Fairy Tale Castles and Book Giveaway by Leta Blake and Keira Andrews
Lichtenstein Castle
Keira and I are in the erotic fairy tale business. We have a love and fascination with everything fairy tale related, such as princes, princesses, elves, fairies, witches, queens, kings, castles, and happily ever afters. Especially, happily ever afters. When crafting one of our tales, we always give consideration to the kind of home our protagonists will live in, and while some will live in humble cottages or elfin glens, quite a number will inhabit a version of the most famous fairy tale residence of all — the castle.
We’ve created a lovely Pinterest Board of Castles to wet our inspiration and at which to stare, marvel, and daydream from time to time. Take a look yourselves and be transported.
America, bless her young puppy heart, is rather short on castles, having been a bit late to the game of building them. But there are still a few large private homes which might qualify. They tend to lack the massive walls to protect against attack — a standard aspect of the definition of the word ‘castle’ — but they are still glorious in their opulence and splendor.
Photo by Two Ring Studios
The Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, North Carolina, remains the largest private home ever built in the United States, and served as such until the 1950s. The story of the construction of Biltmore House, as it has always been known, is a fascinating one. In 1889, a very long time ago by American standards, and not at all long ago by the standards of everywhere else, construction began on the Biltmore House. It was a massive undertaking that transformed the area around it. The artistry demanded by Vanderbilt in all aspects of his home required the importation of artisans and craftsmen from all over the world. This turned Asheville from a typical, tiny Appalachian town, into the beautiful, successful, artists haven that it remains today.
Photo by Courtney Beck Blog
The home is host to amazing architectural delights, and awesome views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains. In addition to the astoundingly opulent rooms, there is an art gallery to be envious of with many pieces by John Singer-Sargent amongst others.
Biltmore Castle interior #1
Biltmore Castle interior #2
- Photos by Courtney Beck Blog
As a child, I visited the Biltmore House nearly every summer with my family. I’d walk through the massive home and imagine what it would be like to have lived there as a Vanderbilt, or to have been an invited guest. In my adult life, I prefer to imagine what it must have been to be a servant, and work in the main kitchen, or at the beck and call of all the servant bells. Check out our Biltmore Estate Pinterest Board for more pictures of the inside and outside of this beautiful American castle.
Perhaps the Biltmore will play a role in one of our future erotic fairy tale retellings. In the meantime, check out Earthly Desires, the first novella in our Tempting Tales series from Ellora’s Cave.
Cursed as an infant with a lack of physical and emotional gravity, Prince Efrosin can’t keep his feet on the ground or his head out of the clouds. Laughing his way through life, he’s never been weighed down by love and lust.
Then one fateful day, his tenuous tie to the earth is severed and he blows away on the wind. He’s rescued by Dmitri, a handsome young woodsman who suffers from a mysterious curse of his own, and the two strangers are irresistibly drawn together. Experiencing sex and love for the first time, they dive into a delightfully sensual and passionate affair.
But the evil witch who cursed them is planning her ultimate revenge. Efrosin and Dmitri must fight to find their fairy tale ending and live happily ever after.
Also available from: * Amazon * All Romance Ebooks * Barnes and Noble *
Find out more about Leta and Keira.
We’d love to know if there have been any castles that have particularly inspired you? Also, we’re giving away a free copy of Earthly Desires. To enter the drawing, just comment with your name and email addy. Thanks for reading today!
Heidi Cullinan
Evaine
Marie Sexton
Shawny
I love the pics! The blurb sounds awesome and would love to win the book.
Yvette
yratpatrol@aol.com
We’re happy you love the pics! The place is gorgeous and I hope you can visit some day. Also, good luck on winning the book! We hope you enjoy it!
I’ve always loved Biltmore Estates! Especially at Christmas! I grew up in NE TN/SW VA, and annual field trips to Asheville were always my favorite. Now, I’m looking forward to one day taking my kids (and Mom, she’s somehow never been!) to see.
tracykitnATyahooDOTcom
I love Biltmore so much. Can you believe I’ve never been at Christmas? I really should go. Maybe I’ll take my daughter there this year. Thanks for participating in the drawing!
Please count me in !
I love Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany and have visited it many times.
It is truly remarkable and fodder for tons of dreams and imaginary stories for me!
Doublemom2001(at)googlemail(DOT)com
I’ve never been to Germany but hope to go one day, so I’ll keep that castle on my list of ‘must visits’ if I get that chance.
Thanks for participating in the drawing and good luck! We hope you enjoy the book!
Pingback: Biltmore Inspiration « Leta Blake
Wow, Biltmore Estate is truly beautiful!! I agree with Mandy, Neuschwanstein is beautiful are real fairy tale castle
cutestsubever@gmail.com
If you ever get a chance to visit Biltmore, definitely go. I think it is worth the entrance fee for sure.
Now I really want to get to Germany! Good luck with the drawing! Thank you for participating and we hope you enjoy the book.
