Laid Bare with Flair Day 31!
Aug
2
2009

The last day before the grand prize winner is announced!!

Today’s prize is Jess Granger’s Beyond The Rain! Jess is one of my fellow Bradford Babes and I was lucky enough to hang with her this year at National. She’s just as lovely in person!

Blurb: In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their lives and a love that may destroy them both.

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani has to complete one final mission before she can return to Azraβ€”a planet ruled by a sisterhood of celibate warriors. Along the way she finds a prisoner, chained and beatenβ€”but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit.

For years Soren has endured torture as his captors leeched his very essence, a unique hormone then sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. Now he has been freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.

After years in bondage, Soren’s hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not mate with a woman. Can Cyani be the woman he needs to survive, or will this forbidden bond destroy them?

Sounds awesome, no? You can head to Jess’ website to read an excerpt as well. There’s really never been a better time to try out a futuristic romance if you haven’t yet! There are so many great books out now or that will be out soon – makes me very happy!

TODAY’S QUESTION: What sort of cover draws your eye? What do you hate to see on covers?

I’ll choose a winner tomorrow afternoon from the comments! Good luck!

79 comments to “Laid Bare with Flair Day 31!”

  1. blodeuedd
    August 2nd, 2009 at 3:27 am · Link

    I do like a hot guy, and couple is always nice. I go for pretty, romantic or hot covers.
    I don’t like those that have nothing on them or badly drawn



  2. Valerie
    August 2nd, 2009 at 4:25 am · Link

    I love covers that are dark and mysterious. A handsome man, some shadows behind him….or a kickass looking heroine.

    That cover is just the sort of cover I like.

    I definately don’t like those computer generated things…the people looking doll like.



  3. Blanche
    August 2nd, 2009 at 4:43 am · Link

    I love covers too!! I’m not too picky but I can say that I don’t like the computer generated covers either!



  4. Huguette E.
    August 2nd, 2009 at 5:44 am · Link

    I love covers with a hot guy on it. I don’t like covers that don’t have a guy on it .. lol



  5. Lisa J
    August 2nd, 2009 at 5:47 am · Link

    I like a tasteful cover. Something I could leave out on my desk at work and not get hauled to HR for sexual harrassment. The covers on Lora Leigh’s Breed series are some of my favorites.



  6. Linda Henderson
    August 2nd, 2009 at 5:49 am · Link

    I have to admit I enjoy the covers with hot guys on them. I don’t like covers that have nothing but scenery on them. Too generic.

    Linda Henderson



  7. TAMARA HOLBERT
    August 2nd, 2009 at 5:53 am · Link

    Well, to be honest, a hot guy on a bookcover will definitely catch my eye! I don’t like the drawings that are on Charlaine Harris’ Sookie series. I would never have bought the books if I hadn’t heard about the TV series.



  8. MichelleK
    August 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 am · Link

    I think this will be different depending on the person and on the book. I like covers with more originality than just showing a half naked guy on the cover. All your covers shown down the right side of this blog are great.

    For the light and funny PnR type books, the graphic/cartoon? (not sure what you call it) covers are fun and more reflective of the type of book you are getting.

    Two things I don’t like are:
    1) stereotypical “bodice-ripper romance” type covers.
    2) those creepy pixel people covers you see a lot on erotic romances, especially the ebooks. yuck, yuck, yuck! Sometimes it even turns me off buying the book.

    Michelle K (mishcara)



  9. Roberta Harwell
    August 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 am · Link

    What draws my eye to a cover is skin and lots of it. However, it is the blurb that keeps me there. I enjoy seeing people on the front not just objects. Have a great day.



  10. limecello
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:00 am · Link

    I like the artsy covers more/most. The ones that are sexy, but tasteful are also attention getting. I have to admit that… I’m not the biggest fan of the “man-titty” covers. I feel like it plays right into so many/too many stereotypes. Color schemes as well as font type also catch my attention.



  11. Amy M
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:06 am · Link

    The torso of a strong man…maybe not showing his face to kind of leave it a mystery. Not that I don’t appreciate a good looking man on a cover…because there are some that are drool worthy!! I don’t really know what cover I wouldn’t like…maybe something so generic that I would have no concept of what the feeling of the book was about. But I cannot think of anything that has been a turn off for me.

    Thanks~
    Amy M



  12. sara hurt
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:18 am · Link

    I want to see torsos or backs or basically anything that doesnt show a full facial feature. I hate when the cover doesnt match the description of the characters or the settings.



  13. alba
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 am · Link

    Any cover that draws me in like the torso with a celtiic band around his arm as the KM Moning’s cover of Immortal Highlander or THE KISSABLE LIPS of
    Kiss of a highlander but it’s the story the writer that keeps me coming back.
    I just read the excerpt of Jess’s book I think I ready to read a futuristic book starting with this one………
    have a great day……….



