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A Perfect Heritage
“The doyenne of the modern blockbuster” (Glamour) returns with her signature writing style and eye for strong characters in A Perfect Heritage.
The House of Farrell is a prolific skincare company and home of The Cream, an iconic face product that has seen women flocking to its flagship London store since 1953. At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch that has been their trademark for generations. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the company’s figurehead and in her kingdom at the Berkeley Arcade, while Florence Hamilton plies their cosmetics with the utmost care and discretion. She is sales advisor—and holder of secrets—extraordinaire.
But of course the world of cosmetics is changing and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands. With no idea how to right the ship, Athina hires Bianca Bailey, a formidable businesswoman, mother of three, and someone who always gets her way. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell but it is the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder.
A perfect summer read, this is Penny Vincenzi at her finest.
The House of Farrell is a prolific skincare company and home of The Cream, an iconic face product that has seen women flocking to its flagship London store since 1953. At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch that has been their trademark for generations. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the company’s figurehead and in her kingdom at the Berkeley Arcade, while Florence Hamilton plies their cosmetics with the utmost care and discretion. She is sales advisor—and holder of secrets—extraordinaire.
But of course the world of cosmetics is changing and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands. With no idea how to right the ship, Athina hires Bianca Bailey, a formidable businesswoman, mother of three, and someone who always gets her way. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell but it is the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder.
A perfect summer read, this is Penny Vincenzi at her finest.
770 pages, Hardcover
First published June 19, 2014
337 people are currently reading
2317 people want to read
About the author
Penny Vincenzi
65 books929 followersPenny was nine years old when she embarked on her storytelling career. She wrote her own magazine called “Stories”, which she copied out three times on carbon paper and sold for two pence at school. So began a career in writing which has seen 7 million copies sold, and 17 bestselling novels.
After secretarial college, Penny worked as a junior secretary at Vogue and Tatler magazines, before moving to the Daily Mirror as personal assistant to Marje Proops, Britain's legendary agony aunt.
Marje encouraged her to write, and she became fashion editor and beauty writer at the Mirror, working for the women's editor in what was irreverently known as the "fragrant department". Penny’s journalistic career as a celebrated writer and columnist spanned several decades working for many of the leading newspapers and magazines of the time.
She once asked bestselling British author Jilly Cooper for advice on writing a novel while interviewing her for a magazine profile. Jilly put Penny in touch with her own agent, who promptly auctioned off her (then unwritten) first novel. It was quickly snapped up and the rest, as they say, is history.
Penny died in 2018. She was the proud and much-loved mother of four equally proud daughters, and grandmother to nine grandchildren.
After secretarial college, Penny worked as a junior secretary at Vogue and Tatler magazines, before moving to the Daily Mirror as personal assistant to Marje Proops, Britain's legendary agony aunt.
Marje encouraged her to write, and she became fashion editor and beauty writer at the Mirror, working for the women's editor in what was irreverently known as the "fragrant department". Penny’s journalistic career as a celebrated writer and columnist spanned several decades working for many of the leading newspapers and magazines of the time.
She once asked bestselling British author Jilly Cooper for advice on writing a novel while interviewing her for a magazine profile. Jilly put Penny in touch with her own agent, who promptly auctioned off her (then unwritten) first novel. It was quickly snapped up and the rest, as they say, is history.
Penny died in 2018. She was the proud and much-loved mother of four equally proud daughters, and grandmother to nine grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
July 2, 2023
London: Bianca Bailey ist verheiratet, Mutter von drei Kindern und außerdem sehr erfolgreich im Berufsleben. Sie bringt Firmen, die in Schieflage geraten sind, wieder auf Kurs. Ihr neuester Auftrag betrifft das Familienunternehmen "Haus Farrell", eine Kosmetikmarke. Deren Chefin ist die über 80-jährige Athina Farrell, die über Biancas Einmischung alles andere als erfreut ist. Für beide wird es eine harte Zeit, die auch das Privatleben nicht außen vor lässt.
❤️💛❤️
Mein Leseeindruck:
"Rosenblütenträume" hat mich sofort angesprochen. Der Buchtitel als auch das schöne Cover sind ganz nach meinem Geschmack. Die Geschichte hingegen konnte mich leider nicht gänzlich überzeugen. Auf über 600 Seiten gibt es Intrigen, Geheimnisse und Machtkämpfe. Dabei waren mir die Charaktere leider nur selten sympathisch. Ich muss nicht unbedingt alle Figuren mögen, um ein Buch gut zu finden, aber es ist doch schöner, wenn ich mich in eine Figur zumindest ein klein wenig einfühlen kann. Das war hier leider gar nicht der Fall. Die meisten Charaktere waren mir die meiste Zeit über zu oberflächlich und zu snobistisch.
Gut gefallen haben mir aber der Schreibstil der Autorin sowie die Erzählweise. Die Geschichte wird immer abwechselnd erzählt aus verschiedenen Sichtweisen der einzelnen Protagonisten. Auf über 600 Seiten war das sehr angenehm, da es für ein wenig Abwechslung sorgte, da einige Szenen doch manchmal etwas langatmig waren.
Vielleicht lag mir auch einfach das Thema nicht. Wer sich für Mode und Kosmetik mehr interessiert als ich, wird vielleicht auch mehr Spaß an diesem Buch haben.
❤️💛❤️
Mein Leseeindruck:
"Rosenblütenträume" hat mich sofort angesprochen. Der Buchtitel als auch das schöne Cover sind ganz nach meinem Geschmack. Die Geschichte hingegen konnte mich leider nicht gänzlich überzeugen. Auf über 600 Seiten gibt es Intrigen, Geheimnisse und Machtkämpfe. Dabei waren mir die Charaktere leider nur selten sympathisch. Ich muss nicht unbedingt alle Figuren mögen, um ein Buch gut zu finden, aber es ist doch schöner, wenn ich mich in eine Figur zumindest ein klein wenig einfühlen kann. Das war hier leider gar nicht der Fall. Die meisten Charaktere waren mir die meiste Zeit über zu oberflächlich und zu snobistisch.
Gut gefallen haben mir aber der Schreibstil der Autorin sowie die Erzählweise. Die Geschichte wird immer abwechselnd erzählt aus verschiedenen Sichtweisen der einzelnen Protagonisten. Auf über 600 Seiten war das sehr angenehm, da es für ein wenig Abwechslung sorgte, da einige Szenen doch manchmal etwas langatmig waren.
Vielleicht lag mir auch einfach das Thema nicht. Wer sich für Mode und Kosmetik mehr interessiert als ich, wird vielleicht auch mehr Spaß an diesem Buch haben.
