‘Why are you here?’ she asked softly.
‘You were right,’ he said quietly, his brown eyes scanning her face. ‘I do care. I care a lot. I was just too much of an idiot or too afraid to take a chance.’ He closed his eyes and opened them again. ‘I suppose I’d have figured that out in the end. But I’ve come back to say I’m ready to take one now, Meg, if you are?’
‘What made you change your mind?’ she asked, and her voice cracked a little. ‘Because you were pretty determined to leave me behind less than two hours ago.’ She watched as something like wonder passed across his face.
‘My grandmother.’ The edge of his mouth lifted. ‘I know that sounds crazy. But my grandad’s been telling me for months she was going to send me a sign.’ He shrugged. ‘I didn’t believe him. But then I ran into this lot.’ He pointed to the reindeer herd, who were slowly weaving their way past. ‘I met them on my way to Morridon. They were blocking the road and just staring at me. In that moment I realised I should be doing precisely what they were. Coming to find my missing piece.’ He reached out and traced a finger down her cheek. He had gloves on, but when he turned his hand over, the wool sparkled. ‘The woman who brought me back to life, the person who gave me back my music, and helped me to feel. I was right about the glitter – it is catching.’ He waggled his fingers and smiled. ‘I was just too stupid or too afraid to realise it. We’re different.’ He nodded. ‘I know that. You wear elf outfits, love tinsel, Christmas and mince pies.’ He shuddered. ‘But none of that matters. I’ve spent too many years hiding from my feelings, running because I was afraid. I didn’t want to open myself up to music again, or to my feelings for you.’ He took her hand and grasped it in his. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out the empty bauble she’d given him. ‘I didn’t use this. But for some reason I couldn’t leave it behind. So now I want to make my promise – is it too late?’
Meg glanced at her watch. ‘It’s five minutes until Christmas Day, I’d say you have time.’
‘You got a pen?’ He smiled.
She shook her head.
‘Has anyone got a pen and some paper?’ Tom shouted. A few people said no, someone offered to see if they could find one in their car, then Meg’s mum appeared out of the crowd, walking hand in hand with her dad.
‘Here you are.’ She rummaged in her pocket, then gave Tom a pad of pink Post-it notes and a black pen. She winked at Meg as he knelt so he could rest the paper on his knee as he wrote. Tom opened up the bauble and tucked the folded pink paper inside.
‘What did you promise?’ Meg asked as he stood, then leaned down to kiss her firmly on the mouth. Her heart kicked up a notch and she smoothed a hand down his cheek, letting herself fall into him, before he gently eased her back.
Then Tom crunched up to the tree and hung the bauble onto one of the lower branches, before standing back and taking her hand. ‘I promise…’ He turned to Meg and smiled, his eyes darkening. ‘To make every day with you feel like Christmas. The kind of Christmas you deserve.’ Then he tipped her chin and bent her head up so he could pepper soft kisses across her mouth, before the kiss deepened and grew hotter. Meg tugged him closer, pushing her fingers under his hat, her heart beating fast, the blood pounding in her ears as her cheeks heated. Around them, the crowd began to whoop and cheer.
Then Tom pulled back and they both twisted round as Cooper barked. In the distance, outside Meg’s shop, the herd had merged and the lost reindeer was now being nuzzled by his family, who were taking it in turns to crowd round. To the side of the street, bathed in a pool of soft yellow light coming from one of the lamps at the edge of the pavement, Meg’s parents were locked in a gentle embrace.
Want to read more gorgeous festive fiction from Donna Ashcroft? You can get The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances now, and fall in love with another sparkling Christmas romance.
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The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances
Snow is beginning to fall around the cosy Castle Teashop, with its toasty log fire, scrumptious mince pies and delicious hot chocolates. Romance is in the air and Lily King is hoping some winter magic will help to make her dreams come true…
Twenty-five-year-old Lily King is wondering when her life is going to start. She adores working at the much-loved Castle Teashop, surrounded by familiar faces and delicious cakes. But she’s stuck in a rut. She’s just been dumped by her boyfriend and her dream job seems to be slipping through her fingers.
When her best friend Emily Campbell needs urgent help to organise her enchanting Christmas wedding, Lily realises it’s finally her moment to shine and reach for the opportunities she’s been wishing for. Can she pull off the biggest celebration Castle Cove has ever seen or will something - or someone - make things more complicated than she imagined?
Rebellious and handsome photographer Josh Havellin-Scott has always felt like an outsider, especially next to his perfect older brother, who is about to get married. At the last minute, Josh finds himself roped into plans for the Big Day, the very last thing he wants to do, until he is meets creative and quirky Lily King…
When Lily and Josh are thrown together, it’s clear they couldn’t be more different. But they begin to realise that opposites can attract – and sometimes when you’re not looking for love, it comes and finds you when you least expect it. With some festive magic, will they manage to work together and save the day?
