Summerset Abbey

Great story!!! Very well written and read. Thank you for your good work.

Absolutely fabulous I accidentally read the second book first. And very much enjoyed it. Was a little worried. Going back to the first book and knowing what was going on. Absolutely excellent rider my first time reading their books.

I adored this book trilogy! I so wanted it to carry on so that I could follow the next chapter of the sister's lives. And Sarah Coombs as narrator was fantastic, she was able to do an array of accents that were spot on. Just loved this trilogy.

Intrigue. Scandal. And an unknown heritage. I absolutely loved it.

eGalley courtesy of NetGalley

****SPOILERS*****















Summerset Abbey
by T.J. Brown
Publication Date: January 15, 2013
Gallery Books
Paperback: 320 pages
ISBN: 1451698984
Genre: Fiction / Historical
Source: eGalley courtesy of Net Galley
Reviewed by: Wendy Clements
Rating: 3/5

Summerset Abbey is the story of three young women, Rowena and Victoria Buxton, and Prudence Tate. The Buxtons are gentry, whereas Prudence is the daughter of their former governess. All three are motherless, and Rowena and Victoria’s father took Prudence in and raised her with his daughters, the bond between them as strong as any sister’s. In the Edwardian era, the setting for the story, Sir Philip Buxton is an unconventional man, raising his daughters to be free thinkers, exposing them to new ideas when women did not have many rights and were expected to marry and have a family, and to behave respectably within the limitations society dictated. The girls did not have the traditional coming out balls, were never debutantes, and were taught that class doesn’t matter, the important thing is people.

The novel opens with the funeral of Sir Buxton, and the three young women preparing for it. All of them are devastated, but they expect to remain in their home, unlike any other traditional home a man of the gentry might have. It is clear how much the young women depend on each other, offer each other support, and, most importantly, love and trust each other. No one cared that Prudence was the daughter of the governess, they were, in mind and spirit, true sisters. They had met artists, authors, men in science—all of them looking to the future—motorcars had already started to overtake carriages in popularity, and it was the dawn of aeronautics.

In doing what he believed was the right thing to do with his daughters and Prudence, however, Sir Buxton had gone to the opposite extreme. He wasn’t necessarily wrong to do so, but in Edwardian England, when women were still seen by the gentry as a way to cement ties between families, for land or money, his decision left them completely unprepared for his death. They believed they would stay in their home, and life would go on, not the way it had, but they would survive the death of their father and guardian and continue to live the way they always had. No provisions or legal papers were left on what would happen under these circumstances, and Sir Buxton’s brother, Lord Summerset, and his wife decide to move the three young women to Summerset Abbey to stay with them. Not having made arrangements in advance was really a pretty bad idea.

Victoria is eighteen, her sister a few years older, and Prudence in the middle. Three women their age living on their own now is commonplace, but in the eyes of Lord Summerset, it was completely unacceptable according the to rules of ‘civilized’ society. There is some protest, but not much, and the three pack what they need and head for Summerset Abbey, where the tight knot of their friendship and sisterhood hits the event that changes their lives, possibly forever (there is at least one sequel that I know of)—Lady Charlotte, their aunt, separates them, sending Prudence to the servants’ quarters downstairs, and Rowena and Victoria to their ‘proper’ places upstairs. Their aunt knows exactly what she is doing—the three young women find that whenever they mention Prudence’s mother’s name, no one will talk about her. Now, there is the underlying mystery of why no one will talk about her.

This is the point in the novel when it was unclear to me whether the young women are supposed to considered strong characters or not when subjected to the tests of the gentry’s thumbscrews. They fall into place fairly quickly, it seemed. As the oldest, Rowena feels a great responsibility for what happens to Victoria and Prudence, but she already has several strikes against her—she is a woman, she is deeply grieving for the loss of their father, and while she may have been strong in her old, familiar environment in London, at Summerset Abbey she has nothing to ground her. The combination of these things, instead of spurring her on to action, freeze her in place while the feelings of not having control of anything continue to pile up—Victoria constantly accuses her of doing nothing to help Prudence, now working as their Lady’s maid, which is true. Rowena becomes snappish and irritable, treating the servants, including Prudence, more and more the way her cousins and the rest of the Buxtons do. Rowena is no match for her Aunt Charlotte, who is an expert at manipulation and turning any situation to her advantage. The more accusations are thrown at her, the more she shuts herself off. The only one she feels herself with is a young pilot who crashes his plane near her when she’s out riding one day. She finds herself attracted to him, but not only is he involved with something her uncle would highly disapprove of, but his family and the Buxtons literally hate each other. Even they have a clash over class, which ends up having more to do with the families not getting along. With him, Rowena seems stronger, but at Summerset Abbey, she wilts.

