An index of THE AVON ROMANCE (1982-1989)

"The Avon Romance" was a line published by Avon Books from 1982 to 1989. Although the books were not numbered, they were identifiable by the "ribbon" saying "The Avon Romance" on the covers, in the top left corner. For this reason the books were often referred to as "Ribbon Romances" (or sometimes "Banner Romances").

The line consisted primarily of historical romances, although there were a few contemporary romance novels at the very beginning. One book was issued per month, until February 1987 when two books were issued each month. Some of the authors whose early work appeared in this line include Brenda Joyce (her first three books), Katherine Sutcliffe (her first three books), Laura Kinsale, Virginia Henley, and Susan Wiggs, among others.

     Originally I thought that there were only 88 books in this series because that is how many are listed on the FictionDB website (apparently the only place on the web that even had an index for this series). However, recently I have been acquiring books in the series where the original owner wrote the book number in pen on the first page.  These numbers didn't match the ones in the FictionDB index, and they went all the way up to book #104.  This made me realize that there were in fact 104 books in the series (not 88), although it's possible the reader's numbers are not 100% accurate either, particularly for when two books were issued the same month.  I have put an asterick (*) in front of the number below for the books I own where the reader wrote down that specific number; all of the rest of the numbers were arrived at by me using logic and guesswork, as well as info from the FictionDB website, Google Books and 1980s issues of Romantic Times magazine.  I will update or correct this list if I get better information in the future. (Last updated on August 27, 2021.)

THE AVON ROMANCE (Avon Books, 1982-1989)

* #1: "Captive of the Heart" by Kate Douglas (Oct. 1982)

* #2: "Defiant Destiny" by Nancy Moulton (Nov. 1982)

#3: "Love's Choice" by Rosie Thomas (Dec. 1982)

* #4: "Admit Desire" by Catherine Lanigan (Jan. 1983)

* #5: "Dark Soldier" by Katherine Myers (Feb. 1983)

* #6: "When Love Remains" by Victoria Pade (March 1983)

* #7: "Ransomed Heart" by Sparky Ascani (April 1983)

* #8: "Now Comes the Spring" by Andrea Edwards (May 1983)

[Note: For some reason, there is a 3-month break here before the line continues.]

* #9: "Forever, My Love" by Jean Nash (Sept. 1983)

* #10: "Bold Conquest" by Virginia Henley (Oct. 1983)

* #11: "A Passionate Flower" by Betsy McCarty (Nov. 1983)

* #12: "A Gallant Passion" by Helene M. Lehr (Feb. 1984)

#13: "China Rose" by Marsha Canham (March 1984)

* #14: "Heart Songs" by Laurel Winslow (April 1984)

* #15: "Wildstar" by Linda Ladd (May 1984)

* #16: "Now and Again" by Joan Cassity (June 1984)

#17: "Fleur De Lis" by Dorothy E. Taylor (July 1984)

* #18: "Capture the Dream" by Helene Lehr (Aug. 1984)

* #19: "Onyx Flame" by Jan Moss (Sept. 1984)

* #20: "Bound by the Heart" by Marsha Canham (Oct. 1984)

* #21: "The Dancer's Land" by Elizabeth Kidd [Linda Triegal] (Nov. 1984)

#22?? : "Defy the Thunder" by Virginia Brown (Dec. 1984)

[Note: There is the possibility that one of the above two novels was left out of the numbering by the owner of the copies in my possession.]

