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Dear Stranger
Shara couldn't blame her foster-brother Carl for having had nothing to do with her for years; his parents, after all, had virtually rejected him for her. But now he had come back into her life, prepared to be friends. Friends? It had never been as a friend that Shara had thought of Carl; she had never even thought of him as a brother...
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1973
1 person is currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hampson
169 books152 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 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 23, 2017
Well, this was the most boring book I have ever had the misfortune of reading.
The story goes at 16 the heroine falls for the somewhat brother and he marries a sweet little innocent other woman.
They met again on Cyprus 9 years later where the story takes place.
This time he is widowed with a 5 year old little girl but he is also engaged again to another girl.
Now does he tell her this before no!!!
He is a total ass and I thought he was more of a wash out as a hero.
He was a cold fish without emotional depth.
Also, Just writing about them kissing and saying I love you does not translate to passion.
The other woman has more passion in her then the heroine.
Yikes!!!
For me, this one is complete mess and a complete waste of time.
Don't even read on a dare for fear of extreme boredom!
Hey but if you have insomnia go for it.
Just don't blame me if you drop off into a coma!
The story goes at 16 the heroine falls for the somewhat brother and he marries a sweet little innocent other woman.
They met again on Cyprus 9 years later where the story takes place.
This time he is widowed with a 5 year old little girl but he is also engaged again to another girl.
Now does he tell her this before no!!!
He is a total ass and I thought he was more of a wash out as a hero.
He was a cold fish without emotional depth.
Also, Just writing about them kissing and saying I love you does not translate to passion.
The other woman has more passion in her then the heroine.
Yikes!!!
For me, this one is complete mess and a complete waste of time.
Don't even read on a dare for fear of extreme boredom!
Hey but if you have insomnia go for it.
Just don't blame me if you drop off into a coma!
August 22, 2012
I confess I have a weakness for this author. Thanks to Anne Hampson, I have travelled, in my mind, to exotic faraway places, known of peculiar traditions and enjoyed nice love stories.
In this story, the h. travels to Cyprus with her writer boss, because he is going to write a book about the touristic attractions of the island (which are aplenty). The h’s boss is an elderly man and almost a father figure to her (Shara). When living on the island, Shara has the surprise to find his stranged stepbrother, the H (Carl), is living in a neighbouring house. He is a widower now and has a nice daughter. There were misunderstanding between them, but Shara convinces Carl that everything must be forgotten and left in the past. They begin to meet and they become friends, but Shara knows she loves him, a fact she is aware of since she was only sixteen years old. And little by little, Shara discovers that her feeling are reciprocated. But something refrains him from telling her. And when they finally admit their love for each other, there is a problem: Carl is already (secretly) engaged to another women.
A nice reading, not one of the best by Anne Hampson, but satisfying.
In this story, the h. travels to Cyprus with her writer boss, because he is going to write a book about the touristic attractions of the island (which are aplenty). The h’s boss is an elderly man and almost a father figure to her (Shara). When living on the island, Shara has the surprise to find his stranged stepbrother, the H (Carl), is living in a neighbouring house. He is a widower now and has a nice daughter. There were misunderstanding between them, but Shara convinces Carl that everything must be forgotten and left in the past. They begin to meet and they become friends, but Shara knows she loves him, a fact she is aware of since she was only sixteen years old. And little by little, Shara discovers that her feeling are reciprocated. But something refrains him from telling her. And when they finally admit their love for each other, there is a problem: Carl is already (secretly) engaged to another women.
A nice reading, not one of the best by Anne Hampson, but satisfying.
April 9, 2018
I have never disliked an OW so much before. She didn't deserve to be happy at the end -- she was a petulant, selfish child who was perfectly willing to make everyone else suffer on her behalf and for some reason everyone catered to her selfishness.
did-not-finish
July 6, 2025Boring and the ick factor that they grew up together as brother and sister. She was a baby, she would have always thought of him as a brother. Yuck
August 13, 2014
A weirdly written novel. It was alright but just some parts of it were absolutely nuts.
August 3, 2022
The psychological child abuse that Carl/Carlos was subjected to made me close the book without finishing. It was unreal more ways than one. I hope I’m right when I think that that kind of thing could never happen given the kind of people that were involved.
