Covers of the Week #105: Harlequin Presents 1970s

For this Covers of the Week, we’re celebrating 50 years of Harlequin Presents, the world’s most popular category romance line. Here we go back to the 1970s to feature covers by artist Don Sinclair.

Theme: Harlequin Presents Covers from the 1970s by Don Sinclair

The 1970s was a decade of cultural changes in many aspects, and romance novels reflected that. In 1972, Avon published The Flame and the Flower, a sensual historical romance that actually depicted the hero and heroine making love. As a result, readers demanded more erotic content in their romance novels.

In response, Harlequin formed their second category romance line in 1973, called Presents. At first, the line consisted mostly of reprints of previously published Mills and Boon books that had been deemed too sensual for the regular Romance line.

For the approximately first 120 or so Harlequin Presents covers, just one artist was responsible for the artwork: Don Sinclair.

Look out for more Harlequin Presents covers in the upcoming weeks as we celebrate their half-century of existence.

The Covers

In honor of 50 years of Harlequin Presents, for Monday, June 19, to Sunday, June 25, 2023, our Covers of the Week focuses on some of our favorites from the line’s early days line. These were all created by Don Sinclair.

The Covers from Left to Right, Top to Bottom

• Pale Dawn, Dark Sunset, Anne Mather, Harlequin,1975
• No Quarter Asked, Janet Dailey, Harlequin, 1976
• Stars Over Sarawak, Anne Hampson, Harlequin, 1974
• Waves of Fire, Anne Hampson, Harlequin, 1973

Your Opinion

What do you think of this week’s theme? Have you read any of them? Which of our picks do you like the best, if any?

Do you have suggestions or requests for future Covers of the Week themes you’d like to see on Sweet Savage Flame? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to create a gallery of stunning art!

Please drop a comment, and let’s talk romance.