Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Love and Linda


Love and Linda is a Pyramid (US) publication from July 1976. Linda Snell is a rising model at London's best fashion house, but low born, and it's hard, during the 1920's, to find a true love in society. She thought that she had found love with Harry, a famous pilot, until his untimely death and wonders if it's worth saving herself for love?

Francis Marshall shows our couple in a club or lobby wearing clothing of the era. Our heroine is pretty in her purple dress and bobbed hair. The hero is handsome and less sardonic that Cartland's usual heroes! It's a pretty picture of an age gone by!

Barbara Cartland was a young lady during the 1920's and witnessed firsthand London society. Her autobiographies are very interesting and full of the names and places of England in the time before World War 2.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Love is Mine



Love is Mine was published by Pyramid (US) in November 1976 and Arrow (UK) in November 1970. Toria has married Charles Drayton after a whirlwind romance. She's not sure that she's made the right decision afterwards and wonders if she really loves Micheal, who she grew up with, all along?

Francis Marshall illustrates both covers of this book aboard ship, but the Pyramid one is another close up and shows our heroine nearby with the hero being threatened by another man holding a gun! Our heroine doesn't seem too concerned about the gun-holding man and is looking through a pair of binoculars. Note the other yachts in the background.

The Arrow version has no villain, but shows our couple along side each other. Our heroine wears a blue blouse and white jeans, while the hero is more traditionally dressed! In this cover, we see some deck furniture and a sailor. I hope that you enjoy these seafaring covers!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Love is the Enemy


Love is the Enemy was published in 1977 by Pyramid (US) and 1970 by Arrow (UK). Nerina does the unthinkable and takes her cousin Elizabeth's place as bride to the arrogant Sir Rupert Wroth, who is only marrying to gain the position as Foreign Secretary to Queen Victoria! Her cousin is in love with another and Nerina's plan is to save her cousin from an unloving marriage! The Pyramid version shows our heroine sitting on a sofa with our hero kneeling on the floor nearby. It's another close up illustration and we see her elegant, full Victorian dress, very typical of the era. Note the off the shoulder neckline and prim hairstyle. Also, she wears magnificent jewelry! The hero is dressed formally also; maybe they're on their way to court? We see candlesticks in the background of the room. The Arrow cover is full length and shows our heroine's very full dress! It's similar in style to the US cover with the same fur cape. The big difference is the color of the room and that the hero stands, very sardonically, behind the sofa. Barbara Cartland's favorite color was pink and that may have influenced the color of this cover!

 

Edit: Added a found photo which looks like it's another image of this title. Hope you enjoy it!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Love is an Eagle




Love is an Eagle is another book that I've found 3 Francis Marshall illustrations! How exciting!! This story is about Armand, a secret agent for England, sent to spy out Napoleon's plans. He finds Reve, a young countess, bathing in the moonlight and realizes that this is the one woman for him. How can they find love in this war filled time?

The Pyramid (US) book was published in October 1975, a fourth printing. We see a close up shot of our couple, with our heroine in disarray. They stand near the entrance of a building or bathing house and we feel that it is a beautiful place. I think that this is the prettiest picture of our heroine's face.

The middle cover is an Arrow (UK) book from 1975. Our couple stands near the pool of water. In this picture, our heroine wears an empire dress of muslin with a pink sash with our hero holding her hand in either greeting or departing. Note the gazebo or building in the background.

The top book is another Arrow (UK) from 1969. This cover shows just the heroine and she's at the point of entering the secluded pool or just coming out of it! It's quite risque for the time and for a Cartland cover! I like the sense of nature with the waterfall and lily pads. Also note the flowers growing near the building. Which cover is your favorite?

I'm always on the lookout for other Francis Marshall covers, so if you see one that is different from any I've posted, please contact me! I think a few more books had duplicate covers!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Love is Dangerous


Love is Dangerous is the next in my Francis Marshall illustration lineup of Barbara Cartland's romances. The US book was published in 1976 while the Arrow (UK) was published in 1975.

Melina finds herself alone in Tangier, Morocco when Bing Ward, an Englishman engaged in an undercover mission, bursts into her room for sanctuary. Before she realizes it, she is helping him in his quest to find a kidnapped little boy!

Francis Marshall shows our couple in an up close pose on the Pyramid (US) cover. Our heroine wears a blue dress and it looks as if she and the hero are hiding from the man behind them holding a gun! I like the feeling that the trees and bushes are holding them close, while we see a glimpse of danger in the man behind.

The Arrow (UK) cover is less menacing with our couple hiding behind a tree, our hero holding a gun, and our heroine with a 1960's dress and hairdo! I like the native flowers and little pool nearby. The men in the background do not seem as scary as those on the US cover. I hope you enjoy both illustrations!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Love is Contraband


Love is Contraband was published by Arrow (UK) in 1975 and is the story of the Duke of Westacre, who leaves a house party after discovering a matrimonial plot and escapes into a band of smugglers led by a woman named Georgia. Their adventures bring them together to find true love!

Francis Marshall illustrates our couple at the seaside. Our heroine is dressed as a smuggler and as different as a regency woman as can be! Our hero is dashing in his top hat and and we see the smugglers working in the background. I like the roughness of the barrels and ground. It's an intriguing cover!

Smuggling was a big part of coastal life in England. With France so close and with war between them, many items that were banned or heavily taxed came through these channels. Most people would look the other way in order to accept goods and services. The government spent lots of manpower trying to stop smuggling, especially since spies did enter the country this way!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Love in Pity


Love in Pity was published by Pyramid (US) in November 1976. Jacinda Coombe defiantly marries Morgan Wright, only because he is her father's sworn enemy and she's trying to hurt her father for selling the family castle. Morgan, however, loves her and is willing to wait for her to fall in love with him!

Francis Marshall shows our couple in riding gear taking a break during a hunt. Our hero wears the traditional red jacket while our heroine is pretty in blue. He looks as if he's ready to comfort her. I like the line of the fence behind them and the feel of the countryside.