I have been looking at the stepback for Cathy Maxwell’s upcoming book The Earl Claims His Wife for a few hours now, and I can’t figure it out. Here’s the front cover:
The Earl, in the stepback, to my way of thinking, is indeed claiming his wife. Take a look:
Seriously, are they doing it? I mean, that’s one hell of an o-Face right there:
So, I ask you – what’s your call? Doing it? Or just having a bit of an asthma problem? Swallowing invisible avocados? If you think they’re not Doing It, then tell me in the comments, what ARE they doing? I’ll draw a winner to take home their own copy of The Earl Claims His Wife.
I going to agree that they are doing it. It looks as if she is bored and he is working hard….ha, hard:)
I voted for “I can’t look,” but, yeah, they are so totally getting it on in the step-back. What is intriguing me is that the front cover might be the first time i recall seeing the inner thigh of the “inner leg” (the one farther away from the viewer—on this cover, it’s the left leg). And how on earth does she have anything to sit on to support that pose, unless it’s his mighty sword of lovin’?
They’re contortionists practicing for their next performance in Cirque d’Soliel: Burning Love. If you’ll look closely, you’ll note that this is an incredible feat for our dear heroine, as she is actually missing a leg (or at least, it doesn’t seem like that pose would be possible if she had two legs). It was her twin sister (evil twin, of course) on the cover. That’s how she remains his wife in Name Only—because he bonked the Ebul Twin because he’s really that dense to not notice the missing leg. But their love of the circus and getting tangled up in ribbons in what some people call “art” and others call “creepy” brings them together, and in the end, they overcome their tragic, calliope (sp?) playing baggage and bonk like madbunnies into the sunset. While being tangled in ribbons in what is either the hottest scene in modern romance or a creepy homage to kittens.
Sorry for the ramble, think I may have missed the point. But I had fun with it at least!
He still has his pants on all the way up. I definitely think he is asleep and she’s holding her breath trying to stay in his lap without falling over and waking him up. LOL
I vote doing it, because the look on his face…. I just can’t imagine anyone would look like that without something very distracting going on… He looks like he might drool on her any moment now.
AH! And I’m right: spamword is truth94.
They are totally doing it, or at least dry humping.
But I started wondering, where did her right leg go? Did they do an emergency amputation and then went right back to business? Or did the leg disappear to the same place as her skirt?
I think he’s scent marking her. Either that or he’s giving her a wicked stubble burn.
You’re right Missy Ann, he does look like Thomas Jane … which might explain why he didn’t have to pull his pants down as far.
Ordinary real life guys keep their socks on during sex. But heroes keep their boots on.
Totally doing it! I mean, women didn’t wear knickers then, did they? So even if his pants are still buttoned and unless we’re sticking with the Clinton definition of sexual intercourse, then there’s definitely some doing being done at least to her.
Hell yeah!! they are definitely doing it, or in the process hahaha!!!
I think the close up makes it quite clear that he is sleeping – and dreaming of her brother.
When an Earl and a Plucky, Beautiful-But-Doesn’t-Know-She’s-Beautiful-But-Totes-is-Beautiful-and-Awkward-But-Strangely-Charming Female Member of the Ton love each other very much, but don’t confess they love each other yet, but totes do love each other… want to share a special hug, they straddle each other in a special way and share The Most Glorious Holy Crap Hug Ever. Nine months later comes Baby Earl, who will grow up and do the same thing with another Beautiful-But-Doesn’t-Know-She’s-Beautiful-But-Totes-is-Beautiful-and-Awkward-But-Strangely-Charming Female Member of the Ton in the sequel.
You know how you never forget your first time smelling Gain? Ye Olde Laundresse must have changed detergent.
Hey now—maybe this jsut started out as a platonic hug after a heavy, garlic-laden dinner. Her brooch got tangled in his chest hair and the hand you can’t see is trying desperately to get them free—he’s obviously cursing up a storm. And due to all that garlic, they’re turning away and trying not to breathe through their noses.
This also explains why his chest is hairless on the cover and she’s trying to cover up the ripped place on her bodice where the brooch was. The garlic iay or may not have dissipated—she’s still breathing through her mouth, and he looks a little like he’s holding his. . .
See? Perfectly innocent . . .
I say the earl is definitely claiming his wife. I don’t care if they tried to make it look like his pants are all the way on.
Oh, yeah. All they need is the cheap wine and the Barry White.
Or the 19th century counterparts.
Notice you don’t see his other hand? Do you see how he still has his ridin’ boots on? Well, it was pretty chilly out there when the Earl took his morning ride, and his poor fingers were frozen stiff!
