Title: The Great Estate
Author: Sherri
Browning
Series: Thornbrook
Park, #3
Pubdate: August
4th, 2015
ISBN: 9781402286858
Pulled apart by past
mistakes. Driven by a passion neither could deny.
Sophia
Thorne was young and inexperienced when she married the dashing Earl of
Averford…and through dark and troubled times, their relationship nearly came to
an end. Now she’s determined to transform herself into the fiery, ardent lover
she always wanted to be, giving them a second chance at love… before they’re
lost to each other forever.
It
took nearly losing Sophia for Gabriel to realize he had allowed his love for
his great estate to distract him from his beautiful wife. But that time is
over. Despite all the obstacles standing in their way, Gabriel vows to teach
Sophia what it is to truly love…and to be loved by a husband devoted heart and
soul to her every desire.
Sherri
Browning writes historical and contemporary romance fiction,
sometimes with a paranormal twist. She is the author of critically acclaimed
classic mash-ups Jane Slayre and Grave Expectations. A graduate
of Mount Holyoke College, Sherri has lived in western Massachusetts and Greater
Detroit Michigan, but is now settled with her family in Simsbury, Connecticut.
Find her online at www.sherribrowningerwin.com.
***
Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey, the third in Sherri Browning’s Thornbrook Park
series, The Great Estate, comes out this August! To celebrate her new release,
Sherri’s agreed to answer some questions for us about herself and her career as
an author.
What inspired you to write The Great Estate?
As the Earl and Countess of
Averford, and keepers of the estate, Sophia and Gabriel have always been at the
heart of the Thornbrook Park series, and we haven’t always seen them at their
best. I wanted the chance to redeem them to readers, and to each other. In
previous books, Sophia and Gabriel have come off as sullen and self-absorbed,
but it’s really a defense mechanism, a curtain they hide behind. I needed to
pull back that curtain and show who they really are.
An Excerpt:
Thornbrook Park. A warm
wave of pride filled him at the sight as Dale drove them up the winding way.
The chimneys appeared first over the crest of the hill, followed by the slate
roof, and finally the rose stone facade. How could he have stayed away so long?
Sophia wouldn’t be expecting him. He planned
to surprise her, perhaps persuade Finch not to even announce his return. He
would simply appear at the dinner hour, dressed to the nines, and act as if he
had been there the entire time. Darling, I believe the quail is cooked
perfectly, but not quite the same as when I shoot it myself… No, it wouldn’t
do. She hated it when he left her alone to go off hunting. He’d always known
it, but he couldn’t seem to give it up. Old habits. In truth, he couldn’t wait
to get his boots on, the good English ones he’d left behind, take up his rifle,
and stomp off into the woods. His woods. Alas, there would be no more hunting.
At least, not as frequently, and certainly not right away. Not until he was
certain that he wouldn’t upset Sophia further. Not until she forgave him.
Perhaps he could suggest
other activities that they could do together? His brow shot up. He knew just
what activities he had in mind, but they would have to work up to that. Slowly.
He meant to court her properly, one step at a time.
“Now, Dale, I don’t want
a fuss,” he said. “It’s good to be home but no need for a celebration. I mean
to slip in quietly.”
Review:
This is the third book in the Thornbrook Park series but it can be read as a stand-alone. I do wish that I'd been able to read the first two books before reading this one though because there are some references in this book that make it clear that it is part of a series.
I liked this book but I don't think I loved it. The situation between Sophia and Gabriel, their lack of communication in their marriage, seems to be either a newlywed problem or they are both severely immature in their marriage. It was a little frustrating to see people who have been married for eight years act as if they'd only been married mere months. I also didn't like that Gabriel disappears for a year. That's not how marriages are supposed to work. And I don't feel like there was much character development in that year period.
For me, the book is saved in the last half when the two are reunited and have finally come to their senses as to how a marriage is supposed to work. The supporting characters in this novel also kind of bring to the table what I feel Sophia and Gabriel were lacking. I do not think this book would have been as good with Aunt Agatha, specifically. She was probably my favorite character in the whole book.
Overall, it's an entertaining book and it tells a good story of two people who maybe married too young, without really knowing what they were doing, and how they finally managed to overcome their issues and truly be a happily married couple!
Review:
This is the third book in the Thornbrook Park series but it can be read as a stand-alone. I do wish that I'd been able to read the first two books before reading this one though because there are some references in this book that make it clear that it is part of a series.
I liked this book but I don't think I loved it. The situation between Sophia and Gabriel, their lack of communication in their marriage, seems to be either a newlywed problem or they are both severely immature in their marriage. It was a little frustrating to see people who have been married for eight years act as if they'd only been married mere months. I also didn't like that Gabriel disappears for a year. That's not how marriages are supposed to work. And I don't feel like there was much character development in that year period.
For me, the book is saved in the last half when the two are reunited and have finally come to their senses as to how a marriage is supposed to work. The supporting characters in this novel also kind of bring to the table what I feel Sophia and Gabriel were lacking. I do not think this book would have been as good with Aunt Agatha, specifically. She was probably my favorite character in the whole book.
Overall, it's an entertaining book and it tells a good story of two people who maybe married too young, without really knowing what they were doing, and how they finally managed to overcome their issues and truly be a happily married couple!
Buy Links:
