Working Wonders

Colgan, Jenny.

ISBN 10: 0007781334 ISBN 13: 9780007781331

Publisher: HARPER COLLINS, 2003

Synopsis

Laughs, love, office life.
And a little touch of magic ...

From the bestselling author of LOOKING FOR ANDREW MCCARTHY and AMANDA'S WEDDING.

Laughs, love, office life. And a little touch of magic...

Gwyneth Morgan loves her job. And she's good at it – she's never faced a challenge she can't handle – until she meets Arthur Pendleton and his motley crew.

Gwyneth sets Arthur a challenge that makes his heart sink. His team can't even find their own desks, let alone win a prestigious competition.

Pitted against his ex-girlfriend, as well as his love rival and deadly enemy, Arthur is forced to break the law and overcome massive obstacles as he embarks on his quest to achieve the impossible – and maybe, just maybe, win the heart of the enchanting Gwyneth.

As Gwyneth learns some surprising revelations about the man she'd once considered just an inept colleague, she's forced to reconsider. Is it possible that Arthur is her knight in shining armour?

About this title

Review:

Jenny Colgan has carved out some highly individual territory as a writer of great warmth and humour; she is a clear-eyed observer of human nature, as ready to extend sympathy to her characters as she is to be sardonic about their foibles. With Working Wonders, this brand of humorous writing is satisfyingly in evidence once more, wedded this time to a complex and intriguing plot.

Arthur Pendleton has led an unexciting life, working as a town planner and slowly realising that his life holds few surprises. Then he encounters the head of a team of management consultants, the beguiling and beautiful Gwyneth Morgan, a woman Arthur finds himself intimidated by. Her job is to inspire Arthur and his ill-assorted team of planners to take on a daunting task--ensure that Coventry becomes the new European city of culture. Looking around at such colleagues as nerdish computer expert Sven and the unhappy (and long-suffering) Cathy, Arthur becomes increasingly dispirited. And then, astonishingly, Gwyneth shows signs of being attracted to him, and (even more surprisingly) his team begins to fire on all cylinders with ideas. But which is more achievable: beginning a relationship with the intriguing Gwyneth, or making Coventry appear interesting? The elements that made Jenny Colgan's earlier books bestsellers are firmly in place here: quirkily observed characters, capricious plotting and a truly involving sense of the way in which most of us live our lives. Both Arthur and Gwyneth are beautifully drawn, and even if the basic theme (dull hero and brighter heroine in a non-metropolitan culture clash) may owe something to David Lodge's Changing Places, it's none the worse for that; this is an enchanting read. --Barry Forshaw

Review:

‘It comes as no surprise to learn that Jenny Colgan once wanted to be a stand-up comedienne. She has a genuine ability to make people laugh...’ DAILY EXPRESS

‘Hilarious reading...a shrew and entertaining romantic comedy.’ OBSERVER

‘Funny, magical and moving.’ TIME OUT

‘A sharp, witty love story.’ OBSERVER

With the humour and warmth that have made her previous books bestsellers, she expertly transforms Arthur Pendleton's bid to make his home the new European City of Culture (and sweep ice-cool Gwyneth off her feet at the same time) into a delicious comedy. Will melt even the
hardest of hearts.' RED

‘hugely entertaining and very funny.’ COSMOPOLITAN

‘Colgan’s witty book perfectly captures the frustrations and petty vexations of office life.’ SHE

About this edition

• Publisher: HARPER COLLINS
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0007781334
• ISBN 13: 9780007781331
• Binding: Unknown Binding
• Number of pages: 469