Visiting Downton Abbey - Beautiful Highclere Castle

Hi Friends, Carrie Turansky here, sharing some fun memories from our recent trip to England!

My husband Scott and I spent a wonderful week touring country villages and back roads in Oxfordshire, the Cotsowlds, and the Peaks District. We rented a car and my brave husband drove over 400 miles sitting in the driver's seat on the wrong side of the car and driving on the wrong side of the road! But he considered it a challenge and handled it all very well. What a great sport!

Touring Highclere Castle where the TV series Downton Abbey is filmed was the highlight of the trip for me. Walking through the front door and into the double library where so many scenes have been shot was so exciting! I almost expected to see Carson and hear him announce me to Lord and Lady Grantham. We toured all through the ground floor and the next floor up, which is called the first floor there, peeking in the bedrooms and wandering down the hallways. My favorite room was the great hall, which is called the saloon. The high arched celiling with the carvings and large fireplace are so lovely. I felt like I was stepping back in time to the Edwardian Period.

This was a research trip for me. My next book, The Governess of Highland Hall, is set in England during the Edwardian Period. It's the first of a three-book series that will follow the Ramsey family of Oxfordshire from the years 1910 to 1919 including WWI. Like Downton Abbey, the story captures the viewpoint of both the hard-working servants downstairs, and the wealthy, distinguished family upstairs. Of course it includes romance, faith, family struggles, and a delightful dash of history.

Until next fall when the Governess of Highland Hall releases, I hope you will be looking for my latest Love Inspired title, Snowflake Sweethearts! It's a sweet and inspiring holiday romance set in Fairhaven, Washington and inclues the four senior-age ladies known as the Bayside Treasures who love to play matchmakers for their friends and family. Snowflake Sweethearts is available in eBook format now here: http://bit.ly/OUjGB.  It will be available as a paperback in stores and online after November 13th.

For more info about my books please stop by my website:  http://www.carrieturansky.com

Are you a Downton Abbey fan? If so, are you eager for Season 3 to start in January? Who is your favorite Downton Abbey character? 

Downton Abbey- a must see

Terri Reed here. I recently discovered a PBS show called Downton Abbey.  If you haven't given this period piece a try, you should!  Set in England in the early 1900's, the show depicts the country life of the Crawley family and their staff.  The story starts with the news of the Titanic sinking and the loss of someone close to the family.  From there, life for the Crawley's takes a turn as a new heir is brought into the fold.  As the years past bringing with it change such as women suffragettes, home electricity, telephones, cars,  the phonograph and World War 1, the characters develop and grow, sometimes adapting well to the new inventions and new ways of thinkings and sometimes...not so much.
The dynamics of the aristocratic family and the staff make this a fascinating show to watch.  There are villains who turn out to be heroes, heroes who act villainous, machination galore, touching moments as well as funny moments.  My favorite character is the Dowager Lady Crawley played by the incomparable Maggie Smith.  She has, by far, the best lines.   In fact, the writing is witty, smart and engaging.   The actors all are believable in their roles, which makes the show that much more enjoyable.   I've laughed, cheered, boo'd, clapped and cried through the first two seasons.  And I eagerly await season three.  Supposedly Shirley MacLaine is joining the cast.  This should be fun!

Oh, and on a personal note, my husband and I are taking out daughter to London in August to attend university.  Hubby and I plan on visiting Highclere Castle, the set for Downton Abbey, while in England.  So exciting!!