to live in the servant’s quarters, takes all the crap thrown at her and is still a loyal sister to the Buxton girls. Prudence’s loyalty, her bravery and her good spirit is what helps to make this story so unbelievably sad. It becomes very clear that a secret is lurking over Prudence’s past and that she is unknowingly on a path toward heartbreak and disaster. The Lady of Summerset is determined to get rid of her from the start and without her sisters to truly have her back, there was no possible way for Prudence to win.
I knew this and I even had my suspicions on what the secret was, but I was still blown away by the ending. I was stunned and absolutely devastated. I hated the Earl and lady. I hated Rowena for not being stronger and not preventing this from happening. Then, it was just over. The book was complete and I am left feeling empty. I wouldn’t call the conclusion of this book to be a cliffhanger. In all honesty, it doesn’t even feel like a conclusion. It’s like the writer simply put down her pen and said “oh well, I guess I’ll just finish this in another book.” Even if there is more installments to a story, each book should have a beginning, middle and an end. “Summerset Abbey” doesn’t so much end, or pause, it just stops. It’s like when you’re walking in a crowd and the person before you comes to an abrupt halt. You have no time to catch yourself before you bump into them or fall all over yourself trying to avoid them. That is how the end of this book felt.
I have to address calling Lady Summerset a bitch. It’s not the usual way I speak, but it could not be avoided. I dislike any woman who does not have loyalty to her sex. I do not care if it’s 1911 or 1776. If a woman is brutalized or raped, we as women should sympathize and feel for that person, because it could have happened to us. In 1911, if you had a child out of wedlock, it doesn’t matter if you are the daughter of a duke or a scullery maid, you will be disgraced. Therefore, every women should be understanding of a fallen woman. Lady Summerset is someone who only cares about appearances. She is so worried about scandal or what other people think, she hurts someone that she should have championed. She is someone who doesn’t see the point in equal rights and doesn’t understand that a woman can be more than a pretty face. She misunderstands Victoria, because Victoria has a mind and actually educates herself. She looks down on Rowena, because she feels Rowena should be flaunting her pretty face in order to get a husband. I hate this woman. I hate what she represents. I hate that women like her actually existed. Women like her made life for poor, disgraced and unmarried women lives ten times harder than any man could have. And, that is why I put my politically correct self aside and call this woman a bitch.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book. It’s sad and had a tone of melancholy that starts on the first page and continues through on to the last. This book does not have a happy ending. I kept waiting for good things to happen to Prudence, Victoria and Rowena, but for the most part it doesn’t. In fact, what happens to Prudence in this book has left me devastated. I am only really reading the sequel in hopes for a showdown where Victoria puts Rowena in her place and hopefully for some form of happy ending for Prudence. Lets face it, women in Prudence’s circumstances barely ever had happy endings. I should probably not hold my breath.
Recommended for fans of shows like “Downton Abbey” and lovers of historical fiction.
September 5, 2018
As far as vacuous historical fiction goes, this was actually pretty good. In the vein of Downton Abbey (and that's how it has been described by multiple sources), Summerset Abbey is about life in the turn of the century. Unlike DA though, it does not glamorise the aristocracy and actually brings out the dark human cost of the aristocratic way of life. The first of a trilogy, Summerset Abbey is a pretty good attempt at British historical fiction by an American author.
The story centres around three women: the sisters, Rowena and Victoria Buxton, and their friend, Prudence Tate. Prudence was the daughter of the Buxton girls' governess but their father had always made sure that she was treated as one of the family, and the three considered themselves as sisters. When Buxton dies, the three girls find themselves in for a rude shock. Though raised with liberal values, their father was not liberal enough to give them access to their inheritance. Instead, he leaves it in trust to their old-fashioned uncle to control as he sees fit. So much for his being oh, so liberal!
The uncle and aunt invite the Buxton girls to live in their house. They love their nieces but don't want the low-life, Prudence, in their house. So the girls take her there as their maid, and it is here that the inequalities of class structure emerge in full force. Prudence, used to a luxurious life, suddenly finds herself at the dreg end of society and becomes more and more alienated from her 'sisters'. How she manages her life is only part of the story. There is also a dark secret behind Prudence's very existence.
The book was very well-written even if the Americanisms made me wince here and there. The research was quite good and detailed and Brown made sure that the life was depicted properly - for both the upper and the lower classes. The story itself is nothing great - the beauty of this book lies in its class depiction during this period. I also really appreciated the highly realistic end to the romance.
I am not so sure that I want to read the remaining two books of the trilogy, as I have the sneaky feeling that they might not match up to this one. But I just might pick them up since I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
The story centres around three women: the sisters, Rowena and Victoria Buxton, and their friend, Prudence Tate. Prudence was the daughter of the Buxton girls' governess but their father had always made sure that she was treated as one of the family, and the three considered themselves as sisters. When Buxton dies, the three girls find themselves in for a rude shock. Though raised with liberal values, their father was not liberal enough to give them access to their inheritance. Instead, he leaves it in trust to their old-fashioned uncle to control as he sees fit. So much for his being oh, so liberal!
The uncle and aunt invite the Buxton girls to live in their house. They love their nieces but don't want the low-life, Prudence, in their house. So the girls take her there as their maid, and it is here that the inequalities of class structure emerge in full force. Prudence, used to a luxurious life, suddenly finds herself at the dreg end of society and becomes more and more alienated from her 'sisters'. How she manages her life is only part of the story. There is also a dark secret behind Prudence's very existence.
The book was very well-written even if the Americanisms made me wince here and there. The research was quite good and detailed and Brown made sure that the life was depicted properly - for both the upper and the lower classes. The story itself is nothing great - the beauty of this book lies in its class depiction during this period. I also really appreciated the highly realistic end to the romance.
I am not so sure that I want to read the remaining two books of the trilogy, as I have the sneaky feeling that they might not match up to this one. But I just might pick them up since I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
March 21, 2013
This is a tough one to review, and in the end I find I'm agreeing 100% Erin's review and can't add much more except for the mystery of the older Earl/Duke:
On page 43 the girls observe a giant portrait of their grandfather the eighth duke. Yet, their uncle (the son of the old *duke*) is the Earl of Summerset. Late in the book on page #213, the grandfather is "the old earl" and on page #282 he is "the late Earl of Summerset". Note: I have a finished copy from the library and not an ARC.
I did enjoy this, I just felt that the character development could have been fleshed out a bit more, it just didn't feel like a complete. From the author's bio on the GR page, it appears this is the first in a trilogy, so perhaps things might flesh out more in the next two books. A bit of a surprise twist at the end, and not quite what I expected...
On page 43 the girls observe a giant portrait of their grandfather the eighth duke. Yet, their uncle (the son of the old *duke*) is the Earl of Summerset. Late in the book on page #213, the grandfather is "the old earl" and on page #282 he is "the late Earl of Summerset". Note: I have a finished copy from the library and not an ARC.
I did enjoy this, I just felt that the character development could have been fleshed out a bit more, it just didn't feel like a complete. From the author's bio on the GR page, it appears this is the first in a trilogy, so perhaps things might flesh out more in the next two books. A bit of a surprise twist at the end, and not quite what I expected...
March 17, 2013
Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....
I've wrestled with my feelings on T.J. Brown's Summerset Abbey several times and I think I've finally put my finger on the problem. I desperately wanted to love this book, the time period offers a wealth of material, but that being said, I found the piece much more of a challenge than I'd originally anticipated and didn't end it as satisfied as I'd hoped.
By far my favorite aspect of the book is the obvious care Brown put in to defining the social classes. Lately I've come across a lot of historic pieces that blur the line between master and servant, choosing to disregard the social stratification that existed between the two. Brown favors history and for that, I am deeply appreciative. The stark contrast between the Buxtons, their household staff and the citizens of Summerset is abundantly clear from the first page to the last, as finite in her fiction as it is in fact.
I also greatly enjoyed the story as it related to Prudence. All things considered it is probably an unfair assessment, but she is without a doubt my favorite of the three girls. Alone and without a male benefactor Prudence's position is precarious from the get-go and offers the most to the reader in terms of emotional drama, intrigue and movement.
In contrast Victoria, though interesting, is almost dull. She blends too easily into the background of the story, her sweet and gentle demeanor overshadowed by her cast mates. I can only hope we see more of her in future installments, that her character becomes more complex and that she enjoy the same prominence as her counterparts in Brown's future works. It would be a shame to see her continually lost in the shuffle.
Last I come to Rowena. I think Brown was shooting for conflicted, but something must have been lost in translation as I found her apathetic, spoiled and indecisive. More than that though, Rowena is entirely one dimensional. Where Victoria barely towed the line, Rowena jumped clear over it, frequently leaving me bored and yawning.
Perhaps the only thing as disappointing to me as Rowena's character was the ending. The revelation surrounding Prudence felt rushed and disjointed. Those characters to which it pertained were not fully developed in my mind and their sudden importance was particularly jarring.
I haven't yet given up hope for the series and though I am optimistic about book two, A Bloom in Winter, I will certainly be approaching it with a moderate degree of caution.
I've wrestled with my feelings on T.J. Brown's Summerset Abbey several times and I think I've finally put my finger on the problem. I desperately wanted to love this book, the time period offers a wealth of material, but that being said, I found the piece much more of a challenge than I'd originally anticipated and didn't end it as satisfied as I'd hoped.
By far my favorite aspect of the book is the obvious care Brown put in to defining the social classes. Lately I've come across a lot of historic pieces that blur the line between master and servant, choosing to disregard the social stratification that existed between the two. Brown favors history and for that, I am deeply appreciative. The stark contrast between the Buxtons, their household staff and the citizens of Summerset is abundantly clear from the first page to the last, as finite in her fiction as it is in fact.
I also greatly enjoyed the story as it related to Prudence. All things considered it is probably an unfair assessment, but she is without a doubt my favorite of the three girls. Alone and without a male benefactor Prudence's position is precarious from the get-go and offers the most to the reader in terms of emotional drama, intrigue and movement.
In contrast Victoria, though interesting, is almost dull. She blends too easily into the background of the story, her sweet and gentle demeanor overshadowed by her cast mates. I can only hope we see more of her in future installments, that her character becomes more complex and that she enjoy the same prominence as her counterparts in Brown's future works. It would be a shame to see her continually lost in the shuffle.
Last I come to Rowena. I think Brown was shooting for conflicted, but something must have been lost in translation as I found her apathetic, spoiled and indecisive. More than that though, Rowena is entirely one dimensional. Where Victoria barely towed the line, Rowena jumped clear over it, frequently leaving me bored and yawning.
Perhaps the only thing as disappointing to me as Rowena's character was the ending. The revelation surrounding Prudence felt rushed and disjointed. Those characters to which it pertained were not fully developed in my mind and their sudden importance was particularly jarring.
