A Gentleman Never Tells Contest
For our first Thursday give-away, we have Juliana Gray’s latest release, A Gentleman Never Tells (coming November 6 to a bookstore near you!).
Here’s the official blurb:
Six years ago, Elizabeth Harewood and Lord Roland Penhallow were London’s golden couple, young and beautiful and wildly in love. Forced apart by her scheming relatives and his clandestine career, Lilibet and Roland buried their passion beneath years of duty and self-denial, until a chance holiday encounter changes everything they ever knew about themselves…and each other.
But Miss Elizabeth Harewood is now the Countess of Somerton, estranged wife of one of England’s most brutal and depraved aristocrats, and she can’t afford the slightest hint of scandal to her name. When Roland turns up mysteriously at the castle where she’s hidden herself away, she struggles to act as a lady should, but the gallant lover of her youth has grown into an irresistibly dashing and dangerous man, and temptation is only a single kiss away….
This is the second in a trilogy set in Tuscany in the late nineteenth century, based on the plot of Love’s Labor’s Lost. Three English women and three English lords have accidentally double-booked the same Tuscan villa. It’s a little bit Shakespeare and a lot Enchanted April
. Since all three books take place at the same time, it doesn’t matter if you read them out of order. All three stories are happening concurrently.
(Although I strongly recommend the first in the series, A Lady Never Lies, anyway, just because.)
So, for a copy of A Gentleman Never Tells, here’s your question:
If you could go away for a month, with your two closest friends, where would it be?
This is a dream vacation, so normal rules don’t apply. I’m thinking possibly mountain-top castle in Austria for me. Where would you go?
One person who comments will be chosen at random to receive an early copy of A Gentleman Never Tells. The winner will be announced on Saturday.
A castle in Tuscany with a chef and LOTS OF WINE! 🙂 My head hurts just thinking of all the amazing red wine that would be consumed!
I’d love to be in one of those huts right on the water in Fiji. I find the sound of ocean waves so relaxing. Perfect for reading!
A country house/estate in England near a quaint village (a la Dibley). Close enough to London that we can travel by train if we want to, but far enough away that we’re definitely in the country.
Since my two best friends and I are all so different, this would be a tough one (gotta make everyone happy). I’m going to say Lake Como – it’s got historic value, a fabulous beach and shopping. That would satisfy all of us.
I would have a UK adventure with my mom(who is responsible for my being an Anglophile) and my younger sister. Start in London, go up north to the Lake District, continue north into Scotland, and end up in Wales, seeing everything to be seen along the way.
European Adventure! Travel around, visit fun places, lots of shopping! And all of the food would be calorie free right?
Oooh…Hawaii. I really want to see all the islands.
Bora Bora, a hut on the water with a see through floor and lot’s of peach bellini’s and fruity drinks with umbrellas…
A cruise around the Mediterranean. I’ve never been to Europe and would love to see the coast of Spain and Italy. We could excursion together or apart but always come together for dinner to share our adventures.
A long mediterranean cruise encompassing Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey.
Anything tropical is always the way to go! So definitely a private island in Maui or Tahiti. Where clothing is always at a minimum, and the atmosphere is full of relaxation.
a private island somewhere with absolutely no snakes, perfect weather, warm water, a ton of books, good food and a huge pool.
That or a grand house somewhere in England with a huge library…. obviously two sides of me.
I would choose Paris because it is a city I don’t think I could ever get tired of and because it would be such a central location for short trips throughout Europe. Plus, a month in Paris would do my French a lot of good! Oh, and how could I fail to mention the pastries!
Well, if it’s for a month, I’d make a tour of England, Spain, and Italy. Three places I’ve always wanted to see, and I think it’d make some lifelong memories for sure.
Anywhere in Tuscany in a quiet villa- great food and beautiful scenery.
If I had a whole month, I’d love to go to China. There is too much to see there to go for just a week.
Southern France! Never been, but I think it’s safe to say I’d like it there.
I’d love to go on a roadtrip from Maine to California. We could take our time and explore America.
