New York Romance 2Four holiday reads Read online

  New York Romance 2

  Joanne Dannon

  Charmaine Ross

  Contents

  A Magical Chanukah in New York

  Another Magical Chanukah in New York

  Christmas in New York

  Another Christmas in New York

  About the Author - Joanne Dannon

  About the Author - Charmaine Ross

  Acknowledgements

  A Magical Chanukah in New York

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Books by Joanne Dannon

  Holiday Romances

  Contemporary Romance

  Boxed Sets

  Acknowledgments

  Christmas in New York

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Another Christmas in New York

  Another Christmas in New York

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Afterword

  Join My Newsletter

  Privacy

  Also by Charmaine Ross

  Romantic Comedy Novellas

  Getting Preggas

  Getting The Snip

  Contemporary Romance

  Four-Leaf Clover

  Wild in the Outback

  Makeover Miracle

  Love in the Highcountry

  My Fair Bogan

  New York Romance 1 & 2

  The Twelve Debacles of Christmas

  Paranormal Romance

  Pirates of Paradise

  Her Angel Protector

  Cursed

  Thriller

  New York Romance 2

  Copyright © 2017 by Joanne Dannon and Charmaine Ross

  ISBN: 978-1-925450-16-3

  Dewey Number: A823.4

  Edited in UK/Australian English

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Clarendon 3 Publishing (www.clarendon3.com).

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  A Magical Chanukah in New York

  When falling in love isn’t as easy as falling in love.

  Lisa Sassoon has shunned the scandal of her loser ex-boyfriend cheating on her by escaping to New York. Instead of sightseeing, she’s become a recluse focussing on helping the less fortunate at a homeless shelter.

  Gabe Olivari, entrepreneur and savvy business New Yorker, can’t let go of the pain of losing his best friend. So caught up in his own grief and believing he doesn’t deserve to be happy, he compensates by pushing everyone close to him away.

  But when Lisa and Gabe meet, there is an instant connection that forces them to question not only their behaviours but their aspirations.

  Can a dash of Chanukah magic help Lisa and Gabe realise that sparkling dates and dreamy kisses can lead to more? Perhaps even a lifetime of happiness?

  Another Magical Chanukah in New York

  The Festival of Lights will light their way to love

  For wealthy Australian philanthropist Ben Sassoon, joy comes from feeding others, especially those in need. But his own hunger for love can never be satisfied, thanks to a woman who refused to marry him. In New York for his cousin’s wedding, it’s going to be impossible to avoid the girl who ran away from Australia all those years ago, taking Ben’s heart with her.

  Hard-nosed attorney Kate Silver had loved Ben in school, but that had just been puppy love, right? Kate had grown up envious of Ben’s happy family, so different from her own. She’d moved to New York, determined to create her own life, even though it meant leaving her youthful love behind.

  For Ben, the pain and anger of the long-ago heartbreak are still fresh. Kate never meant to hurt him, but Ben was part of the past she’d needed to escape. But the magic of Chanukah brings a renewal of Kate’s faith and pride in her heritage. Can it also bring a renewal of the love she once shared with Ben?

  Christmas in New York

  A light-hearted and emotional novel about family, friendship and coming to terms with your past.

  Andrew started falling in love with Charlotte, his beautiful, strictly hands-off client, from the moment he first saw her. Unfortunately, she doesn’t feel the same way about him. Does she?

  Having made an unforgivable mistake to her parents, Charlotte has one single objective, ‘Get home for Christmas. Make amends.’ A mantra she constantly finds herself chanting when her attraction to sex-on-a-stick Andrew becomes too overpowering to try and avoid any longer.

  Charlotte’s boss has been piling on the workload, making it harder and harder to get back home to Melbourne, not to mention all the extra meetings/dates with Andrew she’s had to make to get the job done.

  Charlotte finds Andrew incredibly attractive, fierce, smart, passionate and… totally off-limits. But between completely stupid deadlines and extra meetings, passion simmers. With redemption at stake, Charlotte must choose between her parents or once-in-a-lifetime love.

  Another Christmas in New York

  David has promised himself never to let a woman close. After the sort of childhood he had, he knows nothing about love. A wife would only lead to a life of heartache and disaster. Just like his father. And that attitude has worked just fine for him.

  Until he comes face to face with live-wire chef, Marlowe.

