Black 'band' rating

[woodelf]

Is it true that Mills and Boon have colour coding for the content of their published novels, even a black 'band' which is meant to be erm explicit fiction? Ta Muchly.

[Buenchico]

Er, yes and . . . er, no!

It's officially 'genre', rather than 'content' which determines the colour code.

Quote:
"Today, Mills & Boon has lots of genres to choose from. They include: modern romance (virgins, Greek millionaires, yachts, sheikhs, royalty); historical (kissing in costume); medical (A&E kissing); intrigue (spooks kissing); special edition (Jodi Picoult with kissing); 'blaze' (kissing and then some); 'desire two-in-one' (two stories for the price of one). Nocturne - kissing and ghosts - is new for 2008. Each genre is colour-coded, so you pick your happy ending by style not substance. Readers are encouraged to buy an entire month's offerings from each genre in one click on the company's website. As long as it's the right colour for your style of romance, who cares what the clinch on the cover looks like?"

http://www.telegraph....-the-art-of-love.html

However, 'Erotica' is one of the genres listed on the Mills & Boom website, with most of the titles carrying a black band:
http://www.millsandbo....uk/books/erotica.htm

Chris

[joggerjayne]

"desire two-in-one"

Is "(two stories for the price of one)" your own interpretation, Chris?

Are you sure these are not books involving menages a trois ?

[saxy_jag]

As Buenchico says, the M&B genres are 'coded' by cover colour. It's really for ease of reference as much as anything else.

The librarians at work tell me the black band/black lace genre is especially popular with the older ladies - and some most unlikely looking older ladies at that!

[jno]

Mills and Boom - are they the ones with lots of banging in them, Chris?

[woodelf]

Many Thanks Chris for the link and yes, genre was the word I meant when I writted the kwestchun, but couldn't think of it off the top ov me 'ead! Har har, jno!