Customer Reviews

A Rather Lovely Inheritance (PENNY NICHOLS)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is a lovely little book but it's very typical of chick lit these days ~~ a young woman struggling to make ends meet meets Mr. Wonderful, falls in love, comes into a pile of loot, travels across Europe to find out some deep secret and everything ends very happily. Don't get me wrong ~~ I read these books often enough for two reasons, it's fluffy and it's entertaining. It's perfect for a busy mom's life when she doesn't have time to do anything else ...

This book focuses on Penny Nichols, a young woman who is very interested in history. She was on location when she received word that her great-aunt had died, leaving her an antique car and a gorgeous flat in London. Her cousins also received lush gifts too, but that's where the fun begins. There is a chase across Europe in search of a missing item, a missing relative and all that fun stuff.

This book rated a three simply because it's very predictable ~~ and there was no suspense built up to keep the reader interested. There's barely any interesting historical fact listed ~~ and it's just a fluffy book written to be amusingly entertaining. It's perfect book to take to the beach or on the long plane ride, or reading while surrounded by young kids who interrupt your reading every five minutes!

4-28-07

From the day I first held this book in my hands, I could barely wait to read it. It drew me in somehow with its very pretty and tasteful cover. But because something told me it would be good, I forced myself to save it until I'd have time to savour it properly. I began it one evening shortly before going to a restaurant with a friend. I took it with me, and the meal lasted at least twice as long as usual. Just as well my friend had a book too. I guess it was a literary dinner. I turned page after page, trying not to soil them with splashes of soup or spaghetti sauce. Need I mention that I finished it that same evening?

Penny, having inherited a garage in the south of France, discovers that the situation is far more complex than anyone knows. In a stunning sequence of action, the author kept me riveted as mysterious secrets came to light in an endless flow of family history, hidden affairs, alternate bloodlines, art theft, and continual savvy comments on life in the modern age. Just when I thought there were no more surprises, the next one would pop up - whether in London, Paris, Rome, the French Riviera, or on the journey somewhere in between. In fact, this is as much a mystery as it is a romance, combining both in leaps and bounds that vary between hilarity and mortal danger, yet always hopeful and with good humour.

This is delightfully written, light-hearted and sharp, witty and sassy, rather more like a movie than a book. It wasn't just the happy ending that satisfied me - it was the thoroughly enjoyable process of getting there and seeing each scene through the author's imaginative eye. Landscapes, cities, countries spring out of the pages.

I also very much enjoyed the author interview included at the back, and noted with pleasure that she claims swimming in the Mediterranean invariably prods her inspiration to write!

Whenever the promotional material for a particular book includes the words "reading of a will, double lives, secret histories and a family tree" I am instantly drawn in. Mystery and adventure are sure to follow. Belmond sets the story of Penny Nichols an American abroad in Europe and takes the reader back to the twenties and thirties, through family photo graphs, here-say and good solid historical investigation. Of course Penny comes by investigation naturally, she is a historical researcher.

Recently deceased Aunt Penelope provides an inheritance which allows Penny to use her skills. The inheritance, however, is threatened by other family members claiming various scenarios should deny both her and her life long friend and English cousin that which Aunt Penelope wanted them to receive. Discoveries in Aunt Penelopy's homes, strange happenings in the night, and family secrets about her cousins parentage push Penny to investigate Aunt Pennelopy's full life during the second world war and after. What Penny discovers is Aunt Penelope's life although appearing carefree and scandalous was really a life of giving to others from beginning to end.

Belmond allows Penny to stumble through her family history much as a beginner would. Although Penny is a historical researcher her baliwick is not genealogy. She sticks to family sources and heirlooms to uncover connections. She appears to not know about the existence genealogy sources from the second world war that would have provided her with some answers. Alas, her knowledge of history allows her to contact an art historian which provides the answers that bring Penny's inheritance into real focus. I enjoyed learning more about the history of how famous artists taught their students to paint.

The plot also includes one of the most interesting cousin relationships I've ever read. With out being a plot spoiler, I've often wondered about the particular seniero proposed by Belmond. I consider it highly probable that many aspects of the cousins relationship in the story are possible in contemporary life. Belmonds characters are truly believable, fun and intriguing. I enjoyed jaunting across Europe chasing wills, French villas, art, elderly gentlemen and love. Here's hoping that Penny Nichols and her new love end up in another historical mystery adventure.