I haven't yet given up hope for the series and though I am optimistic about book two, A Bloom in Winter, I will certainly be approaching it with a moderate degree of caution.
November 15, 2015
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
A copy of Summerset Abbey was provided to me by Gallery Books/Edelweiss for review purposes.
The year is 1913 and Sir Philip Buxton has passed leaving his two daughters all alone. Placed into the care of their Uncle until the time they decide to marry, their life becomes upended when they are moved from their home to Summerset Abbey. Victoria and Rowena are also separated from their friend Prudence. Prudence was raised alongside the girls their entire lives and they are all three as close as sisters can be. Their Uncle won't stand for this continued treatment though as Prudence is a governess's daughter by birth. The question remains why would Sir Philip raise her as his own to begin with?
The big hook for me that got me interested in reading this book was the comparison to Downton Abbey. I am a sucker for anything Downton Abbey and love historical fiction in general so I anticipated liking this immensely While I did enjoy this, I found there to be one huge difference between the two. In Downton Abbey everything is glamorous and you find yourself so envious of the people and this beautiful time period they live in. In Summerset Abbey I found myself feeling rather sorry for these girls and the things they were obligated to do based on customs. I rather think though that Summerset Abbey gives a more accurate interpretation of that time period as it likely wasn't truly as exotic as it seems on television. For this reason I think many won't appreciate this as much because, like me, I can't help but love the glamorous façade.
The writing was entertaining but there were several times where additional descriptive details had been added that felt unnecessary and would have been better omitted. The mystery bit of the whole story could have been done much better as well. Nonetheless entertaining, I still felt I had the mystery solved weeks before these girls did. Considering this is a start of a new series, Summerset Abbey left off at a rather awkward point but definitely leaves you highly anticipating the next installment.
A copy of Summerset Abbey was provided to me by Gallery Books/Edelweiss for review purposes.
The year is 1913 and Sir Philip Buxton has passed leaving his two daughters all alone. Placed into the care of their Uncle until the time they decide to marry, their life becomes upended when they are moved from their home to Summerset Abbey. Victoria and Rowena are also separated from their friend Prudence. Prudence was raised alongside the girls their entire lives and they are all three as close as sisters can be. Their Uncle won't stand for this continued treatment though as Prudence is a governess's daughter by birth. The question remains why would Sir Philip raise her as his own to begin with?
The big hook for me that got me interested in reading this book was the comparison to Downton Abbey. I am a sucker for anything Downton Abbey and love historical fiction in general so I anticipated liking this immensely While I did enjoy this, I found there to be one huge difference between the two. In Downton Abbey everything is glamorous and you find yourself so envious of the people and this beautiful time period they live in. In Summerset Abbey I found myself feeling rather sorry for these girls and the things they were obligated to do based on customs. I rather think though that Summerset Abbey gives a more accurate interpretation of that time period as it likely wasn't truly as exotic as it seems on television. For this reason I think many won't appreciate this as much because, like me, I can't help but love the glamorous façade.
The writing was entertaining but there were several times where additional descriptive details had been added that felt unnecessary and would have been better omitted. The mystery bit of the whole story could have been done much better as well. Nonetheless entertaining, I still felt I had the mystery solved weeks before these girls did. Considering this is a start of a new series, Summerset Abbey left off at a rather awkward point but definitely leaves you highly anticipating the next installment.
March 8, 2013
This is a Downton Abbey-esque Books but even if I tried hard to enjoy it, I must confess I didn't managed to like it.
The idea of the story is interesting, typical from an Edwardian era. But there is a lack of true emotion aan real engagement among the main characters which makes the reader to loose interest into the plot.
I hate when I finish a book and I have to ask the stupid question: and so what??
Probably I won't read any other book by this author. There are better books on this subject.
The idea of the story is interesting, typical from an Edwardian era. But there is a lack of true emotion aan real engagement among the main characters which makes the reader to loose interest into the plot.
I hate when I finish a book and I have to ask the stupid question: and so what??
Probably I won't read any other book by this author. There are better books on this subject.
August 19, 2024
Review from 2014
C+ for narration / C for content.
Summerset Abbey seems to have been clearly aimed at the Downton Abbey market, and not just because of the similarity in the names. Summerset is set in 1913, and is the first of a trilogy that follows events in the lives of three young women – sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton and their informally adopted sister, Prudence Tate.
The story opens with the funeral of Philip Buxton, younger brother of the Earl of Summerset, and father of Rowena and Victoria. Philip was a progressive who ensured his daughters were well educated and brought them up to be unconstrained by class differences. It comes as an incredibly harsh blow when Rowena is told by her uncle and her father’s solicitor that their home does not actually belong to them, as it’s part of the earl’s estate, and that, as Rowena’s money is in trust until she is twenty-five (two years away), they will have to make their home at the Abbey from now on. Not only that, but as Prudence is nothing but the daughter of their former governess, she is not the earl’s responsibility and will not be accompanying them. Trying to deal with her grief and shock, Rowena panics and suggests the first thing that occurs to her – Prudence should stay on as hers and Victoria’s lady’s maid.
When they arrive at the Abbey, Prudence is hurried off into the servants’ quarters and given a long list of do’s and don’ts by the housekeeper, who is clearly not disposed to like her. Many of the other servants are similarly inclined, feeling that Prudence has ideas above her station, and poor Prudence finds herself in the unenviable position of being “between stations” – thought too posh for “downstairs” and not posh enough for “upstairs”.
The earl and countess are not thrilled at having Prudence under their roof, and clearly want to be rid of her. Their attitude serves to emphasise the precarious nature of the situation faced by a woman like Prudence who has no male relatives to speak up for her. She is going to have to make her own way in life from now on, and it’s clear that it’s not going to be easy.
Each of the three principal female roles possesses certain defining characteristics, although I wouldn’t say that each is particularly strongly characterised. Victoria has been defined all her life as being “sickly” (she suffers from asthma), but fortunately is not one to let herself be beaten down by it, as her aunt observes, Victoria’s stubbornness “no doubt came from being infirm so much of her young life. If you were sickly, you either overcame it or it overcame you. It gave one a sense of strength.” Prudence is “good” – she’s always been able to handle Victoria when she gets in one of her pets, and even though she fumes inwardly, she hardly ever complains about the situation into which she has been forced.
Rowena’s inaction over the situation faced by the young woman who was, until recently, to all intents and purposes, her sister, makes her a difficult character to like. She seems to be so weighed down by thoughts of her responsibilities – to her sister and to her family – as to have become paralysed by them. She is reactive rather than pro-active, never owning up to her poor decisions until it is too late, and, feeling guilty about her inaction, lashes out, which makes her feel even more guilty. It’s true that young women in 1913 were still very much bound by convention, and that Rowena has little choice in the matter, but she never attempts to question her uncle’s decision or do anything to improve Prudence’s situation.
While not technically an historical romance, there are romantic elements in Summerset Abbey, as Rowena becomes smitten with a young aviator by the name of Jonathan Wells, Victoria strikes up a friendship with her cousin’s friend, Kit, and Prudence catches the eye of the young Lord Billingsly.
The story takes a while to get going and moves at a fairly leisurely pace, but it’s enjoyable, and the author has certainly done her homework as to the trends in fashion and décor of the time, and she pays particular attention to the class divide and the rumblings of discontent among the lower classes. Things are changing… but not quite yet.
My biggest bugbear with the story, however, is that it is incomplete. This may not be an issue for some, but I really didn’t like the fact that the book ends without any closure and is so obviously a set up to entice listeners into purchasing the next in the series. The book is part of a trilogy, it’s true, but in the majority of series books, each book is more or less self-contained, and works independently of the others. Here, Prudence discovers the truth about her parentage and makes a rash decision – The End. What?!
This is the first time I have listened to narrator Sarah Coomes, although she has a fair number of audiobooks to her credit. Her voice is suitably youthful as to enable her to portray the sisters – aged 23, 20 and 18 – convincingly and she is very good in the more emotional moments. The differentiation between the three young women is subtle, but there, although sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between Rowena and Prudence. There are unexpected switches of PoV in the narrative, which can cause some confusion when all three of the sisters are in the same scene, so I had to pay close attention to the dialogue tags at those points. The male characters don’t appear very often throughout the story, but when they do, it’s fortunate that they rarely appear together (if at all), because Ms Coomes seems to have one all-purpose young-man voice, which is a bit stronger and harsher than her usual tone, with a slightly nasal quality that isn’t particularly attractive. The Earl and Countess of Summerset are pitched lower than the younger characters, and the servants and other secondary characters are portrayed using a variety of regional accents which are fairly accurate and consistently applied. The narrative is well paced, and Ms Coomes is clearly very comfortable with the material. My one criticism in this area is that she overused one particular vocal inflection, which gave numerous sentences a constantly “nervy” feel.
Once I got into the story, I enjoyed it, although I’ve knocked my content grade down to a C because of the inconclusive ending, and I would certainly consider listening to Ms Coomes again.
C+ for narration / C for content.
Summerset Abbey seems to have been clearly aimed at the Downton Abbey market, and not just because of the similarity in the names. Summerset is set in 1913, and is the first of a trilogy that follows events in the lives of three young women – sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton and their informally adopted sister, Prudence Tate.
The story opens with the funeral of Philip Buxton, younger brother of the Earl of Summerset, and father of Rowena and Victoria. Philip was a progressive who ensured his daughters were well educated and brought them up to be unconstrained by class differences. It comes as an incredibly harsh blow when Rowena is told by her uncle and her father’s solicitor that their home does not actually belong to them, as it’s part of the earl’s estate, and that, as Rowena’s money is in trust until she is twenty-five (two years away), they will have to make their home at the Abbey from now on. Not only that, but as Prudence is nothing but the daughter of their former governess, she is not the earl’s responsibility and will not be accompanying them. Trying to deal with her grief and shock, Rowena panics and suggests the first thing that occurs to her – Prudence should stay on as hers and Victoria’s lady’s maid.
When they arrive at the Abbey, Prudence is hurried off into the servants’ quarters and given a long list of do’s and don’ts by the housekeeper, who is clearly not disposed to like her. Many of the other servants are similarly inclined, feeling that Prudence has ideas above her station, and poor Prudence finds herself in the unenviable position of being “between stations” – thought too posh for “downstairs” and not posh enough for “upstairs”.
The earl and countess are not thrilled at having Prudence under their roof, and clearly want to be rid of her. Their attitude serves to emphasise the precarious nature of the situation faced by a woman like Prudence who has no male relatives to speak up for her. She is going to have to make her own way in life from now on, and it’s clear that it’s not going to be easy.
