I created Favorite Covers of 2017 and 2016 posts and wanted to continue the tradition! I’m a fan of books. Writing them. Reading them. Their back cover blurbs. Their covers!
Thus, I thoroughly enjoyed glancing back at lots of 2018 covers in the name of “research”. After many completely unscientific tabulations, here are the ten covers (in no particular order) that I liked best.
I love the romance of the embrace captured here as well as the color scheme, the modern feel, the font selection. Every aspect hits just the right note for me.
This setting! I want to take a trip to this location. Also, I’m drawn in by the sweetness of the little girl holding the hand of this rugged cowboy. The title makes me wonder, “How did he become her accidental guardian?”
So charming! Great title. The yellow is eye-catching against the turquoise. The heart and cruise ship make me think that I might get to fall in love while on a cruise ship if I read this book. Um…yes, please!
The mood of this one is reflective and peaceful. I’m enamored by her wind-swept hair, her bare feet, and the azure waters.
In my opinion, this is a terrific romantic suspense cover. The police car and nighttime setting lend a sense of peril. The model is stunning and she’s looking straight out from the image in an arresting way.
Sometimes covers that seem simple at first glance pack the most punch. I adore the blue and white color scheme. The mysterious love letter, tied with a ribbon. The manicure. The dress. The subtle white circles that add texture. The best covers raise a question and this one makes me ask, “What’s in that letter?”
It seems fitting that the cover art for The Masterpiece should highlight a piece of art, doesn’t it? This design leverages an appealing palette of colors to create a cover that’s distinctive and fresh. I didn’t see another like it all year long.
I’m a sucker for an excellent braid. This cover inspires me to become this heroine by reading her book so that I, too, can have such magnificent hair. This setting has a lovely Americana feel and the pairing of the departing train (Oh dear! She’s all alone!) and the title nudge me to wonder whether she’ll find the one she’s searching for.
This one’s a little eerie! Her shoulders almost seem to form a point beneath her chin which is unsettling, but her eyes are rock solid steady. This cover promises an emotionally gripping journey through deep waters.
I want to join this dinner party in this meadow filled with overhanging trees and strands of light! However, I’m a little worried because I’ll be outdoors and unprotected during hurricane season. When a cover can invite me in and make me worry before I even turn to page one, job well done!
What have I missed? What were your favorite covers of 2018?
Becky Wade
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Love those covers! And I’ve read almost all of them! I also really liked the cover of Cynthia Ruchti’s Miles from Where We Started.
Ooh! You’re right. That cover is gorgeous. It invites you to join a very appealing outdoor dinner party scene. Plus, I’m a fan of the pop of orange framing Cynthia’s name.
The covers in Lynette Eason’s Blue justice series are awesome. Great choice! I love the cover of Courtney Walsh’s Just Let Go. It’s a gorgeous cover with so many subtleties and fits her story so well.
Yes! Just Let Go is beautiful. I love the hand-lettered title font and the bouquet of flowers.
Great choices, Becky! And a lovely variety of styles. You have excellent taste. 🙂 I love covers that make me feel like I’m peeking into a scene from the story. Those are the ones I keep flipping back to look at while I’m reading just because I enjoy them so much. Especially if I can find a scene that fits the image.
Good point! That makes me think of the cover of your upcoming release. It looks like a snapshot of a scene!
At Mount Hermon last year, there was a Q&A with Queen Francine. The artist that she worked with to get the MC’s character just right, also did the artwork that is featured on the cover.
And I don’t wanna brag or show off, but in a brief convo with me and Shelli L, I got to tell HRH Francine that bananas are the go-to fruit for hypoglycemics who can’t eat apples. I know, RIGHT!?!?!? I also told her that I plagiarized her work to win the First Timer’s spot. She didn’t believe me.
“The artist that she worked with to get the MC’s character just right, also did the artwork that is featured on the cover.” Ahhh! I didn’t know that. That insight makes the cover even cooler.
LOVE your comments! I especially like the one where you want to read this book so you can also have her hair. LOL. Perfect. I’ve felt like that tons of times, but not really noticed why. I personally would have the long flowing tresses of the first book you listed. And I would definitely go with the cowboy in the gorgeous setting. And the hurricane, definitely want the party, but no hurricane. 🙂
Right?! LOL. Braid envy is real.
Love all of the covers, but Kristen Billerbeck’s was a favorite for me as well.
Great post.
Kristin’s cover is fantastic!
I like your picks! However my favorites are #!Terri Blackstock’s “If I Run” series THe first book cover is of a broken window you see the shattered glass and part of a woman’s face, and her red and white striped blouse thru the foggy glass, then in book 2 you see part of a woman’s face from the nose to the chin again the glass is foggy and her red and white stripped blouse. #3 you see part of her hand the thumb and part of the 1st and 2nd fingers through the foggy glass and the same blouse. Now I didn’t know until the last book at the end Terri tells us that the three books form a picture. It’s very clever!! I loved it and the story was spell binding!
I know exactly which series of covers you’re referring to, and they’re fantastic! In fact, one of those covers made my list last year. It’s so unique that, together, they form a picture.
What great covers and reasons for liking them, Becky! I have to admit that the covers on Lynette Easons Blue Justice books grab me every time I see them. The little flashy lights against the darker middle part separating them from the faces. Gorgeous and eye catching. I may have just bought all three books the other day because I was tired of seeing the covers and thinking “I just have to read those!” 😇 Well, that and the fact that I LOVE her books!
And how the Accidental Guardian came to be such? Excellent story!!! Now I need to go check out a few more of these books!!!
More for your TBR pile!
Loved your picks. My personal favorite is Francine Rivers’ Masterpiece. Knowing that about how it came to be makes it even better.
I agree!
Great picks, and I’ve read and admired some of them myself. I also love Falling for You because the blue dress totally reminds me of my Junior prom dress! There are some of Roseanna White’s books that I just drool over too.
I sincerely liked the last one in a way I can’t exactly describe.. But then I’ve read just one of the books.. And Becky, it’s beautiful you thought to share too.. Thanks for helping me see covers distinctively..