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Fire on the Snow
Raised by her aunt and uncle, the sanctimonious Duke and Duchess of Berkhamsted, the golden-haired and beautiful Alida Shenley lives in the shadow of the ‘shame’ that her late and much-loved father brought upon the family by marrying for love – and because her mother was a ballerina. Being on the stage was tantamount to prostitution in Alida’s Guardians’ eyes and they inflict terrible punishments and humiliation upon her for what they see as her parent’s appalling sins. Even worse than her uncle’s savage whippings is the fact that he forbids her ever to marry as the carries the ‘bad blood’ of her mother. But hope eventually stirs in her heart when she is asked to accompany her cousin Mary on a voyage to Russia to meet the handsome young Prince Vorontski, whom Mary is to marry even though she flirts outrageously with the sinister Count Ivan, who is on the Steamer escorting them to St. Petersburg. In Russia Alida’s dreams of happiness are dashed as she falls hopelessly in love with Prince. Worse still she finds that Mary has conspired with Count Ivan for her to marry his father, a Russian General as despicable and brutal as her uncle. But just as she despairs of ever finding love with the Prince, Fate intervenes amid a life or death confrontation with a murderous pack of wolves in the Russian snow and her life is changed forever.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1975
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,051 books849 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 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 1, 2020
A romance so chilling. Raised by her aunt and uncle, the sanctimonious Duke and Duchess of Berkhamsted, the golden-haired and beautiful Alida Shenley lives in the shadow of the 'shame' that her late and much-loved father brought upon the family by marrying for love – and because her mother was a ballerina.
Being on the stage was tantamount to prostitution in Alida's Guardians' eyes and they inflict terrible punishments and humiliation upon her for what they see as her parent's appalling sins.
Even worse than her uncle's savage whippings is the fact that he forbids her ever to marry as the carries the 'bad blood' of her mother.
But hope eventually stirs in her heart when she is asked to accompany her cousin Mary on a voyage to Russia to meet the handsome young Prince Vorontski, whom Mary is to marry even though she flirts outrageously with the sinister Count Ivan, who is on the Steamer escorting them to St. Petersburg.
In Russia Alida's dreams of happiness are dashed as she falls hopelessly in love with Prince.
Worse still she finds that Mary has conspired with Count Ivan for her to marry his father, a Russian General as despicable and brutal as her uncle.
But just as she despairs of ever finding love with the Prince, Fate intervenes amid a life or death confrontation with a murderous pack of wolves in the Russian snow and her life is changed forever.
Being on the stage was tantamount to prostitution in Alida's Guardians' eyes and they inflict terrible punishments and humiliation upon her for what they see as her parent's appalling sins.
Even worse than her uncle's savage whippings is the fact that he forbids her ever to marry as the carries the 'bad blood' of her mother.
But hope eventually stirs in her heart when she is asked to accompany her cousin Mary on a voyage to Russia to meet the handsome young Prince Vorontski, whom Mary is to marry even though she flirts outrageously with the sinister Count Ivan, who is on the Steamer escorting them to St. Petersburg.
In Russia Alida's dreams of happiness are dashed as she falls hopelessly in love with Prince.
Worse still she finds that Mary has conspired with Count Ivan for her to marry his father, a Russian General as despicable and brutal as her uncle.
But just as she despairs of ever finding love with the Prince, Fate intervenes amid a life or death confrontation with a murderous pack of wolves in the Russian snow and her life is changed forever.
July 20, 2014
I read this book when I was in middle school. I loved it! It tells of a girl who lives as a second class citizen with her aunt and uncle. They don't approve of the fact that her mom was a ballerina. She goes with her cousin as a chaperone where she meets the Prince who is supposed to marry her cousin. It shows how her cousin's bad decisions lead to repercussions. It shows a romance develop between Alida and the Prince.
April 10, 2012
Entertaining and clean chocolate-box romance (it´s a compliment!) about adventures of English heroine Alida among lovely costumes, slavery-supporting villains and exotic scenery of 1860´s Russia. I liked it a lot.
October 17, 2024
This was okay. Wont go into a detailed summary anymore since a lot of other reviewers did so already.
As we know the cinderella heroine accompanies her spoiled cousin Mary to St Petersburg as she is about to be the wife of a Prince.
First thing the cousin does is start an affair w Count Ivan who was been tasked to escort them. Count Ivan is already married so his actions are even more deplorable.
This story is filled with commentary about the plight of the serfs in Russia during that period. Count Ivan, the villain represents the abusive Nobles who are opposed to any changes in the status quo. The Prince is the Hero, and represents the enlightened few who work tirelessly to alleviate the situation of the oppressed.
It exactly mirrors the situation of the oppressed heroine, who is treated like a servant in the estate of her uncle the Duke. All because he disapproved of her mother who was a ballerina. Going on stage is tantamount to being a wicked woman.
Its apparent that the Hero is immediately attracted to the heroine, but he is already committed to the cousin. He does all he can to treat her kindly and with circumspection as opposed to the behavior of Count Ivan and Mary. Its implied that Count Ivan, deliberately set out to seduce Mary to get back at the Prince since he, Ivan, is against the emancipation of he Serfs.
The Hero is attracted to the eyes of the heroine because they are similar to those of his mother. It turns out she is somehow related on her mother’s side. So her mother was also of noble descent even if she was a ballerina.
I was wondering how Dame Cartland would resolve the situation for the star crossed couple. Not to worry, the heroine and her bitchy cousin are about to attend a ball when the Prince sends word for them to stay home as its too dangerous. The cousin ignores the warning as Ivan is about to come for her, and she even beats the heroines.
