Disclosure: I received these books to review. Post contains affiliate links; opinions shared are mine.

Your 5th grade teacher might have told you not to choose a book by its cover, but she wasn’t living in the real world.  Book covers are like looking at an appealing meal.  They are your first experience with a book!  Even in early grades, children learn to look at the front (and back) cover of a book to make predictions about the contents.  My husband often asks me what I want to do when I retire from teaching. I’ve always said I want to plant a huge garden where kids can come and pick whatever they want……but never thought about what I’d do for fun in the “off season.”  Now I know.  I want to dream up book covers!  Today, I’m featuring three books that are lovely on the inside, but absolutely stunning on the outside.

At first, you might not think that The Bronte Plot stands out as a cover.  There is a lot to be read by this sketched image, though.  First, take a look at the flowers in the vase. See how one falls over, as if wilted and weak?  The main character, Lucy, often takes on that feel in The Bronte Plot.  She’s supported by all of these other characters (represented by the books) but it’s not enough. She has to look inside herself for strength, and only then can her stem stand on its own. The basic features on the cover represent Lucy’s basic needs, which satisfy her. She doesn’t have lofty dreams of owning a Barnes and Noble. She is content with her lovely world, as long as there’s an occasional spark thrown her way. Author Katherine Reay takes her cue from brilliant classics and turning them into modern day stories. Her book Dear Mr. Knightley was one of my favorites, so I always look forward to reading her books.  While the romance is a little too blah in The Bronte Plot, it is true to the character’s nature and fits well with the plot.

The cover for An Amish Christmas Gift could almost be a piece of Renaissance work.  The beautiful scene perfectly captures the simplicity and richness of life; the juxtaposition of royal blue with humble surroundings takes my breath away. I love how the artist captured the swirl of the dress’s skirt, and the serene expression of the gift’s recipient.  It’s such an exquisite way to prepare for reading this book.  Once the pages are turned, some of that magic dissipates into the air, and overall An Amish Christmas Gift is just what you’d expect from a collection of novellas. Each story is just enough to whet your reader’s whistle.  Let’s be honest here — when you pick up Amish romance, you’re probably not expecting great literature.  You want a good sigh, knowing that there are still books with happy endings.  In that regard, Amish Christmas Gift doesn’t disappoint.

Kelly Irvin’s story was the one I most looked forward to; it fits her theme of writing about Amish families in non-traditional situations.  As predictable as it was, the story had a unique setting and that’s what made it special.  Ruth Reid’s novella was a surprise to me.  Her main character, Abigail, had a strong personality (unusual in Amish fiction).  Although she came across as abrasive sometimes, she’s completely endearing.  I could imagine Abigail as a teacher at my school, or a mom at after school pick up.  Finally, Amy Clipston’s Naomi was like a full-length novel in spirit.  This story had a genuine Christmas feel, and set a lovely stage for the holidays.

The image of this book cover just don’t do it justice.  I feel almost ashamed to paste it on here, knowing that you can’t see it in all its glory.  In real life, the cover has a beautiful light emanating from it. The title letters are an actual gold shade; they have a sheen when light shines on them.  I love that beautiful script, which brings to mind medieval illuminated books or even Lord of the Ring maps.  Author Melanie Dickerson didn’t try to disguise the fact that this is a retelling of Rapunzel’s fairy tale. In fact, her main character’s name is Rapunzel.  Doing away with this pretense allows the reader to settle in and bask in the familiarity of the story.

I adored Rapunzel in Golden Braid.  You’d think that she would be reserved and backward.  Instead, she’s spunky and bold.  She walks right out into the yard and beheads a chicken without breaking a sweat.  As Rapunzel learned about life outside her small family, she learns about some unexpected truths as well.  Tender bits of scripture are beautifully braided into this tale.  It’s absolutely lovely!