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Desire of the Heart
When Cornelia arrived to take her place in London society she was dressed in dowdy country clothing and hiding awkwardly behind glasses.Immediately, the beautiful Lily Bedlington knew that her husband's niece posed no threat to her intentions and began to weave the plan that would make the young Duke hers alone.Heartbroken and desperate, Cornelia created another identity for herself - that of the intriguing coquette Desiree - and vanished from London.With that one reckless deception Cornelia risked everything to win the Duke's love..
222 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 1980
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,049 books849 followersBorn in 1901, Barbara Cartland started her writing career in journalism and completed her first book, Jigsaw, when she was just 24. An immediate success, it was the start of her journey to becoming the world’s most famous and most read romantic novelist of all time. Inspiring a whole generation of readers around the globe with her exciting tales of adventure, love and intrigue, she became synonymous with the Romance genre. And she still is to this day, having written over 644 romantic fiction books.
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com
As well as romantic novels, she wrote historical biographies, 6 autobiographies, plays, music, poetry and several advice books on life, love, health and cookery – totalling an incredible 723 books in all, with over 1 billion in sales.
Awarded the DBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1991 in honour of her literary, political and social contributions, she was President of the Hertfordshire branch of the Royal College of Midwives as well as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and Deputy President of the St John Ambulance Brigade.
Always a passionate advocate of woman’s health and beauty, she was dubbed ‘the true Queen of Romance’ by Vogue magazine in her lifetime. Her legend continues today through her wonderfully vivid romantic tales, stories that help you escape from the day to day into the dramatic adventures of strong, beautiful women who battle, often against the odds, eventually to find that love conquers all.
Find out more about the incredible life and works of Dame Barbara Cartland at www.barbaracartland.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 25, 2023
This is a plot BC has repeated a few times in her later novels as well.
And is inspired from the RL story of the Earl of Granville/Henrietta/Harriet. Of course, BC always makes the h niece of the ow's husband rather than her own. Just to make it less incestuous.
And is inspired from the RL story of the Earl of Granville/Henrietta/Harriet. Of course, BC always makes the h niece of the ow's husband rather than her own. Just to make it less incestuous.
October 12, 2011
Drogo has an affair with Lily, a married woman. Lily's husband finds out, and threatens to send her to the country and chaperon their recently orphaned niece, Cornelia, who is rich beyond reason. Lily tells Drogo, and finds an alternative for them to meet more than ever: marry Cornelia.
Cornelia inherits a big fortune from a grandmother, and is orphaned. She must go with her uncle as a guardian. She refuses to go, but is forced to do so. She hides her expressive eyes with big black spectacles.
Cornelia meets Drogo, falls in love at first sight. Drogo proposed to Cornelia the second day of their meeting. On the night before their wedding, Cornelia finds out about Drogo and Lily's affair. She goes on with the wedding, anyway. They get married, still with her spectacles on, and go off to Paris on a honeymoon, of sorts. She never took her spectacles off, not ever.
Paris. There, Cornelia confronts Drogo and tells him that she knows of his affair with her aunt. She tells him that he will never touch her, ever. Yet...she still loves him and will try whatever is in her power to have him love her.
Drogo goes out for the night, leaving Cornelia behind at the hotel. She wants to follow him, to find out where he was enjoying himself, but it was indecent for her to go out and ruin her reputation. At the right moment, Cornelia's cousin Archie comes for a visit. She tells him the whole story and begs him to help her.
Enter Reneè, Archie's long-time friend. Reneè, famous in Paris and has her own affair with Russia's Grand Duke, helps Cornelia. She orders Cornelia to take off her spectacles and amazed at her expressive eyes. She gives her a makeover, which is astounding. Cornelia earns a new name: Desireè.
Desireè, Reneè, and Archie go to the club where Drogo is. He starts talking to her, but Reneè tells him that Desireè is not for him, because she is in love with someone else. Drogo is intrigued, and is determined to win Desireè's love.
So went the deception: Drogo, seeing Desireè at night, sees Cornelia for formality's sake by day, and vice versa with Cornelia with the spectacles, as Desireè. Drogo falls madly in love with Desireè, but Desireè/Cornelia tests him to the point of his desperation.
