RenameThatBook:ASmartBitchContest

by SB Sarah Thursday, February 21, 2008 at 06:10 AM

Back when I reviewed Julie Cohen’s His For the Taking, also known as Driving Him Wild if you’re in the UK, I mentioned how mildly disappointed I was with the decision to re-title the US issue. Except instead of “mildly disappointed” substitute, “Pissed off and dumbfounded to the degree that there’s a head-shaped dent in my desk.”

A headstrong, tomboy character who drives a freakin’ CAB from the BRONX for Chrissakes gets it on till the break of dawn with a hot Maine park ranger and the US title is… His for the Taking?!

And don’t even get me started on the cover art. Red hot man hands with extra bonus thumb the size of a Yugo? What the almighty crap?

Can you tell it pains me that this book might get skipped over by the average buyer looking for a good category romance because the watered down submissive vanilla flavoring that is the title and cover art have so little to do with the flavorful Mexican vanilla that is the actual book? I’m a little het up, is all I’m saying.

So! Spontaneous contest! I have here a copy of the UK issue of Cohen’s book, with the much hotter and more sexy and genuine cover art.

Ya wannit? Here’s what ya gotta do: come up with a better title than His for the Taking, and post it in the comments. I’m judging because, well, I’ve been crowned Empress for the Day. Feel free to try to sway my judgment by commenting on your favorite. I’m leaving this one open until Friday at 12 noon Eastern, so bring it on. You can use common Harlequin title hook words, or you can go buck wild and pay homage to that freakish red thumb on the US cover. 

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Picture of darlynne darlynne said on...
02.21.08 at 06:42 AM |

Taxi to His Heart
The Ride of His Life
Fare to Love
Take Me There

Get Your Thumb Out of My Eye or I’ll Kick You to the Curb

Sorry, book titles, not country western songs.

Picture of Kristen Kristen said on...
02.21.08 at 06:50 AM |

Thumbs Up For Love
I Break For Love
Junk In The Trunk
Under Her Thumb
She Drives A Hard Bargain
Driven To Distraction
Thumbin’ A Ride
One For The Road
Park This

Picture of snarkhunter snarkhunter said on...
02.21.08 at 06:51 AM |

Taking Him for a Ride
Driving Passion

Picture of snarkhunter snarkhunter said on...
02.21.08 at 06:54 AM |

Oh, and b/c I’m total dork for puns…

Park and Ride?

Picture of lizzy lizzy said on...
02.21.08 at 06:56 AM |

I read this book, and thought it was good fun. I’ll pass on the contest since I already own it, but I can’t resist submitting a title. Harlequin, obviously.

“The cab driving aerobic instructor’s random and irresistible pigeon-rescuing houseguest”

Picture of E.D'Trix E.D'Trix said on...
02.21.08 at 06:58 AM |

Caught Red-handed

Time’s Torrid Taxi

Thumbbody Loves Me

Picture of Eunice Eunice said on...
02.21.08 at 07:00 AM |

The Meter’s Running
The Ranger’s Secret Cabbie
A Sore Savage Thumb

(Okay they’re bad, but for a free book it’s worth trying right?)

Picture of Eeyore9990 Eeyore9990 said on...
02.21.08 at 07:12 AM |

Oh!  Oh!  I know!

“Get In My Cab (And By That I Mean ‘Screw Me Silly, Mr Park Ranger!)”

Picture of darlynne darlynne said on...
02.21.08 at 07:13 AM |

Hailing Love
Bronx Cab Cheer
Metered Man

This is always so much fun and a slippery slope into title awfulness. Once started, it’s very difficult to stop.

Picture of DianeH DianeH said on...
02.21.08 at 07:29 AM |

Law and Order Meets the Cabbie
Love and the Single Cabbie
City of Love (this one is so generic, it just might work!)
* The Urban Jungle (This one might just have that “I’ve gotta get this through both Marketing and Legal” appeal.)
The Heart of the Bronx

Wooo-HOO!

Picture of Castiron Castiron said on...
02.21.08 at 07:59 AM |

Her Wild Ride

His for the Fare (Plus Tip)

Enticed by the Ranger (Who’s Still Not King) [with apologies to Cassie Claire]

Taken for a Ride

Love in a Taxi

(And now I’ve got “She Drives Me Crazy”, Kermit the Frog cover version, going through my head. Sigh.)

(wanted17—yeah, 17 hot park rangers bearing massage oil could go over well right now....)

Picture of Rachel Rachel said on...
02.21.08 at 08:25 AM |

Song-inspired ones:

Love Cab for Cutie
Baby, You Can Drive My Car (beep beep, beep beep, yeah!)

