Table of Contents
Praise for the Novels of C.A. Belmond
A Rather Charming Invitation
“The third installment in Belmond’s
Rather
series is every bit as much fun as the two previous books. The writing is leavened with just the right dash of tart wit, the romance between Penny and Jeremy is sweetly satisfying, and the search for the missing tapestry includes some fascinating historical details and intriguing tidbits about the perfume industry, French history, and coins.
A Rather Charming Invitation
is a deliciously old-fashioned story that is guaranteed to charm both mystery and romance readers.”
—Reader to Reader
“Writing well in the first person from a singular point of view must be difficult, but Ms. Belmond pulls it off beautifully. And with fascinating glimpses of Europe past and present, and a gentle romance between a likeable pair, she has produced an enchanting read. I highly recommend
A Rather Charming Invitation
for its combination of charm, liveliness, and suspense.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“C.A. Belmond’s entertaining duo of Penny Nichols and Jeremy Laidley are back in the spotlight . . . a wonderful cozy mystery.”
—Night Owl Reviews (Top Pick)
“A simpatico duo!”
—Publishers Weekly
“Written in such a fascinating way, with characters that will both charm and entertain,
A Rather Charming Invitation
is a book that you don’t want to miss.”
—Chick Lit Club
“
A Rather Charming Invitation
is a lovely reunion with American Penny Nichols and her English fiancé Jeremy Laidley, along with their assortment of English and French relatives . . . There’s old-fashioned sleuthing throughout . . . along with some wonderful European locations and a bit of old-fashioned glamour . . . I’m happy to say that this book captures me as much as did the first novel and I am glad to know that Belmond is already hard at work on the next adventure for Nichols and Laidley, Ltd.”
“Charming is the perfect word to describe C.A. Belmond’s
A Rather Charming Invitation
. I fell in love with Penny and Jeremy when the series began, and enjoyed this time out seeing the two prepare for their wedding . . . Although set in the present, the entire series has a 1930s feel . . . The author has a wonderful feel for settings and brings London, the South of France, Paris, and Geneva to life. I so wanted to go right along with Penny and Jeremy on their travels!”
—All About Romance
A Rather Curious Engagement
“Lilting . . . it’s fluffy and fun, even if you don’t have your own yacht.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Bound to charm romantic suspense fans.”
—Booklist
“What’s not to like about C.A. Belmond’s new novel
?
I was hooked by the end of the first page . . .
A Rather Curious Engagement
is delightful . . . something you can pass through the generations.”
—Story Circle Review
“An entertaining and witty story,
A Rather Curious Engagement
displays the author’s flair for keeping the reader attached to the spellbinding story and adventurous, enchanting characters.”
—Affaire de Coeur
“
A Rather Curious Engagement
is narrated by Penny from her own insightful perspective . . . and is as well crafted as its predecessor. I highly recommend them both and look forward to any sequels to come starring this likeable couple.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“
A Rather Curious Engagement
is a high-seas adventure with a wonderful little mystery and some nice laughs as Penny and Jeremy try to outwit some thieves . . . I found Penny and Jeremy to be a very endearing and sweet couple that I wouldn’t mind reading more about in future books to come.”
—Ramblings on Romance
“Five Stars! Excellent writing . . . I look forward to more books with these wonderful characters.”
—Night Owl Reviews
A Rather Lovely Inheritance
“A spirited heroine.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An entertaining yarn with family drama and intrigue aplenty.”
—Booklist
“Utterly charming . . . excellent characterization and dialogue [with] a sweet touch of romance. If a novel can be both gentle and lively, surely this is one . . .
A Rather Lovely Inheritance
tantalizes and entertains with its mystery and skullduggery . . . Penny [is] a perfectly lovable heroine. It’s a rare gem of a book that leaves behind a feeling of pure pleasure.”
—Romance Reviews Today
“I haven’t read anything like it in quite a while, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself . . . Penny is a delightful heroine . . . Who wouldn’t enjoy the unexpected chance to rattle around London and then fly off to the sunny Côte d’Azur?”
“Combines suspense, romance, and crafty wit. The protagonist is a character to cheer for, and the mystery subplot will keep readers turning the pages.”
—Romantic Times
“[Penny] hooks everyone . . . with her klutzy optimism... Fans will enjoy the lighthearted breezy storyline as the Yank takes England, France, and Italy.”
—Midwest Book Review
“[Has] everything—mystery, romance, [and] a whirlwind tour of Europe’s hot spots.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A return to the golden age of romantic suspense!
A Rather Lovely Inheritance
weds old-style glamour to chick-lit flair. You just want to move into the novel yourself—on a long-term lease, with hero and snazzy sports car included (villains sold separately).”
—
Lauren Willig, author of
The Mischief of the Mistletoe
OTHER NOVELS BY C.A. BELMOND
A Rather Lovely Inheritance
A Rather Curious Engagement
A Rather Charming Invitation
NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY
Published by New American Library, a division of
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
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First published by New American Library,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
First Printing, September 2011
Copyright © C.A. Belmond, 2011
Readers Guide copyright © C.A. Belmond, 2011
All rights reserved
REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA:
Belmond, C A.
A rather remarkable homecoming/C.A. Belmond.
p. cm.
ISBN : 978-1-101-54404-4
1. Cornwall (England : County)—Fiction. 2. Historic buildings—England—Cornwall (County)—Fiction. 3. Real estate developers—Fiction. 4. Riddles—Fiction. 5. Country life—England—Cornwall (County)—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3602.E46R 39 2011
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.