And could they discover a winter romance of their very own along the way?
An utterly scrumptious festive romance about the importance of being true to yourself, following your dreams and opening your heart to second chances. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Debbie Macomber.
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Hear More from Donna
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Books by Donna Ashcroft
If Every Day Was Christmas
The Little Village of New Starts
The Christmas Countdown
The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings
The Little Christmas Teashop of Second Chances
Summer at the Castle Cafe
A Letter from Donna
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read If Every Day Was Christmas. If you enjoyed it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up at the following link. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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If Every Day Was Christmas took me back to the magical Scottish Highlands at Christmas time. I so enjoyed being back in Lockton and seeing my favourite people again – from Meg and Nana Agnes to Morag, Fergus, Davey, Cora and even Lilith. Did you enjoy getting back together with the crazy locals in the snow? Meeting Meg’s family and Tom, the gorgeous but conflicted hero, as he found his way back to his music? Did you guess who the mystery vandal was? Or think up your own special Christmas Promise to hang on the Promise Tree?
I hope you enjoyed the journey and festive escape. If you did, it would be wonderful if you could please leave a short review. Not only do I want to know what you thought, it might encourage a new reader to pick up my book for the first time.
I really love hearing from my readers – so please say hi on my Facebook page, through Twitter, or my website.
Thanks,
Donna
www.donna-writes.co.uk
The Christmas Countdown
It’s that time of year again, snowflakes are fluttering and the countdown to Christmas has begun! Holly Devine is returning to the only place that feels like home, hoping that some festive magic will help to turn her life around…
Twenty-seven-year-old Holly Devine has just had her heart well and truly broken. Hurt by the two people she loves the most, she flees to her eccentric Aunt Clara’s cosy cottage t
o hide away over the winter season. But kind, impulsive Aunt Clara has other ideas… She’s not about to see her favourite niece wallowing in sadness during the most wonderful time of the year. So, with the help of her close circle of friends and plenty of gin, she creates a handmade advent calendar for Holly.
Every day in December, Holly opens a new door and has a different task to complete. She soon finds herself asking out a complete stranger – gorgeous, cheeky pub landlord, Finn Jackson. But as handsome Finn gets involved in her festive challenges, Holly’s determination to avoid romance is put to the test. Still, Finn’s far too carefree and single for true love, isn’t he?
As Holly begins to embrace each day – a complete makeover, building the biggest snowman she’s ever seen, singing in a karaoke contest – Finn is there adding fun and laughter to every moment. Holly starts to realise that she can become the person she’s always wanted to be…
But a secret from Finn’s past threatens to turn Holly’s Christmas upside down and makes her question everything she has experienced in the last few weeks. Will Finn open up to Holly in time to show her how he really feels? And will she complete the advent calendar challenges and fall in love this Christmas?
It’s time to curl up for a delicious Christmas romance about daring to take chances, opening yourself up to love, and being true to who you really are. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Debbie Johnson and Debbie Macomber.
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Summer at the Castle Cafe
‘Yes, yes, yes! This was the book that I have been waiting for all year! I absolutely loved it! Had me hooked from the first page… worth far more than five stars… Fab, fab, fab!!’ Stardust Book Reviews, 5 stars
IF YOU ONLY READ ONE BOOK THIS SUMMER, MAKE IT SUMMER AT THE CASTLE CAFE…
When Alice Appleton’s boyfriend dumps her out of the blue, just after she has lost her mother, she‘s knocked sideways. Escaping to the stunning Dorset coast, she takes a job at the crumbling Castle Café. It’s a million miles away from her busy London lifestyle, and she knows her mum would approve. Surrounded by cream teas and welcoming faces, could the quirky seaside village be the perfect place for Alice to heal her broken heart this summer?
Mysterious and handsome Jay O’Donnell has lived in picturesque Castle Cove since he was a child. Haunted by a tragedy from his past, he’s on a mission to save as many people as possible as a lifeboat volunteer. When newcomer Alice catches his eye, Jay he has to remind himself he can have no distractions. But he begins to realise that it might just be his turn to be rescued…
As Alice and Jay find in each other someone they can really talk to, will they learn the importance of letting go to make way for second chances?
A heart-warming and gorgeously uplifting story about the importance of friendship, finding yourself and embracing the summer. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Lucy Diamond and Phillipa Ashley.
Get it here!
The Little Guesthouse of New Beginnings
The Sunshine Hideaway, with its big bay windows and stunning view of Sunflower Island’s golden beaches, is the only place Madison Skylar has ever truly thought of as home. Could returning to the island be the second chance she needs?
