Friday Face Off : The bodice ripper

FFO

Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy .  This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers.  The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite.   Future week’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme.  I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.  This week’s theme:

The bodice ripper – exactly as it seems

This week was very easy.  I had lots of covers in mind for this particular theme but I’ve gone for : Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1) by Ilona Andrews.  I have to admit that I enjoyed this book although I haven’t read the rest in the series.  Here are the covers:

I actually really like the bottom two covers but on balance my favourite:

Burn2

Not really a bodice ripper but I like it.

So, which is your favourite?

I’ll be updating the list in order to include forthcoming events that I’m aware of so that you can perhaps link your themes up where possible (if you know of an event you’d like to share then let me know in the comments).  As always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know.

Next week – Time – time waits for no one

Future themes: (if you’re struggling with any of these themes then use a ‘freebie’ or one of your favourite covers) (I’ve added some new themes – some of these are slightly different, in order to avoid too much repetition I’m trying to make the themes more of a suggestion that everyone can interpret how they like.  

2019

19th June – Time – time waits for no one

26th June – Windows – windows to the soul?

3rd July – Tentacles – ‘The sea brought you.  The sea shall have you back’

10th July – Tunnel – ‘At the end of every light, is a tunnel of darkness.’

17th July – holding an object – just as it seems

24th July – Framed – more meaning than one.  A cover with a frame, a picture within a cover or a murder mystery set up??

31st July – White – a cover that is predominantly white

7th August – Action – a cover that depicts action of some sort

14th August – Glasses or spectacles – “One could mention many lovable traits in Smee. For instance, after killing, it was his spectacles he wiped instead of his weapon.”

21st August – Potions –  hubble bubble

28th August – Dark road – ‘the road goes ever on and on’

4th September – Cold and crisp – any cover that gives you winter vibes

11th September – A cover with a pattern

18th September – Minimalistic and lacking clutter

25th September – A very busy cover full to bursting with detail

2nd October – A standout font

9th October – Mist/fog – “A thin grey fog hung over the city, and the streets were very cold; for summer was in England.”

16th October – Spider web – “Farewell, Aragog, king of the arachnids, whose long and faithful friendship those who knew you would never forget!

23th October – Ripped/torn – interpret it as you wish

30th October – Forest/jungle – ‘None of the Jungle People like being disturbed.’

6th November – Planets – “You’re on Earth. There’s no cure for that.”

13th November – Bright – ‘The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades’.

20th November – Words only – “Words are pale shadows of forgotten names. As names have power, words have power. Words can light fires in the minds of men. Words can wring tears from the hardest hearts.”

27th November – Modern sci fi

4th December –  Fae – or fairy??

11th December – Lake – the mysterious lake

18th December – Highly Stylised

25th December- Freebie – or day off.

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Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Burn for Me is the first book in a new Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews.  This came highly recommended (thanks to Danya at Fine Print!) and I’m certainly glad of the recommendation as I think the cover would probably have put me off reading this one as it looks more like a paranormal romance which is not really something I read a lot of.  Don’t be distracted by the cover though as this is more Urban Fantasy with the hint of a potential romance.

The setting is an alternate world where during the 1800s a serum was developed that basically unlocked previously unknown of magical capabilities in regular, everyday people.  Eventually use of the serum stopped but the damage had already been done and the magical capabilities unleashed passed down amongst families.  Powerful magical families arose and marriages between those with strong capabilities sought in order to increase magical capability.

Nevada is a private detective and whilst some members of her family have magical capabilities they are not powerful and do not have a high social standing and Nevada is believed to be without any magical talent at all.  This is of course incorrect as she is capable of detecting lies which is an incredibly useful ability given her line of work.  She keeps this capability secret in order not to become sought after by those who would use her as an interrogator and take over her life.

At the start of the story Nevada is strong armed into taking a case that she has little hopes of achieving success with.  To bring in a highly powerful magical man who is wanted for murder.  Nevada isn’t the only person searching however.  It seems that this young man’s family are anxious to find him before the police do so and have asked for help from one of the most powerful, unstable and notorious magic users – Mad Rogan.   Of course it’s sort of inevitable that the two will become embroiled together in the search and as they spend more time together it appears that Mad Rogan begins to develop a new interest in Nevada, an interest that although she tries to ignore she can’t deny her own underlying attraction to this man who is so totally out of her league and social standing not to mention incredibly dangerous and ruthless.  There is undeniable chemistry between the two and although, as I said above, this isn’t a paranormal romance, I can’t deny that the sexual tension between the two makes for compelling reading.

I won’t elaborate further on the plot.  What I will say is this was a very entertaining and quick read.  I really liked the character Nevada and will enjoy reading more of her exploits.  The world building is not overpowering and the plot keeps you focused.  I will definitely read the next in series and in fact enjoyed this so much that I’m more than tempted to go and back read some of this author’s previous works.  And, here is the cover!