Now, to begin, Cartland's Hazard of Hearts will not reveal any deep insights into human nature or the workings of the human mind. It is not a thoughtful or researched commentary of society. It's purely a novel for the pleasure of the reader. I had never even heard of Barbara Cartland when I first came across the film version of this novel starring Helena Bonham Carter. That film, I must admit, was quite... well... dramatic. However, I enjoyed the basic storyline enough to try out the book. I'm glad I did.
The novel begins with the innocent, yet honest, Selena learning that her father lost not only her beloved home in a poker game - but that he also wagered Selena in the game as well. And lost. That same night, Selena's father commits suicide leaving her without a home or father and "engaged" to a man she has never heard of, Lord Justin Vulcan. Upon meeting Selena, Justin makes no remarks upon their betrothal, merely takes Selena to his ancestral home, Mandrake. Like in the film, here the drama builds up quite a great deal, including smugglers, abductions, poisoning, murder, etc. In my own opinion, I feel like all of this drama worked much, much better in a novel than on film - maybe because you understand more of what's going on in various characters' minds.
All in all, however, the love story between Selena and Justin melted my heart (Yes! I admit it!) and all that excessive drama, to me, couldn't distract from the main plot of the story - which was, of course, the love story. Cartland's style in this book reminded me a lot of Georgette Heyer - but with a bit less humor, maybe more akin to Heyer's Devil's Cub. And, if I think ANYTHING is like Georgette Heyer, it's definitely good.
