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Manor House #1

Love of the Summerfields

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1880 England: the lives and loves of manor and village intertwine. Earl and shopkeeper, countess and clerk; all will be stunned and transformed by a secret that begs to be revealed.

When the Weston family returns to Summerfield Manor at the close of the London social season, both village and manor relax into their normal existence. But for four women, turmoil awaits. Each must battle the restrictions of her position as her faith and character are tested.

Adelaide Weston, the feisty and domineering dowager countess, is thrust out of her carefully structured life of duty by the reappearance of her first love.

Ruth Weston, the manor's reclusive, guilt-ridden countess, struggles to emerge from self-imposed exile to embrace her marriage, her family, and the duties of her position.

Ruth's loyal lady's maid, Molly Wallace, juggles the demands of her job, the needs of her own tumultuous family, and a secret romance.

And Lila Hayward, a shopkeeper's daughter, finds herself in love with a viscount's son who's engaged to Ruth's spoiled daughter. Lila is sorely tested when she is obliged to act as liaison between the two, putting her in constant contact with the man she loves but can never hope to win.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2015

568 people are currently reading
871 people want to read

About the author

Nancy Moser

77 books764 followers
Nancy Moser is the author of over forty books. Her award-winning stories will inspire you to discover your unique God-given purpose. Her genres include both contemporary and historical stories, inspirational humor, and children's books.

Her newest release, "An Undiscovered Life" is about an elderly woman who wants her family to know about her "before" life—her life before them. It's inspired by Nancy's mother who died in 2020 at age 99. It's a poignant, inspiring family story.

Another newer release is "Eyes of Our Heart" which showcases a group of ordinary people who are called to discover where God is working in their lives--and join Him.

Another recent release is "The Shop Keepers", book #3 of the Pattern Artist series about a group of women designing fashion and opening their own store in 1911-19 New York City. The first book in the series, "The Pattern Artist", was a finalist for a Romantic Times award.

Other titles include the time-travel historicals, "Where Time Will Take Me", "Where Life Will Lead Me", and the Downton Abbey-inspired Manor House Series beginning with "Love of the Summerfields."

Her historical bio-novels allow real women-of-history to share their life stories: "Just Jane" (Jane Austen), "Mozart's Sister" (Nannerl Mozart),"Washington's Lady" (Martha Washington) and "How Do I Love Thee?" (Elizabeth Barrett Browning.)

"An Unlikely Suitor" was named to Booklist's Top 100 Romance Novels of the last decade. Nancy's time-travel novel, "Time Lottery", won a Christy Award, and "Washington's Lady" was a finalist. Her contemporary books are known for their big-casts and intricate plotting.

Some contemporary titles are "The Invitation", "John 3: 16", "The Sister Circle", and "The Seat Beside Me."

Nancy and her husband live in the Midwest. She's earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She is a fan of anything antique--humans included.

Website: nancymoser.com

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5 stars
322 (46%)
4 stars
229 (33%)
3 stars
112 (16%)
2 stars
20 (2%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Regina.
389 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2015
The truth will set you free

Four women. Secrets if told will change lives. Will these women and their families be ready for change? Will there be forgiveness? Will the truth set them free?

Nancy Moser has written a delightful and intriguing story. I fell in love with each of the women. Through there circumstances I understood their lives. I cannot imagine being rich enough to live in a big manor house and wear fancy clothes. I would be more comfortable in the village.

Step in time and read about the Westons, Haywood's, and the rest of the villagers. This book is another winner!
Profile Image for Marguerite Gray.
Author 24 books615 followers
December 5, 2021
Surprises everywhere. It seems like a regular lord of the manor story until secrets threaten the household and the village.
I'm definitely going to read the other books in the series.
Profile Image for Christy.
687 reviews
December 23, 2015
While there were many aspects of Love of the Summerfields that I enjoyed; this read did not quite meet the mark. The writing style was quite flamboyant and shallow at times. The characters were a tad underdeveloped and I think some of their thoughts were rather "out of the blue" so to speak at times. I think the idea of this book is marvelous though. The lives of these very different women some young some seasoned interwoven was something I was very eager to read about. I applaud the author for recognizing a story worth writing about something other than just young love. I just needed a few things polished a bit more to make some of it more believable and not quite so "fairy-tale". The cover is beautiful and the many points of view was my most favorite part!
Profile Image for Sarah.
Author 46 books458 followers
September 7, 2019
This book was just what I needed, something light, sweet, and pretty much all happy endings. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

*Note* while Christianity is mentioned in a positive light, there aren't any real Christian messages in the story.
Profile Image for Toni Shiloh.
Author 56 books1,859 followers
January 13, 2016
This was my first read by Ms. Moser and I thoroughly enjoyed it. There was romance, secrets, and it was all wrapped up with a historical setting. I encourage everyone to read it.
Profile Image for Anna.
24 reviews5 followers
September 7, 2015
This is my first book by Nancy Moser, and I was not disappointed. I will definitely add some more of her books to my Good Reads list.

