Elisabeth Fairchild: The Rakehell's Reform

The Rakehell's Reform is the last Elisabeth Fairchild book that I have illustrated by Allan Kass. She did write other regencies for Signet.

February 1997 is Signet's publication date. Selina Preston's father wanted his wealth to buy his daughter a noble husband. His choice, Jack Ramsey, had the worse of reputations and he was definitely not her first choice!!

Allan Kass paints a elegant cover for this book with our couple standing outside near a doorway surrounded by flowers. I love the hero's blue almost purple jacket because it goes so well with his red hair! The heroine is complimentary in green with purple trim and she holds a bunch of yellow roses. You can tell that they like and maybe even love each other!

Next blog will feature more of Allan's gothic romance covers!

Elisabeth Fairchild: Marriage a' la Mode

December 1997 was the publication of Marriage a' la Mode by Elisabeth Fairchild. Lord Hay hears Melody Bainbridge in a crowded London scene, and is intrigued by her laughter. However, she is in the process of being divorced from an abusive husband and is not looking for another relationship.

Allan Kass paints a calm scene with our couple feeding a deer that is in the park behind the mansion. Our hero carries the feed while the heroine feeds the deer. This would be one of Allan's last illustrations, but he still concentrates on the details like the garden and the animal. I'm not too sure about the heroine's red coat with her complexion, though!! Enjoy this bucolic cover!

Elisabeth Fairchild: The Love Knot

The Love Knot by Elisabeth Fairchild was published by Signet in November 1995. Aurora Ramsay is determined to catch Lord Walsh as a husband, so she asks Miles Fletcher to help her captivate him. Soon she learns that her teacher may be her true lover in fact!

This cover by Allan Kass shows our couple playing archery. I love the autumn outdoors and our heroine's warm green dress. They seem in a playful mood as she helps him with his aim! Note the temple in the background and another target full of arrows!

Elisabeth Fairchild: Lord Ramsay's Return

Lord Ramsay's Return is a March 1996 Signet publication by Elisabeth Fairchild. Miss Prudence Stanhope is in danger after meeting the enigmatic Lord Charles Ramsay, who has recently returned from India and is handsome and charming. Brighton is the setting for this story and is a beautiful seaside location in England known for the Prince Regent's Pavilion.

Allan Kass illustrates our couple among Oriental treasures. Our hero is dressed as we would consider typical Eastern costume with white shirt or tunic and a bright purple sash. Our heroine is pretty in a blue day dress. This cover pops because of the detail of the statue and ornate light behind the couple.

Elisabeth Fairchild: The Counterfeit Coachman

November 1994 saw the publication of The Counterfeit Coachman, a Signet Regency Romance by author Elisabeth Fairchild. This is the first of five books that Allan Kass illustrated for Fairchild.

Fanella Quinby needed to marry quickly and well, but after meeting Mr. Ford, a coachman, she wonders if it will be as easy as she thinks to marry a stranger!

Allan Kass creates a superb cover for this story! I love the up close portrait of our couple with the coach behind and the inn further behind! Our hero is handsome in his drab overcoat and our heroine is very smart in her blue traveling gown and accessories. Again, we see touches of detail: the man loading the coach, the heroine's lace trimmed cuffs and embellishment on her reticule. Even the lighting suggests a warm afternoon for traveling.