* #22: "The Winter Hearts" by Marjorie Burrows (Jan. 1985)

* #23: ​"Wild Hearts" by Virginia Henley (Feb. 1985)

* #24: "In Love's Fury" by Robin Tolivar [Pat C. Oakson & Leslie Bishop] (March 1985)

* #25: "Ribbons of Silver" by Katherine Myers (April 1985)

* #26: "Passion's Torment" by Victoria Pade (May 1985)

* #27: "Surrender the Heart" by Jean Nash (June 1985)

* #28: "Crosswinds" by Nancy Moulton (July 1985)

* #29: "Call Back the Dawn" by Diane Wicker Davis (Aug. 1985)

* #30: "Moonspell" by Linda Ladd (Sept. 1985)

* #31: "Tyler's Woman" by Linda P. Sandifer (Oct. 1985)

* #32: "The Wild Rose" by Rene J. Garrod (Nov. 1985)

* #33: "Heart of the Storm" by Jillian Hunter (Dec. 1985)

* #34: "Shadow of Desire" by Fela Dawson Scott (Jan. 1986)

* #35: "Midnight's Lady" by Sandra Langford (Feb. 1986)

* #36: "Savage Surrender" by Lindsey Hanks (March 1986)

* #37: "The Hidden Heart" by Laura Kinsale (April 1986)

* #38: "Brianna" by Linda Lang Bartell (May 1986)

#39: "Desire and Surrender" by Katherine Sutcliffe (June 1986)

#40: "Tender Fortune" by Judith E. French (July 1986)

* #41: "On the Winds of Love" by Lori Leigh (Aug. 1986)

* #42: "Storm of Passion" by Virginia Brown (Sept. 1986)

* #43: "Fireglow" by Linda Ladd (Oct. 1986)

* #44: "Wild Land, Wild Love" by Mallory Burgess [Sandy Hingston] (Nov. 1986)

* #45: "Pride's Passion" by Linda P. Sandifer (Dec. 1986)

#46: "Reckless Yearning" by Victoria Pade (Jan. 1987)

[Note: At this point, the line releases two novels per month instead of only one. It's possible that some of the book numbers listed below are transposed, so that the book listed as #49 is actually #50, and vice versa, since they were released simultaneously.]

* #47: "Alyssa" by Linda Lang Bartell (Feb. 1987)
* #48: "Tempest of the Heart" by Nancy Moulton (Feb. 1987)
* #49: "Blazing Embers" by Deborah Camp (March 1987)
* #50: "Uncertain Magic" by Laura Kinsale (March 1987)
* #51: "By Love Alone" by Judith E. French (April 1987)
* #52: "Passion''s Honor" by Diane Wicker Davis (April 1987)
* #53: "Shadows of Splendor" by Jillian Hunter (May 1987)
* #54: "Silverswept" by Linda Ladd (May 1987)
* #55: "Midnight Deception" by Lindsey Hanks (June 1987)
* #56: "Windstorm" by Katherine Sutcliffe (June 1987)
* #57: "Heart's Possession" by Veronica Gregory (July 1987)
* #58: "Passion Rose" by Mallory Burgess [Sandy Hingston] (July 1987)
* #59: "Defy the Wind" by Kate O'Donnell [Nancy Garcia] (Aug. 1987)
* #60: "Proud Surrender" by Karen Johns (Aug. 1987)

* #61: "Ladylight" by Victoria Pade (Sept. 1987)

* #62: "Passion's Gold" by Susan Sackett [Susan Stern] (Sept. 1987)

* #63: "Briar Rose" by Susan Wiggs (Oct. 1987) 
* #64: "Starfire" by Judith E. French (Oct. 1987)
* #65: "Heart of the Hunter" by Linda P. Sandifer (Nov. 1987)
* #66: "Midsummer Moon" by Laura Kinsale (Nov. 1987)
* #67: "Hostage Heart" by Eileen Nauman (Dec. 1987)

