We are excited to welcome back Laurie London, author of the much loved Sweetblood series.  The latest installment, TEMPTED BY BLOOD (available now from HQN Books) was described in Abigail’s review as, “imaginative and sensual, the Sweetblood paranormal romance series is one I keep going back to.” The covers are what first drew us to this series, but it’s the stories that keep us coming back for more.  Speaking of those covers, Laurie is spilling inside details about how they created such a sizzling look for the series. 

Judging A Book By Its Cover

by

Laurie London

Thanks, Abigail, for having me on today. Hi, everyone! Since the third Sweetblood book, Tempted By Blood, just came out and the series has received a lot of cover love, I thought I’d share what I know about the cover creation process.

The first book, Bonded By Blood, required more back and forth between my publisher’s art and editorial departments (which included my input) than Tempted. Once a cover look for the series was decided, it remains consistent with the other books and doesn’t need to be reinvented each time.

An in-your-face close-up of a hot guy. Fangs that read sexy, but not horror. The same title and author fonts. It’s mainly the colors and models that change with each book.

 

*This title will be released on February 21, 2012*

Title: Tempted by Blood Author:  Laurie London Series: Sweetblood #3 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: No Source: NetGalley Reviewed by: Abigail Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: HQN Books (February 21, 2012) ISBN-10: 0373776454 ISBN-13: 978-0373776450   Sexual Content: Several graphic sex scenes Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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Welcome to Laurie London, Caridad Pineiro, Michele Hauf and Alexis Morgan, who are talking about their new anthology, A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS (available now from HQN books) on the #VampXmas blog tour.   The stories in the festive and hot collection range from charming to seductive (you can read Abigail’s review of this anthology here).  Also, we have a cool giveaway package involved! See details below.

Thanks, Abigail, for hosting us for the #VampXmas blog tour. Hi Everyone!

The anthology, A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS, was just released and all four authors are here today, answering the same question. Stay tuned at the end for a chance to win a cool prize package.

Question: Tell us about the heroine of your short story in the anthology A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS?

Title: A Vampire For Christmas Author: Caridad Piñeiro, Michele Hauf, Laurie London, Alexis Morgan Series: Sweetblood #2.5 Cover Art: N/A Genre: Paranormal Romance Excerpt: Yes Source: Publisher Reviewed by: Abigail Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages Publisher: HQN Books; Original edition (October 18, 2011) ISBN-10: 0373776446 ISBN-13: 978-0373776443 Sexual Content: See each story Rating: Good - A fun read with minor flaws. Maybe read an excerpt before buying.

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It’s always a blast when Sweetblood series author Laurie London stops by, and when she’s giving her trademark scary and sexy take on alien abduction urban fantasy stories, it’s even better.  If you haven’t read any of the books in this series, you can start with the novella in A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS, the anthology from Laurie London, Alexis Morgan, Michele Hauf and Caridad Piniero (available now from Harlequin).  Laurie is also giving away a signed copy of the most recent Sweetblood book, EMBRACED BY BLOOD.  See details below.

Click to see the Spooky Legends Master List with links to all the previous posts and giveaways

Alien Abduction, Sweetblood Style 
by
Laurie London

Thanks, Abigail, for inviting me on today as part of the Spooky Legends feature. Telling and listening to spooky stories, sneaking into graveyards at midnight, visiting haunted houses—all were big parts of my childhood, and as an adult, I’m still strangely fascinated by the unknown. 

The following story is told from the point of view of Tracker agent Kip Castile, a secondary character in Embraced By Blood, book two in the Sweetblood series. Something terrible occurred in that book and he’s dealing with the aftermath here. He also makes an appearance in the third book, Tempted By Blood, coming out in March.

This week we have another foray into animated eBook covers, UK readers will enjoy a glimpse of the anthology A VAMPIRE FOR CHRISTMAS.  For the good old fashioned covers, there are series starters, stand alones, and newest editions.  DARKEST KNIGHT has a completely different color palette than the first book of the series, but reminded me instantly of KNIGHT’S CURSE.  I like a little bit of an Easter egg hunt to tie covers together, how much in common do you like your series covers to have?

By the Blood of Heroes by Joseph Nassise 

(Click to enlarge) Not Yet Available for Pre-Order.

Description: N/A “Cover art for the first book in the Burke’s Marauders series I’m doing with Harper Voyager , BY THE BLOOD OF HEROES, came in today and I think it captures the look and feel of the series quite nicely.  We pitched the series as an alternate history zombie steampunk mash-up, a Dirty Dozen meets Dawn of the Dead, and I think the artwork makes it pretty damn clear what you’re getting.” – Joseph Nassise

Series: The Great Undead War #1 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: HarperCollins Publisher Release Date: May 1, 2012 Source: Author’s Blog
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
I’m a fan of the “big head” cover when it involves dog fights and zombies.  The color palette seems very old school to me, I think it works well.	I love how clearly this cover expresses exactly what kind of book this is…very cool

Previous Covers in This Series

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Several luscious paranormal covers were revealed this past week including brand new looks for a few old titles, vampires who want to bite you who you’d probably let (I’m looking at you Laurie London’s vampire), and the cover for my favorite zombie series looks even better than the last two.  - Abigail

  

Tempted by Blood by Laurie London 

(Click to enlarge)

Description: N/A   “I’m loving this cover!!!” – Laurie London

Series: Sweetblood #3 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: HQN Books Release Date: January 24, 2012 Source: Author’s Blog
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
A great call back to the cover for book one, these two in particular fit well together.  Interesting lighting, and it’s striking how intently he’s staring at us.  I can’t decide if that’s a “I wish she was you” look or a “Back off I’m busy” look… either way, it makes an impression.	This is my new favorite for the series.  The lighting is stunning.  I didn’t love the cover for EMBRACED BY BLOOD nearly as much as BONDED BY BLOOD because he wasn’t looking at us.  There is a thrilling question that this cover makes us ask: What is he thinking?  Can’t wait to find out.

