Taggerts + Montgomeries = <3
How did I not know until this very moment that Mattel once put out a collectors’ edition Barbie & Ken as characters from Jude Deveraux’s The Raider?
Why did no one tell me this??? And, more importantly, why has no one thought to gift me with this AMAZING thing???
First, I do not hide the fact that Jude Deveraux is one of the writers (if not, THE writer) who made me want to be a romance novelist…and The Raider, starring Jessica Taggert and Alexander Montgomery in a Scarlet Pimpernel style spy story/romance/old school AWESOMENESS, is one of my favorites of hers (after The Black Lyon, which I will be discussing in detail in September).
But…but…Ken as Alex!!! Barbie as Jessica!!! I mean…SERIOUSLY?
Seriously. And check out this description!!
This giftset features Barbie® and Ken® dolls as romance novel characters. Barbie® doll wears a violet blue dress that falls off her shoulders with a neckline trimmed in white lace and the violet blue taffeta bodice is boned and fitted. It laces up the front in lilac satin ribbon to finish in a bow just under the bust. An overskirt of periwinkle chiffon is pulled up at the left hip to reveal a very full underskirt of violet blue floral jacquard. A sash of teal iridescent chiffon falls around the edge of the overskirt. A small bouquet of lilac and white flowers covers the area where the two chiffon fabrics come together. She has long blond tousled hair. Ken® doll has long brown windswept hair. He is wearing a sheer white cotton shirt and tight black pants accented with a black belt. Black knee high cuffed and buckled boots complete his ruggedly handsome look.
I have so many questions!! How did Mattel decide to make a romance novel collectors’ edition? Is Ken wearing makeup? Why is Ken trademarked?! Do men the world over have to pay rights on their name? How did they choose The Raider? And did Jude plotz when she heard about this (for the record, I would totally plotz)?
But, most importantly, why is this not still a thing?? Why can’t I get Barbies of Devil & Honoria, or Josie & Mayne, or Fallon & Dominic?!? Then I could invite my friends over and we could PLAY BARBIES. WITH DEVIL CYNSTER (Aside: You can bet I’ll be taking off all of Ken’s clothes on that one).
UPDATE: Yes. Ken is wearing makeup! *And* he appears to have a 5 o’clock shadow! Who says Barbies are unrealistic! This is totally how romance heroes look! Check out this glamour shot!
Ok, readers…here’s the question…if you could have ANY romance novel couple in doll form, who would it be? And would there be special features or props that the dolls would need to have? Tell me in comments!
August 5th, 2011 at 10:59 am
Play Barbies with Devil Cynster? OMG, that would be the highlight of my life. I had no idea either. I so want Devil & Honoria and Josie & Mayne. That would be so awesome.
Thank you for pointing this out!
August 6th, 2011 at 10:36 am
I’m absolutely with you, Jen. Devil & Honoria barbies for the win.
August 5th, 2011 at 11:15 am
The couple from Loretta Chase’s Lord of Scoundrels, please! http://amzn.to/nNHZZo
August 6th, 2011 at 10:37 am
ooooh….good one, Teresa! I love the idea of that dark brute of a Ken! And of course, heroine comes equipped with a pistol!
August 5th, 2011 at 11:40 am
OMG, that was so funny . I would love to have this Ken too. Have you seen the Archeron doll? http://www.darkhunterdolls.com/Articles.asp?ID=150
I would want a Bones and Barrons doll and let’s not forget the whole Black Dagger Brotherhood!!! I would want them to have their weapons. And sound, you press the button and get some of their favorite phrases like “say my name!” ;)
August 6th, 2011 at 11:00 am
LOL Sharon…It’s so funny you say that….I was going to add Rhage/Mary to that list above!!
August 5th, 2011 at 11:56 am
perfect, i love barbie ^^
August 6th, 2011 at 8:59 am
I would definitely like a Mayne doll. (Perhaps Josie, too, but I think she’d end up staying in a box somewhere most of the time… But then, that would be true of just about any female Barbie I had.) Though I would adore a Villiers barbie even more.
Personally, I’d love some Georgette Heyer dolls. (The Duke of Avon, please? And page!Leonie, too.)
Or Georgian Barbies, in general.
And by Fallon and Dominic, do you mean from Sins of a Wicked Duke? You have the link wrong ^^;
August 6th, 2011 at 9:03 am
Hah, in my world, every romance author would get their own barbie hero and heroine each time they published a new book. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?
I can’t think of a particular romance novel couple I would want to see as barbies, but I would love it if they made barbies of some of Jane Austen’s characters. I really can’t believe they haven’t done that yet (of at least Darcy and Eliza).
And this is slightly off topic, but I wish the Sims creators would make a Regency theme Sims game. That would be so fun!
August 6th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
I think Mattel should introduce Julia Quinn’s Bridgertons (and their respective spouses…and kids.) Not only could they make mega $$$ off the Barbie and Ken dolls, but everyone could get in on the act. Perhaps Skipper as a young Hyacinth. And Barbie’s youngest siblings, Todd and Stacie, could make an appearance as Eloise’s step children. It could go on forever!
P.S. to Sarah–You could drop broad hints to the right parties that Christmas is less than five months away, and The Raider Barbie & Ken dolls are available on EBay.
August 6th, 2011 at 7:56 pm
LOL, LOL. I laughed so hard about Devil Cynster, but after those loves scenes how could you not! We all know what Devil’s special features would be :) LOL.
I would TOTALLY buy these! I didn’t know they existed either. Don’t they know romance readers are obsessive like this?
As far as who else I would like to see as Barbie & Ken…any of Elizabeth Hoyt’s Princes trilogy novels would be good, but I think my ultimate would be a Jamie and Claire Outlander set…*squee* Jamie is my most favorite hero ever!
August 7th, 2011 at 6:48 pm
I would want Zhadist and Bella (JR Ward) and Sam and Alyssa (Suzanne Brockmann) box sets…and I would totally strip Zhadist…..
August 8th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
LOL Tia…You’re not the only one who would check out what was underneath Zhadists leather pants. ;)
August 7th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Hello Sarah!
First of all i absolutely loooove your books! And yes, my name is really Juliana, really!
Im pretty far away from NYC, im in Brazil, but i do read your blog all the time! Internet is truly an amazing thing!
My fav barbie and ken would be classic oldschool Judith Mcnaught stuff, like Whitney and Clayton Westmoreland, i mean, Please! How great would that be??
Xoxo
Juliana
August 8th, 2011 at 8:55 am
Evie and Sebastian from “Devil in Winter” would be lovely. *swoons*
August 8th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Oooh…Antonia…that’s a GREAT addition!
August 13th, 2011 at 1:15 am
Thank you Sarah for sharing this with us!!! Who would have known?
As you mention Mayne & Josie I have this ache in my heart, I miss them terribly and will probably go back to devouring it once again.
But as for the “doll business”, I have to root for Wulfric Bedwyn (Duke of Bewcastle from Mary Balogh’s Slightly Dangerous). Out of all the Dukes, he tops the list. He’s everything I imagine a high profile duke should be.
If they make a doll of him they MUST have his quizzing glass as a prop.
And of course, easy access to removing all the clothes. Where’s the fun in doll playing when you can’t undress them right?
August 14th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
LOL. I can’t think of any characters right now. my friend who works at mattel got this set and gone with the wind for me. hes freaking hilarious and knows i love romances so he sent with it “to my best friend. the naughty girl who skips to the sex scenes.” (for his bday i gave him a box of old playboys with a very similar note)
@Liz…believe me they’ve had requests. my friends brother writes/programs Sims and I bug the bejezus out of him to do it. although he did put his own sister in it. ugh.