Giveaway - The Cover Art of Paul Marron

Contest is over!  Thanks everyone for participating! :)

Cover Art Monday:  Each month, we will have a different unique look at cover art by all the blog authors on the first Monday of the month.  As it is warranted by new releases and books that we read, we will still cover some special series in their entirety.  However, it will no longer be a spotlight feature.  Each month we have a Cover Art piece, there will be a giveaway with it! :)  So always check back to see what goodies we are offering!

This Month's focus: Paul Marron - Regency lord, Medieval Warrior, Vampire, Shifter - he does them all!  And the prize is an ARC copy of Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan - featuring Paul Marron on the cover - plus a few other new releases to sweeten the deal! :)

So...what do we have to say about Paul Marron... Not much.  :)  But do we really need to?  Even if all that we do is look at pretty pictures of him, does anyone have a problem with that? Ok...ok.  Let's make it more official.  For each one, we want to vote.  Which character is he the best at?  Historical or paranormal?  And which is the favorite?

Aimee:   Despite all the controversy associated with this cover, I have to say that I think this type of incarnation of Paul Marron, the vampire, really is the best.  I love this cover.  I love the purple eyes and the intensity that Marron gives to Rehvenge, the drug dealer/pimp/true hero of Ward's Lover Avenged.  Am I biased?  Absolutely.  This is not only one of my favorite series, this is one of my favorite books within my favorite series.  Even still, I would say that this is a great incarnation for both Marron and Rehvenge.

Sara: This was a book I have read and unfortunately this is not how I had pictured the main character within. Paul is his usual handsome self and the tattoo is interesting to draw your attention towards his amazing body, but once again there isn’t much more than that. This cover was a departure from the other BDB images and I wish they hadn’t made that choice. It makes it look just like every other paranormal out there, not unique.

Terree:  I am partial to this cover for a few reasons. First of all, I loved the book and the character, so whenever I look at the cover I remember the story… am I the only person who hugs her books? Then there are his eyes… mmmm purple, my favorite… I wonder if I can get purple contacts for my husband, but I digress… 

Aimee:  Not being a fan of the Fallen Angels, I can't tell you whether he does this character justice (honestly, I don't really understand the Angels so I am not even sure I know which character he is supposed to BE.  Is it Jim, who, what?)  But I will say, I like Paul as a blond better!
Sara: The strong arm pose and the serious look on his face offset the poor artwork on the wings.  This was just an OK cover image for me, but at least the wings are a dead giveaway about the type of male character we’ll find within.

Terree:  Another favorite book, and now he has beautiful angel wings on… this is tough! You see, I associate the cover model with the story within. I love the story, love the cover. I love the shot of “Jim” crouching down, getting ready to battle that… well, again, I digress.

Aimee:  My major problem with this cover is that it is an exact duplicate of one of Melissa Mayhue's covers.  As such, I just can't even take this one seriously....

Sara: I like this cover because it feels like we’ve caught these two in an intimate moment and both of them seem to pull off the seduction within their pose.  I also like how the dark plaid backdrop makes Paul pop from the image. 

Terree:  Not one of my favorites, the book I mean. The cover is nice, though the it doesn’t match the description of the character AT ALL. That is one thing I find annoying when reading. It is the “Fabio Phenomenon” I think. The publishers must not listen to editors when given a description of the characters, or no one cares, and they just go out and get the most popular cover model, not caring if he doesn’t fit… uggg, I hate that!

Aimee:  Wow!  Paul as a dark haired vamp instead of a blond.  Go photoshop!  I didn't love Vlad in Once Burned, but I love this cover!  Honestly, my big concerns about this book were with the female lead and the cliffhanger, but the cover was definitely a plus! :)

Sara:  I didn’t recognize this as Paul! It’s a great pose for him with the black hair and a really sexy expression on his face. This one goes into my win column.

Terree:  To be honest, every time I look at this cover, the first thing that comes to mind is “Wolverine!”  I have no idea what this book is about, I haven’t read it yet, but he looks HOT! I love a cover that has a full face that I can keep flipping back to!

Aimee: I have read this book by Samantha Grace, and this cover was the high point.  Paul Marron is not Jake - he was a mild mannered Regency lord.  Not a sex symbol.  But it was nice eye candy.  That is the best I can say about this whole mess and a half.

Sara: I like this cover a lot.  That man could be serving me papers from the IRS looking like that and I’d gladly accept anything he had in hand.  I think the slightly undone look with the open shirt and messed up hair is what makes it appealing to me.

Terree:  I haven’t read a Regency for a while (besides the Bridgerton’s) but I’m tellin’ ya, looking at this cover, I’m ready! He looks like he’s kind of a swashbuckling lordling type guy, mmmm mmmm. I love a little bad in my good. I also like that he isn’t totally stripped down, and sometimes I like to be teased…

Aimee:  Yum on the abs!  Haven't read the book, but I plan to (and not just because of those delicious abs...) I can't say if he matches the character, but in this instance, he is definitely a believable Highland dude!

