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Jo-Ann Walmsley - Commentary |
Many of the voters who submitted comments in the Series category stated how pleased they were with the covers represented in the ballot this year and how hard it was to choose their favorite one. Because of the great number published each year, Series romance novels are typically the most nominated and this category is known for having a great number of similar covers. Therefore it’s especially exciting when a cover of note is created and published. And when one comes through that is creative, artistic, evocative and unusual – well, readers speak with their votes, which happened in the case of our first place winner.
Harlequin Next |
Come October was the winner by a huge margin. It received almost twice as many votes (mine included!) as the second place winner and voters really liked the creative use of color, imagery and perspective. Art Departments take note! AAR’s Anne was one voter who liked the whole ballot and had a hard time with her decision. But “This one is just cool -- and it was a tough choice. There are finally some great series covers. (I actually like these better than the contemporary romance covers, which were kind of plain this year.)” Autumn lovers spoke up. April wrote, “This one is much better than the others to me - it seems uncluttered (no side banners, etc.) and is eye-catching and beautiful. The complementary colors set each other off perfectly, and the corner perspective adds depth. Autumn is my favorite season, and this cover seems to capture the brisk feeling of that time.” Susan added, “ Another fairly monochromatic cover that I like. Having lived in New England for several years, I get nostalgic for the turning leaves when autumn comes, another reason I liked the cover. Plus I think the way the leaves float diagonally across the frame is attractive.” One of the ideas this cover inspired was the hint of changes to come. Cover Café’s Elaine liked the “Bold fall colors, lots of movement in the blowing leaves, suggesting that change really can happen in the blink of an eye.” Jules agreed, “I love the empty room being filled up with something "new" that the fall brings.” Drouga also thought, “…the open window suggests an adventure or change that enticed me to pick it up.” And isn’t that what the cover is supposed to do? Clearly Come October won in that department as well. |
Only fourteen votes separated the next seven covers, taking us from second to eighth place, which indicates a universal appeal for most of the covers in this group. Second place goes to The Last Time I Saw Venice. This cover features an indistinct, distant couple in the midst of an artistic piece which appealed to many voters, including Cover Café’s Linnae: “I love the mood on this cover and I love romance covers that feature a couple relating. It reminded me of a Monet painting.” Jean also liked the painting on the cover: “…it looks like something you'd see in a gallery and goes well with the title” while Sandra was “…glad that artists are coming up with some good ideas about posing couples. This is great! You know they could have gone with the whole couple sitting in a gondola [thing] but that would have been a cliché, - this is so romantic and artistic. Again, it looks like a real painting.” Karen just yearned to visit the city itself: “I love Venice! This lets you know you're going to enjoy a trip to an exotic place. Who doesn't want that?” Shari apparently wanted it a lot because she had just visited Venice and chose the cover because it brought back wonderful memories of a wonderful place. How jealous are we? Very! |
Silhouette Special Edition |
Silhouette Intimate Moments |
Secrets of the Wolf came in third. A few of the covers in this group had a very gothic look about them – many voters thought this cover was eerie and mysterious. Most everyone loved the red roses against all that monochromatic blue and one voter loves the chill she gets from a cemetery! Amelia thought it was an excellent representation of the paranormal – Sarah feels the “wolf” motif has been overdone, but she likes it anyway! Many people mentioned that they would pick up this book to look at in a store – Cynthia was one of them: “No contest here, this is erotic, scary and evocative and captures you. I could not walk past this in a store without picking it up.” Cindy actually bought it: “The face of the wolf overlooking the cemetery intrigued me. Add the brightness of the roses - I had to get this book.” I’d like to think Karyn bought it too “… It makes me want to buy this novel, lock myself up with a quilt and some tea in a big stuffed armchair and enjoy all the suspense and hints...Whose tombstone is this? Who put the roses there? Are there some werewolves? Perfect!” |
| There was a tie for fourth and fifth place – that’s how close this middle group of books was! |
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Ghost Horse Voters were drawn to the atmospheric and haunting mystery of the cover. And the horse lovers spoke up too! Cora: “A very spooky and highly evocative cover. Another plus is that the color scheme of the image matches the colors of the series banner, which can clash horribly. In general, this is a surprisingly good selection of series covers.” Caroline: “The ghostly horse on the water, under the full moon, reminds me of folktale ghost stories. Very atmospheric and beautiful!” Jillian: “It makes me think of magic and mystery and the things that fill us with awe.” Kristie: “I don't think that Harlequin gets enough credit for their great covers. This was a hard one to choose as so many of them are very good. I ended up choosing this one because of the ghost-like appearance of the horse and the haunting quality of the whole cover. This is a book I could see me buying based on the cover." |
Harlequin Intrigue |
