Alicia is the daughter of a duke and Queen Victoria is using royal relatives to firm the borders of many European countries. When Alicia is sent to Rasgrad to marry the prince, she is resigned. A train derailment causes her to lose her memory and her chaperones are killed, so she assumes that she's part of the traveling troupe aboard, who nurse her back to health. Once healthy, she performs for a ruler of a small country who falls in love with her.
There is a lot that is wrong with this cover: first of all, it doesn't look at all like a Cartland romance. Secondly, the eye is just plain creepy. Third, it gives the reader no clue about the story or plot.
Also, Cartland's nom de plume is an odd choice. I don't know why she did this, since she's better known by her real name and this story isn't out of the ordinary for her. Marcus was the name of the hero in one of her books made into a tv movie, so that could be why she likes the name!
Marcus Belfrey was the name of a novelist in a series of commercials by MCI Mail in the mid-90's. Gramercy Press was the name of the publishing house pursuing Mr. Belfrey. And by using MCI Mail, Gramercy could show Mr. Belfrey how "with it" they were, thus securing publishing rights. So MCI probably hired Ms. Cartland to writh this "tie-in" book." Intrigued?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very interesting!!
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