Prudence struggles because she doesn’t fit in anywhere anymore. One of the Lords who comes to visit with the Buxton’s cousins is drawn to her, and she is to him, but instead of seeing where that might go, she leaves with one of the servants, Andrew, a seemingly kind young man with aspirations of becoming a veterinarian, thinking she could learn to love him. She no longer trusts her former ‘sisters,’ and Lady Charlotte will make her life unbearable. So, the question is, does leaving Summerset make her a weaker or a stronger character? She has knowledge, which everyone knows is power, and could very possibly ruin the Buxtons, righting who knows how many wrongs their family has perpetrated in their own home and elsewhere. Or, is she stronger in that she walked away, having that knowledge yet behaving in a better way they did—not stooping to their level of manipulation?

Surprisingly, it is Victoria, frail and asthmatic, who takes the risks to help Prudence. At first, she seems helpless because of her illness, but being at Summerset helps her physically regain her strength—she comments she was always better there when they visited in the summers. She doesn’t seem to have trouble fitting in with her cousins and their friends, and she stubbornly attempts to carry on learning how to type and still has her dream of being a Botanist. It is the unexpected relationship with Kit, the oldest of her cousins’ friends and eight years her senior, who has the same feelings about marriage that Victoria does—not knowing that, they are off to a rocky start until he realizes she’s not interested in that, and they become friends. He goes with her to find out the truth about Prudence’s father. Her ability to persevere and unexpected resiliency, in my mind, makes her a strong character.

TJ Brown’s writing is engaging and makes an enjoyable read. I did have some difficulty truly connecting emotionally with the main characters—possibly because of what I wanted them to do being impossible for them given the time period they lived in. Some of the minor characters were given more depth. It didn’t come across so much as good vs. evil as evil soundly quashing good. From what I know, there were upper class families that had their share of scandal, but survived nonetheless, and while sometimes it was secret, sometimes it was common knowledge. Lady Charlotte’s hatred of Prudence seemed a little too intense and misdirected—Lady Charlotte seems to feel she is so clever with all of her little plots. I felt a little let down at the end, but curious enough about the characters to pick up the next book to find out what happens to them. I would have to say that by the end, even though he was a minor character, I found Kit the most intriguing, and I hope there’s more of him.

I am curious as to whether there will be a foil to Lady Charlotte’s character at some point—a woman who is self-sufficient not because she married well and has twisted her husband around her finger and perfectly trained him to do her bidding, but has money of her own, doesn’t need someone else, and is gentry but kind, not scheming. Lady Charlotte is presented as the ultimate goal a girl should wish to become—she rules Summerset through fear, not love or respect.

In terms of the historic feel for the period, I think the author did a very good job. One of my favorite series as a child (they actually address some of the same issues as Summerset Abbey) was Flambards, by K.M. Peyton, which takes place in the same time period.

While I personally would have liked a little more depth of character for some of the major characters, I did enjoy Summerset Abbey, and found myself wondering what would happen next. I checked the description of the book on Amazon and it mentions the ‘distant rumblings of war.’ I really didn’t see anything even hinting at World War I in the novel, unless it was something subtle I missed. I thought that important to mention—some people might be intrigued because of that aspect, which isn’t present. The next two novels are following, for book publication, in fairly short order, the second, Summerset Abbey: A Bloom in Winter, in Mar 5, 2013, and Summerset Abbey: Spring Awakening, due out August 6, 2013. I am curious to see if they match up to their marketing descriptions.

Summerset Abbey is a turn of the century historical novel. I won't say it is a historical romance novel even though there are undertones of romance throughout this story.

Three young women are rocked by the death of a loved one, forced to leave the home and lifestyle in which they have grown up and betrayed by their own family. Victoria, Prudence and Rowena must face new challenges and heartache as they discover themselves and solve the mystery surrounding Prudence's true identity.

