A Room At The Manor
by
Julie Shackman
GUEST PIECE
I am absolutely delighted to be promoting the debut novel A Room at The Manor by the lovely Julie Shackman. Julie has very kindly written a guest piece especially for Boon's Bookcase and I really hope she has lots of success with this book as she is such a joy to know on social media. All the best Julie and I hope everyone goes out and buys a copy of A Room at The Manor!
Guest Piece by Julie Shackman
To the Manor, Vaughan! By Julie Shackman
When I was pulling together the character for my hero for A Room at the Manor, I quickly realised that Vaughan Carmichael would be a sculptor.
This moody, handsome, Christian Bale look-a-like, with artistic talent flowing through his fingertips, is proud of his heritage and firmly protective of Glenlovatt Manor, his family home.
From first imagining him with his unruly layers of dark, shoulder length hair and wolfish blue eyes, Vaughan is loyal, passionate and intelligent. But his ability to seduce any woman he pleases, is put to the test by the arrival of my protagonist, Lara McDonald.
This striking, determined young woman with the pre-Raphaelite red curls, explodes into his life and it was so enjoyable to witness Vaughan’s reactions.
I wanted to craft a hero who readers feel they could fall in love with – but also have a stern word to say to, to try and tame that stubborn streak of his.
Vaughan can create beauty and drama easily out of lumps of clay and marble – but many other elements of his life are not so effortless to control once Lara arrives.
Some of the book heroes who I have read about and loved in the past, such as Jack Wolfe, from Hazel Osmond’s “Who's Afraid of Mr Wolfe?” are irresistible but flawed; alluring but infuriating.
And let’s face it – no-one is perfect. I’ve tried to make Vaughan a combination of all of these things, in the hope that readers fall under his magnetic spell.
I have to admit that I didn’t find it at all a hardship spending so much time with him….!
I hope you enjoy reading about Vaughan every bit as much as I did writing about him.
A Room at the Manor is released in paperback and Kindle on 27 June. It is available in the UK online at this link https://www.bookdepository.com/Room-at-the-Manor-Julie-Shackman/9781760632861
In Australia & New Zealand, it is also available on-line, as well as in all good bookshops.
Blurb - A Room at the Manor - Julie Shackman
When her Maltese love affair turns sour, Lara McDonald returns to her quiet Scottish hometown of Fairview heartbroken, yet determined - instead of looking for another PR position, she decides to follow her dream of baking. She impulsively takes the first job offered and finds herself working for local dragon Kitty Walker in her tea room, True Brew.
Lara's life is full of surprises, however, not the least being an unlikely friendship forged with one of Kitty's elderly customers, the former laird Hugo Carmichael. The Carmichael family has lived at the beautiful Glenlovatt Manor for almost three hundred years and, although in need of renovation, Hugo, his son and grandson currently make it their home.
There's something about Lara that Hugo likes, and when Hugo suddenly passes away, Lara is stunned to discover she is mentioned in his will. But not everyone is happy with the old Laird's faith in Lara.
A story of love, family, hope and trust, A Room at the Manor will delight every reader keen to find their place in the world.
About the Author
Julie Shackman lives in Scotland and is married with two teenage sons.
Julie trained as a journalist and studied Communication & Media but has always wanted to be an author.
She also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies.
When not reading or writing, Julie is a keen walker and loves music.
https://www.facebook.com/julie.shackman
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