Sweet Proposal by Celia J Anderson
Books, chocolate
and a Jacuzzi: could there be a better combination? Gorgeous Geordie Leo
arrives in Clayton-on-the-Bream with a mission to make his mark. When he
reveals his ideas for a bespoke bookshop and chocolate-themed cafe, struggling
writer Mab can’t resist his plea for help.
However, Leo’s
timing is disastrous. Engaged to flighty, super-thin Sophie and knowing that
Mab is up to her neck in a mysterious scheme of her own, Leo fights hard to
ignore the warm, sensual friendship that is growing between them. When their
eclectic mix of family and friends weigh in to help, the dream seems almost
possible, but can Leo ignore Mab’s shady past? As they battle with sabotage,
jealousy, vindictive neighbours and unpredictable relationships, Mab and Leo
find that even chocolate can’t always make miracles happen . . .
Available from:
*****
Excerpt:
Leo swerved to
avoid a dead badger. The A1 was still so quiet that groups of starlings rose in
disgruntled crowds as he disturbed their breakfast, and the café where he had
once eaten the best bacon sandwich of his life was firmly shuttered.
He
gave in to the violent rumblings of his stomach and reached into the glove box,
tearing the emergency chocolate bar open with his teeth and chewing until the
bitter sweetness melted on his tongue, soothing and sensual. Chocolate and the
future – they were closely linked in Leo’s mind. He sighed deeply. It was a
pity that Sophie didn’t share his enthusiasm, but he supposed it was hard to
get enthusiastic about a chocolate-based dream when all you ate was lettuce.
Sophie was only twenty-five after all, ten years younger than Leo, stunningly
beautiful and harder to amuse than a teenager on a family holiday. Maybe after
they were married she would realise what a brilliant opportunity this move was
going to be, and would be ready to leave Newcastle
Stretching
his legs, Leo decided that this cab must have been designed for a much smaller
man. He yawned, felt his eyelids droop and blinked furiously, thinking of hot
baths and strong coffee. He’d had no sleep for almost twenty-four hours.
Celebrating was fine, but work would have to come first from now on. It was
time for the Chocolate Project. The excitement that had been building up in
waves washed over Leo again, and he gave the middle-aged lady driving towards
him the full benefit of his flashing grin and dimples. He saw her jaw drop and
laughed for the sheer joy of living – at last, Leo was about to make his mark,
and no one was going to stop him.
*****
Author Bio:
When she’s not marking children’s work, or
writing stories involving pants, Celia spends far too much time on Facebook
(Celia Joy Anderson) and does a lot of walking to counteract the cooking,
eating and drinking which form another of her hobbies. She blogs as part of the
Romaniacs online writers’ group - http://theromaniacgroup.wordpress.com
and tweets as @CeliaAnderson1. Her own website was recently launched thanks to
Lucy Felthouse – http://celiajanderson.co.uk
and she has an author page on Facebook (Celia J Anderson)
Her ultimate dream is to have her
children’s books published too. Usually sea-starved in the depths of the
Midlands, she can often be found wandering happily around Brighton visiting her
two daughters and pretending to collect ideas for her next book.
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