Checking Holly Twice, page 1
Checking Holly Twice
Romancing the Rink, Book Two
Tess Thompson
Praise for Tess Thompson
The School Mistress of Emerson Pass:
"I frequently found myself getting lost in the characters and forgetting that I was reading a book." - Camille Di Maio, Bestselling author of The Memory of Us.
"Highly recommended." - Christine Nolfi, Award winning author of The Sweet Lake Series.
"I loved this book!" - Karen McQuestion, Bestselling author of Hello Love and Good Man, Dalton.
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Traded: Brody and Kara:
"I loved the sweetness of Tess Thompson's writing - the camaraderie and long-lasting friendships make you want to move to Cliffside and become one of the gang! Rated Hallmark for romance!" - Stephanie Little BookPage
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"This story was well written. You felt what the characters were going through. It's one of those "I got to know what happens next" books. So intriguing you won't want to put it down." - Lena Loves Books
"This story has so much going on, but it intertwines within itself. You get second chance, lost loves, and new love. I could not put this book down! I am excited to start this series and have love for this little Bayside town that I am now fond off!" - Crystal's Book World
"This is a small town romance story at its best and I look forward to the next book in the series." - Gillek2, Vine Voice
"This is one of those books that make you love to be a reader and fan of the author." -Pamela Lunder, Vine Voice
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Blue Midnight:
"This is a beautiful book with an unexpected twist that takes the story from romance to mystery and back again. I've already started the 2nd book in the series!" - Mama O
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"This beautiful book captured my attention and never let it go. I did not want it to end and so very much look forward to reading the next book." - Pris Shartle
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"I enjoyed this new book cover to cover. I read it on my long flight home from Ireland and it helped the time fly by, I wish it had been longer so my whole flight could have been lost to this lovely novel about second chances and finding the truth. Written with wisdom and humor this novel shares the raw emotions a new divorce can leave behind." - J. Sorenson
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"Tess Thompson is definitely one of my auto-buy authors! I love her writing style. Her characters are so real to life that you just can't put the book down once you start! Blue Midnight makes you believe in second chances. It makes you believe that everyone deserves an HEA. I loved the twists and turns in this book, the mystery and suspense, the family dynamics and the restoration of trust and security." - Angela MacIntyre
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"Tess writes books with real characters in them, characters with flaws and baggage and gives them a second chance. (Real people, some remind me of myself and my girlfriends.) Then she cleverly and thoroughly develops those characters and makes you feel deeply for them. Characters are complex and multi-faceted, and the plot seems to unfold naturally, and never feels contrived." - K. Lescinsky
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Caramel and Magnolias:
"Nobody writes characters like Tess Thompson. It's like she looks into our lives and creates her characters based on our best friends, our lovers, and our neighbors. Caramel and Magnolias, and the authors debut novel Riversong, have some of the best characters I've ever had a chance to fall in love with. I don't like leaving spoilers in reviews so just trust me, Nicholas Sparks has nothing on Tess Thompson, her writing flows so smoothly you can't help but to want to read on!" - T. M. Frazier
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"I love Tess Thompson's books because I love good writing. Her prose is clean and tight, which are increasingly rare qualities, and manages to evoke a full range of emotions with both subtlety and power. Her fiction goes well beyond art imitating life. Thompson's characters are alive and fully-realized, the action is believable, and the story unfolds with the right balance of tension and exuberance. CARAMEL AND MAGNOLIAS is a pleasure to read." - Tsuruoka
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"The author has an incredible way of painting an image with her words. Her storytelling is beautiful, and leaves you wanting more! I love that the story is about friendship (2 best friends) and love. The characters are richly drawn and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. I think you will, too!" - Fogvision
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"I got swept off my feet, my heartstrings were pulled, I held my breath, and tightened my muscles in suspense. Tess paints stunning scenery with her words and draws you in to the lives of her characters."- T. Bean
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Duet For Three Hands:
“Tears trickled down the side of my face when I reached the end of this road. Not because the story left me feeling sad or disappointed, no. Rather, because I already missed them. My friends. Though it isn't goodbye, but see you later. And so I will sit impatiently waiting, with desperate eagerness to hear where life has taken you, what burdens have you downtrodden, and what triumphs warm your heart. And in the meantime, I will go out and live, keeping your lessons and friendship and love close, the light to guide me through any darkness. And to the author I say thank you. My heart, my soul -all of me - needed these words, these friends, this love. I am forever changed by the beauty of your talent.” - Lisa M.Gott
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“I am a great fan of Tess Thompson's books and this new one definitely shows her branching out with an engaging enjoyable historical drama/love story. She is a true pro in the way she weaves her storyline, develops true to life characters that you love! The background and setting is so picturesque and visible just from her words. Each book shows her expanding, growing and excelling in her art. Yet another one not to miss. Buy it you won't be disappointed. The ONLY disappointment is when it ends!!!” - Sparky's Last