Each of the three principal female roles possesses certain defining characteristics, although I wouldn’t say that each is particularly strongly characterised. Victoria has been defined all her life as being “sickly” (she suffers from asthma), but fortunately is not one to let herself be beaten down by it, as her aunt observes, Victoria’s stubbornness “no doubt came from being infirm so much of her young life. If you were sickly, you either overcame it or it overcame you. It gave one a sense of strength.” Prudence is “good” – she’s always been able to handle Victoria when she gets in one of her pets, and even though she fumes inwardly, she hardly ever complains about the situation into which she has been forced.
Rowena’s inaction over the situation faced by the young woman who was, until recently, to all intents and purposes, her sister, makes her a difficult character to like. She seems to be so weighed down by thoughts of her responsibilities – to her sister and to her family – as to have become paralysed by them. She is reactive rather than pro-active, never owning up to her poor decisions until it is too late, and, feeling guilty about her inaction, lashes out, which makes her feel even more guilty. It’s true that young women in 1913 were still very much bound by convention, and that Rowena has little choice in the matter, but she never attempts to question her uncle’s decision or do anything to improve Prudence’s situation.
While not technically an historical romance, there are romantic elements in Summerset Abbey, as Rowena becomes smitten with a young aviator by the name of Jonathan Wells, Victoria strikes up a friendship with her cousin’s friend, Kit, and Prudence catches the eye of the young Lord Billingsly.
The story takes a while to get going and moves at a fairly leisurely pace, but it’s enjoyable, and the author has certainly done her homework as to the trends in fashion and décor of the time, and she pays particular attention to the class divide and the rumblings of discontent among the lower classes. Things are changing… but not quite yet.
My biggest bugbear with the story, however, is that it is incomplete. This may not be an issue for some, but I really didn’t like the fact that the book ends without any closure and is so obviously a set up to entice listeners into purchasing the next in the series. The book is part of a trilogy, it’s true, but in the majority of series books, each book is more or less self-contained, and works independently of the others. Here, Prudence discovers the truth about her parentage and makes a rash decision – The End. What?!
This is the first time I have listened to narrator Sarah Coomes, although she has a fair number of audiobooks to her credit. Her voice is suitably youthful as to enable her to portray the sisters – aged 23, 20 and 18 – convincingly and she is very good in the more emotional moments. The differentiation between the three young women is subtle, but there, although sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between Rowena and Prudence. There are unexpected switches of PoV in the narrative, which can cause some confusion when all three of the sisters are in the same scene, so I had to pay close attention to the dialogue tags at those points. The male characters don’t appear very often throughout the story, but when they do, it’s fortunate that they rarely appear together (if at all), because Ms Coomes seems to have one all-purpose young-man voice, which is a bit stronger and harsher than her usual tone, with a slightly nasal quality that isn’t particularly attractive. The Earl and Countess of Summerset are pitched lower than the younger characters, and the servants and other secondary characters are portrayed using a variety of regional accents which are fairly accurate and consistently applied. The narrative is well paced, and Ms Coomes is clearly very comfortable with the material. My one criticism in this area is that she overused one particular vocal inflection, which gave numerous sentences a constantly “nervy” feel.
Once I got into the story, I enjoyed it, although I’ve knocked my content grade down to a C because of the inconclusive ending, and I would certainly consider listening to Ms Coomes again.
April 6, 2020
Um enredo muito bom, remonta-nos à época da série Downtown Abbey. Já tenho os outros livros na estante para continuar a ler.
November 24, 2012
This was a book I was really looking forward to. Mostly because I love historical novels, but also because I LOVE "Downton Abbey," and this definitely sounded Downton-esque. And thankfully, it totally was!
I think this is a good book for fans of Anna Godbersen - there are similarities in that they're both historical, with multiple POVs, and focus on the lives of catty (or semi-catty) girls with lots of drama in their lives. But I think people who were frustrated with the girls in Anna Godbersen's books might find these heroines a bit more levelheaded and likeable. For me, I liked the MCs in both.
I started out the book thinking Prudence was a bit of a martyr and self-righteous, but she really grew on me throughout the book. And I was really surprised by her choice in the end - totally didn't see that coming! Some readers might find Rowena hard to like, but I found her very Mary Crawley-esque in that she has to carry the responsibility of all three girls, and she doesn't always rise to the challenge. I think she'll have the most character development throughout the series and possibly the most interesting character arc.
For me, Victoria was the hardest to like. She's a very black-and-white person, which I found sort of irritating. But she helped the story progress, so I could deal with her.
The historical details were good, but I wished there had been more. That's one of my favorite parts of a historical novel - all the delicious tidbits about fashion and etiquette and the like, but I thought there was a lot of that missing here. That kept the pacing quicker, but I felt it took away from a lot of the ambiance.
This is definitely a very readable book. It's good for people who don't normally read historical fiction, I think. It's also not really YA. I would call it new adult, as the youngest character is 18 - Victoria. Prudence and Rowena are both over 20. Finally, I found a new adult book that I liked! Woohoo!
I'm not sure if this book will get a lot of buzz, but I think it should. I really hope more books like this one will get published in the future. Forget dystopian. Bring on the historicals! :)
I think this is a good book for fans of Anna Godbersen - there are similarities in that they're both historical, with multiple POVs, and focus on the lives of catty (or semi-catty) girls with lots of drama in their lives. But I think people who were frustrated with the girls in Anna Godbersen's books might find these heroines a bit more levelheaded and likeable. For me, I liked the MCs in both.
I started out the book thinking Prudence was a bit of a martyr and self-righteous, but she really grew on me throughout the book. And I was really surprised by her choice in the end - totally didn't see that coming! Some readers might find Rowena hard to like, but I found her very Mary Crawley-esque in that she has to carry the responsibility of all three girls, and she doesn't always rise to the challenge. I think she'll have the most character development throughout the series and possibly the most interesting character arc.
For me, Victoria was the hardest to like. She's a very black-and-white person, which I found sort of irritating. But she helped the story progress, so I could deal with her.
The historical details were good, but I wished there had been more. That's one of my favorite parts of a historical novel - all the delicious tidbits about fashion and etiquette and the like, but I thought there was a lot of that missing here. That kept the pacing quicker, but I felt it took away from a lot of the ambiance.
This is definitely a very readable book. It's good for people who don't normally read historical fiction, I think. It's also not really YA. I would call it new adult, as the youngest character is 18 - Victoria. Prudence and Rowena are both over 20. Finally, I found a new adult book that I liked! Woohoo!
I'm not sure if this book will get a lot of buzz, but I think it should. I really hope more books like this one will get published in the future. Forget dystopian. Bring on the historicals! :)
June 6, 2016
Т.Дж. Браун «Аббатство Саммерсет. Семейная тайна».
«Аббатство Саммерсет. Семейная тайна» - это первая книга трилогии американской писательницы Тэрри Браун. Аннотация обещает нам блеск аристократического общества, семейный тайны, интриги эпохи короля Эдуарда.
Вначале романа мы встречаем трех героинь – Пруденс, Ровену и Викторию, которым после смерти своего покровители приходятся переехать в Аббатство Саммерсет, которое принадлежит дяде Ро и Вик, где всем трем предстоит начать свою новую жизнь. Девушки, совершенно не похожи на своих современец, озабоченных балами и замужеством. Ровена тихо страдает от своей нерешительности, взбалмошная Виктория лелеет мечту стать ученым, и разгадать все тайны своего семейства. Дочери гувернантки–Пруденс, которая еще недавно воспитывалась наравне с двумя сестрами, теперь отведена роль всего лишь гувернантке и главы Аббатства Саммерсет спят и видят, как бы поскорее выпроводить девушки за ворота и захлопнуть за ее спиною дверь.
От книги я ожидала интриг, интриг и еще раз интриг. На деле это роман с очень спокойным повествованием. Страшная «семейная тайна» лично мне стала очевидна практически с первых глав. Героини очень уж однотипные. Зачеркни имя и можно их перепутать – они страдают, переодеваются и ходят из угла в угол. Автор пытается погрузить нас в атмосферу того времени описываю мебель, помещения и одежду. Для меня не сработала. Прищурь один глаз и действия уже происходят в наше время. Нет - какой та изюминки. С появлением на горизонте молодых людей (куда уж без них) ход повествования немного «веселее», но никакого пика так и не достигнет. Бал, которого, я так ждала, показался мне на редкость серым. История и герои не затронули ни одной струну у меня в душе. С книгой вполне так себе можно отдохнуть пару вечерков, но чего-то эпического ждать не стоит. Оценка: 3 из 5
«Аббатство Саммерсет. Семейная тайна» - это первая книга трилогии американской писательницы Тэрри Браун. Аннотация обещает нам блеск аристократического общества, семейный тайны, интриги эпохи короля Эдуарда.
Вначале романа мы встречаем трех героинь – Пруденс, Ровену и Викторию, которым после смерти своего покровители приходятся переехать в Аббатство Саммерсет, которое принадлежит дяде Ро и Вик, где всем трем предстоит начать свою новую жизнь. Девушки, совершенно не похожи на своих современец, озабоченных балами и замужеством. Ровена тихо страдает от своей нерешительности, взбалмошная Виктория лелеет мечту стать ученым, и разгадать все тайны своего семейства. Дочери гувернантки–Пруденс, которая еще недавно воспитывалась наравне с двумя сестрами, теперь отведена роль всего лишь гувернантке и главы Аббатства Саммерсет спят и видят, как бы поскорее выпроводить девушки за ворота и захлопнуть за ее спиною дверь.
От книги я ожидала интриг, интриг и еще раз интриг. На деле это роман с очень спокойным повествованием. Страшная «семейная тайна» лично мне стала очевидна практически с первых глав. Героини очень уж однотипные. Зачеркни имя и можно их перепутать – они страдают, переодеваются и ходят из угла в угол. Автор пытается погрузить нас в атмосферу того времени описываю мебель, помещения и одежду. Для меня не сработала. Прищурь один глаз и действия уже происходят в наше время. Нет - какой та изюминки. С появлением на горизонте молодых людей (куда уж без них) ход повествования немного «веселее», но никакого пика так и не достигнет. Бал, которого, я так ждала, показался мне на редкость серым. История и герои не затронули ни одной струну у меня в душе. С книгой вполне так себе можно отдохнуть пару вечерков, но чего-то эпического ждать не стоит. Оценка: 3 из 5
January 31, 2020
Flat & meh. I nearly DNF'd at least 4 times, but finally managed to power through with the aid of coffee & chocolate.
The prose was odd in that it felt more like YA, both in style & treatment of the subject matter, but clearly it was aiming for an adult readership, so everything just plodded along without any oomph; meanwhile, the cast was flat and/or cliché & the twists (fairly) predictable. It does improve (somewhat) in the final quarter, but by then it was too little too late, as I was indifferent toward or openly disliked all the MCs. Victoria was the one I disliked least -- she could be twee & annoying, but at least she had some moxie & personality. Out of the others, Andrew the footman (who *so* doesn't deserve to be saddled with ___ ) & Susie the scullery maid were the only others I cared about enough to wonder as to their fates.
