Guest Post by Keren (aka Twin)

So, my Twin Lucy asked me if I wanted to do a guest spot on her gorgeous blog. I, of course, agreed. I could talk for England, so why not to Lucy's followers?!

We aren't real twins of course. We met on Twitter a few months ago and bonded over our mutual love of book cover art. I adopted her as my twin there and then.

**LUCY: If anyone has read the House of Night series by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast, you may remember Erin Bates and Shaunee Cole calling each other Twins constantly. I had found it slightly annoying the first time I read it. Now Keren and I call each other that non-stop. #oopsie. Anyway, back to Keren..**

I have to admit, I am a self confessed magpie when it comes to book cover art. I collect shiny, pretty books. And that is the topic I decided to talk about today.

My question to you all is this: Do you fawn over a gorgeous book cover? Are you turned off by a mediocre cover, or will you pick it up and read the blurb regardless? Okay, so technically that's two questions, but no-one said I had a limit and y'all can't answer me back as I am typing so...! :)

 My own answer to that question....

 Well as I previously said, I am a magpie. It's the shiny, pretty covers that catch my eye. I know the old saying is to never judge a book by it's cover, but seriously, whoever said that is a lot deeper than me. I am as deep as a puddle when it comes to covers.

The honest truth is, I love the whole YA genre. From romance to paranormal, from fantasy to dystopian. I love it all. BUT, when I go into my local Waterstones, I head straight to the section and look for all the pretty ones, then take a look at the blurb. If something doesn't catch my eye instantly, I pass it over. Shallow? Yes. Stupid? Probably.

But it's the cover that hooks me and the blurb that reels me in. So if it doesn't have a good blurb, I will pass it up, no matter how stunning the cover.

Same thing when I am on Amazon looking for books for my Kindle. But in actual fact, I have been known to pick up books on Amazon where the cover isn't all that great. There's been books recommended to me that are not eye-catching but have a good blurb. It doesn't seem to matter so much on the Kindle because they aren't physically sat on my bookshelf in my living room.

 So am I just shallow and pathetic? Quite probably. Does it really matter what other people think of me? Probably not. I am the way I am and it makes me happy.

I know that there are books out there with a mediocre cover that actually hide a wonderful story. Maybe as I get older I'll get less judgemental. Or maybe I'll get worse. Who knows?!

 So I will leave it to you if you comment, all I ask is that you don't make rude comments about me. Remember, I am as entitled to my opinion as you and everyone else.

Constructive criticism is fine, but please, don't make snap judgements about me as a person!

Thank you for reading this post regardless. And thank you Lucy, my Twin, for having your ever-judgemental opinionated Twin on your gorgeous blog xoxo

Lucy: No, Thank you Twin for coming over and talking about this. As it kind of is what brought us together :)

ABOUT KEREN:

I used to be a huge Stephen King fan when I was younger. So much so I would never read anything else. Then I had my Calum and Barry bought me the 7 Harry Potter books. That got me into reading something different and it just went from there. The first thing I really read after Harry Potter was Twilight. I have to say I am not a big fan (though I used to be) Now I like to read a mix of things and my favourite authors include Charlaine Harris, Laurell K Hamilton, Carrie Jones, Becca Fitzpatrick, Lauren Kate, and Rachel Caine. I have an addiction to indie authors at the moment and my favourites include: Caroline Hanson, Kira Saito, Alycia Linwood, Lucy Swing, Penelope Fletcher, Katie M John, Christy Trujillo, Christopher Buecheler, Devyn Dawson, Amanda Hocking, Suzy Turner, Heather Killough-Walden, Susan Bischoff and Jessie Harrell. Don't see your name on that list? Send me a book to review and we'll see if we can set that right! Find me on Twitter @Gothic_Angel28

Visit her blog here: Gothic Angel Book Reviews