  Marlowe has a way with food. And a way of burrowing past his defenses and right into his heart. Before he knows it, he’s stopped trying to protect his heart, and has done the worst thing he can think of - started to care.

  He wasn’t prepared for that. Nor was he prepared to fall in love. But he’s run out, leaving Marlowe in an embarrassing situation and out of his life. Can he get past his own defenses and tell Marlowe he loves her?

  Can he risk his past to have a future?

  About the Author - Joanne Dannon

  Joanne Dannon has been living in the world of romance for as long as she can remember. From doodling love hearts on her school notebooks to regularly reading romances, Joanne’s world has always been filled with the excitement of love stories. So it was just a natural for Joanne to begin writing the genre she’s always loved.

  Formerly a policy writer by day and romance writer by night, Joanne now spends full time writing the books she adores. Creating heroes for readers to fall in love with and heroines to cheer on, her characters are people readers can identify with.

  Joanne writes to give her readers the experience she still loves to savor—indulging in a sigh-worthy-happily-ever-after, being swept away from the everyday by diving into a delicious romance novel.

  Joanne Dannon is a happily married mother of two heroes-in-training who loves spending time with friends and family. She can be found on Facebook and her website www.joannedannon.com chatting about reading, writing, cooking, vintage-inspired dresses and all things romantic. She loves to hear from readers.

  joannedannonwrites

  www.joannedannon.com

 

  About the Author - Charmaine Ross

  Charmaine Ross’ first foray into romance was as a fourteen year old where she fell hopelessly and eternally in love with her hero as only a teenager can. Instead of watching movies and staying up late, she would go to bed at eight thirty and continue her very romantic, very safe, love affair.

  Since then, she has fallen in love with many heroes, some less safe than what her teenage brain could possibly imagine. After earning a Fine Art’s Degree, a Diploma of Secondary Education and a Diploma of Marketing, she worked as a Graphic Designer in various advertising agencies and as well as in-house marketing roles and is currently involved with digital marketing and everything web in her current position. But she always returns to writing.

  Although she has travelled, she always returns to her home town of Melbourne and lives with her husband, two children and two cats in the ferny-greens of the Dandenongs. If she’s not working on her latest romance and falling in love with yet another hero, you’ll find her reading, watching and basically indulging in her addiction to any story on any media type she can get her fingers on.

  @CharmaineRossAu

  char
maine.ross.01

  www.charmaineross.com

  Acknowledgements

  Dear Reader

  It’s been wonderful to work again with my talented author friend, Charmaine Ross. We’ve included our holiday romances from last year, with this year’s, to give you four heart-warming connected reads, to enjoy!

  Thanks so much to my family and friends for your on-going support of my writing career.

  A massive thanks for the talented Ash Arceneaux who creates such beautiful covers for me, I’m so thankful to be working with her.

  And a big hug and thanks for my readers, who buy, read and review my books. Having a reader enjoy my books is a dream come true. Thanks to you all for your amazing support!!!

  Happy holidays and Chag Sameach.

  With love, Joanne x

  PS – My Chanukah novellas are dedicated to the amazing work many volunteers do in the Melbourne (Australia) community. They do it without fanfare or recognition, and I am in awe of their continued and inspiring work helping others.

  PPS – unlike Christmas, which is the same day every year, the start date for Chanukah changes each year because it’s determined by a lunar calendar. Because I’m the author (LOL!!), I have Chanukah for “Another Chanukah in New York” starting end of November because I wanted Lisa and Gabe’s wedding to coincide with Chanukah. However, in the epilogue, Chanukah starts on 18 December.

  A Magical Chanukah in New York

  by Joanne Dannon

  Chapter 1

  Humming to “White Christmas” Lisa Sassoon tossed another piece of tinsel to her friend Charlotte who was precariously balanced on a ladder. “Please don’t fall and break your leg, it’s the holidays.”

  Charlotte laughed her concerns away with a toss of her hand as she taped the Christmas decorations to the wall, making the soup kitchen festive.

  A mobile phone rang out and Lisa recognised the song, “Working Class Man” her friend used for her boss in respect of his dedication and high work ethics. She walked over to the table, lifted the mobile phone, and stifled a giggle when she looked at the Caller ID. Her friend had snapped a picture of her boss at his crankiest and used that photo of him. “Hello, Gabe, this is Charlotte’s friend, Lisa.”

  “I need Charlotte, now.” A deep, male voice snapped at her.

