Inspired by Jane Austen

The setting for my uplifting romantic novel Tabitha Locke's Key to Happiness, is the historic and very elegant city of Bath, where Jane Austen lived from  801 to 1806, and where 'Persuasion' and 'Northanger Abbey' are partly set.

I didn't begin the book with Jane Austen in mind. When Tabitha came into being, I thought of having her live in Bath mainly because my daughter lived there for a year and the city made a lasting impression on me. But the more I got to know Tabitha, the more I began to understand how perfect Bath was for her. She loves history and literature, and lives in the heart of town not far from the magnificent abbey, in an old building in Abbey Gardens – with its cobbled square and huge tree in the middle. Her grandfather owns a shop selling vintage keys, and the pair of them live in a flat above it, stuffed with Regency and other period furniture. 

​So with Jane Austen's influence all around, Tabitha's character began to take shape...

Tabitha is an old soul in some respects, and she loves to wear tea dresses when she's working in the shop. She also wears a chatelaine, which is a chain or belt worn by the lady of the house in times gone. It would have been worn around the waist and from which various keys would hang, becuase god forbid if the servants were to get their hands on the valuables!

The shop itself and the living quarters above it was a joy to write about, and so was Rhys! Whenever I thought about him Richard Madden came to mind. He's a handsome devil, isn't he!

Having spent some time in the city doing touristy things, I also wanted to share some of them with you in the book. The Roman Baths are particularly impressive as you can see below, and I love the abbey. I simply had to include a photo of the tree in the centre of Abbey Green, and Sally Lunn's Eating House. I cam heartily recommend the steak and mushroom trencher!

Tabitha Locke's Key to Happiness

An utterly gorgeous cosy romance.

Tabitha Locke suspects she must be the only twenty-nine-year-old in the UK who doesn’t own a mobile phone. She has a good reason not to.

When she fled to Bath and her grandfather’s vintage key shop, all Tabitha wanted was to hide from the world. And for three years she does precisely that – until she meets a handsome IT expert.

Appealing to her love of history, Rhys Flint persuades her to show him around the city, and gradually she begins to believe in love again, despite what happened in the past. But a secret can’t stay hidden forever, and when it raises its head, Tabitha is terrified Rhys will find out.

With her feelings for him starting to grow, will Tabitha keep her heart locked up tight or will Rhys be the key to her happiness?

Discover the power of love with this heartwarming, uplifting opposites-attract romance.

Purchase your copy Of Tabitha Locke's Key to Happiness from Amazon. Also in Kindle Unlimited.

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About the Author

Lilac Mills writes heartwarming romance inspired by life in the Welsh countryside, her love of simple pleasures, and the beauty of everyday moments.

She’s the author of over twenty feel-good novels, and also writes as Liz Davies and Etti Summers.

Learn more about Lilac