  14. Christine
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 am · Link

    I like a cover that captures what the story is about. B/c sometimes they are so off. Something not too dark in color b/c then you don’t see anything.



  15. Edie
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:38 am · Link

    My MAJOR hate on covers, is where the woman is at the feet of the bloke and clinging to his legs while he stares out into the distance, or looks down patronisingly. Drives me bonkers!

    I am also not a fan of the nekkid clinches or man titty covers.. though oddly love the naked back ones.. especially if there are tatts. (male and female..lol)
    Though prefer cartoon ones or plain object ones, where I am free to imagine the characters looks the way I want to.



  16. Calila
    August 2nd, 2009 at 7:44 am · Link

    I like pretty covers with striking colors.



  17. vitch36
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:16 am · Link

    Love a cover with a hot guy. (or guys)

    Yeah, surprised, aren’t you?

    😈



  18. RKCharron
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:19 am · Link

    Hi πŸ™‚
    The kind of cover which draws my eye are the extremely well-done artistic ones by artists like Michael Whelan or Frank Frazetta. Also I’m really liking the campy covers of the Queen Betsy series and Katie McAlister books. Weird, abstract covers I don’t care for that much, like the UK cover for Uglies. I’ve been noticing a lot of faces on covers lately and some are very good. Also photographic covers like Prophecy of the Sisters are amazing. So is the cover for Eyes Like Stars.
    Covers are like any art – they can please one person while another can loathe it.
    πŸ™‚
    Thanks for the great question and post.
    All the best,
    Twitter.com/RKCharron
    xoxo



  19. Cheryl McInnis
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 am · Link

    Oh, I love futuristic romance, this one sounds awesome!
    As for covers, I like different things, but I prefer the cover to reflect the story. I’m not a huge fan of cartoony covers that many chick-lit books seem to have. Ebooks sometimes have really cheesy covers too, even if the story is good-but I find that I really love almost all of the covers at Samhain, their cover artists are amazing!



  20. azteclady
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:30 am · Link

    I hate poser covers and I never pick up cartoonish covers–you know, the ones that seem to scream “chick lit”?

    Now, I know that’s sad because there can be good books behind the hideous cover art, but… well, there you have it.

    What I like in covers is something evocative, that seems to tell me something about the book. Beyond the Rain got an awesome cover, as have both your Federation novels. Lori Devoti’s Amazon Ink also has a great cover.

    Oh, and Ann’s upcoming Skin Game *yummmmm*!!!



  21. Nancy
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:34 am · Link

    Ohhh my this book does sound delicious!

    I’m not a big fan of cartoon covers. I love a hunky guy on the cover, headless or not. If he’s wearing a kilt, more’s the better. πŸ™‚

    I also love ‘clinch’ covers! πŸ˜€



  22. Lea
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:44 am · Link

    Hi Lauren:

    I love a cover that is colorful, with an interesting pose that fits with the story.

    For instance, I think the one for “Laid Bare”, is spectacular.

    Best
    L



  23. MichelleKCanada
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am · Link

    I love covers that have something to do with the book. I know it is terriable to judge a book by the cover but I am so guilty.

    I love also love photograph type of covers with real people or excellent drawings. Sexy and interesting covers are great.

    Congrats Lauren for having really awesome covers. I’d love for you to do a blog on how covers are selected and if you have any say on a cover. I’ve seen it mentioned a few times where in author’s blogs another author is congratulating on a cover so it made me wonder about that process.

    I do not like “Fabio” type of covers where the man is embracing a woman and his long and flowing hair is floating in the breeze and the woman is gripping the man for dear life as he stares out into space.

    I also do not like on ebooks when you visit a merchant page and there are 5 different authors and they all share the same cover.



  24. chey
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 am · Link

    I like scenery on a cover.



  25. Jody F.
    August 2nd, 2009 at 8:51 am · Link

    Truthfully I really like my covers to look like the one above. I love a sexy guy on the front as well as something artsy. I detest clenchy covers.



  26. Amy Kathryn
    August 2nd, 2009 at 9:13 am · Link

    I like the covers that seem a bit mysterious…hinting at the story but not knocking you over with the obvious. I want to be curious enough to flip to the back to read the blurb.

    I have to agree with some of the other commenters about the cover having nothing to do with the story or even worse, being completely wrong….it is so annoying to have to double check the hair color the author states with the hair color on the cover and find it is so not right!



  27. Terri W.
    August 2nd, 2009 at 9:43 am · Link

    I like scenic covers with people on them and the richly colored ones.



  28. Sarah
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 am · Link

    I love covers that only hint at the story inside rather than making it obvious.



