Country house near Bridgnorth to feature in romantic novel

Blakelands Country House, in Bobbington, features as a wedding venue in My Best Friends Fiancé, which is due to be launched next week.

Author Keren Hughes, who lives near West Bromwich, said she had visited the country house on several occasions.

When trying to imagine where the couple in her book would get married, she instantly thought of Blakelands.

It is Keren’s fifth novel, after having her first book published in 2013.

She said: “I first visited Blakelands around 10 years ago and fell in love with it straight away.

"The main house dates back to 1500 and has a rich history, making it an impressive and romantic setting.

"I stayed in the Ebony and Ivory room and when I was thinking of a place where my characters could go for their first romantic getaway, I straight away thought of Blakelands.

"Without giving too much away, there is a wedding scene later in the book, and as Blakelands is such a stunning wedding venue, I couldn’t think of anywhere better for them to tie the knot.”

The book tells the story of a woman named Kara who is in love with Reid, but Reid is engaged to her best friend Zoey.

Keren added: "Kara knows it's wrong to covet another woman's man, but she can't help but fantasise about what life would be like if they were together.

"The problem is made worse by the fact that Kara and Zoey share a house and once they are married, Reid will live there too.

"Trying to take her mind off things, Kara throws herself into her business degree so she can open her own bookstore.

"She even starts dating a wonderful man named Sawyer in a bid to erase all trace of her love for Reid."

The book, which launches on Tuesday (30), can be pre-ordered on Amazon.