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Why I Read Romances or The “Man” in Romance by Sheree + Giveaway
Filed in 1000 follower celebration , Giveaways , Guest Post , Sheree , The Geeky Lover Posted on October 14, 2011 @ 10:19 am
56 comments
We are very happy to welcome Sheree from What I have been reading here today. She is an avid reader and always open to talk covers with us (you know how much me love to do that). Today she is here to tell us about her book cover obsession and what, or better said who, created this addiction for her. Please give her a warm welcome. Why I read romances? This man ->
I was one of those people who didn’t read romances in their youth. While my friends and my family members were reading romances, I was reading mysteries and sci-fi. In college, I did read some Harlequins but all those young virginal heroines were mostly annoying to me (“what 19-year-old virgin acts this way? And I should know because I am one!”). So, I didn’t become a romance reader until a couple of years ago, when I was sick in bed and decided to borrow an ebook from the library that had a dog on the cover (Jennifer Crusie’s “Anyone But You”) to read on my laptop. Initially, I hid the whole romance reading thing – borrowing ebooks only or checking out the books on the self-checkout machines to avoid interacting with the librarians. Then I dipped a toe (or would that be a finger or mouse click?) in the online romance reader world, commenting here, entering a contest there. Then I got my hands on a copy of Vanessa Kelly’s “Sex and the Single Earl”.
I just could not stop staring at that cover. Sure the boots were shiny and I did admire the fit of his jodhpurs, but what was the draw? I also enjoyed reading the book.
Then the next time I was at my local Borders, the one with a great Romance section, I noticed that this model was on many covers in many genres:
I’m the sort that has to have a reason for something. And here I have found my reason: it’s not just romance novels but the cover art! Specifically, cover art with Paul Marron! Now that I have a “reason” for my book obsession, I happily immersed myself in romance novels, finding out more books with Paul and other cover models and the artists that make them so eye-catching.
Love Karin Harlow’s “Enemy Lover”? Thank Gene Mollica.
Marjorie M Liu’s “The Wild Road” made you wild? Kudos to Jon Paul Ferrara.
Jon Paul is also the artist behind many beautiful historical covers and stepbacks:
Another cover artist who makes me go mmmm… is Don Sipley.
The awesome Chris McGrath (who does mostly sci-fi and fantasy):
And, of course, Rehvenge by Craig White.
Yes, I’m one of those people who used to buy records for the album art, too. Maybe it all just feeds the frustrated artist in me.
Of course, there are more cover models:
Jed Hill:
David Kimmerle:
Yes, there is a plethora of paranormal covers in the above examples, but I do have a thing for the iliac furrow/Apollo’s belt.
Other artists:
But Paul was the first and “Sex and the Single Earl” was my “gateway drug”.
Recently, I’ve noticed that many historicals no longer have men on them, just women in fabulous dresses. And women in leather dominate recent paranormal covers. I don’t like them nearly as much, but they are still very eye-catching.
My first J. R. Ward/Black Dagger Brotherhood book was “Lover Mine” because I just couldn’t pass up the cover:
Places to find Sheree: blog
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~*~*Giveaway*~*~
Thanks to Jojo aka our Cornered Lover we have the following swag pack for one lucky commenter!
You’re also getting an extra entry for the main giveaway if you entered our Big 1000 Followers Giveaway here.
All you have to do is leave a comment for Sheree or tell us what cover caught your eye and didn’t let go?
(You can read our full giveaway policy here)
Please leave us a way to contact you.
(Email or twitter name – no way to contact you – no entry).
This giveaway is open worldwide!
Giveaway ends on 22 October and we will announce the winner on Sunday.
Good luck!
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Those covers are all great, though seeing them as just the cover art, without the text, they are just asking to be framed and put on a wall! I especially like the one for "How I met my countess" and "Midwinter".
+1 Entered the BIG 1000
GFC follower
danaan at gmx dot at
I love Paul Marron, but some of the hair-pieces I have seen on him are ridiculous. Of course, I spend the requisite amount of time looking at his face and torso, which can make the wigs easier to overlook…
That guy is everywhere!
Great post!
I love him too. He's indeed a looker and can change his look for each new cover, but still keep his bottom line yumminess.
