Hi Friends,
Welcome to the second annual British Blooms and Books Giveaway! This week, we’re celebrating the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show and some lovely historical novels set in England. After enjoying this post, please visit each of the other five authors’ blogs (links provided below) and, after a bit of reading fun, follow one simple instruction and leave a comment on each blog. You’ll be entered to win a fabulous, British Blooms and Books prize. (US winners only, please, due to shipping the petit fours.) Enjoy, and thank you for stopping by!
Touring the Gardens at Cragside ~ Morningside Manor
Cragside House and Gardens are the inspiration for the setting of Shine Like the Dawn, my latest English historical romance. When I first researched the story I was fascinated by the photos I saw of the beautiful gardens surrounding Cragside House. And when I read the story behind them, I was even more eager to include those amazing gardens in my story.
Cragside house was built on a rocky moor area with few trees, but William Armstrong, the original developer and owner of Cragside decided to create a lush woodland garden around his home with three lakes, miles of carriage drives, bridges, and beautiful rock gardens.
Rhododendrons and azaleas flourish there and make a sunning display each spring. I hope you enjoy these photos and video tour. Viewing them will add to your enjoyment when you read Shine Like the Dawn!
To enter the giveaway, Please sign up for my newsletter in the box on the upper right hand column of my blog post (if you’re already signed up, just let me know in the comments). Then, comment below and tell me one of your favorite flowers, and you’ll be entered in the drawing to win the grand prize! Thanks to broadoak2006 for this beautiful video tour of Cragside!
Giveaway Rules: One grand prize winner who comments on each of the six authors’ blogs and agrees to the one boldfaced condition posted at the end of each post will win a signed copy of each of the books plus delivery of six English hat petit fours to enjoy while you read! Name will be drawn via random.org
Please visit these other fabulous authors of historical novels set in England to see what flowers mean to them and their heroines.
Links to the other authors:
Melanie Dickerson’s Post link: http://melaniewrites.blogspot.com/2017/05/second-annual-british-blooms-books.html
Melanie Dobson’s Post link: http://melaniedobson.com/2nd-annual-british-blooms-books-giveaway/
Julie Klassen’s Post link: http://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/2nd-annual-british-blooms-books-giveaway/
Roseanna White’s Post link: http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2017/05/2nd-annual-british-blooms-and-books.html
Sanda Byrd’s Post link: http://www.sandrabyrd.com/2nd-annual-british-blooms-and-books-giveaway/
Until Next Time . . . Happy Reading!
Carrie
I am subscribed to your newsletter. The flowers in this post are gorgeous! I love all kinds of flowers, but lilacs remind me of the house where I grew up. I planted 3 bushes where I live now and love their fragrance!
I signed up for your newsletter. Thanks for sharing the video of this stunning property. The colors and textures of the plants are lovely. I was happy to see a photo of an iris; they are one of my very favorite flowers.
subscribed to newsletter
roses
Those pictures of the gardens are beautiful and make me really anxious to read your book! My favorite flower would be a purple orchid–even if I do struggle keeping them alive lol. Thank you for participating in this giveaway! I just signed up for your newsletter.
I just signed up for your newsletter. One of my favorite flowers are the beautiful white Easter Lilies. I love them, and had them in my wedding bouquet.
Signed up for the newsletter and look forward to your posts. My favorite flower, hands down … the peony. The books above look lovely.
Your video was so beautiful…i will watch it many times. And I would love to read your books just as much. Flowers in stories…love them so much. Thank you for the video!
I’m looking forward to reading your book.
I am already signed up to receive your newsletter via email.
My favorite flower is the daffodil, partly because of their fragrance, partly because yellow is my favorite color and partly because they are one of the earliest sign of Spring’s arrival.
Oh to choose only one flower! I love Gerber daisies for a bouquet and dwarf irises that are deep purple for a garden ? however, I love both the beauty and smell of cherry blossom trees! I love your books and eagerly await the chance to read them!
My favorite flower is probably the peony. Mine have already bloomed for the season sadly. Your video was beautiful! I would adore seeing that in person. I’m already one of your subscribers.
I’ve already signed up for your newsletter! I love your writing, and the book covers are always beautiful. My favorite flower are Carnations no matter what the colors are!
My favorite flower since I was a child is snapdragons, to me they look like people talking, when you squeeze them. 🙂
I like the pictures in your post. I’ve always liked zinnias and any colorful flowers.
Melanie Dickerson’s blog post is one that won’t let me comment. I’m not sure why.
Already subscribed.
I am already a newsletter subscriber and my favorite flowers are lilies and roses.
I like a lot of flowers,so,it’s hard to pick just one. Daisies and roses are among my most favorite!
I really enjoyed the video. What a beautiful place. I love many different types of flowers. It is hard to pick only one. I think roses would be at the top.
I love carnations. They have always been my favorite flower.
Hi Carrie, what a lovely tour. One of the best photos I’ve ever seen of the Monkey Puzzle Tree! Hard to pick just one flower ~ perhaps peonies, they are so lush. Love roses and azaleas and lilacs and miss them.
I am signed up for your newsletter. Thanks for this British Blooms & Books Giveaway.
Blessings, Mary Kay
I love your pics here Carrie. Particularly the purple flowers. They remind me of my favorite flower – Lilacs. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’m not big on flowers, but I do like gerbera daisies.
I signed up for the newsletter.
I am already a subscriber of your newsletter and it’s a good thing I am! This is how I found out about this giveaway. Thankfully! I love these types of books and read every day when I go to bed for the night.
My favorite flower is a daisy. Perhaps they’re just a humble flower but they always remind me of happiness and sunshine.
Many thanks for your part in this beautiful giveaway!
I am a subscriber, my favorite flower is the Iris,
I’m a subscriber already. I love peonies so much!! Just wish they lasted a little longer. I would love to read your book “Shine like the Dawn” the cover is gorgeous!!!
I loved the video and subscribed to your newsletter. My favorite flowers are flowering magnolias, and several years ago my husband gave me a flowering magnolia tree with the beautiful pink blossoms that herald the onset of spring in Houston, TX. We’ve had 4-5 magnolias with the waxy leaves and gorgeous white blossoms in our back for about the last 40 years and love those too.
Loved Shine Like the Dawn and really enjoyed the video. Already a subscriber to your newsletter. Choosing a favorite flower is hard but peonies and lilacs and roses.
I signed up for your newsletter. My favorite flowers are roses and tulips. I’m looking forward to reading these great books!
I signed up for your newsletter. 🙂
My favorite flower is a Gardenia. Not only are they beautiful but their fragrance is amazing too!
I love all kinds of flowers! I suppose my favorite is a Carnation because they last so long in a bouquet. I’ve never grown them though. As to that, I would say Roses. I’m not usually one to cut them and bring them in because they don’t last long that way. Yellow and pink are my fav colors. This year, I have some beautiful yellow Petunias I potted, along with some that have a variegated purple-like bloom but it’s a smaller variety. Gerbera Daisies are a fav too. I love the scent of Lilacs, Lavender, and Gardenia! I like them all!!! 🙂
I already subscribe! My favorite flower is the daffodil. They are so happy looking after the long winter.
great give away
The video was stunning – a brief trip to another part of the world. It’s easy to see how many artists and writers have been inspired by the beautiful English countryside.
I signed up for your newsletter. Thank you for participating in this generous giveaway.
What a great giveaway, thank you! I love Irises!
I am already signed up for your newsletter! Thanks for the giveaway!
already get your newsletter and I love roses and daisies
I’ve loved all your books, this one looks to be great, too.
My favorite flower is the iris.
My favorite flower is the daisy and thankfully I have no problem growing those. I think they’ve taken over the yard thanks to our lovely squirrels digging around.
Just signed up for your newsletter. My favorite flowers are roses and wildflowers. 🙂
What a video. Loved it. I love peonies and lilacs that we have in Minnesota. I am from West Texas and did not have them there. I subscribed to your newsletter.
Amazing video! Thank you! My favorite flower? Feels like choosing a favorite child! I named my daughter Lillian Rose… see the favorites there? LOL
But all time favorite would be the sunflower
Very excited to read this book!
I’m already signed up for your newsletter. My favorite flower is hard-I love so many! I’ve always liked lilacs and also daisies.
Thank you for participating in this contest. My favorite flowers are daisies and lilies.
Enjoyed the video and the music.
A favorite flower, that is a difficult choice. At this time of year I always enjoy honeysuckle. Not a showy flower, but I do love the fragrance. Lilacs are another favorite for the scent. I love roses for their delicate petals and the variety of colors.
Hi Carrie,
I’m already a subscriber! I love lilacs and lilies!
I love to garden, and flowers are my summer pleasure. I love all of them, from zinnias to hydrangeas to petunias.
Also, signed up for your newsletter!
Signed up for your newsletter. My favorite flowers are carnations.
I subscribe to your newsletters and Iris are a current fav. (then peony, then rose, you understand… 🙂 )
I love my flower gardens. One of my favorite flowers are wild violets. I already receive your newsletter. Blessings
I’m on your mailing list.
My favorite flower is pink lilies.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I already subscribe
Have been wanting to read this book. Thanks for the fantastic giveaway.
I already subscribe to your newsletter. One of my favorite flowers.is the pansy
My favorite flower is the lilac.
I love flowers. My grandmother always had a variety growing, especially lilac’s and irises. Subscribed to your newsletter.
I signed up for your newsletter. I was already friends with you on Facebook. You have an open invitation to be interviewed on my blog with each new book release.
Your book looks cool. Favorite flower…. I love flowers picking a favorite is so hard! I like snapdragons. I subscribed to your newsletter.
I’m subscribed! Nice description.
I’ve already been on your newsletter list. My favorite flowers are freesias. They smell so good!
Hi Carrie! I received your email in regards to this contest thus morning. ? My favorite flower is the Gardenia. It had a beautiful scent.
I have always love peonies and look forward to early spring when they bloom. I am a subscriber of your newsletter.
Thank you for the giveaway! I am already a subscriber. My favorite flower is the lily, specifically the stargazer lily!
Flowers are gorgeous reminders of God’s creativity, and I love them all. Anything red or orange or yellow – gerbera daisies are lovely. And I love peonies!
I’m subscribed to your newsletter and I would love to enter! I really enjoy reading historical fiction. 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!
CutePolarBear
Also, my favorite flowers may be yellow dandelions. They are so pretty, and it takes no work on my part to watch them grow!
I hope I made the giveaway on time, had difficulties posting, proving I am not a robot and recovering webpage that I gave up until something told me to try again, so, here I am, gave my e-mail to all the authors participating and Commented…hoping all was posted…thanks for the chance!…blessings to ALL.
I’m excited to see a new author that I will be trying/reading books from! Julie Classen told me to come here !
Thank you for the video. It looks like a delightful place to visit.