'Silk' by Penny Jordan.
I thought it was time to experience something from the romance genre. 'Silk' is an easy read set around 1930 and based in the fabric industry.
Disappointingly the heroine, Amber, is a shallow character with (so far) few interesting characteristics, although this does give rise to moments of unintentional humour:
"...Amber felt as though she was walking on air, hugging to herself the knowledge that no matter what happened to her in her life, no one would ever be able to take from her the pleasure of buying her Chanel bag." 
The blurb says Penny Jordan is a mentor to new writers; Penny Jordan also writes sentences like:
"Aix-en-Provence, even though seen merely from the window of their wagon-lits, had literally seized her heart..." 
A geographical region has apparently ruptured our heroine's sternum, and taken hold of one of her major organs!! If only.
It's quite an enjoyable read; but mainly for the wrong reasons. I won't read any more of Jordan's books, but I'm sure I'll find better Romance novels to further my education.