I was surprised to see he did Street Magic, I didn't think that was him. Good to know!
natashajennex(at)gmail.com
OK I have a confession to make, I bought The Perfect Play for the cover alone. I just wonder how these men feel about being on book covers. Someone needs to interview one. 🙂
Jnmt3@hotmail.com
Fantastic post! Has me wanting to go and find out all about MY favourite models more. I wouldn't know where to start with that but I'm going back now to read your post again and follow some of the links you gave.
Oh, and whoever that is on the cover for Archangel's Blade….he's one of my faves and that cover just 'grabs' me everytime I see it. 😀
Brilliany giveaway too! Please enter my name to the hat for the drawing 😀
ailverthistle(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks!
Wow!Paul Marron is hot!I never realized he was on soo many covers!I totally want to know whats on his mind when he's posing for these covers;)
I entered the BIG 1000 Giveaway!
Janhvi
justjanhvi at gmail dot com
Oops, some of the links are missing. My bad.
@Birgit, some artists do sell prints of their artwork. For MIDWINTER, look up Chris McGrath's site:
http://christianmcgrath.com/
@Jen, yeah, that face…. that chest… This is why I am particularly glad that LOVER AVENGED doesn't show Rehvenge's mohawk – I don't think I can take a mohawk that seriously.
@Natasha, one way to check whether he (or a specific model) is on a cover is to see who the artist is since artists tend to use the same models, ones they have worked with successfully before. In the case of the Black London series, Chris McGrath is the artist and Paul is Jack.
@Rain Maiden, some models have done interviews about their covers but Paul is not one of them.
From a female cover model's POV: http://www.tressugar.com/Romance-Novel-Cover-Models-19224629
I, of course, have bought plenty of books based on the cover alone so you're certainly not alone and welcome to the club! 🙂
@Silver Thistle, I don't know who is on ARCHANGEL'S BLADE but here's a site with some cover models:
http://www.romancebookcovers.com/link/romancecovermodels.html
@janhvi, LOL, I have no idea what's on his mind either.
Wow! Thanks for that link to the cover models, Sheree! *drool* 😀
Midwinter! Yes I do love fantasy so of course that cover caught my eye 😀
blodeuedd83
I love yummy men on my covers, and whenever I am sighing behind my computer, my boyfriend offers to get me a mob, or cloth for the drooling. But I have never bought a book just for the cover, the blurb has to catch my eye too.
I love Paul Marron covers, there are so many good ones of his six pack. And him wearing a hairpiece? No idea why I never saw that …
The Alyssa Day covers are pretty droolworthy as well …
I entered the 1000 follower contest.
auriansbooks at gmail dot com
I'm not a big fan of semi naked men on the covers, although I admit that I do like Jaci Burton's book covers. Jed Hill, of course, is great, and there is something eye-catching in his pose. The first 2 books from the "Play by Play" series are the best covers I have seen in a while.
+ 1000 followers giveaway
natalija (dot) shkomare (at) gmail (dot) com
@Silver Thistle, you're welcome! I also keep a running list on my Facebook just in case I forget. LOL.
@Blodeuedd, Chris McGrath is just so amazing in general. His style is totally unique. He did the Harry Dresden series as well, with John Paul Pfeiffer as Harry.
http://christianmcgrath.com/
@Aurian, I think Don Sipley is the artist for at least a couple of Alyssa Day's covers (the ones with Paul on them anyway).
@Natalija, I have the first two of Jaci Burton's Play by Play series as well although I haven't read them yet. Jed is much bulkier than Paul; Jed works better for some covers than others.
I pay very little attention to book covers.
kissinoak at frotier dot com
Here are some links of artists:
Gene Mollica: http://www.genemollica.com/gallery.php?gallery_type=illustration
Jon Paul Ferrara: http://www.jonpaulstudios.com/
Chris McGrath: http://christianmcgrath.com/
Craig White: http://www.craigwhiteillustration.com/
Tony Mauro: http://www.darkdayproductions.com/book.html
Jim Griffin: http://www.james.griffin.org/
@Estella, with the popularity of ebooks, I've been wondering if covers will be less important to readers (my Kindle doesn't show covers unless I specifically search for them).
