Cover Judging: Stardust of Yesterday

I've not done one of these in awhile. This one is pretty great, though.
First Glance: I'm thinking tale of a lost love - there's a hazy overlay on top of the portrait of this man's eyebrows, plus it seems that a rose has been laid, possibly on his grave. Causes of death? Perhaps Sandra Bullock wasn't there to push him out of the way of a train. Or maybe that Orange County car wreck turned fatal. Or, most likely, that ballerina freaked out after he told her she didn't have great feet and she attacked him. Feel free to extrapolate on any other Peter Gallagher roles I'm forgetting. Score: 4 out of 5



Title: It's rare that I pick a Cover Judging based on the title alone; usually, I need a few more elements of ridiculous before I'm convinced I'll have something to say. But this title . . . this one is special. Stardust of Yesterday: have you ever before read a title that evokes such non-specific nostalgia? Can't you just feel our heroine's yearning for better, sparklier days? Doesn't the title just reach your heart and demand that you feel the same? Are you not crying already? I am. Score: 5 out of 5

Back of the Book: Oh, friends. It seems I've lead you astray: this is not the story of a lost lover. It's far, far better than that:

"Genevieve Buchanan inherited a castle - and a ghost to go along with it."

Which is expected in the life of most girls, particularly ones who may or may not be related to the beautiful Daisy Buchanan.

"But Kendrick de Piaget (!!!) was no typical ghost. He was a handsome and infuriatingly arrogant thirteenth-century knight."

That's right: while Daisy was off in Long Island, causing the death of Jay Gatsby and a few others, Genevieve was in her castle, verbally sparring with a "handsome and infuriatingly arrogant" ghost named Kendrick de Piaget.

"At first he wanted to frighten Genevieve, though she was more charmed than scared by his ghostly tricks."

I almost want to read this, because I'm imagining a scene where Sir Kendrick floats around doing his scariest ghost things while Genevieve giggles in delight at his antics.

"But when his thoughts turned to wooing her instead, Genevieve had to face her greatest fear . . ."

I want you to guess what her greatest fear may be. A lot of people are pretty afraid of ghosts (not Genevieve, though!). My personal greatest fear is snakes. Other common fears: failure, rejection, abandonment, clowns. If this were Romance Novel Mad Libs, I would probably pick clowns to end that sentence. However, I am not in charge and I can only report on what I am given. Thus, I have to inform you that Genevieve's greatest fear is:

". . . falling in love."

Of course.
Score: 4 out of 5

Final Score: 13 out of 15 - Missing the Golden Fabio by half a point, Stardust of Yesterday qualifies for the Silver Deveraux with special achievement awards for Outstanding Titlemanship and Creepiest Couple Yet.