Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Wednesday Flourish: Embers Cover Reveal + Giveaway

Hey Everyone!

Those of you who follow this blog with any frequency might note something a little off about the title of today's post, as usually the word "flourish" accompanies a Friday post wherein I share one of my recent cover designs. Today though, I'm part of a larger cover reveal for Embers, the first book in a new paranormal YA series from Karen Ann Hopkins, so I switched things up a touch and am doing my flourish post on a Wednesday.

I was lucky enough to "meet" Karen when Danny and I worked on the Kismet tours for her YA Temptation series from HarlequinTEEN, and the timing was one of those perfect twists of fate because Karen just happened to be getting ready to self publish Lamb to the Slaughter and was in need of a designer. I was thrilled to have the chance to work with her again on the cover for the first book in this new YA series, and am so in love with the final product.

Let me know what you think in the comments, and don't forget to check the bottom of the post for all the details on a fantastic giveaway!



There are descendants of angels walking among us. Ember is one of them. And she may be the only hope mankind has as the rapture approaches and evil rises.

Embers is an epic paranormal adventure about an eighteen year old girl who discovers that she's immune to fire and any other injury when she’s in a horrific car crash that kills her parents. Following a violent episode with her aunt's boyfriend, Ember flees Ohio to live with an old relative in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Ember's exuberance at escaping a bad home life soon turns to trepidation when she finds out that she's a Watcher, a descendant of angels. While Ember learns about her heritage and the powers that go along with it, she strikes up friendships with two young men who live in a frightening walled compound in the forest. Inexplicitly drawn to one of the men in particular, an impossible romance develops. But it is cut short when Ember discovers that her new friends are fighting on the opposite side of a war—one that’s been raging between two factions of Watchers for thousands of years. When the compound’s inhabitants threaten the townspeople, Ember takes action, sealing her fate in the ancient battle of good versus evil—and the grayness in between. Ember is up to the challenge, until she realizes that she isn’t only fighting for the lives of the locals and the souls of her new friends. She also might be one of the few champions who will make a stand for all of mankind as the rapture approaches and the end of days begin.

Embers is a dark and gritty YA novel that’s the first book in the series, The Wings of War.

Intrigued by Embers? Then be sure and sign up to be a part of the blog tour running from October 20th to November 7th!

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EXCERPT

“How can this be? My hands were closer to the flame than yours, yet mine are all right, and yours are ruined.” I was confused and weak, yet I was still trying to think rationally. 
“I need to get you to a hospital.”
“My dear child, I know this is going to be difficult for you to accept. You have been conditioned your entire life to not believe the things I’m about to tell you, but the truth is in front of you. You can’t deny it now.” Aunt Ila paused and wrinkled her nose as if she was in pain, but she continued to talk.
“The fire can’t harm you, because it’s inside of you. It’s part of your essence, your soul. Of course you know that humans are made up of water, bones, tissue and organs. And you have all those things in your body, but the fire is in there too, just hiding. But it is in there just the same.” She poked her bloody finger into my belly. “That’s why you weren’t injured during that horrible accident. All the others had to try to explain it away somehow, but you knew the truth in your heart all along. You just couldn’t face it or didn’t know how to. You were in the fire and the only thing it did was make you stronger. You are what you are and you can’t deny it.”
Her voice was soft, yet it boomed in my head.
In a shaky voice I asked her, “What am I?”
“A Watcher, my dear—you are a Watcher.” 

 • • • • • • • • • • •

KAREN ANN HOPKINS


A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.


• • • • • • • • • • • 

GIVEAWAY

Karen is generously offering up a $25 Amazon gift card to one lucky winner! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

36 comments:

  1. You did this cover? Cool! I love the wings and words, it all looks great. And yes, the book sounds good! :)

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  2. The wings are great and I like how the letters are the same

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  3. Jenny! You have outdone yourself, my darling. This is absolutely gorgeous! I can't stop staring at those wings, and the font is just fabulous. Immunity to fire sounds new and interesting, and the words 'dark and gritty' were used, which is good enough for me. :)

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  4. I love the cover, Jenny! The wings and font (which are my favourite part of the cover) stand out nicely against the darker forest.

