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The Kiss of the Devil
Skye. Standish, rich, beautiful, and wildfull,does not want the things that most girls want. She does not want a husband to love or a life of boring domesticity. What she wants is freedom, adventure--even danger. And she finds all that on her trip to Mariposa, a country where men settle their differences with guns--a lonely mountainous land where she has been warned it is not safe for a beautiful young woman to travel alone. But she also finds she has gone too far when a ruthless bandit called El Diablo, "the devil", takes her to his hideout and holds her prisoner--takes her in his arms and, against her will, makes her his wife...
Paperback
Published January 1, 1975
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,352 books874 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 - 7 of 7 reviews
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June 20, 2014i like
February 1, 2015
Against her cousin Jimmy’s earnest advice, the hot-headed but beautiful Skye Standish is determined to go off on an exciting adventure in the strife-torn South American country of Mariposa. Rebelling against her wealthy British background and the tiresome social world of New York, she ventures into the remote heartlands of Mariposa where she is kidnapped by the followers of a revolutionary known to everyone as El Diablo –The Devil! Although furious and insulted at her capture, Skye at first assumes that he simply wants a ransom for her, which she can easily have paid. But then he announces abruptly that she is to be his wife, willing or unwilling. It is not her money he wants, it is her humiliation! Imprisoned in his network of secret caves in the mountains, she plots her escape from his clutches and to go back to civilisation and her elegant yacht and twice fails and then she has to face El Diablo’s terrible wrath. And her hatred of this cruel man is now complete. Yet observing his devotion to his impoverished people, she uncovers another, almost gentlemanly, side of El Diablo and the ominous phrase on the lips of those who fear him – ‘the kiss of the Devil’– takes on a passionate new meaning for Skye.
walai
February 28, 2016เพลิงน้ำผึ้ง จามรี พรรณชมพู
มธุรสฌรี ธนวัต สาวกำพร้าลูกครึ่งไทยอเมริกัน ผู้อุดมไปทั้งความงามและสมบัติ แต่ทั้งสองอย่างกลับทำให้เธอไม่กล้าที่จะวางใจเพศตรงข้าม
อนล บุรโชติ ผู้ช้ำรักอย่างรุนแรงเพราะคนรัก(สาวสังคมเนื้อหอมซึ่งแก่กว่าเขา6ปี) ผละจากเขาไปแต่งงานกับลุงมหาเศรษฐีของเขาแทน
แต่เขายังไม่ได้หนีหน้าลุงและสังคมตั้งแต่ตอนนั้น ยังเก็บอดีตของตนกับภรณีไว้ไม่ให้ลุงของเขารู้ จนเกิดเหตุที่ลุงของเขาพบเงินสดในเซฟหายไป และภรณีไม่ยอมแสดงตัวรับผิดชอบ ทำให้เขาตาสว่างว่า ที่แล้วมาหลายปี หล่อนเพียงหลอกใช้เขาเท่านั้น
เขาจึงมาเป็นนาย เพลิง หรือพญาไฟ ผู้เป็นความหวังของชาวบ้าน หัวหน้ากองกำลังในป่าลึก ผู้ถูกตราหน้าว่าเป็นผู้ก่อการร้าย
แร่ยูเรเนียมในผืนดิน เป็นต้นเรื่องที่ทำให้พลตรีอรรถ ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดหวังฮุบที่ดินทั้งหมดและไล่ชาวบ้านออกจากที่ทำกิน
เพลิงจับตัวเธอมาเป็นเมียเพราะเธอมีความงามอย่างลูกครึ่งและมีชีวิตหรูหราเหมือนภรณี เขาตั้งใจจะทำให้เธอรักและทอดทิ้งเธอ..แต่สุดท้ายเขากลับรักเธอ
มธุรสฌรี ธนวัต สาวกำพร้าลูกครึ่งไทยอเมริกัน ผู้อุดมไปทั้งความงามและสมบัติ แต่ทั้งสองอย่างกลับทำให้เธอไม่กล้าที่จะวางใจเพศตรงข้าม
อนล บุรโชติ ผู้ช้ำรักอย่างรุนแรงเพราะคนรัก(สาวสังคมเนื้อหอมซึ่งแก่กว่าเขา6ปี) ผละจากเขาไปแต่งงานกับลุงมหาเศรษฐีของเขาแทน
แต่เขายังไม่ได้หนีหน้าลุงและสังคมตั้งแต่ตอนนั้น ยังเก็บอดีตของตนกับภรณีไว้ไม่ให้ลุงของเขารู้ จนเกิดเหตุที่ลุงของเขาพบเงินสดในเซฟหายไป และภรณีไม่ยอมแสดงตัวรับผิดชอบ ทำให้เขาตาสว่างว่า ที่แล้วมาหลายปี หล่อนเพียงหลอกใช้เขาเท่านั้น
เขาจึงมาเป็นนาย เพลิง หรือพญาไฟ ผู้เป็นความหวังของชาวบ้าน หัวหน้ากองกำลังในป่าลึก ผู้ถูกตราหน้าว่าเป็นผู้ก่อการร้าย
แร่ยูเรเนียมในผืนดิน เป็นต้นเรื่องที่ทำให้พลตรีอรรถ ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดหวังฮุบที่ดินทั้งหมดและไล่ชาวบ้านออกจากที่ทำกิน
เพลิงจับตัวเธอมาเป็นเมียเพราะเธอมีความงามอย่างลูกครึ่งและมีชีวิตหรูหราเหมือนภรณี เขาตั้งใจจะทำให้เธอรักและทอดทิ้งเธอ..แต่สุดท้ายเขากลับรักเธอ
January 8, 2021
A mix of kidnapping, forced sexual relationships, physical violence on the one hand, and on the other — beautiful butterflies, exotic flora and fauna, picturesque sky and mountains. The love story about sadistic but heartbroken gentleman and beautiful but heartbroken girl in the context of peoples struggle with exploitation and totalitarianism. Lots of melodrama as usual in Cartland’s’ book
November 4, 2021
― Urăsc bărbații!
