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Friday, April 14, 2006

Romance male models

Yesterday instead of writing (the Muses weren't in the mood to cooperate), I decided to spend my time undusting some of my romance novels so I could move them to the new house. As I picked each book and cleaned the dusk out of their covers, I started thinking about book covers (yes, again!).

Remember back in the 90s when your panties would just simply melt at the sight of Fabio's half naked body gracing the latest cover of your favorite romance novel? Or how you could drown in the intense gaze of Rob Ashton's feline eyes staring at you on that book cover? And all it took was one look at John DeSalvo or Steve Sandalis (Mr. Topaz) in those striking poses to make you fantasize it was you in their arms and make you forget that your kids were running around the house screaming and dinner was burning on the stove.

C'mon girls, let's be honest. Many of us bought those romance novels because we were big fans of one those super romance male models. Oh, don't give me that look. You know, the one that says you don't know what I'm talking about 'coz it is so not working, ok? I'll bet you still remember the name of all 3 Bartling Brothers. (Three tall, muscular, blonde brothers... hmm... now that's one sexual fantasy I like to call "The Blond Ambition" *winks and grins evilly*)

Now let's snap out of our little sensual fantasies, and let's back to the subject. Yes, the super romance male models. That's what we had back then. Fabio got the ball rolling, and from then on, each publishing company used to have their own exclusive male model to grace their book covers over and over and over again. And we begged for more. Why? Because sex sells... Yeah, but we knew that. And we didn't care.

So I'm going to be honest with you. I miss those days. I miss the days when I knew the name of the hunk-alicious man in the book cover. I miss the excitement of buying the next book because Cherif Fortin was in it. Or eagerly await the release of a novel because Joe Anselmo was posing for its cover. Instead now I find myself staring at the face (or body) of a nameless guy from a stock photo - or worst yet, a created one using Poser or DAZ and that looks like rubber/plastic.

Gosh, I sound like a sick puppy here, uh? *lol* But, am I the only one who feels this way? Do you miss the romance male models? Or do you enjoy these modern covers with faceless male models or totally rubbery ones?

Comments on "Romance male models"

 

Blogger Zinnia said ... (5:21 PM) : 

Okay, I'm weird, but Fabio has never done a thing for me. (Ducking and running, lol.) Now show me George Clooney(sp?) or John Cena from WWE, and you'll have me panting, LOL!

 

Blogger Crystal* said ... (5:46 PM) : 

I have to say that I never drooled per se over the covers like you describe. I bought them for the "type" of novel I knew they were. And the time period they encompassed.
I LOVED those.
I LOATHE plastic people covers. *shuddering*
And I don't really care for body part photos. You know...the gams, torso, etc. shot. Pfffftttt
I'm a picky heifer, aren't I?
Grins*

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (6:57 PM) : 

I never bought book just for the cover model. But I agree some covers are a lot better than others. Just say no to plastic people! :)

 

Blogger K.A.S. said ... (7:02 PM) : 

I'm with you zinnia ... Fabio doesn't ring my bell. I used to laugh when I'd see him on covers. If a pirate had long blonde hair like his, it would likely be stringy and greasy, not flowing and styled. /giggles like she's 15 again at the thought.

But I do love a good soulful set of eyes, like that second pic!

 

Blogger Shelli Stevens said ... (8:19 PM) : 

LOL I never new who Fabio was, swear to God. And I've read that book you posted! I guess I never associated as the men on the cover as being real. Der! But I do kind of like the books where her breasts are popping out and the hero looks like he can't wait to rip open her bodice. Hence the bodice rippers.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (8:27 PM) : 

I enjoy a lot of the avon covers for historical romances but I like some of the other covers too. I guess it's (all in the execution).

 

Blogger Nonny Blackthorne said ... (5:19 AM) : 

Fabio's never really done it for me, but that's the whole blonde thing there. Now, some of the covers with dark-haired males ... mrow.

... and here I was thinking I was nuts for actually liking the "clinch" covers. As I've heard so many people, even romance readers, complain about them over the years it's not funny.

I do like the new style of covers, though. Like the one for Past Temptation by Savannah Russe, or Forbidden Magic by Cheyenne McCray.

Can't stand the bad poser/photoshop jobs, but I think that's pretty much the norm for most of the epubs, unfortunately.

And for the most part, the "cartoon" style covers are just ...... *grrrr* *gnash*

 

Blogger Shelley Munro said ... (6:17 AM) : 

I'm not a Fabio fan either but he did start a great trend. I'm with Silma - some of the older covers were great. Having said that, although a cover might attract my attention, it doesn't sell me on the book. For me it's all about the story.
Isn't it funny how we all have our definite likes and dislikes when it comes to covers? Just as well there's a good variety around to satisfy most of us!

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:10 PM) : 

Zinnia - Fabio just started the whole male romance model. There were many others who came after him that publishing companies made sure they became household names. *g*

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:13 PM) : 

Chryscat - Okay, so no body parts or clinch for you. Hmm... You sure are one hard costumer to please. *lol*

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:18 PM) : 

Cheyenne - One of the reasons why I rarely by ebooks is due to their poor-quality covers. Some look decent. But still when you seem them, it makes you think. If the cover has poor quality, the edit should be the same. Who knows... I might be missing some great ebooks with lousy covers.

As for your book, Forbidden Magic, it was on display on one the tables at Borders. I picked it up because the cover was absolutely beautiful and different. (BTW, the story was wonderful.)

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:18 PM) : 

Tori - I do miss those airbrushed covers by Pino and Elaine Duillo (sp?). Those were truly masterpieces.

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:21 PM) : 

Karen - Rob Ashton ranked among the most popular male romance models of the 90s. He took Fabio's place when he retired. *lol* I think he ended up in as many covers as Fabio and Steve Sandalis (The Topaz Man).

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:22 PM) : 

Shelli - The beauty of those covers was that they were airbrushed. They'd take these photos with no backgrounds and barely no props. Then they'd give these photos to artists like Pino and Elaine D., and they'd turn them into such masterpieces.

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:23 PM) : 

Bonnie - For me, as long as they don't look like rubber dolls, I'm okay.

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:25 PM) : 

Nonny - We're two nuts who like clinch covers. *lol* As for the covers you linked to, those are gorgeous. I bought McCray's one just for the wonderful cover. Yeah, I'm a shallow reader. *lol*

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:27 PM) : 

Shelley - I agree with you that the story should be more important than the story. But when you're in a big bookstore with 3 floor-to-ceiling and back-to-back shelves full of romance novels, what grabs you first is the cover. That is unless you have like 2 - 4 hours to sit and browse every book. *g*

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:28 PM) : 

Elbie - I'm with you! Those clinch covers made me wish that gorgeous man were next to me reading me the story.

 

Blogger Silma said ... (10:36 PM) : 

Viv - See? They hide the best inside instead of putting it infront. Tsk, tsk, tsk. It makes it look like they're ashame of showing some male flesh on the cover.

 

Blogger Stacy~ said ... (12:24 AM) : 

Never cared for Fabio, but I do like some of those sexy-looking male models on the covers these days - the ones that don't look too cheesy.

FYI: Nathan Kamp is the guy on SK's "Sword of Darkness". He is yummy:)

 

Blogger Silma said ... (9:27 PM) : 

Stacy - You're soooo right! That male model in Dark Sword is YUMMY! I gotta check out that Nathan Kamp. Thanks for the name! ;)

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (10:59 PM) : 

REMOVE CYNTHIA JUSTLIN from this page.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (9:08 PM) : 

AGAIN... Please remove Cynthia Justlin from this site. No links or anything.

 

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