I was at the Mills & Boon site to see if I could buy a few for an upcoming overseas trip and while browsing, I realised two things:
- there are still names that have been around since the 1950s
- there are new names I don’t recognise at all
No between. It’s either that or this. Boo. I have a lot to learn, it seems.
And there is another thing: it seems that the dominant group of M&B category romances is American. (Digressing a bit: I found out recently at Dear Author that M&B does accept American grammar and spelling usage. I wasn’t happy to learn this because, I don’t know, British grammar and spelling usage is so M&B. One respondent explained it depends on the nationality or an author, which makes sense.)
While browsing at the M&B site, I couldn’t find a new British author. Penny Jordan? No thanks. Anne Mather? Nah. Lynn Graham? Pfft. Paula Marshall? Whaaat?! This was when I realised how out of the loop I was. It had been ages since I read a M&B (as opposite to Harlequin). The ‘Cotswolds cottage- or small London flat-dwelling sensible secretary with a Mini car and a younger ungrateful brother’s education to support’ kind. Well, I just want to read something British. I know it’s odd, but I want it.
I can’t explain the difference between US and UK category romances, apart from the obvious-such as settings. I just can’t seem to articulate well. There’s a distinctive ‘style’ that I’m in the mood for. The only word comes to mind is ‘practical’, but that’s not right. Clipped? Conservative? Reserved? I have no words. Australian romances tend to be between UK and US in terms of style. A mixture of reserved and bluntness if that makes sense? Or am I talking rubbish?
Speaking of which, I learnt something new. I googled for info on M&B books to see if there are any titles I should try when I stumbled this Metro article – It’s Hotter Under the Covers With Erotica by Ed West – that has this bit:
A taboo was broken in 1982 with the first oral sex scene, in Antigua Kiss, in which the heroine turned down a kiss from the hero: ‘There are other places to kiss,’ he informed her ‘darkly’ before she surrendered to ‘waves of ecstasy’.
This surprised me because I honestly thought it was a M&B category romance, not a M&B historical single title. I’m not sure why I thought this, but I suspect it was a librarian who told me during my short-lived library training.
“I honestly thought it was a M&B category romance, not a M&B historical single title.”
I don’t think it is a historical. The Fiction Database says it’s a contemporary, and the description they give, plus the shirt the hero’s wearing on the cover, suggest it’s a contemporary. The publication history given there and at Fantastic Fiction, and the “Worldwide” logo on the cover, make me wonder if it was a slightly longer novel than the usual category romances published by M&B.
I couldn’t find a new British author. Penny Jordan? No thanks. Anne Mather? Nah. Lynn Graham? Pfft. Paula Marshall? Whaaat?!
I think I read that Paula Marshall had retired and I’m feeling that there’s a particular lack of British M&B authors writing Regency historicals, where the US spellings etc really don’t feel right to me. In the contemporaries I really noticed an influx of US authors when the Harlequin and M&B Romance line merged with Silhouette Romance. Quite a lot of them have gone into the new M&B Cherish line, though, so I’m hoping some new UK authors will suddenly appear in the RIVA line which is due to be launched soon.
Hmm. Trying to think of new/new-ish M&B UK authors I’m coming up with India Grey, Fiona Harper, Sarah Mallory and Sabrina Philips.
I don’t think you’re talking rubbish. I did try to define the differences once, but I couldn’t pin them down either. I’ve also thought that the Australian romances tend to be somewhere in between the two. As I said, I’m really hoping there are more UK authors in the RIVA line.
Yes, Worldwide Romance Library – which I believed M&B owned (from 1940s until 1960s?) until Torstar took over M&B – usually reissued M&B category romances and single titles. The name was shortened to ‘Worldwide’ during 1980s and 1990s, specialising in reissuing single titles, particularly those by Elizabeth Lowell, Anne Weale, Penny Jordan, Charlotte Lamb and the like. I don’t know all details, but I have a strong impression that WRL was basically M&B/Torstar’s reissue arm. I might be wrong, but that’s the best I could find on the mysterious Worldwide publisher.
As for the Antigua Kiss book? I stand corrected. The cover screams ‘American historical’, so I assumed it was the American edition of a historical romance. Heh.
“I’m feeling that there’s a particular lack of British M&B authors writing Regency historicals”
Yes! It’s rather odd, when we compare this to those times when there were loads under Masquerade Historical Romance and old M&B Historical Romance imprints [WikiRom list of Masquerade books]. Also, it wasn’t just Regency. There were historicals set during the eras of Stuart, Tudor, Hanover, Georgian, Edwardian, and so on. Not just UK settings, but also Russian, Australian, French, mainland Chinese countries, North Africa, etc. Where did these authors go? Why aren’t there any more? So odd.
“I’m hoping some new UK authors will suddenly appear in the RIVA line which is due to be launched soon.”
What’s interesting about RIVA? I mean, when I checked the site’s Riva section and the only clue I have is “Sparky, sassy stories of life & love… from first flicker to burning flame. Delightfully tempting, these books are must haves for passionistas everywhere.”
Thank you for these names. I’ll shop for their books after this.
“I don’t think you’re talking rubbish. I did try to define the differences once, but I couldn’t pin them down either. ”
Oh, good. Glad to know I’m not alone. Actually, just after I posted this post, it’s occurred to me that the biggest difference might be the focus. I think American category romances tend to revolve around heroes while British category romances revolve around heroines. I think this is what I’m looking for at the moment. I’m a bit tired of all this worshipping heroes while heroines are, most times, no better than props.
“What’s interesting about RIVA?”
Well, I’m hoping that it will have fewer babies in it than the Cherish line, and fewer billionaires, and lower conflict levels, than the Modern line. Apparently “From January 2011, Modern Heat will become part of the exciting new Riva™ series!” (Sarah T’s reviews of a couple of them here give a good feel for the Modern Heats, I think) and they’ll be joined by the part of what used to be the Romance line. Here’s what Donna Alward’s written about that:
Thanks for the info. I’ll keep my eyes peeled for the new imprint. I hope there will be more British authors, too.
I enjoyed Lucy King’s ‘Bought: Damsel in Distress’. She’s an English author with English characters and is a new addition to the Modern Heat line. She has a second book out which I have on my TBR pile.
Thanks. She’s on the BTB* list for the next time I’m ready to shop. Cheers.
*Book to buy
I bought Antigua Kiss when it first came out and I was shocked at the oral sex-or I read it out to my husband-or both. I don’t think it had been in print in another line.
What did you think of the story as a whole? Worth getting? (I read some Weale books, but I can’t remember what they were like now.)
As far as I can remember – richer than anyone alpha male, bit of a doormat heroine. The oral sex bit is as punishment. Could never figure out how she could like him. She gets dressed up and teams silver or gold sandals with whatever dress she wears, and she likes chiffon. Yeah, all clothes are described, and I think there’s looking in mirrors. So, old fashioned and a bit stuck up.