The Christmas Cove Cupcake War: Christmas Cove Chronicles Book One - A Holiday Contemporary Romance Novel

By Holly Montrose

Tired of his fame, the paparazzi, and his philandering ex-fiancé, Chris Valentino, AKA Vince de Carlo, best selling crime novelist, has left Hollywood and is heading home to Christmas Cove for the Holidays, for the first time in many years.

Chrissy and Norma are rival cupcake store owners in Christmas Cove. Norma despises Chrissy for trying to ruin her business, established over twenty years. Determined to get the jump on Chrissy this festive season and bring in more customers, Norma recruits her reluctant son Chris to spy on Chrissy and report back his findings about her Holiday plans for the store.

There's just one problem - Chris and Chrissy are falling in love with each other over the course of one magical Christmas Cove Festive Season, and Norma's not very happy about it!

This is a novel of approximately 56,600 words.

This is BOOK ONE of the CHRISTMAS COVE CHRONICLES.

CONTENT : Lots of romance. No sex. No cussing. No sexual vulgarity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: I Heart Holidays Books, USA
• Release date: Dec 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311168535

Holly Montrose

Holly Montrose is a romance novelist with a particular affinity for Christmas, small towns, and snow - snowmen, snow drifts, snowballs, snow angels, blizzards and being snowed in.She also writes in many other genres (most of which you wouldn't even want to know about,) under numerous pen names (that she will never admit to in public.)Holly Montrose is a transplant from Scotland to the Pacific Northwest of the USA. She loves it - it's just like Scotland...but with better weather and funny accents!

Book preview

THE

CHRISTMAS COVE

CUPCAKE WAR

(Christmas Cove Chronicles Book 1)

A Holiday Contemporary Romance Novel

(Second Edition)

(Approximately 56,600 words)

Holly Montrose

Copyright Holly Montrose, 2013

All Rights Reserved

Published by I Heart Holidays Books, USA

at Smashwords.com

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -

Santa Fe Trail / Settler Reference Material

AntiqueMapsAndWorksOnPaper.Blogspot.com

Britannica.com (Encyclopedia Britannica)

MapsAndArt.com

Wikipedia.org

SONG REFERENCES -

Christmas Time by Christina Aguilera

Written by Jesse M. Valenzuela

Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC INC,

BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC,

UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP

Frosty the Snowman

Written by

Walter Jack Rollins & Steve Nelson

Info & Lyrics via AllChristmasLyrics.com

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Written by Unknown, circa 1780

Music composed by Frederic Austin, 1909

Info via Wikipedia.org

The Old Rugged Cross

Written by George Bennard, 1912

Info via Wikipedia.org

COVER CREDITS -

COVER DESIGN : I Heart Holidays Books, USA

COVER IMAGE :

Watercolor Christmas Cupcakes

by astromonkey84 (iStockphoto.com)

PHOTOSHOP BRUSHES :

Snowflake Vectors by ObsidianDawn.com

FONTS :

Jellyka Delicious Cake by Jellyka Nerevan

HansHand by Hans J. Zinken

(both via DaFont.com)

CHAPTER ONE

THE CHRISTMAS COVE CUPCAKE WAR

Chrissy sang along with the Christmas song on the radio as she happily decorated her bakery and coffee shop, Cuppas & Cupcakes for the Holidays.

...Sneaking a kiss under the mistletoe,

I want a white Christmas so let it snow,

Everybody is home for Christmas,

Everybody is home, it's Christmas time...

Halloween was only yesterday, but each year Chrissy just couldn't wait to get into the festive spirit.

Good morning, Mrs. McTavish! How you doing today? Chrissy asked her favorite customer. It's not Friday already, is it?

I'm fine, sweetheart, just fine, the old Scottish lady said. I ken it's only Wednesday but Mrs. Ferguson down at the butcher told me about your new eggnog cupcakes. I just couldn't resist!

Chrissy laughed. Mrs. McTavish and her cupcakes was the romance of the century. She just loved them.

Theresa, eggnog cupcake and a cuppa for Mrs. McTavish – on the house, Chrissy said.

Coming right up. Have a seat, Mrs. McT, Theresa said.

The old lady had been here every week since Chrissy opened the store, with one exception; Mrs. McTavish had a fall and gave herself a bang on the head that needed a few nights in hospital for observation. Chrissy visited her and took her in a fix of cupcakes and a flask of hot tea with just a splash of milk, just the way she liked it, every day.

* * *

Across town at Ye Olde Cupcakes and Coffee Shoppe, Lisa arrives for work and is about to makes sure her boss has a bad day.

"Norma! Norma! I heard somebody talking on their cellphone on my way here. They were saying how fabulous the new Holiday cupcakes are over there at you know who's. Eggnog! Eggnog with nutmeg buttercream frosting! Oh, and right now, she's putting up her Christmas decorations as we speak," Lisa told her, breathlessly.

Norma's cheeks immediately flared angry red like Lisa's words had slapped her in the face. Lisa managed to suppress the smirk that threatened to spread over her mouth. One of her guilty pleasures was bringing her tyrant of a boss down a peg or two.

