#marion chesney

[onebluebookworm]

September 2023 Book Club Picks

I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith: Cassandra Mortmain lives in a crumbling Suffolk castle with her penniless and eccentric family - her wild-tempered author father, her precocious younger brother, and her sensible older sister - recording their various misadventures in her diary. When two wealthy American brothers become their new landlords, Cassandra and her sister are immediately drawn to them, wondering if perhaps they've finally found an escape from their mundane lives.

Deborah Goes to Dover by Marion Chesney: Hannah Pym sets out once more for a glorious adventure, this time destined for Dover. Of course, what's an adventure with the infamous Traveling Matchmaker without matches to make? First, there's poor Abigail Cunningham, accompanied by her mother to be shuffled into a loveless marriage. Then there's tomboyish Deborah Western, encouraged to a life of lazy excess by her unruly twin brother William. Hannah isn't about to let two eligible ladies go astray, not when there are handsome eligible bachelors to pair them with!

The Only One Left by Riley Sager: Everyone knows the story of the Hope's End massacre - on a stormy, cold night in 1929, Lenora Hope systematically killed her whole family, stabbing her father and mother, and hanging her sister from the chandelier. Lenora swore she didn't do it and was never formally charged, but it had to be her. After all, she was the only one left. Fifty-four years later, Kit McDeere has been assigned to Hope's End as a caregiver after a series of strokes leaves Lenora almost totally immobilized, save her left hand. And one night, Lenora uses that left hand to plunk out a simple sentence on an old typewriter - I want to tell you everything. As Lenora tells Kit her story, it's clear that there's more to the story than anyone knows, and Kit begins to wonder how much she can trust this seemingly harmless woman.

Mary, Bloody Mary by Carolyn Meyer: Mary Tudor - Princess of Wales, only surviving child of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon - leads a life full of riches and admiration, destined to rule all of England one day. But vicious rumors begin to circulate through the court - King Henry's eyes have begun to wander, vexed that Catherine never provided him with a proper male heir. His sights land on the beautiful and ambitious Anne Boleyn, and turns his kingdom upside down to be allowed to marry her. Mary, only a child, is thrown into a dangerous world of political intrigue, spies, and love gone mad as her once-beloved father tears her life apart, strips her of her title, her home, and her mother, and declares her a bastard, unfit to inherit the throne. But Mary endures. After all, it is her destiny to rule one day.

Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte: When her father loses the family savings on a risky investment, young Agnes Grey decides to easy her family's financial burden by taking a position as a governess to a wealthy family. Ecstatic at the thought that she has finally gained control and freedom over her own life, Agnes arrives at the Bloomfield mansion armed with confidence and purpose. The cruelty with which the family treat her however, slowly but surely strips the heroine of all dignity and belief in humanity.

[violsva]

I was tagged by @havingbeenbreathedout to post recent, current, and future reading. Unfortunately it is the middle of January, when winter seems eternal and focus nonexistent. However, it occurred to me as I said that that the middle of January is certainly better than the beginning of January, so there's that!

Recent: The last thing I finished at work was a collection of E. F. Benson's ghost stories. I've been reading a lot of Edwardian ghost stories recently and it's just so nice watching terrible things happen to near respectable academics while I wait for the printer to go off. Benson has some interesting interactions with modern technology (his modern) but an annoying tendency to try to explain the metaphysics. I prefer M. R. James.

I also read the most recent installment of the further adventures of Madame C—, which was excellent as usual. In audio there was Dead Man's Ransom by Ellis Peters--I find her work very one-note, but it's a note I really want to hear sometimes.

I have also been reading a bunch of RWRB fanfic. (I skimmed the novel this summer because the gifsets were hot but it really isn't my preferred tropes.) From the outside, it appears to be good in direct proportion to its smuttiness.

Current: At work I am now going through Lolly Willowes by Sylvia Townsend Warner, which I am enjoying as much as one can enjoy anything in January. It is kind of amusing how many of the "rules" of modern fiction writing it flat out has never heard of and doesn't care about. I do find it somewhat stunning that Warner wrote this particular novel when she was only just over 30.

