Ellen Fitzgerald: An Unwelcome Alliance

An Unwelcome Alliance is the last of Ellen Fitzgerald's books published by Signet and illustrated by Allan Kass. This copy was printed in March 1989.

Lady Belinda marries Lord Gerald even though they both love others. Can this marriage of convenience become a love match?

Allan Kass creates a pretty cover of our couple at a outside ball. Our heroine is lovely in a turquoise gown and a very elegant tiara. I like the up close pose and it's nice to see the beautiful touches of pearls on the gold lady's dress and the trim on another.

According to Fiction DB, Ellen Fitzgerald wrote regencies under other names: Lucia Curzon, Pamela Frazier, and Zabrina Faire. She also wrote gothics under the name Florence Stevenson, which Allan also illustrated.

Ellen Fitzgerald: A Streak of Luck

A Streak of Luck was published by Signet in July 1987 for Ellen Fitzgerald. Rachel Villiers thought good fortune had found her when Gervais Fenton proposed! However, after they are wed, she finds out that he lost a wager with her father and had to marry her. Now she wonders if a marriage built on game of cards can become a streak of luck for her?

Allan Kass creates a pretty illustration of our couple at a pretty lily pond. They stand near an ornate stone wall and we see a beautiful pagoda on the island behind. I love the colors of blue, green, and pink he uses which echo in her purple dress. Their pose is interesting since we see more of the heroine than the hero. I like that it's a tender moment they are sharing and think this is another of Allan's best outdoor covers!

Ellen Fitzgerald: Romany Summer

Romany Summer is another Signet Regency Romance authored by Ellen Fitzgerald and illustrated by Allan Kass. This book came out in October 1987. Felicity Carruthers was once young and naive, but no more. She doesn't plan to lose her heart to a rake like Sir Lionel Graves!

Allan Kass paints a delightful outdoors scene of our couple with a beautiful view of rolling hills and farmland behind them. Our couple stand near a stone wall on the edge of a road looking at the scenery. Our heroine's hair is loose and she holds some wildflowers that match her golden dress. Our hero is enamored of her and we see a caravan in the background which we presume they have been traveling. If you like scenic covers, this is one of Allan's best!

Ellen Fitzgerald: Rogue's Bride

Rogue's Bride was published by Signet in January 1986 for Ellen Fitzgerald. Ariadne Caswell-Drake is caught between different men: her husband, Sir Iden Peverell, who she married to avoid scandal, and Sir Robert Heath, attentive and charming! Who will she choose in the end?

Allan Kass paints our couple outdoors relaxing near a river. We see a rowboat in the water and assume that it is their mode of transportation. Both wear casual clothing for the era and our heroine has brought a basket to pick some fresh flowers. I like her ballerina shoes, which would be stylish nowadays!

Click to see an enlarged version of the cover.

Ellen Fitzgerald: The Player Knight

July 1989 saw the publication of The Player Knight, a Signet regency by Ellen Fitzgerald. Arabella Ashmore knows that a lady never performs on the stage, but is intrigued with the idea when she sees her best friend become an actress and also meets the dashing actor, Julian Sherlay!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple outside during sunset on a cold day. Our heroine wears a dark blue cloak, which has figured in a few of his illustrations!! Our hero's dark green jacket must have also been a popular color choice for the dashing regency buck! I feel as if this elegant pair doesn't belong, but are visiting, the setting where they stand.

Ellen Fitzgerald: Lord Caliban

Lord Caliban is another regency written by Ellen Fitzgerald and illustrated by Allan Kass. This book was published by Signet in March 1985 and Clemency is saved from injury when Lord Rodger Colbourne rescues her from a collapsing tower. Now he is determined to marry her, but she is concerned about his reputation as "Lord Caliban".

Allan Kass creates a classic cover with our couple taking a walk. Our hero is obviously infatuated with the heroine and she is summery in her yellow gown, which blends with the outdoors. I really like the ornate gate behind them. The trees make a shady spot above where they linger. Beautiful cover, which you can click to enlarge.

Ellen Fitzgerald: Lessons in Love

Lessons in Love was published in July 1986. Diana Forsythe falls for Sir Sabin Mallory and hopes he will do the same. Instead, he asks her for help in winning the heart of the most beautiful girl in London! She hopes their lessons will turn his heart towards herself!

