Review: Summerset Abbey By T.J. Brown

Series: Summerset Abbey Book 1
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (January 15, 2013)
ISBN-10: 1451698984

About The Book: 

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 and the distant rumblings of war...

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 Buxton
Frail 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 Tate
Prudence 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:
 In her debut novel set within Edwardian England, T.J, Brown has created a wonderful tale full of intrigue and suspense with a vibrant cast of characters. Upon the death of Sir Philip Buxton, the three young women are immediately swept away to Summerset Abbey and their lives are forever changed within this clash of the upstairs and downstairs class system. The characters were extremely well-developed with unique personalities of their own...(although Rowena is just a rather weak and despicable person). The plot itself is well-developed with just enough twists and turns that prompted me to keep reading as I tried to guess the ending. The historical descriptions, for the most part, remained true to the time period and exemplified Brown's extensive research. As a debut novel, this was a delightful reading experience and one that I would recommend to any fan of the highly-acclaimed PBS series, Downton Abbey and historical fiction in general. I'm anxiously awaiting to meet up with Rowena, Victoria, Prudence, and the many other colorful characters in Brown's second book, A Bloom In Winter, scheduled for release in March 2013. Overall, a wonderful novel that I easily give four stars!