Davenport House 2

A New Chapter

By: Marie Silk

Narrated by: Allyson Voller

Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The family saga continues in this sequel to Davenport House, resuming where book one leaves off in the spring of 1915. The family and servants must face their fears amid love and jealousy, grief and moving forward, and the threat of imminent war with the world.

The restructure of an upper-class family affects all who live on the Pennsylvania estate. Twenty-two-year-old Mary Davenport stays occupied with modernizing the house, but insecurities arise when she develops romantic feelings for the first time.

A wealthy socialite persuades one of the ladies to join her on a voyage aboard the exquisite Lusitania. Handsome Ethan is forced to move into the mansion after a fire destroys his home. Tensions rise as Davenport House enters a new chapter with more challenges than anyone is prepared for.

©2016 Marie Silk (P)2017 Marie Silk

Great historical listen

Great series! This book picks up from the events of the first book and continues the story, so make sure to listen to these in order. Great narrator too! I received a free review copy of this audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

Another great addition to the story

Definitely read the first book before jumping into this one. Enjoyed the characters. The first part moved a little slowly but picked up. Another great book.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Interesting

4/5 Stars: Davenport House 2: A New Chapter
Summary:
Mary, Clara, Ethan, and the crew are back. Following the events of the first book pretty tightly, Mary’s mourning her father’s loss. Cecelia is still scheming. Even Nellie’s back, sort of.

Additional Comments:
- The main characters are interesting. It’s kind of amazing how much drama the “does he love me/does he not love me” thing can conjure.
- More money. More problems. Though it’s probably more accurate to say the rich people still have problems, just different problems than normal folk.
- I don’t listen to a lot of historical fiction, so this might be the first series I’m experiencing set in that era, at least that isn’t a Western or WWI story. Here the war’s a rumor of things happening elsewhere. (It’s 1915, so a few years before the US joined.)
- Side characters are okay, but you don’t really know much about them. So, they remain in the stock category. I liked Fiona even though she just falls under the category of “competent, hard-working servant”
- Warning: a few threads of story are wrapped up, but the book might as well end To Be Continued … so, if you want standalone, go elsewhere.

Conclusion:
If you’re coming off the first book and intend to go right to whatever book 3 is, then you’ll be fine.

Historic Fiction

Any additional comments?

This is the second book in the series and not a stand alone. It is a clean story with no sex. The first book was a mystery and this one leans toward a romance. The time period is just before the beginning of the First World War. The characters are deepening and developing. I was very satisfied with the story conclusion and I am looking forward to the third book in the series, very enjoyable!

Turn of the century

Where does Davenport House 2 rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Davenport House 2 was a little weak compared to the first one. I felt it was loosely thrown together. However, the talk of phones, electric lights, and automobiles starting into the century made it somewhat historical.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mary was my favorite character. She took to all the scandal and a half sister quite with class. She is a strong character but like all people she does have her weak side.

What about Allyson Voller’s performance did you like?

I liked Allyson Vollers performance, She does each character very well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Is Davenport House Cursed?

Any additional comments?

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A Sweet Story with Sweet Characters

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
It is an ideal world the one that has transformed a house with too many secrets. Now that they are all revealed a benevolent influence seems to permeate most characters with the exception of one or two villains. A relaxing, enjoyable narrative well interpreted by the performer. If you like period novels, you will definitely like this one and will rejoice for the happy endings all around.

Living up to life's challenges!

Life goes on, but new secrets are revealed, and sinister plots are revealed.
People that manipulate others for their own ends, are also brought under the group's scrutiny. A possible disaster is avoided by one and challenged head on by another.
Again we all see the history and new innovations of the times affecting the lives of this somewhat insulated community.

Good!

Interesting story, well-written and enjoyable characters, and great narration. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to more by this author.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. The fact that I was gifted this book had no influence over my opinion of it

An excellent continuation

This book picks up immediately after the end of the first book, the books need to be listened to in order for them to make sense. This book deals with the main characters finding their feet now that they are in control of their lives. Each struggles with carving out a niche for themselves while also figuring out their relationship with the other key characters.

There's a lot of character growth in this book along with some intrigue and it's very enjoyable to listen to. If you liked book one you'll like this one too and I'm eagerly awaiting more parts of this series being available in audio.

The narration is excellent, great character voices and accents and the delivery is smooth and flowing.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher and I voluntarily wrote this honest review.

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A New Chapter

This is book two in the Davenport House series, if you haven't read book one this review will contain spoilers. This book shouldn't be read as a standalone, it's best to read book one first.

Mary and her new sister Clara are settling into their new roles at Davenport House. Mary is now mistress of the house, and Clara is a rich heiress who owns half the land on the Davenport estate. Sweet Abigail is still enlisted to act as Mary's companion, and her riding lessons throw her in Ethan's path. When a stable fire destroys Ethan's home, he moves into the house and Clara jealously notices just how close he and Abigail have become.

Nellie visits and invites Clara to travel to London on the ship Lusitania. Despite her mother's warning about the growing tension spilling over into the Atlantic, Clara decides to go. When Ethan and William discover the trip, they rush to stop the girls from travelling on the doomed ship.

I really liked this second installment in the series. The beginning moved at a sedate pace, but the second half really picked up speed. Mary began to mature and come into her own, while Clara struggled with her jealousy and selfishness. The romance, the mystery, the setting, they all combined to make a really enjoyable read.

The narration was well done, the narrator has the perfect pleasant voice to immerse me in the story. I received a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.