Sunday, December 22, 2019
The Books of 2019: Lovely Romance Covers
If I’m going to complain about book covers, I should also point out ones I love. Luckily, I’ve got way more covers I liked than ones I hated.
The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics (2019) Olivia Waite
Avon Impulse
Although I kinda wish the two had been doing stuff–like looking at the stars and embroidery, it’s still pretty and quite good.
One of the things I like is that this is sweet and romantic, and yeah, they’re about to smooch, but it’s not all chests and thighs and clothes coming off.
It’s obviously two women in a romantic relationship, but right here they’re enjoying being with each other and the cover doesn’t scream to me CLOTHES ARE ABOUT TO BE RIPPED OFF.
Plus, the red! The red coverings and red dresses are gorgeous, and everything looks so soft and touchable and it looks like it would be comforting to run your hand along the silk and satin and just lovely.
Can’t Escape Love (2019) Alyssa Cole
Avon Impulse
I want to find whoever made this cover and give them all the chocolate and gold stars.
It’s sweet and fun and is a precise representation of the characters and it is ALL THE SQUEE!
ahem.
I really like this cover.
Mrs. Martin’s Incomparable Adventure (2019) Courtney Milan
Courtney Milan
LOOK AT THIS COVER! LOOK AT IT!
It’s a GORGEOUS older woman looking completely comfortable in her skin and happy to be who she is.
It is MARVELOUS!
And it’s SELF-PUBLISHED. Yeah, it lacks some of the qualities of an expensive cover, BUT I DON’T CARE.
Because it’s absolutely lovely.
Whiteout (2017) Elyse Springer
Riptide
This cover is just gorgeous.
I enjoy looking at it–I wouldn’t be mad at all if this was art in a waiting room.
But it also matches the story and the title perfectly. It opens in winter, with the characters snowed in, and the cover looks like a snowstorm where the colors are washed out of the world.
Beautiful.
Counting on a Countess (2018) Eva Leigh
Avon
Although there are parts of this cover that aren’t my thing, the colors here are so striking and so pretty–I keep coming back to look at it.
A Holiday By Gaslight (2018) Mimi Matthews
Perfectly Proper Press
Not only is this a pretty cover, it actually pretty accurately depicts events in the book without being specific and giving something away.
She wears a rich colored red dress on several occasions, the house has gaslights (which are important to the story) and the go out into the woods (in the snow) to collect branches of pine and holly and mistletoe for the Christmas party.
And I love the way her name follows the curve of the hem of her dress.
Very lovely!
Much to my shock, Avon Impulse wins this round.
