By: Jeannie Moon
Series: Compass Cove
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Release Date: November 3, 2021
Publisher: Tule Publishing
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It’s Christmastime in Compass Cove and love is in the air…
With her well-connected Long Island family, an exciting job as a London art dealer, and a brilliant, attentive boyfriend, Natalie Miller’s life was golden. Until it wasn’t. No one knows about the anxiety that drives her, the loyalty forcing her to make impossible choices, or the secrets consuming her. Now back in Compass Cove, Natalie is fielding questions from her family about what brought her home and longs for the life—and the love—she left behind.
University professor and aristocrat James Phillips prides himself on understanding people, so it mystifies him when the love of his life leaves London—and him—without explanation. When an opportunity to work at a small college in Natalie’s backyard arises, James jumps at the chance to move across the pond, willing to do whatever it takes to win back the heart of the woman he loves.
Can the magic of Compass Cove at the most wonderful time of the year help James and Natalie find their way back to each other?
Age: 40
Date of birth: April 29, 1981
Physical Description: Tall, about 6’1”, lean and athletic. He has auburn hair that leans toward brown, and hazel eyes. His face is classic with an angular chin, straight nose and high cheekbones.
Occupation: College professor
3 likes in no particular order: Libraries, old letters and the coast of Cornwall
3 dislikes in no particular order: Pretentiousness, haggis, and weak tea.
Drink of choice: Coffee in the morning, a twenty-year-old Scotch at the end of the day.
Favorite food: I’ve taken a liking to the food at Rinaldi’s Café, specifically the club sandwich and the hazelnut tarts. Divine.
Favorite song: Toss up: In My Life, by The Beatles or Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, by Elton John.
Choice of transportation: Just like at home, I like my black Range Rover.
Favorite way to spend an evening: Reading or watching the telly with Natalie.
Favorite holiday tradition: I have fond memories of decorating the tree at my family’s house in the English countryside. Decorating the tree at the Miller’s home, on Thanksgiving night, reminds me of the times with my own family.
Best memory to date: My trip to Paris with Natalie.
If you could have a do-over, what would you do differently? I would make clear to my family that I love Natalie and that she will be in my life.
What’s something you’ve said you would never do, but in fact have done? I left my home and traveled across the ocean to get back the woman I love.
Most romantic gesture (done or received): I left my home and traveled across the ocean to get back the woman I love. (Sound familiar?)
Words to live by: “There is comfort in the strength of love.” William Wordsworth
From Chapter Fifteen, My Christmas Wish
Her grandmother had officially gone over the top.
Natalie thought about the table set for dinner and couldn’t remember the last time there were almost forty chairs. Instead of the dining room, Grandma had the staff set up the ballroom, a rarely used space next to the large formal dining room. The extra room was a good idea. It wouldn’t be very polite to elbow her neighbor while she was trying to eat her turkey and stuffing, but she wondered if it would be overwhelming with its high ceilings and ornate decor.
That was until she walked in the room and her breath caught. If Natalie had ever wondered where she got her artistic talent, she realized it was from Grandma. The room had been transformed. It was filled with plants and fall flowers, and café lights were strung across the ceiling.
The entire room was awash with brown, deep red, gold and yellow. Bushel baskets of gourds, pumpkin, and dried native corn overflowed in some of the corners. There were potted trees and the tables were styled with burlap runners, bouquets of fall leaves and dried flowers. At each place there were deep brown placemats, red chargers and the loveliest scrolled stoneware, turning each place setting into an elegant, but simple, invitation to come together and break bread.
The tables weren’t folding tables. No, these were fine wood tables that were kept in a storage room and brought out when lots of seating was needed. There were four, fifteen-foot-long tables arranged in a rectangle. It would be a loud and wonderful gathering. Definitely something to be thankful for.
Natalie circled the tables and found her name; breaking with normal protocol, James was seated next to her. She knew her grandmother had worked on the seating for a week before she got just the arrangement she wanted. It made Natalie happy that she would experience his first Miller holiday with him. Lord help anyone who switched seats.
