The Banishment (Daughters of Mannerly #1) by Marion Chesney

Title: The Banishment (Daughters of Mannerly #1)
Author: Marion Chesney (M.C. Beaton)
Read by: Lizzie Stanton
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Length: 4 hours and 23 minutes
Source: MP3 Audio through Wisconsin Public Library Consortium – Overdrive on my Droid

The Beverly family is very proud of their family estate, Mannerling, and have taught all six of their daughters to be proud as well.  The eldest Miss Beverly, Isabella, is beautiful and has been taught to only accept the very best offer of marriage.  She is more than a little surprised to go an entire season in London without an offer, and also surprised that she was rated a “bore” for only conversing about the wonders of Mannerling.  After returning home to her estate, Isabella is hit with the news that her father has gambled away not only the family fortune, but the beloved Mannerling estate as well. 

 

Isabella is chosen as the daughter to try to win the heart of the new owner of Mannerling, Mr. Judd.  Mr. Judd is not the nicest of fellows and Isabella finds herself longing to spend more time with her neighbor, Viscount Fitzgerald.  As an Irish peer he was considered not good enough for Isabella before Mannerling was lost, but as a true gentleman, Isabella wonders if her previous prejudices should not be reconsidered.

I really enjoyed this short audiobook.  I LOVE regency romances and this sweet and simple story hit the spot in a particularly stressful period of my life.  Lizzie Stanton was a great narrator.  I look forward to listening to the next in the series.  Jane Austen this is not, but if you like regency romance novels, this will probably hit the spot.