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The School For Manners #6
Marrying Harriet
Tribble twins, mannish Amy and fluffy Effy, groom minister's orphan Harriet Brown for the London Little Season. The black-tressed beauty captures the green eyes of Lord Charles Marsham to rescue green-eyed cat, enlists him to match the sisters to nabobs Haddon and Randolph, and dressmaker Yvette to her runaway beau. Jealous enemies lurk with kidnap intent.
167 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
70 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
Marion Chesney
139 books750 followersMarion Chesney Gibbons
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
aka: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, M.C. Beaton, Sarah Chester.
Marion Chesney was born on 1936 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK, and started her first job as a bookseller in charge of the fiction department in John Smith & Sons Ltd. While bookselling, by chance, she got an offer from the Scottish Daily Mail to review variety shows and quickly rose to be their theatre critic. She left Smith’s to join Scottish Field magazine as a secretary in the advertising department, without any shorthand or typing, but quickly got the job of fashion editor instead. She then moved to the Scottish Daily Express where she reported mostly on crime. This was followed by a move to Fleet Street to the Daily Express where she became chief woman reporter. After marrying Harry Scott Gibbons and having a son, Charles, Marion went to the United States where Harry had been offered the job of editor of the Oyster Bay Guardian. When that didn’t work out, they went to Virginia and Marion worked as a waitress in a greasy spoon on the Jefferson Davies in Alexandria while Harry washed the dishes. Both then got jobs on Rupert Murdoch’s new tabloid, The Star, and moved to New York.
Anxious to spend more time at home with her small son, Marion, urged by her husband, started to write historical romances in 1977. After she had written over 100 of them under her maiden name, Marion Chesney, and under the pseudonyms: Ann Fairfax, Jennie Tremaine, Helen Crampton, Charlotte Ward, and Sarah Chester, she getting fed up with 1714 to 1910, she began to write detectives stories in 1985 under the pseudonym of M. C. Beaton. On a trip from the States to Sutherland on holiday, a course at a fishing school inspired the first Constable Hamish Macbeth story. They returned to Britain and bought a croft house and croft in Sutherland where Harry reared a flock of black sheep. But Charles was at school, in London so when he finished and both tired of the long commute to the north of Scotland, they moved to the Cotswolds where Agatha Raisin was created.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 88 reviews
April 29, 2020
The third Marion Chesney series I have sped through on audio during this pandemic, and like the others I felt disappointed it had to end. Loved how everything wrapped up for the Tribble sisters in this one!
October 9, 2021
A perfect ending of the series with a big wedding (weddings) and Amy and Effy being themself to the rest of their lives ;-) Moreover, every thread was ended.
This kind of couple, like Harriet and Lord Charles Marsham, is one of my favourites, but it is also always very tricky. Harriet was very sensible and Charles' charm resistant. So, how and when cross the line, and push such a heroine into the arms of love? It isn't easy. Writers often do it wrong, unbelievable. Moreover, the transformation of such a hero is a hard task too. Marion Chesney did it splendidly, considering how short the novel was.
Besides, I loved the cat, the scene by the river, and those rules like Never sit down on a chair still warm from a gentleman's bottom. I have read so many of them but they keep surprising me ;-)
This kind of couple, like Harriet and Lord Charles Marsham, is one of my favourites, but it is also always very tricky. Harriet was very sensible and Charles' charm resistant. So, how and when cross the line, and push such a heroine into the arms of love? It isn't easy. Writers often do it wrong, unbelievable. Moreover, the transformation of such a hero is a hard task too. Marion Chesney did it splendidly, considering how short the novel was.
Besides, I loved the cat, the scene by the river, and those rules like Never sit down on a chair still warm from a gentleman's bottom. I have read so many of them but they keep surprising me ;-)
April 30, 2019
This volume produces humor and entertainment for the reading upon the perusal of its pages. Prepare to join this adventure with the oddball spinster sisters, a bachelor's life of guzzling and gambling. In the sixth and final volume of this series, the Misses Amy and Effy Tribble have welcomed the prim, proper Harriet Brown, a Methodist minister's daughter, to their London society School for Manners and she promptly turns their house upside down. They wonder why Miss Fiona Macleod needs its London society School for Manners.
Lord Charles Marsham, exquisite from his impeccably tied cravat to his gleaming Hessian boots, is perfectly contented with his bachelor life of guzzling and gambling, and prim, proper Harriet Brown, Methodist minister's daughter come to London's social season to find a husband. But Capability Brown, as Charles calls her, is so intent on involving him in her "good works," which range from rescuing treed felines to playing Cupid for the outspoken Tribble sisters--themselves matchmakers for misfits on the marriage mart, with Harriet their latest challenge--that her own romance seems to be an afterthought.
Each unique book includes a storyline that introduces you to delightful, likable, and colorful characters that enter the lives of the two eccentric older ladies, known as the Misses Amy and Effie Tribble, who advertised themselves to chaperone and sponsor 'difficult' young ladies. They each have quirky and distinct personalities.
M. C. Beaton weaves tales of the era that are able to deliver a quick and humorous experience, focusing on the essence of the era, grabbing the reader's attention, and entertains with escapades from historical London. The audible edition was provided through Hoopla.
What a perfect ending to The School For Manners series. The humorously risqué parts of Ms. Beaton's stories (usually at the end of the story) are seldom explicit, but they can be laugh-out-loud funny.
This was the perfect end to the series!