December 16, 2017
THE BLURB: The House of Farrell - home of The Cream, an iconic face product that has seen women flocking to its bijoux flagship store in the Berkeley Arcade since 1953.
At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the company's figurehead and in her kingdom at the Berkeley Arcade, Florence Hamilton plies their cosmetics with the utmost discretion. She is sales advisor - and holder of secrets - extraordinaire.
But of course the world of cosmetics is changing and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands.
Enter Bianca Bailey, formidable business woman, mother of three, and someone who always gets her way. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell but it is the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder.
Here is a tale of survival ... and a perfect heritage.
MY THOUGHTS: I have mixed feelings when I finish a Vincenzi novel. Exhilaration and sadness to name but two. Her plots are always complex with a large cast of characters. Characters whom, by the time you have finished the book, have completely enchanted you, as has the plot.
A Perfect Heritage is no different. A door stopper of a book, I have been sitting on it since publication in 2014. Perhaps 'hoarding' is a more apt description.
I adore my Kindle, but I have to read Vincenzi in a physical book. And now, having finished this marvelous saga, it will join my Vincenzi collection, to be taken out and reread numerous times, sighed and exclaimed over, treasured.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
At Farrell, you can rely on the personal touch. The legendary Athina Farrell remains the company's figurehead and in her kingdom at the Berkeley Arcade, Florence Hamilton plies their cosmetics with the utmost discretion. She is sales advisor - and holder of secrets - extraordinaire.
But of course the world of cosmetics is changing and the once glorious House of Farrell is now in decline, its customers tempted away by more fashionable brands.
Enter Bianca Bailey, formidable business woman, mother of three, and someone who always gets her way. Athina and Bianca lock horns over the future of the House of Farrell but it is the past that tells its devastating tale of ambition and ego, passion and wonder.
Here is a tale of survival ... and a perfect heritage.
MY THOUGHTS: I have mixed feelings when I finish a Vincenzi novel. Exhilaration and sadness to name but two. Her plots are always complex with a large cast of characters. Characters whom, by the time you have finished the book, have completely enchanted you, as has the plot.
A Perfect Heritage is no different. A door stopper of a book, I have been sitting on it since publication in 2014. Perhaps 'hoarding' is a more apt description.
I adore my Kindle, but I have to read Vincenzi in a physical book. And now, having finished this marvelous saga, it will join my Vincenzi collection, to be taken out and reread numerous times, sighed and exclaimed over, treasured.
All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
June 12, 2014
I've been a fan of Penny Vincenzi for several years and was delighted to be given the opportunity by Lovereading to read and review the latest release. I'm used to Penny’s books being larger than normal so wasn't wholly surprised to find that my proof copy was a whopping 939 pages. However the story was so engaging that I didn’t even mind the slightly aching wrists!
The story centres around the House of Farrell, a cosmetics company established in 1953 by young husband and wife Athina and Cornelius Farrell. In its heyday the HoF attracted the rich and famous, including royalty but, unfortunately over the years, a combination of complacency, poor management and being completely out of touch with the times has meant that the HoF is in dire straits and needs immediate financial rescue.
This is where we meet Bianca Bailey. She is bought in by the financiers as CEO to rally the company’s fortunes and bring it back to profit. She has a fearsome reputation and is regarded as being one of the best in the business. Unfortunately she clashes on almost every level with Athina (now the widowed Lady Farrell) who still considers herself to be in charge of the company and who loses no opportunity to put a spanner in the works whenever possible.
Penny Vincenzi has created a cast of some fabulous characters – some strong and others so weak you want to shout at them with frustration; however they all have their own part in play in the story and we get to know them very well. For me, the least likeable was Athina Farrell. She had a nasty superior attitude and was very controlling - even with her family and although she may have been the driving force behind the company in its golden years, I didn't warm to the elderly Athina at all. Despite her ruthless reputation and no-nonsense manner, Bianca was the character that stood out for me the most and I felt that she was the mainstay of the story. Unlike Athina, she was quick to see the potential in people and situations and knew how to get the best from them. As well as trying to save the company, she has her own family dramas and crisis to deal with – she doesn’t always get it right but her faults just make her appear more realistic and we get to see the vulnerable person beneath the businesswoman.
I'm not going to give any details of the plot, you need to read and enjoy this yourself but there are many different strands to the story which all combine to make this a book which will grab your attention until the very last page. Commercial intrigue, affairs and past secrets together with family politics are just some of the threads that will keep you hooked. In the main, the story is set in London but we are taken to some very glamorous locations, for example New York, Dubai and Sydney. I particularly enjoyed the time spent in Paris strolling through the back streets – the wonderful sense of place was a great addition to the story.
One of my favourite books as a teenager was A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. In some ways, A Perfect Heritage reminded me very much of that book for the strong female leads and the family strife and drama involved of running an international business, albeit in a modern day setting.
This is the 10th book I've read by Penny Vincenzi and I've enjoyed every one - you can always rely on her books to keep you enthralled. This was another excellent read for me and I can highly recommend it.
My thanks to Lovereading for the advance reading copy.
The story centres around the House of Farrell, a cosmetics company established in 1953 by young husband and wife Athina and Cornelius Farrell. In its heyday the HoF attracted the rich and famous, including royalty but, unfortunately over the years, a combination of complacency, poor management and being completely out of touch with the times has meant that the HoF is in dire straits and needs immediate financial rescue.
This is where we meet Bianca Bailey. She is bought in by the financiers as CEO to rally the company’s fortunes and bring it back to profit. She has a fearsome reputation and is regarded as being one of the best in the business. Unfortunately she clashes on almost every level with Athina (now the widowed Lady Farrell) who still considers herself to be in charge of the company and who loses no opportunity to put a spanner in the works whenever possible.
Penny Vincenzi has created a cast of some fabulous characters – some strong and others so weak you want to shout at them with frustration; however they all have their own part in play in the story and we get to know them very well. For me, the least likeable was Athina Farrell. She had a nasty superior attitude and was very controlling - even with her family and although she may have been the driving force behind the company in its golden years, I didn't warm to the elderly Athina at all. Despite her ruthless reputation and no-nonsense manner, Bianca was the character that stood out for me the most and I felt that she was the mainstay of the story. Unlike Athina, she was quick to see the potential in people and situations and knew how to get the best from them. As well as trying to save the company, she has her own family dramas and crisis to deal with – she doesn’t always get it right but her faults just make her appear more realistic and we get to see the vulnerable person beneath the businesswoman.
I'm not going to give any details of the plot, you need to read and enjoy this yourself but there are many different strands to the story which all combine to make this a book which will grab your attention until the very last page. Commercial intrigue, affairs and past secrets together with family politics are just some of the threads that will keep you hooked. In the main, the story is set in London but we are taken to some very glamorous locations, for example New York, Dubai and Sydney. I particularly enjoyed the time spent in Paris strolling through the back streets – the wonderful sense of place was a great addition to the story.
One of my favourite books as a teenager was A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford. In some ways, A Perfect Heritage reminded me very much of that book for the strong female leads and the family strife and drama involved of running an international business, albeit in a modern day setting.
This is the 10th book I've read by Penny Vincenzi and I've enjoyed every one - you can always rely on her books to keep you enthralled. This was another excellent read for me and I can highly recommend it.
My thanks to Lovereading for the advance reading copy.
July 13, 2014
I usually can't put down a Penny Vincenzi, but sadly, in the case of this book, it was put down more than it was read. I just found it quite tedious, with no real page turning moments. I know this review won't be popular with Penny's loyal fans - one of which I still remain, despite my disappointment in this latest book.
January 30, 2021
Iki dabar su Penny Vincenzi kūryba dar neturėjau garbės susipažinti, bet džiaugiuosi, jog pagaliau tai padariau. Taip pat viliuosi šiais metais perskaityti ir žymiąją jos trilogiją "Laiko pinklės".
Šios knygos ašis - kosmetikos bendrovė "Farelų namai", kurie jau gyvuoja ne vieną dešimtmetį. Šiuos namus 1953 metais įkūrė Atina Farel bei jos vyras Kornelijus Farelas. Deja, bet Kornelijus iš gyvenimo pasitraukė prieš šešerius metus ir Atina liko toliau vadovauti.
Pasirodo, jog kaip ir viskas šiame pasaulyje, taip ir kosmetikos pasaulis nestovi vietoje bei kasdien mus stebina įvairiomis naujovėmis. Atina nesiruošia nieko keisti, bet pastebi, jog "Farelų namai" nebesulaukia tokio kiekio klientų kaip anksčiau..
Nors ir labai to nenorėdama, bet moteris atveria savo bendrovės duris naujiems investuotojams. Taip "Farelų namai" gauna naują vykdomąją direktorę Bjanką Beili, kuri visuomet pasiekia savo tikslą, nesvarbu kiek laiko, ar jėgų jai tai kainuotų. Nors moterys abi yra labai skirtingos ir jų nuomonės neretai išsiskiria, tačiau palaipsniui supranta, jog jas vis dėlto vienija bendras tikslas - sugrąžinti "Farelų namams" prestižinį jų vardą.
Čia tik mažytė dalis viso to, kas mūsų laukia knygoje. Joje labai gausu veikėjų bei daug veiksmo. Visi veikėjai tampa vienaip ar kitaip susiję tarpusavyje, jog atrodo, jog be jų nebūtų ir visos šios puikios istorijos!
Skaitant šią knygą autorė mus supažindina su kosmetikos bendrovės virtuve. Bent man tai buvo tikrai be galo įdomu bei nauja. Taip pat skaitant "Paveldėtos paslaptys" čia rasite bei intrigų, meilės, išdavysčių, melo bei socialinių problemų. Tad tikrai nebus nuobodu skaityti. Tikrai nevertėtų bijoti šios knygos dėl savo storumo, nes ji skaitosi tikrai greitai, o ir patys knygos veikėjai ilgainiui beskaitant tampa tarsi maža šeima.
Aš šią knygą rekomenduočiau tiems, kam norisi nenuobodaus bei nunusaldinto romano, kuriame sutiksite keletą tvirtų moterų, kurių stiprybė užvertus paskutinį knygos puslapį.. Mane vis dar stebina ✨
Šios knygos ašis - kosmetikos bendrovė "Farelų namai", kurie jau gyvuoja ne vieną dešimtmetį. Šiuos namus 1953 metais įkūrė Atina Farel bei jos vyras Kornelijus Farelas. Deja, bet Kornelijus iš gyvenimo pasitraukė prieš šešerius metus ir Atina liko toliau vadovauti.
Pasirodo, jog kaip ir viskas šiame pasaulyje, taip ir kosmetikos pasaulis nestovi vietoje bei kasdien mus stebina įvairiomis naujovėmis. Atina nesiruošia nieko keisti, bet pastebi, jog "Farelų namai" nebesulaukia tokio kiekio klientų kaip anksčiau..
Nors ir labai to nenorėdama, bet moteris atveria savo bendrovės duris naujiems investuotojams. Taip "Farelų namai" gauna naują vykdomąją direktorę Bjanką Beili, kuri visuomet pasiekia savo tikslą, nesvarbu kiek laiko, ar jėgų jai tai kainuotų. Nors moterys abi yra labai skirtingos ir jų nuomonės neretai išsiskiria, tačiau palaipsniui supranta, jog jas vis dėlto vienija bendras tikslas - sugrąžinti "Farelų namams" prestižinį jų vardą.
Čia tik mažytė dalis viso to, kas mūsų laukia knygoje. Joje labai gausu veikėjų bei daug veiksmo. Visi veikėjai tampa vienaip ar kitaip susiję tarpusavyje, jog atrodo, jog be jų nebūtų ir visos šios puikios istorijos!
Skaitant šią knygą autorė mus supažindina su kosmetikos bendrovės virtuve. Bent man tai buvo tikrai be galo įdomu bei nauja. Taip pat skaitant "Paveldėtos paslaptys" čia rasite bei intrigų, meilės, išdavysčių, melo bei socialinių problemų. Tad tikrai nebus nuobodu skaityti. Tikrai nevertėtų bijoti šios knygos dėl savo storumo, nes ji skaitosi tikrai greitai, o ir patys knygos veikėjai ilgainiui beskaitant tampa tarsi maža šeima.
Aš šią knygą rekomenduočiau tiems, kam norisi nenuobodaus bei nunusaldinto romano, kuriame sutiksite keletą tvirtų moterų, kurių stiprybė užvertus paskutinį knygos puslapį.. Mane vis dar stebina ✨
October 16, 2021
I am a sucker for these type of books! This was my first book by Penny Vincenzi, and while I mostly enjoyed it, I'm not sure her writing style is for me.
There were so many characters, and each chapter kept jumping around to all different people and events, sometimes with no explanation of who it was until a few sentences in. It was unnecessarily confusing. And with all these characters, there was a lot of mundane activities which made this book 750 pages. I love a thick book when it's good, but this story could have been told in half the amount of words.
