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Tessa had loved Paul Demetrius from the start, but from the moment she introduced him to her beautiful sister Lucinda he had had eyes for no one else. At last, unable to bear seeing the two of them together, Tessa had gone away.
Now, two years later, she was home again, expecting to hear that they were married -- only to learn that they had never in fact married, that after a terrible accident in which Paul had been blinded, Lucinda had walked out on him and he was now living the life of a recluse in Cyprus. So Tessa took her courage in both hands, went out to Cyprus pretending to be Lucinda, begged Paul's forgiveness -- and married him.
Would her love be strong enough to stand the strain of living such a lie? And what if Paul ever found out?
Now, two years later, she was home again, expecting to hear that they were married -- only to learn that they had never in fact married, that after a terrible accident in which Paul had been blinded, Lucinda had walked out on him and he was now living the life of a recluse in Cyprus. So Tessa took her courage in both hands, went out to Cyprus pretending to be Lucinda, begged Paul's forgiveness -- and married him.
Would her love be strong enough to stand the strain of living such a lie? And what if Paul ever found out?
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First published December 1, 1970
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About the author
Anne Hampson
172听books149听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 拢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 拢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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September 8, 2024
SPOILERS
1970 Publication
Twenty-two year old English girl Tessa was pretty, but compared to her older sister Lucinda, she was found lacking. Lucinda was so very beautiful.
Tessa's much older friend Joe, threw a party one night and Paul was there. He was a handsome greek shipping tycoon and the moment Tessa set eyes on him, her whole life changed.
He gave her a lift home just as Lucinda was entering the drive.
Paul had never spared a glance for Tessa the moment she had introduced him to her sister.
This ended any hopes Tessa might have cherished about Paul.
Paul and Lucinda fell madly in love.
Tessa did not succeed in hiding her feelings.
She was exceedingly hurt when at a party she overheard Paul talking to Joe:
"That tiresome sister of Lucinda's. What's wrong with her? She irritates me, using her eyes in that way. And they're the only things she can use for she has nothing else to recommend her. Imagine having a sister in law who's for ever making eyes at you".
Paul and Lucinda got engaged.
Tessa knew she must leave, go somewhere where she would not see Paul and Lucinda, so she took a post as teacher in Greece.
She forbade her parents to send her news of the couple, she couldn't bare it.
Two years later Tessa returned back to England.
Her father told her that Lucinda was engaged but not to Paul.
He said Paul and Lucinda were driving together a year ago, they were fighting over Lucinda's flirting with other men, and there was a dreadful accident. Lucinda caused the accident.
Paul was now blind as a result.
Lucinda broke up with him as he was in Hospital.
Now back in England, Tessa asked Lucinda about her jilting Paul. Lucinda said:
"Just imagine spending my life with a man who can't see me. What's the use of looking like this if l can't be seen? Why don't you go and offer your sympathy? He might even marry you, for l'm sure no one else will have him. When l gave him up, he said if l ever changed my mind and asked his forgiveness he would take me back".
Tessa found out from her friend Joe that Paul was now living on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean.
Tessa arrived on the island and went straight to the village where Paul was at. A village called Bellapais, built on mountains covered with cedar trees, and overlooking the sea which was a mile away. A village with an impressive medieval abbey at the edge of the cliff.
A manservant answered the door and Tessa introduced herself as Lucinda. She told Paul that she came to ask his pardon. He said:
"I am willing to forgive you Lucinda, l wanted you to come back but l never really thought you would. My dear and beautiful Lucinda. Let me hold you in my arms ".
Exaltation replaced every other emotion in Tessa. She could carry out the deception, happiness was hers and she was going to make Paul so happy. His blindness was for life, but with her love she would smooth his way. She would care for him and tend him. Her eyes would be his.
"You have forgiven me?"
"I've forgiven you, my dearest love. We'll have a wonderful life together Lucinda. Everything in the past must be forgotten ".
They got married and Tessa became his eyes. They would go around, exploring the island and Tessa would describe the scenery to him so beatifly and poignantly.
After a few weeks of bliss, Tessa learned that he was a man of moods which varied from slight impatience to anger, from near indifference to strong emotions of love.
The change in Paul caused her uneasiness.
She questioned him about it. He said:
"I meant to delay the final blow but here's the truth. I married you for the sole purpose of revenge. I've never loved you since the day you threw me over. You had the audacity to come here, expressing contrition and expecting instant forgiveness. You gave me darkness and then you jilted me. If you stay, you know what to expect. I used to worship you but now l might on occasion allow you to know a moment's happiness, just for the pleasure of torturing you ".
And as crazy as all these are, Tessa decided to stay with him, she thought, better miserable with him than without him.
She was hoping for a miracle, that he would forgive her.
Their mutual friend Joe came from England to visit. He knew about the deception and he was playing along.
One day while all three were in the garden, Tessa saw a snake about to strike at Paul. She picked up a large stone and hurled it at the snake.
This incident is significant but the reader does not know it yet.
Paul started wearing dark glasses and was having headaches.
