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Menfreya in the Morning
For Harriet Delvaney, the great house of Menfreya, standing like a fortress on the Cornish coast, had always been a citadel of happiness and high spirits. Not until she herself came to Menfreya as a bride did Harriet discover the secret family legend of infidelity, jealousy and murder. And not until the legend seemed to come dangerously to life did Harriet begin to believe the old story that when the tower clock of Menfreya stopped, someone was about to die . . .
255 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1966
34 people are currently reading
1659 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Holt
369 books1,370 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subject matter between her books; the best-known, apart from Plaidy, are Victoria Holt (56 million) and Philippa Carr (3 million). Lesser known were the novels Hibbert published under her maiden name Eleanor Burford, or the pseudonyms of Elbur Ford, Kathleen Kellow and Ellalice Tate. Many of her readers under one penname never suspected her other identities.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
January 19, 2013
3.5 stars
This is one that I had to take a break from because it was so freaking depressing. The first half of the book focuses on the heroine's childhood and all the events that made it such a sad existence. You have to read it too or you won't understand the power of events that happen in her adulthood (well, you could but it won't have nearly the same impact I imagine.)
The second half of the book perks right up, but I read it constantly on edge and in a straight out state of anxiety when the OW stuff started up. I could really feel the influence of her upbringing on her interpretation of situations as well as how hard of a hit she took to her self image and security after each questionable event.
Not all of the doubts could be blamed on her own perceptions. Some of the characters just egged you on to believe the worst. People you admired and looked up to with the heroine's eyes of child in the first half of the book start showing their warts after her marriage, making you want to just smack a person at times.
The hero, although never squeaky clean, turns out to be a darker character than we thought and makes you wonder just what he's capable of or will be in the future (I really wonder if this is the type of man someone with her security issues should be married to).
There's a back story of ancient ancestors which influence where the mind goes plus there's that out of the blue surprise tacked on at the end that Holt likes so well.
If you like uber angsty (read depressing) gothics that leave you wondering what is really in store for the future for the H & h, then this one should fit the bill.
This is one that I had to take a break from because it was so freaking depressing. The first half of the book focuses on the heroine's childhood and all the events that made it such a sad existence. You have to read it too or you won't understand the power of events that happen in her adulthood (well, you could but it won't have nearly the same impact I imagine.)
The second half of the book perks right up, but I read it constantly on edge and in a straight out state of anxiety when the OW stuff started up. I could really feel the influence of her upbringing on her interpretation of situations as well as how hard of a hit she took to her self image and security after each questionable event.
Not all of the doubts could be blamed on her own perceptions. Some of the characters just egged you on to believe the worst. People you admired and looked up to with the heroine's eyes of child in the first half of the book start showing their warts after her marriage, making you want to just smack a person at times.
The hero, although never squeaky clean, turns out to be a darker character than we thought and makes you wonder just what he's capable of or will be in the future (I really wonder if this is the type of man someone with her security issues should be married to).
There's a back story of ancient ancestors which influence where the mind goes plus there's that out of the blue surprise tacked on at the end that Holt likes so well.
If you like uber angsty (read depressing) gothics that leave you wondering what is really in store for the future for the H & h, then this one should fit the bill.
May 10, 2020
Gothic romances written in the 1960s and 1970s were one of the most popular genres in paperback fiction at the time. Most of the stories were written by women or men using female pseudonyms. First person tense was used most often; it was a ploy to keep the reader glued to the heroine’s thoughts. For the most part, the romances were ‘kisses only’ or ‘fade to black’. Eventually, this vintage style of romance declined.
~~~~~
Harriet Delvaney’s father was a politician. Unrealistically, he blamed his young wife’s death on Harriet for giving her birth. The little girl was plain in looks with a limp and starved for affection. Her savior was Fanny Carter whom encircled her with love. More then a servant, the woman was her security.
Eventually, Harriet formed a special friendship with the beautiful Gwennan Menfrey. Innocently captivated, she fell in love with her best friend’s older brother, Bevil. The slowly-unraveling mystery, an unclaimed power, the eerie elements of Cornwall and the Menfrey family were the catalyst for the Harriet’s change and growth.
Bevel Menfrey was proud, charming and gracious. At the same time he had a lifelong plan and it involved Harriet, her father’s contacts and her family fortune. For most of the story, I was wary of his character. I had Ms. Holt to thank for that; the plot surrounding this couple was atmospheric and suspenseful. There was just enough of an edgy backdrop to continually remind me of something sinister hanging in the wings.
