Described by Glamour Magazine as the ‘doyenne of the modern blockbuster’, Penny Vincenzi (http://pennyvincenzi.com/) has a large and loyal readership. She is now onto her 17th book and nearly died last year from the rare disorder cryoglobulinemia. The summary of her latest is as follows. We’re introduced to ‘The House of Farrell’ a cosmetics firm and 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. It’s worth putting some foundation and lippy on to enhance the pleasure of the read. You can’t get more creamy than that.
768 pages in Headline Review, 19 June 2014
ISBN 978-0755377572
Penny Vincenzi