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Redway Acres #4
Redway Acres: Harriet
Set in early 1800s, England...Harriet, is the last surviving Wyndham in her family and has inherited the enormous Wyndham estate, on the outskirts of Bath, in Somerset. Having dealt with some troubling times over recent years, she feels it is finally time to make a life for herself in her own home.She travels to Bath, leaving behind the only family she has known for the past fifteen years at Eastease in Lincolnshire. Travelling with her is her guardian, Nathaniel Ackley, and his family, who live at Redway Acres.Harriet takes over running Wyndham House and presides over all who work there, making friends with Bertram Horncastle and Baroness Freyley, and learning about her mother’s family, the Marshams.Her passion of music comes to the fore, until the day she finally has to decide between fulfilling that passion and the man with whom she is in love.
392 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2017
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31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 23, 2021
This is such a lovely historical romance series that I fall in love with more and more with every additional book I read! In book 4, Harriet is going to establish herself as head of the Wyndham estates. She has recently suffered a great loss. The beginning of the book helps the reader to catch up on past events in other books, so although this is the fourth in the series, I feel it can be easily read and understood on its own.
One thing I adore about this series is the wonderful ensemble cast. Each character is so richly drawn, with admirable qualities, and some rough spots (looking at you, Nathaniel, even if you are one of my favorite characters!) It’s such a delight seeing the characters grow and develop throughout the books. This book touches in places on disability and the attitudes towards it in the time period, both with Bertram Horncastle and also Nathaniel’s new adjustment to his war injury. They had some good scenes together. I also loved getting to see more from Davy and Isabella, who were special favorites from book one. There were lots of great horse scenes🐎 in this one, which I thoroughly enjoyed. (Helena is awesome. That is all. And like Davy, I enjoyed learning how to tell white from gray horses.) Also well written intricate subplots with side characters. Charlie, Annie, Bertram, James and Jacky/Rebecca/John were favorites.
I love the way all the women in this series are fierce and uncompromising. Harriet has a gift for music (and shooting, and chess!) and she is unwilling to sit quietly in a corner simply because no one wishes to hear compositions not penned by a man. I rather loved this plotline and lengths she went to in order to make sure she could pursue her dream, as well as the scenes with the man she eventually ended up with.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
One thing I adore about this series is the wonderful ensemble cast. Each character is so richly drawn, with admirable qualities, and some rough spots (looking at you, Nathaniel, even if you are one of my favorite characters!) It’s such a delight seeing the characters grow and develop throughout the books. This book touches in places on disability and the attitudes towards it in the time period, both with Bertram Horncastle and also Nathaniel’s new adjustment to his war injury. They had some good scenes together. I also loved getting to see more from Davy and Isabella, who were special favorites from book one. There were lots of great horse scenes🐎 in this one, which I thoroughly enjoyed. (Helena is awesome. That is all. And like Davy, I enjoyed learning how to tell white from gray horses.) Also well written intricate subplots with side characters. Charlie, Annie, Bertram, James and Jacky/Rebecca/John were favorites.
I love the way all the women in this series are fierce and uncompromising. Harriet has a gift for music (and shooting, and chess!) and she is unwilling to sit quietly in a corner simply because no one wishes to hear compositions not penned by a man. I rather loved this plotline and lengths she went to in order to make sure she could pursue her dream, as well as the scenes with the man she eventually ended up with.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
August 25, 2021
Historical yet relevant.
This is the second of the Redway Acres series that I have read and I enjoyed this even more than the last. Although I’m not generally a reader of the historical fiction genre, the author has a wonderful style of writing that is captivating and engaging and drew me into Harriet’s world (and indeed the world of the series!) Even though this is a historical fiction novel, the messages and the themes are strong and the headstrong, determined heroine would appeal to any reader. This is a solid, well-written book with a wide range of characters, all of whom are fleshed out sufficiently for their roles in the book. I look forward to reading more of the series.
This is the second of the Redway Acres series that I have read and I enjoyed this even more than the last. Although I’m not generally a reader of the historical fiction genre, the author has a wonderful style of writing that is captivating and engaging and drew me into Harriet’s world (and indeed the world of the series!) Even though this is a historical fiction novel, the messages and the themes are strong and the headstrong, determined heroine would appeal to any reader. This is a solid, well-written book with a wide range of characters, all of whom are fleshed out sufficiently for their roles in the book. I look forward to reading more of the series.
