Summerset Abbey (Summerset Abbey, #1)

Mar 12, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who are obsessed with Downton Abbey and don't mind a slightly less appealing version

Shelves: adult

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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 pai...more photo 35d616d1-dcac-4ec6-95de-85fe2907d9ff_zps0176ff56.jpg

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.

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Dec 24, 2012 Naoms rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, dukes-earls-viscounts, not-romance, read-in-2012, historical-fiction, netgalley-edelweis

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...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, adult, arcs-read, edelweiss-netgalley, downton-abbey-esque

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 a...more 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.(less)

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Feb 12, 2013 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 ena...more 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.

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May 12, 2013 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: english-setting, european-setting, feminist-literature, historical-romance, new-author-for-me, woman-writer

Ordinarily, I don't read romance novels. But, this wasn't a typical romance...it was more a historical fiction than the summary led me to believe. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Though it tripped the edge of light reading at times, it very much carried enough substance in the storytelling to hold me rapt. T. J. Brown is a good author with much to say about women in general and the Edwardian Period where they struggled for their independence, in specific.

The three primary women in this novel are acutel...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 wi...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Kathy Davie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, history

First in the Summerset Abbey historical fiction series. The focus here is on Prudence Tate, an unwitting victim of class prejudice.

My Take
While this is a full-length novel, it's really more of a prologue as it sets up the series and introduces the characters along with their particular issues. Based on what I've read in Summerset Abbey, it should be a tumultuous read ahead with all the clamor over the upstairs/downstairs attitudes, women's rights, unions, the uppity Buxtons' obsession over scand...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is an is an emotional novel that shares the tests of three young women’s strength, principles and loyalty as they are trying to navigate a world that is changing but have different expectations for themselves than others do.

It’s 1913 England — roughly the same time period as “Downton Abbey” is set — and sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton were raised in an unconventional home that defied most Edwardian traditions. Prudence Tate is their age and although the daughter of the late governess, s...more This is an is an emotional novel that shares the tests of three young women’s strength, principles and loyalty as they are trying to navigate a world that is changing but have different expectations for themselves than others do.

It’s 1913 England — roughly the same time period as “Downton Abbey” is set — and sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton were raised in an unconventional home that defied most Edwardian traditions. Prudence Tate is their age and although the daughter of the late governess, she was raised like a sister to Rowena and Victoria.

When their sisters’ widower father, Sir Philip, dies, they go to live with their uncle and aunt at their estate at Summerset Abbey, who are very entrenched in the ways of traditional social customs.

Prudence is forced to be a maid to Rowena and Victoria as a condition of her staying with them and has difficulty navigating life as a servant below stairs while not being accepted above stairs. All three work to carve out a place for themselves in the rigid social structure set up by their uncle in the community surrounding Summerset Abbey while mourning the loss of Sir Phillip.

Rowena hates the position that Prudence is in but feels helpless to do anything. However, a downed plane and mysterious pilot capture her attention. Victoria, who is asthmatic but has an idealistic spirit, finds an unused room to secretly practice typing while she investigates a family secret that is entrenched in scandal.

When a young noble takes an interest in Prudence and she finds out more about her past, her late mother’s family and the secrets around her birth father, she is forced to make a decision as she seeks to find a place that feels like home.

I feel for Prudence as she is trying hard to figure out what to do that will be best for her as revelation after revelation puts a puzzle together that she can't ignore — and others refuse to.

This was one of the books in a list for the Deseret News of "10 clean historical romance novels in time for Valentine's Day".(less)

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Feb 04, 2013 Beatnik Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
Ever since I discovered Downton Abbey, I have a habit (an insufferable one, I'm sure) of comparing everything I see and read to it. The Grantham girls have snuck into just about every Shakespeare play I've read lately, and any book that takes place in England before 1930 (or any country before 1930, if they have even a trace of aristocracy or heiresses) has an air of Downton in my mind. But I think I can be forgiven for making the comparison with this book...more http://www.cozylittlebookjournal.com/...
Ever since I discovered Downton Abbey, I have a habit (an insufferable one, I'm sure) of comparing everything I see and read to it. The Grantham girls have snuck into just about every Shakespeare play I've read lately, and any book that takes place in England before 1930 (or any country before 1930, if they have even a trace of aristocracy or heiresses) has an air of Downton in my mind. But I think I can be forgiven for making the comparison with this book. I mean, c'mon. I'm pretty sure this book was marketed as "perfect for fans of Downton Abbey." And, from my perspective at least, it sort of is.

