The Black Rose of Blaby Limited offer LAUNCH PRICE (UK) in paperback - £5.25 * Myth - was there really a black rose cultivated in Blaby? * Legend - if the dancing maidens did exist - where is the site of the standing stones now? * Reality - if what they say is true, did the Leicestershire village of Blaby really feed the whole of England with a rare commodity during the war years? * Lost love - 'the real' Mary Alice Baker Sercombe graces the cover of this novel. What was the truth behind her ancestors' romantic encounters and tragic love affairs? Myth, legend - or reality? You never know the truth behind author John Morey's romantic novels in his 'Love should never be this hard' series. That's what makes them an intriguing read. Many of the locations actually exist - or used to, so they are captured here for austerity. Some of the characters enjoy a life of their own, given that they may be 'composites' of the several people who actually lived. These features add credibility to what are, after all, enjoyable works of fiction. Readers often comment that they recognize this or that place, or can see someone they may have known in those portrayed. That stems from the reality that Morey did actually live in, or was a regular visitor to, many of the towns and villages, as well as growing up with characters like the ones described. Beyond that, however, you will relish in the escapism built into the plot and sub-plots, right to the final page where an unexpected twist or celebration of the tale holds you to the end. In The Black Rose of Blaby you will experience once again a rite of passage through the eyes of those who make up the story. This includes capturing for all time some otherwise forgotten historical moments in Leicestershire's rich heritage, settings for all the drama as it unfolds. Those who grew up in the village may remember these lost locations - like the Tomato Farm and the mysteries it still retains (albeit now buried under a vast housing development), the country lanes that joined each village and were 'sites' for travelling gypsy families, year-in-year-out. And, did a Dutch rose specialist really create a black rose back in the 1950s; and where is the spot where the alleged standing stones and dancing maidens were claimed to have appeared? Some aspects will remain unsolved, but one thing is certain - if you enjoy romantic writing with a bit of substance which takes you into a 'make-your-own-mind-up' about its authenticity, then this series, and this book in particular, will be for you. The Black Rose of Blaby is the second book in the series, the first book - The Sign of the Rose - as well as the third and fourth books (Rose: The Missing Years and Finding Rose) are also available as e-books and paperbacks.