I have just started Time Was by Ian McDonald, which I hoped would be a gay version of This Is How You Lose the Time War, and it looks like it may even live up to that.

I am halfway through the audiobook of The Intrigue by Marion Chesney (aka M. C. Beaton), which is nice enough, but I don't think I'll feel the need to continue the series. Especially as the narrator is just okay.

Future: My hold on Paladin's Faith by T. Kingfisher will hopefully come in by the end of the month. Other than that, I should probably see if I can focus better on nonfiction right now.

But I also have a skip-the-line copy of Gwen and Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher for a week. I don't know if I'm in the best place to appreciate it but maybe it'll be a nice counterweight.

Tagging: The last five mutuals to interact with my posts were @tiltedsyllogism, @edenfalling, @unrealthings, @consultingpiskies (hi sweetheart!), and @oulfis.

[storytimebyrk]

Book Review: “Death of a Chimney Sweep” by M.C. Beaton

I. Introduction    – Brief Overview of the Author: M.C. Beaton was the pen name of Scottish author Marion Chesney (1936–2019), best known for her prolific work in the cozy mystery genre. She gained widespread popularity for two beloved detective series: the Hamish Macbeth series, set in the Scottish Highlands, and the Agatha Raisin series, which takes place in the English Cotswolds. Both series…

[alredered]

Alredered Remembers Scottish-born writer Marion Chesney Gibbons aka M.C. Beaton, on her birthday.

[blackramhall]

Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death

Manor Murder Mystery

[didim-dol]

British society always applauds rapturously any form of culture they cannot understand and cannot possibly enjoy. Agonizing boredom is a sure sign that one is hearing something “damned deep.”

-Marion Chesney, Lady Margery's Intrigues

[tudorblogger]

Book Review - 'Agatha Raisin: Beating About the Bush' by M.C. Beaton

Book Review – 'Agatha Raisin: Beating About the Bush' by M.C. Beaton

When private detective Agatha Raisin comes across a severed leg in a roadside hedge, it looks like she is about to become involved in a particularly gruesome murder. Looks, however, can be deceiving, as Agatha discovers when she is employed to investigate a case of industrial espionage at a factory where nothing is quite what it seems. The factory mystery soon turns to murder and a bad-tempered…

[weirdesplinder]

Vsto che parlando di romanzi con protagonisti dipendenti da sostanze varie è saltato fuori che forse anche il cioccolato crea dipendenza ecco due romance strici a tema cioccolatoso. - Sweet revenge, di Andrea Penrose, dove il protagonista maschile è un nobile espreto di cioccolato.... Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34034756-sweet-revenge -The chocolate debutante, di Marion Chesney (autrice della serie Agatha Raisin sotto alias) che ha una protagonista che deve prendersi carico di una nipote maniaca del cioccolato! Non ne mangia mai abbastanza e lei deve trovarle marito...Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/548480.The_Chocolate_Debutante Purtroppo nessuno dei due è disponibile in italiano

[fangswandsandfairydust]

ON MY OWN TIME: THE POOR RELATION Series

http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/2017/12/poor.html


Regency gentility without means forge a new life “in trade.”

[thecryoftheseagulls]

im only halfway through my workday but i got those person-having-a-period lower backaches going on which are exacerbated by me standing here for two hours answering emails....if i have 2 manually enter another purchase suggestion for the twelth (12th!) regency romance request 2day im gonna internally combust...

[onebluebookworm]

May 2023 Book Club Picks

Death and the Librarian and Other Stories by Esther Friesner: A mother trying to nurse her sick son finds that his illness allows him to influence reality. A woman celebrates a very important birthday. A mother and daughter move to a new town, only to discover the fantastical secret ingredients being used at the local diner. All this and more in this collection of short stories which range from the hilarious, to the horrifying, to the heartwarming.

