Full Cover Reveal: Chocolate Aftertaste by Liz Grace Davis

I wanted to share with you the print cover of Chocolate Aftertaste. It's exactly the way I wanted it to look...like chocolate. I get butterflies in my tummy just looking at it. Here it is:

Click for larger view

Cover in the spotlight--Faerie Wishes by Valerie Bowen

This week I'd like to share a really cute cover from Valerie Bowen's YA romance fantasy novel, Faerie Wishes.

Faerie Wishes brief synopsis

Talia Saturnfrost has grown very tired of her forest home; she has spent many suns dreaming of leaving the fae realm and living amongst the humans. Her decision is made when she falls deeply in love with Cayden a human male. She only has to utter the wish to make her dream come true. 

Talia soon discovers the grass is not exactly greener on the other side of the realm; as a matter of fact she discovers innocent wishes can kill you. Will Talia find the love she craves in Cayden? Join her on her quest to find the love she desires and the realization that sometimes wishes do come true just not necessarily the way you had planned. 

Links:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94144

Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Faerie-Wishes-ebook/dp/B005SX28VI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1317986861&sr=8-5 
Barnes and Nobles: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/faerie-wishes-valerie-bowen/1106357822?ean=2940013230620&itm=2&usri=valerie%2bbowen

 Author Valerie Bowen: http://www.valeriebowen.com

Gorgeous cover of the week: Zirconya by Diana Ilinca

Hi guys,

A while ago I stumbled upon this cover for Zirconya: The Sage of Aluh'Nehn by Diana Ilinca, and I have to say, I really love it. It's absolutely breathtaking. I love everything about it; the colors, the stunning model, and the mirror image at the bottom. This is simply one of the most beautiful covers I've seen in a long time. I can't stop admiring it. The book is definitely going on my to-read-list. What do you think?

Links:
Diana Ilinca website: http://dianailinca.com/Zirconya.aspx
The book website (enter a whole new world): http://www.zirconya.com/zirconyan-tales.html

Book Cover in the spotlight: Abigail by Donna Burgess

This week I would like to share with you another beautiful cover (a short story this time). Here it is:

Abigail by Donna Burgess

So dreamy

Blurb:
Who is Abigail? An angel? A ghost? True love stands the test of time and the boundaries of death in this historical romance short story that spans from the pre-Civil War South to the jungles of war-ravened Vietnam.

Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Abigail-ebook/dp/B0052MCSVK/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329701213&sr=1-5

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/abigail-donna-burgess/1102437568?ean=2940012613264
     

Cover reveal: Taste by Kate Evangelista

Hi everyone,

I'd like to share with you the young adult paranormal romance, Taste by Kate Evangelista, coming out from Crescent Moon Press. 

 

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans.

When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn’t realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Kate Evangelista website: http://www.kateevangelista.com/

Cover in the spotlight--Rex Rising (Book 1 of Elei's Chronicles) by Chrystalla Thoma

Here's another captivating cover. Rex Rising is a dystopian YA science fiction novel (Book 1 of Elei's Chronicles) by Chrystalla Thoma. As always, if the cover draws you and the blurb pulls you in, click on the links.

Blurb:

In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life — until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side. Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren’t inclined to sit down and talk, although that’s not the end of Elei’s troubles. The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows. It won’t be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret – a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known – or die trying.

Purchase link:

http://www.amazon.com/Rex-Rising-Eleis-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B005GZPOQE

Author Chrystalla Thoma
http://chrystallathoma.wordpress.com/   
http://www.amazon.com/Chrystalla-Thoma/e/B001JOWZCC

Cover in the spotlight--Chasing China; A Daughter's Quest for Truth by Kay Bratt

Here's another gorgeous cover for you. Chasing China is a coming of age novel by Kay Bratt. I love how haunted and mysterious the cover looks. It fits the story to perfection.

Mia is beautiful, talented and has the world at her fingertips. But what makes her different than the average college student who juggles a heavy workload and a rat of a boyfriend? Many years ago she was born to an unknown family in China but soon discarded to fend for herself in a busy train station. Fate stepped in when Mia was taken to the local orphanage and adopted at the age of four by her American family. Life has been good for her, or at least as much as she has allowed it to be while pushing her deep feelings of abandonment to the back of her mind. Finally she has decided that in order to move forward, she must confront her past. Mia takes a journey to the mysterious land of her birth and embarks on a mission to find answers. As she follows the invisible red thread back through her motherland, she is enamored by the history and culture of her heritage--strengthening her resolve to get to the truth, even as Chinese officials struggle to keep it buried. With her unwavering spirit of determination, Mia battles the forces stacked against her and faces mystery, danger, a dash of romance, and finally a conclusion that will change her life. 

Chasing China is available for purchase here: Amazon
Kay Bratt author website: www.kaybratt.com

Covers in the spotlight--Gastien Part 1&2 by Caddy Rowland

The covers of this week are breathtaking. I chose to display both because it's a series and also because both are just so gorgeous. This series is romance/drama.

Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream:

Stunningly handsome Gastien has two dreams that burn relentlessly inside of him.  First, he wants to become a great artist. Nineteenth century France is a hotbed of new ideas in art; unfortunately, naïve young men, hoping to achieve impossible dreams, die in the gutters of Paris every day.   