They finally make love on a dreamy, starry night. At dawn, Desireè flees, and is never seen again. She writes to Drogo that she has gone away and will never find her if he tries to look for her. Drogo has fallen for her. He had forgotten all about Lily.
The next day, Drogo talks to Cornelia, that they need to go back home. When they go back home, he tells her he wants a divorce. He has fallen so much in love with Desireè that he wants to return to Paris to look for her. Cornelia, before their discussion of divorce, receives a letter from the King and Queen and wishes to visit them on their return from their honeymoon.
Cornelia, sure that Drogo loves Desireè, tortures him a little longer. They agree that they have this last dinner together with the King and Queen, and then she would talk further about this divorce.
That night, Cornelia takes off the spectacles and asks her maid to destroy it, burn it and not be in her presence. Because that night, she will be Desireè, forever. For Drogo.
She stalls a little bit, until the guests arrive. As she descended down the stairs, in her true form, Drogo looks up and cries Desireè's name. Lily, who was among the guests, comes in and bursts out Cornelia's name. And so the truth came out. Cornelia is Desireè. Desireè is Cornelia. Both women were one.
So, what happened at the end? What do you think?
Cornelia inherits a big fortune from a grandmother, and is orphaned. She must go with her uncle as a guardian. She refuses to go, but is forced to do so. She hides her expressive eyes with big black spectacles.
Cornelia meets Drogo, falls in love at first sight. Drogo proposed to Cornelia the second day of their meeting. On the night before their wedding, Cornelia finds out about Drogo and Lily's affair. She goes on with the wedding, anyway. They get married, still with her spectacles on, and go off to Paris on a honeymoon, of sorts. She never took her spectacles off, not ever.
Paris. There, Cornelia confronts Drogo and tells him that she knows of his affair with her aunt. She tells him that he will never touch her, ever. Yet...she still loves him and will try whatever is in her power to have him love her.
Drogo goes out for the night, leaving Cornelia behind at the hotel. She wants to follow him, to find out where he was enjoying himself, but it was indecent for her to go out and ruin her reputation. At the right moment, Cornelia's cousin Archie comes for a visit. She tells him the whole story and begs him to help her.
Enter Reneè, Archie's long-time friend. Reneè, famous in Paris and has her own affair with Russia's Grand Duke, helps Cornelia. She orders Cornelia to take off her spectacles and amazed at her expressive eyes. She gives her a makeover, which is astounding. Cornelia earns a new name: Desireè.
Desireè, Reneè, and Archie go to the club where Drogo is. He starts talking to her, but Reneè tells him that Desireè is not for him, because she is in love with someone else. Drogo is intrigued, and is determined to win Desireè's love.
So went the deception: Drogo, seeing Desireè at night, sees Cornelia for formality's sake by day, and vice versa with Cornelia with the spectacles, as Desireè. Drogo falls madly in love with Desireè, but Desireè/Cornelia tests him to the point of his desperation.
They finally make love on a dreamy, starry night. At dawn, Desireè flees, and is never seen again. She writes to Drogo that she has gone away and will never find her if he tries to look for her. Drogo has fallen for her. He had forgotten all about Lily.
The next day, Drogo talks to Cornelia, that they need to go back home. When they go back home, he tells her he wants a divorce. He has fallen so much in love with Desireè that he wants to return to Paris to look for her. Cornelia, before their discussion of divorce, receives a letter from the King and Queen and wishes to visit them on their return from their honeymoon.
Cornelia, sure that Drogo loves Desireè, tortures him a little longer. They agree that they have this last dinner together with the King and Queen, and then she would talk further about this divorce.
That night, Cornelia takes off the spectacles and asks her maid to destroy it, burn it and not be in her presence. Because that night, she will be Desireè, forever. For Drogo.
She stalls a little bit, until the guests arrive. As she descended down the stairs, in her true form, Drogo looks up and cries Desireè's name. Lily, who was among the guests, comes in and bursts out Cornelia's name. And so the truth came out. Cornelia is Desireè. Desireè is Cornelia. Both women were one.
So, what happened at the end? What do you think?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2016
Going through some old paperbacks - this is one of my fave BC's of all time. The h does all she can to make her husband fall in love with her and renounce his mistress of long standing. The mistress is married to an older lord and has manipulated Drogo (H) since he was a young man.
