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Gates of Steel
Librarian note: an alternate cover for this edition can be found here.
Helen Stewart was disenchanted with the whole idea of love and romance, while Leon Petrou, it was said, had no time for women -- so when he suggested that she should marry him, to provide a background for his small niece and nephew, she agreed, feeling that emotion would not enter into the situation at all. And that could prove to be a dangerous assumption.
Helen Stewart was disenchanted with the whole idea of love and romance, while Leon Petrou, it was said, had no time for women -- so when he suggested that she should marry him, to provide a background for his small niece and nephew, she agreed, feeling that emotion would not enter into the situation at all. And that could prove to be a dangerous assumption.
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1970
7 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hampson
150 books153 followersAnne Hampson was born on 28 November 1928 in England. At age six she had two ambitions: to teach and to write. Poverty after WWI deprived her of an education and at 14 she was making Marks & Spencer's blouses at one shilling (5p) each.
She retired when she married. Later, when her marriage broke up, she was homeless with £40 in her purse. She went back to the rag trade and lived in a tiny caravan. But she never forgot her two ambitions, and when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied, and three years later had achieved one ambition, so set her thoughts on number two.
In 1969, her first novel, Eternal Summer, was accepted five days from posting and she soon had a contract for 12 more. From the caravan she went to a small stately home, drove a Mercedes and sailed on the QE2. From the first book, came over 125 more written for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette. Alan Boon (the Boon of Mills & Boon) and she came up with the title for 'Harlequin Presents' over lunch at the Ritz. She suggested to Alan that they have a historical series. He told her to write one - it was done in a month, entitled Eleanor and the Marquis under the pseudonym Jane Wilby. She has the distinction of being number one in Harlequin Presents, Masquerade and Silhouette. Many of "Presents" have been reprinted many times (some as many as 16) and are now fetching up to $55, being classed as "rare" books.
She has had 3 awards, one at the World Trade Centre where she received a standing ovation from her American fans, who had come from many states just to meet her.
She was retired, but in 2005 she wrote two romance and crime novels, both of which were published by Severn House.
She passed away on 25 September 2014. She has been written her autobiography, entitled Fate Was My Friend.
She retired when she married. Later, when her marriage broke up, she was homeless with £40 in her purse. She went back to the rag trade and lived in a tiny caravan. But she never forgot her two ambitions, and when Manchester University decided to trial older women she applied, and three years later had achieved one ambition, so set her thoughts on number two.
In 1969, her first novel, Eternal Summer, was accepted five days from posting and she soon had a contract for 12 more. From the caravan she went to a small stately home, drove a Mercedes and sailed on the QE2. From the first book, came over 125 more written for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette. Alan Boon (the Boon of Mills & Boon) and she came up with the title for 'Harlequin Presents' over lunch at the Ritz. She suggested to Alan that they have a historical series. He told her to write one - it was done in a month, entitled Eleanor and the Marquis under the pseudonym Jane Wilby. She has the distinction of being number one in Harlequin Presents, Masquerade and Silhouette. Many of "Presents" have been reprinted many times (some as many as 16) and are now fetching up to $55, being classed as "rare" books.
She has had 3 awards, one at the World Trade Centre where she received a standing ovation from her American fans, who had come from many states just to meet her.
She was retired, but in 2005 she wrote two romance and crime novels, both of which were published by Severn House.
She passed away on 25 September 2014. She has been written her autobiography, entitled Fate Was My Friend.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 29, 2012
Intense read from Anne Hampson...about a woman who marries for convenience to be a mother to two children she has come to adore. For the most part, this had all the requisite angst we like in those older hp's... but the ending really fell flat. The author tried to reconcile 250 pages of hurt and misunderstanding into just three paragraphs. I kept turning the page..saying this is it? This is my HEA....?
Though, I must say I really liked the title...In the story, the children get trapped in an old Turkish dove cote behind gates of steel...thinking they could never escape. Of course, the parallelism and symbolism between the gates and the children, who have trapped her forever in a marriage from hell, was a stroke of genius from Anne Hampson!
Why oh why, can't we have these great titles today.....
Though, I must say I really liked the title...In the story, the children get trapped in an old Turkish dove cote behind gates of steel...thinking they could never escape. Of course, the parallelism and symbolism between the gates and the children, who have trapped her forever in a marriage from hell, was a stroke of genius from Anne Hampson!
Why oh why, can't we have these great titles today.....
