Chestnut Spring Series Order Novels & Stories

"You've always been this way. Once you decide on something, you have to see it through. Don't work too hard. No matter what happens, you'll always be our daughter." - Sutburg. Ronan's family ran a guesthouse, and my new shop was right beside it. While we finished the last preparations, I kept polishing the display case that had traveled so far with us. Ronan held up his hand as though he was holding a microphone. "A quick interview with Nina, owner of Springtime. Your dessert shop's grand opening is tomorrow at nine. How do you feel?" I played along, pretended to straighten my collar, and answered sternly. "I'm honored and excited, and I'll make the best tiramisu in the world!"

At least, not at first. The first conflict arrived as a timing discrepancy, two commands issued close enough together to overlap, leaving a fraction of the formation uncertain which sequence took priority. Elias watched the hesitation ripple outward, bodies freezing for half a beat. He felt the urge rise, sharp, instinctive. Hold. The hesitation resolved itself unevenly. No one was injured. The formation limped through the sequence and Vale did not correct. The second conflict was spatial. Two units were routed toward the same corridor exit, spacing insufficient for safe passage. Elias saw it the moment the lines began to converge, the geometry wrong in a way that would not fix itself.

His words ripped my heart open like a sharp blade, leaving me embarrassed. They were about to come out, so I quickly hid in the fire escape. After everyone left, I retrieved the crochet bouquet from the trash can. Greyson, who suddenly returned, bumped into me. A look of awkwardness appeared in his eyes. "Nicola, I forgot to take the flowers." I dodged his outstretched hand. "The bouquet you have is fine. You don't need this one." My gaze fell on the red roses in his arms. He was taken aback, followed by annoyance at being exposed. "Why are you making a fuss? I told you I left them behind! And these red roses are much prettier than your stupid flower! Elise is prettier than you and better th

VOLUME TEN: A HEAVEN HILL CHRISTMAS Author's Note: These Christmas Novella's are in no particular order – they aren't even in chronological order of the series. It's just one Christmas I picked out of every couple's lives and wrote about it. JESSICA & LAYNE

“On the 14th at 11 AM on the dot.” Lukas and I approached the monitors. There Umbridge was, waiting on the corner and turning his head in every direction. He held a briefcase securely under his arm. Someone came to him wearing a hooded coat, and Umbridge followed the person outside the camera’s view. Vic swiped at the screens, switching from one building’s camera to another until she found the correct one so we could follow Umbridge to the meeting place. They both walked around the block until they entered a rundown bar.

She crushed him to chest, nuzzling his neck, kissing his face. "He has the chubbiest cheeks, great for pinching," Charlotte said. "Yes, you do, you sweet thing," Lauren fussed at him while she nursed. Chase and Steve finally settled on the same channel; Lauren leaned back, rested her head on the cushion behind her and closed her eyes. Charlotte turned pages in a magazine, when suddenly; a loud pop sound came from the barn area. Everybody jumped but Chase sprang out of his chair, grabbed his rifle above the back door and raced outside.