A Look, a Touch, a Moment… and a Kiss (All the Feels, OTPs and Swoons to Celebrate Valentine’s Day!)

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Hey, hey happy readers! Today’s topic is all about the SWOONS and fangirl FEELS of fiction. Totally appropriate considering why tomorrow is.  So today That Artsy Reader Girl on this Top Ten Tuesday February 13 2018 requests: Love Freebie (Romances, swoons, OTPs, kisses, sexy scenes, etc.).

That’s right this week Wednesday brings with it more than the middle day of the week. It’s Valentine’s Day. With its arrival, our Top Ten Tuesday meme is taking its cue from it and celebrating all the feels, OTPs, kisses, romantic scenes and swoons. I’m celebrating the weekly event by decorating Valentine’s Day cookies (or I will be once the day enters normal operating hours – meaning, I promise I’m not frosting cookies at midnight). But as fun as that task is, I’m not celebrating with a sugary treat alone. Instead I’m also talking about some romance-y things with these bookish thoughts.  

Today I’m spinning my list so that I can further inflate my love of cover snobbery. In plain terms, let’s spotlight all the swoon-y covers. Not the cringe-worthy kind of romance covers that give true romance stories a bad name. No, instead these are the pretty, cute and genuinely beautiful covers of romantic novels. (Too often a word/genre that is given a bad name.) To make it a little more interesting – or at least, in an attempt to, I’m only talking about swoon-y romance covers covering books I want to read (or that’s going to be my goal… but I’ll confess, there may be one or two I have read tossed in) and think are swoon-y.  

Let’s have a look.  

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VALENTINE’S DAY: TOP TEN TUESDAY FEBRUARY 13

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1: Any Way you Slice It by Kristine Carlson Asselin | OK, so this title isn’t the most swoony, but come on… we have to admit the cover is pretty dreamy!! That bokeh effect will do it every time. Goodreads  

2: The Bridge by Jill Cox | Just like bokeh is romance catnip, so are twinkle lights! This design in particular is pretty because of the silhouettes and the beautiful, rich background color. Sadly, it’s a book I have not read, but the Paris setting is certainly another appeal. Goodreads

3: Until I Knew Myself by Tammy L. Gray | Coming this March (go forth and preorder this one!!), this beautiful cover is lovely. Not only is the near-kiss couple pose charming, the color palette is also spot-on perfection. Goodreads top ten tuesday february 13 2018

4: The Goodbye Bride by Denise Hunter | Yes, I said there might be a few thrown in that I have read. This is one of them. Just look at that dreamy cover? How could I not use it today?! *she asks rhetorically* Goodreads

5: Close to You by Kara Isaac | I know, I feature this one… a lot. But what can I say? It’s not only a lovely story (yes, this is another on today’s list that I have read) and the cover is (to me) super swoon-y. It’s one of the artistic “cut off” designs, but it’s one that works so very well. I love that we can’t “see” what’s going on (is the couple in an eye lock? Are they smiling at one another? Does he have his arm around her? Or are they sharing a chaste kiss?) and yet somehow, what we do see lends a picturesque image of romance. Goodreads   

6: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes | Yes, I am using the “dreaded” movie tie-in edition. Confession time: I actually like the tie-in editions. Especially when they’re as pretty as this. (No, I’ve not yet read this one despite saying I’m going to for months now.) Goodreads 

7: Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith | With its art deco back and white theme and “pop” of red, this cover is picture perfect for the romance holiday known as Valentine’s Day. Goodreads  

8: Through Waters Deep by Sarah Sundin | Soft and swoony, I adore this historical cover art. It fits the characters beautifully, plus the pose is very romantic and indicative of how the hero supports his sweetheart. Goodreads  

9: Like Never Before by Melissa Tagg | Despite the autumn hues, I couldn’t not include a novel by Melissa Tagg. Her covers are magical and the inside is pretty darn cute too. Plus, no one does “meet cutes” better than Melissa and it kinda’ looks like it’s a snowy backdrop, so I feel this one totally applies to today’s topic. Goodreads

10: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner | Though this one isn’t THE most romantic on this list, I couldn’t not use it. A. because it boasts those adorable little hearts floating in the air and B. I love when color palettes are unique. This one is by using a beautiful turquoise color (rather than a matching pink/red hue or a similar tone). Goodreads top ten tuesday february 13 2018

11: Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade | I simply had to use this one because of its “pretty in pink” vibes and that adorable image. Reminds of the famous “foot pop” line from The Princess Diaries. Goodreads

12: P.S. I Like You by Kasie West | This wouldn’t be a Top Ten Tuesday post if I didn’t include a Kasie West novel, right? And I mean, really, how perfect is a book like this for today’s topic? Goodreads

This brings another edition of the Top Ten bookish meme to its close. Fill those comments with your thoughts. Which of these have you read? Do you want to read any? How did you spin this Top Ten Tuesday February 13 2018 topic?! I’d love to chat all the bookish thoughts with you – and as always, if you joined this bookworm-approved meme, leave your Top Ten Tuesday links below. I’d be glad to visit your bookish havens – even if it does take me a week to make the rounds.  

Thank you for visiting!