Monday, January 31, 2011

Revenge of the Heart


Revenge of the Heart is #14 in the Camfield series and was published in October 1984. Warren Wood is walking along the Seine when he sees a fellow Englishwoman who looks as if she's about to jump into the river. He finds out that Nadia has just lost her mother and he comes up with a plan to help her and himself, as he is pursued by a beauty who only wants a title.

This is a pretty cover of our hero rescuing the heroine in Paris. We see a lovely riverwalk and the lights twinkling above the river. Our heroine looks startled as the hero approaches her.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

White Lilac


White Lilac is #13 in the Camfield series and was published in September 1984. While fogged in, the Duke of Marazion is resting at an unknown inn when he is interrupted by Ilitta, a lovely artist, who seeks shelter from another man. He takes her to London, where she was bound on the stagecoach, because she is a talented caricaturist and he hopes to help her get a job.

This is an interesting cover, because, while our heroine is a artist, she isn't creating full length portraits as the cover implicates. A cartoonist or caricaturist would probably use pen and ink for their drawings. I do like her blue gown which should have an apron over to not get stained! Oh well!!

Friday, January 28, 2011

Moonight on the Sphinx


Moonlight on the Sphinx is #12 in the Camfield series and was published in August 1984. Octavia Burke is alone in Alexandria and agrees to help Kane Gordon, who is being pursued for his knowledge of a secret tomb containing a fortune. They sail up the Nile into a plot that may have Crown implications!

This book has an interesting destination cover, being set in Egypt. We see the pyramids and our couple in the moonlight enjoying an embrace! It makes you wonder if they are sightseeing or trying to find the treasure at the tomb!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Storms of Love


July 1984 is the publication date of Barbara Cartland's The Storms of Love and was published by Jove for its Camfield series! The Duke of Wydeminster travels to see the Goodwood Races and plans to stay with the Marchioness of Berkhampton since a lady he is interested in will also be there. On the way, he is stopped by Lady Aldora, the Marchioness's daughter, who tells him of a devious plot!

This is one of the prettier covers in this series with our heroine and hero embracing in a wooded area. They are dressed for the races and we see a curricle in the background that was their transportation. The background is fuzzy, but I like the details of the heroine's hairdo and dress.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Secrets


Secrets is #10 in the Jove/Camfield series and was published in June 1984. Sandra flees her home to become the companion of the Countess of Kyle. She finds romance there but it is threatened by another suitor and a Russian Princess!

OK, I know this cover art is awful! It's the beginning of what I call the "naked" books. I can't believe that Barbara Cartland was happy seeing this with her concerns for modesty and virginity, but sex sells! Unfortunately, this doesn't measure up to Francis Marshall's exquisite covers and almost demands a cover up of its own!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

A Witch's Spell


A Witch's Spell is #9 in Jove's Camfield series and was published in May 1984. Hermia Brooke, a vicar's daughter, meets a handsome gentleman in a country lane who thinks she is a farmer's daughter! The Marquis is on the way to visit Hermia's cousin's family and her cousin, Marilyn, is determined to marry him with Hermia's help!

The cover art, done by an unknown artist, shows the meeting scene of our hero and heroine. I like the rendition, other than the fact that the heroine looks like she's 13! We see the hero's horse and a grand house in the background where he may be heading!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Love Comes West


Love Comes West is #8 in the Camfield series and was published in April 1984. Adam Garson meets Lady Roberta Worth as she travels out west in America to visit her aunt. However, she finds out that her aunt is dead, but has left an adopted boy who needs care. She decides to travel with him to San Francisco, but meets Adam along the way and in the process, finds a family!

This is a pretty cover of our couple, which could easily be at the San Francisco Bay! Our heroine is pretty with a purple gown and our hero very artistic with his red cravat! This is one of the better up close covers and is very elegant!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Bride to a Brigand


Bride to a Brigand is #7 in the Jove Camfield series and was published in April 1984. Princess Ileana of Zokala is fit to rule, except her statesman decree that she must have a husband. She is courted, but finds love in the arms of an arrogant outlaw!

