Ongoing romance

My next feel-good romance, The Bookshop by the Loch, was released on 31 January in e-book and in paperback on 1 February, by the HarperCollins imprint One More Chapter, writes subscriber Julie Shackman.

It tells the story of Lexie Dunbar, who is a book lover. Her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So, when she hears that it’s going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.

Lexie’s plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene, determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified, as the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.

Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after…

I still can’t quite believe that The Bookshop by the Loch is my sixth book to be published by HarperCollins, under the Scottish Escapes umbrella. They are all standalone titles, but are escapist, feelgood romance, that feature a variety of characters, as well as hope, optimism, love and community.

I received so many rejections over the years, but I once read that a published writer is an unpublished writer who never gave up and I believe that wholeheartedly.

Book 7, A Scottish Highland Haven, is scheduled for release in September.

Keep writing, keep reading and persevere. It only takes one person to say yes!