Saturday 1 June 2013

Author Event Recap & Giveaway: Leila Howland author of Nantucket Blue

Hello readers!  I was lucky enough to meet Leila Howland author of Nantucket Blue at the Barnes & Noble in Huntington Beach, California this past Thursday! I was so excited to meet her after reading and adoring her YA debut (my review).  I’m known for my love of contemporary romances, and Nantucket Blue ticked all the boxes for me.  Plus, with the weather heating up this is a perfect read to get you in the mood for summer: sun, sand, and a dreamy romance! What more could you ask for in a summer read?  Arlene from Winterhaven Books, my book-partner-in-crime met me there, and we had a lovely time getting the answers to our most pressing questions.

Leila Howland
After Leila mesmerized us by reading a swoony excerpt, a favorite of mine I might add, we found out that Nantucket Blue was inspired by her own time spent on Nantucket Island, working as a chamber maid just like Cricket did in the book!  Growing up on the east coast, Leila said she wanted a story to capture how the change in weather brought on a whole different way of living, and how difference in class also factored in.  Anyone who has visited the so-called “summer cottages” can attest to the major differences that must be felt by the regular town folk and the privileged summer residents. 

Both Arlene and I drooled over the cover of Nantucket Blue when we first spied it at the ALA in Seattle this past January, so we asked Leila how much input she had in choosing it. She said there was a choice of one with hearts all over it or something very similar to what we have now.  She pushed for what we have now.  Good choice, Leila, because this is what originally drew us to the book, and I think it fits the story perfectly!

Leila signing & my ARC copy with post-it notes!
I also found out that Cricket and Jules story will continue in a sequel titled Nantucket Red. The title Nantucket Blue has special meaning to the story so we were wondering if the color red would factor into the next story and Leila said it does factor into the story, although she wouldn’t elaborate.  Cheeky!! I can only speculate that maybe the “red” in the title signifies passion or perhaps rage?  I guess we’ll see!

When it came time to sign our books, Leila was so very sweet and generous!! When she asked me how I wanted my hardcopy personalized I said I wanted no personalization because I’d be giving it away on the blog, but I had my ARC that I wanted signed to me.  Leila insisted that I have my very own hardcopy and she gave me one and signed it to me!  Thank you, Leila!

I thought I'd include a couple of pictures of Nantucket for a visual.  Now I totally want to visit this place!  So gorgeous!!


Nantucket Photos
This photo of Nantucket is courtesy of TripAdvisor


Nantucket Photos
This photo of Nantucket is courtesy of TripAdvisor 


Nantucket Photos
This photo of Nantucket is courtesy of TripAdvisor





I enjoyed this story so much I wanted to share it.  I have one SIGNED hardcopy to giveaway to one lucky reader.  The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL so just fill in the rafflecopter for a chance to win.  Good luck and thanks for stopping by!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

40 comments:

Pooja. S said...

Hey Rachel! Loved the pictures :D Nantucket visuals- wow! Thanks a ton for the international giveaway :) Sounds like a great book!

Lisa said...

Where would you most like to spend your summer while falling in love?

I immediately thought of Greece, ala Lena in that movie Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants? That's the dream.

Maja (The Nocturnal Library) said...

Ugh, a cover with hearts all over doesn't sound good. And I had no idea about the sequel. I usually don't like romances with a sequel, but sometimes they work. I'll probably just wait to read them back to back.
I'm glad you ladies had fun. I'm also a bit jealous, but I'll survive. :)

Tanja - Tanychy said...

WOW! I love this place. I though it was imaginative place but it's real. Get me there please. I want to read this book as I've heard many amazing things about it. Thanks for the giveaway!
To answer your question Nantucket sounds like a perfect place for that :D

Kiku said...

I'd like to spend my summer in Salzburg, Austria. Or maybe rather in this village that stays in the way when you go from Vienna to Salzburg. It's name had Mozart in it, but I really can't remember the rest :/ It was simply beautiful; mountains on the other side of a perfect blue lake, small houses on hillside with the transparent blue lake in their back yard... ah, I'd give almost anything to go back there :D And to find a true love, that would be beyond perfect (:

nurmawati djuhawan said...

maybe in paris :)
congrat for the book and thx u for the giveaway :)

Christina Fiorelli said...

Christina K. in the rafflecopter

Definitely in North Carolina! The beaches and towns are perfect:)

Thank you:)

StacyRenee said...

Paris would be amazing. I really love the idea of falling in love on a beach though. Greece or Italy would be amazing. :)
Thank you for the giveaway! :)

Kristia said...

Rome! Although I live in a romantic island so it's amazing here as well! Thank you for the international giveaway :)

erin said...

