Vibrators: Inspiring Action since 1880

As a writer of historical fiction, I spend a lot of time researching, and I especially adore vintage ads.

Occasionally I come across something that I wasn't looking for but is so fascinating I get completely sidetracked and lose an hour amusing myself with it.

No pun intended. :)

Here's what got me today--an ad for Vigor's Horse-Action Saddles.

Just look at all the benefits for Victorian women...

A "UNIQUE SUBSTITUTE" for horse riding--you can trot, canter, and gallop, and you don't even have to leave the house! You can ride right there, next to your potted fern! (Sidesaddle, of course.)

It brings "all the VITAL ORGANS into INSPIRING ACTION!" So inspiring, even the Princess of Wales was "completely satisfied." If it's good enough for royal rumps, it's surely good enough for yours. :)

It was, of course, an early vibrator, which was marketed to women for at-home use to cure their "hysteria." Prior to 1880, when the first electromechanical forebear to the Magic Wand was patented, women used to see their doctors for hysteria--they were treated with "physician-assisted paroxysm," or as women would later call it, an O.

Go figure, the doctors were swamped with patients who wanted their "mid-quarters" massaged and couldn't keep up. Hand cramps, you know. So to combat this "chronic hand fatigue," doctors sought mechanical intervention.

Enter Dr. Joseph Mortimer Granville, who invents the vibrator in 1880 (before the electric iron or vacuum cleaner) and effectively puts doctors treating hysteria out of O business.

The early ads tried to disguise what they were selling, but it was pretty obvious. 

According to one source, these kinds of ads disappeared about the same time that movies became popular (the 1920s). Apparently, once men saw these devices being used in stag movies (such a great old phrase), they realized that mechanical contraption in the hall closet wasn't really just a newfangled hair dryer.

Not to mention that electric saddle in the parlor... ;)

Cheers!

Melanie

Cover Reveal -- The Long Game

Third and final cover reveal this week!

This one is for a very cool NA book I just read called THE LONG GAME, written by my friend J.L. Fynn. I just read the ARC and was fascinated by the crazy-original setting and plot!

If you're looking for something different in contemporary NA, don't miss.

Take a look...

Here's the scoop:

Book Name: The Long Game

Book Genre: NA Contemporary

Book release date: October 7, 2013

Add The Long Game on Goodreads! 

The Long Game book blurb: 

Smooth talking. Ambitious. Loyal. Twenty-year-old Shay Reilly has proven himself to his Irish-American Gypsy clan on small-scale cons, but now the clan leader has a bigger mission for him: playing the long game.

To rake in the big score he’s after, he needs to con co-ed Spencer into falling in love with him. He knows he should see Spencer as a mere means to an end, but that’s easier said than done when there’s a witty, attractive girl in your arms.

Now the only thing that can keep them apart is the thing that brought them together: Shay’s plans of revenge against someone who wronged his clan and family years before—Spencer’s father.

About the author J.L. Fynn: J.L. Fynn is the public face of a private identity. She enjoys making up stories about iniquitous heroes, providing Delphic answers to unasked questions, and obfuscating the truth just for laughs. But then, what’s an author but a professional liar? If you send her an email she might let you in on her little secret—assuming she likes your moxie.

J.L. Fynn on Goodreads 

J.L. Fynn on Twitter

J.L. Fynn on Facebook

J.L. Fynn on the web

Join in on the buzz! 

The Long Game is looking for readers and bloggers for the upcoming book blog tour October 7th – October 20th!

Sign up to join in on the buzz surrounding The Long Game!

Cover Reveal -- Found in You

I am beyond delighted to share a second cover reveal with you this week!

And it's hot.

So hot.

Behold the lovely Laurelin Paige's cover--designed by fabulous Sophia Bleu--for Found in You:

And trust me, the story is just as sizzling as the cover, maybe even more so.

Add it on Goodreads!

So here's the official stuff...