December 19, 2015
3 1/2 Stars ~ When Helen's six month old son died, she had hoped that her marriage could be rebuilt but it seemed her husband no longer wanted her. Then his body had been discovered after a car accident and with him was a young woman from his office; they'd been having an affair for over a year. Faced with all these losses and the betrayal, Helen had become ill and just as she was recovering a friend had told her about two children that needed a temporary guardian on a boat journey from England to Cyprus. Helen had a dear friend living in Cyprus with her husband, and so she accepted responsibility of the boy and girl for the trip and thought to stay for a few weeks vacation. The children, boy of 7 and girl of 5, quickly earned Helen's affection and she worried about leaving them with their uncle whom she understood hated women and had barely tolerated children. And when she met Leon, she felt his cold abruptness and worried more. Arriving at her friend Trudy's, the neighbour tells her that her friend and husband are away in Egypt for two months. Dismayed, Helen asks Leon to take her to the airport so she can return to England but the children appeal to Leon and he insists that she stay for her vacation at his home. Also staying in his home are an aunt and uncle while their home is being worked on, and Leon's young sister who works in the nearby city until her marriage in a few months. When all the house guests leave, Leon acknowledges that the children adore Helen and she them, so he suggest that they marry for the sake of the children and he promises that on his part, he shall make no demands on her. Helen had never desired to remarry again, in fact, she dressed drably on purpose to hide herself from male attention, but Leon's proposal and promise appealed to her. Two months into their married life they'd established a pattern of Leon off to work, home for dinner and off again for the evening. Helen assumed he had a mistress and this did not bother her. But when Leon makes hints about her attire and suggests she buy herself some pretty clothes, she realizes that her husband has begun to notice her.
This is an angsty vintage Harlequin that one needs to remember was written in the 70's where in traditional countries such as Greece, the husband was the law. Leon is portrayed as a traditional Greek who frowns at even an innocent association his wife might have with another man. Helen's first marriage has her afraid to love again and she actively makes her appearance unappealing. She's shocked when Leon breaks her promise and demands the right of a husband. Of course, as a reader, it's obvious Leon has begun to love Helen but she's sure he only wants her because she's convenient. There are the usual misunderstandings and tears and tantrums, and then a rather quick resolution that was a bit of a let down. I wanted more passion for the HEA, but alas, this was not to be.
Ms. Hampson was great friends with Alan Boon and over lunch in London, he'd asked her advice for the title for a new book series and thus, Harlequin Presents was named. The Gates of Steel was the launch for this immensely popular series that is now, after 50 years, published and sold in over 100 countries.
This is an angsty vintage Harlequin that one needs to remember was written in the 70's where in traditional countries such as Greece, the husband was the law. Leon is portrayed as a traditional Greek who frowns at even an innocent association his wife might have with another man. Helen's first marriage has her afraid to love again and she actively makes her appearance unappealing. She's shocked when Leon breaks her promise and demands the right of a husband. Of course, as a reader, it's obvious Leon has begun to love Helen but she's sure he only wants her because she's convenient. There are the usual misunderstandings and tears and tantrums, and then a rather quick resolution that was a bit of a let down. I wanted more passion for the HEA, but alas, this was not to be.
Ms. Hampson was great friends with Alan Boon and over lunch in London, he'd asked her advice for the title for a new book series and thus, Harlequin Presents was named. The Gates of Steel was the launch for this immensely popular series that is now, after 50 years, published and sold in over 100 countries.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2022
The first one of this category, the book has dark and gothic atmosphere, and so many cliches and prejudices.
But I liked it.
The heroine lost her man and found out he was cheating on her, so she’s embittered and doesn’t want to fall in love ever.
The hero has two little nephews and needs a wife.
Their marriage will be a MOC and not a real one.
The heroine disguises her beauty with plain clothes. She doesn’t want any man to be attracted by her.
In the first stages of their marriage they are almost strangers living in the same house, but soon the hero starts seeing her as an attractive woman and would like to change the terms of their marriage.
There are many misunderstandings, some jealousy and in the end the hero declares his love for her.
The book has been written many decades ago and it shows.
The hero is Greek and there are many prejudices about Greeks, a strong chauvinism first of all.
The heroine is frozen because of her bad experience and doesn’t trust the hero. There are references to his night outings, maybe he was with ow maybe not, we don’t know.
Anyway I appreciate that there’s no evidence of cheating.
The hero seems to be a hard man but not a mean one, he really falls in love with the heroine but of course since she’s as cold as ice he doesn’t know if she cares for him until the end.
It was an easy book, very old and almost impossible to conceive nowadays, but if you keep that in mind it’s an interesting reading.
But I liked it.
The heroine lost her man and found out he was cheating on her, so she’s embittered and doesn’t want to fall in love ever.
The hero has two little nephews and needs a wife.
Their marriage will be a MOC and not a real one.
The heroine disguises her beauty with plain clothes. She doesn’t want any man to be attracted by her.
In the first stages of their marriage they are almost strangers living in the same house, but soon the hero starts seeing her as an attractive woman and would like to change the terms of their marriage.
There are many misunderstandings, some jealousy and in the end the hero declares his love for her.
The book has been written many decades ago and it shows.
The hero is Greek and there are many prejudices about Greeks, a strong chauvinism first of all.
The heroine is frozen because of her bad experience and doesn’t trust the hero. There are references to his night outings, maybe he was with ow maybe not, we don’t know.
Anyway I appreciate that there’s no evidence of cheating.
The hero seems to be a hard man but not a mean one, he really falls in love with the heroine but of course since she’s as cold as ice he doesn’t know if she cares for him until the end.
It was an easy book, very old and almost impossible to conceive nowadays, but if you keep that in mind it’s an interesting reading.
Read
September 19, 2016Nope this ones just bad! It's the launching book of the series but it sucks so bad it made my cheeks hurt!!!! Avoid avoid! Hero is an asshole who had mistresses while she stays at home taking care of his responsibilities!!! Plus he treats her like shit give her no respect and did I mention he does not love her!!! Lust maybe if you can call it that. The fade to black questionable sex scene made me feel dirty!!! He was just with the other chick omg gross!!! He is going to kill her of give her vd! I can't stand these kinds of abusive relationships.
May 27, 2020
***Possible Spoiler***
It was a beautiful and lovable story. All these times I put it away and didn't read it because of all this negative reviews and all these genres of cheating hero, cheaters and so on, but I'm so happy finally I gave it a try it was one of the best and I couldn't love it more. It's so well written and well developed and all of the characters from main characters to minor characters were so well characterized. I TOTALLY LOVED IT AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL.
It was a beautiful and lovable story. All these times I put it away and didn't read it because of all this negative reviews and all these genres of cheating hero, cheaters and so on, but I'm so happy finally I gave it a try it was one of the best and I couldn't love it more. It's so well written and well developed and all of the characters from main characters to minor characters were so well characterized. I TOTALLY LOVED IT AND RECOMMEND IT TO ALL.
July 2, 2020
Insipid tale of an MOC between a widowed woman and a rich but reclusive man. Reason for MOC? He needs to care for his dead brother's children. You see, the heroine accompanied the kids on their journey from dead daddy to boring uncle, the hero !!!!
The no touch, no sex clause in the MOC wasn't added apparently. So the hero decides suddenly that the woman living in his house is his wife after all !!!!! And what's even more stupid is that the wifey isn't keen on performing wifey duties. But she does fancy him.
So what's coming in her way of throwing herself into the wretched fellow's arms? An imagined grievance of him having dozens of affairs. While all the time the poor guy was house hunting for a old aunt. Or securing the future of the two kiddos he inherited from the dead brother. The reason for the MOC in the first place, remember?
After a while, I was so busy skipping lines and yawning. I did not care whether they do get laid or not. Get an HEA or not. That's a sad situation for a romance story. When the reader doesn't care a whit about what happens to the leads !!!
The no touch, no sex clause in the MOC wasn't added apparently. So the hero decides suddenly that the woman living in his house is his wife after all !!!!! And what's even more stupid is that the wifey isn't keen on performing wifey duties. But she does fancy him.
So what's coming in her way of throwing herself into the wretched fellow's arms? An imagined grievance of him having dozens of affairs. While all the time the poor guy was house hunting for a old aunt. Or securing the future of the two kiddos he inherited from the dead brother. The reason for the MOC in the first place, remember?
After a while, I was so busy skipping lines and yawning. I did not care whether they do get laid or not. Get an HEA or not. That's a sad situation for a romance story. When the reader doesn't care a whit about what happens to the leads !!!
March 7, 2022
#toxic_relationship
شوي كنت بقول لنفسي هذا كلام روايات و لا يمكن لامرأة أن ترضى بكل هذا الذل فقط من أجل أطفال هم اصلاً مو أطفالها و لا كانت بتعرفهم قبل الرحلة
و شوي بقول أن هذا ممكن بالنظر لمدى حيونة الانسان في بعض الاحيان و قدرته على التصرف بمنتهى الغباء
لكن لعل الكاتب كان لازم يوضح الدوافع اكثر
على العموم أنا اللي غلطان لأني قرأتها و كنت بعرف من البداية انها رواية مراهقين
و مع ذلك كملت للنهاية و كأني كنت بحاول اقنع نفسي أن مقدمات الأشياء منفصلة عن نتائجها
اللي عملته أنا هو نفس اللي عملته هيلين
سخرية القدر
شوي كنت بقول لنفسي هذا كلام روايات و لا يمكن لامرأة أن ترضى بكل هذا الذل فقط من أجل أطفال هم اصلاً مو أطفالها و لا كانت بتعرفهم قبل الرحلة
و شوي بقول أن هذا ممكن بالنظر لمدى حيونة الانسان في بعض الاحيان و قدرته على التصرف بمنتهى الغباء
لكن لعل الكاتب كان لازم يوضح الدوافع اكثر
على العموم أنا اللي غلطان لأني قرأتها و كنت بعرف من البداية انها رواية مراهقين
و مع ذلك كملت للنهاية و كأني كنت بحاول اقنع نفسي أن مقدمات الأشياء منفصلة عن نتائجها
اللي عملته أنا هو نفس اللي عملته هيلين
سخرية القدر
June 5, 2024
HP #1
Published: May 1973
Location: Lapithos, Cyprus
Tropes:
*Marriage of Convenience
*Hero falls first
*Widow heroine
*OM and OW drama
*Marrying for kid’s sake
*Businessman hero
*Loss of a child (before story)
*Dubcon
*Heroine trying to look unattractive
*Jealousy
*Heroine is an artist
*Taking care of niece and nephew
*Whimsical family member (Aunt Chrisoula)
Heroine:
Helen Stewart, English
Hero:
Leon Petrou, Greek-Cypriot
Recommend: Yes. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would since I don’t usually like when kids are involved and / or H/h are widowed. The hero obviously falls early on for the heroine who is pretty oblivious about it. I liked seeing Leon go from a very stern and aloof man with the kids to a much more tender father figure.
Rating: 4/5
Love the hero, especially since he falls first and is rather gruff but not in a hateful way. Heroine was a bit annoying but I understood her reasoning. I thought the ending was a tad abrupt, but that seems to be par the course for early Harlequins. Also thought it was strange how the heroine’s loss of a child is only mentioned once. It makes me wonder if Hampson forgot to edit it out of a draft or if it was too sad to elaborate on.
Published: May 1973
Location: Lapithos, Cyprus
Tropes:
*Marriage of Convenience
*Hero falls first
*Widow heroine
*OM and OW drama
*Marrying for kid’s sake
*Businessman hero
*Loss of a child (before story)
*Dubcon
*Heroine trying to look unattractive
*Jealousy
*Heroine is an artist
*Taking care of niece and nephew
*Whimsical family member (Aunt Chrisoula)
Heroine:
Helen Stewart, English
Hero:
Leon Petrou, Greek-Cypriot
Recommend: Yes. I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would since I don’t usually like when kids are involved and / or H/h are widowed. The hero obviously falls early on for the heroine who is pretty oblivious about it. I liked seeing Leon go from a very stern and aloof man with the kids to a much more tender father figure.
Rating: 4/5
Love the hero, especially since he falls first and is rather gruff but not in a hateful way. Heroine was a bit annoying but I understood her reasoning. I thought the ending was a tad abrupt, but that seems to be par the course for early Harlequins. Also thought it was strange how the heroine’s loss of a child is only mentioned once. It makes me wonder if Hampson forgot to edit it out of a draft or if it was too sad to elaborate on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2025
A vintage love story 1970:
A marriage of convenience between Hero and Heroine from 2 different cultural backgrounds undertaken for the sake of 2 children without parents. With reasons of their own both Hero and Heroine settled on this arrangement without love or attraction but strictly for convenience with Heroine extracting a promise from Hero to keep it that way. But alas how long can that last when Hero starts to see beyond the drab appearance of Heroine ( self imposed to shield herself from attraction) and Heroine starts to notice tenderness for the children from this man known for his hard and uncompromising ways. Skillfully written to subtlety unfold their growing attraction for each other and the torment of their uncertainties about each other. A lovely story set in the backdrop of Cyprus beautifully described by the writer with a touch of its Greek and Turkish cultures. For Hero who didn't believe in love and for Heroine who was disenchanted by love their story is concluded by endearing and enduring love!