February 26, 2021
In book #4 of the Redway Acres series we follow Harriet as she sets off to establish herself as the owner of the Wyndham Estates which she recently inherited. Trish Butler does an exceptional job putting us right there with Harriet as she establishes herself in this new role with all of it’s demands and responsibilities. Harriet has certainly been forced to grow up before her time because of events in the past year but taking over this huge estate will be daunting!
Even though the Wyndham Estate is six days of travel away from her home at Eastease, we still see the strong connection she keeps with those she left behind. We also are introduced to many new people in her life and it is so interesting getting to know them along with her. We watch as she continues her love of music and though the times won’t give her the credit she deserves for her musical creativity, she finds a way to perform.
As with most of Butler’s female characters, Harriet’s determination to not be held down by male dominance is strong. Only a very special man will find the way into her heart in the end.
I loved this book and believe it is my favorite of the series so far!!
Even though the Wyndham Estate is six days of travel away from her home at Eastease, we still see the strong connection she keeps with those she left behind. We also are introduced to many new people in her life and it is so interesting getting to know them along with her. We watch as she continues her love of music and though the times won’t give her the credit she deserves for her musical creativity, she finds a way to perform.
As with most of Butler’s female characters, Harriet’s determination to not be held down by male dominance is strong. Only a very special man will find the way into her heart in the end.
I loved this book and believe it is my favorite of the series so far!!
April 1, 2022
I was so glad to read all about Harriet! She plays such an integral role in the lives of all of the characters and I enjoyed learning more about her. What a strong female character—she knows what she wants and how to make it happen. I loved how all of the other characters became better by being surrounded by Harriet. Great read, excited for #5!
August 7, 2020
There are few series that I’ve enjoyed as much as this one, and none of the others are historical fiction! And before I get into things, I just want to add that now is a great time to dive into this series – book 6 just came out!
This fourth book is told from the perspective of Harriet and, for those of you unfamiliar with these books, could possibly be read on its own.
Harriet is entering adulthood and has recently inherited an estate. This is a huge change for her as she’s always lived with her guardians in some manner but it’s time for her to step up… and she’s more than capable.
After arriving on site, Harriet begins to make changes and demonstrates a graceful ability to treat others with respect and navigate conflicting personalities.
Little by little, things begin to fall into place for Harriet but they may instead fall apart as she pieces together another side of her family she barely knew and begins to fall in love.
This book has it all – deep unrelenting love, respect for humans and animals, tense moments, and finding how to stand on your own two feet. Highly recommended!
This fourth book is told from the perspective of Harriet and, for those of you unfamiliar with these books, could possibly be read on its own.
Harriet is entering adulthood and has recently inherited an estate. This is a huge change for her as she’s always lived with her guardians in some manner but it’s time for her to step up… and she’s more than capable.
After arriving on site, Harriet begins to make changes and demonstrates a graceful ability to treat others with respect and navigate conflicting personalities.
Little by little, things begin to fall into place for Harriet but they may instead fall apart as she pieces together another side of her family she barely knew and begins to fall in love.
This book has it all – deep unrelenting love, respect for humans and animals, tense moments, and finding how to stand on your own two feet. Highly recommended!
June 1, 2021
Another great installment in this series! Love that the same characters feature in the books and that new characters are brought in! Can’t wait to read the next one!
February 16, 2018
Harriet is the fourth installment in the series Redway Acres. Having not read the three prior novels, I was worried that I would be at sea starting so far in; however, the beginning is devoted to backstory, so the reader can get caught up.
I originally selected this novel because of the music element. As a former dancer who took many music classes (including two composition classes), I was interested in how a young female composer would navigate the 19th century, a time notoriously unfriendly to women artists although several — Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann come to mind — succeeded.
Thus, I was expecting a novel written like the sonata-allegro form of a symphony with a thematic focus on developing Harriet as both a woman and a composer, which was what the back cover copy indicated. Instead, this unfolds like a rondo where Harriet’s story is broken up by many, many episodes about the various individuals who live and work at Wyndham House. I’m not sure I ever located a story question or a stakes-driven problem that united these numerous stories beyond that the characters share time and space.