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Under the Tycoon’s Protection Oh my. I wish we could get three votes – this would have been one of mine. Normally, I don’t like “couple” covers, but this one is beyond the usual – it’s exquisite. A lot of other people thought so too and their comments were filled with interpretations and suppositions and were little mini-novels in themselves! Malvina dreamed, “Oh, to be the heroine, wearing the stunning red dress and dancing in the handsome hero's arms! He's looking down at her with a slightly hungry, yet tender expression. All attention on her. Very focused! Sigh... She's holding herself away from him a little bit - note her torso's bending slightly backwards - as though she's not quite so sure of him or his intentions. Or maybe she can't trust her own emotions? All I can say is, from this picture, there's *no doubt* what his intentions are! As soon as they get off the dance floor, somewhere more private, he's going to zero in for at least a kiss. I'd buy this book for the cover alone. Very romantic.” Nikki wrote, “Doesn't the hero here look as if he could just dance for a long time, that he is happy just holding her and watching her face? Her hairdo is really elegant without being boring. The back of her dress is low enough that he can put his hand on her and feel warm skin. And finally, did he give her that bracelet? I have to get this book now. And isn't that the whole purpose of the cover?” Nana also appreciated the artistic interpretation of the cover. “A dancing/embrace cover has to be the hardest thing in the world to do well, and my hat is off to whoever this artist is for finally getting it right. It's sexy, not awkward, and the look on the hero's face is just mmmmmmm! The overhead angle is a nice change. Is it a romantic starlit patio? Is it a glamorous ballroom? Are there other couples? Who cares? In a dance like this, if you're noticing anything other than the person you're with, you're totally missing the point. Kudos to Tycoon for reminding us of that.” |
Silhouette Desire |
Harlequin Superromance |
In sixth place, we have Forgiveness. This cover tells a story and has everyone wanting to know what happened. Actually, it’s not so much telling a story as it is raising questions. I can pick out ten from a single glance – twenty once I study it. If I’d been able to have a second choice, this would have been it! Besides the interesting portrayal, the colors and composition are excellently rendered. Cover Café’s Mary Lynne likes it “Because it sucks me into the story. I want to know the story of that woman and that child, and I want to know what the forgiveness is all about! The image asks more questions than answers them, and that's really neat.” Sonia empathizes with the woman on the cover. “This one screams "the return of the prodigal daughter". You can clearly see her faltering footsteps and her uncertainty about the welcome awaiting her.” Agatha stated it very simply. “Hope, despair, and home are all conveyed to me in this cover.” Even voters like Kate, who don’t particularly like people on covers, were won over by the feelings evoked by the picture, “Normally I'm not a fan of figures, but this one just jumps out at me. There's regret, timidity, and a wealth of sadness in the cover, but the path they're on leads into the sunlight, towards a break in the clouds, and the title suggests a happy ending is possible. Evocative and heart wrenching.” |
Intimate Knowledge took seventh place - mainly because of the eyes in the background. Voters were drawn into them and found them very sexy. But Sandra was surprised at first: “It took me a second to see the eyes in the background -- then boom, I felt the intimacy. Quite an impact!” And Jessica felt it was sexy but not cliché. Karla really liked the lighting and composition: “I like the way they've managed to get the hair texture looking right and how the moon is almost the ghost's eye.”
Some voters liked the very different look to the cover.
Kimberly said it was “Striking! Doesn't even look like series
and that's a BIG plus!!” and Heather liked it because
“…it's the anti-category, category
cover.” |
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Harlequin Superromance |
Harlequin Intrigue |
Harlequin Superromance |
| The
last of the group so close in numbers is A Year and a Day in
eighth place. Are women tired? Are they too busy?
You bet. All the voters for this cover wanted to sit in a
window for a quiet afternoon and read a book too. Sounds good
to me! Amanda asked, “Who wouldn't want a window like that to sit in?” Annemette would! “I want to sit in that window and read, too.” Eunice thought it had a very relaxing feel to it. “…The woman reading just says, "Take some time out and pick up a book." Plus the lettering isn't as invasive as some of the other covers.” Jamie was attracted to the “very homey image” of it.
It struck Liz more than any other cover: “This was
the only series cover here to elicit a response
from me. Something about the
tagline framed by the window made me wonder what was going to happen on
that one day.” |
Our
ninth place winner is When Twilight Comes.
Again, the colors and the gothic atmosphere appealed to the voters.
Oh, and the gorgeous mansion didn’t hurt either! Dorothy: “I loved the way the artist captured the twilight.... those magical few minutes just before nightfall. I also love the gorgeously spooky mansion.” Islandelf: “Best atmosphere for a Romantic Suspense book, the house looks deserted but there's a single light on. The mist is a nice touch, like the title.” Cover Café’s Leanne: “The atmosphere in the picture fits the title and the Intrigue line.”
Olyve: “Mists and the mysterious appeal to me, and
besides, I want to venture inside.” |
And
finally in tenth place – Her Little Secret.
Atmosphere seems to be the keyword of the day! Susan admits to being a “sucker for the cozy effect of a lamp lit house on a chill autumn evening.” Kimberly picked it for the same reasons: “This just grabs my interest! Love the leaves, and the darkness, and the house.”
Wendy chose it because it was “Less obviously a series
romance; atmospheric; not stereotypically man/woman kissing or kids
running around the place as is often the case for series
romances.” |
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