Book reviews

Animating Maria
Marion Chesney Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Marion Chesney Books
New book search
Marion Chesney Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Animating Maria
"The Tribble sisters operate a "School for Manners" in London, specializing in turning out "difficult" girls so they can go out to society and make good matches. When they see Miss Maria Kendall, they wonder why she needs to come to them, as she is beautiful, well-mannered, and accomplished. But one look at her unbelievably vulgar mushroom parents, and they see why she needs their touch to make her acceptable to snobby London society.

Soon after Maria's arrival in London, Amy Tribble's outrageous meddling results in her engagement to the cold and arrogant Duke of Berham in a marriage of convenience. However, as soon as the duke meets with Maria's vulgar parents, he asks the Tribbles to do all they can to break up the engagement. Meanwhile, Maria and the duke are at each other's throats (because of an earlier incident at an inn on the road to London, in which they insulted each other.) But soon, they begin to find out that they have much in common, and neither one really wants to break it off...

Chesney's characterization is always interesting and different, and she doesn't hesitate to reveal flaws in her characters. Berham is cold and uptight, but he has radical yet realistic views on social reform. He's a powerful duke, but he's never been a rake and still has hopes for romance in his life. He's piqued and bothered by Maria's indifference--Maria, a rich cit's daughter who is the only one to have stirred his soul, and who tends to wander off into dreams and fantasies because she's had to cope with harsh, bullying parents.
             "
Casey, Resident Scholar



Click here for more information about this book


Marion Chesney Resident Scholar Profiles

 TOP SCHOLAR:
  Laura J. Miller  

SCHOLARS: Linda  Casey  Debbie  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Romance books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Action/suspense subplot?

Captor, in love with

Caretaker, in love with

Children/Pregnancy

Difficult/unusual lover?

Family focus?

Fantasy/Magic

Forbidden/mismatched love?

Hidden Identity/Secret Motive

Inner struggle subplot

Love Triangles/Polygons

Lovers are competitors

Making a living subplot

Marriage/Married

Matchbreaker

Matchmake, (will/family)

Phone/email/mail relationship

Pygmalion--From Wench to Woman

Searching/Rekindling love?

Seduction/coercion/force

Sex/Erotic story, Primarily

Sports training/competing story

Time Travel

Virgin, dramatically devirginized



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Caroline B. Cooney 12:18:20 AM
George W. Bush 12:15:46 AM
Suzanne Collins 11:33:40 PM
Jeff Shaara 9:10:50 PM
Sister Souljah 8:34:52 PM
Wendelin Van Draanen 8:16:28 PM
Angie Sage 7:26:30 PM
James Clavell 5:30:19 PM
Patricia McCormick 4:17:19 PM
Edward Albee 4:14:20 PM
V.C. Andrews 4:14:12 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer 2:10:25 PM
Teri Woods 2:03:46 PM
Christina Crawford 9:31:53 AM
Martina Cole 6:40:33 AM
Michael Gerber 2:28:30 AM
Sue Grafton 10:19:22 PM
Jean M. Auel 9:54:07 PM
Gabrielle Zevin 9:13:10 PM
Andrew Clements 5:16:25 PM

More message boards