Scotland and Ireland, the isles, and the music, hiking the hills, exploring the history, castles, gardens. ..The food might be better in Italy, but I’ve always wanted to visit the homes of my ancestors…xoxo
Around the world on a private jet! Too many places I want to see to choose, so we’ll stay one place for a few days, then pick our next destination.
I don’t need to enter – already won an ARC of this and it was fantastic! – just wanted to answer the question.
It would have to be Ireland….
A castle or cottage on the banks of Loch Ness. Lots of gorgeous scenery, a somewhat remote locale (to really get away from it all), and a chance of seeing Nessie!
Oddly enough, my two closest friends are also cold-intolerant like me. So it would definitely have to be warm/temperate year round, and some where without the danger of inclement weather. I’m thinking possibly Australia, especially since their summer is just underway. Plus it’s on my list of countries to visit. 🙂
Italy, Greece, and Turkey. We could see a bunch of amazing sites, eat amazing food, experience different cultures, and still have some time by the ocean. A vacation for all of the senses!
Definitely a castle in the Scottish Highlands! Just not in the winter time. 🙂
Scotland, with my daughter. Her name is Gaelic, and I told her *someday* we would go so she could get a truckload of things with her name on them, spelled right 🙂
On an African safari, where we would camp out on the African plains, with an extremely good looking guide reminiscent of a young Robert Redford…
I think I’d go for Lake Atitlan, in Guatemala. Gorgeous lake surrounded by volcanoes.
I would have to say give us each a backpack and drop us off somewhere in Europe. I dont think I could stay in one place… 🙂
I’m with Teri. A castle in Tuscany with my 2 sisters. More specifically a castle near Siena, one of my favourite cities.
Italy! Travel all over Italy.
I would go to Ayers Rock (my Dad’s family was from there)in Australia by a yacht with everything being first class.
I would love to visit Giraffe Manor in Kenya! Idyllic and exotic 🙂
Right now I think we all would go for staying at a Tuscan villa.
Roaming around the British Isles. I’ve always wanted to go there!
I’d love to go to Paris for a month! I’d get to use my very rusty high school French while my friends and I relaxed at outdoor cafes, drinking wine and eating pastries. We’d spend our days taking in the scenery, art, and historical monuments, especially the Eiffel Tower lit up at night. And of course we’d go shopping! Since it’s a dream vacation, we’d have limitless credit cards. ^_^
Any castle in Europe!! I’ve always wanted to visit and explore across the sea!!
Cotswolds! We’d spend the afternoons walking around and evening chatting over some nice wine. There are lovely places to stay at there, so we would try a few.
A month-long Loire Valley river cruise, with plenty of stops to appreciate castles, vineyards and handsome white knights riding along side the river bank. In full armour. On a noble steed. Spouting french poetry. The knight, of course, not the horse. Because THAT would be unrealistic.
We’ve talked about this before! We would rent a cottage in Wales and pretend to be artists for a summer. Or maybe Italy would be more traditional for the whole summer-artist thing…
I would love to visit the Louvre and then Rome & Florence.
I was an Art History major and those are my top places to visit for art reasons. However, Hawaii is always a welcome place to vacation. 🙂
I’d drag my victims all over England. I spent a week in London back in 2000 and had a ball. People were there from all over for the Lord Mayor’s parade and for November 11 remembrance. It was fun mingling with them in the rain, watching the parade, hearing bawdy jokes about some of the parade floats.
Dubrovnik, Croatia! I’ve never been, but it looks so beautiful! I don’t know that much about Croatia, but I think it would be fun to explore a different place and culture. I think my friends would like it too!
A villa in Tuscany.
While I would love to go ANY of the places everyone else has mentioned, I’m going to be different and say that if I had a month and an unlimited budget for a fantasy vacation, I would take a big road trip throughout the US. I would visit every state and see all the cool historic stuff that I’ve never seen and stop at all the funny roadside attractions and stuff. It would be so much fun!
My vacation would include my mom and daughter. We would go to somewhere warn, ocean breezes and lots of sand. I’ve never been anywhere but New York. So that wouldn’t count. Just being with people I love is where I’d want to be.
South Africa. I would love to have time to go on safari and see the beaches.
Well, ideally it would be England in the Edwardian or Regency eras. In a large manor house/castle. But I’d settle for a dingy London flat.
