No Escape from Love (Barbara Cartland #117)

In the tradition of all Cartland books, No Escape From Love is set in a historically accurate timeframe. The year is 1805, but two years earlier, the Armistice between France and England came to a premature end for Napolean Bonaparte, who immediately interned ten thousand British tourists who were in France.Many went into hiding to avoid arrest. Among them were the wife and daughter of Sir Edward Waltham, who had died that winter. Having exhausted their allowance in the Parisian bank, Vernita supports herself and her sickly mother with the money she obtains from making beautiful lingerie for the Emperor's selfish, but beautiful sister, Her Imperial Highness Princess Pauline Borghese.On the brink of starvation, Vernita delivers a finished negligee to the Princess herself in hopes of receiving a more suitable emolument for the costly garments. While there, she encounters the handsome Count Axel de Storvik, a Swedish lover to the Princess.The rest is a little predictable. Luckily, I like predictability with a few heart-twists thrown in for good measure. The only complaint I have of this book is the lightning-quick way Vernita and the Count realize their love for each other. [Have I spoiled the book?] While this could be understandable, Vernita's instant forgiveness of the Count for his past indiscretions-- more likely, YESTERDAY'S indiscretions-- is not. This is a pattern often seen in Barbara Cartland's books, however, so this was nothing shocking.I picked up this book this morning and finished it within a half-hour. It is a good read and very charming in its own way. I definitely recommend it if you are a romantic at heart or, perhaps, even if you are not.