This is a short taster of a Barbara Cartland book.
I was an avid reader of Barbara Cartland novels and loved them. Her writing is what got me interested in the historical romance genre. I would describe this is a condensed novel with most of the details taken out.
The plot of the story is great and would be an interesting read/listen, however this version skips through it all so quickly. It feels like there is a lot missing. I really liked Lavinia and was looking forward to what was going to happen when she ran away. But it was a bit of a disappointment as she didn’t get far, and the story ended.
So much potential for a great longer story which I would love to read.

The narrator did a great job and has a lovely voice.

This is a novelette, so there is no space to portray something deeper - and one of these Barbara Cartland´s works where I do not feel any romantic tension (her books are hit or miss in this area for me). Maybe because the the love at first sight as portrayed here is too impossible even for this genre, accompanied with a marriage at the lightspeed.

Otherwise, I applaud the authoress for trying to break the genre in showing how the arranged marriages might not be the stuff of dreams and how the unhappy orphan child might play a role of an Amor here.

As for the narrator - I think that she reads the novel in the old-fashioned way. Maybe this was the order, maybe she feels that Barbara Cartland´s novel should be read this way - but it takes out any fresh approach and it does not help the improbable romance to be played out a bit more believably.

It's hard to know how to review this audiobook. It's a good audiobook and the narrator does a great job. This book is an old school bonkers romance novel. I generally like the characters, but there's a lot of gross stuff. The heroine is described as child-like. Her father SUCKS and her sisters are tragic. We spend a lot of time being told what a rake the hero is, but he seems boring mostly. It sort of seems like the hero and heroine get together in order to raise a child which sucks. I think if you are into this kind of romance, you will enjoy it, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who isn't very familiar with the genre.

This was my first Barbara Cartland ever. It was short and clean, with forgettable characters, and not much of a plot. It was OK, as romances go, but it felt a bit rushed. Sure, the title hints at love at first sight, but still, the declaration of love was somewhat unexpected at that point.
The narrator, Sarah Lambie, does a great job, it was really nice listening to her doing all the different characters and voices.
I had expected it being written shortly after WWII, because the author seems to hate Germans, and I was surprised to find it was only first published in 1989. Then again, the author, like my grandmother, lived through both world wars, and who knows what she suffered through for her to hold her grudge and prejudices until her old age. Since I don't know any of her other novels, I have no idea whether this is a recurrent theme, or was just used to make the rake want to marry someone else more convincing.
As romance novels go, this was OK: there is the rake. the recalcitrant virgin, the authoritative parent, and all is well that ends well -- in that respect, it doesn't really differ much from Bridgerton, which seems to have hit a nerve with many people.

If all you ask from a booklet is a sweet little story in a gorgeous setting, this book is certainly for you-

My thanks go to saga Egmont via Netgalley for my review copy of this audio book.

I’m pretty sure I might have read a Barbara Cartland book before (in my younger days) cause my mom had a huge collection of Harlequin’s books so I can’t believe there was not at least one of Cartland’s books in there. But because I have the memory of a fish, I do not remember :D so let’s just consider this was my very first!

This book was pretty easy to listen to and, considering how short it was, it went so fast. Before I could know it the end was already there. The story kept me intrigued and needless to say my favourite character was the little boy! Such a cute and sweet character! I did however go into this book expecting lots of romance cause, I’ve heard Cartland’s the Queen of romance. But then, I’d say only the last 15% of the book did involved the 2 characters interacting together, and even then, it was really "love at first sight". (I know, you are telling yourself: Come on Mire, was it really a surprise? The book title is LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, duh.) I know, I know, but in my naive mind, I thought they’d see each other, fall in love but refuse to admit it, you know... Like, totally normal sane people who love to be in pain for a long time for no reason (which, somehow, I enjoy in books). ’twas not that. With 15% of the book to wrap things up you’ll understand it was a real case of love at first sight, the I don’t even doubt you type of thing, we are made for each other story, and we will live happily ever after no question asked! So, for me, it was a little disappointing. I felt like the romance part of the book was really minimal and left me rather unsatisfied.

I did enjoy the majority of the book though and still think the story was fun and interesting, I just wished for a little more on the romance side. Oh and before I forget (fish memory here!) the narration was fantastic!

Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio for the free ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I haven’t read a Barbara Cartland book in 40 years and jumped at the chance to listen to one now. Cartland famously once declared she only uses eight plots in her books. This is when she wrote multiple books a year which are clean with some kissing. This is an audio book of a story first published in 1989. The narrator does a good job with the story doing different voices for characters.

The Marquis of Rakemoore has it all, the best houses, the best horses, all the wealth he needs. But when Queen Victoria decides he’s should settle down to avoid her selection of a German relative he decides to accept a suggestion of his neighbor the Duke of Cumberworth and become engaged to his daughter. Lady Lavinia, is 18 and is shocked when informed she is to be betrothed to a man she hasn’t met. She hasn’t had her first season yet. She is more alarmed because the arranged marriages of her two sisters are not happy. She decides to runaway. Along the way she saves the life Robin, a boy who happens to be the nephew of Rake.

Honestly the book has aged well. Cartland spins a good story with clear characters and motivations. She knows the rules of the time period and the men, Lavinia's father and Rake, have all the power. Lavinia is sweet, especially in dealing with Robin who is grieving the loss of his mother. For me it falls apart as a romance because as the title says this is love at first sight. Rake only speaks to her twice before they are professing their feelings for each other. (He is overcome with her beauty and kindness.) And the ending feels abrupt as everything is solved and handled in a day.

I think others will enjoy the story if they enjoy shorter, clean romances. Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio for an audiobook in exchange for an honest review.