First, I love historical novels. There, I said it. However, I do not like all that I have read. Most are focused on the damsel in distress to be saved by the rakish lord of the manor. Summerset Abbey is not that kind of a novel. T. J. Brown was able to turn the three young women, who had lived the life of privilege without most of the social norms, to turn into stronger, independent women of the era. She mentions suffrage and the New Woman, two key terms in this period of history, and the move from automobiles to aeroplanes. She also brings into play the limitations on families in each socio-economic level and the disparity between the classes that still existed during the period. Issues as mundane as smoking and drinking, as females were not supposed to smoke at all and only drink small quantities of certain liquors, are integrated without much effort. Great touches.

I am looking forward to reading more about the women in book two.

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.

...1913 class consciousness and the rich and powerfulWith the death of their father, Rowena, Victoria and Prudence (who has been brought up with them as a sister) are taken by their uncle and aunt to Somerset Abbey. Prudence however is treated as a lady's maid much to the discomfort of Rowena and the horror of Victoria. In one fell swoop life changed for all three.Their story held my interest. I felt puzzlement and some scorn for Rowena's way of dealing with the situation, and admiration for Victoria's misguided attempts.This is really Prudence's story and one cannot help but feel angry for her at the injustices she experiences.Unfortunately, the ending seemed somewhat rushed after the thoughtful building up and introduction to all the key players. Indeed I was left me wondering just what sort of life Prudence by way of the author had been rushed into. I must admit that I'm left feeling a little short changed. The quickness of Prudence's decision (which probably adds to the drama in the rest of the series) took the story from 4 stars to 3. And yes I will have to read the rest of the series as it's 1913 and I'm sure all the political and social actions of the times will have consequences for the lives and situations of the various characters, and to the series' final outcomes.A NetGalley ARC

My rating: 3 of 5 starsSummerset Abbey is the first of series by T.J. Brown. This is a Gallery Books publication. This book was released in January of 2013. Set in 1913 London, three girls were raised by an eccentric father. Rowena the oldest, Victoria, and their best friend, Prudence. When their father dies the terms of his will upend the girls lives.They lose their father, their home and along the way, each other. The girl's uncle is given control of the their money until they are either married or turn a certain age. They have no choice but to move out of the home they love and live with their aunt and uncle in Summerset Abbey.Rowena takes on the burden of looking out for her frail, sickly sister and arranges for Prudence to live with them for Victoria's sake. The catch is that Prudence must live as a ladies maid and not as a guest. This opens up a chasm between the girls. Victoria is physically weak, but has the nerve to stand up to her relatives against the rules of the society they hold so dear. Rowena, guilt ridden, grief stricken and completely unprepared for this turn of events, flounders a bit. She gives in to her relatives and even begins to forget the sisterly bond she has once shared with Prudence. Prudence learns there is a secret about her mother and her mother's life here at Summerset Abbey. She learns that her life up to this point was a sham. She was the daughter of a maid, not a member of the society that Ro and Vic were born into. When the girls discover the shocking truth behind Prudence's heritage, things may never be the same again. Compared to Downton Abbey, the TV show, this novel highlights the differences between the classes. When the girls find themselves having to adhere to these rules, the true nature of their personalities comes out. We are supposed to feel for Rowena and see the good she has in her. She doesn't agree with the rules her relatives live by, but neither does she do a great deal to change things. Her manta is to repeatedly apologize for the situation they all find themselves in, and not much more. Victoria is the one I really like. While she battles her health, her spirit is strong. She is just as much of a victim as Prudence in some ways because her sister lacks the temerity to do the right thing. Prudence learns the hardest lessons of all. She is the main focus of this novel as her story is at the heart of everything. She struggles with letting go of the life she had become accustomed to and life she forced to live now. Prudence really gets the chance to live the life of "society" and the life of service. I had a hard time getting into the book at first, but the mystery of Prudence's heritage kept me engaged. This series has promise and I wanted to rate this one a bit higher, but I was a bit disappointed with the abrupt, spur of the moment decisions that are made at the end. I had hoped for more for these girls. But, there will be more books in this series and hopefully we will get an update on how things are going for Prudence. Overall, this one gets a B-

