A Perfect Heritage Hardcover – 19 Jun 2014

Extremely well written and researched about the cosmetics industry and the people in it. About a family and the company it founded, The House of Farrel. Its growth, its strengths, its decline. And finally, the attempt at a relaunch in tune with new and modern times and methods.It's an upper class world. Quite a few cliches perhaps, but still very enjoyable ones. Isn't it nice in the everyday life of most of us to read about new CEO of Farrells Bianca Bailey and long time Director Florence Hamilton stepping into CHANEL in Paris and buying a beautiful bag. Florence in her eighties, forever chic in a vintage Chanel cardigan.But even if the characters in this book are mostly well moneyed, their lives are not without obstacles. Love can never be bought. Comfort and harmony only to a certain extent."A Perfect Heritage" is a book going much deeper than its seemingly light upper class banter might initially indicate. I found it much more than just light "beach reading", a lot between the lines which made me enthralled and sometimes nodding fondly at my own memories, both happy and bittersweet ones.A treasure for Vincenzi addicts. New readers will be hooked.

I have read all Penny Vincenzi's books and thoroughly enjoyed them but I have been very disappointed with this one. The story line does not flow well.The paragraphs do not always follow on and leave you wondering who am I reading about now. Very boring and monotonous in parts. Not a good one at all

I can't write anything bad about Penny Vincenzi's books. She has a style that I find interesting, amusing and brilliantly written with characters that you can almost touch and relate to within the first few pages. This book is no exception - a brilliantly conducted plot-line with numerous characters that never over-lap in your mind or become confusing because each one is brilliantly defined to become unique. I'm not going to give you the plot-line or spoil the story ............ just trust me, you'll love it !

Yet another Penny Vincenzi book which, once you get into, you can't tear yourself away from! It's the usual formula, lots of characters, intrigue etc etc, but this is what she does so well.My only criticism is of the story itself, if Athina Farrell had such a good business, why was she on the edge of bankruptcy at the start of the book? No-one ever put this question forward, either as one of the characters or during the narrative. I was waiting for someone to say it the whole time - the opportunities were endless and it would have been a real put-down for Athina, making her the recipient of such a remark for a change. I really didn't take to her character at all (I'm not sure we readers were meant to) and would have enjoyed seeing her brought down a peg or two. It would have counterbalanced her 'high and mighty' attitude to the rest of the world, which seemed to dominate the book, a little too much.Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to PV's fans.

I think I have read everyone of Penny Vicenzi's book and rave about them to everyone. But this one just didn't do it for me. Kept coming back to it but in the end it took nearly two years to get to the end as I would start another book instead. I found the characters weak and it didn't gel. I think the last quarter of the book eventually picked up the pace, but the other three quarters was poor. The dialogue between the characters didn't flow. Hopefully other people enjoyed the book, but sadly it didn't do it for me, but it wouldn't stop me reading other of the authors books.

I too was rather disappointed and put off right at the beginning with the vast number of characters. I was still confused who was who amongst the minor characters at the end of the book.I have read all her books and this does not compare with her earlier novels, I loved loved loved the Lytton saga, three books all unputdownable and you cannot give a bigger compliment.After reading those I would buy the next book and not want to start reading it because I did not want it to be finished. I liked the dea of it sitting there waiting for me to uncover its secrets.I am not sure why I am not enjoying Penny as much as I used to, the story lines are good and diverse but I think perhaps she feels that the more characters there are, the more scope she has for more story lines but then they become too many, rather thin and not so convincing.I hope she will do another family saga which we can sink into, know the characters, like some and hate others.

Another great story by penny Vincenzi she writes a great detailed story of a family firm and how this is represented in the 21st century. We meet Bianca a go getting woman who has the job of turning around the house of Farrell a cosmetic house . Well worth a read if you like family epics.

A delightful book by Penny Vincenzi. Well developed characters against the backdrop of a failing cosmetic company which had previously been very successful. The company obviously makes a successful come back despite a difficult process.The main characters range from 13 to mid-80s and they and their challenges were easy to engage with and be interested in their stories.A nice happy ending rounded it off well.