Love’s Awakening by Brandon Hill.
Brandon is about to post a special ‘behind the scenes cover shoot’ – here it is ~ http://blog.brandonhillphotos.com/loves-awakening/
Does the cover art offer any hints about the story to come?
Love’s Awakening cover reveal
by Laura Frantz | Feb 27, 2013 | Uncategorized
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Ooooooooooooooooooh!!
Gorgeous!!!
Again, excellent use of light and background colour as a story unto itself!!
OH my word! This is what happens when your computer crashes and you try to go with a new system – you miss a bunch of comments!
Well, all set up now…
Jennifer! Love your first impressions, thank you. Given your photo background you likely see things I don’t in this particular cover. I am thrilled they went with the outdoor scene rather than the curtain one. The photo shoot post is so interesting. I’d love to hear how you imagine YOUR first cover!
Marissa says “I just saw the cover for Love’s Awakening on Brandon Hill’s blog!!! 🙂 So beautiful!! I like how it’s a similar style to Love’s Reckoning, but different too. The dress is very pretty! But what I’m most looking forward to is reading the story!”
Marissa, You were the first to alert me that the cover was out there:) Thanks so much for that. I do hope the story delights you as much as the cover does!
Ooh I love it!! It is gorgeous and just makes me even more excited to read it!! Can’t wait 🙂
Leah, Oh, you said the magic words – the cover makes you want to read it:) I sure hope it’s everything you hope it to be. I’m working on the galleys right now and an author note. Happy Thursday to you!
LAURA!!!! IT’S GORGEOUS!!!!! Oh, I SO can’t wait to read LA now. Brandon Hill just does some awesome photography. I will definitely be checking his web site for that behind-the-scenes cover shoot. I’m so happy for you, my friend. It’s another beauty! <3
Angi, Thrilled you like it! One is never sure about these things. On the other hand, with your sunny spirit I can never imagine you NOT liking a cover! You always see the positive:)
Oh my word, Laura, it is gorgeous! Stunning! I love it. It was worth the wait! You must be thrilled! And, I can’t wait to see the behind the scene video. I love watching those things!
I love how the sun is rising in the background. It fits so perfectly with the name of this book. The sun coming up is God’s way of awakening us to a brand new day. I never thought a person could fall in love with a book before they read it, but I may be doing that very thing! 🙂
Emma, You sure know how to make me smile on a cold, wet morning:) I DO hope you fall in love with this story and Jack Turlock especially. He’s no Silas! Maybe I should slap a big warning sticker on there for that reason;) But he has his own charms aplenty, or so I hope!
The more I look at this cover the more I like it. Hope you enjoy Brandon’s behind-the-scenes post when you have time. The original cover is vastly different!
Hope you have a wonderful Thursday:)
Love, love, love it, Laura! You have a real treasure in Brandon! Wow. What art!
Now for the inside….. Can’t wait!
Blessings,
Becky
Becky, So well said:) Brandon is a treasure, yes. He’s doing so many things now that it’s mind blowing – but plenty of cover art, too. I hope we get to keep him as a cover artist. I can hardly wait for book 3! I’m hoping to drive to Seattle and be part of that next cover shoot. He’s one of those rare artists that makes himself accessible to us authors and I’m so thankful:)
Hope you have a blessed day today! Thanks for all your encouragement:)
It is beautiful, Laura. 🙂 Is this the Ellie you envision?
Does it offer any hints about the story? Hmm. Well, she is rather “dressed up” (love the pearls!), and the scenery looks A LOT like rural PA, and even some OH. Farmland. I think this cover looks a lot lighter– as in, LR had a beautiful, broody feel to it. Could be totally wrong on all accounts.
Thanks for sharing, and I can’t wait to see the Behind-The-Scenes shoot!
Whitney, You already have a very intuitive feel for this next book – and LR. Love your ‘beautiful, broody’ comment re. LR – so true! Very happy you think the scene looks like rural PA and Ohio as they’re so similar. And those pearls really delighted me as Ellie wears them in the book but I hadn’t mentioned them to the art team and yet they appeared:) One of those little details that amazes and moves me. She really is Ellie to a T!
