I have been so lucky lately to be reading really good books that weave the past and present together and The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio is yet another one. I picked up the audio version of the book narrated by Justine Eyre and while I’ve never listened to anything by her before I certainly wouldn’t hesitate to again. She has a great voice that can take on different tones and emotions and I think a lot of my enjoyment of the story came from her telling it. The Last Camellia is a beautifully written and told story that captured my heart.
Addison, a garden designer, is dealing with a past that is threatening to overwhelm her so she suggests to her husband Rex that they take a trip to his family’s manor house in England and stay for a while until she can figure out what to do. Upon arriving at the manor Addison is completely taken with the gardens and wants nothing more than to restore them to their former glory. As she’s wandering around the manor she stumbles upon an old gardener’s handbook from the 1940’s that appears to be written in some kind of code. Her interest is piqued and she sets out to decipher it but how long will it be before her past catches up to her?
Going back in the past to the 1940’s Flora has come from the United States to the same manor house that Addison is living in now. While everyone believes she is there as a nanny, she really isn’t. She’s there to find the Middlebury Pink camellia plant that has been rumoured to grow there. Flora needs to find this plant and get it to the people who want it in order to save her own family back home but what she finds is so much more – a mystery that she feels compelled to solve.
Spanning two time periods and two women who are searching for the truth The Last Camellia is a haunting novel of love and romance with a touch of mystery. Well worth adding to your summer reading list!
The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio is touring with TLC Book Tours so be sure to check out the other tour stops. You can connect with Sarah on her website, Facebook and Twitter. You can pick up your own copy of this wonderful book on Amazon, Amazon Canada, and as a note the audio edition at Audible is at a great price!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS (US/Canada)
I have 5 copies of The Last Camellia to share with my readers! To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment telling me what your favorite flower is. Mine are lilies.
- Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winners on August 10/13. Good luck!
Source: Review copy was provided by TLC Book Tours and the Publisher however the audio edition was purchased by me. No compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
Interesting, a bit of romance a bit of mystery
My favorite flower is the daffodil. It signifies spring and bright and sunny days.
Blackberry Winter was a well put together story, I’m sure this one will be every bit as intriguing.
Ann
cozyintexas@yahoo.com
Oh, I have been longing to read this new one by Sarah Jio~ love the story-line and she is such a gifted storyteller! Thank you for the chance to win a copy of The Last Camellia~ I love all flowers but I would have to say my favourite is Roses~ Cheers~ Elizabeth MacGregor
Lily of the Valley is my favorite, I have it even in cologne.
This book sounds wonderful.
I love gardenias. Love the smell of this pretty flower.
I love beautiful Roses, especially yellow ones, but I also have loved Gardenia’s for many years for their wonderful smell, having had one by my door in the 50’s right in front of my living room window. We didn’t have air conditioners then, so the windows were always open. My house always smelled so good. Sure hoping to be a winner. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Wonderful giveaway. Pansies are my favorite in the summer.
This is a beautiful cover! I don’t have a favorite flower but I like roses and daffodils!
Geraniums are always so beautiful. Many thanks for this great giveaway.
A flower that is special for me are roses. Thanks for this lovely feature.
Favorite flower is orchids. Beautiful and challenging. (I don’t have a green thumb so keeping orchids alive is a real challenge!)
Definitely roses!
my favourite flower is the tulip 🙂
I love roses, they are lovely but they are also hardy and last for many years. I also love pansies, they are delicate and come in so many pretty colors. I have roses in my garden and pansies on my patio.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I love pansies. There are so many beautiful colors and they are very sturdy so they will survive late into the fall. Thanks for the giveaway. This book looks intriguing.
This is truly a different novel as the plot is so unique. I’m really looking forward to reading it.
I live in southwest Florida and I guess my favorite flower would be a toss-up between hibiscus and bougainvillea. Both are just lovely.
Thanks for the giveaway. I will tweet and share on Facebook.
Connie Fischer
conniecape@aol.com
I love cala lillies. THanks for the giveaway.