Penelope Goes to Portsmouth by Marion Chesney: Hannah Pym is heading for Portsmouth, and along for the ride is her next matchmaking challenge - Miss Penelope Wilkins, the practical, no-nonsense daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Lord Augustus Railton, a rakish ne'er-do-well. When the traveling companions are roped into an intriguing mystery involving a kidnapped footman, Hannah sees it as the perfect opportunity to bring the chasm between the potential lovers.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski: Johnny Truant is a unmotivated slacker whose biggest concern is his next one night stand. All that changes when he and his friend Lude explore the apartment of Zampano, a recently deceased blind recluse. In the old man's apartment, they find writing - pages and pages of it, on every blank surface - and scratches on the floor. Gathering up the pieces, Johnny realizes the writing comes together as a dissertation about the critically acclaimed documentary The Navidson Record, which follows the Navidson family as they realize their house is bigger inside than it is outside. And then they discover the hallway...

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller: Willy Loman has been a salesman for thirty-four years, and wants nothing more than to make it big. But at age sixty, Willy is finally cast aside by the company, and must face reality without a dream to keep him afloat. As he watches his sons struggle to follow in his footsteps, Willy is faced with one burning question - is this all worth it?

Watchmen by Alan Moore: The time is 1985, and the world inches closer to WWIII every day. Costumed superheros once proliferated the scene to maintain truth, justice, and the American way, but have since been outlawed, forced into retirement, gangpressed into working for the government, or operating illegally. When one government-sponsored hero, the Comedian, is murdered in his apartment, fellow vigilante Rorschach enlists the help of his former colleagues to figure who and why the Comedian was killed.

[soulstar]

Review: Those Endearing Young Charms by Marion Chesney Those Endearing Young Charms by Marion ChesneyMy rating: He's an arse who can't admit when he's in the wrong; She's a sheltered teenager with her head in the clouds.

[a-few-of-my-favorite-mangas]

The Wallflowers Book 3: Devil in Winter Kabe no Hana: Fuyuzora ni mau tenshi to Author: Lisa Kleypas Artist: KISHIDA Reiko

Story  ★★★☆☆  ||  ★★★☆☆   Art

The Wallflower Series

The Wallflower series is a fun set of historical or Victorian-era romance novels with fun characters, romance and humor. The basic premise of the series are four girls for various reasons (poor, americans, painfully shy) are considered unappealing as marriageable prospects and thus are left hugging the walls during social events, ie wallflowers. One evening they decided to help each other find suitable husbands by pooling their strengths to overcome their weaknesses.

The real strength of the novel series is the well-written and richly developed characters - not only in and of themselves but to their world and the people around them. The friendship between the girls is a real highlight - as it is seldom done well, if at all - usually our heroine is on her own or keeps her thoughts/desires private; but these girl are real friends, not just social friends - they talk, encourage, give advice - even help. The boys in the series are also given more than 'hero' duties, they talk business, about women and marriage and what they want/expect from life. I'm not an aficionado on romances, never thought I would ever read one but Jane Austen opened the door - and recommendations from fellow Janites to read Georgette Heyer and Marion Chesney 'regency' novels - and well, I got hooked on the historicals. But when you start reading romances, you tend to notice they are either really good, really bad or just boring - and the really good ones are few and far between... this series is one of the better ones!

I don’t typically read these kinds of manga, but because I was reading The Wallflower manga by Hayakawa Tomoko at the time these would popup up in my recommends as well so I thought I would give them a try. Overall, I'm very pleased with my copies, sure they are ‘adaptions’ and lots of changes had to be made and several events left out - but I do appreciate that even though each book was drawn by a different artist, there was a real effort to maintain consistency of character design though all the books.

Summary

Sebastian, Lord St Vincent a debauched rake is our 'hero' - he is beaten and depressed after the events from book 2 (don't want to spoil it). He is desperate and so is Evangeline (Evie) Jenner, our timid and reclusive wallflower. There is only one thing Evie wants and that is to spend what little time is left with her dying father - but her abusive family relations have gone to extreme measures to prevent her, so she makes a daring proposal of a marriage of convenience with the viscount, her fortune for his protection.

