The First Rebellion

The Waverly Women, Book 1

By: Marion Chesney

Narrated by: Vanessa Benjamin

Length: 5 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

His kiss left her flushed and disconcerted - perhaps men were best avoided after all.…

The Earl of Tredair has had his fill of balls, routs, and silly misses, and he despairs of finding someone extraordinary - that is, until he meets Miss Fanny Waverley.

Most unique and intriguing, Fanny and her two sisters are the adopted daughters of the reclusive bluestocking Madame Waverley. They have been raised as her disciples to spread the word of women's rights and to encourage poor oppressed females to stand up against the iniquities of the male sex.

The beautiful and farouche Miss Fanny, however, finds it quite difficult to think of all men as cruel and lustful beasts - how can she when she finds herself longing to kiss one of the most hated of his breed?

©1989 Marion Chesney (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Not up to Chesney's Usual Standards

Marion Chesney is an extremely prolific author, writing both period and contemporary novels and series of mystery and romance under several names, including Marion Chesney and, probably best known, M.C. Beaton. I have read books from several of her series, including contemporary, Regency, Victorian and Edwardian mysteries. I have enjoyed almost all of them. They are written with a light hand, enjoyable without serious pretension.

I have especially enjoyed her Edwardian series and the Hamish MacBeth series. So when I saw a listing for a Chesney Victorian series, I anticipated the pleasure I had experienced in the Edwardian series. Alas, despite the intriguing underlying concept (a set of sisters who have been raised in, and have adopted, the ideals and goals of women's rights, especially women's suffrage), the book felt flat and uninteresting to me.

This book was missing all the light, humorous touches which I had come to expect from Chesney. The characters, especially the sisters, seemed dull and lifeless despite the fact that the plot contained more than a little action. Finally, many of the occurrences in the plot were simply not believable, and no amount of humor could cover up or diminish that fact. Despite the best efforts of narrator Vanessa Benjamin, she could not give this book enough life to make it enjoyable.

I will continue to read other Chesney books for those times when I just want a light, humorous break, but I doubt that I will continue this Waverly Women series.

Excellent Read

Fanny is an orphaned girl with a mysterious past. She and her two adopted sisters are wards of a wealthy woman who preaches woman’s rights and is against all men. After being brain washed her entire life that she will be a spinster and will live out her days with women, she meets an Earl and her entire life comes unraveled.

Light fun

Amusing little tale, sweet and light, well read. I would read the next in the series.

Cute & light romantic listen

This was a a light listen while I did housework. I enjoyed the characters. This is my first story involving the " blue stocking" ladies of this era. It was interesting, cute and funny.

Interesting storyline

This has drama and intrigue and a happy ending... fun afternoon read. I look forward to reading remaining in series.

I kept hoping

…but it never got better. It was a class in perseverance. Silly and a waste of my good will.

Pretty good

I’ve read a lot of Marion Chesney’s stories, and one this was kind of middle-of-the-road: not her best, not her worst. Interesting, fairly well-developed characters and situations. My complaint is that the basic situation—young girls being tyrannized and manipulated by a self-centered, man-hating adoptive mother—dominated the tale, and it was depressing. Usually there is more of a balance of conflict, humor and romance, but this was mostly just a bunch of heavy-handed injustice; kind of a downer.

Enjoyed it, but

It just absolutely STOPS. Getting ready for another chapter but the book ends. Enjoyed what was written and I’m guessing a new book follows.

wow

Well, l guess there are no more books for intellectual people. Yikes!
Gladit was free.

3.5 stars

the reader was good except for the voice for frederica. the story was good except for the male lead sometimes not treating the female lead well, which is common for Chesney's books .