M. C. Beaton is the pen name of bestselling novelist Marion Chesney. She has won international acclaim for her bestselling Hamish Macbeth and Agatha Raisin mysteries. She is also the author of over 100 romance titles and a series of romantic suspense, The Edwardian Mystery Series. This author weaves tales of the era that are able to deliver a quick and humorous experience, focusing on the essence of the era, grabbing the reader's attention, and entertains with escapades from historical London.
September 17, 2012
Harriet Brown is the typical poor relation. Her Methodist father has died and left her penniless and her aunt, the unpleasant Lady Owen, has agreed to pay for a season at the Misses Tribble’s School for Manners. Lady Owen will also provide her with a dowry if Harriet and the Tribbles can find her a suitable husband.
Harriet is not looking forward to the season but knows that this is her only chance of establishing herself as she doesn’t have the qualifications for a governess. But society is not at all how Harriet expects it to be and she finds the Tribbles’ kindness to her overwhelming. The Tribbles themselves are still hankering after marriage but their two regular swains seem not to realise.
I really enjoyed reading the last in the School for Manners series and Harriet is perhaps my favourite of the six heroines. I laughed out loud at the amusing situations in which all the characters found themselves. The characters are well drawn and believable and Amy and Effy Tribble are delightfully eccentric. Harriet is far from being the typical simpering Regency miss which makes the story even more interesting. If you like Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances and enjoyed M C Beaton’s Travelling Matchmaker and Six Sisters series then you will love the School for Manners series.
Harriet is not looking forward to the season but knows that this is her only chance of establishing herself as she doesn’t have the qualifications for a governess. But society is not at all how Harriet expects it to be and she finds the Tribbles’ kindness to her overwhelming. The Tribbles themselves are still hankering after marriage but their two regular swains seem not to realise.
I really enjoyed reading the last in the School for Manners series and Harriet is perhaps my favourite of the six heroines. I laughed out loud at the amusing situations in which all the characters found themselves. The characters are well drawn and believable and Amy and Effy Tribble are delightfully eccentric. Harriet is far from being the typical simpering Regency miss which makes the story even more interesting. If you like Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances and enjoyed M C Beaton’s Travelling Matchmaker and Six Sisters series then you will love the School for Manners series.
August 14, 2017
I didn't expect to like this one as much as I'd enjoyed the rest of the series, but it was actually pretty delightful. All the romances came together in just the rightest, most satisfying way. All the villains were done away with, some in better ways than others (Frank and Miss Spiggs were terrible, but that was a rather quick and awful pair of endings). And the funny parts were so funny that I actually laughed aloud. Clarissa is still my favorite of the series, but this book reminded me of how much I really enjoy this author. I'll probably have to start a new series of hers soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2014
In this last book of the School for Manners series, the Tribbles face their greatest challenge yet with Harriet Brown, the recently orphaned daughter of a Methodist minister. Harriet is sent by her aunt to London for The Season in hopes of catching a husband. Harriet complies because she realizes without money or accomplishments, she doesn't have a choice. However, Harriet sees the trip as an opportunity to do good works. She catches the eye of the rake Lord Charles Marsham and enlists his help to sort out the Tribble sisters' love lives. Meanwhile, the Tribbles have made deadly enemies who desire revenge! This book is closer in tone to the previous volume, so it isn't as funny but there are some extremely funny moments. Again, the heroine and the suitor get to know each other, rather than succumb to passion. Overall, I enjoyed the series as lighthearted, fun Regency era reads. The romance in the first 4 novels was rather lacking and toed the line between sweet and racy but not too bad. The series ends predictably but getting there is the fun part!
August 29, 2021
This is the final book in the series. And it wraps everything up in a nice package.
There is mild angst and tension and some baddies being baddies
There is mild angst and tension and some baddies being baddies
September 7, 2014
Harriet Brown, orphan of Methodist minister, sent by whiskery eyebrowed aunt Lady Owen to the Tribble twins, mannish Amy and fluffy Effy, asks elegant Lord Charles Marsham to rescue treed cat whose emerald eyes are as vivid as his new owner, encourage bachelor nabobs Haddon and Randolph to wed the sisters, and seek the runaway father to dressmaker Yvette's chubby babe.
Kind, lovable, silly, imperfect. "Her chin was too strong, her mouth too generous, and her gaze too direct" p 12. Charles' "war fever .. takes .. a while to settle down", drinking and gambling encouraged by soldier Jack who pretended to have saved his life.
Villains plot trouble. Jealous ex-footman Frank and maid Spiggs conspire in kidnapping Harriet. Resentful soldier hanger-on Jack tries to seduce Harriet but catches despicable Tribble nephew in Puritan costume instead. Jack then attempts to drown Charles' Tom cat.
Re-read = still good. Harriet is both practical and naive "damned as rude and spoilt" Jeremy Oakes p 5, but his tantrum over scrawny feline at stagecoach stop leads her to wake Charles "tailored to perfection .. indolent Exquisite .. gentlemen were supposed to be knight errants" p 6. He is generous and practical, ruins his best pantaloons and gains a matching pair of green eyes to glare from his muff while the brat goes "strangely silent .. cuffed him smartly around the ears" while passing p 7.
The Tribbles care about every charge. "Never before had anyone thought of her comfort in any way. For all these little thoughtful acts of kindness, she would find some way to repay them .. she had a genuine belief in the goodness of people, and so the servants behaved their best towards this shabby young lady" p 15.
"The Tribbles should not have to work at their age" p 45. Mannish Amy "humor and strength of character many a man would admire" p 57 sweet on tall Mr Haddon, fluffy Effy partial to little Mr Randolph, both rich nabobs "constant visitors .. a word in their bachelor ears .. better .. from a man. All men, no matter how kind and good, have a deep contempt for women's ideas" p 45. Harriet enlists Charles, he pays off gambling debts of uncle Lawrence "well-preserved" 58, "smooth, well-kept appearance of the hedonist who lets nothing trouble him" p 58 to pay court and provoke jealousies.
