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Judi accepted Vidas Theron's proposal of marriage. She knew full well that the Greek millionaire thought he was proposing to her stepsister. Hannah, but Judi had a problem and this was a way out. Besides, the mix-up was all Hannah's fault: she had been using Judi's Name in her career as a film actress. Hannah was away now and whould probably never know: and Judi didn't see what difference it would make to Vidas. actually, everthing seemed perfec, when, once they were married, the two of them fell in love. But could such unexpected happiness last? Especially based on a deception...
Paperback Bunko
First published March 1, 1973
3 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hampson
170 books153 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 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 14, 2019
One of the most ethically challenging stories I've read in awhile. Heroine impersonates her stepsister who was using her name with her millionaire pen pal. Millionaire pen pal shows up on her doorstep, thinking she is his letter writer and proposes. Heroine decides to accept his proposal - for many reasons, none of which make her look good.
Hero isn't so ethical himself- he doesn't tell heroine he's going to die in six months (someone else tells her). H/h settle into their Greek travelogue life until daddy and then step sis shows up for shenanigans.
Thankfully, there's a miracle cure and heroine's daddy met someone else on a cruise ship (while still married ) and LOL -
I can't even take this seriously enough to worry about all the other sins these people are committing.
There are lots of great reviews for spoilers, if you're interested. Vintage has two perfect alternative endings.
Hero isn't so ethical himself- he doesn't tell heroine he's going to die in six months (someone else tells her). H/h settle into their Greek travelogue life until daddy and then step sis shows up for shenanigans.
Thankfully, there's a miracle cure and heroine's daddy met someone else on a cruise ship (while still married ) and LOL -
I can't even take this seriously enough to worry about all the other sins these people are committing.
There are lots of great reviews for spoilers, if you're interested. Vintage has two perfect alternative endings.
January 9, 2017
I sometimes question how these books got published in the first place!?
I wanted to enjoy this book because of its very unique storyline, but I unfortunately just thought it was stupid.
Even at the end, nothing is resolved and the over look all the damage caused by the step sister.
The whole story is that the hero supposedly has 6 months to live but he decides he will leave all his money to her step sister but only if they get married.
WHO DOES THAT?
That is just INSANE!
The worst is that the author just gloss over everything and made the whole step sister manipulation disappear.
Parts that I should have been sad were just too pathetic and poorly written.
It's just not worth it and I'm not going to read again ever!
I wanted to enjoy this book because of its very unique storyline, but I unfortunately just thought it was stupid.
Even at the end, nothing is resolved and the over look all the damage caused by the step sister.
The whole story is that the hero supposedly has 6 months to live but he decides he will leave all his money to her step sister but only if they get married.
WHO DOES THAT?
That is just INSANE!
The worst is that the author just gloss over everything and made the whole step sister manipulation disappear.
Parts that I should have been sad were just too pathetic and poorly written.
It's just not worth it and I'm not going to read again ever!
October 30, 2017
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I don’t whether to laugh or cry over this one. On one hand, it’s sad as in the Greek hero has a lot on his plate; on the hand, dun dun DUNNNN, it was so ridiculous.
Judi is the Mary Sueiest of Mary Sues especially since her dad, Born to be Bland Bill, married the vapid, shrewish, greedy Alice with her equally attractive daughter Hannah. Example: Hannah wants to be an actress, and asks if she can use Judi’s name as it’s so much more Hollywood. Really? You can’t even make up your own fake name?
Push comes to shove when Judi finds that Hannah used her name in some letters to a Greektycoon well-off businessman Vidas. Turned out Hannah saved his nephew from drowning and has Vida’s undying gratitude which is a problem right there, gosh darn it.
SPOILERS COMING!
Shortly after the nephew was rescued, the nephew and both his parents were killed in a car accident which I thought was pretty brutal. Anne Hampson wasn’t done with poor Little OrphanAnnie Vidas, nope, he has dreaded unknown, incurable disease and only has six months to live. He wants to marry Judi as he is all alone in the world and he knows she is honorable.
Long story short, Judi marries Vidas because, heck, the letters supposedly came from her, and she didn’t want this nice guy to get stuck with Hannah from hell. Hmm, horrible Hannah could make six months seem like an eternity.
Judy and Vidas fall in love instantly, and they are as happy as clams. Sweet as sugar together. Really. Everything is perfect. Everything except for that dead-in-six-months thing and the reintroduction of Hannah where she spills the beans. As Hannah leaves with paradise in array all Judi can think is, “Poor Hannah. She’s such an unhappy person to do this.” Yeah sister, she’s unhappy she doesn’t get Vidas fortune.
Vidas is like no other Greek hero I’ve read as the meanest thing he says to Judi is, “I know you don’t love me, but just married me because you pity me.” No slut shaming, no gold-digger accusations. Bill makes a couple of appearances hiding out from Alice the harpy.