There were so many characters, and each chapter kept jumping around to all different people and events, sometimes with no explanation of who it was until a few sentences in. It was unnecessarily confusing. And with all these characters, there was a lot of mundane activities which made this book 750 pages. I love a thick book when it's good, but this story could have been told in half the amount of words.
September 30, 2015
I've read everything that Penny Vincenzi has written. Her first book, Old Sins was published way back in 1989. I fell in love with her writing then and have never looked back.
Penny Vincenzi writes huge books, the paperback version of A Perfect Heritage is almost 1000 pages, but it's a joy to read. Bursting with glamour and scandal, this story features the story of the House of Farrell - an upmarket cosmetics company that has been trading since 1953.
Times are changing in the industry and new blood is needed to ensure that the company survives. A Perfect Heritage is the story of Athina Farrell - the legendary company founder and her battle with Bianca Bailey, the woman who arrives to bring the House of Farrell up to date.
Full of wonderfully created characters, with an expertly told back story, this really was the perfect way to start my holiday.
Penny Vincenzi writes huge books, the paperback version of A Perfect Heritage is almost 1000 pages, but it's a joy to read. Bursting with glamour and scandal, this story features the story of the House of Farrell - an upmarket cosmetics company that has been trading since 1953.
Times are changing in the industry and new blood is needed to ensure that the company survives. A Perfect Heritage is the story of Athina Farrell - the legendary company founder and her battle with Bianca Bailey, the woman who arrives to bring the House of Farrell up to date.
Full of wonderfully created characters, with an expertly told back story, this really was the perfect way to start my holiday.
April 26, 2024
Na ir mėgsta ši autorė rašyti storules. Taip sakant plyta, o ne knyga.🤭 Juokauju, žinoma.😄
Sunkius laikus išgyvenantys "Farelų namai" su priešakyje vis dar tebesančia Atina Farel, priversti dėl tolesnės ateities pritraukti naujus investuotojus. O jie su savimi atsineša labai daug naujų pokyčių, kuriuos įgyvendinti padeda naujoji direktorė Bjanka. Jos vizija ir lūkesčiai dėl šios bendrovės labai dideli, bet legendinei vadovei tiek naujoji kolegė, tiek jos idėjos nelabai patinka. Moterys kaip reikiant susikerta dėl bendrovės ateities. Kuriai pavyks nugalėti?
Bet tik tokioje storulėje ir galėtum sutalpinti visko tiek daug. Meilė, neištikimybė, patyčios, karjerizmas, toksiški santykiai, draugystė, ambicijos. O veikėjų gausa, pradžioj man tie vardai buvo tikra raizgalynė, lyg ir skirtingi, bet kažkuo panašūs, kažkuo susiję, tada galvoju, kad skaitau apie vieną, o pasirodo apie kitą. 🤭 Bet galų gale viskas stoja į savas vietas.
Pliusas tas, kad rašymo stilius labai įtraukiantis, net nepajunti kaip tie puslapiai patys verčiasi, o knyga pamažu plonėja.
Istorija kupina veiksmo, intrigų ir gražių bei savimi pasitikinčių moterų. Tik visas šias moteris sieja vienas bendrumas, kad jos visos yra tikroviškos, turinčios savų paslapčių ir rūpesčių.
O kur dar atskleisti kosmetikos gamybos ir prekybos užkulisiai. Buvo labai įdomu.
Žodžiu, skaityti tikrai nenuobodu ir knygos storumo bijoti nereikia. 🤗
Sunkius laikus išgyvenantys "Farelų namai" su priešakyje vis dar tebesančia Atina Farel, priversti dėl tolesnės ateities pritraukti naujus investuotojus. O jie su savimi atsineša labai daug naujų pokyčių, kuriuos įgyvendinti padeda naujoji direktorė Bjanka. Jos vizija ir lūkesčiai dėl šios bendrovės labai dideli, bet legendinei vadovei tiek naujoji kolegė, tiek jos idėjos nelabai patinka. Moterys kaip reikiant susikerta dėl bendrovės ateities. Kuriai pavyks nugalėti?
Bet tik tokioje storulėje ir galėtum sutalpinti visko tiek daug. Meilė, neištikimybė, patyčios, karjerizmas, toksiški santykiai, draugystė, ambicijos. O veikėjų gausa, pradžioj man tie vardai buvo tikra raizgalynė, lyg ir skirtingi, bet kažkuo panašūs, kažkuo susiję, tada galvoju, kad skaitau apie vieną, o pasirodo apie kitą. 🤭 Bet galų gale viskas stoja į savas vietas.
Pliusas tas, kad rašymo stilius labai įtraukiantis, net nepajunti kaip tie puslapiai patys verčiasi, o knyga pamažu plonėja.
Istorija kupina veiksmo, intrigų ir gražių bei savimi pasitikinčių moterų. Tik visas šias moteris sieja vienas bendrumas, kad jos visos yra tikroviškos, turinčios savų paslapčių ir rūpesčių.
O kur dar atskleisti kosmetikos gamybos ir prekybos užkulisiai. Buvo labai įdomu.
Žodžiu, skaityti tikrai nenuobodu ir knygos storumo bijoti nereikia. 🤗
July 5, 2016
DNF at a little more than 50%
Okay this is just the wrong book read by me on the wrong time and perhaps wrong place also. This is not the kind of book that will captivate my attention. Not when I just finished a really great book.
Truthfully, A Perfect Heritage has a lot of characters that the author prepared a list of characters on the front pages. Well, when you read a book, there's not so much focus on the side characters. But this is so different. From the successor until their daughter and son, no story can be escaped. Ahha, someone help me about the affair. I'm so confused when almost everyone had an affair. Maybe that's how life worked.
Overall, if I could turn back the time, I really want to read this book in leisure time where no special books placed in my very kind heart.
Okay this is just the wrong book read by me on the wrong time and perhaps wrong place also. This is not the kind of book that will captivate my attention. Not when I just finished a really great book.
Truthfully, A Perfect Heritage has a lot of characters that the author prepared a list of characters on the front pages. Well, when you read a book, there's not so much focus on the side characters. But this is so different. From the successor until their daughter and son, no story can be escaped. Ahha, someone help me about the affair. I'm so confused when almost everyone had an affair. Maybe that's how life worked.
Overall, if I could turn back the time, I really want to read this book in leisure time where no special books placed in my very kind heart.
February 23, 2022
What a brilliant and very enjoyable book, well written, bejewelled by a wonderful and large cast of characters all set around the House of Farrell, a once gloriously successful cosmetic house now on the decline.
