Piatkus
Artist: Photography: Richard Jenkins

Cover Cafe's Cindy loved the mood of the cover: "This gives the illusion of days past when you could sit on a warm day, reading your favorite story."

And Maria agreed with Cindy: "This cover has such a peaceful mood. It's like an idealized version of what the buyer (like me) could dream of doing - sit outside on a beautiful day, wear a lovely and comfortable dress, and get lost in a good book."

A number of you think that the woman on the cover is not as innocent as her dress suggests. Paula R. was one of them: "I love the title, and it seems as if a proper Lady might be getting herself into some lascivious situations. I am very intrigued."

Karina also made a great comment: "It LOOKS simple, but the image and title don't really match. Makes me eager to know what her secrets are."

Elyse finds it easy to imagine herself the heroine: "This is unique and refreshing alternative to the clinch cover. I love the dress and I love the book. I want to find out what she's reading. The image makes it easy to imagine I'm her!"

And Nikki agreed: "Every reader is the heroine and can totally envision herself on this cover!"

Kate really says it all: "I like covers that don't dictate what the hero and heroine should look like - covers that convey a feeling more than an illustration. This cover is just perfect for the story, that hint of playfulness, with the hidden face, and innocence and restriction from the dress. Just wonderful."

We love to use our imaginations. Hiding the face without chopping off the heroine's head is the reason why many of you voted for this cover. Like Althea: "I don't like faces with my covers--I like being to imagine the character myself. This one gives just the right amount of chin--and room for my imagination to figure out the rest!"

There were several words used more than once to describe Tempt Me At Twilight: elegant, serene, intriguing, refreshing. And the contrasting blue and white colors were mentioned in many of the comments! And there are quite a few voters who can’t wait for a hat like that to come into fashion again!

Cover Cafe's Karen H.: "The pose is seductive but not raunchy. The colors are nice and his chest is bare. I really like that the pose goes with the title and I'm not entirely sure who is doing the seducing, which is a good thing!"

Victoria P.: "It matches the sensuality of the book."

Andi D.: "The colors are very vivid and work well together. Also, it's just hot!"

Jess: "Sexy. Like the fact that the hero is undressing the heroine rather than the heroine pulling up her skirt and undressing herself."

Willa H.: "Sexy covers so often look ridiculous or much too explicit, or both. This one is just suggestive enough to be hot."

Heather C.: "The darkness at the bottom of the picture draws my eye to their skin. I like that she looks like she might be trying to get away but he's too hard to resist. And pulling the strap down her arm is pretty hot."

And the red dress did a lot for some of you:

Aleandra K.: "The pose of the couple is seductive yet very tasteful. Font used for the cover with the red in the dress and the gold box show the harmony the couple has together."

Sami: "Very sexy. I'm a sucker for a red dress."

Gracie knows how to use her imagination when she said: "That lovely red gown, the soft shades of the wood, and the shadows on their skin have me seduced already. I've decided to pretend that he's a pirate just because that makes it better."

Grand Central Publishing
Artist: Claire Brown, Alan Ayers

Harlequin Historical
Art Director: Krista Oliver,
Artist: Alan Ayers

Nicola C.: "Because the red gown is vivid and stunningly pretty!"

Betty S.: "It is elegant and beautiful."

Kwana: "I love that dress."

Jennifer H. : "This cover is lush and gorgeous. And the rider in the snow--so romantic!"

Elaine R.: "I like the colors, the style of the dress and the wintry feel."

Ell: "Very Classy."

Sarah E.: "Love. That. Dress."

Laura M.: "Love the dress."

Susan D.: "Love the luscious red color of the dress contracting with the falling snow."

Kim A.: "The costume is gorgeous and it emphasizes the book title."

Lisa C.: "The red attracts me and it's nice to see a non-regency style dress."

Caroline C.: "Gorgeous period costume + snow = instant winner!"

Anna B.: "It's all about the dress on this one. Okay, dress and snow. I'm a sucker for a wintry cover."

And finally Malvina: "The gorgeous gorgeous red frock against the silvery-white background. She's looking at a guy on a horse that I want to know about. But really, it's simply an eye-catching cover."

Of course, the uniform is great and Suzannah became my best friend when she said: " Man. In. Uniform."

Pamela said: "I love this clinch. I love the expressions on their faces - his strength and her passion."

And Ariel loved that too: "The expressions on their faces. She, in particular, looks actually *aware* of him, in a way that most models don't."

Danielle M. agreed: I love the expression on the heroine's face in this one. It's almost like a snapshot out of a movie rather than a posed picture."

Emily A. loved the heat: "Whew! These two are convincing! That's a hot, hot cover and there's no skin showing!"

Nikki H. had a original reason to like this cover: "Somehow the height difference between the man and the woman appeals to me. I also like the color of her gown--not pink or yellow. And his uniform seems authentic."

Bec: "I love a man in uniform :-)" Didn't we hear this before?

Shelley M.: "Hard choice--lots of good ones. But I couldn't resist the uniform, his stance, and the man's strong shoulders."

And Jenn B. thought: "There were a lot of good covers here -- I could have seen voting for all but one or two of them. But I think I like this one best because of the heroine's expression. If she were beaming and besotted, the line on the cover about 'keep[ing] her safe' would seem out of place. But it seems to belong here, and it's always good when covers are consistent! (Besides, of all the green dresses shown, I like this one best!)."

Harlequin Historical
Art Director: Krista Oliver,
Artist: Robert Papp

Everlyn
Art Director: Michelle Rose-Innes, Rose-Innes Designs

Cover Cafe's John : "Just a pretty girl in a period dress and hair style and no distractions."

Denise: "The simplicity of the cover makes it striking. Lush colors, a close-up of the heroine without some anguished/pseudo orgasmic expression--tasteful and eye-catching."

And Kerry: "It's so different than the others. And I like her expression and the way her fair is falling over her face."

Susan mentioned the innocent but notorious connection: "Love the richness of the dress and the background. I also like that she looks "notorious" without looking like she just stepped out of Playboy."

Marcella : "I chose this one because it's so simple, so pure and so real-looking. You can almost feel the velvet of the dress and the model looks so natural."

Mary B.: "She doesn't look like every other model out there. There's a softness to this I find appealing. And she's dressed! Win!"

And Jill Q.: "I Like that it looks romantic, slightly mysterious (what is she thinking about?) and I admit, I love her hair, the background, and the red velvet."

Andrew thought: "Of all genres, historical romance covers are often the most predictable, with heaving busoms in tight corsets and the like. This transcends all that with a simple, beautiful portrait which gives the overall impression of a movie poster. Simple, uncluttered, stunning."

Cover Cafe's Amanda: "I like the composition and colors."

Sara L. : "I love the antique craqueleur look, and the clinch is romantic, not cheesy."

Heather M. : "The passion in the faces of the cover models."

Sara D.: "Classic clinch, misty blue background, what's not to love?"

Danelle G.: "I like the fact that the hero is dressed for the period that the book is written in, rather than just in pants showing his chest. There is just something in this picture that draws me to the book."

Nathalie M.: "I like the colours. The background is mysterious green, and the pink dress just pops."

Kristina C.: "It was a tough choice for me, between the two Amanda McCabe titles!"

Kay: "Wonderful use of contrasting colours to make a really stand-out cover."

Karen M.: "Simple, stylish, and the hero is HOT!"

Nikki T: "Love the embrace, the cover just looks like a fairy tale."

Signet
Artist: Unknown

Harlequin Historical
Art Director: Krista Oliver,
Artist: Robert Papp

Laura liked the interaction: "I like that the two people look really interested in each other. The heroine looks very happy to see her man which is very engaging."

Paul C. anticipated the next move: " She's about to take his arm, but hasn't quite touched it yet."

Eloise loved the fairy tale aspect of the cover: "The two characters look like they have a multi-leveled relationship - an innocent one, and a not-so innocent one. Every girl growing up wants to be Cinderella, and have a Prince Charming take her to the ball, and this cover portrays that sentiment."