While Menfreya in the Morning was filled with a naïve heroine and a veiled hero, the character interaction was very interesting. Only a few writers excelled at baiting the reader with historical tension AND a twisted plot. Victoria Holt was one of them.
I am on the fence with this Gothic mystery. There was one forced seduction moment and Harriet’s continued gullibility and naive decisions that followed her. And yet I was surprised at the end by the persons who most loved Harriet: who was the defender and who was the wrongdoer. For this reason, it earned four stars.
~~~~~
Harriet Delvaney’s father was a politician. Unrealistically, he blamed his young wife’s death on Harriet for giving her birth. The little girl was plain in looks with a limp and starved for affection. Her savior was Fanny Carter whom encircled her with love. More then a servant, the woman was her security.
Eventually, Harriet formed a special friendship with the beautiful Gwennan Menfrey. Innocently captivated, she fell in love with her best friend’s older brother, Bevil. The slowly-unraveling mystery, an unclaimed power, the eerie elements of Cornwall and the Menfrey family were the catalyst for the Harriet’s change and growth.
Bevel Menfrey was proud, charming and gracious. At the same time he had a lifelong plan and it involved Harriet, her father’s contacts and her family fortune. For most of the story, I was wary of his character. I had Ms. Holt to thank for that; the plot surrounding this couple was atmospheric and suspenseful. There was just enough of an edgy backdrop to continually remind me of something sinister hanging in the wings.
While Menfreya in the Morning was filled with a naïve heroine and a veiled hero, the character interaction was very interesting. Only a few writers excelled at baiting the reader with historical tension AND a twisted plot. Victoria Holt was one of them.
I am on the fence with this Gothic mystery. There was one forced seduction moment and Harriet’s continued gullibility and naive decisions that followed her. And yet I was surprised at the end by the persons who most loved Harriet: who was the defender and who was the wrongdoer. For this reason, it earned four stars.
July 17, 2016
(gnashing teeth)
First of all - Bevil? I'm sorry, every time I read his bloody name in my head it was "Weevil." Worst name for a romantic lead. Which is appropriate I suppose since he's a rapist. ()
I found the ending supremely disappointing. I was reading to see if the book was actually going to go the way I hoped (). I just didn't think Harriet and Bevil had any chemistry, and the narrative was so convincing about what a horrible person he might be that I didn't find it a romance at all. I was continuously frustrated with Harriet for deciding that she must do something and assert herself, and then Bevil kisses her hand and she loves him too much to do anything but accept everything he says and does.
Meanwhile, every other female character is a drag. I wish that books written for women weren't so adamant about hating women.
First of all - Bevil? I'm sorry, every time I read his bloody name in my head it was "Weevil." Worst name for a romantic lead. Which is appropriate I suppose since he's a rapist. ()
I found the ending supremely disappointing. I was reading to see if the book was actually going to go the way I hoped (). I just didn't think Harriet and Bevil had any chemistry, and the narrative was so convincing about what a horrible person he might be that I didn't find it a romance at all. I was continuously frustrated with Harriet for deciding that she must do something and assert herself, and then Bevil kisses her hand and she loves him too much to do anything but accept everything he says and does.
Meanwhile, every other female character is a drag. I wish that books written for women weren't so adamant about hating women.
Read
November 19, 2008I have just joined this blog, because of this book. Loved it so much as a young woman. Victoria Holt books set the stage for my teen and early adult love life. Wanted the drama, romance and gothic setting. I married, finally, 30 years later, to a man from England! I have a ranch instead of a castle. He does not ride the horses but he saves me each day from myself and others.
I'll never forget the LAST line: (something like this)
" nothing's quite as beautiful and Manfreya in the morning". The unanswered angst is still deep inside of me.
I'll never forget the LAST line: (something like this)
" nothing's quite as beautiful and Manfreya in the morning". The unanswered angst is still deep inside of me.
July 30, 2017
Holt's male characters rarely come alive for me, although Bevis does more so than the guys in the last few I've read. But her heroines often have a headstrong friend who reminds me of one of my own dear friends, and Gwennan is one of those, so I enjoy the relationship between Gwennan and Harriet (although not so thrilled at how it ends).
Read this first in the Reader's Digest Condensed version, some forty years back, and it's interesting to compare the two. I'm not sure if I have a preference, but if memory serves, the differences are significant. The full book has a darker tone, for sure.
