Author:
Leila Rasheed
Publication
Date: January 22, 2013
Publisher:
Hyperion
Series:
At Somerton # 1
One
house, two worlds...
Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and
beautiful, Ada Aversely treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend.
Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of
ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like
Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had
she been born a lady, like Ada.
For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their
majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved
father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own
happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley
name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could
never persuade her father to accept.
Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces
two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden
attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering
jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton.
“‘Listen,
Annie, we all have a place. We’re born to it, and we need to stick to it. You
step out of your place, and you’ll regret it. The gentry can be as friendly as
they like, but if you make a mistake, it’s you who’ll be out on your ear – not
them.’” – ARC Copy pg. 29
“On
the corridor below, a huge arrangement of roses had been placed under a window.
Somerton was famed for its roses and especially this one, the Averley Pearl,
first bred by Lord Westlake’s great-grandmother. They had a powerful, sweet
scent and a dewy sheen to the white petals that gardeners everywhere had tried
and failed to reproduce.” – ARC Copy pg. 35
“She
could feel Somerton around her even when she not aware of doing so, sensing her
place in the house, as familiar and secure as the stays she had put on every
day since she was fourteen. For better or worse, her life was here.” – ARC Copy
pg. 56
“Those
who ride high horses have a long way to fall.” – ARC Copy pg. 79
“Some
girls do read books and still marry, Papa. Some even – even go to university.”
– ARC Copy pg. 128
Fans
of Downton Abbey are sure to relish in this fascinating new series that
highlights life in luxurious London at an estate called Somerton. Lady Ada and
her family have just returned back to London, England from India at the
beginning of this novel, when Ada’s father announces his plans to remarry again
to the elegant, prestigious Mrs. Templeton. Everyone in the manor is shocked by
the news but understands that Mr. Averley needs the good name and fortune of
Mrs. Templeton in order to save what is left of his family and their beloved
manor. Ada has enough to worry about on her own after just being proposed to by
a man that she doesn’t love and never will, while juggling her affections for a
man whom would never be found worthy enough for her hand in marriage by her
father or anyone for that matter.
This
story focuses on the accounts of Ada Averley and her ladies’ maid, Rose Cliffe.
Readers will experience life with the upper classes staying at Somerton as well
as the working class. Rose soon becomes a personal friend of Ada’s and helps
Ada to sneak around and visit Ravi, the young man she has secretly fallen in
love with of which she knows no one will approve. I loved the relationship that
was developed by Ada and Rose because I cannot stand when the working class is
treated poorly and I love how Ada takes Rose under her wing. It is also nice to
think that maybe situations like theirs really did happen every now and again.
I am sure that ladies of the ton were likely to befriend their ladies’ maids
and their relationship seemed very realistic and personable to me.
Ada
was the perfect heroine for me because she had such a strong desire to be
educated and not live under the confines normally placed on a woman during this
time. Ada was at first a monotonous character and I was worried that she might
bore me; however, once her passions started to rise to the surface and I saw
what she was all about, I began to see her develop more and more. Her love
interest was another of my favorite things to read about. Ada has feelings for
an Indian student staying at Somerton called Ravi. Ada knows that no one,
including her father, would ever approve of her union but her burning desire
will not let her stay away from him, and he is just as persistent. For some
reason I always relate India to London and I can see the areas in which their
cultures intertwine. Ravi and Ada are an unlikely pair but I think their union
works really well with the storyline.
This
novel fit perfectly in between both the young adult and historical fiction
genres. Fans of both will surely love this book. I have read many mixed reviews
regarding this book and I am still trying to figure out what everyone doesn’t
like about it. I found no problems with the book, other than having so many
characters to keep up with. The story was a fabulous account of the life of the
rich and famous as well as what it was like to be part of the working class in
a large estate such as Somerton. I really did not care for Mrs. Templeton, but
I believe this was the point, as she was supposed to feed into the evil
stepmother archetype. Overall, very well written story! I will be reading the
sequel whenever it releases.
***A
huge thank you to the publishers at Hyperion for providing me with a copy of
this book in exchange for my honest & unbiased review***
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