Friday brings us to Downton Abbey a fictional Yorkshire country estate of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the post-Edwardian era. History plays a big part in the story and shows the effect on their lives and on the British social hierarchy. We’ve lived through the sinking of the Titanic in the first series, the outbreak of World War I, and the Interwar period and the formation of the Irish Free State in the third series.  Feel free to socialize with those upstairs and downstairs.

Bronwen Evans offered a carriage for rides around the estate.  Courtney Sheets just put out English fairy cakes and honey mead for refreshments. Edie Ramer has Treacle Tarts and Crepes Francaise, served by handsome Downtown Abbey footman, Jimmy Kent.  Elizabeth Essex is wearing her best tea hat, and is bringing her well-bred, gracious southern demeanor, so she can teach everyone to smile and say, “Well, bless your heart,” to the Dowager Duchess when she gets snippy.  Mary Hughes has an old oil lamp that could do with a bit of a polish, but when the Downton Abbey downstairs maid lights it, its flame burns unnaturally bright…

 

Shana Galen will bring the Apple Charlotte. Poor Mrs. Patmore deserves a break. and even though her eyes are better now, she might be reluctant to try that recipe again.  Victoria Hinshaw came with her  “fine landau drawn by four dapple grays carrying fine champagne, smuggled into Britain ”

Natasha Blackthorne went all out with a huge white cake with vanilla cream frosting, decorated with sugared grapes, strawberries and Rainier cherries. Enough Godiva chocolates to fill a sideboard. Dozens of red, pink or yellow roses with crystal vases (Everyone will have a vase in their bedchamber, along with an assortment of bath salts and oils). White beeswax pillar candles with brass holders. A string quartet for dancing until dawn.

Lisa Mondello is bringing “An assortment of my favorite flavored coffees and 5 sexy Texas cowboys to help serve! Or cuddle. The choice is yours!”  But she’s not the only one thinking cowboy.  Barbara McMahon came with guitar playing cowboys.  Blythe Gifford’s sending the Brunson Clan to entertain by singing some wonderful Scottish Border Ballads.

Cherise DeLand came with a TDH Comanche chieftain from south Texas, wearing a supple buckskin loin cloth (nothing else) and serving everyone great Texas Riesling and Lone Star beer with chips and queso!

Colleen Quinn set out beautiful roses.  Anne Tenino is also thinking decorations with crochet penises, so a few of those as table centerpieces. Lucy Felthouse just hung balloons, streamers and brought a delicious Victoria sponge cake.

Cameo says, “The Crawley family has a lot of money, but notably no pet dragons. They can borrow mine for today. I’m also bringing some old-fashioned mead and some pizzas (the dragons love pizza!).”  Heather Long is bringing a Uniformed officer.  Not sure why.  Jennifer Bernard came with a few of the hunky Bachelor Firemen just in case a fire breaks out. They’re guaranteed to heat the place up with or without a fire.  Christine Cayne is also coming with some really hot firefighters!

Carlene Love Flores brought Shirley Temples with extra cherries and a few fine Brits from 80′s bands to serve them up!  Debra Salonen is passing out lemon drops courtesy of her awesome bartender daughter.  Jaci Burton is pusher her Chocolate martinis.  Jane Godman came bearing my favorite Cucumber sandwiches (with the crusts cut off, of course) and dainty French macaroons.  Jeanne Lin says, “A plate of petit fours for tea. Because it doesn’t count as having cake if they’re small.”

Koko Brown says, “I’m bringing the sexy geek well versed in English history and proper etiquette. He also has a naughty side, which can only be revealed one layer at a time.”

Lori Perkins told me, “The Riverdale Avenue Crew (Lori, Don and our authors) are bringing a couple of trays of tea sandwiches carried by some extra footmen.”  Mary Ann Rivers brought a gorgeous, strong-calved, twinkle-eyed pedicab driver to take everyone on tours of the grounds while delivering flirty banter.  Nancy Naigle asked me, “I’m bringing miniature wedding cakes from Mac’s Bakery in Adams Grove. Pass these around, won’t you?”

