Tuesday, April 26, 2011

I want to be a Romance Novel Title Picker

I spent a few minutes at the Book Rack this afternoon, browsing the "these are so old we can barely give them away" pile, and I found some that were definitley worth the .50 I spent on each of them. Not sure they'll be worth the time to read them, but I'll give it a shot. 

First up is Song of Autum, by Mary Cummins. 

Perfectly cheesey 1976 romance cover picture.  This is not a Harlequin, it's a Magnum.  Whatever.  The first line is what jumped off the page and grabbed me:
"Nell Merryman stepped down from the bus in the main street of Cockermouth, and looked round with appreciation. "

How can you not want to read this book?  Have I ever mentioned that I live really close to Big Bone Lick State Park?  Maybe I don't have room to talk, but I have GOT to go visit Cockermouth.  Whereever it is.

Next up:  A Flaunting Cactus, by Wynne May
WHAT THE HELL IS A FLAUNTING CACTUS? 

I mean, really.  Maybe it's like a Christmas cactus, but I've never heard of one.  Doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but that's just the dumbest name, ever.  I thought Harlequin was really bad at contemporary titles, which are pretty lame:  The Cop's Secret Baby, or the Sheik's Secret Bride or whatever.  But at least you have a hint about the contents of the story.  This one has a couple in formal dress on the cover.  Not a cactus in sight.  Maybe "cactus" is a metaphor.  We'll just have to see.  Stay posted. 

I also bought an early Harlequin Temptation.  A Touch of Madness by Deirdre Mardon, we'll see how it stands up to later Temptations.  I like the cover on this one, though, because if you squint, it kind of looks like an early Ted Danson there about to get some spit swappage. 

Anyway.  It was a fun trip to the used book store.  What have you found lately? 

2 comments:

  1. Oooh, those look great! I have a sneaking fondness for cheesy romance covers. They make me giggle, and I do love a good giggle.

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  2. I get old Harlequins from the shelf in the lunchroom at work. I only wish that more of them had interesting stories. Some of the especially old ones (c. 1970s) only have KISSES in them. No actual sex. It was a total letdown. :)

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