This is more true to the classic gothic style of the 60's and 70's than some of Holt's are; Holt generally includes a house that's nearly a character in its own right, but in this book the heroine feels relatively helpless, alone, and besieged through nearly the whole book, which Holt is less likely to do. The plot also relies more on happenstance than hers usually do --the poisoning of the heroine and her maid, and how that happened, particularly annoyed me.
Loved this as a kid because I could so relate to the heroine's relationship with her father. As an adult I'm more critical, but it's still a good summer read -- or a good read when you're feeling poorly, which is why I picked it up. I found it interesting and entertaining, and the plot pulled me along.
Read this first in the Reader's Digest Condensed version, some forty years back, and it's interesting to compare the two. I'm not sure if I have a preference, but if memory serves, the differences are significant. The full book has a darker tone, for sure.
This is more true to the classic gothic style of the 60's and 70's than some of Holt's are; Holt generally includes a house that's nearly a character in its own right, but in this book the heroine feels relatively helpless, alone, and besieged through nearly the whole book, which Holt is less likely to do. The plot also relies more on happenstance than hers usually do --the poisoning of the heroine and her maid, and how that happened, particularly annoyed me.
Loved this as a kid because I could so relate to the heroine's relationship with her father. As an adult I'm more critical, but it's still a good summer read -- or a good read when you're feeling poorly, which is why I picked it up. I found it interesting and entertaining, and the plot pulled me along.
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
August 18, 2024
(Ingen spoiler)
"Menfreya in the Morning" eller "Menfreyas klocka" kan delas in i fyra delar, anser jag.
Den första är vid inledningen och de första femtio-sjuttio sidorna ungefär, när läsaren introduceras för handlingen, omgivningen, karaktärerna, tiden och omständigheterna. Vi presenteras för Menfreya, alltså herrgården, inte huvudkaraktärens namn (mindblow). Menfreya är en fiktiv plats som ligger i en engelsk ort som kallas Menfreya Crow, i den välkända och verkliga Cornwall (Englands sydligaste kust). Denna herrgård har gått i familjen Menfreys arv i flera århundraden.
Harriet Delvaney växer upp hos sin politiskt inflytelserika far. Deras relation är bristande och det beskrivs att fadern skyller Harriet för sin moders död vid barnsäng. Harriets bästa vän heter Gwennan Menfrey. Hon beskrivs som väldigt vacker, särskilt av Harriet som ofta jämför sig själv med henne. Läsaren får tidigt veta mer om Harriets ångestfyllda sidor. Genom hela berättelsen beskrivs hon vara svartsjuk (vilket jag kan argumentera emot) och en osäker individ (vilket mer specifikt handlar om ångest). Hennes karaktär växer inte mycket på den fronten genom berättelsen. Jag känner med henne. <3
I den andra delen mister Harriet sin far i hjärtinfarkt. Det kan hävdas att hon inte miste något särskilt viktigt därför att hon aldrig haft en fader som brytt sig om henne särskilt mycket. Hennes reaktion på hans död visar detsamma. Harriet tvingas då bo hos sin faster och hennes två döttrar. En typisk askungensaga!
Markant för denna del av berättelsen är också Harriets växande intresse för Bevil Menfrey, hennes kompis bror, medan Bevil själv är en kvinnotjusare. I familjen Menfrey säger legenden att de är precis som Bevil, kvinnotjusare, men också otrogna män, mördare, osv osv... Legenden bådar inte gott. Frågan är hur god Bevil egentligen är och om Harriets osäkerhet gentemot honom stämmer eller endast är tecken på en dålig självkänsla?
Den tredje delen är berättelsens främsta huvudpelare varav flera giftermål äger rum och dramatiska förändringar i relationerna. Innan dess förlorar Harriet ytterligare en familjemedlem vilket innebär att hon komma att flytta vidare till Menfreya. Hon lär känna familjen och får avgöra om de går att lita på eller om legenden stämmer... Och gömmer sig deras anfäder inom denna marks gränser?
Den fjärde och sista delen är den mest händelserika och den jag kan berätta minst om för att inte avslöja allting. Här avslöjas vem Harriet egentligen kan lita på och Harriet får äntligen sätta ansiktet på bedragaren/-na...
.................
Avslutningsvis måste jag säga att jag avgudar denna berättelse och Eleanor Burfords (Victoria Holt) berättandeförmåga och skrivsätt. Boken är tydligt skriven under andra tider, 60-talet, då marital våldtäkt och misshandel kunde förlåtas för "äkta kärlek". Det stör mig något otroligt, men jag kom att ge boken fullt ut 5 stjärnor av den anledning att jag som läsare under 2020-talet måste komma ihåg att en bok från 1960 skrevs med andra samhälleliga värderingar.