Guess what! They find out that there is a new drug/treatment for Vidas incredible rare unknown disease/condition. It works, HEA, and Bill gets a divorce.
Personally I think this would have made better mystery story along the lines of Patricia Highsmith.
Alternative Story 1
Poor put upon Bill finally has it with shrill shrew Alice and drowns her one night as she is soaking in the tub after using up all the hot water in their Dorset home. He takes her body to the seaside where he throws her off the dragon-like coastal raw bridge.
Sadly, the fact that her lungs are filled with gardenia scented water rather than saltwater is a big tippoff proving that Bill is not only a pathetic excuse of a murderer as well as being a big fat wuss.
The King’s council offers a deal in exchange for an affair with Judi which she submits to, of course.
Alternative Story 2
Judi and Vidas are happy together when Hannah shows up. Furious at Judi for marrying her moneypot, Hannah plots her next steps. She kills Judi, and consoles Vidas. Eventually she convinces him to marry her as, “It’s what Judi would have wanted,.”
When she finds out that he WILL live longer than six months she revises her plans. Fade out as Hannah is looking at the rat poison in the garage.
I don’t whether to laugh or cry over this one. On one hand, it’s sad as in the Greek hero has a lot on his plate; on the hand, dun dun DUNNNN, it was so ridiculous.
Judi is the Mary Sueiest of Mary Sues especially since her dad, Born to be Bland Bill, married the vapid, shrewish, greedy Alice with her equally attractive daughter Hannah. Example: Hannah wants to be an actress, and asks if she can use Judi’s name as it’s so much more Hollywood. Really? You can’t even make up your own fake name?
Push comes to shove when Judi finds that Hannah used her name in some letters to a Greek
SPOILERS COMING!
Shortly after the nephew was rescued, the nephew and both his parents were killed in a car accident which I thought was pretty brutal. Anne Hampson wasn’t done with poor Little Orphan
Long story short, Judi marries Vidas because, heck, the letters supposedly came from her, and she didn’t want this nice guy to get stuck with Hannah from hell. Hmm, horrible Hannah could make six months seem like an eternity.
Judy and Vidas fall in love instantly, and they are as happy as clams. Sweet as sugar together. Really. Everything is perfect. Everything except for that dead-in-six-months thing and the reintroduction of Hannah where she spills the beans. As Hannah leaves with paradise in array all Judi can think is, “Poor Hannah. She’s such an unhappy person to do this.” Yeah sister, she’s unhappy she doesn’t get Vidas fortune.
Vidas is like no other Greek hero I’ve read as the meanest thing he says to Judi is, “I know you don’t love me, but just married me because you pity me.” No slut shaming, no gold-digger accusations. Bill makes a couple of appearances hiding out from Alice the harpy.
Guess what! They find out that there is a new drug/treatment for Vidas incredible rare unknown disease/condition. It works, HEA, and Bill gets a divorce.
Personally I think this would have made better mystery story along the lines of Patricia Highsmith.
Alternative Story 1
Poor put upon Bill finally has it with shrill shrew Alice and drowns her one night as she is soaking in the tub after using up all the hot water in their Dorset home. He takes her body to the seaside where he throws her off the dragon-like coastal raw bridge.
Sadly, the fact that her lungs are filled with gardenia scented water rather than saltwater is a big tippoff proving that Bill is not only a pathetic excuse of a murderer as well as being a big fat wuss.
The King’s council offers a deal in exchange for an affair with Judi which she submits to, of course.
Alternative Story 2
Judi and Vidas are happy together when Hannah shows up. Furious at Judi for marrying her moneypot, Hannah plots her next steps. She kills Judi, and consoles Vidas. Eventually she convinces him to marry her as, “It’s what Judi would have wanted,.”
When she finds out that he WILL live longer than six months she revises her plans. Fade out as Hannah is looking at the rat poison in the garage.
December 10, 2014
I loved it! Heroine impersonates her evil stepsister and gets married to our hero a rich man who has find out he has only six months to live. They fall in love fast and hard! Heroine's evil stepsister Hannah finds out that Judi took her place and she reveals Judi's lies and deceit. Vidas is deeply hurt by his wife's deception. How can she make him believe that what she feels for him is love and not pity and that she didn't marry him for his money?
Vintage Harlequin Presents are the best. This book is so emotional, so dramatic a real tearjerker. If you like a sweet but heartwrenching book this is a keeper!
Vintage Harlequin Presents are the best. This book is so emotional, so dramatic a real tearjerker. If you like a sweet but heartwrenching book this is a keeper!
December 8, 2022
"When the Clouds Part" is the story of Judi and Vidas.
And as the moments passed, silently except for the occasional murmur of one or other of her companions as they exchanged the odd remark with one another, Judi made a firm and unbreakable vow to go to any lengths - any lengths - to ensure that nothing should come between her husband and herself.
