It's the Titan Books Valentine's Day special!
Published on 14 February, 2016
Authored by Titan Books
Happy Valentines Day! To mark this celebration of shameless commercialism — er, sorry, ROMANCE — Titan Towers have put our heads and hearts together to present some of our favourite love stories in our books:
Hannah Dennis, Senior Marketing Executive
RIVER ROAD by Carol Goodman
My love story pick would be Sergeant Joe McAffrey and our heroine Professor Nan Lewis from the thriller River Road. They're brought together in extraordinary and tragic circumstances, but they both manage to save each other, in more ways than one. Their story is touching and pretty racy in places!!
Jo Boylett, Non Fiction Editor
ADVENTURE TIME - THE ART OF OOO by Chris McDonnell
A shout-out for "bromance":
Adventure Time's Finn and Jake are a great example. I mean, OK, they have girlfriends, and Jake even has children/puppies, but when it comes right down to it, their first loyalty is to each other, through all their crazy adventures.
Charles Ardai, Hard Case Crime Editor
THE GIRL WITH THE DEEP BLUE EYES by Lawrence Block
While crime fiction is more closely associated with passions such as hate and greed rather than love, love can be one of the great motives for violence, and the plot of many a noir classic springs from a species of love – carnal, fierce, obsessive, all-consuming – that pushes a pair of lovers past all bounds of decency. In celebration of Valentine’s Day, we’d like to introduce you to Doak Miller, retired New York City cop, now a Florida private eye, and the woman he’s been assigned to entrap, Lisa Yarrow Otterbein, she of the wealthy, overbearing husband and the gorgeous deep blue eyes. Doak means to do his job – but the instant he sees her, he falls, and falls hard. This vulnerable woman, this wronged woman, this beautiful woman turns out to be Doak’s soul mate – and all that stands between them and the Happily Ever After they deserve is the problem of how to do away with her husband, and get away with murder. Could anything be more romantic?
Lydia Gittins, Press Officer
FUTURISTIC VIOLENCE AND FANCY SUITS by David Wong
I pick Zoey and Stench Machine the cat, because at the end of the day nothing says pure, unadulterated love like a cat who has just spotted a tin of cat food in your hand. For like, 5 minutes anyway.
Natalie Laverick, Fiction Editor
ALL THE BIRDS IN THE SKY by Charlie Jane Anders
Of course, Patricia and Laurence from All the Birds in the Sky!
Despite being a sci-fi/fantasy novel about a witch who can talk to animals and a mad scientist who can travel through time, the love story at the heart of the book is both epic and intimate. It's messy, clumsy, sometimes painful but ultimately hopeful, and one of the most realistic and relatable depictions of a relationship I've ever read.
Philippa Ward, Press and Marketing Assistant
HARRY POTTER: THE CHARACTER VAULT by Jody Revenson
Ron and Hermione from the Harry Potter series. It's an obvious one but how can you not mention Ron and Hermione. Despite Rowling later declaring that Hermione should have ended up with Harry, Ron and Hermione are a perfect fit,
a killer combination of brains and courage. They have a solid relationship that encompasses everything that true love should, friendship, loyalty and the ability to fight murderous wizards. [ED: we did sent Philly a link to Rupert Grint’s recent revelation on the current state of Ron & Hermione’s marriage, her response: “I saw this and I'm choosing to ignore it even though RG is lovely.” Sorry Rupert!]
Chris Young, Online Publicist
McGinnis' cover art for "The Best of Everything" by Rona Jaffe
Cath Trechman, Fiction Senior Editor
ECKO ENDGAME by Danie Ware
Triqueta and Redlock: their story is passionate, crazy, unconventional and crosses unimaginable barriers - and like all great love stories breaks the reader's heart.
Omar Khan, Non-Fiction Editor
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM - THE SKYRIM LIBRARY, VOL. I: THE HISTORIES
Extracts from The Lusty Argonian Maid By Crassius Curio
ACT IV, SCENE III, CONTINUED
Lifts-Her-Tail: Certainly not, kind sir! I am here but to clean your chambers
Crantius Colto: Is that all you have come here for, little one? My chambers?
Lifts-Her-Tail: I have no idea what it is you imply, master. I am but a poor Argonian maid
Crantius Colto: So you are, my dumpling. And a good one at that. Such strong legs and shapely tail.
Lifts-Her-Tail: You embarrass me, sir!
Crantius Colto: Fear not. You are safe here with me.
Lifts-Her-Tail: I must finish my cleaning, sir. The mistress will have my head if I do not!
Crantius Colto: Cleaning, eh? I have something for you. Here, polish my spear.
Lifts-Her-Tail: But it is huge! It could take me all night!
Crantius Colto: Plenty of time, my sweet. Plenty of time.
END OF ACT IV, SCENE III
ACT VII, SCENE II, CONTINUED
Lifts-Her-Tail: My goodness, that’s quite a loaf! But how ever shall it fit my oven?
Crantius Colto: This loaf isn’t ready for baking, my sweet. It has yet to rise.
Lifts-Her-Tail: If only we could hurry that along. How would I accomplish such a task?
Crantius Colto: Oh, my foolish little Argonian maid, you must use your hands.
Lifts-Her-Tail: You wish me to kneed the loaf? Here?
Crantius Colto: Of course.
Lifts-Her-Tail: But what if the mistress catches me? Your loaf was meant to satisfy her appetite.
Crantius Colto: Don’t fret, my delicate flower. I’ll satisfy the mistress’s cravings later.
Lifts-Her-Tail: Very well, but I’m afraid my oven isn’t hot enough
Crantius Colto: Plenty of time, my sweet. Plenty of time.
END OF ACT VII, SCENE II