About the Book
Title: Christmas at the Contraband Café
Author: Liberty Bell
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Chloe Charlesworth has had the week from hell. Not only
did she have her dream job as a fashion journalist, snatched away from her,
then her aunt breaks her leg. So, Chloe leaves London on a mercy dash to Rum
Cove in North Yorkshire to help run her aunt's businesses, the Contraband Café
and trekking centre. Chloe imagines she will be simply popping in to check that
her aunt has the right help, but when she accidentally poisons her aunt's
horses and argues with the local vet, she feels obligated to help out with the
numerous Rum Cove's Christmas events, which all centre around the Contraband
Café. But, Chloe is desperate to get back to London, move in with her
boyfriend, Marcus, and find another journalist's job, the only trouble being
that he doesn't seem too keen on the idea.
Rum Cove, an old fishing village, is undeniably beautiful
and the locals very friendly, except for the local vet Luke, who is appallingly
rude and arrogant. Thankfully Marcus decides to visit and Chloe soon realises
that she has some serious decisions to make. A sparkling, Christmas romance.
Author Bio
Liberty Bell is a
social worker and teacher. She lives in Lincolnshire with her partner, children and assorted pets. Liberty love
reading, writing and walking in beautiful countryside. She also likes baking,
eating, more eating, especially chocolate and more than the occasional glass of
wine or sloe gin. Liberty has written two other romantic novels; Scotch on the
Loch and A Scottish Retreat. Both are available on Amazon.
Scarlett Brodie is a
psychologist and lives with her partner and children in rural Derbyshire. She
enjoys reading, painting and has an interest in children’s education. She has
previously written several children’s books and met Liberty on a writing course
where they decided to team up together to write Christmas at The Contraband
Café. Scarlett has also written the evocative Friends Reunited, which is also
available on Amazon.
All our books are available on www.mycupofteapress.co.uk and Amazon.
Our twitter links are
@libertybelli and @suzicress123 for
Scarlett Brodie
Links
Get your copy from
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Contraband-Cafe-Year-Cove-Winter-ebook/dp/B01LX2ZS4T/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478700774&sr=8-1&keywords=christmas+contraband+cafe
Book Excerpts
Excerpt
The Contraband Café was situated about halfway up a
narrow cobbled street which led down to the bay. As they walked, the scent of
the sea was unmistakable along with the sound of seagulls shrieking overhead.
Although it was a grey December day and freezing, the main street in Rum Cove
looked so quaint that Chloe felt a rush of anticipation. The beach shops, ice
cream parlours and Bed and Breakfasts were all closed out of season, but the
street was beautifully maintained and Chloe found herself longing to press her
nose up against the shop windows and look inside. There was a small grocer’s
shop, Post Office and bakery that were open all year round and a chandlery
selling fishing and sailing equipment, such as lobster pots and nets for
fishermen, whose boats were bobbing up and down in the harbour. Set high on a
rocky outpost was The Spyglass Inn, a fabulous imposing stone building. Chloe
felt that she was transported back in time as she noticed the little stone
passageways which led off the cobbled street. She could almost imagine the
sailors, pirates and smugglers who must have lived here. About halfway down the
Contraband Cafe’s sign swung slowly in the breeze, showing a pair of swarthy
pirate types with long black boots, rolling barrels of liquor, presumably rum,
to their secret hiding place.
‘Here
we are.’ Lottie expertly unlocked the café door and led Chloe inside. The café
was decorated with bunting, mismatched old chairs and tables set with gingham
table cloths and mismatched old crockery. The walls were adorned with photos of
Rum Cove from a bygone age and the mullioned windows and beams were clearly
authentic. There was a box of Christmas decorations waiting to be put up and
even a shiny stainless steel coffee machine behind the counter. Chloe nearly
jumped out of her skin when she saw a dark swashbuckling figure wearing
breeches, boots, a huge overcoat and tricorn hat in one corner.
‘Oh,
don’t worry. That’s a model of Black Jack Bates, a local smuggler who used to
live here, in this very house. He was hung in nearby Whitby and is said to
haunt the place, but I’ve never seen him, so don’t look so worried. Right, I’ll
show you round.’
‘Where
did you get him?’ Chloe marvelled at the lifelike full size figure. It was
extremely realistic.
Lottie shrugged. ‘Sparks made him, actually.’
‘Sparks the goth handyman?’
Lottie nodded. ‘Yes. He has real talent.’
Chloe marvelled at why a man with such a talent for art,
insisted on pursuing a musical career for which he clearly had no aptitude
whatsoever. She shuddered at the thought of the dreadful music he had played
her and winced.
Lottie’s face broke into an understanding smile.
‘It’s a pity the
same cannot be said about his singing.’
Chloe grinned back, her spirits lifting.
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