Emma doesn't particularly like Christmas, so when her best friend drags her along again to Clevenden Cottage for the festive season, she is more than reluctant to go back. In bygone years, this "tradition" of both of their families getting together at Clevenden, was something she wanted to forget. Between her parent's incessant questions about her love life, and her best friend's pesky older brother, Dawson, she has more than one reason to want to stay at home. But what Emma doesn't realize, is that what she's been running away from, may be the best thing that has ever happened to her, and will make her Christmas extra special. Mishaps, surprises, and a whole load of humble pie are served, in this cozy Christmas romance.
It's hard to think straight when you're holding on for dear life. Tess was behind the wheel, driving us to her parent's cottage in the Lakes – although her driving had always left a lot to be desired.
The snow had gone from a light drizzle to huge flakes, making the visibility of the road ahead even more haphazard. Tess was driving like she was a Raleigh driver, although she was more like a wonky figure skater at the local ice rink.
"Tell me again why we're doing this," I spoke, gripping onto my seat with white knuckles.
"It's tradition!" Tess cheered, weaving the steering wheel backwards and forwards.
"No, it's not," I mumbled.
"It is!" she insisted, shooting me a shocked expression.
It hadn't been 'tradition' in years. Ever since we'd gone to university, and our lives had split off in different directions, it hadn't been anything of a 'tradition'. Now, all of a sudden, this annoying ritual that our parents had conjured up, many moons ago, seemed to have been cranked up again. I'd rather have been at home with a hot chocolate and trashy TV, than dicing with death on a snow-riddled country lane.
Every now and then, Tess would start singing along to the Christmas songs that were obliviously emanating out of the car radio, making the backdrop of this death ride even more bizarre.
"Would you please just watch the road," I pleaded, wondering how easy it would be for me to open the car door and roll out onto the road – should the worst happen.
Interrupting the incessant noise of the music which didn't fit the occasion, Tess's phone starting ringing, and I wondered whether it was the emergency services, checking up to see whether we needed them yet.
"There's Bluetooth in this car," Tess mumbled, searching for how to answer while unhelpfully not looking at the road.
"Here," I butted in, grabbing her phone. "I'll answer it. You drive."
With a smile from Tess, I grabbed her phone and picking up the call, I immediately switched it to speakerphone – there was no way she was taking it from me and putting it to her ear.
"Hi, Emma! It's Georgina! Is Tess with you?"
"Mum, yeah, I'm here!" Tess called over.
"Great! Me and your dad will be arriving at the cottage on Christmas Eve! Do me a favour, when you get there, could you set everything up? The tree is in the big box in the hallway!"
"Yay! Oh, I love setting up the tree!" she replied, excitedly swerving the car once again.
I was going to die because of the thought of setting up a Christmas tree.
"We'll see you both soon!" Georgina called out, hanging up the call.
I was now dreading this even more. I'd always disliked the thought, and the reality of, spending Christmas in another person's holiday cottage, and now I was going to have to help decorate it in cheer that did not mirror my current mood.
"Cheer up, Ems!" Tess shouted, clocking my expression.
Cheer up? I was faced with spending the next week or so at a cottage, in the middle of nowhere, with a 'tradition' that I'd never found to be that traditional. In years, thankfully, gone by, our parents had decided to couple up for the festive season, because they were such good friends (*fingers down throat*), and I'd always hated it. Having said that, I couldn't remember much about my time here, because I'd put a mental block on it. When I had finished university and got my own place, my parents used to go abroad for the Christmas holidays, but now I was having to endure spending my downtime in someone else's holiday home again.
Nowadays, I much preferred the Christmases spent at my own house – they were quieter when I didn't have to contend with my mum and dad's incessant questions, or the fact that they insisted I fill them in on every detail of my life. They always asked me questions about my love life, or picked holes in it, and I didn't want to talk about it. My love life was along the lines of the snow outside – cold and rigid.
Between the annoyance of my parent's and being forced to spend the Christmas period with people who weren't my close friends, it was no wonder why I hated Christmas.
In another breath, I didn't mind Tess's parents, Georgina and Dave, but on my time off work, I would've much rather have vegged out and lounged around in my own space – you couldn't really do that in someone else's living room.
My own parents, on the other hand, Tanya and Robert, were okay... ish. It may have sounded awful, but I preferred my dad's company over my mum's. The least I saw of her, really was for the better. My mum was in a whole world of her own, and my dad went along for the ride. Kooky and quirky, yet only seeing to her own needs at the same time, with little regard for anyone else's thoughts and feelings, I don't know how my dad put up with it. Was I the only person in the world that dreaded seeing their parents at Christmas time?
Me and Tess had remained good friends, although we hadn't seen each other that often, and peace had reigned over my Christmases for the past however many years - up until Tess had mentioned that our parents had decided to spend Christmas together again this year, at Clevenden Cottage. Tess's bright idea, was that we would travel up earlier, spend a couple of girly days together, because we'd not seen each other in so long, and then both sets of parents would join us on Christmas Eve. I'd really had my hopes set on a quiet festive season, which was never going to happen now.
After jilting her fiancé at the altar, Becca needs to escape – fast. Fleeing to her honeymoon on her own, there she meets the handsome and generous Jace, who is willing to look after her and is worlds apart from the ex she once loved. But how well does she know Jace Morgan? And is he really all that he seems? Still waters run fascinatingly deep, in this delectable romantic suspense.
After three years of loveless marriage, Kira was slapped with divorce papers. She has shown him her unrequited love throughout her entire marriage with him, but he decided to turn blind eyes all because of his lover. Distraught and heartbroken, Kira choose to sign the divorce papers with bitter heart. But then and there, she promised herself that when she's back, he will come crawling to her, but she will make him pay for hurting her. Join Kira as she transform to a wealthy heiress and soared as the CEO of a multi-billion-dollar empire, a remarkable healer and make her ex-husband pay!
"Please trust me, I didn't do anything." "I don't believe you. I am rejecting you as my Queen and giving you the punishment of death." Alina was living outside her pack for five years. Her parents didn't try to contact her and always ignored her. Her best friend convinced her to go back to their pack and she agreed. But she had never imagined what was waiting there for her. She never thought she would meet her mate and had to face betrayal from everywhere. She had to pay for the crime which she never committed. Aaron Robertson is the king of Lycans. He is a very dominant and powerful King who not only rules Lycans but also rules other ranks of werewolves. Everyone is afraid of Lycans and he is the king of them. But who knew that he would get a mate who was just a simple Omega with no powers and strengths? He called her weak all the time but little did he know that his weak Omega would give him the biggest betrayal of his life for which he had to give her the sentence of death.
What happens when an all business Alpha planning his chosen's mating ceremony, smells the most wonderful fruity scent that belonged to his curvy mating ceremony planner. Confident plus size Ji'lahni, her two cousins, and friend owns a successful Wedding planning company along with a dance, and self defense workout studio, get hired by their new friend who is like a mother to them to plan her sons wedding I mean mating ceremony? What will happen when the sassy plus size women step into the world of werewolves? Read to find out.
After three loveless years, Neil's betrayal deeply wounded Katelyn. She wasted no time in getting rid of that scoundrel! After the divorce, she devoted herself to career pursuits. Rising to prominence as a top designer, skilled doctor, and brilliant hacker, she became a revered icon. Neil, realizing his grave mistake, tried in vain to win her back, only to witness her magnificent wedding to another. As their vows were broadcast on the world's largest billboard, Vincent slid a ring onto Katelyn's finger and declared, "Katelyn is now my wife, a priceless treasure. Let all who covet her beware!"
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?