A Rather Curious Engagement

A Rather Curious Engagement by C.A. Belmond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Antibes

What would your life be like if you just unexpectedly inherited beaucoup dinero? Well, for one thing you would be dealing always with people who have a need or use for your money and have tons of ways to help you spend it. This includes ex-wives, shady family members and hordes of the deserving poor.

Penny Nichols and Jeremy her boy friend have thrown their lot and fortunes together and before settling down to new business ventures decide to take a gap summer. The first thing they do to get their place in Antibes into shape, recondition the vintage 1930's Dragonetta auto that was part of the legacy and of course buy a yacht. How else do you get away from it all.

But even on this getaway they have a commission to try and find  a special aguamanilia which was made for Beethoven.  These were were of a sort very ingeniously designed and beautifully crafted ewers.

The one that Penny and Jeremy is looking for has a history of being cursed as well as being very difficult to locate. But this is what this couple does so well. They have one exciting adventure after another which take them from the French Riviera, to Lake Como in Italy and even to Corsica, Napoleon's birthplace.

There are many challenges in starting a new way of life and Belmond makes the reader part of the sojourn.

Lake Como, Italy

If your summer plans include a staycation on veranda beach this is one way to get away.