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  5. It sounds great and it's a beautiful cover lady! I love the covers! Thanks for sharing!

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  6. All your covers are, as usual, absolutely gorgeous, Jenny.

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  7. I think it is gorgeous! I love the glowing wings and the orange. It really stands out and pops!

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  8. WOW! Jenny, you did such a brilliant job on this one! You're one amazing designer lady! I love how the fire wings are so relevant to the book but still aren't entirely obvious but more intriguing in the cover!
    And the book sounds like an interesting take on angels, even more if you add the Amish there! Adding it to the wish list!

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  9. The fire wings are beautiful and set the whole tone for the cover. You are truly talented!

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  10. Aww, Jenny. This cover looks fantastic! I love how the cover looks fiery yet serene at the same time. I absolutely love it. It definitely caught my eye and I would be looking forward to this book. :)

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  11. Gorgeous! I like how she's walking out of a sort of gritty, burnt forest, yet her wings are flaming, colorful and flaring around her. This is new to me, so I'll be checking this one out some more for sure :)

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  12. I'm always so amazed by your artistic talent, Jenny! Beautiful! The story sounds exciting as well. Thanks for sharing and for the amazing giveaway! :)

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  13. Jenny you seriously have such an amazing talent!! Wow, this is beautiful and then some more. I love all your covers and this one is not an exception. Great job, girl :)

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  14. I was immediately drawn to the wings on the amazing cover, Jenny! The book looks really intriguing as well. I will have to check my schedule to see if I can participate in the blog tour.

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  15. I love this cover! I signed up for the tour. I think I just like having your covers on my blog announcing the tours. :) Seriously this is so pretty! Love it! Share the talent, k? ;)

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  16. Again, you've nailed this book cover design - beginning with the dramatic focal point of the girl with striking wings, centered amid perfectly symmetrical trees, who leads the reader straight to the beautiful, eye-catching font. One word describes this cover . . . stunning. Beautifully done Jenny.
    Pam

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  17. I think the cover is absolutely stunning.The book sounds very interesting as well.

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  18. The cover is gorgeous and the golden fire wings are stunning! Can't wait to read it!

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  19. Girl. Love it. *hands you another tiara* I particularly like the little glints of ember that float in the forefront of the scene.

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  20. I'm not sure how you do it, Jenny--seriously, start a class because your designs are just phenomenal!--but I love it. Serious. Love. Absolutely amazing cover, dear--can't wait to see your next one! :)

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  21. Jenny, that cover is STUNNING! Love. It. Well done!

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  22. Beautiful. I LOVE the wings and font :D (Also those tall, thin, bony trees in the background... they are simultaneously creepy and cool.)

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  23. I think it's a really good cover, all the elements work together very well. Thanks for the great prize.

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  24. Did you know that you are very talented? Well of course you do, how silly of me to ask. You are very talented, Jenny. I especially love the design of the letters and the wings. I'm not fan of book covers with a wood on it though. :P

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  25. I find the cover to be gorgeous
    Amyc

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  26. looks awesome :) Thanks for sharing!

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  27. What a beautiful cover, Jenny! Once again I'm in awe of your mad design skills. :D I love the dramatic wings and the colors - totally perfect for the story. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. It's beautiful, Jenny, as I've said. PS. All the comments above are positive too! As long as there aren't any triangles, I'm in. Your covers help sell books, you should be proud!

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  29. I know a lot of people are tired of the wing trend on covers, but I am not. I honestly love it, and think it can add a lot to covers. In this case, it is beautiful. And it adds a touch of mystery to the cover. Fantastic!

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  30. i like the blurb and the cover...
    thx u for hosting :)

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  31. You did this?! I had seen it shared on FB but had no idea. It's gorgeous!!!! You did an AMAZING job!

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  32. Oh man, totally in love!! What prettiness and to top it off, it also gives me an idea of what the book is about even without reading the blurb (which also sounds great). Well done, Jenny!!

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  33. I really love this cover, this is one of those books that if you saw it on a shelf you would have to pick it up simply because the cover looks so amazing. Thanks for sharing :)

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