― Ce glumă!
― Nu-i deloc o glumă. Toți, dar absolut toți, aleargă după banii și… mă rog, după frumusețea mea. Asta-i adevărul.
Jimmy Donaldson izbucni într-un râs atât de zgomotos, încât și calul de sub el, cabrându-se, făcu un salt în lături.
― Cât cinism la numai douăzeci și unu de ani! se miră Jimmy, după un răstimp.
― Dacă a spune adevărul și a dovedi măcar puțin bun simț înseamnă cinism, atunci sunt încântată că mi-l pui în seamă, i-o întoarse Skye în timp ce, îmboldindu-și calul cu un singur șfichi de biciușcă, porni mai departe.
Jimmy își dădu seama că o jignise pe tânăra și frumoasa lui verișoară ― năsuc în vânt, păr auriu și zulufat, încadrând un desăvârșit oval al feței. Orice altă părere, potrivit căreia Skye nu ar fi fost hărăzită să fericească stirpea bărbătească, ar fi părut neîntemeiată. Oricum, Jimmy o cunoștea destul de bine, știa că nu glumea. Astfel că, încercând să-și stăvilească ironica voioșie, o ajunse din urmă.
De acolo, de pe creasta costișei unde ajunseseră, putură contempla împreună un peisaj minunat: văi întinse și fertile, care făceau din Mariposa poate cel mai frumos ținut vizitat de Jimmy în lunga sa carieră diplomatică. Stânci aspre, de culoarea ruginii, își desenau în depărtări conturul pe fundalul unui cer siniliu. Mai jos, îți încânta privirea o vegetație bogată semi-tropicală, înstelată de flori, pe deasupra cărora zburau în voie fluturi de toate mărimile și culorile. Frumusețea locului o făcu pe Skye să exclame cu glas vibrând de emoție:
― Nu ți se pare nemaipomenit? Exact peisajul pe care îl căutam.
Dăduse uitării mânia. Iar Jimmy, privindu-i ochii strălucitori, și buzele întredeschise ca într-un suspin adânc, se întreba ― nu pentru întâia oară ― cum de reușea să-l descumpănească de-atâtea ori pe zi?
― Este sau nu un ținut minunat? Spune și tu, Jimmy, n-am dreptate?
― Cum să nu. E, într-adevăr, minunat. Dar nu întrece nici Uruguay-ul aflat în stânga, nici Brazilia din dreapta. Așa cum ți-am spus, există locuri mult mai potrivite și mai ferite de primejdii în care să te poți bucura nestingherit de un peisaj.
― Vorbești ca o cucoană bătrână! mormăi Skye.
― Asemenea remarcă m-ar înfuria dacă aș avea doar douăzeci și cinci de ani, replică Jimmy, filosofic. Dar la cincizeci și cinci, îmi pot permite să trec peste ea. Recunosc, într-adevăr, că Mariposa este un ținut tare frumos; dar, acestea fiind spuse, lasă-mă să te mai rog o dată: vino cu mine în Chile. Să admiri și peisajele de-acolo…
― O Jimmy, dă-mi pace, rogu-te. Îmi cunoști dinainte răspunsul. M-ai sâcâit destul până acuma, împotrivindu-te proiectelor mele și nimic din tot ce mi-ai mai putea spune nu o să mă facă să-mi schimb hotărârea. Au și trecut câțiva ani de când vreau să vin la Mariposa; acum că mă aflu aici, să știi că nici chiar o întreagă armată de veri cârtitori nu m-ar putea împiedica să explorez întreg ținutul.