A story about business and family affairs, love, burning ambition, competition, ego and power that spans several generations from the 0h-so-fabulously deviant Lady Athina Farrell to her granddaughter and her modern aspirations, Florence, a lifelong devoted employee and Athina's secret rival, and the new comer, a brilliant business woman named Bianca Bailey, here to rescue the brand.
The narrator did an amazing job at bringing life to all these extraordinary characters, and although the book is nearly 800 pages, I am sorry that it is finished.
A story about business and family affairs, love, burning ambition, competition, ego and power that spans several generations from the 0h-so-fabulously deviant Lady Athina Farrell to her granddaughter and her modern aspirations, Florence, a lifelong devoted employee and Athina's secret rival, and the new comer, a brilliant business woman named Bianca Bailey, here to rescue the brand.
The narrator did an amazing job at bringing life to all these extraordinary characters, and although the book is nearly 800 pages, I am sorry that it is finished.
November 20, 2017
For how long this book is, it really held my interest. It truly is like a soap opera, and Vincenzi does a great job flushing out each character and making each one unique. Solid, interesting story with not-so-likable characters.
April 30, 2014
A Perfect Heritage is a story that envelops readers like an alluring movie, with powerful and world-changing secrets. There is a past hidden within the characters and story that entwines with the present with consequences that play out fascinatingly.
Passionate about their careers, Bianca and Athina are at a standstill from each others egos, with neither of them on the same page for the future of The House of Farrell. The events that followed were overall a whirlwind of amazement and a story that even though it is a long page-turner, it's quite worth it for fans of Penny Vincenzi and others who are a fan of ambitious characters and dazzling outcomes. Would highly recommend to anyone that likes long reads with a story that keeps surprising you until the very last words.
Reviewed thanks to Lovereading.co.uk!
Passionate about their careers, Bianca and Athina are at a standstill from each others egos, with neither of them on the same page for the future of The House of Farrell. The events that followed were overall a whirlwind of amazement and a story that even though it is a long page-turner, it's quite worth it for fans of Penny Vincenzi and others who are a fan of ambitious characters and dazzling outcomes. Would highly recommend to anyone that likes long reads with a story that keeps surprising you until the very last words.
Reviewed thanks to Lovereading.co.uk!
August 8, 2014
A Perfect Heritage was given to me from a friend. This is my first Penny Vincenzi book and I was impressed! From the first page you are drawn to this beautiful intricate story about the world of the House of Farrell. You are intrigued by the characters and their survival.. A truly memorable must read for all!
July 9, 2015
I loved it!
This book came everywhere with me, I literally couldn't put it down.
I started to really care about the characters' stories and how they were going to evolve through the story.
This book came everywhere with me, I literally couldn't put it down.
I started to really care about the characters' stories and how they were going to evolve through the story.
March 11, 2018
Waaay too long, but I like Vincenzi's fashionable London settings. This one had too many characters, many who were not memorable.
December 29, 2020
Penny Vincenzi “Paveldėtos paslaptys“✨
Tai šilta istorija kupina veiksmo, intrigų ir savimi pasitikinčių moterų! 🌼
Knygoje pasakojama apie didžiulės kosmetikos bendrovės sėkmę, nuopolius ir svarbiausia - apie joje besidarbuojančius žmones. Nors kompaniją įkūrė Farelai ir tai kurį laiką buvo klestintis šeimos verslas, tačiau niekas nėra amžina ir bendrovės valdžią bent dalinai tenka perduoti jaunesniems, šiuolaikiškesniems darbuotojams. Susidūrus skirtingiems laikotarpiams ir skirtingos kartoms veikėjai įsisuka į intriguojantį nesutarimų ir paslapčių sūkurį, kuris juda nenuspėjamai ir neaišku – išgelbės ar sužlugdys legendinę bendrovę - “Farelų namus“.
Knyga nuo pat pradžių skaitytoją įtraukia į nenuilstantį kosmetikos verslo pasaulį. Tuo pačiu metu Vincenzi meistriškai nupasakoja daugybės skirtingų veikėjų istorijas. Nagrinėjami jų santykiai, kartais tikrai nelengvi šeimyniniai gyvenimai ir verslo idėjos. Skyrius po skyriaus autorė atskleidžia vis kitas veikėjus kamuojančias problemas. Nors veiksmo centre žiba savimi pasitikinčios, savarankiškos, verslios moterys, bet kiekviena iš jų viduje turi savo paslapčių ir dvejonių. Puslapiuose susiremia daugybė skirtingų asmenybių ir susikirtus jų interesams, atrodo, kad iš teksto tiesiog skrieja kibirkštys. Visa tai taip įtraukia, kad skaitydamas pasijunti tarsi būtum vienas iš jų ir nesinori, kad knyga baigtųsi. Taip pat istorijoje veikėjai naudoja ir internetą, ir socialinius tinklus, bet visa tai įterpta labai skoningai ir tik papildo knygos veiksmą. 😉 Lyginant su Vincenzi „Laiko pinklių“ trilogija, man ši knyga patiko gal net labiau. Išliko ir kitose knygose žavėjusi veikėjų gausa ir įvairiapusiškumas, bet „Paveldėtos paslaptys“ pasirodė šiek tiek žaismingesnė ir šiuolaikiškesnė.
Rekomenduoju šią knygą visiems, kuriems patinka jausmingos, įtraukiančios, gausybę veikėjų turinčios istorijos. Ir ypač tiems, kurie kartais mėgsta pasijusti poniomis ar ponais ir pasilepinti. 😄 💅🏻💄
4,5 ⭐️ | 2020 – 90 📚
Tai šilta istorija kupina veiksmo, intrigų ir savimi pasitikinčių moterų! 🌼
Knygoje pasakojama apie didžiulės kosmetikos bendrovės sėkmę, nuopolius ir svarbiausia - apie joje besidarbuojančius žmones. Nors kompaniją įkūrė Farelai ir tai kurį laiką buvo klestintis šeimos verslas, tačiau niekas nėra amžina ir bendrovės valdžią bent dalinai tenka perduoti jaunesniems, šiuolaikiškesniems darbuotojams. Susidūrus skirtingiems laikotarpiams ir skirtingos kartoms veikėjai įsisuka į intriguojantį nesutarimų ir paslapčių sūkurį, kuris juda nenuspėjamai ir neaišku – išgelbės ar sužlugdys legendinę bendrovę - “Farelų namus“.
