A Very Merry Christmas Romance

by Kate Harriet

Genres: Clean & Wholesome Romance; Contemporary Romance; Holiday Romance; Small-town Romance; Friends to lovers

Synopsis

After a Christmas Eve blizzard snows the town in, tearoom assistant Charlotte Cradduck is expecting a quiet Christmas with her best friend Will.

However the shy Charlotte is horrified to learn that not only is Will staying with his large and exuberant family, they are also hosting their extended relations this holiday.

As the two friends slowly realise they have fallen for each other, will they confess their feelings? Or does the unexpected appearance of Will’s ambitious ex eventually drive them apart?

Release date: December 30, 2022

Print pages: 47

Sample

Chapter One

CHARLOTTE SHIVERED UNDER a bus shelter in her beige duffle coat and jeans, phone pressed to an ear as snowflakes flurried in a near-blizzard.

‘No Dad,’ she said. ‘The trains aren’t running from Ecclesby either, thanks to the snow.’

‘Told you not to leave it till Christmas Eve,’ Mr. Cradduck sighed. ‘Now will you get a taxi back to your flat? Your mother’s already upset that you’re spending Christmas alone.’

Charlotte shifted the laden rucksack on her back, but the straps still dug into her shoulders. ‘Will’s picking me up, so I’m spending Christmas at his. Now would the pair of you stop worrying?’

‘That’s wonderf-,’ cried Mr. Cradduck. ‘I…I mean that’s great. Then give him our love and we’ll see you in the New Year.’

‘Will do…’ said Charlotte, bemused. ‘Merry Christmas!’

‘And a very Merry Christmas to you too.’

She tucked away her phone with a puzzled frown, smoothed stray blonde strands behind her ears with gloved fingertips, then tugged her bobble hat down over her ears.

Pity she would not be spending the holidays with her parents, but a nice quiet Christmas with her best friend Will would be just as good. After all, having grown up together he was the brother she never had. They even kept in touch when the Cradducks moved to Puddlewick and he left home for music college.

Charlotte glanced at her watch. But what was taking him so long?