Zondervan has some great titles releasing towards the end of the year, along with a new YA imprint, Blink, which includes Doon, Remnants, and Merlin’s Shadow. Blink will release titles that will appeal to the general market and not be overtly Christian in focus. You can read more about Blink in this PW article.
So, cover art comments ~ I like the feel of Doon but not the title font! Love Merlin’s Shadow and Remnants. Beloved is
very classy and the ethereal quality of The Captive Maiden is perfect for the Cinderella story (and although the Prince is small, I do believe this counts as a couples cover, Rissi!).
So, so, looking forward to Remnants – I adore Lisa’s writing and think it is fantastic that she is writing a dystopian. After her terrific River of Time series, I am anticipating great things from the Remnants series (no pressure, Lisa!).
Noel writes great suspense and likewise, Robin is a master of the historical genre (and there’s a gorgeous train just for the lovely Amber!).
What do you, my dear reader friends, say?!
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Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon
Veronica doesn’t think she’s going crazy. But why can’t anyone else see the mysterious blond boy who keeps popping up wherever she goes?
When her best friend, Mackenna, invites her to spend the summer in Scotland, Veronica jumps at the opportunity to leave her complicated life behind for a few months. But the Scottish countryside holds other plans. Not only has the imaginary kilted boy followed her to Alloway, she and Mackenna uncover a strange set of rings and a very unnerving letter from Mackenna’s great aunt—and when the girls test the instructions Aunt Gracie left behind, they find themselves transported to a land that defies explanation.
Doon seems like a real-life fairy tale, complete with one prince who has eyes for Mackenna and another who looks suspiciously like the boy from Veronica’s daydreams. But Doon has a dark underbelly as well. The two girls could have everything they’ve longed for… or they could end up breaking an enchantment and find themselves trapped in a world that has become a nightmare.
August, 2013
Merlin’s Shadow by Robert Treskillard
Author Robert Treskillard continues his Merlin Spiral series with book two, Merlin’s Shadow, another fresh take on the ancient Arthurian myths.
After destroying the sinister Druid Stone and freeing his people from its dark control, Merlin finds himself a royal advisor without a king. Along with his friend Garth, and Natalenya, his betrothed, Merlin treks north with the orphaned Arthur in hopes of keeping the young king safe from soldiers misled by their turncoat captain.
As the threat on all their lives increases, Merlin discovers their only hope is sailing to the lands of eternal darkness, and once again cleansing the world from an ancient and powerful evil.
September, 2013
Beloved by Robin Lee Hatcher
Diana Brennan came west on the orphan train and was given a home with a loving couple who cherished and spoiled her. At 17, she fell hard for Tyson Applegate, the son of a wealthy mine owner. After a whirlwind courtship and marriage, Tyson took off for adventures around the world, including fighting with the Rough Riders in Cuba. Receiving no word of him for seven years, Diana’s infatuation with her dashing husband died an ugly death, and she is ready to move past the old pain and marry again, just as soon as Tyson is declared legally dead.
But when her husband returns, supposedly a changed man, he wants to reunite with his wife and run for the senate. While Diana suspects the election is his real reason for wanting her by his side, she agrees to maintain his home and to campaign with him, but when it is over, win or lose, she wants her freedom. He agrees with one condition—-she must give him a chance to change her mind about him.
September, 2013
A Christmas Gift for Rose by Tricia Goyer
Born in the midst of the hardships of The Great Depression, Rose grew up in Berlin, Ohio, in the arms of a loving Amish family. But as she prepares to marry, she’s thrown into confusion when she learns the truth of her birth. She was born Englisch and abandoned when the family moved on in search of work.
Was she meant to be Amish or would she have been better off growing up with her own kind—Englischers? And was her intended’s gift of discovering her birth family given out of love or fear?
September, 2013
Remnants: Season of Wonder by Lisa T Bergren
In the first novel of this YA futuristic/dystopian series by Lisa T. Bergren, gifted teens known as Remnants have been chosen and trained to act as humanity’s last hope to rectify the horrors that are now part of everyday life in 2095.
The Community has trained these teens as warriors and assigned them Knights of the Last Order as protectors; together they are a force that will be difficult to bring down. The Sons of Sheol, of course, are hell bent on doing just that.
October, 2013
The Captive Maiden by Melanie Dickerson
Happily Ever After …Or Happily Nevermore?
