– The Magic of Wor(l)ds is a hobby, reviews and other bookish stuff on this site are done for free.
I’m grateful of receiving a free copy from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review of this book. –
Today I’m delighted to be on the ‘The Gentleman of Holly Street’ blogtour, organised by Rachel’s Random Resources.
To promote this book I’ll be sharing an extract, but first I have some information
About the Author :
Lotte James trained as an actor and theatre director, but spent most of her life working day jobs crunching numbers whilst dreaming up stories of love and adventure. She’s thrilled to finally be writing those stories, and when she’s not scribbling on tiny pieces of paper, she can usually be found wandering the countryside for inspiration, or nestling with coffee and a book.
Social Media Links:
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About the Book :
Will this Christmas…
Change their lives again?
When self-made gentleman Freddie Walton rescued penniless Philomena Nichols at Christmas eight years ago, he never imagined that he would build his empire with her. Yet whilst they have created a life together as friends, Freddie can’t let their special connection become more than that. Not when his dangerous past continues to haunt him… But what happens when Freddie’s feelings for Philomena also refuse to stay hidden?
And now it’s finally time for the
In this extract, we follow Freddie as he returns to London after a long voyage across the Atlantic, just in time for Christmas with Philomena – the Christmas which will change everything for them both…
All those years ago, he’d made building this company, this venture, his purpose. It had demanded all the focus, all the energy, he had. And somehow, it had grown beyond him. In a sense, his success had freed him to…
Do what?
‘Mind yerself, sir,’ one of the stevedores shouted as the men prepared to haul crates out with the winches.
Freddie waved, and, shaking his head at himself, took himself well out of the way of those actually working.
Those actually serving a purpose.
In fact, he took himself off the wharf entirely, and was not even spared a second glance, though some he passed tapped their caps or nodded. As he crossed the gates securing his enterprise, joined the bustle of the streets, and began to make his way home, Freddie felt glad, actually, that he didn’t have any more work to do this evening. Well, at least nothing pressing that would delay him any longer. And, shaking off the earlier melancholy thoughts, he reassured himself that the loss of old responsibilities only meant he would have time for new ones. He had money and influence now. He could find new ways to yield it. Perhaps politics.
Perhaps not.
Though it was tempting, to think he could make change that way, it didn’t quite fit.
What does?
Right this moment, Freddie couldn’t think of anything. Likely because of the toll of his journey. Though every step that brought him closer to Holly Street seemed to belie that summation that he was tired. Because with every step, he felt…lighter. Excited, happy, really. To be home. To be going home.
A smile even lifted the corners of his lips as he weaved around dockers and merchants, shoppers, and visitors. As he dodged coaches and carriages and fishmongers and women of the night. The brisk, somewhat foul air was a tonic, a balm, reminding him that he was home.
Right on time.
As promised.
A light dusting of snow began to fall, tiny little flakes that would likely not survive the night, but then, more would follow soon enough. A shiver ran through him, turning his mood and making his gut clench, and he ignored the prickles at the back of his neck, though he did glance over his shoulder.
Merely the cold, he reassured himself, spotting absolutely nothing out of the ordinary as he tightened his scarf. And he didn’t mind the cold, nor the snow for that matter; it was certainly better than London in the summer, and, well, it never ceased to remind him of his first night at Holly Street.
Of Mena.
Yes, very soon now, he would be home. And then, everything would be right again. Everything would come together, somehow, and he would be able to see, and plan for his future, with clarity, good sense, and verve.
Back where it all began…
The perfect place to begin again.
The Magic of Wor(l)ds
The Magic of Wor(l)ds 