― Ce glumă!
― Nu-i deloc o glumă. Toți, dar absolut toți, aleargă după banii și… mă rog, după frumusețea mea. Asta-i adevărul.
Jimmy Donaldson izbucni într-un râs atât de zgomotos, încât și calul de sub el, cabrându-se, făcu un salt în lături.
― Cât cinism la numai douăzeci și unu de ani! se miră Jimmy, după un răstimp.
― Dacă a spune adevărul și a dovedi măcar puțin bun simț înseamnă cinism, atunci sunt încântată că mi-l pui în seamă, i-o întoarse Skye în timp ce, îmboldindu-și calul cu un singur șfichi de biciușcă, porni mai departe.
Jimmy își dădu seama că o jignise pe tânăra și frumoasa lui verișoară ― năsuc în vânt, păr auriu și zulufat, încadrând un desăvârșit oval al feței. Orice altă părere, potrivit căreia Skye nu ar fi fost hărăzită să fericească stirpea bărbătească, ar fi părut neîntemeiată. Oricum, Jimmy o cunoștea destul de bine, știa că nu glumea. Astfel că, încercând să-și stăvilească ironica voioșie, o ajunse din urmă.
De acolo, de pe creasta costișei unde ajunseseră, putură contempla împreună un peisaj minunat: văi întinse și fertile, care făceau din Mariposa poate cel mai frumos ținut vizitat de Jimmy în lunga sa carieră diplomatică. Stânci aspre, de culoarea ruginii, își desenau în depărtări conturul pe fundalul unui cer siniliu. Mai jos, îți încânta privirea o vegetație bogată semi-tropicală, înstelată de flori, pe deasupra cărora zburau în voie fluturi de toate mărimile și culorile. Frumusețea locului o făcu pe Skye să exclame cu glas vibrând de emoție:
― Nu ți se pare nemaipomenit? Exact peisajul pe care îl căutam.
Dăduse uitării mânia. Iar Jimmy, privindu-i ochii strălucitori, și buzele întredeschise ca într-un suspin adânc, se întreba ― nu pentru întâia oară ― cum de reușea să-l descumpănească de-atâtea ori pe zi?
― Este sau nu un ținut minunat? Spune și tu, Jimmy, n-am dreptate?
― Cum să nu. E, într-adevăr, minunat. Dar nu întrece nici Uruguay-ul aflat în stânga, nici Brazilia din dreapta. Așa cum ți-am spus, există locuri mult mai potrivite și mai ferite de primejdii în care să te poți bucura nestingherit de un peisaj.
― Vorbești ca o cucoană bătrână! mormăi Skye.
― Asemenea remarcă m-ar înfuria dacă aș avea doar douăzeci și cinci de ani, replică Jimmy, filosofic. Dar la cincizeci și cinci, îmi pot permite să trec peste ea. Recunosc, într-adevăr, că Mariposa este un ținut tare frumos; dar, acestea fiind spuse, lasă-mă să te mai rog o dată: vino cu mine în Chile. Să admiri și peisajele de-acolo…
― O Jimmy, dă-mi pace, rogu-te. Îmi cunoști dinainte răspunsul. M-ai sâcâit destul până acuma, împotrivindu-te proiectelor mele și nimic din tot ce mi-ai mai putea spune nu o să mă facă să-mi schimb hotărârea. Au și trecut câțiva ani de când vreau să vin la Mariposa; acum că mă aflu aici, să știi că nici chiar o întreagă armată de veri cârtitori nu m-ar putea împiedica să explorez întreg ținutul.
April 25, 2020
I read this when I was a teenager and remember thinking is was very exiting!
Read it now and it felt mehh. The beginning was pretty good but then it really didn't go anywhere. Plus this was a blatant plagiarism of The SheikBy EM Hull but worse.
I like to think that BC read the the sheik when it first came out 30 years before she wrote The kiss of the devil (it's written in the 50's) and that it was the 20's version of fifty shades of gray!
Skimmed the last third of the book
Read it now and it felt mehh. The beginning was pretty good but then it really didn't go anywhere. Plus this was a blatant plagiarism of The SheikBy EM Hull but worse.
I like to think that BC read the the sheik when it first came out 30 years before she wrote The kiss of the devil (it's written in the 50's) and that it was the 20's version of fifty shades of gray!
Skimmed the last third of the book
February 1, 2026
Love the adventure but not the forced marriage bit. The end was not as good as I would have liked. This one gos in the "trade off" pile.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews