Here it is – the cover for Handle with Care (out with Samhain, 20th April), designed by the very talented Kanaxa:
I’m so thrilled with the way it’s turned out!
And here’s the blurb again for anyone who missed it before:
The best things in life aren’t free…they’re freely given.
Ben Lethbridge doesn’t have many vices left. After raising his little sister to adulthood, he wasted no time making up for the youth he lost to responsible parenting. Two years of partying it up—and ignoring his diabetes—has left him tethered to a home dialysis regimen.
He can do his job from his flat, fortunately, but most of his favourite things are forbidden. Except for DVD porn…and fantasizing over Ollie, the gorgeous, purple-haired skateboarder who delivers it.
Their banter is the highlight of Ben’s lonely day, but his illness-ravaged body is the cruel reality that prevents him from believing they’ll do anything more than flirt. Not to mention the age gap. Still, Ben figures there’s no harm in sprucing himself up a bit.
Then one day, a package accidentally splits open, revealing Ben’s dirty little secret…and an unexpected connection that leaves him wondering if he’s been reading Ollie wrong all this time. There’s only one way to find out: risk showing Ollie every last scar. And hope “far from perfect” is good enough for a chance at love.
Warning: Contains superhero porn comics and a cute, accident-prone delivery guy with colour-changing hair. Readers may experience coffee cravings, an unexpected liking for bad mullets, and the urge to wrap Ollie up and take him home.
Oh that’s lovely. Looks great.
Thanks hon – I’m so very happy with it!
Yay! Looking good!
It is, isn’t it?!
Very pretty
It’s a gorgeous cover, very tender and rather romantic. The blurb is terrific, I hope it’s a huge success for you. X
Thank you! It’s definitely captured the way Ollie feels for Ben – he might look like a punk, but he’s so sweet and caring
It’s looking good! I love the writing on it too
Gorgeous font, isn’t it? My editor and I were a little worried it wouldn’t get approved by management because the script isn’t as easy to read as some title fonts. I’m so happy they let it through!
OH that is shiny and pretty and I LOVE IT!!! GAH OMG I can’t wait until this book comes out, I want it SO MUCH I LOVED IT – want my very own professional copy
WOO HOOOOO
So you like it then? LOL!
He’s right for Ollie, isn’t he? I wasn’t sure at first because it wasn’t the original photo I had in mind, but I think the emotion there is spot on. I remember writing a scene with Ollie kissing Ben’s neck like that too – although I think they had rather more clothes on at the time!
That is a beautiful cover.
Leaves me aching to read the story.
Thanks Lillian! That’s certainly the idea – I’m glad it’s working
Very nice!
Thanks Chris! Do you recognise this pic from any other covers? I don’t think I’ve seen it before, but I know what an eye you have for the cover models!
Lovely! Hopefully I’ll have cover art squee very soon too.
Fantastic! How exciting for you
Also, your blurb is making me very squeeful as well.
That’s great to know! I wasn’t sure how appealing a seriously ill MC would be, but I knew I had to write this story
So, so pretty! I like everything; the picture, the colors, the font, the title! Way to go, Jo!
I just finished Tailor Made which struck me like an arrow through the heart in more ways than one. Who knew I had so much fun in art school? Thank you for dusting off all those memories for me. I even sent an e-mail to a friend I haven’t seen in years and asked him out for a cup of coffee. He’ll love your story! *giggle*
*g* That’s the reaction I had too. I’m normally super fussy about cover art, but this was pretty much perfect from the first draft
Aww, thank you! I dusted off a lot of my memories while writing – especially the sitting around drinking bad vending machine coffee (and smoking too, because I did back then like all the “cool” art students). In fact, the more I think about it, the more of myself I can see in Felix. Oh dear…
That’s so great that you’re getting back in contact with an old friend! Hope you have a wonderful time catching up