Excerpt from Sweet Proposal by Celia J. Anderson

Books and chocolate, a perfect combination. :) Although I usually have a cat and iced tea while I read (the cat is sleeping next to me, I'm not eating him; he's too fuzzy! lol) Author Celia J. Anderson adds her spin to it with a hot Jacuzzi; books, chocolate and a Jacuzzi, that's hard to resist!

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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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 .  

Publisher: Piatkus Entice

Format: ebook

Release Date: August 1, 2013

Buying Links: Amazon* | ARe

* affiliate link; clicking & purchasing results in a small commission for the blog.

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EXCERPT

Sweet Proposal is the story Mab’s journey to a better place, in more ways than one. She has made some very dodgy choices lately, and the arrival of Leo in her life is a mixed blessing, bringing with it a turmoil of emotions.

Mab has a dream of being a published author and of being thin enough to eat as much cake as she likes, but her confidence is at an all time low after a flop of a relationship with a man who prefers curry to kissing. This extract sees Mab on her way to Beattie’s Bakehouse – her local wholefood cafe – for some much needed peace, quiet and time to write.

 

As she headed for the market place, Mab saw that the sunshine had brought the tourists out in force. Tree-lined avenues ran into charmingly quirky shopping streets, and old-fashioned signs pointed to the river walk, the castle and the museum of willow-weaving. Today there were lovers everywhere, holding hands, stopping to sneak a kiss, smiling sickeningly into each other’s eyes; even one pair gazing into the jewellery-shop window. She saw them leaning together as they peered at the rows of shining rings.

‘Go on, then – which one’s it to be?’ the man asked, slipping an arm round his girlfriend’s waist.

‘Ooh, go on . . . you choose. They’re all so expensive, I don’t know . . .’

‘Nothing’s too good for my girl,’ he said, reaching for his wallet. Mab pulled a face. Would this ever happen to her? And did she really want it?

Doing her best to avoid tripping over two entwined teenagers, Mab told herself how cool it was to be a strong, independent woman, in charge of her own life and destiny, rather than in a relationship as her status on Facebook had announced until recently. Granted, it had hurt to go back to single when Pete had disappeared three months ago with a blond scub- diving instructor from Queensland and £2,500 – Mab’s entire savings including the legacy from her grandpa. On the other hand, life without him was much less stressful and Mab could now watch the whole of EastEnders without interruption, and eat all the things she wanted without fear of Pete telling her she was getting fat. She frowned as she negotiated the crowd hanging around the mermaid fountain in the market square. There seemed to be some sort of under-age love-fest going on everywhere today – several couples giggled and groped happily, and one of the boys was playfully trying to tip his girlfriend into the pool. Mab shuddered. If she was going to even think of giving up her freedom again, it would be for a proper hero this time – a man who would dive in and rescue her from rushing waters, not push her into them. But was she really ready to move on after Pete and the way he’d made her feel? What Mab needed was a long heart to heart with her best friend, Jess. There were things she needed to tell Jess, and soon. Not today though – Jess would be hard at work buttering toast and making baguettes in the café.

‘Cheer up, love, it might never happen,’ shouted the window cleaner. Mab looked up at him as he swayed slightly at the top of his ladder. She gave him her best mean stare, lifting her sunglasses to maximise the effect. ‘Maybe it already has,’ she hissed, crossing the cobbles and heading down the little street of black-and-white timbered shops with their sloping walls and bottle-glass windows.

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So, go grab some chocolate, your beverage of choice and read!