An unknown artist painted this cover which begins a series of heroines in white, low cut dresses! On this cover, our heroine and hero wear native traditional dress, and the heroine holds a knife as if she plans to stab herself or the hero!! She is passionate and he is calm, as he gazes down at her. The background is a riot of bright color with little definition. I miss the old Francis Marshall covers!

This is another of Barbara Cartland's romances about royalty, so if you typically like them, you should like this one, too!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Light of the Gods



Light of the Gods is #6 in the Camfield series by Jove and was published in December 1982. The BMI edition was published in 1999 in the US.

Sacha Waverley undertakes a daring masquerade at the plea of her cousin Deirdre. She is to stand in as Deirdre to care for her cousin's fiance, who has been blinded in a hunting accident. Sasha is excited to wear elegant gowns and be waited upon, until she falls in love with her patient, to her dismay.

The Camfield version shows our couple sitting on a bed with the hero's eyes bound from his injury. She is dressed in a beautiful white gown and we see the tenderness between them.

The BMI reprint has a similar picture of the hero and heroine. This may be the same cover used for the UK publication. I think this is a prettier and more elegant cover, but I love the UK cover art. BMI reprinted about a dozen of Cartland's books!

Monday, January 17, 2011

A Miracle in Music



A Miracle in Music is #5 in the Camfield series and was published in October 1982. The Corgi (UK) version was published in 1983.

The Duke of Arkholme is a great music lover and he is held up by Vanola, who is desperate for him to hear her father's music. After he hears, he must find her again!

The (Jove US) Camfield cover shows our couple getting married with a handsome best man in the background! Our heroine is pretty, but looks 13, in a very heavy, ornate looking wedding gown and large bouquet.

The Corgi (UK) cover shows our hero in a military uniform and our heroine as an elegant bride. I love the fact that they are walking down a nave or aisleway of the beautiful stone church! We don't know if this is before or after the service. No knowledge of the cover illustrator, but he did a great job on this cover!

Friday, January 14, 2011

Love and the Marquis



Love and the Marquis is #4 in the Camfield series and was published in August 1982. The Pan version (UK) was published in 1982, also.

Imeldra is happy to be done with school until she realizes that her father plans to send her to her grandmother's house because of his indiscretions. She flees to a nearby empty estate where a friend is working only to meet the Marquis of Marizon!

The (US) Camfield version shows our couple sitting on a white wrought iron bench in an embrace. Again, I'm not enthused with the cover artist, but it's a pretty picture.

The (UK) Pan version is much nicer. We see our couple sitting and talking, but you have a view of scenery outside of the window and while our heroine probably wouldn't be carrying a matching green fan, I believe everything else about her day dress is proper! They look as if they're in a gazebo or tower room. Not too sure about the statue above the heroine, though! Scary!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Lucky in Love



Lucky in Love is #3 in the Camfield series by Jove and was published in June 1982. Nelda is rescued by Lord Harleston, a distant cousin, while he is traveling out west in America, having left England and a royal command to marry! Can these two British subjects stay safe in the wild west? It is mentioned that this is Cartland's first novel set in America.

The Camfield version shows our couple hiding from Indians . Our heroine is young and pretty, but looks dressed a bit formally for the outdoors. Our hero blends into the scenery with his clothes colors.

The Pan (UK) version has almost the same scene, with the Indians on the warpath, but shows our couple a bit more hidden in the woods with our heroine wearing a green traveling dress and our hero in a light suit. I like this one better, personally. Click on either photo to enlarge.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Winged Victory



Winged Victory is #2 in the Camfield series and was published in April 1982. The British Pan edition was also published in 1982.

The Earl of Poynton is amazed when Cledra asks him to purchase her horse, Winged Victory, in order to prevent his ill treatment from her cruel uncle.

The (US) Camfield/Jove version shows our hero looking on as the heroine nuzzles with her horse. Done by an unknown artist, all we see is that it's a story about a horse and that the heroine looks about 12! Above Cartland's name is a little outline logo of a mansion, which is assumed to be Camfield.

The Pan (UK) version has a more interesting cover of the hero rescuing the heroine from a villain and an explosion! We see her horse, but he's running in the background. Again, this is done by an unknown artist, but I like this cover much better. I wonder why the Jove didn't use this cover? Which do you like better?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Poor Governess


The Poor Governess by Barbara Cartland is the beginning of the Camfield series, published by Jove books, in February 1982. The series starts with #1.

The UK edition, also pictured, was by Corgi and published in 1983. Note that I'm only offering both editions when the cover art is different.

Lara, daughter of a parson, decides to take the place of her friend, Jane, as a governess when Jane's being pestered by Lord Magor. She is also eager to see the inside of a real mansion! When everything with her scheme to teach Lord Magor a lesson goes horribly wrong, Lord Keyston takes matters into his own hands!

The Camfield (US) edition, called Camfield after Cartland's home, shows our couple riding horses. I'm not as happy with the artist of this book, since the hero looks smug and the heroine about 13!

The Corgi (UK) edition has a better cover. I love the heroine's blue gown and wish the hero had a cravet pin! Love the hallway setting. I wish Jove had used this cover art for the US version, too.

The next 5 books will have 2 different covers. I hope you enjoy them. Jove published 150 books in this Camfield series and I hope you enjoy seeing them all in one place!!

Friday, January 7, 2011

A Rebel Princess


A Rebel Princess is #183 in the Bantam series and the last of the books published by Bantam. March 1984 is the publication date. Princess Tora of Radoslav is horrified when the king of Salona wishes to marry her, because he is an old man. Before their betrothal, she helps her professor of music when his violinist is injured by performing in Salona where she meets the king's handsome son, who is also incognito!

This is a pretty cover with very heavy Star Wars elements, including the title and the hero's shirt! I love the heroine's native outfit and simple hairdo with a flower wreath, while the hero is dashing in his clothing. The little inn behind looks warm and inviting.

I will be photographing more Barbara Cartland books and begin with the Jove publications, which began in 1984 after Bantam ceased its publication. I hope you are enjoying seeing all of Barbara Cartland's romances in one place!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Scots Never Forget


The Scots Never Forget is #182 in the Bantam series and was published in February 1984. Pepita Linford is left with her niece and nephew after the death of her sister and brother-in-law. She has no money, so she takes them to uncle in Scotland. Once there, she realizes that the Duke's new wife doesn't want anything to do with her step-children and she meets Cousin Torquil, who is very kind.

This is a typical, up close, cover of our couple with the Scottish castle in the background. Our heroine wears a bustle dress, fashionable in the 1880's while our hero wears a kilt. It's a pretty night and one for sharing words of love!

Monday, January 3, 2011

Fire in the Blood


Fire in the Blood is #181 in the Bantam series and was published in January 1984. Pandia's father has died and she is surprised when her twin sister, Selene shows up, since she hasn't heard from her since she left home 3 years ago. Selene wants Pandia to impersonate her at the funeral of the Duke of Dorringcourt. She meets Lord Silvester Stone at the funeral, who has read her father's books. He is bemused, when he meets Seline later, thinking she is Pandia and wonders if he's lost his wits!!

I absolutely love this cover. The artist hit it right on with our hero escorting the heroine into the church. He is divine and she is very elegant. I love her outfit!! It should be sad since it's a funeral setting, but we see a crisp, cold winter day and the beginning of a romance.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Diona and a Dalmation


Diona and a Dalmatian is #180 in the Bantam series and was published in December 1983. Diona and her dog run away from her mean uncle and lecherous cousin to the Marquis of Irchester's house where she hopes to get employment as a kennel-maid! Once she receives an inheritance, her uncle goes looking for her! Can the Marquis save her?

This is a pretty cover of our hero carrying the heroine down the steps of a house. We see her dalmatian standing nearby and a butler in the doorway. Twilight shades the front of the house a blue color and illuminates the heroine.

I haven't realized until writing this blog how many books Barbara Cartland set in the Regency time (1811-1820). No wonder it's my favorite romance setting!