Yes, yes, it’s the 15th. But awhile back, Hubby and I decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the 15th, rather than the 14th, and not because the candy’s on sale, though that’s a perfectly good reason. So this year, I’m doing something similar: we’re celebrating on the 15th – with vintage romances.
I recently had an email from a reader, DM, who found a Laurie McBain title she’d loved years and years ago on sale in the bookstore’s romance section – and she was so very happy to be able to buy a new one, as her old copy was long lost:
I just got back from my lunch break sweep through Borders. While snatching up the new Alice Hoffman, the latest Guildhunter & Loose Ends, a familiar and beloved name caught my eye from the new release rack: Laurie McBain. Yes, it was a soft cover edition of “Devil’s Desire.” I thought to myself, this is HUGE. Did I miss something? The bitchery should know this! There’s a whole generation out there who’ve missed out on the awesomeness that was Laurie McBain; the woman who started the hero as not such an alphhole rapist trend. One can only hope that the rest of her books are soon to receive similar treatment. Not that I’ll need to shell out for them I still have all the originals including the carrot topped fleeing virgin covered “Devil’s Desire.” I keep them away from the sun in a box marked “my precious”… Anyway, just wanted to share.
I admit, I never read a McBain, and DM says that among her favorites are Moonstruck Madness and Devil’s Desire. Woo hoo! Books to add to the romance re-read pile.
McBain’s books are being reprinted as part of the Sourcebooks Casabalanca Classics line, which is headed by Leah Hultenschmidt and brings new editions of classic romances to the bookstore. I asked Leah a few questions about the line, and about the books she’s looking to publish as part of Casablanca Classics.
What makes a good classic romance that you think has to be republished to reach a new audience?
We’ve been primarily concentrating on romances that helped define the genre in some way, yet still have an irresistible hero and heroine. They might not fit as neatly into today’s “romance” mold (if such a broad genre can be said to have a mold), but that’s what’s been so exciting about bringing them out again. To me, they’re “The Godfather” of romance—so much has been based on these works and the ideas have been adapted in a number of ways, but the original never feels old.
What are some plot points or characteristics that speak to readers today, and which ones do you think should be avoided?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “I wish they’d like romance like they used to.” These readers aren’t missing the potential does-she-want-it/doesn’t-she? sex scenes, the purple euphemisms or insipid heroines that you sometimes find in early works of the genre. Thank goodness we’ve evolved a lot in that respect—and the really good writers never bothered with them anyway. But there is a scope missing in a lot of today’s books, that epic sense since you used to get in historical romance that page-count requirements and the drive for pacing have often eliminated in the current market.
For example, in Laurie McBain’s TEARS OF GOLD (Aug.), we’re more than 100 pages in before the main characters are even in the same state. I’d not likely let a newer author get away with separating the hero and heroine so long. But in Laurie’s book, it absolutely works and by the time they do come together—HELL-O! The anticipation leaves the reader begging.
And in LEGACY (March), Jeanette Baker does what we’ve been calling a timeslip—a modern-day hero or heroine going through a similar struggle as counterparts in the past. No one actually goes back in time a la Diana Gabaldon (another favorite), but you get a great sense of how a historical conflict is still immensely relevant today.
What authors or books would you LOVE to republish, and which of the books released so far as a Casablanca Classic do you adore the most?
I’ve always been a huge fan of Laura Kinsale, so having those books on the list has been a dream come true for me. Same with Roberta Gellis—her historical detail is stunning.
As for who comes next, I’d love to hear what your readers have to say! Anything out of print at least 5 years but preferably 10 is fair game. And if they’re bestselling award-winners, all the better.
OK, then, let’s tell them what to do. Leah and the Sourcebooks crew have a few sets of the Classics line to give away for your guys. Yay! Books! All you have to do is leave a comment and tell us what book you’d like to see as part of the Casablanca Classics line, a romance from long ago that would rock our house today, and you’re entered to win. If you don’t have a book to suggest but you love the older romances, tell us something you love about them that you don’t see so much in romances published today – good or bad.
I’ll draw five winners, and each winner will receive a set of the following books:
Disclaimer: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Black socks, they never get dirty. The longer you wear them, the stiffer they get. Open to international entries, though the shipping will probably take awhile. Any resemblance to any persons living or dead will probably be remarked upon on some blog somewhere.
So, tell us: what vintage romance should be back on your shelves, all shiny and new?
I LOVED reading the reprint of Laura Kisale’s Seize the Fire last weekend. The story takes you Around the World. Theres some serious Character Growth going on as well as a Simpering Heroine coming to Her Own. The H/H also spend some Time Apart. Their Love requires them both to grow and Open Their Eyes to see the faults as well as the good in themselves as well as in eachother. Good stuff. And though there were times I was very frustrated with the story and wanted to yell at the heroine to grow up already, she eventually did. It was so much fun reading about their journey. Wallpapery maybe, but in a good way where you don’t really care because the journey is so much fun to read about. Engaging.
