The House Of Allerbrook

Exmoor Saga #2

by Valerie Anand

Lady-in-waiting Jane Sweetwater's resistance to the legendary attentions of Henry VIII may have saved her pretty neck, but her reward is a forced and unhappy marriage with a much older man and a harsh life on his farm. Her only consolation is that she still lives upon her beloved Exmoor, the bleak yet beautiful land that cradles Allerbrook House, her family home.

Played out in this remote, forbidding place, Jane's long and storied life is fraught with change: her fiercely protective nature leads her to assume responsibility not only for her own husband and child, but also for the rebellious son of her wayward sister. In time, she regains the position of a woman with status and property, but she cannot ignore the rumblings from London, as the articles of faith change with every new coronation.

Jane's small world is penetrated by plotting, treachery and even thwarted love as those she holds dearest are forced to choose between family loyalty and fealty to the crown.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Historical

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Born in London, Valerie Anand knew at the age of six that she wanted to be an author. At the age of fifteen, she saw MGM’s film Ivanhoe. She walked into the cinema knowing that she wanted to be a novelist and walked out of it knowing that historical novels were the kind she most wanted to write.

Over the course of her long and distinguished writing career, Valerie has written many works of historical fiction and is well known for the Ursula Blanchard series of Elizabethan mysteries written under the pen name of Fiona Buckley.

Still living in London, Valerie Anand is a frequent visitor to Exmoor, the setting featured in The House of Lanyon.

Reviews

[Sara Giacalone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this second book in the Exmoor Saga - the incredible detail and character development, along with well-researched historical accuracy made it very readable and interesting. I've read many criticisms of this book - that it is too dry and boring, not exciting enough and spans too much time to keep the reader interested. I didn't find it dry and boring at all. While I admit that the main characters are "every day" people, not dukes, earls and princesses, their loves, losses, struggles and victories were very realistic and satisfying. I was especially fond of the details of the reformed religion and the attempts to get Mary of Scots on the throne and enjoyed the way the author wove that story into the narrative. If you are looking for romantic historic fiction, than this series probably isn't for you. If you hunger for detailed historical fiction that immerses the reader into the narrative, then this book is a winner.

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like historical books. Very interesting. Once again a bit too long.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it because I like the Tudor period but it covered a wide sweep of events from the ascent of Ann Boleyn to the demise of Mary Queen of Scots seen through the eyes of a Somerset family who is beset by an unpleasant brother and a husband selected to humiliate her through her lowly status. I did find myself warming to the heroine but many of the other characters offered only two dimensions. The scope of the history was immense. I should have liked it better had there been longer spent on Wyatt's Rebellion as this is an area that hasn't received the attention it probably deserves.

I'd read Anand's previous novel set during the Wars of the Roses and must admit to being curious as to how the family had fared in the succeeding centuries. The best bits are about ordinary people and about the landscape - I think that it's got an excellent regional flavour and some of the vignettes paint a vivid picture.

[Stephanie Kline · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book I was interested... I liked the time period of Anne Boleyn's fall and Jane Seymour's rise to power, although the main character Jane Sweetwater's place in the story was not so much at court as I would have liked. However, the story just seemed to go on and on and on, without any real purpose. The whole book spans from 1535-1587, and that is a LONG time period for one novel to cover. It even felt like the author had gotten a little tired of it while writing, because there was really no action, no romance, no substance - it was just a narrative of Jane's life and the lives of her relatives. There were a few characters that I felt myself take an interest in, but for the most part I thought the story was dull, slow-moving, and disorganized. I'm always happy to pick up a Tudor novel, and I can't say that I disliked this one, I was just a bit disappointed.

[Kevin Reekie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this story is connected to the 'House of Lanyon' it is set almost a century apart. Interesting read but not as compelling as the previous novel. Although the way that a daughter is outcasted because of her infidelity before marriage is shocking and a real insight into the how some women were treated during this reriod.

[Eli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked to have had more on the political intrigue. It felt like the story's focus was scattered, as if it tried to be too many things & nothing was done as well as it could have been done w/concentration.

[Leaha Hosking · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a side story to the saga of Henry VIII and the Tudors, spanning from the time of Anne Boleyn to Elizabeth I and Queen of Scots, Mary Stuart. There are many mentions and encounters with infamous names in the Tudor history and events that occurred in this time, this presents a different view point. It is the story of Jane Sweetwater, a strong and capable character. She has a love for her home of Allerbrook and seeks to keep it safe, and her family a long with it, in an ever changing and dangerous time.
This is the first book by this author I have read and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I will definitely be looking to read more of her work.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this sequel to the House of Lanyon. Enjoyed reading about the 1500 time period of Henry VIII and all the scandal around that time. This author kept me interested and did a good job of using history and made up characters to enhance the story. I kept looking facts up on the internet to learn more about what was going on in the book. A time period that I have not paid too much attention to in the past - really caught my interest!

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

survivor of King Henry VIII's court & village life & in fighting between Elizabeth & Mary

[Amy Beyrle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed finding out more about the Allerbrook family, but I was a little let down with this book. Not as good as the first, even though I find this timeperiod more interesting.

[Wendy Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Choosing between family loyalty and fealty to the crown is by no means an easy or quick choice. THE HOUSE OF ALLERBROOK is full of betrayal and love that will have you quickly turning the pages until far into the night. In a time when woman were thought to be worth less than cattle and their only station in life was to bear an heir, this sweeping saga will make you laugh and make you cry.

