Reviews for Alone in Paris

The average rating for Alone in Paris based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-08-29 00:00:00 Mike Bauer Rating: 4 1/2 Peeps may think of Barbara Cartland as a romance relic of the past, and they could not be more wrong. She is one of the Grand Dames of Romantic lit along with Victoria Holt, Georgette Heyer, Barbara Metzger and the like. Ms. Cartland precedes the bodice rippers that later followed in the forms of Natasha Peters, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Susan Johnson and Johanna Lindsey. Dame Cartland knows her business when it comes to romance and Love in all its purity with human beings at their finest. Her most dastardly heroes are transformed into chivalrous beaus willing to post the banns with a virginal waif or feisty heiress who has suffered enough to make her far more fascinating than the mindless debutantes of the Season. Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking. It's the Man of the World and the Sweet Innocent, how cliched. How limiting, boring, old-fashioned, what dross. But for me, the H/h of these tales represent what is the most noble and ideal of Love in its various progression. And not go all Greco-Christian philosophical on ya,--so what if I am?--but I like to believe that the study of the four definitions of Love are always underlined in Dame Cartland's books- 1. Storge- empathy for others 2. Philia- friendship 3. Eros- sexual passion 4. Agape- all consuming love without limits In Alone in Paris the very snobbish and world-weary Duke meets the convent educated and extremely sheltered Una, who is naive, selfless and intelligent. Sadly, her inexperience makes her a target for unscrupulous types whose hearts are filled with avarice, lust and immorality. At first, the H believes she is too good to be true. This paragon is a well-trained actress to entice him. He has been played the fool before! So I was able to cut him some slack when he was being very stupid at times. The beauty of this story is when his transformation is completed, how the Four Loves are brilliantly revealed in his actions, thoughts and words. He learns to feel empathy for this young girl and eventually is willing to make a true sacrifice on behalf of Una by doing what is right. Peeps may feel that Dame Cartland's works or from a distant time and place but I disagree. If you look at her life's achievements and what she stood for, along with her various charities and causes--including creating a safe-haven for the Rom people--then you will agree that she understood Love. Which is why, her works are immortal and are still very valid today.

Review # 2 was written on 2021-09-10 00:00:00 Mauricio Ibanez Ridiculous and corny and implausible and adorable, just like Barbara Cartland herself lol. If you want a better version of a Paris turn of the century love story between a wide-eyed innocent and a charming, older roué, may I suggest the works of Colette?