Carla Burgess - Marry Me Tomorrow - The perfect, feel-good read to curl up with in 2017!

Twelve days. Two gold rings. One BIG secret…

Emily needs a husband…fast. It’s just a few days until Christmas and to finally put a stop to her nagging mother’s matchmaking plans, Emily has convinced her that she’s already married!

And when her excited mum announces that she’s coming to stay, Emily can think of only one man to play the part: gorgeous ex-soldier Sam. It’s the best part of her day, handing him a coffee every morning – but then, Emily never expected to offer him her hand in marriage, too…

All that’s left is for Sam to say ‘I do’ – it’s the perfect plan! So why then, do her ‘pretend’ feelings for Sam seem far too real ?

Fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Christie Barlow will love this heart-warming read from debut author Carla Burgess.

Marry Me Tomorrow

Carla Burgess

Copyright Copyright Author Bio Acknowledgement Dedication 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 Chapter Eighteen Epilogue 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 © Carla Burgess 2016

Carla Burgess 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: 9780008215392

Version date: 2018-07-23

CARLA BURGESS

was born in Solihull and now lives in Chester with her husband, three children, dog and bearded dragon. Her love of books was sparked when she borrowed Ghost Ship to Ganymede by Robert Swindells from her primary school library and devoured it in one night. It was just after this that she started writing her own stories and inflicting them on family and friends. She began her working life as an editor on a trade magazine where she dreamed of writing about romance instead of tubing, but still felt privileged to be working with words. She has a degree in English Literature and Psychology, and loves animals, the countryside and the sea. Carla’s debut novel, Marry Me Tomorrow , is released this year. You can follow her on Twitter at: @MsBear123

Thank you to the team at HQ Digital UK for all your hard work and support, especially my editor, Charlotte Mursell, and Rhea Kurien, who made ‘The Call’.

For Ian, Isobel, Tom and Cassie – with love.

Contents

Cover

Blurb Twelve days. Two gold rings. One BIG secret… Emily needs a husband…fast. It’s just a few days until Christmas and to finally put a stop to her nagging mother’s matchmaking plans, Emily has convinced her that she’s already married! And when her excited mum announces that she’s coming to stay, Emily can think of only one man to play the part: gorgeous ex-soldier Sam. It’s the best part of her day, handing him a coffee every morning – but then, Emily never expected to offer him her hand in marriage, too… All that’s left is for Sam to say ‘I do’ – it’s the perfect plan! So why then, do her ‘pretend’ feelings for Sam seem far too real ? Fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Christie Barlow will love this heart-warming read from debut author Carla Burgess.

Title Page Marry Me Tomorrow Carla Burgess

Copyright Copyright Copyright Author Bio Acknowledgement Dedication 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 Chapter Eighteen Epilogue 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 © Carla Burgess 2016 Carla Burgess 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: 9780008215392 Version date: 2018-07-23

Author Bio CARLA BURGESS was born in Solihull and now lives in Chester with her husband, three children, dog and bearded dragon. Her love of books was sparked when she borrowed Ghost Ship to Ganymede by Robert Swindells from her primary school library and devoured it in one night. It was just after this that she started writing her own stories and inflicting them on family and friends. She began her working life as an editor on a trade magazine where she dreamed of writing about romance instead of tubing, but still felt privileged to be working with words. She has a degree in English Literature and Psychology, and loves animals, the countryside and the sea. Carla’s debut novel, Marry Me Tomorrow , is released this year. You can follow her on Twitter at: @MsBear123

Acknowledgement Thank you to the team at HQ Digital UK for all your hard work and support, especially my editor, Charlotte Mursell, and Rhea Kurien, who made ‘The Call’.

Dedication For Ian, Isobel, Tom and Cassie – with love.

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

Chapter Eighteen

Epilogue

Endpages

About the Publisher

CHAPTER ONE

‘Will you marry me?’

The question hung between us, as tangible as the snowflakes floating around our heads. We were standing on the Eastgate, beneath the clock, and the picture postcard streets of Chester were filled with Christmas shoppers. Somewhere in the distance, The Salvation Army brass band struck up ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’, and the fairy lights strung between the black-and-white timber buildings glowed gold in the early evening darkness.