A Rainbow to Heaven

A Rainbow to Heaven is an Arrow (UK) printing from 1976. Diana Headley finds herself penniless after the suicide of her father and flees to friends in the country where she meets and falls in love with Barry Dunbar. How can they marry when she's poor and disgraced? This book is set in 1930 after the stock market crash that ruined many wealthy people.

Francis Marshall illustrates our couple in a garden outside a castle! We see a rainbow behind them as the hero holds a rose to give to our heroine. She is pretty with a 1970's hairdo and trademark FM features! It's a simple, colorful cover.

The Pretty Horse-Breakers

The Pretty Horse-Breakers by Barbara Cartland is the story of Candida Walcott, who needs to sell her most cherished possession: her horse. The man she tries to sell him to offers her a job as a horse-breaker in his riding school. She accepts, not realizing that it's really a world of high-paid mistresses and that causes a problem when she meets and falls in love with Lord Manville!

Francis Marshall illustrated two different covers for this story and the Pyramid (US) one from 1977 shows our couple out riding in the park during the horse-breaker's event. Our heroine is very pretty in a white riding habit which sets off her black horse! We see our hero looking on behind her and others in the park.

The Arrow (UK) cover from 1973 emphasizes the park and the event. We see our heroine in the same outfit, but the hero is more defined and also are the other horse-breakers and men watching them. The statue in the park is also clear as well as Candida's horse!

Horse-breakers were real and described just as Cartland stated during the 1800's in London.

The Passionate Pilgrim

The Passionate Pilgrim was published in 1976 (US) and 1977 (UK). Both were later printing editions.

Randal Gray, the passionate pilgrim, is a successful London playwright who is being pursued by two very different women. While vacationing in France, he meets Sorella, the daughter of an aging actor and realizes that she may be what he has been seeking all along!

The Pyramid (US) cover shows our couple sitting in an auditorium that is very ornate. Our heroine is very pretty with her blue eyes and long black hair. The hero looks over her shoulder and contemplates a rehearsal. We see some of the crew in the background.

The UK (Arrow) cover is similar, except that our couple is standing in the same auditorium with ladies in the background. Our hero holds the same script while our heroine has a different hairdo and looks more 1960's. Which is your favorite cover?

Out of Reach

Out of Reach is an Arrow (UK) publication written by Barbara Cartland in 1970. Lydia Stanfield has been confined to a wheelchair for the past 6 years and sees her marriage crumble as her handsome husband, Ivan, a musician, has been having affairs. Since she can't change him, she tries to notice the problems and concerns of others and hopes, someday, to regain her mobility.

Francis Marshall illustrates our couple and shows the differences in their health with our hero, strong and healthy, while his wife is confined to the wheelchair. We see a visitor in a bikini and the couple's grown children in the water behind. It's an interesting cover because we can't tell if the visitor is a threat to the marriage or just another friend of the children! I like the touches of the lemonade and glasses on the table and the yellow and green combined make it seem like a warm summer day!

Open Wings

Open Wings is another great Barbara Cartland romance about Lorna, who lives in the country and cares for her motherless siblings when she meets Jimmy Braith, a wounded airman, who she quickly falls in love with and marries. Once married, though, problems set in until love makes all things right again!

The Pyramid edition dates from 1976 and Francis Marshall shows our couple up close. Our heroine carries a basket of fruit that the hero tries to take from her! She wears a typical 1970's hairdo, even though the story is set during WW2! It's a pretty cover.

The Arrow (UK) version also dates from 1976, but the cover has an earlier printing of 1971, which is evident in the cover. Our heroine here wears a pink dress and her hairdo is closer to the styles of the 1940's. Our hero wears a similar blue jacket and is opening the gate for our heroine. In the background, we see the outline of a house. It's interesting to see the similarities and differences in these covers and I feel that the US version was updated for marketing purposes!

The Odious Duke

The Odious Duke is the story of the Duke of Selchester, who decides to marry in order to keep his cousin and heir away from his title. He wants a submissive blonde, blue-eyed lady, but meets Venetia, a brown haired beauty with problems that only he can solve!

The Pyramid (US) version was published in 1977 and shows our couple outside and in some danger, as shown by the revolver held by the hero. They wear outside Regency garb and the hero is elegant in his top hat and caped coat while our heroine is adorable in pink!

The Arrow (UK) version from 1973 shows our couple sitting inside. Our heroine wears a lovely yellow gown, which is less Regency and more victorian, since the book takes place in 1824. Note the puffed sleeves and high neckline. Her topknot hairdo was also Victorian. Our hero wears a teal jacket and white pantaloons. Both covers are interesting and great examples of Marshall's work!

No Heart is Free

No Heart is Free was published by Arrow (UK) in 1973. Lord Brora is heartbroken after being jilted by a girl who hopes to marry the man in line to become the next prime minister. He turns to Jean for solace; she is in the same unhappy position. How they realize that they are perfect for one another is the plot of this romance from Barbara Cartland!

Francis Marshall illustrates our couple on the ski slopes of Moritz! Our heroine sits in a horse drawn sleigh while our hero talks to her. They are dressed for skiing and our heroine wears an elegant hat and matching scarf. The colors are very typical for the 1970's. It's a departure from Marshall's elegant, dressy covers!