Love at Forty

Love at Forty was published by Pyramid (US) in 1977. It is the story of 40 year old Malcolm Worthington, who is proposed to by Marcia, a woman desperate to return to England. Once they are married, however, she is concerned that their marriage of convenience may be all to her advantage.

Francis Marshall creates a lovely cover with our couple on horseback in a pretty wood. Our hero is pensive and handsome while our heroine is very pretty! It's a typical English picture and another nice work from Marshall.

Nowadays, a book with this title would have the heroine at age 40!

Love Forbidden

Love Forbidden is an Arrow (UK) publication from 1971. Aria Milbourne despises society and its arrogant living after her father squandered all of his wealth, leaving Aria and her brother to try and save their family home, Queen's Folly. She gets a job with an American named Dan Huron, a famous polo player and this takes her back into a society she hates. Can she find love in this world?

Francis Marshall shows our couple in the heroine's house of Queen's Folly, since we see a painting of Queen Elizabeth in the background. Our heroine clutches a handful of mail and is awkwardly touching some flowers. The hero stands behind her but in front of an ancient suit of armor. He is dressed in casual riding wear. I think that FM illustrated their faces too quickly or blurry for my taste. What do you think?

Lost Enchantment

Lost Enchantment was published in 1975 (UK) Arrow and 1976 (US) Pyramid versions seen pictured.

Sylvina lives on the estate of the Marquis of Alton. Her brother is planning on marrying her off to a worthless man who she detests. When the Marquis meets her and helps her dog, she realizes that he is everything a man should be and fate draws them together to solve both of their problems!

This is another example where the US version of the cover is enlarged. We see our couple sitting in the field and see the deer behind the tree.

The UK version is full length and we note the heroine's bonnet and tiny feet as she sits in the field. For some reason, this version is brighter than the other picture. I like the greens and yellows of the leaves. Enjoy the differences in these pictures!

The Little Pretender

The Little Pretender has a 1971 Arrow (UK) publication date and a September 1975 US Pyramid one. It is a story set in Scotland in the 1700's after Bonnie Prince Charlie met defeat at Culloden Moor. Iona agrees to pretend to be the lost sister of the Duke of Arkrae in order to see if he is loyal to the prince. However, the plot is compromised when Iona falls in love with the Duke who she will have to leave if he's loyal and betray, if he's not!

Francis Marshall illustrated our couple close up in the Pyramid book. We see our beautiful heroine, in purple and green, with the hero nearby wearing a tricorn hat and ornate overcoat with lace cravat! Note the highlander in the lower left corner.

The Arrow (UK) book has our couple in an embrace. We see the full dress of our heroine and a larger illustration of the highlander, who could be a servant of the hero. It looks like a parting with the highlander holding a horse. I like the mix of colors in this picture. Click on both to enlarge!

A Light to the Heart

A Light to the Heart was published by Arrow (UK) in June 1971. Elita Garson was wealthy and beautiful, but not happy. She left home and decided to be loved for herself, which brought her many adventures, but also the happiness of living her own life and loving someone special!

Francis Marshall illustrates our couple at the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark. Our heroine is pretty in a blue suit and our hero handsome and blond. They seem to be serious rather than just sightseers. The illustration seems to have an indistinct quality with the flowers looking unfocused along with the water and background. The statue is unique and famous. I like the fluidity of our heroine's hair which seems to mimic the clouds above.

Lights of Love

Lights of Love is unique in that I have 3 different Francis Marshall illustrations for this book! It is a story about Taryna, who is drawn into a disguise by her friend Kit, who has her pose as a Canadian heiress to please Kit's snobbish mother. Taryna ends up falling in love with a man who could never love the daughter of a poor vicar!

Francis Marshall illustrates 3 different covers for this book! The Arrow (UK) "long gown" version was published in 1975. We see our couple out on the town and our heroine is elegant in a long white gown with sequins and a wrap!

The Arrow (UK) "short gown" version was published in 1970 and is probably the original for this book. Typical of the day and style, it's an exact replica of the 1975 version, except for the mini skirt on the dress!

The Pyramid (US) version, published in 1977, shows our heroine in the same outfit, but a close up of our couple in an embrace. It's an intriguing cover and different from the 2 UK ones.

I wonder why FM needed to update and change the covers? Paperback romances had longer shelf lives and more printings than many books nowadays. We know that Cartland was a prolific and popular writer in the 1970's, so the demand for her books was great. We may never know why FM did 3 poses for this book, but I was glad to find them and encourage you to bring to my notice any extra covers for those that I have listed in this blog!

The Leaping Flame

The Leaping Flame is an Arrow (UK) publication from 1973. This story by Barbara Cartland is set during WW2 and is about Mona, a young girl who left home to have a love affair, which she thought she had kept secret. But secrets have a way of coming into the light and she finds that maybe she could love Michael, the local squire, after all. What will he say when all her secrets are revealed?

Francis Marshall shows our couple in a living room dressed formally. Our heroine is pretty in a bright yellow dress and emerald jewelry! Our hero is dashing and handsome as he is proposing? I like the bowl of orchids on the table and the green sofa which seems to accentuate the heroine. Enjoy!