Spring is around the corner in Australia, and the streets in my neighborhood are a sea of yellow. The native Australian wattle is a hardy plant with many varieties that never fails to bloom in August, and again in late summer. Those of us who suffer from hay fever don’t need to look outside to know these pretty yellow flowers are thriving. The cherry blossom trees will flower next, and then my spring favorite, the beautiful tulips, will start blooming in mid-September. Do you have a favorite flower?
We’re excited that our 2022 Inspy Romance Back to School Bash launched on August 15. We have 19 fabulous prize bundles with 7 paperback bundles, 8 ebook bundles, an audiobook bundle, 2 international paperback bundles, and our Grand Prize includes an Inspy Romance hoodie.
Every comment you make on our blog posts during the giveaway (Aug 15 – Sept 14) will count as an entry in the drawing.
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Please note: Only international readers and those who would like to win the audiobook bundle need to register via the Google form. It is assumed that everyone else lives in USA and/or has a USA mailing address. For more information, please visit our 2022 Back to School Giveaway Page.
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com
Jan Thompson’s winner is Cindi Knowles!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter’s winners are Susan Dyer (6/9 post), Judy Hewitt (7/9 post) and Dreaa Drake (8/10 post)!
Amy Anguish’s winner is Angeline!
Deb Kastner’s winner is Kim Hansen!
Merrillee Whren’s winner is Terry B!
Congratulations to all our winners!
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Toni Shiloh is our host this week, so come on over… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
StoryChats @ InspyRomance
Story Chats releases an all-new episode every Friday. This week on Episode 86, Elizabeth, Valerie, and Narelle talked about CCR set in the mid-Atlantic states. You won’t want to miss it!
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Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Julie Carobini shared The Novel of Your Life + #Giveaway
On Tuesday, Deb Kastner talked about Interviewing Emma + #Giveaway
On Wednesday, Emily Conrad discussed When Opposites Attract: Author/Character Edition
On Thursday, Lindi Peterson talked about The Storm Before the Rainbow + #Giveaway
On Friday, Merrillee Whren shared New Growth: You’re Still Alive
On Saturday, Teresa Tysinger discussed An Anniversary and Books with Mature Couples
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Carolyn Miller (Romantic Relationships in Christian Fiction)
Tuesday: Jaycee Weaver (The Black Moment)
Wednesday: Liwen Y. Ho (Bring On the Backlist + #Giveaway)
Thursday: Tabitha Bouldin (Overcoming Adversity)
Friday: Laurie Larsen (Author Sightings)
Saturday: Tara Grace Ericson
New Releases
August 2022
Choose Me for Always, Cowboy (Cavanagh Cowboys Romance 5) by Valerie Comer
A Reason to Stay (K9 Companions Book 9/Rocky Mountain Family Book 5) by Deb Kastner
Not Until Then (Hope Springs 9) by Valerie M Bodden
July 2022
Muskoka Blue (Original Six Hockey Romance 6) by Carolyn Miller
Into the Flood (Seasons of Faith 1) by Milla Holt
The One Who Got Away by Tara Grace Ericson
Love at Second Sight (Fab Forties 4) by Liwen Y. Ho
Seaside Proposal (Sydney Sweethearts 3) by Narelle Atkins (rerelease)
To Begin Again (Rhythms of Redemption 3) by Emily Conrad
Matchmaking Moms of Oceanview Church boxset Books 1 – 3 by Laurie Larsen
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Narelle, it’s really interesting to hear about the change of seasons where you are. I love tulips too, but here in the UK they’re a February flower. We’re just moving from summer towards autumn here, so there are lots of my other favourite flower, the sunflower, about at the moment.
I don’t have a favourite flower, love them all really.
Yes, the wattle can be beautiful, but it does give me hayfever.
We, in South Africa also suffer from hayfever when the wattles are in flower, especially if you live in a forested area like we do.
Here, my favourite spring flowers are the plethora of azaleas
I love peach tulips and daffodils because once they start blooming I know spring is here. I think I have 10 different kinds of daffodils in my garden.
I love to watch each kind of flower bloom and trees blossom in spring, which begins here in April-May. We usually have snow and frost in March. Now, a few of our trees are reminding us that autumn is on its way. Our yellow wildflower right now is goldenrod, a prolific weed. Purple asters should be blooming soon. I’m grateful I don’t have allergies. Wishing you in the southern hemisphere a happy spring!
I also love tulips! It’s hard to find a flower I don’t like, but tulips are deformed up at the top of the list for me.
Hi Ruthie, I live in Canberra, not far from the Snowy Mountain. We do have distinctive seasons compared to other parts of Australia. Sunflowers are pretty. Enjoy your autumn. 😊
Hi Mary, It’s definitely the season for allergies here. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jeannette, Azaleas are pretty. At this time of year I do miss living on the coast and having sea breezes clear the pollen in the air. Is South African wattle similar to Australian wattle? I hope your hayfever season isn’t too bad. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lori, Your garden with daffodils sounds lovely. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Beth, We almost had sleet falling earlier in the week, and it was snowing for a few hours to the south of the city where I live. It is starting to warm up and feel more like spring. I’m glad you’re spared from dealing with allergies. Enjoy your fall colors and thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Melynda, I love all the different tulip colors, and how the garden displays are put together for our tulip festival in Canberra. So pretty! Thanks for commenting. 😊
I like spring but not the hayfever. Growing up I got to see a variety of flowers and trees as I used to live in a tropical country. I was very blessed to see the beauty of God display most year around.