The first in a trilogy, Summerset Abbey follows the lives of three young women dealing with the death of Sir Philip Buxton, the man who raised them to be independent thinkers despite the social confines of England in 1913. Two of the women--his daughters Rowena and Victoria--are sent to live with their uncle at his sprawling manor of Summerset Abbey, while the third--Prudence Tate--is allowed to accompany them only at Rowena and Victoria's insistence. Prudence has been raised as their third sister since she was born, but really she is the daughter of a governess. Moving to Summerset Abbey will mean that Prudence is treated as a servant in a way she never was before.

Everything I loved about this book was everything I love about Downton Abbey. The strong female heroines who are also hopelessly sheltered and pampered. The class tension between upstairs and downstairs. The good intentions of the upper class who wish to treat everyone equally...but also don't want to lose their servants or their titles. The changing times of the early twentieth century that means the end of some of England's aristocratic families...but certainly not all. And the costumes! Can't forget the costumes!

This isn't a life-changing book, so much as it is a fun read set in a time and place that I'm sort of obsessed with right now. But based on the popularity of Downton Abbey, I'm guessing a LOT of people are obsessed with it too. Therefore, I expect there will be tonnes of "Downton-like" books coming across my shelf in the future. For now, though, I can recommend Summerset Abbey with confidence for fans of the genre.

Disclaimer: I received a digital galley of this book free from Edelweiss (Above the Tree Line). I was asked to write an honest review, though not necessarily a favourable one. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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Jan 22, 2013 Hannah Fielding rated it 5 of 5 stars

This first book in the trilogy lays strong foundations. By the end of the book I liked each of the three female lead characters, and was keen to see them find love and their place in the Edwardian world. I loved the setting – Edwardian England was such an exciting time, with new battling old – and the themes explored, from the suffragists and the upper class versus the serving class, to the newfangled contraptions known as aeroplanes and the right of a woman to make her own, independent choices....more

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Jan 21, 2013 Leah (The Pretty Good Gatsby) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, england, fiction, for-review-netgalley, historical-fiction

http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress....

Prudence craned her neck and her heart sank. Slender Italianate spires seemed to reach for the sky, rising from an imposing structure so massive it took up more than a London city block. The grounds around it were so immaculate and severe that Prudence couldn't imagine a leaf or stone daring to shift out of place. This was no comfortable home where little girls played hide-and-seek in cozy alcoves, or giggled while they devoured savory meat pies. Poets and

...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Rena Mcgrath rated it 5 of 5 stars

Enchanting story of three very different women living in the post-Edwardian era. Rowena and Victoria are two sisters who along with their other "sister" Prudence come to live with their aunt and uncle at their estate following the death of their father. Prudence is not a blood sister but all three girls have been raised as though they were related. Prudence's deceased mother had been appointed governess by Philip Bruxton and had originally been a housemaid from the ancestral home Summerset Abbey...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Eleanor rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was having a really hard time with this book. I'm blaming Downton Abbey. I adore Downton Abbey, but it made me want everything visual, dynamic and moving. Reading just wasn't IT.

So - 3.7ish stars out of 5.

Three girls, two of them blood sisters and the third a governess' daughter (Prudence) who was raised with Rowena and Victoria, are taken to live with their uncle, The Earl of Summerset, when their father dies. Mourning their father, who was a bit eccentric and very liberal, they are having a...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: british, coming-of-age, european-history, fun, flying, historical-fiction, pre-wwi

3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4. I received this book from NetGalley.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I would highly recommend it for lovers of Downton Abbey or any costume drama - it is wonderful fun for people who enjoy those sorts of shows.

Yes, it is a bit soapy. Yes, there are some instances of insta-love (a writing device I absolutely hate - where the protagonist meets someone and can tell instantly they're soul mates and destined to be), and a rather weakly developed mystery (view spo ...more 3.5/5 stars, rounded up to 4. I received this book from NetGalley.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I would highly recommend it for lovers of Downton Abbey or any costume drama - it is wonderful fun for people who enjoy those sorts of shows.