Joe told Tessa that the light must be bothering him and that might mean something worth looking into. He asked if she would deny Paul the chance of seeing again.
Tessa said that if Paul's sight ever be restored, then it would be the end for her.
All she'd fought and hoped and prayed, would be for nothing. She said that she couldn't lose him.
She did not want Paul to see, not ever.
Paul had become even more distant towards Tessa and did not approach her in bed again.
He would lay there, obviously in pain and Tessa would lay next to him.
One day he asked her if she would come here to him if she knew he only wanted revenge.
"Yes, l think l would, because l'd have hoped, as l still hope, that some day you might forgive me".
From that day on he was kind and tender to her. Warmth and harmony entered into their relationship. Tessa bloomed even though she knew that her husband's love was really for her sister.
Tessa tore up three of Joe's letters urging her to bring Paul to England for consultation.
She knew though that she had to agree.
She wondered what would be Paul's reaction to her deceit. She knew he would lash her with scorn and contempt finding himself married to her.
Tessa knew she could never face him again if he got back his sight.
She would have to leave, take a post abroad like she did the last time.
The couple returned back to England and Paul had a surgery.
The day the bandages were to be removed from his eyes, Tessa was getting ready to flee the country.
She was packing with her mother's help, when the doorbell rang and her father along with Paul who was wearing dark glasses, came into the room.
Tessa cried "oh Paul, l am not Lucinda!".
Paul asked her if she was going somewhere.
She said she was going to Hong Kong, they were short of teachers there.
He told her he'd known she was not Lucinda since the incident with the snake.
Lucinda had a great fear of snakes and when Tessa tackled that snake he knew that she couldn't be Lucinda.
He said that at first he hated her for hoodwinking him, but he dwelt on her caring to him, willing to marry a blind man and care for him, be his eyes, love him, she led him back to sanity.
Her patience, her hope that some day they would be happy together, he knew then that he cared about her and was scared that he might lose her. She was the sweetest, most wonderful wife a man could have and by picking him out, she made him the luckiest man.
He said it was a good thing he prevented her from leaving for Hong Kong, saved him the trouble to follow her as he would have follow her to the ends of the world.
I think this book is more of a psychological thriller than a romance.
The book's cover is in a foreign language.
The book's title is "An eagle swapped " by Anne Hampson.
On a personal note, l was in Cyprus for two months this summer, and l visited the aforementioned village, Bellapais. It is as picturesque today as the author had described it in the book 54 years ago.
1970 Publication
Twenty-two year old English girl Tessa was pretty, but compared to her older sister Lucinda, she was found lacking. Lucinda was so very beautiful.
Tessa's much older friend Joe, threw a party one night and Paul was there. He was a handsome greek shipping tycoon and the moment Tessa set eyes on him, her whole life changed.
He gave her a lift home just as Lucinda was entering the drive.
Paul had never spared a glance for Tessa the moment she had introduced him to her sister.
This ended any hopes Tessa might have cherished about Paul.
Paul and Lucinda fell madly in love.
Tessa did not succeed in hiding her feelings.
She was exceedingly hurt when at a party she overheard Paul talking to Joe:
"That tiresome sister of Lucinda's. What's wrong with her? She irritates me, using her eyes in that way. And they're the only things she can use for she has nothing else to recommend her. Imagine having a sister in law who's for ever making eyes at you".
Paul and Lucinda got engaged.
Tessa knew she must leave, go somewhere where she would not see Paul and Lucinda, so she took a post as teacher in Greece.
She forbade her parents to send her news of the couple, she couldn't bare it.
Two years later Tessa returned back to England.
Her father told her that Lucinda was engaged but not to Paul.
He said Paul and Lucinda were driving together a year ago, they were fighting over Lucinda's flirting with other men, and there was a dreadful accident. Lucinda caused the accident.
Paul was now blind as a result.
Lucinda broke up with him as he was in Hospital.
Now back in England, Tessa asked Lucinda about her jilting Paul. Lucinda said:
"Just imagine spending my life with a man who can't see me. What's the use of looking like this if l can't be seen? Why don't you go and offer your sympathy? He might even marry you, for l'm sure no one else will have him. When l gave him up, he said if l ever changed my mind and asked his forgiveness he would take me back".
Tessa found out from her friend Joe that Paul was now living on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean.
Tessa arrived on the island and went straight to the village where Paul was at. A village called Bellapais, built on mountains covered with cedar trees, and overlooking the sea which was a mile away. A village with an impressive medieval abbey at the edge of the cliff.
A manservant answered the door and Tessa introduced herself as Lucinda. She told Paul that she came to ask his pardon. He said:
"I am willing to forgive you Lucinda, l wanted you to come back but l never really thought you would. My dear and beautiful Lucinda. Let me hold you in my arms ".
Exaltation replaced every other emotion in Tessa. She could carry out the deception, happiness was hers and she was going to make Paul so happy. His blindness was for life, but with her love she would smooth his way. She would care for him and tend him. Her eyes would be his.
"You have forgiven me?"
"I've forgiven you, my dearest love. We'll have a wonderful life together Lucinda. Everything in the past must be forgotten ".
