Corinna Cunliffe: The Unsuitable Chaperone

The Unsuitable Chaperone was published in February 1988 by Signet for Corinna Cunliffe. It is the last of the regency romances that I have of hers. Lady Laura Firle is a widow who is surrounded by men who wish to marry her. Can she make the right choice?

Allan Kass illustrates our couple outside a grand house during a twilight evening. We see the setting sun illuminating the sky and reflected on the water below. The hero and heroine stand on a bridge and it's obvious that they are in love. I like the heroine's lilac dress with the split sleeves and her pearl jewelry. Another great cover by Allan Kass!

Corinna Cunliffe: Play of Hearts

Play of Hearts was published in February 1986 by Signet and is the story of Perdita Chase, the daughter of actors, who is brought up by her wealthy grandparents and is raised to be most proper. After she marries Sir Jeremy Dole, she realizes that she'll need all of her latent acting talent in order to make her loveless marriage one of happy ever after!

Allan Kass illustrates our handsome couple in a small room or hallway. We see the mirror behind and the porcelain ornament on the table that mimics their pose! I like the bright blue of our heroine's gown with the gold trim. Note her jewelry, which is one of Allan's trademark looks! Our hero's hair is longer and bushier than usual. He seems a dark figure! I like how Allan uses the room to give the illusion of wealth.

Actors and actresses were very popular during the regency and people loved attending plays. They, however, were not accepted into polite society and many actresses were considered little more than prostitutes.

Corinna Cunliffe: Hand of Fortune

Hand of Fortune by Corinna Cunliffe was published by Signet in August 1985 and is 1 of 3 books by her that are illustrated by Allan Kass.

Henrietta St John loses her house and horse to Lord Hintlesham. In disguise as a stableboy, she persuades him to let her ride the racehorse to victory. Can she fulfill this vow and also stay incognito?

I like this cover by Allan Kass. He show our couple out riding. Our heroine wears a very fetching green riding dress and carries a crop. The blond hero stands behind her. I like the positioning of the tree and hill which gives the effect of them standing on a steep hillside. Also note the light playing through the tree branches and the well rendered horses grazing.

Jeanne Crecy: The Winter Keeper

The Winter Keeper is the last Allan Kass illustrated book cover that I own for Jeanne Crecy. This copy was published by Signet in May 1975. Jan takes a position at Smoke Valley in order to find out the real reason of her sister's death. What she finds is a man that she could love, but does he know more about the death than he's telling?

Allan Kass creates a great cover of our heroine walking through the snow from the chalet in the distance. We see the rugged terrain and the play of sunlight on the snow. She is dressed warmly in a heavy pink, fur trimmed coat with snow boots over her jeans. It's a great nature picture that I hope you enjoy.

Jeanne Crecy: My Face Beneath the Stone

My Face Beneath the Stone was published in September 1975 by Signet for their gothic romance line. Ria Allen is in Europe on an art buying mission when she begins being mistaken for another woman and finds herself in a mystery that may be the death of her!

Allan Kass illustrates our heroine on the rocky shore with a haunted castle looming in the background. Our heroine wears a nightgown of purple, that billows around her legs. Is she waiting for a coming boat to rescue her? I like the green-ness of this cover that simulates darkness and the rocky cliff and shoreline.

Jeanne Crecy: The Evil Among Us

The Evil Among Us is next in my Allan Kass illustration lineup! I have 3 gothics by Jeanne Crecy and I hope you enjoy viewing Allan's interpretation of the gothic romance cover.

The Evil Among Us was published in December 1975 by Signet and is the story of Vala Holl, an ancient Norse farmstead and the people who live within. Kristin, an American cousin, comes to visit and soon is trapped in the lives of those family members along with falling in love with the wrong man!

Allan Kass uses the black clouds against the white background of the mountain and fford to illustrate our heroine and her flight from the little building behind her. She wears a heavy jacket and her outfit doesn't look out of place for being drawn 35 years ago. I like her necklace swinging on her chest as she moves. I hope that you enjoy seeing these gothic covers!

Catherine Coulter: The Rebel Bride

The Rebel Bride is the last of Catherine Coulter's regency romances published by Signet and illustrated by Allan Kass. This book was published in December 1979. Coulter is a popular author and currently writes romance and suspense books.

Julien St. Clair marries Katharine Brandon in a marriage that should bring joy to everyone, but where both bride and groom carry a secret. Can a stubborn woman and proud man find love together?

Allan Kass creates a wonderful cover which depicts our hero and heroine in a bedroom, which is ornate and probably the heroine's. She is dressed in gold and green low cut empire gown that is nice enough for an evening event. Our hero stands sardonically behind her. We feel the tension between them in this moment. It's a great pose and superb illustration....one of Allan's best!

Catherine Coulter: Lord Harry's Folly

Lord Harry's Folly by Catherine Coulter was published by Signet in December 1980 for its Regency Romance line, which was beginning around this time. Another publisher, Fawcett, also had its own line of regency romances and Allan Kass illustrated quite a few of those, too. Personally, the best regency stories, outside of Georgette Heyer, were published in the 1980's!

Miss Henrietta Rolland was the lady of the hour! She was the belle of the ball. Too bad that she couldn't be satisfied with that, but had to masquerade as Lord Harry Monteith, a dashing young rake! Find out what happens when a girl bites off more than she can chew!

Allan Kass illustrates our heroine as a girl and with a most attentive admirer! Our heroine is pretty in her short curls and olive green gown. She wears a gold cape and bracelets that match. She seems to like the attentions of her admirer! Our hero has a exquisitely tied cravat and wears a black jacket. Note the ornate screen in the background, which were used to keep away drafts.

