Diary of a Cover Refresh

I recently announced a cover refresh for my most popular novel, The Clause in Christmas.

Honestly? I was nervous.

I loved those covers—especially the original cover for The Clause in Christmas, my very first novel. My “book baby,” as authors like to say.

And I knew many readers loved it too. I expected some sadness over the change. What I didn’t expect was the level of hurt some readers expressed.

While I tried to respond personally to emails and social media comments, I debated whether or not to address it publicly.

Overall, the response to the new cover has been overwhelmingly positive, and the number of strongly opposed messages was relatively small in comparison. 

But the heart behind some of those messages genuinely affected me.

So while it might be easier to simply let the “storm blow over,” I couldn’t ignore those feelings.

The response that saddened me most was the concern that the trend toward illustrated covers is geared specifically toward younger readers—and that older readers are being pushed aside in the process.

That honestly broke my heart.

I never want a reader to feel unseen, undervalued, or left behind. And I truly didn’t anticipate that the cover refresh would make anyone feel that way.

Part of the reason is because I never viewed illustrated covers as a “younger versus older” issue. In the UK, illustrated romance covers have been common for decades. In fact, it’s been standard for traditionally published books to have completely different covers in the US and the UK for many years.

So when illustrated covers began becoming more common in the US, it didn’t feel shocking to me—it simply felt like the market evolving, much like fashion trends eventually making their way overseas.

My intention was never to appeal to younger readers instead of older readers. I simply wanted the covers to reflect the current expectations and style of the clean romance genre so new readers would immediately recognize the type of story inside.

But intention doesn’t erase impact. And if the new covers made some readers feel overlooked, I’m sincerely sorry for that.

The truth is, I’ve never felt particularly trendy myself. Even as a child, I often struggled to fit in with my peers. Older women were such a gift to me growing up. They made me feel safe, encouraged, and understood. In innumerable ways, they still do.

Of course I’d love to reach younger readers too. So much about modern dating culture makes me sad, and I would love for younger generations to discover stories filled with kindness, integrity, faith, and healthy relationships.

But I would never want to reach new readers at the expense of the loyal readers who have supported me from the very beginning.

So please know: this cover refresh was never about pushing anyone away. It was simply my attempt to navigate an ever-changing publishing industry. And just like fashion, publishing trends are cyclical. A few years from now, everything may look different again. 

For now, I’m grateful to have two beautiful versions of the same story. And who knows? Maybe someday I’ll find a way to offer both options so readers can choose their favorite. (I’m already brainstorming ways to make that happen.)

Thank you for your grace, your understanding, and your support through every twist and turn of this publishing journey. There have been highs and lows, exciting moments and difficult ones—but through it all, there are still beautiful stories waiting to be told.

Because while covers matter—and they absolutely do—the real magic has always been found inside the story itself… and in the hearts of the readers who bring it to life.

So, thank you! I appreciate you more than I can say.