Jane Sweetwater is sixteen years old when she is sent to the court of King Henry VIII by her brother Francis. Jane enjoys court life as a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne of Cleves. Queen Anne notices Jane's musical skill and Jane is soon invited to play in the royal parties. However, the unwanted sexual advances from the King soon have her fleeing to the court of Allerbrook with the aid of her friend Peter Carew.

Sybil Sweetwater brings shame to her family with her pregnancy out of wedlock. Her brother Francis immediately exiles her into the care of cousins. There, Sybil is forced to change her name and is treated like a workhorse. After her son Stephen is born she is still miserable and not a very decent mother.

Francis is angry that Jane also damaged the family's chance of a favorable position in court. He marries Jane off to an older farmer named Harry Hudd. She spends her time working the farm and raising their son Tobias dreaming about another life she could have had with Peter. Her sister Sybil wants to escape her life and before long, leaves her son Stephen for Jane to raise. When Francis dies unexpectedly, Jane inherits the family home and starts to make some changes in her life.

An epic historical novel, THE HOUSE OF ALLERBROOK is full of surprises. Royal intrigue, romance, and a historical backdrop set the stage for this novel that spans several generations.

[Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

The House Of Allerbrook is a strange mixture of mindless tedium and ridiculous melodrama. Its biggest problem, in my opinion, is its sheer scope. Anand tries to cover more than fifty years in this single volume - roughly ten pages per year - and it just doesn't work.

Ostensibly centred around one Jane Allerbrook, Anand goes off on wilder and wilder tangents, encompassing just about every single member of her family, with ends all tied up neatly. By the end everyone is married, deceased, or both. As necessitated by the timescale, the narrative drifts from "major" event to major event, sometimes skipping as much as twenty years at a time. This means much of the story is told, rather than shown.

I put major in quotation marks for a reason; Anand evidently doesn't consider that insignificant little events like, say, the death of a king or queen merit an episode in her book. Major in this case is either tedious - Jane marrying off yet another relative - or ridiculous - Jane's bastard nephew being shipwrecked and falling for a tribal chieftain's daughter. I could perhaps forgive my extreme incredulity at this type of event if it added a little excitement to The House Of Allerbrook, but no sooner is said nephew shipwrecked and making eyes at the chieftain's daughter than we skip forward twenty years.

I really don't recommend reading The House Of Allerbrook. There is a wealth of Tudor fiction out there; there's no reason to dwell on this dry example.

[Gilda Felt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though the second in the series, the events take place almost a century later. The story follows the life of Jane Sweetwater, a younger sister who ends up being the one sent to court after her older sister's fall from grace when she becomes pregnant. While there, she comes to the attention of the lecherous king, Henry VIII, and ends up fleeing the court.

It's at this point that she's forced into a loveless marriage to a much older man, even while being in love with another. This is the first of many sacrifices she makes for her family. And while Jane takes on much responsibility for that family, often that responsibility seems more thrust on her than readily taken. Her whole life is a series of mishaps that she has little to no power to prevent.

While not as interesting as the first book, actually slow in some places where the action bogs down (or when the reader can't take yet another sacrifice,) it's an interesting look at life of those not at the center of power, but whose lives are nevertheless affected.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was pure historical fiction. I was kept interested throughout even though it seemed as though there would be a romance within its pages there was not any real romance. It was pure intrigue that kept me reading. I thought it was fascinating as it followed not only the main character, but members of her family, eventually including her son, nephew's, and grandson's family members. The only thing frustrating was that the ending really just let off instead of having a full and resolute end to the story. It seems that it is a sequel in a series, however I never got that vibe. Perhaps I will read the next book and see if it's a continuation of the story that so intrigued and fascinated me.

[Lalla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical novel is the second Exmoor book by this author and the story unfolds during the period following the death of Henry VIII and the turmoil following the crowning of Lady Jane Grey , Edward, and then Mary Tudor. The story unfolds against this background of religious unrest and allegiances. The descendants of some of the original families from the first book of this series are part of the story.
I like the way that the author tells the story of the characters agaist the real events of the time and how their lives were affected by the political and religious unrest of the times. She also uses real historical figures as part of the story.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

After my concerns made when I was about half way trough. The pace and confusion between the Exmoor saga and the wider political/religious saga was brought back together nicely.

On balance, this was a really exciting family saga.

I will certainly look out for other Valerie Anand novels to read in future

[Nicole La Croix-Agustin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't feel like finishing this book. The beginning was interesting as it focused more on character development and relationships. But then it became more about religious politics and I got bored. I have so much more I need to be doing now anyway. . .

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Sweetwater is a fiercely loyal and courageous woman. I could not put this book down. The mistress of Allerbrook was truly blessed to have such loyal people around her...and, yes, this is fictional but very well written and the protagonist very endearing.

[Annemarie Groves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it had an interesting and enticing back cover blurb, that was all over and done in the first 100-150 pages, leaving the remaining 350 to continue along without much to keep the reader enthralled. After the initial part it became a typical light easy Sunday evening drama.

[Misfit · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dreadful, even worse than The House of Lanyon.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Lanyon.

[Arlene]

I enjoyed it. I had forgotten that women were considered property in that period.

[Julia]

Loved it! Can't wait to read more of Valerie Anand's books now.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'll read House of Lanyon next!