They got married and Tessa became his eyes. They would go around, exploring the island and Tessa would describe the scenery to him so beatifly and poignantly.
After a few weeks of bliss, Tessa learned that he was a man of moods which varied from slight impatience to anger, from near indifference to strong emotions of love.
The change in Paul caused her uneasiness.
She questioned him about it. He said:
"I meant to delay the final blow but here's the truth. I married you for the sole purpose of revenge. I've never loved you since the day you threw me over. You had the audacity to come here, expressing contrition and expecting instant forgiveness. You gave me darkness and then you jilted me. If you stay, you know what to expect. I used to worship you but now l might on occasion allow you to know a moment's happiness, just for the pleasure of torturing you ".
And as crazy as all these are, Tessa decided to stay with him, she thought, better miserable with him than without him.
She was hoping for a miracle, that he would forgive her.
Their mutual friend Joe came from England to visit. He knew about the deception and he was playing along.
One day while all three were in the garden, Tessa saw a snake about to strike at Paul. She picked up a large stone and hurled it at the snake.
This incident is significant but the reader does not know it yet.
Paul started wearing dark glasses and was having headaches.
Joe told Tessa that the light must be bothering him and that might mean something worth looking into. He asked if she would deny Paul the chance of seeing again.
Tessa said that if Paul's sight ever be restored, then it would be the end for her.
All she'd fought and hoped and prayed, would be for nothing. She said that she couldn't lose him.
She did not want Paul to see, not ever.
Paul had become even more distant towards Tessa and did not approach her in bed again.
He would lay there, obviously in pain and Tessa would lay next to him.
One day he asked her if she would come here to him if she knew he only wanted revenge.
"Yes, l think l would, because l'd have hoped, as l still hope, that some day you might forgive me".
From that day on he was kind and tender to her. Warmth and harmony entered into their relationship. Tessa bloomed even though she knew that her husband's love was really for her sister.
Tessa tore up three of Joe's letters urging her to bring Paul to England for consultation.
She knew though that she had to agree.
She wondered what would be Paul's reaction to her deceit. She knew he would lash her with scorn and contempt finding himself married to her.
Tessa knew she could never face him again if he got back his sight.
She would have to leave, take a post abroad like she did the last time.
The couple returned back to England and Paul had a surgery.
The day the bandages were to be removed from his eyes, Tessa was getting ready to flee the country.
She was packing with her mother's help, when the doorbell rang and her father along with Paul who was wearing dark glasses, came into the room.
Tessa cried "oh Paul, l am not Lucinda!".
Paul asked her if she was going somewhere.
She said she was going to Hong Kong, they were short of teachers there.
He told her he'd known she was not Lucinda since the incident with the snake.
Lucinda had a great fear of snakes and when Tessa tackled that snake he knew that she couldn't be Lucinda.
He said that at first he hated her for hoodwinking him, but he dwelt on her caring to him, willing to marry a blind man and care for him, be his eyes, love him, she led him back to sanity.
Her patience, her hope that some day they would be happy together, he knew then that he cared about her and was scared that he might lose her. She was the sweetest, most wonderful wife a man could have and by picking him out, she made him the luckiest man.
He said it was a good thing he prevented her from leaving for Hong Kong, saved him the trouble to follow her as he would have follow her to the ends of the world.
I think this book is more of a psychological thriller than a romance.
The book's cover is in a foreign language.
The book's title is "An eagle swapped " by Anne Hampson.
On a personal note, l was in Cyprus for two months this summer, and l visited the aforementioned village, Bellapais. It is as picturesque today as the author had described it in the book 54 years ago.
August 9, 2020
'This is your fate, Lucinda. I'll crush you. And all the while you continue to hope, I'll torture you. I'll reduce your hope to some shriveled thing that will writhe within you before it reaches the final death throes of agony'
"An Eagle Swooped" is the story of Tessa and Paul.
Pure insanity!
Do you like crazy, obsessed, desperate, almost psychotic characters? Meet our heroine. Years ago, she had madly fallen in love with the hero, only for him to dismiss her and choose her much prettier older sister over her. The heroine runs away, unable to see them together. She returns a year later, only to realize that the hero has lost his sight in an accident that the sister was responsible for.
Not even a little over him, she travels to the remote island he resides him and pretends to be her sister. The hero is cynically kind, but soon reveals his plans of revenge on the woman who betrayed him. But does he know it's the wrong sister? Is his eyesight back? How far would the hero go for his revenge, and the heroine to be his?
Honestly, this was cuckoo nuts, and I totally enjoyed it. The heroine was C-R-A-Z-Y. She took everything the hero threw and kicked her with, because she was that madly in love and couldn't bear the thought of leaving him. She was also possessive and had an unhealthy obsession with him- to the point that she would rather he be blind with her, than see without her- selfish in love! The hero was cruel, heartless, hurt, wants to torture the heroine yada yada, but it is her who totally dominates the story. Her devotion is endless and I kinda was creeped out by it, LOL.
'He's mine mine! I won't let him go. I can see for him, I can, and I will, always! '
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended!
