WhiskeyintheJar Romance

It's that time of year again! Time to give shout-outs to all the wonderful books I read throughout the year. I do this to fondly reflect back on my reading year and alert readers of any hidden gems they may have missed (it's all out of the goodness of my heart and totally not because the Goodreads Romance category enrages me into doing extra work every year).

The books eligible could be published in any year, they simply had to be read by me in 2015.  There will be 9 categories and I will post as I get them typed up. 

Without further ado let me kick off the award show tonight with the first,

(click on number for Amazon link or bold, underlined title for review if I wrote one)

Best Cover

Nominees:

1. Orphan's Blade by Aubrie Dionne - From the scruff to the outfit, I loved the medieval feel. I'm a sucker for these types of covers, more medievals need to be published!

2. The Likelihood of Lucy by Jenny Holiday - Romance covers have a tendency to have the male dominating the woman, body angled over her, but this one has the heroine grasping his lapels and I really liked how they felt equal in their togetherness. 

3. Lady in Red by Maire Claremont - This cover smacks you in the face with its dramatic feel. The swirling red with black undertones makes me wonder what dark and wonderful things are to be found inside.

4.  Dirty Deeds by Karina Halle - The almost sepia tone, no shirt, pants undone, gun, and title give this an incredibly raw feel. Dirty Deeds? Do tell...

5. Flirting With Disaster by Victoria Dahl - I almost didn't include this one but I kept going back to it. It's pretty stark but for some reason the clean lines and color scheme draw my eye. I also like how her head is subtly turned away from his leaning in kiss, matching the "flirting" title. Ideal cover for a smart sexy contemporary, which this certainly is.

6.  The Scandalous Secret of Abigail MacGregor by Paula Quinn - I know I just got done talking about how I liked a cover where the male wasn't dominating but my old bodice ripping heart is breaking free on this one. I love his naked chest, I love his leaning, love how her cape swirls to be the background of the title, and I love it all together. 

7. A Scoundrel by Moonlight by Anna Campbell - Did you really think I wouldn't include a purple cover? The way he is tilting her chin up makes me sigh and stars dance in my eyes but really, yeah, the purple-ness of it all.

8. Reapers Fall by Joanna Wylde - From the hint of tattoo on a muscled bicep to the "don't give a fuck" body language attitude as he sits on a bad ass machine roaring up into your space, it makes me want to buy a copy while I slip into a pair of leather pants accented with red high heels and flick my cigarette at the nearest unsuspecting male.

9. Finding Gabriel by Rachel Demeter - I try not to let the story influence me on covers but in this case, it helped. The hero shoots himself in the face in an act of suicide but obviously doesn't succeed. The cover model's face half shrouded in shadows adds to the chilling aspect of the story's plot. The uniform and good looks aren't bad, either ;)

10. Goddess of Fire by Bharti Kirchner - This cover is simply badass. It evokes a sense that the heroine in the story is busting through and about to get to set the world on fire. That's a story I want to read.

11. Acts of Creation by Elisabeth Staab - I like the pop of the white wrappings on his hands mixed with the pretty blue and the broody, sexy, yet seemingly approachable (hahaha, could be dreaming here) way the model is sitting. It also conveys a feeling that is perfect for a New Adult. 

Winner:

#3 - Lady in Red

The Gothic drama, you guys!

2014 Winner

2014 Best Covers post

Feel free to share your favorite cover in the comments :)

Stayed tuned, next category will be Favorite Secondary Character...