A Perfect Heritage

Book excerpt: “A Perfect Heritage is, like the cosmetics company it profiles, a classic and very much worth the investment.” —Bookreporter 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 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. “Superbly blending the past with the present, the author not only writes a truly solid soap opera but takes an in-depth look at the world of cosmetics, advertising, and business.” —Library Journal (starred review) Praise for Penny Vincenzi “The doyenne of the modern blockbuster.” —Glamour “Soap opera? You bet—but with her well-drawn characters and engaging style, Vincenzi keeps things humming.” —People “Nobody writes smart, page-turning commercial women’s fiction like Vincenzi.” —USA Today