Lovers in Paradise

Lovers in Paradise is #93 in the Bantam series and was published in November 1978. It is the story of Count Viktor who is sent to Bali by the Dutch queen and meets an English girl named Roxana, who hides a secret as she lives in the forest and carves the native wood. How they end up together is the romantic plot of this exotic story by Barbara Cartland!

Francis Marshall paints our couple in a lush forest with a menacing stranger on the left and a native dancer on the right. He wears traditional late 1800's hunting gear while she wears a simple bustle gown of white muslin.

Bali was a territory of Holland. They gained their independence in 1945 and became part of Indonesia in 1949.

The Race for Love

The Race for Love is #92 in the Bantam series and was published in October 1978. It is the story of Alita, a poor relation in the home of a duke, who meets her new neighbor, the rich American, Clint Wilber. Her uncle is desperate for money and plans to sell some of his thoroughbred horses to Mr. Wilber, but needs Alita's help to do so. How Alita and Clint meet and fall in love is the romantic plot of this story!

Francis Marshall paints our couple in a large room where he places the heroine on a horse in order for her to put on a show and do tricks for the audience. Our heroine is pretty in a soft gray riding habit and seems to match the horse she's riding. Marshall creates an elegance and serenity that our heroine embodies. It's a very nice piece of art!

In the late 1800's, Englishman were realizing the vast fortunes that certain Americans had and were willing to exchange for goods and titles! For the next 20 years, there would be transactions benefiting both countries!

The Judgement of Love

The Judgement of Love is #91 in the Bantam series and was published in September 1978. It is the story of Astara, who promises her guardian to choose one of his three nephews as her husband. She loves paintings and is intrigued by Vulcan, the nephew who is also a painter!

Francis Marshall paints our couple as the heroine is modeling for the hero. She wears a regency dress with flounces while he is dressed as a typical artist! Note the funny mask on the wall! It's a very pretty cover and a nice romance story!

The guardian in the story was a collector of art and many aristocrats during this time were also collectors. Some of the great houses had paintings by many famous artists and it's fascinating to visit these places now and see their art treasures!

A Princess in Distress

A Princess in Distress is #90 in the Bantam series and was published in September 1978. It is the story of Princess Mariska, whose husband was injured by a terrorist bomb on their wedding day and is now confined to a wheelchair. He forces Mariska to spy on Lord Arkley as war clouds are forming over Europe in 1905. How Lord Arkley saves her from her abusive husband and they find love is the plot of this romance by Barbara Cartland!

Francis Marshall paints a scene of our hero rescuing the heroine from her wheelchair bound husband. Note the pistol and the sheerness of her lingerie! The orange lamps brighten up a somber background, too.

Europe was bracing for war during this time with the European countries allying themselves with and against each other. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria began the chain of events that began WW1.

The Passion and the Flower

The Passion and the Flower is #89 in the Bantam series and was published in August 1978. It is the story of Lokita and how her dancing attracts the admiration of Prince Ivan, a cousin of the Tsar but he cannot marry a commoner. How they end up together is the plot of this romantic novel by Cartland!

Francis Marshall paints a gorgeous cover for this book. Our couple stand in a candle lit garden with the heroine in a white bustle gown which looks like a wedding dress! Our hero is dashing in uniform and is taking down our heroine's hairdo! It is a very romantic cover!

As mentioned before, royalty in most countries had to marry royalty or have special permission to marry elsewhere. While men amused themselves with opera singers and ballet dancers, they did not marry them.

A Runaway Star

A Runaway Star is #88 in the Bantam series and was published in July 1978. It is the story of Gracila, who runs away from her own wedding after learning that the groom is her stepmother's lover! She hides with an old servant and meets Lord Damien, who left England years ago due to a scandal. Can they overcome obstacles and find love?

Francis Marshall illustrates our couple as if they were in a picture! She sits on a limb of a tree and he notices her as he rides by! Her pretty pink dress was typical of the style in the 1840's and the green of the trees seem to brighten her dress. It's amazing how many colors Marshall uses in this picture!

Some upper class women had lovers during the 1800's. Unfortunately, it was only wrong if they were indiscreet. Since many marriages were made for money or position and not love, it became acceptable to stray once the "heir and spare" had arrived. Divorce was an expensive and public solution that most did not pursue.

Love, Lords, and Ladybirds

Love, Lords, and Ladybirds is #87 in the Bantam series and was published in July 1978. Petrina is the ward of the Earl of Staverton and is attracted to him after she leaves school, but he is interested only in his mistresses and plans to marry Petrina off. However, she is determined to marry only him and fireworks ensue!

Francis Marshall illustrates our regency couple at a ball and our heroine is beautifully dressed in a white gown decorated with ribbons and flowers. Our hero is dashing in a black and gold decorated jacket.

I'm astounded as I go through these books how many Cartland set during the regency. During this time, gothic romances were very popular, but regencies were being bought and publishers began releasing series for those voracious readers who had been reading Heyer and Cartland and were wanting more!