Harnassing Peacocks

This is a writer of great intelligence, sense of humor and irony. All her books display the same offbeat and surprising characters and are both charming and very funny, as well as humane. I keep rereading them!

"Harnessing Peacocks" is one of my all-time favorite books. In some ways, it's a typical British comedy-of-manners, but with terrific, quirky characters and a gentle, romantic plot.Teenaged Hebe runs away from the home she shares with her grandparents when she overhears them and her bossy older sisters plotting to get her an unwanted abortion.We see her again as her son, Silas, is growing old enough to question his background. His mother has raised him on her own, cooking for wealthy elderly clients and "tarting" (as she calls it) for several selected men, to be able to provide him with the same upbringing she had. She is smart, fiercely independent, and vulnerable (although she doesn't realize it).One of my favorite things about this book is Wesley's wonderfully quirky and complex characters.If you enjoy other authors such as Barbara Pym, Laurie Colwin and Jane Austen, I think you will enjoy this book.

A very heart warming story to give you hope on a cold and miserable day