Friday, May 23, 2014

My Favorite Classic Historical Romance Novel Covers!


I know some of you miss the old covers because you've told me as much. They had so much emotion in them. And they gave us a real sense of the hero and heroine. Amazingly, many featured heroes wearing clothes!

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorites from my best lists. And you must tell me yours!

[Click on the title below the cover to see the book on Amazon]

A Gentle Feuding
Beloved Rogue
Bitterleaf
Bride of the MacHugh
Capture the Sun
Comanche Heart
Fire and Steel
Glynda
Golden Lady
Lady Vixen
Love Unwilling
Master of Desire
Midnight Masquerade
My Lord Monleigh
My Love, My Enemy
Passion's Ransom
Pirate in my Arms
Rose in Splendor
Silver Storm
Star of the West
Surrender in Moonlight
The Black Lyon
The Black Swan
The Dragon and the Jewel
The Falcon and the Flower
The Pirate and the Pagan
The Silver Devil
The Taming
The Border Lord
Dark Before the Rising Sun
Wild Bells to the Wild Sky
Irish Linen

13 comments:

  1. Terri (Bodice Ripper Novels)May 23, 2014 at 9:29 AM

    Love those covers! I have some of those books. The Kinley book is from 2001. Do you consider that to be old enough to be classic?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Terri,
      I agree the Kinley MacGregor book is more recent than the others but it has that same feel. That is why I included it. I have scads more I could have added.

      Delete
  2. Lady Vixen is my all-time favorite cover. I also love the Laurie McBains (Moonstruck Madness). The original Skye O'Malley is another gorgeous one. SIGH.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alas, Jennifer, these are from a bygone era of great covers, but fortunately my keeper shelf has many so I can see them whenever I want to. I took a look at the original Skye O'Malley cover and you are right, it is gorgeous.

      Delete
    2. Wild Bells to the Wild Sky is already one of my all time favorite covers, done by the incomparable Elaine Duillo. Her career spanned decades and genres, from men's pulp to horror to mystery to romance. The original Skye O'Malley cover is another favorite, and definitely my favorite non-Duillo.

      Gregg Gulbronsen also has some amazing work, as well as Max Ginsberg.

      Delete
    3. Anna, I love that cover, too, and she did some amazing work. Thanks for introducing me to the artist behind the covers. I think my favorite is Tom Hall (http://www.htomhall.com/about.html) who did the Jan Cox Speas covers.

      Delete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I absolutely love the original covers! But how I would have welcomed the newer versions to avoid public censure and snide remarks. How times have changed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vonnie, I'm not sure what you're saying. Do you mean the newer versions do not bring snide remarks? I would think the newer versions with half naked men and women would draw more of those kinds of remarks, no?

      Delete
  5. Such beautiful covers, and I love them all! My favorite cover artists back in the day are Tom Hall, Charles Geer (see covers such Castles in the Air, On Wings of Dreams, and No Greater Love by Patricia Gallagher) and Max Ginsburg (see the cover of Zemindar by Valerie Fitzgerald). I do adore the cover of The Black Swan -- I think it's a top favorite. What a fun post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the comment, Joanne. I'm going to look up the ones you mentioned. Do you also recommend the books themselves?

      Delete
    2. Yes, Regan, I recommend Zemindar for those who love big, fat historical romance novels similar in style and scope of M. M. Kaye's books (Trade Wind, Shadow on the Moon, etc...). It is a bit heavier on the historical side. I haven't read the entire trilogy by Patricia Gallagher, but the first one was well done and I have the rest on my TBR list.

      Delete
    3. Thanks, Joanne! I will definitely check that one out as well as the others.

      Delete