* #68: "Reckless Splendor" by Maria Greene (Dec. 1987)
* #69: "Marisa" by Linda Lang Bartell (Jan. 1988)
* #70: "Renegade Love" by Katherine Sutcliffe (Jan. 1988)
* #71: "Chase the Dawn" by Jane Feather (Feb. 1988)
* #72: "Passion Fire" by Mallory Burgess [Mary Sandra Hingston] (Feb. 1988)
* #73: "Defiant Angel" by Lisann St. Pierre [Lisa A. Verge](March 1988)
* #74: "Untamed Glory" by Suzannah Davis (March 1988)
* #75: "Beloved Rogue" by Penelope Williamson (April 1988)
* #76: "Bold Surrender" by Judith E. French (April 1988)
* #77: "Dark Desires" by Nancy Moulton (May 1988)
#78: "Matters of the Heart" by Mayo Lucas (May 1988)
#79: "Innocent Fire" by Brenda Joyce (June 1988)
#80: "Primrose" by Deborah Camp (June 1988)
* #81: "Dreamsong" by Linda Ladd (July 1988)
#82: "Forbidden Fires" by Elizabeth Turner (July 1988)
* #83: "Passion Star" by Mallory Burgess [Mary Sandra Hingston] (Aug. 1988)
#84: "Winds of Glory" by Susan Wiggs (Aug. 1988)
* #85: "Heart's Folly" by Jane Feather (Sept. 1988)

* #86: "Temptation's Darling" by Joanna Jordan [Debrah Morris and Pat Shaver] (Sept. 1988)
* #87: "Desperate Deception" by Maria Greene (Oct. 1988)
#88: "Wild Splendor" by Leta Tegler (Oct. 1988)
#89: "Firestorm" by Brenda Joyce (Nov. 1988)
* #90: "Stolen Heart" by Barbara Dawson Smith (Nov. 1988)
#91: "Rogue's Lady" by Victoria Thompson (Dec. 1988)

* #92: "Windsong" by Judith E. French (Dec. 1988)
#93: "By Honor Bound" by Scotney St. James (Jan. 1989)
#94: "Brittany" by Linda Lang Bartell (Jan. 1989)
#95: "Moonshadow" by Susan Wiggs (Feb. 1989)
#96: "Fortune's Bride" by Cheryl Spencer (Feb. 1989)
#97: "Silver Nights" by Jane Feather (March 1989)
* #98: "Tender Conquest" by Lisa Bingham (March 1989)
* #99: "Lady Midnight" by Maria Greene (April 1989)
* #100: "Outlaw Heart" by Suzannah Davis (April 1989)
#101: "Passion Song" by Catherine FitzGerald [Mallory Burgess] (May 1989)

* #102: "Violet Fire" by Brenda Joyce (May 1989)
* #103: "Camelot Jones" by Mayo Lucas (June 1989)
* #104: "Defiant Heart" by Nancy Moulton (June 1989)

[Note: The editorial page below appeared at the back of #103 & #104, indicating that The Avon Romance line was continuing, without mentioning that the ribbon branding was being eliminated. Ellen Edwards had joined Avon as a Senior Editor in late 1986, having previously been an editor at Jove/Berkley of their Second Chance at Love line (which, coincidentally, ended in December 1989).]

• After "The AVON Romance": (The books below no longer have "The Avon Romance" ribbon on the covers. On the inside page, they are listed as "Other Books in THE AVON ROMANCE Series")

"Fallen Angel" by Deborah Camp (July 1989)

"Hearts Beguiled" by Penelope Williamson (July 1989)

"Scarlet Ribbons" by Judith E. French (Aug. 1989)

"Silver Splendor" by Barbara Dawson Smith (Aug. 1989)

"Reckless Angel" by Jane Feather (Sept. 1989)

"Wings of Desire" by Elizabeth Lambert (Sept. 1989)

"Heart of the Raven" by Diane Wicker Davis (Oct. 1989)

"Heart's Masquerade" by Deborah Simmons (Oct. 1989)

"Stolen Splendor" by Miriam Minger (Nov. 1989)

"Tin Angel" by Kathy Lawrence [Kat Martin & Larry Martin] (Nov. 1989)

"Forever Love" by Maria Greene (Dec. 1989)

"Beloved Avenger" by Joan Van Nuys (Dec. 1989)

"The Avon Romance" line, with two historicals issued per month, and lacking the familiar ribbon branding, continued into the 1990s. But sorting out all of those books would be a whole other massive research project, so I consider it sufficient to end this "Avon Romance" index with those titles released in 1989.

Comments, corrections and suggestions welcomed. Thanks for reading!