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Because I have also presented the results for the Worst category for three years now (and it is rewarding in its own way), I especially appreciate this category. It’s very nice to read kind and appreciative comments, and words that express love and romance, warmth and happiness, and feelings of hope and redemption. Whether you read Series books or not, as fellow book lovers, I hope these covers bring some of those feelings to you too.
So congratulations to all the nominees no matter which number your cover placed. The top three covers took just over 50% of the votes. Also interesting to note is the top two covers were so close in votes that the winner won by less than a 1% margin over the second place winner. That is really remarkable and so I felt I had to…well, remark on it!
Silhouette Bombshell |
The winner in the 2008 Annual Cover Café Cover Contest Series category is The Medusa Prophecy by Cindy Dees. Harlequin’s now defunct Bombshell line sure went out with a really nice cover! The woman’s face, the mysticism, and the colors carried the day for this cover. Many voters liked the up-closeness of it.
Dierdre: “Evokes a sense of mystery and wonder. The Bombshell logo is nice and discrete and doesn't detract from the cover art.” Zola: “This cover is different from most series covers and makes me think that the story will also be original and unpredictable. The heroine looks adventurous and capable; the Northern Lights suggest an unusual location, and the colors are different too (lack of red tones). It makes me think of a science fiction novel. I'd pick it up to find out more.” Judy: “I don't read series books but I would seriously think about picking this one up. Loved the icy look in the background and on her profile, as well as the Medusa-like snakes of her hair flowing in the breeze. Very cool!” cmndrs: “There's a mystical quality about the cover which supports the title, emphasized by the model's hair wafting upward.” Denise: “Very intriguing cover with the icy overtones and what looks like runes floating in the air.” |
Coming in second, in an almost-tie, is Flyboy by Karen Foley. This was a fun cover, and oh boy, did the comments get wild and colourful and I wish I had a dollar for every yum/yummy and hot/smokin’/hunk/wow that I read. Some voters were hoping he would fly to their home and others were won over by the tagline innuendo (Some maneuvers require special handling…). No matter how tasteful covers become, or how sweet or pretty or elegant they become, there will always be a faction of voters who love their boy toys! Julie: “Oh, my word...why not? He's hot. We've got the whole airplane/phallic symbol going on...what's not to love?” Courtney: “I read series romance because it's fast, sexy, and only has to hold my attention long enough to give me a little thrill. This guy absolutely fits the bill. This cover isn't complicated and a man like that taking off his clothes would definitely give me a little thrill.” Sheila Rae: “Hunks always get my vote.” Carol: “Sorry, a man in uniform will always get my vote.” Ashley: “It's a hot man getting undressed - it doesn't get better than that.” Chantal: “Well, duh, I want to lick him all over.” Ellen: “He looks absolutely delicious, totally ripped and ready to be consumed whole.” Personally, I love this cover and would have voted for it if I hadn’t loved one other a little bit more, but what I really love are comments like the ones below which show that covers are important and that this contest showcases that fact. Livia: “I bought this book based on the cover alone.” Dee: “Yes, I have bought books based just on the cover; this is one.” Michelle: “Because sometimes I do buy a book because I like the cover.” Kris: “He is sexy and I bought the book because of the cover.” |
Harlequin Blaze |
Harlequin Everlasting Love |
The Night We Met by Tara Taylor Quinn is another fabulous cover and is our third place winner. Nostalgia, youth and innocence is what this cover evokes and our voters were all on board with that! And, of course, the pinky-link drove it into the station!
Kate: “I looked at this one first, and it was my obvious choice over all the others. This is just a beautiful cover, and warmed me from the beginning. There's something so innocent and beautiful about holding hands, and the way these are just barely joined...it's lovely.” Elizabeth: “It's so cute and sweet and tender, and such a refreshing change from full-frontal make-out-session covers. This is a cover that understands that sometimes less is more.” Jo: “It's different and subtle and suggests a touching, tender, long term relationship.” Cover Café’s Heather: “Just by showing the linked hands, it leaves the couple to your imagination - I like that.” Anne: “Understated, yet the hooking of pinkies shows the same level of intimacy as a hug or kiss would.” |
The next two covers were very close in votes. Even with the top three getting just over half the votes, these two took almost one-fourth of all the votes. Very impressive!
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In fourth place is A Spirit of Christmas by Margot Early. Between the holiday lovers and the dog lovers, this was pretty much a shoo-in! Besides being an absolutely adorable cover!
For instance: LLB of All About Romance: “I'm a sucker for a dog…!” jaq: “…I'm a sucker for anything Christmasy.” It’s also just a real nice, warm, cozy cover. Timothy: “It's a very homey cover. Reminds me of a cozy, sit-by-the-fireplace romance. A very comfortable read.” Davida: “I really get a warm and cozy feeling of the holiday and it makes me want to read the book.” Maria: “Yes, the Christmas spirit wins me over. How could I not vote for that dog? With its simple yet effective use of classic elements, this cover hits all the right notes.” |
Harlequin Everlasting Love |
Harlequin Everlasting Love |
My pick, and the fifth place winner, is Upstairs at Miss Hattie’s by Ken Casper. I like good-looking covers that ask questions and this one really fits. The colors, the setting, the couple, the poses – I want to know who they are, where they are, and what they are to each other. So did a lot of other people.
Lauren: “I love this cover, it has a real 1920s Great Gatsby vibe that you wouldn't expect from a series romance cover. The couple look as if they are having an intriguing conversation and the background looks very European and classic. It's really classy and tasteful and it's refreshing to see something different from the usual cutesy holding hands shots!” Nana: “I think it was an excellent marketing choice to showcase the book's unusual 1930s/1940s setting. I saw this cover and the first thing I thought was, "A Depression romance! Cool!" And on top of that, it's beautifully executed. Looks like a shot from a movie.” Suzannah: “Oh! How often do you see '30s romances? I love her red Marcel wave and dress, and I quite like the look of the hero--ordinary, but strong. It looks like the sun is rising after a long night of dancing and talking, and they both look quietly hopeful. I love it.” Kim: “The scene, the lighting and the pose of the couple really made me want to read this book. It looks unique!” Finally, Lisa from Cover Café thought it was a “Lovely look into the past, without actually being a historical painting.” |
A Secret to Tell You by Roz Denny Fox is the first of the last group of five that were all very close in votes and is the sixth place winner. And if you haven’t been paying attention, Harlequin’s Everlasting Love line has been having some very nice covers. This is the fourth one on this ballot! Anne: “I like the composition of this one, and the way the sky glows. The way she's leaning toward him makes it more interesting than the others because you wonder what she's about to say to him.” Michelle: “It fits well with the line (use of the road and the sunset) and the title. It's cleverly composed with the diagonal road complimenting the heroine's pose of leaning against the hero…” WandaSue: “There is so much love between these two. A nearness, a touch, a gentle stroll at sunset. That's romance.” Lucinda: “Very romantic yet a beautiful alternative to the usual clinch cover.” Cover Café’s Mary Lynne: “Because it's purely and wonderfully romantic. Flyboy is unadulterated beefcake, and great fun because of that, but the phallic jet behind him is a bit too much. This cover gives you wonderful romance, and a sense of real enjoyment and sharing between the couple.” |
Harlequin Everlasting Love |
Harlequin Next |
Our seventh place spot goes to Seeing Is Believing by Kate Austin. With striking colors and wonderful scenery, it was a favorite for the rocking-chair-on-the-porch lovers among us!
Lara: “Who doesn't want that porch, and that view from it?” Paula: “I have always loved moons and stars so that is why I picked this one, plus the "but only if you believe in magic... ".” Carley: “I love this book. The cover only begins to show the depth of this...seeing really is believing.” Stacy: “I like the use of color, the couple doesn't jump out and look "trashy"; looks classy.” Lesa: “This cover helps with the promise of something more than the standard story.” |
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In eighth place is A Touch of Grace by Linda Goodnight. Another scenic entry, the colors pop along the road our far-off couple is walking. Voters who don’t like traditional series covers tend to like this kind of cover.
Shelly: “Despite all the words splashed all over it, it doesn't "say" series romance. And that's a good thing…” limecello: “I love the picture and colors. The font of "Love Inspired" is less thrilling, but overall it's my favorite.” Julie: “It is different, fits the setting of the story, and I have always had a thing for roads or paths in pictures. Something symbolic about them.” Shauna: “I don't even read [Inspirational] Romance, but this cover is far more appealing than the others.” |
Steeple Hill |
Steeple Hill |
Steeple Hill |
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Next to the last, in ninth place, we have Shadows of Truth by Sharon Mignerey. This is a different look for this ballot in that it is obviously a murder/mystery/suspense story. The cover has bold colors and a menacing appeal for our voters who love romantic suspense.
Lisa Marie: “Again, the use of vivid color is striking. The open window and drapery blowing and use of shadows evoke the type of book.” Simone: “I like how the flowers are in contrast to the suspenseful feel.” Debra: “It makes me wonder what is going on so I would buy it to find out.” And Marsha just wants to know, “What happened?” |
From This Day Forward by Irene Hannon comes in tenth place, but with all the romance covers published in 2007, this is no small accomplishment. Here we have the typical wedding symbolization which is something that appeals to yet another group of our voters!
Angie: “Every girl dreams of her wedding day. The lace veil and the flowers are just enjoyable.” Kerstin: “One glance and you know what you’ll get.” Cindy: “Looks inviting, comfortable, maybe a place you've already been.” Clarissa: “Wow, I really wanted to vote for Flyboy too! It hurts not to, but the ghostly headless bride on this cover is too good to overlook.” |
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