Jag kan jämföra det med Colleen Hoovers "It ends with us" som också berör ämnet inhemskt våld, bara ur moderna ögon istället. Hennes bok har kritiserats av många läsare.
Är det inte bra att förverkliga och normalisera inhemskt våld? Om man "triggas" av sådana ämnen kan man undvika att läsa böckerna.
"Menfreya in the Morning" eller "Menfreyas klocka" kan delas in i fyra delar, anser jag.
Den första är vid inledningen och de första femtio-sjuttio sidorna ungefär, när läsaren introduceras för handlingen, omgivningen, karaktärerna, tiden och omständigheterna. Vi presenteras för Menfreya, alltså herrgården, inte huvudkaraktärens namn (mindblow). Menfreya är en fiktiv plats som ligger i en engelsk ort som kallas Menfreya Crow, i den välkända och verkliga Cornwall (Englands sydligaste kust). Denna herrgård har gått i familjen Menfreys arv i flera århundraden.
Harriet Delvaney växer upp hos sin politiskt inflytelserika far. Deras relation är bristande och det beskrivs att fadern skyller Harriet för sin moders död vid barnsäng. Harriets bästa vän heter Gwennan Menfrey. Hon beskrivs som väldigt vacker, särskilt av Harriet som ofta jämför sig själv med henne. Läsaren får tidigt veta mer om Harriets ångestfyllda sidor. Genom hela berättelsen beskrivs hon vara svartsjuk (vilket jag kan argumentera emot) och en osäker individ (vilket mer specifikt handlar om ångest). Hennes karaktär växer inte mycket på den fronten genom berättelsen. Jag känner med henne. <3
I den andra delen mister Harriet sin far i hjärtinfarkt. Det kan hävdas att hon inte miste något särskilt viktigt därför att hon aldrig haft en fader som brytt sig om henne särskilt mycket. Hennes reaktion på hans död visar detsamma. Harriet tvingas då bo hos sin faster och hennes två döttrar. En typisk askungensaga!
Markant för denna del av berättelsen är också Harriets växande intresse för Bevil Menfrey, hennes kompis bror, medan Bevil själv är en kvinnotjusare. I familjen Menfrey säger legenden att de är precis som Bevil, kvinnotjusare, men också otrogna män, mördare, osv osv... Legenden bådar inte gott. Frågan är hur god Bevil egentligen är och om Harriets osäkerhet gentemot honom stämmer eller endast är tecken på en dålig självkänsla?
Den tredje delen är berättelsens främsta huvudpelare varav flera giftermål äger rum och dramatiska förändringar i relationerna. Innan dess förlorar Harriet ytterligare en familjemedlem vilket innebär att hon komma att flytta vidare till Menfreya. Hon lär känna familjen och får avgöra om de går att lita på eller om legenden stämmer... Och gömmer sig deras anfäder inom denna marks gränser?
Den fjärde och sista delen är den mest händelserika och den jag kan berätta minst om för att inte avslöja allting. Här avslöjas vem Harriet egentligen kan lita på och Harriet får äntligen sätta ansiktet på bedragaren/-na...
.................
Avslutningsvis måste jag säga att jag avgudar denna berättelse och Eleanor Burfords (Victoria Holt) berättandeförmåga och skrivsätt. Boken är tydligt skriven under andra tider, 60-talet, då marital våldtäkt och misshandel kunde förlåtas för "äkta kärlek". Det stör mig något otroligt, men jag kom att ge boken fullt ut 5 stjärnor av den anledning att jag som läsare under 2020-talet måste komma ihåg att en bok från 1960 skrevs med andra samhälleliga värderingar.
Jag kan jämföra det med Colleen Hoovers "It ends with us" som också berör ämnet inhemskt våld, bara ur moderna ögon istället. Hennes bok har kritiserats av många läsare.
Är det inte bra att förverkliga och normalisera inhemskt våld? Om man "triggas" av sådana ämnen kan man undvika att läsa böckerna.
August 9, 2023
3.5 stars. You gotta have a good Old-fashion Gothic Romance once in awhile. Just happened to have one on my bookshelf. This book was true to that gothic feeling —Castle (Menfreya) on the cliff looking over the sea!