Allan Kass paints a beautiful cover of our couple outside on a snowy day. The sunset reflects on the pond behind them and illuminates our heroine's purple winter coat and our hero's heavy green one. The trees in the background seem a fitting frame for this regency couple. Sometimes as I pull these books off of the shelf, I forget how pretty and elegant these covers really are! Signet books was smart to keep the lettering light and let the illustration shine!

Ellen Fitzgerald: Julia's Portion

April 1988 saw the publication of Julia's Portion by Ellen Fitzgerald. Julia was a new heiress and while others had ideas how to manage her fortune, she had her own ideas of freedom that included Lord Alysford!

I really like this cover by Allan Kass! It shows our couple on board a ship in a rough shoreline. Note the house on the cliff! Could it be our heroine's house? I like the heroine's pink gown which seems to brighten the cover. I wonder if they are on a pleasure cruise or traveling somewhere? Allan did a few illustrations on board ships and they are interesting to compare.

Ellen Fitzgerald: The Irish Heiress

The Irish Heiress was published by Signet in July 1985 for Ellen Fitzgerald. Sheila Corbett is intrigued by Lord Rande, but after his dealings with her brother, she knew that she should avoid him, but is tempted by something that may be love!

Allan Kass creates an outdoor scene near an old castle where our couple seem to be embracing. I like the splash of color that the heroine's purple gown make against the stone wall and her long black hair is unusually flowing! Our hero is handsome and elegant in his red coat. Allan's daughter said that many times he painted himself as the face of the heroes and after seeing a photo of him, I concur!

Ellen Fitzgerald: The Heirs of Bellaire

The Heirs of Bellair is next in our Signet regency romance series by Ellen Fitzgerald. This book was published in January 1987. Pamela Caldwell plans to marry childhood friend Tom Bellair until Sidney Questered arrives on the scene. She is intrigued by him and marries him not knowing that he is really Arthur Bellair, one of the heirs of Bellair!

Allan Kass shows our couple sharing a tender moment in front of a large fireplace. She wears jade jewelry against a pink gown while our hero is formally dressed in black. Allan gets the details correct with the grandfather clock and engraved fireplace hearth. Enjoy!

Ellen Fitzgerald: The Gambler's Bride

The Gambler's Bride was published by Signet for Ellen Fitzgerald in January 1988. Caroline Dysart agrees to elope with the very handsome Charles Montague. She thinks it's because of love, but others whisper that he needs her fortune. After she's married and hears those whispers, she decides to find out the truth.

Allan Kass illustrates our couple sitting outdoors on a low wall in a small park. Our heroine has a fashionable short hairdo and is very pretty. Our hero is rugged and handsome. Allan is great at portraying faces and human physique. I like the setting of the statue and small pool behind them.

Allan is unique in that both his outdoor poses and indoor covers are both wonderful. When one takes the time to look deeper into the cover, you can find a wealth of color and detail, which is unusual with other illustrators.

Ellen Fitzgerald: The Forgotten Marriage

The Forgotten Marriage by Ellen Fitzgerald, was published in April 1986 by Signet. Alicia Delacre happily marries Lucian Morley, only to have him fall in love with Lady Barbara Barrington. Can she win back her husband's love?

This is a pretty outdoor scene by Allan Kass. I like the placement of our couple outdoors, where we see the fields and a rainstorm in the distance. Our heroine blends in with her eggplant dress and basket of yellow roses. Our hero is handsome in a burgandy coat. I like the details of the ornate wrought iron fence and the wisteria growing up the wall.

Ellen Fitzgerald: The Dangerous Dr. Langhorne

Next in line are a treat of illustrations for Ellen Fitzgerald's regency stories! Allan Kass did a number of them, which I will display in the next posts.

The Dangerous Dr. Langhorne was published by Signet in October 1985 and is the story of Lady Vanessa Ventriss, who is intrigued by Sir Philip Langhorne, a physician, who is rumored to be dabbling in mesmerism.

Allan Kass creates a pretty outside pose for this cover near a gated wall, which yellow roses bloom. I like that the color mimics the heroine's dress! Look at her Egyptian bangle! The hero is a handsome blond and the details of the stairway into the door, along with the stone wall, is wonderful. Allan's work done in the 1980's is some of his best!