Review: Summerset Abbey by T.J. Brown

Here is the setup by the author and publisher: "Reminiscent of Downton Abbey, this first novel in a new series follows two sisters and their maid as they are suddenly separated by the rigid class divisions within a sprawling aristocratic estate and thrust into an uncertain world on the brink of WWI... Rowena and Victoria, daughters to the second son of the Earl of Summerset, have always treated their governess’s daughter, Prudence, like a sister. But when their father dies and they move in with their uncle’s family in a much more traditional household, Prudence is relegated to the maids’ quarters, much to the girls’ shock and dismay."

I am not going to repeat all the details of the book. Other reviewers have done that admirably. I am going to touch on the Downton Abbey comparison.

Comparing it to Downton Abbey made me immediately want to read it until I realized watching Downton Abbey and reading about Downton Abbey are two different things. Downton Abbey is interesting to watch because you see the actors, the event, the costumes or the house even when the action is mundane. Reading about mundane things that happen in a big house is not nearly as exciting. Like watching paint dry.

I am often bored by Downton Abbey's slow pace and I felt the same thing with this book. Without the distraction of an extravagant set and costume design, the book is slow. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book. It's just not a page turner, read it all in one setting kind of book and the romance is next to nothing.

If you watch Downton Abbey or any period pieces, you will know that the first season is for setting up the character's personalities, their backstories and explaining the family dynamics. This book is no different. It is the first in a trilogy so it sets up their history as a family and how they arrive at their current location. The downstairs staff just seem mean and cold to me. I don't see an endearing "downstairs" character like the ones on Downton Abbey or the Upstairs, Downstairs series.

Romance? Not hardly. Really, hardly any at all. There are men in the picture but the romance is chaste. Very, very chaste...makes Downton Abbey look like a hot bed of romance...which brings me to the ending.

The worst part is the ending but in true Downton Abbey form. It ends abruptly with a personal decision that left me with my mouth on the floor. I literally said out loud "What the hey?!" when it ended. I kept waiting for the announcer to come on and say "Next season on Summerset Abbey..." so I would have some kind of clue as to why this person did what they did and what was going to happen. It was very frustrating to say the least. But just like Downton Abbey ends with some kind of cliffhanger till the next season so does Summerset Abbey Book 1.

Rating this book is so difficult. As a romance, it falls waaaaaay short. As a Downton Abbey wannabe, it's not so bad and lots of people will enjoy this book. However, I am a romance blog writer so I am going to rate it as a romance and I am being generous.

Summerset Abbey rating: 4 out of 10