At Summer's End

"A sparkling debut from a new author we're all going to want more from."-Susan Meissner, bestselling author ofThe Nature of Fragile ThingsWhen 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 acceptsthe commission of a lifetime when she receivesan invitation from the Earl of Wakeford to spend a summer painting at His Lordship's country home, Castle Braemore. Bertie imagines her residenceat the prodigiousestate will finally enable her to embark on a professional career and prove her worthas 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 awayin his rooms and hidingbattle scars behind a prosthetic mask. While his younger siblingseagerlywelcome 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 andthe hearts ofits residents.Threaded with hope, love, and loss,At Summer's Enddelivers a portrait of a noble family--and a world--changed forever by the war to end all wars.

“"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." --Renee Rosen, author of The Social Graces”

“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

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.

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