  Well, joy and happiness to you, Mr Grumble-Bum. Taking a deep breath she replied, “She’s on a ladder.” It was a Sunday and Charlotte was donating her time to help others so Mr Grumble-Bum could wait.

  “I need her now,” he said in a decisive tone that made Lisa wonder how her best friend could bear working for such a difficult man. Obviously, the scowling face was a regular feature at the office.

  “I’ll take a message,” she replied in a saccharin sweet tone.

  “She needs to download the Barton file and…forget it.” The voice on the other end of the phone turned to a loud exasperated sigh. “Where are you? I’m coming over.”

  Lisa placed the phone against her hip and called out to her friend. “Your boss is calling you on a Sunday and needs help with the Barton file. Shall I tell him where you are?”

  Charlotte nodded before returning her attention to the Christmas decorations that needed to be completed before the lunchtime rush.

  “We’re at the Helping Hand Café, it’s on Bowery Road,” she informed him.

  “I’ll be there soon.” He disconnected the phone.

  Lisa pocketed the mobile phone before calling out to her friend again. “Is he always this cranky?” She massaged the back of her neck.

  “No, it must be you,” her friend said before flicking her hair over her shoulder.

  Thirty minutes later, Lisa was standing in her favourite part of the centre making coffee when a man walked in. Not a regular but a hottie in jeans, woollen jumper, and leather jacket. He removed the beanie he’d been wearing, shoving it into his pocket and strode purposefully to where her friend was.

  Gabe Olivari.

  There was no menacing scowl on his face, but Lisa could see determination and need clearly defined across the sharp angles of his cheekbones and square-cut jaw.

  The air in her lungs whooshed out as she took in the impressive height, broad shoulders, and strong legs of her friend’s manager. Phew! She could barely look at him without blushing.

  Returning her attention to the coffee machine, she finished the cappuccino she’d made before discreetly watching the interactions between Charlotte and Gabe. Within two minutes, everything had been fixed and a sincere smile stretched across his face making him appear even more handsome.

  Gabe walked toward her and she meticulously wiped down the clean bench, needing some distraction. Hopefully, he’d leave and the silly flutters of desire in her tummy would stop. Unbelievable that he could make her, a sensible twenty-eight-year-old, respond in such a way.

  Instead of heading toward the door he stopped in front of her. “You’re Charlotte’s friend? Lisa?”

  Resisting the urge to flutter her eyelashes as she looked into the dark brown depths of his eyes, she replied simply, “Yes.”

  “I’ve heard you make an excellent coffee. Would you mind making me a long black?”

  “Sure,” she said with enthusiasm. “But you’ll need to make a donation.” She candidly pointed to the jar she kept near the espresso machine. The free coffees were for the homeless, everyone else had to pay.

  After grinding the beans, she got to work making good coffee as she’d been doing for over ten years. She was a darn fine barista, which explained why so many city workers popped in for a coffee. The freebies were only for those who needed them.

  Her machine sprang to life and coffee bubbled away into a takeaway cardboard cup as she eyed Gabe discreetly add way too much money to the jar. “Thanks for the donation,” she said before handing him his coffee.

  He inhaled the brew before taking a long sip. “Now that’s a coffee.”

  Not wanting to fawn or dissolve in a puddle of lusciousness from his words, she played it cool and brushed his compliment away with a shrug of her shoulders. “You’re welcome.”

  “How long are you in New York for?” he asked. A natural question since her Australian accent stood out like the proverbial sore thumb.

  “I have a three-month visa and I’ve been here for one month already.”

  “You don’t want to travel?” His eyebrows came together questioningly, which was perfectly understandable because Aussie tourists didn’t spend their vacation sleeping on a friend’s couch and working in a homeless shelter. But then, this wasn’t a vacation. Vacations didn’t include hiding away from social media and the scandal she’d left behind in her home city of Melbourne.

  Leaning her hip against the counter she said, “I don’t know what I want. But working here is fun. I love it.”

  He nodded. “Charlotte told me you two have been friends for years.”

  Grinning in reply, she said, “Since high school. She’s so clever and an achiever. Look at her getting a job in the States, working for you.”

  He lifted his brow. “She was the best candidate.” He took another long sip and she noted the tension dissipate from his face while his shoulders softened. “And what do you do?”

  “I’m a barista,” she said.

  “No, I mean, what do you do at home?”