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Castles in Spain
Holly was delighted to have the chance of visiting the Spanish castle where her aunt Nan Delgaro had lived since her marriage. Don Jose Delgaro gave her a charming welcome, but it was his son Marcos whose attitude really puzzled Holly. Was he trifling with her until he married the attractive Helena Mendez.
191 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
2 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Stratton
81 books22 followersRebecca Stratton wrote two books as a Harlequin Presents author. Writing for the Harlequin Romance imprint, she published 43 novels. She also wrote under the name Lucy Gillen. She passed away in 1982.
Biography from Harlequin Romance #2489 The Golden Spaniard
"When one happens to be an unmarried woman of forty-five and apparently fixed for the rest of her working life in a safe and settled job," Rebecca Stratton says of herself, "it is apt to be regarded as bordering on the insane to suddenly give it all up and become a full-time writer."
But that is precisely what British-born and -bred Rebecca did one August day in 1967. Writing had always been her ultimate aim, and she felt that if she didn't make the move right then and there she'd end her days as "one more elderly lady sighing for what might have been."
When Rebecca Stratton's first attempt at a romance novel was accepted, she didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. So she did both. Then she celebrated with friends and relatives. And then sat down to the job of writing more books - and reveled in it!
Biography from Harlequin Romance #2489 The Golden Spaniard
"When one happens to be an unmarried woman of forty-five and apparently fixed for the rest of her working life in a safe and settled job," Rebecca Stratton says of herself, "it is apt to be regarded as bordering on the insane to suddenly give it all up and become a full-time writer."
But that is precisely what British-born and -bred Rebecca did one August day in 1967. Writing had always been her ultimate aim, and she felt that if she didn't make the move right then and there she'd end her days as "one more elderly lady sighing for what might have been."
When Rebecca Stratton's first attempt at a romance novel was accepted, she didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. So she did both. Then she celebrated with friends and relatives. And then sat down to the job of writing more books - and reveled in it!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 21, 2021
Wild Kingdom, Vintage Harlequin Edition
Host (H)We’re here in Andalusia Spain to observe the mating dance of the subspecies of hero “Spanish Grandee.” He’s 36 and has been paired with a Spanish OW since early adulthood. No mating has ever occurred between that pairing, so a new species of heroine is being introduced. The English Rose heroine (age 22) is here on holiday to visit her aunt, the hero’s stepmother.
Expert Reviewer (ER) It looks like the typical mating dance so far. Heroine thinks she doesn’t like the hero because she is intimidated by his stalking and punishing kisses. She is also confused because he pushes her away after every encounter.
(H) This is normal Spanish Grandee behavior, correct?
(ER) Correct. Heroine is unsure in a foreign environment, plus she is concerned about the OW encroaching on their habitat during feeding hours.
(H) You mean formal lunches and dinners?
(ER) Yes. There has been a lot of aggressive behavior from the OW towards the h during their stately dinners, but the hero remains passive.
(H) Is the heroine in danger from the OW?
(ER) Normally, no. But – look at that.! OW just hit the heroine with her car! I believe our English Rose is injured.
(H) We’ll turn the cameras away as the hero carries heroine back to his castle. Experts surmise that he won’t believe the OW would ever do such a thing.
(ER) Our observations confirm this. Hero thinks the h is lying and leaves her alone and undefended with a broken leg.
Oh, my. This is truly a breathtaking specimen of OW. She has entered the heroine’s sickroom and is now pulling her hair.
(H): Do OWs often resort to physical violence?
(ER )It’s rare. The Margaret Way OW can be deadly, but they are confined to Australia.
(H) Heroine looks terrified, but hero insists on carrying her downstairs.
(ER) Oh, look! The hero has kissed her in front of his family and the OW. That’s significant.
(H) Why?
(ER) The Spanish Grandee is an elusive, private hero. This is – Hear that?
(H) What? It was so fleeting.
(ER) That’s the abrupt ending. He just declared he’ll marry the heroine and that’s it. The courtship dance is over.
(H) That’s it? What about the homicidal OW? Isn’t she dangerous?
(ER) Their true love pheromones will presumably scare her away and she’ll have to find a mate elsewhere. There is “Petfood Millionaire” species of OM that might pair with her.
(H) Wow. That was . . . interesting.
(ER) Ah, nature. It’s amazing in all its iterations.
Host (H)We’re here in Andalusia Spain to observe the mating dance of the subspecies of hero “Spanish Grandee.” He’s 36 and has been paired with a Spanish OW since early adulthood. No mating has ever occurred between that pairing, so a new species of heroine is being introduced. The English Rose heroine (age 22) is here on holiday to visit her aunt, the hero’s stepmother.
Expert Reviewer (ER) It looks like the typical mating dance so far. Heroine thinks she doesn’t like the hero because she is intimidated by his stalking and punishing kisses. She is also confused because he pushes her away after every encounter.
(H) This is normal Spanish Grandee behavior, correct?
(ER) Correct. Heroine is unsure in a foreign environment, plus she is concerned about the OW encroaching on their habitat during feeding hours.
