Do you judge a book by its cover? Some book covers seem to jump off the shelf at me. I think of children zeroing in on a colorful book with a dramatic design. Not that I’ve been to a library or bookstore for ages. I’m not much of a shopper but I could spend hours rifling through books. And I admit the covers are what snag me.

Stage Fright in the lending library

I hope Stage Fright’s cover attracted someone’s eye as it was pouring rain!

In my three newest books, my aim was to entice readers but not give away the whole story with the cover. The title Stage Fright is only the tip of the iceberg because my heroine, Jessica Nash, carries with her a boatload of fears and uncertainties she hopes to overcome. Even I didn’t know if she would until the ending.

An Unexpected Christmas Gift's cover captures the cold of Pennsylvania in the winter

An Unexpected Christmas Gift’s cover contrasts the icy cold of winter and the warmth of Christmas.

Next, I see An Unexpected Christmas Gift. I love this snowy scene on the cover, thanks to Bethany House. When it comes to the Amish, I must again do research, no matter how often I visit Lancaster County. Things change there too, and I do my best to keep in step with the times.

A pre-lease ARC of From Rome with Love visited a Christmas tree!

A pre-lease ARC of From Rome with Love visited a Christmas tree!

Finally, I spy my most recent novel, From Rome with Love. I was fortunate to have lived in Rome and have visited often. I love Italy so much I chose  Italian as my language in college. I don’t suppose studying Latin for four years counts because my spelling is still horrendous.

Writing about glorious Rome where I’ve spent much time is fun!

Writing about glorious Rome where I’ve spent much time is fun!

From Rome with Love’s heroine carries with her a plethora of uncertainties and doubts. Who wouldn’t in her situation? Once again, I love the cover, which does not tell the whole story. Even I didn’t know what would happen next when I wrote it. No one was as surprised as I by the twists and turns of her Christmas trip!

Enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card and a signed copy of either Stage Fright or From Rome With Love

I can’t decide which is my favorite cover. Please take a moment to look them over and give me your opinion if you like. With or without commenting, enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Money for books, and a copy of Stage Fright or From Rome with Love! (Unfortunately, the Kindle version of An Unexpected Christmas Gift is not available as a prize.) Winner has three days to respond to my email. U.S. and Canada only.