Update 03/16/2012: Transformers: Classified Book 2 Battle Mountain Official Synopsis And More Info News Post: Transformers: Classified Novel Series Book 2 Named As Battle Mountain
Yeah I think you answered your own point their in the news post - These books don't get any attention due to them being set in the Live Action Movie Universe - I think DOTM has burnt so many bridges with fans that perhaps oddly these books may be read by more casual people outside the fanbase than by fans... which would be the opposite of say the comics. But you never know their might be a market for this even if it is 2 years to late.
I liked the first book. It was a quick easy read. I'm hoping for good things out of the follow-up. And as a random aside... I'm a bit surprised we haven't seen news on a Gears toy in one of these lines (unless I missed it). I would think they would have a toy to follow with the novels.
I wish they would have made the decision to put the "Transformers: Classified" book series into the Aligned Continuity AND aim it towards teenage readers. It would have been a excellent opportunity to flesh out the characters and tell stories that couldn't be done in TV-Y7 children's show. What a waste of potential.
My guess is we will get a Generations Gears next year. People have been speculating that the retooled Kup toy might be intended for Gears and now Hasbro Asia will be releasing that mold as Swerve who was Gears retool back in G1, so yeah Gears next year (I would guess anyway). Edit: Kind of unrelated though I guess. I had forgotten it was a movie-verse book and there was a toy for it. Meh, I want a Generations one instead
Looks like a fair approximation of the ROTF toy on the 1st Novel's cover. http://tfwiki.net/w2/images2/thumb/5/53/Tfc-switchinggears.jpg/230px-Tfc-switchinggears.jpg Gears isn't much of a robot in disguise with that mad colour scheme he has though. I find it funnier to see Optimus fighting a "Two Wheeler" on the new one's cover. who seems to be the Autobot Backfire or the Decepticons Reverb or Trenchmouth. I'm leaning towards it being Reverb.