  29. Shelly A
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:04 am · Link

    Lauren congrats on upcoming release of Laid Bare. I know it will do well. With regards to book covers – I’m always drawn to a cover with a man’s torso. lol front or back, tattooed or not doesn’t matter. πŸ˜€



  30. elaing8
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am · Link

    A hot guy on the cover is nice. But I also like the mysterious/dark paranormal/urban fantasy covers.



  31. Devon
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am · Link

    Lately I seem to like the photograph style covers, or the ones that are drawn but look more real – especially if it’s a really hot guy (and if he has a tattoo, oh my :grin:)
    I also really like Lauren’s style of covers showing the heroine – with or without the hero.

    If the cover shows the main characters, I do think they should look like the authors description. (I totally agree with other commentors, I hate it when they get the hair color wrong, or it has nothing to do with the story)

    One of my favorite cover artists is Natalie Winters (who is also author Mandy M. Roth) – she does those photo/drawn style covers.

    I dont really care for the computer generated covers where the people look like dolls or video games – they are just a little too weird.



  32. Scott Romanski
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 am · Link

    I dislike the stereotypical half-naked man on the cover….Like a man and a woman together on the cover looking sexy.



  33. Crystal B.
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 am · Link

    I like covers with a hot guy or covers that have vibrant colors. I don’t like cartoony covers.



  34. Marjana Kaly
    August 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 am · Link

    A Sexy cover(doesn’t matter if is guy or a girl on it) always draws me to read/get the book…LOL but what I hate is when the cover art and actually story/plot of the book has NOTHING on common..I feel like I was cheated.



  35. Jeanette Juan
    August 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am · Link

    I love all types of covers except thhose with just landscape on the front.



  36. Pam P
    August 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 am · Link

    Don’t care for poser covers or some that are too comic; otherwise all depends on the artwork or image. Not such a fan of headless covers, I like to see the face that goes with the bod.



  37. Lexee
    August 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 am · Link

    A hot cover with a guy or animal a warrior draws my eye. I don’t lime it when the cover doesn’t seem to match the book.
    lexeetoste@sbcglobal.net



  38. Cathy M
    August 2nd, 2009 at 11:38 am · Link

    I love sexy covers with a hint of skin, especially when the cover models match the book characters. Least favorite are cartoon characters and badly hand drawn covers with the wrong proportions.



  39. Estella
    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:01 pm · Link

    I like covers with a hunky guy on them. Do not like cartoon covers.



  40. Armenia
    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:23 pm · Link

    An unbalanced hormonal hot guy needing sex…bring it on. 😈

    I love sexy covers with guys and couples. I don’t like mannequin-looking couples, or lots of blood on it. 😯



  41. bridget3420
    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:31 pm · Link

    I have to agree that hunky guys draw me in. I also like sexy covers. I don’t like boring covers with flowers and stuff.



  42. Patty S.
    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:49 pm · Link

    I’m not terribly picky, but I hate the covers some e-pubs do that look artificial, almost cartoonish.



  43. Has
    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:54 pm · Link

    I love atmospheric covers or the ones that are iconic and have a theme that links to the book or series.

    I dont mind the man titty covers I think they are half the fun but I prefer if there is alot of thought and ideas that is linked with the story.



  44. Jane
    August 2nd, 2009 at 12:58 pm · Link

    I like stepbacks and silhouetted covers. Blue and red covers always catch my eye.



  45. Gloria T.
    August 2nd, 2009 at 1:01 pm · Link

    I like colorful covers which has a picture of some one in the book. I don’t likecovers that don’t have much on on them, like plain covers.



  46. Susan
    August 2nd, 2009 at 1:06 pm · Link

    I like covers with ‘real’ people on them. Either couples or just one person is fine with me. I don’t care for caricatures.



  47. Jessie
    August 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm · Link

    I don’t pay much attention to covers but the ones that just pop that are really colorful make me take a second look



  48. Melissa Conatser
    August 2nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm · Link

    I like to see real people who match the description of the characters. I hate it when the cover shows a red head, only to have the heroine be blonde.

    I love dark covers that look mysterious. I love purple so that always catches my eye.



  49. Fedora
    August 2nd, 2009 at 2:51 pm · Link

    I’m not super picky about covers, but I do appreciate any eye candy! πŸ˜‰ I also like the general feel of the cover to match the tone of the book–nothing like picking up a cartoony/playful cover only to find a darker topic inside or picking up a dramatic one to find a romp…



  50. Amelia
    August 2nd, 2009 at 3:25 pm · Link

    I like covers that reflect some of the actual content of the book. I don’t like covers that people on the cover only find out in the book that all the hair and eye colors are wrong for the book’s characters.