Tag: Whispers of her Memories

 

Hi everyone ♥

Today’s post includes another snippet from my newest release WHISPERS OF HER MEMORIES. The story is set in New Zealand, South Island.

♥ ENJOY ♥

Today’s Snippet

Cameron tossed his tools in the back of the car when he heard someone shouting his name. It was Amy. Swiftly, he turned, wearing a forced smile.

“Cameron. Took you long enough to hear me,” she said, a hint of breathlessness in her voice. “Hello, Buddy.” She extended both hands to give his Collie, who patiently sat on the passenger seat with his head out the window, a thorough rub.

“Good morning. How can I help you? I’m in a bit of a hurry.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re always in a hurry.” She leaned against his car, crossing her arms. “So, Sofia’s granddaughter arrives tomorrow, and from what I’ve heard, you haven’t done a damn thing yet to the house.”

He nonchalantly shrugged. “I have my hands full, especially with the new houses and the repair works at the hotel.”

With a sigh, Amy placed her hand on his arm. “Look, I know you have a lot on your plate, but Sofia’s granddaughter is counting on this place to be what she imagined. This woman is coming here expecting the house to look like the photos Lucy sent her.”

Again, he casually raised his shoulder in a dismissive shrug, gently moving her hand off his arm. “You should’ve thought about it before you sent her those photos. I can’t see why this is suddenly my problem. Lucy works in real estate. Isn’t there a code against deception?”

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.

 

Get your copy of “THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE” here ♥ 

 

Hi everyone ♥

Today’s post includes another snippet from my newest release WHISPERS OF HER MEMORIES. The story is set in New Zealand, South Island.

♥ ENJOY ♥

Today’s Snippet

After clearing passport control, Mallory collected her luggage, and half an hour later, she was outside, loading her bags into the rental car’s boot. She set her destination on the GPS. But a short distance into the drive, she stopped, captivated by the breathtaking scenery. Snow still covered the mountain peaks, leaving her in awe, wondering if this wintry spectacle lasted all year. The beauty surpassed even her fond memories of childhood trips to the Victorian Alps with her mother.

As she continued her drive along the highway on the eastern shore of the lake, she stopped again at the Devils Staircase Lookout Point, capturing even more images of the stunning lake views. Her travels took her through Kingston and Lumsden until she finally arrived in Gore in the late afternoon. Tiredness spread through her body, and she decided to stay the night in a hotel, to finish the drive the next day. A quick scroll through social media and a brief message to friends informing them of her safe arrival was all she did before heading to bed. She even messaged Jacob, her mother’s partner. Their relationship had gradually drifted apart after her mother’s passing, and the goodbye hadn’t been positive. Neither of them had truly coped with the loss of Mallory’s mother and they’d had different ideas about how to move forward. Jacob struggled to accept her decision to leave. It hurt, and eventually, the contact had stopped completely.

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.

 

Get your copy of “THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE” here ♥ 

 

Hi everyone ♥

I’m back after spending a week with my daughters. I hope you’ll enjoy today’s snippet from my newest release WHISPERS OF HER MEMORIES. The story is set in New Zealand, South Island.

♥ ENJOY ♥

Today’s Snippet

Exhaling deeply, she stood as well, took all her belongings, and followed the crowd. Her heart raced as she moved along with all the other passengers, a grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. This was it. Her opportunity for a change, a new beginning, and she wasn’t going to let this slip through her fingers. Mallory stepped off the plane and down the stairs onto the tarmac. A crisp breeze that carried a scent of fresh mountain air combined with the sharp tang of jet fuel made her shiver. She wished she could thank her mystery grandmother for leaving her a house. Why had her mother kept her a secret? Why hadn’t she ever mentioned her? A twinge of sadness trickled through her, thinking of her mum, who had lost her life two years earlier. The loss was still raw for Mallory. One moment, her mother was full of life, laughing over breakfast, and the next — gone. An aneurysm, the doctors had said. No warning. No time to say goodbye. Barely fifty years old, and everything changed in an instant. Her throat tightened as she navigated through the queues for immigration and passport control, remembering the loneliness that had followed. It had hit her hard. Her mother had been her world, her anchor. There was no one else. She’d never known her biological father, who’d been just a fleeting moment in her mother’s life and who she had never talked of. But that never mattered. They’d been a team, always together, always enough for each other. Mallory wouldn’t complain. Her childhood had been a blur of love, laughter, and many wonderful memories. And then Jacob came into the picture. Her mother’s face would light up around him as if she’d found another piece of happiness. They still had their fun, their inside jokes, their easy bond. Mallory smiled at the memory, and a bittersweet warmth filled her chest.

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.

 

 

Get your copy of “THEIR BOND THROUGH JADE” here ♥

 

Hi everyone ♥

Today’s post includes another snippet from my newest release WHISPERS OF HER MEMORIES. The story is set in New Zealand, South Island.

♥ ENJOY ♥

Today’s Snippet

Everyone moved off their chairs and reached for their luggage. It was chaotic for the next ten minutes, with most of the passengers trying to get out at the same time.

Mallory stayed in her seat. A sudden sadness and worry overwhelmed her. There was no turning back anymore. It was going to be different. Of course it would be; after all, she was moving from a metropolitan city to a small coastal town with a thousand or so people, if that. Everything familiar was back in Australia, and she needed to find her feet again in so many ways.

She held back the tears, took one of the serviettes she’d forgotten to hand over as rubbish, and cleared her nose.

Yet, the journey had only just begun, and she knew she was capable of embracing the possibilities that lay ahead in her new home despite her worries. Her mother had raised her to be independent and strong, and she’d be disappointed if she saw Mallory fail at this … as she had with so many things since her mother passed.

The old man beside her shifted in his seat, clearly struggling a little with the small overhead bag above him. Without hesitation, Mallory stood and offered, “Let me help you with that.” She carefully pulled it down and handed it to him with a warm smile.

“You have a wonderful holiday, aye,” the old man said as they disembarked.

She smiled again, touched by his kindness. “I sure will. Thank you.”

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.

 

 

 

Hi everyone ♥

Today’s post includes another snippet from my newest release WHISPERS OF HER MEMORIES. The story is set in New Zealand, South Island.

♥ ENJOY ♥

Today’s Snippet

“It’s a start, Mon.” Maggie’s voice had softened. “You don’t have to run off to another country just because things aren’t happening as fast as you’d like. You can sell the house and live off that money. It would set you up nicely.”

Mallory had nodded. “Yes, I could. I might even consider that. Who knows?” She’d shrugged. “But first I want to check it out. There’s a grandmother I have never heard of who’s left me a house. I don’t know. I can’t just sell it.”

“But you can just leave everything behind for this stranger?”

They had gone back and forth, neither willing to budge, the smell of the fish and chips filling the room but neither of them touching the food. Mallory knew Maggie was just worried. But Mallory had made her choice, and she wasn’t turning back. Life had been a challenge. Maybe, just maybe, this was her chance to something better.

By the time Maggie had left, her untouched dinner was still on the table. But deep inside, Mallory squashed the doubts that had crept up at the edges of her mind. It wasn’t just the art gallery acceptance Maggie had mentioned, or her few friends Mallory was leaving behind. It was the comfort of the familiar and the safety of not taking risks.

But here she was, sitting in a plane, flying towards an unfamiliar life.

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.