Like ReadingAK and others already said: the sweeping scope of the story is what these stories are all about. For some reason it felt very refreshing to read a story like this for a change. Maybe I’ve been reading too many paranormals with the H/H being “mated” where the only source of conflict in the relationship seems to be the time it takes for them to accept it? Books like Seize the Fire were the kinds of stories I used to borrow from the library when I was a teen. I had forgotten how much fun the best of them were.
These stories bring the H/H together very fast and then throw stuff at them to break them apart. It can be very wallpapery and go to wall-banging in a second, but when it’s done well I really enjoy them. They often follow the couple for several years and they may really struggle with the relationship and even spend much of the stroy apart, so when the HEA finally comes it can feel much more substantial (if the Character Growth part of the story is there).
As for more reprints? Kinsale’s backlist definitely, also Balogh’s and Woodiwiss’ Windflower (I’ve never read it).
I definetely agree with everyone who voted for the Windflower. Since I’ve only been reading romance novels for about two years and since I live in the Netherlands, I’ve had no chance to get my hands on a ‘real’ copy of it. My only option was to read from a word document—> not nice for the eyes!
OT but I hope you don’t mind. I just reread my previous post and had to add re: Seize the Fire that I do feel it is somewhat of an exeption in the genre and among Old Skool romances especially. I’m new to Kinsale, but so far I’ve been somewhat blown away with all of the books I’ve read by her. I guess what really makes this book work so well are the very real timeless themes behind the story. Idealisim and naivete vs. cynicism. War and peace. Violent uprising vs. autocratic governance. It is very meaty, and “fun to read” is propably not a very good way to put it, because it is also often quite dark and serious in tone. Emotionally engaging and IMO surpasses the genre limitations in many ways. Ugh. I don’t have the words to give it the credit it deserves. I really do recommend it to everyone! If there were a required reading -list for anyone who wants to call themselves romance readers, this book would propably be at or near the top of it!
I haven’t been reading Romance long enough to have read many classics…
I suppose one I haven’t seen on a book shelf, ever, is Anya Seton’s Dragonwyck, which my memory never quite clarifies whether it is a romance, mystery or Gothic novel.
<3 to the people who mentioned Judith McNaught.
I read my first Heyer this year. Once I learned Richard Armitage is the ‘voice’ of 3 of the Audiobooks I rushed out, bought them and listened to them the minute I had got them home.
And, I really want to read ‘
A Convenient Marriage’. Though, the audiobooks are brilliant they are abridged and there seems to be obvious gaps where plot and character development is missing.
If you could send me Richard Armitage to read me the books unabridged… that would be great. I promise to return him once we’ve gotten through Heyer’s backcatelogue. Maybe.
I second the Windflower.
I beg for Roberta Gellis’ Roselynde series to be reprinted.
When I think old skool – it’s the gothic romance that comes to mind. To love or be loved…or die tragically.
Bride of Pendorric by Victoria Holt is a great example
I want to see the old Lisa Kleypas books!
Since today is my birthday, I’ve always celebrated this day rather than yesterday.
Favorite old school I wish I had in new editions? Mary Burchell’s song cycle. Sweet and old fashioned Harlequins from my innocent childhood; maidens being swept away by sophisticated musicians and probably completely against my current liberated sensibilities.
Master of Desire, Kinley MacGregor.
Bertrice Small’s Skye O’malley. I loved the whole series. She can weave a story with triumph, tragedy and heartache and have you love the heroine and whichever hero was the object of affection at that point in the story. Great romance!! Thanks!!
Laurie McBain! Squee!
Yes, I would like to get my hands on “The Windflower” at a reasonable price with little effort. Can’t believe I missed that one the first time around, really.
Those early Busbees would be great for this reissue, I agree. And my Anne Stuart collection does have a few missing of her earliest works. I do have a copy of “The Demon Count,” but haven’t yet got my hands on “The Demon Count’s Daughter.”
I agree with you about Roberta Gellis’s books—you could pass a master’s exam about the middle ages after reading her books, but she made it so interesting. My copies of the Roselynde Chronicle are falling apart, so I’d love to see them republished.
I also agree about Elsie Lee, though my favorite of her Regencies is “Second Season.”
I’d love to see Georgette Heyer’s books back on the shelves all shiny and new again. Same goes for Patricia Veryan…my library is missing a few.
Go ahead, call me cheesy! But I love the old Johanna Lindsey raptasticals and the Julie Garwood historicals with the totally muted sex scenes!!! I especially loved The Bride and The Wedding by Garwood. God help me, I know they are cheesy, but cheese is good people!
Well everyone’s said Heyer, but they are already re-releasing them, with fab new covers!
On the other hand, a yard sale fine that is crumbling with paper rot, is an old Jayne Ann Krentz called Shield’s Lady, written under the name Amanda Glass. I didn’t expect much from the cover (I mean, come on, category romance cover, Loveswept! Two people in in nondescript frontier clothes on a river in some odd cross between a canoe and a gondola)
What a pleasant surprise for me though! Spunky heroine who isn’t afraid to go toe to toe with a strong man, set on a new world with an interesting culture. Only small amounts of suspension of disbelief required – a rather good mildly S.F. romance. When I researched the Glass name, I realized that duh! written by a romance grand mistress! No wonder it worked.
Now if only I could remember the other novel I keep searching on, but can’t remember the title…a HABO one so worth a reprint. Grr.
If there are any hidden novellas or stories by Laura Kinsale that Sourcebooks is holding back for an opportune moment, that moment is now. (Hope Sourcebooks is reading this.)
I, too, would like to see all of Judith Cuevas books in print again, though couple of her books have been reprinted. Almost all of them are available on the Kindle, except for “Dance” and “Starlight Surrender.”
Kindle editions of some of Roberta Gellis’s books are available, but I’d love to see her medievals in print.
I would also love to see “The Windflower” reprinted!
FYI… Trade PBs and mmpbs of most of Georgette Heyer’s books are already available.
Having heard about it for years, I’d love a chance to read The Windflower without shelling out the remains of my retirement fund for it. Thanks.
It’s such a coincidence to see this post today ‘cause just days ago I myself found a used copy of Jill Barnett’s book Imagine, the first historical romance novel I ever truly luuuuurved. When I first read it almost 8 years back, I was a strictly contemporary girl—mostly since my sister hated historicals and never bought any—but oh my God, that book made me laugh and cry and love historical romance. And when I gave it to my sister to read, wonder of wonders, she loved it too! We ended up reading almost all of her published romances back to back.
*sigh* I hear that the e-versions are coming out now.
My all time favourite ever romance seems to slip under the radar. I’ve only once found it on a best-of list.
The Emerald Necklace by Diana Brown. I read it first as a hardcover from the library.around 1980. It was later printed as a Signet Regency – which I picked up at a used book store.
No you can’t borrow it. Pry it from my cold dead fingers maybe.
It’s a fabulous marriage-of-convenience story between a teenage aristocratic spoiled brat and a self-made man who admits to being an impulsive idiot when he arranged to marry her. They are both full of pride and take a very long road to find true love.
Just because of the squees of happiness it would cause among the Bitchery: The Windflower. Any book with that many recommendations has my vote:)
heh, “beyond22”: ain’t that the truth!
Carla Kelly’s early works and the Windflower—I haven’t read either, but they are so highly recommended and so hard to find!
captcha: below88 I’d like to find some classic romance below 88 dollars
I just discovered Beatrice Small. OMG, SO purple! I love it. I read it outloud to my hubby and we get a big kick out of it. Just finished The Kadin. The great thing is, under all the purple there are really great stories there.
The Windflower, hands down no question. It would show up on the bestseller lists immediately, I’m sure.
Laurie McBain’s Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is my all time most favoritest romance cover. Just glorious.
Laura London’s backlist would be wonderful to add to my shelves. My copy of Windflower is falling apart.
Oh wait – y’all, what’s the Laura London book where the heroine ends up accidentally shooting herself? It happens near the end of the book, the climactic fight scene (I think).
That’s also the book where a woman tells the heroine that her mother always said there are no cold women, just stupid men. That line made a big impression on the young, sexually-inexperienced-but-curious me.
Moonstruck Madness is my all-time favorite! I love the older stories for the sage feel, as Leah said, but I also wish more Americana would be released. I like that the old Skool was not restructed to the H&H being British, as so many are today.
Splendor by Catherine Hart. A pirate and his hawk are turned invisible by a lightening strike (or something) and can only remain visible when he touches a specific woman. I remember snickering through the entire read. The main characters snipe at each other for the first half of the book, but it never descends into hate-sex, or hate anything for that matter. It’s ages before they get into a more romantic mood, but the build up was worth it, if I recall.
M only experience to the older romances were the old Harlequins that had been donated to the assisted living facility where I worked. Can’t honestly say I’d want any of them re-released, but I’d love a chance to read some of the great classics!
I always pounce on the Amanda Quick’s of the early 90’s with their great one-word titles and strange monochromatic pastel covers when I see them at garage sales.
Also: the Avon True Romance teen series, especially Samantha & the Cowboy which was an integral part of my introduction to the genre back in my youth.
I would love to see Playing the Jack by Mary Brown re-released. This is still one of my favourite books. My copy is getting so delicate that I’m almost afraid to pull it off of my shelves to reread. I would also like to see Roberta Gellis’ Roselynde Chronicles re-released in print (they are becoming available at Ellora’s Cave in ebooks, but they are ridiculously expensive if you don’t by them from the EC store). Patricia Gaffney’s Wickerly Trilogy would also be great. Mabye if more of the old gems are brought back, publishers will start to believe us when we say that there is defintely a market for this type of story.
The Pirate’s Captive by Dana Ransom gets my vote for a reprinting. My copy is in fairly good shape but, oh boy, that Zebra Heartfire cover makes it a little tricky to re-read with an observant four-year-old in the house. Heroine with a backbone? Check. Hero living a life of crime on high seas that begins to secretly yearn for redemption through the love of a good woman? Check. And pirates – aw yeah!
I would love to see more of Anne Stuart’s backlist out there. I also agree with the Jayne Ann Krentz suggestion, but I want to see her Amanda Glass/Jayne Castle/Jayne Bentley books from the late 70s/early 80s (before the Jayne Castle name was used for paranormals).
@Verity – I e-mailed Shirlee Busbee a week ago to see if her backlist was ever coming out in e-book. She responded yesterday saying she has the rights to her older work back and is working on getting them back out there. I’m another one that can’t wait. Deceive Not My Heart is a favorite of mine.
I would love to see Joyce Verrette’s books come back. Dawn of Desire, Desert Fire, and To Love and To Conquer were great and I think they could stand the test of time. Dawn of Desire and Desert Fire are set in ancient Egypt. To Love and to Conquer is Mayan.
When Splendor Falls by Laurie McBain has been on my keeper shelf since it came out and I reread it every year or so.
I love Roberta Gellis. Corresponded with her a couple of times. I would love to see the Roselynde Chronicles reprinted. My copies are all yellow (ebook versions would be nice). Her Heiress series and Siren Song series are being republished by Cerridwen Press.
Check out Paperbackswap. I could not find a copy of The Windflower there but they have a wish list function I am not letting mine go :).
Glad someone mentioned Elsie Lee. I have been trying to remember the name to locate some older regencies. Sometime I just buy regencies lots on ebay to get one book (Carla Kelly for example).
I’d like to second the request for Victoria Holt. I remember reading Pride of the Peacock as a Reader’s Digest condensed version. So so great.
Also, I’d love to see anything by Madeleine Brent. The only place I can find these books is as hardcovers in the library. Moonraker’s Bride and The Capricorn Stone in particular are fantastic.
I would be thrilled to see these re-released.
I’ll second (47th?) Windflower, but what about some of the ‘Laura London’ books written under the authors’ real names – Sharon and Tom Curtis? I have fond memories of Sunshine and Shadow, and some of their Loveswept books.
captcha: island68. Thank goodness for ereaders, because I’d need at least 68 books with me, as long as I wasn’t stranded on the island after the battery ran down…
I don’t have a specific author, but I would like stories that provoke a specific reaction:
I want to be tearjerked. I want to need tissues before the HEA. I want raw emotion on both sides, generated by a lot more than a stupid assumption on one side (or both).
I want to sob.
Can’t believe I stumbled across your site today while looking for an old romance novel. This is absolutely perfect! I have the perfect book to recommend. It more than qualifies since it was published in 1979. If I win it is a bonus but I am just happy to be able to share this book with everyone. It is my favorite romance of all time and it is a timeless romance. The book is “Love’s Magic Moment” by Patricia Matthews. It has all of the elements of a great romance with a very unexpected ending. I happen to be very intuitive and can usually predict the outcome of a book or movie but with this I wasn’t even close. This is a phenomenal book. I was so upset this morning when I realized my paperback copy, with the missing cover and worn pages, was gone. I would really love to see this book republished. I really hope everyone can enjoy this book.
This is fun. I’d pick something from Catherin Coulter. Earth Song or the Sherbrooke Bride. For some reason I remember enjoying this all these years ago.
I know I”m boring on this, but please, please, please reprint Patricia Veryan! Wonderful, rich historical detail, great plots, wonderful characters… My old copies are so old that I’m afraid to re-read them, and they’re simply not available in eformat. I’d re-purchase the whole Sanguinet saga (not to mention Mistress of Willowvale) just to have readable copies.
turned34: I’m sure that some of my Veryan books have turned 34 years old and older.
I haven’t read enough of the old skool romances to know what I’d like reprinted. In fact, my only experience with more classic romance is this box of randos I got on ebay, which included this totally scary looking book Satan’s Mistress. And just based on the back description, I think that simply calling it rape-y would be an incredible understatement.
But the box also included a Kathleen Woodiwiss, which was awesome, so it mostly balanced out. I think reprinting classics would be an A++ move. It would benefit old fans and new ones alike. And if they came with the Smart Bitch seal of approval, I’d be that much more likely to read them.