Hiding from Christmas (Off the Grid Christmas Book 1)

He’s been hiding from the world since he lost his family in a brutal attack.

She’s just hiding from her family for the holidays.

What happens when they find each other?

Elle

I couldn’t face the piteous glances of my family over the holidays after my fiancé Austin unceremoniously dumped me. I was too tame, too awkward, too vanilla, too risk averse. Glad he took five years to figure that out.

I’m devastated. Humiliated. And angry. I told Mom I couldn’t bear the thought of coming home for the holidays. I’d rather be alone. Anything was better than their sympathy, but my own company didn’t promise to be any better. That’s why I jumped at the chance to visit my eccentric aunt Muriel in a remote village on the West coast of Mexico.

Joe

No one would call my solitary life here uncomplicated, but on the surface it’s simple enough. After seven years in exile, I’m used to my routine and my solitude, though my grief walks beside me like a silent companion. As much as I might like to go back to my old life, I could never put the people I trust, love and depend upon at risk.

Never again.

I’m regularly reminded that the cost would be too high. Especially this time of year when a cruel gift arrives from my nemesis. My sixth Christmas alone in Mexico. The anniversary of the date I lost everything.

I’m expecting the package, right on schedule. But I’m not expecting the clumsy, beautiful, bewildering blonde that crashes into my world and turns it inside out.

For the smartest girl in her grad class, Jeannie made a pretty stupid mistake. One that she’s spent ten years coming back from.

Voted Most Likely to End up in Jail, Phoenix did one better. He’s spent the past ten years being dead!

♥

Phoenix

My high school years were as grim and gritty as could be, so when the opportunity to disappear presented itself, I grabbed it with both fists and didn’t look back. Ten years later, I’ve mellowed and I’m searching for a place to put down roots, craving the friends I left behind, and the family and home I never had. What I didn’t expect? To reunite with my high school crush Jeannie. Turns out she’s got a little baggage of her own that throws a big curve in my plans

She wants nothing to do with me, an embarrassing reminder of her biggest mistake. I see this as a gift, an opportunity to have everything I’m looking for and more. And ten years in the special forces has given me the confidence, determination and skills to get whatever I want. I’m not giving up until I get it.

Jeannie

I had my life all planned. Yeah, I was that girl. Type A, Honour Roll, the apple of my family’s eye, my ambitious career paved in gold. Voted Most Likely to Win a Nobel Prize - in Mathematics no less! One huge swerve later and I’m living a very different life. I went from Prodigy to Prodigal Daughter overnight.

Resolutely independent single mother, self-educated, self-employed, and self-determining, I don’t rely on anyone. My mistake; my problem. That’s how I see it. Now, the last accomplishment that will take me back where I belong is finally within reach. What I don’t expect when I finally return to my hometown? To reconnect with the guy I thought I’d never, and I mean never, see again. Why? Because he was dead.

Now he won’t leave me alone, despite my determination to avoid him. Once again, the best laid plans go wildly off course with unexpected, and unlikely consequences.

Pre-order book two of the brand new MOST UNLIKELY TO series of contemporary romances by award-winning author MaryAnn Clarke.

The Most UNLIKELY To series books are full-length, character-driven, adult contemporary romance novels. They can each be read as stand-alones, or read in order to experience the story chronologically. More rom than com, with a little steam, they’re perfect for fans of Christina Lauren, Mhairi Macfarlane or Helena Hunting’s single-titles!

Lucy Clough, a psychology researcher who has taken time out to focus on the one thing she needs to do: publish her adored late grandfather’s memoirs. Time is short, and Lucy can’t afford distractions.

Until she meets the sad, sweet and sexy single dad in Studio 7D.

Jean Phillipe Roche is a widower with two small children with one mission: to honour his wife’s memory by being the best father he can be. Nothing can get in his way, especially the captivating woman who has moved in next door.

But is sacrificing their chance at new love and happiness the only way to appease the guilt they feel over their lost loved ones? Or can they find a new love in each other and move on?

If you like stories of single dads who find new love, scroll up and grab your copy today.

He’s sweet, caring and loyal. She’s independent, ambitious and brave. To Julian, home, family and friends are everything. They’re all he’s got. Ruby’s heart is big enough to encompass the whole world. But she’s all alone. Can their ten year high school reunion give these star-crossed lovers the ingredients to re-write their story? A steamy, swoony second chance romance with a big-hearted hero out to save the world one dish at a time, and a wounded heroine who is starting to think hearth and heart might be the balm to heal her broken spirit.

She welcomes any risk, as long as it doesn’t involve her own carefully guarded heart. Adrenaline junkie, Niki Ballantyne is a risk-taker at work and at play. Haunted by guilt over her brother’s tragic death, she’s devoted to saving others in trouble. While on an adventure holiday in the south of France, she meets handsome and charming traveller Luc and his shy friend, the gentle giant Didier. Helping the bullied blacksmith win the love of another woman is not a typical rescue project for Niki, but she’s driven by compassion for her lonely new friend. Bittersweet memories of her brother’s life compel Niki to stay and support the star-crossed giant. Their forged affair is perfectly safe. There’s no risk of getting emotionally involved, but teaching him about intimacy comes with consequences, and lesson to be learned. Particularly when it comes to Luc. On the cusp of a life-altering decision, Luc is drawn to daredevil Niki, though she upends his carefully laid plans for a perfect future. Despite instant chemistry and a powerful connection, Niki pushes him away. But when a sudden emergency brings Luc to her rescue, the way he sees her vulnerability scares her more than anything. Now she has to decide if the last thing she ever wanted might be exactly what she needs.

