Fangs, Gardenias and Castles: The Story Behind The Waning Cover

Romance Novel Covers Tell You What You’re Getting

Readers decode romance novel covers in about two seconds. A couple in a close embrace says love story. A dark, stormy palette says paranormal. An ornate script title says there’s some history in here. This cover says all three, and I did that on purpose.

The Fangs and the Bite

Take a look at the hero. Drake’s dark curls fall forward, his mouth is at Nia’s throat, and his fangs are bared. That’s the vampire bite everyone expects.

Vampire teeth are the one detail no vampire book can skip. In mine, the fangs come down with a click Drake can feel in his jaw. It’s the kind of detail I like, small and physical.

Notice Nia’s eyes are closed. She isn’t afraid. That tension, danger and trust in the same frame, is the heart of the book. Whether the bite happens, and when, I’ll keep to myself.

The Waning book cover

The Gardenias

White blooms frame the whole cover. The series is named for them, and you’ll find out why as you read. In the Victorian language of flowers, the gardenia means secret love, which suits a series full of secrets.

gardenia coven symbol

The Castle and the Vampire Aesthetic

Behind the couple you can see stone towers, lantern glow, and a dark river under a storm. That’s the vampire aesthetic in one picture: moody, candlelit, old stone, and a hint of danger.

The book itself is set in modern Maine, but there’s plenty of old-world castle in it too. You’ll find stone walls, gas-lit streets, and a family castle by the sea.

A Little Victorian Vampire Aesthetic

If you love the Victorian vampire look, you’ll find hints of it inside. There are gas lamps with Victorian glass, high-collared shirts, and a hero who insists on old manners. The Waning isn’t a Victorian novel. It’s a modern paranormal romance that wears old-world clothes, and I think that’s more fun.

See It for Yourself

The top tropes page has descriptions and spoilers, and newsletter signup is where I’ll share the release date and first looks. The Waning is Book 1 comes out 11/11/2026, and Book 2, Dark Moon, is on its way after that. There will be a total of 6 books in all for this Gardenia Series.

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