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British Blooms and Books Giveaway!

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Hello, gentle reader, and welcome to the first annual British Blooms and Books giveaway! This week, we’d like to celebrate the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show with you. 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 then leave a comment on each, to be entered to win a fabulous, British Blooms and Books prize. (Enter by 5/28/16; US winners only, please, due to shipping the petit fours. Sorry, non-US friends.) Thank you!

Stop and Smell the…Flowers

As I write this, a small vase of lily of the valley sits nearby and the aroma—my favorite in all the world—envelops me. Ahhh… I planted the pips in my languishing garden years ago and thankfully the blooms reappear year after year, bringing their beautiful scent with them.

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I used to garden more, but after my kids and first books were born, something had to go, and gardening was one of those things. But sometimes I miss it.

Since gardening is quintessentially British, I’ve lately made more of an effort to have the characters in my books “stop and smell the roses”—noticing the flora and fauna they pass, or pottering in the garden. To make sure I (hopefully) only mention plants that actually existed in England in the early 1800s, I have found a few sources to check, like In the Garden with Jane Austen. I don’t devote long passages to description, never fear, but characters in my various novels grow plants for medicinal reasons, cut and arrange flowers for the house, steal flowers on occasion, and in my most recent book, The Painter’s Daughter, paint a vase of them:

 

She picked one showy daffodil, yellow-and-white primroses, several bright orange tulips, a branch of pink camellias, and green fronds and ferns. These she took indoors with her and up the stairs. In the schoolroom, she found an old sunny yellow vase. A crack marred one side, but it would work well for the composition she had in mind. As she set paintingthe prepared canvas on the easel, the old rhythm returned to her, and peace like a long-lost friend descended. She’d missed this….

Later, when she asks Captain Overtree, the husband she barely knows, to sit for her, he protests, self-conscious about his scarred face:

He raised his hands. “Oh no. No one need paint this battered mug. Not when more pleasant alternatives abound.” He gestured toward the vase of flowers, then hesitated, looking again at the cracked vase with a frown. “I’m sure we could find you a better vase.”

“No, thank you. I like that one.”

He turned back and studied her….

 

This is just one moment in their “budding” relationship as their marriage-in-name only becomes so much more. I’ve been receiving such kind compliments about this book, and I hope whoever wins a copy will enjoy it, along with 5 other novels set in England.

Please sign up for my email list, and comment below to be entered to win the grand prize. (If you are already on my list, simply comment below. Either way, be sure your name is included in your comment.)

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One grand prize winner who comments on each of the six authors’ blogs  by 5/28/16 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–I want those myself. Enjoy!

(Name will be drawn via random.org)

 

Sandra Byrd’s PostLR2BritishBloomsandBooksCoverGraphic

Melanie Dickerson’s Post

Kristi Ann Hunter’s Post

Carrie Turansky’s Post

Roseanna White’s Post

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Julie Klassen

JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Comments

  1. Oh My Goodness, That is an amazing contest! I personally LOVE your books and the Painters Daughter was no exception. I like the excerpts that you included. The part with the cracked flower pot is one of my favorite parts. Thank you for all you do and have wrote!

  3. What an amazing contest! My daughter and I like to argue about which if us discovered you first:) Actually, I purchased your first book as a gift, but she read it first.

    Susan

  4. This sounds like a great read. Thank you for the contest. I too enjoy gardening, but I am unable to do much of it anymore because of my health. I miss it also.

  5. This is a great giveaway! Growing up my mom had a huge garden full of many different vegetables, we would can in the summer and eat garden vegetables all year round. She also had a flower garden close to the house and I loved watching everything bloom each year. I love your books (I’ve read all of them) and I can’t wait for the next.

  6. Thank you so much for the post and this great giveaway. Great authors write great books! Thank you for sharing your talent!

  7. Thanks for this chance! I have loved you’re books since they first appeared. Can’t wait for the chance to read your newest book.

  10. Sounds like a fun giveaway! I too love lily of the valley!Thanks for the opportunity!

  11. These blogs are incredible to read!!! What fun history and what fun that each author likes a different flower! The books I have looked at so far have beautiful covers, and their excerpts make me want to read the books NOW!

  14. I loved that she liked the cracked vase better. I also like the fact that you don’t stay away from hard topics and characters who make mistakes, but you also beautifully redeem them. All subscribed to your newsletter!
    Katherine

  15. Hi, Julie. I already receive your emails and I am a big fan. The Painters Daughter is a wonderful book. Thank you and have a blessed day. Lucy Reynolds

  16. I love painting flowers, photographing flowers–there’s such incredible creativity packed into a blossom that only lasts for a few hours to a few days.

