Publisher's Weekly
In this brisk, engaging tale of entrepreneurship and romance by the author of Bad Girls, Good Women , Harriet Peacock, 30, not pretty but blessed with business acumen and drive, sells her London boutique to launch a risky venture--marketing a game of number skill and chance that is ''like life.'' The game, ''Meizu,'' or maze, has been invented by Simon Archer, a former WW II Royal Artillery officer and Japanese POW, now a sickly, indigent recluse whom Harriet suspects may be her father. Meizu sells grandly. Harriet buys an upscale Hampstead house; runs her firm, Peacocks; and juggles her men: Leo, the philandering photographer spouse she sheds; boyish Robin, a patrician venture capitalist; blunt, grizzled Caspar, an over-the-hill Hollywood star; and David, whom she once hid from. After one jealous lover undermines Peacocks in a treacherous takeover, indomitable Harriet pulls out her millions to start anew, fighting to have it all, loot and love. Thomas's flavorsome tale also edifies with details of commerce and real estate. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild main selection.
Library Journal
Thirty-year-old entrepreneur Harriet Peacock decides to jettison both a failed marriage and a successful clothing store to go it on her own. She markets a clever game that becomes an international best-seller, and her fame leads to romantic involvements with a succession of eligible men, including a film star whose daughter claims her as a substitute mother. Set in present-day England, the novel rises above its hackneyed ''having it all'' theme thanks to sensitive characterizations. Although Thomas gets off to a slow start and provides too many descriptions of elegant clothing and food, she is skillful at building suspense. In its best moments, the book's dialog crackles. Another winner by the author of the popular Bad Girls, Good Women ( LJ 4/1/89). Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/90. Literary Guild main selection.-- Joyce Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Genre: General Fiction
In this brisk, engaging tale of entrepreneurship and romance by the author of Bad Girls, Good Women , Harriet Peacock, 30, not pretty but blessed with business acumen and drive, sells her London boutique to launch a risky venture--marketing a game of number skill and chance that is ''like life.'' The game, ''Meizu,'' or maze, has been invented by Simon Archer, a former WW II Royal Artillery officer and Japanese POW, now a sickly, indigent recluse whom Harriet suspects may be her father. Meizu sells grandly. Harriet buys an upscale Hampstead house; runs her firm, Peacocks; and juggles her men: Leo, the philandering photographer spouse she sheds; boyish Robin, a patrician venture capitalist; blunt, grizzled Caspar, an over-the-hill Hollywood star; and David, whom she once hid from. After one jealous lover undermines Peacocks in a treacherous takeover, indomitable Harriet pulls out her millions to start anew, fighting to have it all, loot and love. Thomas's flavorsome tale also edifies with details of commerce and real estate. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild main selection.
Library Journal
Thirty-year-old entrepreneur Harriet Peacock decides to jettison both a failed marriage and a successful clothing store to go it on her own. She markets a clever game that becomes an international best-seller, and her fame leads to romantic involvements with a succession of eligible men, including a film star whose daughter claims her as a substitute mother. Set in present-day England, the novel rises above its hackneyed ''having it all'' theme thanks to sensitive characterizations. Although Thomas gets off to a slow start and provides too many descriptions of elegant clothing and food, she is skillful at building suspense. In its best moments, the book's dialog crackles. Another winner by the author of the popular Bad Girls, Good Women ( LJ 4/1/89). Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/90. Literary Guild main selection.-- Joyce Smothers, Monmouth Cty. Lib., Manalapan, N.J.
Genre: General Fiction
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