My favourite flower are orchids,
I find it interesting to learn the different seasons in different parts of the world. Here we are starting Autumn. Illinois USA Iove almost all flowers. But I am partial to: Carnations, Mexican Sunflowers and Lilacs
I love carnations! They last sooooo long!! I love crepe myrtles, which is why I have four. Mom loved them, too, along with desert roses.
I’ve always wanted to visit Australia because I once lived in Hawaii. I would love to see the differences between the two places!
My favorite flower are Roses. My late grandmother used to grow them, she even knew how to cross breed them to make the most beautiful new colors. She was also an artist, so she would bring her roses to life in so many different mediums. I think we all have her work hanging on our walls.
Congratulations winners 🥳
I love peonies!
I visited New York City in mid-april 10 years ago and I remember seeing lots of tulips blooming as I walked around, especially in Central Park. Where I live in the midwest we have tulips but not usually very many in any one place. I love that there are so many varieties of them in all different colors.
pretty flowers
Hi Narelle!
Sorry about the hay fever, but I think it’s neat that you’re able to track the change of seasons through flowers. :) My favorite ones are hydrangeas.
My favorite flower is the carnation, although I love all the spring flowers and the renewing of nature. Congratulations to all the winners. This week’s lineup looks awesome.
Congratulations to all the winners. My favorite flower is lilacs. I am right there with you in regards to allergies. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I love different flowers and have lots of flower beds to prove it. Right now my sunflowers are blooming. Blessings
Hi Geozla, When I was younger, I loved seeing my grandmother’s potted orchids in her sunroom. Tropical flowers are pretty, and I do like hibiscus. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lori, I looked up Mexican sunflowers – they are pretty! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trudy, My mum used to have crepe myrtle growing in her yard. Carnations are pretty. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Cindi, I hope you’ll have a chance to visit Australia. Northern Australia, in particular the islands in North Queensland, have a similar climate to Hawaii. Roses are beautiful, and a favorite of mine, too. Your grandmother’s art work sounds lovely. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Natalya, Peonies are pretty. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Jessica, I’m fortunate to live in the right climate for tulips. My city holds a tulip festival every year, as well. The colors and different varieties, and the way they create artistic displays, makes up for the inconvenience of hayfever. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I live in the us In battle ground Washington and my younger sibblings start school wensday so fall is just around the corner. It’s hard to pick a favorite flower buy mine is probably tulips cause my late grandma always had lots planted she passed away suddenly on March 24 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic so when ever I see bright flowers it reminds me of her my grandma was 90 when she died but it was really suddenly cause she fell and got brain bleeds it was a shock for everyone in my family.
Hi Narelle,
I’m in NZ and loving the spring flowers, the daffidols are out and some older establised cherry blossems are also out. Might need a trip to the botantical gardens soon, rhodos will be out early October.
We can’t see any wattles but boy is everything covered in the yellow pollen, the car, the outdoor furniture. When it rains the puddles and gutters run yellow lol.
Hi bn100, yes, they’re pretty, and we have a few different varieties. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Priscila, yes, we have four distinct seasons where I live. We joke about winter (and turning on central heating) starting on ANZAC Day (4/29) and ending on Remembrance Day (11/11). Hydrangeas are pretty. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Bonnie, Spring is a lovely time of year. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, You’re very welcome. Lilacs are pretty, and I’m sorry you also have allergies. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lucy, Your sunflowers, and your garden beds, sound lovely. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Kendra, I’m sorry to hear about your grandma’s passing, and I’m glad you have tulips to bring back happy memories. Orchids remind me of my grandma. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Carolyn, yes, the pollen gets into everything, lol. It’s a pain when you’re wanting to dry laundry on an outdoor line. Spring is a great time to visit the botanical gardens. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Congratulations to all the winners!
Even as we have fall creeping up on us in the States there are still days with high pollen counts that can mess with ones allergies.
Hi Angeline, Thanks for stopping by. 😊
Hi Megan, The high pollen counts are not fun. Our last year or so of wet weather has thankfully broken the drought, but also increased the overall pollen count. Thanks for commenting. 😊
forgot to comment due to being out most of the day with dr, dentist etc. But no mouse last night so thats a plus.
I LOVE Tulips and have some planted. They are so pretty. I would love to go to Floriade sometime just to see them. I like most of the bulbs except jonquils cos they stink, (As do the blossoms of the ornamental pear tree).
WAttle wattle wattle I’m sorry I got stuck on tat word. IT’s 330am in Northern UTah atm and I guess I am finding the word makes me giggle inside. No offense meant!
Hi Jenny, A mouse-free house is always good! I hope you’ll have a chance to see Floriade one day. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Sabrina, lol. Were you an Ally McBeal fan? That tv show is when I first learned there was an alternative meaning to the word ‘wattle’ (which I had forgotten about until I read your comment). Thanks for commenting. 😊
I’m in Oklahoma, and it’s often still in the 90s and is starting to dip into the 80s… It’s also the start of allergy season and man, oh, man, is it misery… However, the cooling weather is totally worth it!