Here’s hoping you enjoy every page! It will be here before you know it…!
Oh my goodness…so, so, so pretty ! I cannot wait to read it. 🙂
Melissa, Thrilled to see you here! And so happy you like the cover:) I am excited to see Revell’s other fall releases as they should pop them up any day now. I know you are OVER THE MOON about your debut! Made to Last looks wonderful in every way. Readers here love Rom-Com and must go look if they haven’t already – MelissaTagg.com!!
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so right she does look like Ruth. 🙂 I love everything about this cover including the mint dress and what looks like PA countryside. 🙂 Brandon Hill does excellent work. It needs to be summer so I can read this!!!!!!!
xoxo,
Renee C.
Renee, Since you’re my PA connection, it means A LOT that they got the natural setting right. That doesn’t always happen but am thankful it did. And that mint dress – oh my! Love the lace and the little rosette on the sleeve. I thought you’d like that:) I had no idea it came from Hollywood, lol. Might be the first thing I’ve liked coming from there…
And huge thanks for being fast on your feet and posting the cover on your site:) You are such a huge blessing!
Beautiful!! Love that dramatic sky in the background, wow. Making mental note–make use of sky! 🙂 Can’t wait to see Brandon’s behind-the-scenes post, too!
Jocelyn, It’s sure fun to share covers with you. I cannot wait to see your new one when all is said and done! I do like this dramatic sky, too. Somehow he captured the feel of the book – dramatic yet hopeful and bright.
Thanks so much for being there. You make it much more fun!
Oh. My. This is gorgeous! Love the dress, the background, and the colors of the sky. It gives the impression of dark clouds being swept away, revealing the clear, blue sky. LOVE it, Laura! I’m so looking forward to this story!
Love and prayers to you, my friend.
Michelle
Michelle, I know the art team and BH would appreciate your comments – and others here. I sure do, especially first impressions. Glad it’s a go for you! I’m never sure. It will be really interesting to hear what you think once you read the book. You may even like it better than the first. And that’s fine by me:)
Thanks for being here. I know you’re beyond busy teaching. I think of you so often. If only CA and WA were closer we could run to Panera for lunch and talk books:)
That would be wonderful to meet up for lunch and talk books! I’ve tried to talk hubby into vacationing in WA, so maybe someday. 😉
I meant to ask you, did you see the recipe I posted on my Facebook last week? The one for beef with broccoli. Since you love easy and delicious recipes, I thought you and your men would really enjoy it. It’s a big hit here, even with my picky eaters. My son even said he’d want me to make it for his birthday. 😀
Have a blessed weekend!
I’d so love to meet you and your family, Michelle. Randy has been talking about going down to CA. Not sure if I can get him past Northern CA but I’ll try:)
I’ll be over to look at that recipe:) I just knew you weren’t teaching 24/7 but cooking, too!!
Laura, this is BEAUTIFUL!!! The dress, the landscape, the sky, her hair; EVERYTHING is just BEAUTIFUL!!! It’s so light and bright and “awake” 😉 I love that both the covers for Love’s Reckoning and Love’s Awakening really captured their titles perfectly. The rich, darker colors for “reckoning” and the light, softer colors for “awakening” And I like the pearl necklace too- my birthstone 😉
I’m so happy for you, my friend! Another gorgeous cover to let the reader know their is a wonderful story awaiting behind it! Now, I just can’t wait to see it in person!! 😉
Blessings,
Amanda
Amanda! I think this is a cover after your own heart – I know it’s one after your own hair color:) Like you, the pearls mean a lot to me as I wear them and always prefer them over anything else. Neat that they’re your birthstone! Ellie wears them in the book so that is one little detail I love.
Can’t wait for you to read – praying/hoping you enjoy every word. I haven’t seen the back or the spine of the book yet but hear it’s very pretty, too.
Bless you so much!!
I just love her. The whole cover is gorgeous, striking and peaceful all at once. But it’s her sweet face that keeps drawing me back.
Lori, Speaking of fine covers, yours is just gorgeous!! Thanks for being here for mine. LOVE that you think she has a sweet face. I do, too. They really picked the right model and I’m so thankful. I remember you saying the same about yours!