Book Series: Manor House #1
Setting: 1880s, England

In this book we follow the lives of 4 women who are all unique but share one quality: love. We first meet Lila Hayward, the shopkeeper's daughter, then Ruth Weston, the countess of Summerfield, Molly, a lady's maid to Ruth, and Addie the dowager countess of Sunmerfield.

Both village and manor cross paths as each woman struggles with love, loss, and faith. Class is a huge theme in this book as it is a deciding factor in who each woman marries or has married. Secrets are also within the village and manor and have a huge effect on their lives.

I really enjoyed this book! There is a huge plot twist towards the end that shocked me (in a good way). I found Moser's writing style refreshing. Each character had believable dialogue and struggles. I could really empathize with Lila and her overbearing mother who no one really liked except when she had the latest gossip. I have known a few friends in similar circumstances, and I found both characters to be very relatable. I also really liked Ruth's character who had become a recluse in the manor due to her mother-in-law taking charge of every situation. Ruth feels completely inadequate, but by the end of the book turns around completely.

Lola's relationship with her Nana is also very special and made me think of my relationship with my grandmother. She is supportive and always boosts Lila's confidence.

We also have a few characters that I term J.R. Ewings because you love to dislike them. Lady Clarissa and Fidelia (Lila's mom) come to mind. They are shallow characters who only think of themselves.

Moser develops her main characters and supporting characters with ease. It was truly a joy to see how each character had changed/matured by the end of the book.

I was happy with the way the book ended but it left me wanting/needing more of the story as not all loose ends are tied up.

I have checked for the second book in the series but cannot find it. The back of the book said it was coming in 2015, but I cannot even find a preorder page on Amazon. So if anyone has any details, please let me know.
Profile Image for Joleen.
2,657 reviews1,227 followers
June 24, 2017
Set in 1880 this is a story about a lot of people in 2 families, and a few more. The synopsis mentions 4 ladies in particular, but there are other characters that truly are of equal importance, in my opinion:
Ruth Weston, the manor's reclusive, guilt-ridden countess, whose secret has changed her whole life...and it's not one of those child-out-of-wedlock stereotypical stories. No, it's way better!
Adelaide Weston, Ruth's domineering mother-in-law (dowager countess). Unlikeable but, oh! love changes things!
Molly Wallace, Ruth's lady's maid who has her own very heart-rending story.
Clarissa Weston, Ruth's haughty, spoiled daughter, who is a bit hard to figure out.
Frederick Weston, Ruth's husband and Earl of Summerfields...sometimes I liked him sometimes I didn't ... You'll see.
Jack Hayward, shopkeeper with another story involved in the big secret. Good stuff.
Lila Hayward, sweet daughter and often main character, the kind of person we'd all like to be.
Morgan Hayward, Lila's brother, returning from school...not too main character, but important to Molly
Fedelia Hayward, Jack's temperamental, often angry wife. Wow! Does she end up to be something else! Watch out for this one!
Joseph Kidd, neighbor and son of a viscount, involved in a triangle against his will.
Oh, and Nana...Lila's recently widowed grandmother who also has a secret that is/was life-changing, for EVERYONE!

Lots of stories, which is fun, because there's no down time in the book. Constantly something going on.

My only problem with this book is that the sound of the book is most often not from 1880’s England. Far too contemporary... late 20th century at best. Christian language is thrown in now and then, giving it a "Christian fiction" category, but it's clear that it's not organic to the storyline. It's not horribly annoying. It would be a good romance or historical fiction book.

It's good though. And yes, I recommend it. 4.5 stars.
Profile Image for Becky.
55 reviews3 followers
January 15, 2016
I would rate this book 3.5 stars. There were portions that seemed to me a bit far-fetched and overly dramatic. The story did, however, hold my interest, and I liked it overall.
Profile Image for Debbie Epperson.
48 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2017
Description of Story

If you like Downton Abbey, you’ll enjoy “Love of the Summerfields”

1880 England: the lives and loves of manor and village intertwine. Earl and shopkeeper, countess and clerk—all will be stunned and transformed by a secret that begs to be revealed.

When the Weston family returns to Summerfield Manor at the close of the London social season, both village and manor relax into their normal existence. But for four women, turmoil awaits. Each must battle the restrictions of her position as her faith and character are tested.