The characters — who appear and disappear with regularity from the pages, sometimes never to be heard of again for hundred or so pages — seemed like they were painted with a broad brush and using a palette of black and white. There’s no ambiguity about how the reader should feel about them. Exposition functions as the primary vehicle for relating events and revealing character, which may explain why the cast, even Harriet, came across as two-dimensional. I also found the head hopping — multiple times in a chapter, sometimes in a paragraph — distracting because I couldn’t ever be with a character for long enough to get to know them. Here's one example of how I felt characters were portrayed through telling rather than showing where I feel the point-pf-view is unclear.
“Mickleson talked to the two lads who were managing the horses well. They lived locally and were getting work at the fair while it was in town. He instructed them to report at Wyndham House stable when the fair was over, if they were interested in more permanent work. Providing they were willing to work hard, they should be paid well. The two boys they had also used to help lead their horses said they would be willing to work hard, too. Mickleson simply nodded an agreement, thinking if they did turn up he could at least get each of them a good meal and a bath. They were far too young to be able to work much.”
While there is dialogue, some of it sounded off to my ear, perhaps because, regardless of class or employment, the characters often speak like professors with long sentences arranged into multiple paragraphs that contain few to no action beats or pauses. This is Rebecca, a lady’s maid who’s just suffered a grievous miscarriage, telling her husband about how much she loves him.
“I remember the day I fell in love with you, Jacky Robertson. I had made an excuse to come to Redway on my day off from Eastease and walked across the fields. Molly had seen me coming and ran over to me. She was full of news of puppies that had been born to that old, barn dog and the poor Mummy had passed away with the effort. You had made a smaller version of the leather sack used to feed orphaned foals and filled it with goat’s milk. Molly had wanted to feed the puppies, but they would not let her hold them and feed them. She was unhappy that they would not let her help them, but she was young and had no patience to let them do it in their own time. She said you were going to try it and pulled me over to the stable to watch.
There you sat in a stall amongst the straw with those puppies. Your long legs stretched out in front of you, just talking to them about some nonsense. You did not even see me there, so intent you were on helping those puppies. You sat so still and let them come to you. They sought the warmth of their mother, but in her absence, they honed in on the warmest thing there, you. Once they were all snuggling against your thigh, but shaking with hunger, you did not try to pick them up, but moved that leather sack of goat’s milk to their mouths for them to suckle upon.
How they fought for the teat of that sack, but you made sure each of them got some milk and gradually they settled and when they did, they let you touch and stroke them. You soothed them and managed to move each one into your lap. How ever many were there? Perhaps six or more? Then you brought each to your chest and allowed it to suckle until full and falling asleep. You did not care if milk spilled on you or if they peed on you. You sat there and let them sleep.
I must have stood watching you for an hour. When you finally noticed me, and looked up at me with that long, lazy smile you have, I knew. I knew I loved you, I knew I would never love another and I knew that you would be a wonderful and patient husband, lover and father.”
While I find this sentiment lovely, I feel that it would have resonated more if it had been less oratory and more like normal human speech where people move and pause and check out the person to whom he, she, or they are speaking.
As for the music element, it is a minor side plot with virtually no stakes. Harriet composes well-received music with titles like “Love” that she credits to a pretend brother. How Harriet came to understand things like harmonic progression and musical forms remains unexplained (although maybe this is tackled in an earlier book) since she doesn’t have a teacher and, seeing as it’s the 18th century, not much access to music unless it’s played live.
Author Trish Butler’s prose is pleasant and lucid, and I do want to give her kudos for her erotic scenes, which were some of the best I’ve read in a long time — tasteful, respectful, and powered by genuine emotion; however, I’m afraid I didn’t warm to this in quite the way I hoped.
I originally selected this novel because of the music element. As a former dancer who took many music classes (including two composition classes), I was interested in how a young female composer would navigate the 19th century, a time notoriously unfriendly to women artists although several — Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann come to mind — succeeded.
Thus, I was expecting a novel written like the sonata-allegro form of a symphony with a thematic focus on developing Harriet as both a woman and a composer, which was what the back cover copy indicated. Instead, this unfolds like a rondo where Harriet’s story is broken up by many, many episodes about the various individuals who live and work at Wyndham House. I’m not sure I ever located a story question or a stakes-driven problem that united these numerous stories beyond that the characters share time and space.
