Holiday Readathon Mini-Challenge and Giveaway: Book Covers

I'm so thrilled to be participating once again in the Holiday Readathon hosted by the adorable Liza at WhoRuBlog, an event that will run the entire weekend with all sorts of fun challenges, giveaways–and of course reading–and then culminating in a Twitter party on Sunday evening. You can find all the details (and sign up if you want!) about the readathon as well as the full list of blogs and authors hosting mini-challenges and giveaways on Liza's blog, so be sure and pop over to take a look.

While I'm not taking part in the readathon itself, I did want to participate in the event in some way, so today I have the pleasure of hosting a mini-challenge. This year has been a year of change for me, I completely overhauled my wedding stationery business in January and shifted my focus to book cover design exclusively, so in celebration of my new business direction this year I wanted my challenge to be all about gorgeous covers. Below are my top 5 covers for 2014 as well as my all-time favorite cover, complete with a little explanation of what I love so much about each of them.

My challenge to you all is to leave a comment with your favorite cover of 2014 or your all-time favorite cover, one that made you instantly add the book to your list before you even had a chance to read the synopsis :-)

At the bottom of this post you'll find a Rafflecopter form, one lucky winner will receive the book of their choice!

MY TOP 5 COVERS OF 2014

A Thousand Pieces of You

I simply couldn't be more in love with this cover. While a split screen of two cities is something that's been done before, the watercolor effect and the colors really set this cover apart for me and I knew the minute I saw it that I had to have it on my shelf.

Promise of Shadows

Confession: I have a mild obsession with type. Okay, there's really nothing mild about it. I'm a typeface junkie so type-based covers always make me happy. The way the letters flow down the page and interact with the feathers is absolutely stunning to me (and surprisingly readable given how the words are broken up) and this list could never be complete without this cover on it.

House of Ivy & Sorrow

The above confession applies to this cover as well. This hand-drawn type by Erin Fitzsimmons is amazing and makes me want to sign up for a typography class immediately. *wanders off to research classes*

Dorothy Must Die

As much as I'm a fan of type-driven designs, I'm an equally big fan of simplistic but powerful layouts. This cover screams The Wizard of Oz using very few design elements, and I love how the "i" in "die" doubles as a wound to poor Dorothy's chest. It's gritty, eye-catching, and immediately tells readers what they can expect from this story.

The One

There was a time not too long ago when it seemed like every YA cover out there featured a girl in a beautiful dress regardless of whether or not the character appeared in anything like it in the book. What I like so much about this cover is that the dress actually fits the story, and isn't simply pretty for the sake of being pretty. I had to choose this one too as a nod to my previous life in the wedding industry :-)

ALL TIME FAVORITE COVER:

Siege and Storm

I can't even explain how much I love illustrated covers. There's just something about them that always draws me in, and this design blew me away the first time I saw it. I love the type and the way it creates movement in and around the turrets, and the color scheme to me is just striking. Then there's the illustration itself with the architecture, waves and storm clouds, all combining to make me one happy (and envious) design-lover!

• • • • • • • • • • • •

GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs today to one winner is the book of their choice (up to $20)! This giveaway is international provided the Book Depository delivers to your country. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and don't forget to leave a comment with your favorite book cover to complete the mini-challenge!

a Rafflecopter giveaway