Additional information
by Marcia Willett (Author)
Picking up the story of Kate Webster and Cass Wivenhoe that began with First Friends, A Friend of the Family (published in the UK as Thea's Parrot) tells the tale of one of their friends, Felicity, a married woman who has been dallying with George, another mutual acquaintance. When Felicity is widowed, everyone expects George to pop the question. He does, but to the astonishment of Kate and Cass, his intended bride is not Felicity. With her usual generous helping of tears and laughter, Marcia Willett again provides her fans with a treat to be savored.
"Unanticipated plot twists, winsome characters, and a beguiling setting unite in Willett's captivating comedy of manners." - BooklistBack Jacket
Praise for Marcia Willett
"A must for women fiction readers."- Booklist on The Children's Hour "Like Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy, Willett creates such fully dimensional characters that readers feel as if they should phone or e-mail them to keep in touch."
- Rocky Mountain News on A Week in Winter "Thoroughly engrossing, with richly drawn characters, a mysterious locale, and a beautifully crafted plot."
- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel on A Week in Winter "Readers will enjoy the heartwarming ending, vibrant characters, and excellent depiction of the English countryside."
- Booklist (starred review) on A Summer in the Country
Author Biography
Born in Somerset, in the west country of England, Marcia Willett was the youngest of five girls. Her family was unconventional and musical, but Marcia chose to train as a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, her body did not develop with the classic proportions demanded by the Royal Ballet, so she studied to be a ballet teacher. Her first husband was a naval officer in the submarine service; their son, Charles, is now married and a clergyman. Her second husband, Rodney, himself a writer and broadcaster, encouraged Marcia to write fiction. This is the second of several of her early novels that are being published by Thomas Dunne Books; her more recent novels include A Week in Winter, A Summer in the Country, The Children's Hour, and The Birdcage.