Harriet knows Tribbles treat problems. "No money and prim manners" p 73, candidly agrees "bored to flinders" p 79 by suitable suitor vicar Feathers "no one expected the clergy to have good legs" p 77. Reluctantly, she "proved an apt pupil" and wins 15 shillings at her first card games to spend "really frivolous and silly .. never spent a penny on anything that was not really necessary" p 51 under strict selfish cold father.
Charles feels "sudden stab of compassion, treats her to inexpensive fan and famed Gunther ices. She certainly did not seem to have had much fun in her life" p 53 in a time when lords suicide after gambling away estates. Charles teases her managing ways "Capability Brown" p 68, also (1716-1783) famous garden designer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capabili.... And little lessons in history stick.
Conversation cleverly ripostes; era of Gentleman Jackson boxing bouts lead to fist fights; guns go off. Danger threatens hearts and bodies both. Even after a proposal, troubles continue.
Kind, lovable, silly, imperfect. "Her chin was too strong, her mouth too generous, and her gaze too direct" p 12. Charles' "war fever .. takes .. a while to settle down", drinking and gambling encouraged by soldier Jack who pretended to have saved his life.
Villains plot trouble. Jealous ex-footman Frank and maid Spiggs conspire in kidnapping Harriet. Resentful soldier hanger-on Jack tries to seduce Harriet but catches despicable Tribble nephew in Puritan costume instead. Jack then attempts to drown Charles' Tom cat.
Re-read = still good. Harriet is both practical and naive "damned as rude and spoilt" Jeremy Oakes p 5, but his tantrum over scrawny feline at stagecoach stop leads her to wake Charles "tailored to perfection .. indolent Exquisite .. gentlemen were supposed to be knight errants" p 6. He is generous and practical, ruins his best pantaloons and gains a matching pair of green eyes to glare from his muff while the brat goes "strangely silent .. cuffed him smartly around the ears" while passing p 7.
The Tribbles care about every charge. "Never before had anyone thought of her comfort in any way. For all these little thoughtful acts of kindness, she would find some way to repay them .. she had a genuine belief in the goodness of people, and so the servants behaved their best towards this shabby young lady" p 15.
"The Tribbles should not have to work at their age" p 45. Mannish Amy "humor and strength of character many a man would admire" p 57 sweet on tall Mr Haddon, fluffy Effy partial to little Mr Randolph, both rich nabobs "constant visitors .. a word in their bachelor ears .. better .. from a man. All men, no matter how kind and good, have a deep contempt for women's ideas" p 45. Harriet enlists Charles, he pays off gambling debts of uncle Lawrence "well-preserved" 58, "smooth, well-kept appearance of the hedonist who lets nothing trouble him" p 58 to pay court and provoke jealousies.
Harriet knows Tribbles treat problems. "No money and prim manners" p 73, candidly agrees "bored to flinders" p 79 by suitable suitor vicar Feathers "no one expected the clergy to have good legs" p 77. Reluctantly, she "proved an apt pupil" and wins 15 shillings at her first card games to spend "really frivolous and silly .. never spent a penny on anything that was not really necessary" p 51 under strict selfish cold father.
Charles feels "sudden stab of compassion, treats her to inexpensive fan and famed Gunther ices. She certainly did not seem to have had much fun in her life" p 53 in a time when lords suicide after gambling away estates. Charles teases her managing ways "Capability Brown" p 68, also (1716-1783) famous garden designer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capabili.... And little lessons in history stick.
Conversation cleverly ripostes; era of Gentleman Jackson boxing bouts lead to fist fights; guns go off. Danger threatens hearts and bodies both. Even after a proposal, troubles continue.
June 6, 2014
I'm such a fan of Marion Chesney that I don't normally review her books. I devour her books like Lay's potato chips. My personal opinion is that this is her best series of her historical romances, for the simple reason that Amy and Effy Tribble are the best secondary characters in the business. Lady Godolphin and the vicar of Six Sisters Series in a close second.
Like most of Marion Chesney's books, this one is ridiculously full of emotive plot devices, the primary one being revenge. This book boasts no less than 5 revenge/prank plots. Five!
First, let's discuss the difference between revenge and prank.
*Registering someone as a sex offender and informing his neighborhood HOA* PRANK
*Setting up some poor SOB with an underage girl and getting him arrested and sent away for 20* REVENGE
*Putting gray rinse and hair remover in his shampoo* PRANK
*Cutting off his family jewels while he's asleep, then force-feeding it to him on a spoon* REVENGE
Okay, now that's taken care of. Let's discuss this book:
Summary
First we have the do-gooding Harriet Brown who's sent to London to stay with the professional chaperones, 50-something twins Amy and Effy. Along the way, she meets languid Lord Charles at a posting-house where she presses him to save a cat to shut up an annoying brat of a kid.
Revenge Plot #1
Lord Charles has a friend, Jack, who is then annoyed with him at spending time with Harriet. Lord Charles believes Jack saved him at the Peninsular Wars when it was actually someone else, and Jack let him believe it was him. Jack starts hating Harriet for keeping Lord Charles from his side and plots to get revenge on Harriet.
Revenge Plot #2&3
Dr. Frank was a former footman with the Tribbles but roused the other servants to dissidence and was fired. He later ran off with Bertha, the housemaid, and hates the Tribbles. He thinks that kidnapping the Tribbles' latest charge will ruin the Tribbles professional reputation.
