You did it! We figured this one out! It is a truth universally acknowledged (by me for certain) that the Bitchery pretty much knows everything, and really, it's true. Scroll down to see the solution for this HaBO - and many thanks!
This HaBO is from Francesca, who is looking for a historical she read long ago – back in the EIGHTIES. I KNOW. (I’m kidding- everyone knows the 80s were, like, last week. Right? Don’t lie. I saw pleated stonewashed jeans on three people in Times Square recently).
Anyway, here’s Francesca’s description:
I’m looking for a book I read back in the late eighties to early nineties. The cover art was by Robert McGinnis and had an Art Nouveau vibe to it. I remember it as being all dusky purple and pink and the hero and heroine were fully clothed (gorgeous Edwardian clothes). He was standing behind her, while she might have been lounging on a couch. His hands may have been resting on her shoulders.
As far as the story goes: it took place somewhere around the end of the 19th century or beginning of the 20th. She was an American heiress travelling to England with her family, which included a brother. The hero, who is rich and decadent, etc. is instantly attracted to her and she to him. I don’t recall why they simply couldn’t just get together, but it would have been an awfully short book if they had. Our hero introduces her to some of the seedier side of life; they smoke hash together at some point.
Somewhere along the line, her brother becomes addicted to opium and embraces her in a very non-brotherly fashion while he’s stoned. This is, unfortunately, witnessed and there goes her reputation. By now, she’s addicted to laudanum. Her brother dies, she gets off the dope and writes a successful novel and she the hero finally get together. I think she’s a duchess by the end of the book and I guess society has conveniently forgotten that she was supposed to have been a little too close to her brother.
The author was a pretty big name at the time, but this book was considerably different from her usual settings. I remember being surprised about how dark this book was and the cover was unlike anything out there at that time.
I’m really hoping one of the bitches remembers this one.
WHOA. Somewhere RedHeadedGirl is running in circles and doesn’t know why. Do you recognize this book?
I was trying to figure this out by looking at McGinnis covers. No luck yet, though I did find this awesome Joanna Lindsey cover that appears to depict both a naked man and tittyf*cking. Seriously, this might be the dirtiest looking romance cover ever. http://www.elisarolle.com/romance/images/RobertMcGinnis_JohannaLindsey10.jpg
I have no idea what the book is, but Ellie, seriously thank you so much for that cover. I am giggling madly.
Things that make you go O_O
As soon as I read this I thought Laura Parker. I remember because it was so out of her usual style. It took me awhile but it sounds like “Rebellious Angels.”
Rebellious Angels! That’s it! I was never a Laura Parker fan, but that cover totally caught me.
I spent about a minute just staring at that cover. The best part is how she’s holding on to a rose for some reason. Maybe he was wearing it in lieu of a fig leaf.
That is the greatest cover I have ever seen. Must. Have.
I am a grown ass woman and I don’t think I was ready for that cover, Ellie
I am 90% sure I had that version of Tender with the Storm (or a book with a SUPER similar cover). It came with a sticker saying awesome author or something right over his hip. Being a tween, I, of course, peeled the sticker off. The next time I saw the book, the sticker was actually printed on the cover. That side butt is pretty scandalous, LOL!
Oh my god, that cover! It’s like, hey, the half dressed women in the throes of passion seem to be misleading customers, so let’s just forget pants on the hero, so people KNOW it’s a romance!
Also, compromised by a brother- nearly literally. I love bizarre genres, but that might be going a bit too far!
Wait! My best friend and I would read that book out loud to each other when we were imbibing. We called it “Tender Is The Loin” bwahahahahahahahaha.
For the record, a fun term for the activity shown on the Joanna Lindsay cover is the Hawaiian Muscle Fuck. I learned that back from the 500-question Purity Test that was popular back in high school.
Also, did the “non-brotherly fashion” hug description remind anyone else of Angelina Jolie in her younger, wilder/weirder days?
“When a man’s passion explodes… his partner needs a wet-wipe and some new clothes…”
I totally had that version of Tender is the Storm. Gotta love a Lindsey. lol
No one has reviewed this book on GoodReads. Something must be done about that.
(I’m talking about the Rebellious Angels book. Tender is the Loin has all sorts of reviews.)
bwaaa lolol…y’all made my day!
Happy Holidays!
Much as I hate to continue the trend of commenting on the Lindsey cover instead of the actual HaBO, I had to remark on how ‘meh’ the dude looks compared to the woman, who is super into it. I…expect that is not how that usually works.