Overall, just blah & uninspired -- I won't be continuing with this series. Sooner or later I'll learn not to bother with these Edwardian upstairs/downstairs books; they either annoy me with their flaunting of intricate social research, or put me to sleep with boring talky-talk drama. 🙄
The prose was odd in that it felt more like YA, both in style & treatment of the subject matter, but clearly it was aiming for an adult readership, so everything just plodded along without any oomph; meanwhile, the cast was flat and/or cliché & the twists (fairly) predictable. It does improve (somewhat) in the final quarter, but by then it was too little too late, as I was indifferent toward or openly disliked all the MCs. Victoria was the one I disliked least -- she could be twee & annoying, but at least she had some moxie & personality. Out of the others, Andrew the footman (who *so* doesn't deserve to be saddled with ___ ) & Susie the scullery maid were the only others I cared about enough to wonder as to their fates.
Overall, just blah & uninspired -- I won't be continuing with this series. Sooner or later I'll learn not to bother with these Edwardian upstairs/downstairs books; they either annoy me with their flaunting of intricate social research, or put me to sleep with boring talky-talk drama. 🙄
February 20, 2023
Oops, did I never review this trilogy? No better time than the present, I guess. If you are looking to fulfill that hole in your heart that Downton Abbey left after it finished, then the Summerset Abbey trilogy will delight you. The novels surround the Buxton sisters- Rowena and Victoria, and their family's ward, Prudence. The novel explores the society issues that plagued many homes of the Edwardian era. I had a very difficult time putting the book down and enjoyed the different points of view and the romance opportunities that were introduced.
02/08/21
02/08/21
June 22, 2020
Un début de série saupoudrée d'élégance et de tralala romanesque, se déroulant dans l'Angleterre du début du XXe siècle, avec une intrigue renversante où des demoiselles se débattent pour sauver leur héritage, respecter la mémoire de leur père, croire en leurs rêves et résister face aux intempéries. Miam, miam, miam.
Endeuillées, Rowena et Victoria doivent quitter leur maison londonienne pour vivre chez leur oncle à Summerset Abbey. Toutefois, la présence de leur amie Prudence est compromise. En tant que fille de leur préceptrice, celle-ci doit désormais travailler comme leur simple femme de chambre.
Cette humiliation met en colère les deux sœurs qui promettent de trouver une solution. Pour Prudence, la réalité est un rappel à l'ordre : le temps de l'insouciance est dépassé, elle doit accepter sa place parmi les domestiques qui n'ont aucune pitié pour elle.
Même l'entente entre les trois jeunes femmes va peu à peu s'altérer car elles multiplient les cachotteries (Rowena avec son pilote d'aéroplane ; Victoria avec son besoin de fouiller le passé ; Prudence avec son lord intrépide) si bien que le doute est planté et qu'elles se comprennent de moins en moins tout en voulant se préserver.
Au final, ce n'est ni trop mièvre ni trop mélodramatique. C'est délicieusement poudré comme la série glamour d'Anna Godbersen (rappelez-vous Rebelles). Du plaisir coupable sur toute la ligne. Pour une mise en bouche, ma foi, j'ai été très agréablement surprise et je compte lire rapidement la suite des aventures, cf. Le Printemps des Débutantes.
Endeuillées, Rowena et Victoria doivent quitter leur maison londonienne pour vivre chez leur oncle à Summerset Abbey. Toutefois, la présence de leur amie Prudence est compromise. En tant que fille de leur préceptrice, celle-ci doit désormais travailler comme leur simple femme de chambre.
Cette humiliation met en colère les deux sœurs qui promettent de trouver une solution. Pour Prudence, la réalité est un rappel à l'ordre : le temps de l'insouciance est dépassé, elle doit accepter sa place parmi les domestiques qui n'ont aucune pitié pour elle.
Même l'entente entre les trois jeunes femmes va peu à peu s'altérer car elles multiplient les cachotteries (Rowena avec son pilote d'aéroplane ; Victoria avec son besoin de fouiller le passé ; Prudence avec son lord intrépide) si bien que le doute est planté et qu'elles se comprennent de moins en moins tout en voulant se préserver.
Au final, ce n'est ni trop mièvre ni trop mélodramatique. C'est délicieusement poudré comme la série glamour d'Anna Godbersen (rappelez-vous Rebelles). Du plaisir coupable sur toute la ligne. Pour une mise en bouche, ma foi, j'ai été très agréablement surprise et je compte lire rapidement la suite des aventures, cf. Le Printemps des Débutantes.
February 12, 2013
For all you Downton Abbey fans, this just may be the book for you. Set in great Britain in 1913, Summerset Abbey captures a snapshot in time when one way of life is emerging just as another is fading away. This period is remembered as La Belle Epoque, during the Edwardian era when the privileged are clinging to a lifestyle that puts them at the top of the "caste system," while others are awakening to the issues of suffrage and the extremely hard lives of the poor and unfortunate whose labors enable the lifestyle of the elite citizenry.
The story begins with the funeral of a wealthy gentleman in London, Sir Philip Buxton, who leaves behind two daughters, Victoria and Rowena, ages 17 and 19, and Prudence Tate, a ward he has raised as his own daughter. Her age falls between the two daughters and the three feel a close sisterly kinship. Prudence is the daughter of the governess, who passed away when the girls were still children. Prudence's mother had originally served at Summerset Abbey, but when her father died, Sir Philip enlisted her to serve as governess to his children in London. Though Sir Philip had very modern sensibilities and raised the girls accordingly, his brother, the Earl of Summerset, has very rigid views of what is and is not appropriate.
After the funeral he surprises the girls with the news that they do not own their home; it is the property of the Summerset estates, and they must accompany him back to the Abbey for an extended visit. The girls inherit everything from their dad, but the Earl is conservator of their wealth until they marry. He views Prudence as one of the hired staff and says she must remain in London. Victoria and Rowena are incensed, claiming that Prudence is their Ladie's Maid, so that she will be allowed to accompany them.
Little do they know that their decision will lead to Prudence being consigned to the servant's quarters and subjected to the rude and harsh treatment that serving people quickly became resigned to if they are expecting to keep a job. Nor are they aware of the matchmaking that the Earl's wife Lady Charlotte is planning. And there is certainly no role for Prudence at any of the social events that are planned, with the exception, of course, of serving the household as needed when her services as Ladie's Maid are not required.
Prudence uses her rare time off to look for family in the nearby village while Rowena and Victoria are making discoveries of their own. They are shocked by some of the family secrets that are uncovered and by the strength and courage they discover within themselves.
A really good story, and as usual with historical fiction, an enlightening look at an era with much to teach us about ourselves and our changing attitudes and values. Fans of T.J. Brown are fortunate that there are follow up books in the Summerset Abbey Series. Book Two is A Bloom In Winter. The ebook version I read courtesy of NetGalleys also has an excellent Book Club discussion guide.
The story begins with the funeral of a wealthy gentleman in London, Sir Philip Buxton, who leaves behind two daughters, Victoria and Rowena, ages 17 and 19, and Prudence Tate, a ward he has raised as his own daughter. Her age falls between the two daughters and the three feel a close sisterly kinship. Prudence is the daughter of the governess, who passed away when the girls were still children. Prudence's mother had originally served at Summerset Abbey, but when her father died, Sir Philip enlisted her to serve as governess to his children in London. Though Sir Philip had very modern sensibilities and raised the girls accordingly, his brother, the Earl of Summerset, has very rigid views of what is and is not appropriate.
After the funeral he surprises the girls with the news that they do not own their home; it is the property of the Summerset estates, and they must accompany him back to the Abbey for an extended visit. The girls inherit everything from their dad, but the Earl is conservator of their wealth until they marry. He views Prudence as one of the hired staff and says she must remain in London. Victoria and Rowena are incensed, claiming that Prudence is their Ladie's Maid, so that she will be allowed to accompany them.
Little do they know that their decision will lead to Prudence being consigned to the servant's quarters and subjected to the rude and harsh treatment that serving people quickly became resigned to if they are expecting to keep a job. Nor are they aware of the matchmaking that the Earl's wife Lady Charlotte is planning. And there is certainly no role for Prudence at any of the social events that are planned, with the exception, of course, of serving the household as needed when her services as Ladie's Maid are not required.
Prudence uses her rare time off to look for family in the nearby village while Rowena and Victoria are making discoveries of their own. They are shocked by some of the family secrets that are uncovered and by the strength and courage they discover within themselves.
A really good story, and as usual with historical fiction, an enlightening look at an era with much to teach us about ourselves and our changing attitudes and values. Fans of T.J. Brown are fortunate that there are follow up books in the Summerset Abbey Series. Book Two is A Bloom In Winter. The ebook version I read courtesy of NetGalleys also has an excellent Book Club discussion guide.
December 16, 2012
The setting is early twentieth century England, where automobiles and airplanes are still in their infancy. Women are still seen as not able to handle their own affairs and a proper young lady aspires only to make a good wife.
Widower, Sir Philip Buxton defied Edwardian principles and raised his two daughters and their orphaned best friend to be independent, strong personalities, encouraging them to think outside of the box. Unfortunately, he becomes ill and passes away, and his older brother, the Earl of Summerset, takes over the handling of the estate and the guardianship of Rowena and Victoria. Prudence, always treated like one of Sir Philip's daughters is allowed to come along only as a servant, not as the sister she was to the other girls.
The events that followed become a turning point for all three girls as they are expected to assume new roles in society, meet young men they have feelings for and dark family secrets are revealed. One of the girls will bend, one will become stronger, one will pull herself up and forge ahead into a new life on her own, while the damage done to the relationship these girls had may be irreparable, cutting each to the bone as new light is shed on the often shameful history of their family.
Each character had their own strengths, most likable were Victoria and Prudence, while Rowena's potential was cut off. As the 'villain' in the story, Lady Summerset was superb, between following the nuances of the times, and her own devious machinations. The Earl was a goodhearted person, just weak under the pressures of his wife.
This is well worth reading, and is appropriate for young adults, as well as adults, as it demonstrates the pressures society's expectations place on itself.
This ARC copy was given to me by NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.
Widower, Sir Philip Buxton defied Edwardian principles and raised his two daughters and their orphaned best friend to be independent, strong personalities, encouraging them to think outside of the box. Unfortunately, he becomes ill and passes away, and his older brother, the Earl of Summerset, takes over the handling of the estate and the guardianship of Rowena and Victoria. Prudence, always treated like one of Sir Philip's daughters is allowed to come along only as a servant, not as the sister she was to the other girls.