SWE/Unsafe
3.5/5
"An Eagle Swooped" is the story of Tessa and Paul.
Pure insanity!
Do you like crazy, obsessed, desperate, almost psychotic characters? Meet our heroine. Years ago, she had madly fallen in love with the hero, only for him to dismiss her and choose her much prettier older sister over her. The heroine runs away, unable to see them together. She returns a year later, only to realize that the hero has lost his sight in an accident that the sister was responsible for.
Not even a little over him, she travels to the remote island he resides him and pretends to be her sister. The hero is cynically kind, but soon reveals his plans of revenge on the woman who betrayed him. But does he know it's the wrong sister? Is his eyesight back? How far would the hero go for his revenge, and the heroine to be his?
Honestly, this was cuckoo nuts, and I totally enjoyed it. The heroine was C-R-A-Z-Y. She took everything the hero threw and kicked her with, because she was that madly in love and couldn't bear the thought of leaving him. She was also possessive and had an unhealthy obsession with him- to the point that she would rather he be blind with her, than see without her- selfish in love! The hero was cruel, heartless, hurt, wants to torture the heroine yada yada, but it is her who totally dominates the story. Her devotion is endless and I kinda was creeped out by it, LOL.
'He's mine mine! I won't let him go. I can see for him, I can, and I will, always! '
I thoroughly enjoyed it. Recommended!
SWE/Unsafe
3.5/5
July 27, 2021
this could easily be labelled a 'hate story' rather than a love story; but boy, was it entertaining! Anne Hampson certainly knows how to add the right amount of drama and angst to create a page turner and this is a definite hit. However, this is probably not the best read for people looking for the standard Harlequin romance novels with self sacrificing heroines and heroes who treat them like garbage without remorse till the final page. The story here, is of a much deeper and yes, 'flawed' love.
Here, we are introduced to a part of love that is usually glossed over by romance writers : selfishness. You know how they say 'If you love someone, you should let them go?' I could never relate to that. And obviously, Anne Hampson felt the same way while she was writing this book. The Hero is rejected by the Heroine's sister after an accident that leaves him blind and is kind of understandably seeking revenge. The heroine wants nothing more than to soothe his hurt by marrying him (while pretending to be her sister) and offering up all her love - regardless of how contemptibly he treats her. The twist? When an opportunity arises for the H to regain his eyesight, the heroine is (strangely, by today's standards) reluctant to let him undergo the treatment. Why? because unlike the harlequin heroines of today who would timidly give up their claim to the hero, here was a protagonist who actually cared too much to let him go (even for his own good) Her love for him is so great that she fears that upon knowing her identity, he would hate her forever; and that she could never stand. Selfish? yes. But that's love. ( at least for most people in the real world).
Of course, eventually, her conscience does get the better of her and the h relents, all the while planning to leave H once he's regained his vision and eventually, the story works out in typical M&B fashion. Nonetheless, this was a highly interesting read and very very different from most of the stuff I've read in the past. And whatever little this book lacks in romance, it certainly makes up with all the drama. So if you want something different, this is the book for you.
p.s. - This is also a great read for anyone wanting to holiday in Cyprus. The location descriptions read like a travel brochure for the country and are very well written. :D
Here, we are introduced to a part of love that is usually glossed over by romance writers : selfishness. You know how they say 'If you love someone, you should let them go?' I could never relate to that. And obviously, Anne Hampson felt the same way while she was writing this book. The Hero is rejected by the Heroine's sister after an accident that leaves him blind and is kind of understandably seeking revenge. The heroine wants nothing more than to soothe his hurt by marrying him (while pretending to be her sister) and offering up all her love - regardless of how contemptibly he treats her. The twist? When an opportunity arises for the H to regain his eyesight, the heroine is (strangely, by today's standards) reluctant to let him undergo the treatment. Why? because unlike the harlequin heroines of today who would timidly give up their claim to the hero, here was a protagonist who actually cared too much to let him go (even for his own good) Her love for him is so great that she fears that upon knowing her identity, he would hate her forever; and that she could never stand. Selfish? yes. But that's love. ( at least for most people in the real world).
Of course, eventually, her conscience does get the better of her and the h relents, all the while planning to leave H once he's regained his vision and eventually, the story works out in typical M&B fashion. Nonetheless, this was a highly interesting read and very very different from most of the stuff I've read in the past. And whatever little this book lacks in romance, it certainly makes up with all the drama. So if you want something different, this is the book for you.
p.s. - This is also a great read for anyone wanting to holiday in Cyprus. The location descriptions read like a travel brochure for the country and are very well written. :D
November 2, 2016
Obsessed alphas are a dime a dozen in HP land, but an obsessed heroine is rare indeed. Well, here we have one - a heroine who holds the torch for two years thinking the hero has married her sister. When she finally returns home, she finds out the engagement is off, the hero is blind and she now has her chance to bag her man.
But I must back up. The evil sister caused the hero's accident and she jilted him as soon as she found out he was blind. The heroine thinks that if she can impersonate her sister (they have the same unusual voice) and beg forgiveness, the long, expensive trip to Cypress to hunt him down will not be wasted.
