Julie Shackman – A Room at the Manor (Literature Review)

Contemporary romance author Julie Shackman delights with her novel, A Room at the Manor.

A Room at the Manor is Shackman’s third novel, her first published in paperback through Allen & Unwin. A delightful take on contemporary romance, it follows Lara McDonald, who recently returned to her Scottish hometown nursing a broken heart.

While she dreams of one day owning her own tea shop and pursuing her love of baking, it doesn’t seem likely under the critical eye of her spiteful boss, Kitty Walker. Until, she meets the local laird, Hugo. Strange though their friendship might be, she finds herself confiding in this man and when he suddenly passes away, she is lost once again. However, finding out she is included in his will may just present the opportunity to take a chance on herself … if Hugo’s family don’t stand in her way, that is.

Already, the novel has earned Shackman comparisons to romance stalwarts, Cathy Kelly and Maeve Binchy, and really, it’s not hard to see why A Room at the Manor is so well-loved so early on in the peace. I came to this novel not knowing what to expect, particularly as contemporary romance is not a genre I often find myself reading.

But Shackman’s writing comes with a certainty that only comes with experience. Her first two novels, Rock My World and Zero or Hero were published in e-book format by Not So Noble Books, meaning that there is a clear sense of direction and control in A Room at the Manor that is part of the reason I found it so appealing.

Her main characters, Lara and Vaughn, shine in the spotlight, drawing us into their individual (and combined stories) as soon as they appear on the page. The chemistry between these two is simmering under the surface the second they meet and the way Shackman manages this somewhat rocky relationship makes her worthy of the comparisons to the above-mentioned romance writing queens.

Although a straight soppy romance may have proved a little too much for an uninitiated reader like myself to commit to, the humour and wit Shackman throws in with such deftness, makes A Room at the Manor palatable and an enjoyable read from start to finish.

Sure, A Room at the Manor may be a tad simple and indulgent. But that’s what it’s meant to be. It’s a charming novel designed to brighten the mood, allowing the reader a sense of escapism from the stress of the everyday. If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ll love this book.

A Room at the Manor is published by Allen & Unwin. To find out more about this title, or their other publications, visit their blog. If you wish to connect with Julie Shackman, visit her on Twitter.