Yes, it is a bit soapy. Yes, there are some instances of insta-love (a writing device I absolutely hate - where the protagonist meets someone and can tell instantly they're soul mates and destined to be), and a rather weakly developed mystery (view spoiler) that is solved very quickly in the last few pages. These things fail to distract from what I thought to be the real story - the interplay between the girls and the family as everyone finds their place, which was handled very well. I adored all of the small intrigues and betrayals; it made this book very fun to read.

Each of the three girls - Prudence, Victoria and Rowena - have the opportunity to tell the story from their own perspective. At the beginning, all three are difficult to tell apart - none has her own voice. They are almost interchangeable. However, as the book continues and the characters arrive at Summerset Abbey, each girl grows apart and each becomes a distinct voice in her own right.

I really liked Rowena and Prudence. Rowena, particularly, was very interesting, as she starts to investigate life outside her own family. (view spoiler) Prudence has the lion's share of the drama, and there were a couple of small twists to her story that surprised me. I was thinking one thing happened, but something completely different occurred. Prudence's ending was a bit of a shock as well - I didn't see it coming in this book, knowing this is a planned trilogy.

Victoria, the younger sister, was less intriguing to me, despite having an excellent story. She vacillated wildly between sounding very young for her eighteen years and sounding very wise, indeed, which was disconcerting.

I was a little disappointed by the characterization of the Buxton cousins, Colin and Elaine. Both seemed very interesting, but they along with their Cunning Coterie, were underused and underdeveloped. I'm hoping to see more from and about them, as they intersect with the main characters.

Anyway, this was a fun, easy read that reminded me very much of Downton Abbey. The writer had clearly done some research as to the Edwardian era and discussed this in her author's note at the end.

I would recommend this book, and will likely be looking for its sequels when they appear later next year.(less)

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Nov 29, 2012 Rachelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book would have been 5 stars. It should have been 5 stars, except that ending!! How anti-climactic! I was so disappointed with the way it just -ended-. I know there's going to be a book 2 but I felt like it was less a cliffhanger as it was just an unfinished story.

Prudence was lovely. I adored her character and I felt for her as she went through everything after Sir Phillip's death. She's an interesting character and I would happily read more about her except that gawdawful end.

Victoria was...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 fath...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"We detest that kind of showy, excessive waste.
Did you know you could feed one hundred families for a year
on the money spent just on the flowers for one ball?"
--T.J. Brown, Summerset Abbey

Summerset Abbey has that beautiful historical fiction feel that gives me warm fuzzies the entire time I'm reading it. Turn of the century for the most part, aristocracy is on the way out, women are speaking up, old stodgy men with their tumblers are being left speechless due to the "audacity" of the talk of m...more "We detest that kind of showy, excessive waste.
Did you know you could feed one hundred families for a year
on the money spent just on the flowers for one ball?"
--T.J. Brown, Summerset Abbey

Summerset Abbey has that beautiful historical fiction feel that gives me warm fuzzies the entire time I'm reading it. Turn of the century for the most part, aristocracy is on the way out, women are speaking up, old stodgy men with their tumblers are being left speechless due to the "audacity" of the talk of mixing of the classes. *sigh* It's all so brilliant isn't it? I love the the idea of the old British aristocracy system...but after reading this book I've come to the conclusion that all this servant stuff was a bunch of bull. I mean, c'mon, all this talk about duty and honor and loyalty? You people are hired help, servants, the owners of the huge mansion you sleep in don't care about you. It made me sad. Oof, but my thoughts are all jumbled, ok, small rant over, let's get to the meat of the book.

I enjoyed reading Summerset Abbey. It was a lovely historical picture of a time when lots of changes were happening so I loved reading about this. The talk of dinners and tea and changing into multiple gowns a day had me day dreaming about balls and petticoats. The characters for the most part I enjoyed. The main focus of the story is Prudence, the governess' daughter who grew up with Victoria and Rowena as another sister. When their father dies the girls are forced to move in with their Uncle who does not see Prudence as an extended member of the family, but rather another servant. This does not bode well with the girls. Enter the plot thickening.