Our heroine is a sad little waif who leads a life of servitude with her stepmother and stepsister (the latter has even stolen her name for her career!). She is constantly chided and patronized, and is a complete pushover.
Her stepsister receives a marriage invitation from the rich hero, and circumstances lead to the heroine taking her place. She falls madly in love with her husband, who adores her and they begin a happy life. But what happens when the stepsister returns to claim what is "rightfully hers".
I loved the psychotic flair in our heroine where she decided to adopt deceit to keep her man. He had no role in this book, he was just... there. I wish we had an epic showdown with the OW.. maybe an epilogue. The last 1/2 felt rushed.
Safe
2.5/5
And as the moments passed, silently except for the occasional murmur of one or other of her companions as they exchanged the odd remark with one another, Judi made a firm and unbreakable vow to go to any lengths - any lengths - to ensure that nothing should come between her husband and herself.
Our heroine is a sad little waif who leads a life of servitude with her stepmother and stepsister (the latter has even stolen her name for her career!). She is constantly chided and patronized, and is a complete pushover.
Her stepsister receives a marriage invitation from the rich hero, and circumstances lead to the heroine taking her place. She falls madly in love with her husband, who adores her and they begin a happy life. But what happens when the stepsister returns to claim what is "rightfully hers".
I loved the psychotic flair in our heroine where she decided to adopt deceit to keep her man. He had no role in this book, he was just... there. I wish we had an epic showdown with the OW.. maybe an epilogue. The last 1/2 felt rushed.
Safe
2.5/5
July 18, 2013
This is a lovely story about a marriage between Vidas a Greek hero who is dying of an obscure disease and Judi who goes to him in place of her sister Hannah. Hannah had done a service to his family and he wanted to leave his money to her.
The sweet thing about this story is that both the hero and the heroine fall in love with each other and for most of the time it is only his impending death that is a problem.
But of course where there is deception and a selfish sister, there is bound to be trouble. This story isn't as angsty as the ones with the alpha jerks but it's still a moving and emotional read.
I've read it several times and enjoyed it each time.
The sweet thing about this story is that both the hero and the heroine fall in love with each other and for most of the time it is only his impending death that is a problem.
But of course where there is deception and a selfish sister, there is bound to be trouble. This story isn't as angsty as the ones with the alpha jerks but it's still a moving and emotional read.
I've read it several times and enjoyed it each time.
June 18, 2018
Read the description of this book. Does it not make sense? Spoiler alert: It NEVER makes sense. It's not even fun to pick apart because if this were a game of Jenga, the whole thing would collapse the second you touch it.
April 19, 2013
I read this many years ago and was stunned by it. I still enjoyed it 40 years later. I put it in the top 5 ever written by Anne Hampson.
March 27, 2016
This is one of Anne Hampson's nicer books with a hero who is gentle and loving. The blurb actually tells the whole story. The heroine goes in place of her step-sister to marry the hero, and they immediately fall crazily in love.
SPOILER:
The angst is in the apprehension of the heroine while waiting for her deception to be revealed and thus spoil their idyll. When the OW (the step) does show up the hero throws her out anyway so it's not dragged out. However he now doubts the love of the heroine since he thinks all she feels for him is pity. He happens to have an incurable decease and has been given 6 months to live. The trust of the H is restored in the end and his health issue is resolved so they get their HEA. The book lost a star since the story was incredibly short and was interspersed with so much travelogue it read like a Greek brochure.
SPOILER:
The angst is in the apprehension of the heroine while waiting for her deception to be revealed and thus spoil their idyll. When the OW (the step) does show up the hero throws her out anyway so it's not dragged out. However he now doubts the love of the heroine since he thinks all she feels for him is pity. He happens to have an incurable decease and has been given 6 months to live. The trust of the H is restored in the end and his health issue is resolved so they get their HEA. The book lost a star since the story was incredibly short and was interspersed with so much travelogue it read like a Greek brochure.
May 11, 2019
Judi accepted Vidas Theron's proposal of marriage. She knew full well that the Greek millionaire thought he was proposing to her stepsister. Hannah, but Judi had a problem and this was a way out. Besides, the mix-up was all Hannah's fault: she had been using Judi's Name in her career as a film actress. Hannah was away now and whould probably never know: and Judi didn't see what difference it would make to Vidas. actually, everthing seemed perfec, when, once they were married, the two of them fell in love. But could such unexpected happiness last? Especially based on a deception...
March 27, 2022
Abrupt ending.
June 29, 2023
A very silly story, this idea of romance is really silly.
January 12, 2024
It was ok
October 11, 2018
One of my favourites at the time
Read
December 3, 2015Simple, very much expected. Nice, easy but without surprise
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews