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Mask Of Gold
Piotr must have a mother.
Carolyn Clarke, already devoted to the little half-Polish boy, found it impossible to resist the plea from a dying man. And so she became a stepmother, married a few hours before his death to a man she scarcely knew, and burdened with responsibilities of which she had never dreamed. For, taking Piotr to England to meet his relatives for the first time, Carolyn found a situation very different from what she had been led to expect.
When she learned the terms of Piotr's aunt's will, she realised how suspect her motives must have appeared to the family -- but even this did not account for the strange and hurtful attitude of Alvin Thyssen, a man Carolyn might dislike but could never ignore.
Carolyn Clarke, already devoted to the little half-Polish boy, found it impossible to resist the plea from a dying man. And so she became a stepmother, married a few hours before his death to a man she scarcely knew, and burdened with responsibilities of which she had never dreamed. For, taking Piotr to England to meet his relatives for the first time, Carolyn found a situation very different from what she had been led to expect.
When she learned the terms of Piotr's aunt's will, she realised how suspect her motives must have appeared to the family -- but even this did not account for the strange and hurtful attitude of Alvin Thyssen, a man Carolyn might dislike but could never ignore.
405 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 1968
19 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Lindsay
66 books64 followersRachel Lindsay is the pen name of an author who also published as Roberta Leigh, Janey Scott, and Rozella Lake. See the "Roberta Leigh" entry for full biographical information.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 27, 2011
Quite the strange little book. I bought this for the cover. I love the covers from the 70s. Here are some different elements.
Hero - Short. She is 5'7" and barely has to look up at him. In heels they are eye level. So 5'9" or 10". And he has bad eye sight and glasses so thick she can't seen his eyes behind them. And his name is Alvin. So hot, NOT. Still it doesn't matter much because he's hardly in the book at all. I can't imagine how she could have fallen in love with him considering she never saw him.
Heroine, Carolyn, was also odd. She mostly stood up for herself although there were instances concerning the care ofthe boy, Piotr, where she totally was a sightless trusting ninny. Also there was an evil other woman. What did she do that was so evil? She had the effrontery to be the hero's mistress before the heroine even arrived on the scene and for a short while after. She never said even 'boo' to the heroine and yet Carolyn continually reviled her to everyone, calling her a slut and a cheap tart and a manipulative bitch etc. And I'm thinking exactly who is the nasty one here? The heroine continually said Hell. Like "Hell, let's get it over with." Pretty racy for 1969. And seriously even now when books are full of cursing, that one doesn't seem to be used much.
The boys Grandmother was so nasty at first that even such a veteran HP reader as I was taken aback. Did she really say that?
Most of the story concerned Carolyn's relationship with the boy's family and she spent way more time with the "other man" than she did with the hero.
Mostly this was interesting in a "time capsule" way but it didn't stink and held my interest - so 3 stars.
Hero - Short. She is 5'7" and barely has to look up at him. In heels they are eye level. So 5'9" or 10". And he has bad eye sight and glasses so thick she can't seen his eyes behind them. And his name is Alvin. So hot, NOT. Still it doesn't matter much because he's hardly in the book at all. I can't imagine how she could have fallen in love with him considering she never saw him.
Heroine, Carolyn, was also odd. She mostly stood up for herself although there were instances concerning the care ofthe boy, Piotr, where she totally was a sightless trusting ninny. Also there was an evil other woman. What did she do that was so evil? She had the effrontery to be the hero's mistress before the heroine even arrived on the scene and for a short while after. She never said even 'boo' to the heroine and yet Carolyn continually reviled her to everyone, calling her a slut and a cheap tart and a manipulative bitch etc. And I'm thinking exactly who is the nasty one here? The heroine continually said Hell. Like "Hell, let's get it over with." Pretty racy for 1969. And seriously even now when books are full of cursing, that one doesn't seem to be used much.
The boys Grandmother was so nasty at first that even such a veteran HP reader as I was taken aback. Did she really say that?
Most of the story concerned Carolyn's relationship with the boy's family and she spent way more time with the "other man" than she did with the hero.
Mostly this was interesting in a "time capsule" way but it didn't stink and held my interest - so 3 stars.
September 16, 2015
I really like the side characters in this book, especially Jeffrey. His sense of humour made me want to be friends with him. And I think his and Mrs. Nichols' characters were very well developed. They didn't turn nice overnight but didn't stay evil forever either, they learn to see reasons and deal with reality of their situation, open their hearts and overcome the bitterness.
I also really like Caro, she's strong and didn't afraid to stand up for herself. Too bad the author dumbed her down for the sake of drama with the de Mancys.
And Alvin, Alvin, Alvin.... Why you were named Alvin? I can't get over the image of Alvin and the Chipmunks while reading this book. What happen to Nicholas or Alexander? Hell, I'll even take John or Phillip. But Alvin... I don't mind his physical imperfections (not too tall, thick glasses) but like most of Harlequin heroes he didn't held the heroine in a very high regard, suspicious, partial to his other woman (even if it seems like to make the heroine jealous or to protect himself from his feeling), and overall too stupid to be a genius scientists and business man. But of course he was forgiven too easily.
3.5 stars, mostly for Jeffrey.
I also really like Caro, she's strong and didn't afraid to stand up for herself. Too bad the author dumbed her down for the sake of drama with the de Mancys.
And Alvin, Alvin, Alvin.... Why you were named Alvin? I can't get over the image of Alvin and the Chipmunks while reading this book. What happen to Nicholas or Alexander? Hell, I'll even take John or Phillip. But Alvin... I don't mind his physical imperfections (not too tall, thick glasses) but like most of Harlequin heroes he didn't held the heroine in a very high regard, suspicious, partial to his other woman (even if it seems like to make the heroine jealous or to protect himself from his feeling), and overall too stupid to be a genius scientists and business man. But of course he was forgiven too easily.
3.5 stars, mostly for Jeffrey.
August 1, 2021
The H's appeal was lost on me in part due to his physical description and in part because he was such a lasher-outer. The h is great, though.
pback-to-read
November 18, 2021Carolyn Clarke, already devoted to the little half-Polish boy, found it impossible to resist the plea from a dying man. And so she became a stepmother, married a few hours before his death to a man she scarcely knew, and burdened with responsibilities of which she had never dreamed. For, taking Piotr to England to meet his relatives for the first time, Carolyn found a situation very different from what she had been led to expect.
When she learned the terms of Piotr's aunt's will, she realised how suspect her motives must have appeared to the family -- but even this did not account for the strange and hurtful attitude of Alvin Thyssen, a man Carolyn might dislike but could never ignore
When she learned the terms of Piotr's aunt's will, she realised how suspect her motives must have appeared to the family -- but even this did not account for the strange and hurtful attitude of Alvin Thyssen, a man Carolyn might dislike but could never ignore
July 26, 2018
Good book and story. The overall problem with most of harlequin books is that they try to tell too big a story for the size of the book. Endings feel rushed, some characters not well developed. Still good, but sometimes just need a fuller story.
September 11, 2023
I was so glad to find an electronic version on Open Library.
I read this story when it was first published and remembered the story line all this time. That should say something for the quality of the story.
I read this story when it was first published and remembered the story line all this time. That should say something for the quality of the story.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews