Valerie Anand - The House of Allerbrook
Reviewed by: Connie
Publisher: Mira Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Released: October 2008
ISBN - 13: 9780778326014
ISBN - 10: 0778326912
Allerbrook House, home of the Sweetwater family, is located in the Exmoor district of Somerset. It is here in the year 1535 that the story of The House of Allerbrook begins. It is in the days of Anne Boleyn that sixteen year old Jane Sweetwater's older sister, Sybil, is being groomed for court. When Sybil finds herself unwed and in the family way she is no longer suitable for court. After Sybil is disowned by family and sent away Jane is groomed to become a lady-in-waiting in the Queen's court. But when Anne Boleyn is arrested on charges of treason Jane receives her reprieve from becoming a lady-in-waiting. Jane's escape from the court is a short one and Jane becomes a lady-in-waiting under Anna of Cleaves. When Henry VIII makes advances towards Jane she flees the Queens court and returns to Allerbrook House. Upon her return to Allerbrook Jane's older brother, Francis, forces Jane into a marriage with a much older man that she does not love.
The House of Allerbrook: A Novel of Exmoor is the second in Valerie Anand's Exmoor Saga although it is a stand-alone novel. The story takes place during sixteenth century England and spans Jane Sweetwater Allerbrook's life from the reign of Henry VIII through Elizabeth I. The House of Allerbrook is a well-written and compelling story. It covers three generations of the Allerbrook family and the constant changes in religious doctrine during this time. I appreciated the writing, warmth, and feeling generated within the pages of this book. The House of Allerbrook is a top-notch historical novel. I felt as though I were right there living in sixteenth century England during all those years of religious turmoil.
Publisher: Mira Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Released: October 2008
ISBN - 13: 9780778326014
ISBN - 10: 0778326912
Allerbrook House, home of the Sweetwater family, is located in the Exmoor district of Somerset. It is here in the year 1535 that the story of The House of Allerbrook begins. It is in the days of Anne Boleyn that sixteen year old Jane Sweetwater's older sister, Sybil, is being groomed for court. When Sybil finds herself unwed and in the family way she is no longer suitable for court. After Sybil is disowned by family and sent away Jane is groomed to become a lady-in-waiting in the Queen's court. But when Anne Boleyn is arrested on charges of treason Jane receives her reprieve from becoming a lady-in-waiting. Jane's escape from the court is a short one and Jane becomes a lady-in-waiting under Anna of Cleaves. When Henry VIII makes advances towards Jane she flees the Queens court and returns to Allerbrook House. Upon her return to Allerbrook Jane's older brother, Francis, forces Jane into a marriage with a much older man that she does not love.
The House of Allerbrook: A Novel of Exmoor is the second in Valerie Anand's Exmoor Saga although it is a stand-alone novel. The story takes place during sixteenth century England and spans Jane Sweetwater Allerbrook's life from the reign of Henry VIII through Elizabeth I. The House of Allerbrook is a well-written and compelling story. It covers three generations of the Allerbrook family and the constant changes in religious doctrine during this time. I appreciated the writing, warmth, and feeling generated within the pages of this book. The House of Allerbrook is a top-notch historical novel. I felt as though I were right there living in sixteenth century England during all those years of religious turmoil.