Miss Spiggs was a former companion of the Tribbles' last charge and was dismissed from her position and hooked up with Dr. Frank. (She doesn't know he's already married and he only likes her because he wants her diamond pin.) She also hates the Tribbles, so she's hanging around Frank in avenging their dismissals.
Revenge Plot #4
Desmond Callaghan was in rivalry with the Tribbles for the fortune of the Tribbles' aunt. He tricked the aunt into leaving everything to him but got only debts. The Tribbles started making money through chaperoning, so he still wants revenge on them and wants to get close to the charge, Harriet, to do so.
Revenge Plot #5
Mr. Lawrence, Lord Charles's uncle, was inveigled into making the beaus of the Tribbles jealous, and started developing affection for Amy Tribble. After he was challenged to a duel by Mr. Haddon, Amy's aged nabob beau, he wanted revenge on Mr. Haddon.
How all the revenge plots came together
Dr.Frank and Miss Spiggs kidnap Harriet and Lord Charles rides to the rescue and scares Dr. Frank into a massive apoplexy, and Harriet rescues herself from Miss Spiggs. At a masquerade, Jack decides to show Lord Charles that Harriet is a big skank by making out with her publicly. At the same time, Desmond Callaghan planned to get close to Harriet by appearing in the same costume. Harriet's costume was set afire by Amy Tribble, so she wore something else instead. Jack mistakes Desmond Callaghan for Harriet and they are caught pretend "making out" and both are completely ruined. Desmond Callaghan runs off before Jack can kill him, and Jack then tries to drown Lord Charles's cat. Mr. Lawrence overhears the Tribbles' beaus discussing going to a brothel to lose their virginities and informs the Tribbles that their beaus are whoremongers.
The End
Marion Chesney has stated publicly that she's no longer writing romances, which is a sad loss. Nobody writes crazy plots like her. Nobody!
Like most of Marion Chesney's books, this one is ridiculously full of emotive plot devices, the primary one being revenge. This book boasts no less than 5 revenge/prank plots. Five!
First, let's discuss the difference between revenge and prank.
*Registering someone as a sex offender and informing his neighborhood HOA* PRANK
*Setting up some poor SOB with an underage girl and getting him arrested and sent away for 20* REVENGE
*Putting gray rinse and hair remover in his shampoo* PRANK
*Cutting off his family jewels while he's asleep, then force-feeding it to him on a spoon* REVENGE
Okay, now that's taken care of. Let's discuss this book:
Summary
First we have the do-gooding Harriet Brown who's sent to London to stay with the professional chaperones, 50-something twins Amy and Effy. Along the way, she meets languid Lord Charles at a posting-house where she presses him to save a cat to shut up an annoying brat of a kid.
Revenge Plot #1
Lord Charles has a friend, Jack, who is then annoyed with him at spending time with Harriet. Lord Charles believes Jack saved him at the Peninsular Wars when it was actually someone else, and Jack let him believe it was him. Jack starts hating Harriet for keeping Lord Charles from his side and plots to get revenge on Harriet.
Revenge Plot #2&3
Dr. Frank was a former footman with the Tribbles but roused the other servants to dissidence and was fired. He later ran off with Bertha, the housemaid, and hates the Tribbles. He thinks that kidnapping the Tribbles' latest charge will ruin the Tribbles professional reputation.
Miss Spiggs was a former companion of the Tribbles' last charge and was dismissed from her position and hooked up with Dr. Frank. (She doesn't know he's already married and he only likes her because he wants her diamond pin.) She also hates the Tribbles, so she's hanging around Frank in avenging their dismissals.
Revenge Plot #4
Desmond Callaghan was in rivalry with the Tribbles for the fortune of the Tribbles' aunt. He tricked the aunt into leaving everything to him but got only debts. The Tribbles started making money through chaperoning, so he still wants revenge on them and wants to get close to the charge, Harriet, to do so.
Revenge Plot #5
Mr. Lawrence, Lord Charles's uncle, was inveigled into making the beaus of the Tribbles jealous, and started developing affection for Amy Tribble. After he was challenged to a duel by Mr. Haddon, Amy's aged nabob beau, he wanted revenge on Mr. Haddon.
How all the revenge plots came together
Dr.Frank and Miss Spiggs kidnap Harriet and Lord Charles rides to the rescue and scares Dr. Frank into a massive apoplexy, and Harriet rescues herself from Miss Spiggs. At a masquerade, Jack decides to show Lord Charles that Harriet is a big skank by making out with her publicly. At the same time, Desmond Callaghan planned to get close to Harriet by appearing in the same costume. Harriet's costume was set afire by Amy Tribble, so she wore something else instead. Jack mistakes Desmond Callaghan for Harriet and they are caught pretend "making out" and both are completely ruined. Desmond Callaghan runs off before Jack can kill him, and Jack then tries to drown Lord Charles's cat. Mr. Lawrence overhears the Tribbles' beaus discussing going to a brothel to lose their virginities and informs the Tribbles that their beaus are whoremongers.
The End
Marion Chesney has stated publicly that she's no longer writing romances, which is a sad loss. Nobody writes crazy plots like her. Nobody!
March 5, 2016
Back-biting is not one of the more underlined features of this series, but it is nevertheless a constant, and never more funny than it is in this book. The Tribble sisters have a beau each, in Mr Haddon and Mr Randolph, and even though they oughtn't have any expectation of marriage, hope springs eternal.
