Blanche Chenier: Summer Masquerade

Summer Romance is the second and last book I have of Blanche Chenier's that Allan Kass illustrated. It was published by Fawcett in 1978 and is the story of Isabella and the romance set around the mysterious man that she meets at a masked ball!

Allan Kass shows our couple in their masquerade costumes. It must have been fun to design something different from the usual regency dress! Our hero is a cavalier of the court of King Charles and wears a dramatic emerald sash! Our heroine is his match in gold with a peacock mask! Note the other people in the background and their different costumes! It must have been a great cover to illustrate!

Blanche Chenier: Regency Row

Regency Row was published by Fawcett in 1978 and is written by Blanche Chenier. I have a few books that Allan Kass illustrated for her, but she wrote other regencies. This book is about Charlotte, who is engaged to Justin, until she realizes that he has some kind of relationship with the Princess Amelia.

Allan Kass creates an interesting cover for this book with our couple at a party. They stand in a lobby of a large building or home and it's interesting to note the other people in the picture. She is pretty in a pink ball gown, low cut, with jewels, while our hero is handsome in a black jacket and buff trousers. Note that both wear gloves. What's interesting about this book is that the back cover has a smaller picture of the couple and notes "painting by Alan Kass". An interesting cover and fun read.

Elizabeth Chater: Milady Hot at Hand

Milady Hot-at-Hand was published by Fawcett in February 1981 and is the story of Andrea, who disguises herself as a boy in order to find the murderer of her father.

Allan Kass paints our couple outside near a river with our heroine in male riding clothes. She has short curly hair and is holding a branch while our hero is tall and strong. He wears clothing of the Georgian period: a long waistcoat and outer coat. His hair is long and in a queue. It's a pastoral scene and quite a different illustration from Allan's usual elegant regency covers!

Elizabeth Chater: Lord Randal's Tiger

Lord Randal's Tiger is the second book I have by Elizabeth Chater that Allan Kass illustrated and it was published in May 1981. Chloe is found by Lord Randal and he dresses her as his servant to keep her from her wicked stepbrother.

Allan Kass creates an interesting cover, since obviously the servant is a woman and not really disguised! She is still pretty and wears a typical white full mans shirt and breeches. Her hair is done as pretty as any regency lady's! Our hero is horseback and handsome in a red coat. Allan was great at illustrating horses, too! A cute cover for a cute story!

Elizabeth Chater: The Elsingham Portrait

The Elsingham Portrait is the first of three books that Allan Kass illustrated for Elizabeth Chater. This book was published in February 1980 and I have the republished version from September 1987. It is a different kind of story since it is a time travel for a modern day lady back to regency times. A portrait in a gallery sends her back into the arms of the portrait lady's husband! It's one of the first paranormal romance books I remember being published.

Allan Kass creates a handsome cover for this book with our couple and the infamous portrait! The heroine is prominent in a gold gown duplicated in the portrait while our hero is handsome in brown and red. The style of the clothing is more Georgian, with the fuller skirts and jackets.

The 1990's saw a rise in authors reaching for the paranormal in their stories and the regency/modern time travel story line was somewhat popular. Unfortunately, the popularity in paranormal romance in the 2000's killed the publication of regency romances, with all of the main publishers quitting their series. A few still get published under Harlequin and some historical romances are set during regency times.

Mollie Chappell: The Loving Heart

The Loving Heart was published in 1977 by Fawcett and authored by Mollie Chappell. It is the only book I have of hers that Allan Kass illustrated. The story is set in Victorian times (1839-1901) and is about Martha, who falls in love with Robert, a young man from a wealthy family.

Allan Kass illustrates our couple outside a millinery shop. She is pretty in the full dress and frills of the mid Victorian era while he is dressed formally in black with a top hat. Note the ornate hats in the window! Her hair is smooth and she wears a full bonnet with large bow, which was popular in this time period. Note the hero's waistcoat and glass. This is a departure from the regency clothing that Allan usually depicts. A pretty cover evoking a street in London!

Sarah Carlisle: Widow Aubrey

Widow Aubrey is the last book by Sarah Carlisle that I own illustrated by Allan Kass. It was published in 1978 and is the story of Caroline Aubrey, the widow of a Virginia planter, who returns to England and is encouraged to remarry by her grandmother. Can she find happiness in a second marriage? Carlisle did write other regencies for Fawcett.

Allan Kass creates an interesting cover of our couple in a library, probably in a private house. The heroine is on a moving stairway, used to reach the highest books. She wears a simple yellow day dress and holds a few books. Our hero is gorgeous in green and is holding her hand. They seem to be enjoying each other's company!

Regency romances were becoming very popular in the late 1970's due to the publishing of both Georgette Heyer and Barbara Cartland. Readers were eager for the next book and publishers like Signet and Fawcett began to produce more. Soon, other publishers such as Avon, Zebra, and Jove were also publishing regencies. Fawcett began a numbered series in 1979. The 1980's were the decade of the regency novel and some of the best stories were written and published!

Sarah Carlisle: Kit and Kitty

Kit and Kitty is the second book I have of three that were illustrated by Allan for Sarah Carlisle. This particular book was published in August 1981 and is the story of Kit, who is titled, and Kitty, who is rich and are betrothed without ever meeting one another. Can two strangers find love with each other?

Allan Kass displays our young couple out of doors in a wood near a waterfall where they are enjoying nature! They are both dressed informally and seem to be enjoying a quiet moment together. I like how Allan depicts the rushing water and the growth of weeds and grasses around it. A rural and unusual cover for a regency title!

This book was part of Fawcett's Coventry series of regency romances and is titled #132. These books were published from 1979 through 1982.