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“There are some definite villains in this book. Ohhhh, how I loved to hate them. But I have to give Thompson credit because they never came off as caricatures or one dimensional. They all felt authentic to me and (sadly) I could easily picture them. I loved to love some and loved to hate others.” - The Baking Bookworm
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“I stayed up the entire night reading Duet For Three Hands and unbeknownst to myself, I fell asleep in the middle of reading the book. I literally woke up the next morning with Tyler the Kindle beside me (thankfully, still safe and intact) with no ounce of battery left. I shouldn't have worried about deadlines because, guess what? Duet For Three Hands was the epitome of unputdownable.” - The Bookish Owl
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Miller’s Secret
“From the very first page, I was captivated by this wonderful tale. The cast of characters amazing - very fleshed out and multi-dimensional. The descriptions were perfect - just enough to make you feel like you were transported back to the 20's and 40's.... This book was the perfect escape, filled with so many twists and turns I was on the edge of my seat for the entire read.” - Hilary Grossman
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“The sad story of a freezing-cold orphan looking out the window at his rich benefactors on Christmas Eve started me off with Horatio-Alger expectations for this book. But I quickly got pulled into a completely different world--the complex five-character braid that the plot weaves. The three men and two women characters are so alive I felt I could walk up and start talking to any one of them, and I'd love to have lunch with Henry. Then the plot quickly turned sinister enough to keep me turning the pages.
Class is set against class, poor and rich struggle for happiness and security, yet it is love all but one of them are hungry for. ......Where does love come from? What do you do about it? The story kept me going, and gave me hope. For a little bonus, there are Thompson's delightful observations, like: "You'd never know we could make something this good out of the milk from an animal who eats hats." A really good read!” - Kay in Seattle
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“She paints vivid word pictures such that I could smell the ocean and hear the doves. Then there are the stories within a story that twist and turn until they all come together in the end. I really had a hard time putting it down. Five stars aren't enough!” - M.R. Williams
A Note to Readers
Hello Dear Reader! I’m delighted you’ve found your way to Garland Grove for book two of the Romancing the Rink Series.
Last year around this time, I was on a Zoom call with three of my writer besties and we decided it would be fun to do a Christmas series together. They write steamy and I write sweet, so we compromised in the middle. Still, if you’ve found me from one of them, I should warn you that this book is steam light and heavy on the romance. I hope you’ll give it a try anyway.
For my long time readers, just a warning this does have a tame steamy scene. I thought it best to let you know, so you’re not surprised. For my Cliffside Bay fans, there’s a little Easter egg in this Christmas book with mention of a few of your favorite characters.
I had so much fun writing this book. I’ve always wanted to do a grumpy hero and I absolutely love single dad stories. Throw in a jilted actress, and voila, you have my dream story.
Seeing you lots of holiday cheer and for those of you who imbibe, a little Twisted Tinsel Eggnog. Recipe is in the back of the book.
Join my newsletter here to keep in touch with me!
Much love,
Tess
Also by Tess Thompson
CLIFFSIDE BAY
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Traded:
Deleted: Jackson and Maggie
Jaded: Zane and Honor
Marred: Kyle and Violet
Tainted: Lance and Mary
Cliffside Bay Christmas, The Season of Cats and Babies (Cliffside Bay Novella to be read after Tainted)
Missed: Rafael and Lisa
Cliffside Bay Christmas Wedding (Cliffside Bay Novella to be read after Missed)
Healed: Stone and Pepper
Chateau Wedding (Cliffside Bay Novella to be read after Healed)
Scarred: Trey and Autumn
Jilted: Nico and Sophie
Kissed (Cliffside Bay Novella to be read after Jilted)
Departed: David and Sara
Cliffside Bay Bundle , Books 1,2,3
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BLUE MOUNTAIN SERIES
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Blue Mountain Bundle, Books 1,2,3
Blue Midnight
Blue Moon
Blue Ink
Blue String
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EMERSON PASS
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The School Mistress of Emerson Pass
The Sugar Queen of Emerson Pass
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RIVER VALLEY
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Riversong
Riverbend
Riverstar
Riversnow
Riverstorm
Tommy's Wish
River Valley Bundle, Books 1-4
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LEGLEY BAY
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Caramel and Magnolias
Tea and Primroses
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STANDALONES
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The Santa Trial
Duet for Three Hands
Miller's Secret
Checking Holly Twice
Romancing the Rink, Book Two
Tess Thompson
Contents
1. Holly
2. Forest
3. Holly
4. Forest
5. Holly
6. Forest
7. Holly
8. Forest
9. Holly
10. Forest
11. Holly
12. Forest
13. Holly
14. Forest
15. Holly
16. Forest
17. Holly
18. Holly
Also by Tess Thompson
About the Author
1
Holly
The rest of my life started with a yearning for one of those soft pretzels smothered in butter and sprinkled with salt. Having left Los Angeles in the middle of the night hoping to escape the paparazzi and running as hard as I could from my very public broken heart, I’d stopped only once to rest overnight in a motel with popcorn ceilings somewhere off the freeway in southern Oregon.
