Alaskan Christmas Redemption
by Belle Calhoune
Blurb:
Some secrets are meant to be shared.
Before he gives his heartโฆ
heโll have to forgive himself.
Returning to Owl Creek after years away, Braden Northโs determined to help his best friend, Piper Miller, save her failing diner. But as they work to revitalize her business, Bradenโs convinced he must hide the truth about a tragedy from their pastโฆor risk losing Piper for good. If he can find the courage, might telling her everything make this Christmas a time for healing and forgiveness?
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Alaskan-Christmas-Redemption-Home-Creek/dp/1335488456
Google: https://books.google.ca/books/about/Alaskan_Christmas_Redemption.html?id=N_LrDwAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y
Indie Bound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781335488459
Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781335553935_alaskan-christmas-redemption.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52515535-alaskan-christmas-redemption
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Excerpt:
Braden watched as Piperโs eyes widened with surprise. The shock on her face made him want to laugh out loud, but he knew the situation was far from humorous. The Snowy Owl Diner was at stake, and although heโd agreed to provide his assistance, he wasnโt sure if Piper even believed it could be saved. From this point forward, she would have to tell him everything about her situation. He would have to look over the books with a fine-tooth comb. If he was truly going to help her, he needed to understand exactly what she was facing. The good, the bad and the ugly.
โA-are you serious?โ she asked, sputtering.
โCompletely,โ he said, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. โWhatever you need is what Iโll do.โ
She pressed a hand to her chest. โYou will? Really? You were so decisive last night. What made you change your mind?โ
Braden paused before answering. โBecause I owe you, Piper.โ
โFor what?โ she asked, confusion radiating from her eyes.
Telling her the truth wasnโt an option. She wouldnโt want to know why he would forever be indebted to her. โFor a million different things. Youโve always being in my corner. How could I say no to you when youโve always said yes to me? No matter what trouble I got into or the problems I laid at your feet, you always jumped in to help me. Thereโs no way I could do any less for you.โ
Tears slid down Piperโs face, and she made no attempt to wipe them away. She bowed her head, and he could see her lips moving. When she raised her head back up, Braden saw pure happiness emanating from her eyes.
โThank you, Braden. Iโm so grateful that you changed your mind. I know itโs complicated, but in my heart I truly feel that I was meant to carry on Daddyโs legacy. I just canโt imagine my life without this place in it. Iโm willing to do just about anything to save it.โ
Braden couldnโt envision Piper losing ownership of the restaurant either. It would be agonizing for her. Not to mention Trudy and Hank. They were all invested in it. The townsfolk would be both saddened and upset. Piper would be the subject of endless gossip about the circumstances of her losing ownership of the Snowy Owl. She wouldnโt be able to bear it if the townsfolk discovered that the diner had been struggling since before her fatherโs death.
He knew Jackโs reputation was important to Piper. People would sympathize with her as well, but he knew she would be inconsolable. If there was even a small chance of them reversing things, he wanted to give it his all. It would be his penance for shaving years off Jackโs life. If it hadnโt been for him, Jack might be here today, doing everything he could to boost the restaurant and spreading his effortless charm throughout the establishment.
โWe should meet up so you can give me an opportunity to look over the books and all of your monthly bills along with revenue. Thatโll at least give me a snapshot of whatโs been going on.โ
Piper made a sad face. โSure thing. I hope you see something in there that I missed, but I crunched the numbers over and over again. Itโs not looking good.โ
โWe have to look at all your options. You might need a lawyer or a consultant.โ
She shook her head. โI donโt have money for an attorney. Itโs a lack of money thatโs gotten me into this situation in the first place.โ Piper let out a frustrated groan.
โWhy donโt we meet this evening to try and sort some of this out?โ he suggested. From what heโd initially gathered, they had only a short window of time to get things dealt with before everything imploded. That needed to be prevented at all costs.
โThat sounds good. Come by after I close up,โ she told him. โI have to get back out there, but Iโm so thrilled you changed your mind about helping me.โ She flashed him a smile. โIn case you didnโt realize it, Iโm super grateful.โ
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Author Info:
Belle Calhoune lives in Connecticut with her college sweetheart husband and two daughters. After a thirteen year career as a Federal Investigator, she chose to pursue a writing career. An avid lover of romance novels since she was a teen, she enjoys writing love stories and reading them. She loves spending summers in beautiful Cape Cod and traveling to new places. A dog lover, she has a mini poodle and a chocolate lab. More than anything, she believes in happily ever afters.
Website: https://bellecalhoune.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellecalhoune/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BelleCalhoune
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Belle-Calhoune-280681912035512/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6862710.Belle_Calhoune
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