The events that followed become a turning point for all three girls as they are expected to assume new roles in society, meet young men they have feelings for and dark family secrets are revealed. One of the girls will bend, one will become stronger, one will pull herself up and forge ahead into a new life on her own, while the damage done to the relationship these girls had may be irreparable, cutting each to the bone as new light is shed on the often shameful history of their family.
Each character had their own strengths, most likable were Victoria and Prudence, while Rowena's potential was cut off. As the 'villain' in the story, Lady Summerset was superb, between following the nuances of the times, and her own devious machinations. The Earl was a goodhearted person, just weak under the pressures of his wife.
This is well worth reading, and is appropriate for young adults, as well as adults, as it demonstrates the pressures society's expectations place on itself.
This ARC copy was given to me by NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2016
Edwardian period romance much in the vein of Downton Abbey. Not a bad read with the division of the English class system a major plot point but it did end quite abruptly making the reading of the next in the series compulsory for anyone interested in following what happens to the four Buxton ladies.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
January 11, 2013
Diving into SUMMERSET ABBEY feels decadent. Much like the elegant, opulent and scandalous world in which the story takes place. A world that’s caught between the past and the present, one that’s on the verge of modernism but still clings to traditionalism.
A world where entitlement and leisure, lavish parties and arranged marriages contrast with motorcars, aeroplanes, suffragettes and the working class. And where the lords and ladies of the manor continue to embrace their way of life even as the world moves forward without them.
SUMMERSET ABBEY is a story that is rich with beauty, includes a bevy of interesting characters, has a wonderful flow to the writing and feels fresh and modern yet captures the essence of the time period around which the story revolves.
Told from multiple perspectives, the author, T.J. Brown, gives readers the opportunity to meet three young women – Rowena, Prudence and Victoria – who grew up in the same household but who find themselves in very different circumstances following the death of the man who raised them.
Rowena discovers herself to be newly burdened with responsibilities she didn’t ask for and ones she wasn’t in the least bit ready for. Victoria’s dreams of making her own way in the world are put on hold when it becomes necessary to relocate to Summerset Abbey. And Prudence is forced to face the harsh reality that while she always believed herself to be equal to her “sisters,” outside of the place she used to call home she is anything but.
As the first book in this new series, SUMMERSET ABBEY sets up the series brilliantly. It builds the world, develops the characters, and moves the plot forward enough for readers to feel satisfied with what they’ve been given but still eager for more.
And while the pace is unhurried, the story has an easy flow that will keep readers connected throughout – even as it switches between each of the different character’s storylines. It has characters that readers will want to spend time getting to know. It has writing that gives this tale a more contemporary feel, allowing for a broader appeal. And it has three different story arcs that readers will want to follow to their conclusion.
Brimming with secrets, lies, scandal and betrayal, SUMMERSET ABBEY is an immensely entertaining, thoroughly engaging and utterly enchanting tale that will keep readers in its thrall.

On a personal note…
I fell madly in love with SUMMERSET ABBEY pretty much from the moment I started reading it. I was instantly drawn into the world which had the feel of a bygone era but also felt as if it was on the cusp of a modern one.
I loved meeting Victoria, Prudence and Rowena, though I felt much more of a connection with Prudence than either of her two “sisters.” She was the most relatable, the strongest, the most sympathetic. And she had the most swoon-worthy man interested in her company – Lord Billingsly.
Her situation was also the most heartbreaking. While all three were uprooted from their home when Rowena and Victoria’s father died, only Prudence had to suffer the radical change in her circumstances. And only she had to face the cruelty that Summerset Abbey dished out. Not only from the wealthy and privileged, but from the servants. Prudence did not fit in anywhere at Summerset Abbey and my heart broke for her.
Victoria was charming, strong-willed and an absolutely delightful character. She had very strong opinions for someone whose health issues left her body weakened. I loved seeing just what she got herself up to when she wasn’t being watched by Rowena or Prudence. For someone who could easily have allowed herself to be doted on or coddled, she opted instead to create her own adventures and do as much as she was capable of for herself.
I”m so glad we got to experience this story from all three sisters’ points of view, as well as the occasional peek at the world from Lady Summerset’s perspective. Because if I didn’t get to see things through Rowena Buxton’s eyes, I might only have thought of her as dreadful. Instead I saw her as flawed and frustrating but not horrible.
Her story was absolutely riveting but she herself was a cross between maddening and mildly sympathetic. Mostly maddening, though. Not my favorite traits for a character. And while she had kindness in her, she was weak and indecisive and sometimes just as rude and entitled as Lady Summerset herself.
I couldn’t decide if she’d have been better off growing up in a household that was much more traditional, where all her choices were taken away from her, or if it would have been better for her to have grown up in an environment that was far more modern than the one she was brought up in. A world where she was completely free to do as she pleased.
I wanted to throttle her because of the way she handled, or rather didn’t handle, the situation with Prudence. She moped. She became sad. She got depressed. She did nothing.
But she wasn’t totally unlikable. She was rather charming and adventurous when she stepped away from Summerset Abbey and spent time with Jonathan Wells. Without the heavy burdens of responsibility she would have been very likable. Sadly those weren’t her circumstances. And as frustrating as she was, as much as I wanted to scream at her, I loved getting to experience the story from her point of view.
I loved getting swept away by this story. It felt somehow luxurious to be letting my imagination linger in the past, in a world where time moved just a little bit slower, people dressed for every occasion – even when it wasn’t practical – and etiquette was still very much a part of everyday life.
And I loved trying to uncover the secrets of Summerset Abbey and attempting to figure out just what the scandal was. This was an utterly engaging and absolutely delightful read and a world I can’t wait to learn more about when I revisit it in A BLOOM IN WINTER.
I did read the short snippet from the second book in the series that was included at the end of SUMMERSET ABBEY, and I cannot wait to find out exactly how a certain girl got into that particular circumstance. Fortunately book two comes out in March so the wait won’t be too torturous.
A world where entitlement and leisure, lavish parties and arranged marriages contrast with motorcars, aeroplanes, suffragettes and the working class. And where the lords and ladies of the manor continue to embrace their way of life even as the world moves forward without them.
SUMMERSET ABBEY is a story that is rich with beauty, includes a bevy of interesting characters, has a wonderful flow to the writing and feels fresh and modern yet captures the essence of the time period around which the story revolves.
Told from multiple perspectives, the author, T.J. Brown, gives readers the opportunity to meet three young women – Rowena, Prudence and Victoria – who grew up in the same household but who find themselves in very different circumstances following the death of the man who raised them.
Rowena discovers herself to be newly burdened with responsibilities she didn’t ask for and ones she wasn’t in the least bit ready for. Victoria’s dreams of making her own way in the world are put on hold when it becomes necessary to relocate to Summerset Abbey. And Prudence is forced to face the harsh reality that while she always believed herself to be equal to her “sisters,” outside of the place she used to call home she is anything but.
As the first book in this new series, SUMMERSET ABBEY sets up the series brilliantly. It builds the world, develops the characters, and moves the plot forward enough for readers to feel satisfied with what they’ve been given but still eager for more.
And while the pace is unhurried, the story has an easy flow that will keep readers connected throughout – even as it switches between each of the different character’s storylines. It has characters that readers will want to spend time getting to know. It has writing that gives this tale a more contemporary feel, allowing for a broader appeal. And it has three different story arcs that readers will want to follow to their conclusion.
Brimming with secrets, lies, scandal and betrayal, SUMMERSET ABBEY is an immensely entertaining, thoroughly engaging and utterly enchanting tale that will keep readers in its thrall.

On a personal note…
I fell madly in love with SUMMERSET ABBEY pretty much from the moment I started reading it. I was instantly drawn into the world which had the feel of a bygone era but also felt as if it was on the cusp of a modern one.
I loved meeting Victoria, Prudence and Rowena, though I felt much more of a connection with Prudence than either of her two “sisters.” She was the most relatable, the strongest, the most sympathetic. And she had the most swoon-worthy man interested in her company – Lord Billingsly.
Her situation was also the most heartbreaking. While all three were uprooted from their home when Rowena and Victoria’s father died, only Prudence had to suffer the radical change in her circumstances. And only she had to face the cruelty that Summerset Abbey dished out. Not only from the wealthy and privileged, but from the servants. Prudence did not fit in anywhere at Summerset Abbey and my heart broke for her.
Victoria was charming, strong-willed and an absolutely delightful character. She had very strong opinions for someone whose health issues left her body weakened. I loved seeing just what she got herself up to when she wasn’t being watched by Rowena or Prudence. For someone who could easily have allowed herself to be doted on or coddled, she opted instead to create her own adventures and do as much as she was capable of for herself.
I”m so glad we got to experience this story from all three sisters’ points of view, as well as the occasional peek at the world from Lady Summerset’s perspective. Because if I didn’t get to see things through Rowena Buxton’s eyes, I might only have thought of her as dreadful. Instead I saw her as flawed and frustrating but not horrible.
Her story was absolutely riveting but she herself was a cross between maddening and mildly sympathetic. Mostly maddening, though. Not my favorite traits for a character. And while she had kindness in her, she was weak and indecisive and sometimes just as rude and entitled as Lady Summerset herself.
I couldn’t decide if she’d have been better off growing up in a household that was much more traditional, where all her choices were taken away from her, or if it would have been better for her to have grown up in an environment that was far more modern than the one she was brought up in. A world where she was completely free to do as she pleased.
I wanted to throttle her because of the way she handled, or rather didn’t handle, the situation with Prudence. She moped. She became sad. She got depressed. She did nothing.
But she wasn’t totally unlikable. She was rather charming and adventurous when she stepped away from Summerset Abbey and spent time with Jonathan Wells. Without the heavy burdens of responsibility she would have been very likable. Sadly those weren’t her circumstances. And as frustrating as she was, as much as I wanted to scream at her, I loved getting to experience the story from her point of view.
I loved getting swept away by this story. It felt somehow luxurious to be letting my imagination linger in the past, in a world where time moved just a little bit slower, people dressed for every occasion – even when it wasn’t practical – and etiquette was still very much a part of everyday life.
And I loved trying to uncover the secrets of Summerset Abbey and attempting to figure out just what the scandal was. This was an utterly engaging and absolutely delightful read and a world I can’t wait to learn more about when I revisit it in A BLOOM IN WINTER.
I did read the short snippet from the second book in the series that was included at the end of SUMMERSET ABBEY, and I cannot wait to find out exactly how a certain girl got into that particular circumstance. Fortunately book two comes out in March so the wait won’t be too torturous.
August 24, 2014
A decent 3-star story with a promising premise sunk by lamentable inaccuracies and blatant grammatical errors. By the time I finished, the most entertaining thing about this book were the gushing publishers' statements that were so far from my own assessments as to be laughable.
