Laurie Ellingham - Ours is the Winter - a gripping story of love, friendship and adventure

There are some secrets you can’t escape…

Journeying across the Arctic, their pasts are about to catch up with them.

Erica, Molly and Noah are embarking on the challenge of a lifetime, driving Siberian huskies across the frozen wilderness of the Arctic. Cut off from the world and their loved ones and thrown together under gruelling conditions, it isn’t long before the cracks start to show.

Ericahas it all. A loving husband, a successful career and the most adorable baby daughter. But Erica has been living a double life, and as she nears her fortieth birthday her lies threaten to come crashing down.

Mollywas on her way to stardom. But when her brother died, so did her dreams of becoming an Olympic champion. Consumed by rage and grief, she has shut out everyone around her, but now she’s about to learn that comfort can come from the most unexpected places.

Noahhas a darkness inside him and is hounded by nightmares from his past. Tortured, trapped and struggling to save his fractured relationship, he knows this journey is not going to help, but try telling his girlfriend that.

As their lives and lies become ever more entwined, it becomes clear that in the frozen wilds there is nowhere to hide.

Ours is the Winter

Laurie Ellingham

ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Contents

Cover

Blurb There are some secrets you can’t escape… Journeying across the Arctic, their pasts are about to catch up with them. Erica, Molly and Noah are embarking on the challenge of a lifetime, driving Siberian huskies across the frozen wilderness of the Arctic. Cut off from the world and their loved ones and thrown together under gruelling conditions, it isn’t long before the cracks start to show. Erica has it all. A loving husband, a successful career and the most adorable baby daughter. But Erica has been living a double life, and as she nears her fortieth birthday her lies threaten to come crashing down. Molly was on her way to stardom. But when her brother died, so did her dreams of becoming an Olympic champion. Consumed by rage and grief, she has shut out everyone around her, but now she’s about to learn that comfort can come from the most unexpected places. Noah has a darkness inside him and is hounded by nightmares from his past. Tortured, trapped and struggling to save his fractured relationship, he knows this journey is not going to help, but try telling his girlfriend that. As their lives and lies become ever more entwined, it becomes clear that in the frozen wilds there is nowhere to hide.

Title Page Ours is the Winter Laurie Ellingham ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Author Bio LAURIE ELLINGHAM Laurie lives on the Suffolk/Essex border with her two children, husband, and cockerpoo Rodney. She has a First Class honours degree in Psychology and a background in Public relations, but her main love is writing and disappearing into the fictional world of her characters, preferably with a large coffee and a Twix (or two) to hand.

Acknowledgements A huge thank you to Donna Adams for sharing her experience of the arctic challenge with me. To my beta-readers Cathy Oldfield and eagle-eyed Kathryn Jones - thank you. Thank you to my lovely agent, Tanera, for believing in me, and my amazing editor, Celia, for her hard work and editing awesomeness. A final thanks to my writing friends for keeping me going, and my family for putting up with me.

Dedication To my amazing sister-in-laws: Katherine, Anna and Bec.

Arctic Husky Challenge Itinerary

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Excerpt

Copyright

LAURIE ELLINGHAM

Laurie lives on the Suffolk/Essex border with her two children, husband, and cockerpoo Rodney. She has a First Class honours degree in Psychology and a background in Public relations, but her main love is writing and disappearing into the fictional world of her characters, preferably with a large coffee and a Twix (or two) to hand.

A huge thank you to Donna Adams for sharing her experience of the arctic challenge with me. To my beta-readers Cathy Oldfield and eagle-eyed Kathryn Jones - thank you.

Thank you to my lovely agent, Tanera, for believing in me, and my amazing editor, Celia, for her hard work and editing awesomeness.

A final thanks to my writing friends for keeping me going, and my family for putting up with me.

To my amazing sister-in-laws: Katherine, Anna and Bec.

Arctic Husky Challenge

Itinerary

Are you ready for the challenge of a lifetime? Drive your own team of elite Siberian huskies 260km across the frozen wilderness of the Arctic in an experience you’ll never forget!

Day 1. Arrive at Tromsø, Norway

On arrival at Tromsø airport you will meet with your fellow mushers and board a minibus to the beautiful grounds of our dog sled camp, Huskyleir, where you’ll meet your guides for the challenge and be kitted up with all the equipment you’ll need to survive in sub-zero temperatures. In the evening you’ll enjoy one of Norway’s speciality game dishes by an open fire in our traditional Lavvu tent.

Day 2. Briefing

After breakfast your guides will brief you on every aspect of the challenge ahead, and after being introduced to your huskies, you’ll have the chance to practise your skills on a short sled run.

Day 3. Tri-Nations Border

Following an early breakfast it’s back in the minibus for a short ride to the start of your Arctic challenge. Today you will sled 40km to the Tri-Nations Border between Norway, Sweden, and Finland, and spend your first night camping under the breathtaking Northern Lights.

Day 4. Swedish Mountains

Today will be the most challenging of your journey and will see you climb with your dogs up the Swedish mountains before descending to your second campground of the trek. Be prepared for some spectacular views over the Arctic! 60km.

Day 5. Rostojvri Fishing Camp

With every up, comes a down. Today you’ll enjoy an easy 50km sledding downhill to the Rostojvri Fishing Camp where you’ll enjoy a rest from tents and spend a night in traditional log cabins.

Day 6. Swedish Forests

Today you will sled 65km through the beautiful Swedish forests and enjoy an open campfire before a final night of camping.

Day 7. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi

On your final day of the challenge you’ll continue sledding through the beautiful forests of Sweden for 45km and arrive at the Icehotel in time for an early dinner and a night’s stay in this award-winning hotel.