The characters — who appear and disappear with regularity from the pages, sometimes never to be heard of again for hundred or so pages — seemed like they were painted with a broad brush and using a palette of black and white. There’s no ambiguity about how the reader should feel about them. Exposition functions as the primary vehicle for relating events and revealing character, which may explain why the cast, even Harriet, came across as two-dimensional. I also found the head hopping — multiple times in a chapter, sometimes in a paragraph — distracting because I couldn’t ever be with a character for long enough to get to know them. Here's one example of how I felt characters were portrayed through telling rather than showing where I feel the point-pf-view is unclear.
“Mickleson talked to the two lads who were managing the horses well. They lived locally and were getting work at the fair while it was in town. He instructed them to report at Wyndham House stable when the fair was over, if they were interested in more permanent work. Providing they were willing to work hard, they should be paid well. The two boys they had also used to help lead their horses said they would be willing to work hard, too. Mickleson simply nodded an agreement, thinking if they did turn up he could at least get each of them a good meal and a bath. They were far too young to be able to work much.”
While there is dialogue, some of it sounded off to my ear, perhaps because, regardless of class or employment, the characters often speak like professors with long sentences arranged into multiple paragraphs that contain few to no action beats or pauses. This is Rebecca, a lady’s maid who’s just suffered a grievous miscarriage, telling her husband about how much she loves him.
“I remember the day I fell in love with you, Jacky Robertson. I had made an excuse to come to Redway on my day off from Eastease and walked across the fields. Molly had seen me coming and ran over to me. She was full of news of puppies that had been born to that old, barn dog and the poor Mummy had passed away with the effort. You had made a smaller version of the leather sack used to feed orphaned foals and filled it with goat’s milk. Molly had wanted to feed the puppies, but they would not let her hold them and feed them. She was unhappy that they would not let her help them, but she was young and had no patience to let them do it in their own time. She said you were going to try it and pulled me over to the stable to watch.
There you sat in a stall amongst the straw with those puppies. Your long legs stretched out in front of you, just talking to them about some nonsense. You did not even see me there, so intent you were on helping those puppies. You sat so still and let them come to you. They sought the warmth of their mother, but in her absence, they honed in on the warmest thing there, you. Once they were all snuggling against your thigh, but shaking with hunger, you did not try to pick them up, but moved that leather sack of goat’s milk to their mouths for them to suckle upon.
How they fought for the teat of that sack, but you made sure each of them got some milk and gradually they settled and when they did, they let you touch and stroke them. You soothed them and managed to move each one into your lap. How ever many were there? Perhaps six or more? Then you brought each to your chest and allowed it to suckle until full and falling asleep. You did not care if milk spilled on you or if they peed on you. You sat there and let them sleep.
I must have stood watching you for an hour. When you finally noticed me, and looked up at me with that long, lazy smile you have, I knew. I knew I loved you, I knew I would never love another and I knew that you would be a wonderful and patient husband, lover and father.”
While I find this sentiment lovely, I feel that it would have resonated more if it had been less oratory and more like normal human speech where people move and pause and check out the person to whom he, she, or they are speaking.
As for the music element, it is a minor side plot with virtually no stakes. Harriet composes well-received music with titles like “Love” that she credits to a pretend brother. How Harriet came to understand things like harmonic progression and musical forms remains unexplained (although maybe this is tackled in an earlier book) since she doesn’t have a teacher and, seeing as it’s the 18th century, not much access to music unless it’s played live.
Author Trish Butler’s prose is pleasant and lucid, and I do want to give her kudos for her erotic scenes, which were some of the best I’ve read in a long time — tasteful, respectful, and powered by genuine emotion; however, I’m afraid I didn’t warm to this in quite the way I hoped.
May 13, 2020
I hope you enjoy Harriet and add her to your Goodreads shelves.
Harriet has a passion and goes to great lengths to pursue it!
Don't forget to write a review and recommend to others.
Feel free to ask me any questions on my Author profile.
Thank you for reading!
Harriet has a passion and goes to great lengths to pursue it!
Don't forget to write a review and recommend to others.
Feel free to ask me any questions on my Author profile.
Thank you for reading!
January 13, 2018
I enjoyed this novel very much. The author has created characters that come alive in the story. You feel with them and for them! The main character, Harriet, has experienced much loss in her young life. Despite the challenges presented to her by her circumstances, her era and other characters well developed in the novel, she sets goals and pursues dreams that others would not even consider. You will root for her to succeed. You will find characters who break your heart, characters you hate, and situations that make you laugh as well! Give Redeay Acres a chance and you will want to read all the novels in the series!
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December 26, 2018Review in progress.
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