  18. Wow, what a fabulous giveaway! Six books & petite fours. Who doesn’t love cake! Count me in & I appreciate the opportunity to receive them. I love your books!

  21. Wow what a great give away! All the books look like they would be great reads!!

  22. I love your books so much. My favorites were The Painter’s Daughter, The Silent Governess, and The Girl at the Gatehouse.

  25. I’m so glad I receive your emails. I would hate to miss such a wonderful opp to win these books. What an amazing give-away! I am crossing my fingers!

  27. I just love your books. It’s hard to put down and my husband laughs because I try to read them cover to cover. This is an amazing giveaway! Here’s hoping!

  30. My twins had served missions in England and some of their new friends came over to the states to visit. Just. Thoroughly enjoyed a week full of learning new English words and foods!

  32. I really enjoy ready your books, and am looking forward to this one!!

    Megan

  33. I love, love, love your books and I love to garden. Those are a couple of my favorites.

  34. I absolutely loved The Painters Daughter! It was a beautifully written novel!

  38. What an awesome giveaway! I just love the cover of your book Julie. My favorite flower is lilacs which I don’t get to see since I’ve moved to Texas. It is fascinating the different types of flowers that grow in different times and places.

    I’ve signed up for your newsletter. Thanks for the giveaway!!

  39. I have read and loved all of your novels and I love gardening, so two of my favorite things in this giveaway!

  40. Julie, I love your books and can’t wait to read The Painter’s Daughter. I signed up for your newsletter, though I think I’m already signed up. Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone.

  41. I loved The Painter’s Daughter and I love gardening. My goal is for my yard to look like an English country garden but I’m not near there yet.

  43. Hubby has always been the gardener in the Kelly home. He has done this for many years, we have been in our home for almost 37 years and now the flowers have kind of taken over as he is older now and no longer able to do much in the way of gardening. But the flowers every year are gorgeous! Thank you for an awesome giveaway!

  44. Hi Julie,
    I signed up for your newsletter. I absolutely love your books! I haven’t read The Painter’s Daughter yet. I look forward to reading it, especially after the scene you described. I so appreciate how much work and research authors go through to make sure that their books contain accurate info. I’m sure that you’ve learned a lot in the process. What was the most interesting fact that you learned while researching for The Painter’s Daughter?

    • I had to learn about painting during that time period and especially about the Army and the Battle of Waterloo. But probably the most intriguing thing to me were the “squints.” You’ll have to read the book to learn why. 🙂

  46. Lily of the Valley makes me think of my mother as her birthday is in May. In childhood, we would pick the blooms and place them in water with food coloring and watch the color “wick up” to the white blooms. Thank you for causing me to recall that sweet memory! This is a wonderful give-away – thank you for participating.

    • Really? How fun. I didn’t know that. Will have to try that some time!

  50. Signed up for your newsletter! Great giveaway! I loved the excerpts from your book! Can’t wait to see how their relationship grows and changes. Sounds like a wonderful book!

  51. I would love to win. This book of yours is on my reading list. I’ll be reading it very soon regardless of winning. Thanks for the chance.

  52. Just signed up for your newsletter. I am *SOSOSO* excited to read The Painter’s Daughter, because I love all your books! I’ve read The Silent Governess three times already (and planning on another soon). 🙂 Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

  53. I almost have all of your books and I’m anxiously awaiting your newest book! Thanks for having this contest!

  58. This is an amazing giveaway!!! I love your books by the way. You’re one of my favorite authors 🙂 Thanks for the giveaway!

  59. I used to enjoy gardening too, but it is too hard to get down and up anymore. My hubby will sometimes bring some of the flowers in and put in a vase for me. I enjoy historical romances and these all look so good. Thanks for this opportunity.

  60. I signed up for your e-mail newsletter. I love flowers of all kinds. Besides the great aroma that they have, they are also beautiful. Those little petit fours are so cute! Thanks for this giveaway.

  61. I am having issues signing up, but will keep working on it. 🙂 The Painter’s Daughter is on my “to read” list.

  63. Hi Julie! i just love your books! I haven’t read this one yet. I love the cover and I love the photo of the books with the flowers. I entering the contest!

  67. Thank you for the chance to win! I have a copy of your novel already, but would pass it on to my book-loving bestie!

  68. I can’t wait to read your book! Just bought some clemitas vine & can’t wait for those blooms. Signed up for your mailing list.

  71. Thank you for a chance to win. I have read your other books and have so enjoyed them.

  72. Julie, I just finished Lady of Milkweed Manor and I absolutely loved it! I gave you 5 star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. You have me hooked and I want to read more!!

  73. Your book looks amazing to read. Thank you for the chance for a giveaway

  75. I loved that scene in your book, it was one of my favorite moments of theirs together. Thanks for the fun giveaway!
    Signed up for your newsletter!

