London Holiday — Richard Peck

“A charmingly upbeat tale… Peck's stylish story offers not only pleasant diversion but a vicarious boost, and an urge to cheer, ‘Go, girls!'” -- Arizona Daily Star
 
Lesley Hockaday is a St. Louis society woman, Margo Mayhew a Chicago schoolteacher and the mother of a teenage daughter, and Julia Steadman a single, successful Manhattan interior designer. Best friends during their Missouri childhood, the passage of time, the thousands of miles between them, and the demands of family and careers have taken a toll on their friendship. When a shocking act of violence reminds them how precious life really is, the three friends decide it's time for a reunion and embark on a long-awaited trip to London.
 
From the cozy confines of Mrs. Smith-Porter's bed-and-breakfast, Lesley, Margo, and Julia enter a gracious world of high tea in the garden, antique markets, picture-perfect countryside, and unexpected romance. The London holiday presents them with more than a few surprises, becomes a journey of self-discovery and a chance to renew the bonds of friendship, and holds the promise of three new lives awaiting them.