On the table in front of her, where once a display of Ewan McLachlan’s novels waited for him to sign, her own novel now sat, her author photo on a poster on the wall and everything about it felt just perfect.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, huge thanks to all at Team Boldwood, who worked tirelessly and with enthusiasm during the more trying of times in an ever-changing world.
Thank you to my talented editor Caroline Ridding, along with Nia Beynon and Amanda Ridout.
Thanks also to Jade Craddock, a fantastic copy editor who brought little shots of sunshine to this book.
Thanks to all my fellow Boldwood authors, and to everyone who supported The Hopes & Dreams of Libby Quinn so enthusiastically, including reviewers, bloggers and booksellers. I am forever indebted.
This book was written during what could easily be described as the ‘worst of times’ – as a global pandemic hit, along with a period of personal ill health and the loss of my beloved grandad. Many times it was a wonderful distraction from stress and reminded me that good things can happen and that good people exist.
At other times, it was a struggle to work and without the support of my family and friends, particularly my writer friends, this book may not have been written.
Thanks and love in particular to Fionnuala Kearney, Anna McPartlin, Louise Beech and the inimitable John Marrs. Thanks also to Jane Fallon who took the time to read and endorse ‘Libby Quinn’. I’m a huge fan of Jane’s books and that was a real ‘pinch me’ moment!
Thank you as always to my cheerleading agent, Ger Nichol, who always seems to know the exact right thing to say.
Thank you to my family, especially my children who tolerated my squirrelling away to write during lockdown.
Most of all, thank you to everyone who has read and enjoyed the adventures on Ivy Lane.
Harry owes you all a cup of (not fancy) coffee and some out of date biscuits.
More from Freya Kennedy
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The Hopes and Dream of Libby Quinn, another gorgeous romantic comedy from Freya Kennedy is available to order now by clicking on the image below. Or read on for an exclusive extract…
Prologue
Twenty-six years ago
Once upon a time, there was a little girl called Libby who travelled to a hundred different worlds and lived a thousand different lives just by opening the pages of a book and discovering the magic in the pages.
‘There’s no greater gift that you can give someone than a love of reading,’ her grandad, Ernie, had told her.
She blinked up at him as she sat on his lap, the wool of his much loved and worse for wear cardigan scratchy against her bare arms.
‘Where were we with this one?’ he asked her, flicking through the yellowing pages of the latest book he had picked up in the charity shop for her.
He believed that books should be loved. They should look loved and lived in. He loved folded down corners, and broken spines. He loved notes scrawled in the margins. Signs that a book had been pored over, read, devoured.
‘I think,’ Libby said, using her small hands to turn the pages herself, ‘we were just about here…’ She pointed to a page with a fresh fold at the top.
‘I think you might just be right, Libby,’ her grandad laughed, ‘right at the point where Mr and Mrs Twit are about to get their comeuppance!’
Libby felt a swell of excitement. She couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. She couldn’t wait to see the awful Twits with their awful ways come undone.
‘When we’re finished,’ she said, ‘can you tell me one of your stories? From when you were wee?’ Libby may well have loved the stories in these books, but she loved her grandad’s stories just as much.
‘Actually,’ he said, ‘I was thinking we could go to the bookshop and see if we can pick up a new book or two?’
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his stubbly cheek. ‘Can we really?’ she asked.
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘Can you imagine, Libby, if we owned a bookshop? How amazing would that be? All those books.’
‘I’d never ever leave it, ever,’ she said.
‘No, I don’t think I would either.’ Her grandad smiled. ‘Maybe one day we will. But first let’s find out what happens to the Twits.’
Libby nodded, lay her head against her grandad’s chest and watched his finger move along under the words on the page as he read to her. And the story came to life before her eyes.
About the Author
Freya Kennedy lives in Derry, Northern Ireland, with her husband, two children, two cats and a mad dog called Izzy. She worked as a journalist for eighteen years before deciding to write full time. When not writing, she can be found reading, hanging out with her nieces and nephews, cleaning up after her children (a lot) and telling her dog that she loves her.
She has met Michael Buble and even kissed him. It was one of her best ever moments.
She believes in happy ever afters.
Freya Kennedy is a pen name for Claire Allan, who also writes psychological thrillers.
Visit Freya’s website: http://www.claireallan.com/freya-kennedy
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About Boldwood Books
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First published in Great Britain in 2020 by Boldwood Books Ltd.
Copyright © Claire Allan, 2020
Cover Design by Alice Moore Design
Cover Photography: Shutterstock
The moral right of Claire Allan to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Every effort has been made to obtain the necessary permissions with reference to copyright material, both illustrative and quoted. We apologise for any omissions in this respect and will be pleased to make the appropriate acknowledgements in any future edition.