  76. Where do I start??? I loved your books from the first to the last-my favorites of all time is The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess.
    All of them are terrific and I hope that you keep bringing us such wonderful novels.

  77. Lovely picture of Mrs. Overtree’s painting shown above…she’s talented 🙂

  78. I signed up for your newsletter. This sounds like a wonderful book. I’m thoroughly reading each author’s post about flowers. I wish I knew more varieties myself.

  80. I just loved that excerpt from the book. I have placed this book on hold at the library.

  81. I’m subscribed. Your book looks and sounds wonderful! I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway!

  83. I signed up for your email list! And I absolutely love your books. It would be thrilling to win an autographed copy. Thank you for the generous giveaway.

  84. I signed up for your emails. I love your books but haven’t yet read The Painter’s Daughter. I’ve read several of the other books in this giveaway; they were fantastic. I’d still like to win though!

  86. I love your books and am already a subscriber. This is an amazing giveaway! The winner will be very fortunate

  87. Thank you for the opportunity to win these awesome books! I wish I could say I had a favorite book of yours, but that would be like asking me to choose what kind of chocolate I like best. And that’s impossible because I love them ALL!

  88. I signed up for your newsletter…

    As I consider myself a painters daughter, I would love to read your book!

  90. Wow! This giveaway combines some of my favorite authors-I love it! And after that excerpt, now I really can’t wait to read “The Painter’s Daughter.” (I signed up for the newsletter.)

  92. These books ALL look so good! So many of your books look good, including “The Painter’s Daughter”, but I’ve never read any! I am looking forward to doing so. 🙂

  93. Subscribed to your newsletter. I also love Lillies of the Valley, but I haven’t seen them here in the US since I was a kid. They are so fragrant. I would like to grow them in my garden. Great giveaway, thanks. Looking forward to reading your book. Really enjoy British fiction.

  94. I enjoy my perennials, but not the weeding that goes with the gardens! I love your books, I just have to be sure I have time to read to the end when I start one as I can’t stop once I start. Two weekends ago I visited the Highline in New York, and this weekend I’m going to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens (where my daughter works.) Thanks for the post! (Linda Hutchins)

  95. Julie if I had to pick a favorite author out of all my favorite authors, it would be you!! I have read every one of your books, except for two. You were the one who introduced me to Regency era fiction and I fell head over heels in love! I’ve now discovered so many other authors who write in the same genre. Thank you for that, historical is my top pick followed by suspense with a close second place. I love the idea of the British Blooms and Books giveaway by several great authors. What fun 🙂

    • Oh, I’m subscribed to your newsletter too! Guess I was suppose to mention that 🙂
      teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com

  96. I have subscribed. Your book looks so interesting and I can’t wait to read it.

  97. I’ve signed up for the newsletter and always look forward to your books. I haven’t read anything published after the Dancing Master, but I do plan on purchasing the newer ones at some point as I have all your others.

  98. I tried to sign up for your newsletter. It keeps telling me that I opted out. When I went to the site to check it doesn’t say that I opted out. I do want to get your newsletter.

  100. I am subscribed to your newsletter. I would love to be able to read The Painter’s Daughter. It sounds like a good book.

  103. So excited to have a chance to win this amazing prize. I have signed up for your newsletter. The best part of this giveaway is learning about new authors to read and I am going to the Kindle store now to hunt for your books. I keep pulling the Lily of the Valley up from my flower bed. Guess I will try letting it grow.

  105. This is a great giveaway. I love the British blooms angle. I have tried to sign up for the newsletter, but had a little trouble. I will try again later.

  107. Just signed up! That was a lovely little snippet; would love to read more! Thank you for sharing it. 🙂

  108. My mom introduced me to your books a few years ago, and I have read every single one. I love all of them, but my favorite was The Painter’s Daughter. I love how sweet and slow the romances are, and I love all of the historical and cultural details you add.

  109. The Painters Daughter was an excellent read! Julia your books are awesome! Thank you I’m already a subscriber!

  111. I signed up and would love to win this book!! ❤️😊 -Kassidy Keeley

  112. Just wanted to stop by and say how much I love your novels! 2 dear friends first told me of your novels (Specifically The Tutor’s Daughter) about 3 years ago, and I read that one first, followed by Apothecary’s Daughter, then the rest of your earlier works, and since Dancing Master, always had a running pre-order of your latest novel. I love your work! So excited about your next one; just…December seems too far away still.

  114. Have enjoyed all of your books that I have read! Signed up for your email list! Thanks for the great giveaway!

  115. already on email list 🙂 I enjoy growing herbs and flowers with a bit of vegetables, together in one small bed.

