Having
been going through Downton Abbey withdrawal, I jumped
at the chance to read Summerset Abbey. The story opens in
1913 with the funeral of Sir Phillip Buxton. His daughters,
Rowena and Victoria, have no idea how much his passing will
change their lives. Prudence Tate will face the biggest change
of all. She was the daughter of the governess and was treated
as Sir Phillip's third daughter.
Right after the funeral, Sir Phillip's will is read, and Rowena
finds out that their uncle, the Earl, will be in charge of
their money until they are twenty-five or suitably married.
In addition, Rowena and Victoria would be moving to Summerset
Abbey to live with him and their aunt Charlotte. No need to
take any servants. What will happen to Prudence? Rowena talks
her uncle into taking Prudence along , since they needed their
ladies’ maid. Victoria needed her to help when she had
asthma attacks.
Victoria had a big secret of her own. In spite
of her bad asthma, she has been learning shorthand and typing
at Miss Fister’s Secretarial School for Young Ladies.
Victoria planned on helping her father with his work in the
field of botany.
Things to ponder: How will Prudence manage with her change
in station from family to servant? Will Victoria continue
her course work, or will her uncle put his foot down? How
is Rowena going to like living in a house that has very strict
divisions of the social classes? What about Lord Billingsley--will
he ever be with the girl of his dreams?
This is the first book in TJ Brown's trilogy. I like how the
author is telling the story from the point of view of the
three young ladies. It starts right before WWI starts. I enjoyed
the different characters and how they developed. While this
is a big book, I was so engrossed in the story that I finished
it in a very few days. Good thing the second book will be
out in March. If you like period novels with a touch of Downton
Abbey, then you will find this book very enjoyable.
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