Jenny Gustafsson and Lee Brewer - 2008 Two Image Cover Chairs Commentary by Lee Brewer

Even in today's economy, two image covers and/or stepbacks continue to be produced. For the art lover in all of us, that is good news.

With just a quick look at most of the 2008 nominated covers, it's easy to see that it's about the dress on the front cover. The stepback thus provides the artist to give us another view of the dress or give the reader another clue as to what the story is all about.

As in previous years, several voters quite dislike either (a) clinch covers and/or (b) heads cut off. Fortunately for us, if the heads were cut off on the cover of this year's nominated covers, the complete heads appeared in the stepback.

Avon Artist: Thomas Egner

Jessica asked: "Is it wrong to say I want those boots?" Jeffe commented: "Love the stilettos, the flowing capes, the red and black." Therese said: "This isn't even my genre, but the woman's coat (with the stunning red lining) calls to me!" Various readers had comments in regard to the colors used by the artist. From Jeanne: "I liked the striking colors in this one, white, grey, black, red." From Perla: "...I love the color and the contrasts. The dark background and in the foreground a POP of red!" But aside from the colors and the clothes, many readers felt the covers really captured the story. Lisa S. noted: "The pose of the character on the front gives the sense of danger/a hunter or predator. The back gives a sense of redemption,that even a hunter/predator can find someone to call theirs." Emily states: "The cover goes from hunter to being hunted in a cover turn." And Nicci A. observed: "The model's unusual posture on the first cover caught my attention - hinting at a strong, action-oriented heroine, but the second cover makes it clear that the book also contains romance, not just adventure." And what is a Cover Cafe Contest be without some amusing comments: From Lynn: "Action oriented - and her head isn't cut off." Karen adds: "Their clothes are still on :D "

Tilezan: "I vote for this one for the coherence. You get the Before and After feel of the front cover and the step-back. And I like that the bat goes from a shadow across the moon to a tattoo on the vampire (?) hero..." Mary K.: "Hot! The bat to man progression is too cool. I like how these images tell a story rather than just being two random images." Many readers picked up on the artist's work in action: Willa: "I'm a sucker for the related two image covers and I love the story progression in this one, with the woman awaiting the bat on the front who obviously becomes the man on the inside." Maggi: "I really enjoyed how the artist played upon the myth of vampires turning into bats and then teases us the reader further with the man's tattoo of a bat." Jeanne E.: "I liked the red outfit & red sheets, it looks Christmassy with the green background & Christmas is mentioned in the title. Also, she is looking for something & when you open the book - you find out what that something or someone is." And funny comments: Jessica: "If this happened to me every time I sat near a window looking at the moon, I'd be very, very happy!" Sarah: Modern, young, and reflective of the genre! Why don't we have bats like that in TX?"

Avon Artist: Jonathan Barkat

The third place winner and the top historical title is WHEN THE DUKE RETURNS by Eloisa James.

Comments about the colors and the heroine abounded: Helen: Lovely use of colors. Love the atmosphere it conveys." Rike: "Lovely, mysterious blue and purple colors." Elizabeth: "I really love the colors on this one, and the front image of the girl with the mask..."

Suzanna: "...I love the colors. I love that we get to see a lot of the girl's face, and she looks smart, secretive, and smug. I love the mask! I love the step back--it's on the romantic end of the scale and I'm imagining some pretty serious hurt/comfort going on. GUH. LOVE."

Avon Artist: Cover Illustration: James Griffin

Maria K. "They chose a good model for the heroine. She looks sweet and pretty and maybe a bit playful too (with her amazing mask), someone I'd like to read about. The picture of the couple is wonderfully romantic. There's skin but the overall mood is more loving than racy." Cover Cafe’s Heather "I like the colors, dress, and coy look on the heroine's face on When The Duke Returns. You get a cover that simply pretty on the outside and the inside cover gives you the naughty bits on the inside. It's having your cake and eating it too." Readers also commented on it's non-typical clinch characteristics: Carolyn: "It's so nice to see an actual FACE on a cover instead of the headless torso." Heather: I love the colors, the different shades of blue, and she's holding him! This is a change from the usual pose where he has her in his grasp!" B. Kathy: "I love the expression on the woman's face on the front cover. It shows so much life." Kat: "As soon as I saw the cover, I wanted the book. It's gorgeous (and not too porny)." Last, but not least, is a comment from the author, Eloisa James: "It's my book!"

Elizabeth Hoyt had two covers make the final ballot. The first is TO SEDUCE A SINNER , which came in fourth place.

Both the dress and the corset had voters commenting in delight. Kay: "That corset!" Jennifer R.: "I love the colors, yellow dress, cream sheets, green hangings, with the sunlight, very pretty. Plus the corset, love a good corset!" Arlene: "This one catches the historical costume maven in me. She's wearing a corset!" Grace: "Ohhhh! That pretty, eye-catching yellow dress! It makes a nice change from all the red and back..."

Readers also commented on the heroine's placement in the stepback. Danielle: "...I love the contrast between the demure figure on the front cover and sex kitten on the stepback." Grace: "...I love her hint of a smile, the tangle of limbs. She's on top. She's not some frail innocent being seduced. The beaded curtain on the bed is pretty and interesting, too." Naima: "I think that the bedroom pose is very hot and surprisingly not awkward looking..." Ranavn: "I like the yellow, I like the woman on top; again, I like the sense of depth in the step back." Natalie: "She's on top." Jen: "The woman is in control." And maybe publishers should consider more yellow covers. Sienna states: "You don't see too many yellow covers, but this one is extremely well done and stands out." Cindy: "I bought this book strictly for the bright yellow dress - didn't even read the blurb." Nikki: "Gorgeous colors on the cover, suitably demure and then WHAM - a really sexy, powerful image inside." Julia: "Sometimes you know something is good when you otherwise wouldn't like it, unless it was done well. I've never cared for that shade of yellow, but it works. Also she is exotically beautiful and he is sexy."

Forever Artist: Cover illustration: Alan Ayers Hand lettering: Ron Zinn

Ellen: "The cover just jumped out at me." Rebecca: "It's all about the red. So much passion and emotion!" Paula: "...This one gets the nod simply for the sinful red.:)" Vi: "Red on top of red on top of red is very eye-catching." Cover Cafe’s Marian: "This is a very sensual red and, to me, the cover fits the title." Heather: "OH MY GOSH, that red dress!"

St. Martin's Artist: Cover illustration: Alan Ayers

But the red dress aside, the male model had a lot of fans voting for this book. Amanda: "...I think it's the steamy guy with the great hair that clinches it for me. Rarely do I think romance cover heroes actually look attractive, but Mr. Sunrise certainly seduces me into voting for him." Kristie J.: "...When I saw the inside step cover, it became how quickly could I get my hands on it. I want to track down that cover model and lock him in my house and make him my love slave - fer real!! Oh - and I love the red color. But I still want to make him my love slave. I found this to be a real case of hero matching the cover and that is rare. And I still want to make him my love slave. I love his naked chest and I don't always think that. And his boots - I really like those too. And yes - for the final time I'd love to make him my love slave." Maili: "Lust got me choosing this. That bloke looks so shaggable. The colors are nicely vibrant, too. *cough*" Nana: "I could say something about the colors, or how much I like the fan, or how well the text color and font work on the cover, but let's face it: I picked this for the hero. The shirtless, ripped, shaggy-haired, tight-trousered hero. And if that makes him feel objectified, he's welcome to come to my house and I will apologize to him in person."

First, the color comments. Monica: "Love the mysterious purple tones. Especially like the long hallway, it draws the eye." Cheryl: "Again the colors are amazing, and the cover fits the story perfectly." Betty: "The colors and pictures set the mood of the book, suspenseful and maybe a little creepy. Amy: I like the coloring and the suspence factor it provides. No awkward, half naked people to distract the eye."

Many voters were tired of clinch covers and thus voted for Thigh High . Wanderer: "This one was the unique cover out of all the rest which had the similar theme of the woman in a gown." Caroline: "Fun and unexpected. After the teasing first picture,you pretty much expect a standard clinch for the second one, but get that most interesting picture with the elusive heroine and hints at a gorgeous setting instead." Iris: "This is the only "non clinch" cover. I love the purple tomes and the subtly sexy show of legs." A. Solomon: "It's all show and not tell--unlike the other covers. Suggestive and cool." Michelle: "Stands out from the others. All the dull clinch covers we've come to know and be bored by over the years. Classy. Elegant. Evocative." And some readers had a totally different take. Canais: "...Thigh High is more intriguing because of all the unanswered questions it asks: Who's the woman running down the hall? Why is she running? From whom is she running? Where is she going? Maybe those questions will be answered in the story; maybe not. That's the fun of a cover like this." Danielle: "Because Christina Dodd used her own legs as the front cover and it is an amazing, daring, and awesome thing!"

