Marry Me Tomorrow: The perfect, feel-good read to curl up with in 2017!
‘Funny and romantic, with a predictably good ending. A romance that makes you giggle!’ – Kitty Loves BooksTwelve days. Two gold rings. One BIG secret…Emily needs a husband…fast. It’s just a few days until Christmas and to finally put a stop to her nagging mother’s matchmaking plans, Emily has convinced her that she’s already married!And when her excited mum announces that she’s coming to stay, Emily can think of only one man to play the part: gorgeous ex-soldier, Sam. It’s the best part of her day, handing him a coffee every morning – but then, Emily never expected to offer him her hand in marriage, too…All that’s left is for Sam to say ‘I do’ – it’s the perfect plan! So why then, do her ‘pretend’ feelings for Sam seem far too real?Fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Christie Barlow will love this heartwarming read from debut author, Carla Burgess.Praise for Carla Burgess:‘A lovely story…that unfolds beautifully.’ – Sally Coles (Top 1000 Amazon Reviewer)‘My favourite male character since Mr Darcy!’ – Tami Walker (NetGalley Reviewer)‘Fun, quirky and sweet!’ – Books Are Here For You‘Funny and romantic, with a predictably good ending. A romance that makes you giggle!’ – Kitty Loves Books‘An easy, fun read. You will love it!’ – Belgian Book Lady‘I enjoyed the story so much that I even told my husband about it!’ – Clara’s Books and Lit‘A delightful surprise that will warm your heart.’ – Hilda Danshaw (NetGalley Reviewer)‘Marry Me Tomorrow has flown into my top books of the year.’ – The Writing Garnet‘I absolutely adored this book. Just perfect!’ – K. E. Whittard (Amazon Reviewer)‘Humorous dialogue, loveable characters, classic villains and many surprises!’ – BeeReader‘One of those rare books I can see myself revisiting time and again. I laughed. I cried. I laughed some more.’ – The Well Read Pirate Queen
Читать Marry Me Tomorrow: The perfect, feel-good read to curl up with in 2017! онлайн беплатно
Twelve days. Two gold rings. One BIG secret…
Emily needs a husband…fast. It’s just a few days until Christmas and to finally put a stop to her nagging mother’s matchmaking plans, Emily has convinced her that she’s already married!
And when her excited mum announces that she’s coming to stay, Emily can think of only one man to play the part: gorgeous ex-soldier Sam. It’s the best part of her day, handing him a coffee every morning – but then, Emily never expected to offer him her hand in marriage, too…
All that’s left is for Sam to say ‘I do’ – it’s the perfect plan! So why then, do her ‘pretend’ feelings for Sam seem far too real?
Fans of Debbie Johnson, Holly Martin and Christie Barlow will love this heart-warming read from debut author Carla Burgess.
Marry Me Tomorrow
Carla Burgess
HQ
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2016
Copyright © Carla Burgess 2016
Carla Burgess asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book 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.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
E-book Edition © June 2016 ISBN: 9780008215392
Version date: 2018-07-23
CARLA BURGESS
was born in Solihull and now lives in Chester with her husband, three children, dog and bearded dragon. Her love of books was sparked when she borrowed Ghost Ship to Ganymede by Robert Swindells from her primary school library and devoured it in one night. It was just after this that she started writing her own stories and inflicting them on family and friends. She began her working life as an editor on a trade magazine where she dreamed of writing about romance instead of tubing, but still felt privileged to be working with words. She has a degree in English Literature and Psychology, and loves animals, the countryside and the sea. Carla’s debut novel, Marry Me Tomorrow, is released this year. You can follow her on Twitter at: @MsBear123
Thank you to the team at HQ Digital UK for all your hard work and support, especially my editor, Charlotte Mursell, and Rhea Kurien, who made ‘The Call’.
For Ian, Isobel, Tom and Cassie – with love.
Contents
‘Will you marry me?’
The question hung between us, as tangible as the snowflakes floating around our heads. We were standing on the Eastgate, beneath the clock, and the picture postcard streets of Chester were filled with Christmas shoppers. Somewhere in the distance, The Salvation Army brass band struck up ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’, and the fairy lights strung between the black-and-white timber buildings glowed gold in the early evening darkness.
‘I’m sorry. What did you say?’ Sam was looking at me as though I’d gone completely, stark raving mad.
Taking a deep breath, I twisted my gloved fingers together. This was much harder than I thought it would be. ‘Well, what I mean is, will you pretend to be married to me? Just until after Christmas.’
He straightened up from the railing he’d been leaning on and looked away into the distance as though that’s where he wished he could be. I studied him for a moment. He looked so tired and pale and thin. Purple rings circled his brown eyes and stubble darkened his jaw. I didn’t know how old he was, but I thought he was probably in his late thirties. I wondered where he’d slept last night and when he’d last had something warm to eat. His dirty coat looked too thin to protect him from the winter weather and there were holes in his jeans.
‘It would be like a job, see?’ I said.
His eyes returned to mine, narrowed and suspicious. ‘Why?’
‘I lied to my mother about being married, and now she’s coming to visit and I need you to help me.’
He stared at me, his face creased with disbelief. ‘That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard,’ he said. ‘You’re a grown woman. Why are you lying to your mother about being married?’
Shaking my head, I rubbed my face hard as though I could rub it all away. ‘It’s a long story,’ I said. ‘But basically my mum lives in New York, and she’s been driving me mad with questions about getting a boyfriend and settling down and not being “left-on-the-shelf”. So one day, after she’d got back from being on a cruise for like eight weeks or something, I told her I’d met someone, had a whirlwind affair and got married. I said it as a joke, you know, just being sarcastic, but she completely bought it and went absolutely mad with joy. So I thought, if it makes her so happy I’ll go with it.’
