Joy Freeman: A Suitable Match

A Suitable Match was published in September 1982 and had an earlier hardcover printing in 1980 by St. Martin's Press. Vescinda Bancroft is thrown together with the Earl of Sherworth by a relative and she, being virtuous, has no time for the scandalous gentleman! Can two such unlikely people find love?

Allan Kass makes a great cover of our couple standing in an elegant room dressed for a ball or gala evening. Our heroine is pretty in yellow and her gold accessories set off her emerald and diamond jewelry. Our hero is dashing in black evening dress and we wonder to what special event they plan to attend! It's a pretty cover and I wish my copy was in better condition!

Merry Christmas!

Joy Freeman: The Last Frost Fair

Joy Freeman wrote two books for Signet Regency and both were illustrated by Allan Kass. The Last Frost Fair was published in December 1985. Madeleine St. Cross needs to marry money and for this reason she is brought to London. During the winter of 1814, London's Thames River freezes over and a fair is built upon the ice. She meets Major John Ashton and is faced with the dilemma of marrying for love or money!

Allan Kass illustrates our couple sitting on a sofa. The hero seems to be entreating the heroine to marry him! It's a colorful scene with the green sofa, red walls, pink and purple pillows setting off her yellow gown and his blue jacket. I like that it's a calm and quiet picture of true love. I'm curious that Allan didn't paint a scene from the Frost Fair of the title, but he often had to illustrate according to the demands of the publishers.