(H) You mean formal lunches and dinners?
(ER) Yes. There has been a lot of aggressive behavior from the OW towards the h during their stately dinners, but the hero remains passive.
(H) Is the heroine in danger from the OW?
(ER) Normally, no. But – look at that.! OW just hit the heroine with her car! I believe our English Rose is injured.
(H) We’ll turn the cameras away as the hero carries heroine back to his castle. Experts surmise that he won’t believe the OW would ever do such a thing.
(ER) Our observations confirm this. Hero thinks the h is lying and leaves her alone and undefended with a broken leg.
Oh, my. This is truly a breathtaking specimen of OW. She has entered the heroine’s sickroom and is now pulling her hair.
(H): Do OWs often resort to physical violence?
(ER )It’s rare. The Margaret Way OW can be deadly, but they are confined to Australia.
(H) Heroine looks terrified, but hero insists on carrying her downstairs.
(ER) Oh, look! The hero has kissed her in front of his family and the OW. That’s significant.
(H) Why?
(ER) The Spanish Grandee is an elusive, private hero. This is – Hear that?
(H) What? It was so fleeting.
(ER) That’s the abrupt ending. He just declared he’ll marry the heroine and that’s it. The courtship dance is over.
(H) That’s it? What about the homicidal OW? Isn’t she dangerous?
(ER) Their true love pheromones will presumably scare her away and she’ll have to find a mate elsewhere. There is “Petfood Millionaire” species of OM that might pair with her.
(H) Wow. That was . . . interesting.
(ER) Ah, nature. It’s amazing in all its iterations.
March 20, 2018
How can a romance be both low stakes and over-the-top? It all boils down to one thing: the other woman. The OW in this book starts out fairly routine, but by the end the h is actually fearful for life and justifiably so. Other than that, it's pretty safe and standard.
November 30, 2013
Was I nine ... ten ... when I read this? This my very first romance. The first! I haven't even bothered to try to note them all on goodreads because there were years of my life when I would go through three a day and I assume (besides the 300+ Barbara Cartlands) that they range in the mid-three-thousands. Frankly I can't believe my parents allowed me to read this type of trash in such quantities. What were they thinking?!?!?!
I can still remember text verbatim, here's the first cringe alert:
I can still remember text verbatim, here's the first cringe alert:
He shrugged. "I love you too much to be a good husband to anybody else."The heroine was eighteen years old and the hero thirty-six. Egad. Today I know that a man who would be attracted to a woman half his age is five slices short of a full can of pineapples. But kids have heart even if they lack maturity, taste and foresight. This is why we shouldn't be watching the films made in Hollywood today, where the average age of audience viewship is fifteen.
April 10, 2020
So unrealistic it was hard to swallow.
May 1, 2024
First book I read as a kid. Now I own the paperback and the ebook. Still as good now as I remembered.
March 31, 2011
Awesome Cute Story
Marcos-Holly i liked both of them even Marcos father n his step mother who happens to be Holly's aunt that is how she lands in the castle to spend holiday,Holly is attracted to Marcos on first sight but she tries to supress her feelings n attraction when she learns Marcos is to get married to Helena Mendez its a understanding between their family
Helena is one obsessive jealous woman,she is very bitchy,rude n mean towards Holly from the start always throwing insults at her and even goes to the extent of purposely hurting Holly by driving car so near by Holly she fells n breaks her legs n has concussion.Holly sees her n tells her aunt
No one believes her all think she is trying ectrcat revenge even Marcos then again Helena attacks Holly,assaults her tells her to leave as soon as she is fit to walk which she again tells her aunt but she yet again does'nt believes her n Holly is truly hurt by it
Everything is sorted out in the end,but hated the fact Helena was not even pressed charges with assault,characters are well-developed ,good simple plot,after reading so many abusive stories where hero abuses heroin this was a refreshing read
Only one n only complaint the story is so sweet-cute and my god look at the cover
Definetely a keeper
Recommend it
Marcos-Holly i liked both of them even Marcos father n his step mother who happens to be Holly's aunt that is how she lands in the castle to spend holiday,Holly is attracted to Marcos on first sight but she tries to supress her feelings n attraction when she learns Marcos is to get married to Helena Mendez its a understanding between their family
Helena is one obsessive jealous woman,she is very bitchy,rude n mean towards Holly from the start always throwing insults at her and even goes to the extent of purposely hurting Holly by driving car so near by Holly she fells n breaks her legs n has concussion.Holly sees her n tells her aunt
No one believes her all think she is trying ectrcat revenge even Marcos then again Helena attacks Holly,assaults her tells her to leave as soon as she is fit to walk which she again tells her aunt but she yet again does'nt believes her n Holly is truly hurt by it
Everything is sorted out in the end,but hated the fact Helena was not even pressed charges with assault,characters are well-developed ,good simple plot,after reading so many abusive stories where hero abuses heroin this was a refreshing read
Only one n only complaint the story is so sweet-cute and my god look at the cover
Definetely a keeper
Recommend it
May 4, 2020
Enjoyable read and engaging characters and set in a Spanish location. Published 1973.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews