A Shaft of Sunlight

A Shaft of Sunlight is #149 in the Bantam series and was published in December 1981. Giona meets the Duke of Alverstode when he visits her uncle's house in order to look over her cousin as a potential mate for his cousin and ward. He rescues Giona, who is abused by her uncle, and takes her to his grandmother thinking that she might be a suitable wife for his cousin!

The scene on this cover is when Giona is being presented to the Duke after staying with his grandmother. She is healthy and wears a pretty regency gown decorated with flowers. We see the sunset in the window behind them which illuminates Giona. It's a colorful picture.

An Innocent in Russia

An Innocent in Russia is #148 in the Bantam series and was published in November 1981. Zelina Tiverton lives with her aunt and uncle, but her aunt wishes her out of the way, so she sends her to Russia to stay with an important family. On the way she meets the elusive Lord Charnock, who saves her from a Russian Prince's unwanted advances!

I think this is such a sweet cover! Our hero greets the pretty heroine, who is wearing a pink gown typical of the 1830's. You can tell that they like each other and maybe it's deeper than that!

I always liked Cartland's books set in Russia because it was a exotic place of mystery and fear growing up in the 1970's when Russia was the enemy of the USA.

Gift of the Gods

Gift of the Gods is #147 in the Bantam series and was published in November 1981. Alisa and her sister, Penelope, dream up a plan to get them into London's high society. They earn money by selling homemade face creams, which bring Alisa to the attention of the Earl of Keswick!

This cover shows our two heroines and the Earl, who is escorting them to a ball. They are both dressed in white, but dresses with different ornamentation. Both are typical of the regency dress of the time. Again, a signature is on the bottom left corner of the illustrator.

The River of Love

The River of Love is #146 in the Bantam series and was published in October 1981. The Duke of Darleston decides to travel in his yacht to Egypt after his mistress decides to marry another. He meets Irisa in the tomb of the Kings and finds a love that is timeless!

This book cover shows our couple in Egypt among the pyramids. Our couple look like they are about to be wed. The heroine's probably wearing her best dress, while the hero wears a light suit, practical for the climate. There is a signature at the bottom left corner of the artist.

A Portrait of Love

A Portrait of Love is #145 in the Bantam series and was published in September 1981. Fedora is looking for a way to obtain money when a letter arrives from the Earl of Heversham asking her father, who is talented in restoring paintings, to come and inspect his for needed repairs. She doesn't realize that she will find her future husband there!

This cover shows our couple outside his estate. Our heroine wears a blue gown that was fashionable during the 1840's when Queen Victoria began her reign. She is very pretty! Our hero is very dashing. I don't really like the yellow background; otherwise, it's a great cover!

Winged Magic

Winged Magic is #144 in the Bantam series and was published in September 1981. Mina takes the place of her friend Christine and travels to Vent Royal, where Christine's stepmother is trying to marry her lover, the Marquis, to her step-daughter!! Christine ends up stopping the marriage and finds a love of her own!

This is a very elegant cover with our heroine, very pretty in a green bustle gown, playing with the doves in front of the dovecote. Our hero stands behind, as if he's just happened upon her. It's another cover where the heroine's gown is the focal point of the picture.

Enchanted

Enchanted is #143 in the Bantam series and was published in August 1981. Lady Elfa Allerton finds a way to keep her sister from marrying the Duke of Lynchester, who wishes to marry into their family to gain the 10.000 acres that a past duke sold to her relatives. She asks him to marry her, instead!

This is a very risque cover for a Barbara Cartland book! It depicts a scene where our heroine goes for a swim in a nearby lake after she and the hero are married. There is a signature, but I can't read the name of the illustrator. I wonder what Barbara thought of this cover?? There are a few others, done around 1985, that were also questionable.