Natalie Kleinman - Escape to the Cotswolds

Can love blossom in the countryside?

Artist Holly Hunter is turning her life upside down! She’s leaving the bright lights of London (and a cheating husband) behind her and hoping for a fresh start as she escapes to the peaceful Cotswolds countryside.

Men are off the cards for Holly. Instead, she’s focusing on her little gallery and adopting an adorable Border Collie puppy named Tubs. Or so she thought …

Because no matter how hard she tries to resist him, local vet Adam Whitney is utterly gorgeous . And in a village as small as this one, Holly can only avoid Adam for so long!

Escape to the Cotswolds this summer with this uplifting romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Jane Costello, Holly Martin and Carole Matthews.

Escape to the Cotswolds

Natalie Kleinman

ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Contents

Cover

Blurb Can love blossom in the countryside? Artist Holly Hunter is turning her life upside down! She’s leaving the bright lights of London (and a cheating husband) behind her and hoping for a fresh start as she escapes to the peaceful Cotswolds countryside. Men are off the cards for Holly. Instead, she’s focusing on her little gallery and adopting an adorable Border Collie puppy named Tubs. Or so she thought … Because no matter how hard she tries to resist him, local vet Adam Whitney is utterly gorgeous . And in a village as small as this one, Holly can only avoid Adam for so long! Escape to the Cotswolds this summer with this uplifting romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Jane Costello, Holly Martin and Carole Matthews.

Title Page Escape to the Cotswolds Natalie Kleinman ONE PLACE. MANY STORIES

Author Bio NATALIE KLEINMAN a born and bred Londoner, has a not-so-secret wish to live in the area she so enjoys writing about. While this isn’t practical at the moment, she still allows herself to dream of honey-coloured stone cottages, quaint villages and rippling brooks. Maybe one day. A late-comer to writing, she has two published novels and many short stories to her name. She attributes her success to a determination to improving her craft, attending any and every writing event she can. All that, and a weekly attendance at The Write Place Creative School in Dartford, where cream cakes are frequently on the agenda. Natalie lives with her husband, Louis, in Blackheath, south-east London - except when she’s tripping off to the Cotswolds in the name of research. Somebody has to do it! You can find Natalie on Twitter @NatKleinman or Facebook www.facebook.com/natalie.kleinman

Acknowledgements Thank you to Charlotte Mursell and Rayha Rose, my editors at HarperCollins HQ, whose enthusiasm and support have been a beacon lighting my way. To Elaine Everest who runs The Write Place Creative Writing School in Dartford. She has mentored and sometimes bullied me and, even in the midst of her own busy writing life, still always finds time for her students. She has taught me so much. To The Romantic Novelists Association who opened up a whole new world to me – one which continues to expand. My faithful beta readers, Jean, Moya and Bren, willing from the word go to read and reread till a stage was reached when my manuscript was fit to submit. To my daughters Carole and Tracy and my sister Rhona whose faith in me was absolute. And to my husband who cooks and cleans for me, encourages and enthuses, and never ever by hint or word suggests that I am neglecting him, which I know I do.

Dedication To my husband, Louis Who doesn’t seem to mind how many times I ask him to take me to The Cotswolds

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

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Endpages

Copyright

NATALIE KLEINMAN

a born and bred Londoner, has a not-so-secret wish to live in the area she so enjoys writing about. While this isn’t practical at the moment, she still allows herself to dream of honey-coloured stone cottages, quaint villages and rippling brooks. Maybe one day.

A late-comer to writing, she has two published novels and many short stories to her name. She attributes her success to a determination to improving her craft, attending any and every writing event she can. All that, and a weekly attendance at The Write Place Creative School in Dartford, where cream cakes are frequently on the agenda.

Natalie lives with her husband, Louis, in Blackheath, south-east London - except when she’s tripping off to the Cotswolds in the name of research. Somebody has to do it!

You can find Natalie on Twitter @NatKleinman or Facebook www.facebook.com/natalie.kleinman

Thank you to Charlotte Mursell and Rayha Rose, my editors at HarperCollins HQ, whose enthusiasm and support have been a beacon lighting my way. To Elaine Everest who runs The Write Place Creative Writing School in Dartford. She has mentored and sometimes bullied me and, even in the midst of her own busy writing life, still always finds time for her students. She has taught me so much. To The Romantic Novelists Association who opened up a whole new world to me – one which continues to expand. My faithful beta readers, Jean, Moya and Bren, willing from the word go to read and reread till a stage was reached when my manuscript was fit to submit. To my daughters Carole and Tracy and my sister Rhona whose faith in me was absolute. And to my husband who cooks and cleans for me, encourages and enthuses, and never ever by hint or word suggests that I am neglecting him, which I know I do.

To my husband, Louis

Who doesn’t seem to mind how many times I ask him to take me to The Cotswolds

Chapter One

‘I’m leaving him, Emma.’

There was determination in her voice but an underlying hesitation as well.

‘And not a moment too soon, if you ask me.’

When Holly pulled the corkscrew out of her strawberry-blonde curls the side bits were just long enough to reach her mouth. It had been a habit since childhood, sucking the ends of her hair when she was agitated.

‘Yeah, well it’s easy for you to say,’ Holly said, the tiniest edge to her voice. She was never short with Emma, her oldest friend and her shoulder to cry on. At the moment though she was understandably distraught and Emma took it in good part.

‘No, of course it isn’t. But it’s time you showed Harry what you’re really made of.’

‘He’s seen what I’m made of. He just doesn’t seem to be interested any more.’

‘Oh, Holly, you have to get yourself out of there and as soon as possible.’

Holly sucked harder on her hair while conjuring up a picture of her best friend on the other end of the phone: willowy and with long thick dark waves that Holly had envied ever since they were nine years old. She still found it hard to believe Emma was the mother of six-year-old twins.

‘So have you decided what you’re going to do?’

‘No, I’ve just been getting through one day at a time. I haven’t even told Harry yet.’

‘And you’re waiting for what exactly?’

‘Courage.’

‘Oh, Holly,’ Emma repeated then paused, as if she didn’t quite know what to say next. ‘Do you want me to come over?’

In spite of her pain Holly smiled. ‘What, like hop on a bus, you mean? Emma, I live in London. You’re in the middle of the country.’