April 9, 2018
What the heck was that? I didn't understand where their romance come from... It just popped out and I never felt their connection.
November 25, 2024
Didn't like it. Np.
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July 4, 2024البطل كان عنده خطيبه وكانت الخطيبه ترفض فسخ الخطبة
“Honour, yes!’ Annoula seized on the word. ‘He is pledged to me — pledged, do you hear! This in Cyprus is so important that no man can break his pledge—’ ‘Annoula,’ cut in Shara with a slight tinge of impatience to her voice, ‘let’s drop the subject. And now that you are feeling a little less despondent there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go outside and sit in the garden.”
كنت اظن ان الخطيبه والشخص الاخر لهم كتاب بس ماكان فيه
الشمس والظلال
المتجهون نحواقدارهم يقفزون كالخيل فوق حواجز خشبية او ناريةوكثيرآ مايسقطون قبل اللقاء الرائع
لكن في هذه القصة تلعب حبكة القدر لعبتهاالعجيبة ولايبقى امام كارلوس وسارة سوى حاجز واحد فهل تزوج كولن من انولا بلا حب كي يفسح لهما المجال وزواجهماكان مستحيلا دون ان توافق انولا على فسخ خطبتهامن كارلوس؟
وكاتب الاسفار جبلبير برود هورست كيف يكمل حياته المهنية بعدماتزوجت سكرتيرته التي باتت اقرب اليه من أي انسان؟
في جزيرة قبرص الرائعة تجري احداث هذه الرواية التي تقبض على شغاف القلوب حتى سقوط الحاجز الاخير
“Honour, yes!’ Annoula seized on the word. ‘He is pledged to me — pledged, do you hear! This in Cyprus is so important that no man can break his pledge—’ ‘Annoula,’ cut in Shara with a slight tinge of impatience to her voice, ‘let’s drop the subject. And now that you are feeling a little less despondent there’s no reason why you shouldn’t go outside and sit in the garden.”
كنت اظن ان الخطيبه والشخص الاخر لهم كتاب بس ماكان فيه
الشمس والظلال
المتجهون نحواقدارهم يقفزون كالخيل فوق حواجز خشبية او ناريةوكثيرآ مايسقطون قبل اللقاء الرائع
لكن في هذه القصة تلعب حبكة القدر لعبتهاالعجيبة ولايبقى امام كارلوس وسارة سوى حاجز واحد فهل تزوج كولن من انولا بلا حب كي يفسح لهما المجال وزواجهماكان مستحيلا دون ان توافق انولا على فسخ خطبتهامن كارلوس؟
وكاتب الاسفار جبلبير برود هورست كيف يكمل حياته المهنية بعدماتزوجت سكرتيرته التي باتت اقرب اليه من أي انسان؟
في جزيرة قبرص الرائعة تجري احداث هذه الرواية التي تقبض على شغاف القلوب حتى سقوط الحاجز الاخير
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June 25, 2018Shara coulnd't blame her foster-brother Carl for having had nothing to do with her for years; his parents, after all, had virtually rejected him for her. But now he had come back into her life, prepared to be friends. Friends? It had never been as a friend that Shara had thought of Carl; she had never even thought of him as a brother...
Carl turned slowly, his face grave and also troubled. "You wanted me - really wanted a brother?"
She lowered her lashes, speaking in the same whisper tones. "Yes, Carl. At that time I did want to be close - just as a brother and sister should. Later - and I wasn't really very old before I did begin to notice - I tried to let you see how much I was hurt by it all-"
"Hurt?" with a sudden sharp edge to his voice. "You felt pity for me?"
Why hadn't she been a little more guarded? "Carl...don't misunderstand me. When I say I needed you I mean it."
Carl turned slowly, his face grave and also troubled. "You wanted me - really wanted a brother?"
She lowered her lashes, speaking in the same whisper tones. "Yes, Carl. At that time I did want to be close - just as a brother and sister should. Later - and I wasn't really very old before I did begin to notice - I tried to let you see how much I was hurt by it all-"
"Hurt?" with a sudden sharp edge to his voice. "You felt pity for me?"
Why hadn't she been a little more guarded? "Carl...don't misunderstand me. When I say I needed you I mean it."
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews