A Rather Lovely Inheritance
Written by C.A. Belmond
Narrated by Katherine Kellgren
3.5/5
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About this audiobook
C.A. Belmond
C.A. Belmond was awarded an Edward Albee Foundation Fellowship and was twice a Pushcart Press Editors' Book Award finalist. A writer- in-residence at the Karolyi Foundation in the South of France, her original screenplays were shortlisted at Robert Redford's Sundance Institute and the Eugene O'Neill Playwrights Conference. Belmond has written and produced television drama and documentary, and taught writing at New York University. There are three previous books in her "Rather" series. For more information visit the author's website: www.cabelmond.com.
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Reviews for A Rather Lovely Inheritance
128 ratings13 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fun read and fun to listen to! Looking forward to the next title in the series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Penny Nichols works in the movie business as an historical researcher. Just as she’s finishing up a job, she learns that her great Aunt Penelope has died and left her an inheritance … and that she needs to be in London for the reading of the will. Aunt Penelope’s lawyer is none other than her first cousin Jeremy Laidley, son of her mom’s brother Peter, whom Penny has known most of her life.Also at the reading is Jeremy’s and Penny’s other cousin Rollo – a ne’er-do-well who covets more of Aunt Penelope’s estate than it appears she has given him. So, of course, the unsavory Rollo is looking to find ways to further complicate the proceedings and cut one or both of his cousins out of the will. Penny and Jeremy band together to fight off whatever comes their way – and LOTS of stuff comes their way, courtesy of Rollo and others. A Rather Lovely Inheritance is a caper, a mystery, a romance, and a romp into the Laidley family’s genealogy – which turns out to be more complicated than it first appears. It’s a lightweight, fun read. The only fault I can find with it is the author’s occasional lapse into coarse language – no F-bombs, but minor and totally unnecessary cursing. But that’s a small problem in an otherwise engaging read. It appears that the author has written two subsequent novels featuring Penny Nichols. They’re on my list of future reads.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Penny Nichols is in Europe working on a film set when she gets a call from her parents: she needs to drop everything and go to London immediately, because her aunt Penelope has died, and Penny must attend the reading of the will. Penny doesn’t expect much, maybe a few mementos, but she does as requested, and of course, the inheritance turns out to be both larger and more complicated than expected.This was a light and fun book to listen to. Somewhere I saw it described as a “caper,” which suits it: there are elements of romance, mystery, and family drama, but it all goes down easily. I particularly recommend the audiobook, read by the late, great Katherine Kellgren.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved this book. This woman can write. Charming plot and characters. Now I want to read the other books in the series. I'm gong to start the second one right away. If you know a little about history and art, this book will really speak to you. But it's not pretentious.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/54.5 stars. I really enjoyed this as an audio book for my commute and in the evening while knitting away at a project. The beginning is awfully slow! But hang in there until she gets to England--then it's all fun, games and intrigue with a sweet little love story thrown in. The author channels a little too much Edith Wharton from time to time getting mired down in really, incredibly detailed descriptions, but otherwise it's well written. I've already downloaded the next audiobook for my commute tomorrow.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I saw this referred to as romantic suspense somewhere and I suppose that that does technically describe it, but it feels much more 'caperish' than suspenseful; in fact, the word that came to mind as I was reading it was madcap, even though it didn't have the ditziness that I feel that word implies. Although it is definitely a 'contemporary' story in the timeline sense, I can't really categorize it as 'contemporary romance' -- certainly not given what else falls under that category. It just has such an old-fashioned feel. At the same time, as has not been the case with a lot of the non-contemporary-romance books I've been reading lately, I did actually go out of my way to find time to read it. Penny Nichols was a great character and there were some true laugh out loud moments here and there; add that to the beautiful European scenery and the historical research background of the character, and I was really happy to see that there are more to this series. The only issues I had with this were [SPOILER ALERT] -- there was definitely a bit of a squick factor with the cousin. It was all explained away, of course, but that lingered a little. And yet contradicting myself entirely here, I also have to say that once that part was explained away, I wanted a little bit more romance to it all. I actually had to read the scene where they came together twice because it was so understated that I wasn't truly sure that that was what had happened. Also, and I know this shouldn't matter quite so much, the author spelled "O.k." as "Okeh." The first couple of times I read it it pulled me so out of the story that it was almost comical. I sat there saying to myself, 'Is that the same as o.k.? Is it said with an accent? Is it another word entirely?' Again, I realize that that's a very petty criticism and, in fact, it's very possible that that's a preferred European spelling. But like I said, it was just so jarring that I needed to mention it. With that said, however, this was another book where the writing felt rich and luxurious. That's not so much of a surprise given that the author is a poet as well.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I actually listened to this book on CD, and the reader is amazing. It's a very fun romp across England, France, and Italy (all my favorite places). It has a cast of family, co-workers, and friends that will keep you laughing. A little mystery, a little romance, a little danger. All in the search for our heroine Penny Nichols inheritance! There are two other installments that are on my to be read pile. Recommend for a good fun read, with lots of Brits.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The book beckoned me and had all the potential for me to adore it, but didn't quite satisfy as much as I'd hoped. I'll still read the sequel though.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A lovely, light, romantic comedy with a twist of mystery. A new favorite. Can hardly wait to read the next installment.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I listened to the audio version of this book and what a treat! It's read by Katherine Kellgren, a narrator who has won many awards for her readings. She does a fabulous job with all sorts of entertaining accents for the various characters and she really gets into the drama of the story.The story itself is a lot of fun. At the center is Penny Nichols, unexpected heiress of aunt Penelope. Before she can blink she is knee deep in romance and danger. There is a mysterious old car in a garage in France, questions about the paternity of handsome cousin Jeremy, missing jewelry, and thieves in the night. This is the ultimate light-hearted, entertaining vacation read. The audio book is ideal for a summer road trip! I can't wait for Listen & Live to release the second in this series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5American Penny Nichols works as an historical consultant on low budget movies when she gets a call telling her that her great aunt Penelope has died and left behind an inheritance. Thinking it wouldn't amount to much, Penny leaves her current movie and heads to London for the reading of the will. Her good looking cousin Jeremy meets her there and helps her through the surprise of a rather sizeable inheritance as well as helping her to navigate the tricky waters of the British side of the family. It isn't until Penny and Jeremy find their other cousin Rollo trying to steal the car left to Penny (she was gifted with the garage and its contents at great aunt Penelope's French home) that the madcap adventures of the novel really begin. Racing all over Europe to untangle the family tree and to prevent Rollo and his mother from succeeding in getting Jeremy disinherited, Penny and Jeremy uncover all sorts of mysteries about great aunt Penelope, her life, and the sometimes small ways in which World War II affected even those who didn't fight. The characters are lovely and the plot clips along at a good rate after the reading of the will is over. Belmond does a nice job setting the scene and describing the family dynamics. While nothing tears families apart faster than money, and Rollo and his mother are actively working to have Jeremy disinherited, there is very little of the nastiness that usually surrounds these sorts of fights. And that is quite refreshing! This is a fun and frothy adventure full of light mystery and romance. There is a whiff of times gone by throughout the narrative and a gentility to the characters, even in the midst of heists and swindles. It is the first in a trilogy (at least so far), an amusing read that is delightful entertainment. I will happily be reading books two and three when I want a charming diversion.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book had the potential to be a book that I'd really enjoy with a story line about an inheritance and research on one's family tree. It just didn't live up to its potential. While parts of it really held my attention, parts of it were rather dull and predictable.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Annoying and predictable.