It was just a kiss. That was all it was. A moment of frustration with Gabriel, and she shared a passionate kiss with the Earl of Ralston. It was just a momentary lapse; yet, an ill-fated moment seen by her beloved husband, the handsome Earl of Averford.

Then Gabriel left and stayed away for a long time. Left alone on the magnificent estate of Thornbrook Park, the beautiful Sophia, Countess of Averford, is determined to do her best to keep his beloved estate going. Surprised by her own newly discovered business sense, Sophia takes pleasure in managing the workload and discovering new opportunities for revenue. Yet, she also discovers just how much she loves and misses her husband.

Surprised by the news from her Aunt Agatha that Gabriel is back in London from Italy, Sophia decides to do the unexpected and goes to meet him. Will her plan to rekindle their love and her marriage succeed? Meanwhile, Gabriel has his own plans.

THE GREAT ESTATE is the third book in Sheri Browning's new Thornbrook series. Browning's fans are sure to appreciate this latest romance which features some of the previous characters in minor roles. Yet it reads very well as a stand-alone romance on its own.

Browning is an experienced writer who is very talented at pulling the reader into the Edwardian time period as she seamlessly embeds many of the attitudes and nuances of the times into the story line. Despite some predictability in the plot development, there are a number of amusing scenes in THE GREAT ESTATE as a result of Sophia and Gabriel's attempts to woo the other, but having differing intentions. Personally, I related more to Gabriel as he seemed more realistic in his interactions. I became a bit frustrated by Sophia's reactions at times, but still quite liked this story of re-establishing a relationship.

If you enjoy Edwardian stories like Downton Abbey, or just looking for a nice summer read, do check out THE GREAT ESTATE for journey back to that time.