While a BC, this one is a little different. The innocent h is very smart (not too naïve), disguises herself as a courtesan, and pursues a relationship that is less than innocent with her jaded husband.
Cornelia (h) discovers her husband married her as a smokescreen to be with his married mistress (Lily). On their honeymoon in Paris, Cornelia becomes Desiree (a new, on-the-scene courtesan) with the help of a very famous French courtesan. Cornelia plays a very deep game to get Drogo to fall in love with her, break with his mistress and give up all for love
While a BC, this one is a little different. The innocent h is very smart (not too naïve), disguises herself as a courtesan, and pursues a relationship that is less than innocent with her jaded husband.
Cornelia (h) discovers her husband married her as a smokescreen to be with his married mistress (Lily). On their honeymoon in Paris, Cornelia becomes Desiree (a new, on-the-scene courtesan) with the help of a very famous French courtesan. Cornelia plays a very deep game to get Drogo to fall in love with her, break with his mistress and give up all for love
June 17, 2023
Wow, one of Barbara Cartland’s really good books! Its a deception trope (which I normally dislike) but this one is well done.
It does NOT start of well because for a good portion of the book, the Hero is quite desperately in love with the aunt of the heroine. In fact, it is the aunt who convinces him to wed her country bumpkin, spectacle-wearing niece as a convenient foil for their affair.
The niece is indeed a provincial who is quite shy and has no fashion sense, but she falls in love at first sight with the Hero. Since he is polite and considerate of her, and in her naïveté, she imagines that he is also in love with her, why else would he have proposed?
Its quite sad when she inadvertently finds out that she is being used by these two contemptible people as a shield for their illicit affair. However, she decides to push through with the wedding. On the wedding night, she reveals to the Hero everything she heard and her utter contempt for him and her aunt. They proceed to Paris where they treat each other coldly but politely. The Hero never sees past her spectacles.
He goes out at night to enjoy himself without her. Fortunately, the heroine is visited by her cousin. When she reveals her distress and heartbreak over the situation, he takes her to a lady friend of his who agrees to give her a make over and then they take her to a nightclub to find her husband, in her “new” disguise.
Amazingly, 😁 the Hero is immediately attracted to her! And so the honeymoon goes swimmingly, while the Hero desultorily takes his boring wife around Paris during the day, at night he is falling more and more in love with the lovely young lady he met at the club.
This time the Hero is really in love and when the heroine has determined that he is no longer infatuated with her aunt, she goes in for the kill and sleeps with him but leaves him in the morning.
The Hero is in distress he needs to find his true lady love! He rushes his wife home, back to England. He confesses to her and asks her to divorce him (this is one of the best lines in the book.) he says its because he is in love w someone…and the heroine replies; “Again!?”
OMG I almost fell off my seat laughing!! LOL 🤣
In my opinion, this is one of the best parts of the book. This is where the author excels by having the heroine make the Hero squirm in shame, try to explain away his temporary infatuation with the aunt, questions the validity of his feelings for his new love and apologize for his actions. It is truly masterfully done. The heroine slays him, still without having revealed her true self! I cannot possibly do it justice in this review!!
Anyway she convinces him to wait for a day since the King and Queen are to join them for dinner, so the Hero agrees. That night, as the guests arrive she reveals her true self sans spectacles, in her new gown, with her lovely hair and she is once again the beautiful lady the Hero fell in love with. At first he is in shock, but is able to conceal it as they attend to their guests. The nasty aunt gets her nose put out of joint.
When their guests leave, they confess all to each other and have a HEA.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
It does NOT start of well because for a good portion of the book, the Hero is quite desperately in love with the aunt of the heroine. In fact, it is the aunt who convinces him to wed her country bumpkin, spectacle-wearing niece as a convenient foil for their affair.
The niece is indeed a provincial who is quite shy and has no fashion sense, but she falls in love at first sight with the Hero. Since he is polite and considerate of her, and in her naïveté, she imagines that he is also in love with her, why else would he have proposed?
