The Present Problem

By Julie Kavanagh

Ellie has come home to spent the festive holiday with her family and, while she's always pleased to see her family, she hasn't told them the whole truth. 

After quitting dramatically from her job and spending her last few pennies on fuel to get home, she's completely penniless and it's nearly Christmas. Her foray into the big city proved to be a total waste of time and she knows she's better off back in her small home town.  

But knowing how much her family likes to treat everyone with beautiful presents, she needs to find a way to earn some money.

When the customer she'd accidentally covered in Mississippi Mud pie turns up at her parents' house, Ellie is both shocked and furious until she discovers she's not the reason he's there.

Joel, tall, good-looking and seemingly wealthy takes a shine to Ellie and he's determined to find her better side although his friend and her brother insists she doesn't have one.

Can Joel break through Ellie's hardened exterior to capture her warm heart beneath? 

Will Ellie see the kind heart  Joel hides from the world?

Will this be the Happy Ever After they both desire?

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books To Go Now
• Release date: Nov 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223784753

Book preview

Excerpt from The Present Problem

I'd begun clearing a table, and he came up behind me, his hand sweeping across my butt. I'd had enough and threw the dregs of a coffee cup at him. He shrieked like a baby banshee and shouted at me for being clumsy, so I threw a half-eaten Mississippi Mud pie with melted ice cream at him. She twisted a lock of her long hair between her fingers.

You didn't! Grace gasped, and a chorus of raucous laughter exploded out of her as though it may have been the best thing she'd heard all year.  

Unfortunately, he ducked, and the messy thing splattered over an unsuspecting customer. Ellie joined in her friend's laughter. It hadn't been funny then, but now, a day later, she could see the funny side. He was covered in chocolate gunge and leapt up from the table waving his napkin about. I felt quite sorry for him, but I was in the middle of a rant. It was a shame because he was just what I'd been looking for. He had dark, curly hair and deep chocolatey brown eyes. And the shoulders on him. He was built like a linebacker – just my type.

Copyright

The Present Problem

Copyright © 2023 Julie Kavanagh

Cover Design by Romance Novel Covers Now

http://www.romancenovelcoversnow.com/

Books to Go Now

For information on the cover illustration and design, contact [e-mail]

First eBook Edition November 2023

Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes.

This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously.

Look for Julie’s other books:

Before the Snow Melts .

The Best Snowman in the World

Halloween on Summer Street

Thanksgiving on Summer Street

Christmas Eve on Summer Street

The Last Thing she needs is a Husband

Love Potion Number Nine

Love under an Open Sky

Nana’s Naughty Noel

Love on the Rebound (The Magical Marriage Bureau book one)

The Red-haired Assassin

Star Crossed Lovers (The Magical Marriage Bureau book three)

A Sprig of White Heather ( Cursed Highlanders book 1)

The Witch in the Stones

Love in Isolation

Chapter One

A nd you can shove your job where the sun doesn't shine! Ellie grabbed her purse and thick coat from behind the counter and pushed past her red-faced manager, who waved his hands about in the air. She noticed how the dark coffee stain had spread across the front of his lurid pink shirt before stomping out of the dessert bar. The freezing air struck her face as she pulled her winter coat tighter. Her long brown hair flapped in the wind, and of course, the icy cold splatter of rain didn't help as she marched to her car.

Her flimsy shoes slapped through the dark puddles on the sidewalk. Stevo had a specific 'uniform' he liked his girls to wear, and the thin ballet pumps were part of it. At least, he hadn't insisted they wear stilettos to go with the short-short skirts and the tight T-shirts embossed with a fluorescent pink logo of the restaurant.

'Sweet Satisfaction' was a silly name for a dessert bar in anyone's books. Especially when the owner took it to the next level, intimating himself with them whenever possible. Ellie sighed as she climbed into the sanctity of her car because she didn't have to put up with any of that nonsense anymore.

YOU DIDN'T! GRACE declared with excitement in her voice. Tell me everything.

Ellie took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before continuing.

I told you what a sleazebag Stevo was –I think I was being nice about him. He thought he could try to take advantage of the servers. She shrugged, hearing her best friend's anticipation in the silence