The Daughters of Mannerling is somewhat darker than the other two Marion Chesney series that I've read. Yes, even compared to all the murder and mayhem in The School for Manners. I think the difference is in the sense of maturity. While DoM does contain elements of a comedy of errors, it foregoes the zaniness present in TSoM.The next eldest daughter, Jessica, is convinced that she will be the one to regain Mannerling. As is the rest of the family still at home. So convinced, in fact, that their naked ambition leaves them open to ridicule, particularly on the part of the Deverses, the family currently in possession of Mannerling. To make matters worse, their son, Harry, is not exactly a catch. He's kind of like a party girl. The really destructive kind.Possibly more so than the last book, The Intrigue focuses on the almost supernatural power that Mannerling has. Jessica meets the Deverses' nephew Professor Robert Summerville, and with surprising swiftness, he convinces her that Mannerling is just a place, and she should accept its being beyond her grasp. Jessica swerved between letting go of Mannerling and chasing after Harry with Mannerling in her sights.Once again, Barry the odd jobs man is a force of good on the side of more or less fighting Mannerling's dreadful pull. But this time, he is joined by the mysterious governess Miss Trumble. Much is made of her extraordinary focus on education and little hints that she is more than a "mere" governess. She speaks too freely with Mrs Beverly, and holds herself like a queen.She's to thank for Robert even noticing Jessica. He spoke to Miss Trumble first, and the fact that she forced the girls to dramatically expand their education was one of the things that made Jessica attractive to him in the first place. I liked that.I did think that Jessica's romance was rather like Isabella's, but they did have differences. Even if they weren't, it was a nice romance the firs time, and these books are short enough that I honestly forget a great deal even a day later. This makes them eternally renewable! :)
This is the second in a six-book series, The Daughters of Mannerling, in which the Beverly family deals with finding "suitable" marriages for the six daughters and an obsession with recovering their former home lost to them by their father's gambling habits. The first one, The Banishment, sets up the situation, introduces the daughters (and their mother) and the romance of the oldest daughter, Isabella. I would recommend reading that one first. In this second installment, the second daughter, Jessica continues the family drive to marry so that they can return to the home at the Mannerling estate. The present owner, and object of the intrigue, Harry Devers, is a truly despicable character - beyond being merely odious.I like reading Marion Chesney (AKA M. C. Beaton). These books are a departure into Regency Romance genre, and as such, take on the character of those times and behaviors which are quite different from her Agatha Raisin and Hamish MacBeth series. I think Chesney does have a skill in showing how even the best of people have some not-so-admirable facets to them. In these books I want to take the Beverly family and shake the obsession with Mannerling out of them. I'll probably read all six of these books, because I don't think all will be resolved until the last page of the last book. Besides, there is a "hook" in this one that indicates there is a mysterious character that may not be fully exposed until the end - the governess hired by Lady Beverly who is not what she may seem to be.
What do You think about The Intrigue (1996)?
Title: The IntrigueAuthor: M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney) Read by: Charlotte Anne DorePublisher: AudioGOLength: 5 hours and 4 minutesSource: MP3 Audio through Wisconsin Public Library Consortium – Overdrive on my DroidThe Intrigue is the second book in the Daughters of Mannerling series after The Banishment. If you liked The Banishment, The Intrigue follows the same basic premise. Mannerling was a beautiful family estate that the daughters of Sir Beverly were very, very proud of. After he gambles the estate away, they scheme to find ways to win the estate back. In the first novel, the eldest daughter Isabella fails in the scheme and instead marries an Irish lord that she loves. In this novel, the second daughter, Jessica works to win the hand of the son of the new owners, Harry Devers. Unfortunately Harry is a drunken womanizer, but Jessica is fond of Professor Robert Sommerville. Will Jessica follow the path of true love or will she get back the estate that her family desires?I love regency romances. Although this one had the same simplistic plot as the first novel, I enjoyed listening to it. Charlotte Anne Dore was a good narrator and it was a quick story to get through. If you are looking for something light and romantic to listen to, I highly recommend this book!This review was originally published on my blog at: http://www.lauragerold.blogspot.com/2...
—Laura
This is the second book in the Daughters of Mannerling series. Isabella is married and living in Ireland and Jessica is next in line to try and win back Mannerling for the family. Mrs and Mrs Devers and their son Harry have bought Mannerling and Jessica sets her sights on marrying Harry – in spite of his bad reputation as a drunkard and a libertine. But then there’s Robert Somerville – an Oxford professor – whom Jessica really likes so she finds herself torn in two directions.The machinations of matchmaking mamas and the mystery surrounding the Beverley sisters’ governess – Miss Trumble – who seems to have friends in high places provide an interesting background to the love story. Will Mannerling exercise its usual malign influence over all who live there or are connected with it?I found this entertaining light reading with more than the usual collection of villains in a Regency romance. The Beverley sisters are by turns likeable and infuriating and I found myself at times being more interested in what is going on with Miss Trumble and why she is masquerading as a governess and making friends with servants.
—Damaskcat