  116. I love that you picked daffodils for your main character to paint in The Painter’s Daughter! They’re my favorite flower. I’ve loved them for years! They cheer me up so much in the spring, and they’re so uniquely shaped!

  117. Thank you so much for this lovely tour and giveaway. 🙂

    I subscribe to your newsletter.

  119. Just signed up for your newsletter. 🙂 I haven’t yet gotten to read your newest book, but ‘The Painter’s Daughter’ is on my summer reading list. 😉

  120. Signed up for the newsletter. I’m really looking forward to reading Painter’s Daughter. Love your books.

  121. I enjoy your books and subscribed. Thank you for the opportunity to win.

  123. I love your books so much!! I loved The Painters Daughter! One of my favorite books is The Tutors Daughter. Can’t wait for your next book!!

  124. E-mail subscriber. Also, I love your books and have read all of them. I remember when I first read one, I had to track down all the others and read them as soon as possible! I feel like I need to find some lily of the valley now to smell! 😉 I can’t wait for your newest novel this December when it is released.

  125. I have never read one of your books. The Painter’s Daughter sounds like a good book to add to my personal library.

  127. I never did like reading till growing up…but finally in my 20s I took a chance on Beverly Lewis, and fell in love with reading….I even got to meet her, and then it was a challenge finding another author to also fall in love with, and that’s when I discovered Julie klassen…and now I’m addicted to her!! I sure am glad I’ve discovered the love if reading!!! and am now anxious to find new authors to fall in love with

  133. Ok, I don’t know if I commented on your blog! Delete this comment if I already did it. I subscribed. I love historical fiction!

  136. Wow, this book sounds a,axing and your a new to me author! I am adding you and your books to my goodreads thank you so much for this chance!

  137. I’ve just subscribed to your newsletter. So excited about this giveaway! I’ve enjoyed your books for a long while! Thanks!

  138. I get your emails already, apparently I was not following on WordPress though. I am now. I love your books. This is an awesome giveaway!
    I used to have flowers planted all around the house, I can’t grow anything indoors, I even had baskets hanging from shepherds hooks in various places. I loved it. Now, health and mobility issues keep me from doing that, I do still have a few Stella Dora Daylillies, they require no effort on my part. I also have many of God’s favorite flower, as I like to call them, Dandelions. I don’t use chemicals on my lawn, they and clover have pretty much taken over with a bit of grass in between. I have not painting or drawing skills but I do enjoy taking photos of flowers, I don’t do it as much as before but I still do whenever the opportunity presents itself. I even sold a few prints once.

  140. I just subscribed! In the Garden with Jane Austen, sounds like a book I’ll have to read, in addition to The Painter’s Daughter!

  141. I have subscribed! Love all your books I’ve read so far! I think the only one I haven’t read yet is Lady Maybe. Thanks for sharing your gift with us all!

  144. Julie
    My favorite is Lilly of The Valley as well. The smell is so lovely we had it right by the front door when I was growing up. It would be a Wonderful scent to keep in my memory. If I ever find where I am to settle down I will make sure Lilly of The Valley will be planted. Look forward to reading your book.

  145. I signed up! And since I’m a painter and love flowers, I think this book sounds charming.

  146. Oh, I loved this book! 😀 If I win, I am giving the book to the family library so mom and my sister can enjoy it as well! Thanks for the giveaway, I am subscribed to your list. 🙂

  147. This was such an amazing book, I truly loved it! I’m signed up for your newsletter.

  148. I subscribed! This book sounds amazing and I can’t wait to read it! Tabitha

  151. I subscribed! Thank you so much for doing this contest. It really is exciting! -Rosie Ricci

  152. So I guess by commenting on how I would LOVE to have these books to eat with the mini cakes wouldn’t be enough to pick me. The randomizer must decide that. 🙂 That said… I need to put your latest book on my to-read list.

  153. I have signed up for your newsletter and thank you for the giveaway

  156. I receive your email posts. I absolutely loved The Painter’s Daughter and loved this scene! Thanks for the giveaway!

  160. I have signed up for the newsletter and look forward to reading your books.
    Thank you

  162. I just subscribed to your blog, and I’m excited about finding a new author, and a new book to read.

  163. Just for reading the beautiful excerpt, I know I will love this book. A physically and emotionally scarred man, who will be healed by love, I’m sure. Wonderful. And, being already married, I shan’t have to tolerate…err…how to put it delicately…them anticipating the wedding night, which always disappoints an old fashioned fuddy duddy such as I, haha. 😉

  164. Oops… I’m too late. Typical of me, haha. Well, good luck to everyone else!

  166. I already subscribe to your newsletter! I love to read & would enjoy a chance to win British Blooms and Books Giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity.

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