Cover Models

Do you remember when Fabio graced the cover of romances? You couldn’t walk past the bookstore without seeing his chiseled face or his long hair blowing in the wind. 

             

There’s a new man now gracing the covers of my favorite books. Over 3,000 covers as of this month, to be more specific. His name is Jimmy Thomas. And he is, in a word, gorgeous! Absolutely! Oh, be still my heart.

           

 Not only is he stunning with his dark hair and dark eyes, and those muscles! Oh my! But he’s also a very nice man. I had the pleasure of meeting him last year at the Chocolate Affair in Glendale, Arizona, and what struck me more than his obvious good looks (did I mention muscles?) was his graciousness and kindness. He posed, with humor and infinite patience, with giggling young girls as well as giggling older ladies (myself included).

           

 In my opinion, a man can be drop dead gorgeous, but if he doesn’t have the other things we look for---kindness, humor, patience----he isn’t what we’re looking for, isn’t quite complete. Again, in my opinion, Jimmy Thomas is everything we women want….and more. The whole package. The real deal. And doesn’t he look just fabulous on the covers of those romances we love so well?

Don't remember those covers? Then check him out on his website  http://www.romancenovelcovers.com/

As always, happy reading (and drooling over those covers)

Marie

Romance Novel Cover Art

I was in my local grocery store the other day (well, I’m in there all the time, it seems) but I cruised by the book selection like I always do. You know me…even though my TBR pile is huge and threatening to overwhelm my house, I still need to see who has a new book out (yes, so I can add to my pile because, you know, I just have to). What caught me this time though, was the cover art on new titles. They’re beautiful. Miniature works of art. 

Take a look at Johanna Lindsey’s “When Passion Rules.” I love this cover. He is turned away from us and we don’t see his face so it gives me the opportunity to visualize the face of anyone I want to complete the picture. 

Take a look at any of Caris Roane’s covers or Jennifer Ashley’s or Kathryne Kennedy’s.  Are these gorgeous or what? 

 I also like covers that just show a picture or symbol, not a model. Amanda Quick’s “Crystal Gardens” is a beautiful cover. So is Nora Roberts’ “The Last Boyfriend” and Sherilyn Kenyon’s “Born of Silence.”

So what about you? What do you like to see on a cover? A handsome man (or just his body)? A beautiful woman? Flowers? A scene from the story?

As always, happy reading!

Marie

           

Choosing A Book - The Goose-bump Factor

How do you choose a book? Or a new author to try? For many of us, this is a very personal matter and we all have our own way. We might read a review and just know, we’d love that story. Or we might get a recommendation from a friend who tells us we have to read this author or this story.

I have taken recommendations from friends and not been disappointed. I might choose a story because the review was fabulous. I do have a long list of favorite authors I regularly read (and have been reading for many, many years) but my own way of choosing a new book or author is something I call the goose-bump factor.

First, the title and cover must strike me enough so that I pick up the book and flip it over. If the blurb on the back gives me goose-bumps, I investigate a little further. When I open the book at random and read a page and the goose-bumps remain, I must buy that book. I’ve been buying books and falling in love with authors for over 35 years this way…..hasn’t steered me wrong yet!

Happy reading!
Marie

Cover Complaint

One of my followers wrote me about a complaint she had regarding some of the historical romance covers. I decided to share her thought and see what you think.

Covers, as a topic of conversation among romance readers, is not a new one. The recent (last 7 years or so) trend of showing only a body without a head, has been discussed numerous times on many blog sites. And the old “clinch” covers are, thankfully, far and few between now. But what this follower takes issue with is the tastefully done historical cover where the hero, heroine, or both is standing proudly against all odds. They appear beautiful, determined, heroic, and . . . modern?

Yes, modern as in present day. I would have to agree. I have seen some of these covers and despite the period costume, there is something too modern about the facial features. Now, who is to say that a particular face hasn’t been around the human race for eons and could very well be historically accurate? But sometimes historically accurate is not enough. If I’m reading a medieval romance and I come across the “f” word, it immediately throws me out of the period. That’s not to say the word did not exist back then because actually it did, but to today’s reader it is a contemporary word.

So, I think perhaps this follower has a point. She said when she sees historical romance covers with modern faces she just can’t get past it and buys a different book. When writers create fiction, their first duty is to suspend your disbelief. If the cover has one thinking “Macy’s” instead of “village market day,” the suspension fails.

Have you ever noticed a historical romance cover with a modern face? Has it bothered you or made you think twice? We’d be interested to know.

Alexis