THE TALISMAN – MOLLY’S STORY
Molly’s dream of taking over her childhood home at Withrin Hill Farm with husband Pip and their three children has finally come true. And, as they settle into the stunning Georgian farmhouse, with their plans to diversify into glamping nicely taking shape, the family couldn’t be happier. But tragedy suddenly strikes, and Molly’s world is turned upside down.
Heartbroken and devastated, she struggles to face each day. True to form, her fiercely loyal best friends, Kitty and Violet, rally round offering love and support, but Molly doesn’t think she’ll ever be able to smile again. Until the day a tall, dark stranger with twinkly eyes arrives… Follow Molly’s story in book 2 of the Life on the Moors Series set in Lytell Stangdale, a picture-perfect village in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors, where life is anything but quiet. A heart-warming story of love, friendship and hope.
I would like to thank the author Eliza J Scott for allowing me to share an extract from chapter twelve of The Talisman – Molly’s Story and it starts the morning of Molly’s and Pip’s weddings anniversary.
Extract
CHAPTER TWELVE
A finger of early morning sunlight poked its way through the chink in the curtains, caressing Molly’s cheek. She stirred and reached across the bed for Pip, anticipating the feel of his warm skin. Instead, her hand landed onto the empty space where he’d been. She opened her eyes to see a rumpled sheet and a dent in his pillow. Frowning, she turned back and picked up the alarm clock on her bedside table, brushing her hair out of her face and squinting at the numbers. Half-past seven. She sighed. She’d had a lie-in; he’d been long gone. She rubbed her eyes, and yawned, her thoughts slowly slotting into place.
She climbed out of bed, slid her feet into her slippers and padded along the landing to Emmie’s room. The house was quiet apart from the odd creak of an old floorboard, grumbling at being walked on. She peeked into Emmie’s room to see her still fast asleep, looking angelic and peaceful.
Molly headed downstairs and into the kitchen where Phoebe was curled up on the clippy mat. She wagged her tail at her mum. ‘Morning, Phoebe.’ Her words were stretched out by a yawn. ‘Where is everyone?’ she asked as she filled the kettle. Setting it down on the Aga hotplate, she headed over to the large window, sliding it open, allowing the cool, morning air to wash over. ‘Mmm,’ she sighed. Unusually for her, she’d been in a deep sleep and was finding it difficult to wake up.
Five minutes later, and with a few slurps of tea down her, Molly began to feel the fugginess in her head gradually receding. Sitting at the table, she pulled out the chair next to her and rested her feet on it. She sat quietly, listening to the sounds of the countryside pour through the open window, a cacophony that was easy on the ear. The familiar bay of the beast over at Tinkel Top Farm, the low thrum of a tractor, interspersed with shrill birdsong, the clucking of hens and the bleating of sheep. Farmyard sounds that Molly had known her whole life; they placed her firmly in her comfort zone. She wiggled her toes and sighed contentedly.
She was halfway through her mug of tea before she realised that it was Friday, the day that Pip was taking her for a romantic meal at the Sunne. Her heart leapt in happiness at the thought. She’d been shopping in York a few days earlier and had bought herself a pretty dress with matching shrug cardie. She’d even splurged on a pair of new shoes, too. Not usually a fan of clothes shopping, Molly had surprised herself with how much she’d enjoyed it, as well as having a few hours on her own to mooch around the shops at her leisure.
‘Mamamama.’ Emmie’s cries from upstairs dispersed her thoughts, and she set her mug down on the table.
‘Mummy’s coming, Em.’ Molly headed upstairs, pushing open Emmie’s bedroom door. Her heart melted at the sight of her daughter standing up in her cot, all birds’ nest hair, sleep-rosy cheeks and a patch of dried dribble by her mouth. ‘Good morning, little pudding. How are you?’ She scooped Emmie up and nuzzled into her, inhaling her delicious, warm scent. ‘Mmmm. Mummy loves her special girl,’ she said, delivering kisses to her cheek. Emmie chuckled and snuggled into her, triggering a warm flood of love right through Molly.
You can purchase this book from Amazon UK and US
You can also enter a Giveaway to Win The Letter – Kitty’s Story, chocolate and a clutch bag (Open Internationally) by following this LINK.
The prize is worth over £40 and consists of a paperback copy of the first book in the Life on the Moors Series, The Letter – Kitty’s Story, 3 bars of Love Cocoa chocolate by James and a Caroline Gardner clutch bag.
*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the author
Eliza lives in a 17th-century cottage on the edge of a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden. Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favourite things: tea and cake. Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heart-warming stories with happy endings.
You can follow the author on her website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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