Blog Tour: Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown Review & Giveaway

Today I have my stop on the Summerset Abbey Book Tour brought to you by Rockstar Book Tours. I have my review, (the book was fabulous!) a giveaway for a signed copy of the book. There is also another giveaway that the author has for a kindle, nook, or kobo that you can enter if you pre-order the book.

• Publisher: Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster)
• Pages: 320
• Formats: Paperback, eBook
• Publication Date: January 15, 2013
• Source: eARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley for tour

 Purchase: Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository

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

While I don't read many historical novels, books like this make me wonder why. I was so wrapped up in the characters and the story. I loved being in this time period and experiencing how different that life is with them. This book is full of mystery, scandal, romance, and intrigue! We get to experience this all through different POV's and I loved how we get to see the story from all angles. It really made it a very pleasurable reading experience. And the mystery was truly a mystery. I thought I had it all figured out and I was actually wrong! *gasp* That almost never happens to me. I guess I should have seen the signs, but being the fantastic book it was, it had me so wrapped up in things that I went off in the wrong directions and didn't see that ending coming at all!

I usually go into the main character at this point in a review, but I will just tell you about how different each of the girls were. They start off so close, like sisters, but then as time goes on they start to grow apart, keep secrets, and to a point resent each other. Victoria was my favorite. She is naive, but I loved her for it. She really believes that she can do good and doesn't think about the bigger outcome of everything. I loved her spunk and determination. She is much stronger than she seems. She won't let her medical troubles be a setback for her. Then there's Rowena, who wants to be more outspoken like Victoria. She really has a hard time with it, but she does the best she can inside her shut down mind. She is in a dark place through this and even though you want to dislike her at times, you really do feel for her. Without getting her perspective she would have easily been a character you despise. Prudence is a great character and this really was centered around her. The secrets and scandal all come back to her and her family. I liked being in her head. It seems like she just accepts being a servant, but in reality she does anything but. As the story progresses she really comes into her own and I was cheering her on the whole way.

This is a time period where women don't really have rights. In a family like the Buxton's the women are expected to be well bred, proper, and marry into another wealthy family. Classes don't mix and it's unacceptable. The only way that Prudence was able to go to Summerset with Rowena and Victoria was as their Ladies Maid. She has always been treated as their equal so it is quite a shock for her. I loved getting to experience the lifestyle of the different classes and get to know so many different characters. I thought the writing was beautiful and the story was engaging. I think I am definitely a fan of historical fiction if they can all be like this. I am looking forward to continuing this series!!

About the author

TJ Brown is passionate about books, writing, history, dachshunds and mojitos. If she could go back in time, she would have traveled back to England, 1910, Paris, 1927 or Haight-Ashbury, 1967. She resides in the burbs of Portlandia, where she appreciates the weirdness, the microbreweries, hoodies, Voodoo Donuts and the rain.

Links: Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Facebook

- Other books in the series on Goodreads -

A Bloom In Winter (Summerset Abbey #2) March 5, 2013

Spring Awakening (Summerset Abbey #3) August 6, 2013

In celebration of the launch of Summerset Abbey, the first in a trilogy, Teri is holding a book lovers contest. All you have to do to enter is preorder Summerset Abbey through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Indiebound, or through your local independent bookstore and  then forward Teri the e-receipt to Teri (at) teribrownbooks.com. Contest runs from 1/3- 1/14. Winner will be chosen at random and announced on 1/15, the day Summerset Abbey comes out! Is that an awesome way to celebrate or what?

Winner (Sorry, US addresses only) can pick from:
--Kindle Fire HD, 16GB (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/ref=fs_ta)
--Nook HD, 8GB (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/p/nook-hd-barnes-noble/1110060426)
--Kobo Vox, 8GB (http://www.kobobooks.com/kobovox)

Giveaway

1 signed finished copy of Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown (provided by the author)

US Only (Sorry)

Winner has 48 hours to respond or a new one will be chosen

I am not responsible for lost or damaged items 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the other tour stops for other great posts and more chances to win!! 

Kicks Off

January 3rd - Fiktshun - Interview/Q&A

Week One

January 7th - Katie's Book Blog - Review and Interview/Q&A
January 8th - Letters Inside Out - Guest Post
January 9th - Stuck in YA Books - Guest Post
January 10th - Book Loving Mom - Review
January 11th - Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf - Guest Post

Week Two

January 21st - Chapter by Chapter - Guest Post
January 22nd - To Read or Not To Read - Review
January 23rd - In the Next Room - Interview/Q&A
January 24th - The Reading Date - Review
January 25th - Snowdrop Dreams of Books - Guest Post

Brought to you by Rockstar Book Tours