Tumbledown Manor

Helen Brown

May 2016 · Kensington Books

About this ebook

From New York Times bestselling author Helen Brown comes a witty, uplifting novel about a woman who discovers that it's never too late to build the home--and the life--you've always longed for...

The windows rattle. The roof leaks. Every surface cries out to be stripped, painted, or polished. But for writer Lisa Trumperton, the dilapidated manor house that once belonged to her great-grandfather is far more than the sum of its battered parts. It's the chance for a new start on her own terms. The fact that it's in the Melbourne countryside of her Australian homeland, far from the deceitful ex-husband she just left behind in New York...well, that's a bonus.

Lisa sets to work refurbishing Trumperton Manor, assisted by her son, his friends, and a "Gray Army" of retired handymen. But it's not just her ancestral home that's being transformed. As she trades her chic Manhattan clothes for jeans and work boots, Lisa is changing and fortifying her relationships with her family and her sense of self. There are floods, fires, and catastrophes, but there are new allies too, including a one-eyed cat, a stubborn cockatoo, and a rugged landscaper with an irresistible grin. Piece by piece, the house is pushing Lisa beyond her old limits, daring her to embrace something bigger, braver, and more rewarding than she ever dreamed.

Praise for Helen Brown and Her Books

"A buoyant tale, heartfelt and open." --Booklist on Cleo

"Brown writes eloquently about the bonds between women ... a moving story of love and identity." --Kirkus Reviews on Cats & Daughters

Ratings and reviews

Tumbledown Manor is a new novel by Helen Brown. Lisa Trumperton Katz, a writer, has been married to Jake for twenty-three years. Lisa believes she has a good life (and a happy husband) until she opens the card attached to her birthday flowers and finds out that they are for his mistress. Lisa asks Jake for a divorce and decides to head back to her birthplace of Australia. Lisa stays with her sister, Maxine (a real pain in the tuchis) and her husband, Gordon. Lisa, thanks to her divorce settlement and her income from writing (she is currently doing a three book series based on the Bronte sisters), can afford a place of her own. Her sister encourages her to purchase a new townhome. But once Lisa discovers their family home Trumperton Manor (Tumbledown Manor to the locals) is for sale (and in horrible condition), her decision is made. It will need quite a bit of work, but that does not alter Lisa’s decision. Her son, Ted and his friends are big supporters and offer their assistance. Lisa also hires Scott Green (local handyman and landscape designer) and the Gray Army to help with the renovations. Lisa is looking forward to her new life in Castlemaine, Australia. What secrets will Lisa uncovers about the house and her family during the renovation? Will Lisa ever be able to complete her latest manuscript (she is suffering from writer’s block)? What happens when ex-husband, Jake has a change of heart? Tumbledown Manor is an expected story. It has a pretty good flow to it and nice writing, but there are really no surprises or twists (I kept hoping for a ghost in the stables). Everything turns out just like you expect it would. I do wish there had been more about the renovations on the house and less about Lisa’s writing. I also found way too many references to egg salad sandwiches (I’m not kidding). It turned me off eating for several hours. It was an overused and unneeded reference. I liked Lisa finding out the history of her family (the scandal) and the addition of Mojo (the cat) and Kiwi (the cockatoo). Tumbledown Manor was a satisfactory novel, but I wanted more. It is basically a romance novel with a theme that has been done many times (a woman finds out husband is cheating, gets divorce, and starts a new life by making an impulsive buy). I give Tumbledown Manor 3 out of 5 stars. I did like the sweet ending (all romance novels have to have a happy ending). I think the novel had unrealized potential. It could have been so much more (a great ghost story or the beginning of a mystery series). I received a complimentary copy of Tumbledown Manor from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.

This one started out rocky for me but I was soon sucked into the story and found I really enjoyed it. It's a story of a woman who has devoted herself to her husband and children not only an empty nester but the ex wife of a cheating husband. Feeling alone in the world she decides to visit her sister back home in Australia and restart her life there. Her sister is pushing her to find her own place and has several condos lined up for the picking but one look at her ancestral home and she knows this is where she belongs. Throughout her journey of renovating the old house, and what a rough journey it is, she meets some incredible people making wonderful friends and even finding a new love of her own along the way. A wonderful tale of a second chance at happiness! Definitely a book I recommend to everyone.

About the author

Helen Brown was born and brought up in New Zealand, where she first worked as a journalist, TV presenter, and scriptwriter. A multi-award-winning columnist, Helen now lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her family and feline, the internationally beloved Jonah. Cleo rose to the top of the bestseller lists in its first weeks in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, France, and Australia, and has been translated into more than sixteen languages. Cats & Daughters further increased her audience with publications in six countries. Tumbledown Manor, already a bestseller in Australia/New Zealand and in Germany, shows her storytelling talents at their best.

You can visit Helen Brown at www.helenbrown.au and follow her on Facebook.