It sounds like a very beautiful place. I would love to see the Biltmore someday. This sounds like a very interesting book.
Sherry
sstrode at scrtc dot com
Yes, Biltmore is very beautiful and the history behind it is really wonderful, too. Thanks so much for entering the drawing and good luck! We hope you enjoy the book!
i adore castles and fairy tales, though can’t say i’ve done enough research to have a particular one that inspires. lovely post!
(hey cupoporn folks, am assuming that if i fill out the email bit below that works for answering with email, or does it actually have to be part of the written comment?)
Thank you, Lea! We’re happy you enjoyed the post! As for your question, I’m going to have to leave it to Evaine to answer that one; I’m afraid I have no idea! Thanks for entering the drawing and good luck to you!
Filling out the email field is good.
*Hope this works*
We actually have a lovely castle right in the heart of Toronto – Casa Loma!
I was born in a city which has a castle/fortress – Festung Marienberg.
I’ve visited Windsor Castle as well as Caernarfon Castle, Wales.
But my all time favourite was the ruins of Tintagel in Cornwall – I could so clearly envision Uther Pendragon stealing into the castle to lie with Igraine, wife of Gorlois, which ultimately begins the Arthurian legend!
Wow, those are just gorgeous! Thank you for sharing the links. Most especially thanks for the Pendragon images in your comment. My young daughter is a massive Arthurian Legend fan and so I was all about that fantasy!
I’m actually going to Casa Loma next week with a couple of fellow Torontonians who somehow missed going on field trips as children and have never been. I was like, How is that possible?? Heh.
I looooove Tintagel! My mom is from Cornwall/Devon (right on the border) and we visited when I was a kid. Go gorgeous!
Hearst Castle Is CA if pretty Cool. the Grounds are what I appreciate the Most. There are several “Castles” in CA. though Not of the Granduer or the European Castles that we all love.
I am now looking for Castles in MO as I have relocated. They are few and far Between….
Love the Idea for the Book Love a chance to win.
Ladystyx
Ladystyx @ spatialfrustration.com
I’ve heard about Hearst Castle but have never been. Isn’t it a bit more modern? And, yes, sadly, America is short on castles. Thanks for entering the drawing! Hope you enjoy the book if you win!
First, I’ve only been to the Biltmore once, MANY years ago. But it still boggles my mind and the area there is fantastically gorgeous. I’ve been to Hearst’s Caste/San Simeon, and it’s also gorgeous, but doesn’t have the same feeling of exacting composition. Next, Earthly Desires, sounds like a very cute tale. Look forward to reading it sometime soon.
—- meghan (at) live.com
argh, Sorry! wrong email! it’s mm_reads (at) live.com.lol
It is a boggling place! I agree. It’s just stunning to think that anyone would call it home. I love your description of Hearst in terms of it not having the ‘exacting composition’ of Biltmore Estate; that is the impression I’ve had from photos as well, and I thought that was a great descriptive term for it. Thanks for the interest in Earthly Desires! We hope you enjoy it! Good luck on the draw!
I love, love, LOVE fairy tales (erotic or otherwise)…there’s something about them that transports you to another time…and you can (or should) always count on and HEA!
And yes, The Biltmore Estate is fabulous and an “American Castle”…Thank you for sharing this and allowing me to let my imagination run wild while looking at your Pintrest castles
I look forward to reading Earthly Desires….looks like my kind of book 
I always forget to leave my email
morris.crissy@gmail.com
Good luck in the drawing!
Happily Ever Afters are always the best course in a fairy tale! We agree!
We’re happy you liked the pinterest pics. The castles really are amazing. And thank you for the interest in Earthly Desires! We sure hope you enjoy it! 
I really like Isola di Loreto in the middle of Lake Iseo in Italy. I also really really desire to read Earthly Desires.
Must Google!
Ahhhhh!! Oh, wow. Lovely lovely lovely! Thank you for sharing that one. And hooray! Thank you for your interest in Earthly Desires. Are you participating in the draw? 
Absolutely, pick me please!
The Biltmore is absolutely gorgeous at Christmas! count me in klyancey@hiwaay.net
I have never been at Christmas! I really need to go!
Maybe this year with my kiddo. Good luck on the draw! 
There is Dunstaffnage Castle in Scotland. It was built around 1220 and is partially ruined but still beautiful. I think it is the perfect old fairy tale castle! A prince could be locked in the tower… And king James actually did use it as a safe haven!
OceanAkers @ aol.com
Excellent castle history!
Thanks for this cool contribution. King James…ah. What a character. Good luck in the drawing!
The only time I saw a castle in real life was when I was under ten and on a family vacation but it left a lasting impression to this day I remember walking through many parts of the castle but I could not tell you where it was or what castle other than that it was in Canada. I would love to see some now. I love castles and all that goes with them.
Gabrielle
meingee@yahoo.com
If only travel wasn’t so darn expensive, I’d have seen more myself.
