The ghost who fell in love

by Barbara Cartland

Demelza remembered the moment she lost her heart. She could imagine nothing nearer heaven than feeling the Earl's lips on hers. But it would have been wrong. From the day that Valient, Earl of Trevarnon, came to stay at Langston Manor, Demelza was forced to live a lie among its labyrinth of secret passages. The quietness and mystery of the manor echo to danger and intrigue before Valient and Demelza can share that passionate splendour which is love...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction

163 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1978

About the author

Born 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

Reviews

[Nancy]

I bought this at a library sale just for fun. It was better than I expected except the heroine... talked in....hesitations... until I wanted... to choke her.... I found myself reading with the spaces and even breathing that way. It's going back to the library for someone else to buy next year.

[Cary · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the better Barbara Cartland books; at least the characters had a bit a depth. Usually they are too insipid even for the romance lover that I am!

[Maryann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this a few years back so I can't quite recall much of the plot. It was a pleasant read though.

[Manisha Patro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was reading the eternal collection and this book was one of them. For people who have read Barbara Cartland novel, you know all of her books have almost the similar storylines, characters and plots. So you can imagine why it got boring for me to read 10 novels in a go. Still I liked this one better than the ones I have read recently. Mostly because I liked how the heroine was a bit different. Less clingy, more independent. She had that modern "Let your lover go free" ideal in her which I really admired..

[That Book Podcast · Rating 1 out of 5]

We talk Barbara on Season 1, ep. 8 (release date: 9/11/18)
@thatbookpod

[Siti Madihah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and charming story, infused with not only the emotions of love, but also spirituality. Set in early 19th century England, this novel tells the story of Demelza Langston, who hid in the secret passages of her old family manor when her brother had bachelor guests came over to the house. As an obedient sister, she heeded her brother's orders that she should not be seen by any of the bachelor guests. However, she had been accidentally spotted by the Earl of Trevarnon, who had initially thought she was a ghost after she seemed to disappear into a wall panelling (which led to one of the secret tunnels of the manor).

The romance in this novel is rather chaste, and for me it is also spiritual in nature where the persons in love turn to God for help in uniting them. I found this story very beautiful and enjoyed reading it.

[Sh]

Details :
1840/50s
Manwhore Earl H, virgin h
H was in an arranged marriage before, the wife went crazy so she was sent to a mental hospital, then she died 5 years ago but H never mentioned it to anyone because the situation of having a wife was very beneficial to him since he could sleep with any woman he wanted and then could ignore them later without those women making a scene asking him for marriage because, mad or not, he was already married to another woman

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this for research. The beginning was okay, but then it just devolves into sappy yuck. The whole "I must possess you, I'm jealous of anyone you talk to" bs has not aged well. The little touches BC threw in about the history of the Ascot races was interesting. I'm planning on reading a couple more BC's, so wish me luck.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The cover art and title are fantastic. Demelza is kind but why all the ellipses?!?!? It's absurd. Lord Valient (good grief) is completely one-dimensional. I did enjoy Lady Sydel with her jealous "passion" and attempts at trickery. The attempted race sabotage was also interesting. Overall, this is a ridiculous romance with a horse race as the backdrop.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cash-poor Gerard rents Langston Manor on Ascot week to Valient, the Earl of Trevarnon but his sister Demelza must promise to hide in priest passages. She speaks with several hyphens, prays, feels their love unites them, soars heavenward. Villains attempt evil deeds. Typo 5.51 soulo IS soul

[Dawn Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice, the characters had some depth, and, even though the romance was very fast, it was somewhat believable. The end though, with all the possessiveness and jealousy, was a bit cringe.

[Nata Peanutta · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books. The rare case of comparatively complex male character with feelings, thoughts, emotional struggles. Still too handsome, too gentleman, too nice for the person with a heartbreaker reputation as all BC men :) Anyways, I enjoyed the reading this book many times, when I was 13 and 20 years later with all my experience as an adult person. And I know I will reread it again.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Earl put out his arms towards her. But Demelza did not move and he stopped before he touched her.

"May I kiss you?" he whispered.

"I think ... if you kissed me it would be more wonderful than anything else in the world ... but it would be . . . wrong."

"Wrong?" the Earl asked.

"It would be wrong . . . because you belong to someone else."

The Earl was very still.

"You took a sacred vow," she said in a low voice.

"A vow no human being would keep in the circumstances!"

Demelza did not speak.

"How can you be so cruel?" he cried. "How can you deny me what you know in your heart is rightfully mine!"

Again she did not speak.

The Earl looked into her dark, troubled eyes. He lingered on the softness of her parted lips.

"You love me!" he cried hoarsely. "You love me ... and you belong to me!"

[Judith Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nonsensical romance, with a dashing hero, secret passages, dilapidated manor houses, faithful servants and a heroine wandering around admiring the Earl's magnificent horse flesh. What a lark. Just what you would expect from BC.