Catherine Coulter: Lord Deverill's Heir

May 1980 saw the release of Catherine Coulter's Lord Deverill's Heir by Signet. Arabella meets a handsome stranger who she thinks is trespassing on her father's land only to find out that he is the heir to their estate and to keep her place in life, she must marry him!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple at the bottom of a staircase. Our heroine leans on the edge while our hero embraces her. She wears a modish gown of burnt orange with matching headband and lots of gold trim. The color suits her coloring very well! Our hero is dressed as if he's departing the house to go on a journey. I really like the tapestry on the wall that looks very 1600's! Allan incorporates lots of minute details in every book cover! Enjoy!

Catherine Coulter: An Intimate Deception

An Intimate Deception was published in April 1983 by Signet for Catherine Coulter. Evangeline de Beauchamps's father is being held by Napoleon as a hostage and she has come to England as an unwilling spy. Richard Clarendon, the Duke of Portsmouth believes her to be a widow and she is terrified of his discovery and also falling in love with him!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple at the seashore. Our heroine wears a simple dress with matching straw hat. Note her pretty bracelet. Our hero seems quite taken with her! I like the feel of the ocean behind them and its colors of blue and green! The rocks and flowers make a nice place to picnic nearby. Another great cover by Kass!

Until 1816, England had been at war with France for many years. There was constant spy activity since it was easy to cross over the English Channel. Both countries participated in spying!

Catherine Coulter: An Honorable Offer

An Honorable Offer was published in December 1981 for Catherine Coulter by Signet. Coulter was one of Signet early regency authors, along with Joan Wolf, Sandra Heath, and Vanessa Gray. Signet published their regency romance line for 25 years, until 2005, when the paranormal romance became very popular. Hopefully, regencies will return someday.

This story is about Sabrina Eversleigh, who is afraid of men after being attacked by a relative. She escapes and is found by Philip, a Viscount, who has to marry her after caring for her. Can this gun shy girl and proud man find love together?

Allan Kass shows our couple in a library or office. They both wear riding gear and I'm not too sure about the cuffs on the hero's jacket! I like the stained glass windows in this room. They are very unique!

Catherine Coulter: The Generous Earl

The Generous Earl was published by Signet in July 1981. Brandy Robertson met the new Earl of Penderleigh and realized that although he was her new guardian, he was a man that she could love. However, he was determined to marry another. Can two very different people fall in love?

Allan Kass paints a wonderful picture for this book with our couple in a walled garden. Our heroine is comfortable in a rust color dress with matching shawl and casually dressed hairdo. Our hero wears a plum jacket and seems anxious for the heroine's attention. I like that the garden has a dark feel; maybe it's twilight. Note the ornate wooden door in the wall.

Catherine Coulter: The Autumn Countess

The Autumn Countess was published by Signet in January 1979 and is one of the earlier books in their regency romance series. Coulter writes a story about Andrea James, who marries an older lord for convenience, but wonders if it is really convenient once she meets his young and handsome son?

Allan Kass illustrates this couple in hunting gear and standing in an office that is decorated in a masculine fashion with hunting pictures on the wall. Our heroine wears a dark green habit and styles her hair in curls. I like the little watch pinned to her shoulder! Note the hero in a typical red riding jacket! He seems to be asking something of the heroine. I have more of his work for Coulter's other regency novels and I hope that you enjoy seeing them later this week on the blog!

Catherine Cookson: Matty Doolin

Matty Doolin is the last young adult book by Catherine Cookson that I have. My copy is an August 1976 printing and is a story about the young boy titled who wishes to become a vet. His father expects him to work at the docks and can't provide a further education. However, dreams can happen and that's the plot of Matty Doolin!

Allan Kass illustrates our teen in a field holding a lamb while his dog is nearby. We see the beautiful English countryside and the boy who seems such a part of it! He wears work clothes of jeans, boots, and a jumper (or sweater) and has the longer haircut of a boy in the 1970's. It's a sweet cover and I hope that you enjoy the difference from his historical ones!

Catherine Cookson: Joe and the Gladiator

Next in our Allan Kass Book Cover list, we have a wonderful young adult book by Catherine Cookson, known for her adult stories, called Joe and the Gladiator. This copy was published by Signet in April 1977.

It is the story of a boy named Joe and a horse named The Gladiator, an old nag that now belongs to Joe and how he has to work hard to manage his upkeep. He has friends, like Anna and her father, the vet, but needs help and ideas in order to keep the horse.

Allan draws a wonderful picture of Joe and his horse! We see the young teen, proud and happy, with his horse, who is old and looks tired. The docks are in the background and we get the sense that Joe is smarter and able to rise above working as a common laborer. It's an interesting juxtaposition and says a lot about his family's life in England. Allan has a great ability to show the hopefulness in the boy and optimism that he can take good care of this horse, even though everyone else has doubts! I have another young adult book by C. Cookson tomorrow.

Jane Converse: Undercover Nurse

Undercover Nurse is the last book that I have illustrated by Allan Kass for Jane Converse. If you know of any others, please contact me. This copy was printed in February 1972 and is a story about nurse Gail Arnold. When a mysterious patient enters the hospital, beaten and near death from a heroin overdose, Gail finds herself working close to Dr Cranston, who she admires and fear of the new patient, whose world of narcotics spells danger for Gail!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple with a Main Street background behind them. Our heroine is pretty and serene in her uniform while the doctor hero is handsome, yet wary. I'm sure that the Main Street has to do with their town, but seems very picturesque and the last place that our villain would be located! Note the church: a symbol of deliverance, perhaps?

These books were lots of fun to hunt and find! When I first contacted Allan Kass, I was unaware that he had done any contemporary book illustrations, so finding these nurse and young adult books have been a joy! Even though most of his work was for Regency Romances, we see his style and flexibility, and also similarity, with these books. I hope that you enjoy and feel free to click the photo to enlarge.