Although Chrissy and Lisa were not friends, Lisa had heard of her and knew she was a really nice girl. She'd never heard anybody say a bad word about Chrissy, except her boss. The way Norma talked about her, anybody would think she was Satan himself. Chrissy Massie was most definitely Norma's nemesis. The mere mention of her name could send her into a meltdown.

Norma had been in business in Christmas Cove for over twenty years. Ye Olde Cupcake & Coffee Shoppe had always been the only coffee shop in town, the only bakery, the only place to buy gourmet cupcakes and other sweet confections.

Then one day, out of the blue, another coffee and cupcake shop opened up across town.

Norma was furious; this was her turf. To her, Chrissy was no more than a trespasser, even although Chrissy had been born here and Norma had only moved her a couple of years before she opened her coffee shop.

But to Norma, this was her town, and she'd been in business in this place since Chrissy was in junior high. That gave her the right to own the one and only coffee and cupcake shop in town, she figured. If she was Queen of Christmas Cove, then direct competition with her business would be punishable by death and Chrissy's head would likely be on a pike next to the Welcome to Christmas Cove sign on the outskirts of town.

Before Lisa had her coat off and her purse stashed in back, Norma was cursing up a storm as she struggled with boxes of Christmas decorations in the store room. She'd be damned before she'd let li'l Missy Chrissy get the jump on her this Christmas.

Norma dropped the box of Christmas decorations, ignoring the shattering sound that came from it as her son, Chris, walked through the door of the coffee shop.

Christopher! Oh, my baby boy! she screamed and launched her self at him.

Hi, Mom, he said, trying not to lose his balance and just keep breathing whilst having all the air squeezed out of his lungs by his mother's embrace.

"What are you doing here?' It's only November 1st. I wasn't expecting you for weeks yet. In fact, I wasn't really expecting you at all. I didn't think you would actually come home for the Holidays. You are going to stay for the Holidays, aren't you?" she asked, rapid fire, not even stopping for breath.

Geez, Mom; let me get in the door already, huh? he said, grinning.

Oh, I'm sorry, honey. I'm just so happy to see you and I don't want this just to be a flying visit. I want you to stay a while, Norma said.

And I'm gonna. Honest, he told her.

Hi, Lisa, he said, winking at her. He knew Lisa had a bit of a soft spot for him. She had since they were in school together. She'd been crushing on him forever.

Hiya, gorgeous! Lisa yelled and planted a kiss on his cheek.

I figured I'd come home for a little while. I'm working on a new novel and I thought the change of scenery would do my muse some good, he said.

Is your fiancee with you? Norma asked.

Ah, no. About that – we broke up. A few weeks ago, he said, hoping she didn't endlessly question him about the whys and wherefores, but knowing she would at some point. He just didn't want to go over it all again right now.

Oh, honey, I'm sorry, Norma said.

Don't worry. I'm fine. I'm over it already. In fact, I'm glad we broke up. I think I had a lucky escape, he said.

You don't think it'll all blow over and you'll get back together then? Norma asked.

No. No, no. Not a chance. We're done, he said.

Norma bit her lip to stop the barrage of questions she had from spilling out. She'd leave it for now. She didn't want to scare him away and miss out on having him here for the Holidays.

"What sort of coffee shop is this anyways? Where's my coffee and cupcake already?" he said, smiling, hoping that would put an end, at least temporarily, to him having to regurgitate the whole sorry story of the break up. Again.

And that was part of the reason he decided to come home for the Holidays in the first place. And the reason he decided to come home early. He was just burned out on the endless questions and interrogations about what happened.

And besides, it was so embarrassing admitting his nearly wife had been sleeping with his so-called best friend for the greater part of a year and he hadn't a clue what was going on. Until she told him it was over and gave him back his ring.

* * *

Chris spent the afternoon in the coffee shop with his mom and Lisa helping with the Christmas decorations.

Isn't is a teeny bit early for the Christmas decorations, Mom? he asked. I mean, Halloween was only yesterday.

"Probably, but the coffee shop across town has theirs up already and their special Holiday cupcakes. That means more festive money in the cash register. People love the Holidays, Norma said. And besides, I'll be a monkey's uncle if I let her poach all my Christmas trade by getting a couple weeks head start on me. People see the decorations, they'll come in for hot chocolate and pumpkin pie," she said.

"Her?" Chris inquired.

She's talking about her nemesis, Lisa said.

Her nemesis? You have a nemesis? Who knew? Chris said, giggling.

"This is no laughing matter, Christopher. She tried to wipe me off the face of the earth. You know I've been in this business here since you were in Junior High. Twenty years. Twenty years! This is my territory," she said.

You sound like a drug dealer! he laughed.

Lisa covered her mouth to stop any sound coming out and looked at Chris with laughter in her wide eyes. Norma would not take kindly to being laughed at.

Go ahead, make fun. But I built this business from the ground up. And she came along and tried to destroy it, by opening up another cupcake bakery in this tiny little town, Norma said, hurt by her son making fun of her.

Wow, she sounds like a real piece of work, he said, humoring her, rather than agreeing.

