Hi everyone ♥
Today’s post includes another snippet from my newest release WHISPERS OF HER MEMORIES. This is the start of Chapter 2, Mallory’s POV.
The story is set in New Zealand, South Island.
♥ ENJOY ♥
Today’s Hook
“This is the lounge room,” a young woman now standing in the doorframe said, holding up a bottle of wine. Her easy smile lit up her face, conveying a sense of warmth, which eased the tension in Mallory’s shoulders. A flicker of comfort settled in her chest, though she wasn’t sure if it was the genuine Kiwi hospitality or the simple fact that someone had acknowledged her in a way that made her feel less… alone.
“Well, whoever you are, welcome to my lounge room,” Mallory said, managing a hesitant smile.
In a delightful Kiwi accent, the woman said, “This room will be stunning once it’s fixed up.” She stepped closer, offering her hand. “Welcome to Anahera Bay. I’m Amy, your neighbour from across the road. I’m assuming you’re Mallory, right?”
Mallory nodded and again, Amy raised the bottle of wine with a playful grin. “How about we find some glasses and toast to your arrival? It looks like you could use it,” she said, gesturing towards Mallory’s tears.
Managing a tentative smile, Mallory replied, “Hi, Amy. You have no idea how much your visit means to me. This…” She motioned around the room, her hand trembling slightly. “This is not what I expected.”
Amy laughed again, a sound that felt as if it could cut through Mallory’s uncertainty. “I had a feeling that would be the case. Lucy, the real estate agent, mentioned they played with the images a little.”
“A little?” Mallory raised her brows. “That’s putting it mildly.”
Blurb
Mallory O’Neill swaps the buzz of Melbourne for the quiet shores of Anahera Bay, New Zealand, hoping for a fresh start… not secrets and surprises. But the crumbling seaside cottage left to her by Sofia—the grandmother she never knew—holds more than just dust and disrepair. It holds the key to a family history her late mother never spoke of.
As Mallory pieces together Sofia’s past, she faces the doubts of old friends and the arrival of an unexpected stranger. Along the way, she finds friendships among the locals, but she also meets resistance from the brooding handyman, Cameron Quinn, a man haunted by his own past.
When faded letters, old photographs, and buried truths come to light, Mallory and Cameron find themselves drawn together by grief, memory, and a spark neither of them expected.
Good to see she’s meeting someone who knows the area.
Always good to meet a local, isn’t it 🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Kayelle.
Each week I am more convinced I need to visit New Zealand from your descriptions of scenery and people.
My work here is done 🙂 … LOL
I hope you’ll get the chance to travel to NZ one day!
I’m glad Mallory has a friend. I think she’s going to need one!
Yes, moving to a beautiful place is nice and inviting, but it can be lonely at the beginning 😉