Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Smooth Talking Stranger Covers: USA VS. UK

Lisa Kleypas's cover is up for her March 2009 contemporary Smooth Talking Stranger. The wonderful ladies at The Book Smugglers were the first (that I know of) who posted both the UK and USA covers.

This is the USA cover:

This is the UK cover:

As you can see, they are very different. The USA version is a bit more sexual, where as the UK version seems more family orientated, with a child involved. I find the USA cover more appealing mainly because the UK cover makes me think this is a plot with a baby involved, meaning, "I am pregnant with you child. " or "The love affair you had resulted in a child and now you must take responsibility." I have to admit those stories are not my favorite in romances.
**Lisa also has an excerpt up from Smooth Talking Stranger on her website!**
Which cover to you like better? Why are both covers so different from one another? Do covers influence your decision to buy or read a book?
Katiebabs (KB)

19 comments:

Alyssa said...

I prefer the US one in this case, mainly because my reaction to the baby on the cover is similar to yours. I like the variety of fonts on the UK one, though.

I can be swayed by a good (or bad) cover. I can't count the times I've bought a book because of the cover. Now I try to read a few pages before buying to help avoid being disappointed.

Anonymous said...

I prefer the US cover too. My reaction to the baby on the cover is similar to you and Alyssa. I don't like romances where the woman has hidden the child from the father or "I'm pregnant, now what?"

I can be swayed by covers - but then I also have to read the blurb on the back...

Mina Wolf said...

Okay, I'm confused. The website says End of October 2008...

Has the release date moved up and amazon just hasn't been updated?

Carrie Lofty said...

I think the smooth-talking stranger stole a baby! No good!

Mos Stef said...

I agree, I prefer the US cover much more. They're both nice but I'm not really attracted to romances that center around babies, and unless I've heard really great things or it's an author I'm a fan of I tend to avoid them if they're heavily featured on the cover and/or title.

Thanks for posting the excerpt, I'm loving her contemporaries so much!

Ana said...

HOLD YOUR HORSES! Is the book set to be released NEXT MONTH???????

*dies*

little alys said...

What'll influence me to buy the book is the words Lisa Kleypas. ;)

KT Grant said...

I would go with Amazon that says March 2009 since Lisa has a historical coming out in October. I think the release date of October is wrong on her site.
But if it was right... weeeee!!!

Wendy said...

That was the cover! The cover I saw in the St. Martin's catalog was a woman wearing a man's white shirt...only she was sitting up and not lying back like that. So obviously they just tweaked the pose - which I like. Gives the cover a "sassier" look me thinks.

And count me in as a baby-book-cover-hater. Not a fan.

Marg said...

I prefer the US one as well, but I must confess that I am surprised that it is so different to the covers for Sugar Daddy and Blue Eyed Devil. They don't go together at all!

nath said...

I like the UK cover... I understand your reaction to it, but isn't it the plotline of the book anyway? What's wrong with a cover actually fitting with its storyline?

KT Grant said...

Hey Nath! I think mine is just a personal preference. May be it goes back to the old Harlequin's where the hero has a one night stand and 9 months later, the woman returns with child. And madness ensues.

Kwana said...

I agree with you on all points here. I prefer the US version.

JenB said...

When I look at the cover with the man and the baby, I don't think "Ooh, sexy romance!" Instead, my first thought is "Yikes. Angst and emotional baggage."

The baby cover is gorgeous and sweet and would look beautiful on a parenting book or a chick lit book that featured a single father as a side character...but not romance.

Jill D. said...

So the big question for me is is this book about a baby? I really am cringing right now. It's Lisa Kleypas, so I will definitely read it, but I am not a big fan of baby plots.

Anonymous said...

I like both covers! When I saw the UK one, I thought "it's gonna have something to do with a baby..." I'm a bit picky with covers but to me what the back of the book says, it what matters to me

Christine said...

I like the US cover best, but I like the font style of the UK cover better. Do you think the publisher would print me up a custom book cover? No?

Christine said...

Jill D. :: If someone can pull of a baby plot that ALL romance readers would enjoy, it'll be Lisa Kleypas!

Chantal said...

Oh, yes covers influence my book buying.
I love the second one better. I'm a sucker for a cliche storyline.

And there is nothing sexier than a good man holding a baby. Sexy sexy sexy.

Side note: I'm a little bit afraid to read this. I have Sugar Daddy in my TBR but my fear is that I simply wont like her contemporary writing.

That happened to me with Christina Dodd. Dodd is one of my fave historical authors. I gobble them all up. Then I read on of her contemps...it was so bad :(

Now when I'm asked who my favourite authors are, Dodd is still on the list, but I feel like I have to add "but only her historicals".

I think I over think these things too much.

Chantal AKA Seneca