ADELAIDE WESTON, the feisty and domineering dowager countess, is thrust out of her carefully structured life of duty by the reappearance of her first love.

RUTH WESTON, the manor’s reclusive, guilt-ridden countess, struggles to emerge from self-imposed exile to embrace her marriage, her family, and the duties of her position.

Ruth’s loyal lady’s maid, MOLLY WALLACE, juggles the demands of her job, the needs of her own tumultuous family, and a secret romance.

And LILA HAYWARD, a shopkeeper’s daughter, finds herself in love with a viscount’s son who’s engaged to Ruth’s spoiled daughter. Lila is sorely tested when she is obliged to act as liaison between the two, putting her in constant contact with the man she loves but can never hope to win.

None of these women expect a decades-old secret to unsettle the balance of her life—and the lives of everyone in Summerfield. Each will have a choice to make between her own happiness and a truth that will turn their carefully-ordered world upside down.

BOOK ONE of the MANOR HOUSE SERIES. Continue the story with Book 2: “Bride of the Summerfields” and Book 3: “Rise of the Summerfields”.

My Review

This book is the first book in The Manor House Series. This book is one of the greatest books I have read by Nancy Moser. I love to read books about life in England being royalty and all. I loved this book so much it was GREAT.

This story is all about the wealth of Summerfield Manor and the lives of the Earl, Countess and just everything. The story starts out with Molly who is a maid at the manor and I just loved her character. She loves Morgan Hayward and he asks her to marry him 2 times and she finally says YES and then things happen. I won’t tell you what goes on, you will have to find out about it when you read it.

Then there are a lot of secrets going on and when they come full circle, you will be totally surprised. Lady Clarissa Weston and Joseph Kidd plan on marrying until another secret is revealed.

This book is such a good book and I am not going to say anything else about the book or I will spoil the book for you. You are going to have to pick this book up and read it.

Thank you Nancy Moser for giving us such a GREAT book to read, it was GREAT. Keep this up so we can read more about this type of books.
Profile Image for Barbara Harper.
853 reviews44 followers
December 14, 2017
Love of the Summerfields by Nancy Moser takes place in England in the 1880s and touches on lives in the manor house, both family and servants, and in the village as well. Some of the characters and their situations are:

Adelaide Weston, the dowager countess of the manor. A strong-willed, take-charge woman, her life turns upside down when an old love comes back into her life.

Frederick and Ruth Weston are the current earl and countess. Frederick is a decent man, but the manor is coming into hard times with more outgo than income. Ruth has become a recluse, both because of feeling intimidated by her mother-in-law and guilt over some of her actions in the past.

Clarissa Weston is their spoiled daughter who has not made a “match” yet, so her father and grandmother make one for her, partly to relieve the financial affairs of the manor.

Jack and Fidelia Hayward are shopkeepers. Jack is a fine, decent, patient man, but Fidelia is a bitter, controlling, unkind gossip. Lila is their daughter, a sweet girl in love with a man out of her reach. To make matters worse, she is pressed into acting as the go-between with this man and his fiancee. The Hayward’s son, Morgan, is in love with Ruth’s maid, Molly, but they have to keep it quiet because a lady’s maid is not supposed to have suitors. When Jack’s father dies, the family takes in his mother.

When a secret threatens to upend the lives of several in both village and manor, good for some but seemingly bad for others, the first instinct of those who uncover it is to keep it concealed. Will they let truth prevail even though it will cost them, or will hiding it bring greater repercussions?

This book is marketed as “If you like Downton Abbey, you’ll enjoy” this book. I don’t know if that’s the best way to present it. It is from the same era with the same strict class rules, and it even has a feisty dowager countess. But all the other characters and storylines are vastly different. So those who don’t want it to be too much like DA might avoid it, and those who want it to be just like DA will be disappointed. But if you like stories like from this time and place and type of people (which is what I think the slogan is actually going for), then you’d probably like this book. From the author’s notes after the book, the story was inspired by her own reading interests and her family history, not DA.

This book is the first in a series of three, and although I enjoyed it, I wasn’t planning on reading the sequels – until I got to the end and then read an except from the next book. Now I want to find out what happens!
Profile Image for Cassandra.
1,389 reviews27 followers
July 11, 2017
I enjoyed Love of the Summerfields but I didn't love it. There were too many characters for my personal preference. I wish that the author had focused on fewer characters and worked more on character development. That's something I often feel is lacking in Christian Historical Fiction - character development. The plots are interesting. The characters are fairly likable. Historical detail is usually fantastic. But the character development is seriously lacking.