When I read the blurb saying the author was making her "historical fiction debut," I assumed this was a blatant attempt to take advantage of Downton Abbey-mania. As I am as afflicted as anyone with DA-mania, I told myself, well, that doesn't mean it can't be good.
And the jacket copy was promising. "1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of society and the distant rumblings of war . . ."
Yes, that would have been a rollicking good story. But that's not the story here. First, there's absolutely nothing to establish this as taking place in 1913. About the limit of the historical detail is a mention of electricity and an obsession with aeroplanes as a new technology. The Earl of Summerset makes a jab about labor unions at the annual Christmas ball, another character makes a snarky reference to 'the New Woman,' and that's as far as it goes. Fine for those who like the history in their fiction to be atmospheric rather than integral. There is also nothing to establish Summerset Abbey as being anywhere near London. Once they arrive, the characters never travel off the estate. The only things contributing to the 'Edwardian' ambiance are the large sprawling estate and the clothes.
The clothes are wonderful; reading about them is a deliciously sensual experience. There is however no authorial effort made to understand either the complicated modes of address of the English peerage or the equally complicated servant hierarchies below-stairs. The Earl's father was, in one mention, a Duke. The woman Lady Summerset Ambrosia Huxley Buxton is suddenly Aunt Charlotte. And Rowena is variously and inaccurately addressed as Lady Summerset, Lady Rowena, and the Honorable Rowena Buxton, by characters who should have known that the eldest daughter of a knight is addressed as Miss Buxton. Upon her arrival, Prudence, supposed to be the ladies' maid, is sent to the scullery. The scullery maid later makes her way upstairs to wait on the sisters when Prudence doesn't feel like it. And Aunt Lady Summerset Charlotte calls her maid Hortense, when even the most casual watcher of Downton Abbey knows that Hortense, as ladies' maid, would have been addressed by her last name, a ladies' maid no matter how hated would never have been sent to the scullery, and a scullery maid was not to be seen upstairs.
The errors are all the more puzzling considering that most of the setting and characters are only lightly adapted from the world of DA. Nothing about Summerset Abbey distinguishes it from the recognizable interiors of Highclere Castle. Carson has become Mr. Cairns, and is bald; Mrs. Hughes is now Mrs. Harper, without an accent; and the eldest daughter, Rowena-Mary, is dark-haired, beautiful, snobbish, and said to be impulsive, though we see no evidence of that.
None of these errors would be real detractions from a ripping good story. But those young ladies seeking to fulfill their destinies . . . where did they go? All three characters spend most of the book feeling lost, listless, crippled by the grief of recently losing their father (in Prudence's case, father-figure), and musing upon why they just can't seem to rouse themselves to do anything besides change their clothes and occasionally bemoan their static fate. Doesn't make for a gripping plot. The rules of this society are, by the way, not unspoken. Prudence gets a list of rules upon her entrance through the servants' door. It's a moment of rare and welcome levity. Also, there is not a hint of rumblings of war, distant or otherwise. The characters are blissfully unaware of anything going on outside of their stately rooms.
They are also not remotely aware of what's going on within. Despite the crashingly obvious hints that THERE IS SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS ABOUT PRUDENCE'S PAST, it is not until around page 230, when the ruthless and arctic Lady Summerset finally gets put into action, that this secret becomes at all interesting. While smarter readers will detect the truth around obvious hint #2, I wasn't sure until the very end, when, finally, the truth gets revealed, feelings are hurt, scandal boils, and difficult choices have to be made. Too bad it took until page 260 for things to get interesting. Immediately the book ends, save for a quick epilogue that dispenses of Prudence's "fate," clearly leaving #2 and #3 of the projected trilogy to deal with the other two daughters.
I would likely have been far less mean-spirited about this review if my expectations hadn't been so glaringly raised by the publishers' copy. That I finished the book at all is a testament to, first, how terrible I am about figuring out mysteries, second how helplessly fascinated I am with historical fiction set in English great houses, and third, how desperate I am for Season 5 of Downton to premiere. But to be fair, there is something readable about this book, in the way that formula fiction (or movies) is often readable; it makes absolutely no demands on the readers' intelligence, and there is after all a time and a place for that sort of thing.
When I read the blurb saying the author was making her "historical fiction debut," I assumed this was a blatant attempt to take advantage of Downton Abbey-mania. As I am as afflicted as anyone with DA-mania, I told myself, well, that doesn't mean it can't be good.
And the jacket copy was promising. "1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of society and the distant rumblings of war . . ."
Yes, that would have been a rollicking good story. But that's not the story here. First, there's absolutely nothing to establish this as taking place in 1913. About the limit of the historical detail is a mention of electricity and an obsession with aeroplanes as a new technology. The Earl of Summerset makes a jab about labor unions at the annual Christmas ball, another character makes a snarky reference to 'the New Woman,' and that's as far as it goes. Fine for those who like the history in their fiction to be atmospheric rather than integral. There is also nothing to establish Summerset Abbey as being anywhere near London. Once they arrive, the characters never travel off the estate. The only things contributing to the 'Edwardian' ambiance are the large sprawling estate and the clothes.
The clothes are wonderful; reading about them is a deliciously sensual experience. There is however no authorial effort made to understand either the complicated modes of address of the English peerage or the equally complicated servant hierarchies below-stairs. The Earl's father was, in one mention, a Duke. The woman Lady Summerset Ambrosia Huxley Buxton is suddenly Aunt Charlotte. And Rowena is variously and inaccurately addressed as Lady Summerset, Lady Rowena, and the Honorable Rowena Buxton, by characters who should have known that the eldest daughter of a knight is addressed as Miss Buxton. Upon her arrival, Prudence, supposed to be the ladies' maid, is sent to the scullery. The scullery maid later makes her way upstairs to wait on the sisters when Prudence doesn't feel like it. And Aunt Lady Summerset Charlotte calls her maid Hortense, when even the most casual watcher of Downton Abbey knows that Hortense, as ladies' maid, would have been addressed by her last name, a ladies' maid no matter how hated would never have been sent to the scullery, and a scullery maid was not to be seen upstairs.
The errors are all the more puzzling considering that most of the setting and characters are only lightly adapted from the world of DA. Nothing about Summerset Abbey distinguishes it from the recognizable interiors of Highclere Castle. Carson has become Mr. Cairns, and is bald; Mrs. Hughes is now Mrs. Harper, without an accent; and the eldest daughter, Rowena-Mary, is dark-haired, beautiful, snobbish, and said to be impulsive, though we see no evidence of that.
None of these errors would be real detractions from a ripping good story. But those young ladies seeking to fulfill their destinies . . . where did they go? All three characters spend most of the book feeling lost, listless, crippled by the grief of recently losing their father (in Prudence's case, father-figure), and musing upon why they just can't seem to rouse themselves to do anything besides change their clothes and occasionally bemoan their static fate. Doesn't make for a gripping plot. The rules of this society are, by the way, not unspoken. Prudence gets a list of rules upon her entrance through the servants' door. It's a moment of rare and welcome levity. Also, there is not a hint of rumblings of war, distant or otherwise. The characters are blissfully unaware of anything going on outside of their stately rooms.
They are also not remotely aware of what's going on within. Despite the crashingly obvious hints that THERE IS SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS ABOUT PRUDENCE'S PAST, it is not until around page 230, when the ruthless and arctic Lady Summerset finally gets put into action, that this secret becomes at all interesting. While smarter readers will detect the truth around obvious hint #2, I wasn't sure until the very end, when, finally, the truth gets revealed, feelings are hurt, scandal boils, and difficult choices have to be made. Too bad it took until page 260 for things to get interesting. Immediately the book ends, save for a quick epilogue that dispenses of Prudence's "fate," clearly leaving #2 and #3 of the projected trilogy to deal with the other two daughters.
I would likely have been far less mean-spirited about this review if my expectations hadn't been so glaringly raised by the publishers' copy. That I finished the book at all is a testament to, first, how terrible I am about figuring out mysteries, second how helplessly fascinated I am with historical fiction set in English great houses, and third, how desperate I am for Season 5 of Downton to premiere. But to be fair, there is something readable about this book, in the way that formula fiction (or movies) is often readable; it makes absolutely no demands on the readers' intelligence, and there is after all a time and a place for that sort of thing.
October 3, 2013
Ora aqui está uma série que eu estou empolgadíssima para continuar a acompanhar!
Na casa de Sir Philip reinava um espírito boémio que se opunha à tradição - viúvo, Sir Philip permitiu que as suas duas filhas, Victoria e Rowena, fossem criadas juntamente com Prudence, a filha da governanta, como se esta fosse parte da família. Contudo, esta era uma noção partilhada apenas pelos esclarecidos do início do século XIX…e quando Sir Philip morre, vítima de pneumonia, Prudence depara-se com uma realidade bem diferente. As três são obrigadas a ir morar com o tio que, regendo-se ainda pelas estritas regras da aristocracia, apenas tolera a ida de Prudence sob o estatuto de criada. Um preceito pessoal que esconde algo bem mais grave. Na verdade, o futuro da família Buxton depende de se livrarem de Prudence…rapidamente.
Gostei imenso da abordagem escolhida pela autora, seguindo simultaneamente as três jovens - três mulheres fortes com ideias perigosamente liberais, habituadas a uma certa independência que agora se encontram sob a tutela de um homem que se opõe veemente a tal. Ao longo da narrativa fui ganhando afeição a cada uma delas (por motivos bem diferentes) e pelos respectivos interesses românticos que desenvolvem, especialmente pelo intrigante Kit. É certo que Rowena perdeu um bocadinho do seu encanto ao adiar constantemente a verdade, por dificuldade ou inconveniência, levando a consequências desastrosas. Como compensação, gostei muito da aparente fragilidade de Victoria, que acaba por camuflar um caracter forte e decidido. E, claro, a história de Prudence é a mais interessante e comovente, por se encontrar suspensa entre o mundo dos criados e dos senhores da casa, sem pertencer verdadeiramente a qualquer um dos lados.
A época histórica é, só por si, muito interessante. Gostei da exploração da condição da mulher numa sociedade onde se começavam a alastrar novas ideologias entre as jovens, novos objectivos e prioridades, que levavam ao desinteresse por aquela que deveria ser a condicionante máxima das suas vidas: o matrimónio. Ficou bastante por dizer, mas As Mulheres de Summerset Abbey é apenas o 1º livro de uma série contínua que acredito que se vá desenvolvendo lentamente sobre si mesma, daí que a exploração dos diversos tópicos e até das próprias personagens seja também ela lenta e adiada. Convenhamos que a autora não podia atafulhar o primeiro livro com informação, sobrecarregando uma leitura de entretenimento que se tornaria certamente aborrecida.