Synopsis from the publisher: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 in this stunning series starter that fans of Downton Abbey will love. Rowena Buxton Sir Philip Buxton raised three girls into beautiful and capable young women in a bohemian household that defied Edwardian tradition. Eldest sister Rowena was taught to value people, not wealth or status. But everything she believes will be tested when Sir Philip dies, and the girls must live under their uncle’s guardianship at the vast family estate, Summerset Abbey. Standing up for a beloved family member sequestered to the “underclass” in this privileged new world, and drawn into the Cunning Coterie, an exclusive social circle of aristocratic “rebels,” Rowena must decide where her true passions—and loyalties—lie.Victoria BuxtonFrail in body but filled with an audacious spirit, Victoria secretly dreams of attending university to become a botanist like her father. But this most unladylike wish is not her only secret—Victoria has stumbled upon a family scandal that, if revealed, has the potential to change lives forever...Prudence TatePrudence was lovingly brought up alongside Victoria and Rowena, and their bond is as strong as blood. But by birth she is a governess’s daughter, and to the lord of Summerset Abbey, that makes her a commoner who must take her true place in society—as lady’s maid to her beloved “sisters.” But Pru doesn’t belong in the downstairs world of the household staff any more than she belongs upstairs with the Buxton girls. And when a young lord catches her eye, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever truly carve out a place for herself at Summerset Abbey.My thoughts: I'm a rabid Downton Abbey fan! I can't ever get enough of the Crawleys and their help, so when I read the synopsis of Summerset Abbey, I knew I had to read this galley! This is the first in a trilogy by T.J. (Teri) Brown. Sommerset Abbey was released in January of this year, and I thought this would be a perfect time to post my review, as the second book in the trilogy, A Bloom in Winter, has just been released. I'm a firm believer in reading the books in order. So before you jump into A Bloom in Winter, please start with Summerset Abbey. Summerset Abbey had me on the first page! It's 1913, the year after the Titanic sank, and the modern world doesn't know that a great and terrible war is on the horizon. Their cozy existence is soon to be torn apart with a death. In the first paragraph, when Prudence and Victoria enter the church, the description of the sanctuary as being filled with ladies' black feathered funeral hats that resembled a "flock of ravens" was perfect! You knew exactly what that sanctuary looked like and I had the picture in my mind! I love this kind of writing, when the author can use a few simple, well thought out words to give you the big picture of what was happening!T.J. Brown wastes no time in throwing her characters into a spin, sisters Rowena and Victoria (both under twenty) and their late governess' daughter, Prudence, have been raised together thanks to the sisters' forward thinking father. No "upstairs-downstairs" distinction in his home. Well, that is, until he dies, leaving his two daughters in a royal mess. But then, if there wasn't any drama, we wouldn't have this wonderful book! As the girl's uncle takes over their lives and things get turned around and upside down, Brown skillfully twists and turns the readers, as we all fight with the horrid class distinctions that cause issues for the three girls and those around them. Again, author Brown, while telling the story from different character's perspective, manages that difficult balance, keeping true to the character and also true to the over all story arc.I don't like giving too much of the plot away, and this book came with a big fat bit from the publishers. Let me suffice it to say that I can't wait to get my grubby little fingers on Brown's next installment, A Bloom in Winter.I do recommend this book, it's well crafted, the characters are defined and complex, and the story has enough twists, turns and secrets guessed at, to make all of us lovers of Edwardian fiction happy!I give it a big old 4 out of 5 stars! Go get it, or download it now, THEN get T.J. Brown's second in the trilogy, A Bloom in Winter.This e-galley was provided to me by the publisher, Gallery Books, through Edelweiss, above the treeline in exchange for an honest review.

The backstory: Summerset Abbey is the first in a new young adult Edwardian trilogy.The basics: When their father dies, Rowena and Victoria Buxton are forced to leave their home and go live with their aunt and uncle. It's a house the girls know well, as they've visited each year. In order to bring Prudence, the daughter of their now deceased governess, whom they think of as a sister, the girls have no choice but to have Prudence come as their lady's maid.My thoughts: Summerset Abbey ties in so well with the Downton Abbey craze (how long until season four makes its way to the U.S.?) It's story isn't as complex, but it is wonderfully entertaining. I like to think of the Edwardian era as a kind of coming of age for England (and much of the world.) To see these young women entering adulthood at such a time of changing priorities is quite fascinating. By going from a more liberal worldview of their father, who treated Prudence as a daughter and encourage all three girls to rally for women's vote, to the more traditional and conservative world of their uncle is a challenge for all three girls.While all three girls share narration, I was most drawn to Prudence's story (I imagine Rowena and Victoria will each take a turn with more of a starring role in the trilogy's remaining tow books.) All three girls are caught between two worlds, but Prudence doesn't have a true role in either the upstairs or downstairs life. Further complicating the matter is her quest to learn more about her mother and thus herself.Favorite passage: "Most people don't want to be alone with their thoughts," he finally said. "Maybe they have boring thoughts."The verdict: Summerset Abbey is an entertaining glimpse into Edwardian England and a delightful tale of friendship in a changing time. Brown strikes just the right note of tying up some storylines while leaving others open for the next two installments of this trilogy. What keeps this book from feeling too much of a Downton clone are the characters. Summerset Abbey doesn't necessarily break the mold, but well-developed characters set against a fascinating cultural and historical backdrop make this novel delightfully engaging and entertaining. I'm eagerly awaiting the second book in the series, which is due in March.