And it isn't wasted. The hero forgives her. They marry and all is well - for awhile. Depending on how you feel about lying and fraud and obsession, you will be rooting for the heroine - or not. At the very least you will be holding your breath for the hero to find out the truth, but you'll be holding it a long time because AH keeps the tension up until the last pages. About midway there's another twist - the hero reveals he only married her as revenge and he's going to torture her for the rest of their lives. Heroine takes it because it would be a worse punishment to be away from him.
There's an incident with a snake in the garden that wakes the hero up from his revenge scheme. And the heroine's father also interferes once the hero is in the hospital to have his blindness reversed. (This is HP blindness - it never seems to be permanent) Ah, well the truth will set you free.
The heroine had that Gone Girl vibe (without the homicide or manipulation of the press) - and the hero really seemed to enjoy all his interactions with the heroine - whether indulging in a travelogue jaunt out to the countryside, holding hands and watching the sunset, or waging psychological warfare - it's all good. They are made for each other.
But I must back up. The evil sister caused the hero's accident and she jilted him as soon as she found out he was blind. The heroine thinks that if she can impersonate her sister (they have the same unusual voice) and beg forgiveness, the long, expensive trip to Cypress to hunt him down will not be wasted.
And it isn't wasted. The hero forgives her. They marry and all is well - for awhile. Depending on how you feel about lying and fraud and obsession, you will be rooting for the heroine - or not. At the very least you will be holding your breath for the hero to find out the truth, but you'll be holding it a long time because AH keeps the tension up until the last pages. About midway there's another twist - the hero reveals he only married her as revenge and he's going to torture her for the rest of their lives. Heroine takes it because it would be a worse punishment to be away from him.
There's an incident with a snake in the garden that wakes the hero up from his revenge scheme. And the heroine's father also interferes once the hero is in the hospital to have his blindness reversed. (This is HP blindness - it never seems to be permanent) Ah, well the truth will set you free.
The heroine had that Gone Girl vibe (without the homicide or manipulation of the press) - and the hero really seemed to enjoy all his interactions with the heroine - whether indulging in a travelogue jaunt out to the countryside, holding hands and watching the sunset, or waging psychological warfare - it's all good. They are made for each other.
October 5, 2018
So desperately in love Tess pretends to be her sister who broke her engagement to Paul after he becomes blind. Full of tension and drama this one was gripping read and this girl truly epitomised loving unconditionally even when things take her a turn and she finds out he only married her to take revenge! Since he thinks she is Lucinda, Tess take it all. Talk about an enduring love.
September 11, 2023
The writing is very good and the story flows without being boring.
The heroine is a quiet and plain girl, always second best to her older and beautiful sister.
When she meets the hero, a charming Greek billionaire, she falls in love with him but of course as soon as he sees her sister it鈥檚 love at first sight and the heroine is forced to lust silently while they get engaged and are madly in love with each other.
The hero also makes some nasty and rude remarks about her looks and her being a stalker.
I don鈥檛 actually know why she was so in love with such a jerk.
It seems to me an immature infatuation.
She decides to leave her country and to go working abroad so she won鈥檛 be forced to see her sister married and with children from the hero.
Two years later she comes back home and finds out the hero had a nasty accident and became blind, and her sister dumped him since she didn鈥檛 want to spend her life with a blind man.
Now she鈥檚 engaged with another man and the hero lives as a recluse in a greek island.
Since he told her sister he would always take her back if she changes her mind the heroine decides she will go to the hero pretending to be her sister. Yes, that鈥檚 her folly.
The hero takes her back and asks her to marry him.
Soon she understands that he married her for revenge and she accepts everything he dishes out since she鈥檚 so obsessed with him that she prefers being abused but near him that being alone without him.
She鈥檚 crazy as a bat.
She even refuses to take him to a specialist that could restore his sight because she doesn鈥檛 want him to see she鈥檚 not her sister.
Eventually of course she will accept that he鈥檚 going to have his eyesight back and she plans to leave him soon after.
Of course the hero has already understood that he married her and not her evil sister and is actually happy and in love with her, admitting she was much better than her sister.
Two stars because:
- the heroine is not sane. She鈥檚 obsessed without a reason since the man has nothing for himself beside maybe his looks.
- the hero was actually madly in love with her sister and never thought about her when he was engaged with the sister. If he hadn鈥檛 had the accident they would be married and he would have been cuckolded since the sister was already playing around. Pity. He would have deserved it.
- the heroine is without any doubt second best. No way he would have chosen her. He admitted he worshipped her sister. He never told her ily. Never.
- the sister didn鈥檛 have a comeuppance. No retribution no karma, nothing. She married her wonderful and fully capable fianc茅 and was happy and loved. She was a nasty selfish bitch and deserved to be unhappy. I don鈥檛 like it.
- safety was good since the book has 50 and more years and the hero never had sex with heroine鈥檚 sister, and afterwards he was blind and alone. But it鈥檚 a meager consolation.
The heroine is a quiet and plain girl, always second best to her older and beautiful sister.