Não reconheço especial talento na escrita da autora mas gostei muito da forma como montou e desenvolveu o enredo, enriquecendo-o com pormenores preciosos. Embora este esteja longe de ser original, é manobrado de forma a espicaçar a curiosidade do leitor e, entre parentescos chocantes e uma tia falecida em criança sobre a qual todos se recusam a falar, dei por mim já profundamente embrenhada na história.
Mais que tudo, adorei o final abrupto que me deixou pendurada na história, no meio de todas as possibilidades criadas a partir de uma reviravolta inesperada e tumultuosa… Um assombro que me deixou a pairar sobre o derradeiro ponto final durante alguns segundos.
Na casa de Sir Philip reinava um espírito boémio que se opunha à tradição - viúvo, Sir Philip permitiu que as suas duas filhas, Victoria e Rowena, fossem criadas juntamente com Prudence, a filha da governanta, como se esta fosse parte da família. Contudo, esta era uma noção partilhada apenas pelos esclarecidos do início do século XIX…e quando Sir Philip morre, vítima de pneumonia, Prudence depara-se com uma realidade bem diferente. As três são obrigadas a ir morar com o tio que, regendo-se ainda pelas estritas regras da aristocracia, apenas tolera a ida de Prudence sob o estatuto de criada. Um preceito pessoal que esconde algo bem mais grave. Na verdade, o futuro da família Buxton depende de se livrarem de Prudence…rapidamente.
Gostei imenso da abordagem escolhida pela autora, seguindo simultaneamente as três jovens - três mulheres fortes com ideias perigosamente liberais, habituadas a uma certa independência que agora se encontram sob a tutela de um homem que se opõe veemente a tal. Ao longo da narrativa fui ganhando afeição a cada uma delas (por motivos bem diferentes) e pelos respectivos interesses românticos que desenvolvem, especialmente pelo intrigante Kit. É certo que Rowena perdeu um bocadinho do seu encanto ao adiar constantemente a verdade, por dificuldade ou inconveniência, levando a consequências desastrosas. Como compensação, gostei muito da aparente fragilidade de Victoria, que acaba por camuflar um caracter forte e decidido. E, claro, a história de Prudence é a mais interessante e comovente, por se encontrar suspensa entre o mundo dos criados e dos senhores da casa, sem pertencer verdadeiramente a qualquer um dos lados.
A época histórica é, só por si, muito interessante. Gostei da exploração da condição da mulher numa sociedade onde se começavam a alastrar novas ideologias entre as jovens, novos objectivos e prioridades, que levavam ao desinteresse por aquela que deveria ser a condicionante máxima das suas vidas: o matrimónio. Ficou bastante por dizer, mas As Mulheres de Summerset Abbey é apenas o 1º livro de uma série contínua que acredito que se vá desenvolvendo lentamente sobre si mesma, daí que a exploração dos diversos tópicos e até das próprias personagens seja também ela lenta e adiada. Convenhamos que a autora não podia atafulhar o primeiro livro com informação, sobrecarregando uma leitura de entretenimento que se tornaria certamente aborrecida.
Não reconheço especial talento na escrita da autora mas gostei muito da forma como montou e desenvolveu o enredo, enriquecendo-o com pormenores preciosos. Embora este esteja longe de ser original, é manobrado de forma a espicaçar a curiosidade do leitor e, entre parentescos chocantes e uma tia falecida em criança sobre a qual todos se recusam a falar, dei por mim já profundamente embrenhada na história.
Mais que tudo, adorei o final abrupto que me deixou pendurada na história, no meio de todas as possibilidades criadas a partir de uma reviravolta inesperada e tumultuosa… Um assombro que me deixou a pairar sobre o derradeiro ponto final durante alguns segundos.
May 14, 2014
I think this book is for old ladies because I read it.
I really thought it's about the sun, the ocean and the beach, but it's about really boring old castles.
So it sucks.
(Here you have the review of a friend who's trying to impersonate me without having read the books haha)
I have to admit I've only ever watched a few episodes of Downton Abbey despite the first few series being in family possession and despite me actually being intrigued by it (and especially those wardrobes).
However, I think once I'm back from Bible School I'll jump onto that bandwagon.
Now, given the name of this book it is kind of obvious that it contains similarities to the TV show.
Unfortunately, I missed the visuals a bit for this book.
I love watching period films and series for all the opulence (and decadence) and of course that is a point where books may lack if the author doesn't do enough descriptive world building.
I mean, most of the times I got the feeling and could picture the clothing and all the settings, but for my taste, it could have been a bit more rich.
Now, on to the story.
It was extremely fluffy and my fears of it being one of those historical fictions that are difficult to get into/read because of language and whatnot where definitely not met.
I missed some depth to the whole plot, it was kind of guessable most of the times and I would have liked some more intrigues and scandals (but I reckon I'll have to go to Anna Godbersen's Luxe series, which provides enough scandal for both series haha).
All the love interests sounded rather dashing and dapper (excuse my lame usage of the few "historical" words I know) but there was no sizzling to the love stories, except maybe one; can't tell which one though - because spoileeeerrrrrs.
Rowena, Victoria and Prudence were all likeable MCs, but fell a bit flat, I hope they will develop more as the story progresses.
All in all this was a pretty okay and enjoyable inbetween-read and I hope I will become more invested about the happenings at Summerset Abbey with the two sequels that are waiting at home already.
My first completed #boutofbooks readathon book, by the way - for more updates follow my new bookish twitter account @bookishlou (BEST NAME EVER, I KNOOOOOOW :'D...)
I really thought it's about the sun, the ocean and the beach, but it's about really boring old castles.
So it sucks.
(Here you have the review of a friend who's trying to impersonate me without having read the books haha)
I have to admit I've only ever watched a few episodes of Downton Abbey despite the first few series being in family possession and despite me actually being intrigued by it (and especially those wardrobes).
However, I think once I'm back from Bible School I'll jump onto that bandwagon.
Now, given the name of this book it is kind of obvious that it contains similarities to the TV show.
Unfortunately, I missed the visuals a bit for this book.
I love watching period films and series for all the opulence (and decadence) and of course that is a point where books may lack if the author doesn't do enough descriptive world building.
I mean, most of the times I got the feeling and could picture the clothing and all the settings, but for my taste, it could have been a bit more rich.
Now, on to the story.
It was extremely fluffy and my fears of it being one of those historical fictions that are difficult to get into/read because of language and whatnot where definitely not met.
I missed some depth to the whole plot, it was kind of guessable most of the times and I would have liked some more intrigues and scandals (but I reckon I'll have to go to Anna Godbersen's Luxe series, which provides enough scandal for both series haha).
All the love interests sounded rather dashing and dapper (excuse my lame usage of the few "historical" words I know) but there was no sizzling to the love stories, except maybe one; can't tell which one though - because spoileeeerrrrrs.
Rowena, Victoria and Prudence were all likeable MCs, but fell a bit flat, I hope they will develop more as the story progresses.
All in all this was a pretty okay and enjoyable inbetween-read and I hope I will become more invested about the happenings at Summerset Abbey with the two sequels that are waiting at home already.
My first completed #boutofbooks readathon book, by the way - for more updates follow my new bookish twitter account @bookishlou (BEST NAME EVER, I KNOOOOOOW :'D...)
April 23, 2015
Have you ever been in a situation where you were so engrossed in a game of football (or soccer, or baseball..or whatever) and just as your team was about to score when suddenly the t.v goes blank?
Yes, my sentiments exactly! This book has the worst (or simply the best) cliffhanger ending I've ever encountered. Just when the story was about the get really juicy and good, it ends!
I did however enjoyed the story since being a big Downtown Abbey fan this book is tailor made for me. But the pace took a while to pick up and the girls were being fairly useless (in my opinion) in the beginning.
The clues to Prudence mysterious past is too obvious and is the one thing that keep me flipping the pages in a flurry. Rowena as the eldest and most attractive sibling reminds me too much of Lady Mary from Downtown Abbey except that she lacks the confidence and determination that Mary has. And Victoria the fragile and flighty younger sister has feminist aspirations of her own that seemed unbefitting of her weak physical condition.
I'm sorry to say that the girls became a lot more interesting in the company of several young men. Prudence attracted a young lord's attention from the very beginning. While Rowena rescued a next door neighbour whose family is in a bitter feud with the Buxtons. Victoria also managed to befriend one of her cousin's friend who came visiting although I found their relationship somewhat puzzling.
It just so sad that the author had to end the story so abruptly in order to force readers to read the next book in the series. It could have easily be an excellent stand alone with the girls finding their own happy endings and Prudence finally discovering the identity of her real father.
Yes, my sentiments exactly! This book has the worst (or simply the best) cliffhanger ending I've ever encountered. Just when the story was about the get really juicy and good, it ends!
I did however enjoyed the story since being a big Downtown Abbey fan this book is tailor made for me. But the pace took a while to pick up and the girls were being fairly useless (in my opinion) in the beginning.
The clues to Prudence mysterious past is too obvious and is the one thing that keep me flipping the pages in a flurry. Rowena as the eldest and most attractive sibling reminds me too much of Lady Mary from Downtown Abbey except that she lacks the confidence and determination that Mary has. And Victoria the fragile and flighty younger sister has feminist aspirations of her own that seemed unbefitting of her weak physical condition.
I'm sorry to say that the girls became a lot more interesting in the company of several young men. Prudence attracted a young lord's attention from the very beginning. While Rowena rescued a next door neighbour whose family is in a bitter feud with the Buxtons. Victoria also managed to befriend one of her cousin's friend who came visiting although I found their relationship somewhat puzzling.
It just so sad that the author had to end the story so abruptly in order to force readers to read the next book in the series. It could have easily be an excellent stand alone with the girls finding their own happy endings and Prudence finally discovering the identity of her real father.
January 30, 2013
Sisters Victoria and Rowena Buxton were raised by their aristocratic, widowed father during the waning days of the Edwardian Era in England. Spurning the snobbish, class-conscious lifestyle of his family, Philip Buxton sought to raise his daughters to be independent and progressive thinking young ladies. In addition, he treated Prudence, the daughter of his children’s governess, like one of his own daughters. Prudence was regarded as the third Buxton daughter. Upon the sudden death of Philip Buxton, the daughters are taken to Summerset Abbey to live with Conrad and Charlotte Buxton who relish their aristocratic lifestyle with its defined class distinctions. Prudence, however, is scorned by the family. T.J. Brown’s engrossing debut novel (the first in a trilogy) is filled with intrigue, scandal, romance, and family loyalty as the three young ladies face an uncertain future.
June 5, 2014
After a slowish start there's quite a nice story unfolding.