I just love Paul Marron. I have him as a friend on FB too….*g*
I LOVE THIS POST!!!!!!! Any post with my one and only Paul Marron gets TWO thumbs up for me. Thank YOU for this wonderful post! You've displayed some of my all time fave Paul Marron covers in there.
But the that I am currently drooling over is Nalini Singh's Kiss of Snow cover. I got it in hardcover. Those abs rock hard! Can't stop drooling.
Thanks for the awesome post!
Annie
alltherhage AT gmail DOT com
These are some really great covers! I do appreciate good covers, however, I never buy a book just because of the cover.
kacbooks(at)hotmail(dot)com
Those are great covers! I adore all the covers in Jennifer Ashley's Highland Pleasures series!
justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
WOW! Those covers were HOT!
that's a lot of eyecandy 😉
well i can't decide. i love the cover of lover mine – the red is hot.
into the shadow looks really good too. the guy's stare is cool and the dark colour is totally to my liking.
and then there is midwinter. i love such covers. it's beautiful. and again dark colours – love them.
witchvela at web dot de
I love all the covers but I bought the J.R. Ward Books because I loved the covers and knew the stories would be good. I also bought Wold Tales because I really wanted that cover and loved her stories..but that cover…yum..
miztik_rose@yahoo.com
WOW! Those are some great covers. Being a huge reading and football buff that I am…my favorite cover is The Perfect Play. I have have the full size "post card" of the front cover that Jaci set out sitting on my desk at work to drool over!
thanks!
mmafsmith at gmail dot com
I admit it…I am a proud cover hussy 🙂
Those are great covers.
As for Jed Hill **drool** LOL
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net
@sxyldy, he's not my FB friend but I don't think he's that active on it, or so I've heard. 🙂
@Under the Covers, I totally agree about the chest on KISS OF SNOW, so much so that I haven't gotten around to reading it yet.
@Karen C, blurbs are important as are the author but the cover art help by catching our attention, either at first or after we've read it. At least, that's how i remember books – by their covers.
@Chelsea B., those are Paul's abs on THE MANY SINS OF LORD CAMERON! Jennifer said so herself.
@Happy Lady, yes to the hotness! To me, that's proof that someone (model, artist, layout designer, marketing, etc.) had done a great job.
@Yto, it was hard to stop with the eye candy for this post! LOL.
@Mary, the Wolf Tales covers are hot! Too bad the paper version of SEXY BEAST V has his flank fogged white from his waist down.
@Maria (pronounced Mariah), many people swooned over that cover/postcard, myself included! Jed is a great choice for the cover!
@elaing8, welcome to the club of cover hussies! Do you have a fave cover model or artist?
Half naked guys don't do it for me I'll confess and there's not many covers with a nice female pig on them.
I do love the artwork of Daniel dos Santos and have tracked books down just because the cover was by Dos santos.
Oh yum! Wait – was I supposed to make an intelligent comment after looking at those lovely covers?
Mickie T
mdturett at juno dot com
Which one doesn't catch the eye? But I do love the cover for The Perfect Play!
sallans d at yahoo dot com
Ummm….thank you so much for this post! Haha…wow! JUST what I needed to end the work week and kick off the weekend! Much appreciated 🙂
ssosborn at gmail dotcom
I think the Jed Hill cover is amazing. One of my all time favorites is Lauren Dane's Never Enough. One thing that drives me nuts are cover models that are so muscular that they proportioned funny. Like huge arms that make the head look tiny! I love swag!
jepebATverizonDOTnet
I just can't get enough of drooling over the Lover Avenged Cover. I love all of the BDB covers (American versions).
+1 entered the 1000 follower giveaway.
bookdevoteereviews(at)hotmail(dot)com
@Sullivan McPig, alas, there aren't a whole lot of porcine pinups in the romance category. My favorite of Dos Santos' covers is Patricia Briggs' BONE CROSSED which I bought in hardcover.
For those who may not know:
Dan Dos Santos:
http://www.dandossantos.com/gallery.htm
@Mickie T, the only intelligent comment required is whether you have ever had your eyes "dragged" to a book cover, which seems the case with you. 🙂
@Di, yep, THE PERFECT PLAY is the perfect Jed Hill cover, so far.
