Kate, Jen, & Kara recommend Harlequin Comics
Alluring emerald orbs glistening in the moonlight, lustful looks beneath fluttering eyelashes, and unfathomable passion burning in hearts that can’t contain themselves…now get a Japanese manga artist to illustrate all of these feelings, and you will have Harlequin in a rose-scented nutshell. Released weekly in our backlist, Harlequin manga are a hidden treasure chest of desire, chivalry, and—of course—drama. Out of the many titles that make the entire library shine, here are just a few of our personal faves:
Kate recommends The Sheik and the Bought Bride:
While it might sound typical, The Sheik and the Bought Bride is anything but thanks entirely to the strength of its leading lady. After being sold to Prince Kateb by her own father, Victoria, instead of playing the victim, uses the bid as an opportunity to take charge of her own life. As the leader of the prince’s harem, she fights for the rights of the less fortunate and strengthens the economy of their village. Even the romantic aspects of this story are balanced well: Victoria and Kateb discover their feelings organically throughout the story, demonstrating desire fortified with compassion. Despite the story’s whimsical nature, it’s nothing short of brilliantly progressive.
Jen recommends Domesticating Luc:
Julie only has eyes for Primus, the handsome and grey-eyed Italian that captured her heart. Too bad Luc, Primus’ owner, would rather Julie, the dog trainer, threw him a bone instead. It’s going to be a lot of trouble training both Luc the playboy as a pet owner and the oddly contrary Primus as an obedient pet in Domesticating Luc.
Domesticating Luc departs from a lot of typical Harlequin tropes with a focus on humor and a female lead holding the reins (or the leash, in this case). Packed with expressive characters and a spotlight-stealing pooch, it veers towards romantic comedy rather than bodice-ripping romance. There’s underlying heart to the story of a boy, his dog, the loss of his recently deceased grandmother, and the growing love between Julie and Luc, and it makes this tale of puppy love a special treat in Harlequin’s library.
Kara recommends Mistress Bought and Paid For:
Mistress Bought and Paid For is my go-to Harlequin recommendation for both first time readers and long time romance fans. We jump right into the action on the first page: Our heroine is a supermodel who has fallen on hard times and is accused of stealing from the charity she is supposed to be working with, our hero is her billionaire ex-boyfriend seeking revenge for her apparent cuckolding ways. Right off the bat, he offers her a solution to her plight: become his mistress for a year, and get the money to repay her supposed debt to the charity. Their levels of manipulation and miscommunication are only matched by their level of differences. He has a yacht, she’s afraid of the sea—will their love sink or swim?
Harlequin publishes a plethora of stories about philandering princes, scandalous sheiks, beautiful billionaires, and naughty nobles. The drama is unparalleled, and the narratives are as engrossing as they are turbulent. If you like romances, shojo manga, or early-Aughts romcoms, chances are you’ll love what Harlequin has to offer.
Jen Keith and Kate Kasenow are digital editors tasked with preparing Harlequins for comiXology Guided View. Kara Szamborski, supervisor of the International Production team at comiXology, was destined to read them from afar. Despite all obstacles, these three have found their way to one another and have made it their mission to spread the love of Harlequin throughout the universe.