I loved Prudence. She was a beautifully written character. She was strong, she made the best of her dire circumstances, she held her head high, and she stuck up for herself when necessary. I really, really liked her and I was rooting for her completely the entire novel. Victoria, the younger sister, was amazing as well. Frail in physical stature but fierce in persona. This girl was a fighter. She constantly stuck up for Prudence and fought for her to be by their side and did not give up until she...well, you read it for yourself to find out :) Rowena, on the other hand, I could not stand. Ugh, she was so weak and malleable and just so unlikable. I'm sure she was written this way as to further the plot or we would have no story...but still, I didn't like her. She let her Uncle treat Pru the way he did and her excuse every time in her inner monologue was 'Well, what can I do?' Uh...stand up for your supposed SISTER!? Aggravating. Immature. Useless. I felt so bad for Pru and Victoria because with them being so strong, seeing their sister as such a weak individual was probably heart-breaking.

The plot moved a little bit slower than I would have liked. While I loved reading about the times and the dressings, I could only take so much. There was a mystery involved in the story that was pretty predictable. Not every detail did I have worked out but the big picture I caught on to straight away which had me mentally probing the plot, c'mon, move faster, there ya go now, let's get movin'. The supporting characters were good but forgettable. There were small doses of romance interspersed with the rest of the story. I liked these. I would have liked to see them develop a little bit more but there is a second book coming out in March so we don't have to wait long to see what happens next.

I liked the ending but it was a little abrupt. The story built slowly and then felt like it just dropped off the edge of the cliff. The epilogue was informative but vague at the same time for me. I see how things wrapped up but it didn't go into a lot of detail about it. I wish there would have been a little bit more of an eloquent conclusion. But, like I said, there is a book 2.

I liked reading about the historical drama of English aristocrats. The descriptions were lovely, the main characters were beautifully written, the only downside was the pacing. I will be reading the next installment of Summerset Abbey mostly because I can't wait to see what is in store for all three sisters...Rowena included :)

Original Review at

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Feb 17, 2013 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this enough to continue with the next book in the trilogy.

The story is about Rowena and Victoria Buxton who are raised along with their "sister" Prudence Tate by their father Sir Phillip. Prudence is the daughter of the girls' late governess. When Sir Phillip dies abruptly, the girls are forced to move to Summerset Abbey by their uncle. Because Prudence is only the daughter of their governess the stipulation of her making the move with them is to go as their ladies maid.

The rest of t...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, netgalley

Disclaimer: Preview provided through NetGalley by Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.

Sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton have grown up alongside their late governess’s daughter, Prudence Tate. When Rowena and Victoria’s father dies suddenly, the girls are forced to move to their ancestral home, Summerset Abbey, and live with their manipulative aunt and uncle. When they arrive, Lady Summerset takes an immediate dislike to Prudence and cruelly banishes her to the servants’ quarters. Del...more Disclaimer: Preview provided through NetGalley by Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review.

Sisters Rowena and Victoria Buxton have grown up alongside their late governess’s daughter, Prudence Tate. When Rowena and Victoria’s father dies suddenly, the girls are forced to move to their ancestral home, Summerset Abbey, and live with their manipulative aunt and uncle. When they arrive, Lady Summerset takes an immediate dislike to Prudence and cruelly banishes her to the servants’ quarters. Delicate Victoria, who dreams of being a botanist, sets out to uncover the mystery surrounding her family’s antipathy for Prudence and her late mother, who was once a maid at Summerset. Are there secrets hiding at the Abbey?

While Victoria spends her days sleuthing, Rowena wrestles with guilt over Prudence’s station and with her uncle’s decisions concerning her father’s estate. Prudence, who has never been in service, struggles to survive among a frequently hostile staff. She comes to the unwelcome conclusion that one’s birth is more defining than she ever realized; Rowena and Victoria realize that their father sheltered them all from the harsh realities of a still rigid class system. The author does an excellent job portraying both the good and bad aspects of this idealized time period. Scenes throughout the novel depict the landed gentry complaining about the Labor Party, as well as the young discussing aviation and women’s suffrage. To lighten the mood, all three ladies find love at Summerset, and their potential suitors are very interesting, especially Rowena’s highly unsuitable aviator.