Picture of rebyj rebyj said on...
02.21.08 at 08:34 AM |

Sit And Spin

Smell My Finger

Manicure My Love

Picture of Invisigoth Invisigoth said on...
02.21.08 at 08:40 AM |

Pigeons for Ferrets

The Cabbie’s Park Ranger

The Cabbie, her Park Ranger and his Rescued Pigeon

Bronx Cheer

Picture of Silver James Silver James said on...
02.21.08 at 08:59 AM |

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Wild

Taxicab Confessions

And if I have to vote for someone else’s title, snarkhunter’s “Park and Ride” gets my vote. It made me snort coffee.

Picture of Michelle Michelle said on...
02.21.08 at 09:15 AM |

Taking Him for A Test Drive Down the Highway of Love.

Sorry couldn’t resist

Picture of Freezair Freezair said on...
02.21.08 at 09:23 AM |

Ours for the Snarking?

Sorry. Too early in the morning. I got nothin’ yet.

Picture of Aimee Aimee said on...
02.21.08 at 09:39 AM |

Her Maine Event

A Fare to Remember

She Wore a Yellow Cab (the image is kind of upsetting)

Picture of Elyssa Elyssa said on...
02.21.08 at 09:46 AM |

A Tip for Love
Revvin’ Him Up
The Park Ranger’s Secret Lover
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Bliss
Highway to Desire
Red Means Stop, Green Means Oh Yes
Breaking for Business
Backseat Lovin’

Picture of rebyj rebyj said on...
02.21.08 at 09:47 AM |

Aimee’s “A Fare to Remember” gets my vote! LOL

Picture of RStewie RStewie said on...
02.21.08 at 10:24 AM |

Thanks for the Ride

The Ride of His Life

Taming the Bonx Cabbie

Hot Cabbie Love

Escapades of a Cabbie

Under His Thumb

pick me pick me!!

Picture of Cat Marsters Cat Marsters said on...
02.21.08 at 10:25 AM |

Ride Me, Ranger
I’m Mainey, Ride Me

(Okay, 10cc style pun there not working so well)

Or, if we’re looking for Harlequin Tombola-style titles...I got nothin’.  No babies, mistresses, marriages, tycoons, millionaires… Bedded By The Bronx Babe is the best I can do!

Picture of RStewie RStewie said on...
02.21.08 at 10:26 AM |

oh, my bad!  w/d The Ride of His Life!

ha! Easy67...why not hard69??

Picture of Krystn Krystn said on...
02.21.08 at 10:26 AM |

All’s Fare in Love and War

My Fare Cabby

Away in a Ranger

The Maine Event

north12

Picture of AnimeJune AnimeJune said on...
02.21.08 at 10:28 AM |

All’s Fare In Love and War

That’s all I got.

Picture of Maggie Robinson Maggie Robinson said on...
02.21.08 at 10:34 AM |

Her Maine Squeeze
Her Maine Man
Pink Cadillac (the mountain at Acadia Nat’l Park in Maine---oh, nevermind)
Uptown Girl, Downhome Boy
Maniacs Do It Better
The Long Ranger

(and I live in Maine, which says it’s Vacationland on my car plates)

Picture of Eirin Eirin said on...
02.21.08 at 10:37 AM |

I’m rooting for Kristen’s (post 06:50 AM) “Thumbin’ A Ride”

Has it all, that title does ;>

Picture of Marcia in OK Marcia in OK said on...
02.21.08 at 11:10 AM |

The Meter’s Running

Picture of Ziggy Ziggy said on...
02.21.08 at 11:28 AM |

Lizzy’s contribution - “The cab driving aerobic instructor’s random and irresistible pigeon-rescuing houseguest” - makes me want to read this book RIGHT NOW.

Picture of LadyRhian LadyRhian said on...
02.21.08 at 11:35 AM |

“Get Out of My Cab (Get into my Bed)”

“Free Ride”

“Sex Cab”

“The Brooklynite Cabbie’s Hot Maine Ranger Lover”

“Playing Fare”

“Shocks and Ahhh!”

Picture of Yvonne Yvonne said on...
02.21.08 at 11:50 AM |

Hey Maggie, shouldn’t it be
‘Uptown Girl, Downeast Boy’

and talking about Maine:
‘Bangor Boy’

and Krystn, it should be
‘Away ON a Ranger’

Heh, thats funny.

I liked Rachel’s contribution:
‘Baby, You Can Drive My Car’ (beep beep, beep beep, yeah!)

Picture of Wry Hag Wry Hag said on...
02.21.08 at 11:58 AM |

Front-Seatin’ It

Ploot, Sweat and Smegma

Is That My Thumb Up Your Ass?

Pigeon Hole

Ranger Randy’s Really Rambunctious Ride

Anita Blake’s Day Job

Rode Hard and Put Away Smelling Like Whore-Skirt Vinyl

Picture of Heidi Heidi said on...
02.21.08 at 12:04 PM |

Shouldn’t it be

Caught Red-thumbed?

ED’Trix?

