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