Theme: Kitty Cats on Romance Covers
Stately, kindly, lordly friend,
To a Cat, Algernon Charles Swinburne
Condescend
Here to sit by me, and turn
Glorious eyes that smile and burn,
Golden eyes, love’s lustrous meed,
On the golden page I read.
Two lovers wrapped in a passionate embrace is the most common element of romance covers.
Besides the clinch, another common aspect is the animals seen on the covers. From a rearing horse to wild wolves to fluttering butterflies, they’re a delight to see.
Sometimes they’re so outrageous, they make us smile. What would romance be without the whimsy?
As a cat lover, I adore it when a book has a little kitty or ferocious leopard. It’s common to see a big cat lurking in the background of a clinch or featured prominently in a stepback.
Bodice rippers and regular historical romances tend to the exotic felines.
However, Regency romance covers are the most likely place to find little cats, as well as contemporaries.
The Covers
This week every day is Caturday! For Monday, April 11, 2022, to Sunday, April 17, 2022, here are some adorable romance covers with sweet little kitty cats.
The Three Graces, Jane Ashford, Signet, 1982, Allan Kass cover art
Lord Caldwell and the Cat, Joy Reed, Zebra, 1999, Renato Aime cover art
The Tyrant, Patricia Veryan, Fawcett, 1987, Elaine Gignilliat cover art
Beauty and the Beasts, Janice Kay Johnson, Harlequin, 1997, cover artist unknown
One More Cat Cover
Ok, ok, we can’t get enough of cats on romance covers. 😸
Here’s an extra cover with a tabby for good measure!
“jH” cover art
I love covers with animals–wild or domesticated. I’ve always found it interesting that vintage M&B covers have significantly fewer animals then the vintage Harlequin.
Hello Iris.
That tidbit doesn’t surprise me. We American seems be prone to kitsch than our English cousins.😁 The Mils and Boon covers are sophisticated. Harleys aim to catch the eye in any cheesy way possible. Babies, kittens, puppies, rainbows, all huge on American covers! Especially in the 1990s.
Cheers,
Jacqueline
So true. Many a time I’ve picked up the M&B version of a book and expected sophistication based on the cover then the story turns out to be hokey. Conversely I’m always slightly shocked when a vintage Harlequin Romance cover leads me to expect sweet and then it’s unusually toxic–you know–anything by Lilian Peake for example.