Actually, honey, if you're going to stick around for a while, you could help me out with something, Norma said.

Yeah, what's that? he asked.

Norma shot a look over her shoulder and saw that Lisa was in earshot. Lisa could be a gossip at times and she didn't want to risk her being able to repeat her plans.

We'll discuss it at home later. Actually, let me call your dad and see where he's at – he went to a conference in Denver yesterday but he should be getting back any time now. He'll be so glad you're home, but I'm not going to tell him you're here; let's surprise him, Norma said.

* * *

Oh, Chrissy, the place looks richt bonny, Mrs. McTavish said.

"Richt bonny? That's a good thing, right?" Chrissy asked with a grin.

Of course! the old lady said.

Chrissy laughed.

I'm just teasing you because you talk funny, Chrissy said.

Och, you! Mrs. McTavish said, her dried-apple-doll-face wrinkling as she laughed. So, what other fine cupcakes and sweeties have you got planned for this Christmas, darlin'?

"I've got so much cool recipes I'm trying out right now; my new cupcakes and hot chocolates will blow your mind, Mrs. McT. I'll let you know as soon as I finalize the menu. I know I love the Holidays anyway, but I'm really excited about this Christmas. I think there's a special magic in the air this year," Chrissy said.

Oh? What makes you say that? asked Mrs. McTavish.

I don't know. Just a feeling, Chrissy said with a smile.

"At my age, you think it's magic if you make it to Christmas!" Mrs. McTavish said and cackled.

Chrissy broke up laughing and hugged the old lady. She was such a character.

Theresa was giggling in the back as she made up cake boxes and almost sprayed her iced eggnog latte all over them.

"Hey, Mrs. McT; I'm about to kick around some ideas for the Holiday menu – maybe you could help me, be a sounding board, tell me what you think. You are my best and favorite customer," Chrissy said.

I'd love to! Do I get free tea all day? Actually, I better not drink too awfy much – I'll be up all night piddlin'! Mrs. McTavish said, making Chrissy laugh.

Oh, my God; you're too much! Theresa said as she brought Mrs. McTavish her order.

CHAPTER TWO

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Well, well, well; if it isn't the world famous crime writer, Vince de Carlo! What the Dickens are you doing here? Victor Valentino asked his son as he entered his wife's coffee shop. He was as shocked as he would have been if he'd walked in and found a ghost or a real live unicorn. Visits from Chris were just as rare.

Hey, Dad. I've come home for a bit. Is it OK if I stay at the house with you guys for a while? Chris asked, hugging his dad tightly.

You don't even need to ask that – you will always have a home here, Son. Always. No matter what. Stay for good if you want, Victor said.

Chris grinned at his father.

You thinking about it? Moving back home? Victor asked, not daring to hope.

Norma gasped at the prospect and Chris held his hands up in a woah! gesture.

"I may be toying with the idea. I might be thinking about it. This is kind of a dry run, try it out, see how it goes," Chris said, not wanting to disappoint his parents nor get their hopes up too much. Fact was, he really didn't know what the hell he wanted in life now, after recent events. And that included where he wanted to be.

It was true, even before the break up he was burning out on the whole Hollywood/New York, thing. He could work anywhere and he spent his life following Farrah around, shuttling back and forth between shoots in Los Angeles, shoots in Manhattan, filming in New York City. Lately, he stayed home while she jet-setted here there and everywhere, overseas to Milan, Paris, London for Fashion Week.

He'd gone with here on those overseas trips too at first, but always felt like a fish out of water around people whose entire lives were consumed by this season's color schemes and what length skirts were this year so they knew how long to make their new boot line.

It bored him intensely, so, after a year or so, he stopped going overseas with her, and a year or so ago stopped going across the country with her too. He began to wonder, even before the cheating revelation, what he was doing with her, why they were even together, and what on earth he ever saw in her in the first place.

He was burned out on the whole scene, the whole celebrity/party/fast life he had been living for the last few years.

Of course, at first he'd had an absolute blast, rubbing shoulders with rock stars and and A-list actors, bagging himself a few supermodels, a pop star and a TV presenter, getting into all the most exclusive clubs in LA. But the shine wore off fast. And most of the time he felt alone in a crowded room.

It was never really his thing. He never really felt like he was part of it, like he belonged there or with those people. It was seven years down the road now since his first bestseller, since he became a hot property and had been living this way. And now, he was just over all of it.

He'd made bank over the last five years from selling movie options on three of his novels, one of which had been made into a box office smash already.

His lawyer had been shrewd; he knew the studio wanted the option on his third novel really bad, and made them cut Chris in for a percentage on the merchandising. In a little over six months, what Chris thought was a paltry little cut at 2% of the net profit, came in at just over a cool million. As long as they kept manufacturing the Chi-Com lunch boxes and action figures, t-shirts and book bags, he would keep earning money for every single item that ever sold. Forever.

The city that had held such fascination for him for so long and had inspired his work at the beginning of his writing career now saddened him, appalled him, and bored him to tears. The people that were around him were all shallow and fatuous. He couldn't even remember the last time he'd had an intellectually stimulating conversation with anybody. And too