“Wow. Just when I thought I’d seen everything, this house surprises me again.”
James walked into the room, his attention was immediately drawn to the tromp l’oeil on the ceiling that was painted to give the illusion of the sky at dusk. Then he examined the wall of French doors that led out to the formal gardens. His eyes finally met hers.
“I’m so glad I came. Your family is wonderful. Every last person has been so welcoming. I feel like a bit of an interloper, but I’m grateful to be here.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said going to him. “You fit right in.”
“I can’t help but fit in. You are very lucky, Nat. I know no family is perfect, but your family’s devotion to each other is very special.”
She knew. Sometimes it helped to hear it from someone on the outside, however.
“Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?” he asked.
She felt her face heat at the compliment. After inhaling the two fritters he’d saved for her, Natalie went back to her cottage to change. She was wearing a simple black shift dress with black boots, but she did rather like the scooped neckline on this dress. She guessed James did as well.
“Thank you.” The exchange was so simple yet laden with meaning. What was she thanking him for? The compliment? The pastry he remembered to bring just for her? His kindness toward her nieces, her mother…everyone? For the opportunity to become a mother?
She guessed it was all of it.
“You’re wearing the necklace I gave you for your birthday.”
She touched her neck and felt the cool tourmaline beads roll under the pads of her fingers. They’d gone for a weekend in Paris last June and although they’d only been together for a couple of months, she knew their relationship was getting serious. It was a perfect late spring day, and the city was bright with flowers and activity. They’d just left the Tuileries after a lovely walk through the gardens, and he steered her into a pretty little shop on Rue du Mont Thabor. He’d noticed her admiring the necklace earlier, and when he had the chance he brought her back to the store and bought it for her. Natalie wore it back to the hotel feeling special—not because she had a lovely piece of jewelry, but because of the thoughtful man who wanted to make her happy.
“I love this necklace.”
And I love you, she thought. I walked away from you, but I love you.
His face dropped into concern. Could he sense what she was feeling?
“Natalie? What is it?” He came to her and pulled her close. “Is something wrong?”
He cradled her body gently against his. They fit together perfectly, despite being so different. She snuggled into his warmth, his sweet protection. She settled there. Content. Safe.
“I’m fine,” she finally responded to his question. “Just hold me a little longer.”
“Of course.”
Natalie had to figure out a way to tell him about the baby, and she needed to do it soon. She was almost three months gone, and there was no telling when her little belly would pop. Sure, it could be another two months, but Natalie had a feeling as she rubbed her hand across the flat muscle of her stomach that it wasn’t going to be that long. She just didn’t know what to say.
“Hey there, so how do you feel about having a family?”
His first instinct would be to propose, and Natalie’s first instinct would be to accept. She didn’t want to trap him into marriage, but was it a trap? It didn’t feel like one. It felt right. Natalie had never felt so right about anything.
Her grandmother had officially gone over the top.
Natalie thought about the table set for dinner and couldn’t remember the last time there were almost forty chairs. Instead of the dining room, Grandma had the staff set up the ballroom, a rarely used space next to the large formal dining room. The extra room was a good idea. It wouldn’t be very polite to elbow her neighbor while she was trying to eat her turkey and stuffing, but she wondered if it would be overwhelming with its high ceilings and ornate decor.
That was until she walked in the room and her breath caught. If Natalie had ever wondered where she got her artistic talent, she realized it was from Grandma. The room had been transformed. It was filled with plants and fall flowers, and café lights were strung across the ceiling.
The entire room was awash with brown, deep red, gold and yellow. Bushel baskets of gourds, pumpkin, and dried native corn overflowed in some of the corners. There were potted trees and the tables were styled with burlap runners, bouquets of fall leaves and dried flowers. At each place there were deep brown placemats, red chargers and the loveliest scrolled stoneware, turning each place setting into an elegant, but simple, invitation to come together and break bread.
The tables weren’t folding tables. No, these were fine wood tables that were kept in a storage room and brought out when lots of seating was needed. There were four, fifteen-foot-long tables arranged in a rectangle. It would be a loud and wonderful gathering. Definitely something to be thankful for.
