Oh boy! In the three short weeks since we posted our list of 2020 Historical Romance Releases We Just Can't Wait For, four of the books without covers have had cover reveals! Please enjoy this reveal round up of some of our most-anticipated releases this year!

1) Would I Lie To The Duke by Eva Leigh

It doesn't take much to improve on my uninspired placeholder, but this cover just shines. The yellow dress, the color combination, the font face - ah! I'm in love! It's whimsical and eye catching, and just pops when you look at it. There's movement (just look at her sash wrapping around the "I"!) and emotion (and *almost* a boob grab? Those fingers are in grazing territory!) and I just can't wait to read it!

Would I Lie to the Duke comes out on August 25th, 2020, but you can preorder it now! Need a refresher on the synopsis? Here you go!

When an ambitious entrepreneur pretends to be a lady of means, she catches the eye—and heart—of a duke...

Jessica McGale’s family business desperately needs investors and she’s determined to succeed at any cost. But she knows London’s elite will never look twice at a humble farm girl like herself. Posing as “Lady Whitfield,” however, places her in the orbit of wealthy, powerful people—most notably the Duke of Rotherby. His influence and support could save her company, but Jess never expected the effect he’d have on her.

Society thinks Noel is a notorious, carefree duke who dabbles in investments, but there’s a side to him that only his closest friends see. When he crosses paths with Lady Whitfield at a business bazaar, his world tilts on its axis. She’s brilliant and compelling, and brings him to his knees like no woman has before. Trust is difficult for Noel, but Jess makes him believe anything is possible. . .

As time ticks down on her Cinderella scheme, the thought of achieving her goal at Noel’s expense breaks Jess’s heart. He doesn’t just want her now, he wants her forever. But will her secret end their future before it begins?

2) First Comes Scandal by Julia Quinn

Okay...pros first. I love love love the color combination! The aubergine with the peach?! So sophisticated! I'm intrigued by the castle and carriage in the background, and I want to know just why she is holding a rose.

And while I love her mischievous and happy expression, to be honest, I find the artistic choice of her face a little odd for a few reasons. Firstly, it looks like it's more 'painted' than the rest of the cover. The artistic style in the background just doesn't match with the foreground. She looks to me like she is too "retouched" - if this was a photo I'd feel like she used too heavy a filter. There's just something disjointed about it. Especially in contrast to the other three covers in the series - observe:

Each of the ladies is looking at the reader and holding their skirt. But somehow Georgie just looks not-quite-right to me. It's like her skin has been retouched too much, and her pose seems more stiff than that of the other ladies. But here's the thing - regardless of if I love the cover completely or not, I am going to read this book, because it's Julia Quinn and I know it's going to soar. Also, I'd like to learn who Georgie's modiste is so maybe I can get a dress just like that!

First Comes Scandal comes out on March 24th, 2020 and is, of course, available for preorder now! Missed the synopsis? Take a look!

She was given two choices...

Georgiana Bridgerton isn't against the idea of marriage. She'd just thought she'd have some say in the matter. But with her reputation hanging by a thread after she's abducted for her dowry, Georgie is given two options: live out her life as a spinster or marry the rogue who has ruined her life.

Enter Option #3

As the fourth son of an earl, Nicholas Rokesby is prepared to chart his own course. He has a life in Edinburgh, where he's close to completing his medical studies, and he has no time—or interest—to find a wife. But when he discovers that Georgie Bridgerton—his literal girl-next-door—is facing ruin, he knows what he must do.

A Marriage of Convenience

It might not have been the most romantic of proposals, but Nicholas never thought she'd say no. Georgie doesn't want to be anyone's sacrifice, and besides, they could never think of each other as anything more than childhood friends... or could they?

But as they embark upon their unorthodox courtship, they discover a new twist to the age-old rhyme. First comes scandal, then comes marriage. But after that comes love...

