A Family Holiday: A heartwarming summer romance for fans of Katie Fforde
‘Heartwarming and funny from an exciting new talent’ – Katie FfordeShortlisted for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year 2017She’ll do whatever it takes to keep this family together…As the nanny to four quirky but loveable children, Charlie French has learnt that if there was ever a cement shortage Weetabix would be a viable substitute and that YouTube videos can go viral in seconds, much to her horror. But, most importantly, she's learnt that whatever happens you stick together as a family.When tragedy strikes, Charlie is forced to decide whether it’s time to move on or fight to keep the children she loves. With the distraction of the children's gorgeous Uncle Felix and the chance of a holiday in stunning Antigua, she’s left wondering if turquoise seas can wash away their present troubles. Is the pull of white sand beaches too tempting to resist or will paradise fail to keep them all together?A gorgeous summery beach read, perfect for fans of Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews and Jill Mansell.
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HarperImpulse an imprint of
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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2016
Copyright © Bella Osborne 2016
Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017
Cover photographs © Shutterstock.com
Cover design by Ellie Game
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is available from the British Library
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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Ebook Edition © June 2016 ISBN: 9780008119492
Version 2017-07-13
‘A well written and very intriguing tale that I really enjoyed’
Katie Fforde
‘A warm and engaging story with relatable characters who will worm their way into your heart’
Talli Roland
‘Loved it! Believable characters, a sweetly told, lovely story…a great read’
Jane Lovering
‘Romance, comedy, and mystery abound in this delightful British novel’
I Read That Book!
‘So beautiful and romantic’
Annie’s Book Corner
‘A well-written and charming tale’
Paris Baker’s Book Nook
‘I wasn’t expecting a debut novel to be this good’
The Bookish & The Romantic
‘Makes me feel like I should be reading it while wearing a tea dress, drinking posh coffee from a china cup and eating Victoria sandwich cake with a dainty little fork. It’s charming, adorable, amusing and all those sorts of words’
Escape Into Words
‘This book is perfect chick lit’
Gidget Girls Reading
For my amazingly supportive husband and daughter – I love you with all of my heart.
Table of Contents
Millie had forgotten her knickers again. The grinning toddler swung her legs happily as she sat on the toilet at the solicitor’s office. With all the children still off school and having been let down at the last moment, Charlie had been forced to bring them with her to the meeting. This was far from ideal. She was their nanny; not a member of the family, just a paid employee whose job stability was now very unclear.
‘Millie, it’s important that you keep your skirt down. Keep your bottom covered up, okay?’ said Charlie as they washed and dried their hands.
‘Bottom,’ repeated Millie with a giggle. She gripped Charlie’s hand tightly as they left the toilets, something the three-year-old would have resisted a couple of months ago due to her desire to be independent, but things had changed and Millie now needed Charlie close to her.
In the waiting room sat the other three children: Ted, George and Eleanor. Ted, the eldest at fifteen, was studiously ignoring everything around him. George had had a recent growth spurt and looked older than his ten years, making the two-year gap between him and Eleanor appear to be a lot more.
Eleanor’s face looked thin and pale and her eyes were full of sadness. Charlie sat down next to her and gently patted her hand as Millie inelegantly climbed onto the seat next to her, clutching her beloved Winnie the Pooh toy and immediately revealing her bare bottom to the rest of the solicitor’s waiting clients.
George sniggered and tried to exchange smiles with his older brother but Ted was looking deeply serious as he stared at the floor. George’s smile disappeared and he too started to study the carpet.
Eventually a very young-looking man called them into his office. He met them all solemnly at the door, introduced himself as Jonathan Steeple, and shook Charlie’s hand. ‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ he said and all Charlie could do was swallow hard and nod her response. They settled themselves into chairs as the solicitor squeezed behind a giant desk.
