Hiding from Love

Barbara Cartland

May 2012 · The Pink Collection Book 70 · Barbara Cartland EBooks ltd

About this eBook

Lively Leonora Cressy and her school friend, Isobel, have sworn never to fall in love. They prefer learning and books to men and scorn other girls whose heads are full of storybook romance. But Leonora is suddenly plucked from the safety of her all girls' school and thrown into an adventure that forces her to reconsider her childhood vows. Returning home to meet the new stepfather who has taken her beloved father's role as protector and provider, Leonora has two fateful encounters - one with an arrogant gentleman in a carriage, and one with a suave but appealing foreigner, Se or de Guarda. Excited and angered in equal parts, Leonora is shocked to discover that her sweet Mama has married a man that she cannot admire. Horrified when he announces that he has arranged her marriage to a wealthy but unknown man, Lord Merton, she swaps the comfort of home for a passage on a cargo ship headed for Brazil, and her friend Isobel. As the long voyage begins, Leonora congratulates herself on successfully evading Lord Merton and a loveless marriage. But upon meeting mysterious, but seemingly protective Mr Chandos, and faced with the passionate attentions of Se or de Guarda she is confused. Both men hold secrets that could ruin her reputation, but only one stirs her heart and soul. Alone apart from her faithful servant, Finny, and unsure of where to place her trust, Leonora realises that she has done the one thing that she swore never to do - fall in love. As Brazil grows ever nearer she has important decisions to make that will change her life, and those close to her, forever.

About the author

Barbara Cartland was the world's most prolific novelist, having written an astounding 723 books in her lifetime, including 644 romantic novels that achieved worldwide sales of over one billion copies and were translated into 36 different languages. In addition to romantic novels, she also authored historical biographies, six autobiographies, theatrical plays, and advice books on life, love, vitamins, and cookery. Cartland penned her first book, "Jigsaw," at the age of 21, which became an immediate bestseller, selling 100,000 copies in hardback in England and throughout Europe in translation. Remarkably, between the ages of 77 and 97, she increased her literary output, writing an incredible 400 romances to meet the global demand for her work. She wrote her final book at the age of 97, prophetically titled "The Way to Heaven." Her popularity was immense in the United States, where in 1976 her current books held the number 1 and 2 spots on the B. Dalton bestsellers list simultaneously, a unique achievement. Barbara Cartland became a legend in her lifetime, particularly cherished for her romantic novels. Her works are treasured for their moral messages, pure and innocent heroines, handsome and dashing heroes, blissful happy endings, and above all, her belief in the power of love as the most important aspect of life. Her millions of readers around the world continue to collect her books to read again and again, especially during times of misery or depression, finding solace in the love and happiness that define her stories.