     

Gastien also wants to become a great lover. That will not be so difficult.  So far, nineteenth century women can only dream of a man who cares if he actually satisfies them!

      

He has no training, no money, and no connections. And, he is a virgin…so far.

      

What does he have? Raw, natural talent, a willingness to learn, and a face and body no woman will be able to resist. He vows to stop at nothing to make his dreams come true.

      

Gastien Beauchamp, Paris is yours for the taking.
      

Sometimes, the "impossible" is possible. But the cost can be extremely high.

Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny:

I am Gastien Beauchamp, artist and lover. Any Frenchman would tell you that a peasant could never own property in nineteenth century France. Yet here I am, in my very own studio.

The personal cost was horrendous. I barely survived the choices I made, and my sanity was pushed to its limits.

Still, I finally now have security, peace, and freedom. For the rest of my life I can spend time “making love to the color”, making love to beautiful women, and enjoying the wild nightlife of bohemian Montmartre. What more could a man need or want?

Then, one night, I see her. One look at Sophie, and my heart wants to betray me! I try to tell myself that I know better. Who needs love, anyway? I am already married-to my art!

No woman would ever understand and accept my lifestyle; nor am I about to give that lifestyle up! Not when I paid so dearly for it. Besides, I am too badly damaged to ever open up my heart…

 If you like the covers and you think you'll be interested in the novels, here are some links for you:

Caddy Rowland blog: http://caddyrowlandblog.blogspot.com Writer of Fiction, Painter of Life & Energy

Meet Gastien Beauchamp:http://www.facebook.com/Gastien.Beauchamp(hit the "like" button)

"Sometimes, the "impossible" is possible.  But the cost can be extremely high."

Gastien Part 1: The Cost of the Dream

Available in Paperback at https://www.createspace.com/3664944

Available on Amazon.com for Kindle http://tinyurl.com/3ecu8ku

Available on Barnes&Noble.com for NOOK http://tinyurl.com/3ue4a7h

Gastien Part 2: From Dream to Destiny

Paperback coming January 2012

Available on Amazon.com for Kindle http://tinyurl.com/bv9zosn

Available on Barnes&Noble.com for NOOK http://tinyurl.com/cx87deq

Cover in the spotlight--One True Love (A Regency Romance) by Lisa Follett

Hi everyone,

The first novel covers have come in so the challenge begins now, with Lisa Follett's novel, One True Love (A Regency Romance).

Every time I post a cover, I will not be saying much. Instead, I'll let the covers do the talking. If you like what you see, go ahead and click the links below it. Also feel free to let me know what you like about the cover. So, without wasting time, here's the cover of the week.

Lord William Prescott is in want of a wife. Unfortunately, the lady he wants is betrothed.
Miss Cassandra Chambers simply cannot understand her attraction to Lord William. After all, she is supposed to be in love with Mr. Miles Parker. In a scandalous twist of fate, Cassie's future changes when Lord William rides to her rescue, saves her from ruin, and makes her his wife.
When William comes to believe Cassie's heart may always belong to another, he is determined to lock away his own. If only he could lock away his desire for his One True Love.

Link to Amazon:
One True Love (A Regency Romance) by Lisa Follett

Introducing my revamped cover

I posted my cover on Kindleboards and got a lot, I mean a lot of great and positive comments (I'm so happy). But I also got a few suggestions. For example, that I should make my name bigger (True, otherwise what's the point right?) and that I should add a few more elements of fantasy. Also, the white area on the left was too sharp.

With the help of one of my writer friends, I revamped the cover. I played around with fonts (now the cursive font is only used for the Ts), the white area has disappeared and we now have a magic tear(Thanks to my friend and follower, Carol Riggs)for a touch of more fantasy. Oh, I also added bevels and shadows to make it more alive. Finally, I moved two butterflies in the top image.
Pheeeew, I think I'm finally done with the cover. Next comes the blurb.

Here are three finalists. Only one can win. Which do you like best?

The Big Reveal- My self-designed cover

Okay, I know I said I'll post the cover next week, but I just couldn't wait. I'm one of those people who are terrible when it comes to keeping secrets. Not that this cover is a secret (more like, I was too nervous to show it. It's my first cover, after all).
So, here's my baby, a few days early. I would really love to know what you think before I release it to the rest of the world. I'm pretty happy with it as it is. If I make any changes, they will be very tiny.

Take a deep breath (that's me, not you). Now it's over to you. What do you think. By the way, Tangi's Teardrops is a YA fantasy novel, in case you're wondering. I'll post a blurb soon.

Right, I'm off to hide now.

Me: My own cover artist

I thought long and hard about whether I should design my own cover or hire a professional. It was nerve wracking. One day I wanted to do it, the next, I chickened out. My husband encouraged me to do it myself, especially since I have some digital design experience. My friend, Larissa, also thought I could do it myself.
So what did I do, I took the plunge. I designed a few covers  (about 5) and both hubby and Larissa loved the very first one I designed in 5 minutes using Photoshop Elements.

The more I look at it, the deeper I'm falling for it too. It's simple but it does the job of making one wonder what the story is about. Exactly what I wanted.
I'm still busy with the finishing touches, then I'll post it on up here to see what you think. Probably next week.
Everything is progressing very well. Last night I wrote the blurb (at least the skeleton). The novel will be published in January.