January 3, 2023
Lovely ‘Victorian gothic’ trashy romance 👌🏻
August 10, 2025
If one of the Brontës and Daphne de Maurier had a book baby, it could be this book. Which, if you know me, is a great review 😆
July 1, 2016
Acredito que este foi o primeiro livro escrito por Victoria Holt que eu li, muitos anos atrás. A capa me chamou a atenção em primeiro lugar e depois a sinopse do livro. Não me arrependi nem um pouco, pois simplesmente amei a leitura. A mistura de romance com suspense/mistério me encanta e Victoria Holt é muito boa fazendo isso, pelo menos na maior parte de seus livros.
A história tem como protagonista Harriet e nós a conhecemos através de seus pensamentos quando está com 13 anos. A menina é rejeitada por um pai frio e distante, que vive para o mundo da política. Seu único consolo é a amizade que mantém com a filha mais jovem da família Menfrey (e que regula de idade com ela), Gwennan.
Harriet é simplesmente obcecada pela família e pela casa desta, Menfreya, além de ser profundamente apaixonada por Bevil, irmão mais velho de Gwennan e que a trata como se fossem irmãos.
A parte inicial do livro é rápida, contando o passado de Harriet desde a tenra infância, mostrando a que pé anda aos 13 anos e dando uma pincelada no que acontece nos anos que antecedem sua vida adulta.
Detalhes que fizeram eu gostar ainda mais da menina: o fato dela ser corajosa, decidida, ter um fantástico senso de humor e uma língua rápida. Além disso Harriet é manca por conta de um problema na hora do parto.
Eu sei que é um clichê, mas o livro tem uma sequencia que me encanta: quando as meninas decidem ir escondidas a um baile a fantasia oferecido pelo pai de Harriet. Ela encontram roupas guardadas em baús em Menfrey (que é um castelo cheio de surpresas e lendas)e usam eles juntamente com máscaras. Eu dei pulinhos de alegria nesta parte :-D
Bem, a certo ponto do livro Bevil começa a mostrar interesse por Harriet (a esta altura muita água já passou debaixo desta ponte) e nós nos vemos no mesmo dilema que ela: ele a ama ou está apenas interessado no dinheiro que ela havia herdado? Para complicar tudo uma antiga namorada de Bevil se torna a governanta do filho de Gwennan e o famoso relógio da torre de Menfreya para... sendo que ele só para quando alguém da família morrerá em alguns dias. Detalhe: Harriet está grávida de um bebê Menfrey, então... a coitada fica numa posição terrível.
É realmente um livro fantástico, e parece sempre pesado de suspense. Não sei como Victoria Holt conseguiu isso, já que só após o casamento de Harriet é que os acontecimentos misteriosos tem lugar. Acho que é porque desde o inicio Harriet narra a história de forma empolgante, que me fez querer saber cada vez mais o que havia acontecido com todos aqueles personagens carismáticos.
A história tem como protagonista Harriet e nós a conhecemos através de seus pensamentos quando está com 13 anos. A menina é rejeitada por um pai frio e distante, que vive para o mundo da política. Seu único consolo é a amizade que mantém com a filha mais jovem da família Menfrey (e que regula de idade com ela), Gwennan.
Harriet é simplesmente obcecada pela família e pela casa desta, Menfreya, além de ser profundamente apaixonada por Bevil, irmão mais velho de Gwennan e que a trata como se fossem irmãos.
A parte inicial do livro é rápida, contando o passado de Harriet desde a tenra infância, mostrando a que pé anda aos 13 anos e dando uma pincelada no que acontece nos anos que antecedem sua vida adulta.
Detalhes que fizeram eu gostar ainda mais da menina: o fato dela ser corajosa, decidida, ter um fantástico senso de humor e uma língua rápida. Além disso Harriet é manca por conta de um problema na hora do parto.
Eu sei que é um clichê, mas o livro tem uma sequencia que me encanta: quando as meninas decidem ir escondidas a um baile a fantasia oferecido pelo pai de Harriet. Ela encontram roupas guardadas em baús em Menfrey (que é um castelo cheio de surpresas e lendas)e usam eles juntamente com máscaras. Eu dei pulinhos de alegria nesta parte :-D
Bem, a certo ponto do livro Bevil começa a mostrar interesse por Harriet (a esta altura muita água já passou debaixo desta ponte) e nós nos vemos no mesmo dilema que ela: ele a ama ou está apenas interessado no dinheiro que ela havia herdado? Para complicar tudo uma antiga namorada de Bevil se torna a governanta do filho de Gwennan e o famoso relógio da torre de Menfreya para... sendo que ele só para quando alguém da família morrerá em alguns dias. Detalhe: Harriet está grávida de um bebê Menfrey, então... a coitada fica numa posição terrível.