When the Prince finds the heroine she tells him her cousin has gone ahead with Count Ivan. The Prince is worried as he has heard there had been a pack of marauding wolves spotted. The Hero wants to go catch up w the Count and Mary, the heroine pleads w him to bring her, despite her aching wounds, 🤦🏻♀️ and he does!!
Anyway they come upon the couple desperately fighting of a huge pack of wolves who have already taken down their horses. Despite Ivan shooting the wolves, he points his gun at the Hero. The heroine pushes the Hero out of the way and shoots at Ivan, but she takes a bullet to her shoulder and passes out.
Before passing out she sees Ivan lose his balance and fall into the wolves taking Mary with him! 😱 yes its sometimes amazing how bloodthirsty Barbara can be.
The heroine is sent to the Hero’s estate in Georgia to recuperate. It is several months before he can join her. They get married in the beautiful palace the Hero has built, in the memory of his mother.
After the ceremony his people ski down the mountain w torches, thus the fire in the snow reference.
❤️❤️❤️
As we know the cinderella heroine accompanies her spoiled cousin Mary to St Petersburg as she is about to be the wife of a Prince.
First thing the cousin does is start an affair w Count Ivan who was been tasked to escort them. Count Ivan is already married so his actions are even more deplorable.
This story is filled with commentary about the plight of the serfs in Russia during that period. Count Ivan, the villain represents the abusive Nobles who are opposed to any changes in the status quo. The Prince is the Hero, and represents the enlightened few who work tirelessly to alleviate the situation of the oppressed.
It exactly mirrors the situation of the oppressed heroine, who is treated like a servant in the estate of her uncle the Duke. All because he disapproved of her mother who was a ballerina. Going on stage is tantamount to being a wicked woman.
Its apparent that the Hero is immediately attracted to the heroine, but he is already committed to the cousin. He does all he can to treat her kindly and with circumspection as opposed to the behavior of Count Ivan and Mary. Its implied that Count Ivan, deliberately set out to seduce Mary to get back at the Prince since he, Ivan, is against the emancipation of he Serfs.
The Hero is attracted to the eyes of the heroine because they are similar to those of his mother. It turns out she is somehow related on her mother’s side. So her mother was also of noble descent even if she was a ballerina.
I was wondering how Dame Cartland would resolve the situation for the star crossed couple. Not to worry, the heroine and her bitchy cousin are about to attend a ball when the Prince sends word for them to stay home as its too dangerous. The cousin ignores the warning as Ivan is about to come for her, and she even beats the heroines.
When the Prince finds the heroine she tells him her cousin has gone ahead with Count Ivan. The Prince is worried as he has heard there had been a pack of marauding wolves spotted. The Hero wants to go catch up w the Count and Mary, the heroine pleads w him to bring her, despite her aching wounds, 🤦🏻♀️ and he does!!
Anyway they come upon the couple desperately fighting of a huge pack of wolves who have already taken down their horses. Despite Ivan shooting the wolves, he points his gun at the Hero. The heroine pushes the Hero out of the way and shoots at Ivan, but she takes a bullet to her shoulder and passes out.
Before passing out she sees Ivan lose his balance and fall into the wolves taking Mary with him! 😱 yes its sometimes amazing how bloodthirsty Barbara can be.
The heroine is sent to the Hero’s estate in Georgia to recuperate. It is several months before he can join her. They get married in the beautiful palace the Hero has built, in the memory of his mother.
After the ceremony his people ski down the mountain w torches, thus the fire in the snow reference.
❤️❤️❤️
June 29, 2011
So many love stories, so little time!!!
November 4, 2022
One of my favorite Cartland books.
February 1, 2023
Good but very slow in parts and long winded at the end. Also a bit Freudian.
January 7, 2026
✅️ENERO 2026
▪️AMBIENTACIÓN PERFECTA, ESTABA NEVANDO MIENTRAS LEÍA ESTA NOVELA
▪️Un amor prohibido, un viaje a Rusia, una prima malvada, un amor bonito...de esas novelas fresitas que siempre me hacen pasar un buen rato, chiclosa, chiclosa...
▪️AMBIENTACIÓN PERFECTA, ESTABA NEVANDO MIENTRAS LEÍA ESTA NOVELA
▪️Un amor prohibido, un viaje a Rusia, una prima malvada, un amor bonito...de esas novelas fresitas que siempre me hacen pasar un buen rato, chiclosa, chiclosa...
January 14, 2025
Cartland's best. Usually she pollutes her delicious chocolate box romances with trashy stereotypes of typical (anti)-romance. Men are misogynistic bullies, with brains in groins and morals in gutter, chewing on like cows about women's age, weight and sex life. Their fit young sex dolls look "child-like" - which is disgusting- and probably get STD from those whoring men. This time the villains take care of being scum.
September 7, 2021
This is my favorite book of all time. Despite being chaste (I like my books steamy), this book has a permanent place in my heart. There's just that something about it I can't quite name. It's been with me for over 20 years and I still re-read it at least once a year. The thrill is still there, no matter how much time has passed. It's imprinted in my heart.
January 5, 2019
You never know what to expect from Cartland, either it is a somewhat bland experience, or it can be sweet and great, sometimes even exciting, and then there are time like this one. This story is just über bland mixed with awful!
Evil family - check, bookworm heroine - check, foreign setting - check, hansom gentleman who always does the right thing - check. These elements are pretty much standard Cartland material, yet sometimes the mix goes bad. In this story the awfulness came through the fact that the point of no return was SO bad, and the resolution of it even worse!
Evil family - check, bookworm heroine - check, foreign setting - check, hansom gentleman who always does the right thing - check. These elements are pretty much standard Cartland material, yet sometimes the mix goes bad. In this story the awfulness came through the fact that the point of no return was SO bad, and the resolution of it even worse!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews