For someone who’s created a 19-part series set in a small town, location, location, location is everything to me. So location in romance isn’t just a dot on a map, but a place where moody magic becomes the heartbeat beneath the floorboards.

And I love making those places come alive.

For Forget Forever, I wanted every plank, every window, every whiff of soap and simmer pot to feel like the setting was a character in its own right. It’s what I’m known for.

So… why here? Why another small town? Why this manor?  Find out why settings and location in romance matter…

 

1. A Moody Manor for a Moody Ghost

I went all out with Strathmuir Manor because, well, Lucien MacArloch needed somewhere worthy to haunt. Coming from a proud family of aristocrats, you don’t house a gothic ghost in a weatherboard in the suburbs, do you?

No.

You give him:

  • Stained-glass windows that glare like judgmental aunties
  • Long black marble corridors lined with precious artwork
  • Sweeping staircases and chandeliers
  • And a private library that might just win the heart of a small-town librarian

 

2. Autumn Hits the Page Like a Mood Board Come to Life

You know I love a seasonal metaphor. And autumn was the perfect one for this story because it brings:

  • The wondrous landscape display of reds and russet oranges of leaves dropping like confetti from trees
  • Harvest festivals and other small-town festivals
  • It’s pulling on jumpers and the crackle of fireplaces

It’s atmosphere. And autumn is the perfect vibe for a slow-burn romance filled with secrets and shadows.

 

3. Ashwick — The Ambiguous Small Town That Could Be Anywhere

I’ve written more than 25+ books set in small towns—because clearly I have a type. And in Forget Forever, the small town of Ashwick is intentionally ambiguous. No state, no coordinates to find a GPS signal or even a dot on a map. Yet, it could be anywhere in a place that holds:

  • Those small libraries
  • The locals who wave at you from across the street
  • That one café where everyone goes for all the gossip
  • And a hero that they all whisper about—

Small towns are my jam. Always have been. Probably always will be. And this small town has plenty of dirt to share on the neighbours.

 

4. Cottages, Cardigans, and Cake Crumbs

Look, cottagecore absolutely earns its place in this story. Because cottages soften the edges of romance. They’re a warm and cozy place that carries the scent of endless cakes. They make the perfect setting for romance readers to nestle on the couch by a cosy fire, and pick up the perfect book to suit that vibe.

Even though Forget Forever leans into a moody gothic vibe with the manor, the cottagecore aesthetic brings a nostalgic balance to this story, making the romance feel like a sigh you didn’t know you needed.

 

5. The Atrium

Now this is where it gets delicious.

I chose the manor’s conservatory, known as The Atrium, because:

  • The image of plants trapped under glass ceilings is a metaphor I couldn’t resist
  • It’s gothic-light but not a witchy greenhouse
  • It has exotic plants, orchids, and ferns that the Lord of the Manor calls postcards of the past. Readers familiar with my books will recognise this term—and know there’s a reason for it…

 

Forget Forever’s Overall Vibe

The season and the manor sets the mood. And the atrium traps the magic under glass. While the small town could be anywhere.

But the romance—

Oh, the romance…

Well, if you like your romance moody, witty, atmospheric, and a little cursed, then you’re in luck, as the Last Lord of Strathmuir Manor is opening his doors just for you.

So go on then, grab a copy of Forget Forever and feel the sparks for yourself, today>>