At the sight of the border patrol at the divide between Washington State and British Columbia, my stomach rumbled so loudly I could hear it over the car radio I had tuned to a country Christmas channel. After my grand escape from Hollywood and the insidious press that fed the gossipmongers 24-7, I hadn’t been able to eat. I’d been on the road for three days and had only eaten a bag of sinfully good potato chips, more diet sodas than I could count, and for health purposes, an apple.
Lisa Perry and Pepper Griffin, my actress friends had told me to get out of Los Angeles to heal my broken heart. They’d said something about finding fresh air and real men. All of which was easy for them to say. They were married to great guys and living by the seaside in Cliffside Bay. Regardless, I took their advice and headed north. Could Christmas and a sense of peace be found in the mountains? I hoped so. Even if it was only temporary, I needed somewhere I could breathe.
I drove for a few more hours, passing by Vancouver and veering east before gnawing hunger forced the issue. What sounded good to eat? Anything I want, I told myself. It was Christmas Eve. I had a job that started a few days after the new year. But that was still ten days away. I’d treat myself. A soft, warm pretzel. That’s what I wanted. My mouth watered. I’d find a place to stay at the next town. Find a pretzel. Surely there would be one in these cold places? Wine, too. I’d buy a bottle of the best red I could find. Then I’d take a shower, put on my pajamas, and eat in bed while watching a sappy movie. My former fiancé hated eating in bed. Barbaric, he’d told me once. Well, screw you, I thought. Now I could eat crackers in bed if I wanted.
One of the problems with the great escape of the century? I hadn’t planned where to land. I had no hotel or motel or whatever they called a place where a girl could rest her head in the wilds of Canada. My only focus had been to get away before the whole big sin-of-a-city destroyed me with the finality of a wrecking ball. So when I saw the sign for Garland Grove, I took it as a sign. A town named for a Christmas tradition couldn’t be all bad, especially on Christmas Eve. I veered off the highway and onto a two-lane road that led toward town.
I’d never learned how to drive. With the tutors and the soundstages and the sitcom schedule, I didn’t have the time or the inclination. There were always drivers to take me places. Or, when we first started out in show business, my mother. As a present to myself when I turned thirty, I’d taken driving lessons from a man who’d promised discretion. All I needed was it getting out that Holly Turner didn’t know how to drive. When I got my license, I bought myself a sports car. A red Porsche. Because they were the best, right? I’d told myself I was an engaged woman, after all. A huge movie star engaged to another huge movie star. Soon we would have babies, and I would need to know how to drive a minivan. But until then, I’d told Rhett over the phone, I would enjoy a speedy roadster. I should have known then that something was wrong. He’d been pushing me to learn to drive for the entirety of our two-year relationship. In fact, he’d mocked me about arrested development. Shame was his favorite influencing tactic.
I sighed at the thought of the babies I imagined I would have with Rhett. I’d wanted all of it so badly. The marriage and children and the minivan. A normal life despite our very public lives. Then Rhett cheated on me in front of the entire world, and all my dreams vanished in the time it took for the gossip rag to post the first photograph of him and his costar living large in Paris.
The moment I passed by the Garland Grove welcome sign, I began to see the error of my particular car choice. As if I’d entered a snow globe instead of a small mountain town, flakes as big and wide as half dollars and as fluffy as cotton balls started to fall from the sky. Patches of ice darkened parts of the road. Driving school in Los Angeles hadn’t really covered ice and snow. Find a place to stay, I told myself, and then walk the rest of the week.
I crested a hill. The town of Garland Grove came into view. Nestled into a valley between mountains, it looked as if it were modeled after a toy Christmas village. I drove down the hill and came to a sign that said, “Welcome to Garland Grove, home of the famous garlands. Population 2,304.”
