HOT Books Cooled by COLD Covers by Margo Hoornstra

It's been established by others on this blog that book covers do make a difference in book sales. Bare chested heroes, heroines in fishnet stockings and flirty skirts. All arranged in provocative poses. Like it or not, sex sells, and these eye catching covers will entice a prospective reader to check out what's inside. Maybe even purchase the book.

What happens, though, when a book cover is so tame the expectation is the story inside could be anything but a hot and satisfying romance?

Although pleasant to look at, what storylines does this cover evoke?

These are some I think of:

A children's book about furry creatures cavorting in the forest at Christmas.

A travel log about a road trip in some beautiful winter wonderland.

A young adult novel about a high school somewhere in the frozen north.

A day by day diary about a religious retreat.

Actually, none of the above tell the whole, well, story.

Here's what's on the back cover of Glad Tidings.

His twenty-fifth high school reunion leaves hard-driving hospital CEO Jake Holbrook feeling he’s missing something in life. So when a special woman from his past tumbles back into his life—and his bed—Jake is determined to keep her, even if it means recruiting her to work for him. Family practice physician Bethany Thomas knows it’s a bad idea to sleep with her late husband’s best friend—even if he is the only man she’s ever loved. Recently widowed after twenty years of marriage to the wrong man and haunted by guilt over his death, Bethany isn’t looking for an entanglement.  Especially not with her future boss.
Working together makes Jake and Bethany confront their clashing philosophies to patient care, and as the holidays approach, Bethany unknowingly betrays Jake. Now Jake’s job is on the line—can they overcome their lack of trust to find their own holiday miracle?

This is how Glad Tidings begins.

          "I love you, Bethy. Always have. Always will."
             Bethany Thomas heard those cherished words from the only man she ever loved and felt her heart soar.

          Lying beside him in the comfort of a darkened hotel room, she wanted only to put the crushing guilt and misery of the past few days behind her. To return to that place in her life where nothing mattered except that she and Jake were together.
          Still damp from their lovemaking, his solid form moved closer. Strong arms reached out to circle her waist. "It feels so good to hold you, Bethy."
          It feels so good to be held.
          Her hands trailed along the firm ridges of his chest, slid over broad shoulders, and clasped around his neck. Heat from his body poured over hers as wide palms came together at the small of her back then lowered to spread across sensitive flesh. Warm lips maintained a slow and sensuous pressure until he released their kiss and simply held her close.
          How long had it been since she'd known lovemaking this complete?
          Forever, she decided as a contented smile creased her mouth and she rested her cheek against the refuge of his chest. Being with Jake, she felt whole, protected. All was right with the world.
          "So good to hold you," he whispered again.
          Hearing his voice, remnants of--until now--a non-existent conscience rose up to grab onto the reasonable side of her mind. She swallowed to moisten a suddenly dry throat after the question she could no longer deny reared its ugly head.
          What kind of woman buries her husband in the afternoon and sleeps with his best friend that night?

Brutal honesty here, though most reviews are favorable, Glad Tidings has not exactly been a block buster in the marketplace.

What do you think. Did the cover cause those looking for a hot story give Glad Tidings the cold shoulder?

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my books, please visit my WEBSITE