Sara: Unfortunately I am not a fan of any cover image where half of the model’s face is cut off, so sadly a good book gets a bad grade from me for this cover.  Also, the title covers over one of Paul’s best features.  I miss his pecs!

Terree:  One of my VERY favorite books! BUT I absolutely hate the “half face man”!!!! I really don’t know why the art departments choose to do these. I can only assume that they feel that they could deceive us and use the same model over and over. Newsflash! We already know that you do that!! I love a man in a kilt and a claymore hanging around… ahhh now that is my favorite genre, but show me the face!!

This book is the prize in this giveaway and honestly... who wouldn't want to to it just to look at the cover!!! :)

 

Aimee:  I love this cover.  And when you put it next to the other Darkest London covers (Moonglow and Firelight) I really like how the three go together and make a real impression.  However, being familiar with the character that is being portrayed... I would not have said Paul Marron was it.  I thought a dark haired Victorian.  Marron looks a little too Billy Idol in this - which doesn't gel with my picture of the character.   So this one is not a win for me because I know too much about the character and so this one doesn't work for me.

Sara: Once again, I think reading the story within changed my opinion of the cover.  I LOVE the cover image itself, but I don’t believe this is the hero character for a second!  I’ve always pictured the character Winston Lane as looking more like Jude Law than Paul’s interpretation.   Even knowing what goes on within the story I still don’t quite see Winston like this.  Now, even with that said this one is probably my favorite of all that we’re comparing today.

Terree:  I liked the fact that there was a woman on this cover too, but to be honest, it wasn’t a very good picture of Paul. It shows a lot of tension, but just not my cuppa. Maybe it was touched up a lot to make it “not so pretty?” 

Aimee:  I loved Lethal Rider.  And Thanatos is a fantastic character.  Part demon, part vampire - Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse.  And I think that Paul Marron captures that beautifully.  Though in this case... I am going to say something I almost NEVER say... The UK book covers for the Lords of Deliverance are better and more accurate to the characters.  But looking at this cover, do I mind that he doesn't look like Thanatos... nope.  Not. At. All.

Sara: Once again I didn’t realize this was Paul, so points go to the graphic designer who managed to make a familiar face look so different (what we see of it).  He pulls off a dangerous aura for the character just by how his body is held against the woman.  You’re drawn into whatever their story is without even having to look at the back cover.  I like this one.

Terree:  Again, I like that there is a woman in this, and if it had been more than a half face job, it would have been way up there. It shows a lot of emotion, and shows a lot of gorgeous chest (his) but I am not going to cave and say I like “½ faces”… (Come on Terree, you KNOW you want to! ;))

Aimee: Ooooo!  A Fantasy type of Paul... I have never read this book and know nothing about the character, but I think I like this slightly younger looking Paul.  More boyish, less hard angles on the face.  Neat.  Not a favorite, but not one I mind, either! :)

Sara:  This cover has got to be one of his earliest (or someone went a little overboard with the airbrush).  I don’t care for his facial expression on this one.  Not knowing anything about the story itself I’d be very reluctant to pick this cover on a bookstore shelf.  This was another cover-fail for me.

Terree: I like this one; his face is nice and is close up. I’ve never read it, so I have no idea if it matches the description.  Sometimes it’s just nice to look at a pretty boy. 

Aimee:  And now a Celtic Dark Hunter on the Night Embrace cover.  I get around, I get around... but I can't complain.  He  makes a great Talon.  He is dark and forbidding while being a blond like Talon is supposed to be.  He fits the character and the mood of the book.  But I can say...Paul should not scowl.  Not his best look.

Sara: This cover was a FAIL for me on so many levels. Paul has to take a small part of the blame on this one; he looks like he’s doing Zoolander’s Magnum with his face.  Too much pout added to too much lime green and some terrible airbrushing of the image.  Only if I were a fan of the series/author would I take a second look at the book from this cover.

Terree:  The first thing that struck me about this cover was the eyes. I don’t see color well, so I think they are greenish, but they are so piercing. Paul has a way of looking through the camera sometimes that just makes me shiver. This is one of those times. 

 

Aimee:  I wonder... what color are his eyes really?  I have seen them red (obviously not real), purple (too bad they aren't real), brown, and now a vivid blue.  Not that I mind.  With the dark hair, the blue is pretty nice.....

Sara:  I think the title has me a bit confused about this cover image.  Is he supposed to be a knight or a highlander or a shifter, or all three?  This image must have come from Paul’s baby-faced years because he’s almost too pretty.  I don’t see him as a gritty knight of the realm who may (or may not) be fierce enough to be called a beast. 

Terree:  Another pose with the piercing eyes, this time blue. I enjoy the close up; I wish it were full face, but at least the top half isn’t cut off! I notice that a few of the covers are very similar even though they are by different authors. (boring…same photo shoot?)  

Aimee:  I like this author, but have never read the Pride series.  I keep trying to, but nothing pulls me in.  In this case, I think Paul is supposed to be a lion shifter. I kind of need to say it... I like blondes in general, but I like his hair in this one!  It is very boyish and... I don't know, it is working for me!

