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 third son of the Earl of Summerset, have always treated their housekeeper's daughter, Prudence, like a sister. But when their father dies and they move in with their uncle's family in a much stricter household, Prudence is relegated to the downstairs maids' quarters, much to the girls' shock and dismay. The impending war offers each girl hope for a more modern future, but the ever-present specter of class expectations makes it difficult for Prudence to maintain a foot in both worlds. Vividly evoking both time and place and filled with authentic dialogue and richly detailed atmosphere, Summerset Abbeyis a charming and timeless historical debut.

T.J. Brown begins a sweeping trilogy set in Edwardian England with Summerset Abbey, her historical fiction debut. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Visit the author at TJBrownBooks.com.