They both snipe at each other, but Effy is definitely the more hateful. Amy is much more reactive, and like many people with hot tempers, is usually remorseful, sometimes immediately after a blow-up. Effy is the sort who dwells on her jealousy or perceived slight. Amy might throw your flowers in the fire for implying they came from her crush, but Effy will go behind your back and tell your mother that you aren't a virgin.
It's a wonder they have time for Harriet when they are at their most absorbed in their own hopeful affairs.
Luckily, Harriet is a bit of a busy-body and she puts her own focus onto the Tribbles' romances. She actually has a surprising depth of character, in that we get to see her war with her father's oppressive influence and strict religious upbringing. She is too practical to fall for a rake, so it's funny to see her and Charles get together over trying to clean up a neighbourhood he hadn't previously realised he owned.
The best of the back-biting is when some villains return. Frank the footman, now styling himself "Doctor" Frank and speechifying about the rights of man as a con, has set himself up with Miss Spiggs in order to satisfy their mutual grudge against the Tribbles--Frank having forgotten that everything that happened to him was his own stupid fault and the Tribbles didn't do a thing to him--and to eventually get a diamond pin from her.
The two kidnap Harriet and send a fat hank of her hair to the Tribbles with a ransom note. Keep it classy, Frank. My favourite part is that the most prospective man Harriet has at the moment sees the kidnapping take place, and thinks that she has questionable friends, a fault that he shall have to cure her of after marriage. Then he congratulates his skills of observation as he memorises the hack number.
Another returning villain pops in quite late, and I really wondered why he popped in at all. Desmond Callaghan, the first villain, really, is back just because, and his revenge (which plan I have already forgotten) collides with that of the new villain, Jack, in a way that had me laughing so hard I tripped.
Ends are tied up, all live happily ever after. The ending drags on a bit longer than I thought it should, but without that extra tangent, the book probably would have been too short.
I loved this series. It was far less predictable than the Poor Relations Series while still containing all of the levity and sweetness. The mayhem, murder, kidnapping, I loved it all to pieces.
They both snipe at each other, but Effy is definitely the more hateful. Amy is much more reactive, and like many people with hot tempers, is usually remorseful, sometimes immediately after a blow-up. Effy is the sort who dwells on her jealousy or perceived slight. Amy might throw your flowers in the fire for implying they came from her crush, but Effy will go behind your back and tell your mother that you aren't a virgin.
It's a wonder they have time for Harriet when they are at their most absorbed in their own hopeful affairs.
Luckily, Harriet is a bit of a busy-body and she puts her own focus onto the Tribbles' romances. She actually has a surprising depth of character, in that we get to see her war with her father's oppressive influence and strict religious upbringing. She is too practical to fall for a rake, so it's funny to see her and Charles get together over trying to clean up a neighbourhood he hadn't previously realised he owned.
The best of the back-biting is when some villains return. Frank the footman, now styling himself "Doctor" Frank and speechifying about the rights of man as a con, has set himself up with Miss Spiggs in order to satisfy their mutual grudge against the Tribbles--Frank having forgotten that everything that happened to him was his own stupid fault and the Tribbles didn't do a thing to him--and to eventually get a diamond pin from her.
The two kidnap Harriet and send a fat hank of her hair to the Tribbles with a ransom note. Keep it classy, Frank. My favourite part is that the most prospective man Harriet has at the moment sees the kidnapping take place, and thinks that she has questionable friends, a fault that he shall have to cure her of after marriage. Then he congratulates his skills of observation as he memorises the hack number.
Another returning villain pops in quite late, and I really wondered why he popped in at all. Desmond Callaghan, the first villain, really, is back just because, and his revenge (which plan I have already forgotten) collides with that of the new villain, Jack, in a way that had me laughing so hard I tripped.
Ends are tied up, all live happily ever after. The ending drags on a bit longer than I thought it should, but without that extra tangent, the book probably would have been too short.
I loved this series. It was far less predictable than the Poor Relations Series while still containing all of the levity and sweetness. The mayhem, murder, kidnapping, I loved it all to pieces.
May 8, 2019
Harriet, the straitlaced daughter of a Methodist minister, is the Tribble sisters' latest charge. They hope to match her up with some clergyman or other, but the rakish Lord Charles Marsham keeps coming around and interfering with their plans. Meanwhile, Harriet has matchmaking plans of her own: to get the Tribble sisters' longtime gentleman callers to come up to scratch!
I thought this was a nice conclusion to the series. The romantic plot was much more pleasant than some of the earlier books in the series, and the overarching plot concerning the Tribbles concluded satisfactorily. That said, I'm not sure this reread was worth my time. I enjoyed Chesney very much as a teen, but this particular series didn't do much for me this time through. I may try one of her other series eventually, because some of the humor is delightful, but I probably won't do so right away.
I thought this was a nice conclusion to the series. The romantic plot was much more pleasant than some of the earlier books in the series, and the overarching plot concerning the Tribbles concluded satisfactorily. That said, I'm not sure this reread was worth my time. I enjoyed Chesney very much as a teen, but this particular series didn't do much for me this time through. I may try one of her other series eventually, because some of the humor is delightful, but I probably won't do so right away.
December 23, 2018
Ah, a happy ending (of course) for those Tribble sisters (although I'm not sure Effy deserves one?).
And I think Harriet, the prim, practical, Methodist heroine is my favorite of all of the heroines in the series (with the exception of Amy who I adore despite her ridiculousness). All in all, a good end to a silly, light romantic series. Comfort reading at its finest.
And I think Harriet, the prim, practical, Methodist heroine is my favorite of all of the heroines in the series (with the exception of Amy who I adore despite her ridiculousness). All in all, a good end to a silly, light romantic series. Comfort reading at its finest.