Gisela’s childhood was filled with laughter and visits from nobles such as the duke and his young son. But since her father’s death, each day has been filled with nothing but servitude to her stepmother. So when Gisela learns the duke’s son, Valten—the boy she has daydreamed about for years—is throwing a ball in hopes of finding a wife, she vows to find a way to attend, even if it’s only for a taste of a life she’ll never have.
To her surprise, she catches Valten’s eye. Though he is rough around the edges, Gisela finds Valten has completely captured her heart. But other forces are bent on keeping the two from falling further in love, putting Gisela in more danger than she ever imagined.
October, 2013
Payback in Panama by Noel Hynd
Reaching deeply into her Christian faith for spiritual guidance and a moral compass, Alex LaDuca moves resolutely against her foes. She calls in trusted contacts from the past for a do-or-die operation. Her path takes her into the criminal underground of America’s east coast, south into the violent underworld of Central America, across Honduras, El Salvador, and finally to Panama for a shattering confrontation with her foes. Alex’s career, her life, and her future with the man she loves are all at stake.
After a final Payback in Panama, nothing will ever be the same.
October, 2013
April 10, 2013 at 4:11 pm
A train!! Hehe! 😉 Love the S/O – thank you, Rel! That cover for Beloved really is quite pretty. 🙂
I love the cover for Doon, and I actually think the title font adds a whimsical and enchanting touch to a mysterious (and lovely!) cover. 🙂 It just sounds and looks so good! I’m pretty sure I might have seen the movie Brigadoon at some point with my grandparents and uncle…? I kind of remember some impressions of it, but not a whole lot of specifics.
Anyway, yay for The Captive Maiden!! Looking forward to that story a lot, and the cover is so bright and gorgeous! (Like the partial “couple cover” S/O to Rissi, LOL!) I think it’s neat to have him kind of hovering in the background like that. I’m torn between this one and The Fairest Beauty as far as which cover I prefer most of Melanie’s covers… Those two seem to complement each other so well with the hero in the background, heroine with a beautiful and recognizable dress in the foreground, and light and airy vs. dark and sinister. 🙂
These posts are so fun, Rel!
~Amber
April 10, 2013 at 9:51 pm
So I’m super thrilled that there’s a new YA imprint and the fact that it’s being marketed not just to the Christian market. Though I’m a little disappointed that outside of the Christian market, at least on twitter, I’m hearing nothing about it. Which is sad because every other time a new YA imprint comes out, I see TONS of coverage from other book bloggers especially those who focus on YA books and now….it’s like just crickets chirping.
That being said, Doon, Remnants and The Captive Maiden all look great and I can’t wait to read them. And thrilled to see Noel Hynd has a new one out.
April 11, 2013 at 12:00 am
Anyone else notice that the cover model for Remnants is the same model used on Eric Wilson’s Field of Blood novel?
April 12, 2013 at 9:38 am
C. J. Darlington » I’m thinking only you, CJ! Good eye!
April 16, 2013 at 10:25 am
Yes, I noticed that this time. Didn’t notice it when I first saw it, though!
April 12, 2013 at 9:39 am
Deborah » It don’t think it has been formally launched yet, Deborah, so here’s hoping it gets more airplay soon. Love having you drop by, my friend xo xo
April 11, 2013 at 1:34 am
I have to say I like all of these covers, including the cut-off head on Noel’s. 🙂 I LOVE Melanie’s cover. This would rank as an all-time high point for covers to me. It is strikingly beautiful! I do love Robin’s cover, also. Zondervan did a good job with the covers for this series. I agree with Amber about “Doon.” I like the font. If I nitpick a bit, I do not like the color of the font used for Noel’s name and the title. I don’t think it goes well with the cover color scheme itself. But that is nitpicking. I am excited to see the Blink imprint. I love fantasy stories, and many of the ones coming fit that. Thanks again, Rel.
April 12, 2013 at 9:38 am
Aaron » Great comments, Aaron. Have you read Patrick Carr’s fantasy, A Cast of Stones? If not, I highly recommend it. Can’t wait for the rest of the series.
April 11, 2013 at 1:54 am
Doon, Remnants, and The Captive Maiden sound great! And intriguing. Can’t wait for the chance to read them. And Doon’s cover is awesome! 🙂
April 12, 2013 at 9:35 am
Kara » A YA fan, I take it, Kara?!
April 13, 2013 at 12:46 am
Yup! I don’t suppose I hide that very well, do I? Not that I was trying to. 😉
April 11, 2013 at 6:41 am
You bet, ‘Captive Maiden’ counts as a couple cover, Rel! Love that. 🙂 Thanks for the S/O.
Oooh! ‘Doon’ is gorgeous with its misty, ethereal look. Also like ‘Remnants’ and am *dying* to read that one from Lisa – it is such a unique genre and I applaud her for tackling a genre most Christian authors don’t. And, of course, ‘Captive Maiden’ is a stunner!
April 12, 2013 at 9:34 am
Rissi » I think you have been the loudest supporter of A Captive Maiden’s cover on twitter, Rissi 😉 Can’t wait for Remnants!
April 11, 2013 at 7:41 am
What fun to see Beloved along with these other titles (and to know that the train was for someone special!). Thanks, Relz.
April 12, 2013 at 9:33 am
Robin Lee Hatcher » I really love this cover, Robin. I have been a bit tired of the same kind of historical romance covers but Beloved is special. My blogging friend, Amber, adores trains on covers so when I saw this one I knew she would adore it. She did!
April 11, 2013 at 8:00 am
I also love the Doon cover! And I love my new cover as well. 😉 I know a lot of people are excited for Lisa Bergren’s dystopian series!
April 12, 2013 at 9:32 am
Melanie Dickerson » Fabulous to have you drop by, Melanie – thank you! Your cover is getting lots of love here 😉
April 11, 2013 at 8:15 am
Love Melanie’s cover!
April 12, 2013 at 9:31 am
Jenny B. Jones » Yep!
April 11, 2013 at 8:28 am
Well, I had to call my teenage daughter in because she loved Lisa’s Waterfall series and is now into dystopian fiction, so she was very excited to see this. And I’m looking forward to Melanie Dickerson’s – love her fairy tales!!!! 🙂
April 12, 2013 at 9:31 am
Amanda Deed » My teenager loves Lisa’s stories, too, Amanda. Who else does your daughter love to read? My 15 year old loves Erynn Mangum and Jenny B Jones, too.
April 11, 2013 at 8:33 am
Thanks for being excited with us, Rel! I’m super jazzed about Blink, and I’m with you, Deb…I hope that the YA book blogging community embraces us!
Some very pretty covers here. Mel’s is gorgeous! I adore REMNANTS. Tho I’m lobbying to change “A Remnants Novel” because that seems redundant with a huge REMNANTS in the title! We’ll see if I’m successful. Z seems pretty set…
How do you know it’s the same model, CJ??? Can’t tell from small Amazon covers.
April 12, 2013 at 9:30 am
Lisa Bergren » Delighted you are a part of Blink – as I said above, I love Zondy’s committment to YA stories and you are a perfect fit, my friend!
April 11, 2013 at 9:47 am
Here’s the link to the photo used for Field of Blood:
http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-3201391-anxious-glance.php
I’m ALMOST positive it’s the same one used on yours. 🙂 Flip the image and change the coloring a little and voila! Pretty cool, eh?
April 11, 2013 at 1:14 pm
Amazing how they use that stock art! But it’s so different, I’m good with it. I just hope they can find that model again–or one similar enough–for book 2. *bites nails* P.S. Good eye!
April 12, 2013 at 9:27 am
Lisa T. Bergren » Yep, I never would have noticed – two completely different covers. CJ obviously has a great eye for such things!
April 12, 2013 at 9:29 am
C. J. Darlington » Impressive, CJ – I wouldn’t have picked it!
April 11, 2013 at 12:03 pm
Oh my goodness, I LOVE Melanie’s cover! Stunning!
April 12, 2013 at 9:28 am
Sarah E. Ladd » You are joining the chorus, Sarah 🙂
April 11, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Love Melanie and Tricia’s covers. Love Doon too but agree about the title font.
April 12, 2013 at 9:27 am
Ausjenny » Glad I’m not alone in that, Jenny
April 12, 2013 at 12:54 am
I am sooooo thrilled and excited about this new line of YA from Zondervan!!!
I love all of these covers, I luv all the variety and choices:-)
I’m super excited for DOON, REMNANTS, MERLIN’S SHADOW & CAPTIVE MAIDEN!!!
April 12, 2013 at 9:26 am
Jojo » I can see you’re a YA fan, JoJo – love Zondervan’s committment to youth fiction.