Well this is something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time. And you’ll be pleased to know that one thing hasn’t changed. I meant to close one tab and closed them all and lost the entire post. Maybe I really should write them in a word doc and just copy and paste them over.

As I write, Tilly is busy ignoring me. She always does unless she wants something. Like food.

An Easter Snow comes out March 21. It was going to be April, but I decided to bring it forwards. You can find it on Amazon UK or Amazon US. It’ll be free in KU.

Stranded at Heathrow Airport after her flight to Elgin is cancelled, somehow, Eldeka Siddon needs to get seven hundred miles north. Her Gran is dying and it’s Easter. Her only hope is a surly taxi driver, but he seems less than thrilled with taking her anywhere.

Joe Hastings already has plans for Easter and the last thing he wants to do is drive a snooty, upper-class handful of a woman the length of the country. He only takes the job when his boss threatens to sack him.

When unseasonable weather strikes on the long trek north, getting to the end of the journey looks impossible.

The road home has never been this complicated

Extract:

Joe was still cross twenty minutes later when he pulled up outside Terminal Five. He glanced at the photo on the seat beside him and then at the crowd of people waiting. He spotted her a mile off. Even without all the pearls and fancy evening gown. She still could be a film star in smart black jeans, silk blouse and fitted jacket, under a very expensive open overcoat. Yes, he was a bloke, and yes, he noticed these things. In his line of work, he had to. He had to take in every single detail because one day his life might just depend on it.

He flicked on his hazard lights and got out of the car. He made his way over to the slender woman. To be fair to her she did look thoroughly fed up. Maybe he wasn’t the only one inconvenienced by this. Actually, she was just as put out as he was. If not more so. “Taxi to Elgin?”

She tilted her pretty head and nodded. “Yes.”

“These yours?” He pointed quite unnecessarily to the luggage she was gripping tightly. At least she’d figured out that the flight bag slotted over the handle of the very luxurious suitcase, if the brand name was anything to go by.

“Yes.”

He prised the cases from her hands. “This way.” He took long strides, pleased she managed to keep pace with him. Reaching the cab, he opened the boot. “We’ll need to make a short detour so I can pick up some things.”

She scowled. “We don’t have time.”

“Look, lady,” he began.

Her eyes widened. “Miss Siddon.”

He bristled. He knew that, just didn’t appreciate being spoken to as if he were something the cat dragged in. “Fine. In that case, Miss Siddon. It’s a three or four day round trip as far as I’m concerned. And there is no way I’m staying in the same clothes for that long! My boss is arranging somewhere for the both of us to stay tonight.”

“We can’t stop. I have to get to Elgin today.”

“Unless you’re sharing the driving, we’re stopping. And we can’t do that because you are not insured to drive my car.” He slammed the boot and yanked open the back door for her. “You’re in a hurry, right?”

She nodded.

“Then get in the car, Miss Siddon. And we’ll get going.”

Shooting him a glare that matched his own, she slid into the car and reached for the seatbelt.

Joe closed the door and got into the driver’s seat. He angled the mirror and glanced at her. She was just like he’d imagined from her photo. Upper class, entitled, rude, and snobbish. He started the engine.

“Shouldn’t you be wearing a hat?”

He jerked his head and snorted. “Whatever for? This is a private cab, not a hackney or a limo service.”

“Don’t you have anything else in your fleet?” She glanced around the back of the cab, scrunching her nose.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know. Snacks, mini bar, a bigger car or something.”

Joe hissed, annoyance flooding his veins. He grabbed the radio. “Joe to base.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve picked up Miss Siddon. The car isn’t good enough. Do we have anything bigger, faster, stronger, swishier, and posher? Preferably with a mini bar, maybe some canapés?” He ignored the daggers she shot him with her glare. She’d asked for that.

Barbara’s laugh echoed over the radio. “’Fraid not. This is it.”

“That’s what I thought. Leaving now. Out.” He put the radio down, pressed the pedal to the metal, and pulled out of the space. “Sorry, lady. This is all we have. You want to go to Elgin, then this is how we roll. We’re also making that pit stop so I can pack a bag first.”

He watched in the mirror as she rolled her eyes and turned away. This was going to be a very long couple of days. Then he turned his full attention to the busy road and finessed his way out of the airport.