Dec 30, 2016

The Summer of Romance


SummerOfRomance

Have you heard of the Summer of Romance? It's a really cool research project being run by the University of Tasmania. They're tracking novels by Australian writers published by Harlequin Mills & Boon. Specifically, they're investigating what happens to them after they're published.

They have a list of 50 books published between 1996 and 2016 and are asking that if
you see one of the 50 books, you take a photo of it where you saw it and post it to their Facebook page or tweet them, along with a little description of where you found it.

And their list includes our very own LoveCats Amy Andrews, Bronwyn Jameson, Michelle Douglas, Kandy Shepherd, Annie West and Stefanie London (plus a couple of our Cats in the Wild). Very cool.

I've been checking my bookshelves at home and so far have tracked down three of the books:





Here's the full list:

1996
  • Lindsay Armstrong, Playboy Lover
  • Helen Bianchin, Desert Mistress
  • Emma Darcy, Mischief and Marriage
  • Lilian Darcy, Demi’s Diagnosis
  • Angela Devine, The Perfect Man
  • Victoria Gordon, Beguiled and Bedazzled
  • Miranda Lee, Rendezvous with Revenge
  • Marion Lennox, Prescription: One Husband
  • Margaret Way, A Faulkner Possession
  • Meredith Webber, Wings of Passion

2001
  • Emma Darcy, The Hot-Blooded Groom
  • Anne Gracie, Tallie’s Knight
  • Barbara Hannay, Outback Baby
  • Bronwyn Jameson, In Bed with the Boss’s Daughter
  • Alison Kelly, The Baby Deal
  • Joan Kilby, The Second Promise
  • Miranda Lee, Just a Little Sex
  • Marion Lennox, Their Baby Bargain
  • Valerie Parv, Booties and the Beast
  • Margaret Way, Master of Maramba

2006
  • Amy Andrews, Mission: Mountain Rescue
  • Emma Darcy, The Playboy Boss’s Chosen Bride
  • Barbara Hannay, Claiming the Cattleman’s Heart
  • Joan Kilby, Beach Baby
  • Marion Lennox, Princess of Convenience
  • Carol Marinelli, Needed: Full-Time Father
  • Nicola Marsh, Found: His Family
  • Leah Martyn, A Mother for His Baby
  • Sarah Mayberry, Cruise Control
  • Fiona McArthur, The Doctor’s Surprise Bride

2011
  • Amy Andrews, Rescued by the Dreamy Doc
  • Anna Cleary, Do Not Disturb
  • Emma Darcy, The Costarella Conquest
  • Barbara Hannay, Rancher’s Twins: Mum Needed
  • Kelly Hunter, With This Fling
  • Leonie Knight, Suddenly Single Sophie
  • Marion Lennox, Dynamite Doc or Christmas Dad?
  • Nikki Logan, Friends to Forever
  • Carol Marinelli, The Devil Wears Kolovsky (also published as A Bride for Kolovsky)
  • Annie West, Prince of Scandal

2016
  • Leah Ashton, The Billionaire from Her Past
  • Kandy Shepherd, The Greek Tycoon’s Mistletoe Proposal
  • Michelle Douglas, A Deal to Mend Their Marriage
  • Lucy Ellis, Kept at the Argentine’s Command
  • Barbara Hannay, The Husband She’d Never Met
  • Miranda Lee, The Playboy’s Ruthless Pursuit
  • Marion Lennox, Stepping Into the Prince’s World
  • Stefanie London, A Dangerously Sexy Affair
  • Carol Marinelli, The Socialite’s Secret
  • Melanie Milburne, The Most Scandalous Ravensdale

The project has a Facebook page, a twitter profile, and website, so you can connect with them all over the place.

What about you? Have you been participating already? If not, do you have any of the books they're searching for? I have to admit, it's kinda fun - a bit like a treasure hunt!



29 comments:

  1. I have been seeing a lot about this and what fun and yes I do have quite a few of these the later ones I can put my hands on but the earlier ones are packed away and I cannot get to them at the moment must get my finger out and get some photos to put up :)

    Have Fun
    Helen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Helen, they'd love it if you get a chance to take some photos! And when you post them on their FB page, tag me so I can see which ones. I'm loving following this project!

