Ontario Woman Seeks Buyer for 2,000-Book Harlequin Intrigue Collection
Windsor, Ontario – Krystin Golden, a resident of Windsor, Ontario, is attempting to sell her extensive collection of 2,000 Harlequin Intrigue paperbacks as a single lot. Golden, a self-described completist and “neat freak,” has spent three decades amassing the collection, starting with the first title published in 1984 and continuing through the 2,000th published in 2021.
Golden explained that her collecting began somewhat unexpectedly. “It was kind of an unforeseen circumstance,” she said. “I just got hooked on them, and it kept going.” Her collection occupies an entire room in her basement, carefully organized on shelves.
Beyond Romance: The Appeal of Harlequin Intrigue
Golden emphasizes that the Harlequin Intrigue line offers more than just romance. Whereas each novel includes a romantic element, they are also characterized by crime, mystery, and suspense. Harlequin Enterprises, a subsidiary of HarperCollins, describes the line as featuring “action-packed stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
As an example, the novel Assumed Identity features a protagonist with amnesia who must uncover his past while protecting a woman and her daughter.
Golden notes the books are “light reads” with “not a lot of subtext” and that the love scenes are generally “very mild.” She admits to having read approximately two-thirds of the collection.
A Dedicated Following
Taryn Myers, a romance author who publishes under the name Kate Smoak, believes the enduring popularity of Harlequin books stems from their ability to offer escapism. “They allow readers to step outside of their own world and immerse themselves in another one,” Myers said. “They can explore different types of romantic connections, different types of fantasies.”
Myers, the organizer of the Rose City Romance Conference in Chatham, Ontario, acknowledges the appeal of the “happily ever afters” that the genre consistently delivers. “Readers want to see that the character they’ve invested time into ends up with a ‘forever’ moment.”
A Changing Collection
Golden, who is married, stated that her husband built the library room and its shelves for her. She is now looking to repurpose the space for crafting hobbies. She hopes to find a buyer who will appreciate and rehome the collection.