Review

This is the reformed rake story line, I love this couple, but both are so well-written you really get inside their heads and their growing understanding, desire, and trust just works, even when the plot get crazy - the characters shine and just carries you along. Sebastian is a typical rake you can't hate - he loves woman and they love him, Evie knows this and tries very hard not to do the same - convinced that she would never be someone he would be interested in. Sebastian, not used to a challenge or a truly gentle soul starts to crave more from Evie - her trust, respect and love.

[becomelions]

@sucvium​ asked: ♬ ( to robin from marion ) // El Cerrito Place by Kenny Chesney MEME ( Always Accepting )

“Somebody said they might have seen you where the ocean meets the land. So I've been out here all night lookin' for your footprints in the sand.”

[tabloidtoc]

Closer, May 11

Cover: Our Favorite Mother’s Day Memories -- Michael Learned of The Waltons, Marion Ross of Happy Days, Karen Grassle of Little House on the Prairie 

Page 1: Contents 

Page 4: What Sheryl Crow has learned about love 

Page 5: Savannah Guthrie faces more eye surgeries, why Nancy Olson left Hollywood 

Page 6: Hellos & Goodbyes 

Page 8: Picture Perfect -- Hunker Down With Your Pets -- Arnold Schwarzenegger and his dog Cherry 

Page 9: Kaley Cuoco and her adopted pig, Iain Armitage and foster hamster Poppy, Rebel Wilson and and her Pooch Perfect costar Russell, Jane Seymour and a rooster 

Page 10: Gilles Marini gets a quarantine haircut from wife Carole, Mary Steenburgen cut Ted Danson’s hair, Jamie Oliver and son River 

Page 13: Naomi Watts, Salma Hayek, Paulina Porizkova 

Page 22: Cover Story -- Mother’s Day Memories -- Lucille Ball 

Page 23: Marion Ross, Karen Grassle, Michael Learned 

Page 24: Dee Wallace, Joyce Bulifant, Ilene Graff 

Page 26: ABBA’s Amazing Untold Story -- the ‘70s Swedish supergroup turned romantic turmoil into pop gold that remains wildly beloved to this day 

Page 31: Spot the Difference -- Pauley Perrette and Izzy Diaz on Broke 

Page 33: Horoscopes -- Taurus Roma Downey 

Page 34: Entertainment -- Natasha Gregson Wagner on Natalie Wood: What Remains Behind, Amandla Stenberg on The Eddy, Spotlight -- Julianna Magulies

Page 36: Movies -- Liam Neeson on Ordinary Love 

Page 37: DVDs, Books, Kenny Chesney on his album Here and Now 

Page 38: Television 

Page 40: Great Escape -- Brooke Burns on Telluride, Colorado 

Page 46: Dan Rather Still Going Strong -- the veteran journalist opens up about his marriage, kids and one amazing career 

Page 50: David Cassidy -- a lifetime of heartbreak -- The Partridge Family idol never found the sense of lasting joy he brought to his fans 

Page 52: As the littlest royal Archie turns 1 his parents Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are making plans for adding to their family 

Page 54: Shirley MacLaine happy on her own -- the legend reconnects with loved ones and nature on her New Mexico ranch 

Page 56: Mother’s Day Gift Guide -- Reese Witherspoon and daughter Ava Phillippe 

Page 58: My Life in 10 Pictures -- Debra Winger 

Page 60: Flashback

[nevinslibrary]

Mystery/Thriller Monday

It’s interesting, the single Ladys in these late 1800s, early 1900s stories are never boring ladies, they’re always feisty, and they manage to get involved in the middle of a lot of murder mysteries too. Weird right?

I’m kidding of course. Lady Cecelia isn’t married (something her mother is not happy about), and, when one of her family’s dinner guests is poisoned. Well, she, with the help of Jane, a maid for the person who may have supposed to have gotten the poison (and Jane’s cat Jack) are on the case.

A lot of drama, quite a bit of mystery, and, I liked the setting too, Yorkshire England. Oh, and the characters were all interesting and Jack the cat. Oh Jack the cat….

You may like this book If you Liked: Snobbery With Violence by Marion Chesney, Murder Most Malicious by Alyssa Maxwell, or Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Lady Takes the Case by Eliza Casey