It’s a perfect match up to the title! Just like the first! That’s a sign of pure design genius! I love how it almost looks like spring, and opens your eyes…still depth with lights and darks, but perhaps not as “dark” as LR. I love LOVE the focus on the sky, just like LR- I have a thing for skies. HA! Ellie looks part elegant part country…and I sure miss curly hair. I left my curls and started straightening it for a different look but now I’m wondering about doing that! 🙂 She’s very petite looking- and I’m curious if her stature plays a part in your story.
Amy, Your comments are so intriguing. You have the right glimpse into the book’s heart:) Ellie is very ladylike in contrast to Jack Turlock. I think they wanted to emphasize that as she is put into a vulnerable place within the story. Even the open back of her gown and the exposed skin and pearls gives the allusion of fragility or gentility or something ethereal:)
Praying you enjoy the story very much!! I sure was blessed by your review of Morrow this week. Still thinking about that:)
Oh my goodness! Laura, this is beautiful. Love the colors and design. Brandon did an excellent job. It’s stunning.
Cannot wait for that behind the scenes post. Those are always interesting. 🙂
Rissi, So happy to see you here – and better yet, to know you’re giving a thumbs up to this cover! Yes, Brandon is amazing. He really gets things right. You probably had a bit of a shock over the original cover if you’ve been by his website:)
Thanks a million for being so encouraging – and for your tweet, etc!!
Loved the alternate and the final covers! And that behind-the-scenes sneak peek is always fun to read about – that whole process is intriguing. Thanks, Laura.
You’re so welcome, Rissi:) It’s a real pleasure getting to know you better – and discovering our mutual love of cover art!
I love the cover. Can’t wait for the book to be released. It has a different feel than Love’s Reckoning. The cover hints that the story will be set in a rural area in maybe a farming community.
Carissa, I’m so glad you like the rural, farmland feel to this book. Your comment made me think of the hero, Jack, and his connection to the land. I hope that comes across in the story.
And this is a very different story than LR, that’s for sure! I hope you like it even more than the first. Have a blessed day.
It is beautiful! Can’t wait to read it. 🙂
Karen, My KY friend:) Thrilled you like it and want to read those pages. Bless you for saying so!
Absolutely, amazingly gorgeous. Can’t wait to add this one to my show-off shelf of gorgeous books! (Oh, and read it, too!)
Kaye, I really treasure your opinion. And here’s a chance to put in a plug for your amazing Pinterest boards, some of which are devoted to beautiful book covers and amazing cover art! Thanks for coming by and for tipping me off that it had gone live this morning:) Your new cover is pretty amazing, too!
It’s so pretty I would frame the cover! Brandon Hill did a great job!
I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!!! 🙂
Samantha, I did just that and framed the last one:) Now you’ve reminded me to do this one, too. Can’t wait for you to meet Ellie and Jack. So fun to share this with you!!
It’s beautiful, Laura! I love the colors and how the sunrise reflects the title. Her dress is gorgeous! What a nice complement to Love’s Reckoning. It sets an entirely different mood.
And as beautiful as the cover is, I know the story will be even better! I’m so very excited to read it. 🙂
Brenda, Thanks for the warm words:) Your opinion means so much. Glad you think the mood is different – it really is as is the story. Very different than the first book! So glad to share the excitement with you as it draws closer.
It’s SO pretty. Laura! Congratulations! It has such a feeling of a bright and beautiful sunrise, the perfect compliment to Love’s Reckoning. If Love’s Reckoning was autumnal, this is without a doubt ‘spring.’ She has a sweet face and a beautiful dress! Congrats again!
IF it captures your artist’s heart, Heather, I’m quite happy! Love your thoughts about it. I did hope “spring” came across so you’ve confirmed that. She does have a sweet face. And a very kissable mouth, someone said:)
Oh it’s so pretty!! I love it. The story line sounds wonderful and intriguing too. I can’t wait for it to come out so I can start reading it. 🙂
Cathy, Thrilled you like it ~ and the storyline, too! I promise to post more about that soon only I’ll try not to say too much and spoil it for anyone! I so appreciate your encouragement and excitement. Bless you.
HOLY BUCKETS!!! LOVE IT!
JAIME! Love your HOLY BUCKETS!! That belongs in a book:) And you gave me a wonderful smile to end a crazy day. Bless you and your buckets bunches;)
Can you hear me screaming with excitement?!?!? My mind is beginning to race with ideas for our cards. I don’t want to rush Summer but I am want September to be here fast! I am solo happy for you friend.
Xoxo Stacie
I can hear you, dear StacieHope:) All the way from snowy MI! Oh, the card ideas make me wish spring and summer away, too! I’m glad they didn’t stay with the same colors as LR and Brandon wanted to go with these instead. Wise move! Did you see the original comp of her by the window? I have this thing about windows but still like the outdoors shot better. Thx for your JOY:)
I definitely like the outdoor shot best! This cover makes me yearn for Spring. Brandon Hill does a great cover!! I love the colors that were chosen 🙂
Me, too, StacieHope:) It fits better with the story, too, as you will soon see!
Oh Laura it’s gorgeous!! And goes so well with the cover of Love’s Reckoning.
I think from the cover, Ellie looks like a woman with a mind of her own. One who can’t be put in a box. She looks like she’s got a bit of spunk.
Whether I’m right or not, its a beautiful cover and I can’t wait to read it!
Eva, so interesting to hear your assessment of Ellie. She’s no shrinking violet that’s for sure:) I had to give the art team a few descriptors for her and I said, “Intelligent. Ladylike. Enduring.” I do think the cover captured that. It’s a wonderful thing when the character really looks like the one in the author’s head/heart. Readers’ too, I hope:) Thanks so much for being here!
Love it! The burst of light behind her gives such a feeling of hope. Can’t wait to read it! Congrats on another beauty!
I do think this is very hopeful story, Anne, and it’s the first story that has humor in it. I didn’t plan on that but there it is:) Thanks so much for being here!
Yay! I’ve been waiting to see this cover.:) Beautiful colors…
Hmm…I’m wondering if Miss Ballantyne goes back to her mother’s roots. This certainly doesn’t look like the city, but maybe since Pittsburgh was fairly new there are a lot of farms in the surrounding area. I’m also guessing her family is quite wealthy now and that she marries someone with a simpler life. Maybe she’s a lady’s companion or a governess. Ahem….September is too far away.
Sylvia, Am eating up your thoughts about the story based on your impressions of the cover ~ one of the reasons I’m glad I didn’t post the blurb of the book yet, so you could do just that! However, it just went live on Amazon (still no cover, just the synopsis). Your first assumptions/wonderings are correct in many respects. Glad you like the colors. And yes, September is too far away:)
Laura, this is so beautiful!! 🙂 The lighting and the angle of the clouds (the “feel” they create) work so well with the title, and the dress and background are lovely. Brandon Hill is quite talented – as are you! Can’t wait to enjoy the fruits of your talented duo in September!! 🙂
~Amber
Amber, Love your encouraging heart – and all those tweets of yours about this, too! Thanks for thinking us a talented duo. What a lovely thought that is! I hope to drive over to Seattle for the next cover shoot so will give a play by play first person account, Lord willing:)
BEAUTIFUL!! Can’t wait to unwrap the cover to get to the good reading inside. Congratulations!
Oh, love the unwrapping image, Jan. A book really is a gift we give ourselves:) And others. Bless you so much for being here!
This is beautiful! I love it! 🙂
Becky, Thanks so much:) One never knows how a cover will go over so am thrilled with your smiley face!
OMG..OMG…OMG…FINALLY. Laura, it is beautiful. I am dying to read it. Thanks for the preview!!!!
Mary, Bless you – I promise to post a blurb about the story soon and maybe another pic! Thanks so much for sharing the JOY:)
Oh, Laura, this a beautiful, beautiful cover! That dress! I like how they kept it similiar to the first book. Hmm…sunshine chasing away storm clouds, I’m sure that’s a hint. 😉 I love the name Ellie, and I can’t wait to read her story!
Gwen, Did you happen to see the original cover on Brandon’s blog! HOLY COW, as dear Jaime below said:) Glad you like the sunshine chasing away clouds. Well said!
