I received complimentary copies of most of the books I mention here in exchange for honest reviews, which you’ll find in the posts I’ve linked to.
Oh, I’m not strictly a “judge a book by its cover” kind of reader, as I’ve found and have read some wonderful books with covers I didn’t care for or with no cover art at all–in the cases of used hardbacks that had lost their dust jackets before meeting me. 🙂 Still, I have an appreciation for cover art as a part of the reading experience, and here are covers I particularly liked from books I’ve read this year!
When Lyric Met Limerick by Dawn V. Cahill
Christian Fiction/Romance/Short Story
Romantic, kind-of dreamy but still mature, wonderfully blended in colors that are muted but not dull–and score all the bonus points for the lovely view of the Emerald City, my hometown. Way to go, Seattle! I’ll also unashamedly admit that the cover’s quote from my review of this story makes it all the more special to me. What an honor!
The 13th Gift: A True Story of a Christmas Miracle by Joanne Huist Smith
Nonfiction/Memoir
Okay, I technically read this book last year, but it was after my December cutoff date. The cover is uncomplicated but makes a bold, Christmassy statement in vivid color.
A door, and a gift. Boom.
To Capture Her Heart by Rebecca DeMarino
Christian Fiction/Historical Romance
It’s a pretty singular thing for me to find such romantic tension conveyed on a mainstream ChristFic book cover, but the body language and facial expressions of this man and woman have an excellent, passionate effect. I mean, you can see just how aware she is of him, and his hand there–he isn’t touching her, but the way he isn’t (yet) has all the more subtle power, especially considering that intense look between his eyebrows.
Detained by Don Brown
Christian Fiction/Thriller
Clear, bold, clean, masculine–with a hint of suspense going on with that shading at the top. You see the military, you see danger, and it doesn’t take a whole lot for the cover to get its point across. I was in the mood for a “man” read when I found this novel, and the cover immediately grasped a hold of that mood in me.
Starry Night by Debbie Macomber
Romance
Yup, another book I read last year after last year’s cutoff date. This one is holiday-cold and holiday-cozy at the same time with rich, beautiful hues of blue. And on the dust jacket of the hardback I read, the title twinkled in a little rainbow of colors when I moved the book around. A wonderful combination of darkness and light, just like an actual starry night. (Hey, I rhymed!)
Silver Linings by Debbie Macomber
Romance
No, there aren’t clouds on the cover with silver linings around them, but it doesn’t really matter. I like this image for its soft, welcoming lights in a heavily shaded area, for its tranquility and its few but well-represented colors. This is one of those covers that I flipped back to look at again and again while reading, as the lights made the whole experience more relaxing.
A Wreath of Snow: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Liz Curtis Higgs
Christian Fiction/Historical Romance
A book I’ve recommended for everyone to read a print copy of, if possible. Its feel and design just adds to the warm Christmas-ness of it all. And even though it’s obviously cold on the cover, what with all the snow and the woman elegantly bundled to face the chill, the cover is indeed still warm, with the light from the old-fashioned train and the reds and greens that are inviting without being flashy.
The Tears of Olive Trees by AbdulKarim Al Makadma
Nonfiction/Memoir
Excellently suiting the memoir’s content, this cover is sobering but hopeful with a look toward the horizon and a beautiful revelation of light and color in the background. It took me a few glances to notice that the title isn’t merely overlaying the tree, but it’s actually sitting in the tree, entwined in the leaves. And while much of the tree is in shadow, some of the branches are touched with a glow, as if that distant light is not at all out of reach. Again, sobering and hopeful at once.
How Much Do You Love Me? by Paul Mark Tag
Historical Fiction
All right, just one more cover of one of my 2014 reads that I’m including because my Favorite Covers list didn’t exist last year. And how absolutely beautiful is this cover? The color scheming that’s serious and dreamy at the same time. The impeccable layering and blending from handwritten letter to contemplative model to cloudy sky over snowy peaks and the barrenness of an internment camp. It’s not the easiest thing in the world to combine this many images and this much text of different fonts and colors into one seamless work of art, but this cover achieves it superbly.
The South Wind Blew Softly by Ruth Livingston Hill
Christian Fiction/Romance
The best picture I could come up with for this cover is this one I took myself, so please, please forgive the little wrinkles on my old copy. 🙂 It’s a 1988 design for a book originally published in the 50s. There’s kind-of a lot going on, what with the three different sizes of folks, but the folks are all rather distinct, and the seamless layering makes it work. No, I’m not usually a fan of newer designs that don’t do the best job of representing the time the story actually takes place in, but the 80s pizzazz of this cover got me anyway.
Well, there you have them, and my applause to the artists who gave these books such a great look! Entries for 2015’s Favorite Covers giveaway are now closed, but comments on the post are remaining open.
I enjoyed scrolling down and noting your observations, and I agree that the young woman on the cover of Dixie Belle has an impact that overrides the basic design. My personal favorite was The Tears of Olive Trees–a cover that drew me to the book. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
P.S. I am interested in the Southold Chronicles books–thanks again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, you’re quite welcome, and you’re entered!
LikeLike
I love the covers by Debbie Macomber but I also really liked Falling Like Snowflakes (Denise Hunter), Not By Sight (Kate Breslin), Love’s Rescue (Christine Johnson), and Love’s Every Whisper (Naomi Rawlings). My favorite? To Capture Her Heart (Rebecca DeMarino). I would be happy to with any of the give-away books though- thanks for the opportunity!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah–Not by Sight was kind-of on my semifinal list. 😀 Another great cover. You’re entered!
LikeLike
So many beautiful covers . . . they make you want to just jump right in and start reading. My favorites are The Starry Night and The 13th Gift.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great covers certainly do have a way of stirring my anticipation to read the stories inside. And Starry Night was extra fun for me to read since I read much of it during a power outage. I kept flipping back to the cover to watch it twinkle underneath my flashlight. Maybe a bit book-nerdy of me, but I loved it!
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing these beautiful covers! I would love to win Rebecca DeMarino’s books.
LikeLike
Excellent! You’re more than welcome, and you’re entered!
LikeLike
Oh I’ve heard so many good things about Rebecca DeMarino’s books, I can’t wait to read them for myself!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That happened to me, too. I’d gotten away from reading historical fiction for a while, but I kept hearing too much about The Southold Chronicles *not* to read them. 😀 Did you know Rebecca DeMarino based the story on her actual ancestors? You’re entered!
LikeLike
What a great idea, focusing on the lovely covers! One of my favorites has always been my copy of Rilla Of Ingleside, it has always seemed a bit haunting to me and a perfect match for whole WWI era solemnity of the story. I would love to win the Rebecca DiMarino books but I know I would enjoy the Debby Mayne book as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well then you’re entered for all of them, Jasmine! 😀 I’ve always been partial to the cover of Rilla of Ingleside with the dark-haired Rilla, likely just because that’s the one I read first, but the copy I now own and have reread a couple of times with red-haired Rilla on it has the same theme going on: moonlit and chilly, romantic and a little heartbreaking with the water and lighthouse in the background. Gee, just thinking about the covers reminds me of the parts of the novel I cry over every time I read it. A bittersweet kind of beautiful!
LikeLike
Oh my how each of these covers evokes emotions in my heart. Would like to have a copy of A Place in His Heart and To Capture Her Heart. Both sound super. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A book cover has certainly done its job when it tugs on your emotions. 🙂 You’re entered for The Southold Chronicles!
LikeLike
I love all the covers but To Capture Her Heart really speaks to me. I am interested in all three books…the Southold Chronicles as well as Dixie Belle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great–you’re entered for all of them. 🙂 Yes, I’m pretty sure I skipped over the blurb of To Capture Her Heart. I saw the cover, thought, “Oh! The sequel!” and grabbed it up.
LikeLike
Since A Place in His Heart and To Capture Her Heart are both on my to-be-read list, I would love to win them. I, too, love the covers of these books. It’s what attracted me to them in the first place. A good cover usually means the book inside it is good as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful! You’re entered for The Southold Chronicles. 🙂
LikeLike
Some lovely choices! I especially like A Wreath of Snow . I would love to win the Southhold Chronicled!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, A Wreath of Snow is one of those books I can see myself rereading for future holiday seasons. 🙂 You’re entered!
LikeLike
Awesome book covers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right? They have a way of pulling on the part of me that used to wish I could draw. Now, things like developing my eye for book covers is my consolation for never being that good with a colored pencil or a paintbrush. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just love a pretty book cover! It’s so hard not to judge 😉 I would love to win the Southold Chronicles, those covers have been catching my eye everywhere! Thanks for the giveaway!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know–even with my having enjoyed books with covers I didn’t care for, the judging still happens sometimes. 😀 You’re entered!
LikeLike