Sabrina Jeffries brought a spread of delectable French cuisine for the party fare. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in some delightful profiteroles, roast pigeon, flaky baguettes and the finest Bordeaux cognac. To finish the meal, un café to enjoy festivities late into the evening . . .  Sabrina Sol said, “To celebrate my erotic Regency series, I would love to bring a delightful spread of English Tea delicacies, including finger sandwiches, lemon curd cakes and clotted cream. And of course, Brandy for the gentlemen. Also, glittering bling for all.”  Our third Sabrina, Sabrina York has a couple of bottles of Cazadores Tequila, limes and salt shakers. Then everyone will have to take a shot every time someone says “Lady” or “Lord.”

Sarah Richmond is passing around amuse bouche, while Susan Jaymes has Butter Biscuits.   Tracey Devlyn says, “It’s time to really get this party in full swing–we’ve brought the wine! Upon arriving, we will have the servants decant several delicate white wines, a deep crimson bordeaux for the heart of the meal, and a delicious port to sip with dessert. Make sure the glasses are polished!”  Tracey Lyons brought a case of Zinfandel wine.  To finish things off Zelda Benjamin brought Gourmet hot chocolate.

Bottom Line:  Wondering how I can stay here at Downton Abbey and attend the SoCal Conference this weekend.

Here’s the rules.  Leave any comment and get an entry to win one of the fabulous prizes.  You can comment more than once for more chances.  Winners will be picked daily and posted on the blog March 18th.  Winners will have one week to claim their prize.

Many thanks to the following for their generous prizes:

Barbara McMahon – Kindle PaperWhite

Lisa Mondello - Kindle Fire

Anne Tenino – Three-book Bundle: “Too Stupid to Live” (Romancelandia #1); “Frat Boy & Toppy” (Theta Alpha Gamma #1); “Love, Hypothetically” (Theta Alpha Gamma #2)

Blythe Gifford – Reader’s choice of The Brunson Clan trilogy: RETURN OF THE BORDER WARRIOR, CAPTIVE OF THE BORDER LORD, or TAKEN BY THE BORDER REBEL

Brenna Zinn – A signed copy of The Naughty Sleepover.

Bronwen Evans - An eBook copy of my Regency romance Invitation to Scandal An eBook copy of my Regency romance To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield

Cameo – $10.00 Amazon Gift Certificate

Carlene Love Flores – 2 Commenters will win ebook copies of my contemporary romance, Sidewalk Flower
Casey Clifford, Mary Hughes, Leigh Morgan, Edie Ramer & Elle J Rossi: – a $50 gift card for either Amazon, Barnes&Noble or Kobo

Cherise DeLand – Cerise DeLand’s Famous Wine Bag! From Napa, MUMM’s vineyard nifty wine bag for your picnic, along with all sorts of items to go with the wine, corkscrew, recipe cards, coasters, and ROPE ME IN, a quatre romance.

Colleen Quinn/Katie Rose – Signed copy of A CASE FOR ROMANCE by Katie Rose!

Courtney Sheets – copy of my book THE HOODED MAN

Dawn Chartier - New Orleans Contemp./Erotic basket. (N.O. based Books & Beignets.)

Debra Salonen - 2 – $15 gift certificates at Amazon (2 individual winners) along with 2 ecopies of Bang! You’re Dead, opening title in the Screw Senility series.

Donna Dalton – an electronic copy of my historical romance, THE REBEL WIFE

Edie Ramer - An ebook of Miracle Pie (a Miracle Interrupted novel), a contemporary romance, and Cattitude, a paranormal romance.

Elizabeth Essex – Three autographed copies of A BREATH OF SCANDAL

Heather Long – Choice of eBook from my backlist

Helena Harker – Taboo Kisses (short story)

Jaci Burton – Autographed copies of Jaci Burton’s Play by Play sports romance series. The Perfect Play, Changing The Game, Taking A Shot & Playing To Win.

Jami Davenport - Four copies of The Gin Lovers (paperback)

Jamie Brenner – 2 PDF copies of my historical romance ‘The Rebel’s Promise’ recently released by Front Porch Romance.

Jane Ashford – A pair of semiprecious pierced earrings suitable for a Downton Abbey dinner party.

