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The Enchanting Evil
paperback
Paperback
Published December 1, 1978
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,349 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 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 7, 2019
Wow! This book was so grasping and once I started to listen to it I could not stop. I spent a whole day just listening to this book. Although the beginning was not as good, it quickly became addicting and I could not stop listening because I needed to know what would happen to Melinda. One thing though is that I thought that the story was going to circle around the Marquis when reading the short summary, was not disappointed though!
July 29, 2023
Available on Open Library
3.5 Wow this one is different. For 99% of the book, the Hero actually believes that the heroine is a prostitute!
The heroine has run away from her nasty uncle’s household. He has beaten her and is forcing her to marry one of his lecherous friends.
The heroine is approached by a nice lady at the train station since she looks a bit lost when she arrives. Little does she know that the nice lady is actually a pimp for a brothel.
She finds herself drugged in a room that is locked and with barred windows. Thankfully, such as it is, the madam needs a someone who looks and speaks like a lady. So the heroine is manipulated into agreeing to play the part of a bride for the Hero, who needs to be married.
So she does. The Hero and his friend are just too happy that their scheme to claim his inheritance works. They think the heroine is the best actressis in the word since she never breaks character and acts like a lady all the time.
The heroine is quite feisty, she even wins a horse race against a nasty trollop of an OW. She also manages, to save the Hero in a duel.
Of course its Barbara Cartland and all goes well in the end.
Its why we read these books, right 😉
3.5 Wow this one is different. For 99% of the book, the Hero actually believes that the heroine is a prostitute!
The heroine has run away from her nasty uncle’s household. He has beaten her and is forcing her to marry one of his lecherous friends.
The heroine is approached by a nice lady at the train station since she looks a bit lost when she arrives. Little does she know that the nice lady is actually a pimp for a brothel.
She finds herself drugged in a room that is locked and with barred windows. Thankfully, such as it is, the madam needs a someone who looks and speaks like a lady. So the heroine is manipulated into agreeing to play the part of a bride for the Hero, who needs to be married.
So she does. The Hero and his friend are just too happy that their scheme to claim his inheritance works. They think the heroine is the best actressis in the word since she never breaks character and acts like a lady all the time.
The heroine is quite feisty, she even wins a horse race against a nasty trollop of an OW. She also manages, to save the Hero in a duel.
Of course its Barbara Cartland and all goes well in the end.
Its why we read these books, right 😉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2020
Cartland started this book slowly, though the crucial and cruel events happened right in the beginning. Couple of dozens of pages were like a peaceful swing back with talks and chats and clothes descriptions (ha, dear classic Barbara!). Then step by step she intensified the emotional state and introduced more and more dangers for heroes... oh my! To say “page turner” is to say nothing. You just plunge in it and get out only on the final page. And, really, thanks God they are of the same cut out. Like getting back after the storm in to familiar bay.
July 19, 2013
fabulous , is all i can say !
exactly what you would expect when you buy this kind of book.
light, funny, easy.
exactly what you would expect when you buy this kind of book.
light, funny, easy.
June 11, 2024
delightful story
Delightful story in typical Cartland style. Cartland wrote quick stories with good ideas and little angst. She does try for more in this one but lands short. The possibilities and ideas for depth are endless, but she opted for another book with basic stories with less drama and depth. Her characters leave a lot on the table. But it was her trademark.
Delightful story in typical Cartland style. Cartland wrote quick stories with good ideas and little angst. She does try for more in this one but lands short. The possibilities and ideas for depth are endless, but she opted for another book with basic stories with less drama and depth. Her characters leave a lot on the table. But it was her trademark.
February 18, 2024
Excellent!!
Rarely I praise Dame Cartland for her novels, which time and again repeat themselves in plot and development.
This time, I think that she did a truly love story mixed with a lot of adventures, twists and turns.
Rarely I praise Dame Cartland for her novels, which time and again repeat themselves in plot and development.
This time, I think that she did a truly love story mixed with a lot of adventures, twists and turns.
April 28, 2024
That was a good one! Perfect for a rainy day! Melinda is one of Barbara Cartland’s better heroines. She is a little more complicated and speaks up. The storyline is fun. A mistaken identity that becomes more convoluted with each turn of the page. A satisfying read.
February 1, 2015
Sir Hector Stanyon commands Melinda, his niece and the poor relation in his house, to marry an elderly suitor and when she refuses he tries to beat her into submission. That night Melinda creeps out of the house and escapes to London in search of work. Frightened and not knowing where to go, she is grateful to a middle-aged lady who offers her accommodation for the night. But she is alarmed by the house and its occupants, although she overcomes her fears when she is offered an opportunity to earn far more money than she thought possible. For this she must go through a pretence marriage with the notorious Marquis of Chard. How Melinda accepts this extraordinary proposal, how she is surprised and shocked by the Marquis and his friends, how she is pursued by the wicked and debauched Lord Wrotham and how she saves the Marquis' life is all told in this thrilling and passionate romance.
May 10, 2012
I absolutely love gothic romances with all of the mystery and the strong female characters. Barbara Cartland is an amazing author incorporating an unforgettable story with amazing characters.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews