Mills and Boon

Mills and Boons were my guilty pleasure. Before I was out of college I had finished off 50 or odd books. I still remember my first M & B,'Dangerous Marriage'. Though I have forgotten about the characters, I vividly recall the plot.

I even have a few books in my collection. Now I have moved on to different genres, however, Mills and Boon will hold a special place in my heart. I have devoured over them like there is no tomorrow. Drop dead gorgeous heroin, even more hunk of a hero, and predictable happy ending. These three main ingredients make the perfect M & B romance. I used to feel a little ashamed to admit I enjoyed those books, but not anymore.

Mills and Boon was founded by Gerald Mills and Charles Boon in 1908. However in 1971 Canadian company Harlequin Enterprises bought the publisher. They publish 720 novels a year on an average. Earlier it used to be only western writers. Now Harper Collins publishes romances under the Mills and Boon, Harlequin, and H imprints of Indian writers. I have not read any of the recent published novels.

A tall, dark, handsome hero who will be filthy rich to boot. Mostly he will be a self-made man, brooding over the past, in control of everything, passionate, charming, tougher facade with a heart of gold. A beautiful heroin, a combination of innocence and feisty, mostly by default a virgin. They meet, they fall head over heels in love, they fight, they misunderstand, they doubt, and at the end they acknowledge their undying love. He, the prince charming riding in white horse to save the damsel in distress. Sensuality, sexual tension, emotional conflicts, glamorous setting and location, and believable theme is what makes successful M & B. All the books I have read are of 70s, 80s, or 90s. So I really don't know how they are now or what have changed in 20 odd years.  I am told by a friend that female characters have evolved to a great length and are not just submissive to their male counterpart.

My M & B fix was a temporary one. It has been ages since I have got my hands on any such novels. I feel sheepish to invest money on them just for one read. If somebody is worried what to gift me for my birthdays or anniversaries, book is the best bet you have as I don't get tired of them and definitely I wouldn't mind a set of Harlequin romance (M & B).