Title: Found in You (Fixed, #2)

Author: Laurelin Paige

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: Adult

Cover designed by: Sophia Bleu

Expected release date: Oct. 1, 2013

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Description:

Alayna Withers has only had one kind of relationship: the kind that makes her obsessive and stalker-crazy. Now that Hudson Pierce has let her into his heart, she’s determined to break down the remaining walls between them so they can build a foundation that’s based on more than just amazing sex. Except Hudson’s not the only one with secrets.

With their pasts pulling them into a web of unfounded mistrust, Alayna turns to the one person who knows Hudson the best—Celia, the woman he almost married. Hoping for insight from someone who understands all sides of the story, Alayna forms a bond with Celia that goes too far—revealing things about Hudson that could end their love for good.

This is the first relationship where Alayna hasn’t spiraled out of control. And she might lose Hudson anyway…

About the Author

Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Mad Men and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Adam Levine. She is represented by the wonderful Bob Diforio of D4EO Literary Agency.

Author social media links:

Facebook   Goodreads   Twitter   Pinterest

And there's a giveaway!

      1 $25 Gift Certificate

 5 Advanced Reader Copies of Found in You (Fixed, #2)

 5 e-copies of Fixed on You (Fixed, #1)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Speak Low Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

The day is here and I get to share with you the gorgeous cover of Speak Low, the sequel to Speak Easy!

My designer, Tom Barnes, did a fantastic job matching the feel of the second cover to the first, don't you think? I love looking at them together!

So who is it? ;)

My Speak Easy readers (and oh, how I love you) can probably tell you where the boy is supposed to be, but even they disagree on WHO it is...you'll have to read the book to see!

The release date is set for November 4th, 2013.

Here's the book description, although this may change slightly...

We always want what we can’t have.

Tiny O’Mara is tired of living in a world where men make all the rules. After bootlegging enough whiskey to free her father from the DiFiore crime family, twenty-year old Tiny is determined to gain her independence.

But it’s going to cost her.

Her alliance with sultry Enzo DiFiore is based more on their explosive chemistry than loyalty or trust. But she’s promised him some information that will help him take revenge on The River Gang, and when he offers her a job, an apartment, and the prospect of nights spent together where anything goes, she can’t refuse—which only puts her further in his debt.

She needs gorgeous childhood pal Joey Lupo to help her again—when they’re not at each other’s throats, they make a good team, and her attraction for him is becoming impossible to deny. But after she rejects his offer to leave town together, he’s tempted to let her fend for herself.

As Enzo’s need for possession and power escalate and her feelings for Joey deepen, Tiny realizes her mistakes. She just hopes she gets the chance to fix them before it’s too late.


Add it on Goodreads!

And here's the giveaway...



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Cheers,
Melanie

Announcing Team Harlow!

Whether you're Team Enzo or Team Joey, I want you on Team Harlow! 

I'm gathering a tiny (haha) street team this week to help me promote Speak Easy and Speak Low. 


In return you'll get free ARCs, swag, eBooks or signed copies for giveaways, and my eternal devotion. I will also buy you a drink should we ever meet in person! 


I'm keeping the team small for now, so email me at melanieharlowwrites@gmail.com or message me on Facebook if you'd like to be included.

Or you can comment below with your email address and I will get in touch!

Thank you!

Cheers,
Melanie

Cover Shenanigans

OK, OK. I heard you.

You missed the girl with the red lips and the sexy blue-eyed stare and the Prohibition-era feel.

I missed her too. So I brought the old cover back.

It was actually really nice to hear from so many people who--very kindly, I will add...yay for manners and civility--said they "got" why I thought I should change the cover but preferred the original version.

And I agree. The original cover is less overtly sexy, but I think it does a good job of giving a potential reader the feel of the book and a look at the main character. From the moment I first saw that photo, I knew I'd found my Tiny.

So she's back! And pretty soon, the cover for the sequel, Speak Low, will be revealed.

There may be abs involved...

Cheers!