É realmente um livro fantástico, e parece sempre pesado de suspense. Não sei como Victoria Holt conseguiu isso, já que só após o casamento de Harriet é que os acontecimentos misteriosos tem lugar. Acho que é porque desde o inicio Harriet narra a história de forma empolgante, que me fez querer saber cada vez mais o que havia acontecido com todos aqueles personagens carismáticos.
August 2, 2021
The story was okay, not life changing or anything. Not as good as The Legend of the Seventh Virgin or The India Fan. I can't say that I could really relate with Harriet Delvaney since she really didn't have much of a personality. For all her bravado that she will not be cowed or ruled by her husband, he only has to kiss or give her a kind word and she'll be all putty in his hands.
The ending was a bit of a shocker, because I truly didn't see it coming. That, in itself, was a disappointment because this person has been with Harriet through thick and thin and what this person did was the absolute betrayal. Though it was done in the guise of love, it was twisted and I didn't quite like it so much.
I also can't fathom why Harriet will allow her husband to hire his former lover as their governess. It is really so stupid of her. If I were in her shoes, I would have moved heaven and earth just to get rid of Jessica Trelarken. I would have pointed out that if it weren't for MY MONEY, they would be facing utter ruin, so they better give in to my wishes if they know what's good for them.
It was good however that it was cleared out that Jessica and Bevil weren't lovers anymore. Still, it will not be a bad idea to keep a close eye on her. After all, snakes are usually harmless until one strikes to bite you.
The ending was a bit of a shocker, because I truly didn't see it coming. That, in itself, was a disappointment because this person has been with Harriet through thick and thin and what this person did was the absolute betrayal. Though it was done in the guise of love, it was twisted and I didn't quite like it so much.
I also can't fathom why Harriet will allow her husband to hire his former lover as their governess. It is really so stupid of her. If I were in her shoes, I would have moved heaven and earth just to get rid of Jessica Trelarken. I would have pointed out that if it weren't for MY MONEY, they would be facing utter ruin, so they better give in to my wishes if they know what's good for them.
It was good however that it was cleared out that Jessica and Bevil weren't lovers anymore. Still, it will not be a bad idea to keep a close eye on her. After all, snakes are usually harmless until one strikes to bite you.
January 1, 2008
There seemed to be one or two summers in my teens when my Mom and sister had this and other Holts and lots of Mary Stewarts stacked all around the house and I devoured them - perfect summer reads - romance and a smidge of history and well written unlike some of the similar sorts...of all of them, this was my favorite, reading it several times through, feeling very akin to the heroine back then. Ah, youth, summer, and romance :)
February 29, 2016
I like the eerie tone featured throughout this book, set in the latter half of the nineteenth century, but the pace runs too slow for my tastes. Although the plot itself is fine enough it lacks sparkle.
Characters are well-drawn, but like with the storyline, they don’t have enough shine.
Overall, this isn’t the best novel I’ve read by Victoria Holt, but it was still worth checking out.
Characters are well-drawn, but like with the storyline, they don’t have enough shine.
Overall, this isn’t the best novel I’ve read by Victoria Holt, but it was still worth checking out.
April 3, 2016
Books written by Victoria Holt are so cheesy, but sometimes that's exactly what you need. I've read a loooot of her books when I was 14/15 years old..that was the last time I've read them. I absolutely loved them at the time. I'm thinking of reading one of her books just for the old times sake! =)
April 23, 2021
When you just want to feel like a teenager in 1973 again. . . One of her best.
August 24, 2016
The plot is very similar to that of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. But it has some interesting themes such as, surprisingly, marital rape.
January 13, 2017
I read this years ago, long before goodreads existed. This book made me cry literal tears. It's time for a re-read.
December 28, 2024
This feels like Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca with a little bit of Jane Eyre and a little bit of Dickens thrown in. I really enjoyed the writing. It had lots of interesting characters and fantastic dialogue, as well as atmosphere. However, I can’t rate it higher than 2 stars because
February 24, 2025
Still Love Victoria Holt’s mysteries…will Likely read a third time in a few years!
February 20, 2021
Good story.
January 24, 2020
3.5 stars.
Typical Victoria Holt, enjoyable read.
Typical Victoria Holt, enjoyable read.