Sometimes moving into a new future requires letting go of the past. If two clashing agents of change can change they way they see each other – they might just change the world for good, and build a beautiful future together.   Attorney Sharon Beckett worked hard to lift her life out of the gutter. Her shameful scandalous past keeps her out of the limelight and firmly on the side of the establishment. And nothing else. In her mind, a pro-bono case for a skid row non-profit is the opposite of career advancement, but she’ll do what she must to climb that last corporate rung. Passionate and angry social worker Kent Sawyer is determined to save troubled street kids by opening a much-needed shelter. But getting development approval depends on forging an unlikely alliance with a beautiful cold-hearted ice princess. Scandal-averse Sharon, assigned to Kent’s project, could take on corrupt city officials and greedy developers to help him succeed, but she won’t. Until secrets from her past surface, and a dark turn of events forces her hand. Can Sharon and Kent put their differences aside and learn to work together for the greater good, or will Kent’s dreams of righting the past by brightening the future implode before they even break ground?

She welcomes any risk, as long as it doesn’t involve her own carefully guarded heart. Adrenaline junkie, Niki Ballantyne is a risk-taker at work and at play. Haunted by guilt over her brother’s tragic death, she’s devoted to saving others in trouble. While on an adventure holiday in the south of France, she meets handsome and charming traveller Luc and his shy friend, the gentle giant Didier. Helping the bullied blacksmith win the love of another woman is not a typical rescue project for Niki, but she’s driven by compassion for her lonely new friend. Bittersweet memories of her brother’s life compel Niki to stay and support the star-crossed giant. Their forged affair is perfectly safe. There’s no risk of getting emotionally involved, but teaching him about intimacy comes with consequences, and lesson to be learned. Particularly when it comes to Luc. On the cusp of a life-altering decision, Luc is drawn to daredevil Niki, though she upends his carefully laid plans for a perfect future. Despite instant chemistry and a powerful connection, Niki pushes him away. But when a sudden emergency brings Luc to her rescue, the way he sees her vulnerability scares her more than anything. Now she has to decide if the last thing she ever wanted might be exactly what she needs.

Kate is a survivor. Fifteen years after her breakdown, Kate has built a successful career as a family mediator, specializing in couple’s reconciliation. In fact, she’s about to receive a prestigious award for her accomplishments. Her latest mediation brings together a young couple on the brink of divorce, and only Kate’s expertise and sensitivity can save them. It also, unexpectedly, reconnects her with former lover Simon Sharpe, who represents the high and the low points of her life, uncomfortably forcing her to revisit her difficult and painful past. Still haunted by her unrequited love, Simon’s reemergence in Kate’s life exhumes memories of trauma and heartbreak, along with unwanted feelings of insecurity and self-doubt she believed were long resolved. As Simon and Kate steer their feuding, secretive clients towards reconciliation and navigate their confusing past, their own relationship reignites and takes them on an unexpected path.

What is the price of sacrifice, when love is the prize? Alexa is a gifted architect. She grew up watching her mother pay a heavy price for love, at the loss of her freedom, her creativity and her identity– a price Alexa swore she would never pay. She spent her youth helping her working mom take care of their home, her sick father and her six younger siblings. Now nothing will stand in the way of her success. Bruce has success in spades. He lives a life of leisure after selling his software company for millions. But money can't buy the thing he desires most, and was deprived of as a child when his mother left him and his three older brothers in the care of his bullying dad- the love and nurturing of a woman, a comfortable home and a family of his own. When a crisis obliges them to play house together, can a few weeks in each other’s company disrupt their carefully constructed worlds?

Ecstasy is the only thing on Clio’s mind. Specifically, ecstasy as portrayed in the Renaissance art of Italy. Clio is a shy art history doctoral student, clinging to her last chance at achieving the college degree of her father’s dreams, when she meets fast-living, sexy Italian architect Guillermo. They come from two different worlds, but share a deep passion for history and beauty. Clio can’t resist being drawn into Guillermo’s problems when his family’s beautiful ancestral villa is at risk of being sold to an American rap star who will carelessly destroy it’s rich culture, history and artistry.

What is the price of sacrifice, when love is the prize? Alexa is a gifted architect. She grew up watching her mother pay a heavy price for love, at the loss of her freedom, her creativity and her identity– a price Alexa swore she would never pay. She spent her youth helping her working mom take care of their home, her sick father and her six younger siblings. Now nothing will stand in the way of her success. Bruce has success in spades. He lives a life of leisure after selling his software company for millions. But money can't buy the thing he desires most, and was deprived of as a child when his mother left him and his three older brothers in the care of his bullying dad- the love and nurturing of a woman, a comfortable home and a family of his own. When a crisis obliges them to play house together, can a few weeks in each other’s company disrupt their carefully constructed worlds?