I’m guessing she looks more like her dad than her mom, right? 😀 Congrats on another beautiful cover, Laura!
Yep, Sally. She’s her daddy’s girl, all right:)
Oh, Laura, it’s such a beautiful cover! I love it. As I said on facebook, I believe this is my favorite one.
Love the mint green dress, just beautiful, and so is the background.
September cannot come quickly enough!
Oh, you’ve made my day saying it’s your favorite, Michelle. I’m so glad:) Somehow I just KNEW you’d like it and maybe even like it most. The use of color this time is really unique. And that mint dress, yes!!
Yep. Still love it. 😉
Casey! So. Happy. You. Do! BTW, a little Aussie bird was talking about you today:) She loves you like I do!
Hi Laura! I’m racing to get ready to go away for the weekend (an actual holiday!) but saw your cover reveal and had to pop in 🙂
Love it! I love how the styling is similar to Love’s Reckoning, and yet it has a completely different feel – lighter, brighter and with hope & promise 🙂 Looking forward to reading it.
God bless!
Helen! First, SO happy you’re on holiday!! You sure deserve it. Praying you have a restful time. And THANK YOU for taking time to check in here. Love your cover thoughts. This second book is quite a bit brighter than the first. But then Ellie was brought up in a loving home, something that eluded poor Eden. I do hope you think it’s filled with hope and promise.
Praying for you, your girls, your mum, and your writing – and everything else:) Enjoy your time away!
It’s so pretty! I think I like it better than Love’s Reckoning.
Holly, Good to see you! Glad you like it better. I love hearing that – the more I look the more I like, too:) Here’s hoping you enjoy the story just as much. I will say the cover is a good indicator of what the book is about. Thanks!
i love it, laura…it’s beautiful! can’t wait to read ellie’s story 😉
Karen!! I was thinking of you and couldn’t wait to see if you liked! Thrilled you do. Can’t wait for you to meet Ellie and her hero:)
What a stunning cover! Brandon does excellent work.
Keli, Thanks so much, Brandon is really gifted, yes. He’s turning out so many CBA covers now. I can’t wait to see more from him. Bless you for being here!
I can’t wait for this book to come out! I love all of your books! Your are definitely one of my very favorite Christian authors, and I am very picky. I am right in middle of Love’s Reckoning where Silas leaves, I was so shocked and heartbroken when I turned the page and 9 years went by! When will the description come out for this new book? I am so excited to see the plot.
Oh Breea!! Bless u so much! Thrilled you are at the part where all those years pass and you don’t hate me! I was shocked and heartbroken, too, but hope it makes the ending sweeter:) Thanks for calling me a favorite. That sure means a lot.
YOU are such a gem as I had promised to post the blurb about this next book and forgot! So, in honor of you, stay tuned…:)
And thanks for your wonderful comments here.
Laura,
You are so very welcome. Thank you so much for the quick reply. I think it is amazing that you take the time to respond to each person on here, it really means a lot to me and I am sure the rest of your fans as well. May God bless all that you are doing to spread his Word through literature.
Oh, that’s a beautiful thought, Breea. Thanks so much. Readers like you are so easy to respond to. Truly!
My web designer beat me to the punch and has just posted a blurb or back cover copy for the book on the main page if you go to the BOOKS on the header. I hope you like what you read. There’s so much more to the story but you get a little taste:)
Again, bless you for being here!!
I love the cover and am trying to exercise patience–September seems to be ages away. 🙂
Ellie looks to be a strong young woman looking with hope toward the promise and hope of the future. The sun breaking through the clouds gives me the image of hope and promise. I loved Eden’s story and am eagerly awaiting the release of LA. Thank you for using your God-given gifts to write stories for us to enjoy. 🙂
Crystal,
SO happy you’re here and wanting to read this next book. I hope you like Ellie. Your thoughts about the cover are spot on:) This next story is full of hope and promise and Eden and Silas get their own share of that, too. Bless you for your gracious thoughts – I’m really thankful God gifts us and brings us together to enjoy fiction. Thanks for being such an encouragement to me!!