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12th out of 21 books
—
18 voters
Wicked Pleasures
by
Penny Vincenzi (Goodreads Author)
A compulsively readable saga of two great families united by marriage and threatened by a secret that could never be revealed. When the beautiful daughter of a preeminent American banking family marries an English lord, their lives appear to be charmed. But a twisted lie at the heart of their marriage could destroy them. MM: Orion (U.K.).
Unknown Binding
Published
March 28th 1995
by George Weidenfeld & Nicholson
(first published 1992)
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This is the first Vincenzi novel that I have read and what a huge one. Over 800 pages! But it was a really good saga read and, as big as it was, I really enjoyed it and will read others by her.
Back Cover Blurb:
There was a time when American heiress Virginia Praeger believed that she was destined to be alone. Then she met Alexander, Earl of Caterham, in the Palm Court of the Plaza, and it was love at first sight.
She has a husband who adores her. A palace of a house set in the exquisite English co...more
Back Cover Blurb:
There was a time when American heiress Virginia Praeger believed that she was destined to be alone. Then she met Alexander, Earl of Caterham, in the Palm Court of the Plaza, and it was love at first sight.
She has a husband who adores her. A palace of a house set in the exquisite English co...more
This novel about English nobility,and New York power brokers and the families of both, entwined with wealth, greed, misplaced loyalties and dark family secrets. Virgina Praeger, daughter of Fred Praeger, owner of Praegers, a New York bank falls in love with Alexander, Earl of Catherham marries him and starts her life in England living the ancesteral home of Hartest. She has three children, Charlotte, Georgina and Max. What they don't know is that each of them has a different father. Virgina die...more
Vincenzi is a master at writing family sagas and this is one of her best. Virginia Praeger, heiress to the Praeger banking family of New York, marries Alexander, Earl of Caterham. They have 3 children but there is something not right about the family. Vincenzi tells the story through many characters with flash backs that give the readers insights into why present day things are happening or developing in a certain way. You don't even realize the extent of the family secrets until the very end (w...more
I've always enjoyed Penny Vincenzi books since stumbling on one a few years ago. This one follows the children of Virginia Caterham, each of which has a different father for reasons explained in this 800+ page book. It is set in England, primarily in the 70s and 80s and has a real sense of time. It goes back and forth from NYC to London with some side trips to Key West and Vegas. As all of her novels do, there are many characters (and a chart at the front). It was good, but it did not hold my at...more
Not a bad bonkbuster. A bit dated now, but still entertaining. Lots of near-incest with cousins, affairs, illegitimate children, ruthless bankers (even if you're their grandchild) and some mental illness to boot. One small thing that irked me was that some of the characters seemed inconsistent -for example, the grandfather was supposed to adore granddaughter Charlotte, yet was constantly treating her like crap along with everyone else. I suppose some of it was due to characters growing over the...more
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THis 818 page saga tracks the life of an American young woman, Virginia Praeger, born to a life of wealth and in a family of bankers. Virginia, a sexually nieve product of the 50's falls in love with a British Earl and has a fairy tale wedding. On her wedding night Virginia learns of the tragic secret her new husband has kept. The story unfolds through Virginia's perspective and eventually through her three children, Charlotte, Georgiana, and Max and finally, her husband, Alexander. Lots of love...more
This book was okay - not quite what I expected. Instead of an intrigue-filled generational novel, I equated the story to a classed up version of a Jackie Collins tale. Not that there is anything wrong with Jackie Collins...! The book is LONG! It has to be in a sense because it covers thirty years and almost ten main characters. However, I think a bit of judicious editing should have been applied. One pet peeve of mine - the author likes to repeat phrases and adjectives. That got old, quick.
I wou...more
I wou...more
It's not every day you see the expression 'a slither of crepe' or mention of a trompe l'oeil, but if you read this book, you'll have got your lifetime's share. Some typos and sloppy sentence structure became more visible as the story went along, so perhaps it was a little too longwinded for its editor. The story followed a family over several generations, with much comment on fashions on the day as well as the odd notable current affair. It was a bit of a guilty pleasure for this reader, if not...more
Wicked Pleasures was decadent, dirty and delightful. It was definitely a trashy saga, but with brains. A few times this novel made me gasp as truly unexpected plot turns took place. I wish some of the financial intrigue had been a little clearer, but it is clear enough to understand the smell of insider trading and hostile takeover. There is plenty of intrigue to keep you entertained for the full 600+ pages.
Classic Vincenzi. Large cast of characters, melodrama galore, women with voracious sexual appetites. You know what you're getting. I always enjoy her novels in a junk food kind of way: I know that it's not particularly good for me, but I figure I'll atone for it later.
This one was almost ok but way to long - needed some serious editing and cutting. First book I've read by this author and not sure I will read another one! To me it was like she didn't really know where she wanted to go or what was the main storyline - a bit all over the place!
The plot stretches credibility somewhat but as usual with Vincenzi, you are pulled in from the first pages. She creates very well-rounded distinct characters and keeps you wanting to keep reading to find out what happens next. Light stuff, but no less enjoyable for that.
I was not expecting a character to be as disturbed, to say the least, as the character was. Also, one character frustrated me because of the inability to fight back against stubborn, annoying family members. (Although, I also liked this character.)
this book started off so promising and by the end i was getting so bored!that never happens to me usually when im reading a penny vincenzi,but it felt like this book took an age to get to any sort of point at the end,and when it did the conclusion was a bit of a letdown.
I always love her books but this one got a little carried away with the sex scenes. I would like more about the relationships and a little less graphic sex.
Very readable soap opera kind of book.However I like a large dose of revenge in this type of book and it was not forthcoming.
Perfect for beaches and airplanes! Especially if you like sex and high finance
ugh. I gave 1 star to her last book too. What's going on with her?
Like a novel of Thomas Mann Buddenbrooks.
good but not great. Horribly long!
I have reviewed this book here: http://mygoodbookshelf.wordpress.com/...
I had forgotten how good Penny Vincenzi's books were. No exception with this one! Very, very long but oh so worth the read! Time to start looking for the ones that I haven't read.
Dramatic, and exciting.
Not very much action but nice characters to get absorbed with.
Long-winded. If I had to describe this book in one phrase, that's what I'd say. The story was interesting enough; with family secrets, trust fund kids, Wall Street greed, sex, attempted murder, office politics, revenge, lust, family politics, affairs, English aristocracy, alcoholism, drugs, jealousy, rivalries, and more secrets, and more sex, this book had more drama than any soap opera or Real Housewives of Beverly Hills episode, but good grief, it was a couple hundred pages too long!
A little long winded at the end. Like reading a non-Texan version of Dallas.
Did not finish this book....boring
Awesome saga of a book! Loved the twists and turns. Alittle too long but good all the same.
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I was nine years old when I embarked on my storytelling career. I wrote my own magazine called “Stories”, which I copied out three times on carbon paper and sold for two...more
More about Penny Vincenzi...
I was nine years old when I embarked on my storytelling career. I wrote my own magazine called “Stories”, which I copied out three times on carbon paper and sold for two...more
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Dec 14, 2012 04:00pm