Its quite sad when she inadvertently finds out that she is being used by these two contemptible people as a shield for their illicit affair. However, she decides to push through with the wedding. On the wedding night, she reveals to the Hero everything she heard and her utter contempt for him and her aunt. They proceed to Paris where they treat each other coldly but politely. The Hero never sees past her spectacles.
He goes out at night to enjoy himself without her. Fortunately, the heroine is visited by her cousin. When she reveals her distress and heartbreak over the situation, he takes her to a lady friend of his who agrees to give her a make over and then they take her to a nightclub to find her husband, in her “new” disguise.
Amazingly, 😁 the Hero is immediately attracted to her! And so the honeymoon goes swimmingly, while the Hero desultorily takes his boring wife around Paris during the day, at night he is falling more and more in love with the lovely young lady he met at the club.
This time the Hero is really in love and when the heroine has determined that he is no longer infatuated with her aunt, she goes in for the kill and sleeps with him but leaves him in the morning.
The Hero is in distress he needs to find his true lady love! He rushes his wife home, back to England. He confesses to her and asks her to divorce him (this is one of the best lines in the book.) he says its because he is in love w someone…and the heroine replies; “Again!?”
OMG I almost fell off my seat laughing!! LOL 🤣
In my opinion, this is one of the best parts of the book. This is where the author excels by having the heroine make the Hero squirm in shame, try to explain away his temporary infatuation with the aunt, questions the validity of his feelings for his new love and apologize for his actions. It is truly masterfully done. The heroine slays him, still without having revealed her true self! I cannot possibly do it justice in this review!!
Anyway she convinces him to wait for a day since the King and Queen are to join them for dinner, so the Hero agrees. That night, as the guests arrive she reveals her true self sans spectacles, in her new gown, with her lovely hair and she is once again the beautiful lady the Hero fell in love with. At first he is in shock, but is able to conceal it as they attend to their guests. The nasty aunt gets her nose put out of joint.
When their guests leave, they confess all to each other and have a HEA.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 19, 2011
This is my very favorite Barbara Cartland. I read it the first time when i was very young. Barbara is the reason that I have read so many historical romances. Her books are idealistic and so sweet, but also very informative if you like English History.
September 20, 2015
Read in one sitting. A-MA-ZING!
This was one of the first period romance that I had ever read and it got me completely hooked!!!
This was one of the first period romance that I had ever read and it got me completely hooked!!!
November 30, 2011
This book was not what I was expecting. I didn't realize this was more of a romance novel than a Victoriana piece. I initially came across this book on a tea blog I believe and had never heard of Barbara Cartland. If anyone is unfamiliar with her she was a fascinating woman and deserves a wiki search. Within the first few pages I thought to myself "Oh no! What have I gotten myself into?" I'm unfamiliar with romanace novels but I assume they are chock full of flowery language. This novel had its fair share of it. It was interesting to note how women were treated and what their lives were like in this novel as compared to modern times. Initially I didn't care for the protagonist, too love-sick in a barfy way, but she grew on me as her character developed. I didn't love the ending though where she somewhat reverts back to a complacent, shy version of herself but overall the book was entertaining in a crazy soap opera-y kind of way.
April 8, 2024
This is one of my favorite books by Cartland. Girl is made to believe hero fell in love with her so she agrees to marry but before she does she knows it's all a lie.
I like how Cartland presents other side of Paris society where courtesans are more noble than aristocracy. Also it was fun to read that we had some kind of Clark Kent situation -- put on a pair of glasses and no one will recognize you. :)
I like how Cartland presents other side of Paris society where courtesans are more noble than aristocracy. Also it was fun to read that we had some kind of Clark Kent situation -- put on a pair of glasses and no one will recognize you. :)
December 4, 2014
This is the best Barbara Cartland's book I have ever read. I read it in English & Spanish....i only need to read it in French then I will be happy. I ate every word and cried when she told him "no" the first day of their honeymoon. And cried again when she gave Renée the letter for the Duke. N cried again at the end when she finally knew that he was truly hers. f course we knew it was happening but we didn't know how...
February 24, 2013
Æðisleg, respect Barbara Cartland.
August 17, 2023
When I was a teenager I loved Barbara Cartland's books, now I see with other eyes, in my opinion I see her Hs as a very flawed worthless characters, without honor, cheating and adulterous men.
This book shows how despicable and worthless I think the H is. And I don't believe in his shallow love for the h. He was obsessed in love with the OW and never payed attention for his mousy wife, the only thing that was good that he treat her with at least politeness and wasn't awful to her. And suddenly he switched his love from the OW for the alter ego of the heroine. If he truly loved the heroine he should had see her disguise or at least subsconsciously attracted for the wife after meeting her alter ego and he did not, and he did even see that the heroine and Desiree has the same hands, the same mouth, lips and skin. Hell he didn't truly payed attention in detail even to Desiree. Many times the authors are always describing how the H knew every inch of the body of the OW. Really? This shows that the H is shallow and he didn't even respect Desiree, he took her virginity alhtough later he was intending to ask for a divorce to the heroine, didn't even knew that they are the same person until the very end and never grovel or excuse his nasty behavior for cheating her with the OW and her alter ego. Hell he even married the h just to be near to the OW and he wasn't giving up, it shows how much he wanted/loved the OW. I bet that in the future he will fall hard for another OW.
Another thing that I always hated and think despicable, is that the Hs always pamper and treat his tarts like a queen while many of them just insults the heroines and give nothing. In this he brought a pricey jewel to Desiree and a cheaper for his wife. In another book that I forgot the name of the title and the author, the OW that were his mistress of many years and who he confided too, received in all the years pricey jewelrys, complete wardrobes, money along another pricey itens and guess what the heroine got in the book? Some clothing and a cheap silver trinket that belonged to the H's grandmother in the whole book, and the wonderful H for the OW, guess what he gave as a prize to the OW when the OW helped him with a wedding gown for the heroine (I thought tasteless asking his mistress to help for this)? He gave an emerald necklace that surely has diamonds, yes he gave as a recompense and at near the end when he asked the same favor to the OW to choose a gown for the ball to the heroine I bet he gave another jewel in a sealed package to the OW as a payment for such small favor. Really you shower your mistress with expensive jewels while the wife you supposed fell in love just got some gowns and cheap silver trinket that he didn't even buy? And in another book the worthless H had 2 mistress at the same time, he gave as a parting gift to one a exquisite diamond necklace and to another a carruage with horses while the heroine just got a pearl necklace. And the excuse that the slime gave to the heroine later is that he thought the diamonds are common and the heroine deserved some especial like the pearls. Really? First time when the heroine saw the exquisite necklace in this drawer she thought he bought for her and later she had a shock when she saw in the OW neck. When the heroine tackle the H about the diamonds he thought her a mercenary. Really ? While you treated your pricey gold-digger whores like queens and the heroine just got crumbs. Now tell me who these so called Hs treasured? Certainly not the heroines. If I were in the heroines places I would clean them out going in a frenzy shopping spree and send a bill that will bankrupt them.
This book shows how despicable and worthless I think the H is. And I don't believe in his shallow love for the h. He was obsessed in love with the OW and never payed attention for his mousy wife, the only thing that was good that he treat her with at least politeness and wasn't awful to her. And suddenly he switched his love from the OW for the alter ego of the heroine. If he truly loved the heroine he should had see her disguise or at least subsconsciously attracted for the wife after meeting her alter ego and he did not, and he did even see that the heroine and Desiree has the same hands, the same mouth, lips and skin. Hell he didn't truly payed attention in detail even to Desiree. Many times the authors are always describing how the H knew every inch of the body of the OW. Really? This shows that the H is shallow and he didn't even respect Desiree, he took her virginity alhtough later he was intending to ask for a divorce to the heroine, didn't even knew that they are the same person until the very end and never grovel or excuse his nasty behavior for cheating her with the OW and her alter ego. Hell he even married the h just to be near to the OW and he wasn't giving up, it shows how much he wanted/loved the OW. I bet that in the future he will fall hard for another OW.
Another thing that I always hated and think despicable, is that the Hs always pamper and treat his tarts like a queen while many of them just insults the heroines and give nothing. In this he brought a pricey jewel to Desiree and a cheaper for his wife. In another book that I forgot the name of the title and the author, the OW that were his mistress of many years and who he confided too, received in all the years pricey jewelrys, complete wardrobes, money along another pricey itens and guess what the heroine got in the book? Some clothing and a cheap silver trinket that belonged to the H's grandmother in the whole book, and the wonderful H for the OW, guess what he gave as a prize to the OW when the OW helped him with a wedding gown for the heroine (I thought tasteless asking his mistress to help for this)? He gave an emerald necklace that surely has diamonds, yes he gave as a recompense and at near the end when he asked the same favor to the OW to choose a gown for the ball to the heroine I bet he gave another jewel in a sealed package to the OW as a payment for such small favor. Really you shower your mistress with expensive jewels while the wife you supposed fell in love just got some gowns and cheap silver trinket that he didn't even buy? And in another book the worthless H had 2 mistress at the same time, he gave as a parting gift to one a exquisite diamond necklace and to another a carruage with horses while the heroine just got a pearl necklace. And the excuse that the slime gave to the heroine later is that he thought the diamonds are common and the heroine deserved some especial like the pearls. Really? First time when the heroine saw the exquisite necklace in this drawer she thought he bought for her and later she had a shock when she saw in the OW neck. When the heroine tackle the H about the diamonds he thought her a mercenary. Really ? While you treated your pricey gold-digger whores like queens and the heroine just got crumbs. Now tell me who these so called Hs treasured? Certainly not the heroines. If I were in the heroines places I would clean them out going in a frenzy shopping spree and send a bill that will bankrupt them.
February 15, 2022
Like many others, I went delving in the basement and retrieved a few favorite Barbara Cartland novels. (Our family always called them “junkies” because they were fast reads, short on substance.) This was probably my favorite, although The Royal Pledge (originally named The Captive Heart) and Love Is the Enemy were also high on my list. All great junkies.
it's interesting to read a book you've loved, indulged in, after many years. A lot of the male-female relationships come with baggage that would not be acceptable today. And setting them in Victorian or earlier periods does not make them feel comfortable today. But despite that, and perhaps because of the affection I've felt towards this book for so long, this was a pleasant and amazingly quick read.
Strengths: giving a picture of the demimonde of Paris, a world that respectable ladies could never see or participate in. Watching the heroine grow and develop, learning her own capabilities in a world that intimidated her (the elite, exclusive social world of her husband). Some of the supportive characters, particularly Renée de Valmé, an exclusive, talented and compassionate courtesan, who takes on helping the (disguised) heroine entice and win over her husband.
Weaknesses: overly simplistic bad women (heroine’s aunt, husband’s mother) and writing off of responsibility for men (he was always spoiled and indulged so what would you expect?). Husband’s expressions of violence as a way of showing the intensity of his affection which seem to today’s thinking a danger, not a strength.
General observation: I've always preferred the historical romance novels of Georgette Heyer, who thoroughly researched the periods in which she set her stories, down to tiny details. Her novels are better fleshed out than Cartland’s, more plausible (as much as romances generally are), and feel more authentic. Barbara Cartland’s novels, ground out at an astonishing rate, year after year (she wrote something like 723 “titles’ in her lifetime), feel far more superficial and flat. But they're like candy and easy to devour.
So every so many years, I'll haul a few of these back out and zip through them quickly. Then cleanse my palette and return to my usual range of reading.
it's interesting to read a book you've loved, indulged in, after many years. A lot of the male-female relationships come with baggage that would not be acceptable today. And setting them in Victorian or earlier periods does not make them feel comfortable today. But despite that, and perhaps because of the affection I've felt towards this book for so long, this was a pleasant and amazingly quick read.
Strengths: giving a picture of the demimonde of Paris, a world that respectable ladies could never see or participate in. Watching the heroine grow and develop, learning her own capabilities in a world that intimidated her (the elite, exclusive social world of her husband). Some of the supportive characters, particularly Renée de Valmé, an exclusive, talented and compassionate courtesan, who takes on helping the (disguised) heroine entice and win over her husband.
Weaknesses: overly simplistic bad women (heroine’s aunt, husband’s mother) and writing off of responsibility for men (he was always spoiled and indulged so what would you expect?). Husband’s expressions of violence as a way of showing the intensity of his affection which seem to today’s thinking a danger, not a strength.
General observation: I've always preferred the historical romance novels of Georgette Heyer, who thoroughly researched the periods in which she set her stories, down to tiny details. Her novels are better fleshed out than Cartland’s, more plausible (as much as romances generally are), and feel more authentic. Barbara Cartland’s novels, ground out at an astonishing rate, year after year (she wrote something like 723 “titles’ in her lifetime), feel far more superficial and flat. But they're like candy and easy to devour.
So every so many years, I'll haul a few of these back out and zip through them quickly. Then cleanse my palette and return to my usual range of reading.
April 6, 2023
I read this in 7th grade, it was my first romance ever so it holds a special place in my heart. I found it in the Library on a class trip to the local library. For me at 12, it was very racy. I picked it up in my later teens at a used book store.
I loved the premise, a Duke's older mistress' husband finds out she's strayed. They plot to marry him off to her husband's niece who she has to chaperon. The girl shows up wearing dark glasses and the mistress dresses the young girl badly, hiding her good looks. She's overwhelmed by the handsome Duke's attention and of course says yes when asked for her hand. Deception ensues when she discovers that her new husband is her aunt's lover. Their Parisian honeymoon gives her a chance to win him over with a new identity.
I loved the premise, a Duke's older mistress' husband finds out she's strayed. They plot to marry him off to her husband's niece who she has to chaperon. The girl shows up wearing dark glasses and the mistress dresses the young girl badly, hiding her good looks. She's overwhelmed by the handsome Duke's attention and of course says yes when asked for her hand. Deception ensues when she discovers that her new husband is her aunt's lover. Their Parisian honeymoon gives her a chance to win him over with a new identity.
June 28, 2020
GOOD ENOUGH SECOND READ
I have read this book before along time ago. The more I read it the more I remembered having read it.
I though the book was fun and entertaining. It also proves that people see only what they expect to see. Have fun reading this book. C;-)
I have read this book before along time ago. The more I read it the more I remembered having read it.
I though the book was fun and entertaining. It also proves that people see only what they expect to see. Have fun reading this book. C;-)
April 15, 2020
Another old favorite from my basement - corny and predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.
July 7, 2022
My second favorite Barbara Cartland off all time. What a crazy storyline!!
August 2, 2024
What a ridiculous story with stupid, shallow characters.
November 5, 2024
Read this as a teenager and enjoyed it.
Re-reading it, it's not the same. A girl has to make a man love her by changing her appearance.
It's a bit silly but also a really easy quite fun read.
Re-reading it, it's not the same. A girl has to make a man love her by changing her appearance.
It's a bit silly but also a really easy quite fun read.
June 15, 2022
Titolo in lingua italiana Desiderio d’amore
March 24, 2023
Having lost her parents in a tragic carriage accident, beautiful but innocent young Cornelia Bedlington, living in Ireland, has inherited an enormous fortune and her Uncle George decides that she needs a chaperone for the coming Social Season in London.Who better than her glamorous Aunt Lily who knows everyone smart!Unbeknown to George or Cornelia, though, Lily is in the throes of a love affair with the startlingly handsome Drogo, the Duke of Roehampton, who is struggling financially and she comes up with a Machiavellian deceit designed to make Drogo rich and save Lily the trouble of chaperoning Cornelia.Her suggestion is that Drogo marries Cornelia while secretly continuing his liaison with Lily!When this fascinating stranger, the Duke, suddenly proposes marriage, Cornelia is swept off her feet. And they are married in the most glamorous Wedding of the Season attended by the King and Queen.But just as love for the Duke blossoms in her heart, she is heartbroken to overhear her fianc plotting their future together with Lily and then realises the horrible truth.Soon, though, amid the heady glamour of gay and exotic Paris, she enlists the help of a sophisticated Socialite, Rene de Valm, in a desperate and cunning plan of her own to ensnare the dashing Duke's heart for herself alone!
January 1, 2026
Chocada que, na edição brasileira, trocaram o nome da protagonista de Cornelia para Christine. Que loucura.
Ri alto com a vingança da Cornelia/Christine e adorei como a autora retratou homens da posição do Diogo.
Ri alto com a vingança da Cornelia/Christine e adorei como a autora retratou homens da posição do Diogo.
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