This light romance provides a welcome escape from the modern world. The author kept the plot rolling along at a nice pace, and the historical details added to my enjoyment of this Downton-inspired historical. The ending did seem rather sudden; one of the characters made a dramatic and rash decision that made this reader want to hurl her Kindle across the room. Despite the ending, I am still looking forward to reading the two planned sequels in the hopes that these characters will get some much deserved happiness. Recommended for fans of Downton Abbey and historical fiction for ages 12 and up.
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Jan 12, 2013 Shay Williams rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

While I do tend to read the paranormal or young adult genres there are times when I get the urge for a good historical. SUMMERSET ABBEY appeared to the perfect book to scratch that itch. Not a romance though there are romantic elements to the story as there must be when the tale is centered about three young women. Not a mystery though there is definitely elements to the story that take a while to bubble to the surface.

I found SUMMERSET ABBEY to be an interesting book. It is centered around the...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Brenda Hawley rated it 3 of 5 stars

The hype compared this book to Downton Abbey, but I felt it was more soap operaish without the wonderful humor and memorable characters of Julian Fellowes. Set in 1913, two young women and their informally adopted sister are drawn into the world of their wealthy uncle and aunt who shun the so-called unrelated girl into servitude. I had a difficult time with the characters' actions based upon their shared history and the implied motivation set up by the author about their school room days. Pruden...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Marion Marchetto rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, historical-romance, series

Like so many others I too am a fan of Downton Abbey. Since Downton is so popular its no wonder that there are many wanna-be's (including my own Bridgewater Chronicles based in America). That said I was keen on picking up another Edwardian voice and decided to give T.J. Brown's Summerset Abbey a go - especially since it is the start of a new series.

We meet Rowena and Victoria along with Prudence, the daughter of a family maid, at the funeral of Sir Philip. The three young women are now under the...more Like so many others I too am a fan of Downton Abbey. Since Downton is so popular its no wonder that there are many wanna-be's (including my own Bridgewater Chronicles based in America). That said I was keen on picking up another Edwardian voice and decided to give T.J. Brown's Summerset Abbey a go - especially since it is the start of a new series.

We meet Rowena and Victoria along with Prudence, the daughter of a family maid, at the funeral of Sir Philip. The three young women are now under the care and supervision of their uncle and aunt and are bundled off to Summerset - the family estate. While Uncle Conrad whisks his nieces off immediately he has no intention of bringing Prudence along. Rowena convinces him to take Prudence when she proclaims that the girl can be a lady's maid for she and her sister. The story centers around Prudence who does not fit in with the upper class family nor is she made comfortable below stairs with the servants who consider her to be putting on airs.

There are secrets aplenty as we soon find out. It seems every character we meet has some sort of skeleton in their closet and its only a matter of time (or pages) until those secrets become public. In the end, the major secret which drives the story is exposed and a twist is provided that may be a bit of a surprise.

The author captures the time period to perfection and I love the introduction of Jonathan Wells who is an areoplane test pilot as a romantic lead for Rowena. Victoria with her frailty and asthma seems to me to be the most well-developed character of the lot although she has her hand in so many pies that its difficult to keep track. The characters could have been fleshed out a bit more but as they are being set up for the next book in the series this isn't much of a problem. I do believe that with the number of characters in this book we could have learned a bit more about them.

My main complaint is with the ending. It was abrupt and we had to wait for an epilogue to tie together the loose ends. Of course the finale of this book is setting up the next one so I'm sure there will be explanations aplenty to bring the story together. I would have liked to see a few more chapters dealing with the wedding of one of the three young women. Those kinds of scenes are actually coveted by historical readers and could have given us another glimpse at the customs of the period.