This was an Interlibrary Loan. I'll probably request the other two just to finish the series but it is unlikely to become a favorite.
Profile Image for ELMorehead.
286 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2020
I loved this Engrossing, Outstanding, Christian, multigenerational Victorian Romance! I got a good idea of how restrictive, and isolating England's Titled Class was. There were also many restrictions on the people who were In Service, on Grand Estates. There was a definite "pecking order" to the various Service jobs.

Nancy Moser gives a clear Christian message, in "Love of the Summerfields"! Which will win, True 💗 or societal Obligation? I Highly Recommend and Encourage You to Read this Wonderful Novel to find out! ❤️📖
221 reviews
August 5, 2019
Steps up the ladder.

There are many steps up the ladder of life, love and the social standing. This helps to understand the steps of power. Upstairs has their set of rules and downstairs has yet another. So much is controlled by social standing. Love is forbidden outside of it's boundaries. Hearts are broken and dreams can go either way. A fantastic story,with laughter and tears.
Profile Image for Janet.
631 reviews3 followers
July 20, 2022
This is the first book I have read by Nancy Moser.
It is the type of book that I enjoy. Village life mixed with life in a Manor House. This book
focuses on the lives of 4 women and their families. Also, there are secrets to be told that affect
everyone. I really enjoyed this book, but did find it a bit long winded. I read part on KU but also listened to a lot on audio (Which was fun)
I will read the next one via KU.
Profile Image for Pamela Harstad.
Author 6 books16 followers
August 30, 2019
The book has interesting characters and a unique twist to several of their lives.

The overall story , conflicts and surprise is well done. It took me a while to put the characters positions together, however. There is one character that didn't have a resolution with her live, but I'm sure it will come in the series later.
196 reviews2 followers
December 8, 2019
This could be a movie!

Nancy Moser writes with such perfect detail and weaves a very engaging tale. The characters are richly developed and their interactions are intriguing. That the tale has spiritual aspects woven into it without being preachy is the icing on the cake for me. Can't wait for the next book in this series.
285 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2023
scattered

This book wasn’t too bad was it was so scattered with all the back and forth storylines. I wish the chapters had been better arranged and made shorter instead of cramming 4-5 storylines into one chapter. The bomb that was dropped around Chapter 20 was quite the story flipper and I liked it. I’d really give it about a 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Carol Greenwood.
313 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2017
Family Secrets

Every family has them, but do all secrets willed such havoc?
Will the secrets come to light or will they continue to be hidden? Whose dreams will be realized and whose will be crushed? This is a page turner with nothing to make you blush.
Profile Image for MaryAnn.
227 reviews
July 29, 2017
Since I'm not familiar with Downton Abbey (gasp), maybe some of that was lost on me, but in spite of the numerous characters to keep track of, along with the twists and turns of the plot, this book kept me engaged and ready to start the next in the series.
Profile Image for Barbara.
63 reviews
February 2, 2019
So many plot twists

This has a bit of an Upstairs Downstairs feel to it, but with more depth and breadth. The addition of a mercantile family, and so many plot twists definitely held my interest.
Profile Image for Dorothy Beer.
303 reviews4 followers
August 10, 2019
Love of the Summerfields

A very unusual,and complicated, story. Fidelia was a bitter and unhappy person. A bounty of very diverse characters. Lots,of surprising and unexpected developments made this a,veey interesting story. I gave it 5 stars
3 reviews
August 11, 2019
Sweet and exciting Christian historical fiction book

This was a great book! Very exciting but also had redeeming Christian values throughout. Highly recommend! Couldn’t put it down!!
Profile Image for Ellise Weaver.
Author 14 books13 followers
August 15, 2019
I truly enjoyed

What a wonderful story. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of fun plot twists that made it fun to try and figure out. Clean romance which makes it all the better, although I could have enjoyed a little more of it. Great job!
174 reviews6 followers
August 16, 2019
Excellent story!

I loved this story about families in England and Europe. The era fascinates me and I would love to have explored during this time. This book gives very believable descriptions of the time period and clothes.
Profile Image for Brenda Poulos.
Author 13 books79 followers
Read
August 16, 2019
The Summerfields?

Such a beautiful story. Characters with real depth. The plot had many twists and turns, all of which were cleverly disguised until the big reveal. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The writing was superb.
391 reviews2 followers
August 24, 2019
Liked it very much

I loved the characters the plot...everything about it. Lila was so lovely, Addie made great changes in her life bravely and gracefully. The dialogue was good; there really wasn’t anything I didn’t like. If you enjoyed Downton Abbey, you will like this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews

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