The Unbreakable Spell

The Unbreakable Spell is #179 in the Bantam series and was published in November 1983. Rocana's cousin, Caroline, is being forced to marry the Marquis of Quorn. He plans to visit her house for a steeplechase and propose, but she is in love with another. Rocana does the impossible: switching places with the bride!!

This is an interesting cover of our couple traveling in a curricle drawn by 4 horses. It looks as if they are leaving the estate in the background. It is an action picture where we can almost see the curricle moving and the horses pounding the ground.

Lights, Laughter, and a Lady

Lights, Laughter, and a Lady is #177 in the Bantam series and was published in September 1983. Minella's father has died and after the house is sold and debts paid, she has only 100 pounds. Instead of going to her aunt in Bath, she travels to London to see Connie, a friend who has become one of the Gaiety Girls, to see if she can help her get a job. When one of their group becomes sick, Minella stands in at a house party given by the Earl of Wynterborne, who conceives a brilliant plan of his own!

This is one of the "up close" cover illustrations that became popular on some of Cartland's books during this time. We see our couple large and centered, with others in the background. This takes place at the first meeting of Minella and the Earl. I see an illustrators signature which looks like Sanbourne.

Riding to the Moon

Riding to the Moon is #178 in the Bantam series and was published in October 1983. It had a hardcover publication in 1982. The Marquis of Ardsley, an expert of horses, is convinced that he can tell if a lady is quality or not. Jimmy and Charles, who hear his boast, bet each other that they can find a woman who will trick the Marquis for three days and when they rescue Indira, they are convinced of it!

We see Indira and the Marquis riding while she is visiting his estate. He is interested in steeplechase racing and it gained in popularity during the regency era. I like her emerald green riding habit which looks great set off against her black horse!

Tempted to Love

Tempted to Love is #176 in the Bantam series and was published in August 1983. Ivona is in France and in hiding from her mad father when her mother dies. She runs into the Duc of Sancerre, who is determined to protect her!

This is such a pretty cover with our heroine wearing a bustle dress, popular in the 1870's. I love the darker blue bustle over the lighter blue underdress. Our heroine looks as if she's attempting to stop a duel. I hope you like this cover as much as I do. Click to enlarge.

A Duke in Danger

A Duke in Danger is #175 in the Bantam series and was published in July 1983. The Duke of Harlington has just inherited and leaves the army of occupation to go back home to England. He finds out that some valuable pieces from the estate have been pawned and goes to Harlington Castle to confront his cousin Alvina. Between putting the Castle back together and trying to find a wife to thwart his heir, Jason, the Duke and Alvina find a true love.

This is an interesting cover where our couple stand at the top of a tower on the castle roof. I consider this one of the early "nightgown" covers where our heroine is scantily clad and still manages to save the hero!

Help from the Heart

Help from the Heart is # 174 in the Bantam series and was published in June 1983. Forella is used as a pawn by her aunt in order to trap an Earl into marriage. She is saved by Prince Janos Kovac and sent to stay with a distant relative of his, who is also Hungarian, as is Forella. It's a romantic story of how they find love!

I think this is a beautiful cover with our heroine all in white and the hero handsome in black. The heroine's dress looks like a wedding gown, though I'm not too sure about the feathers on top of her hairdo, unless she's dressed for court! I've always loved Cartland's stories of Kings and Princes and this one won't disappoint!

Gypsy Magic

Gypsy Magic is #173 in the Bantam series and was published in May 1983. Princess Laetitia is stunned when she finds out that King Viktor is coming to propose to her cousin Stephanie because Stephanie is in love with Laetitia's brother Kyril! Hoping for a way to stop this engagement, she meets with the gypsies and they offer to help her!

I love this cover where our couple exchange wedding vows in a gypsy ceremony! Our hero is handsome in his uniform while our heroine is a vision in a native wedding costume! It looks very sacred and holy as the ceremony takes place outside under the moon!