CYA’58
A marriage of convenience between Hero and Heroine from 2 different cultural backgrounds undertaken for the sake of 2 children without parents. With reasons of their own both Hero and Heroine settled on this arrangement without love or attraction but strictly for convenience with Heroine extracting a promise from Hero to keep it that way. But alas how long can that last when Hero starts to see beyond the drab appearance of Heroine ( self imposed to shield herself from attraction) and Heroine starts to notice tenderness for the children from this man known for his hard and uncompromising ways. Skillfully written to subtlety unfold their growing attraction for each other and the torment of their uncertainties about each other. A lovely story set in the backdrop of Cyprus beautifully described by the writer with a touch of its Greek and Turkish cultures. For Hero who didn't believe in love and for Heroine who was disenchanted by love their story is concluded by endearing and enduring love!
CYA’58
March 31, 2024
"Gates of Steel" is the story of Helen and Leon.
Heroine is a widow, who has lived through a tragic marriage and the death of her child. When she is asked to accompany her friend niece and nephew to their uncle's house, she agrees. She did not expect to bond with the children, or that the aforementioned uncle would propose a marriage of convenience.
She initially feels nothing for him, that is until he starts to notice her and attraction ignites. There's loads of jealousy, some OW/ OM drama, but you can see that the hero is smitten and heroine is pretty oblivious. Ends in fade to black, with off page sex scenes.
Safe
3/5
Heroine is a widow, who has lived through a tragic marriage and the death of her child. When she is asked to accompany her friend niece and nephew to their uncle's house, she agrees. She did not expect to bond with the children, or that the aforementioned uncle would propose a marriage of convenience.
She initially feels nothing for him, that is until he starts to notice her and attraction ignites. There's loads of jealousy, some OW/ OM drama, but you can see that the hero is smitten and heroine is pretty oblivious. Ends in fade to black, with off page sex scenes.
Safe
3/5
June 5, 2020
امبارح شفت بوست ع الفيس بوك عن قصص عبير فأفتكرتها وافتكرت الايام الل كنت بحبها فيها لما كنت ف إعدادي وثانوي ……ساعات كده الواحد بيشتاق لحاجات عشقها وهو صغير …المهم قرأت امبارح الصقر واليمامة والنهارده لقاء الغرباء وبصراحه ضحكت جدا لإنها قصص رومانسيه سطحيه تناسب المراهقات حقا ولا تمت للواقع بصله … او احنا اتهرينا والزمن عرفنا ان الواقع غير الروايات … فعلا قصص عبير هي أنسب ما يطلق عليه روايات أما قصص مثلا دان براون ونجيب محفوظ وتشيخوف دي مواد دسمة تنقل الواقع والرومانسية فيها ممزوجه بالواقع المر … يلا مفيش مشكله ان الواحد يفضي دماغه ويبتسم شويه للمشاعر النبيله أوي والخياليه بتاع روايات عبير
August 18, 2018
I must say that this book was well written, and I certainly got to know the characters. Their insecurities. Being a marriage of convenience, I wasn't too surprised that Leon and Helen had a hard time communicating, and both jump to conclusions. The book had so much more needed as it ended so abruptly and unsatisfactorily; which is why I rated it as I have. A bit better ending and I would have felt good about rating it a five.
May 24, 2019
Full of boring word fillers. Too long for no reason.
h is not loveable at all. I don't know what man would love a woman as idiot as the h.
h is not loveable at all. I don't know what man would love a woman as idiot as the h.
August 16, 2021
I lost interest midway... but I did manage to finish reading book eventually... the plot was annoyingly slow and predictable...
February 8, 2022
Didn’t finish. Another stereotype H and weepy self-pitying h.
November 2, 2023
H will be a jerk till he dies.
dnf
December 7, 2023Heroine had been married before and maybe suffered child loss??
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 9, 2024Old reads
no-fcking-ways
September 20, 2024H has mistresses while h is at home taking care of his effing responsibilities.
No thanks.
No thanks.
June 30, 2025
Ridiculous h.
February 4, 2016
While accompanying two children overseas to Cypress, Helen falls in love with them. She safely deposits them in their uncle Leon's care, who quickly preposes to Helen so she can stay and take care of them. Leon is very dictatorial and possessive. He controlled who she could see and what to do with her time. Helen spends the majority of the book scared of him. This read like an abusive relationship. There was no trust between them and I didn't feel like they even liked each other. He used the children to manipulate Helen. Just awful.
December 30, 2013
قرأتها مترجمة بعنوان : لقاء الغرباء
May 30, 2012
زواج بدون مشاعر يتحول الي زواج طبيعي
October 5, 2015
روايه ممتعه وخفييفه
October 24, 2013
Amazing.. Beyehkii Ahasesna Bgad..
November 8, 2013
Read the book a LONG time ago and remembered liking it.
October 11, 2018
Enjoyable read for me.
April 20, 2025
Helen and Leon
Didn't like it. Np.
Didn't like it. Np.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews