Well, I've finally done it! I've completed and published my first Historical Romance on Amazon! It's been in preparation for over a year, and I've finally given up tweeking it, and backed myself (for once), and committed it to electronic print.
I have always been a fan of Georgette Heyer's novels, and I suppose this is my take on the genre. Think of the Sanditon or Bridgerton style of story and you get the idea. You can find it here.
Here is the online intro:
Lady Isabel, newly widowed, has beauty, status, property, money
and most importantly, her independence. Why would she need a new
husband, especially when her past experiences of men have been so
dismal?
Theo Brockworth, 3rd Marquess of Norcombe, is similarly
suspicious of all females of marriageable age, for different reasons.
Having been relentlessly pursued by scheming debutantes and their Mamas
for his title and fortune, he is understandably cautious when it comes
to the female of the species. However, he is in a quandary. He needs to
marry, but has never found a woman that he could envisage being shackled
to for the rest of his life, nor whose motives are above suspicion.
And
then they meet on a stormy winter's night, when Isabel's coachman has
arrived at The Marquess's house by mistake. Sparks fly as attraction
sizzles between them, but after Isabel states that she has categorically
sworn off men, Theo tries to stifle his attraction to his gorgeous new
neighbour. Circumstances draw them inexorably together, though Isabel
still clings to the idea that no man is trustworthy, despite Theo's help
and kindness in overcoming her problems in getting to grips with her
new estate. Will Theo be able to avoid the local heiress who has fixed designs
on him? Will dangers from Isabel's past wreck the budding love story?
Enjoy the fast moving relationship between the lovely Theo and the
feisty Lady Isabel, as their family, friends, neighbours and enemies
watch on with sometimes more than benign interest.
Meet the
Brockworth's and their friends and neighbours in the village of Norcombe
Abbey, set in the lovely rolling countryside of the Cotswolds.
After a summer of visiting stately homes around the country, I am newly armed with fresh inspiration and have embarked on book two in the series: Lady Serena's Secret. Currently there are six books planned for the series, with a few novellas thrown in for good measure.
Talking of Inspiration, I fell in love with Sezincote, which is a rather unusual Georgian Mansion in the north east of the Cotswolds. It has inspired a very small portion of 'Lady Serena's Secret', and so will be the subject of my next post. That's enough of a spoiler for now, but I will give you a photo to whet your appetite.
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| Sezincote House from the Cedar Grove |
If you have read Lady Isabel's Inheritance then you may wish to see from where one my inspirations for Norcombe Abbey Old Hall came. The exterior was inpired by Asthall Manor, Oxfordshire. For me, as I saw it for the first time, it epitomised the graciousness of that earlier period. I know nothing of the interior, as one was not permitted to view indoors. A pity - I would love to have had a nosey round. 
Asthall Manor, from across the valley on a rather gloomy February morning.
Despite the fact that this post is called Detta's Diary, I find it hard work to post every day, or even every month! Self publishing is far more involved than I ever imagined - I'm having to learn to market myself - not a natural thing for someone who is fairly reclusive by nature! But needs must! So I'm going to try to post every Wednesday from now on. If you would like to subscribe, please just fill in the box.
Keep well and happy! Detta