Knyga nuo pat pradžių skaitytoją įtraukia į nenuilstantį kosmetikos verslo pasaulį. Tuo pačiu metu Vincenzi meistriškai nupasakoja daugybės skirtingų veikėjų istorijas. Nagrinėjami jų santykiai, kartais tikrai nelengvi šeimyniniai gyvenimai ir verslo idėjos. Skyrius po skyriaus autorė atskleidžia vis kitas veikėjus kamuojančias problemas. Nors veiksmo centre žiba savimi pasitikinčios, savarankiškos, verslios moterys, bet kiekviena iš jų viduje turi savo paslapčių ir dvejonių. Puslapiuose susiremia daugybė skirtingų asmenybių ir susikirtus jų interesams, atrodo, kad iš teksto tiesiog skrieja kibirkštys. Visa tai taip įtraukia, kad skaitydamas pasijunti tarsi būtum vienas iš jų ir nesinori, kad knyga baigtųsi. Taip pat istorijoje veikėjai naudoja ir internetą, ir socialinius tinklus, bet visa tai įterpta labai skoningai ir tik papildo knygos veiksmą. 😉 Lyginant su Vincenzi „Laiko pinklių“ trilogija, man ši knyga patiko gal net labiau. Išliko ir kitose knygose žavėjusi veikėjų gausa ir įvairiapusiškumas, bet „Paveldėtos paslaptys“ pasirodė šiek tiek žaismingesnė ir šiuolaikiškesnė.
Rekomenduoju šią knygą visiems, kuriems patinka jausmingos, įtraukiančios, gausybę veikėjų turinčios istorijos. Ir ypač tiems, kurie kartais mėgsta pasijusti poniomis ar ponais ir pasilepinti. 😄 💅🏻💄
4,5 ⭐️ | 2020 – 90 📚
December 6, 2023
Too snob and elitist and a detestable character ( Athina) , that one hopes until the end to redeem itself, but in vain. A constant feel of unease throughout the whole book, despite knowing that it would for sure end well.
November 27, 2021
Opinião no blogue: https://alilianaraquel.pt/2021/11/uma...
May 1, 2016
The words Penny Vincenzi and cosmetics company when combined got me all in a flutter when I heard about this book. I love Penny’s books and I’m a cosmetics junkie so when she writes about this, of course I’m going to read it! The real question is, why did it take me so long? I think I wanted to savour this big book, so I waited until I was on holidays to really get the most out of it (translation: stay up very, very late reading). It’s also pretty big at 753 pages, and I don’t read too many chunksters these days for unknown, likely trivial reasons.
A Perfect Heritage has everything I want in a Penny Vincenzi book:
- Gorgeous dress on front cover
- A list of characters (I literally swoon over these, then think I’ll never remember them all but of course, I do because Penny Vincenzi is a master at making each one a complete individual)
- A number of boardroom battles, cloaked in civility
- Some truly gorgeous characters
- At least one heinous villain
- Blind twists in plot
- A happily ever after for the characters I’ve come to regard as close friends.
The storyline of A Perfect Heritage centres on The House of Farrell, a decaying cosmetics house that hasn’t kept up with the times. It clings to one hero product, The Cream, but it’s outdated and old-ladyish. Enter Bianca Bailey (top business mind with an awesome name) to turn the company around and make it popular again in the Queen’s Jubilee year. Bianca knows what hard work is, but she hadn’t thought that working with Lady Athina Farrell, co-founder would be so difficult. Lady Farrell sees herself as THE name and The Boss of the company. She’s also not averse to underhand tactics to get her way. It’s a full battle to try to bring the House of Farrell forward, which has disastrous effects on Bianca’s home life. The employees of the House of Farrell, both old and new, have their own problems and secrets. Some of these in turn could be problematic for the company…
One of the strengths of Penny Vincenzi’s writing for me is the detail she puts into her characters. I now know so much about Bianca, husband Patrick and their children I feel like I should be sending them a Christmas card this year! Each member of this novel’s cast is intricately drawn and truly individual. No need to refer to the character list after very long! I could see the lines of stress on Bianca’s face as Athina usurped her and the joy as she solved a seemingly unsurmountable problem. I could see Bertie Farrell bumbling around the office blindly, yet caring so much for his staff. I cried with Susie as she was blackmailed and all along, the wise eyes of Florence helped to guide the House of Farrell gently but forcibly forward.
There’s a lot of tension in this book as the House of Farrell falls into one calamity after another. Some were so dire that I couldn’t possibly see how Bianca and co could find a way out. True, not all of the solutions were successful but this dose of real life only made the story sparkle more for me. A page-turner with an engaging set of characters – what more could you ask for in a book?
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
A Perfect Heritage has everything I want in a Penny Vincenzi book:
- Gorgeous dress on front cover
- A list of characters (I literally swoon over these, then think I’ll never remember them all but of course, I do because Penny Vincenzi is a master at making each one a complete individual)
- A number of boardroom battles, cloaked in civility
- Some truly gorgeous characters
- At least one heinous villain
- Blind twists in plot
- A happily ever after for the characters I’ve come to regard as close friends.
The storyline of A Perfect Heritage centres on The House of Farrell, a decaying cosmetics house that hasn’t kept up with the times. It clings to one hero product, The Cream, but it’s outdated and old-ladyish. Enter Bianca Bailey (top business mind with an awesome name) to turn the company around and make it popular again in the Queen’s Jubilee year. Bianca knows what hard work is, but she hadn’t thought that working with Lady Athina Farrell, co-founder would be so difficult. Lady Farrell sees herself as THE name and The Boss of the company. She’s also not averse to underhand tactics to get her way. It’s a full battle to try to bring the House of Farrell forward, which has disastrous effects on Bianca’s home life. The employees of the House of Farrell, both old and new, have their own problems and secrets. Some of these in turn could be problematic for the company…
One of the strengths of Penny Vincenzi’s writing for me is the detail she puts into her characters. I now know so much about Bianca, husband Patrick and their children I feel like I should be sending them a Christmas card this year! Each member of this novel’s cast is intricately drawn and truly individual. No need to refer to the character list after very long! I could see the lines of stress on Bianca’s face as Athina usurped her and the joy as she solved a seemingly unsurmountable problem. I could see Bertie Farrell bumbling around the office blindly, yet caring so much for his staff. I cried with Susie as she was blackmailed and all along, the wise eyes of Florence helped to guide the House of Farrell gently but forcibly forward.
There’s a lot of tension in this book as the House of Farrell falls into one calamity after another. Some were so dire that I couldn’t possibly see how Bianca and co could find a way out. True, not all of the solutions were successful but this dose of real life only made the story sparkle more for me. A page-turner with an engaging set of characters – what more could you ask for in a book?