Twenty-four-year-old Madison is hoping to create a new life for herself on Sunflower Island. But when she arrives, she discovers the beautiful little guesthouse is falling into disrepair. With the help of old friends Amy and Connor, Madison throws herself into reinventing the guesthouse into a gorgeous wellness retreat, introducing yoga sessions, adventure walks and ice-cream sundaes with a delicious twist. Will it be enough to save her childhood home?
Handsome and mysterious Connor has lived on Sunflower Island his whole life. He works hard as a builder, with his faithful dog Jaws by his side, but something is missing and he dreams of bigger things. As Connor helps to revamp The Sunshine Hideaway, this could be his opportunity to tell the woman he’s secretly been in love with for years how he really feels…
As spontaneous and fun-loving Madison settles into life on the close-knit island, she unexpectedly finds herself falling for shy Connor. Sparks fly, but are they just too different to make things work?
Or will Madison and Connor finally find true love this year?
An utterly perfect, feel-good romance about the power of friendship, the meaning of home and the joy of falling in love in the sunshine. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Milly Johnson and Debbie Macomber.
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The Little Village of New Starts
Sometimes turning everything upside down feels just right…
Evie Stuart is playing it safe. She lives on her family’s remote farm in the Scottish Highlands and never ventures beyond the local village of Lockton. The most unpredictable events in her life are the antics of Miss Daisy, her grandmother Agnes’s pygmy goat. She’s learned that bad things happen when she’s impulsive, and she’s determined not to get burned again.
Callum Ryder is exactly the opposite of what Evie wants in her ordered world. Six foot two of reckless energy with twinkling eyes and a dangerously charming smile, he’s a thrill-seeking American firefighter with no idea how to slow down. Callum enters Lockton like a whirlwind, fleeing his problems in New York City in search of the truth about his Scottish family.
Yet the pair might have more in common than they think… When the well-meaning Agnes persuades her to help Callum find his grandfather, Evie finds herself being challenged more than she has in years: from swimming in the fabled Bonnie Lochan to exploring an ancient castle and even entering the village jam-making championships. Turns out it’s easy for Evie and Callum to connect when they let go of their fears and enjoy the most surprising summer of their lives.
But getting close to Callum so quickly soon starts to look like it might ruin everything for Evie: she’s heading for a disaster exactly like the one that destroyed her a year ago when she fell for the wrong man and let him change her life. Maybe a fresh start isn’t going to be so simple after all… Is the safe haven Evie’s built about to crumble down around her?
A totally charming and moving story about being true to yourself, the power of new beginnings, and one magical summer that changes everything. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson, Carolyn Brown and Phillipa Ashley.
Get it here!
Acknowledgements
Thanks firstly go to Peter, who took up marathons and triathlons when he was in his forties and provides a fair amount of inspiration for my stories. When I write about wild swimming, sea swimming or any general sports craziness, I’m probably thinking of him. And to the family who fit him so perfectly, Christelle, Lucie, Mathis and Joseph.
To Chris, Erren and Charlie – the family who fit me perfectly too. Thanks for being on the roller coaster and not jumping off.
No acknowledgements would be complete without a big Prosecco cheers to my writing buddy Jules Wake, or Jackie Campbell (thanks for the yoga treat when edits were bringing me down), and Julie Anderson (thanks for the cocktails and enduring positivity). You guys keep me going.
To Hannah Bond, my fabulous and very patient editor, her cat Zora (who had a cameo in this book), Peta Nightingale, Noelle Holten, Kim Nash, Alexandra Holmes, Alex Crow, Claire Gatzen, Rachel Rowlands and everyone else in the wonderful Bookouture team! Not to mention all their hugely gifted authors.
To Mel and Rob Harrison of the very talented Thinking Fox, who created me a fabulous new website during lockdown which I LOVE!! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.
To all the lovely people who message me and leave such wonderful reviews – a huge thanks. This includes: Kirstie Campbell, Mags Evans, Pam Fryer, Claire Hornbuckle, Anne Winckworth, Alison Phillips, Amy Deane, Kim Holt, Soo Cieszynska, Jan Dunham, Tricia Osborne, Lynda Cardoza, Maria Rixon, Amanda Baker, Sue Moseley, Giulia Pitney Coope, Caroline Kelly, Sarah Marsh, Clare Seeley and anyone I may have forgotten. And to all the incredible bloggers who support me each time a book comes out, I am so grateful to you all.
A
s always, thanks to Katie Fforde, the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mum, Dad, Lynda, Louis, Auntie Rita, Auntie Gillian, Tanya, James, Rosie, Ava, Philip, Sonia, Stephanie and Muriel.
Finally, to the readers who have bought my books – many of whom have written reviews – I wouldn’t be here without you. xx
We – both author and publisher – hope you enjoyed this book. We believe that you can become a reader at any time in your life, but we’d love your help to give the next generation a head start.
If Every Day Was Christmas: A gorgeous and heart-warming Christmas romance Page 22