In my continuing #TBT look at my Bachelor Chronicles series (in advance of the June 2nd publication of Mad About the Major), today’s smack down is more of a cover standoff: Confessions of a Little Black Dress v. Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress.
A little background might be in order—after writing Love Letters from a Duke, Avon asked me to come up with a title that had the same sort of communication theme. I absolutely wracked my brain trying to find a “Letters” sort of title for Tally’s book. And then, driving down the highway one morning on the way to take my son to speech therapy, I had one of those “Aha!” moments that came from just letting my mind drift.
Tally’s story featured a misdirected trunk full of glorious gowns that she finds—the sort of dresses that have their own stories to tell. You know, like when you find a great vintage gown in a thrift store (if you are like me and LOVE vintage and thrifting—you will totally get this!) and you stop and wonder—where has this dress been? The parties, the events, the heartbreak? If only this little black dress could talk. And then I heard the perfect title just flit by.
Confessions of a Little Black Gown.
I pulled off the freeway and called my editor immediately, breathless with excitement. She loved it right off the spot. But here was the rub—would a black dress be romantic enough on the cover? Wouldn’t it look like mourning? Or too funereal? But I persisted—because who doesn’t love the perfect little black dress? Luckily for me, as usual, Avon pulled it off perfectly. And it has to be one of the very few black dresses I have ever seen on a historical romance novel—making it even more special.
With Confessions of a Little Black Gown all locked down, the game was on to find the same themed title for Pippin’s book. I knew two things about Pippin’s story: she’d also have a fabulous dress, but 2) her story would not take place over the typical house party or London season of most books—rather, this was going to be a romance that took decades for her and Dash to find their happy ending. So essentially, it was going to be a memoir, and so Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress was born.
This cover is one of my favorites—I love the sense of movement to gown—which to me echoes the time passing in this story and the heart of the book—that love can survive over time, and true love can bring two people back together—no matter how much time passes—even when it seems the Fates have conspired to keep them apart.
So now it is your time to vote: Which cover do you like best? And it is okay to love them both—I do.
Comment below to win an autographed copy of one of these books. A winner will be posted here on Tuesday, May 20th.
Haven’t had a chance to read these books yet? You can read an excerpt from each book and/or order your copy by clicking the titles below.
Make sure you are all caught up on the Bachelor Chronicles series by June 2nd, when Arabella Tremont, the unruly daughter of the Duke of Parkerton finds her true love—a man who is hardly suited for her—or he is the perfect match? Not that Arabella cares once she finds herself Mad About the Major.
Even though both covers are breathtaking I really love the “black dress” cover best. Florine
My favorite color is red so I have to go with Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress.
I vote for Confessions of a Little Black Dress. Black has always been my favorite color! Plus the dress is absolutely gorgeous!
I vote for the black dress even though both are breathtaking. Red just isn’t my color.
Little Black Dress gets my vote. Loved both stories, though.
I like Confessions of a Little Black Gown. (Although they are both beautiful)
They are both beautiful covers and it is really hard to choose a favorite between the two, but the Confessions of a Little Black Gown cover keeps drawing my eye. I just think the black dress is so pretty.
I love both of the covers. Hard choice, but Memoirs Of A Scandalous Red Dress cover really catches my eye. It may have to do also with the fact that I think this book is my absolute favorite. I love all your books, but Dash and Pippin’s story was one that tore into my heart. I cried, I cheered, I felt so many emotions reading this story.
I read the book with the black gown on the cover. Loved it.
I enjoy your writing. The characters are fun to read about.
Love the covers
I really love Confessions of a Little Black Dress! It’s so different and beautiful.
brookeb811 at gmail dot com
I love the dress on “confessions of a little black dress”. It is sexy and has a beautiful cut to it.
I Love The Confessions of a Little Black Gown !!
Confessions of a Little Black Gown!
Confessions of a Little Black Gown
Confessions of a Little Black Gown! Love.
I didn’t read the books, but the Black dress is magnificent.
I do love both covers but the red one just pops a little more. ..
Definitely the black, love the detail on it, the sense of movement and the angle of the heroine.
Since black is my favorite color, I would vote for Confessions of a Little Black Dress. Great cover!
Love them both! But the Confessions of a Little Black Gown is my favorite!
Both covers are really amazing! 🙂
I would have to say the little black dress wins it for me!
black
Love the Red dress!!
Both are beautiful, but I really like the black.
I love the Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress Cover! The red just pops and makes we want to pick it up every time I see it.
I like the one with the red dress best. It’s my favorite color.
I like the black dress more.
Ok, my favorite cover is – It Takes a Hero! JK. (I love that book!!)
I really do vote for the Black Dress cover, too.
And, also. How are we supposed to wait until October for The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane? Thank goodness June is almost here for The Major :)… Can’t we vote for that book cover? 😉
LOL!!!!
My eye is drawn to the Black Gown though the red dress makes a pretty cover picture too.
I vote black. It is more mysterious and sexy.
I love the black dress cover!
I love them both so I vote for both of them. I haven’t read these yet. I’m going to get them.
Penney
I loved both books, but I’d have to say Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress was my favorite…as well as the cover!! Looking forward to Mad About the Major!!!!!
Both are beautiful but I really like the black gown
Both covers have their originality; I like the black dress but I think I would go with the red. Most important of the books is the story from a great author, love your books inside and out. Good luck to all.
Both book covers have their originality; I like the black dress but I think I would go with the red. Most important of the books is a good story from a great author, love your books inside and out. Good luck to all.
I have to go with Confessions of a Little Black Gown!
I like the cover for Confessions of a Little Black Gown.
Oh, it’s very hard to choose, I love them both. But the black gown is so striking, it wins by a hair. 😀
I adore the black dress on the cover! The red one is pretty, but the black one is gorgeous!
Black please
I like both dresses, but the black one is my favorite.
The Red one, it’s sexy & confident and speaks for itself.
Black because it is unusual. Love both stories though.
I love the Red dress with the purple-blue background it leaps off the cover for me and I can almost feel the smooth sensual material glide through my fingertips as they itch to open the cover and read it again.
Of course this means I have to read the others again too. Such is Life
They are both very beautiful dresses…however, my favorite is the black dress.
I love them both, the covers are gorgeous.
I prefer the cover with the black dress the best.
To be totally honest… I adore both of them and these two dresses are what originally inspired my desire to represent them on my dolls. I know they are not ‘authentic’ to the stories (the ones on the covers) or the periods. I would have loved to known how they were ‘envisioned’… AND to have seen full views of both of the book versions lol… so for me it’s a dead tie.