When she meets the hero, a charming Greek billionaire, she falls in love with him but of course as soon as he sees her sister it鈥檚 love at first sight and the heroine is forced to lust silently while they get engaged and are madly in love with each other.
The hero also makes some nasty and rude remarks about her looks and her being a stalker.
I don鈥檛 actually know why she was so in love with such a jerk.
It seems to me an immature infatuation.
She decides to leave her country and to go working abroad so she won鈥檛 be forced to see her sister married and with children from the hero.
Two years later she comes back home and finds out the hero had a nasty accident and became blind, and her sister dumped him since she didn鈥檛 want to spend her life with a blind man.
Now she鈥檚 engaged with another man and the hero lives as a recluse in a greek island.
Since he told her sister he would always take her back if she changes her mind the heroine decides she will go to the hero pretending to be her sister. Yes, that鈥檚 her folly.
The hero takes her back and asks her to marry him.
Soon she understands that he married her for revenge and she accepts everything he dishes out since she鈥檚 so obsessed with him that she prefers being abused but near him that being alone without him.
She鈥檚 crazy as a bat.
She even refuses to take him to a specialist that could restore his sight because she doesn鈥檛 want him to see she鈥檚 not her sister.
Eventually of course she will accept that he鈥檚 going to have his eyesight back and she plans to leave him soon after.
Of course the hero has already understood that he married her and not her evil sister and is actually happy and in love with her, admitting she was much better than her sister.
Two stars because:
- the heroine is not sane. She鈥檚 obsessed without a reason since the man has nothing for himself beside maybe his looks.
- the hero was actually madly in love with her sister and never thought about her when he was engaged with the sister. If he hadn鈥檛 had the accident they would be married and he would have been cuckolded since the sister was already playing around. Pity. He would have deserved it.
- the heroine is without any doubt second best. No way he would have chosen her. He admitted he worshipped her sister. He never told her ily. Never.
- the sister didn鈥檛 have a comeuppance. No retribution no karma, nothing. She married her wonderful and fully capable fianc茅 and was happy and loved. She was a nasty selfish bitch and deserved to be unhappy. I don鈥檛 like it.
- safety was good since the book has 50 and more years and the hero never had sex with heroine鈥檚 sister, and afterwards he was blind and alone. But it鈥檚 a meager consolation.
April 12, 2017
Tessa fell in love with Paul Demetrius the first time she met him but he
only had eyes for her beautiful but shallow sister Lucinda.
When Tessa returned from two years teaching abroad expecting to find her
sister married to Paul she was shocked to find it was all off. After an
accident caused by her sister, Paul is blinded with burns to his hands so Lucinda turned away from her fiance to another man.
Learning that Paul had told Lucinda that if she came back to him he would forgive her, Tessa seeks him out in the backblocks of Cyprus and pretending to be Lucinda, makes her plea for forgiveness. To her surprise Paul forgives instantly and arranges for them to marry.
It is only after the marriage, when Tessa has begun to hope that the blissful life they have together would last, that something alerts her to Paul's darker motives. Small cruelties that cast her down just as she seems happiest.
Tessa, loving Paul as she does bears these cruelties with loving patience which only seems to anger him more. When it seems that her loving nature may at last have borne fruit with a seeming change in Paul's attitude Tessa must confront the possibility that he may regain his sight and her deception will be discovered.
Anne Hampson's heroes are pretty tough at times and certainly push the boundaries of what is acceptably PC in the modern era. I love these books in particular for the optimism that self sacrificing love will change and heal even the hardest heart. To the modern mind these heroines might seem like walk overs but the decision to love without boundaries for the salvation of the loved one can never be discounted. It often takes far more courage than walking away and we know the heroes are worth it in the end.
only had eyes for her beautiful but shallow sister Lucinda.
When Tessa returned from two years teaching abroad expecting to find her
sister married to Paul she was shocked to find it was all off. After an
accident caused by her sister, Paul is blinded with burns to his hands so Lucinda turned away from her fiance to another man.
Learning that Paul had told Lucinda that if she came back to him he would forgive her, Tessa seeks him out in the backblocks of Cyprus and pretending to be Lucinda, makes her plea for forgiveness. To her surprise Paul forgives instantly and arranges for them to marry.
It is only after the marriage, when Tessa has begun to hope that the blissful life they have together would last, that something alerts her to Paul's darker motives. Small cruelties that cast her down just as she seems happiest.
Tessa, loving Paul as she does bears these cruelties with loving patience which only seems to anger him more. When it seems that her loving nature may at last have borne fruit with a seeming change in Paul's attitude Tessa must confront the possibility that he may regain his sight and her deception will be discovered.
Anne Hampson's heroes are pretty tough at times and certainly push the boundaries of what is acceptably PC in the modern era. I love these books in particular for the optimism that self sacrificing love will change and heal even the hardest heart. To the modern mind these heroines might seem like walk overs but the decision to love without boundaries for the salvation of the loved one can never be discounted. It often takes far more courage than walking away and we know the heroes are worth it in the end.
