THE Mills & Boon generation may have been seduced by a raft of alternative romantic tomes over the years.

But old habits die hard and the brand many of us have been familiar with throughout the years has adapted to remain a staple on the bookshelf, or as technology has now dictated, a tablet or e-reader.

Books such as Yorkshire writer, Rachel Dove's 'The Chic Boutique on Baker Street' are appealing to a new generation of readers.

Winner of the Prima Flirty Fiction competition, 'The Chic Boutique on Baker Street' follows the classic boy meets girl chance meeting wrapped up in the usual romantic plotlines you would expect from a Mills & Boon.

Rachel's character, Amanda, escapes to the country from the capital, London, with a dream in her sights of setting up a boutique in the picturesque village of Westfield.

Her arrival in Westfield signals a fresh start and there are evidently some painful episodes in her past that she is thankful to leave behind.

But settling into country life isn't as smooth a transition as she thought. The community is curious as to her intentions, but more so is the handsome village vet who came to her rescue when she fell over.

Ben bandaged her wound and melted her heart but, typically, the two play hard to get with each other. Initially there is a wonderment whether each has anyone else on the scene.

Amanda's cheating boyfriend was part of the reason for her decision to quit the smoke and head for the country, and, ironically, Ben's designer label-loving ex wife had quit country life to head for the capital with Ben's best friend in tow! The move proves a real twist of fate in more ways than one!

Conscious they would make the perfect couple, village do-gooder and gossiper, Agatha Mayweather who lives in a mansion and has a servant, an old schoolpal who becomes a love-interest, at her disposal, hatches a plan with her pals to get Ben and Amanda together.

But it isn't as easy as she thought. Ben is ever conscious that the bossy London lawyer's business venture won't suit the village and that she will eventually get tired of her rural retreat and head back to the smoke.

Meanwhile Amanda doesn't take too kindly to Ben's attitude to her business idea and warns her that Westfield folk don't take too kindly to change.

What he hadn't bargained for is the legal eagle, who secretly poured over craft magazines in between scrutinising contracts, was exactly what this make do and mend community wanted.

Amanda's shop swiftly appeals to Agatha and her crafty pals and the idea it could become a hub of the community brings a light-bulb moment to Amanda who was conscious of the need for her enterprise to start making money.

But there were plenty of pluses to country life; living above the shop meant she no longer had to face being shoehorned into the Tube for the commute to work as she did while living and working in the Smoke and, being part of the community was another, but the biggest bonus by far was the handsome country vet.....

Will they, won't they, that is the question? I won't spoil the plot but this is a charming book and well worth reading.

The Chic Boutique on Baker Street by Rachel Dove is a Mills & Boom book from Harlequin (UK) Ltd. It is £7.99 and also available as an e book. For more information visit millsandboon.co.uk