No Place to Run Book

A 2 star, don't bother lethargic romance with great writing. I really wish Jane Donnelly's heroines were as awesome as her atmosphere and writing, but sadly they have all the intuition of a piece of paper.

In need of a break from her self-centered parents and her blancmange of a suitor, Lucy runs to a small, wild island and meets Matt. They enjoy the island's rough and tumble charm in an almost childish way. When I say childish I mean they just revel in the beauty of the island rather than entertain a sophisticated romance. A pretend wedding binds them so, of course, the stupid heroine flees from the suggestion of real passion and runs back to the path of least resistance, her bland but titled boyfriend.

From there it's a glimpse of England and its mannered society with the snooty future MIL outlining how life will be in the best noblesse oblige way, the shallow greedy parents, and the slightly batty Great Aunt. No tea sandwiches that I can remember sadly.

Then there's the romance. Only there isn't. Matt comes to town and miscommunication and mistakes happen that are manufactured and boring. I don't think the heroine is a gold-digger or a social climber, but as I said she takes the path of least resistance getting engaged to the town's little lordling which helps her worthless father.

She finally ditches Lord Boring and then dithers around because she's afraid that Matt will think she is only after his money. Who knows? He deserved better.

I was hoping for one more scene with the potential MIL as in ,"How could you drop my precious son, you lowlife chick!", but didn't happen.