Escapade

"Escapade" is an unusual romance that while technically Regency and featuring several British characters, takes place in Sicily.

Charlotte Comyn, a 17-year-old, sad and apparently anorexic, flees her family and her mother's former friend Beth Prior takes her in. They travel to Sicily, which surprised me that Charlotte's mother allowed it, as Beth is an actress and a demimondaine.

What follows is an interesting tale of multiple suitors, court intrigue, villains, and even kidnapping. The perspective of the native Sicilians in how they regard the English is interesting. Learning about actual historical characters is educational, and not in a boring way. I found myself reading more about the period online.

This is both a coming-of-age story for Charlotte and a character-improving one for Beth. There is, however, a particular idiotic action by Charlotte around the 70% mark. After all, she is 17, and she does acquit herself.

There are a few references to sex but the novel is clean. The prose is a delight. I've read just a few of this author's novels. This one, and "Runaway Bride", are my favorite ones so far. IMO, both characters end up with the right men.

Charlotte is running away from her life as she sees it now. This story is different from most of this time period as it does have the political happenings of Sicily in it. Charlotte has run to Beth who is now a singer but in the past had been the maid to Charlotte's mother. They go to Sicily and have many adventures there. Beth gets close to the queen and Charlotte gets herself into some tight spots. An interesting and different story from the norm.

I liked this unusual story, it's well written and well researched, engrossing and entertaining.
I liked the fleshed out cast of characters, the historical background and the plot.
The description of the political situation and life in Sicily were vivid and realistic.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Charlotte wants a new life. At the age of 18 and heiress to a fortune she is not at all happy. She's not happy that her childhood friend John proposed. She feels it was all a setup by their parents.
Dressing in her brother's clothes she escapes to a past friend of her mother's, Beth. Beth is in show business and so doesn't have the best credentials, but she's also her own woman. That is held in high regard in Charlotte's eyes.
After getting 5he family's permission both women set off to Palmero. There they are faced with political intrigue, the fight for power and ruthlessness if anything imaginable.
Both come to the conclusion that their problems would have been better faced at home instead if running away.
A fun love story, full of adventure.

Originally published in 1993 and now available as an ebook, Escapade is solid historical fiction. There are a couple of slow-burn romances, but it doesn't have the shape of a romance novel.

Beth Prior agrees to journey with her long-time paramour to Sicily, where the king and queen of Naples are in exile during the Napoleonic War. She is accompanied by a young friend, an heiress who has fled her unhappy family situation. There they find welcome, a bit of romance, and danger.

Solid characterizations and well-written plot.