@Sabrina, you're welcome!
@Jen B., generally, models are proportioned funny; they do tend to have smaller heads for their bodies (though not to the extent of bodybuilders) – that's why they have big hair. Actors though tend to have proportionately smaller heads, probably because their faces have to be closer to the camera to emote/act.
@Jet, I know, right? As much as I enjoyed reading the book, the cover is the reason I have (at least) four copies of LOVER AVENGED in hardcover. Great job, Paul and Craig White!
one big cover i loved.. Lick of Frost by Laurell k Hamilton.. shelly laurenston also has some awesome covers..
i tend to not love ones that are overly sexual.. men have to be HOT though if theyre on there (and i never realized how many covers have the same man on them! 2 of Pamela Palmers have the same uber hot tattooed man too! )
i even like the animated ones.. think they bring something fun to the cover types
alainala AT hotmail DOT ca
OHhh and i forgot, i also entered the 1000 follower contest!
Great post! The book that turned me onto Paul was Laura Wright's Eternal Hunger. Just something about him looking out from the fence that hooked me. Then I noticed I'd bought other books without realizing I'd done it just because Paul was on the cover. Now i'm looking at covers more closely now then ever before:)
sprite4627ATyahooDOTcom
Any of the Jaci Burton sports ones are amazing. I haven't read any yet (mostly due to a lack of money) but based on the covers alone I would love to. Thanks! And I also entered the 1000 followers contest.
jessicamariesutton(at)msn(dot)com
*drools*
oh right. THIS POST IS MADE OF SO MUCH DELICIOUS WIN. I do love how it was all about Nathan Kamp for a while and then came the rise of Paul Marron who for example, has replaced Kamp in the reissues of Marjorie M Liu's Dirk and Steele series XD
can't choose just one cover that grabbed me and didn't let go- they constantly do! I do buy books solely for covers (though yes I should at least want to read it but that's not necessary XD)
But I have a special place in my heart for Robert Mcginnis' Johanna Lindsey covers especially Tender is the Storm- bring back nekkid men on romance covers!! LOL
I also love the original signet regency romance covers- I guess I like the 'painted' artwork look and a more modern cover artist I love is Jon Paul- gorgeous work! Who did the Paul Marron Liu reissues actually haha
midnite dot fantasy at gmail dot com
Wow! I've never thought of choosing books with specific cover models, but now that I think of it- some of these covers look great simply because of the models on them
I checked the link to Paul Marron's site- *swoon*.
Thanks for the giveaway:)
Sarah
sarah.setar@gmail.com
Congrats for the post, S.G!! I'm glad you finally talk about book cover! See, so many people talk about book cover too =D
I will always say thanks for you, since I know Paul Marron and another cover model from you too =).
I admit I adore Paul Marron on the cover, but just him alone. LOL, I admit I'm jealous to see him with another chick ;-).
For cover that grabbed me? Tony Mauro and Daniel Dos Santos are two great cover artist. =)
BTW, +1 for enter 1000 follower giveaway! =)
Great covers. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com
The covers are all great but the one that really caught my eye is Devil Without a Cause!! Gorgeous!! Thanks for an awesome swag giveaway! I am a total swag ho 🙂
jwitt33 at live dot com
thanks for the giveaway ! I really like the covers of Chris McGrath, it's dark and very intriguing !
ellana_(at)hotmail(dot)fr
Sheree, I have to admit I'm not much of a cover person. You did post some wonderful choices. The current novel cover I like most is probably Nalini Singh's Archangel's Blade (which is a great book!) and I'll bet you can tell me who that model is! Thanks for a fun post.
Mochfly(at)swbell(dot)net
There are some hot covers here! 😉 But I also like the old-school bodice rippers, and Karen Marie Moning's Highlanders series – the editions that had just a hint of the man with a tattoo. Mysterious & tasty!
wandre3000@yahoo.com
+1 for big giveaway entry
Wow… Okay, calm down, girl… Sadly, I am one who does buy a book for it's cover *model*. 😉 One of my favorite series covers is the Lords of Satyr by Elizabeth Amber. Naked men holding towels. Yum!
msculp@gmail.com
@alainala, A LICK OF FROST is moody and yummy! I think all the Meredith Gentry covers are that way (I, of course, have DIVINE MISDEMEANORS in hardcover because it's Paul Marron by Don Sipley).
