Promotional Information

The first novel in the trilogy, NO ANGEL, has sold nearly 300,000 copies in paperback within a month of publication The previous paperback, ALMOST A CRIME, has sold over half a million copies, becoming Penny's best-ever-selling paperback and was No. 12 in the GUARDIAN Fastsellers All her novels have been high flyers in the GUARDIAN Top 100 Fastsellers and SUNDAY TIMES bestsellers She is widely translated (eg German, French, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, Russian, Greek, Czech, Hungarian, Polish) and gets great reviews: 'I was hooked right from the first page to the final, fantastic twist' NEW WOMA

About the Author

Penny Vincenzi began her career as a junior secretary for Vogue and Tatler. She later worked as Fashion and Beauty Editor on magazines such as Women's Own, before becoming a contributing editor for Cosmopolitan. She has written ten previous novels.

Reviews

Expansively written and lushly detailed, this fast-paced sequel to No Angel follows the Lyttons, a prominent British publishing family, into the mid-20th century. It's 1928 as the book opens, and the Lytton heirs apparent-Giles, Kit and their twin sisters, Venetia and Adele-are more absorbed in their personal lives than in steering themselves toward future stewardship of the family empire. Giles, ensconced in a mid-level Lytton post, feels a professional and social failure; Kit is bright, but only eight; and the beautiful 18-year-old twins are more concerned with their court debuts than with learning anything useful about publishing. Lytton foster child Barty Miller, who graduated from Oxford with honors, might take the business seriously; she shows remarkable intelligence and drive, but not the gratitude that Celia Lytton, senior editor of the house and matron of the family, would like. The business and family survive the Depression as the Lyttons begin publishing cheaper books, the twins lose their virginity, Kit grows into a fine young man and Giles gets married. Then WWII comes along and snaps, if not sense, then at least some backbone into the Lytton children. But is it too late? As family secrets and the Nazis both threaten to crush the house of Lytton, Vincenzi tightens her grip on readers, churning out surprising twists that not only resolve current conflicts but promise delicious future crises. Agent, Clare Alexander. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Vincenzi's new entry in the Lytton family saga seamlessly picks up where No Angel left off, but this time around twin daughters Adele and Venetia are central to the action. And what action there is, ranging from London to New York and set against the ominous backdrop of a world about to plunge into the battle against Hitler. Vincenzi does an excellent job of creating fully defined characters (while weaving historical figures into the action), and her plot lines are feasible and contain enough drama, romance, and secrets to keep readers enthralled. Those who enjoy Barbara Taylor Bradford will be eagerly anticipating Vincenzi's next installment, Into Temptation. Recommended for most women's fiction collections. Marianne Fitzgerald, Anne Arundel Cty. Schs., Annapolis, MD Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.