Láska není slepá

by Barbara Cartland

Hugo, hrabě z Ruvenu, se plaví domů po deseti letech, které strávil v Indii se svým plukem. Jeho dědeček, starý hrabě, totiž zemřel a Hugo zdědil rodinný titul i ruvenský hrad. Součástí dědictví je však i Felice Delisleová – dívka, se kterou se má oženit.

Pohledný mladý muž byl však během povstání v Indii zraněn – a teď se domů vrací slepý.

Ve své domovině se setkává s přáteli své rodiny – zejména doktorem Carltonem a jeho pohlednou dcerou Jacinou, pro niž je Hugo hrdina jejích dětských snů. Jacina ví, že je Hugo zasnoubený a že jí nikdy nemůže patřit – přesto však cítí podivné rozechvění, když je hraběti nablízku. A zdá se, že ani Hugovi není zcela lhostejná.

Pak ale na ruvenský hrad přijíždí Felice a obrátí poklidný venkovský život naruby. Jacina a Hugo zjišťují, že se ocitli uprostřed lží a intrik. V atmosféře napětí a vzrůstajícího nebezpečí musí hrabě odjet až do zasněženého Švýcarska, aby poznal, kdo je jeho pravou láskou.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

Published July 1, 2013

About the author

Born 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

Reviews

[Judith Brennan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very short and not much of a story, although what there was was suitably silly. I particularly enjoyed the moment at the end where the Earls mad and evil wife fell into an icy ravine and died and the Earl proposed to the heroine in the very next paragraph. He didn't even pause for a "oh, what a shame" or a "well what can you do". He just launched into a declaration of undying love without a moment of pause. Only in Barbara Cartland.

[Kataklicik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook : Spotify.
Read by Anthony Wren.

Cliche. Fluff. But good fun anyway! :)

[Nadia · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was not too much of a story. Girl falls madly in love when she is eight year old and then finally meets the man she loved so long but he can't see and he's engaged to his dead brother's fiancé. Well. And then there's a lot of strange unexplainable stuff happens.
And fiancé comes into the caste and brings her attorney with herself and no female companion and nobody seems to question that. Then there are caught on numerous occasion acting really strange and everybody just keep quiet about that. Letter's burning and silver counting.
Then it's the closed wing of the castle where expensive necklace is laying just on the table. Not in the bank (what would be logical, knowing grandma died long time ago). Not in the safe in the study. Not even in the drawer. Just plainly on a vanity table.
Earl is going to place his fiancé in a closed wing in his grandma's rooms even though he was living in a completely different part of the castle. And he was going to wed her and make her happy.
Then there's his angry outbursts at the heroine. It's like he starts taking some kind of drugs during the story. His dueling was pretty strange. And the fact that he rode there on a horse(!). I can see how he could manage to walk around the familiar house? even walking in the park or on the grounds. But riding? I'm not buying it!
Well, that was strange. As strange as doctor leaving heroine enough money that she could travel from England to Switzerland. And everything that happened there is also strange :)

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel was unexpectedly suspenseful, and I finished it in nearly one sitting.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Potentially offensive items: adultery, premarital sex, gambling, violence against women, suicide, sociopathy, alcohol/smoking, violence, adult situations, attempted murder, theft, mature themes, fraud, lying

I fail to understand why anyone likes romances where a woman falls in love with an engaged/married man. I know the woman he marries in this book is an adulterous, imposter, and evil, do the women reading this not realize any man who cheats is bad even though he is cheating with them? It is clear that the Earl loves Jacina from the start and entertains a relationship with her even though he supposedly is engaged to his dead brother's fiancée and going to keep that commitment. He could have called it off at any time, but instead, he thrusts himself into a double relationship.

In addition to that, there is just so much dumb in this book that it's awful. Although the female character shows spine sometimes, she is mostly a weak lead. Any aggressive action on her part is done in terror. Her rash actions, such as trying to get a pistol out of someone's hand, are thought through, told, and then shown. It is so melodramatic and insipid. The plot is also contrived. I question the Earl's motives when he shuns his longtime friend (and the woman he clearly loves more than his betrothed) on the stranger and her partner's advice. I question that none of the staff would tell the Earl his betrothed and her toady were going around taking an inventory of the place together. I question why the Earl would believe Jacina was causing trouble when she had not been constantly reporting issues to him.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hugo, Earl of Ruven, is sailing home after ten years in India, where he served with his regiment. His grandfather, the old Earl, has died and Hugo has inherited the title and estate of Castle Ruven. He has also inherited his late brother's fiancee, Felice de Lisle. No one who sees the handsome man standing at the rail with his face turned toward the approaching coast suspects the truth. During one of the first battles of the Indian Mutiny, Hugo was severely injured. The new Earl of Ruven is returning home blind. Meanwhile, Jacina and her father, Doctor Carlton, wait to welcome Hugo to Castle Ruven. Hugo was Jacina's childhood hero and she was devastated to hear of his injury. From the moment she sees Hugo again her heart is in turmoil. She knows he has a fiancee but considers herself happy just to be in his presence. Although Hugo refuses to be optimistic about the possibility of ever regaining his sight, in Jacina's company his spirits gradually lift. Then comes the arrival of Felice de Lisle. From this moment on, the lives of Jacina and Hugo are plunged into a world of deception and intrigue. From the misty woods of Ruven to the snowy slopes of Switzerland, their story is played out in an atmosphere of darkness and ever increasing danger.

[Maria Calokerinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed listening to this talking book. It was one of those stories where time slips away without you realising. A beautifully old-fashioned romantic tale, it wove together themes of inheritance, blindness, and forbidden love in a way that was both engaging and entertaining.

Jacina is a refreshingly assertive heroine, while Hugo—the newly blinded Earl—is a blend of strength, compassion, and quiet grace. Despite being engaged to another woman, Felice, Hugo finds himself drawn to Jacina, and she to him. Although circumstances seemed to stand in their way, the story concludes with a happy ending, bringing a sense of joy and fulfilment.

A lovely mix of intrigue, romance, and heartfelt moments—this book was a gentle and satisfying escape.

[Lisa Butterworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun fluffy, light hearted, problematic as always, solid character and relationship development, solid romance writing.

[Lawanda Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read

Barbara Hartland writes about two people that know love before they know each other. Her hero is blind but she handles this very well. A well written story.

[Yassden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aşk romanlarına adım adım...

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A typical Cartland, tragic hero, innocent lovely girl, and love, a castle, and even an European adventure. A little predictable but a quick, easy read.

[Bookish · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very action-packed plot and different for Cartland. This was slightly longer than some of her other works and more fleshed out.

[CDC]

This was for a book challenge, not my typical genre so I am not rating :)