You know that feeling when you tuck a cold extremity somewhere warm? It just feels sooooo good. That’s what that face is all about.
As to the wife, she’s all scrunched up cuz “Oh my, that’s a bit tingly!”
Don’t worry, she’ll take care of his chilly willy next.
VW: method 76…yes, I’m sure there are 75 other methods of warming oneself…but few quite as fun.
You knew I had to go there, right?
Yup, doing it and I agree, she’s faking it, but he’s all there! What else is new? Guess it’s because he wants to claim her and she ain’t willing to be claimed…
And the magic disappearing dress… that’s a whole ‘nother exciting concept.
I don’t think I’m a prude, that that front cover really is taking things a tad too far for my taste. I mean, the only way to make it more explicit would have been to put a big red arrow in her crotch showing where she’s missing her underwear.
I want to know what the art department and editors are smoking lately, because there have been some seriously messed up covers in the last few months!
Spam word: personal97, yeah we are getting 97 personal views of her very personal private parts… ugh.
I chose “I can’t look” because I’m at work and I’m not leaving that image on the screen long enough to study it closely. But when I’m too embarrassed to leave a romance novel cover on the screen in a LIBRARY, where I could undoubtedly find many questionable covers on books that it’s my job to provide to people? That’s probably a strong indication that they are doing it.
Swallowing invisible avocados?
Bwahahaha!!!
It makes me want to take this book to the gym, open it wide up (ensuring that the stepback is face out, of course) and start reading. Aloud.
And IMHO, they are getting it on like a couple of bunnies. Or Bambi in the spring. Twitterpated. Or something-pated, anyway. Made me want to head home from work and jump on the ol’ DH.
He looks like he’s sniffing her, and is exceptionally turned on by the scent of the Bounce dryer sheets she’s been using. She looks equally enthralled that he’s discovered Scope. Finally.
It’s obvious they are yodeling.
They were discussing the story Puss n Boots, he is still wearing his boots and is getting aquainted with her puss hehe
size91 – that is a big one!
They are clearly burping each other after a heavy dinner.
It’s obvious that they’re taking a nap… but there are no pillows or even a headboard, and it’s very cold outside, and the Earl’s wife has sleep apnea, so she’s got to sleep sitting up, and the Earl is being so considerate in supporting her in this house with no walls or headboards.
OMG! I want one of those avocados!
No…they are getting there, but not yet!!!
Well, they are CLEARLY sighing in relief at the news that the economy is rebounding!
If they aren’t, then she’s faking it and he’s fantasizing about Megan Fox.
It’s obviously payday, and they’re going over the household budget. Doesn’t everyone do it this way? Or is it just us….
She is merely asking him to see if her boobs feel like they popped – boob job trouble that’s what it is 😉
Beware of the red ghost behind her!
Yes… unless he’s checking for breath sounds before performing an impromptu tracheotomy.
NOT doing it !!
I think they must have some kind of gut infection or some spasm… Remember, no fridge back then 😉 lol
Is it me, or are her legs freakishly short on the cover? And her arm unusually shrunken on the stepback? Or am I just fixated on the Cirque du Cover and totally looking for Sideshow Sex everywhere now?
And yes, they’re totally dry-boning. “Jeeves, I’ve gone and soiled my pants. Fetch me a new pair and get the Miss a neck brace and a sham-wow.”
However…that is a hot cover. I am intrigued and will go in search of more information and possibly an excerpt or two.
spamword: area42 – fewer aliens than area51, but perhaps more circus freaks?
Oh yeah, that’s the spot. Scratch a little harder.
I don’t know why you all can’t see that he’s just scratching an itch, only we can’t see where it’s at because it’s probably none of our business. But you have to wonder if women got yeast infections back then. lol
spam word: further47 and I’m not going there. lol
Deidre
They’re totally doing it, but they’re both so artistically desheveled and neither is breaking out in a sweat, so. . . They aren’t doing it very well, or they’re both faking their orgasms.
So really they shouldn’t have bothered.
I’d definitely say doing it.
But then again, maybe she’s just alleviating a cramp in his neck?? That must be it. She’s just a very hands on chiropractor who is realigning his neck. That’s all. Honest. 😛
Great cover BTW
is it just me or is he lacking some serious teeth? i raised goats as a child and they didn’t have teeth in the top front; he reminds me of them. nice title too
no sex. He is just marvelling that her skin feels like the stuffed seal that he sleeps with.
Dry humping. His pants are still done up.