Cathie Dunn writes...

I'm delighted to take part in romance author  Laurie Benson ’s review blog tour for her new release, Mrs Sommersby's Second Chance , at Rachel's Random Resources – and what a pleasure it was to read this beautiful romance! Review: A historical romance with a difference Clara Sommersby is a fiercely independent widow who, cleverly, invested money in a ’shocking' way rather than tread the usual fate of widows, becoming a companion or remarrying swiftly. As such, she has learnt her lessons from life with her late husband, and she vows never to depend on a man again – or to marry again, for that matter. William Lane's humble background as a foundling – a baby dropped off at the Foundling Hospital in London without any trace of his family –  and subsequent apprenticeship at a bank has led him to become a determined self-made businessman in his own right, yet fully aware of the conventions of the day. His past is like a chip on his shoulder, so instead...

When Cathie asked me to kick off her “My Place” of guest blog posts, I was thrilled! I love sharing information about the setting for my Victorian historical, ‘The Arrival of Lily Curtis’ and where it all began. I write contemporary and historical but my historicals will always be set in the famous Georgian City of Bath because it is literally at my doorstep. I can go there as often as I want, when I want with little expense and a wealth of history at my fingertips. Let me tell you about ‘Lily’… My Place - Bath / Lucknam Park: The idea for the story all started when I was treated to afternoon tea at the beautiful stately home of Lucknam Park  in Colerne, one of the many surrounding villages outside Bath. As soon as my mum and I walked into this amazing house, I knew I had found the home of my next hero, who eventually became Viscount Andrew Westrop. We had a gorgeous tea of dainty sandwiches, cream cakes and tartlets while sitting in an immaculate late 17 th century drawing r...