February 20, 2024
This one, #6, along with #4, Finessing Clarissa, are my two favorites in the 6-book series called School for Manners, well- researched and humorous regency romances, satirizing the bizarre life style and expected behavior of the upperclass Britains during the regency era (around 1790 to 1815?). This last book, which I found highly entertaining, gives us a happy ending for the twin sister spinsters Amy and Effy, who run a training program to prepare “difficult” young women from wealthy and/or upperclass families and bring them out in the “marriage market” season, where everything is about appearance, wealth and status (having or marrying into an aristocratic title being the ideal).
The sisters had no money despite their high social status, so created this business to support themselves. Though twins, they are exact opposites, and easily become jealous of each other over fantasies of romance. This is a regular source of humor in the series. Both when upset have very bad manners, especially toward each other with little awareness of how they appear to those for whom they should be models of perfection in the social graces. Amy is the likable one, who usually is more responsible and does most of the work, while Effy tends to be lazy, childish and selfish. Amy uses foul and witty language and Effy bats her eyelashes and imagines every man is in love with her. She often stares daggers at or plans revenge on her sister, if she sees her getting the least bit of attention from their male good friends, who visit regularly and are clueless confirmed bachelors. Highly recommended when you need some lighter escape reading cleverly done.
The sisters had no money despite their high social status, so created this business to support themselves. Though twins, they are exact opposites, and easily become jealous of each other over fantasies of romance. This is a regular source of humor in the series. Both when upset have very bad manners, especially toward each other with little awareness of how they appear to those for whom they should be models of perfection in the social graces. Amy is the likable one, who usually is more responsible and does most of the work, while Effy tends to be lazy, childish and selfish. Amy uses foul and witty language and Effy bats her eyelashes and imagines every man is in love with her. She often stares daggers at or plans revenge on her sister, if she sees her getting the least bit of attention from their male good friends, who visit regularly and are clueless confirmed bachelors. Highly recommended when you need some lighter escape reading cleverly done.
July 1, 2024
Heel leuk einde van de reeks. 🙌🏼 De humor is fantastisch. Alleen de omslag vind ik niet passen bij de inhoud.
November 21, 2019
I'd give this five starts for everybody's happy ending but there are parts that were just not necessary.
Harriet, an impoverished, orphaned Methodist is sent by her aristocratic and unpleasant aunt to the Tribbles to train her to find a husband. She is soft-hearted and reform-minded. On her journey to London she rouses a sleeping man, Lord Charles Marsham, to rescue a cat stuck in a tree.
The cat deserves five stars on its own for the way it brings these two together. I'm serious. It is the best thing in the book.
Harriet discovers that Lord Charles, considered the prize of the season, is lost to dissipation following a traumatic experience on the battlefield. He believes he was saved by jack Perkins, who is mostly interested in drinking, gambling, and whores. Lord Charles is basically along for the ride. Harriet decides such a hardened case is in need of reform, despite everybody's belief that they are unsuitable because he is a rake who will spoil her chances at marriage. Harriet has noticed that the Tribbles are in love with their gentleman callers, Mr. Haddon and Mr. Randolph, and believes the gentlemen are also in love with them and need to be brought around to propose. She proposes to Lord Charles that he help her because men are more likely to listen to other men and he agrees. She also learns that the dressmaker Yvette has a son outside marriage and decides to track down the father in hopes that he and Yvette can reconcile and George can have a father. All the villains from the other books, intent on either troubling the Tribbles or Harriet, make attempts to do so, inevitably failing, and in some cases failing in a way that will make you laugh in spite of knowing you shouldn't. Inevitably everyone gets a proposal and gets married. We were not fans of the Yvette subplot. Yvette had moved on and established her own successful business, it seemed really misguided for Harriet to try to bring the two of them together again and when she succeeded it was a real disappointment to us. The story didn't call for it, and it wasn't an ending I trusted. Chesney also attempted to make drama out of Mr. Haddon and Mr. Randolph visiting a whorehouse and Amy and Effy discovering them that was entirely unneccessary. The Tribbles have had enough tribulations on their way to love that adding that in was a totally unnecessary plot complication. Despite the flaws, we couldn't help cheering for the Tribbles, and the cat was just wonderful.
Harriet, an impoverished, orphaned Methodist is sent by her aristocratic and unpleasant aunt to the Tribbles to train her to find a husband. She is soft-hearted and reform-minded. On her journey to London she rouses a sleeping man, Lord Charles Marsham, to rescue a cat stuck in a tree.
The cat deserves five stars on its own for the way it brings these two together. I'm serious. It is the best thing in the book.
Harriet discovers that Lord Charles, considered the prize of the season, is lost to dissipation following a traumatic experience on the battlefield. He believes he was saved by jack Perkins, who is mostly interested in drinking, gambling, and whores. Lord Charles is basically along for the ride. Harriet decides such a hardened case is in need of reform, despite everybody's belief that they are unsuitable because he is a rake who will spoil her chances at marriage. Harriet has noticed that the Tribbles are in love with their gentleman callers, Mr. Haddon and Mr. Randolph, and believes the gentlemen are also in love with them and need to be brought around to propose. She proposes to Lord Charles that he help her because men are more likely to listen to other men and he agrees. She also learns that the dressmaker Yvette has a son outside marriage and decides to track down the father in hopes that he and Yvette can reconcile and George can have a father. All the villains from the other books, intent on either troubling the Tribbles or Harriet, make attempts to do so, inevitably failing, and in some cases failing in a way that will make you laugh in spite of knowing you shouldn't. Inevitably everyone gets a proposal and gets married. We were not fans of the Yvette subplot. Yvette had moved on and established her own successful business, it seemed really misguided for Harriet to try to bring the two of them together again and when she succeeded it was a real disappointment to us. The story didn't call for it, and it wasn't an ending I trusted. Chesney also attempted to make drama out of Mr. Haddon and Mr. Randolph visiting a whorehouse and Amy and Effy discovering them that was entirely unneccessary. The Tribbles have had enough tribulations on their way to love that adding that in was a totally unnecessary plot complication. Despite the flaws, we couldn't help cheering for the Tribbles, and the cat was just wonderful.