3) The Bride Bet by Tessa Dare

Now, perhaps it's because I got fancy and animated my placeholder, or perhaps I got too attached to the fantastic shade of pink I used, but I was a little unenthusiastic with the cover of The Bride Bet when I first saw it. To be fair - I LOVE these models and they absolutely sizzle! Nicola's hair is the stuff of DREAMS. But the cool tones (which do compliment her hair nicely) weren't what I expected, and I noticed something else interesting when Angeleke Kaldis (@the_lovely_bibliophile on Instagram) posted this image:

Observe - the first two covers feature a standing embrace, but the model's positions are reversed. The second two covers feature a reclined embrace and the positions are once again reversed. The Bride Bet only doesn't quite follow the text formatting, as normally the second word of the title is slightly under the first. The "The" holds the same pattern, but the shorter words and the (great) pose they went with probably influenced the final decision. I noticed the font stuff at first because when I was making my placeholder I was trying to emulate it as closely as I could, just for fun.

Something else I just realized looking at Angeleke's post below my covers, it looks like she used almost the same shade of magenta as I did. Interesting coincidence! Is the pink and purple of The Wallflower Wager doing something subliminally to us?! If it is, I'm totally okay with it. The Bride Bet also comes out on August 25th, 2020, and not only do we have a cover reveal but we also have the full description newly released! Behold!

How to lose a duke in ten years…without losing your heart. Once upon a time, two sworn enemies—the bookish daughter of a scholar and the devilish heir to a duke—made a pact: If they were both still single in ten years, they would marry each other. 

It was a joke, Nicola thought. A duchess? Her?

But when the Duke of Westleigh returns a decade later, he’s serious. He needs an heir, so he’s holding her to their marriage bargain—diamond ring, lavish gown, engagement ball, and more. Nothing Nicola says can dissuade him. When she calls him arrogant, he praises her honesty. When she makes social stumbles, he catches her fall. And when she gets exasperated, the duke can’t seem to get enough. For reasons she can’t fathom, he claims that no other woman will do. 

He’s betting he can change her mind, with logic and passion.

She’s betting she can change his mind, just by being herself.

And as the clock ticks down to a wedding day, neither is counting on losing their heart.

AHHHHHH MY HEART! The teaser was just a tease, and I really can't wait for this one!!! You can, of course, preorder it so it's in your hands as soon as it's available.

4) A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore

I got really excited when I saw the hot pink placeholder text. And while the revealed cover does not use that shade of pink, ummmm obviously THAT DOES NOT MATTER BECAUSE LOOK AT IT! It's perfect. Firstly, I love pink and teal. Secondly, look at that delightful art. The justaposition of the historical setting and the modern colors just works for me. Ummm and did you see that cat?! Lucie spilling the tea on Tristian's foot? You know that she knows what she's doing ;)

Book Riot hosted the cover reveal and included that this cover was directed by Rita Frangie and designed by Farjana Yasmin. If you want to take the time to check out Farjana's other work, I highly suggest you do so!

A Rouge of One's Own comes out September 1st, 2020, and is available for preorder now. Here's the fabulous synopsis:

A lady must have money and an army of her own if she is to win a revolution—but first, she must pit her wits against the wiles of an irresistible rogue bent on wrecking her plans…and her heart.

Lady Lucie is fuming. She and her band of Oxford suffragists have finally scraped together enough capital to control one of London’s major publishing houses, with one purpose: to use it in a coup against Parliament. But who could have predicted that the one person standing between her and success is her old nemesis and London’s undisputed lord of sin, Lord Ballentine? Or that he would be willing to hand over the reins for an outrageous price—a night in her bed.

Lucie tempts Tristan like no other woman, burning him up with her fierceness and determination every time they clash. But as their battle of wills and words fans the flames of long-smouldering devotion, the silver-tongued seducer runs the risk of becoming caught in his own snare.

As Lucie tries to out-manoeuvre Tristan in the boardroom and the bedchamber, she soon discovers there’s truth in what the poets say: all is fair in love and war…

There are still a few books who don't have covers revealed yet from our list! We'll be certain to update you all again when they do! I think it's clear which of these ones is my favorite, but which one do you love the most? We'd love to hear what you think, leave us a comment below!

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