For the week of September 20 to Monday, September 26, 2021, let’s appreciate these clinch poses on romance covers featuring hot air balloons. From afar, what a magical sight to witness those colorful inverted teardrops float through the air!
jdiazsweetsavageflame
Pulpy, old-school, retro, and vintage romance reads are my jam, baby! I love them all: the good, the bad, the cheesy, and the sleazy! I have no shame about my love for high and low-brow art— mostly low-brow. Other than dreams, the wild stories from our imaginations are the only places where anything can truly happen, and you know what? That’s totally fine.
Trigger warnings are for weapons, not books.
As a lifelong autodidact, an amateur cultural historian, and a reader of romance, horror, and schlocky tales since 1989, I adore all kinds of fictional genres from the 20th century. In the 21st security, not so much!
If you've read my blogs, you might know me by a few different names. I manage and write under the name Jacqueline Diaz at SweetSavageFlame.com and JacquelineDiazRomance.com.
On my book blog, IntrovertReader.com, I'm simply IntrovertReader.
A Closer Look At Sharon Spiak
Illustrator and fine-art painter Sharon Spiak has made a name for herself in the romance industry for producing various gorgeous covers for many bestselling authors. She also had the privilege to paint Fabio almost as much as the Duillo ladies did.
Free Vintage or Old School Romance Books on Amazon #2
There are so many books listed on Amazon for free to read, that we had to post some more freebies! If you have an Amazon Prime account you can borrow up to 10 books for free at a time. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, there are many books you can read for a fixed monthly fee. Enjoy more old school and classical romances available on Amazon.
Covers of the Week #23
For Mary Anne Landers’ first Covers of the Week post, she wants to honor the late, great Elaine Duillo (1928 to 2021). Elaine left us on July 30 of this year, and had been retired for some time. But her wonderful illustrations live on.
Let’s Talk About Popular Romance Tropes
In the romance genre, we often see some types of plots or character types repeated. These similarities resonate for myriad reasons. Some tropes are common in vintage or old-school romance, but not so much in modern romances. Then there are tropes that never go out of style.
Covers of the Week #22
For the week of Monday, September 6, 2021, to Sunday, September 12, we’re looking at gorgeous category romance covers painted by some of the greatest artists of romance novels. Below are a few category romances illustrated by the legendary Elaine Duillo, Robert Maguire, Elaine Gignilliat, and Pino. Enjoy!
Category Romance Review: Bachelor Husband by Kate Hoffmann
This review is of Bachelor Husband, book #1 of 11 in the “Bachelor Arms” Harlequin Temptation series from February 1995 by Kate Hoffmann. Bachelor Husband begins with Harry Truman “Tru” Hallihan, the hero of the book and a private investigator, working a case.
Link-O-Rama #3: Return of the Links
We list the best romance book blogs (besides ours, LOL). These links to some of the greatest romance novel loving sites and blogs should keep you busy.
Free Vintage or Old School Romance Books on Amazon #1
If you have an Amazon Prime account you can borrow up to 10 books for free at a time. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, no doubt you already take advantage of the many books you can read for a fixed monthly fee. These old school romances are available to read on Amazon.
Covers of the Week #21: Male Cover Models
This week Sweet Savage Flame is highlighting male cover models! We all know Fabio, John De Salvo, and Steve Sandalis. But what about other men who modeled in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s? Looking at these attractive men, we can see how the image of the romance cover hero has evolved through the years.