Alice Ross - A Winter's Wish

Tis the season to be jolly…isn’t it?

Ameliais at breaking point. She’s just lost her job and Doug, the love of her life, still hasn’t broken up with his girlfriend. Surely a trip to the quiet countryside is just what she needs!

Philis about to leave beautiful Buttersley for the other side of the world! The sunny shores of Australia will mean a new life with his girlfriend, but something is holding him back…

Ellahas never felt this way before – Jake O’Donnell is the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. And the more time she spends babysitting his kids, the more her feelings grow!

Stanshould be happy. He loves his wife and their adorable baby girl more than anything! So why, when everything’s finally going right, are they arguing more than ever?

One thing’s for sure, even when Buttersley’s first snowflakes begin to fall, it’s never too cold for love to blossom…

Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Cathy Bramley and Claire Sandy.

Available from Alice Ross Book List Title Page Copyright Author Bio Acknowledgement Dedication Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Endpages About the Publisher

Countryside Dreams

An Autumn Affair

A Summer of Secrets

A Winter’s Wish

Forty Things to do Before You’re Forty

A Winter’s Wish

Alice Ross

Copyright Contents Cover Blurb Book List Title Page Copyright Author Bio Acknowledgement Dedication Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Endpages About the Publisher

HQ

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2016

Copyright © Alice Ross 2016

Alice Ross asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

E-book Edition © June 2016 ISBN: 9781474058155

Version date: 2018-07-23

ALICE ROSS

escaped her dreary job in the financial services industry a few years ago and has never looked back. Dragging her personal chef (aka her husband) along with her, she headed to Spain, where she began writing witty, sexy romps destined to amuse readers slightly more than the pension brochures of her previous life. Now back in her home town of Durham, when not writing, she can be found scratching out a tune on her violin, walking her dog in wellies two sizes too big (don’t ask!) or standing on her head in a yoga pose. Alice loves to hear from readers, and you can follow her on Twitter at @AliceRoss22 or on facebook.com/alice.ross.108.

A huge thank you, as always, to my fabulous editor, Charlotte Mursell, for all her input, guidance and hard work on this book. It is very much appreciated.

A special thanks to the HQ Digital design team for all three covers in the Countryside Dreams series – I absolutely love them.

And finally, a humongous thank you to Kaisha and Eva for their invaluable help with all my (many) child-related questions. ‘Wowatoes’ – who knew!

For the gorgeous girls in Galashiels

Thank you for all your encouragement with the book – and the laundry!

Contents

Cover

Blurb Tis the season to be jolly…isn’t it? Amelia is at breaking point. She’s just lost her job and Doug, the love of her life, still hasn’t broken up with his girlfriend. Surely a trip to the quiet countryside is just what she needs! Phil is about to leave beautiful Buttersley for the other side of the world! The sunny shores of Australia will mean a new life with his girlfriend, but something is holding him back… Ella has never felt this way before – Jake O’Donnell is the most gorgeous man she’s ever seen. And the more time she spends babysitting his kids, the more her feelings grow! Stan should be happy. He loves his wife and their adorable baby girl more than anything! So why, when everything’s finally going right, are they arguing more than ever? One thing’s for sure, even when Buttersley’s first snowflakes begin to fall, it’s never too cold for love to blossom… Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Cathy Bramley and Claire Sandy.

Book List Available from Alice Ross Book List Title Page Copyright Author Bio Acknowledgement Dedication Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Extract Endpages About the Publisher Countryside Dreams An Autumn Affair A Summer of Secrets A Winter’s Wish Forty Things to do Before You’re Forty

Title Page A Winter’s Wish Alice Ross

Copyright

Author Bio ALICE ROSS escaped her dreary job in the financial services industry a few years ago and has never looked back. Dragging her personal chef (aka her husband) along with her, she headed to Spain, where she began writing witty, sexy romps destined to amuse readers slightly more than the pension brochures of her previous life. Now back in her home town of Durham, when not writing, she can be found scratching out a tune on her violin, walking her dog in wellies two sizes too big (don’t ask!) or standing on her head in a yoga pose. Alice loves to hear from readers, and you can follow her on Twitter at @AliceRoss22 or on facebook.com/alice.ross.108 .

Acknowledgement A huge thank you, as always, to my fabulous editor, Charlotte Mursell, for all her input, guidance and hard work on this book. It is very much appreciated. A special thanks to the HQ Digital design team for all three covers in the Countryside Dreams series – I absolutely love them. And finally, a humongous thank you to Kaisha and Eva for their invaluable help with all my (many) child-related questions. ‘Wowatoes’ – who knew!

Dedication For the gorgeous girls in Galashiels Thank you for all your encouragement with the book – and the laundry!

Prologue A few days earlier ‘Guess who’s coming to stay,’ announced Annie O’Donnell in the kitchen of The Cedars. Seven-year-old Sophie began jumping up and down. ‘Who? Who?’ ‘Aunty Amelia.’ Sophie ceased jumping and yanked the zip of her tiger onesie all the way up to her hairline. Husband Jake’s cheese and pickle sandwich came to a halt midway to his mouth. Two-year-old Thomas dunked Mr Potato Head into his full pot of yoghurt. And Pip the dog rolled over and played dead. The response was much as Annie had expected.