I'm
consistently surprised that more American readers have not yet
discovered Penny Vincenzi. A bestselling author in her native
England, Vincenzi has yet to find the audience she deserves on this
side of the Atlantic. Captivating enough to gratify fans of
escapist fiction and romance novels, skillful and sophisticated
enough to draw in more literary readers (perhaps in spite of
themselves), Vincenzi's novels sprawl satisfyingly through time and
place, from character to character, but never get out of
control.

Originally published in the United Kingdom in 2005, SHEER ABANDON
is Vincenzi's latest to be released in the U.S. In some ways, it's
her most restrained novel in scope; unlike her multi-generational
Spoils of Time trilogy, for example, SHEER ABANDON's main
action takes place over just a couple of years, with the exception
of a few flashbacks to 1985, where the story really begins.

The novel opens with a terrifying scene of a young woman, just back
in England from a post-graduation trip to East Asia, giving birth
alone in a Heathrow Airport bathroom. Following the birth, the
frightened young woman leaves the baby in a cleaning cupboard,
watching unobserved until she is sure the infant has been
discovered and will be safe.

Readers figure out pretty quickly that the terrified young mother
is one of three acquaintances who met while backpacking through
Thailand after graduating from college. Fast-forwarding 15 years,
the three women are all successful, confident professionals, none
of whom seems to be harboring a dark, shameful secret. So which one
is it?

Is it Jocasta, a harried reporter for one of Britain's top
tabloids? Growing up, she was constantly disappointed by her busy
father --- now she's disappointed by her philandering brother. Her
glamorous job and handsome boyfriend have failed to satisfy her ---
she's tired of the ethical compromises her boss asks her to make,
and she's really tired of waiting for Nick to settle down.
When a wealthy older man takes interest, Jocasta has a hard time
turning down promises of comfort, commitment and glamour.

Or is it Martha, a successful, driven corporate lawyer who often
works all night to satisfy her clients? She grew up in a loving but
poor minister's family and now enjoys the material comforts her
success has bought her. But when Martha grows increasingly
disillusioned by the economic opportunities available to others in
Britain, she flirts with becoming a member of Parliament,
representing a new party. And, much to her surprise, this confirmed
single gal finds herself falling for a most unlikely man.

Or could it be Clio? She's hiding something from her overbearing
husband, a brilliant surgeon but cruel man who wants nothing more
than to have his wife, a respected physician in her own right,
barefoot and pregnant. Will Clio come clean with her husband, and
will she find the courage and confidence to leave him and start
over?

Adept readers (especially those who read mysteries) will not remain
in the dark for long, but it's so much fun to see how Vincenzi
reveals the truth, playing with conventions and coincidences,
having characters meet unexpectedly (or miss each other by
moments), gradually drawing these very different women into a web
of relationships. Add to the mix that abandoned baby (remember
her?), now a beautiful teenager who bears a striking resemblance to
one of the women, the baby's father and a dozen other subplots and
minor characters, and you have a trademark Vincenzi novel.

Vincenzi's books are distinctive but rarely formulaic. Just when
readers think they've figured everything out, she throws them a
curveball (or in this case, a hairpin turn on the highway). Her
fast-paced style relies on hooking readers by shifting perspectives
frequently and suddenly, resulting in a series of cliffhangers that
will keep readers glued to their beach blankets until sunset.