Because this book is so very typical of the time period, I can't be too hard on it. But I can mock it ruthlessly, so there's that.

This is the takeaway: There is actually a good story back there, but the love story is not the good story.

The woman has come to France to meet the grandmother she never knew existed. She is unaware that her grandmother believes that her father and mother stole a painting 25 years ago and has hated them ever since.

The man is the step-grandson of the long-lost grandmother. He is fiercely loyal to the grandmother and very suspicious of the woman.

So, the backstory is pretty interesting, but the love story is basically:

Him: GROWL
Her: cower in confusion
Him: I HATE YOU AND SHALL USE GOOD MANNERS TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH I DETEST YOU.
Her: cower while admiring how handsome he is; wonder why he is so angry
Him: I HATE YOU. YOU SHALL KISS ME NOW.
Her: I don't want to kiss you.
Him: TOO BAD! [forces kiss on her]
Her: No! No! Ooh, I like this so much!
Him: ARGH! I HAD AN EMOTION THAT WASN'T ANGER! HOW DARE YOU!
Her: Cower in confusion; try not to cry.
Him: YOU DID SOMETHING INTERESTING! YOU SHALL KISS ME NOW.
Her: I don't want.... mmm kisses
Him: HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME FEEL THINGS?!
Her: Cower in confusion

Then he nearly rapes her twice, declaring that he will take what he wants and she can't stop him; he barely stops himself, then he is angry with her again.

Him: WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU ARE A VIRGIN? HOW DARE YOU AROUSE ME WHEN I FORCE YOU TO KISS ME! HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME STOP FORCING YOU TO HAVE SEX WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE A VIRGIN!
(seriously, this is the level of logic we are dealing with)

Then he leads her to believe that he is in love with someone else and still forces kisses on her every time she says something to contradict him or to try to stand up for herself.

When she finally manages to get through an angry kiss without having some over-the-top sexual reaction, he is angrier and confused. She tells him she has "reached her humiliation quota for the day" and storms off. He is puzzled by her reaction and leaves her alone for two days.

Then she goes to her room and worries about how she is totally in love with this arrogant man whom she does not even like. Oh! Whatever shall she do? Now he isn't even paying attention to her! Despair! Confusion!

FINALLY, at the very end of the book, after all that seemed wrong is now right, after a series of events that prove she is of unimpeachable character, he declares that he loves her and finally gives her a very gentle, loving kiss. They go joyfully together to tell the grandmother that she was right about their suitability for each other all the time.

Their words of undying love are in quotes; paraphrases are not.
Him: "You are disturbingly independent, stubborn, and impulsive, but I love you."
Her: "And you are overbearing, arrogant, and disturbingly confident, but I love you."
Him: You will marry me.
Her: You should ask.
Him: I FORCE YOU TO KISS ME AGAIN!
Her: "We are going to fight constantly."
Him: "I look forward to it."
Her: "Very well. I'll marry you."

And they live happily ever after.

Ah 1982. These books really show how much more rape culture permeated our culture back then compared to now. ( )