A delightful book--a perfect summer read. A tad predictable? At a high level, yes--but there were enough plot twists to keep me reading as fast as I could. Richly developed characters, witty dialogue. I will be seeking out more books by this author!

A frothy, entertaining first novel. My grandaughter and I enjoyed the mystery, the excitement of being in several exciting cities. The author has a sence of humor and a style that I will look for again. When will she write another?

I enjoyed this book very much. I read it in one day because I was so curious to find out what was going to happen! I love that the heroine beat Rollo at his own game but she was still willing to be kind to him. The heroine was very likable and easy to relate to. I look forward to the next book by Belmond!

Penny Nichols works as a freelance historical researcher and set design consultant for Pentathlon Productions cable TV company that shoots almost exclusively in New York. While on location overlooking the Hudson, her mother calls to inform her that her Great-aunt Penelope, whom she met only one time, died in London. Now that would mean very little to the American even if she is named after her great-aunt; yet for some odd reason, perhaps the name, Aunt Penelope included her niece in her will as well as penny's mom.

Representing her mom and herself, Penny travels to London for the reading of the will where she re-meets her cousins Jeremy Laidley and Rollo. She learns that her inheritance is inside the garage attached to her late aunt's French villa. She and Jeremy travel across the Channel to the South of France to see what is inside as family members come out of the woodwork as a bi-coastal Atlantic Ocean war over ownership explodes.

Though a bit light in terms of a mystery and the relationship between Jeremy and Penny fans will appreciate this inheritance war because of the élan of the visiting American who hooks everyone (except Rollo and Mrs. Laidley) with her klutzy optimism. Readers will root for Penny who keeps the tale moving with her need to know the truth about Aunt Penelope and her willingness to compromise with Jeremy and battle nasty Rollo. Fans will enjoy the lighthearted breezy story line as the Yank takes England, France, and Italy.

Harriet Klausner

Although set in the present, this book had a lovely calm and elegant flow that reminded me of the past. I very much enjoyed it.

This book would make a wonderful movie as it is SO visual. I could picture the characters, setting, and scenes in my mind's eye as I was reading it.

I look forward to reading the next book to see what happens next.

I picked up this book simply because I liked the cover art (kudos to Helen Chapman). The first chapter made me wonder if this was going to be chick lit (which I don't care for, since the main characters tend to be shallow and annoying), but instead I became really charmed by Penny Nichols and her adventures.

I was a bit thrown by the mention of the Penny Nichols mystery stories, since I knew there really was a series of novels with that name written in the 1930's - my mom owned Penny Nichols and the Black Imp - but by then I was rolling along in the story and curious to know how it turned out.

The choice of settings was a big part of the fun. C.A. Belmond's descriptions made them seem very real and made me want to be there, in a way reminiscent of Rosamund Pilcher's "September". The story, however, is a lot more light-hearted and humorous. I had a hard time putting the book down, but also didn't want to swallow it up in one gulp. It's the kind of book you can savor. I kept thinking, oh, I must loan this to my sister, only when I offered to, she turned out to have already purchased it! So I think the appeal of the cover is really strong, and the appeal of the story and characters (I love Penny's parents!) is also strong.

Congratulations to C.A. Belmond on her first novel. First of many, I hope! This book would make a rather lovely beach read but, considering I read it over two rainy days at home, makes a good read any time.

Possible Spoilers ahead:

I read A Rather Curious Engagement first, not knowing it was a sequel when I bought it, and thoroughly enjoyed it. But when I went back to read A Rather Lovely Inheritance, I was very disturbed by the way Belmond treats Jeremy's adoption. As someone who is unable to have genetic children, the biggest problem that I had was the constant references to Jeremy's "real father." A person's "real father" is the man who loved and raised you since you were a baby. Peter is not a "stepfather," as he is later referred to; he is the child's legal father. Furthermore, I understand how this could be a shock to Jeremy, but the insistence that Penny has in having him meet his grandfather - "because, like it or not, this guy is your gramps" - is equally disturbing. It should be his decision if and when he chooses to meet his biological family. The final blow to adoptive families is this: Just because you learn that someone is not related to you genetically does not mean you would all of a sudden consider them as a potential boyfriend - Penny grew up thinking of Jeremy as her cousin, and genetics have nothing to do with that relationship.

I realize it's too late to change the entire plot of the book, but in future editions it would be great if the publisher made an effort to understand the effect the author's words have on adoptive families by at least changing "real father" to "biological" or "birth father," which would be the correct terms to use.