Cinders & Sapphires (At Somerton) - Hardcover

Rasheed, Leila

3.52

2,374 ratings by Goodreads

9781423171171: Cinders & Sapphires (At Somerton)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1423171179 ISBN 13: 9781423171171

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion, 2013

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One house, two worlds... Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley 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. "A thoroughly satisfying romp for Downton Abbey fans Breathless readers will look forward to the next sudsy chapter in this planned series."

--Kirkus Reviews

"Readers who always wondered how the heroines of Jane Austen's novels would have fared in a world careening towards modernity need not look any further."

--VOYA

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About the Author:

Leila Rahseed is the author of the middle grade Bathseba series, and a young adult novel called The World Turned Upside Down. Leila has two Masters degrees, one in Children's Literature and one in Writing.

From Booklist:

The story begins with young Lady Ada, on her way back from India, sharing a shipboard kiss with Oxford-bound Ravi—a romantic moment forbidden on several levels. After the clarity of that chapter, confusion ensues: so many lords, ladies, ladies’ maids. The important ones include Ada’s father, Lord Westlake; his wealthy bride, Fiona; and her children, including the jealous Charlotte and gay Sebastian. Downstairs there is Ada’s new lady’s maid, Rose, who bears a startling resemblance to Lord Westlake. The story, told from multiple points of view, clearly gets its inspiration from Downton Abbey (read: British soap opera), and it’s as though a whole season is crammed into one book. Fans of the genre will certainly enjoy this, as will romance readers, who will feel as torn as Ada about whether she should pursue a relationship with Ravi (especially after he becomes an activist for Indian independence from Britain) or the eligible lord who appreciates a woman who wants an education, as Ada does. Stay tuned for more good fun. Grades 8-12. --Cooper, Ilene

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