A long time ago, I read that the cover of a romance indicates how steamy the story is by the amount of bare skin you see. I think that is an efficient way to show the reader what they can expect in the book.
When I start the process, I search for a cover photo that fits the story. For Resolute Love, the flannel shirt matches the northern Minnesota winter setting. Plus, Garrett wears a flannel shirt for his snowmobile bonding session with Leigh's dad.
The cover of Victorious Love mirrors a scene in the book when Garrett and Leigh stay at her brother's house and Alex has Garrett sleeping alone on a daybed in his home office.
I searched for a sexy construction worker photo for Playground Antics. I believe I hit the jackpot with the one I selected. The photo had a slight issue meeting Amazon's cover requirements, so a banner was used to overcome the issue. I love the "A Solstice Publishing Romance" banner. It's simple with no fancy embellishments and identified my book as part of a collection! I hope a similar banner can be used for the Green Eyes & Dimples cover.
Playground Antics was also the first of my covers with only one person on the cover instead of a couple. Risky? I don't think so; what do you think? Personally, it's my favorite cover of all my books.
The font used is another consideration. Most are straight. Because Accidental Attraction is a romantic comedy, I wanted a curly font for a fun, lighthearted look. I think it worked.
Do you have a favorite cover? Your choice doesn't have to be one of mine, although I'd also like to know which of my covers are your favorite.