The fourth book in the "Daughters of Mannerling" series is unusual in that author M C Beaton injects a supernatural element into the plot. Although essentially her usual fare of girl meets handsome rich bachelor, this novel feels darker, more sinister in tone than her other romances. Plot:The Beverley sisters are still as obsessed as ever to regain their childhood home Mannerling, the splendid estate their late father lost due to gambling debts. Their mother Lady Beverley, a haughty hypochondriac who likes to flee to the safety of her chambers whenever life gets tough, suddenly realises that it's not only her daughters who could marry the new owner of Mannerling but that there's life in the old aristocratic dog yet. So she sets her cap at the new owner's father, General Blackwood, who unfortunately has only eyes for the wonderful governess Miss Trumble, employed to tutor Lady Beverley's daughters.Since middle-aged Miss Trumble only needs to tutor the grown-up Beverly girls for 2 hours a day, she has time at her hands to interfere in the lives of those she cares for and gently steer them away from danger. There is a mystery surrounding Miss Trumble - she is clearly a high born lady who masquerades as a servant, for what purpose, we are not told.This time it's the lovely Rachel Beverley's turn to secure the affections of a rich man - but isn't Charles Blackwood, the handsome new owner of Mannerling, a little too old for her? The 40-year-old widower had his heart broken by his late wife, who consorted merrily with her footman. Left with two young children to bring up, Charles is adrift, depressed and not in the mood to contemplate matrimony ever again. Rumours spread by malicious neighbourhood gossips inform him and the General upon their arrival at Mannerling that the Beverley sisters won't stop at anything to get their hands on their former estate. Believing all Beverley women are therefore gold-diggers (just like his former wife), Charles ignores young Rachel as a potential mate and - at least initially - falls for the charms and beauty of the statuesque but dangerous Minerva Stanterton. His children, however, know exactly who their father should marry and it is mostly due to their innocent voices that Charles finally begins to see the love-light shining in Rachel's eyes.Enter a mysterious plantation owner from the colonies who is intent on marrying Rachel and getting his hands on Mannerling, conjure up a ghost and a few assassins and you have a an exciting Regency romance with plenty of action.The only thing I found a little suspect about this novel was the fact that the Blackwood children talk just like adults, even though they are only six and eight. Not enough care went into their characterisation, which is a shame, since ultimately they are the ones who bring about their father's change of heart and prompt him into gaining greater insight into his own failures on the romantic front. This novel is far less funny than any of M C Beaton's Regency romps from the House of the Season series, A School for Manners novels or the Travelling Matchmaker series, although the character of Lady Beverly tries hard to make up for the lack of a Lady Godolphin (Lady Malapropos).What is most interesting is that Mannerling is presented as a character in its own right, a house that is gradually turning from childhood friend into sinister, even murderous fiend.All in all a very enjoyable read and I can't wait to find out who governess Miss Trimble really is. Bring on the next instalment!
I remember reading a slew of Marion Chesney novels when my children were very young. They were just the right kind of light, mindless entertainment that I needed at the time. I had to read things that were very put-downable … books that would not consume me. My free time to read was very limited.Basically, all of the books in any given Marion Chesney series were the same book. She had a formula, and stuck to it. She changed names, places and circumstances, but the basic plots remained identical. They were all set during the Regency (a period in history that I still adore to this day), and they were all usually under 200 pages each. The writing was simplistic, and really gave you nothing to ponder. These books fit the bill for me perfectly at the time.Considering the number of books she has cranked out (Wikipedia lists 106 books under her own name and her pseudonyms), I’m not surprised that she does not write “great works of fiction”. So I figured that since they were really all the same book, the same review would suffice!
What do You think about The Folly (1997)?
Even though I knew this was the fourth in the "Mannerling" series I went ahead and gave this book a go and I was richly rewarded.This light Regency read was not captivating in a Pride and Prejudice sort of way but in a delightfully soft way none the less.Folly - bigIn less than a day I had explored the full face love triangle between Rachel, Mr. Cater and Charles and was satisfied on the very last page that everything was as it should have been... though I'm not sure everyone who reads this book will agree with that statement!There is nothing hidden here, Folly is a romance novel that from the first encounter sets out the main storyline but there are twists, though they are subtle and welcoming like a latte on a rainy afternoon.Am I a fan of M. C. Beaton? Absolutely - I wanted to read the next book as soon I'd finished Folly and break my new 2015 rule of book review first then new book! Now though I'm free I'm off to get another one :-)
—Michelle