October 20, 2012
This book was really easy to read and not too serious - exactly what I was looking for when I started it. Unfortunately at the time I did not realise it was book 6 in the School for Manners series. However, I don't think that this mattered too much, it was easy to become familiar with the characters and there wasn't much referencing to previous books. The only issue would be if I decided to read the others as I would then know what happens at the end of the series.
The story features the Tribble sisters whose job it is to help find good matches for ladies who are proving a problem to their parents. Harriet was sent to be in the care of her Aunt after her father (a Methodist minister) died and left her penniless. Her aunt decided the best thing to do was to send Harriet to the Misses Tribbles to get her married off. On the way to the Tribbles house Harriet meets Lord Charles Marsham who becomes set on befriending her.
I really did enjoy reading this story, I love period dramas and this frequently made me smile. There were some more serious parts of the book where people are set on causing trouble - however these still seemed to be quite light and Harriet is more than a match for anyone!
The story features the Tribble sisters whose job it is to help find good matches for ladies who are proving a problem to their parents. Harriet was sent to be in the care of her Aunt after her father (a Methodist minister) died and left her penniless. Her aunt decided the best thing to do was to send Harriet to the Misses Tribbles to get her married off. On the way to the Tribbles house Harriet meets Lord Charles Marsham who becomes set on befriending her.
I really did enjoy reading this story, I love period dramas and this frequently made me smile. There were some more serious parts of the book where people are set on causing trouble - however these still seemed to be quite light and Harriet is more than a match for anyone!
November 20, 2018
In this finale to the series The School of Manners by M. C. Beaton, is a more simple story than a few previous, devoid of some of the usual little violences sometimes found in the others I have read. The romance of the two young people, Miss Harriet Brown and Lord Charles Marsham, was actually better developed than often is, showing some common grounds and interests for their keeping company, but still never quite as much as I usually hope.
This story revolves more fully around the story of the Tribble sisters, Amy and Effy; the theme of their own increasingly hard to ignore desire for marriage themselves is a theme developed steadily in the previous books. Their competition and envy towards each other I found, whether natural or not, a put-off that dampened my liking of them. Even after the wedding, or weddings, the competition continues - something I’d hoped would be resolved into sisterly affection at the end.
I really liked Miss Harriet and Lord Charles Marsham.
I must admit: I kept getting “the bad guys” confused and forgetting who was mad at who and for what. Perhaps one or two were from earlier installments and this story was determined to tie all loose ends and knots, so to speak.
In the end, I found myself not unhappily going on to the end to see how it finished.
This story revolves more fully around the story of the Tribble sisters, Amy and Effy; the theme of their own increasingly hard to ignore desire for marriage themselves is a theme developed steadily in the previous books. Their competition and envy towards each other I found, whether natural or not, a put-off that dampened my liking of them. Even after the wedding, or weddings, the competition continues - something I’d hoped would be resolved into sisterly affection at the end.
I really liked Miss Harriet and Lord Charles Marsham.
I must admit: I kept getting “the bad guys” confused and forgetting who was mad at who and for what. Perhaps one or two were from earlier installments and this story was determined to tie all loose ends and knots, so to speak.
In the end, I found myself not unhappily going on to the end to see how it finished.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
Terrific final novel in this 6-book series, with 4 romantic HEAs
I really liked both Harriet and Charles and their adorable, "opposites attract," comedic romance. For me, personally, a huge delight within their romance is Tom the cat. He is a major player in their Meet Cute, steals the show in every scene he is in with the two lovers, and he is highly significant to the resolution of the romance between Harriet and Charles.
The relationships between Amy and Effie and their beaus has stretched across all the books of the series and comes to a wonderful resolution in this novel. Yvette, the French seamstress, also gets a lovely resolution to her romance.
I greatly appreciated that all of the villains from this series, who had not already been fully dealt with, got their comeuppance in this story. There are also plenty of funny, "comedy of errors" moments throughout this novel.
Last but not least, the narrator of the audiobook version of this novel does a terrific job.
I really liked both Harriet and Charles and their adorable, "opposites attract," comedic romance. For me, personally, a huge delight within their romance is Tom the cat. He is a major player in their Meet Cute, steals the show in every scene he is in with the two lovers, and he is highly significant to the resolution of the romance between Harriet and Charles.
The relationships between Amy and Effie and their beaus has stretched across all the books of the series and comes to a wonderful resolution in this novel. Yvette, the French seamstress, also gets a lovely resolution to her romance.
I greatly appreciated that all of the villains from this series, who had not already been fully dealt with, got their comeuppance in this story. There are also plenty of funny, "comedy of errors" moments throughout this novel.
Last but not least, the narrator of the audiobook version of this novel does a terrific job.
