My gorgeous Book Camp girls – Cesca Major, Emily Kerr, Helen Redfern, Holly Martin, Kat Black and Katy Colins – and Basia, with her delicious food and calming presence. Thank you for reminding me why I love this job, and for making me cry with laughter on a regular basis. If I’m going to be electrocuted in a hot tub in a haunted house, there’s nobody else I’d rather have by my side. (Next time, we’re bringing spare candles . . .)
To my friend Jax, I send inarticulate expressions of tremendous affection (in a silent, side-by-side manner) and huge thanks for always being there, ready to read bits of half-formed book, and listening to my wailings.
To Miranda Dickinson, my beloved spooky writing twin, for moral support and general loveliness. And to Cathy Bramley, because I adore her. And to my dearest chum, Melanie Clegg, because she is splendid (and because hopefully this makes up for punching Courtney Love in the face). To Dawn Walton for friendship, inspiration, and for helping me see what was already there.
Thanks to the Prime Writers, for being the best support network (and procrastination partners) I could hope for.
To my North West writing gang Carys Bray, Keris Stainton, and Caroline Smailes for coffee, cake and the other thing.
Huge thanks as always to my amazing agent, Amanda Preston, who is a complete star and all round wonder-being. Your belief in me makes all the difference.
Thanks as always to everyone at Pan Mac for all the fab things they do so well, especially editors Victoria Hughes-Williams and Caroline Hogg.
I’d like to thank Munro’s B&B on the Isle of Bute for providing me with a beautiful space to write, and Karen at Print Point bookshop in Rothesay, who does such a brilliant job of sharing my island books up there.
Readers who know the Isle of Bute well might recognize the retreat setting – I took the liberty of borrowing the story of Edmund Kean and Woodend House, and altering it for my own ends. I’m grateful, too, to the Mount Stuart Estate – my time living there many years ago provided inspiration for both Sealed with a Kiss and Wildflower Bay. I’d also like to note that Isla might start off grumbling about being stuck there, but by the end of the novel she’s fallen in love with the fictional Auchenmor, which of course bears quite a lot of resemblance to Beautiful Bute.
Huge thanks to Nina Pottell for her help and advice on salon life – I should add that any howling errors are mine, not hers!
I’d also like to thank Gladstone’s Library for the space, quiet, and cake on my regular writing escapes.
Huge thanks go – of course – to the Facebook/Twitter/ Instagram gang who cheer me on when I’m stuck, and to the amazing, hard-working book blogging community who do so much. I am enormously grateful for all the work you do.
This book was written during a difficult year, but one we filled with family, love, and laughter. Being sprung from a silent library and taken for cake and gossip by my Aunty June, all the way from Tasmania, is one of my favourite memories. To Mum, Chris, Zoe and Mae – thanks for making me smile, and for holding my hand.
To Ross, who drops everything to read chapters sent by text message whilst doing the school run, juggles writing and children when I disappear off on writing retreats, and copes with my, er, creative temperament – and who makes me laugh every day – thank you, darling.
To Verity, Archie, Jude and Rory – I love seeing you grow into such funny, interesting people. You are amazing. (Have you tidied your rooms yet?)
Lastly, this book is written in memory of my Uncle Stewart, the kindest, funniest, most thoughtful man. You have left an enormous hole in our family, but we will try – as you would want us to – to fill it with love.
Sealed with a Kiss
By Rachael Lucas
Kate is dumped on her best friend’s wedding day by the world’s most boring boyfriend, Ian. She’s mostly cross because he got in first – until she remembers she’s now homeless as well as jobless. Rather than move back home to her ultra-bossy mother, Kate takes a job on the remote Scottish island of Auchenmor as an all-round Girl Friday. Her first day is pretty much a disaster: she falls over, smack bang at the feet of her grouchy new boss, Roddy, Laird of the Island. Unimpressed with her townie ways, he makes it clear she’s got a lot to prove.
Island life has no room for secrets, but prickly Roddy’s keeping something to himself. When his demanding ex-girlfriend appears back on the island, Kate’s budding friendship with her new boss comes to an abrupt end. What is Fiona planning – and can she be stopped before it’s too late?
‘Wonderful escapism with a gloriously romantic setting’
Katie Fforde
‘A wonderfully feel-good read’
Julia Williams
Sealed with a Christmas Kiss
By Rachael Lucas
Escape the stresses of the Christmas season with this warm, funny and truly inspiring novella from bestselling author Rachael Lucas
Kate has taken to life on the remote Scottish island of Auchenmor like a seal to water: she’s given a new lease of life to the Laird’s estate in her day job; she’s befriended the once-nosy locals; and even young Laird Roddy is not quite so grumpy these days.
Better still, Kate has just had her best idea yet: they’ll turn the castle into the most gorgeous wedding venue in Scotland. The pressure’s on as the first wedding is booked in for Christmas Eve – just weeks away. But with a mismatched bride and groom, a hysterical PR on her case, her own relationship woes and a huge storm blowing in, can Kate pull it off in time?
Coming Up Roses
By Rachael Lucas
Country air, cowslips and a charismatic rogue . . .
Would-be gardener Daisy can’t believe her luck when her parents announce they’re off on a midlife-crisis gap year, leaving her in charge of their gorgeous garden. After a turbulent few months, a spell of quiet in the countryside is just what she needs.
A shoulder to cry on wouldn’t go amiss either – so when Daisy comes across Elaine and Jo, she breathes a sigh of relief. But her new friends are dealing with dramas of their own . . .
As Daisy wrestles the garden into something resembling order, her feelings for handsome Irishman George begin to take root. But Daisy’s heart’s desire – her parent’s garden – is under threat, and she is forced to confront nosey neighbours and fight greedy developers. Village life is turning out to be far from peaceful.
Wildflower Bay
Rachael Lucas comes from the Highlands of Scotland. She now lives by the sea in the North West of England with her partner, four children, and an assortment of animals.
For more, visit her website at rachaellucas.com
You can find daily pictures on Instagram @rachaellucas and chat at Facebook.com/RachaelLucasWriter
First published in the UK 2016 by Pan Books
This electronic edition published 2016 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
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Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-6578-8
Copyright © Rachael Lucas 2016
Cover illustration by Sarah McMenemy
The right of Rachael Lucas to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third-party websites referred to in or on this book.
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