Birthstone Book Covers: June = Options, options, options!

I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time last August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.

The rules are simple:


June has three birthstones! The three gems are pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone.

Image via Morin Jewelers

For more about these three birthstones, check out the info page at gia.edu. I was not familiar with alexandrite at all until now — not surprising, as it’s considered very rare!

Alexandrite is the rare variety of the mineral chrysoberyl that changes color in different lighting. Most prized are those alexandrite birthstones that show a vivid green to bluish green in daylight or fluorescent light, and an intense red to purplish red in incandescent light. Major alexandrite deposits were first discovered in 1830 in Russia’s Ural Mountains. The gem was named after the young Alexander II (1818–1881), heir apparent to the throne. Alexandrite caught the country’s attention because its red and green colors mirrored the national military colors of imperial Russia.

An example of an alexandrite ring:

And from Earthshine Jewels:

June Birthstone Meaning

  • Pearl has purity, wisdom, and tranquility. Pearls were believed the tears of the gods or moonlight that had been captured in shells. People believe that pearls have the ability to bring good luck and provide a relaxed vibe.
  • Moonstone shows love, self-awareness, a calm state of mind, and a balance of emotions. Moonstone, a birthstone, is frequently regarded as a precious treasure for fresh starts.
  • Alexandrite color-changing feature represents change and understanding. Alexandrite is well-known for its remarkable color change, which occurs when it is exposed to luminous light and changes from green to a reddish-purple hue.

June Birthstone Color

  • Pearl Naturally white, cream, pink, and even black. Freshwater and saltwater pearls can have subtle rainbow-like iridescence known asorient.
  • Moonstone Typically comes in milky whites or soft grays with a magical blue or rainbowadularescence(a glowing sheen)
  • Alexandrite Famous for its dramatic color shift—from green in daylight to reddish-purple under incandescent light.

Onward to the books!

Alexandrite is new to me, and I’m finding myself fascinating by its range of colors. Based on the images of the gem, I decided to look for book covers with a mixture of blues, greens, and purples… close enough!

Does alexandrite make you think of any favorite book covers?

Spell the Month in Books: June

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!

It looks like themes haven’t been added for a while, so I’ll make up my own. June means the start of summer, and what better way to welcome those sunny, beachy vibes than to highlight books with “summer” in the title? I tried to stick with books I’ve actually read… but ended up having to include a TBR book for the letter N!

Here are my JUNE books:


J:

Just For the Summer by Abby Jimenez

U:

Until Next Summer by Ali Brady

N:

The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson


E:

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune



Happy June! Here’s to blue skies, warm beaches, and gorgeous sunshine-filled days!

If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!

Birthstone Book Covers: May = Emerald!

I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.

The rules are simple:


May’s birthstone is emerald. I love a vibrant green!

According to gia.edu:

Emerald, the birthstone for May, has been beloved for millennia, evoking rebirth and renewal. Widely regarded as the definition of green, emerald is the perfect color for spring. From the poetic description of Ireland as “the Emerald isle” to the vibrant green of the famed gemstone itself—the May birthstone emerald has captured hearts and minds through the ages.

Variations of this rich green color suggest soothing, lush gardens. Legend has it that emerald has the power to make its wearer more intelligent and quick-witted, and it was once believed to cure diseases like cholera and malaria. Today, it’s the gemstone given for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.

More emeralds (via Levys Fine Jewelry):

Onward to the books!

I had fun scanning all my shelves to hunt for emeralds… here’s what I found:

Do you have any favorite emerald book covers to share?

Spell the Month in Books: May

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!

I didn’t see a theme posted for May, so I decided to go with one of my own. My book list for May is focused on May Flowers… books covers with at least a flower or two! With only three letters to work with, it’s a quick list to put together… although as usual, “Y” books are the hardest to find.

Here are my MAY books:


M:

Marilla of Green Gables by Sarah McCoy

A:

The Austen Escape by Katherine Reay

Y:

The Younger Wife by Sally Hepworth




Happy May! Wishing everyone a month filled with flowers!

If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!

Birthstone Book Covers: April = Diamond!

I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.

The rules are simple:


April’s birthstone is diamond, and who doesn’t love a little bling?