January 10, 2019
Best of the set, great fun. Plenty of action and silliness in this, drama too, and fast moving. I especially enjoyed the role of the cat woven in throughout. I also wish there was a #7 on the horizon, which would indicate how they all get on. Maybe the sisters would next open an actual School for Manners for small groups of young ladies - or gentlemen? I see them doing it for fun or 'doing good works' instead of based on dire need. Wouldn't you love to see that? Maybe one or more of their former clients comes to them with the challenge of their children, or they are talking about how to do good works now that their own dreams are fulfilled...
April 13, 2018
A Marvelous Ending
I have so thoroughly enjoyed Effie & Amy’s adventures as they take these girls and help them to discover their soul mates. I would suggest to anyone to please read the series beginning to end as it will make so much more sense. I’m not normally a fan of series novels but this one was definitely a winner.
I’ve never laughed so much (while reading) as I do when reading Ms Beaton’s books. She has a gift for creating humorous adventures and lovable characters. This was a perfect ending to such a fun series!
I have so thoroughly enjoyed Effie & Amy’s adventures as they take these girls and help them to discover their soul mates. I would suggest to anyone to please read the series beginning to end as it will make so much more sense. I’m not normally a fan of series novels but this one was definitely a winner.
I’ve never laughed so much (while reading) as I do when reading Ms Beaton’s books. She has a gift for creating humorous adventures and lovable characters. This was a perfect ending to such a fun series!
September 14, 2021
A sombre Fanny-Price-like protagonist, a mischievous lord “perversely determined to woo her” and a cute green-eyed cat: MARRYING HARRIET turned out to be the perfect final for the School for Manners series, combining classic romance ingredients with all sorts of carnage. This book was an absolute hoot and I was sad when it ended: I devoured all six books like a delicious bowl of ice cream, and honestly, this one was the cherry on top. Everything that’s fun about Beaton’s books comes in: bizarre characters, looove, absurd situations, wicked language etc. etc. <3
January 17, 2019
I would absolutely recommend this book to all of my friends who love romance novels. This book would be well suited for a young person who wants to venture into the world of romance for the first time.
March 15, 2016
Finally! :)
August 13, 2017
This book was so hilarious. M C Beaton never fails to impress me. She's defintely my favourite author.
February 15, 2018
Fun. Wonderful series.
July 11, 2018
While the Tribble sisters are trying to marry Harriet off, Harriet is trying to play matchmaker herself.
June 4, 2019
I'm so sorry that this series ended. Please tell me the sisters lives pick up in another Chesney/Beaton series! Please! Please!
February 12, 2022
Fun and satisfying completion of the series.
May 28, 2019
(Genre:Fiction/Romance/Regency) 2.5 stars. I found and listened to this book on overdrive and it was mildly entertaining, but I didn't love it and have no plans to read the other books in the series. That may be related to the language and/or sexual references sprinkled throughout the book. Nothing super offensive, but there was enough to make me tire of it.
(Note: This was the final book in previously mentioned series, but I didn't realize that at the time I checked it out. However, I didn't feel like I was missing anything despite the references to previous couples that were brought together by the match making Tribble sisters, so I don't think reading them in order is a necessity.)
Here's a brief recap: Miss Harriet Brown, the daughter of a recently deceased Methodist minister, is sent to London by a distant relative to be launched into society by the Tribble sisters, 2 well-known matchmakers that specialize in "problem cases" or young ladies that are struggling or will struggle to form a suitable match. On her way to London, while the mail coach is stopped at an inn, she ends up enlisting the help of a somewhat drunken peer, to rescue a cat stuck in a tree. The cat becomes a major character in the story and was, I admit, a lot of fun. The hung over peer ends up being Lord Charles Marsham, and Harriet runs into him again in London and they immediately strike up a friendship of sorts. Harriet is on-guard against Lord Marsham's attentions, since she thinks him a worthless reprobate, despite his help with the cat. Lord Marsham is attracted to Harriet and finds her very entertaining. When Harriet decides that the Tribble sisters are the ones who are really in need of matchmaking help, she again enlists the help of Lord Marsham. Will the Tribble sisters find true love? Will Harriet eventually realize that Lord Marsham isn't the rake/reprobate that she thinks he is? Will Lord Marsham eventually win Harriet over? The answers are obvious, but the journey to get there is interesting, mainly because Chesney does a good job with her characters--making their weaknesses play out for our entertainment.
(Note: This was the final book in previously mentioned series, but I didn't realize that at the time I checked it out. However, I didn't feel like I was missing anything despite the references to previous couples that were brought together by the match making Tribble sisters, so I don't think reading them in order is a necessity.)
Here's a brief recap: Miss Harriet Brown, the daughter of a recently deceased Methodist minister, is sent to London by a distant relative to be launched into society by the Tribble sisters, 2 well-known matchmakers that specialize in "problem cases" or young ladies that are struggling or will struggle to form a suitable match. On her way to London, while the mail coach is stopped at an inn, she ends up enlisting the help of a somewhat drunken peer, to rescue a cat stuck in a tree. The cat becomes a major character in the story and was, I admit, a lot of fun. The hung over peer ends up being Lord Charles Marsham, and Harriet runs into him again in London and they immediately strike up a friendship of sorts. Harriet is on-guard against Lord Marsham's attentions, since she thinks him a worthless reprobate, despite his help with the cat. Lord Marsham is attracted to Harriet and finds her very entertaining. When Harriet decides that the Tribble sisters are the ones who are really in need of matchmaking help, she again enlists the help of Lord Marsham. Will the Tribble sisters find true love? Will Harriet eventually realize that Lord Marsham isn't the rake/reprobate that she thinks he is? Will Lord Marsham eventually win Harriet over? The answers are obvious, but the journey to get there is interesting, mainly because Chesney does a good job with her characters--making their weaknesses play out for our entertainment.
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