Harlequin began setting up independent publishing offices around the world and started to publish romances in translation. The two firms merged in the early 1970s, with Mills & Boon becoming a branch office of Harlequin. In the late 1950s, the success of Mills & Boon romances was noted by a Canadian publishing company, Harlequin Books, which began publishing Mills & Boon books in North America as Harlequin Romances. As the years passed, romantic fiction outstripped other book sales by even greater margins, and eventually the firm dropped other types of books in order to concentrate on publishing romance novels. The firm soon realized that its hardcover romances, sold mostly to libraries, were more in demand than many of its regular titles. The publishing firm of Mills & Boon, established in 1908, brought out the work of such authors as Agatha Christie and Jack London-and also published romantic fiction. Though love and romance have long been a part of the literary world, the romance novel as we know it today originated in the early twentieth century in England. If the main focus of the story is the couple falling in love while they’re hiding out, it’s a romance novel. If the main focus of the story is the chase, what the bad guys are actually up to, and why they’re after the main character, the novel is general fiction. Harlequin releases 68 new titles every month across 12 series.That depends on which elements of the story are emphasized.
#LIST OF HARLEQUIN ROMANCE NOVELS FROM 1980S SERIES#
Series romance (also known as “category” romance) has recognizable branded packaging and publishes a set number of new books every month that deliver a unique story promise to readers-from sweet to passionate, suspenseful to historical. Somerset Maugham and Brian Moore, all published books with Harlequin in 1950s and 1960s before it began focusing on romance publishing. Writing greats, such as Agatha Christie, Jean Plaidy, George Orwell, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, W. Recent book: The Cliff House (March 2019)įirst Harlequin book: Not at Eight, Darling, Silhouette Desire, 1986ġ22 current Harlequin authors have sold over 10 million copies internationally, and eight have hit 50 million in sales. Recent book: Summer on Mirror Lake (June 2019)įirst Harlequin book: The Wrangler and the Runaway Mom, Silhouette Intimate Moments, 1999 Recent title: Unforgettable You (February 2019)įirst Harlequin book: Heather’s Song, Harlequin Special Edition, 1982įirst Harlequin book: Winning Season, Silhouette Desire, 1982 Recent Harlequin title: Stone Bridges (March 2019)įirst book for Harlequin: Expectations, Harlequin Superromance, 2000 Recent book: California Girls (February 2019)įirst book for Harlequin: Captivated, Harlequin Temptation, April 1986 Launch author for MIRA Books in 1994 with Slow Burnįirst book for Harlequin: Tonight and Forever, Arabesque, 1995įirst book for Harlequin: Snowflakes on the Sea, Silhouette Intimate Moments, 1984įirst book for Harlequin: Tender Loving Care, Harlequin Special Edition, 1991 Recent book: The View from Alameda Island (April 2019)įirst book for Harlequin: Night Moves, Intimate Moments, 1985 More than 45 books published by Harlequin ROBYN CARRįirst book for Harlequin: Informed Risk, Harlequin Special Edition, 1989 Today, Harlequin is proud to publish many bestselling authors, from among so many more, who have become internationally known for women’s fiction.