@Stephanie, hi! ETERNAL HUNGER is rather eye-catching. Another brooding Paul pic.
@JessS, I didn't think they could top THE PERFECT PLAY but CHANGING THE GAME is also very yummy (complete with treasure trail!).
@Camille, thanks! Nathan Kamp is the only other cover model I can identify by lips and jawline alone. And the last "painted" covers I liked were on the Miranda Neville books, THE WILD MARQUESS and THE AMOROUS EDUCATION OF CELIA SEATON, but the men were not nekkid on them – too bad.
@Sarah, I think artists and models ought to get some recognition – sometimes artists are credited in the book but not the models which is too bad. And about Paul's site, I totally agree!
@Ren, hi! Let me take a bow for introducing you to two cover models. *bows* My favorite Dos Santos cover is Patricia Briggs' BONE CROSSED and my favorite Tony Mauro cover is a tie between Thea Harrison's SERPENT'S KISS and Lauren Dane's NEVER ENOUGH.
@Tore, thanks!
@Julie, that David Kimmerle sure is something! Terri was pretty excited to find out David's name, too. I envy him his leather coat.
@Melliane, Chris is pretty awesome and his artwork is very distinctive. I walked through a B&N with a couple of friends and was able to pull out a few Chris McGrath covers just by the look of the books. Aside from sci-fi and fantasy, he also had some YA covers.
@LSUReader, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the model and Berkly doesn't always list the artist's name.
@wrenandre, you mean the covers aside from THE HIGHLANDER'S TOUCH and KISS OF THE HIGHLANDER which have Nathan Kamp on the cover? The whole series have moody, intriguing covers.
@Marissa, I totally drooled over those as well.
i generally don't buy a book just for its cover….but one exception was the Gardians of Gahoole…and not the first cover but the interior of it so many beautiful drawing of howl nearly like a picture i had to get that book^^;; ( young and fiction yes^^)
I admit these covers are great but for me i prefer imagine how the heros looks from the description…i saw that with paranormal now often the girl on the cover is totally different from the story and that's bother me.
From your selection i prefer Midwinter
thanks you for the giveaway
+1 1000 followers giveaway
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
All of these covers are great. But I can't take my eyes of “Lover Mine” cover. It just amazing. All covers of J. R. Ward books are surprisingly.
Thank you for the giveaway!
artgiote at gmail dot com
all those covers are great. My favorites are Enemy Lover and Midwinter.
*Fans herself* I think I may need and ice cold shower after looking at all those SEXY covers!!! Good Lord those are some damn fine men!!! =) *Fans self again* I wish I had a man like any of them in my life, being single kinda sucks.
Another great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to enter! =)
Valerie Long (Scorpio1974 on GFC)
just.val.1974@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/just.val.1974
Jewelry Creations by V.S. Long – https://www.facebook.com/vsl1974
hot and sexy covers they wil lmake u tak e second look of course
thanks for the giveaway with hot covers
kim h
It's Lover Mine that is a real eye-catching for me. Maybe it's because I LOVE J.R.Ward's books but their covers are always amazing 😀 But of course, the other ones are beautiful, especially the cover of The Wild Road… wow, that's so romantic! 🙂
mikki-mano@hotmail.com
In my previous entry, I forgot to add +1 for entering the grand giveaway.
Sorry about that!
Sarah
sarah.setar@gmail.com
I admit, I buy waaay more books than I ought to because of the pretty, pretty covers 🙂 I acknowledge the silliness but can't stop!
smaccall AT comcast.net
The Chistina Dood cover "Into the Shadows"!! mmm YUMMY!! and the cover Sex and the single Earl looks hot too!
Thanks for the swag giveaway
1+ 1000 Big Giveaway
ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks, everyone, for the comments! I guess there are many more people who like the cover art than I thought. And thanks for making my first ever guestpost such a fun event!