August 8, 2016
Harriet Delaney is an unwanted child. Her mother died giving birth to her and her father, a Member of Parliament, has never stopped blaming Harriet. She is not a pretty child and walks with a limp, so the only thing that may get her a husband is her status as an heiress. Her father's constituency is in Cornwall, and while living there, Harriet is enchanted by the neighbouring castle of the Menfrey family, Menfreya. She befriends the daughter of the house, who is of her age, and secretly hopes the older brother, Bevil, might fall in love with her so she can become a Menfrey herself. The Menfreys have rather a reputation: they're charming people but can be ruthless as well. Menfreya is an old castle with turrets, buttresses and machicolated towers, a lot of history and above all: secrets.
The story is set up carefully and told in Victoria Holt's inimitably captivating way. There's never a dull moment. Harriet is like a real person telling you about her childhood as a sullen and angry little girl, feeling unloved because she's plain and retaliating by cultivating a sharp tongue. We suffer with her when she needs to have her London season together with two very pretty cousins but enjoy her small barbs and ultimately her victory when she finds herself a husband before them. Then, after her marriage, we understand why she becomes jealous when she notices her husband's roving eye. Does he really love her? Can she trust him?
A few times I felt Harriet measured by double standards. It seems her love was mostly for Menfreya and if Bevil hadn't been living there, she wouldn't even have noticed him. She only started to know Bevil after they became engaged. Then suddenly the girl who had nothing and who was resigned to the fate that nobody would love her for herself, wanted all: Not only the beautiful castle, but also its master and its master's undivided love. So what if Bevil had married her for her money? She married him for Menfreya. Her fortune would be used for Menfreya, her first love.
The story is set up carefully and told in Victoria Holt's inimitably captivating way. There's never a dull moment. Harriet is like a real person telling you about her childhood as a sullen and angry little girl, feeling unloved because she's plain and retaliating by cultivating a sharp tongue. We suffer with her when she needs to have her London season together with two very pretty cousins but enjoy her small barbs and ultimately her victory when she finds herself a husband before them. Then, after her marriage, we understand why she becomes jealous when she notices her husband's roving eye. Does he really love her? Can she trust him?
A few times I felt Harriet measured by double standards. It seems her love was mostly for Menfreya and if Bevil hadn't been living there, she wouldn't even have noticed him. She only started to know Bevil after they became engaged. Then suddenly the girl who had nothing and who was resigned to the fate that nobody would love her for herself, wanted all: Not only the beautiful castle, but also its master and its master's undivided love. So what if Bevil had married her for her money? She married him for Menfreya. Her fortune would be used for Menfreya, her first love.
Want to read
June 14, 2016Best romantic novels for people who hate romance...
O.K., so you'd never, even under the administration of medicinal amounts of methylated spirits, be able to mistake a Victoria Holt novel for Great Literature. But you just can't beat them for unadulterated, unabashed, gothic-y, romantic, mysterious fun. Menfreya in the Morning is one of the finest in the Holt canon since it features an ugly, awkward rich girl who gets the guy as opposed to a poor, beautiful girl or a rich, beautiful girl (how I hate those ones). Also features devil-may-care gentlemen, conniving governesses looking to take the Mrs' place, and psychotic nannies.
Ms. Holt wrote about a thousand other books of the same genus and species as Menfreya in the Morning but if you power through them all and your thirst remains unslaked, Ms. Holt also wrote a carriageful of "Royal" romances under the name Jean Plaidy. To be frank, they're pretty horrid. If it's royal romantic hijinks you want, you're better off with Carolly Erickson's outstandingly written and not at all boring biographies of royal women. Take a look at a list of them, here.
O.K., so you'd never, even under the administration of medicinal amounts of methylated spirits, be able to mistake a Victoria Holt novel for Great Literature. But you just can't beat them for unadulterated, unabashed, gothic-y, romantic, mysterious fun. Menfreya in the Morning is one of the finest in the Holt canon since it features an ugly, awkward rich girl who gets the guy as opposed to a poor, beautiful girl or a rich, beautiful girl (how I hate those ones). Also features devil-may-care gentlemen, conniving governesses looking to take the Mrs' place, and psychotic nannies.
Ms. Holt wrote about a thousand other books of the same genus and species as Menfreya in the Morning but if you power through them all and your thirst remains unslaked, Ms. Holt also wrote a carriageful of "Royal" romances under the name Jean Plaidy. To be frank, they're pretty horrid. If it's royal romantic hijinks you want, you're better off with Carolly Erickson's outstandingly written and not at all boring biographies of royal women. Take a look at a list of them, here.