      Delete
    2. We would love to see some photos of any of our 50 books in your collection, Helen! The project runs until 1 March 2017 - hopefully this will give you enough time to dig out some of the older titles! We now have at least one 'shelfie' of most books on the list, but there are some that are proving harder to find. We're aiming to collect as many images of our 50 books in as many editions and as many places as possible. It's quite a challenge!

      Delete
    3. Lisa, thanks for that info! I kept meaning to look up the end date - and here it is, conveniently posted here for me. I must have a look through some I have in boxes in the cupboard. Helen, we can synchronise the rifling through of our boxes. :)

      Delete
  2. This is such a fun project, Rach! I have every intention of pulling a few boxes out of storage and rummaging through to see how many I can find. :-) Also, utterly thrilled that one of my books is on the list -- it gave me such a happy shiver. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle, I couldn't believe I didn't have that book of yours - I thought I had the complete Michelle Douglas collection. I'll have to rectify that quick smart! :)

      Delete
    2. Please do post an author shelfie of your book, Michelle! And of course snaps of any others in your collection. So great to hear that you're excited to be a Summer of Romance author :)

      Delete
  3. Had so much fun with this and great to see this being done. Love my Mills and Boon who got me into reading helped my dyslexia and got me into writing big time. Had seven of the listed books. Had more books from earlier years and later. I did branch out to many more books but I will always love my M&B books and always hold a special place in my heart. I travelled and saw the world through these books and fell madly in love with my Sheikhs. I am so happy you are doing this. I hope all the books are found and been loved as much as I have loved reading and keeping my favourite writers. :) Jan, from Tassie ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan, thanks for sharing your story. To have read so much with dyslexia and now writing is an inspiration!

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Jan! Your shelfies have been fantastic and such rich, fascinating examples for our research. (I've just arrived back in mobile range from a day on the east coast to discover it's been a lovely busy day for the Summer of Romance and catch up on the conversation here at LoveCats.)

      Delete
  4. Sorry thought they were doing the article now see it's was Rachel which is fine. :) Me and my brain, sometimes doesn't click that well any way still so happy they are doing this :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol, no worries, Jan. One of the researchers, Lisa Fletcher, replied to Helen's comment above, so I'm sure she'll see yours too. :)

      Delete
  5. This is such fun and I'm so glad I was able to find one of the older (vintage???LOL) AA books and put a photo up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I remember your photo - it was great, Louisa. It is a bit of fun, isn't it? :)

      Delete
    2. Both vintage and older sound...old :-)

      Delete
    3. Which title was it, Louisa. I didn't see the pic.

      Delete
    4. Louisa's pic was of ... Mission: Mountain Rescue, by Amy Andrews!! You can see the shelfie in the Visitor Posts on the Summer of Romance Facebook page :)

      Delete
  6. I've only got two of the 2016 titles - Stefanie's one in print (which I still need to get around to photographing) and Michelle's in ebook. I'm going to look at tracking down the rest of the titles from the various years for reading purposes though

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll keep a look out for your Stefanie London shelfie, Lyn. Thank you! And if you pick up any of the other titles before our data collection ends on March 1, let us know via Facebook or Twitter (@ShelfieSummer) :)

      Delete
    2. Lyn, I have less than I expected to as well. Interesting idea to read your way through them though!

      Delete
  7. Its great fun, isn't it, Rach?
    I have taken several author copy selfies and even one with an Afrikaans translation. And I found a Kelly Hunter but even though I have a lot of books by many of these authors I dont have any of the specific books on the list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very cool about the Afrikaans translation, Amy.
      Yep, I'm the same - lots of books by some of those authors, just not the one listed. Really surprised I don't have yours given I have heaps of yours on my shelf. Kelly Hunter's too. Interesting exercise to show some gaps in my collection!

      Delete
  8. I wish I had access to all my boxes of M&B books that are locked up in storage back home! I'm sure I had a few titles on this list. I used to love scouring second hand book stores for category books - had quite the collection going :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stef, being overseas and not having access to all your things must be a little frustrating at times, but I guess being in gorgeous Canada makes up for it! :)

      Delete
  9. This is a wonderful project and I am absolutely thrilled to have one of my books featured in it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kandy, I love this project too. I was so excited when I saw your book there. That list has some great names on it. :)

      Delete
  10. This is very cool, Rachel. I'll have to get up to my bookshelves and take some photos and submit them. Definitely have some of those listed!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jen, that's awesome! I know the research team will be thrilled to see your photos. And tag me too if you remember, coz I love seeing the pics. :)

      Delete