Theft of a Heart

Theft of a Heart by Barbara Cartland is an interesting story about Amanda and her brother who are out to avenge the suicide death of their father due to his unscrupulous business partners. They have blackmailed everyone but one man and this dangerous event shows Amanda who she really loves!

Francis Marshall illustrated the Pyramid (US) cover in August 1978. It shows our couple near a swimming pool. Our hero clutches the heroine, who is trying to move away.

Note the difference in the Arrow (UK) cover from 1972. Our hero is wearing a suit jacket and our heroine is dressed in a blouse and skirt. We see a wheelchair in the background and wonder if our hero uses it. She seems to be imploring the hero to help her, maybe with something outside since the french door is open. Which cover do you like better?

Sweet Punishment

Sweet Punishment by Barbara Cartland was published in 1979 (US) and 1971 (UK) in paperback. It's a case of hate at first sight when Lady Diana Stanlier meets Ian Carstairs. He returns from Africa with a message from a dying man who loved Diana. So she decides to teach him a lesson in love! The Jove (US) cover shows our hero in Scottish kilt and our heroine struggling with him. She is very pretty, but obviously angry. I like this cover better than the other. The Arrow (UK) cover shows our couple in the midst of an argument with the heroine about to hit the hero with a riding crop! I think her riding outfit is very odd and looks unattractive, which is unusual for a cover by Francis Marshall! The hero is dashing in his suit, though! Which cover is your favorite?

Sweet Adventure

Sweet Adventure is set during the 1700's. Ventura is sent by her dying mother to Madrid and she disguises herself as a page and gets hired by Lord Lynke, who travels towards an arranged marriage with a rich Spanish lady! Ventura fools Lord Lynke until secrets are revealed and they fall in love. Cartland wrote a few Georgian set plots and they are great stories!

Francis Marshall illustrates two different covers for this book. The Pyramid (US) cover has our couple in regency dress and our heroine dressed as a girl. While it is very well done, it could have been used for any of Cartland's regency novels.

The Arrow (UK) cover is more accurate in description. Our heroine is dressed as a boy page and our hero and others in the fashion of the mid 1700's. They stand in a courtyard and the hero prepares to defend himself. Note the menacing figure on the left and the beautiful lady on the right. I like this cover better since it fits the plot of the story.

Stolen Halo

Stolen Halo was published by Arrow in 1973 and is a story about Doreen, a young girl who has been living in Cairo after the death of her bigamist husband. At her lowest point, she comes up with a daring plan to exchange places with a dead English girl in order to start a new life!

Francis Marshall illustrates the cover of this book, which is set around 1940. To me, it's an indistinct cover. We see our hero and heroine, but it's like looking through a lens. They are dressed for dinner in a hot climate and we see the palm trees and native waiters in the background.

Stars in My Heart

Stars in My Heart is the story of Gisela, who is asked by the Empress Elizabeth to impersonate her on a visit to Lord Quenby! However, it isn't the older Lord that she meets, but his handsome son who falls in love with a women he thinks is Empress Elizabeth!!

Francis Marshall illustrates two different covers for this story. The Pyramid (US) one shows our couple meeting for the first time. Our heroine wears an elegant blue carriage suit, trimmed in brown. We see his imposing mansion behind him. I like the bouquet of flowers that he holds, ready to give to the Empress!

The Arrow (UK) version illustrates our couple before an elegant dinner or ball. Our hero wears a long tailed jacket while our heroine is divine in white with diamond stars scattered in her hair. I think the red sofa is a bit clashing and the lights in the background draw our attention away from the heroine.

Empress Elizabeth of Austria was a real person. She was very beautiful but had an unhappy marriage, endured the death of a few children, and was assassinated in 1898.

The Secret Fear

The Secret Fear by Barbara Cartland is the story of Arabella, who is sent to live in the house of the Marquis of Meridale and care for a child who lives there. The Marquis is off fighting the Napoleonic Wars and a local highwayman is using his house as a cover. When the marquis returns, he is intrigued with Arabella, but other issues interfere before they can fall in love!

Francis Marshall painted 2 very different covers for this story. The Jove (US) one shows our couple standing outside. Our heroine holds a rose and is wearing a white dress trimmed in blue. The hero is handsome in a typical Cartland way and holds her. Note the menacing highwayman in the background!

The Arrow (UK) cover is less menacing, but very pretty. Our heroine is lovely in a pink gown with a bonnet in her lap. Her hair is loose, which would be unusual. She sits in a phaeton with the hero and we see a groom standing on the back. The hero holds the reins loosely while he converses with the heroine. Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Update: Reader Tracey J reminded me that there was an old hardcover of this title with a different cover which I believe is also another Francis Marshall and am adding it today! Thanks, Tracey!!

The Reluctant Bride

The Reluctant Bride by Barbara Cartland is the story of Camilla, who is on her way to marry the Prince of Meldenstein and thus save her family from financial disaster and her mother's life. While traveling, she meets Hugo Cheverly, who seems to hate her, but ends up saving her from a diabolical prince! I remember this being a great story!!

The Pyramid (US) copy is a loud yellow with Francis Marshall's illustration in a circle, which was a popular style in the 1970's. We see our very pretty heroine, the dashing hero on her left, the villainous prince and his oriental henchman! Our heroine wears a pretty ball gown of white and blue trimmings.

The Arrow (UK) cover shows our couple on ship. Our heroine wears a green cloak over a simple white gown and looks very young with her hair down. Our hero is dashing in a regency great coat! We see other ships nearby, which suggest that they are near shore. The wind blows her cloak and gown and she clasps the cloak at the neck. Which cover is your favorite?