Summerset Abbey is the story of Prudence Tate, the daughter of a British governess during the early 1900's. Her mother worked with Rowena and Victoria Buxton and Prudence grew up alongside of the sisters, enjoying the same privileges. Things take a sudden turn when the sisters' father dies and they are sent to live with their uncle at his country estate. Prudence is allowed to come along with the understanding that she will live in the servants' quarters and become the sisters' maid. This book provides an interesting glimpse into British aristocracy and the people who served them. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, the TV series Downton Abbey and the author Kate Morten. (Review based on an ARC copy from NetGalley.)

Summerset Abbey by T. J. Brown is a must-read for Downton Abbey fans. This historical fiction captures the reader from the first page which reveals the death of a beloved father and his two daughters and their companion is who is like a sister to them.This novel follows the life of three young women in 1913 England. After the death of Victoria and Rowena’s father, they are forced to leave their home in London to live on a sprawling estate with their aunt and uncle. The only way that their best friend and sister-like companion, Prudence, could go with them is if she pretends to be their ladies maid. Forced into service, Prudence is determined to figure out who her family really is, so she is not a ladies maid for the rest of her life. Unfortunately whenever she mentions her name, people turn the other way. Who is Prudence and why does everyone avoid her when she mentions her name?This story is surrounded by romance, betrayal, secrets, and lies. Following the lives of the upper social classes and the servants that serve them takes the reader on a magical ride. This novel when you are finished with have you having with abated breath for the second in the series, A Bloom in Winter.

The book opens at a funeral. Sir Phillip Buxton has died prematurely. The story follows the life of his daughers, Rowena and Victoria and their intimate Prudence. We see aristocratic life from the early 1900s as well as the life of the servants. Summerset Abbey is a book that I think would appeal more to women than men. However, it wasn't a bad story. It was well-written and the story flowed. The big picture became obvious early, but there were a lot of twists to the details. The book was a pleasant read.

Basically, Summerset Abbey revolves around two sisters, Rowena and Victoria Buxton, and their "sister" Prudence who has been brought up right alongside them by Sir Philip. Not a Buxton by birth but the daughter of their late governess, Prudence has had the same privileged but somewhat unconventional lifestyle as Rowena and Victoria and the two sisters think of Prudence as another sister. This all changes after Sir Philip's death.Forced to move to Summerset Abbey by their uncle, the two girls are now separated from Prudence as the Earl of Summerset views her solely as a maid. Prudence now has to live downstairs with the other servants and has a very tough time adjusting. Their aunt Charlotte wants only to find socially acceptable husbands for Rowena and Victoria. In 1913 this is just about the only option for young ladies from titled families. The two sisters have other ideas as neither one of them is even remotely interested in marriage. The characterizations are fairly well done. I had somewhat of an emotional reaction to all of them; Rowena I just wanted to tell her to get a grip, Prudence was probably my favorite and I felt sorry for Victoria with her poor health and her distress at their situation. Even having said all this, the book lacked real substance. Summerset Abbey focused more on Prudence and constantly hinted at her family secret. It was pretty transparent to me from the get-go what that was all about. No surprise there, just a lot of melodrama!Upon seeing the cover for this one and thinking it sounded a lot like the Downton Abbey production, I was expecting great things; maybe too much expectation. Wanting lush descriptions and more of a grand scale family saga I was a tad disappointed there wasn't more substance to the plot. I realize this is the first book in the trilogy and the author is setting the scene and letting the reader get to know the characters but still, the ending didn't seem to fit the character and it was too much of an unsuspected cliffhanger. I liked it, but, alas, I wanted to love it. 3***At the end of the book, there is a short excerpt from the second in the series, plus a discussion guide for this book.Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Gallery /Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.