Sara: I think I’ll blame my dislike of this cover more on the idea that nothing was done to make this look paranormal other than the shade of red they chose for the background.  Paul’s pose says nothing about the character within other than he’s a hot young guy.  I wouldn’t be tempted to look at the back cover to know more.

Terree:  Can you say “yummy”? Aside from looking like a petulant child, his body is smokin’ hot! Unfortunately the pouty little boy face takes away all of the hotness. Hmmm, now here is where we could use one of those ½ face things so I could enjoy the body without my thumb covering his face (which I usually enjoy btw) 

Aimee:  Well, if the Regency lord is a sex symbol.  Ok.  But really is that likely?  I haven't read this one, but it just doesn't seem to work for me.

Sara:  I’m not sure if Paul is trying to portray the Naughty Nobleman or the Suave Swashbuckler in this pose, but either way it’s a win!  Just like the Samantha Grace cover above, it’s the slightly mussed-up look that I find so attractive.  This image might have actually come from the same photo shoot, so I give major points to the costumer/photographer that day. 

Terree:  MMMMM, this one is just… mmmmmm. I love the shirt tucked in but open, and the low pants (and we know that the pants probably weren’t that low back then, but again I say mmmm) I know most people first look to the eyes, but not me! I look for those little slanty muscles on the outside of the lower abdomen… and I found myself trying to peek in his shirt… what a tease!

Aimee:  Paul Marron as Rydstrom... I am NOT a fan of Rydstrom's so to me this is an insult to the model.  That is about all that I can say....  Is this Rydstrom?  Not really.  It is BETTER than Rydstrom.  So great cover for a book I didn't like.

Sara: I am a sucker for a sculpted back on a male model.  This cover works for me not only for Paul’s body (which is in peak form here) but also for the added details like the chains and the sword held high.  I want to know more about this hero character based just on Paul’s pose and isn’t that the goal of any cover image?

Terree:  I think I saw a different color added to his eyes on this one, kind of an aqua maybe? The thing I didn’t like was the “fake” chains added after, if you are going to have those things, put them in the photo shoot. Paul was nice though. It amazes me how he can look so different in so many shoots.

Aimee:  What is this?  Paul Marron as Freddy Kruger?  Not working for me...

Sara: Well, if this cover didn’t scream Shifter I don’t know what would.  Paul’s eyes really draw you into the image and when I look away for a moment they actually stay with me for a second.  This one works in its simplicity for just that reason.  A fairly good cover.

Terree:  I like this one, the eyes and claws are riveting! It just makes me wonder. First, what is he thinking, and second… what is he going to do with those claws? Tee hee.

Aimee:  This one is my favorite, without a doubt.  Again, am I biased.  Yup.  But look at this!  If you know Lothaire, you will know that Lothaire is described as a perfect man.  His looks and his power are unquestioned.  Even his enemies admit that he is incredibly sexy.  And this cover to me is Marron's coup de grace.  He could never show up on another and I would say - ok.  He hit his ultimate on Lothaire, so I'm good with that!  And interestingly enough, he does not have his amazing abs showing and I still think it is the pinnacle....

Sara:With the exception of the red eyes there wasn’t much to the cover other than Paul’s general angry/sexy expression (which I will admit is really nice to stare at.) I may have been more attentive if I knew the character, but all I got was scruffy, intense blond guy.

Terree:  This one seems to be the most “adult” of the covers. No petulance, no glaring, no ½ face. Just plain slightly devious sex. It’s almost like he’s daring us to think about him, or not… actually it looks like he doesn’t even care… sigh. (What is amazing to me, Terree, is that I know you haven't read Lothaire yet, but you have pegged his character PERFECTLY!!  That tells me this cover art did its job.  Someone can look at it and KNOW the character like you did here.)

Favorites: 

Aimee:  My favorite is Lothaire.  If I was going on just the story, my favorite of these is probably Lover Avenged (those purple eyes!!!!)  But this is more than just about the story.  As I said above, Terree was able to nab the character just by looking at the picture.  That means that the art is a complete success.  Add to that the fact that I think that Paul's best looks are the paranormal creatures, particularly the vamps like Lothaire is, and that is my winner!

Sara: Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan

Terree:  So, my winner? It was a tough one, but it is…Envy. Why? It’s a combination of the cover art and the book itself… and my, doesn’t Paul make a lovely Fallen Angel? It was a really hard decision for me to make, I had troubles deciding between Envy, Once Burned, and The Dark Earl… the deciding factor was that I have read Envy. I’m anxious to hear your choices.

 



Now for the giveaway. The prize is a three book prize pack and is sponsored by Grand Central Publishing.  An ARC of Winterblaze - a Paul Marron cover - by Kristen Callihan, The Chieftain by Margaret Mallory, and Seduction of a Highland Warrior by Sue-Ellen Welfonder. You must leave your email in the comment in order to claim your prize.  US RESIDENTS ONLY!!  Contest Ends February 14! 

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