Books › In Times Like These
In Times Like These
First published 1980 · 388 pages
A vintage romantic romp that blends mid-century glamour with light espionage and the irresistible tension of a fake engagement.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a glamorous, mid-century cinematic romp, complete with sharp suits, secret agents, and breathless romance. The pace is brisk and engaging, carrying you effortlessly from the doldrums of a drab office into a whirlwind of high-stakes espionage and high-society charades. Its mood is a delightful blend of cozy nostalgia and light, thrilling suspense, wrapping the reader in an atmosphere of vintage glamour. The prose is charmingly earnest, leaning into the melodrama of broken hearts and patriotic duty with a sincerity that feels wonderfully of its time. It is a perfect escape for readers who love classic romantic suspense, where the danger is just thrilling enough to push two reluctant allies into an inevitable, swoon-worthy romance.
- Mood
- vintage-glamorous
- cozy-thrilling
- swoony
- nostalgic
- Tone
- earnest
- melodramatic
- romantic
- patriotic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- healing from heartbreak · unexpected love · the thrill of the charade · finding purpose · duty and patriotism
- The writing
- Charmingly dated and earnest, featuring glamorous descriptions, breathless dialogue, and a distinctly mid-century cadence.
- The arc
- The protagonist moves from bitter disillusionment and heartbreak to thrilling purpose and genuine, sweeping romance.
- Who it's for
- Readers who adore vintage romantic suspense, wholesome mid-century espionage, and the classic fake-dating trope.
Content notes
- mild peril
- sexism typical of the era
About the book
Young, beautiful, embittered Page Wilburn staggered under the impact of a callously broken engagement. Her only solace was her drab secretarial job. Suddenly winter turned to spring. Page was swept into the whirlwind of international intrigue as the in-name-only fiance of a dashing undercover agent investigating treason in our space program.
Description from Open Library.
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