Signet Cover artist: Unknown

Maya M.: "Unusual color choices." Janine: "The image jumped right off the page at me and the others paled in comparison. Colors, artwork all very nice. Gives me an image of the heroine." Susan H.: "The artwork is superb and I especially liked the sunset colours in the second image." Angela: "Fantastic color scheme." Denise M.: "I love all the beautiful colors-they just jumped out at me & held me riveted, and all the wonderful detail was a delight to behold..."

HQN Artist: Cover Illustration: Jon Paul Art Director: Erin Craig

Still others commented on the fully dressed couple: Sylvia: "A beautiful piece. Every cover doesn't have to have partially nude people on it to tell a story. And love the full bodied models on it. Not bits and pieces." Teri: "I love the romance this cover denotes, as well as the old world flavor. It's tasteful, and yet enticing." Stephanie: "Very steamy but not offensive. Suggestive but still leaving much to the imagination." Shelley: "...The two lovers are depicted in a respectable embrace (fully clothed, no sluttish postures, not too much skin.) Romantic and old fashioned. I want my lust inside the cover in the text, not on the cover." Lynne: "Beautiful and tasteful. The others in this category look too much like actual intercourse is going on. :-) Just not as romantic!" Roxanne K. makes an interesting point: "I love the vibrancy of the colors and the fact that the heroine is on the curvy side. I've read many novels where plump women were portrayed as sexy in the pages, but artists (and whoever holds their strings) shied away from making the cover true to page. It's nice to see that positive portrayal on a cover as well."

TO TASTE TEMPTATION by Elizabeth Hoyt, her second book in this category, finished in eighth place. Readers, like Birka, "love the blue." Ihklas: "The colors pop out and its tastefully done to pique one's interest." Rizza: "I'm partial to blue and the dress is gorgeous. Plus the second cover is hot." Tonia: "I love the blue of the heroine's dress against the background and her tousled hair and slightly puffy lips give her the look of a woman who's just had a good romping." Others commented on the couch activity: Cover Cafe’s Jo-Ann: "Because it's one of the most realistic depictions of a "quickie on a couch" I've ever seen - especially on a historical romance." Jennie: "It's just hot!" Sandi A.: It's Hot! Whew!" Kimberly A.: "Ok, that guy on that couch. Need I say more?" Mical: "I love the "Blue" and the scene on the settee is HOT!"

Forever Artist: Cover illustration: Alan Ayers

Avon Artist: Cover Illustration: Jon Paul Designer: Patricia Barrow

HQN Cover Artist: Unknown

Cathy Maxwell's IN THE HIGHLANDER'S BED , came in ninth place. Sandy commented: "Wow, this category is difficult! They're all beautiful covers. I finally chose In the Highlander's Bed by thinking about which cover would first catch my eye when browsing a bookstore. I love the color in this cover, and the way the heroine is looking back over her shoulder, is her Highlander still here? Is he there and she's teasing him? It just makes me think something more is going on and that I'd better turn to the step back to see what that is! Then, of course, you get sexy and alluring." Again, the color red has lots of fans. Carlette: "The cover is sensual without being trashy. Red always does it for me." Monique: "It has to be the red cover. Very sexy." Tanya: "...Simplicity is the keynote on the first cover, with the softer red deepening to the more crimson on the step back. Which is a nice contrast." Terhi: I really like the coloring and tones of this cover. The poses of the models and the angles from which they are pictured are a bit unconventional, not the same old clinch."

Our last finalist is BRIDAL QUEST by Candace Camp. I loved the blue but others liked the tastefulness of the cover. Tina S.: "This cover is sexy while keeping both characters fully clothed, on each cover. I love that. And the blue dress she's wearing is just gorgeous." Jeanne: "The cover was the perfect prelude to introduce the story (and the color effects of the sky, coat and dress were stunning as was the writing in the book itself)." Catherine: "Tastefully done but with enough suggestion to interest." Allison: "Dreamy, charming, and romantic." Joy: "Very suggestive without being trashy looking." Viccy: "Regency novels are all about being subtle. This cover does that." Barbara: "Elegant!"

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