 

Previous Covers in This Series

      Horizon by Sophie Littlefield 

(Click to enlarge)

Description: N/A   No Author Comment Available.

Series: Aftertime #3 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: Luna Release Date: January 24, 2012 Source: Wanton Thoughts & Wicked Scribes
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thought
I need more thumbs to show how much I love the progression of these covers.  The colors cool, the barbed wire disappears, and the clouds and smoke fades away.  This works so well with the title, too, it definitely has me thinking Cass’s horizons are opening up.	Julia, you are so right about the story these covers tell.  The increasing clarity of Cass and the setting are very revealing about her as a character.

 

Previous Covers in This Series

     Switched, Torn, & Ascend by Amanda Hocking 

(Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge) (Click to enlarge)

Description: Switched - the first book in the Trylle Trilogy... When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.   Torn - the second book in the Trylle Trilogy... Wendy thought she finally understood who she was and what she wanted, but everything changes when the rival Vittra come after her. She's caught between two worlds, torn between love and duty, and she must decide what life she is going to lead.   Ascend... The final chapter in the Trylle Trilogy. With a war looming on the horizon, Wendy’s fate seems sealed. But everything she sacrificed might be in vain if she can’t save the ones she loves. Her whole life has been leading up to this, and it’s all coming to an end. No Author Comment Available.

Series: Trylle Trilogy Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin Release Date: Jan 24, Feb 28, & April 24, 2012 Source: A Cupcake and a Latte
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
I think these are a beautiful look for this series, though less of a panoramic picture than the three previous covers (shown below).  This series starts out strong, with SWITCHED and TORN being my favorite of the three.	really pretty.  I was never taken with the originals, but these new versions have a whimsical quality and such beautiful colors.  SWITCHED and ASCEND are my favorites.

 

Previous Versions of this Series

     Sex, Lies, and Vampires by Katie MacAlister 

(Click to enlarge) Compare to 2005 Cover:

Description: Amongst the Dark Ones there is one they call The Betrayer, one who is doomed to hand his own kind over to a demon lord... for eternity. But now a small boy’s been kidnapped, and it’s up to Nell Harris – a Charmer – no, literally, that’s her job – to rescue him. Problem is, she can’t help but find The Betrayer a teeny, tiny bit attractive... is it possible he is not as soul-less as he seems, or has her penchant for bad-boys just gone into overdrive?   No Author Comment Available.

Series: Dark Ones #3 Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Release Date: August 30, 2011 Source: Author’s Blog
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
I’m torn on this one.  Though infinitely better than the dated 2005 cover, the framing of this new cover looks a little off to me.  I love the colors, the way their skin glows, but her neck seems to be floating out there and her giant earing is visually distracting (I kept thinking it was a neck tattoo).  Has anyone read this, is the earing from the book?	I agreed it is better than the original, but this couple doesn’t look human (or vampire).  They look more like video game characters.

 

Previous Covers in This Series

      Entangled, by Edie Ramer, Misty Evans, Michelle Miles, Lori Brighton, Dale Mayer, Nancy Haddock, Michelle Diener, Cynthia Eden, Liz Kreger, Jennifer Estep, Allison Brennan 

(Click to enlarge) Not Yet Available for Pre-Order.

Description: Entangled includes ten suspense-filled paranormal stories from authors Lori Brighton, Michelle Diener, Cynthia Eden, Jennifer Estep, Misty Evans, Nancy Haddock, Liz Kreger, Dale Mayer, Michelle Miles, and Edie Ramer, plus a novella by Allison Brennan. Proceeds from the sale of this paranormal anthology will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).   No Author Comment Available.

Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: N/A Release Date: September 2011 Source: Author’s Facebook Page
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
The title font seems to jump off the page a bit too much, but I adore the cover image.  Definitely take a look at the enlarged version, it looks even more fabulous up close.  Her hair seems to melt into spider webs and feathers and frost… gorgeous.	I do like this, but the web over her face is a little weird.  I thought it was features at first.

 

Previous Covers in This Series

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     Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgwick 

(Click to enlarge)

Description: Have you ever had the feeling that you've lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt totally familiar, even though you've never been there before, or felt that you know someone well, even though you are meeting them for the first time? It happens. In 2073 on the remote and secretive island of Blessed, where rumour has it that no one ages and no children are born, a visiting journalist, Eric Seven, and a young local woman known as Merle are ritually slain. Their deaths echo a moment ten centuries before, when, in the dark of the moon, a king was slain, tragically torn from his queen. Their souls search to be reunited, and as mother and son, artist and child, forbidden lovers, victims of a vampire they come close to finding what they've lost.  More…   No Author Comment Available.

Series: N/A Artist: N/A Goodreads: Link	Publisher: Orion Children's Release Date: October 6, 2011 Source: The Book Smugglers
Julia’s Thoughts	Abigail’s Thoughts
This is another tough one for me.  I like how the drawn figure reminds me of Edward Gorey illustrations, but it seems out of place on a realistic background.  The knife and the cloak remind me of the SCREAM franchise, and I really don’t get that heart… just feels like elements are out of sync, something needs to change.	I really like the illustration style and the knife and heart make me very curious about their significance to the story.

 

Previous Covers in This Series

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