Natalie circled the tables and found her name; breaking with normal protocol, James was seated next to her. She knew her grandmother had worked on the seating for a week before she got just the arrangement she wanted. It made Natalie happy that she would experience his first Miller holiday with him. Lord help anyone who switched seats.
“Wow. Just when I thought I’d seen everything, this house surprises me again.”
James walked into the room, his attention was immediately drawn to the tromp l’oeil on the ceiling that was painted to give the illusion of the sky at dusk. Then he examined the wall of French doors that led out to the formal gardens. His eyes finally met hers.
“I’m so glad I came. Your family is wonderful. Every last person has been so welcoming. I feel like a bit of an interloper, but I’m grateful to be here.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said going to him. “You fit right in.”
“I can’t help but fit in. You are very lucky, Nat. I know no family is perfect, but your family’s devotion to each other is very special.”
She knew. Sometimes it helped to hear it from someone on the outside, however.
“Did I tell you that you look beautiful today?” he asked.
She felt her face heat at the compliment. After inhaling the two fritters he’d saved for her, Natalie went back to her cottage to change. She was wearing a simple black shift dress with black boots, but she did rather like the scooped neckline on this dress. She guessed James did as well.
“Thank you.” The exchange was so simple yet laden with meaning. What was she thanking him for? The compliment? The pastry he remembered to bring just for her? His kindness toward her nieces, her mother…everyone? For the opportunity to become a mother?
She guessed it was all of it.
“You’re wearing the necklace I gave you for your birthday.”
She touched her neck and felt the cool tourmaline beads roll under the pads of her fingers. They’d gone for a weekend in Paris last June and although they’d only been together for a couple of months, she knew their relationship was getting serious. It was a perfect late spring day, and the city was bright with flowers and activity. They’d just left the Tuileries after a lovely walk through the gardens, and he steered her into a pretty little shop on Rue du Mont Thabor. He’d noticed her admiring the necklace earlier, and when he had the chance he brought her back to the store and bought it for her. Natalie wore it back to the hotel feeling special—not because she had a lovely piece of jewelry, but because of the thoughtful man who wanted to make her happy.
“I love this necklace.”
And I love you, she thought. I walked away from you, but I love you.
His face dropped into concern. Could he sense what she was feeling?
“Natalie? What is it?” He came to her and pulled her close. “Is something wrong?”
He cradled her body gently against his. They fit together perfectly, despite being so different. She snuggled into his warmth, his sweet protection. She settled there. Content. Safe.
“I’m fine,” she finally responded to his question. “Just hold me a little longer.”
“Of course.”
Natalie had to figure out a way to tell him about the baby, and she needed to do it soon. She was almost three months gone, and there was no telling when her little belly would pop. Sure, it could be another two months, but Natalie had a feeling as she rubbed her hand across the flat muscle of her stomach that it wasn’t going to be that long. She just didn’t know what to say.
“Hey there, so how do you feel about having a family?”
His first instinct would be to propose, and Natalie’s first instinct would be to accept. She didn’t want to trap him into marriage, but was it a trap? It didn’t feel like one. It felt right. Natalie had never felt so right about anything.
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Jeannie Moon is a school librarian who loves that she has a job which allows her to immerse herself in good books and call it work. A native Long Islander, Jeannie still lives there with her family and a couple of well-behaved dogs and an equally misbehaving cat.
Places to find Jeannie Moon:
Giveaway ~ Tule Publishing is offering up an eBook copy of Jeannie's MY CHRISTMAS WISH.
To enter: Answer Jeannie's question. “In My Christmas Wish, we learn that Natalie loves to bake. Do you have a favorite sweet treat you only make around the holidays?”
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loved this book.
ReplyDeleteI like making caramel puffcorn and cookies.
ReplyDeleteI don't bake, but I love frosted sugar cookies and fudge. I get them from the store.
ReplyDeleteChocolate pie
ReplyDelete