At Summers End, Courtney Ellis
At Summers End, Courtney Ellis
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At Summer's End

Author: Courtney Ellis

Narrator: Leonora Haig

Unabridged: 12 hr 51 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 08/10/2021


Synopsis

"A sparkling debut from a new author we’re all going to want more from.”—Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things
 
When an ambitious female artist accepts an unexpected commission at a powerful earl's country estate in 1920s England, she finds his war-torn family crumbling under the weight of long-kept secrets. From debut author Courtney Ellis comes a captivating novel about finding the courage to heal after the ravages of war.

Alberta Preston accepts the commission of a lifetime when she receives an invitation from the Earl of Wakeford to spend a summer painting at His Lordship's country home, Castle Braemore. Bertie imagines her residence at the prodigious estate will finally enable her to embark on a professional career and prove her worth as an artist, regardless of her gender.

Upon her arrival, however, Bertie finds the opulent Braemore and its inhabitants diminished by the Great War. The earl has been living in isolation since returning from  the trenches,  locked away in his rooms and hiding battle scars behind a prosthetic mask. While his younger siblings eagerly welcome Bertie into their world, she soon sees chips in that world's gilded facade. As she and the earl develop an unexpected bond, Bertie becomes deeply entangled in the pain and secrets she discovers hidden within Castle Braemore and the hearts of its residents.

Threaded with hope, love, and loss, At Summer's End delivers a portrait of a noble family--and a world--changed forever by the war to end all wars.

About The Author

Courtney Ellis began writing at a young age, and developed an interest in history from her grandfather’s stories of World War II. After obtaining her BA in English and Creative Writing, she went on to pursue a career in publishing. She lives in New York.


Reviews

3.5 Stars Being a woman artist in the 1920s was far from easy. Bertie Preston is thrilled when an invitation arrives from the Earl of Wakeford, asking her to spend the summer painting at his estate, Castle Braemore. She's surprised to find a family still suffering in the aftermath of WWI, especially......more

Goodreads review by Rachel

When I saw this book I was like: catnip! CATNIP! and wait! check! Catnip! But what lured me in terms of plot and a very obvious Beauty and the Beast type trope (le sigh) impressed me greatly when I fell into Ellis' luminous natural writing ability. I don't know if anyone can call words a colour; but......more

Alberta, otherwise known as Bertie, longs for nothing more than making her name as an artist. As such when she receives an invitation from the Earl of Wakeford to spend a summer painting at his country home, Castle Braemore, it is as if all her dreams have come true. Yet Bertie is not prepared for t......more

Title: At Summer's End Series: Standalone Author: Courtney Ellis Release date: August 10, 2021 Cliffhanger: no Genre: historical fiction You never know what to expect when you take a gamble on a debut author. You could be blown away by their raw talent, or you could feel that their writing quality isn't......more


Quotes

“I loved everything about this book: the richly drawn characters, the evocative setting, the very heart and soul of the story within the pages. It’s everything you want in a novel for these times we are in. A sparkling debut from a new author we’re all going to want more from.”—Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things
 
"Readers will be captivated by this stirring debut of love, family secrets and human frailties. Told with wit and tenderness, this story is as unique as its characters, Bertie and Julian Wakeford, an earl like no other. Ellis deftly captures the devastation of war and what it means to be comfortable in one’s own skin.”—Renée Rosen, bestselling author of The Social Graces

“Ellis’s lyrical, emotional writing brings the beauty of Braemore alive while revealing the complexity of the richly drawn characters as Bertie pursues artistic recognition alongside her emotionally charged love affair with Julian. Historical fiction fans will appreciate this.”—Publishers Weekly

“The lush setting and vivid characters are utterly captivating in Ellis' lovely debut.”—Booklist

“Superb... Readers will be filled with suspense, sometimes even anxiousness, but also cheer for Bertie’s boldness, her sense of accomplishment, and the decision she makes at summer’s end.”—Historical Novel Society