No-one else here wrote anything about the (uneven) language, so perhaps it’s just me, not even a native speaker, but I really got distracted by the Americanisms, especially in dialogue: I guess ..., sidewalks, home (for house), London in the fall, and my favourite: "We need to all be together." Can't you just see Maggie Smith's face? I think the author was trying too hard, over the top old-fashioned in some places, too American in others, or even just wrong.
BTW, I'm quite sure in those days they would have stuck to the more traditional spelling of "Jonathan" as opposed to "Jonathon". Just my opinion.
But I like all three "heroines", and the(ir) young men are quite yummy. So despite my problems with the language, volume 2 is definitely on my list.
No-one else here wrote anything about the (uneven) language, so perhaps it’s just me, not even a native speaker, but I really got distracted by the Americanisms, especially in dialogue: I guess ..., sidewalks, home (for house), London in the fall, and my favourite: "We need to all be together." Can't you just see Maggie Smith's face? I think the author was trying too hard, over the top old-fashioned in some places, too American in others, or even just wrong.
BTW, I'm quite sure in those days they would have stuck to the more traditional spelling of "Jonathan" as opposed to "Jonathon". Just my opinion.
But I like all three "heroines", and the(ir) young men are quite yummy. So despite my problems with the language, volume 2 is definitely on my list.
May 21, 2013
Another book about family secrets....I'm on a roll with this theme. I liked this book for the most part. I liked the characters well enough. Thought it was a good depiction of the differences between the aristocracy and the servants. However, as I was reading it suddenly stopped. Thought there was going to be more and then the epilogue appeared. I was like WTF? I don't like it when people give important information about the book but I will say, I was disappointed on how it ended. And if I didn't see that there was a second book, I would have really been upset. Now I need to continue reading just to see where/how things end with Prudence, Rowena, and Victoria. Especially since I didn't like the decision that Prudence made at the end. I can understand why she did it but I don't agree with it.
November 24, 2013
This was an entertaining read. I liked the way it was written and the characters were likable and well developed. I could see where the story was going about halfway through but it didn't really spoil the story for me, it was good to see it to the end and how it all came out. I was a bit disappointed that Pru didn't fight for what was hers but I can understand why she did what she did.
June 18, 2013
Read to have something to tide me over while awaiting the new season of Downton Abbey. I liked this & will likely continue with the series.
June 6, 2015
Bon livre avec des histoires de familles
Fin un peut brusque cependant, j'aurais préférée que l'auteure explique le choix de prudence au lieu de le placer dans l'épilogue
Fin un peut brusque cependant, j'aurais préférée que l'auteure explique le choix de prudence au lieu de le placer dans l'épilogue
May 5, 2019
Okay, so... Had the cover not looked like that of a modern day gas store penny dreadful, perhaps I would have given this an additional star (jk). I might have also done so had the title of this book made more sense as opposed to wanting to catch the eye with the "abbey" in hopes that those in love with Downtown Abbey (like myself) would think it similar. In ways, it is... to the point where it almost feels the written version of the show when it comes to the setting, some of the characters' personalities, and the Edwardian ways of life for Aristocracy. I could have tolerated these two mishaps had it not been for the third and crucial one: this book was poorly copyedited. In the 300+ pages, I noticed at least 5 errors (punctuation, typos, etc...). It happens, but it shouldn't, especially for a book this short and easily proofread.
Anyway, I didn't hate the book, but I was thoroughly disappointed. Don't get me wrong: I will read the second one, but mainly out of curiosity and because I already ordered it whilst reading this one. So, let's hope A Bloom in Winter will make up for its predecessor.
Anyway, I didn't hate the book, but I was thoroughly disappointed. Don't get me wrong: I will read the second one, but mainly out of curiosity and because I already ordered it whilst reading this one. So, let's hope A Bloom in Winter will make up for its predecessor.
March 1, 2013
Originally posted at: Girls on YA Books
~Review:
So this is another one that I don't understand all the low ratings. I will admit that it starts off rather slow and at times I was confused and had to re-read but once it got into its own rhythm I was enjoying it! It isn't anything paranormal or in today's age. It is set back in the early 1900s and when it was unladylike to go to the university. When the rich ruled and the poor worked for them in the household. Frills, parties, manners, marrying into class and all that was in style. Where you were born into the work and there was no way out. Despite all those bad parts of the days I love that time. It wasn't all bad. There is just something so elegant and proper that draws me into that time. And then of course we are in the outskirts of London throughout the book.
I loved the writing of Mrs Browning. Again at first it took some getting used to and getting INto but it worked. She seemed to catch each girls emotions and turmoils really well. You felt compassion, sorrow, anger and love for them all. More anger towards Rowena but well get to the characters in a bit. Browning did a fantastic job with capturing the year too. I felt as I was in 1913. The scenery was drawn vividly. The social turmoil was laid down and explained well. I really enjoyed it. Not only that but what she delivers isn't a happy ending. That may sound terrible but sometimes I like my books to have that stone cold truth.
The characters were also real and true and honest well....except for Rowena. I hated Rowena. She was fake and allowed herd to be pushed around. She wasn't honest. She wasn't real and she didn't stand up for what she thought was right. She annoyed the absolute shit out off and I hated her. She was worse than her aunt and uncle. Now the other two, Victoria and Prudence were awesome characters. Victoria was the most delicate in everyone's eyes but in actuality she was the most strong. She was the most true and right and honest. She was a lovely character and I absolutely adored her!! I really wanted her and her man to go into more romantic levels but they stayed friends and I ended up really liking that. It was right. Prudence was probably the most delicate. She was wounded easily because of her history. She was the daughter of a governess but because she grew up in the home of Mr Buxton she was sort of saved from her title. Me Buxton treated her as his own daughter instead of a governess' daughter. So when he died and they all moved to Mr. Buxton's bothered her whole life changed. She was a ladies maid to Rowena and Victoria. She was no longer an equal and it was a tough transition and she handled it well. She stayed strong and did what she was told.
I came to like Rowena when she was with her guy. That was the only time I truly liked her when I could accept her and enjoy her character. She honestly meant no harm she just fell under the influence of class and pleasing people. She was also in a tough place. Of course, Victoria being my favorite, I enjoyed her all the time. And I enjoyed Prudence most of the time as well. I liked Victoria and Rowena's cousins and their friends. They were nice side characters. Then of course I fell in love with all the love interests ;P
This wasn't just a tale of a tougher age and the struggles of three different girls, one more different than the others. It had a mystery to solve. Who WAS Prudence truly? Why was she disrespected so bad? It wasn't just because of her mother was a governess....there was a secret ran deeper than all was let on. Well written and a good tale of the past I really liked Summerset Abbey. I'm looking forward to the next book and anything else by Mrs Browning. Again, this book has a lot of negative reviews when I started and I was surprised. There were some positive ones but I wasn't expecting that many negative ones. Advice: don't listen. Try it out for yourself. People now are rating a hell of a lot better than they were before. I believe it has 4 stars on goodreads??
Now I think you should give it a try because you may just find you didn't read the right book to start off with and this one is. It may start a new trend in your book readings it may not. Bottom line...try it. I really liked it and can't agree with those negative reviews. Oh and you Downton Abbey fans...read!!!! It's good! If you like true endings...read. If you like older settings....read!!! People... Just read ;D
~Rating:
3.5 of 5 stars!!!
~Review:
So this is another one that I don't understand all the low ratings. I will admit that it starts off rather slow and at times I was confused and had to re-read but once it got into its own rhythm I was enjoying it! It isn't anything paranormal or in today's age. It is set back in the early 1900s and when it was unladylike to go to the university. When the rich ruled and the poor worked for them in the household. Frills, parties, manners, marrying into class and all that was in style. Where you were born into the work and there was no way out. Despite all those bad parts of the days I love that time. It wasn't all bad. There is just something so elegant and proper that draws me into that time. And then of course we are in the outskirts of London throughout the book.
I loved the writing of Mrs Browning. Again at first it took some getting used to and getting INto but it worked. She seemed to catch each girls emotions and turmoils really well. You felt compassion, sorrow, anger and love for them all. More anger towards Rowena but well get to the characters in a bit. Browning did a fantastic job with capturing the year too. I felt as I was in 1913. The scenery was drawn vividly. The social turmoil was laid down and explained well. I really enjoyed it. Not only that but what she delivers isn't a happy ending. That may sound terrible but sometimes I like my books to have that stone cold truth.
The characters were also real and true and honest well....except for Rowena. I hated Rowena. She was fake and allowed herd to be pushed around. She wasn't honest. She wasn't real and she didn't stand up for what she thought was right. She annoyed the absolute shit out off and I hated her. She was worse than her aunt and uncle. Now the other two, Victoria and Prudence were awesome characters. Victoria was the most delicate in everyone's eyes but in actuality she was the most strong. She was the most true and right and honest. She was a lovely character and I absolutely adored her!! I really wanted her and her man to go into more romantic levels but they stayed friends and I ended up really liking that. It was right. Prudence was probably the most delicate. She was wounded easily because of her history. She was the daughter of a governess but because she grew up in the home of Mr Buxton she was sort of saved from her title. Me Buxton treated her as his own daughter instead of a governess' daughter. So when he died and they all moved to Mr. Buxton's bothered her whole life changed. She was a ladies maid to Rowena and Victoria. She was no longer an equal and it was a tough transition and she handled it well. She stayed strong and did what she was told.
I came to like Rowena when she was with her guy. That was the only time I truly liked her when I could accept her and enjoy her character. She honestly meant no harm she just fell under the influence of class and pleasing people. She was also in a tough place. Of course, Victoria being my favorite, I enjoyed her all the time. And I enjoyed Prudence most of the time as well. I liked Victoria and Rowena's cousins and their friends. They were nice side characters. Then of course I fell in love with all the love interests ;P
This wasn't just a tale of a tougher age and the struggles of three different girls, one more different than the others. It had a mystery to solve. Who WAS Prudence truly? Why was she disrespected so bad? It wasn't just because of her mother was a governess....there was a secret ran deeper than all was let on. Well written and a good tale of the past I really liked Summerset Abbey. I'm looking forward to the next book and anything else by Mrs Browning. Again, this book has a lot of negative reviews when I started and I was surprised. There were some positive ones but I wasn't expecting that many negative ones. Advice: don't listen. Try it out for yourself. People now are rating a hell of a lot better than they were before. I believe it has 4 stars on goodreads??
Now I think you should give it a try because you may just find you didn't read the right book to start off with and this one is. It may start a new trend in your book readings it may not. Bottom line...try it. I really liked it and can't agree with those negative reviews. Oh and you Downton Abbey fans...read!!!! It's good! If you like true endings...read. If you like older settings....read!!! People... Just read ;D
~Rating:
3.5 of 5 stars!!!
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