Congrats to Lelia on the new release! Nantucket sounds awesome ;) Or Hawaii!

Carl Scott said...

Already did, Summer of '84 in Greece.

Suzanne (Parabooklover) said...

I love the pics Rachel, it looks like a lovely place. Thanks for the giveaway :)

Anonymous said...

This will sound crazy, but Norway would be my ideal summer getaway :) I had the most fantastic summer there a couple of years ago and would love to do it again...I even went white water rafting, which was totally unplanned. Come those dark, chilly winters I'll be gone! brrr...

Jen (Books and Other Happy Ever Afters) said...

You're so lucky you got to meet Leila Howland! I think Nantucket Blue was quite a great summer read. That's so cool that she is so similar to her own character, Cricket. OOH, A SEQUEL? I'm so excited to see THIS cover. She seems like such a sweet person. Love this post, thanks for sharing, Rachel!

Chenise Jones said...

I've been dying to go to Australia so falling in love there would definitely be a bonus!

MistyRios said...

I would love to spend it back in Jamaica

Rachel said...

This sounds gorgeous, Kristina, and the perfect place to fall in love! :)

Rachel said...

It doesn't sound crazy! I love finding out about amazing and not widely known about getaway spots! :)

Keertana said...

Nantucket is gorgeous, isn't it? Leila seems so sweet, so I hope I get a chance to read her book this summer. I'm so glad you had a great time meeting her, Rachel! :)

Christine said...

Nantucket would be an amazing place. Or Huntington Beach/Newport area, since it's been my second home all my life :)
If I'm going really crazy, I'd say Italy or Greece. Something about the Mediterranean is so romantic to me!

SweetMarie83 said...

How exciting that you got to meet her! I LOVED Nantucket Blue - it was the perfect book to kick off summer. And how incredible that she gave you a hardcover - so generous!
I'd choose...Ireland or Scotland or England or France...they're places I've always dreamed of going and falling in love.
Thanks for the giveaway! :-)

~Marie @ Ramblings of a Daydreamer

Unknown said...

I've always thought Europe would be perfect for a summer fling. It just enhances the whole aspect of being abroad in some of the most romantic cities.

Sassy Sarah Reads said...

Anywhere with a beach, but Nantucket does look beautiful or maybe Scotland because I have a thing for castles.

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

oooh, how about paris?? thank you for the contest, I have been hearing such great things about this book!

Roxy said...

That is a hard question, because the best place to spend the summer (in my opinion) is Dawson City in the Yukon, but I can't imagine falling in love there because all the guys are a bit over-the-top-scruffy! Like I'm talking living in a tent or a cave with no running water scruffy. Thanks for a great giveaway, so glad it's international! Hugs, Roxy.

Unknown said...

What an amazing event! I really need to get Nantucket Blue. I think I would have loved to fall in love in a beach town, but I will happily settle for having gotten engaged at a beach town. ;-)
Thank you for sharing the pictures and details, Rachel!

Unknown said...

Where would you most like to spend your summer while falling in love?

I would say Paris but anywhere in Europe is fine too. I want go on a European tour and maybe I'll find a lovable guy along the way.

Unknown said...

Somewhere warm and tropical I think! Would love to win this! Thanks!

Rachel said...

Paris is a wonderful choice, Sheela! *sigh* The place is beautiful and romantic! :)

Mary Preston said...

Anywhere along the coast. The ocean beckons.

Jess said...

This sounds like such a gorgeous summer read, thank you so much for the chance to win a copy! Those pictures of Nantucket are actually really making me want to go there!

Sam (Realm of Fiction) said...

I'm glad Leila pushed for the current cover rather than one with hearts all over it (I don't like the sound of that at all!). It's great that you got to meet her. :)

sshah605 said...

As soon as I saw this question I thought of Italy and Rome. It seems like the place to be if you're in love.

CD said...

I love the current cover, it just screams summer, fun and young love in it. For the place, Paris would be the most cliche but really adorable choice but spending it somewhere away from the city would also be cool.

You're so lucky that you meet authors like Leila. Thanks for the giveaway! x

Unknown said...

Oh this DOES sound like the perfect summer read! While I'm not the usual fan of 'summer reads' I find myself accumulating a list so I have some to choose from when I do get in the mood in the next few months. :) This one is definitely going on it. Thanks for sharing!!

Unknown said...

I would love to either go to Paris or to Hawaii for the summer while falling in love. I really want to read this book! Thank you for the amazing giveaway!

Unknown said...

Paris or Rome <3

Unknown said...

Anywhere on the beach, I love the ocean

Anonymous said...

Paris! Or Bora Bora!

Bea Tejano said...

I'm a huge fan of Before Sunset, so I would have to say Paris <3

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