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
August 3, 2015
Penny Vincenzi is one of my favourite authors. She tells stories about women and families and they are always well written and full of interweaving stories. Generally there's one main female protagonist and she generally has an "enemy" or person determined to give her a hard time. There are then several other women whose stories are woven through and related to the main story.
Bianca takes on jobs that challenge her to turn a failing company around. She is married to an accountant and has three children. The House of Farrell is a 60 year old cosmetic company founded in the year of Elizabeth II's coronation and still run by the woman who, with her late husband, started it. Octegenarian Athina Farrell is imperious, controlling, rude and selfish but she does know the cosmetic business, even if she's a bit behind the times, which is why Farrell is losing money and nearly bankrupt. She has controlled and manipulated both her children to the point where they are either resentful of her or, in the case of her son, think they are as useless as she's always insisted they are. This is what Bianca is facing when the finance company put her in as CEO to take things in hand, resisted every step of the way by Athina. She also has to juggle her marriage and home life and when her husband is persuaded into a new job that takes much more of his time for a very demanding boss, her home life begins to suffer.
Bianca makes changes at Farrell, brings in sharp new staff and upsets the old guard. She and her team devise a new re-launch of the brand to coincide with the Queen's diamond jubilee which echos Farrell's own diamond anniversary. It's a huge and stressful job and it takes its toll.
Meanwhile we have a PR person, Susie who has a manipulative boyfriend. We have Lara who is divorced and becomes friends with Bertie Farrell, both of them equally shy about their feelings. Bertie's wife is nearly as snobby and imperious as his mother. Florence has been with Farrell nearly from the beginning and runs the exclusive shop in a Victorian shopping arcade. She, too, has been on the rough end of Athina most of her adult life but she has a secret that she's been keeping for nearly 50 years. We get flashbacks into her past and discover what that is.
While it's sometimes frustrating when you see/read women or men in situations that are holding them back, when they are attached to manipulative people, when they put up with crap from other people, you know in the end they'll all come out happy. Bianca's teenage daughter Milly becomes bullied and that too is painful to read but again, you know she will find a way to regain her confidence and it's a lovely story in the end.
It's really interesting to read about the workings of a cosmetic company. The book takes place mainly in London but with visits to Paris and New York in particular, both of which I enjoyed as well. Vincenzi's books are thick doorstops and could probably use a little editing for some of the detail but I still really enjoyed it.
Bianca takes on jobs that challenge her to turn a failing company around. She is married to an accountant and has three children. The House of Farrell is a 60 year old cosmetic company founded in the year of Elizabeth II's coronation and still run by the woman who, with her late husband, started it. Octegenarian Athina Farrell is imperious, controlling, rude and selfish but she does know the cosmetic business, even if she's a bit behind the times, which is why Farrell is losing money and nearly bankrupt. She has controlled and manipulated both her children to the point where they are either resentful of her or, in the case of her son, think they are as useless as she's always insisted they are. This is what Bianca is facing when the finance company put her in as CEO to take things in hand, resisted every step of the way by Athina. She also has to juggle her marriage and home life and when her husband is persuaded into a new job that takes much more of his time for a very demanding boss, her home life begins to suffer.
Bianca makes changes at Farrell, brings in sharp new staff and upsets the old guard. She and her team devise a new re-launch of the brand to coincide with the Queen's diamond jubilee which echos Farrell's own diamond anniversary. It's a huge and stressful job and it takes its toll.
Meanwhile we have a PR person, Susie who has a manipulative boyfriend. We have Lara who is divorced and becomes friends with Bertie Farrell, both of them equally shy about their feelings. Bertie's wife is nearly as snobby and imperious as his mother. Florence has been with Farrell nearly from the beginning and runs the exclusive shop in a Victorian shopping arcade. She, too, has been on the rough end of Athina most of her adult life but she has a secret that she's been keeping for nearly 50 years. We get flashbacks into her past and discover what that is.
While it's sometimes frustrating when you see/read women or men in situations that are holding them back, when they are attached to manipulative people, when they put up with crap from other people, you know in the end they'll all come out happy. Bianca's teenage daughter Milly becomes bullied and that too is painful to read but again, you know she will find a way to regain her confidence and it's a lovely story in the end.
It's really interesting to read about the workings of a cosmetic company. The book takes place mainly in London but with visits to Paris and New York in particular, both of which I enjoyed as well. Vincenzi's books are thick doorstops and could probably use a little editing for some of the detail but I still really enjoyed it.
June 30, 2014
Fans of Penny Vincenzi will welcome this addition to the growing list of books written by this bestselling author. Over the years Penny’s name has become almost synonymous with larger than life novels, churning out bestselling novels year after year. Stunning, delightful and engaging, her novels have never failed to mesmerize or surprise readers with its surprising and absorbing plots. And her latest book promises to offer more of the same, a novel which fans will willingly and wholeheartedly embrace without reservations.
A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi is about a cosmetic company known as the House of Farrell which was established in 1953 by a young couple, Athina and Cornelius Farrell. Through astute leadership and innovative marketing, the company rose to prominence, controlling a market which brought much profit for its owners. But as time passed by, a sense of complacency overtook the management, resulting in poor decisions bringing the company almost to a grinding halt. The House of Farrell’s inability to adjust and innovate with the changing times resulted in over companies taking over its market share. With its flagging fortunes, Cornelius also died leaving the widowed Athina to meddle in the affairs of the House of Farrell.
In order to turn around the fortunes of the company, Bianca Bailey is hired as the company’s CEO. As Bianca put her heart and soul into reviving the company, it is Athina who locks horns with her, trying to have her way in running the affairs of the company which she co-founded with her late husband. Both are passionate about their work and both have dreams for the company but their views and dreams clash at every level, making it difficult to move the company forward. As the story unfolds, past secrets are revealed with its consequences playing out in dramatic fashion in the present. Author Penny Vincenzi has populated the book with a fascinating and fabulous cast of characters, but all not likeable in the same degree.
A Perfect Heritage by Penny Vincenzi is about a cosmetic company known as the House of Farrell which was established in 1953 by a young couple, Athina and Cornelius Farrell. Through astute leadership and innovative marketing, the company rose to prominence, controlling a market which brought much profit for its owners. But as time passed by, a sense of complacency overtook the management, resulting in poor decisions bringing the company almost to a grinding halt. The House of Farrell’s inability to adjust and innovate with the changing times resulted in over companies taking over its market share. With its flagging fortunes, Cornelius also died leaving the widowed Athina to meddle in the affairs of the House of Farrell.