According to gia.edu:

Diamond forms under high temperature and pressure conditions that exist only about 100 miles beneath the earth’s surface. Diamond’s carbon atoms are bonded in essentially the same way in all directions. Another mineral, graphite, also contains only carbon, but its formation process and crystal structure are very different. Graphite is so soft that you can write with it, while diamond is so hard that you can only scratch it with another diamond.

Also worth noting: Diamond is the April birthstone, but also the gem that marks the 60th and 75th wedding anniversaries.

A few more diamonds (via Pinterest):

Onward to the books!

Diamond is a tricky one to find in terms of color covers… so I looked for either diamond-like cover colors or covers with actual diamonds on them!

Do you have any favorite diamond book covers to share?

Spell the Month in Books: April

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!

This month’s theme is a choice: Easter OR Pastel Covers. I’m going pastels… because I can’t figure out how to do an Easter theme (I don’t think I know of enough books with bunnies on the cover!)

Here are my APRIL books:


A:

Angel’s Peak by Robyn Carr

P:

Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon

R:

Reputation by Lex Croucher


I:

In the Quick by Kate Hope Day

L:

The Ladies Rewrite the Rules by Suzanne Allain




I hope everyone is having a great start to April! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!

Birthstone Book Covers: March = Aquamarine!

I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.

The rules are simple:


I love the beautiful color of aquamarines!

According to gemstones.com:

Aquamarine is the blue to green-blue gemstone variety of beryl. It is the birthstone for March. The name aquamarine comes from two Latin words aqua marinus meaning “water of the sea”. The color comes from trace amounts of iron in the stone. Aquamarine is typically greenish blue in nature, so it is heat treated to remove the yellow component, and to produce a true-blue color. Brazil is the largest producer of aquamarine, but fine quality stones can be found around the world.

A famous example of aquamarines:

Onward to the books!

Searching my physical and virtual shelves for some pretty amethysts… and here’s what I’ve found:

Do you have any favorite aquamarine book covers to share?

Spell the Month in Books: March

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!

This month’s theme is a choice: Take your pick from Pi Day, March Madness, or Green Covers. I’m going with Pi Day… or more specifically PIE day… meaning, any book with some sort of baked goods on the cover! Because… yummmmm… I need more delicious desserts in my life.

Here are my MARCH books:


M:

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

A:

Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

R:

Rosaline Palmer Takes the Cake by Alexis Hall


C:

Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

H:

Homemade Humble Pie by Annette Smith




Wishing everyone a very happy March (and lots of yummy pie to eat)! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!

Birthstone Book Covers: February = Amethyst!

I participated in Birthstone Books Covers for the first time in August, and now I’m hooked! Leslie at Books Are the New Black hosts this fun monthly meme — and since I love anything related to spotlighting amazing book covers, I just had to jump in.

The rules are simple:


Amethysts are among my favorite gems, although — alas — I don’t believe I actually have any amethyst jewelry. The color is so pretty!

According to gemstones.com:

Amethyst was prized by ancient civilizations and was closely associated with spirituality, faith, and wisdom. The color purple has long been associated with royalty and the aristocracy. It is the birthstone for February. The color of amethyst ranges from light to intense purple. The lighter lilac or lavender variety is often called Rose de France amethyst. The most prized amethyst is transparent and exhibits an intense, uniform, purple color with red flashes.

Samples of amethyst jewelry:

Source: Doyle & Doyle

Onward to the books!

Searching my physical and virtual shelves for some pretty amethysts… and here’s what I’ve found:

Do you have any favorite amethyst book covers to share?

Spell the Month in Books: February

Spell the Month in Books is a monthly meme hosted by Jana at Reviews from the Stacks. To participate, find a book title that starts with each letter in the month’s name, make a list, share your link, and that’s it! You can share anytime by the end of the month. Some months have additional themes, but feel free to participate however you’d like!

This month’s theme is a freebie — so any topic we want! Since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I’m going to focus on romance books… and just to keep it fun and a bit more challenging, I’m not allowing myself to double up on any authors.

Here are my FEBRUARY books:


F:

Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory

E:

Every Summer After by
Carley Fortune

B:

Better Than Fiction by Alexa Martin


R:

Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

U:

Until Next Summer by
Ali Brady


A:

All’s Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath


R:

The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary


Y:

Yours Truly by
Abby Jimenez




Wishing everyone a very happy February! If you spelled the month in books, please leave me a link to your post — I’d love to see it!