My favorite cut flower is iris, it is so striking in a vase.
I would love to win Sarah Jio’s latest novel. I have the last three. She was kind enough to send a book mark. An autograhed copy would be thrilling.
I tweeted.
The Last Camellia by Sarah Jio & Giveaway (5 copies-US/Canada)
Roses in,my yard&all over my house.email follower lomazowr@gmail.com.Twitter@rhondareads Will tweet
I would love to read and review your beautiful book! My favorite flowers are clematis, specially the blue ones! Thank you for this nice giveaway!
I don’t have a favorite flower. I like almost all flowers. I have read and enjoyed all of Sarah Jio’s books. I am surprised I have not read this one yet.
My favorite flower has always been the sweet pea. They are beautiful and have a heavenly fragrance.
My favourite flowers are carnations.
Roses are my favorite. Not the store-bought kind, but the home-grown fragrant ones.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/pmernick1/status/360475867857686528
My favorite flowers are Lilacs. When mine bloom, I know that spring has finally arrived.
I love red roses that smell like roses; given the choice of any rose vs another rose, I still prefer those with the scent of roses.
I love daisies! They are so simple and just perfect for playing, “he loves me, he loves me not.”
Mine are pink roses with pink geraiums a close second. I’m so allergic to many flowers and other things that I don’t play with them like I used to.
My favorite is the Princess Di rose!
I really love pink gerbera daisies; they are so happy!
Sarah Jio is a great writer, I have loved her books in the past. Thanks for the giveaway!
lafra86 at gmail dot com
I love this author! Justine Eyre is a great narrator. I look foward to this book. My favorite flower is hydrangea. Thanks for the giveaway.
nisethusfarATyahooDOTcom
Sarah, I shared this on my Facebook page for a second entry. Thanks ! MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
I have read so many good things about Jio’s books, but have yet to read one!! Would love to win this one. I also like stories that alternate between past and present.
laurafabiani at videotron dot ca
I love LOVE love Lilacs Flowers. When in bloom this one is all over my house.
I enjoy sunflowers. They always make me smile!
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Blue hydrangea. Thanks for the giveaway. nanze55(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite flower is a rose. =]
I tweeted this and shared on facebook.
https://twitter.com/xxpaperhearts/status/360842314760990721
https://www.facebook.com/jessica.meddick/posts/10200929101763492
Thank you!
I have had this one on my wish list!
Tweeted: https://mobile.twitter.com/lag32583/status/360865860417617921
This sounds great, and that cover is fantastic.
“haunting novel of love and romance with a touch of mystery” – This sounds like a fantastic combination!
Thanks for being on the tour.
My favorite flower is the peony in my yard which came from my grandma.
Also tweeted – https://twitter.com/GinaD12/status/361136206559453184
Orchids!
wow – my mom was 3rd generation flowershop/greenhouse owner and I don’t have a green thumb at all, but I LOVE flowers. My favorite depends on the time of year, however, purple Iris are all time favorite.
Thanks for a great giveaway.
Jill at Seasidebooknook at yahoo dot com
My favorite flowers are carnations, I like them in different colors. This book sounds like a great read. I just love the cover. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Shared on Facebook as Anita Yancey.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I love it when a narrator is awesome! Making note of this one for future reference. So glad you liked Sarah’s book!!
I love roses. They are a flower that I have always loved and plant in my garden.
This sounds like a wonderful book.
I have tweeted and shared this on facebook.
My favorite is the hibiscus, though I wish the flower would last just a little longer. Saw my first on a trip to Mexico and loved it ever since.
I love all flowers but, the iris is one of my favorites.
https://twitter.com/pj436/status/362616399446818817
That’s a hard question…there are so many flowers that I love. I think roses are my absolute favourite.
I tweeted:
https://twitter.com/jentamar/status/362618810567639041
My favorite flower is the sunflower
blogged this one here
http://mytime2read.blogspot.com/2013/08/giveaway-friday-aug-2.html
My favorite flower would be carnations
Peonies