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First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2018
Copyright © Zara Stoneley 2018
Cover design by HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2018
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Zara Stoneley asserts the moral right
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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.
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Source ISBN: 9780008301057
Ebook Edition © April 2018 ISBN: 9780008301040
Version: 2018-10-26
Thank you so much for picking up a copy of this book. I hope it makes you smile, laugh, maybe shed a tear, and ultimately feel that warm and fuzzy festive feeling.
Like Sarah, in the story, I love everything about Christmas, but the best part of all is being able to share the season with my family and friends. There’s always that slightly sad moment when I think about the people who are no longer here to share it with – but I know I’m very lucky to be surrounded by so many special people.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, wherever you are and whoever you share it with.
Zara x
Dear Ms Hall,
I am not normally the type to complain, but (anybody who says this usually is the type to complain, and the but confirms it) on this occasion I feel compelled.
Over the years we have booked many holidays through your travel agency, and your aunt has always made sure we have had the very best. We have even swapped Christmas cards!
‘And whilst I do not wish to place the blame at your door. . . Ouch! Bloody hell, talk about passive aggressive.’ The voice in my ear makes me jump.
‘Don’t read it out, Sam! It’s bad enough just reading it in my head. Anyway, I thought you were busy booking that cruise for the Nifty Fifty’s Gin Drinkers Association?’
‘I was, but you’ve just ripped that drink coaster into shreds, so I reckoned something was up.’
‘It’s that bloody Will Armstrong again, at the Shooting Star Mountain Resort – I want to strangle him!’ We don’t often get customer complaints, but this particular destination, and its grumpy owner, have been attracting a fair few lately. And this particular complaint hurts more than most because it suggests I’m the one at fault, and I’m not. ‘He’s not happy just sabotaging his own bloody business, he wants to drag us down with him.’
‘Oh, come on, it can’t be that bad. This guy can’t actually damage Making Memories, can he?’
I stab at the screen but can’t trust myself to speak.
‘. . . we find ourselves at a loss at to why you should recommend The Shooting Star Mountain Resort, as it is very clearly overpriced and understaffed. Lynn has always ensured we have value for money, and a fantastic holiday to boot.’
‘To boot?’ Sam interrupts her reading. ‘Who says to boot?’
‘Somebody who isn’t happy at all. Keep reading.’
She does. Out loud, in an ‘irate of the Home Counties’ kind of way.
‘You sound a bit like your mum.’
She ignores me.
‘Quite frankly, our room was disgusting. The sheets whilst clean were unironed.’ Sam pauses again, mid outrage. ‘Unironed? What’s the man talking about? I can’t see how that makes it disgusting, can you? I never iron the sheets; it’s like socks or knickers, who has time to iron things that nobody else ever sees? Do you iron sheets?’
‘Doesn’t Jake see your sheets? And the other bits as well?’
‘Well, yes, but I mean, the wrinkles stretch out, don’t they?’
‘I iron everything. I always find crisp, flat knickers with a seam down the centre hold a certain sexy appeal.’
She stares at me, her mouth open.
I burst out laughing. ‘God, Sam, do you honestly think I iron