February 6, 2008
MENFREYA IN THE MORNING (Suspense/Romance-England-Victorian) – G+
Holt, Victoria – standalone
Fawcett Crest, 1966, US Paperback
First Sentence: To see Menfreya at its best was to see it in the morning.
Harriet Delvaney has loved Menfrea; the house and the family and all they have represented to her since she was a girl. As a bride at Manfreya, she finds herself dealing with feelings of jealousy and fears of infidelity. She has heard the ghost stories and legend but now the old clock, supposed to signify the death of a family member, has stopped.
I hadn’t read this book in 40+ years but found it held up very well. Holt does a very good job of showing the impact of parents who consistently undermine a child’s self-esteem. She also conveys the social structure and morays of the period. What is lacking is a strong empathy for the protagonist and the building of suspense. Both elements are there, but not as effectively as in some of Holt’s other books. I enjoyed re-visiting this book, but wasn’t knocked out by it.
Holt, Victoria – standalone
Fawcett Crest, 1966, US Paperback
First Sentence: To see Menfreya at its best was to see it in the morning.
Harriet Delvaney has loved Menfrea; the house and the family and all they have represented to her since she was a girl. As a bride at Manfreya, she finds herself dealing with feelings of jealousy and fears of infidelity. She has heard the ghost stories and legend but now the old clock, supposed to signify the death of a family member, has stopped.
I hadn’t read this book in 40+ years but found it held up very well. Holt does a very good job of showing the impact of parents who consistently undermine a child’s self-esteem. She also conveys the social structure and morays of the period. What is lacking is a strong empathy for the protagonist and the building of suspense. Both elements are there, but not as effectively as in some of Holt’s other books. I enjoyed re-visiting this book, but wasn’t knocked out by it.
September 7, 2022
On a basic level Holt can write. The sense of time and place are good and the there are intriguing threads woven through the story. That said, this is a terrible book. Red herrings abound and the ending is one of the most WTF ending/reveals I have read in a long time and it cheapens every word that comes before it. In order to make the husband/love interest a viable villain, he is written in such a way that he comes off as either, well, a villain or a terrible, terrible husband and I found myself actively rooting for the MC to find another man somewhere.
I may not be much of a fan of Holt, largely because she tends to cover such large swaths of her MC's life (this one starts age 13) and this can lead to a rather rushed main narrative. It also often leads to a young girl becoming obsessed with the adult man who will one day be her husband, a plot point that becomes creepier every time I read it. I'm sure I'll read another of her books eventually (they keep popping up in bulk lots of gothic novels I get Ebay) but I will never search them out on purpose.
I may not be much of a fan of Holt, largely because she tends to cover such large swaths of her MC's life (this one starts age 13) and this can lead to a rather rushed main narrative. It also often leads to a young girl becoming obsessed with the adult man who will one day be her husband, a plot point that becomes creepier every time I read it. I'm sure I'll read another of her books eventually (they keep popping up in bulk lots of gothic novels I get Ebay) but I will never search them out on purpose.
January 22, 2021
I’ve read a lot of Victoria Holt, probably even this one before, but they all blur together. Maybe my tastes have changed, but this wasn’t great. It’s a quick read and true to the genre—lots of angst and suspicion—but making excuses for marital rape is where I draw the line. (I read Holt as a teen and probably didn’t even realize what was being implied back then.) There is a lot of build up that goes on for ages, then the ending becomes rather rushed. I dunno. I feel like I’ve read other books by her that were much better, but I could be remembering wrong, or with rose-colored glasses.
August 23, 2012
This book freaked me out at the end! I won't spoil anything for other readers, don't worry. I recently got into gothic romances from the 20th century and this is the first Victoria Holt book I've ever read. I'll admit, it took me a little while to get into it. There is quite a lot of talking. However, the last half of the book is full of activity and the last quarter of the book was captivating and a little scary. I couldn't put it down! I can't wait to read another Holt novel!
July 11, 2007
I'd never heard of Victoria Holt before I read this book, which I borrowed from my old buildings' laundry room (indefinitely). When I talked to my mom about her, her response was immediate recognition, and a "ooohhh yes!" It was a sweet, girly read; like a Lifetime movie written out in novel form.
June 4, 2008
This was the first book I read of Victoria Holt. I just love the way she writes, a mixture of love, evil, dark castles, mystery and riddles. I don't like all of Victoria's books but this one i certaintly my favourite! Oh and another great thing is the name of the hero in the book, his name is Bevil :D
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