Laura W. liked the natural look of the cover: "It feels like I could have walked by and seen this pair."

Kelly looked in the mirror when she saw this cover: "She REALLY looks like me. A sweet cover, clothing looks secure. Nice smile."

Sandy was a fan of the colors: "I like the flirtatious look on the heroine's face, plus the warm tones of the wall behind them."

And Anna said: "I love the mischievous look to the couple, the hint of a sense of humour. These people look like they honestly like each other, rather than studying each other's noses with an odd intensity. Also, a gorgeous staircase like that is never a bad thing."

Cover Cafe's Mary Alice thought: "This is such a romantic cover. There is an obvious attraction between these two that one can't help but notice. It makes the cover come alive for me."

Cover Cafe’s Karen W. said: "I loved both of the Carla Kelly covers this year. I gave this one the edge because of the lovely font used for the author's name, which blends so nicely with the romantic picture in the background. This book cover says "romance" to me and really highlights the appeal of Carla Kelly's books - they're soft and romantic, and not as blatantly sexual as some other romances."

Yep! You liked the fact that this is a very sweet and romantic cover.

Jacquelle said: "I love all the covers in this category, but this one stood out. I think it's the hand holding-- it's so sweet and romantic."

And Rike agreed: "They appear so adorably caring of each other."

Claire loved the cover for the same reason: "The look on his face and the holding of hands - very romantic."

Liz M. appreciated the cover because: "Everything about this says traditional regency romance to me. I like the couple front and center, the hint of the outdoors and the moonlight, the sense of his protectiveness toward her."

Camille appreciated the artistic look: "I like the painted portrait effect, the romantic hand-holding pose. Love the font choices as well, they work well together. I'd look at this cover without looking at the back blurb and say "oooh pretty. I'll read it. Fantastic costumes too."

And to Angela it was simple: "It's just so cute, it gives me happy feelings inside."

Harlequin Historical
Art Director: Krista Oliver,
Artist: Robert Papp

Harlequin
Artist: Ricky Mujica

Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical
Art Director: Deborah Peterson,
Artist: Robert Papp

Melanie: "Very romantic and a strong feel of the shipboard background."

Jan J.: "Fabulous hero, feisty-looking heroine, LOVE the two images of ship and formal-salon."

Stuart: "I love the complete irony of the cover. The uniform of the privateer and the implication of piratcy. Total rebellion."

Laurel: "Love the "glimpse" of a ball at the bottom."

Liz S.: "The colors are magical and I just want that pirate!"

Kristie J.: "There's just something so sexy about a man in a British Naval uniform. It was a tough choice between this one and Marrying the Captain, but when it came down to it, I love the colour mauve and the guy is cuter in this one :-)."

Loved this one from Nana: "This cover makes me curious about the story. I like the contrast between the hero's neat-as-a-pin uniform jacket and his unbuttoned shirt, mussed hair, and five o'clock shadow. It suggests interesting things about his character. It also suggests that he's hot!"

And finally Melinda: "An interesting amalgamation of images."

Michelle W.: "It's different. It stands out from the others with a touch of charm in the green-clad lady..."

Joyce B.: "Stands out, very original. I've seen too many clinches and wistful, over the shoulder, heroines in pretty dresses, that are 'same old, same old'."

Cover Cafe's Linnae: "I love the skeptical look on the heroine's face and how his hat is held casually behind his back. It just looks like an authentic historical romance."

Amy S.: "Admittedly I don't know anything about period dress, but this one feels like the most representative of its time. I really like the dress and it makes me want to read this book (and I don't really read inspirational romance)."

Donald.: "It has a direct and forceful image that puts us firmly in period. The characters are sharply focused and they are not "headless" or naked. Charmingly done even if we are being deceived."

Angela H.: "Love the green dress and the playful look on the heroine's face. I like the understated attire and stance of the hero and the fact that he is a blond. I suspect these two have plenty of clever conversation as they fall in love."

To the Alternate Reality Cover Results

To the Two Image Cover Results