How About

He’s Got a Ticket to Ride?

or has someone else already got that one? I can’t remember, brain freeze

And why is there a pigeon mixed up in all of this? (am afraid to ask)

Picture of Ahem Ahem said on...
02.21.08 at 12:24 PM |

“A Fare to Remember” has my vote.

Picture of Wry Hag Wry Hag said on...
02.21.08 at 12:30 PM |

Thumbday We’ll Be Together

Baby, You Can Ride My Thumb

Pigeon Ho’

(I ain’t finished ‘til somebody slaps me!)

Picture of megalith megalith said on...
02.21.08 at 12:33 PM |

Cabbie vs. Ranger: LoveMatch

Picture of Andrea Andrea said on...
02.21.08 at 12:44 PM |

Driving Stick :)

Picture of muguet muguet said on...
02.21.08 at 12:58 PM |

Hers for the Fucking.

(There.  Turning the tables on the US publishers’ idea.)

Picture of megalith megalith said on...
02.21.08 at 01:02 PM |

Crouching Pigeon, Hidden Lobster?

(Hey, it’s better than Crouching Cabbie, Hidden Salami, which is what first came to mind!)

Picture of Angelina Angelina said on...
02.21.08 at 01:46 PM |

How about

Taxi Driver 2: This time the cabbie rides you

Put it in my trunk… your luggage, dumbass!

Let me rotate your tires oh cabbie of my dreams!

Picture of The Vintage Reader The Vintage Reader said on...
02.21.08 at 01:48 PM |

Aimee gets my vote (yeah, I know, I don’t actually HAVE a vote, since I’m not Empress for the Day) for “A Fare to Remember.”

Picture of theladyferris theladyferris said on...
02.21.08 at 01:49 PM |

This Cab Ain’t Big Enough For The Two Of Us And Your Unnaturally Large Biceps

Picture of Nessa Nessa said on...
02.21.08 at 01:54 PM |

Driven to Love
My Other Vanilla Lingerie Is In The Trunk
The Key To His Heart: Locked in the glovebox

Okay, these may not all be perfectly serious, but at least it’s not laden with those gross overtones. Seriously, ‘His For the Taking’?

Picture of Poison Ivy Poison Ivy said on...
02.21.08 at 02:05 PM |

Okay, this one’s a classic that I am shocked no else posted yet:

Love for Hire

Picture of Josie Josie said on...
02.21.08 at 02:06 PM |

I’ll add ‘The Park Ranger’s Taxi Driver Lover’. Yeah, it’s pretty ordinary!

Personally I’d like to see anything by WryHag win…

‘Rode Hard and Put Away Smelling Like Whore-Skirt Vinyl’

Brilliant. And far less offensive than ‘His for the Taking’ ;-)

Picture of SonomaLass SonomaLass said on...
02.21.08 at 02:44 PM |

Endorsing ideas that others posted first:

A Fare to Remember

and

Thumbin’ a Ride

Picture of Shiin Shiin said on...
02.21.08 at 04:05 PM |

I’m loving ‘A Fare to Remember.’

Picture of Kris Kris said on...
02.21.08 at 04:35 PM |

His Wild Ride

One Hot Ride

(Man)Hands Off

Picture of RandomRanter RandomRanter said on...
02.21.08 at 05:41 PM |

That’s Mr. Crazy to You
Making Him a Crazy Man
One Hot Taxi Ride

Although I must say, I am adoring “Fare to Remember” and “The cab driving aerobic instructor’s random and irresistible pigeon-rescuing houseguest”

Picture of Danni Danni said on...
02.21.08 at 05:41 PM |

i’m thinking that “A Ride To Remember” would be a more fitting title for this story.

Picture of smartmensab-tch smartmensab-tch said on...
02.21.08 at 06:51 PM |

I vote for “Thumbody loves me.” I don’t know why, but this seems uproariously funny to my severely sleep-deprived brain (due to insomnia, AKA My Personal Hell.)

Picture of charity charity said on...
02.21.08 at 08:39 PM |

My vote is for:

Is That My Thumb Up Your Ass?

I almost choked on my banana.  - I meant that literally but what a great title for an auto-erotic novel.

Picture of talpianna talpianna said on...
02.21.08 at 11:44 PM |

I’m really torn between A FARE TO REMEMBER and THE RIDE OF HIS LIFE, both of which are not only clever but would actually help sell the book.

Picture of gin gin said on...
02.22.08 at 05:58 AM |

The Pigeon Fancier’s Independent Cab Driver Who Doesn’t Want To Be Anyone’s Anything Thank You Very Much

The Thumbstruck Park Ranger

Thumb Enchanted Evening

Hey, You, Get Outa My Cab

Picture of Lorelie Lorelie said on...
02.22.08 at 07:08 AM |

My vote’s tied between “Park and Ride” and “A Fare to Remember.”

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