Jane Godman – 2 PDF copies of my historical romance ‘The Rebel’s Promise’ recently released by Front Porch Romance.

Jeannie Lin – A copy of My Fair Concubine + a Chinese hairpin

Jennifer Bernard – Signed copies of all three Bachelor Firemen of San Gabriel books.

Jill Elaine Hughes – I can give away free e-copies of my books TEMPLAND (writing at “Jill Elaine Hughes”) and TENDER IS THE KNIGHT (writing as “Jamaica Layne”)

Julie James - A copy of ABOUT THAT NIGHT

Juliet Rosetti – A $20.00 Barnes&Noble e-book card

Kim Carmichael - A supersized swag pack including a signed paperback of closure, a necklace, bookmarks, trading cards, a magnet, a warming tart, skin care, and a vintage harlequin novel all in a Kim Carmichael tote bag.

Koko Brown - Two signed printed copies of CHARMING FREAKS

Kristine Cayne – One Six-Alarm Sexy book-thong Two ecopies of Under His Command (erotic romance)

Lindsay Downs – Either a Kindle or Nook copy of Love and War.

Lori Perkins – Master by Master R The Secret Life of E.L. James by Marc Shapiro and Flashes by Michelle Churchill

Lucy Felthouse – $10 Ellora’s Cave Gift Card

Lynne Silver – One fun baseball hat with the gorgeous & sexy “Coded for Love” logo PLUS one free ebook download of any one book in the Coded for Love series. Winner’s choice.

Marilyn Baron and Sharon Goldman – an e-copy of their mainstream fiction novel, The Edger, and a signed Keeper Kase™ Card for E-Fans.

Mary Ann Rivers - A free pre-order of my July 8th, 2013 debut from Random House, Loveswept THE STORY GUY.

Mary Hughes – Black Diamond Jinn (A Hot SF/Fantasy Novella) ebook

Melissa Cutler - Three print copies of my small town contemporary romance THE TROUBLE WITH COWBOYS

Nancy Naigle – Shining Sol Candle Company specialty candle

Natasha  Blackthorne – One e-copy each of my Erotic Regency Romances: A Measured Risk and Her Mystery Duke.

Pam Jenoff - The Ambassador’s Daughter

Rogenna Brewer – The Frogman, Prince.

Sabrina Jeffries – four ARC’S of her upcoming book What the Duke Desires

Sabrina Sol - $25 gift card to retail seller of spirits of choice (BevMo, Vons, Walgreens) and e-book copy of my novella REUNITED.

Sabrina York - A sparkling Tiara and an e-copy of my erotic Regency, Folly.

Sarah Richmond – kindle edition of ‘A Most Ineligible Suitor’. This is a sweet historical romance.

Shana Galen – Two signed copies of IF YOU GIVE A RAKE A RUBY paired with two $25 gift cards to Amazon

Sorcha Mowbray – A copy of Book 1 of The Market Series, Love Revealed and Taking Her Chance (One Night With A Cowboy) – winners choice of format

Susan Jaymes – E-book of my book Guilty Hearts and a $10 gift card from Amazon

The Team at Riptide Publishing – We will give three winners all four of the titles in our Warriors of Rome collection (ebook). Collection includes the following: The Left Hand of Calvus by L.A. Witt  He Is Worthy by Lisa Henry  The City War by Sam Starbuck  Mark of the Gladiator by Heidi Belleau and Violetta Vane

Tracey Devlyn - Nexus Gift Trunk: Autographed copies of Tracey Devlyn’s romantic spy thrillers–A Lady’s Revenge and Checkmate, My Lord–and other fun swag!

Tracey Lyons w/a Tracey Sorel – How to host your own wine tasting kit.

Vanessa Deveaux - e-book copy of The Secret Fantasy Society(Book One in the Big Bad Bosses Trilogy)

Victoria Hinshaw - Three kindle or nook downloads of The Fontainbleau Fan, a traditional regency

Zelda Benjamin - 1 hardcover copy of each of my books in Love by Chocolate series- Chocolate Secrets, Chocolate Magic, and Chocolate Muse.