June 12, 2017
Another for the quest to read the first 100 HPs. This one is numbered 37. So the heroine is sort of a loon and loves a man who loves her sister and who she has overheard denigrating herself. Oh well so of course when the sister dumps him after an accident which she caused which results in his blindness, the heroine swoops in and pretends to be her sister in order to marry him. She acted more like a teenager than a woman in her 20s buy HP heroines often do.
If you're a fan of the crazy old school angst you should like this one. It was fun. I would have given it a higher score if the ending had been just a tiny bit more fulfilling.
If you're a fan of the crazy old school angst you should like this one. It was fun. I would have given it a higher score if the ending had been just a tiny bit more fulfilling.
February 18, 2019
LOVED IT SO MUCH. This book is fascinating, wonderful and most captivating. It is so beautifully written. The story line developed in the perfect way and all of characters specially The hero and heroine were so well characterize and developed. In one word, this book is PERFECT. I loved it so very much and I recommend it to all.
March 10, 2021
A romance without any WTT trends? Is it possible? It's possible, but only IF it is written in 1970, as this one was.
Tessa falls in love at first sight with Paul, a friend of a friend, Joe, but when Paul meets her sister Lucinda, he falls in love with her. Tessa, a teacher, is a bit plainer than Lucinda, but it isn't until Tessa overhears Paul saying how ugly, how plain, how annoying she is that she packs up and leaves for a teaching post in Greece, hoping to forget she ever knew him by avoiding news about the family.
Two years later, she returns home to London, and she finds that Lucinda and Paul didn't get married; that they had they had a horrible accident in which he had been horribly burned and lost his sight. Furthermore, Lucinda broke off their engagement over this, and after even Paul's announcement that he would forgive Lucinda and is rejected, Paul returned to his home in Cyprus. Yet, despite the time away, Tessa still has feelings for Paul, and when she hears the whole story decides to head to Cyprus with a plan of her own.
Taking on Lucinda's name, Tessa meets with Paul, and he forgives her and tells her that he never stopped loving her. In fact, all too soon, the pair marries, and it is wedded bliss for them, at least initially. But did he really forgive her? Does he have his own agenda?
Tessa cannot reveal who she really is, and soon, the bliss becomes torture. Soon, she realizes that while she may love him, he hates her and married her only for revenge. While she becomes his eyes, describing the sky, the sunsets, the blooming flowers, etc., she walks a fine line when he becomes abusive in word and deed, and then switching it up to act loving in front of other people. Can she maintain her love for him despite his scorn? Can she become so important to him that he will finally love her (even if he believes to be Lucinda)? What if discovers the truth about who she is?
Will he reject her once again? What will happen if he happens to regain his sight?
Could there ever be a happily-ever-after for Tessa and Paul?
Tessa falls in love at first sight with Paul, a friend of a friend, Joe, but when Paul meets her sister Lucinda, he falls in love with her. Tessa, a teacher, is a bit plainer than Lucinda, but it isn't until Tessa overhears Paul saying how ugly, how plain, how annoying she is that she packs up and leaves for a teaching post in Greece, hoping to forget she ever knew him by avoiding news about the family.
Two years later, she returns home to London, and she finds that Lucinda and Paul didn't get married; that they had they had a horrible accident in which he had been horribly burned and lost his sight. Furthermore, Lucinda broke off their engagement over this, and after even Paul's announcement that he would forgive Lucinda and is rejected, Paul returned to his home in Cyprus. Yet, despite the time away, Tessa still has feelings for Paul, and when she hears the whole story decides to head to Cyprus with a plan of her own.
Taking on Lucinda's name, Tessa meets with Paul, and he forgives her and tells her that he never stopped loving her. In fact, all too soon, the pair marries, and it is wedded bliss for them, at least initially. But did he really forgive her? Does he have his own agenda?
Tessa cannot reveal who she really is, and soon, the bliss becomes torture. Soon, she realizes that while she may love him, he hates her and married her only for revenge. While she becomes his eyes, describing the sky, the sunsets, the blooming flowers, etc., she walks a fine line when he becomes abusive in word and deed, and then switching it up to act loving in front of other people. Can she maintain her love for him despite his scorn? Can she become so important to him that he will finally love her (even if he believes to be Lucinda)? What if discovers the truth about who she is?
Will he reject her once again? What will happen if he happens to regain his sight?
Could there ever be a happily-ever-after for Tessa and Paul?
February 26, 2018
Anne Hampson's Stockholm Syndrome series is deftly continued with this offering, which has stirred controversy among old-school romance fans because it is the heroine who kidnaps, deceives, and marries the hero under false pretenses, and the blind hero who decides that he "loves" her. My verdict? It's a charming tale of love under extreme duress.
May 4, 2023
This heroine Hampson is pictured here is a obsessive psycho!
December 23, 2014
Don't remember what I thought of this one either, but I think I liked it...
April 27, 2023
A Tessa sofreu muito na mao do Paul!!! E nem merecia. O que me incomodou nessa leitura foi a omiss茫o que ela era a Tessa.
Para mim, o Paul ainda est谩 completamente envolvido com a Lucinda.
S贸 ao longo do tempo o amor da Tessa iria curar a dor do abandono.
Para mim, o Paul ainda est谩 completamente envolvido com a Lucinda.
S贸 ao longo do tempo o amor da Tessa iria curar a dor do abandono.
December 19, 2016
people can go to jail for the heroines behaviour. the hero and heroine met a few years ago and casually went out but then he met her more beautiful sister and fell in love with her. the heroine did not take it well and couldn't get over him so she moved away. few years later she comes back home to find out that there was an accident caused by the sister that left the hero scarred and blind and the sister dumped him and already moved on with someone else. the heroine being the obsessive stalker she is goes to the hero and pretends to be her sister and marries him and lives with him. this was just sick and sad and illegal. the hero is justifiably mad at the sister and is taking his revenge on who he thinks is the sister, by being mean to her.then he realizes its not the sister and is mad because he feels taken advantage of, and hes right, she took advantage of him being blind to keep him for herself. when it looks like he will be able to see again she prepares to move away because he wont want her cause she so ugly compared to her sister. but he follows her and all is forgiven and hea.
i did not like all the references of him being greek and what this all entails, it fels a bit.... rasist at times. there was a very clear way of thinking of how greeks feel and behave compared to western people. it was weird. and the book is full of shallow people. the hero dated the sister for a while and he doesnt know how she smells, feels in his arms, no inside jokes or at keast notice the difference in personalities between the sisters.
i did not like all the references of him being greek and what this all entails, it fels a bit.... rasist at times. there was a very clear way of thinking of how greeks feel and behave compared to western people. it was weird. and the book is full of shallow people. the hero dated the sister for a while and he doesnt know how she smells, feels in his arms, no inside jokes or at keast notice the difference in personalities between the sisters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2012
I was having problems from the beginning with the premise of this book, and it only went downhill from there. Along with the otherizing/racism which is beyond even that which appears in today's Harlequin Presents (which are less with the racism but definitely still with the otherizing of men of Mediterranean heritage), there was deception after unmitigated deception on the part of the heroine that made my spine crawl. I never particularly liked the hero one way or the other, but I spent most of the book wanting to throw the heroine's ass in jail/smack her hard, which is never a good feeling. It got to the point where I was viewing this more as a cautionary tale (of what never, ever, under any circumstance, to do) rather than as a romance.
September 15, 2012
how could someone possibly hate this book <3 anne hampson is my favorite writer .. this book is one of my favorites ..
January 13, 2025
Weird鈥hat summons up this book I think. Not a bad story and the characters were engaging. The MFC was obsessed with MMC, bordering on crazy.
But the story flowed and you want the characters to have the characters to get their HEA.
But the story flowed and you want the characters to have the characters to get their HEA.
June 26, 2019
#38
賲賲賱賴 ..
賳噩賲賴 賵丕丨丿賴
賲賲賱賴 ..
賳噩賲賴 賵丕丨丿賴
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
February 8, 2021Tessa had loved Paul Demetrius from the start, but from the moment she introduced him to her beautiful sister Lucinda he had had eyes for no one else. At last, unable to bear seeing the two of them together, Tessa had gone away.
Now, two years later, she was home again, expecting to hear that they were married -- only to learn that they had never in fact married, that after a terrible accident in which Paul had been blinded, Lucinda had walked out on him and he was now living the life of a recluse in Cyprus. So Tessa took her courage in both hands, went out to Cyprus pretending to be Lucinda, begged Paul's forgiveness -- and married him.
Would her love be strong enough to stand the strain of living such a lie? And what if Paul ever found out?
Now, two years later, she was home again, expecting to hear that they were married -- only to learn that they had never in fact married, that after a terrible accident in which Paul had been blinded, Lucinda had walked out on him and he was now living the life of a recluse in Cyprus. So Tessa took her courage in both hands, went out to Cyprus pretending to be Lucinda, begged Paul's forgiveness -- and married him.
Would her love be strong enough to stand the strain of living such a lie? And what if Paul ever found out?
August 7, 2014
she stopped her life for some one didn't feel it why she struggel all this to get his heart in reality i dont like this type of woman i think life is too short enough to spend it with some one share me happinies or live it alone
Read
February 5, 2013亘爻 賲賲賰賳 賲賱禺氐 毓賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷賴
Read
June 18, 2017丕賱賲賵賯毓 亘賴 賲卮賰賱賴
賰賷賮 賳丨賲賱賴賲
賲毓 丕賳賷 丨亘 丕卮鬲乇 賵卮賰乇丕
賰賷賮 賳丨賲賱賴賲
賲毓 丕賳賷 丨亘 丕卮鬲乇 賵卮賰乇丕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2016
What she did was despicable. Ending is too abrupt. Overall, writing is still good.
April 21, 2012
Titre vf : L'aigle aux yeux vides
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August 20, 2017Placeholder. My friends convinced me to read a couple of Harlequin romances in high school. One of them was about a woman who was travelling to Greece to search for her sister, and then romance and falling overboard from a boat? or swimming? or something? happened. It wasn't this book, but.
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