Cover Story

I'm in the unusual position of having three different covers for the same story out simultaneously and they are so very different I'm interested to see what the reaction is to them.


The story - Disrobed and Dishonored - was originally for the Mills & Boon Undone! e-book series of short, highly sensual novellas and the cover for that is the one on the left with the garter. Very pretty, mildly risque.

The tale is one of a highwayman who is not all he seems and a young lady of undoubted virtue who has an urgent need to become rather less virtuous. The Ravenhurst clan add to the general complications in the way of true happiness for this unlikely couple - but they have a naughtily good time on the way to their Happy Ever After.

The Undone! series has been proving popular, but I know readers have been asking for them in print format as well, so I was thrilled when found out that my story was to be included in the first North American print anthology - Pleasurably Undone! - which is the rich purple/crimson cover below with the elegantly half draped nude shown below. Sensual, sexy and elegant, I thought.


I was even more excited when Disrobed was included in the first UK anthology - a different selection, all Regency stories, and including one by fellow blogger Nicola Cornick.

Harlequin Mills & Boon usually have very different covers for the UK and North American markets, so it was intriguing to see what they would come up for with this jacket and I was very pleased with the result on the right because I think it is sassy, sexy and - selfishly! - it happens to suit my story very well.

What's your opinion? Do you buy a book by its cover - and which of these three most appeals to you?

Louise Allen

The Disgraceful Mr Ravenhurst

This month sees the fourth of my Those Scandalous Ravenhurst titles released in the UK - The Disgraceful Mr Ravenhurst. Black sheep of the family Theo is pursuing a career on the margins of the law chasing works of art and antiquities around Europe. His mother, the Bishop’s wife, tries to pretend he’s on the Grand Tour, but far from a solemn inspection of the great artistic sites of Europe, Theo is in hot pursuit of a frankly shocking piece of erotic antique silver - and so are a number of ruthless rivals.

His cousin Elinor, bluestocking, dowd and confirmed spinster, literally bumps into Theo in the basilica of Vezelay in Burgundy and finds her world turned upside down when she becomes entangled in Theo’s quest with almost murderous results.

If you have read the three previous Ravenhursts you will meet again the redoubtable Lady James, the Grand Duchess Eva, her son Freddie and last, but never least, her gorgeous husband Sebastian.

And an entire houseparty of Ravenhursts are required to sort out the quite disgraceful pickle their friends Sarah Tatton and Jonathan, the Earl of Redcliffe have got themselves into. Disrobed and Dishonoured is in May in the Historical Undone e-book series. (Be warned, this is a sizzler!)