In order to turn around the fortunes of the company, Bianca Bailey is hired as the company’s CEO. As Bianca put her heart and soul into reviving the company, it is Athina who locks horns with her, trying to have her way in running the affairs of the company which she co-founded with her late husband. Both are passionate about their work and both have dreams for the company but their views and dreams clash at every level, making it difficult to move the company forward. As the story unfolds, past secrets are revealed with its consequences playing out in dramatic fashion in the present. Author Penny Vincenzi has populated the book with a fascinating and fabulous cast of characters, but all not likeable in the same degree.
June 3, 2015
As ever Penny Vincenzi has produced another gripping family saga which is an absolute pleasure to read (though the jumbled text periodically throughout the ARC I was lucky enough to receive from Netgalley did require some patience to unravel!). This saga tells the story of the House of Farrell, a small family owned skincare and cosmetics company, which is about to go under financially at the opening of the book. Cornelius and Athina Farrell founded the company in the year of the coronation of the Queen and in recent years the products they had been feted for by the press and public alike no longer create the stir they once did and serious action needs to be taken to prevent the company from going bankrupt. Enter Mrs Bianca Bailey and a group of venture capitalists who believe they can update and revitalise the business but at what cost to the Farrell family and their loyal employees? An exciting tale with many twists and turns often leaving the reader wondering with whom their sympathies should lie. I loved and would recommend it most highly to those who like Vincenzi's previous works or indeed the work of Barbara Taylor Bradford, Jilly Cooper or Tasmina Perry.
September 22, 2015
"Herança Perfeita" foi, ao mesmo tempo, uma bela surpresa e uma desilusão. Comecei a ler este livro super empolgada, mas ao fim de alguns capítulos comecei a ficar entediada e um pouco cansada de algumas personagens. Cansada, principalmente, de Bianca Bailey. No principio adorei-a! Super inteligente e muito dada. Mas não à medida que a história ia avançando Bianca começou a mostrar a verdadeira mulher que era. Egoísta e única e exclusivamente focada no trabalho. Então quando o marido mudou de emprego é que a sua verdadeira faceta veio ao de cima...
Athina pelo contrário mostrou-se uma mulher de força, mesmo para a sua idade. Nunca baixou os braços, nem alterou os seus ideias. Fiquei triste com o seu fim porque ela merecia mais.
"Herança Perfeita" é um livro que mistura o passado com o presente. E, à medida, que se vai avançando na história vamos conhecendo melhor as personagens mais antigas e o seu percurso ao longo da vida. Athina e Florence são as personagens mais fascinantes neste livro.
Recomendo.
Athina pelo contrário mostrou-se uma mulher de força, mesmo para a sua idade. Nunca baixou os braços, nem alterou os seus ideias. Fiquei triste com o seu fim porque ela merecia mais.
"Herança Perfeita" é um livro que mistura o passado com o presente. E, à medida, que se vai avançando na história vamos conhecendo melhor as personagens mais antigas e o seu percurso ao longo da vida. Athina e Florence são as personagens mais fascinantes neste livro.
Recomendo.
January 14, 2015
Great reading! I have read all of her books and this one didn't disappoint me. With a good storyline and wonderful characterization, I was sorry when it ended and I knew I would have to wait a year for her next book.
July 3, 2014
Penny does it again
July 26, 2014
I loved this like all her books a meaty family saga a great read
April 7, 2015
A great choice for my recent trip to Malta.
I rated it only three stars as it is not her best and sadly a little predictable.
I rated it only three stars as it is not her best and sadly a little predictable.
November 24, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed - Penny Vincenzi never disappoints :-))
dnf
July 13, 2016I am not gonna read 700 pages when I am all meh
August 30, 2020
Thank god someone recommended ‘A Perfect Heritage’ to me and I trusted their judgement enough to give it a try, because I know that I would never have picked this brilliant novel to read for myself - because of, I’m ashamed to admit, the very out-dated cover (I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover), and the size of the novel (I confess that books over 600 pages kind of terrify me). Flip, what a treasure I would have missed if left to my own devices.
There are so many characters in ‘A Perfect Heritage’ (so many in fact that there is a character list at the beginning of the novel to explain who everyone is), and the book is told from multiple different perspectives (which also means that there are lots of different storylines playing out at the same time). Due to this, I will confess, the novel is initially quite overwhelming; you start a paragraph and have to think who is talking, what they do and where their story left off. However, after the first 100 pages I was so well-immersed in the book that I didn’t need the character list anymore, and I began to be able to tell whose perspective I was reading by their way of describing things, and the names and places that they mentioned. I think it takes real genius to be able to juggle so many different ‘voices’ and to know where to place them - the weaving together of Florence and Bianca’s perspectives in the middle of the novel (which both described visiting France) was very skilfully done indeed.
My only criticism of this book is that I think some of the storylines were tied up too neatly; I don’t think there was any need for two engagements at the end of the novel. In fact, to be honest, I don’t think there should have been any; I don’t think Susie and Jonjo, or Lara and Bertie were ready for that level of commitment. I was, however, happy that Florence got a happy ending (or an implied one). She was probably my favourite character, and she really deserved to be content after all the bad things that she had to endure throughout ‘A Perfect Heritage’.
I would love to read another Penny Vincenzi book in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There are so many characters in ‘A Perfect Heritage’ (so many in fact that there is a character list at the beginning of the novel to explain who everyone is), and the book is told from multiple different perspectives (which also means that there are lots of different storylines playing out at the same time). Due to this, I will confess, the novel is initially quite overwhelming; you start a paragraph and have to think who is talking, what they do and where their story left off. However, after the first 100 pages I was so well-immersed in the book that I didn’t need the character list anymore, and I began to be able to tell whose perspective I was reading by their way of describing things, and the names and places that they mentioned. I think it takes real genius to be able to juggle so many different ‘voices’ and to know where to place them - the weaving together of Florence and Bianca’s perspectives in the middle of the novel (which both described visiting France) was very skilfully done indeed.
My only criticism of this book is that I think some of the storylines were tied up too neatly; I don’t think there was any need for two engagements at the end of the novel. In fact, to be honest, I don’t think there should have been any; I don’t think Susie and Jonjo, or Lara and Bertie were ready for that level of commitment. I was, however, happy that Florence got a happy ending (or an implied one). She was probably my favourite character, and she really deserved to be content after all the bad things that she had to endure throughout ‘A Perfect Heritage’.
I would love to read another Penny Vincenzi book in the future.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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