Blog Tour: Extract from Forever at Conwenna Cove by Darcie Boleyn

Today I am very excited to share an extract from the lastest in the Conwenna series by Darcie Boleyn. Forever at Conwenna Cove was released on April 23rd in the UK and you can order the book by clicking here. 

Here's what the book's all about: 

Following heartbreak, Zoe Russell found a haven in Conwenna Cove. As the owner of the village diner and a volunteer for the local greyhound sanctuary, she’s happy with her peaceful life.

Local surfer Nate Bryson plans to leave Conwenna and see the world. He wants to shake off his reputation as a ladies man and start again somewhere new. Before departing, Nate decides to raise funds for the dog rescue home as a way of giving back to the community.

When Nate approaches Zoe to help with the charity event she sees there’s more to him than meets the eye. Nate can’t believe he’s failed to notice the kind and beautiful woman right before him. But can two such different people ever be together, especially if one of them is determined to leave?

Want to read a sample? Here's that extract for you...

Zoe enjoyed an hour at Foxglove Farm, during which time she took one of the greyhounds on a walk around the nearby fields and then purchased her ice cream order for the diner. When she returned to work she felt completely ready for whatever the week would bring. She also knew that Neil had dropped a few hints about her considering adopting another hound, but she wasn’t ready yet. It wouldn’t be fair on the dog or on her.

The morning at the diner was busy but not unbearably so, and it quietened down after one-thirty. When the door next opened, she was happy to see that it was Grace and Eve. She liked the two women, even though she didn’t know them very well; they were the type of women she had imagined she could be friends with when she was growing up.

‘Hello, Zoe.’ Grace gave her a warm smile as they reached the counter. ‘Are we in time for some lunch?’

‘Of course you are. Take a table and I’ll bring some menus over. What would you like to drink?’

‘Eve?’ Grace asked.

‘A lemonade, please.’

‘I’ll have the same, thank you.’

Zoe took their drinks over with the menus.

‘No children today?’

‘Amy and Tom are at school,’ Grace explained. ‘I’m meant to be writing, but I’ve taken an hour off for lunch. An author’s got to eat, right?’

Zoe nodded. ‘Definitely.’

‘And my aunt is watching Iain. He had me up and down last night, so she told me to take a break, then have a nap this afternoon.’ Eve smiled, even though she was quite pale. ‘Trouble is, I miss him when I’m away from him for just an hour.’

‘He’s a gorgeous baby,’ Zoe said. ‘But your Aunt Mary is right, you do need a breather now and then.’ She handed them the menus. ‘Let me know when you’re ready to order.’

As the chef, Alistair, made the food in the kitchen, Zoe pottered about behind the counter. She was so glad she’d employed him: when she’d first opened, she’d tried to do it all herself and soon discovered how difficult it was trying to manage the business and cook all the food. She now employed two chefs: Alistair worked through the week and Kierney covered the weekends and any extra opening hours in peak season. Both had proved to be talented and adept in the kitchen, which left Zoe able to cater to her customers and to enjoy owning the diner.

At the table near the window, Grace and Eve chatted away and occasionally a peal of laughter drifted over. Zoe wished she knew what it was that made them laugh, and she experienced a stab of nostalgia for her past. Growing up, she’d always been extremely close to her own best friend, Amelia; in fact, they’d been inseparable. They’d gone through primary school, high school and college together, then it had all changed a few years ago…

She shivered. And that was why it was better not to let anyone into your heart and your mind. People couldn’t be trusted, however long you’d known them. At least keeping them at arm’s length meant that they couldn’t hurt you.

When the food was ready, Zoe carried it to the table.

‘Here you go, ladies. Hope you enjoy!’

‘Ooh, thanks, Zoe, this looks wonderful.’ Grace smiled. ‘Things going well this summer?’

Zoe slid her hands into her apron pocket.

‘Yes, thank you. Conwenna Cove certainly brings the tourists in and business has been steady since that gorgeous sunny weekend we had back in May. If it carries on like this, I might need to employ more waiting staff. I have two already, but it’s nice to be able to offer local people work, too.’

That’s wonderful, Zoe,’ Eve said, before biting into her veggie burger.

‘Do you want to join us?’ Grace asked. ‘Have you eaten lunch yet?’

‘No, but I had a snack up at the farm when I went to get my ice cream order. You know what Elena’s like – she always has fresh scones available to tempt you, and the kettle on the boil. I’ll eat a proper meal later.’

‘Elena makes the best scones, doesn’t she?’ Eve nodded. ‘Whenever I head up there, she always offers me a cuppa and cake.’

‘Sounds like my father.’ Grace smiled. ‘I can’t visit Mum and Dad without putting on half a stone.’

‘I wonder if your father will want to help out with the surfing event.’ The words escaped Zoe’s mouth before she even realized she’d thought them.

‘The one Nate’s arranging?’ Grace tucked her wavy red hair over her shoulder.

‘He came in to ask me if I was interested in being a sponsor.’

‘Jack said Nate really wants this to be a success, to give something back to the greyhounds before he leaves.’ Eve smiled. ‘He’s a good one is Nate.’

Zoe’s heart fluttered. ‘Leaves?’

Eve grimaced. ‘I don’t think I was meant to say anything about that. Not sure he’s told his aunt and uncle yet.’

‘He’s leaving?’ Zoe tried to maintain an even tone to her voice, but she was suddenly and inexplicably quite disappointed.

‘Apparently he’s going travelling for a while. He wants to see some of the world.’

‘Will he… uh… come back, or is it permanent?’ Zoe tried to keep her hands still in her apron pocket.

‘Oli said Nate told him he’d probably be back, but then Oli also said Nate could well fall in love with someone while he’s away and that could be that. I suppose he could meet a beautiful Australian surfer, and we know how much Nate loves to surf!’ Grace shrugged. ‘I’d be sad to see him go, though. He’s been a good friend.’

Zoe bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself asking any more questions. Why should she care? Nate was everything she despised in men, with his devil-may-care attitude, sun-bronzed skin and easy smile. He reminded her far too much of things in her past that she’d prefer not to think about. If he was going away following Surf for Sighthounds, then that was a good thing and she couldn’t give a damn what he did.

‘When I arrived in Conwenna Cove, he made me feel so welcome. He was convinced that I’d stay, even though I only came to help Mum and Dad settle in. And when I first met Oli, Nate tried to reassure me that he was a good person, although initially he seemed a bit… standoffish.’ Grace’s eyes glazed over as she remembered.

‘Oli gave you the cold shoulder?’ Eve asked.

‘Kind of. But he was wary of women after what he’d been through.’

‘And now you’re living happily ever after!’ Eve winked at Grace and they both giggled.

Zoe smiled at their happiness. She knew enough about them to realize that life hadn’t been easy for either of them, and she’d never begrudge someone their happy moments. Zoe had once been happy too, in spite of some ups and downs along the way. At one point, years ago, she’d believed that she had it all. Then she’d had her accident and it had all seemed to fall apart.

But that was life and there was no point crying over spilt milk, a broken surfboard or the fact that people often let down those they claimed to care about. She simply had to make the most of what she had now and ensure that she never ended up in a position where she could be hurt again: not by a surfboard, a best friend and definitely not by a man.

Darcie Boleyn has a huge heart and is a real softy. She never fails to cry at books and movies, whether ending is happy or not. Darcie is in possession of an overactive imagination that often keeps her awake at night. Darcie fell in love in New York, got married in the snow, rescues uncoordinated greyhounds and can usually be found reading or typing away on her laptop.

Author Social Media Links: 

Website: https://darcieboleyn.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @DarcieBoleyn

Thank you for stopping by today Darcie!