If we’re talking fictional I’d take Narnia in a heartbeat (preferably in a being crowned queen situation).
And being more realistic, most anywhere in England (provided there are rolling hills and ancient buildings).
Ooh, tough choice! Probably Paris and the surrounding areas. Lots of gorgeous scenery, wine, cheese, chocolate and French-speaking men…sounds like a vacation to me! 🙂
England & Wales, for the scenery, the history and the genealogy!! Sounds like heaven to me 🙂
Since I’ve always wanted to visit, I’d say New Zealand with a private guide to show us around the island, lead us on hikes, take us camping….and then drive us back to a spa to relax.
Having just watched an episode on Austria. I would want to go to Austria, during the Christmas holidays. I’ve always wanted to go and it has this very “romantic” look and feel to it. I would also love to understand their culture and history and find out what the TRUE Austria is really like (not just the stereotypical waltzing and posh Austria.
A cruise around the Mediterranean!
A Venetian palazzo, with balconies to enjoy views of the city and canals, and a tiny exquisite garden.
Ooo, Vienna, Austria I think. Lots of art and culture during the day and long, wine-filled dinners at night.
Hawaii. Or thereabouts. Just soak up sun and fruity drinks and man-watch.
Oh now you’ve got me dreaming! Lake Como would be wonderful though!
I would want to go to Switzerland, to try those delicious Swiss chocolates and go skiing! See the view and hopefully find a nice stranger to fall in love with! lol (the last part is a joke)
I’m with Teri and Alex – I love Tuscany, and would love to be in a villa in a remote vineyard with lots of mushrooms and easy access to Florence and Siena, yet lovely warmth and peace and quiet for lazy days reading.
Downtown Abbey, with lengthy travel time to the Bahamas
London!!!!!
i would go to either the English countryside or Scotland. i went to london by myself (one week before the jane austen bath festival) because i wanted to see the places that the regency visited like st. george’s church (to marry), Hyde park and bond street. It is so cool to read the regency romance books now having been to the same places that the characters are visiting. Many of the books that i read also take place in Scotland or the english countryside. i would like to visit there too so i could enjoy the books even more. Lady Helene at helenekaplan@aol.com
Italy, so I could see all the art and eat good food!
I would take my two best friends/travel buddies and spend at least a month traveling Australia and New Zealand.
The pacific northwest. A coastal cabin. Venturing into town for crab legs and local music, maybe some breweries. days spent knitting and reading, sipping tea. Best of all, no deadline! No date when one has to be back!
A whole month? I’d do a Jane Austen inspired ramble around England (Bath! Lyme Regis! Derbyshire! Hampshire! London!) for two weeks, followed by a week in the Scottish Highlands exploring lochs and castles, and a week in Paris (because… Paris!)
Funny lots of us picked the most familiar places to us from your novels just by some chance. smiles….I’d love to go to the U.K. (England, Scotland, Wales) with Ireland. I really don’t like big cities all that well so I’m with the rest I’d like to visit little villages. I’d like to visit Somerset especially since my one part of my family line hails from there. I’ve never gone abroad so really any place would be great. I love castles, country manors as well as little cottages. However I’d like to go when the weather is mostly nice and warm as it rains enough where I live.
Egypt (when/if the situation ever stabilizes). There are so many things to see that a month would hardly be enough time.
Second would be a tour of England/Scotland/Wales. Third would be a tour of Aztec/Mayan ruins.
Hogwarts! I would definitely want to tour Hogsmeade :p
Going to all of the Disney Parks and visiting the surrounding cities.
I’d like to visit the Lofoten Islands above the arctic circle off the coast of Norway. If y’all don’t think this is a spectacular and breathtaking spot just google the ‘Lofoten’ Islands. Isolated, out-of-the-way, sparsely populated and I like it that way. The only place I can remotely compare it to is Alaska where I lived for a year and LOVED it.
A wine tour of Italy
Definitely London! To see the places I love read about!! Amazing!
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for all the wonderful comments, and to Lauren for hosting the contest! I’m now longing to book a villa for me and a few friends to write our hearts out for a month during the New England winter.