What do you think?
Rate this book
The Unbreakable Spell
Oppressed and trodden on by her aunt and uncle, the Duke and Duchess of Bruntwick, who despise her because her father died in debt and her mother was French, Rocana Brunt yearns to escape the confines of their Bruntwick Castle.
Yet when her dear cousin Lady Caroline is ordered much against her will to marry the imperious Marquis of Quorn, simply to extricate him from a potential scandal over one of his many liaisons, loyal Rocana agrees to take her cousin’s place at the altar so that Lady Caroline may elope with her beloved Patrick.
At least she believes that this deception and the loveless marriage that would undoubtedly follow, might free then her from her virtual slavery.
Her deceit is not revealed until long after the wedding, when she and the Marquis reach Paris and her cousin and Patrick are safely and ecstatically wed.
And soon, through her own magic and some dangerous escapades, Rocana herself feels a glimmer of hope that she too is about to find eternal happiness in a true love of her own.
Yet when her dear cousin Lady Caroline is ordered much against her will to marry the imperious Marquis of Quorn, simply to extricate him from a potential scandal over one of his many liaisons, loyal Rocana agrees to take her cousin’s place at the altar so that Lady Caroline may elope with her beloved Patrick.
At least she believes that this deception and the loveless marriage that would undoubtedly follow, might free then her from her virtual slavery.
Her deceit is not revealed until long after the wedding, when she and the Marquis reach Paris and her cousin and Patrick are safely and ecstatically wed.
And soon, through her own magic and some dangerous escapades, Rocana herself feels a glimmer of hope that she too is about to find eternal happiness in a true love of her own.
166 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2012
7 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cartland
1,057 books850 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 15, 2022
Very cute quick read.
July 24, 2016
Exactly what you'd expect from Dame Barbara. This heroine was slightly smarter than the others, though. I'll give her points for brains and bravery, bringing this from one star to two.
A predictable plot line, as always. Arranged marriage, an orphaned beauty, cruelly mistreated but with a heart of gold. This one has the added fun of a weird sixth sense thread that was quickly dropped and insta-love. Barbara, your plots were ridiculous but apparently so am I for continuing to read them.
Tune in next time, where I will be reviewing Dame Barbara on audio. Can't wait to hear how bad it turns out!
A predictable plot line, as always. Arranged marriage, an orphaned beauty, cruelly mistreated but with a heart of gold. This one has the added fun of a weird sixth sense thread that was quickly dropped and insta-love. Barbara, your plots were ridiculous but apparently so am I for continuing to read them.
Tune in next time, where I will be reviewing Dame Barbara on audio. Can't wait to hear how bad it turns out!
July 19, 2023
Another generic cookie cutter one.
Deception trope. The heroine marries the Hero in place of her cousin so that the cousin can marry the man of her dreams.
Of course it’s unbelievable that she pulls it off, but it was a fun read.
Deception trope. The heroine marries the Hero in place of her cousin so that the cousin can marry the man of her dreams.
Of course it’s unbelievable that she pulls it off, but it was a fun read.
May 2, 2015
I think that if you want to go for realistic views and probability you should't take Barbara Cartland's novels. They are fairy tales for grownup girls. And you should't ask a lot from fairy tales. They are there to entertain and there is always a HEA and all heroines are beautiful and kind and mostly smart and heroes are perfect gentlemen, even if they were previously rouges, handsome, good at all kind of sports, successful and mostly loaded and titled. And they all fall in love in a day. When that really starts to annoy me i know it's time to put her books aside for a while.
Here is one believable pair -- they were sweethearts from the young days, but main heroes just fall in love from the first site (hero) or from the gossips and tales even before meeting (heroine).
This one has pretending-wife-to-be, happy saving from jelous husband(?), and noble hero who forgives con in a herat bit. Full house :)
Here is one believable pair -- they were sweethearts from the young days, but main heroes just fall in love from the first site (hero) or from the gossips and tales even before meeting (heroine).
This one has pretending-wife-to-be, happy saving from jelous husband(?), and noble hero who forgives con in a herat bit. Full house :)
April 14, 2023
Oppressed and trodden on by her aunt and uncle, the Duke and Duchess of Bruntwick, who despise her because her father died in debt and her mother was French, Rocana Brunt yearns to escape the confines of their Bruntwick Castle.
Yet when her dear cousin Lady Caroline is ordered much against her will to marry the imperious Marquis of Quorn, simply to extricate him from a potential scandal over one of his many liaisons, loyal Rocana agrees to take her cousin’s place at the altar so that Lady Caroline may elope with her beloved Patrick.
At least she believes that this deception and the loveless marriage that would undoubtedly follow, might free then her from her virtual slavery.
Her deceit is not revealed until long after the wedding, when she and the Marquis reach Paris and her cousin and Patrick are safely and ecstatically wed.
And soon, through her own magic and some dangerous escapades, Rocana herself feels a glimmer of hope that she too is about to find eternal happiness in a true love of her own.
Yet when her dear cousin Lady Caroline is ordered much against her will to marry the imperious Marquis of Quorn, simply to extricate him from a potential scandal over one of his many liaisons, loyal Rocana agrees to take her cousin’s place at the altar so that Lady Caroline may elope with her beloved Patrick.
At least she believes that this deception and the loveless marriage that would undoubtedly follow, might free then her from her virtual slavery.
Her deceit is not revealed until long after the wedding, when she and the Marquis reach Paris and her cousin and Patrick are safely and ecstatically wed.
And soon, through her own magic and some dangerous escapades, Rocana herself feels a glimmer of hope that she too is about to find eternal happiness in a true love of her own.
April 13, 2019
This was my first Barbara Cartland read. Its a fair book. The hero and heroine only actually meet and spend time together more than 2/3 of the way through the book. The hero was also a bit too reserved for my liking. Fine if you like historical romance.
January 18, 2025
I enjoyed this one. The set up was interesting and Racana wasn't a milksop so that was nice. I wish the couple had spent more time together before declaring their undying love for each other but I had fun so that was good.
March 10, 2025
Libro scritto da cani e trama oltre l'improbabile. Esattamente quello che mi serviva una domenica pomeriggio.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews