An Archangel Called Ivan

by Barbara Cartland

Arliva Ashdown is not only the most beautiful girl in London Society but the richest as she has inherited her father's huge fortune. At a ball she is giving she overhears two people talking outside the window and she is horrified to learn that, although they are very much in love with each other, the man is telling the girl that the only chance he has of obtaining money for his crumbling house and estate is to marry Arliva. A little later she overhears another conversation between the Countess of Sturton and her son, Simon, who is a rather unpleasant young man Arliva has been trying to avoid. The Countess insists that her son proposes to Arliva as they too need money to upkeep Sturton Castle and, although Simon has no wish to do so, the Countess persists, saying that Arliva will accept him because of his grand title. Disgusted by what she has heard, Arliva makes a dramatic decision. She decides to hide away in the country and see if she can find someone who loves her for herself and not for her money and so she manages to become a Governess to Lord Wilson's three grandchildren whose parents have been drowned at sea. With great brilliance she leaves her house in London where she is chaperoned by her aunt without anyone realising where she is going and installs herself in Lord Wilson's house in the country. Here she is able not only to make the children happy with new ideas and activities that no one has thought of before but to drastically change the routine of the household. Suddenly, when she least expects it, she is kidnapped by the Countess of Sturton, who makes her a prisoner in Sturton Castle and she is starved until she can no longer refuse to marry her son. How she is prays fervently that she will be rescued from a terrible fate How a man, who she thinks is an angel, saves her by what seems to her a miracle just before the day of the wedding. How they both find a happiness that only comes from God and is the love that all people seek, is told in this unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance

198 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2001

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

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arliva Ashdown is not only the most beautiful girl in London Society but the richest as she has inherited her father’s huge fortune. At a ball she is giving she overhears two people talking outside the window and she is horrified to learn that, although they are very much in love with each other, the man is telling the girl that the only chance he has of obtaining money for his crumbling house and estate is to marry Arliva. A little later she overhears another conversation between the Countess of Sturton and her son, Simon, who is a rather unpleasant young man Arliva has been trying to avoid. The Countess insists that her son proposes to Arliva as they too need money to upkeep Sturton Castle and, although Simon has no wish to do so, the Countess persists, saying that Arliva will accept him because of his grand title. Disgusted by what she has heard, Arliva makes a dramatic decision. She decides to hide away in the country and see if she can find someone who loves her for herself and not for her money and so she manages to become a Governess to Lord Wilson’s three grandchildren whose parents have been drowned at sea. With great brilliance she leaves her house in London where she is chaperoned by her aunt without anyone realising where she is going and installs herself in Lord Wilson’s house in the country. Here she is able not only to make the children happy with new ideas and activities that no one has thought of before but to drastically change the routine of the household. Suddenly, when she least expects it, she is kidnapped by the Countess of Sturton, who makes her a prisoner in Sturton Castle and she is starved until she can no longer refuse to marry her son. How she is prays fervently that she will be rescued from a terrible fate How a man, who she thinks is an angel, saves her by what seems to her a miracle just before the day of the wedding. How they both find a happiness that only comes from God and is the love that all people seek, is told in this unusual story by BARBARA CARTLAND.

[Judith Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Usual BC nonsense. The heroine is rich and for some reason this makes her feel very sorry for herself, it must be terrible to have lots of money after all. She decides she needs a rest so runs away to become a governess because she needs a rest and after all looking after young children is easy, and apparently you get to ride horses and go shopping and fail to correct spelling. After that there is the usual kidnapping, escaping, self congratulating and falling in love that we have come to love and expect. Tip top escapism.

[Gwen · Rating 1 out of 5]

C'est du Barbara Cartland.....