Romance By Catherine: Title Help Please!!!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Title Help Please!!!

So here is the deal... I'm going to jump into the world of self publishing a few of my stories. My contemporary and sassy heroines don't all jump back in time. Some of them stay right here in the twenty-first century and don't have one paranormal bone in their body.

As I push my way into the contemporary romance market, I need amazing titles for my books. That's where you come in. I'm going to give you a blurb of the book, give you titles I'm considering, and ask for your feedback. If another title comes to you as you're reading my blurb, shout it out. If I use your title I'll send you a free download of said book when it's published.

Okay, here we go. The working title for this book has been Ten Million Dollar Bride - But I'm not sure that's working for me.

Here is the blurb:

Blake Harrison, the Duke of Albany, needs to secure a bride to inherit the bulk of his father’s fortune. The last thing he wants is any emotional attachment so he hires a match making firm to find a suitable wife for a year. When Sam Elliot turns out to be Samantha Elliot, engaging and spunky with a voice men call 900 numbers to hear, Blake offers her marriage in return for ten million dollars.

 
Samantha is responsible for her younger, disabled sister, and ten million dollars will take financial care of things for years to come. All she needs to do is keep her attraction to her husband to herself and avoid his bed. But Blake’s toe-curling kisses and charm proves too difficult to combat, now she needs to protect her heart so she can walk away when their mercenary life together is over.

Now, here are some title ideas:
 
Ten Million Dollar Bride
Temporary Bride
Temporary Duchess
The Duchess Wore Sweatpants
Bride For Hire
 
 
I need more ideas.

16 comments:

Lauri said...

Okay, so when I read this (and keep in mind my historical western heart) I don't think bride, I think of the gamble they both will be taking. So...that puts me in mind of:
Fortune's Gamble, Gambling on a Bride (getting your bride in there) Ten Million Dollar Gamble, or Hearts Gamble.
Just my two cents. Keep me posted!

Catherine Bybee said...

Very western... but what a twist. My couple does get married in Vegas... so something here might work. Nice, Lauri, thanks for stopping by.

Robin Covington said...

I like "Temporary Duchess", How about 'Duchess for Hire"?

I liked "Duchess in Sweatpants but it is a little too flippant fr the tone of your book.

Crystal Posey said...

I am the worst with titles. Horrible. But since you asked, here's the only one I could come up with.

A Bide's Fortune A Duke's Fall

Can you tell I've been reading categories lately??

Catherine Bybee said...

Robin: Yeah, I like that sweatpants one, too... but agree that it may be a little to campy. Duchess for Hire... hmmm... That might work.

Crystal: This is a category type romance and I like your idea

A Bride's Fortune, A Duke's Fall

Kinda long, but it might work.

Crystal Posey said...

It IS long, and I don't usually like long titles. But like I said, I've been reading category lately. Them titles have a way of sticking in my head.

Unknown said...

Challenging...

I played with some of the words you used in the blurb.

Protected Hearts (since they both want to avoid love)

or

Samatha's Mercenary Duke(both are motivated by the money)


365 Day Dutchess (thought this looked different but I'm not sure about numbers on a cover ??)

Good Luck with your new story. ;o)

Catherine Bybee said...

Does the word Duchess scream Historical Romance? And if it does, how can I give it a contemporary twist?

Mary Ricksen said...

Freelance Duchess!
LOL! Good luck Catherine, I know it will hit you when you hear the right title. Be well!

Unknown said...

Mary: omg! I love Freelance Duchess


Catherine: If you use a sexy modern image for your cover everyone should realize it's contemporary. ;o)

Rebecca J. Clark said...

How exciting!!!

I like someone's suggestion of Duchess for Hire.

Or how about:
Wanted: Duchess
Wanted: Temporary Duchess
Wanted: Wife
Sweatpants and Tiaras
Tennis Shoes and Tiaras
Sneakers and Stilettos

Whatever you choose, it'll be awesome.

Beth Trissel said...

I thought this was a historical at first, even though you'd said it was contemporary. I guess from the duke thing, so I wouldn't use duchess in the title. I don't have any great suggestions but like Million Dollar Bride. Or one of Rebecca's fun ideas...

Kim Smith said...

How about : Bought and Paid For Bride, For Love
Nor Money, All for the Benjamins, A Heart for Cash, and or The Bridal Contract. Good
Luck!! Kim

Catherine Bybee said...

Beth: Yeah, I'm starting to think anything with Duchess in it is going to sound Historical...

Kim: Hmmm, The Bridal Contract - *grin*

Jill James said...

Love the storyline. The Bought Bride. A Bribe for a Bride. A Heart for Hire.

Catherine Bybee said...

UGH... now I'm stuck on these two titles...

Wife by Wednesday

or

Not on the Menu

I've had a couple folks not care for Bride titles - and the Duchess stuff is sounding historical, which it isn't.

I want a title that will MAKE the reader want to read the blurb.