Overall I like the book but it didn't give me the "I can't put it down" feeling. (less)

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Dec 16, 2012 Dianne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-read, netgalley, dysfunctional-families, family-saga, historical-fiction, romance

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, th...more

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May 09, 2013 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Summerset 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....more

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Jan 29, 2013 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult-fiction, young-adult-fiction

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 Bux...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Joana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-or-egalley, historical_fiction, read-2013

Summerset Abbey is the story of 3 young women, Rowena, Prudence and Victoria.
Although Prudence was the daughter of governess, she was raised and treated by Sir Philip like she was one of his daughters.
Sir Philip was an uncommon man for that era, he raised them to be capable and independent women, to speak their mind and to think that everyone is equal.
When Sir Philip dies, nothing could have prepare them to the grieve and to the changes that occur in their life. Until she is 25 years old or mar...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Jennie - Daystarz Books rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, historical-fiction, read-2013

Publication date: 15.1.13

2.5 / 5 stars

Overview

Rowena Buxton, Victoria Buxton and Prudence Tate have been raised as sisters by the socially progressive Sir Phillip Buxton since Prudence's mothers death. Sir Phillip, a noted Botanist, has gone against social and familial dictates in taking on the daughter of his girls Governess as a ward and raising her as one of his own.

Upon Phillips death his older brother the Lord of Summerset Abbey becomes guardian to the Buxton sisters and Prudence is relegat...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summerset Abbey caught my eye as it is in the vein of Downton Abbey, a show I am hooked on and cannot stop watching even though I was a bit disappointed by the latest series and in particular the 2012 Christmas special. Anyway that's another topic altogether! I was much happier reading this book for the most part (although I don't remember the "distant rumblings of war" being mentioned at any point!).

The three 'sisters' are well established from the start and the book began very strongly which m...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Tzippy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, families, netgalley, reviewed, setting-england, era-edwardian-england

I wanted to like this one, but it ended up being very flat.

It starts out with the death of Sir Philip Buxtom, the father of two of the main characters and de facto adoptive father of the third. Prudence was actually the daughter of the governess, though, and the girls' new guardian, Sir Philip's brother, is fairly villainous and tries to get rid of her--barring that, he turns her into a servant. She has to sleep in a cold room and wear old clothing (the other servants make fun of her when she tr...more I wanted to like this one, but it ended up being very flat.

It starts out with the death of Sir Philip Buxtom, the father of two of the main characters and de facto adoptive father of the third. Prudence was actually the daughter of the governess, though, and the girls' new guardian, Sir Philip's brother, is fairly villainous and tries to get rid of her--barring that, he turns her into a servant. She has to sleep in a cold room and wear old clothing (the other servants make fun of her when she tries to wear her own clothing) and wait upon the girls whom she used to consider sisters.

I really disliked Rowena, the eldest daughter. I felt for her a little bit because she seemed to be mildly depressed, but enough is enough. It would be one thing if her listlessness and melancholy were only affecting herself, but when she allows people she supposedly loves to be abused (and starts in on the abuse herself) just because she doesn't have the energy to do anything about it, it's pretty uninspiring.

The love interests were mostly cardboard: no life, no heart, no what-makes-them-tick. Jon, Rowena's love interest, was the exception here, but even then, I still didn't understand what attracted them to each other.

But it wasn't all bad, nor was it all boring.

Prudence and Victoria tell Rowena off a bunch of times, which is vaguely satisfying. And the twist about Prudence is not quite what you'd expect, and makes the aunt and uncle seem a little bit more three-dimensional.

The girls' cousins and their friends have this "Cunning Coterie" thing which is kind of like those college secret societies where bored rich kids hang out and play a lot of pranks, like in Gilmore Girls or Secret Society Girl. They're kind of amusing, but I do enjoy the parts where the narrative points out that they're also spoiled and self-centered. Because, yeah. It would be one thing if they worked very hard all day and then did this stuff to blow off some steam, but they're basically lazy children of aristocrats, with nothing to do but wait for their parents to die, and this is what they spend their time doing.

Honestly, my favorite parts of the book are the parts where the characters are criticized. I'm not sure what that means regarding how much I actually liked it.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley.com in order for an honest review.(less)

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Jan 23, 2013 Thebakingbookworm rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc

This review was originally posted on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca).

Author: T.J. Brown
Type: E-book (Advanced Reading Copy)
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Historical Fiction (England)
Series: First book in the Summerset Abbey trilogy
Publisher: Gallery Books
First Published: January 15, 2013
First Line: "Prudence Tate paused before the arched doorway to allow Victoria time to regain her composure."

Synopsis: 1913: Rowena and Victoria Buxton are sisters who live with their wid...more

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Summerset Abbey (Summerset Abbey #1)

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