Thank you for dreaming with us today, and good luck in the draw!
Omg that castle is beautiful. It looks regal but still comfortable and cozy. How i would love to live out my princess dreams with my hunky hunky gorgeous prince. And who doesnt love a good fairy tale. Its like the first things that sre read to us and then we turn around and read. i would love to read this book. I can’t wait.
gigglesvi88@hotmail.com
I think it is the mountains around the place that give it a snug feel, but it is truly massive, and the pictures of the rooms don’t really do the size of them justice. They are quite large!
I love your observation about fairy tales being some of the first things read to us and then we turn around as adults and read them to children. There is always something new to imagine in the confines of each story, too. They are founts of inspiration! Thanks for the interest in Earthly Desires! 
Good luck on the drawing!
not a lot of castles here is CA…nothing comes to mind other than Disneyland…that’s inspiring in a whole nother way! Please count me in. Thanks!
Oh, Disney! Gotta love Disney! Heaven knows I love it, anyway.
Good luck in the drawing! Thanks for your interest in Earthly Desires!
Well, we do have a castle in Kentucky. Granted, it’s not very old and it is quite plain. The Neuschwanstein castle, on the other hand, is gorgeous and inspiring.
Aw, a ‘quite plain’ castles sounds so sad! And, yes, the Neuschwanstein is lovely! I agree. Thanks for participating in the drawing!
We have a castle just down the road. It is nearly hidden behind woods instead of walls, and I understand it is in some disrepair, but every time I drive by I long to be able to go in and explore it.
I take it you are not in the States? The idea of a hidden castle in disrepair in the States is story-inspiring in and of itself. Well, actually, the idea of a hidden castle in disrepair anywhere in the world is inspiring. There might be something to this little gem you’ve tossed out here! Just a few minutes of contemplation and I’m filled with the mystery of it! Thank you for the interest in Earthly Desires and good luck in the drawing!
Really nice pictures and I love fairy tales ^_^ Its really good to know fairy tales castles are real
Happy you enjoyed the photos! Can you even imagine living in a castle such as that and calling it home? Thanks for participating in the drawing for Earthly Desires. Good luck!
It sounds delightful. theponylady @ ymail (dot) com
Thank you! We wish you good luck in the drawing for Earthly Desires!
Although its more of a Chateau than a castle, I’ve always loved Chenonceau in the Loire Valley. And please count me in!
Yes, that is so gorgeous, especially the part over the river. I’ve read that it is bad feng shui to live over a river, but I’d set that aside for a chance to live there.
Thanks for the interest in Earthly Desires! Good luck with the drawing!
There’s never been a specific castle that’s inspired me, but but damn are castles just so majestic and gorgeous, I can see why they inspire people!
BK
buffykennedy[at]gmail[dot]com
Truly they are just so amazing that we can’t help but dream of what it would be like to call it our home. Thanks for the interest in Earthly Desires!
Good luck in the drawing!
When I was a teenager I always wanted to move to Scotland and live in my very own castle – I think I read way too many historical romances back then. Anyways, my reading tastes have diversified, but I still have that secret desire to live in a castle. I’ve seen Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany (fabulous) and Hearst in CA – I think I might have to take a trip and see Biltmore.
Please Count me in the drawing if it’s not too late.
There are never too many historical romances, Devon! ;P
Thanks for commenting!
I still haven’t made it to any castles, sadly enough. I’ve seen plenty of kitsch castles, though! Somewhere south of my town people built their house to look like a small castle, and you can see it from the highway. When I was a little girl, I thought it was the coolest thing in the world. (It’s always got some horrid paint job, though…right now it’s aqua, I think.) And there’s the Glass Slipper Inn in the middle of El Camino Real in Palo Alto, CA…I’ve never known anyone who’s admitted to staying there, but it’s been open at least since I was in college (and judging from the ’60s/’70s architectural style, possibly far earlier), so SOMEONE must. Anyway, please count me in if the drawing’s still open…
Ha! Yes, someone must be staying there!
Thanks for commenting, Trix.
That castle is stunning. The sky looks too perfect! Please include me in the drawing.
Thanks for taking part, Tina!
That’s so cool that the first castle shown here is one I went to when I lived in Germany. It’s setting is so beautiful. I haven’t thought of Lichtenstein in a while. I remember a bit of bridge up high you had to cross. Made me extremely nervous. I always loved Hohenzollern Castle in Germany as well as Sigmaringen. Sigmaringen looked like it was high on a cliff that would make it difficult to get into, but the other side opened onto the town square. Hohenzollern was probably my favorite. My school took a field trip there every year. It’s such an impressive place to see. I even had the opportunity to perform in a castle over in Germany as a teen. I miss them soo much. I need to get back over there soon. If not too late, please include me in the give-away. Thanks!
jada76@gmail.com
Thanks for sharing your memories! I’d love to visit Germany again. So many gorgeous castles to see, such little time. And money.
Thanks for taking part, Jase!